The historical accounts of Malappuram were written by outside people
Release of the book on Malappuram Photo / Express
Kozhikode :
Why does Malappuram continue to appear as a trouble spot and the hub of religious fundamentalism in popular imagination and in some political utterances? A book on the history of the geographical area, which is part of the multi-volume project on different aspects of the district, asserts that the notion that Malappuram is a ‘fanatic zone’ was the creation of colonialists, which continues to linger in popular discourses even after the country became independent.
“People of this area fought against the British invasion and boycotted their language as a token of protest. Naturally, the colonialists had an antagonism towards the people.
But the tragedy is that there are people who still nurture the colonial mindset,” said Minister for Industries and IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, while launching the 10-volume book ‘Malappuram: Geography, People, Culture’ in Malappuram on October 4.
“The areas under the present Malappuram came under British rule in 1792. Since then, there were resistances against the British and the colonialists brought a number of black laws like the Mappila Outrages Act to contain the agitations.
There were a number of British reports like that of T L Strange, which depicted Malappuram as an unmanageable spot,” said Moyin Hudavi Malayamma, one of the general editors of the volume.
“The historical accounts of Malappuram were written by outside people. The people of Malappuram seldom got a chance to express what they actually are. Our project, in a way, is people writing their own history,” he added.
“Colonial records were the only available materials for those who studied the history of Malappuram. Naturally, those who wrote about Malappuram later were heavily influenced by these records.
The Hindutva narrative on Malappuram was built on this notion. Curiously, the Left is also parroting the narrative,” said Ashraf Valoor, one of the editors of the volume.
“Ours is an academic response to stereotyping. This is an alternative to the colonial and Hindutva narratives on Malappuram,” Valoor said. “It is true that early writers like EMS Namboodirippad viewed the 1921 agitation from the correct perspective. But later we see that the Left also internalised the colonial notion and that is why anti-Malappuram remarks are coming from some CPM leaders at regular intervals,” he added.
Valoor believes that the fact that the IUML is on the other side of the political spectrum also compelled the CPM to take an antagonistic stand towards the people of Malappuram. “Political enmity of some CPM leaders sometimes crosses the border and descends to communal level,” he said.
The volume contains academic articles on the process of ‘otherisation’ of Malappuram, the hate campaign during the formation of the district, the stories on the ‘aggression’ by Tipu Sultan and the communal amity in Malappuram. The project was envisaged by the Malappuram district committee of the Muslim Youth League and financially supported by the Saudi unit of Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), a feeder organisation of the IUML.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Kerala / by MP Prashanth / October 17th, 2026
Saba recalled her father’s lessons in composure, fairness and thoughtful speech.
Saif Ali Khan and Saba share a bond rooted in family and memories. IANS
Dubai:
Saba Pataudi, sister of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, has opened up about her responsibility for managing the Pataudi family’s legacy, revealing that her late father, former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, entrusted her with the role.
Saba, the daughter of actor Sharmila Tagore and the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, oversees responsibilities connected to the family’s Bhopal estate and the Auqaf-e-Shahi trust. The family’s legacy has been estimated at more than Rs 10 billion.
In an interview, Saba explained that her father played a defining role in preparing her for the responsibility.
“Abba left that to me,” she said, reflecting on the trust her father placed in her and the lessons she continues to draw from him.
Lessons from her father
Saba recalled how her father taught her to remain composed, treat people fairly and choose her words carefully. She said those principles continue to guide her approach to managing the family’s affairs.
She also described her father as someone she continues to turn to spiritually, even after his death. His guidance, she said, helped her understand the responsibilities associated with the family’s heritage.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, popularly known as Tiger Pataudi, was one of India’s prominent cricketers and captained the national team. His marriage to Sharmila Tagore brought together two well-known families from Indian sport and cinema.
What does the family legacy involve?
Saba’s responsibilities extend beyond the management of a family estate. As the mutawalli of the Auqaf-e-Shahi trust, she oversees the trust’s properties and charitable responsibilities.
These include mosques and other properties linked to the family’s historical ties to Bhopal, as well as facilities for pilgrims visiting Makkah and Medina.
The reported valuation of more than Rs 10 billion relates to the wider family legacy and should not be interpreted as Saba’s personal wealth. Her role involves stewardship and management of the trust’s assets and responsibilities.
Saba has also discussed plans for initiatives benefiting women and girls, including a girls’ school and a hospital for women, subject to the resolution of pending legal matters involving family property.
A responsibility entrusted by her father
Saba’s reflections offer a glimpse into a side of the Pataudi family that extends beyond celebrity and cricket. While Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan are widely recognised for their careers in the entertainment industry, Saba has taken on responsibilities associated with preserving the family’s historical and charitable legacy.
For her, the role is closely tied to her father’s confidence in her abilities and the values he instilled in her. She continues to regard those lessons as central to carrying forward the responsibilities he entrusted to her.
source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Gulf News / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Devadasan K P, Chief Visual Editor / October 14th, 2026
Wani, historically known as Wun, is an old town of the Vidarbha region whose history reflects the changing political boundaries of central India. At different times, the Wani area was connected with the Nizam’s dominions, while the neighbouring Chandrapur region was historically associated with the Gond rulers. To the east and south lay territories of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, including the area that subsequently became Adilabad district and is today part of Telangana.
Wani’s political identity changed with successive territorial reorganisations. The area was once associated with the Nizam of Hyderabad. After independence, it came under the larger Central Provinces and Berar/Madhya Pradesh administrative framework before becoming part of Maharashtra when the state was formed in 1960.
This layered history is important in understanding the social background of Dr Abdul Razzaq Ahmed, a prominent Muslim of Wani. His family belonged to an established local community whose standing was associated with both landholding and professional achievement. Dr Abdul Razzaq Ahmed was a dermatologist, while later generations entered administration, medicine, and law.
Today, Dr A. Razzaque Ahmed, MD, DSc, is internationally recognised as a dermatologist, immunologist and academic physician, and as a pioneer in autoimmune blistering diseases. He has served as Professor of Dermatology and Director of the Centre for Blistering Diseases at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. He is associated with the Ibn Sina Professorship. His career has brought together clinical medicine, molecular immunology, laboratory research, therapeutic innovation, teaching and philanthropy.
Yet his significance lies not simply in professional distinction. His life represents the transformation of education into knowledge, knowledge into healing, and achievement into service.
Roots, Education and the Making of a Cosmopolitan Mind
Dr Ahmad spent his early childhood in Wani in a house built by his great-grandfather around 1875. He was the son of Salam Ahmed and Begum Noor Jehan and grew up in a family that regarded education and social advancement as important instruments of human development.
That ethos subsequently found institutional expression through the Begum Noor Jehan Salam Ahmed Trust in Yavatmal district. Under Begum Noor Jehan’s leadership, the Trust established educational institutions including the Sunrise English Medium Convent, Wani; the Noor Jahan Begum Salam Ahmed Arts and Commerce College, Wani; and the Noor Jahan Begum Salam Ahmed Women’s College of Law.
The women’s law college was particularly significant, reflecting a deliberate commitment to giving women access to professional education, legal knowledge and greater independence. The family tradition therefore gave education a meaning larger than individual advancement: it expanded opportunity and enabled others to participate more fully in society. That principle would later find expression in Dr Ahmad’s own teaching and philanthropy.
His early education exposed him to unusually diverse intellectual and cultural environments. Until the age of seven, he studied at a convent run by French nuns and later attended a Jesuit Catholic boarding school in Nagpur.
At fifteen, an American Field Service International Scholarship took him to Le Mars, Iowa, where he lived with the Thompson family, attended the local high school and studied at Westmar College. The experience gave a young student from central India an early encounter with American society and education, broadening his intellectual horizons.
Returning to India, he pursued pre-medical studies at Nagpur University before entering the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. At AIIMS, he distinguished himself academically, standing first in many classes and receiving the Gold Medal as the outstanding graduate of his cohort. The movement from Wani to Nagpur and from Nagpur to AIIMS marked the first major stage in a life that would repeatedly cross geographical and intellectual boundaries.
After completing his medical education, Dr Ahmad moved to the United States for specialist training. He trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, Dermatology at the University at Buffalo and Clinical Immunology at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he subsequently joined the faculty.
His growing interest in the molecular basis of disease led him to Harvard, where he pursued advanced research in molecular immunology and earned a Doctor of Science degree. His investigations attracted National Institutes of Health support and developed into the Ahmed Laboratory, which remained NIH-funded for more than two decades.
A defining feature of his career was integrating laboratory science with clinical medicine. Disease encountered in the clinic generated scientific questions; laboratory research sought their answers; and those discoveries returned to patients through improved diagnosis and treatment.
From Molecular Discovery to a New Paradigm of Care
Dr Ahmad became an international authority on autoimmune blistering diseases, particularly pemphigus and mucous membrane pemphigoid. These rare disorders can be debilitating, disfiguring and, in severe cases, life-threatening.
His research examined the immunological and genetic mechanisms underlying these diseases. Among his key contributions was identifying associations between specific HLA-DQB1 genes and pemphigus in different populations. He reported the association of HLA-DQB10402 with Jewish pemphigus patients and HLA-DQB10501 with non-Jewish patients. Studies of relatives helped demonstrate that low titres of pemphigus autoantibodies could occur without full clinical disease. He also distinguished pathogenic from non-pathogenic autoantibodies, demonstrating the pathogenic significance of IgG4 and the non-pathogenic character of IgG1 in pemphigus.
His investigations involving patients from Northwestern Iran and comparisons with Ashkenazi Jewish patients in the United States and Israel revealed striking genetic homology. They contributed to wider research concerning the population history of Ashkenazi Jews.
His molecular research extended to mucous membrane pemphigoid. He identified alpha-6 integrin as a putative antigen in oral pemphigoid and beta-4 integrin in disease involving other mucosal sites, identified epitopes on these molecules and investigated their role experimentally in animal models and tissue cultures. These studies helped shift the field from clinical description towards molecular understanding.
But Dr Ahmad’s contribution did not end with discovery. He sought to create a system that could translate scientific knowledge directly into comprehensive patient care. In Boston, he established the Centre for Blistering Diseases, bringing together specialists in oral medicine, ophthalmology, ENT, gastroenterology, urology, gynaecology, proctology, internal medicine, nutrition and clinical psychology.
The multidisciplinary model reflected the nature of the diseases themselves, which can affect several organs and mucosal surfaces. Rather than leaving patients to navigate separate specialities, the Centre organised care around the patient’s complexity.
His commitment to patients extended beyond medical treatment. In 1993, he established the Boston Blistering Diseases Support Group, recognising that people living with rare and potentially life-threatening disorders also require emotional support, information and a community of shared experience. The model was subsequently emulated elsewhere, including by the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation.
Transforming Treatment and Restoring Lives
One of Dr Ahmad’s most consequential contributions was his pioneering work with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in autoimmune blistering diseases.
Severe disease had traditionally been treated with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs, which could themselves produce serious complications. Dr Ahmad developed and refined IVIg protocols that enabled some patients to achieve prolonged remission and, in certain cases, discontinue conventional therapy.
He also addressed access. Because IVIg is expensive, he presented clinical and pharmacoeconomic evidence involving 160 patients to Medicare authorities. The resulting policy permitting Medicare coverage for IVIg in blistering diseases helped broaden access, and private insurers later adopted similar policies.
His work with rituximab marked another major therapeutic advance. In collaboration with Harvard oncologists, he developed a protocol combining rituximab and IVIg that targeted the B-cell mechanisms involved in autoimmune disease. The results were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, with subsequent long-term follow-up demonstrating sustained disease control in treated patients.
Some patients achieved exceptionally prolonged remission without continuing therapy, in some cases for more than 20 years. His continuing research has examined whether successful treatment can restore immune balance rather than merely suppress disease. Long-term follow-up of patients with pemphigus treated with IVIg contributed to this emerging understanding, with findings reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2024.
His work has also addressed ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, a rare autoimmune disease capable of causing progressive scarring and irreversible blindness. Research into its mechanisms helped establish therapeutic approaches involving IVIg and subsequently rituximab combined with IVIg.
The significance of such work extends beyond disease control. Preventing blindness preserves independence, employment, family life and human dignity. It exemplifies a broader principle in Dr Ahmad’s career: the ultimate measure of medical success is not simply suppressing disease but restoring a patient’s capacity to live a meaningful life.
This philosophy also shaped the institutions he built. He developed an outpatient infusion model that enabled patients to receive sophisticated intravenous therapies without prolonged conventional hospitalisation, attracting patients from across the United States and other countries.
As a teacher and mentor, he has influenced generations of medical and dental students, residents and researchers. Many former trainees subsequently became professors and departmental leaders. He has lectured internationally for decades and served as a visiting professor at universities worldwide. His influence has therefore travelled not only through publications and therapies but through the people he taught.
The breadth of his contribution has been recognised through numerous professional honours, including the William Gies Award, the Walter F. Lever Award, lifetime achievement and research contribution awards, and international awards for excellence. The International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation honoured him as Physician of the Year, and he has also received India’s Charaka Award. In 1999, the Governor of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts House of Representatives separately recognised his contribution to the Commonwealth’s citizens.
Science, Faith and the Larger Meaning of Service
Another dimension of Dr Ahmad’s life is his religious commitment. During his extensive international travels, he has repeatedly visited Makkah and performed more than one hundred Umrahs. His scientific and spiritual commitments have existed alongside one another. Scientific inquiry seeks to understand disease; faith provides a framework of gratitude, humility and responsibility.
That sense of responsibility has also shaped his philanthropy. In addition to the educational legacy of the Begum Noor Jehan Salam Ahmed Trust, Dr Ahmad has devoted substantial resources to educating disadvantaged young people, particularly women, supporting higher education, professional training, books, computers, transport and leadership development.
The results have reportedly reached thousands of students, with women beneficiaries entering the judiciary, public prosecution and legal practice. The objective is therefore not simply charitable relief but the creation of durable opportunities through education.
Dr Abdul Razzaque Ahmad’s life is not merely a story of migration from India to America or advancement from a small town to elite academic institutions. It is a story of continuity through transformation.
Wani provided the beginning; Nagpur broadened the horizon; AIIMS supplied an exceptional medical foundation; Pittsburgh, Buffalo and UCLA provided specialist training; Harvard deepened his scientific inquiry; and Boston became the centre from which his clinical and research contributions reached the wider world.
The ancestral house in Wani and the laboratories, clinics and lecture halls of Boston may appear to belong to different worlds. In his life they form a single continuum. The family gave him an inheritance of education and responsibility. He transformed that inheritance into scientific discovery and clinical innovation, and then extended its benefits through teaching, patient care and philanthropy.
His legacy is therefore measured not only by publications, professorships and awards, but by what those achievements enabled: patients who obtained relief, individuals protected from irreversible disability, students who gained educational opportunities, physicians shaped by his mentorship, and a field of medicine advanced by his research.
The distance from Wani to Boston is considerable. The distance his ideas travelled is greater still. A journey that began in the hinterland of India entered the global corridors of academia. Its deepest destination, however, was neither fame nor distinction, but service—to the patient seeking relief, the student seeking opportunity, the scientist seeking truth, and society seeking a more humane future.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror /Home>Personalities> Positive Story / by Moin Qazi / October 10th, 2026
The appointment of a Muslim leader, Abdul Mateen Siddiqui, as the new president of Samajwadi Party state unit in Uttarakhand has sprung surprise in the political circles and indicated the emergence of new political equations less than five months ahead of high-stakes Assembly elections in the state as well as in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Sixty-six-year-old Siddiqui hails from the Nainital district and has previously served as Samajwadi Party’s general secretary and state in-charge in Uttarakhand. He previously contested the Haldwani Assembly seat on the party ticket in 2007 and 2012, but lost both the times.
Following his appointment, Siddiqui announced the dissolution of all existing state executive committees, district units, and frontal organisations to rebuild the party structure from the ground up ahead of the Assembly elections. Alongside Siddiqui, Sonam Bagwadi and Abha Barthwal were named as state in-charges/observers for the Uttarakhand unit of Samajwadi Party.
Siddiqui, a businessman, has replaced a mahant, Shubham Giri, who was named Samajwadi Party’s working president over eight months ago. This is the first time that the party, which was once a force to be reckoned with in Uttar Pradesh, has appointed a Muslim face as the Uttarakhand unit president.
Alongside forming a new state executive committee, Siddiqui has been asked to focus on nearly 20 seats with significant Muslim populations across Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun and Nainital districts, and to also work in bordering Muslim-dominated districts of western Uttar Pradesh. Uttarakhand is scheduled to go to the polls along with Uttar Pradesh in February 2027.
Muslim voters have largely supported the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party in these seats in several elections in the past. Rajendra Chaudhary, Samajwai Party spokesperson and in- charge of Uttarakhand, was quoted as saying by media outlets that Siddiqui has been appointed because Muslims are a major constituent of the electorate in the districts located in the plains of Uttarakhand.
Evidently, the move to appoint Siddiqui forms part of Samajwadi Party’s strategy to consolidate support in Muslim-dominated Assembly seats across several districts in Uttarakhand as well as the bordering regions in western Uttar Pradesh. The decision is also set to create new political equations in the region, as the Muslim community will be playing a crucial role in the 2027 Assembly elections with its capacity to determine the poll outcome.
Samajwadi Party had appointed Shubham Giri, 34, as the Uttarakhand unit working president in January this year, when the Magh Mela in Prayagraj had turned into a political battlefield as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress took on each other over the alleged high-handedness of the Uttar Pradesh administration towards Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand.
Jyotirmath, also known as Joshimath, is a sacred town and municipal board in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the four cardinal monasteries established in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya. It also serves as the winter home of Lord Badrinath, as the deity is moved from the Badrinath Temple to the ancient Narasimha Temple in Jyotirmath during the winter months.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand had staged a sit-in protest after the Uttar Pradesh police allegedly prevented him from taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on January 18 this year. The Prayagraj administration denied these allegations. Akhilesh and the Congress had extended support to the seer, attacking the ruling BJP for disrespecting the religion.
On Giri’s appointment then, the Samajwadi Party camp had said it was done because the party respected all mahants, seers and saints. His selection was also seen as an attempt to counter the BJP’s allegation against the Samajwadi Party for indulging in so-called Muslim appeasement.
Samajwadi Party has maintained that Giri’s performance as the Uttarakhand unit chief was not satisfactory. Despite this, he has now been appointed as the state unit’s co-incharge. Giri, on the other hand, has stated that he had tried to strengthen Samajwai Party in the state and organised various programmes to connect with people.
“But some people in the party got upset with me. Also, I am preparing to contest election from Pirankaliyar seat in Haridwar district. So, I requested the party leadership to free me from the responsibility of the state working president, so that I can focus on my seat,” Giri was quoted as saying. Being a mahant, Giri wears saffron and lives in an ashram in Haridwar. He has been engaged in various religious activities.
Siddiqui has announced that since the Assembly elections are round the corner in both Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, he will work to boost the party’s prospects in both states. He says he will focus on about 20 seats in Uttarakhand which have significant Muslim population, and affirms that the party will contest with full strength there.
“I will work also in several seats in bordering western Uttar Pradesh districts like Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad, Bijnor, Saharanpur, etc., where Muslims are in large numbers. Our first priority is to ensure the formation of the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh,” Siddiqui said.
Both the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, which are currently allies in the Opposition INDIA bloc, vie with each other for Muslim votes in these districts of western Uttar Pradesh. While the two parties are preparing to forge an alliance to fight the elections in Uttar Pradesh, no such alignment between them is expected in Uttarakhand.
Muslims make up about 14% of Uttarakhand’s population. The districts with the highest proportion of Muslims in the state are Haridwar (34.28%), Udham Singh Nagar (22.58%), Nainital (12.65%) and Dehradun (11.91%). In the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party had contested 55 of the state’s 70 seats, failing to open its account.
The BJP won 47 seats to return to power, with the Congress winning 19. The BSP won two seats, Manglaur and Laksar in Haridwar, with both its winning candidates being Muslim. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections, the BJP returned to power by winning 255 of the state’s 403 seats as against Samajwadi Party’s 111. In western Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for 74 seats, Samajwadi Party got 23 and its then ally Rashtiya Lok Dal eight, with the BJP bagging 43 seats.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Politics / by India Tomorrow, Correspondent / October 14th, 2026
Islamic scholar, renowned social worker and senior leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, K.K. Mammunni Maulavi Sahab (may Allah have mercy on him), passed away at his residence in Shantapuram at the age of 82. His death marks the passing of a multifaceted personality who devoted his entire life to the service of knowledge and faith, the promotion of education, social welfare, and support for the deprived and vulnerable sections of society. His life was a journey of knowledge, action, service and selflessness, whose imprint will long be felt across various religious, educational and charitable fields.
In his practical life, he discharged a range of religious and educational responsibilities with great sincerity and dedication. He taught at Kariyad Madrasa, served as Imam of Chavakkad Muthuvattur Mahall, and also served as Principal of Muvattupuzha Madrasatul Banat. However, the scope of his activities was not confined merely to teaching and institutional duties – a large part of his life was spent in building, nurturing and developing educational, religious and charitable institutions that became a source of support for the needy members of society. He had a deep and long-standing association with numerous orphanages and welfare institutions established in Kerala and elsewhere, playing a prominent role in their patronage and development, and helping strengthen them into centres that continue, even today, to serve the weak, the destitute and the deprived. His contributions were also notable in mosque construction, the development of educational institutions, the provision of basic amenities, and various social welfare projects. Thus, his personality was not merely that of a religious scholar or teacher, but that of a quiet servant who devoted his energies to the building and welfare of society.
K.K. Mammunni Maulavi was born in 1944 in Mulliyakkurishi, Malappuram district. His father was Kalakkanthal Mohammed and his mother Kadan Thodi Mariyakutty. He studied at Shantapuram Islamia College from 1955 to 1965, obtaining his FD and B.Sc. degrees. He later channelled the training gained from this education into a practical life devoted to the service of religion and humanity. He is survived by his wife, Khadija, and his children namely Hafsa, Naseema, Sajida, Najmunnisa, Nazira, Mubaraka, Yasir, Abdur Rab and Bilal.
The legacy of his life lies in the prayers of countless people and in the institutions whose construction and development benefited from his labour, sincerity and time. His departure is undoubtedly a void, but his scholarly, religious, educational and charitable services will keep his memory alive in the days to come.
Tahreek-Related Services
Mammunni Maulavi Sahab served for a long period as a member of the Kerala Shura and the All India Representative Council of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. He was Secretary of the Perinthalmanna Islamic Mission Trust, Assistant Qazi of Shantapuram Mahal, and also served as Principal of the Islamia College at Vadanapally Orphanage.
He played an important role in launching and publishing the children’s magazine Malar Vadi and served as its publisher for a long time.
He also held administrative responsibilities on the committees of numerous institutions, including Shantapuram Islamia College, Vadanapally Orphanage, Pathiripala Mount Sinai, Perumpalav Ansar institutions, and the Azhikode Islamic Educational Complex.
He served as chairman of several institutions, including the Pathiripala Bait-ush-Shariqa al-Khairi Trust, the Perumpalav Ansari Charitable Trust, the Vadanapally Orphanage Committee, Kechery Al-Islah, the Azhikode Islamic Educational Complex, Peringadi Al-Falah, and Thavoor Hira English School.
He also played a significant role in extending the welfare activities of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind beyond Kerala. As Vice-Chairman of the Vision 2026 project, he toured underdeveloped regions of India and played a key role in launching educational and welfare initiatives there.
From 1977, he served for ten years as Zonal Nazim (organiser) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, during which time the districts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur and Palakkad fell under his charge. This long list is not merely a record of positions and responsibilities, but reflects that a large part of his life was spent in collective and constructive work.
An Active Life
Mammunni Maulavi Sahab is no longer in this world, but the memories of his simple life, tranquil personality and selfless service will remain forever in the hearts of those whose lives he helped, in one way or another, to succeed. The most prominent aspect of his personality was his calm temperament. A faint smile on his face, gentleness in conversation, and simplicity in manner were part of his identity. There was a quiet energy within him that never sought to draw attention to itself, yet it never failed to impress those around him. He was among those whose lives are recognised more by action than by claims.
Mammunni Maulavi Sahab had devoted his life to a greater purpose rather than to personal comfort and ease. After 1965, his working life remained continuously tied to religious, educational and social activities. Alongside his participation in the various works of the Islamic movement, he also played a major role in advancing its educational activities. His association with institutions working for orphans, the needy and the destitute remained strong throughout. His services were also notable in the construction and expansion of mosques and in shaping religious and social life. For him, service was not merely an activity but a way of life. As such, there was no place in his life for self-promotion or display. He did not merely speak of simplicity as a virtue, simplicity was an essential part of his life. Travelling by train and bus, riding a motorcycle from place to place when necessary, and constantly travelling to reach people, were part of his routine, for his priority was never comfort, but the achievement of his purpose.
Mammunni Maulavi Sahab was among those who valued purpose over publicity. He never sought crowds or praise, yet the large number of people who gathered on the final journey of his life reflects how service rendered quietly can still leave a deep impression on people’s hearts. People arrived from different parts of the country for his funeral prayer in Shantapuram. Young children and teachers attended; elderly men and women arrived; and even the sick, despite their frailty, participated in the funeral. Ordinary people from various parts of northern and southern Kerala travelled long distances to reach Shantapuram for one last glimpse of their beloved.
The funeral prayers began around 1:30 in the afternoon and continued without a break until 9:30 at night. T. Arifali, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, led the final funeral prayer.
Even then, the mosque remained full of people. Large numbers remained near the grave after the prayer as well, reciting tasbeeh, praying, and staying on for a long while, as though everyone wanted a little more time to bid farewell to a life that had touched them at some point.
A significant feature of Mammunni Maulavi Sahab’s life was his connection across generations and social groups. From children to the elderly, from teachers to ordinary workers, and from religious to social circles, many found in him an elder and compassionate guide from whom they sought advice, encouragement and direction. To some he was a teacher, to others a leader, to others a counsellor, and to others simply an elder whose very presence brought comfort. Perhaps this is why the impact of his passing was not confined to his immediate family or associates, but was felt by a much wider circle.
Family’s Sacrifices
Behind every great collective service lie sacrifices that never come to public attention. Mammunni Maulavi Sahab’s life was no exception. His wife spent years enduring his busy life, constant travel, and social and religious responsibilities with patience and fortitude. His children, too, came to see their father not merely as a family member, but as someone fulfilling a broader social responsibility. Those who devote a large part of their lives to collective service are accompanied, in that journey, by the quiet sacrifices of their families. In this sense, a significant part of Mammunni Maulavi Sahab’s legacy also belongs to the sacrifices of his wife, children and family.
The earth has now taken Mammunni Maulavi Sahab into itself, but his simple way of life, constant travel, selfless service, and his manner of instilling hope amid difficult circumstances will remain in the hearts of those who knew him. His life stood as an example that the building of society is not always achieved through grand slogans or prominent positions; sometimes, a quiet, simple and steadfast person can leave an impact across generations. Perhaps the truest description of Mammunni Maulavi Sahab’s life is that he lived less for himself and more for others. Such a life comes to an end physically, but its effects remain among those who found light, encouragement or support in it. May Allah Almighty forgive Mammunni Maulavi Sahab, grant him a place in His mercy, accept his religious, educational and social services, and make the sacrifices offered by his family throughout this long journey a source of reward for them as well.
[The writer is Secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Kerala]
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Markers of Excellence> Personality> Obituary / by Shihab Pookkottur / October 05th, 2026
Advocate Irshad Ahmad’s book titled “Kashmir – A Journey Beyond Time” was released at the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) on Wednesday, bringing together former judges, political leaders, legal professionals and public figures who reflected on Kashmir’s history, natural beauty, political developments and the experiences of its people.
Speaking at the book release, Justice Iqbal Ansari, former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, congratulated Ahmad and urged people to read the book to develop a deeper understanding of Kashmir. Recalling his own visits to the region, Justice Ansari said that Kashmir’s extraordinary natural beauty stood in sharp contrast to the difficult circumstances he witnessed there.
Describing Kashmir as a “tragic place”, he said its people were good and hospitable but had experienced difficult lives. He recalled seeing restrictions and challenging conditions during his visits and said these experiences left him deeply saddened.
Justice Ansari also discussed the historical circumstances surrounding Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India. Recalling the events following the end of British rule, he said Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state whose ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, initially sought to maintain an independent position. According to Ansari, the situation changed following the entry of forces from Pakistan into the region, after which the Maharaja sought India’s assistance and signed the Instrument of Accession.
He emphasised that the accession initially related to three subjects, defence, foreign affairs and communications, while Jammu and Kashmir retained substantial autonomy in other areas.
Justice Ansari subsequently turned to the history and constitutional significance of Article 370. He questioned the popular narrative that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was unaware of, or opposed to, the provision. According to him, discussions concerning Article 370 took place at Patel’s residence, while a draft letter concerning Sheikh Abdullah was also sent to Patel for approval.
He said Patel subsequently played a role in securing support for the provision within the Congress Working Committee. Justice Ansari argued that Article 370 was conceived as a constitutional mechanism through which the applicability of provisions of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir could be determined while preserving the state’s special constitutional position.
He stressed that claims concerning Article 370 and Patel’s role should be assessed in light of historical records rather than simply repeated as established facts. Referring to the subsequent abrogation of Article 370, Justice Ansari said there had been limited opportunity for a dispassionate public discussion about its constitutional and political implications.
He expressed appreciation for Ahmad’s effort to document his journey through Kashmir and said the book could encourage readers to engage more deeply with the region’s history, people and contemporary realities.
Former Union Minister Salman Khurshid also congratulated Ahmad on the publication. He said the book on Kashmir should perhaps have been written much earlier and suggested that greater engagement with the region could have contributed to addressing some of the problems associated with it.
Khurshid referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment concerning Article 370 and noted that Justice Iqbal Ansari had articulated his views on Kashmir and the constitutional provision. He also suggested that a separate book should be written on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and its significance in India’s constitutional and institutional framework.
Addressing the question of Kashmir’s relationship with the rest of the country, Khurshid said that even if some people believed the situation had improved, sustained efforts were necessary to ensure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir never felt separated from the rest of India.
He emphasised the importance of strengthening relationships with the people of the region and avoiding actions or approaches that could deepen feelings of alienation.
Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s formulation of “Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat”, Khurshid described the phrase as an important message associated with Kashmir. He said India should work towards an era in which Kashmir makes a significant contribution to the country’s future and receives the attention and care appropriate to its place as the “crown of India”.
The author, Advocate Irshad Ahmad, described the occasion as a deeply emotional moment, saying he had never imagined that he would become the author of a book. Recalling his journey to Kashmir, he said he had initially travelled there as an ordinary visitor but returned with experiences and impressions that eventually inspired him to write.
Ahmad said the beauty of Dal Lake, mountains, valleys, shikaras and gardens, along with the warmth and hospitality of Kashmir’s people, left a lasting impression on him. These experiences, he said, became the foundation of his book.
He said the central theme of his journey was “Sangharsh”, or struggle, which he described as an integral part of human life and an important source of inspiration and strength. Referring to Winston Churchill’s well-known exhortation to “never give in”, Ahmad said the spirit of perseverance had remained an important part of his own journey through different phases of life, including engineering, politics and public service.
Ahmad said he had already published around 650–700 books and credited the encouragement of friends and well-wishers for motivating him to continue writing. He particularly addressed young people, saying that determination and sustained struggle could help them achieve their objectives irrespective of the profession or field they chose.
He clarified that Kashmir – A Journey Beyond Time was not intended to be a conventional historical work. Instead, he said, it was based on what he personally saw, experienced and felt during his journey through Kashmir. He also indicated that he planned to write another book dealing with Islamic culture and animal cultural history.
Sirajuddin Qureshi, former President of the India Islamic Cultural Centre, congratulated Ahmad for completing the book, particularly because the project had been undertaken quietly and without much public attention. He said the author deserved appreciation for presenting Kashmir in what he considered its proper context rather than attempting to write about the region without experiencing it firsthand.
Qureshi highlighted Kashmir’s natural beauty and recalled its longstanding reputation as a destination comparable to Switzerland. While acknowledging that numerous books had already been written about Kashmir, he said Ahmad’s effort to present the region through his own journey and observations added significance to the work.
Pradeep Rai, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, also congratulated Ahmad and reflected on the enduring significance of books. He said societies had undergone enormous changes over thousands of years, with rulers, communities and social structures changing, while Kashmir’s mountains, rivers and natural landscape had remained enduring features of the region.
Rai said books had the power to make writers’ names live on through generations because readers continued to remember authors through their works. Referring to his interest in Amir Khusro and writings in which Kashmir has been mentioned, he said successive dynasties and historical developments had shaped the region and its society.
He praised Ahmad for travelling through Kashmir and documenting what he personally witnessed. Rai observed that understanding contemporary Kashmir required a willingness to see the region directly and engage with its people and society.
The book release thus became not merely a literary occasion but a wider discussion about Kashmir’s history, constitutional evolution, social experience, natural beauty and relationship with the wider Indian society. Across their remarks, the speakers emphasised the value of documenting personal experiences and engaging with Kashmir through history, literature and direct human interaction.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> News> Society / by India Tomorrow / October 01st, 2026
Rewadha Village (Darbhanga District), BIHAR / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :
Ahmad’s success is an inspiring example of how determination and hard work enable individuals from modest backgrounds to contribute to some of the world’s most advanced technological endeavours
New Delhi :
Imtiyaz Ahmad, hailing from a small village of Rewadha in Bihar’s Darbhanga district, has added another milestone to his distinguished career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by serving as Project Director of the EOS-05 mission, India’s first dedicated geo-imaging satellite mission.
The EOS-05 satellite was successfully launched on 4 September aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Operating from a geosynchronous orbit approximately 36,000 kilometres above Earth, the satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of specific regions without the interruptions associated with low Earth orbit satellites.
As Project Director, Ahmad played a key role in overseeing the mission. News of the successful launch sparked celebrations in his native village and across the Mithila region, where residents expressed pride in one of their own reaching the highest levels of India’s space programme.
Addressing the gathering after the launch, Ahmad praised the efforts of ISRO’s scientists, engineers, technicians and support staff, describing them as the true heroes behind the mission. He also acknowledged the contribution of families whose support enables scientists to devote themselves to such demanding projects.
Born into a modest family, Ahmad is the only brother among four sisters. His father, Mohammad Qamar Alam, a retired serviceman, recalls his son’s childhood fascination with rockets and aircraft. According to family members, Ahmad would often spend long hours watching rockets cross the sky and dreamed from an early age of working in the space sector.
Ahmad completed his early education in Rewadha village before studying at Darbhanga District School and Patna Science College. He later earned a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from BIT Sindri, Dhanbad, before moving to Bengaluru and beginning his professional journey in space research.
He joined ISRO in 1998 and has since worked on several major space programmes. Before EOS-05, he served as Satellite and Project Director for the INSAT-3DS mission and was also associated with GSAT-20 and GSAT-2 in leadership roles.
EOS-05 represents a significant technological achievement for ISRO. Weighing 2,367 kilograms, it is the heaviest satellite ever launched aboard a GSLV rocket. The satellite will provide near real-time imaging and data for applications including agriculture, environmental monitoring and disaster management.
The mission has already completed its first major orbital manoeuvre successfully, with the satellite’s propulsion system raising its orbit significantly as part of a series of planned operations before it reaches its final geostationary position nearly 35,786 kilometres above Earth.
For Bihar and particularly the Mithila region, Ahmad’s success is being celebrated as an inspiring example of how determination, scientific curiosity and hard work can enable individuals from modest backgrounds to contribute to some of the world’s most advanced technological endeavours.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> India> Indian Muslims / by Team Clarion / September 08th, 2026
In recognition of his global contributions toward academic excellence, cultural preservation, and social welfare, the University of Kufa has conferred an Honorary Doctorate upon His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and leader of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community.
A distinguished Iraqi delegation, led by Prof. Dr Hayder Abed Dhahad, Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Prof. Dr Alaa Naji Almawla, President of the University of Kufa, conferred the degree upon Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at a ceremony held in Surat.
“The Diamond City of Surat serves as a fitting venue to honour His Holiness,” stated Prof. Dr Haider Abed Dhahad. “As his ancestral home and the principal seat of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, which for centuries has stood as the premier educational hub of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Surat embodies a rich legacy of scholarly excellence. Conferring this honorary doctorate here underscores our shared dedication to knowledge, culture, and humanitarian values.”
Echoing these sentiments, Prof. Dr Alaa Naji Almawla said, “His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to education, heritage preservation, and global social upliftment. This doctorate honours his efforts in connecting higher learning with selfless social service, offering an inspiring model of compassionate and visionary leadership to our institution and academic communities worldwide.”
He added, “By presenting this honour to His Holiness, the University of Kufa recognises the enduring bond between classical scholarship and global humanitarian action.”
A Legacy of Academic and Social Leadership
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has consistently emphasised the role of education as the cornerstone of societal development. He has served as Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and is the present Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia and the patron of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, the community’s premier Arabic academy; he champions a holistic educational framework integrating classical humanities with modern science.
Beyond academia, Syedna’s leadership spans extensive environmental stewardship, healthcare access, and community development initiatives across the globe.
Located in the Najaf Governorate of Iraq, the University of Kufa is a prominent seat of higher learning and academic research operating under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Republic of Iraq. The university, with 40,000 students, encompasses diverse faculties across medicine, humanities, jurisprudence, and natural sciences.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror / September 21st, 2026
From representing India on the football field to supporting distressed expatriate workers and building bridges between Indian and Saudi business communities, Mir Gazanfar Ali Razvi, popularly known as Zaki, has spent decades turning community service into a sustained commitment.
In recognition of his humanitarian work and contribution to India-Saudi relations, he has been honoured with the Duggar Da Sammaan 2026 by GHRT International.
The honour recognises Zaki’s longstanding service to the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, particularly his efforts to assist vulnerable workers and promote community welfare irrespective of region, religion, caste or creed.
Zaki moved to Saudi Arabia in 1995 after an early sporting career that saw him represent India in football and participate in the prestigious Santosh Trophy during the 1989–90 season. His experience in team sport later found a different expression in his community work, where collaboration, perseverance and service became defining features of his public life.
For more than three decades, he has been involved in initiatives supporting Indian workers facing hardship. During the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Nitaqat-related amnesty programme, he worked on the ground to assist distressed expatriates, organising job fairs and helping arrange food, clothing and other essential support in coordination with community organisations and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah.
His humanitarian work has also extended to some of the most difficult moments faced by expatriate families. He has assisted in the legal repatriation of stranded workers and helped coordinate the transportation of the mortal remains of Indian nationals to India, providing practical support to families during periods of grief.
Zaki has also placed considerable emphasis on the younger generation of Indians living in the Kingdom. He has supported higher-education and career guidance initiatives, health-awareness programmes, sporting tournaments and cultural activities designed to encourage young expatriates to remain connected with their heritage while building their futures in Saudi Arabia.
His contribution extends beyond community welfare to economic engagement. As former General Secretary of the Saudi Indian Business Network (SIBN), Zaki worked to strengthen interaction between Indian and Saudi business communities. His tenure included efforts associated with Memoranda of Understanding signed with the Vibrant Goa Foundation and the Trade Promotion Council of India in 2019.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also contributed to efforts supporting the supply of oxygen cylinders to India during a period of critical need. He has additionally received a letter of appreciation from the Millet India Initiative for his efforts to promote Indian millets in Saudi Arabia.
The Duggar Da Sammaan 2026 adds another milestone to a journey that has brought together sport, humanitarian service, community development and economic cooperation.
For Zaki, the recognition reflects decades of engagement with people and institutions across the Indian diaspora and his continued efforts to strengthen the bonds between India and Saudi Arabia.
source: http://www.yahind.com / YaHind / Home> India / by YaHind Team / September 30th, 2026
The thought of joining the Indian Navy never occurred to a young Khurram Shahzad Noor while he was growing up in a village of Western Uttar Pradesh.
It was a meeting with a colonel while he was attending a tuition class. The Army officer encouraged him to consider a career in the armed forces. Today, after retiring from the Indian Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral, a fairly senior leadership position, he remembers the encounter with the stranger who changed his life.
Today, he has a distinguished career in the Indian Navy behind him and is active as a poet, writer, and motivational speaker. His life demonstrates that a person need not have to choose between discipline and imagination, or public service and passion. Both can coexist and enrich life.
Though the armed forces do not believe in flaunting the religious identities of the officers and men, Dr Rear Admiral (retd) Khuram Shahzad Noor is the first Muslim to reach such a top position in the Indian Navy.
Rear Admiral Khurram Shahzad Noor
Born into a family with roots in the village of Nagina, Bijnor, Noor’s childhood did not suggest the extraordinary career that lay ahead. Born prematurely at around seven months, he was physically weaker than many children of his age. He took longer to learn to walk and found ordinary sporting activities demanding. Running for a short distance could leave him exhausted.
For a child growing up with such limitations, the prospect of joining the armed forces might have appeared distant. Yet those early difficulties eventually became a source of strength. Rather than allowing physical limitations to define his future, Noor chose to challenge them.
The road ahead required discipline, education and perseverance. Noor eventually joined the Indian Navy and went on to serve the country for approximately 35 years. His professional journey was closely associated with technology, education and training. He developed expertise in anti-submarine warfare, a specialised field that requires precision, patience and the ability to understand complex underwater operations.
Reflecting on his professional responsibilities, Noor says, “I teach anti-submarine warfare, where I look after the training of Navy officers.” The statement offers a glimpse into another important aspect of his career: preparing the next generation of naval officers for the responsibilities that come with serving at sea.
Rear Admiral Khurram Shahzad Noor at an event
Submarine warfare is a highly specialised domain in which knowledge, technology, judgment and teamwork have to work together. Noor’s role as an instructor placed him not merely in the position of an experienced officer but also that of a mentor responsible for transferring knowledge to those who would eventually shoulder the nation’s maritime responsibilities.
Speaking about the Navy’s role during Operation Sindoor, Noor explained that naval operations have a distinct character. “The role of the Navy in wars is very specific. We do not come out in the open until it’s a full-fledged war declared,” he said.
For Noor, the Navy’s contribution is not limited to moments when ships are deployed in direct combat. He highlights the less visible but equally significant role of maritime engagement.
“The Navy does a lot of Sea Diplomacy, which no other armed forces get to do. This is a positive part that the Navy contributes to,” he said. “Sea diplomacy allows a country’s naval presence to serve strategic and diplomatic purposes during peacetime. Through maritime cooperation, international engagements and interaction with other nations, naval forces can help strengthen relationships while simultaneously protecting national interests”, Noor added.
Noor also explained the distinction between the Navy’s role during a declared war and its responsibilities at other times. “When it’s a properly declared war, we cut lines and follow orders at sea. Otherwise we are never in attack mode, but in support of what is going on the borders, to make things easy for the army,” he said.
His observations underline the coordinated nature of India’s defence structure. Different branches of the armed forces have distinct responsibilities, but their larger objective remains common, safeguarding the country and supporting one another when circumstances demand it.
Recalling tough days during his training, a young cadet ran away from the academy. Five days later, the boy returned with a letter from his father. The letter said the boy had two choices – face his father’s wrath at home or return to the Naval forces.
Recalling the incident with a laugh, Noor said the young cadet chose to return to the academy.
Rear Admiral Khurram Shahzad Noor
Yet behind the uniform and military responsibilities was another personality, one connected with words. “I deeply believe in languages”, Noor shared.
Noor’s love for poetry did not disappear amid the demands of naval life. Instead, literature became another way through which he could explore human emotions, relationships and society. The contrast is striking: a professional trained to listen for faint signals beneath the sea also became a poet attentive to the quieter signals of the human heart.
His creative interests extend beyond poetry. He has also explored short filmmaking and storytelling, using creative expression to examine human relationships and social themes. These pursuits reveal a personality that refuses to be confined to a single professional identity.
Noor’s life challenges the assumption that a person’s early circumstances determine the limits of his future. The child who struggled to keep pace on a football field eventually spent decades undertaking demanding naval responsibilities. The officer associated with submarine warfare also became a teacher and mentor. The military professional developed into an educator, poet and communicator.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Vidhush Gaur, New Delhi / August 23rd, 2026
