Former Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha, Congress leader, AMU Court member, and Executive Council member, Wasim Ahmad passed away after a cardiac arrest in the late hours of Sunday (25th April) in Aligarh. He was 69.
Born on 1st March 1952, Wasim Ahmad was passionate about politics from his student days and was elected as the Secretary of AMU Students’ Union in 1979. He was very active in the movement for the restoration of the minority character of AMU (1971-81). During his Janata Party days (1977-79), he was closely associated with leaders like Piloo Mody, H N Bahuguna, Arif Mohammed Khan, and when Janata Dal was formed in 1988 he was associated with VP Singh.
Wasim Ahmad was All India Secretary, Janata Dal, 1990-94, and All India General Secretary, Janata Dal (1994-96). He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh for a short period (November 1996 to July 1998). After the fall of IK Gujral’s United Front government in 1998, he along with Jaipal Reddy and other Janata Dal leaders joined Congress Party.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Qurban Ali / April 28th, 2021
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, donated AED1 million to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign, the first humanitarian campaign of its kind in the Arab world to provide food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 30 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America this Ramadan.
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil’s contribution is part of the large response from companies, businessmen and community members in the UAE and abroad in support of the campaign, which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Given the influx of donations, from philanthropist individuals and companies, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign fully achieved its goal of 100 million meals within 10 days of its launch.
Dr. Vayalil said, “At VPS Healthcare, we are proud and privileged to be a part of this distinguished programme. It is in line with our motto to giving back to society and helping the needy.”
The 100 Million Meals campaign is managed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Food Banking Regional Network, and local food banks and humanitarian and charity institutions in beneficiary countries.
Donations to the campaign can be made on www.100millionmeals.ae, by contacting the campaign call centre on the toll-free number 8004999, via the designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201), and by sending the word “وجبة” in Arabic or “Meal” in English by SMS on specified numbers via the Du or Etisalat networks in the UAE.
source: http://www.wam.ae / Home> Emirates> English / April 24th, 2021
The United Vision Welfare and Charitable Trust, Mysuru, and MESCO has announced that it has initiated free supply of oxygen cylinders to needy COVID-19 patients. It has urged people in need of oxygen cylinders to call on 7975989229 or mobile numbers 9535831973 and 9845319775.
Oxygen cylinders along with technical support will be provided to patients at a refundable deposit of ₹5,000 per cylinder.
The facility was inaugurated by Secretary of MESCO Shabbir Mustafa at MESCO in Subhash Nagar in Mysuru on Friday.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – April 24th, 2021
She has broken the stereotypes and her success has been an inspiration to women across the board. Shabana Shaikh is now the in-charge officer at Dongri Police Station. The 1992 Maharashtra police joinee is the first woman in-charge officer in the history of the station she had joined as a senior police inspector. She was also the first Muslim woman to become a police officer from her district, Ahmednagar. Two of her sisters have followed in her footsteps to join the police force in 1995.
She has served in the SB-I i.e. the special branch of the Mumbai Police as an inspector until now. This mother of two wants her daughters to join the IPS. She recalls that, though her father wasn’t highly educated, he ensured that Shaikh and her siblings went to school.
“I was born into a large joint family in Akole Taluka of Ahmednagar district,” Shaikh said in an interview with national daily, “We were seven sisters and two brothers. Educating girls was almost a taboo in my village.” Her eldest sister joined a college to pursue her graduation, becoming the first girl from the village to enrol into college, despite the family facing much condemnation and resistance. Shaikh herself went to college in Sangamner.
She then went to Pune to do her Masters. That was when she decided to join the police force. While she did not qualify for the direct MPSC examination for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police, she went on to crack the sub-inspector exam. That too, in her first attempt! And she did not let her higher education take a backseat during the preparations for the exams and during training; she finished her MA during her training for the sub-inspector post and pursued and achieved an LLB after that.
Courtesy: Facebook / www.femina.in
While her father had been hesitant about sending her far away to Pune for further studies, he had helped her on seeing her determination. And she did him proud with her achievements. She recalls, “My father was the proudest man when he saw my photographs in newspapers as the first (Muslim) woman police officer from the district and the many felicitations that followed.” Her and her sisters’ success in becoming a part of the police force helped dispel any idea in their village and district that Muslim girls couldn’t crack government jobs. It also helped change the wrong notions the society in their district held about girls’ education.
Last year, she was felicitated by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh for investigation and conviction in a case of Nagpada PI WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? where she was previously posted. She was honoured with a Best Officer certificate for the same. At the time she was attached to the M.R.A. Marg Police Station. Her exemplary conduct, performance and outstanding achievements were recognised on the occasion. She has had a significant impact within her area of responsibility on mandated policing tasks.
source: http://www.femina.in / Femina / Home> Trending> Achievers / by Radhika Sathe Patwardhan / January 16th, 2021
His wife also breathed her last on the same day; both of them succumbed to Covid-19
M.M. Rahman / File picture
The first vice-principal of St Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Calcutta, BCom evening section, M.M. Rahman, passed away in the city on Saturday.
He was 84. His wife also breathed her last on the same day. Both of them succumbed to Covid-19.
Rahman, a professor, was the vice-principal for eight years from July 2006 to June 2014.
“With the passing away of Prof M.M. Rahman, the college has lost a true Xaverian of 60 years of bonding and a great professor who not only taught in the college for more than 50 years but immensely contributed in shaping up St Xavier’s College, Calcutta in its present stature,” said Rev. Father Dominic Savio, principal, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Calcutta.
Rahman was awarded the Nihil Ultra Award, the highest academic award of St Xavier’s College, Calcutta, for his dedicated service to the college and “outstanding contribution in the field of higher education”.
His association with the college is a long one which started when he entered as a student in 1951.
He started teaching in the college in 1960 after completing masters in commerce from Calcutta University. He also served as the Dean of BCom morning department and assistant director of the computer centre of the college.
Rahman was known for his “outstanding personality, strict discipline, caring nature for the students, and above all as a dedicated teacher,” the release issued by the college said.
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> West Bengal> Calcutta / by The Telegraph Special Correspondent / Calcutta / April 25th, 2021
Pyare Khan, a Nagpur-based businessperson, has spent 1 crore rupees to buy 32 tonnes of oxygen and supply them to Covid care centres in the city.
Last week, he had sent a tanker carrying 16 tonnes of oxygen to the city from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. He has again sent another tanker carrying the same amount of oxygen to Nagpur.
Khan is associated with transport business. He is the owner of Amshi Transport.
Several Muslims have been at forefront in the ongoing battle against Covid-19. Several of them have played their role in various ways during the pandemic.
Muslim men in various cities have performed last rites of Hindu Covid victims. Danish Siddiqui and Saddam Qurashi are among them. They have cremated over 60 bodies so far in Bhopal.
India is witnessing an acute shortage of oxygen and other basic medical facilities required for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Commenting on the current situation, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that India is facing a ”national emergency-like situation”. The court asked the Centre to put in place a “national plan” on issues including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for the treatment of patients infected, and method of vaccination.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Featured / by Muslim Mirror Staff / April 24th, 2021
He translated Rumi’s 13th century magnum opus Masnavi
Noted Urdu writer and translator Syed Ahmed Esar, 98, known for his translations of classical Persian poetry of Allama Iqbal and Rumi into Urdu, passed away in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
His son Syed Sultan said that he was suffering from age-related ailments and was hospitalised on Tuesday night.
Born in the garrison of Mysore Lancers in Munireddy Palya to a World War I veteran in 1922, Syed Ahmed Esar lived in the narrow Sher Khan Galli off Avenue Road almost all his life. A former Indian Forest Service officer, he worked as the Chief Conservator of Forests, Karnataka, and retired from service in 1980.
Though his interest in classical Persian poetry began at a very young age and he began trying his hand at poetry adopting a pen name “Esar”, which he later added to his name, his first collection of translation was published only in 1997, 17 years after his retirement.
Persian poetry was his constant companion on lonely postings in the forests during his service, Syed Ahmed Esar said to Frontline in April 2020.
His work
He translated the entire seven volume corpus of Allama Iqbal’s Persian poetry into Urdu. He next took up the challenge of translating Rumi’s 13th century magnum opus Masnavi of over 27,000 verses into Urdu. The work took up almost two decades of his life and the six-volume poem was published by the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language in 2019.
He has also published a collection of his own poems and an autobiography. He was given the Rajyotsava Award in 2017 and was the recipient of several literary awards.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by K.V Aditya Bharadwaj / Bengaluru – April 21st, 2021
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, right, in New Delhi [File: Mohd Zakir/Hindustan Times via Getty Images] / pix: aljazeera.com
Ninety-six-year-old Khan, who authored more than 200 books including a two-volume commentary on the Holy Quran, died on Tuesday.
Indian Islamic scholar and peace activist Maulana Wahiduddin Khan has died in the capital New Delhi after contracting novel coronavirus, his family members announced on Tuesday.
Ninety-six-year-old Khan was recently admitted to a hospital in New Delhi after testing positive for COVID-19.
“The great Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan breathed his last, late this evening. Doctors failed to revive his sinking heart. Pray for his maghfirat [penitence] and high station in Paradise. Amin,” Zafarul Islam, Khan’s eldest son, tweeted on Tuesday.
The author of more than 200 books, Khan has been honoured with several awards. This year, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour.
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Twitter
Zafarul-Islam Khan @khan_zafarul . 2H
Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan was buried at noon today in Panjpeeran Qabristan near Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin. Buried in same qabristan are his mother Zaibunnisa n wife Sabi’a Khatoon. Seen are his grandsons lifting his body to place in grave. Pl pray for his maghfirat.
2:06PM – Apr 22, 2021
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Born in Azamgarh, India, in 1925, Khan has been internationally recognised for his contributions to world peace.
In 2009, Georgetown University in Washington, DC’s list of 500 Most Influential Muslims of 2009 named him “Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world”.
In 2001, he established the Centre for Peace and Spirituality to promote and reinforce a culture of peace. Khan went on a 15-day Shanti Yatra (peace march) through the western Maharashtra state in the wake of the demolition of the 16th-century Babri Mosque by Hindu hardliners in the state of Uttar Pradesh in 1992.
He also wrote a two-volume commentary on the Holy Quran.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “saddened” by the news of Khan’s loss.
“He will be remembered for his insightful knowledge on matters of theology and spirituality. He was also passionate about community service and social empowerment. Condolences to his family and countless well-wishers. RIP,” Modi wrote on Twitter.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said he was “deeply grieved” by the demise of Khan, saying: “Maulana Wahiduddin made significant contributions to peace, harmony and reforms in the society. My deepest condolences to his family and well-wishers.”
source: http://www.aljazeera.com / Al Jazeera / Home> News / source: News Agencies / April 22nd, 2021
The Issa brothers own the Euro Garages chain of petrol stations as part of their EG Group business
The Issa brothers, whose parents moved to the UK from Gujarat in the 1970s, own the Euro Garages chain of petrol stations as part of their EG Group business.
London:
Indian-origin billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa have acquired a popular British fast food chain, Leon, as part of what they described as their goal to grow their foodservice operations in Britain.
The Issa brothers, whose parents moved to the UK from Gujarat in the 1970s, own the Euro Garages chain of petrol stations as part of their EG Group business. Last year, they acquired leading UK supermarket chain Asda from US owners Walmart as part of the strategy to expand their non-fuel business.
Leon, Founded by John Vincent, Henry Dimbleby and chef Allegra McEvedy in 2004, pitches itself in the category of “naturally fast food” with a focus on creating a healthy menu that tastes good, in a sustainable way. The acquisition is said to be worth an estimated 100 million pounds.
“Leon is a fantastic brand that we have long admired. As established entrepreneurs in the foodservice retail market ourselves, we have a huge admiration for the business that John and the Leon team have built over the years, and firmly believe that their culture and values closely align with our own,” said Mohsin and Zuber Issa, co-founders and co-CEOs of the EG Group.
“The acquisition of Leon presents EG Group with a fantastic opportunity to further develop the menu offer, the various concession formats including drive-throughs, and will enable us to significantly build on the existing network by exploring opportunities across our own sites along with other strategic locations,” they said.
With an extensive network of over 70 restaurants, Leon has 42 company-owned restaurants operated on leasehold locations, with a strong presence in London as well as other large cities across the UK.
In addition, it has 29 franchised sites at key strategic transport hubs (mainly airports and train stations) across Britain and five other European markets, principally the Netherlands. Leon has also made itself accessible to consumers at home and generates significant revenue from its branded cookbooks, own brand groceries and provision of home delivery ready meals.
“In some ways this is a sad day for me, to part company with the business I founded 17 years ago in Carnaby Street (London). But I have had the pleasure of getting to know Mohsin and Zuber across the last few years. They have been enthusiastic customers of Leon, going out of their way to eat here whenever they visit London,” said John Vincent.
“They are decent, hard-working business people who are committed to sustaining and further strengthening the values and culture that we have built at Leon, a business that has my dad’s name above the door.
“Mohsin and Zuber will not just be superb custodians of the Leon brand, through EG Group they have the vision, investment appetite, foodservice expertise and network scale to take Leon to many more people and places,” he said, adding that he is confident the brand will “flourish” and expand its appeal outside of London under the new ownership.
Prior to the addition of the Leon store network, EG Group said it already operates over 700 foodservice outlets in the UK and Ireland of which 310 operate from standalone premises.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, the company said its foodservice business accounted for 46 per cent of the gross profit of the UK and Ireland division in 2020. The group’s foodservice brand portfolio includes other third-party brands such as Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Greggs, Sbarro, Cinnabon and Subway.
The Issa brothers added: “EG Group continues to identify innovative partnerships and acquisitions that complement our existing consumer offer and enable us to stay at the forefront of consumer trends, particularly in foodservice.
“Our equity investment in Leon is to strengthen our own participation in the fast-growing contemporary foodservice segment. This acquisition aligns with our commitment to being a committed foodservice operator globally, delivers financial benefit to our underlying business, and supports broader commercial strategies to be able to better realise further growth opportunities.”
Founded in 2001 by the Issa family, the EG Group employs over 44,000 people working across more than 6,000 sites across Europe, US and Australia. The brothers, Mohsin and Zuber, were each conferred with a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020, for their contribution to business and charity.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Indians Abroad / by PTI / April 19th, 2021
![Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, right, in New Delhi [File: Mohd Zakir/Hindustan Times via Getty Images]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-163399715.jpg?resize=770%2C513)
