Category Archives: Education

Bhatkal: Winners of Best Exhibition 2015 announced

Education, , , ,

Bhatkal, KARNATAKA :

Bhatkal:

An inter-school and collegiate science, Trade & Commerce, Art & Literature, History and Culture & tradition exhibition-cum-competition for students was held at Best Academy recently.

The competition was held in many domains like, applied mathematics, applied physics, applied chemistry, environmental science, building science and arts. The students put up about 60 exhibits.

There were more than 25 number of working models on display as part of the exhibition. Among them was a model depicting a modern form of cement factory, Gas pipelines, telephone tower etc.

There was also a work experience exhibition which saw many students making useful items from waste at home.

As the organiser had divided exhibition in two parts i.e Science and general category (Trade & Commerce, Art & Literature, History and Culture & tradition).

The following members of Team won awards in the mentioned categories are below:

Science category Primary school: Mohammed Azhar, Mohammed Sareeth and Mohammed Zakwan from Anjuman Noor Primary School  won the First prize, while their school-mates Abdul Munim, Mohammed Madani, Mohammed Suhail and Nafila Tonse, Sara SM, Simra SM won second and third place respectively in the Science category.

Science category High school: Danish Maldar, Mohammed Shamveel, Arsalan of Anjuman Boys High School won first place, while Mamata g Kanchugar, Karthik, Pavan P Hebbar of The New English School bagged second place and Mohammed Afzal Dafedar and Syed Ayaaz Maliki of Islamia Anglo Urdu High School, Bhatkal won third prize in Science category.

Science Category College School: Kashif Khan and Mohammed Atif Khan of Anjuman Institute of Management and Technology Bhatkal bagged first place, while Nazeef Maneger from Anjuman Degree College and PG center Bhatkal won second place and third place was bagged by two college, Beena Vaidya Pre-University College (Hajira Tahreem and Meghana Naik) and Anjuman Degree College (Nagesh Prabhu, Nagaraj Hegde and Damodar Gond).

General Category School Level (Trade & Commerce, Art & Literature, History and Culture & tradition): Thameena Abeer, Ameena Farzeen and Khatija Marwa of Anjuman Girls High School, Bhatkal won first place.

General Category College Level (Trade & Commerce, Art & Literature, History and Culture & tradition): Adeeba Abdul Jaleel Ruknuddin, Yosha Matta and Aliya Kola of Best Academy bagged first place while Mohammed Sufiyan of Anjuman Pre-University College, Bhatkal and Abdul Muqsit, Abaan Musba and Saubaan Sada of Anjuman Institute of Management and Computer Application, Bhatkal won third place in General Category respectively.

Fruit and Vegetable Carving contest: Firdous Aliya, Nasuha Tahseen and Salifa of Best Academy won title in School category, while Suwaiba Sada, Aysha Zulain and Zaima Saniya of Anjuman Institute of Management and Computer Application, Bhatkal bagged first place in College category.

Table Decoration contest : Karshan, Fathima Nujba and Gule-e-Simran of Anjuman Degree College for Women, Bhatkal won 1st prize, Aysha Eifa Kola, Nuha SP and Afiya Damudi of Best Academy, Bhatkal and Lubaina SM, Zainab Shima and Umme Rumaan of Anjuman College for Women, Bhatkal won 2nd and 3rd prize respectively.

On the occasion, a student of Bhatkal Women center , Aysha Zikra Shabandri displayed her Paintings which express emotions on canvass.

The event was successfully organised with discipline manner.

Best Academy’s Principal Javeed Hussain Armar, Headmistress Ruman SIddiqua,Staff co-rdinators Waqas Barmawar, Imran Muallim, Shadab Beary, Students co-ordinators’ Musab Ahmed Abida, Abaan Damda, Siddique Sada and many others were present.

source: http://www.sahilonline.org / Sahil Online / Home> Coastal News / by Mubashir Hallare / Tuesday – January 27th, 2015

City girls who beat odds to crack PCS-J

Education, Leaders, , ,

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Lucknow:

Lucknow’s Anshu Shukla bagged the first rank in PCS-J 2015, while Tahreem Khan and Shabeena Khan secured 4th and 10th ranks, respectively.

Tahreem cracked the examination in her first attempt and for Shabeena success came in the third attempt.

A law graduate from Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow, 24-year-old Tahreem declined her job offer to get into judicial services. “I got judicial clerkship in the Supreme Court but decided not to join. But I didn’t expect such a high rank,” she said. She comes from a judicial background. Her father Aftab Alam Khan is presently the registrar, UP State Information Commission.

For 31-year-old Shabeena who lost her father in 2012, the journey was not easy. “After his death, I started giving tuitions to support my family. I always wanted to get into judiciary so I prepared for many years hoping that one day I will succeed,” said Shabeena.

She is working currently as an excise inspector posted in Faizabad.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 07th, 2016

14-year-old Hyderabad girl is battling patriarchy with a Wushu sword

Education, Sports, , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

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Fourteen-year-old Fareeha Tafim grew up with a lot of dreams. However, for the girl born in a conservative Muslim household, having dreams meant building castles in the air. But Fareeha’s story deserves to be written as it is about defying all norms with sheer determination and going at patriarchy with a Wushu sword.

Fareeha is from Hyderabad and studies in a Muslim faith-based school. Fortunately, her school is progressive and wants its students to be independent. Wushu, a form of martial arts that originated in China in the 1940s, was brought to the school to teach self-defense to the girls to protect themselves from the gender-based violence that is constantly on the rise.

After learning it for three years, Fareeha got very good at it and there was hardly anyone in the state who could beat her. She eventually went on to become the state champion in 2016.

Despite covering herself with a veil every time she does Wushu, for Fareeha Wushu-ing is the ultimate form of liberation. After winning the state championship, Fareeha and her friend Summaiya got selected for the seventh National Martial Arts Championship.

It was one thing to learn Wushu as self-defense and fight girls in the school, but neither her family nor her community approved of her travelling all the way to Assam for the national championship. Her mother believed that by doing this Fareeha would bring dishonour to the family. Following are her words:

If you show your face you will be called shameless, because you will be performing in front of thousands of people.

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Though the entire family was against her, it was her father who supported her vehemently. He was an illiterate who grew up living on the streets; hence, he wanted his child to have a chance at anything that could make her independent irrespective of her gender. With him by her side, the rest of the family had to eventually give in, albeit halfheartedly.

Fareeha was travelling thousands of miles for the first time and it was her first trip without her parents. Added to that was the fear of a new place for she was still a child. But she realised it was now or never and fought the finals with all that she had and came home as the winner of the national championship.

Her story doesn’t just end there. Against all odds, she wants to become a police officer so that she can protect young girls like her.

Jayisha Patel, a London based filmmaker made a documentary on Fareeha’s struggles titled India’s Wushu Warrior Girl for Al Jazeera.

In an interview with Huffington Post regarding what motivated her to take Fareeha’s story, Jayisha said,

It is an important issue. What struck me was that for her age, she was very forward thinking. Also the conservative community she lives in and to have that sort of for thinking and the determination is absolutely amazing.

 

source: http://www.yourstory.com / Your Story.com / Home > Her Story / Think Change India / August 22nd, 2017

Obituary – A Teacher of Teachers passes on

Amazing Feats, Education, Leaders, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , ,

Gadayan, Akbarpur (earlier Faizabad (now) Ambedkar Nagar)  – Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Mahdi Hasan   (21 March 1936–12 January 2013)

Professor Mahdi Hasan (born in Gadayan village, Akbarpur, then in Faizabad, now Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh) was Senior Honorary Scientist of the Indian National Science Academy; Honorary Professor, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow; and formerly Principal and Chief Medical Superintendent (1983– 87), Dean (1991–93) and Head of the Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh. He was an internationally renowned anatomist, a pioneering brain researcher and a reputed national expert of medical education. He had many firsts to his credit: he was the first in India to have obtained an MS with honours in anatomy; the first anatomist to be selected by the Government of India for the German Academic Exchange Fellowship (DAAD) in 1965; the only Indian anatomist to be chosen Fellow of Alexander von-Humboldt Foundation (Germany); the first Indian anatomist to be elected Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (FNA) and to be awarded the Padma Shri. Professor Hasan’s initial education was in Akbarpur (Faizabad). Life in Akbarpur was rather tough in those pre-Independence days as he had already lost his father when he was 4 years old and had been separated from his mother who was ill. However, this did not deter him from pursuing his life with zeal and devotion to his studies and dedication for sports. He used to study at night in the light of a kerosene lamp and play during the day in the fields of the village. He excelled in studies and was appreciated for his sporting prowess.

Professor Hasan did his Intermediate from Christian College, Lucknow and BSc I year from Lucknow University. In 1953, he was selected for MBBS at King George’s Medical College (KGMC), Lucknow. After graduation, Professor B.N. Sinha (then Head of Orthopaedics and also ex-president, Medical Council of India) persuaded him to join the Department of Orthopaedics. However, within a week of joining he went to Professor Sinha and told him that he wanted to teach and in this branch he would seldom get a chance to do so. Professor Sinha took him to his friend Professor Dharam Narain (Department of Anatomy). Dr Hasan joined the anatomy department as a demonstrator in 1958. The same year he got married to Abida Kazim, who was an MA in Urdu, a rare achievement at that time for a woman from a Muslim family. In 1962, he did his MS in anatomy with honours, and after briefly working as a lecturer at KGMC, Lucknow, in 1963 he moved to Aligarh as a Reader in anatomy. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, he went to Germany in 1965. He not only learnt electron microscopy and worked on ageing with the renowned Professor (Dr) Paul Glees at the University of Gottingen, but also got an opportunity to learn German. Very few people know that he was an external examiner of the German language at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for almost 17 years. Although in 1972 he was offered the citizenship of Germany, he politely declined and came back to India and established India’s first Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre (IBRC) at Aligarh in 1980.

His persistent endeavour was to pursue basic medical research and his main thrust was to study problems of national relevance, such as environmental pollution, pesticide and metal neurotoxicity and brain ageing. His commitment and dedication to acquire and disseminate knowledge can also be judged from the fact that during the last 6 months of his life, when he was very seriously ill, he worked earnestly to complete a book on Treacher Collins Syndrome. He would sit for long hours with swollen legs kept on a stool writing the book, which he completed in December 2012, a month before his death. Fortunately, the book was published a few days before his death when he was in the intensive care unit. Dr Hasan, all through his illustrious academic career spanning around 55 years (1958–2013), fought a relentless battle and succeeded in giving a completely new orientation to the teaching of anatomy. Thousands of his former students, practising modern medicine around the globe, not only adored him but also respected his genius. Hundreds of them are professors/consultants in various specialties of medicine and surgery in India and abroad. His passion for teaching did not dip even after retirement. He continued to teach and do research and write for grants. He could take classes anywhere—even in corridors. Once at Aligarh Muslim University, a student asked him for time to seek some clarifications. Then and there on the street, using a bicycle seat as support for pen and paper, he spent over two hours explaining the matter to the student under street light.

Professor Hasan was a person who had utmost devotion, dedication and determination in acquiring, creating and disseminating knowledge. Seldom does one find a nucleus around which an institution is build, but it goes to the credit of Professor Mahdi Hasan that at least three premier medical institutions of North India will always fondly cherish his memory. KGMC will always remember him as its illustrious student and teacher; Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh will always remember him as an excellent, dedicated and devoted teacher; and Era’s Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow (a medical institution founded around him) will find it difficult to overlook its founder Director-Principal and Trustee.

Alas! This renowned medical teacher breathed his last at 6 p.m. on 12 January 2013 after fighting a relentless battle against cancer of the prostrate. His wife, Mrs Abida Mahdi died soon after on 24 February 2013.

ABBAS ALI MAHDI*

Department of Biochemistry,  King George’s Medical University ,Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh abbasalimahdi@gmail.com

source: http://www.archive.nmji.in / Archives – The National Medical Journal of India / Vol. No.26, No.2, 2013 / by Abbas Ali Mahdi

College that put poor Muslim girls in science labs turns 50

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

The institution located near Nagpada in central Mumbai, has shaped four generations of Muslims
The institution located near Nagpada in central Mumbai, has shaped four generations of Muslims

The first thing that strikes you after entering the arched gate of Maharashtra College of Arts, Science and Commerce is its happy ambience. Groups of girls, many of them in hijab, and boys animatedly chat at the ground floor hall while the seven-storey building’s two lifts are constantly busy. The well-stocked library is occupied. So are its several labs. In a nutshell, vibrancy oozes out of its every pore. So how is Maharashtra College different from so many educational institutions in the city? The difference lies in its location. In the vicinity of Kamathipura, the red-light area, and near Nagpada, the heart of Muslim neighbourhoods in the city, Maharashtra College at Central Mumbai has shaped the fortunes of four generations of Muslims, especially girls, in the area.

Started in 1968, the college will soon kick off its golden jubilee celebrations and has lined up a series of programmes aimed at debating how to further empower the locality’s youths educationally.

“But for this college, thousands in the area would have dropped out after 10th Std. Conservative parents were reluctant to send their daughters to colleges in south Mumbai and this college came as a godsend,” recalls businessman and community leader Ghulam Peshimam who graduated from here in the 1970s.

It was the sheer need of a college in the Muslim-dominated area that made its founding fathers move with a missionary zeal. Educationist and philanthropist Mohammed Ali Mitha, who had founded a series of schools, led the initiative to set up a college in the locality which had none before it. Muslim-managed colleges like Burhani and Akbar Peerbhoy came later. Mitha one day landed up at then urban development minister and Islamic scholar Dr Rafiq Zakaria’s office. “Zakaria sahab was initially reluctant to come on board but couldn’t say no once Mitha assured him of finding funds and also offered him to become the life-time president of Khairul Islam Higher Education Society which runs the college,” says septuagenarian Haji N Kalaniya, who studied and retired as a teacher from here before he was inducted as the society’s general secretary.

Kalaniya recalls that once he accompanied Mitha to Haji Ali Dargah where they saw a wealthy Good Samaritan handing out Rs 100 note to each of the beggars assembled there. “Mitha stood in the queue and asked me too to stand behind him. The Rs 200 that we received went to the college funds,” laughs Kalaniya.

Started with just 100 students, Kalania adds that many students had to be coaxed and virtually “lifted” from homes to join the college as the working class in Madanpura, Nagpada and Bhendi Bazaar then gave little importance to higher education. Today the college, its principal Dr Sirajuddin H Chougle proudly informs, has over 3,700 students in various courses, including PG and PhD, IT and journalism. It caters to mostly students from deprived families, wards of daily wagers, taxi drivers, factory workers. “Once while travelling in a taxi the driver told me that his three daughters had graduated from here. I was touched to hear that,” says M Z Shahid, who teaches political science here. “If it was not this college I don’t think I would have become a boxer,” says Hijabclad Shaikh Afifa, the college’s only woman boxer. Besides, the list of sportspersons it has produced is long: Shahid Qureishi and Zafar Ansari (basketball), Khalid Khan (boxing), Nadeem Khan (football)—to name a few.

If Mumbai has been a crucible of many Urdu poets and writers, Maharashtra College must share the credit. It is here that Urdu poets like Abduallah Kamal, Irteza Nishat, Shamim Abbas and Obaid Azam Azmi honed their skills.

“I once heard celebrated poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz here reciting his famous revolutionary poem which spoke of man’s urge for emancipation. The college has kept the city’s literary lamp alive,” says Urdu Markaz’s director Zubair Azmi. As it enters its 50thyear, the city expects the college to earn more laurels in future.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mumbai News> Schools & Colleges / by Mohammed Wajihuddin, TNN / July 30th, 2017

Maulana Mazharul Haque: A forgotten leader of Bihar

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bihar, PATNA :

Maulana Mazharul Haque, the man who was a firm believer in complete Independence being “the birthright of every Nation”, has his birth place in office of a government run school that doubles as food storage.

Maulana Mazharul Haque was born to a rich landlord, Sheikh Ahmedullah, in Bahpura, Thana Bihta of Patna district on December 22nd, 1866. His primary education was at home by Maulvi Sajjad Hussain, but he passed his matriculation from the Patna Collegiate in 1886. He joined Canning College in Lucknow for higher studies but same year left for England to pursue a course in Law. He started legal practice in Patna after his return from England in 1891.

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He made a significant contribution to relief efforts launched during the famine in Saran district of Bihar in 1897. Maulana Mazharul Haque’s public life actually commenced with the creation of the Bihar Provincial Conference, a move he supported as he believed in the need for the constitution of Bihar as a separate province.

In 1906 Maulana was elected Vice Chairman of Bihar Congress Committee. Mazharul Haque helped organize the Home Rule Movement in Bihar and was its President in 1916. He actively participated in the Champaran Satyagraha for which he was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment.

Subsequently, when the Non Cooperation and Khilafat Movements were launched, Mazharul Haque gave up his lucrative legal practice and his elected post as member of the Imperial Legislative Council and turned all his efforts to the freedom struggle. By now, he was a firm believer in complete Independence being “the birthright of every Nation”.

Mazharul Haque was also a fervent believer in democratic decentralization and he organized the Panchayats in Saran district towards meeting this vision. He also made many requests for better educational facilities in Bihar, especially for free and compulsory primary education.

Maulana Mazharul Haque actively participated in anti-purdah movement launched in Bihar in response to the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920. Mahatma Gandhi sought to bring women also into mainstream politics, to strengthen the resistance against British rule as well as empower them to play a more active role in society. The purdah system espoused by Muslim and many Hindu families, especially in Bihar, meant that women remained behind men in all spheres of life.

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In 1919, he gave up and burnt his western attire to adopt traditional Muslim attire. He was given title of “Desh Bhushan Faqir Mazharul Haque”.

1920, he donated his 16 bigha land on Patna- Danapur road for Sadaqat Ashram and Vidya Peeth which served as college for students who left government colleges in response to Non-Cooperation Movement. Sadaqat Ashram played important role in Independence movement in Bihar.

Maulana also launched his weekly magazine “The Motherland” from Sadaqat Ashram. He also jailed for his articles in this magazine. Sadaqat Ashram continues to serve as headquarters of Bihar Congress. But it is a tragedy that even Congress do not remember the person who has given so much to the party. Till few years back, even Maulana picture was now where to be seen in the ashram.

Maulana was firm believer of Hindu-Muslim unity. His famous quote sums up his conviction, “Wheather we are Hindu or Musalmaan we are in the same boat, we must sail or sink together”.

When in London, Maulana established Anjuman Islamia. This brought Indians of various religion, region and sects under one umbrella. This was also place to discuss about India’s problem. Mahatma Gandhi first met Maulana Mazharul Haque in Anjuman Islamia, London.

Person who gave everything for the country has not got due recognition. Maulana donated the house where he was born, to start Madrasa and middle school within same compound in 1926. Idea behind establishing both in one campus was to promote communal harmony.

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Now the very place where he was born is a principal office of government middle school. On the entrance door of principal office, a line is written in Hindi “Janam Kachh Maulana Mazharul ”(Birth place of Maulana Mazharul Haque). If you enter in the office apart from a picture of Maulana Mazharul Haque along side Dr. Rajender Prasad picture will not give any indication of place being birthplace of a person of such stature. Principal office house the ration for mid day meal scheme for the school apart from general school office stuff.

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But this is an improvement from before. Before this school structure was build in 2004, place he was born was used as a toiler for villagers after original structure fell down. Because of the effort for few locals, this place was cleaned up and school building was build and place was marked as birth place.

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On December 22nd politicians do come to shower words of praise on Maualana’s contributions but the pity condition of place has not moved anyone. Their promise has remained promise till date.

While talking to TwoCircles.net, Md. Yusuf Khushidi, former HOD Urdu department, Patna University said, “Locals have been demanding to build Library or Technical Institute in that place to commemorate but so far nothing has materialised.”

Yusuf Khhurshidi who belongs to Bahpura added, it is unfortunate that for a person, who sacrificed every thing for the country has been forgotten so fast. Maulana foresightedness can be judged by the fact that Maulana had emphasized on the communal harmony, democratic decentralization and education right from early stage of his life. Maulana was also in the forefront in establishing Bihar state which was carved out of Bengal.

Echoing Yusuf Khurshidi sentiments, Dananjay Yadav also demanded a memorial should be built for the one of the tallest visionary leader of Bihar.

Maulana’s family is living a struggling life in obscurity. It is disheartening to see family of a person who sacrificed everything from career to wealth for the sake of county is left high and dry.

Next birthday of Maulana Mazharul Haque is a month away. I am sure VIPs will be lining up to pay respect especially in election year. Few fascinating speeches will be delivered and few promises will be made. Politicians are known to have short term memory. So those promises will be forgotten sooner than later.

People in India too have selective memory, only very few are remembered for their part in freedom struggle and rests are still struggling to get freedom from obscurity.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Indian Muslim / by M. Zajam, TwoCirlces.net / November 20th, 2009

Dr Syed Baker bags Young Scientist Award

Education, Leaders, World Opinion,

Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

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City based researcher Dr Syed Baker has been conferred with Young Scientist Award by Siberian Federal University, Russia. Dr Syed is one among the seven candidates to have been awarded across the globe and one among three Indian with only researcher from Karnataka.

He has completed Ph.D in Microbiology from University of Mysore under the supervi­sion of Dr S Satish and was also honoured with Nation­al Post-Doctoral Fellowship from SERB Government of India under the supervision of Dr Nagendra Prasad, Depart­ment of Biotechnology and SJCE.

During his research tenure, he was also selected as ex­change research for Finland in 2013 which was awarded by CIMO, Government of Finland.

He was also awarded Senior Research Fellowship and Re­search Associate from Indian Council of Medical Research.

During his research stay he will be working on developing smart nonmaterial towards combating drug resistant mi­crobial pathogens.

source: http://www.citytoday.news / City Today / Home> Mysore / by Editor / June 03rd, 2016

Shah Faaiz Alam, an AMU Mechanical Engineering Postgraduate to join Indian Air Force

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Transport, , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

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Aligarh :

Bringing string of accolades to the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), one after the other; Shah Faaiz Alam, a Mechanical Engineering Postgraduate student of the Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, AMU has been selected by the Indian Air Force under Permanent Commission for the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch.

Alam, earlier brought laurels to his alma mater by getting recommended by Air Force Selection Board, Dehradun. Alam achievements did not stop there as he later made it to the All-India merit list securing 5th All-India rank under the technical stream.

He will now be joining the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad in July for the commencement of training for a period of six months. Alam will be further sent to Air Force Technical College (AFTC), Bangalore for further advanced technical training of 52 weeks under the rank of ‘Under-Training Flying Officer’.

Professor Mohd Altamash Siddiqui, Chairperson, Department of Mechanical Enginneering and Dr Nafis Ahmad II have congratulated Mr Alam for the achievement.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles / Home> Indian Muslim / by TCN News / July 03rd, 2017

Srinagar girl plays Aamir’s daughter in ‘Dangal’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Zaira Wasim seems intelligent beyond years. The 15-year-old student of a missionary school in Srinagar owes her new-found confidence to her recent acting stint in Bollywood. She plays the wrestler daughter of actor Aamir Khan in his upcoming movie ‘Dangal’.

Zaira is back in Srinagar after six months in Mumbai, playing the childhood of Geeta Phogat, the Commonwealth gold medallist wrestler.(HT Photo)
Zaira is back in Srinagar after six months in Mumbai, playing the childhood of Geeta Phogat, the Commonwealth gold medallist wrestler.(HT Photo)

 

Zaira Wasim seems intelligent beyond years. The 15-year-old student of a missionary school in Srinagar owes her new-found confidence to her recent acting stint in Bollywood. She plays the wrestler daughter of actor Aamir Khan in his upcoming movie ‘Dangal’.

Zaira is back in Srinagar after six months in Mumbai, playing the childhood of Geeta Phogat, the Commonwealth gold medallist wrestler. Phogat is the first woman wrestler from India to have won the gold in the 55 kg freestyle category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Aamir plays wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trained his two daughters in the sport.

“The experience has been life-changing,” Zaira says. “I was a normal teenager with a lot of anxiety but have been able to overcome that in the past six months,” she tells Hindustan Times.

Daughter of a banker father and a teacher mother, she was selected from among hundreds of girls who auditioned for the role. Zaira was spotted by the casting crew as she had featured in an advertisement for a cell phone. “I got a call for the role in April. It was a big decision for the family as Bollywood is not really looked up to in our society,” she says.

After initial resistance from her family, it was her aunt who supported her decision. “She asked my parents to give me a chance to realise my dreams,” she adds. “Like other Kashmiri parents, mine were concerned about what people would say. But my aunt handled the situation well.”

The decision did have its fallout, though. “A lot was said about me in the social media. But Aamir Khan and the rest of the crew supported me,” she says. “Eventually, I learnt not to pay attention to negativity,” she adds. “I realised you are as good as your thoughts and there was nothing I was ashamed of. I want to tell people that it’s a beautiful role about dignity and empowerment of women,” she adds.

The role required hours of rigorous training in wrestling, body-building and swimming. “I suffered injuries and the one in my shoulder was nasty. But I learnt to bear the pain,” she says. The only thing she regrets is cutting her long hair for the role.

Zaira is all praise for her co-star. “The first day of shooting wasn’t difficult as I had met Khan before. The day I met him first, he never had the air of a star and made me comfortable.”

Having resumed her studies now, the class 10 student says, “I take life as it comes. If another film offer comes my way and doesn’t affect my studies I will take it up.”

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Toufiq Rashid, Hindustant Times / December 08th, 2015

Aligarh Muslim University: a great seat of learning

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, World Opinion, , , , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan dedicated his life for the Hindu-Muslim unity in the country and worked all his life for the educational upliftment of the community and for the strengthening of a pluralistic society of a modern India. He stressed on making education a medium to transform people into good human beings.

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) represents the secular Ganga-Jamuna culture and the AMU community is committed to preserve this identity of this great seat of learning. Sir Syed avoided too much emphasis on religious subjects in his writings, focusing instead on promoting modern education.

As we know, the AMU is an academic institution of international importance offering more than 300 courses in both traditional and modern branches of education. Academic excellence and cultural ethos of AMU needs to be projected and propagated worldwide more effectively in a positive way. In the fast changing technological world, the role of media has become very important in disseminating the information to have a maximum reach.The supreme interest of Sir Syed’s life was education in its widest sense. He wanted to create a scientific temperament among the Muslims and to make the modern knowledge of science available to them. He championed the cause of modern education at a time when all the Indians in general and Indian Muslims in particular considered it a sin to get modern education and that too through English language. He began establishing schools, at Muradabad in 1858 and Ghazipur in 1863.

A more ambitious undertaking was the foundation of the Scientific Society, which published translations of many educational texts and issued a bilingual journal in Urdu and English. It was for the use of all citizens; they were jointly operated by the Hindus and Muslims. In the late 1860s, there occurred some developments that were challenges to his activities.

In 1867, he was transferred to Varanasi, a city on the Ganga with great religious significance for Hindus. At about the same time, a movement started in the city to replace Urdu, the language spoken by the Muslims, with Hindi. This movement and the attempts to substitute Hindi for Urdu publications of the Scientific Society convinced Syed that he should do something.

Thus during a visit to England (1869-70), he prepared plans for a great educational institution — a “Muslim Cambridge.” On his return, he set up a committee for the purpose and also started an influential journal, Tahzib al-Akhlaq (Social Reform), for the uplift and reforms of the Muslims. A Muslim school was established at Aligarh in May 1875, and after his retirement in 1876, Sir Syed dedicated himself to make it a college.

To carry the legacy of the great reformer, the AMU has got a dynamic and intellectual person as vice chancellor in the form of Prof Tariq Mansoor, who had been associated with the university for more than three decades. Mansoor has been the principal of the J N Medical College since 2013. He had been the secretary of the University Games Committee for about seven years.

Besides being the president of the Association of Surgeons, he has been a member of the Medical Council of India (MCI) since 2015 and that of the AMU Executive Council for 12 years. Mansoor is a recipient of the senior surgical award from the Association of Surgeons of India. He is also given credit for the overall development of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. He served as an advisor in the Union Public Service Commission and as an assessor for the MCI.

Mansoor, in his vision, posted on the University’s website clearly stated that he will implement “Sir Syed’s vision of imparting modern education and will be focusing on “preparing students to qualify in competitive exams for central services, armed forces, IITs, IIMs and leading industries. We will also aim to produce top professionals in medicine, engineering, law, management, sciences and humanities”.

Appeal to alumniIt is unique and very positive to have a team of highly intellectual and academicians of repute to run the University. It is important for the progress of an academic institution that it should run by the academicians of high repute.

In an open letter to the AMU alumni who are holding important positions in different organisations worldwide, the vice chancellor has made an appeal to them to contribute both academically and financially.

To me, this is a very good move and initiative that will certainly help the students in getting employment in national and international market. Alumni support will also help in developing the infrastructural facilities of high standard as we have seen the contribution by Frank Islam, an AMU alumnus based in the US.The way newly appointed vice chancellor has taken the initiatives so far clearly shows his vision and plan for the betterment of the university. However, it would be more interesting to see his efforts in days to come. His biggest challenge would be maintaining the law and order situation in the campus. His long association with AMU would certainly be helpful in understanding the dynamics of the campus and in maintaining the law and order situation.

However, I would suggest that the VC should have an IPS officer on deputation basis as proctor of the University with power to handle the law and order situation independently. Another issue he may face would be regionalism and groupism in the campus but I am happy to mention that he already stated clearly in his vision that he will eliminate factionalism and groupism from the campus. It is high time for the AMU community to support the vice chancellor in making the University as one of the best in the country.

(The writer, a linguist, teaches at Washington University in St Louis, USA)

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Panorama / by M.J. Warsi / July 03rd, 2017