Category Archives: Community Involvement / Social Issues

Hyderabad: MANUU-made films bag top honours at CEC UGC Festival

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

The film ‘Alzahravi’ bagged the best film award in the category of Best Visual Effects and Animation whereas ‘Polymer, the Promise of PDMS’ has been recommended for a citation.

Hyderabad: 

Two films of the Instructional Media Centre, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) produced under the MANUU Knowledge Series have won accolades at the 24th CEC UGC Educational Video Festival organized by Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), an Inter-University Centres set up by the University Grants Commission.

The film ‘Alzahravi’ bagged the best film award in the category of Best Visual Effects and Animation whereas ‘Polymer, the Promise of PDMS’ has been recommended for a citation under the Best Film Documentary award category along with the other three films.

According to Rizwan Ahmad, Director, IMC, the film Alzahravi by Omer Azmi, Producer IMC explores the life, struggles, and achievements of the renowned scholar, Alzahravi, and his contributions to the field of medicine. 

Polymer, the Promise of PDMS by Obaidulla Raihan, Cameraperson, is a thought-provoking film based on a research output by researchers from the Central University of Hyderabad, where they have developed a polymeric material which is graphene base media mists smart composite material which will revolutionise the technology in near future.

Prof Syed Ainul Hasan, the Vice-Chancellor, congratulated the centre on this achievement and said IMC is steadily gaining recognition for its unique and thought-provoking approach to digital media. Appreciating the Media Centre Team’s effort who met him today at his office the Vice-Chancellor expressed the hope that the MANUU knowledge Series will continue to inspire and educate audiences and contribute to the growth and development of Urdu and dissemination of knowledge.

Rizwan Ahmad said both films were also selected previously at various film festivals nationally and internationally. This honour is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the directors of the films and the entire team. MANUU Knowledge Series aims to promote the Urdu language and culture, as well as highlight important issues and stories through the medium of film, a press release said.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Indo Asian News Service (IANS) / April 12th, 2023

Jallianwala Bagh: A symbol of Muslim, Hindu, Sikh Unity

Jallianwala Bagh, (Amritsar), PUNJAB:

Jalianwala Bagh
Jalianwala Bagh

In popular memory, historical narratives are more often than not laced with silence, neglect, nostalgia and heroism thus blurring the line between history and fiction. Public memory tends to remember the selective events according to ideological or political conveniences while the whole narrative in its context is often forgotten.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre is one such event which stands out in public memory as a solitary incident. Popular imagination puts the killing of hundreds of Indians on 13th April, 1919 at Amritsar as an event completely disassociated from time and space. It is needed that the massacre should be read in context with the time and space.

Why did the people gather at Jallianwala Bagh?

Indian leadership in general supported the war efforts of the British during the World War – I (WWI) on a promise that the country would be granted self rule or some kind of political autonomy after the war would be over. The British, after the war, backtracked on the promise. Rather to check the nationalist voices brought a Rowlett Act in force which enabled police to imprison Indians without evidence. Several Indian Muslims were aggrieved at the humiliation of Turkey and the British believed that it was their only challenge. With the Rowlett Act at their disposal these Pro-Khilafat voices could be easily suppressed. They did not foresee the possibility of Hindus joining hands with the Muslims, and vice versa and pose a problem for their colonial rule.

An artist’s depiction of the scene of massacre

On 18th March, 1919, the Rowlett Act was passed. Mahatma Gandhi along with other nationalist leaders termed it a Black Act and called for a protest movement against the same. The day chosen for protests and strikes was the 30th March that was later changed to 6th April. In Delhi a protest was held on 30th, because of lack of communication, and the police did not hesitate from firing upon the unarmed people. More than 50 protestors were killed in Delhi. The British had cleared their intention of using violence against the non-violent protesters.

On 6th April protests and strikes were held across the country, yet Punjab displayed an exemplary zeal of nationalism. What disturbed the British most was the fact that orthodox Hindus of Arya Samaj and orthodox Muslims of different Wahabi and pan-Islamist organizations joined hands against the British. The most popular leaders of Punjab at the time – Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal, were prohibited from making public statements but still unity could not be broken. At different places people were fired upon but the nationalist sentiments could not be killed.

On April 9, Muslims came out to celebrate Ram Navami across Punjab. This was becoming too much for the British. In Amritsar Saifuddin and Satyapal oversaw a grand Ram Navami procession where Muslims were as zealous as Hindus were. It led the British to arrest the two leaders and sent them to an unknown location. The people gathered at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to register their protest and they were fired upon. Many were killed. The fear of a Hindu-Muslim unity was so frightening for the British that even after Jallianwala Massacre they arrested and killed Muslims for participating in Ram Navami celebrations.

Ghulam Jilani, who was an Imam of a mosque, was arrested on 16th April with Khair Din for leading the Ram Navmi processions. Police tortured them in the most horrific and inhuman fashion by inserting sticks up in their anus until their excreta and urine would not come out. Khair Din died of the torture while Jilani survived to narrate the ordeal. More than a hundred Muslims were tortured in this manner to celebrate Ram Navmi. 

On the other hand in Lahore, on receiving this news, in an unprecedented manner more than 25,000 Hindus and Muslims gathered in Badshahi Mosque and Hindu leaders, like Rambhaj Datta, addressed the people from the pulpit of the mosque. In Lahore, not only the British used bullets but also brought their loyalists into the picture.

A few sold out Indians like the leaders of Muslims League issued statements that allowing Hindus into the mosque and addressing from pulpit amounted to the sacrilege. Still, most of the Muslims in Punjab were supporting the war cry of the protestors: Hindu-Musalman ki Jai (Victory to Hindu-Muslims).

Visitors clicking pictures at Jallianwala Bagh

It was noted in a government report tabled at the British Parliament, “It (Hindu-Muslim) union had only one purpose, a combined attack on the government.”

Meanwhile, on 13 April, the Baisakhi Day, a meeting was scheduled at Jallianwala Bagh, near Golden Temple, to protest the arrests of Saifuddin and Satyapal. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs gathered at the Bagh. Colonel Dyer with his troops entered the place and fired upon the unarmed protesters. A gory story of blood, death and massacre happened that each and every Indian knows by heart. Hundreds of Indians died. The tale of this massacre became folklore and inspired generations of revolutionary Indians like Bhagat Singh, Ram Mohammad Singh Azad and others. But, what we miss out is that the British did not stop at this. Punjab remained a laboratory of British atrocities.

The next day, April 14, people in Gujranwala woke up to find a beheaded calf at a public place. It did not take a rocket science to decipher a sinister plot to cause enmity between Hindus and Muslims. People gathered and protested such malicious attempts of the government to disturb the peace. Frustrated at their failed attempt and seeing that the unity has strengthened even further, army airplanes were called in to bomb the city. Yes, you are reading it correctly.

Within two decades of the invention of aero planes and less than a decade of its first military use in WWI when the technology was novel even for armies the British used it upon the innocent civilians of Punjab. A fleet of three planes dropped bombs and fired machine guns on the city and adjacent rural areas. Bombs were dropped at schools, hostels, mosques, marriage ceremonies etc. The government report specifically mentioned that the district is dangerous because followers of Arya Samaj and orthodox Muslim Wahabis like Fazal Ilahi and Zafar Ali Khan had joined hands. An armoured train with machine guns mounted in it was also used to kill along the railway tracks in Gujranwala.

The tales of torture, suppression and killings was repeated allover Punjab. While Jallianwala Bagh rightly gets its mention in our books and survived the public memory the causes behind it and a long trail of violence proceeding and succeeding the event have been forgotten. The very fact that the British used their worst form of violence to counter Hindu-Muslim unity itself speaks about the power of this unity. We need to remember the cause for which our forefathers and foremothers had laid down their lives.

(Saquib Salim is a historian-writer)

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Saquib Salim / 2021

Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association’s election held, Saquib Raza Khan elected new President

KARNATAKA / Doha, QATAR :

Doha (Qatar): 

The Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA) held its annual general body meeting on April 8th, during which elections were conducted for the executive committee for 2023-24.

The program, held at MRA Restaurant in Doha, began with a recitation of the Holy Quran by Master Rehan Rashid.

Following the dissolution of the executive committee for 2022-23, Ahmed Saeed Assadi, the election commissioner, conducted the process of electing the new committee members.

The KMCA has announced that Saquib Raza Khan has been elected as the new president, while Suhaib Ahmed has been elected as the new vice president. Shahim Mohammed Sheikh is the new general secretary, Khaleel Ahmed is the new treasurer, Mohammed Yunus is the new joint secretary, Sayed Ashfaque is the new cultural secretary, and Shakeel Mohammad is the new sports secretary.

In his acceptance address, the newly elected president, Saquib Raza Khan from Mangaluru, put forth the future plans of the KMCA. He also stated that the other office-bearers would be elected soon during the first meeting of the new executive committee.

The outgoing president of KMCA, Fayaz Ahmed, welcomed the gathering, while outgoing general secretary Suhaib Ahmed presented the annual report of the events organized by the KMCA in the last year. Khaleel Ahmed presented the treasure report. Abdullah Moideen was the Master of Ceremony. 

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Ahmed Saeed Assadi.

Following the elections, a quiz contest was held, and the top five winners were awarded prizes.

The KMCA also held an Annual Iftar for its members and heads of other organizations, which was attended by approximately 150 people.

Dignitaries from other associations and community leaders, including Hassan Chougle and Ikhlas Farid, ICC President Manikantan, and officials of the ICC, ICBF, and ISC Subramanian Hebbagilu and Deepak Shetty, graced the occasion.

Leaders of Karnataka-based organizations such as Mahesh Gowda, Ravi Shetty, Arun Kumar, Dr. Sanjay Kuduri, Abdul Razzak, Ibrahim Beary, Mumtaz Hussain, Abdul Rahiman Saab, and Abdullah Khatri were also present.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / April 11th, 2023

M Iqbal Manna reinstalled as President of the Giants Group of Udupi for 2023

Udupi, KARNATAKA:

Udupi: 

M Manna Iqbal was on Monday reinstalled as the President of the Giants Group of Udupi for the year 2023, in a ceremony held at the Woodlands Hotel here in the city.

Dinkar K Amin, a Central Committee member of the Giants Welfare Foundation was present as the Chief Guest of the event while Vasudev Mahale, Unit Director of Federation 6 was the installation officer at the ceremony.

Former Federation President Jayarajprakash was the keynote speaker at the event while Dr. Junaida Sulthana, Academic Head, MET, Udyavara, Udupi, Tejeshwar Roa, Federation vice-president, and Lakshmikanth Beskoor, Federation coordinator were present as the guests of honor.

Four women – Dildar Akbar – Special Needs School, Udupi, Sushma Gopalkrishna – Police Inspector Udupi Women’s police station, Bindu Thankappan, Advocate, Shaila Amanna, Asha Nilaya, Udupi – were also felicitated for their outstanding services and selfless contribution towards the society.

The new committee of the Giants Group Udupi was also formed. Yashwant Salian and Vincent Saldana were appointed vice-presidents, Roshan Ballal. Director of Administration, Vadiraj, Joint Director of Administration, Ganesh Ural, Director of Finance, Dayanand Kalmady, Joint Director of Finance. Prabhakar Bangera, Liyaqath Ali, Vinay Kumar Poojary, Zeenath, Geetha Rao, and Diwakar Sanil took oath as Directors.

Roshan Ballal presented the annual report while Vivek Kamath proposed a vote of thanks and compered the event.

The event was followed by an Iftaar arrangement for the members and audience.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavalii / by Vartha Bharati / April 18th, 2023

No Less Than Psychological War: Saltanat Praween Cracks UPPCS In 4th Attempt

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH:

Highlights

  • Lucknow’s Saltanat Praween secures 6th rank in UPPCS-2022 in her fourth attempt
  • Her mother believes she will pass the toughest of all, UPSC CES, as well
  • Preparing amid a joint family atmosphere boosted her support system
Saltanat Praween (in the middle) with her parents (Credit: Saltanat Praween)

“Khudi ko kar buland itna/Ke har taqdeer se pehle/Khuda bande se khud pooche/Bata, teri raza kya hai?” an old saying that completely fits Saltanat Praween’s journey in delivering as one of top scorer in the UPPCS-2022 exams.

A national-level volleyball player, Ms. Praveen, who is from a lower-middle-class family in Lucknow, cracked the UP PCS exams after giving in 7 years of her life and in her 4th attempt. She terms the exams “no less than psychological war”.

Ms. Praween was ranked sixth and got the post of deputy collector.

Saltanat Praween, UPPCS-2022, 6th Rank

Journey So Far

Speaking with Indian Masterminds about her success, Ms Praween got emotional and said, “Like others, my journey was also full of struggles. But what matters now is the win that came with overcoming all those hurdles that made me what I am today.”

She was a national-level volleyball player until 2016, and it was later that she moved toward civil services.

In her previous three PCS attempts, Saltanat, who originally hails from Salemgarh of Tamkuhi Raj Tehsil in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh, could not reach the Interview Round.

She had succeeded in qualifying for UPPCS Forest (ACF/RFO) Interview round though, but could not make it to the final list lagging by just 10 marks.

“It was heartbreaking and I nearly lost hope. But something kept me going,” remembers Ms. Praween, who now lives in Aliganj, Lucknow, in a 35-member joint family.

Her father runs a general store and her mother is a housewife. She is the only girl child of her parents.

Sultanat Praween, who was always a meritorious student and a good sportsperson, completed her primary education in Salemgarh. After completing her Intermediate, she completed her B. Tech in Computer Science (CS) from Integral University, Lucknow in 2016.

Saltanat Praween with her family

Preparing for PCS

She started preparation after completing B. Tech and cleared the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) exam from Jamia Millia University for civil services coaching in the 2021 session.

She focused on topic-specific targets. “Until I achieved my target, I never stopped studying the topic,” she said.

Ms. Praween, a CS student, had to take up Anthropology as her optional subject as CS was not available.
What went down for her though were the objective-type questions in the preliminary exam.

“I could not succeed earlier in Prelims, though my Mains were better. One thing that also contributed to repeated failures was I never went in with an integrated approach,” Ms. Praveen accepts.

She says anyone preparing for the civil services should prepare for prelims and mains together.

“One does not need to stop socialising or be cocooned in a room but just don’t lose your prime focus — the studies, and also minimise social media use.


No Less Than Psychological War: Saltanat Praween Cracks UPPCS In 4th Attempt  - Indian Masterminds - Bureaucracy, Bureaucrats, Policy, IAS, IPS, IRS,  IFS, Civil Services, UPSC, Government, PSUs complete information, NEWS,  Transfers,
Saltanat with her father and his friend

Word of Advice

Her suggestion to all civil service aspirants is to have a support system that will always motivate and stand by them.

“This exam is no less than a psychological war, where sometimes you feel disheartened and distracted. But if you have the right support system and people who care about you, then you will certainly overcome all those difficulties,” Ms. Praween said.

She said while studying one shouldn’t count the hours. “Studying fewer hours doesn’t matter if the focus is unwavering. Nothing is unachievable if you are determined and have faith in yourself,” she added.

source: http://www.indianmasterminds.com / Indian Masterminds / Home> Features> UPSC Stories / by Ayodhya Prasad Singh / April 11th, 2023

Bearys Chamber of Commerce and Industry holds Iftar get-together in Mangaluru

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA:

Mangaluru: 

Bearys Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) on Monday organized an Iftar get-together at the Taj Vivanta Hotel here in the city.

Moulana Shoaib Nadvi was present as the Chief Guest of the event that was presided over by BCCI Chairman SM Rasheed Haji.

In his address, Moulana Shoaib Nadvi spoke about the importance and benefits of Zakat (Charity) – one of the five pillars of Islam.

He also explained how Zakat was used to overcome poverty with a centralized distribution system during the time of the Islamic regime.

Arrangements were made for Iftaar followed by dinner during the event.

Deputy Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly UT Khader, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) Chancellor Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, Former Chancellor of Kannur University Prof. Dr. M. Abdul Rahman,, former MLA Moideen Bava, Unity Hospital’s Dr. C.P. Habibur Rahman, Dr. Abdul Rahman of Highland Hospital, Dr. Yusuf Kumble of Indiana Hospital, Dr. Ali Kumble, Dr. Ismail Hejamady, Dr. U.T. Iftikhar Ali, Dr. Hussain Kunhi, Dr. Arif Masood, Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Dr. Sihab Hasan, Abdul Razaq Mukka, Feroz Bawa, Rahim Karnire, C. Mahmood Haji, Haji Ibrahim Kodijal, P.A. Abdul Hamid, Hasif Sufi Khan, SM Mustafa, former mayor K. Ashraf, K.M. Sharif, Muhammad Kunhi, Abdul Razak of Jamiatul Falah, Abubakar Siddique, Ziauddin Ahmed, Badruddin Panambur, Haider Parthippadi, and others were present during the event.

BCCI General Secretary Muhammad Imtiaz, Treasurer Mansoor Ahmed Azad, Shaukat Shouri, Nisar Fakir Muhammad, Goltamajlu Abdurrazzak, Abdul Rauf Puttige, and others were also present.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / April 10th, 2023

Australia-Returned Young Muslim MLA Makes A Mark In Rajasthan By Improving Social Conditions In Meo-Dominated Region

Sikri Village (Nagar Pahari Tehsii, Bharatpur District), RAJASTHAN:

Wajib Ali.

Jaipur:

A successful young Indian Muslim educationist from Australia, who has made his way into the Rajasthan Assembly as an MLA with the dream to bring about a change at his native place, has made a mark by improving social conditions in the Meo-dominated region in the eastern part of the state. The MLA from Nagar constituency in Bharatpur district, Wajib Ali, 40, defies the image of typical politicians.

Born in a Meo Muslim family of Nagar block’s Sikri village, Ali had left his native place to pursue higher studies in 2005, when he first went to New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia and later migrated to Australia. He came back to Bharatpur in 2013 and contested the State Assembly election as a National People’s Party candidate, but he lost to Bharatiya Janata Party’s sitting MLA Anita Singh.

MLA from Nagar constituency Wajib Ali with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

Ali has a thriving real estate business in Australia and he runs eight colleges and a school, along with his two brothers, in the cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. He led a successful election campaign in the rural heartland during the December 2018 Assembly polls and was elected an MLA on the Bahujan Samaj Party’s ticket from the Nagar seat.

In 2019, Ali defected to the ruling Congress along with five other BSP MLAs while declaring that all of them wanted to ensure the State Government’s stability. The move came amid reports of the BJP trying to lure the BSP MLAs in a bid to repeat a Karnataka-type upheaval in Rajasthan. Ali and  his fellow MLAs also supported Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during the political crisis in 2020, caused by the rebellion of the then Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, and voted for the Congress candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections held in June 2022.

Ali was later appointed the Chairperson of the Rajasthan State Food Commission in August 2022. He has been active in the Meo-dominated region since 2013, extending support to the people’s struggles and raising their issues with the Government authorities.

Ali says that he had come back to India with the desire to make a difference in people’s lives and improve the social conditions in eastern Rajasthan. “This is the most backward area in Rajasthan and the basic facilities are lacking here. Moreover, the people belonging to the Meo Muslim community are treated with suspicion,” he says.

In his election campaign, Ali succeeded in convincing the voters about his honest intentions. “People from all castes voted for me in Nagar constituency, where Muslims comprise 20% of population. The voters were convinced that I had sacrificed my comforts in Australia to do something for them,” he says with a sense of satisfaction.

“Moreover, I have defeated the idea of communalism and hate campaign, which is used for climbing up the ladder in politics. Common people have reposed faith in me,” Ali says. In the election results, BJP’s Anita Singh was relegated to the third position, while Samajwadi Party’s Nem Singh was the runner-up. Having secured 62,644 votes, Ali won with a margin of 25,467 votes.

Ever since his election, Ali has focused on education and health in his constituency in order to raise the standard of living of the villagers. “I have been working for improving the quality of Government education system. Private education is not a solution. Even if I open schools and colleges in Nagar, it cannot serve the numbers. Only a robust Government education set-up can benefit everyone,” he points out.

As regards the health sector, the condition of Government facilities was earlier pathetic in the villages, where 95% of the women’s delivery cases were referred to private hospitals. Ali’s interventions at various levels have helped improve the situation. He has also brought relief to Muslims and other marginalised groups by raising their issues on various forums.

Ali has drawn the attention of Government authorities to the law and order situation and corruption in various offices with public dealing. He has sought to utilise his position as an MLA for betterment of society and setting the things correct on various occasions. He recently raised the issue of suspension of an Urdu teacher, Amin Kayamkhani, with the Education Minister when the teacher drew the Minister’s attention to the Urdu subject being sidelined in the schools.

As a result of Ali’s sustained efforts, a large number of announcements were made for the development of the Nagar Assembly constituency in the 2023-24 State Budget presented in the Assembly last month. The announcements included construction of a hostel for girls belonging to minority community and a new sub-district hospital, establishment of an Agriculture College, installation of a faecal sludge treatment plant and upgradation of Khoh and Jaluki village panchayats as sub-tehsils.

The selfless and dedicated work by Ali in the eastern Rajasthan region both before and after his election as an MLA has set an example of how the young educated Muslims can bring a change by entering the multifarious fields of public service. The common people in Nagar constituency, who have reposed faith in Ali’s leadership, are hopeful that he will set new standards of public service and bring a new identity to the backward region.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> News> Society / by India Tomorrow Correspondent / March 31st, 2023

Prof. Muzaffar Assadi Elected As President Of Indian Social Science Academy

Shirva (Udupi Taluk) / Mysore: KARNATAKA:

Mysore/Mysuru: 

Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, former acting Vice-Chancellor and currently Dean of the Faculty of Arts and senior-most Professor at the University of Mysore, was elected unopposed  as the President-Elect of the Indian Social Science Academy for the year 2024-2025. He was formerly its Vice-President.

Indian Social Science Academy (ISSA) was founded in 1974 with the goal of evaluating, integrating and disseminating scientific knowledge about man, society and nature in relation to India’s specific circumstances and fostering harmony between social sciences, natural sciences and technology. ISSA is the only institution in the world that defines science as social and encompasses all fields of natural, social and behavioural sciences.

ISSA organises the Indian Social Science Congress (ISSC) every year with the goal of discovering, developing and disseminating science of Nature. The UGC, DST, ICSSR, ICHR, ICPR, INSA, ISRO, CSIR and ICMR are supporting ISSA.

Prof. V.K.R.V. Rao, one of the greatest economists in India and founder of the Delhi School of Economics, Institute of Economic Growth, and Institute of Social and Economic Change in Bengaluru, is among its former Presidents.

A Professor in the Department of Studies in Political Science, Prof. Assadi is also the Chairperson of  the Department of Studies in Public Administration, University of  Mysore and in-charge Chairperson, Department of English.

Prof. Assadi is a native of Shirva, Udupi Taluk, and a former student of St. Mary’s Institutions and Hindu Higher Elementary School in Shirva. He graduated from Mangalore University,  JNU, New Delhi  and University of Chicago.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / (headline edited) / April 10th, 2023

Dheeraj Mishra, Seemi Pasha Win Ramnath Goenka Awards for 2019 Reports for ‘The Wire’

NEW DELHI:

Both journalists have won in the Government and Politics category. While Mishra’s piece has won in ‘digital’, Pasha’s is the ‘broadcast’ division winner.

Dheeraj Mishra (left) and Seemi Pasha.

Note: This article was originally published on December 29, 2021, when the awards were announced, and was republished on March 22, 2023, when Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud handed them out.

New Delhi: 

Journalists Dheeraj Mishra and Seemi Pasha have won the Ramnath Goenka Award in the Government and Politics category for reports which were published in The Wire, in the ‘digital media’ and ‘broadcast media’ divisions respectively.

Established in 2006, the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, is one of the most prestigious honours for journalists in India.

Dheeraj Mishra’s report focused on MPs’ unusually high expenses while travelling, for which he filed “30 to 35 RTIs in each ministry,” tackling enormous data.

It found that violating the guidelines prescribed for streamlining parliamentary committee study tours and cutting down expenses, members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have spent crores of taxpayers money on frequent outstation tours.

“The story had a noticeable impact as the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued instructions to sharply curtail [such] expenditure,” the Indian Express noted in its announcement of the award.

twitter.com/seemi_pasha

Seemi Pasha’s video delved into Jamia Nagar, which in late 2019, developed into a neighbourhood attracting communal hatred from those opposed to the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The otherness of the area was heightened with a brutal police crackdown on students of Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019.

Even as stories of police brutality on students of Jamia Millia Islamia continue to unravel, the blame is being slowly being shifted to outsiders or locals residing in nearby areas of Batla House, Shaheen Bagh, Zakir Nagar – localities which are loosely referred to as Okhla or Jamia Nagar, the documentary found.

Titled Inside Jamia Nagar, the documentary sought answers for essential social questions. “This is a prominent Muslim ghetto in south Delhi and a place that is often viewed with suspicion. But why is that? What kind of people live here?” it asked.

source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Media / by The Wire Staff /edited by an additional picture via twitter / March 22nd, 2023

Riyadh’s Karimnagar Committee – Unsung heroes serving in rain or shine

Karimnagar, TELANGANA / Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA:

Karimnagar Committee held an annual Iftar party on Friday at a resort on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Jeddah: 

In a world of constant connection through social media and cell phones, many expatriates have likely found themselves still feeling disconnected from those around them. Many NRIs don’t even know the people who are from the same niegbourhoods living abroad along with them.

Connecting with compatriots from the homeland not only strengthens bonds within the community in alien land but also renders service to them in rain or shine, this is the concept of the Karimnagar Committee.

Riyadh-based Karimnagar Committee, an expatriate organization that looks after NRIs from Karimnagar town of Telangana is one of the sincere and old organizations in the Saudi capital that has been serving the needs of Karimnagar NRIs for over two decades.

Interestingly it’s the maiden community organization of the Karimnagar NRIs not only in Saudi Arabia but the rest of the Gulf countries yet maintains a low profile and is far away from any publicity.

Karimnagar Committee as it is widely known among the NRIs hailing from the town and working primarily in Riyadh.

In fact, it was the one that facilitated employment opportunities for scores of newly arriving Karimnagar youth in search of green pastures. It imparted job orientation skills among youth before being recruited thus making it dearer to many youngsters in the town.

Only the “Karimnagar” tag is a criterion to find shared accommodation in Hara for unemployed youth of the town.

Ramzan Packs, an initiative kickstarted 20 years ago saw numerous beneficiaries from low income families in need during the holy month of Ramadan.

Karimnagar Committee holds its annual Iftar gathering in a sheer spiritual environment away from so-called leaders and officials. This is the only gathering that enthusiastic Karimnagaris come together, according to organisers.

In a joyful Ramadan atmosphere, the Karimnagar Committee held an annual Iftar party on Friday at a resort on the outskirts of Riyadh, in which it was keen on meeting all Karimnagaris as one family around Dastarkhwan or Iftar mats.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Middle East / by Irfan Mohammed / April 09th, 2023