Category Archives: Leaders

All-woman party offers 10% quota to men

March 10, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAll-Women Political Party in India, Bharatiya Awam Party (Rashtriya), General Secretary, Najma Parveen, Najma Parveen President, Nazneen Ansari, Nazneen Ansari General Secretary, Presidentmpositiveone@gmail.com

Varanasi :

A group of enterprising women here has formed an all-woman political outfit – the Bharatiya Awam Party (Rashtriya). They want to “usher in change in the male-dominated political system”. Although the party will skip this year’s LS polls, it will field candidates in the next UP polls.

“We are working for women’s empowerment in all fields, including politics. Women make up half the country’s population, yet their representation on the national political spectrum is negligible,” Najma Parveen, president of the party that promises 10% quotas for men, says. So far over 35,000 women, mostly Muslims, have joined the party after it came into existence on January 23, 2013, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary. The poll panel registered it this January 9.

“Since most women are not members of a party, they are indifferent to political ideologies. Their voting choices are dominated by men in their families. We want to make them politically aware,” party general secretary Nazneen Ansari said.

Both young women at the helm of affairs have Master’s degrees in conflict management and development from Banaras Hindu University. “We are getting overwhelming response and have received over 50,000 receipts for primary membership,” Parveen said.

Unlike other political parties, the membership process of this party is rigorous. According to the office-bearers, membership is granted only after strict verification of the aspirant’s voter identity card. Each member is provided with a registration number. A data bank with details such as address, assembly constituency, parliamentary constituency and voter ID number of the member is prepared.

“We have received over 50,000 receipts of primary membership. But so far about 35,000 sisters have been granted membership after verification,” they said.

These numbers clearly suggest that the party is holding command over a significant number of committed voters who might become a subject of envy by other political parties. However, that is yet to be seen.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Varanasi / by Binay Singh, TNN / March 08th, 2014

Ahamed, Basheer likely to contest again

March 10, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersE. Ahamed, K.P.A. Majeed, Shihab Thangal, Syed Shihabmpositiveone@gmail.com

Ahamed says he is fit and would abide by party decision

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is unlikely to replace its senior-most leader and national president E. Ahamed in the Lok Sabha elections taking place on April 10. Although the high-level secretariat meeting of the party being held at Kozhikode on Monday will finalise the candidates for Malappuram and Ponnani constituencies, the IUML’s top leadership does not favour a change of the existing candidates. E.T. Mohammed Basheer and Mr. Ahamed are likely to contest the elections one more time from Ponnani and Malappuram respectively.

“We will not ask Ahamed Sahib, who is our senior-most leader with a national standing, to step down. It is up to him to decide whether to contest or not, depending on his health,” said IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed. Mr. Ahamed, during a telephonic chat with The Hindu , said that he was in good health. “By the grace of God, I have no health problems now. But as a loyal party man, it is my duty to abide by the decisions of the party. I will obey what the party says,” he said.

Mr. Ahamed indicated that there was no situation where he had to step down.

Sources close to Mr. Ahamed too said that the party national president was fit and prepared enough to try yet another term as an experienced parliamentarian.

Senior IUML leaders, not willing to be quoted, said that it was a time when the party needed the experience and skills of Mr. Ahamed at the national level.

They said that the party could not ignore the fact that it got a ministerial berth twice in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre largely because of the diplomatic skills of Mr. Ahamed.

The IUML is a party in which the decisions of the top leadership are generally accepted by the lower rungs. This is largely because of the awe with which the Sayed Shihab family of Panakkad, which holds the top position in the hierarchy of leadership, is held by the cadres.

When the Shihab Thangal says something, seldom will there be an opposition to it in the party. Without ruffling any feathers, the top leadership of the IUML could overrule the demands of the party cadres many times before.

The demands from certain corners in the party against the candidature of Mr. Ahamed this time are likely to be overruled.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Abdul Latheef Naha / Mallappuram – March 10th, 2014

Assam polls: Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF emerging as a new alternative?

March 9, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAIUDF, All India United Democratic Front, Aminul Islam, Badruddin Ajmal, Maulana Badruddin Ajmalmpositiveone@gmail.com

The agar (Aquilaria agallocha) tree takes about eight years of infection by a fungus to yield agar oil, one of the costliest perfumery raw materials. It has taken almost the same time for All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) to shake off the minority tag and produce a universal ‘political perfume’.

Badruddin Ajmal at his barkat home at Nizammudin west in New Delhi on Tuesday. (HT photo by Arvind Yadav)

The agar business and the AIUDF are inseparable. Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, patriarch of arguably India’s richest agar oil exporting family, is the chief of AIUDF.

Many in Assam, a state wary of migrants aka ‘Bangladeshis’, allegedly went by Ajmal’s appearance – flowing beard, skull cap and clad in white kurta-pyjama – to label AIUDF as a pro-Muslim party. Some saw it as a one-election wonder, much like the United Minorities’ Front (UMF) that came and went after the 1985 assembly elections .

Both UMF and the AIUDF were formed to fight for the rights of the migrants they say are victimised with the Bangladeshi or foreigner tag. But the former did not have at its helm someone like Ajmal who, as party colleagues say, understands the politics of business or the business of politics.

Like the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, the AIUDF took less than a year to make its presence felt in the 2006 assembly elections in Assam. The decision of the Supreme Court in 2005 to scrap an allegedly pro-migrants act hampering their detection and deportation, hasted the party’s birth.

The AIUDF won 10 of the 69 seats it contested, eating into the traditional Muslim votes of the Congress. Ajmal was the lone winner for AIUDF in its debut (2009) Lok Sabha polls, but the party came a close second in four more seats.

The skeptics were silenced when AIUDF bagged 18 seats in the 2011 assembly elections , emerging as the second largest party ahead of Asom Gana Parishad, once the ‘regional alternative’ to the Congress.

“Just because a Muslim cleric-businessman heads our party does not mean it bats for Muslims or migrants. Otherwise, I would not have been the working president of this party,” said Aditya Langthasa, former AIUDF legislator and a Dimasa tribal.

The composition of candidates for the assembly, panchayat and civic polls during the past few years underscores the secular, democratic structure of the party, he added.

According to senior party leader Aminul Islam, labelling AIUDF as a Muslim or minority party is a conspiracy of the Congress and BJP.

“Yes, Muslims are a decisive force in some LS seats (they constitute 30-56% of the voters in six of Assam’s 14 parliamentary constituencies) but we have come a long way to broad-base the party to appeal to every community, minority or majority,” he said.

So how many non-Muslims will the party put up? “What matters is the right candidate, and we will finalise the names after the Congress and BJP declare their lists,” Ajmal said.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> myindiamyvote / by Rahul Karmakar, HT / Guwahati, March 09th, 2014

A R Rahman foresees an industry in motion capture technology

March 9, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, World OpinionAR Rahman, AR Rahman Indian Music Composermpositiveone@gmail.com

Chennai:

Oscar winning composer A R Rahman, who has scored the music for Rajnikanth’s ‘Kochadaiiyaan’, India’s first film on motion capture technology, today said he foresees a separate industry in this field.

“Like there is Hollywood and Bollywood and the industry for south Indian films, there can be an entire industry on films made with this technology,” he said at the audio launch of ‘Kochadaiiyaan’, directed by Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya R Ashwin.

He recalled how the film’s director Soundarya had put in efforts into making it and said he was sure it would succeed.

“When I came to Chennai from US, Soundarya told me about ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ which she said would get over in a year. I was wondering how and I took a week. By then, Rajini Sir had called up and I realised the kind of efforts going into this film. Then I decided to go ahead,” Rahman said.

Motion or performance capture technology helps filmmakers record the movements of the actor — in specially made suits, which capture the emotions, gestures and body language of the actor and translates it into animation.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> TV-Music / by PTI / March 09th, 2014

Jayalalithaa’s schoolmate Badar Sayeed quits AIADMK and joins AAP

March 6, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAIADMK, Badar Sayeed, ex MLA, Lawyer, Tamil Nadumpositiveone@gmail.com

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s school friend Badar Sayeed has quit the AIADMK and joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Sayeed, 67, was an MLA from Triplicane constituency in Chennai from 2006 to 2011 while the party was in the Opposition.

“Sayeed formally joined our party in the presence of Tamil Nadu state convenor Christina Samy on Wednesday. The party welcomes her wholeheartedly,” said M. Lenin, AAP’s media in-charge, told Indiatoday.in.

He said it is up to the party to field her in the Lok Sabha elections.

Sayeed was feeling sidelined and aloof in the AIADMK for quite some time, more so after Jayalalithaa came back to power in May 2011.

But her decision has surprised the AIADMK and political observers.

“I joined the AAP for personal reasons. I can’t reveal what these reasons are. There are no political reasons. Whether I will contest or not can’t be revealed now,” Sayeed told Indiatoday.in.

A leading lawyer in the Madras High Court, the 67-year-old is known for her outspokenness and boldness.

Six months ago, she filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the authority of Muslim qazis to grant ‘talaq’ (divorce).

She challenged the practice quoting Indian law and scriptures and said qazis granting divorce is illegal and anti-Islam and prayed the court to ban the practice.

The case is pending.

Sayeed was two years senior to Jayalalithaa in the Chennai’s Church Park Convent school.

She has a son and a daughter and her husband is a neurosurgeon in Chennai.

Political observers are surprised by Sayeed’s move.

Only on rare occasions have AIADMK leaders quit the party, especially when Jayalalithaa is in power.

“It is surprising. Jayalaltihaa has an iron grip over the party. People are afraid about even thinking of deserting. If this trend continues, it will be good not only for the AIADMK, which lacks even basic rights of dissent but also for democracy and Tamil Nadu politics,” said V. Durai Kannan, a senior journalist and political observer.

source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / Home> India> South / by R. Ramashuramanian, Chennai / March 06th, 2014

Haider Qazmi joins AAP

March 3, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, LeadersBhojpur Film Actor, Haider Qazmi, Hyder Qazmi, Hyder Qazmi Bhojpuri Film Actormpositiveone@gmail.com

Known as the tiger of Bhojpuri film industry, Haider Qazmi too has become a member of AAP now. In a recently held event in Delhi he said, ” My fans from Jahanabad wanted me to be a part AAP and thus I joined. “

Haider has acted in over a dozen films and says he loves his fans from Jahanabad. He also added, “AAP has proved that you need the will to change things and nothing can stop you. I respect and appreciate their agenda and thus I joined them.”

source: bhojpurimedia.com

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Bhojpuri> Movies / February 25th, 2014

If you are creative, you win: Kalam

March 1, 2014Education, LeadersPresident A.P.J. Abdul Kalammpositiveone@gmail.com

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam having a word with S. Sunderrajan director of National Institute of Technology in Tiruchi on Wednesday. / Photo: A. Muralitharan / The Hindu

Laying primacy on innovation and creativity, the former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Wednesday said that in the next 20 years India would grow in a big way in the knowledge society.

Innovation and creativity would result in a culture of excellence which would help in further elevating the country, Mr. Kalam said speaking at the National Institute of Technology here.

“Today knowledge is power and if you are creative you are the winner”, the former President said.

Noting that institutions would be judged by their creativity and innovation, Mr. Kalam exhorted students to aspire for attaining excellence without getting deterred by failures.

Universities and national institutions should prepare citizens of future with global outlook capable of strengthening the nation. Facing a new world, institutions should foster team spirit and carry out joint projects that would bring together multiple faculties and enable minds to integrate thereby, he said.

Today synergy was the mandate and working together would ultimately lead to sustainable development which was very much required, he said. Ignited mind of youth was the most powerful resource which the nation should make use of, he said. Increased student–faculty interaction would enable the young minds to expand their knowledge.

Earlier, Dr. Kalam honoured 15 distinguished alumni of the institution by presenting awards to each one of them. He inaugurated the golden jubilee science block on the occasion and interacted with students.

The Director, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, S. Sundarrajan, welcomed the gathering.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Staff Reporter / Tiruchi – February 27th, 2014

Endowment talk focuses on development, people’s welfare

March 1, 2014Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAbdul Rahman, Abdul Rahman Memorial Committee, Trade Union Leader of Visakhapatnam Port Trustmpositiveone@gmail.com

V. Venugopal, Editor of Veekshana monthly magazine, Hyderabad, delivering 'Abdul Rehman memorial lecture' at the Public Library in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. / Photo: A. Manikanta Kumar / The Hindu — V. Venugopal, Editor of Veekshana monthly magazine, Hyderabad, delivering ‘Abdul Rehman memorial lecture’ at the Public Library in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. / Photo: A. Manikanta Kumar / The Hindu

Services of former trade union leader of VPT recalled

The concept of development had been redefined by former trade union leader of Visakhapatnam Port Trust Abdul Rahman, who passed away 15 years ago.

But his selfless contributions to the port employees in many forms were something to be remembered for a lifetime, senior journalist and editor of monthly magazine ‘Veekshanam’ N. Venugopal has said here on Sunday.

Recalling the expertise of Abdul Rahman on the occasion of his 15 death anniversary at an endowment lecture on the theme ‘Development and its alternate perspectives’ hosted by Abdul Rahman Memorial Committee here at Visakhapatnam Public Library, he said: “Development per se doesn’t have any relevance if it is not in line with people’s welfare. In the modern day context, the definition of development has taken a new dimension and is often confined to individual’s growth in the form of assets and other privileges. However, for Abdul Rahman it was beyond personal and professional preferences.”

His associates and others recalled that Rahman dedicated his life in service to society.

Several political and societal issues were discussed.

Former Union Energy Secretary E.A.S. Sarma highlighted how people’s views should never be ignored in a democratic country like ours. He said that before setting up any unit, it was important to draft policies in an inclusive manner.

“It was a privilege to work under the leadership of Abdul Rahman.

Till his last days, his focus was always on employees’ welfare. He was an epitome of hard work and perseverance who had led by example,” said convener of the committee P.V. Ramana.

With the first annual event inaugurated by former Mayor D.V. Subba Rao, committee members said that the annual feature will have experts speak on different subjects that would have a positive impact on society.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – February 17th, 2014