In a momentous stride towards recognition, Kamran Khan, a distinguished Kashmiri currently based in Chennai, has been honoured with the Australian Government’s prestigious Australia Day Achievement Medallion.
Bestowed on January 26, 2024, this accolade is a recognition for exceptional performance in government projects or core duties, by Australian Government departments and agencies.
Presently Kamran serves as Senior Director for South Asia for Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government.
He has been a diligent student at the revered Burn Hall School in Srinagar.
In 1992, he left Kashmir to pursue his remaining education and graduated in Automotive Engineering at the University of Madras, where he ranked 3rd across the state of Tamil Nadu, showcasing his academic prowess.
Since 2010, his strategic acumen has been pivotal in shaping the infrastructure industry and fostering foreign direct investment into Australia as part of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, under the Australian Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, exemplifying his commitment to economic growth and global collaboration.
As the first Kashmiri to receive the Australia Day Achievement Medallion, Kamran stands as a symbol of pride for Jammu and Kashmir, showcasing the immense talent emerging from the region.
Beyond the accolades and titles, Kamran Khan embodies the spirit of a reformer, committed to ushering in positive change for his community and country.
His recognition by the Australian government not only celebrates Kamran’s achievement but also serves as an inspiration for the entire Jammu and Kashmir community and symbolizes the possibilities that arise when perseverance meets opportunity.
source: http://www.risingkashmir.com / Rising Kashmir / Home / by RK News / February 02nd, 2024
Maj Gen Mohd Amin Naik, a Kashmiri Muslim who started his Indian Army career with his passion for Sports, Mountaineering and Engineering, having performed excellently in every task at hand and making efforts to build a better and a stronger India.
Amin Sir hails from the same village as the infamous militant Burhan Wani, but instead filled with tremendous constructive attitude towards nation building. He is the man with a vision for Kashmir’s well-being.
From winning Asian Games Bronze Medal to leading a successful Nanda Devi Ecological Mountaineering Expedition, to setting up Army Sports Institute from scratch, to nation building services at Corps of Engineers, Gen Amin excelled as a soldier, his efforts in creating Job prospects in Kashmir to fight militancy, to being the chairman at first learners girls school, to inspiring Kashmiri Youths to join Indian Army, this man has excelled as a human being in trying to give back to the society… Gen Amin is a perfect example of how if a person puts his heart at something, can achieve excellence…
This episode is part ‘Undefeated – Soldiers of Courage’, an ambitious Web-Series by Paper Weight Entertainment, inspired by the life that a soldier and their families live. What makes them stand out and what gives them the courage to keep living even after the harsh situations they go through during their service for the country and how they (soldiers) who join the armed forces at a very young age grow and imbibe certain principles in life that sets them apart from the others.
source: http://www.ssbcrack.com / SSB Crack / Home> Videos / by SSC Crack / April 26th, 2017
India’s first ‘Happiness Minister’ among 13 BJP Ministers who lost in the state elections.
Bhopal :
After 33 years, the Madhya Pradesh Assembly has two Muslim legislators — Arif Aqueel and Arif Masood. Since 1998, Aqueel was the lone Muslim MLA in the 230-member legislative Assembly, winning from Bhopal North. In the recently held state polls, he has been joined by Masood, who represents Bhopal Madhya. Both are Congress candidates.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, Aqueel defeated BJP’s Fatima Rasool with a margin of 35,000 votes, while Masood won from Bhopal Madhya constituency by defeating BJP’s Surendranath Singh with a margin of 15,000 votes.
There were a total of four Muslim candidates in the fray from the BJP and the Congress. Two women and two men. Congress had given ticket to three Muslim leaders including a women Masarrat Shahid from Sironj seat who failed to win, while BJP only gave a ticket to only one. The Muslim population in the state is estimated at 8-9% of the total population.
Happiness Minister ‘Unhappy’
Tuesday turned out to be unhappy for Madhya Pradesh’s Minister for Happiness, Lal Singh Arya, who was one of the 13 BJP Ministers who lost the Assembly elections.
Arya was the first Minister of Madhya Pradesh’s Happiness Ministry, and also the country’s first, modelled on the national happiness index used by Bhutan.
The Assembly elections result were declared on December 11, and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 109 seats out of 230 seats, while Congress secured 114, Samajwadi Party 1, Bahujan Samaj Party 2 and four independents.
With the support of other parties and independent MLAs, Congress staked claim to form the government before the Governor Anandiben Patel on Wednesday afternoon.
In a neck-and-neck fight between Congress and BJP, 13 out of 20 sitting ministers of BJP failed to retain their seats. Some top ministers who lost are Minister of Happiness Lal Singh Arya, Higher Education Minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya, Revenue Minister Umashankar Gupta, Medical Education Minister Sharad Jain, Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya, Health Minister Rustam Singh, School and Technical Education Minister Deepak Joshi,
In addition, Animal Husbandry Minister Antar Singh Arya, Women and Child Development Minister Archana Chitnis, Backward Class and Minority Welfare Minister Lalita Yadav, New and Renewable Energy Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha and Food, Civil Supply Minister Om Praksh Dhurwey and state minister Balkrishna Patidar also lost their seats.
Most of these minister lost with a margin of 10,000 votes while New and Renewable Energy Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha and Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya lost with a margin of only 200 to 300 votes.
After losing the Gohad seat, an unhappy Happiness Minister blamed Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan for his defeat. He said, “I should not have lost from the seat where I had given pace to the development but CM’s ‘koi mai ka lal reservation kahatam nahi kar sakta’ ( no one can ever endreservation) remark had played a key role in losing my seat.”
Besides BJP, Congress stalwart and leader of opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh also lost th party’s traditional seat Churhat with a margin of 6,000 votes.
CM Chouhan registered a comfortable victory from his traditional seat, Budhni, by defeating Congress’s heavyweight leader Arun Yadav. But the margin of victory was narrower this time by 20,000 votes.
Taking full responsibility for the defeat, Chouhan said, “I’m the one who is fully responsible for the defeat because we failed to reach out to the rural voters.”
He further said, “I’m sure the Congress will fulfill what it has promised in its manifesto. Aaj se ham chowkidar ke bhumika nibhayenge (from today, we will play the role of watchman) and BJP will play a constructive role of opposition.”
source: http://www.newsclick.com / NEWSclick / Home / Home / Kashif Kakvi / December 13th, 2018
In the upcoming budget, my fervent advocacy is for bold and decisive measures to empower women entrepreneurs in India. I demand not just incremental but transformative steps.
You have been recognized as one of the “Prominent Muslims who shaped the modern world”, and are to be among the “100 Inspiring & Impactful Women of UP”, and listed at “50 Global inspiring Women leaders and Top Women CEO of the year 2023. How do you feel?
It’s truly an honor to be recognized in such prestigious lists. Being acknowledged as one of the ‘Prominent Muslims who shaped the modern world,’ making it to the ‘100 Inspiring & Impactful Women of UP,’ and being listed among ‘50 Global inspiring Women leaders and Top Women CEO of the year’ is humbling.
These recognitions come from esteemed organizations like World Trade Center, RBTC, International organisations like Prodigy, various Trade organisations. They have acknowledged my contributions to the Growth and Development towards Trade and Development, Towards Women Empowerment and declared me CEO of the year 2023. I’m grateful for the support and recognition.
What according to you should be done for women empowerment in India?
Fostering women empowerment in India requires a multi-faceted approach. We need to focus on education, skill development, and providing equal opportunities in all sectors. Encouraging entrepreneurship among women, creating a supportive work environment, and ensuring gender equality are essential. Additionally, awareness campaigns to challenge stereotypes and cultural norms, along with legal reforms to protect women’s rights, can play a crucial role
For any successful entrepreneur what according to you should be the social responsibility?
For any successful entrepreneur, social responsibility is paramount. Beyond financial success, entrepreneurs should actively contribute to the community and address social issues. This can involve initiatives such as supporting education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. By giving back, entrepreneurs can make a positive impact on society and contribute to its well-being.
How do you like to share the feelings of your parents after your achievements?
When my father came to know about my achievements, he shared his views to me and all by saying, “On the day of having performed another Umrah in Makkah (20th January 2024), my daughter Khair Ull Nissa has been chosen and honoured on the calendar of 2024 as “MUSLIMS WHO SHAPED THE MODERN WORLD. Allah blesses her with blessings and honour her with more respect and be able to perform the duties of Good Muslim. She has made me a proud father and I am humbled.”
I believe my father’s words are a source of great motivation for me. They’re a testament to the support and encouragement I’ve received from my family throughout my journey.
Tell us about your educational, professional journey and family background?
Currently, I am on an international assignment which focuses on USD 500 Billion of Revenue and setting a benchmark for Trade and Investment between two countries.
I had the privilege of being a Board Member of the World Trade Center Association in New York and served as the Executive Director for Asia Pacific and India. In this role, I played a key part in driving monumental growth, catalyzing strategic partnerships, and achieving a 3x growth in global distribution reach. My expertise encompasses spearheading revenue generation, navigating markets in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Overseeing the development of 500+ million square meters to achieving notable sales and lease milestones, fuelling global expansion. My strengths lie in optimism, decisiveness, effective communication, collaboration, mentoring, and adaptability.
Throughout my career, I’ve received recognitions such as the Economic Times ICONIC Women in Realty for 2021 and 2022, as well as the Top 50 Global Inspirational Women Award in 2023.
I’ve also been actively involved as a Founding Member of various organizations like NAREDCO MAHI and the Real Estate Women’s Wing of NAREDCO.
I hold an MBA in Marketing & International Business from Leeds University in the UK, which has provided me with a solid foundation in business strategy and global market dynamics.
As a CEO of the year, what would you like to demand in the coming budget for the women entrepreneurs in India?
As the honored CEO of the year, I stand at the forefront, a voice for change and progress. In the upcoming budget, my fervent advocacy is for bold and decisive measures to empower women entrepreneurs in India. I demand not just incremental but transformative steps – increased funding opportunities that go beyond token gestures, robust tax incentives that truly level the playing field, and strategic initiatives focused on enhancing the skill sets and networking capabilities of women entrepreneurs.
We are at a pivotal moment where unleashing the untapped potential of women-led businesses is not just a matter of equality but a strategic imperative for the nation’s economic development. The call is not for mere lip service but for the creation of an environment that not only supports but propels the growth of women entrepreneurs. It’s time for our budgetary allocations to reflect a commitment to inclusivity and to recognize the immense contributions that women entrepreneurs can make to our nation’s prosperity.
This is not just about gender equality; it’s about recognizing and harnessing the power of innovation, leadership, and economic contribution that women bring to the entrepreneurial landscape. As the CEO of the year, I urge policymakers to seize this opportunity, break through conventional barriers, and usher in a new era of empowerment for women entrepreneurs in India. The time for action is now, and together, we can build a future where every aspiring woman entrepreneur has the resources and support needed to thrive and lead.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Entrepreneurship / by Mohd Naushad Khan / Radiance News Bureau / January 27th, 2024
Amer Ali Khan, news editor of Urdu daily Siasat, has been nominated as a member of Telangana Legislative Council.
The Congress government had recommended names of academician M. Kodandaram and journalist Amer Ali Khan as MLC under Governor’s quota.
Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has accepted the recommendation of the state government.
Kodandaram heads Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), which had supported the Congress party in the recent Assembly elections.
Amir Ali Khan’s nomination is also seen as a thanksgiving gesture by the Congress party for the newspaper’s support.
The Congress has recommended his nomination in recognition of the social, economic, welfare and educational activities of ‘Siasat’, one of the largest circulated Urdu dailies in India.
Amer Ali Khan has been in the forefront of the movement to demand implementation of 12 percent reservation as promised by the previous BRS government.
The 50-year-old is in-charge of various programmes run by the Urdu newspaper. Having completed his Bachelors in Communication and Journalism from Osmania University and Masters in Business Administration from Sultan–ul-Uloom, he has been instrumental in forming an alliance of 10 Urdu dailies for content. Under his tutelage, Siasat has expanded to Bengaluru and Qatar for the Middle East edition.
Amer Ali Khan is son of Siasat chief editor Zahid Ali Khan, who was earlier associated with the TDP and also contested Lok Sabha elections from Hyderabad constituency in 2009.
He is the first Muslim legislator under the Congress government. It may be recalled that none of the Muslim candidates fielded by the Congress in recent Assembly elections was elected. They included former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir and former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin.
Shabbir was last week appointed as government advisor.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / January 27th, 2024
Justice Beevi was the first Muslim woman to be appointed to the higher judiciary in the country and the first woman to be elevated to the Supreme Court of an Asian country.
The first woman to be a judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice M Fathima Beevi, was on Thursday posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Justice Beevi received India’s third-highest civilian award in the field of Public Affairs.
The former Supreme Court judge passed away aged 96 in November last year. Justice Beevi was the first Muslim woman to be appointed to the higher judiciary in the country.
She was born in Kerala in 1927 and her father encouraged her to study law. In 1950, she topped the Bar Council exam becoming the first woman to receive a Bar Council gold medal.
She started her career as an advocate in Kerala and worked her way up to become a district and sessions judge in 1974. In 1980, she joined the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and was appointed as a High Court judge in 1983.
She made history in 1989 by becoming the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court.
As a Supreme Court judge, she became the first Muslim woman in the higher judiciary and the first woman to become a Supreme Court judge in Asia.
After retiring in 1993, she had served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission and then as Governor of Tamil Nadu.
She had resigned from the post of Governor of Tamil Nadu after rejecting the mercy petitions filed by four condemned prisoners in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Anjuman-I-Islam President Dr. Zahir Kazi, a Padma Shri awardee, is recognized for his 40-year commitment to education, especially among minorities, and his contributions to de-radicalization initiatives. Learn more about his impactful work and achievements.
Dr Zahir Kazi, President of the city-based educational organisation Anjuman-I-Islam, is among the recipients of Padma Shri awards, announced on the eve of the Republic Day.
Kazi is among eleven people who got three Padma awards – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri – from Maharashtra. He has been conferred the fourth-highest civilian awards in the Literature and Education category in recognition of his work in promoting education, especially among minorities.
Dr Zahir Kazi And Education Field: A 40 Year-Old Bond
Kazi has been involved in the field of education for the last 40 years, including 13 years as the head of 150-year-old Anjuman-I-Islam, which runs around 97 schools, colleges, hostels, orphanages and other educational organisations across the state, catering to over one lakh students, majority of them Muslims.
He has been credited with setting an Integrated Technical Campus offering diploma, degree and post-graduation programmes in in Engineering, Architecture and Pharmacy and Polytechnic spread across 10.5 acres of land at New Panvel as well as a law college.
Insights Into The Personal Life Of Dr. Zahir Kazi
Born in Ponda, Goa, Kazi is celebrating his 70th birthday on Friday (January 26). He got his MBBS from Goa Medical College and MD (Radiology) from the city’s Nair Hospital. A practising Radiologist, Kazi is the Director of Prime Diagnostic Centre at Nagpada and also provides consultancy at various hospitals.
He has previously served as a member of the University of Mumbai (MU) senate as a management representative. He has also been invited by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on two occasions to discuss on issues and policies of the union Minority of Education and during the visit of the King of Jordan.
source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Education / by Musab Qazi (Headline edited) / January 26th, 2024
“We are Indians first and we are all Indians and will remain Indians. We shall fight for the honour and glory of India and we shall die for it. (Applause). We shall stand united. There will be no divisions among Indians. United we stand; divided we fall. Therefore we do not want a reservation. It means division. I ask the members of the majority community who are present here today: Will you allow us to stand on our legs? Will you allow us to be a part and parcel of the nation? Will you allow us to be an equal partner with you? Will you allow us to march shoulder to shoulder with you? Will you allow us to share your sorrows grief and joy? If you do, then for god’s sake keep your hands off reservation for the Muslim community.” Tajamul Hussain of Patna told this to the members of the Constituent Assembly in 1949.
The speech was a befitting reply to the erstwhile rulers of India, the British crown, and the Muslim League. When the Constituent Assembly was formed, in 1946, to frame a constitution of India, the whole exercise was criticised by the colonial rulers and Muslim League alike.
The case made against the assembly was that it was not a representative body of all Indians. To some extent, the allegation was true. The elections were not held under the Universal Adult Franchise; members were not directly elected. Moreover, seats for Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis, Anglo-Indians, Europeans, and Princely States were fixed. Muslims would vote among Muslim candidates, Hindus among Hindu candidates, and so on.
Tajamul Hussain
To make matters worse for the nationalists, the British-backed Muslim League won 73 out of 78 seats reserved for Muslims even when Congress secured 205 of the total 296 seats. Jinnah-led League boycotted the assembly and thus claimed that the Constituent Assembly was a Hindu body where only 4 Muslims (all Congress members) were present. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill also called the assembly a ‘Hindu body’.
The British government tried to paint the Indian Constituent Assembly as anti-Muslim. It said, “Should a constitution come to be framed by a Constituent Assembly in which a large section of the Indian population had not been represented, the British Government could not, of course, contemplate…..forcing such a constitution upon any unwilling parts of the country.”
Sir Stafford Cripps also expressed a similar opinion when the Muslim League boycotted the assembly. The argument was far from the truth. It was a boycott only by the Muslim League and not by the Muslim community.
In July 1947 after the Partition was finalised at least 27 Muslim members, originally elected on the Muslim League tickets, joined the assembly. They decided not to go to Pakistan and Indian leaders welcomed them.
Naziruddin Ahmad, a former Muslim League member, while joining the assembly declared, “There was no need for any doubt whatsoever regarding the fact that we have come here as loyal and law-abiding citizens of India.” Interestingly one such Muslim League member was later included in a seven-member drafting committee chaired by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
Constituent Assembly in session
Several Muslim members like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mohammed Sadulla, Hasrat Mohani, B. H. Zaidi, B. Pocker Sahib Bahadur, etc. played significant parts in the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly. They were members of several committees, moved amendments, brought resolutions, and debated matters of importance. These members made their presence, and in turn of Muslims, felt in the assembly.
Muslim members raised their voices for the integration of the country. The shock of partition was great and they wanted to give a message that Muslims are as much citizens of India as other community members are.
Hasrat Mohani told the assembly, “Why do you call the Muslims a minority? They can be termed as a minority only when they function as a communal body. So long as Muslims were in the Muslim League, they were in a minority. But if they elect to form a political party without any restriction leaving it open to any community, then you should remember that whenever political parties are formed, the Muslims would fight by forming coalitions. Therefore, I say that Muslims would not like to be called a minority. To say that Muslims are in the minority is to insult them. I cannot tolerate this even for a moment.”
B. H. Zaidi, who represented Rampur, also argued against any special treatment for Muslims. He felt that it would further alienate Muslims from the mainstream. In the assembly, he said, “There has been no occasion in the history of India when the Hindus have persecuted a minority” and affirmative action should be based on economic disparity. He said, “There is one minority in this country which has always been, and which is existing in every country, and will go on existing, and that is the minority of the good and the just, of the people who are humane and liberal-minded, and who work for the regeneration of mankind and the progress of humanity. There is that minority today in this country, and to that minority Sardar Patel and the Prime Minister of India, and you sir, who adorn the Chair, belong, and the Members of this House.”
In the Constituent Assembly Muslims contested the ideas of minority, reservations, and exceptionalism on different occasions. There is no denying that a few Muslims under the leadership of Mohammad Ali Jinnah partitioned India, but it is also a fact that several Muslims played their roles in making India a democratic republic.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Saquib Salim / January 25th, 2024
Ayesha Fatima will be the first Muslim woman police officer of IPS cadre for Telangana state.
Hyderabad:
The Centre has allocated additional 10 IPS officers to Telangana state. This development came following an appeal made by chief minister Revanth Reddy to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during their maiden meeting in New Delhi earlier this month.
Ayesha Fatima is among the new IPS officials for Telangana. Ayesha is the 2022-batch Muslim woman from Madhya Pradesh who secured 184th rank in the UPSC examination.
Ayesha pursued her education at Vindhyachal School in Dewas, which falls in the Malwa region of the state, until 11th grade. She completed 12th grade at Model Public School. Her father, Naziruddin Sheikh, is a government teacher, and her mother serves as a school director.
Ayesha, the second daughter in her family, excelled in competitive exams like JEE, becoming an electrical engineer after graduating from SGSITS college, Indore in 2015.
Despite her engineering accomplishments, Ayesha felt the urge to contribute to society and embarked on her UPSC journey in 2019. After facing initial setbacks, she finally achieved long-awaited success.
Ayesha Fatima will be the first Muslim woman police official of IPS cadre for the state.
Notably, Telangana CM told Amit Shah only 76 IPS officers were allotted to Telangana during the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The CM had requested the Home Minister to sanction 29 additional IPS posts to the state in view of creation of new districts and for supervision of various departments.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Telangana / by Irfan Mohammed / January 17th, 2024
Kalpakancheri (Malappuram District), KERALA / Dubai, U.A.E:
Indian recalls journey from being a fundraiser to rebuild a mosque to emerging a tycoon.
A young Azad Moopen at the inauguration of one of his clinics / Image Credit: Supplied
HIGHLIGHTS
Dr Azad Moopen came to the UAE in February 1987 to raise money for the renovation of a mosque in his hometown, Kalpakancheri in Malappuram district, Kerala.
Dr Moopen leased a two-bedroom apartment in Bur Dubai to start a clinic
In 2008, Dr Moopen invited a private equity firm to invest in the company and they valued Aster DM Healthcare at $100 million.
In 2010 and 2011, Dr Moopen was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and Padma Shri, respectively, by the Government of India.
Aster DM is listed at NSE and BSE
Dubai:
Azad Moopen came to Dubai 34 years ago to raise money for the renovation of a mosque in his hometown, Kalpakancheri, in the Malappuram district, Kerala. He needed Rs1 million then, or Dh250,000 as per the currency exchange rate in 1987. The plan was just to collect the funds and return home. He had no intention to settle in the UAE.
Destiny, however, had other plans for Moopen – a gold medallist in general medicine and a lecturer at the Calicut Medical College at the time. Looking back, Moopen said it was this noble intention that perhaps set the background for something big to happen in his life.
Fast forward to today, he is now a household name in the UAE. Just about everybody in the region knows him well as the multi-billion dollar businessman and developer of health-care facilities in the UAE and Asia-Pacific region. He is the chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, a conglomerate in the Middle East and India that Moopen founded in December 1987, just ten months after arriving in the UAE to raise funds for a mosque.
According to a report published in September 2018, he owned and managed 21 hospitals, 113 clinics and 216 pharmacies. The health-care company serves 50,000 patients a day in nine countries. In 2018, Aster treated 17 million patients across all its facilities. Of this these, 15 million patients were from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, while two million were from India.
In 2017, Forbes ranked him sixth on the ‘Top 100 Indian Leaders in UAE’ list and his total wealth was estimated at approximately $5.9 billion (Dh21.7 billion).
How it all started
“When I finished collecting money for the mosque reconstruction, my job was over in the UAE. It was time to return home, but when I went home, I was not happy. There was something pulling me back to this country as there was magic here,” said Moopen. “In June (1987), I came back on a visit to the UAE. I stayed with a friend in Ajman who was a doctor as well. There were plenty of opportunities for a doctor like me and I was raring to tap into some of them.”
Azad Moopen receives a Lifetime Achievement Award / Image Credit: Supplied
Moopen’s friend was setting up a clinic in Ajman and he invited him to join there as a physician. Back in the day, there were no post-graduate doctors practising in Ajman and Moopen, who was a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and a Doctor of Medicine, with a a Diploma in treating Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases (DTCD), was already highly qualified. In fact, his varied degrees made him quite a sought-after doctor in Ajman.
“But my friend bowled me a googlie, as we say in cricketing terms! He turned around one day and told me to start a clinic in Dubai. To be honest, I thought he did not like me and that’s why he was pushing me away to Dubai. But I took his advice and today, I believe he is my guardian angel. That moment, when I heeded his advise and came to Dubai, it was the turning point in my life. I know now he was a friend, he was a God-sent and he is ‘the person’ in my life.”
No matter how successful you become in life, you never forget the people who helped you along the way. And this, to me, has been the biggest reason for my success.
– Azad Moopen
In December 1987, Moopen leased a two-bedroom apartment in Bur Dubai close to the Port Rashid area. “Port Rashid was one of the main areas in Dubai where there were many ongoing activities. A lot of people worked here and I wanted to serve them.”
He said the consultation charges were between Dh10 and 15. Some people got reimbursement from their companies while others paid the bills from their pocket.
“The challenge, however, was collecting money from some blue collared workers who could not afford to pay even this amount. So every Tuesday we started offering free consultations for half a day. We also kept sample medicines which we gave to these workers.”
Within a year, the clinic started receiving 100 patients a day. There were just two doctors – Moopen and a gynaecologist.
Dr. Azad Moopen receiving an award from late Indian President APJ Kalam / Image Credit: Supplied
“I myself worked from 8 in the morning until mid-night. But it was becoming very congested and we needed to move to a bigger place,” he said. “I found a three-bedroom apartment in Al Rafa and we moved there. We hired two more doctors – both paediatricians. We were able to see more patients as a result.”
By that time in 1988, Moopen was getting a hang of running a health-care facility. “One of the things we discovered early on was that people came to us for consultation, but were picking up medicines from another pharmacy. So, we thought why not make this in-house? And that is how Al Rafa Pharmacy was born.”
Moopen said that in 2008, he had his real brush with success. “Until then, I was just doing my job of opening clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. I was not really counting or sitting down to see and evaluate the success of my business. In 2008, as part of our expansion plans, we invited a private equity firm to invest with us. They valued our company at $100 million and that reality hit me. We had grown and how! It was an emotional moment for me, reading the valuation report and made me think of how hard the company staff and me had worked to bring it that far,” he said.
Dr. Azad Moopen with his youngest daughter Zeba Moopen who is now a practicing doctor / Image Credit: Supplied
In 2012, a second private equity firm came on board and they valued Aster DM Healthcare at $400 million. “This means we had grown four times in four years. It was massive.”
Today, Aster DM is listed at the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and the company’s total revenue in 2019 was fixed at a massive $1.4 billion.
Reason behind this phenomenal success
“Without batting an eyelid I will say that it is my staff, my people, my doctors who have made this company successful. I am blessed and lucky to have these people working for me for decades. Our doctor turnover at the consultant level is as low as five per cent. This means our doctors practically never leave us. And, because of this, our patients never leave us.
Azad Moopen with cricketer Sachin Tendulkar during the latter’s book launch. / Image Credit: Supplied
“No matter how successful you become in life, you never forget the people who helped you along the way. And this, to me, has been the biggest reason for my success. To give you an example, the other day, one of my CEOs brought me a staff member’s performance report. He wanted me to fire him as he was not performing well. When I saw the report I realised he was an old friend’s son. This friend, I remember, had loaned me Dh500 when I had come to the UAE for the first time.”
“As the memories flooded me, I simply refused to sign the sack letter. Instead, I called this young boy and his father and told them about the report. From my part, I have given this boy a second chance. I pray he will make use of the opportunity given to him.”
Challenges
Dr. Moopen during one of his philanthropic activities / Image Credit: Supplied
“There are always challenges in business. If you want your career graph to have a smooth ride, then you must not pick business as your profession. Success in business lies in finding your challenges and meeting them head-on,” said Moopen.
“For example, the UAE’s mandatory insurance has proved to be beneficial for the consumer, but for health-care providers like us, it is a challenge. People would come to us because of our credibility. Now, it has to do with the kind of insurance coverage they have.”
Philanthropy the way to life
Moopen has pledged to give 20 per cent of his wealth to charity. An off-shoot of this has been the ‘Aster Volunteers’ programme to help patients with free consultations, treatment and surgeries. More than 900,000 lives have been touched by the programme.
Dr. Moopen with his family in an earlier picture / Image Credit: Supplied
In 2010 and 2011, Moopen was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and Padma Shri, respectively, by the Government of India.
Dr. Azad Moopen awarded the coveted Padma Shri in 2011 / Image Credit: Supplied
“By God’s grace, I have everything in life. Name, fame, wealth, a great family. It is my duty and responsibility now to help others. When I started out, I was in the right place at the right time with the right people. I want others to be in my shoes. I am nearing retirement and my only dream now is to hand over my business to my team of professionals who, I believe, will do a better job than me.”
