Category Archives: Community Involvement / Social Issues

In a city on the move, destitute find an angel of mercy

February 21, 2015Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issuesmpositiveone@gmail.com

Chennai :

Should you chance upon a 50-something, bespectacled man giving a haircut or a bath to a destitute person in the city, stop by and ask him how you can help, if you can buy a bottle of water or medicine, or some food for the less fortunate individual he is caring for.

Siddique Ali, a resident of Sidco Nagar, owns a small shop and sells and repairs bags. He also delivers cooking gas cylinders to commercial establishments. He has a family to look after, a wife and an 18-year-old daughter, though his two sons now have jobs of their own. But he also does what he can to make the lives of society’s outcasts a little less miserable.

With medicines, soap and towels, a set of clothes, bottles of water, biscuits and food, Ali goes around the city on his two-wheeler to help people who have been abandoned by their families, the orphans and beggars and the other abject people whose presence others usually refuse to acknowledge.

Ali, who steadfastly refused to give an interview to this correspondent for three days because he did not want any publicity, says most barbers will not give homeless people a haircut even if they had the money for one. “Restaurants will turn them away even if they can pay for food,” he says.

“I wanted to do so much for my father but, when he passed away a decade ago, I decided to do something for the needy,” he says. “When I someone in tattered clothes, I stop and ask them if they will change their clothes if I gave them a new set and Rs 10. Most agree,” Ali says, recalling how one homeless man slapped him because he suspected that he was trying to steal his money.

“When I clean, bathe and shave the needy, poor and destitute and cut their hair and change their clothes, there are times when they cry in joy,” he says. “That is the most wonderful moment for me. What greater blessing can a man want?”

Everyone can do small things to make the world a better place, Ali says. “Place water on the terrace for thirsty birds to drink. Don’t throw away rotten tomatoes… Squirrels love them. Keep them on a compound wall and they’ll find them.”

Sometimes people stop and offer him money. “I don’t accept money. Depending on the condition of the person I am helping, I ask them to buy medicine, water or some curd rice,” Ali says.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Daniel George, TNN / February 20th, 2015

Ready for a Blast from the Past? Royal Collectible Goes Under the Hammer Today

February 21, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru :

A letter penned by Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV of the Mysore royal family, bearing the royal coat of arms in gold glitter, will be the cynosure of all eyes in the city on Saturday as it goes on auction.

The auction is being organised by Marudhar Arts, a licensed auctioneer, as part of the ongoing National Numismatic Exhibition. The “extremely rare” collectible is pegged at a base price of `25,000. It was sent by the ‘Philosopher King’ to Maharaja Sir Bhanwar Pal Deo Bahadur of Karauli (Rajasthan) on October 14, 1917.

The letter is a response to King Bahadur’s letter, which had lauded Wadiyar for conducting the Dasara festival in an excellent manner. Wadiyar’s letter runs thus: “My dear Maharaja Saheb, I thank Your Highness most sincerely for your congratulations to me on my Dasara festival and I hope, as you do, that it may prove an augury of the complete victory of the British Arms. With all good wishes for the health of Your Highness and your family. Your Highness’s sincere friend, Krishnaraja Wadiyar.”

Wadiyar ruled the princely state of Mysore from 1894 till his death in 1940. His rule was billed as `Rama Rajya’ by Mahatma Gandhi and the state was described as the ‘Model State’ by the British.

When asked about the price the letter is expected to sell at, Archie Manu, co-director at Marudhar Arts, did not give an exact figure but expressed optimism that it would fetch a high amount. He explained that the base price was fixed at `25,000 because it was the sum paid to the collector (name withheld) who had sold Marudhar Arts the letter. His father and co-director Rajendra Manu was more forthcoming. “We already have internet bidders showing interest (to pay) up to `40,000. I am confident of it (highest bid) crossing `1 lakh.”

The auction will be held between 5 pm and 8 pm on Saturday at The Bell Hotel and Convention Centre. The letter is likely to come up for bidding around 7.30 pm, Manu added. Three photos signed by Wadiyar too will be auctioned.

A novel aspect of this auction is the real-time audio and video bidding that will happen simultaneously on the website www.maruuction.com. “This is the first time in Asia this has been done in a numismatic auction,” Manu claimed.

Coin Fetches `6.25L

One gold and one silver coin (sold as one lot) belonging to the reign of Mubarak Shah, fetched the highest price of `6.25 lakh at the expo on Friday. It was among the 348 coins auctioned. It was bought by a North Indian bidder, said Manu. The same dye has been used on both coins and this is something very unique as usually, different dyes are used, Manu told Express. The base price quoted was `6 lakh.

The coins have a quotation from the Quran on the reverse. Another lot, of one gold and one silver coin from the Sultanate era, fetched `4.25 lakh.

“This pair is exceedingly rare and was being offered on auction for the first time ever,” said Archie Manu. The day’s auctioning was described as “good and satisfactory”.

On day two (Saturday), 579 coins will be up for bidding in two auctions.

three-day National Numismatic Exhibition Opens

The interest shown by the country’s youth in numismatics (study or collection of currency) is heartening, said Jan Lingen, regional secretary (Europe) of the Oriental Numismatic Society of London, on Friday.

Delivering the inaugural address at the three-day National Numismatic Exhibition at The Bell Hotel and Convention Centre, Lingen said every coin tells a story of its own. Lingen, who was born in the Netherlands, is known across the globe for his passion for Indian coins, and has written extensively on the subject.

Rezwan Razack, chairman of the Indian chapter of the International Bank Note Society, said the expo offers a platform for coin dealers and collectors from across the country. Overall, 76 numismatic dealers are taking part in the expo. Among the unique pieces on display are two lithographs on the city’s past, including the 1794 piece ‘The East View of Bangalore with Cypress Garden’.

Coins from the Mughal, the Hindu Medieval and the Sultanate eras, old tokens, medals and paper money are on display. The expo is open from 10 am to 6 pm and entry is free.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by S. Lalitha / February 21st, 2015

Municipal Corporation to light up memorial of 257 freedom fighters

February 18, 2015Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bareilly :

The Bareilly Municipal Corporation is all set to light up the memorial of 257 freedom fighters who laid down their lives during the country’s first war of independence in 1857.

The tower built in their memory is situated in the compound housing the office of divisional commissioner.

Though the memorial was built in 2006, there are no lights at the venue, plunging the place into darkness after evening hours.

The municipal authorities will install high mast lights around the memorial so that the venue is well lit and easily visible to commuters on the road running in front of the park during late evening hours.

After divisional commissioner Pradyuman Yadav took over as Bareilly commissioner, he asked municipal authorities to light up the park where the memorial is situated

“It was disappointing to learn that the tower built in the memory of 257 freedom fighters is lying in darkness. A majority of the locals are unaware about the importance and historical significance of this place,” said Sheeldhar Yadav, municipal commissioner.

Teams of municipal corporation visited the park where the memorial tower is situated on Sunday to survey the area. “We will install white or cream-colour high mast lights around the memorial so that it is able to grab the attraction of commuters moving on the opposite side of roads,” said the commissioner, adding that the work will be completed in the next 10 days.

Explaining the significance of this memorial, Yadav said these 257 freedom fighters were hanged to death on the branches of the banyan tree situated next to tower. During the first revolt of Independence against the British, Bareilly was the headquarter of Rohilkhand region, which included districts of Bareilly, Moradabad, Badaun, Pilibhit, Bijnor, Rampur and Shahjahanpur. On May 31, 1857, the freedom fighters killed British officials, including the principal of Bareilly College, during the revolt.

After their victory, the freedom fighters had made Khan Bahadur Khan, who was the grandson of Hafiz Rehmat Khan, the ruler of Rohilkhand region. Khan formed his own government and ruled the region till May 5, 1858. However, on the morning of May 5, the army of British forces gheraoed the city from all four corners. The British forces defeated the freedom fighters the next day by bombarding the city.

“Khan, along with his trustworthy 257 sepoys, fled to Nepal but British forces, with the help of Nepalese, captured them,” said Abhay Singh, associate professor, department of ancient history and culture at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (MJP) Rohilkhand University.

On March 25, 1860, Khan was sentenced in the district jail of Bareilly, but 257 freedom fighters, who fought with him, were hanged to death with rope on the branches of the banyan tree in the presence of locals. The state government had constructed the tower next to the banyan tree in 2006 in memory of these freedom fighters.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bareilly / by Priyangi Agarwal, TNN / February 16th, 2015

Mughal-era coins donated to AMU by alumnus

February 18, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Aligarh:

Two alumni of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), SM Javed, former principal of Yasin Meo Degree College in Haryana, and his wife Imam Bano, professor at the JN Medical College in the city, have donated their personal collection of historical artifacts – which includes some rare coins dating to the times of Akbar and Jahangir — to their alma mater. The collection, which the academic couple said had been in their family for many generations, contains 58 coins and medals along with documents of the Mughal court known as parwanas. Among the pride of the collection are silver and copper coins minted during the reign of emperors Akbar, Jahangir, Aurangzeb and Shah Alam, believed to be worth a few lakh rupees.

Elaborating on the reasons behind their decision to donate these family heirlooms, Javed, who passed out of AMU in 1968, said, “We could have easily got a tidy sum if we chose to sell these coins at online auction portals. But we decided that we would rather have these priceless items exhibited at the university museum where more people can see and appreciate them.”

A particularly interesting coin in the collection is a chau gosha or four-cornered coin minted in Akbar’s reign. “Akbar was an emperor who experimented consistently with the shape of his coins. Consequently, coins during his reign came in various shapes -round, square as well as hexagonal,” said Javed. The chau gosha bears the emperor’s full name ‘Jalaluddin Akbar’ and also has the names of the four caliphs inscribed on it.

Another unique coin has the words – Zarb-Zafar Urdu inscribed on it, indicating that it was a coin minted for the use of the army during military expeditions. “Urdu was a term used to denote a lashkar or military camp during Mughal times. Imperial marching armies were like moving cities and they needed their own currency while at war,” said Javed.

The collection also includes coins from the time of Queen Victoria, East India Company, King Edward VII and King George V. Besides, there are gallantry medals of World War II. “My uncles were in the British Army during the war. The medals that they won are also a part of the collection,” said Javed.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Eram Agha, TNN / February 11th, 2015

CORRIDORS OF POWER – People queue up to see Abdul Kalam

February 18, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Science & Technologympositiveone@gmail.com

When he visited his friend in Madurai, people waited patiently to cheer him and lined up on the road when he left

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is known for visiting Madurai with a packed schedule as he goes about attending functions at schools, colleges and hospitals in and around the district. And his two-day visit to the Temple city on Friday and Saturday was no exception. Yet, the octogenarian found time to pay a visit to his former ISRO colleague D. Narayanamoorthy’s modest house at Vishwanathapuram fourth street in the city and spent almost an hour enquiring about the health of the former’s 94-year-old father N. Devarajan, who had been suffering from age-related ailments. Though the police had cordoned off the entire locality and prevented vehicular movement, a large number of people gathered outside the house to take a glimpse of the former President. Mr. Kalam entered the house at around 9.20 p.m. and emerged out only at 10.15 p.m. but the crowd waited patiently to cheer him with loud roars, whistles and claps. Then the people lined up on both sides of the road as his convoy passed through with Mr. Kalam waving to the crowd enthusiastically from the brightly lit backseat of an Ambassador car. Mr. Devarajan’s other son D. Sachidanandam said that Mr. Kalam had a great regard and admiration for his father, a retired BSNL engineer. “This is his second visit to our house. Though we did not inform anybody about the visit, people gathered up on seeing the presence of huge posse of policemen and the mobile metal detectors that were placed in our house.”

Media persons who had assembled for a press briefing by the Collector and District Election Officer in Tiruchi last week were surprised when V.Manoharan, who was shifted as the Returning Officer and Revenue Divisional Officer of Srirangam ahead of the by-election, walked in for a brief and informal interaction. The previous evening, the Election Commission had appointed T.G.Vinay, an IAS officer, in his place. With a disarming smile and folded hands, Mr.Manoharan told the reporters that he just wanted to thank all the reporters for their cooperation and coverage of the by-election related news. “I am moving out now, but wish to thank you all. I have no complaints,” he said, without any hint of rancour.

Sticklers for rules in the University of Madras may regret the resignation of the Head of the Department of Management Studies, a member of the university Syndicate a fortnight ago.

The professor, who turned 60 some months ago, was to retire in June as is the University norm. One of the few Syndicate members who ensured that laws and rules governing the university were followed in letter and spirit, he was respected for his knowledge of the statutes.

In the past several years he along with another senior professor questioned the University’s decisions to appoint heads of departments. With another Syndicate election coming up in a few weeks the University circles wonder if the associations will nominate persons who will take forward his legacy of checking violations.

( Mohammed Imranullah S, S. Ganesan, Syed Muthahar Saqaf )

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / February 16th, 2015

Can El-Fateh claim victory for the city?

February 17, 2015Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Science & Technology, Sports, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Students showcase the All Terrain Vehicle, made using a 305cc Briggs and Stratton engine, at the Muffakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology on Monday. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

The All Terrain Vehicle, engineered by 25 students of Muffakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology, will now compete on an international platform

In all of three months, 25 students of a city engineering college toiled to come up with a fine product. Their All Terrain Vehicle, named El-Fateh, will now compete on an international platform and vie for top honours.

Crafted by students of mechanical and production engineering students at Muffakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology (MJCET), the ATV has been selected for Mahindra BAJA SAIENDIA, which will be held in Indore later this month.

Weighing about 270 kg, the ATV can cover 100 feet in 4.03 seconds and has a top speed of 52 km/hr. It uses a 305cc Briggs and Stratton engine, producing a torque of 19.5Nm, which is mated to an Alfa Mahindra transmission. Students involved in the project say the vehicle also has a first-of-its-kind mechanical paddle shifting mechanism, which is aimed at smoother shifts and ease of driving.

“This is a great practical experience for the students and they did a good job. We are confident of doing well in the event,” said Mohd. Viquar Mohiuddin, faculty advisor to the project.

“We spent 14 to 16 hours in the college every day for the last few months. There were times when we even slept in the college premises to complete the deadline of building the vehicle,” said Abdullah Zakria, a final-year mechanical engineering student.

Outlining the vehicle’s strong points, the team’s captain Mohd. Abdul Haq said, “One of the eligibility requirements was that the vehicle has to climb an inclination of 27 degrees but we managed to drive it over step sand boulders with about 40 degrees inclination.”

Cost Rs.4 lakh

The vehicle costs, which amounted to around Rs.4 lakh, and other expenses were borne by the college and private sponsors.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – February 17th, 2015