The 23-hour-and-40-minute countdown for the Sun mission has begun. Aditya-L1 satellite will lift off from Sriharikota on Saturday at 11.50 a.m
Inside: Project director of the ambitious Aditya-L1 Nigar Shaji
Tenkasi :
The contribution of Tamils to India’s Space Odyssey seems to be enduring as a woman scientist from the state’s southern district of Tenkasi will have her tryst with destiny when Aditya-L1 satellite soars into the sky on Saturday.
Nigar Shaji (59), a native of Shengottai, is the project director of the ambitious Aditya-L1, which is the first space-based mission deployed by India to study the Sun.
Speaking to TNIE on Friday, Shaji’s brother S Sheik Saleem said Shaji completed her schooling in English medium at the Shengottai government higher secondary school.
“She did her graduation in engineering from the Tirunelveli government engineering college and joined ISRO in 1987. She resides in Bengaluru and visits Shengottai whenever there are family functions. Shaji’s husband, an engineer, is working in a Gulf country, and her son is also working as a scientist in the Netherlands. Her daughter and our mother are staying with Shaji in Bengaluru. We lost our father 30 years ago,” Saleem said. Incidentally, Chandrayaan 3 project director P Veeramuthuvel is also from Tamil Nadu.
Countdown starts
The 23-hour-and-40-minute countdown for the Sun mission has begun. Aditya-L1 satellite will lift off from Sriharikota on Saturday at 11.50 a.m.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Thinakaran Rajamani, Express News Service / September 02nd, 2023
Meet The Young Muslim Scientists, Engineers Who Contributed To India’s Moon Mission Success
New Delhi:
Meet some of the Muslim scientists and engineers who contributed to India’s moon mission success.
Together with other scientists, they played an important role in the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 project team that wrote a new history in the world of space science and technology, bringing immense laurels to the country.
Because of our scientists, India now ranks counts with the US, Russia, and China – countries that have mastered in spacecraft technology. It would not be wrong to say that India has emerged as one of the “Vishwa Guru” (world leaders) in spacecraft science.
Here are the names and brief biodata of the few Muslims scientists who were part of the Chandrayaan-3 team.
*SANA FIROZ, a B.Tech. (2006-2010) in electronics and communications engineering from Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology at Gorakhpur in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, is among the 54 female scientists and engineers who contributed to the success of the Chandrayaan-3.
Sana, who hails from the small town of Mau, neighbouring Azamgarh, has been working with ISRO at Mohali since 2013.
Husband-wife, Sana Firoz, and Yasser, who were part of the Chandrayaan-3 that landed successfully at the moon’s surface on August 23, 2023.
*Sana’s husband YASSER AMMAR, also a B.Tech.(2006-2010) in electronics and communications engineering from Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology at Gorakhpur in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, was also in the Chandrayaan-3 project team. Yasser is a native of Gorakhpur, the hometown of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Yasser also works at ISRO’s Mohali facility.
Yasser, who has been working with ISRO since 2010, has written several research papers, including one on “Design and development of Silicon Photomultiplier for Photon Counting Applications” published in the Journal of Spacecraft Technology, a prestigious research journal published by ISRO.
Mohammed Sabir Alam .
*MOHAMMED SABIR ALAM, is another engineer, who played an important role in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Holding a B Tech degree inaerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), he has been working at ISRO’s Thiruvananthapuram centre since 2018.
Areeb Ahmad
*AREEB AHMAD, a B.Tech in mechanical engineering (2015-19 batch) from Jamia Millia Islamia, is a young scientist who contributed immensely to the success of the Chandrayaan-3. He hails from Muzaffarnagar district of UP which witnessed one of India’s worst communal riots in August-September 2013 that resulted in 42 Muslims and 20 Hindus being killed. More than 50,000 Muslims were displaced many of whom have yet not returned to their original homes and villages. Posted at ISRO’s Sriharikota facility, Areeb was part of an inspection team before the Chandrayaan-3 was launched in July 14, 2023. The spacecraft landed at the lunar south pole region of the moon on August 23, 2023, in a span of six weeks.
Akhtedar Abbas
*AKHTEDAR ABBAS, a native of the Gonda district in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and posted at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, also worked with the Chandrayaan-3 project, bringing immense pride to the nation. A B.Tech (2006-2010) from Aligarh Muslim University and an M.Tech from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, he has been working with ISRO since March 2015. Before joining ISRO, he worked as a professor at the DIT University in Dehradun and Operations Manager at Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
Ishrat Jamal
*ISHRAT JAMAL, who was also associated with the Chandrayaan-3 project, is a B Tech in electrical engineering from AMU and an M Tech in Power and Control from IIT, Kanpur. He has been working with ISRO for the last six years. He is currently posted at ISRO’s research facility in Bengaluru.
“I am a power electronics engineer with experience in the design and development of space qualified Electronic Power Conditioners (EPCs)/Power Supplies for various Radio Frequency (RF) subsystems, such as Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) and Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs), of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payloads,” he says in a post on a social media platform.
Khushboo Mirza
*Khushboo Mirza, is another Muslim woman scientist, who was involved in the Chandrayaan-3 project. She is a B.Tech. in Electronics Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University and works at the ISRO centre in Greater Noida.
She is an experienced scientist skilled in ArcGIS products. ArcGIS is a family of client, server, and online geographic information system (GIS) software developed and maintained by Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute). Esri is an American multinational geographic information system software company.
Mohd Kashif
*Another Muslim engineer involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission is Mohd Kashif, a B Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia. He joined ISRO at its Bengaluru centre in December 2021. He obtained the top rank in ISRO recruitment in 2021.
Some scientists and engineers like Amit Bhardwaj who have passed out from Jamia Millia Islamia, and Priyanshu Varshney and Sonali Jain from AMU were also in the Chandrayaan-3 team.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Breaking News> Editorial (edited) / by Syed Khalique Ahmed (edited) / August 24th, 2023
Assam’s Nazneen Yasmin and Dr. Baharul Islam Barbhuyan are among the scientists who contributed to making the ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 land on the South Pole of the Moon.
Nazneen Yasmin, who is from a middle-class family of central Assam’s Nagaon district joined the ISRO after cracking the toughest selection test two years ago. The young scientist has been involved in radar tracking in the launch department of ISRO for more than a year.
But the journey was not easy for Nazeen Yasmin. While she was on maternity leave for her firstborn about six months ago, she was recalled for crucial operations at least twice and she took her child along.
Despite facing the challenges of married life and the post-pregnancy phase Nazeen was very passionate about the Chandrayyan-3. Many a time, Nazeen worked from home by keeping her baby in her lap.
Naznin Yasmin, daughter of Abul Kalam Azad and Manzila Begum of Maherpar near Juria in the remote Nagaon district received her appointment letter as a scientist at the ISRO headquarters in Swar Sriharikotha, Andhra Pradesh around two years back.
Naznin Yasmin received her primary education at Nuruddin Furkania JB School, Juria in Nagaon district in central Assam. She performed brilliant results in the matriculation or Class X final exam from Kadamani Town High School in 2007. She passed the Class XII exam from Alphabita Science Junior College in 2009 with letter marks in several subjects in the science stream. She later obtained her B.Tech in Electronics from NITS Mirza College, Guwahati in 2013 and her M.Tech in First Division from Tezpur University.
Along with working in various private scientific institutions, Nazneen passed the National Eligibility Examination under the University Grants Commission in 2018 and also qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship of the Government of India.
Nazneen Yasmin, who had dreamed of becoming a scientist since childhood, said she was inspired by the success of India’s first female astronaut Kalpana Chawla. She urges the younger generation not to think of themselves as weak and prepare themselves to get a place in the leading institutions of the country through hard work.
Also, Nazneen was inspired by the life and work of former President Dr. APJ Abbul Kalam, who came from a family with modest means, a family source said.
On the other hand, Dr. Baharul Islam Barbhuiyan of south Assam’s Hailakandi has proved that all dreams come true if a person chases them and works hard.
Baharul, 45 is a resident of Syedband II Khand village situated about 5 km from Hailakandi town. He is the pride of the Hailakandi district.
Baharul Islam’s name came into the spotlight after India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft made history by landing on the south pole of the moon on Wednesday evening. He is a prominent scientist at ISRO. He is one of the scientists who played an important role in the success of Chandrayaan-3
Speaking to Awaz-the Voice Assam from ISRO headquarters in Bangalore, Baharul Islam said he was proud to be involved in a historic work that set a record in the space world. He said students have always been interested in space and after the successful landing of Vikram on the South Pole of the Moon. “Success of Charayaan-3 will result in an increase of interest and curiosity about space science among the younger generation,” he said.
He earned his B.Sc from SS College, a Masters in Mathematics from Aligarh Muslim University, PhD from Gujarat University before joining the ISRO.
Baharul’s parents were teachers and they created an environment of science at their home from the very early stage of their son. His father, Moinul Haque Barbhuiyan, has passed away. Mother Rehana is old yet she is excited about her son’s achievement.
“There are no words to express my joy at the moment. I never thought such a day of success would come. People have been calling us since Wednesday,” said Baharul’s brother Enamul Haque.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice/ Home> Story by ATV / posted by Aasha Khosa / August 26th, 2023
Students of the Anjuman Institute of Management and Computer Application (AIMCA) have achieved remarkable success by securing top ranks in the annual university examination conducted by Karnataka University Dharwad (KUD).
In the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) stream, Aisha Rufi, daughter of Jameel Hussain Fakardey, secured the first rank with an impressive score of 94.95% marks.
Wasira, daughter of Abdul Jabbar Shingeti, secured the eighth rank with a commendable score of 91.69% marks, while Eifa, daughter of Habibullah Siddibapa, secured the ninth rank with 91.67% marks, as announced in a press release by the Principal of AIMCA.
Anjuman Hamee-e-Muslimeen President Kazia Muzammil, General Secretary Ismail Siddique, Principal Mohammad Mohsin, and other staff members congratulated the students on their remarkable achievement in the university examination.
source: http://www.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / August 23rd, 2023
Aslam Bhai, his wife Sabia and their three doctor daughters : Aliya. Ayesha, Saddika
The monsoon session of the Maharashtra State Legislature is underway in Mumbai. The world has accepted the work of great scholar and social reformer Savitribai Jyotirao Phule, who laid the foundation of women’s education in India. The struggle of Savitribai and her husband Mahatma Phule for women’s education is extraordinary. Opposition MLAs in both Houses demanded that a case be registered against those who used indecent language against Savitribai and Mahatma Phule. lam
Aslam Bhai was ecstatic and top of the world.
“She is the second daughter in your family who has become a doctor, isn’t it?” Aslam Bhai said, “Apart from Aaliya, I also have twin daughters Ayesha and Siddika. Saddika has completed her BDS (Bachelor of Dentistry Science degree from Pune and is now working as a dentist.
Aaliya, the youngest of his daughters, he said, completed her MBBS degree with distinction in Gynecology and Obstetrics from Lokmanya Tilak Medical College, Mumbai. She did her post-graduation in psychiatry at KEM Medical College, Mumbai.
Aslam Bhai was speaking with pride and happiness. Alia’s future husband Dr. Imtiaz Kazi is also a doctor by profession and has done MS Ortho from KEM College.
Aliya, Aslam Bhai’s third daughter
This will probably be the first incident of all three daughters of a middle-class family of Teli Muslim (traditional business of oil) community becoming doctors. Aslam Bhai looked very happy with the success of his three daughters. His wife Sabia also has a big contribution to this success.
Aslam Bhai’s dream of becoming a doctor himself could not be fulfilled due to poverty. Despite having a good knowledge of cricket and being proficient in the game, Aslam Bhai could not even become a cricketer due to financial reasons. But Aslam’s parents and Sabia Shaikh’s grandmother were modern-minded. He believed that girls should go for higher education. Due to this vision, all three girls of this Marathi Muslim family have become doctors setting an example for the community.
Education surely is the cure for most of the problems of Indian Muslims. Through quality professional skills and higher education, the family, community, and ultimately the country can be taken on the path of progress and Aslam Bhai and Sabiya have proved this. Of course, Ayesha, Siddika, and Alia have achieved this position after a lot of hard work.
Aslam Bhai’s parents are small farmers. His father Yunus Mian worked in a small company in Andheri, Mumbai. His mother, Kulsoom, used to sell fish while doing housework and contribute to the household expenses of the large family of four sons, two daughters, and a mother-in-law. On days the couple had to go without food but they never compromised with the education of their daughters. The boys completed their school and college studies, but Aslam could not become a doctor for financial reasons.
His father felt sorry for this till the end. Aslam Bhai took charge of his family by taking small and big contracts for construction works.
Aslam Bhai was married to Sabia, a girl from a cultured family in Andheri. They had three daughters – twins – Ayesha and Siddika and the youngest Aaliya. Despite the financial constraints, Aslam and Sabia dreamed of providing higher education to their daughters. The daughters also worked hard to fulfill the dreams of their parents.
The Sheikh family is proud of the Marathi soil here, the motherland of Palghar district. Aslam Bhai also got help from friends for the higher education of his three daughters. Aslam Bhai says that Hitendra Thakur, first mayor Rajiv Patil, Ajiv Patil, Milind Bhate, Ramesh Koti, Unmesh Kulkarni, and their family members helped him a lot.
All three girls wanted to become cricketers like their father. All three love cricket very much. He also knew that due to the economic condition, his father’s dream of becoming a doctor has been shattered. Seeing the trend of girls’ intelligence, Aslam Bhai and Sabia worked hard to make them doctors, and they succeeded. Now seven-eight girls in this area are pursuing medical studies and consider these three as their role models.
The girl learned and moved on. It is said that if a girl learns, she can improve her generation. In this context, the three doctor daughters of Aslam Bhai and Sabia Bhabhi have the potential to become role models in the Muslim community. A family from the Marathi Muslim Teli community showed how necessary and important women’s education is. This will be the first instance in the Muslim community of Maharashtra that all three daughters in the same family are doctors. That’s why society should express heartfelt gratitude towards this Sheikh family. Hats off to the entire family for their success!
After joining the Times Group in Mumbai, I came to know for the first time about the Teli Samaj, a part of the Muslim community. Rabad, Shahapur, Bhiwandi, Thane City, Palghar, Jawhar, Dahanu, Safale, Sonawe, Dahisar, Manor, Shirgaon, Tarapur Chinchani, Wada, Mathane, Vedhi, Kore, Edwan, Satpati, Mumbai suburb and city, as well as Vidarbha and Muslim Teli Samaj, is found in some areas of Marathwada. Earlier there was a Balutedari system in the village. This community used to do the business of extracting oil from oilseeds. Due to business, this society had the art of mixing with all the castes and religions of the village. Later, the mechanization of oil production took place. And the traditional oil business of this society was destroyed. As a result, people started looking for jobs in the service sector. Some became drivers of vehicles to transport passengers, many started a chicken and egg business, and some became butchers.
No person from the Muslim Teli community could reach the top of politics. That’s why the value of this society in politics is zero. According to OBC movement leader Shabbir Ansari, the Muslim Teli community is now entering higher education. Circumstances teach everything. The son of a rickshaw puller from the same community in Jalna district has become the youngest IAS in the Indian Administrative Service. So Mirza Abdul Karim Naqvi’s daughter Maryam has started 32 libraries for children through the Reading Culture Movement in Aurangabad. Ayesha, Siddika, and Aliya have taken this trend forward.
Islam is probably the first religion to recognize the independent existence of women and their identity. Islam gave many rights and privileges to women. But the self-styled protectors of patriarchal culture in the name of religion have denied these rights and created a different tradition. Muslim women have been given the right by religion to do business to earn money and maintain the family.
Prophet Hazrat Muhammad’s first wife Hazrat Khadija had her own business. She was one of the richest women in Mecca. After the establishment of Islam, she became the first female follower. And even after accepting Islam, his business continued. Other women of the society also followed this tradition. The first book on the Prophet descended in the Cave of Diamonds in Mecca on the 26th day of Ramazan. It only talked about reading and gaining knowledge. Allah gave the message to get knowledge. And this message applies to both men and women.
The author is a senior Journalist. The article was transcribed from Marathi by Sameer Skeikh
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Awaz The Voice / by Sameer Maniar, Mumbai / August 09th, 2023
Wattoo Village (Kulgam District, South Kashmir), JAMMU & KASHMIR:
Hailing from Watoo village, some 20km from main Kulgam town, the twin sisters have also realised the dream of their mother, a school teacher.
NEET UG 2023 Result:
Syed Sabiya had dreamt of becoming an IAS officer until her twin sister, Syed Bisma’s passion for MBBS influenced her to follow the same path. A year later, both sisters have successfully cleared the NEET examination.
The twin sisters, who reside in a remote village in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, are the daughters of a religious cleric who leads prayers in a local mosque.
“Bisma had aspired to be a doctor since her early childhood,” says their father Syed Sajad. “But Sabiya had initially wanted to pursue a career in the Indian Administrative Service. However, she later decided to follow Bisma’s chosen path.”
Originating from Watoo village, situated approximately 20 kilometers away from the main town of Kulgam in south Kashmir, the twin sisters have also fulfilled their mother’s dream, who works as a school teacher.
“While my father always expressed his contentment with whatever decision I made, my mother consistently desired for both of us to become doctors,” says 19-year-old Sabiya. “Numerous factors motivated me to prepare for the NEET, including my mother, my teachers, and a society that holds doctors in high regard.”
Sabiya commenced her education at New Era Private School in their village, while her sister studied at Kids Care Private School in Kapran village, located in the neighbouring Shopian district, where their aunt resided.
After their initial schooling, both sisters enrolled in separate government higher secondary schools in different villages.
Upon completing their 12th grade, the sisters relocated approximately 75 kilometers away to Srinagar for NEET coaching.
Despite hailing from a remote area, Sabiya believes that being from a village is no longer a disadvantage. “The internet has revolutionised everything,” she asserts. “It is as accessible to us as it is to boys and girls in Srinagar.”
Sabiya explains that both sisters prepared for the competitive exams together. “We maintained a regular study schedule of eight hours per day, but it required serious effort,” she shares. “In the days leading up to the exams, we extended our study hours to up to 16 hours a day.”
This year, three candidates, including one boy, from Watoo village, which comprises around 450 families, successfully qualified the NEET exams.
Twenty kilometers away from Watoo, Sumera Mehraj’s father, Mehrajudin Rangrez, finds it difficult to believe that his 21-year-old daughter has cleared the exams.
“Only God knows how challenging it is for a girl from a humble family to qualify for such an exam,” says Mehraj, who works as a driver for the Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam. “I can’t believe that she has actually made it.”
Sumera studied at GNV Ashmuqam for the past six years and narrowly missed selection last year. Mehraj explains that he was encouraged by his superior to send her for coaching this year, which turned her fortune around.
“Last year, she had secured 475 marks. For us, it seemed like the end of the dream,” he recalls. “But the sahib (DC) motivated and helped me to enroll her in coaching.”
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Education / by Bashaarat Masood / Srinagar, June 16th, 2023
Three cousin sisters from Jammu And Kashmir have cracked the NEET UG exam on their first attempt.
Three cousin sisters, Tuba Bashir, Rutba Bashir and Arbish from Nowshera in Srinagar cracked the NEET UG Exam. Their achievement has sparked great celebration within their family. “I feel great that all three of us have cleared NEET together because we went to school and coaching together and we thought we would clear MBBS and become a doctor. I am very happy because I worked hard and got the result,” Tuba Basheer told news agency ANI.
pix: ANI
Rutaba Basheer, who also successfully cleared the NEET, expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards her parents for her achievement.
“We are very happy. We started preparing for the NEET exam from the 11th standard itself. We practiced a lot. The credit for our success goes to our parents; they have supported us since childhood,” Rutaba Basheer.
Urbish also expressed her immense joy. While talking about her journey She said, “I am feeling very happy. There was no doctor in our family, it was my own decision to become a doctor. Our parents supported us completely from the beginning. While preparing, we had to keep in mind that this was the first and last attempt, we had to walk with this determination and keep studying.”
Notably, the National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET UG Result 2023 on Tuesday. This year, in the merit list of the top 50 candidates of NEET UG 2023, forty are male candidates and ten are female candidates. Meanwhile, two candidates – Prabhanjan J of Tamil Nadu and Bora Varun Chakravarthi of Andhra Pradesh have secured the first position in the medical entrance exam with a perfect score of 720 out of 720.
source: http://www.news.abplive.com / ABP Live / Home> Education / by ABP News / ANI / June 16th, 2023
Social media got flooded with congratulatory posts in Assam’s Darrang district, particularly in the minority-dominated areas following the announcement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on 13 June 2023. Among the many qualified students, the success of two candidates assumes significance owing to the fact that their families and their parents’ fellow villagers were murdered on suspicion of being “illegal immigrants”.
Minhazul Abed Nannu and Sayed Nazibul obtained 565 and 589 marks respectively to qualify for the NEET test this year to pursue their dream of becoming a doctor. Both of them are descendants of victims of one the most brutal killings in Assam during the 1983 riots against Bengali Muslims.
They come from Chaulkhua Chapori. The Chapori (a low-lying flood plain area, where people live but not designated as a village) where Bengali-speaking Muslims live was encircled by a mob of Assamese nationalists on 14 February 1983 and chased villagers from 13 villages killing at least 190 people in a single day.
The unofficial count for the casualties was more than 500 at that time.
Nannu’s father, Kazimuddin Ahmed was happy for his son’s success in the coveted entrance exam. Surviving the horrific night and almost drowning while fleeing the mob on a hand boat to cross the Brahmaputra river, Ahmed was of the view that their second generation is proving their worth to the Assamese society by qualifying “some of the toughest exams in the country”.
“Everyone killed and living in Chaulkhuwa Chapori are Indian citizens. The whole massacre was targeted by a conspiracy that planned to exterminate everybody living in these villages. Now, you see, our children’s hard work and success are proving the point that their ancestors were not illegal immigrants,” said Kazimuddin.
Nazibul’s father, Sokman Ali Ahmed, moved to Mangaldai town, the district headquarter of Darrang when he was only 10 years old. Sokman said, “Everything was burning. The boat I was on while fleeing the village almost drowned. But we somehow got to the shore. Since then, we have worked really hard and 40 years down the line my son has qualified for NEET. Despite the burning of every institution, be it educational or religious, the people of Chaukhuwa rebuilt them. The perseverance has now borne fruit.”
It has been 40 years since the Chaulkhuwa Chapori massacre of Muslims in Assam and the place still remains “inaccessible and infrastructure, including educational, health, hygiene etc., extremely poor” as locals say.
Mojammil Hoque from Dhalpur village concurs with the parents of NEET-qualified students, “If there is more government intervention regarding roads, schools and health facilities many students from here would do very well. Two our own people qualified NEET, many would follow.”
While people in the Chapori, where 13 villages went through the pogrom, rejoiced the success of the two students, they also pointed out the “historical injustice meted out against the poor Muslims”.
The Settlers
The greater areas of Chaulkhuwa and Dhalpur, comprising a number of chars, are surrounded by the Brahmaputra river on the eastern and southern sides, and the northern sides are encircled by Nanoi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
Fenced by waterbodies, the riverine sandbars are fertile and ideal for sustaining peasantry displaced by erosions. Following the 1950 massive earthquake in Assam, the Brahmaputra and its tributaries started changing course, eroding huge areas and displacing thousands of people.
“Due to the erosions, people from Morigaon, Kamrup, Barpeta and Goalpara districts started to settle down in Darrang district’s Chaulkuwa and Dhalpur chars in the 1960s. The people who live in riverine chars, their lives are decided by the flow of rivers. When one char submerges underwater, another sand island emerges. People navigate their lives accordingly”, says Saddam Hussein, who hails from nearby Kirakara village.
As eminent journalist and author Sanjay Hazarika pointed out in the much-appreciated book Rites of Passage about the ‘repatriation’ of Bangladeshi immigrants in the 1960s, the question of illegal immigration in Assam had long existed. In 1979, after the death of the MP from Mangaldoi Constituency, Hiralal Patowari, the election commission called for a customary revision of electoral rolls. This provided the state officers with a window to strike down the names of alleged foreigners on the voter lists.
From here, the anti-foreigner movement got the fuel and subsequently, the six-year-long agitation started. As part of the movement, the Muslim residents of Chaukhuwa Char were attacked and massacred by the Assamese ethnic nationalists.
“The people who were once murdered labelling them as Bangladeshis or bideshis, their descendants are proving their Indian nationality by cracking national level competitive exams. So, the question is, why were the people ruthlessly killed on mere suspicion of being foreigners without any investigation? If the blame is on an unruly mob, then why investigations have been suspended and for those who were killed, will there be justice for them? The NRC, the younger generation who are getting into government jobs or qualifying coveted national level exams are proving that those who were murdered were not Bangladeshis but Indian citizens butchered due to certain racial prejudices,” Saddam enquired into the labelling of ‘illegal foreigners’ of Muslims during Assam Agitation.
In the words of Mojammil, “The new generation is bringing the question back to the society by asserting their rights whether those killed in the name of being foreigners do not deserve enquiry into the killings? Whether their families, who have proved their citizenship, do not deserve the Constitutional remedies for justice?”.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob / Home> Features India> Latest> North East India / by Mahibul Hoque
In a special interview with Akhlaque Sk, Taskeen said UPSC is a test of hard work and patience; one has to struggle every day to achieve it. I have cracked the exam on my fourth attempt.”
Taskeen Khan, a 25-year-old from Uttarakhand, has always wanted to be Miss India. But then, in view of the circumstances, she changed her mind, and on her parents’ advice, she turned towards the civil service and finally secured the 736th rank in the UPSC 2022 exam.
Before entering UPSC preparation, she was selected as Miss Dehradun and Miss Uttarakhand in 2016 and 2017, respectively. At that time, Taskeen’s next goal was to become Miss India.
Taskeen had studied 1st to 12th science at Kendriya Vidyalaya Ordinance Factory, Dehradun. In 2013, she passed 10th grade with 92% and 12th-grade science in 2015 with 93%. Taskeen had qualified for NIT, but her father was a Group D employee in the Ordinance Factory, so due to his meagre salary, it was very difficult to manage the hostel fees. Later, she completed her BSc in 2018 from Dayanand Brijendra Swarup College, Dehradun, with 75% marks.
Taskeen reveals that she was so weak in math till the 8th grade that her teacher, Ansari Sir, counselled and said, “You should come to me to learn arithmetic every day. When the father came to know about the math weakness and tuition, he met the sir and asked about the fees in a subdued language. On understanding the inner state of the father, the sir promised to give tuition without fees. The attachment to math gradually increased. Despite excellence in studies, Taskeen said about extracurriculars and active participation in sports that I was a basketball champion in college, played up to the state level, and was also part of NSS. Head of scouting in college and represented India in two international events. Due to my command of the language, I was a national debater and won many prizes in various elocution competitions. I also used to act and joined the theatre during my studies. Later on, I started acting and modelling along with theatre at a professional level, which helped me to bear my educational needs and expenses.
Regarding the preparation for UPSC, Taskeen said that “My journey through UPSC is quite different from others.” After my father retired from service, he asked me to focus on my studies, and I decided to change career paths. In those days, many people used to get in touch through social media because of modelling. I learned about UPSC preparation from a follower during a chat on Instagram. After reading his profile, I came to know that he is UPSC-qualified and is now taking IAS training at LBSNA. Somehow, I tried, got UPSC-related information from him, and googled. I felt that if I worked hard, this could be a very good career option for me. When I discussed the same at home, both my father and Mother encouraged me a lot.
I came to know about Hajj House in Mumbai and Jamia RCA in Delhi. I thoroughly reviewed the NCERT syllabus and previous years’ question papers, cracked the Mumbai entrance exam, and came to Mumbai. The facilities and study environment in Hajj House were quite conducive for me. Then I came back to Meerut due to the lockdown. Appeared in the Jamia entrance exam, came to Delhi in 2020, and joined Jamia coaching. Apart from UPSC Prelims, I wrote Haryana, UP, and Uttrakhand state service exams. My performance was good in all three. But in the prelims of 2021, I failed again, and hence I had to leave Jamia.
Thank God, I got admission to Atiya Foundation Civil Services Coaching in April 2022 due to my good performance in the UP-PCS interview. However, during the prelims and mains of 2022, my father suddenly had to be hospitalised for nearly four months because he suffered from neurological problems. Every two days, I had to travel from Delhi to Meerut. Household expenses, including his modest pension, his sister’s educational expenses, and Abbu’s illness, had created a financial crunch. I was finding everything very difficult, so Sahil sir and his mother, Atiya Aunty, helped me in every way, which I cannot forget for a lifetime.
50 children are selected based on the entrance exam at the Atiya Foundation. No fees are charged for children. I put in a lot of effort and was able to pass the prelims and mains from here, so I went to the SERVOKON Foundation in Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, to prepare for the interview. I tried my best here and cracked the UPSC exam. In response to a question, Taskeen said, My name means “satisfaction,” and I am satisfied with my result. My main goal is to join the service that will be allotted and help my family. We must also consider how we can serve our people and the country with what we have. Taskeen said in the message to the students, I have reached this place because of my parents. Difficulties and struggles are part of human life. While I was giving the prelims and mains, my father was in the ICU. UPSC was a herculean task that required hard work. I cleared this test on my fourth attempt.
Interviewer Akhlaque Sk can be reached at sakhlaque@ymail.com.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Shaikh Akhlaque / June 03rd, 2023
Misbah Anwar Khan, a resident of Jalna city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, has become an inspiring example for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with her remarkable performance in the NEET Exam 2023, scoring 633 out of 720 marks.
Misbah hails from a humble working-class family, with her father running a puncture repair shop in Mujahid Chowk, Jalna City.
Her achievement is a testament to her perseverance and determination. Despite facing challenging circumstances at home, she remained focused on her studies and never gave up. To date, she has only received a scholarship of 15 thousand rupees from the “Seema Khatib” foundation after passing her SSC exam.
The Seema Khatib Medley Pharma scholarship, awarded by an NGO based in Mumbai, supports deserving students who aspire to pursue professional or technical courses such as medicine or engineering.
Misbah’s academic performance has been exceptional even in her SSC Board Exam, where she scored 92% marks, followed by 86% marks in the Class 12 board exam.
Cracking the NEET Exam
Speaking to TwoCircles.net, Misbah shared that she had dreamt of becoming a doctor since childhood. “Alhamdulillah, now I am qualified to pursue this course. I dedicated myself fully to my studies, never wasting time, and remained focused on clearing the NEET Exam.”
“This was my second attempt,” she explained. “The guidance provided by Ankush sir in the tuition class was invaluable to me, and he didn’t charge any fees. I will always be grateful for his educational assistance.”
Due to the high fees associated with coaching and a lack of proper guidance, Misbah couldn’t succeed on her first attempt. However, her enthusiasm caught the attention of Akash Sonawne, who runs the ‘Premier Institute of Science.’ He took her under his wing, providing free coaching at his institute.
Overcoming Hardships
Despite facing challenging circumstances and coming from a financially disadvantaged background, Misbah and her siblings are determined to pursue their dreams through education. Misbah is the third child among four siblings. Her elder sister is married, while her brothers are currently studying in 12th grade and the first year of their degree program.
Misbah’s father, Anwar Khan, completed his education up to the 9th standard. Due to hardships at home, he started his small shop repairing vehicle tyre punctures. The family lives in a one-bedroom house that belonged to Anwar’s grandfather.
“I understand the importance of education,” Anwar told TwoCircles. “That’s why I want my children to study. My eldest son wants to help me after his college hours, but I don’t allow him to do that. I don’t want him to get distracted. I have been running my tyre puncture repair shop for the last 30 years.”
Running the household and bearing the educational expenses of his children is burdensome for 53-year-old Anwar Khan. However, he has full faith in Allah and manages to earn between Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 15,000 from his work, with the potential to earn up to Rs. 20,000 during prosperous times.
Felicitation and Honors for Misbah
After learning about Misbah’s success in the NEET exams, prominent members of Jalna visited their humble abode to extend their congratulations and good wishes. Her school management also invited her for a felicitation ceremony.
Iftikhar Bagwan, the secretary of Anjuman E Ishat E Talim’s Urdu High School & Junior College, Jalna, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I thank the Almighty for rewarding Misbah’s hard work and sincerity. I also extend my thanks to everyone who prayed for Misbah’s success. Her achievement is a feather in our institution’s cap. Misbah has always been a bright student and has once again excelled in NEET, making us proud.”
Misbah’s father, Anwar Khan, overflowing with joy, shared that, tears of happiness filled their eyes upon hearing the news of her success. “I thank Almighty for showering his blessings on me and my children,” he said emotionally.
“We are looking forward to admitting her to medical college. Misbah has won a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000, and some well-wishers have promised to assist with my daughter’s higher education. So, I am hopeful that we will be able to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor,” he added.
Misbah’s aspiration as a future doctor is to provide medical aid to the underprivileged.
Anwar Khan can be reached at 8806342962.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News / by Imran Inamdar, TwoCirlce.net / July 14th, 2023
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