Category Archives: Leaders

Nikhat – fragrance – from Hyderabad fills world atmosphere; her control over mind game puts her on top

Amazing Feats, Leaders, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

Three other female boxers from India add to women power. India has emerged as the topmost country in the championship. With four gold medals, India pushed the mighty China to second spot and powerhouse Russia had to be content with third place.

New Delhi: India’s Nikhat Zareen reacts after winning over Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Tam in 50 kg finals at the 2023 IBA Women’s Boxing World Championships, in New Delhi, Sunday, March 26, 2023. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)

The women’s world boxing championship in New Delhi ended in a blaze of glory for India. Four times the Indian tricolour flew on the topmost mast and four times the Indian national anthem reverberated around the hall. Our four golden girls namely Nitu Ghanghas, Saweety Boora, Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain made all Indians proud with their achievements inside the boxing ring.

India emerged as the topmost country in the championship. With four gold medals, India pushed the mighty China to second spot and powerhouse Russia had to be content with third place.

The outstanding display of our triumphant girls was analysed by Omkar Nath Yadav, who has been associated with boxing for four decades. Yadav was a national level boxer who served as a talent scout and coach. He was the first to spot the potential of Nikhat Zareen way back in the year 2009. “Nikhat was then a skinny 13-year-old girl. After I had watched her in a few bouts I realised that this girl is outstanding. Her footwork and punching speed were exceptionally good. I was then a talent scout and I decided to take a gamble on her. She was a very lively (chulbuli) girl and I felt that she would definitely do well,” said Yadav.

“I entered her name for the PYKA Games which were to be held in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. My colleagues were skeptical of my decision and warned me that she is not yet fully developed in physique. She is a 13-year-old girl. How can she compete against 19-year-old rivals? She will be knocked out by the stronger girls from Haryana and Punjab. She may suffer grievous injuries. But I persisted because I felt that she had a rare spark and we should give her a chance to prove her merit inside the ring against tough opponents,” said the coach.

“Far from being knocked out, Nikhat put up such a wonderful fight that she fully justified my faith in her. Thereafter I persuaded experienced girls from Manipur to do sparring with Nikhat. That improved her technique and confidence. After that her career took off like a rocket. In 2010 she won the national championship. In 2011 she won the sub-junior world boxing championship in Antalya in Turkey. In 2014 she won a silver medal in the World Youth boxing championship and thereafter an impressive list of victories followed,” said Yadav.

When asked to analyze Nikhat’s game, the coach said:
“Her greatest asset is her ferocious determination and her mental abilities. She never gives up. She is able to learn fast. A coach does not have to struggle with her. She picks up her instructions quickly and smoothly. Today she has made all of us in the boxing fraternity of Hyderabad and in India proud of her achievements,” stated Yadav.

“In this championship she was facing a very tough opponent–Nguyen Thi– Tam of Vietnam, who is the Asian champion. The Vietnamese girl was a hard punching fighter and Nikhat had to pull out an extra effort to win. But Nikhat has that ability. When the struggle is hard, she can bring out an extra effort from within herself,” said Yadav.

“Among the other boxers, Nitu Ghanghas was very good too. She is a product of Bhiwani in Haryana and has been coached by Jagdeesh Singh, the same man who coached Olympic medalist Vijender Singh and others. Nitu was very aggressive and knew how to dominate the fight against her opponent from Mongolia. From start to finish there was no doubt that Nitu would win. Saweety Bora faced a tough time and so did Lovlina Borgohain. But I am glad that they too won and enhanced our gold medal tally,” concluded Yadav.

India’s top celebrities and political leaders hailed the victory of our girls. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal had a special word of praise for Hyderabad’s Nikhat. She tweeted: “Nikhat you are a world champion again. Congratulations for winning the gold medal.”  Mahindra and Mahindra Company handed over a Mahindra Thar SUV vehicle to Nikhat. It was good to see that our women boxers got the recognition and rewards that they deserved. The victories of these girls will inspire many more youngsters to take up sport and achieve excellence at the world level.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Featured News / by Abhijit Sen Gupta / March 28th, 2023

Justice Ahmadi: A Judge With Courage, a Man With a Conscience

Amazing Feats, Leaders, , , ,

Surat, GUJARAT / NEW DELHI :

Justice Ahmadi showed his courage and conviction in upholding the constitutional culture in our diverse system and ensured that the spirit of diversity in the Constitution is not nullified.

Justice A.M. Ahmadi was born in Surat, Gujarat in the year 1932 and passed away on Thursday at 5 am in New Delhi at the age of 91 years. He had an exceptional career, handling the judicial process at all three levels of the judiciary apart from being the chief justice of India for about three years, out of his total term as judge in the Supreme Court for about nine years. I started my practice in the year 2000 but he had already demitted office in 1997, so I had no occasion to see him as a judge. However, in the limited interactions with him and after reading his judgments and lectures, I wanted to write a few lines about him.

As a judge of the Supreme Court of India, he was part of many constitution bench judgments, starting from a five-judge constitution bench judgment in Charan Lal Sahu v Union of India (1989) relating to the constitutional validity of legislation regarding claims of victims of the Bhopal gas leak disaster. In that case, the three-judge majority opinion was written by Justice Mukherjee, while Justice Ahmadi agreed with a partly dissenting opinion written by Justice Ranganathan saying that the old antiquated Act should be drastically amended or freshly enacted, and should contain appropriate provision for the payment of fixed minimum compensation on “no fault liability” during the pending adjudication of the claims by a prescribed forum.

In another Bhopal gas leak case (1991), Union Carbide v. Union of India, Justice Ahmadi along with Justice R. Mishra held that there is no power in court to confer immunity for criminal prosecution and punishment; such immunity may amount to preferential treatment violative of the equality clause. They further stated that the citizen is entitled to be under the rule of the law and not the rule of discretion.

He was also part of a five-judge bench in the Cauvery basin water dispute, where the Ordinance of 1991 by the Karnataka government was held to be beyond the legislative competence of the state and therefore held to be ultra vires.

In the Mandal reservation judgment, he was the part of the majority judgment of the nine-judge bench written by Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy (for three other judges) which was further concurred by separate opinions of two more judges. In another nine-judge bench, which created the Collegium system (the 2nd judges case) for the appointment of judges, he disagreed with the majority judgment, while giving a different interpretation of Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution of India. However, he still held that the degree of judicial independence is near total after a person is appointed and inducted into the judicial family, and on the administrative side the chief justice of India enjoys limited primacy with regard to managing the court business. At the same time, the president, i.e. the executive, does not enjoy the right of veto in the same sense that the president is not bound to act according to his views. He held that graded weight has to be attached to the views of the chief justice of India.

On the other issue, relating to exclusion of powers of the high court in relation to Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, while heading a seven-judge bench, Justice Ahmadi struck down certain provisions of the Constitution of India introduced through amendment by stating that though power of amending the Constitution is with the Parliament, it cannot be exercised so as to damage the basic features of the Constitution or to destroy its basic structure.

We can also not forget Justice Ahmadi’s concurring view to the majority judgment in the S.R. Bommai case, where he commented on secularism under the Constitution. He stated that India is a country with a rich heritage. Several races have converged in this sub-continent. Consequently, these diversities have thrown up their own problems but the early leadership had showed wisdom and sanctity in tackling them by preaching the philosophy of accommodation and tolerance.

In 1993, the Union government acquired land measuring about 67 acres in Ayodhya, which included the land where the Babri Masjid existed before its demolition in 1992. The Acquisition of Certain Area of Ayodhya Act also declared the abatement of the all the pending legal proceedings. The majority view of the three Judges authored by Justice J.S. Verma upheld the Act in part and held that the acquisition was valid. Justice Ahmadi dissented with the majority view, and agreed with the dissenting opinion written by Justice S.P. Bharucha setting aside the Act in totality. While setting aside the Act, the dissenting opinion noted that “Ayodhya is a storm that will pass. The dignity and honour of the Supreme Court cannot be compromised because of it.”

In my view, the majority opinion was a balancing act by the Supreme Court which paved the way for further judicial proceedings, culminating into a final unanimous verdict of the constitution bench in 2019 completely ousting the Masjid from the place where it stood for a period of more than 400 years.

After demitting office as a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Ahmadi was the chief trustee of the Bhopal Memorial Hospital Trust for a period of over 10 years, which was essentially meant for the victims of the gas tragedy. During his tenure, the hospital was very effectively administered and rendered true public service. He was chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. He conducted arbitrations and delivered lectures on various public fora.

Justice Ahmadi showed his courage and conviction in upholding the constitutional culture in our diverse system and ensured that the spirit of diversity in the Constitution is not nullified by giving certain interpretations which go against the spirit of the Constitution itself. As a judge, he showed judicial statesmanship and took a strong position to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution. He will be remembered amongst those judges who were strong and did not succumb to the will of the executive.

As an academic and a citizen of India, he opposed hate speech, imposition of one culture over the other and arbitrary police power, and propagated unity in diversity and appealed to citizens to treat every denomination as a part of the larger society rather than trying to marginalise certain groups. His wife passed away in August 2022, he has joined her within six months. His son, senior counsel Huzefa Ahmadi, and daughter, advocate Tasneem Ahmadi, will carry forward his legacy.

M.R. Shamshad is an advocate, Supreme Court of India.

Edited by Jahnavi Sen.

source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Opinion> Law / by M R Shamshad / March 03rd, 2023

Bengaluru: Danish Educational Trust Awards Rs 1.2 Crore Scholarship To 503 Needy Students

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Bengaluru-based Danish Education Trust (R) awarded scholarships to 503 students pursuing professional education across Karnataka with a total scholarship amount of Rs.1,20,85,000/- for the academic year 2022-23. The Trust selected students through an online application process at www.danishtrust.in.

The scholarship recipients are pursuing various professional courses, including Engineering, MBBS, Law, Journalism, Pharmacy, BUMS, BAMS, BHMS, Veterinary Science, Agriculture, and B.Ed, and are from economically underprivileged backgrounds.

Danish Educational Trust (R) was established in March 2006 by a group of concerned citizens led by philanthropist Mrs. Husna Sheriff, with the belief that education is the seed for development and progress. Since its inception, the Trust has continued its scholarship scheme for poor and needy students pursuing higher education, including not only Engineering & Medicine but also Law, Journalism, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture Sciences, Education (B.Ed), and Civil Services.

Over the years, the Danish Educational Trust (R) has sponsored the education of more than 3500 students, and this year’s scholarship program is another step in empowering young minds to achieve their educational dreams.

Speaking about the scholarship program, Mrs. Husna Sheriff, the founder of the Danish Educational Trust (R), said, “We believe in empowering students with the much-needed support for higher education. It is heartening to see our scholarship recipients contribute back to society by giving scholarships to more students, participating in social impact programs, volunteering for a cause, and in many other ways. Our aim is to support more students and increase the total scholarship amount to Rs.1.5 crore to help 650+ students for the academic year 2023-24.”

The scholarship program has positively impacted the lives of many students and helped them achieve their educational goals. Danish Scholars are spread across the world and are contributing to society through their professions, making the world a better place.

Danish Educational Trust (R) encourages underprivileged students to apply for the scholarship program and continue their education without financial burden. The Trust’s vision is to empower students to achieve their dreams and contribute positively to society.

source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> Education / by Shaik Zakeer Hussain / March 21st, 2023

Human Welfare Foundation Distributes Scholarships To 150 Students In Delhi

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, SCHOLARSHIPS, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

NEW DELHI:

New Delhi:

On March 19, 2023, the Human Welfare Foundation (HWF) held a scholarship distribution program at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, where 150 students from the Delhi region were awarded scholarships. The Chairman of HWF and retired IAS officer, Siraj Hussain, emphasized the importance of education and encouraged students to prioritize it by putting their goals first. He also stressed the value of reading, particularly newspapers and books, as sources of knowledge that could help students excel in any course they choose.

HWF’s scholarship program is open to students who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership potential, and scholarships are awarded based on merit and financial need. The funds cover tuition fees, books, and other related expenses. The organization has distributed over 8200 UG, PG, and Special Scholarships, and 4500 scholarships to orphan students.

The Chief Guest at the event was Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Ashar Alam, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, discussed the options for higher studies offered by the university and offered support for HWF’s education empowerment activities.  T. Arifali, Chairman of Vision 2026, the flagship project of HWF, delivered the inaugural address.

Dr. Syed Farooq, President of Himalaya Drug, praised HWF’s activities and emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the resources available in the present age. Senior journalist and former MP Shahid Siddiqui urged students to plan to fulfill their dreams through education and hard work, citing Sir Syed as an example of perseverance.

A. Rahamathunnisa, Chairperson of The Women Education & Empowerment Trust, encouraged students to move forward fearlessly and learn to face failures. Noted motivator and IAS Coach Sameer Ahmed Siddiqui also interacted with the awardees on higher education and career opportunities. Renowned Ortho Surgeon Dr M Farooq, PK Noufal, CEO of Human Welfare Foundation, and PR Director Dr. Rizvan Rafeequi were also present.

HWF’s scholarship program has helped many students achieve new heights in education and career, and the organization remains committed to its mission of empowering disadvantaged students through education.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by admin India Tomorrow / March 19th, 2023

First of its kind, 3-day multilingual calligraphy exhibition, seminar in B’luru from March 10

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Events, Exhibitions, Conferences (wef. Nov 18th, 2021), Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Bengaluru:

A three-day multilingual calligraphy exhibition and seminar named Miraj will be held in Bangalore from March 10 to 12, 2023.

The event will be held at Falcon’s Den, Prestige Falcon Towers, Brunton Road here in the city.

The exhibition and seminar will be first of its kind in Bengaluru, Syed Beary, Chairman of Bearys Group said in a press conference at the Press Club on Wednesday.

The event sponsored by Bearys Group is being organised by Institute of Indo Islamic Art and Culture ( IIIAC), Syed Beary who is also the Chairman and Managing Trustee of IIIAC added.

“More than 50 artists and experts from across the world will take part in this unique event. Calligraphy is a special art. It helps in maintaining balance between your mind, body and your thoughts,” he further added.

“Calligraphy finds its origin in Arabic. But Chinese and Japanese modern calligraphy are also significantly beautiful and pleasing to eyes. Even Indian regional languages have now adopted calligraphy and artists are exhibiting their skills and talents in their respective regional languages,” Syed Beary further stated.

Speaking about the exhibition, he said experts and artists from more than 10 countries including Turkey, Japan, Sudan, and Middle-East will take part in the event. Calligraphy experts in Urdu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and other regional languages will also be a part of the event.

“Seminars, Talks, and discussions on various aspects of calligraphy will also be held during this first of its kind three-day event,” he said.

Institute of Indo Islamic Art and Culture’s Principal Muqtar Ahmed  also spoke at the press conference and said the exhibition will be inaugurated on March 10 at 10:30 am by Irfan Razack, Chairman and Managing Director of Prestige Group, Bangalore. The seminar will be inaugurated later at 3 pm by Maulana Mufti Sageer Ahmed, Ameer-e-Shariyat, Karnataka, snf Principal & Shaikul Hadees, Darul Uloom Sabeelur Rashad.

Zia Ulla Sharief, Chairman India Builders Corporation, Bangalore, Irfan Razack, Chairman, MD Prestige Group Bangalore, Shabeena Sultana, Consul of the Republic of Tunisia, Bangalore and Pusphamala N, Artist, Sculptor, Writer and Curator will be guests of honor during the inaugural event that will be presided over by Syed Mohamed Beary, Muqtar Ahmed said.

He also spoke about how expert calligraphers of multiple languages will grace the event and share their thoughts and experiences with the participants.

Efdaluddin Kilic, Turkey, Narjes Noureddine, UAE, Dr. Abdullah Fattini, KSA, Tagalsir Hasan, Sudan, Mohsin Ghareeb, Bahrain, Farid Abdur Rahim, Kuwait, Dr. Ali Rabbani, Iran, Yuko Takaji, Japan, Achyut Palav, Marathi, Poosapati Raju, Telugu, Narayana Bhattathiri, Malayalam, Suresh Waghmore, Kannada, Vinoth Kumar, Tamil, Nikheel Aphale, Hindi & Devanagari, Salva Rasool, Urdu are some of the experts who will hold talks on Calligraphy on the first day of the event.

The exhibition will remain open from 10:30 am to 8:00 pm on three days of the event.

The program schedule is as follows:

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / VarthaBharati.in / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / March 08th, 2023

A documentary on Fathima Beevi, India’s first female SC judge

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

INDIA:

Fathima Beevi

Thiruvananthapuram:

A 30 minute documentary on country’s first female judge of the Supreme Court — Fathima Beevi is all set to be released on Wednesday, here.

In Malayalam titled as ‘Neethipathayile Dheera Vanitha (A brave woman on the path of justice)’ will be officially released by state Minister for Film and Culture Saji Cherian to coincide with the International Women’s Day.

Directed by senior journalist Priya Raveendran, the film has been scripted by R.Parvathy Devi, with the Creative contribution coming from Suja Susan George and popular danseuse Rajasree Warrier is the narrator.

Speaking to IANS, Raveendran said she was enamoured by the achievements of Beevi for a long, right from the time she entered journalism.

“Now I feel elated and happy that I have finally done it with the support of Parvathy and Suja. Beevi achieved all this, probably a first by any lady in the country to have sat in several crucial positions. None should forget that Beevi achieved all this at a time when women of her times were mostly relegated to their homes,” said Raveendran.

The now 95-year-old Beevi living a retired life at her home in Pathanamthitta has a number of firsts in her life which includes, the first female judge of the apex court, the first chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, the first Muslim woman Governor (Tamil Nadu).

The film has been produced by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.

Incidentally Beevi enrolled herself as an advocate in 1950 and began her career in the lower judiciary in Kerala.

She was appointed the Munsiff in the Kerala Subordinate Judicial Services in May, 1958.

She was promoted as the Subordinate Judge in 1968 and as the Chief Judicial Magistrate in 1972, as District & Sessions Judge in 1974.

She was further appointed the Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in January, 1980. She was then elevated to the High Court as a Judge on August 4, 1983. She became a permanent Judge of the High Court on May 14, 1984.

She retired as the Judge of the High Court on April 29, 1989, but was further elevated to the Supreme Court as a Judge on October 6, 1989 where she retired on April 29, 1992.

She later went on to become the Governor of Tamil Nadu on January 25, 1997 and she quit in 2001 following a decision of the Union Government recommending to the President to recall her. — IANS

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home / by IANS / March 08th, 2023

Book on inspiring tales of Muslim women from Karnataka out

Amazing Feats, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Events, Exhibitions, Conferences (wef. Nov 18th, 2021), Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

“Rising Beyond The Ceiling was born out of the need to change the stereotypical narrative about Muslim women in India,” said Fatehally.

(L to R) Zoya Fatehally, Margaret Alva, Farah Usmani and Aiman Ansari at the book launch

Bengaluru:

 Recently, Rising Beyond the Ceiling launched their hardcover edition of Rising Beyond The Ceiling Karnataka publication, after releasing an e-book version of the same in November 2022. With 100 stereotype-shattering stories of inspiring Muslim women from Karnataka, the book is authored by Dr Farah Usmani and co-authored by Dr Zoya Fatehally and Aiman Ansari. Former Governor of Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, Margaret Alva was the chief guest while director Saad Khan hosted the evening’s launch party.

“Rising Beyond The Ceiling was born out of the need to change the stereotypical narrative about Muslim women in India,” said Fatehally. “The need to change the narrative behind the stereotype about Indian Muslim women not contributing to the nation much and how Muslim women are known for getting  married and having a lot of kids and not working was one of the inspirations that drew to author such a book,” said Aiman Ansari, the co-author. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / March 01st, 2023

Shama Hakim first Muslim American woman appointed as judge in US appellate court

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion,

Mumbai, INDIA / California, U.S.A:

Judge Shama Hakim is the first South Asian American woman and the first Muslim American woman on any appellate court in United States. 

New York: 

In a first, Indian-American Democrat Shama Hakim Mesiwala has been unanimously confirmed as associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento, California.

Mesiwala, 48, was administered the oath of office this month by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

She was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which included Chief Justice Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Acting Presiding Justice Ronald B. Robie.

Judge Mesiwala, who would now be the first South Asian American woman and the first Muslim American woman on any appellate court in the country, would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Coleman A. Blease.

She has served as a Sacramento County Superior Court judge since 2017 and was a commissioner there in 2017.

Mesiwala is the co-founder of the South Asian Bar Association of Sacramento and the president of the Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court.

She served as the Americans with Disabilities judge for the Sacramento County Superior Court Hall of Justice and created the first Indian Child Welfare Act courtroom in Northern California.

Armed with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law, Mesiwala also teaches appellate advocacy as an adjunct professor in the same university.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> United States / by ummid.com with inputs from IANS / February 28th, 2023

Chamarajpet Congress MLA arranges Umrah for ASHA workers, distributes Saudi Riyal

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , ,

Chamrajpet / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Later, he also visited Sira town in Tumakuru district and distributed Saudi Riyal 500 and other essential items to 26 pilgrims.

Karnataka minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan
Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan. (File Photo)

Bengaluru : 

Chamarajpet Congress MLA BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on Saturday arranged Umrah (an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) for 16 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers at Jagjivan Ram Nagar ward office and distributed Saudi Riyal 500 (Rs 11,097) to each of them.

Taking to Twitter, the MLA said that a pilgrimage send-off programme was organised in his constituency during which he distributed the money and also other Umrah essentials to the workers. Later, he also visited Sira town in Tumakuru district and distributed Saudi Riyal 500 and other essential items to 26 pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the BJP hit out at the MLA saying he was indulging in such activities only to attract voters ahead of the Assembly elections. They have also demanded that the police file a suo motu case immediately and take necessary action. 

K Somashekhar, state president, ASHA Workers Association, said that he was not aware of the programme organised by the Congress leader. The MLA was not available for a comment. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / February 27th, 2023

IOS organises two-day conference on “Indian Muslims and Plural Society”, Feb 15-16, 2023 New Delhi

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Events, Exhibitions, Conferences (wef. Nov 18th, 2021), Leaders, Uniquely Indian - Inter Faith (wef. February 08th, 2023), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

INDIA:

New Delhi:

Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi, organised a two-day National Conference on “Indian Muslims and Plural Society” in hybrid mode from February 15 – 16.

Inaugural session

The inaugural session commenced with Prof  Haseena Hashia, Assistant Secretary General, IOS, welcoming the guests and participants.

Prof M.H Qureshi, an eminent Geographer, talked about India witnessing numerous migrations over the last several centuries. “We have Nordics, Mediterranean, and Mongols—people from Central Asia, Persia and even Arabs who arrived in India through its southern-western coastal region. Therefore, India has immense diversity, he said.

He said that the Arabs came to the Kerala coast and brought many traditions that became part and parcel of India.

Professor Mehrajuddin Mir, former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir, said that the concept of pluralism was how to live together, tolerate others’ thoughts and ideas, and even understand opponents’ miseries for solutions to live in diversity. All religions have various sects, and thus, their practices differ. The conflicts are, therefore, intra-religious, interreligious and social, he noted.

Professor Mir quoted Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, who recently spoke about how one Imam and one Pundit shaped his career to understand brotherhood and oneness.

Professor Akhtarul Wasey, former President, Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in his presidential address, said that Muslims came to India as traders and invaders. But once they came here, they delved into the culture and traditions of India and became one who enriched the nation to encourage pluralism. Muslims have contributed to India’s prosperity.

He said that how Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam became a global personality of Indian origin—a Muslim. The country couldn’t think of its missile programme without his theoretical contributions, he said.

Technical Session I

The 1st Technical Session began with the theme, “Genesis of Pluralism in India.” Professor Arshi Khan, Department of Political Science, AMU, Aligarh, as Moderator & Chairperson.

Dr. Ram Puniyani, Human Rights Activist and Writer, said, “There is a misconception in the country, especially against Muslims.” The alliance of civilizations defines plurality. Religions don’t have any nationality. They are universal. The Kings in India, whether Muslim or Hindu, ruled the nation for centuries with people of different faiths as their core governance teams. There was nothing like Muslim Kings or Hindu kings then, he explained.

He observed that calling Indian cultures as Hindu is a bigoted idea. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad brought secular spirits into the country. We have Sufi and Bhakti traditions that describe the morality of religions and humanity in India.

Professor Mohammad Sohrab, MMA Jauhar Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, described pluralism as a definition both from a conceptual and theoretical perspective. Primarily a religious and moral philosophy, pluralism was the acceptance of diversity. It is more than tolerance of differences. The conception of ‘We’ was essential to assess pluralism through organic social bonding. Pluralism in the Islamic context of acceptance and the country’s scenario today should be understood in the context of how the nation’s spirit developed in Madinah during the time of the Prophet, he elaborated.

He said that pluralism demands that your neighbour be considered an asset, not a liability. Diversity with pluralism creates resilience, but diversity without pluralism brings disaster, he concluded.

Gurtej Singh, IAS, Chandigarh, spoke about how India’s constitutional and political federalism paved the way for the constitution. The atrocities against Sikhs and their resistance were part of history, he said. The examples of pluralism can be understood from the Guru Granth of Sikh religion.

His book Sikh and Indian Civilization sheds light on how Sikhs were projected during partition.

Sanjay K. Rai, a social activist from Lucknow, mentioned that “diversity doesn’t accept dictators.” He highlighted the importance of multicultural societies. Linguistic Pluralism was the need of the hour in today’s context. Societies with pluralism also impact by technological growth. Communities can’t be defined through one particular race or culture. He felt that there can’t be nation-building and growth without taking Muslims along who constitute 15-20% population in India. The One Nation, One Culture concept can only work in some countries. One can’t find books on Hitler in Germany today. Mussolini’s home has been destroyed in his country as people don’t want him to be remembered. It symbolizes how those going against pluralism perish from the leaflets of history, he concluded.

Mr. Gurdeep Singh, a Sikh leader from Bhatinda, Punjab, stressed that it was high time to focus on the future, in view of the experiences of the past and present to grow in a plural society. Mistakes could be there in the past, but remembering those only won’t solve the purpose. It will hinder progress. He warned that today’s rulers in India were breaking the very ascent of Indian culture and unity.

He said that when Kashmiri Muslims are tortured, others in the country feel their pain.

Dr. Lubna Naaz from the Department of Islamic Studies, Women’s College, AMU, spoke on “An Islamic Perspective on Peaceful Coexistence.”

Technical Session-II

Focused on the theme, Role of Islam to Strengthen Pluralism in India, the Technical Session II started under the Chairperson, Professor M. Ishaque from the Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia.

Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani, Former General Secretary, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Delhi, highlighted that two things are required to be properly understood: the Creator, and the Creator’s motive. He said that Sufis always made one feel the independence to think and lead life. Islam always propagates the rights of neighbours, relatives and much more. Sufi Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti wore similar dresses like Indian Sadhus to ascertain people of his time, irrespective of their religious faiths, connected with him.

He said that Swami Dayanand and Raja Ram Mohan Roy kept Hindu philosophy out of their movements but promoted social reforms in the societies applicable to all faiths for social betterment. “Faith is vital, like Allah’s mercy, unlike social practices that change with time,” he said. India’s beauty was in its diversity of religious thoughts. In pre-Islam Arab tribes kept fighting for generations on a single issue of their forefathers, but the scenario has changed. Islam accepts variety in pluralism, from religious to traditional to social practices. Islam as a religion must not change its basic principles. It is a Sanatan religion with firm principles, he concluded.

Prof Faheem Akhtar Nadvi, Head of the Department of Islamic Studies, MANUU, Hyderabad, emphasized that the role of Islam in strengthening pluralism in India is vital. Pluralism is a society where people of all religions reside and respect each other. India is one of the best examples where pluralism has stayed for centuries. He emphasized that India will grow only when pluralism is projected in practice.

To be Continued..

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Featured News / by News Desk (headline edited) / February 25th, 2023