Assam’s lemon represents the core table fruit of every household in North East India. It is a very important part of the food of the region and stands out from the other lemons owing to its distinctive aroma and flavour.
Lemons from Assam are being exported to various parts of India and abroad because of its unique aroma and flavour.
A team of scientific researchers led by Professor of Gauhati University Sofia Banu has, however, sounded an alert that Assam’s lemon may lose its original distinctive genetic characteristics.
Sofia Banu has told Awaz-The Voice that lemon collected from 97 locations reveals that the lemon populations in Assam could be genetically diverse. She said that in-depth genetic diversity analysis of 510 samples from 97 locations has revealed some very intriguing findings for Assam lemon populations.
Lemon of Assam
“There is a high possibility that the samples studied may not be exact clones of the parent plant but may have arisen independently as other chance propagates. We have suggested that each existing population must be conserved as part of a comprehensive management strategy to maintain the lemon’s unique qualities and characteristics as hybridization is a natural tendency of citrus species,” Sofia Banu said.
According to Sofia Begum when it comes to Assam lemon conservation focus should be primarily on in-situ conservation techniques. The present study can act as a base for future efforts in breeding and conservation of this valuable cultivar of lemon, by assisting farmers and breeders in selecting genetically diverse plants for breeding programmes, thus promoting sustainable utilization, Begum said.
The lemon story in Assam began in 1956, when a chance seedling emerged from the progeny of the variety ‘Chi-na-kaghi’, collected from the village of Hahchora in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district. This fortuitous event led to the birth of the Assam lemon, a lemon like no other, exuding an extraordinary aroma and flavour that set it apart from its counterparts.
The work carried out by Sofia Banu and her research scholars Raja Ahmed and Suraiya Akhtar of the Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, has been published in ‘Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution’ and has been highlighted by Nature India.
As a part of the export consignment, about 600 kg of lemons have been exported to London, UK from Assam. Taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed happiness about the first consignment of the export plan.
“Happy to share that the first consignment of Assam lemon for export to the UK has been dispatched from Baksa. About 600 kg of lemons have been sent as part of an export commitment by the producer at the rate of Rs 30 per kg for about 80 tonnes over the next 2 months from Gati, Salbari”, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. Earlier, a consignment of “Kazi Nemu” (Assam lemon) was exported from Guwahati to London.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ariful Islam, Guwahati / November 06th, 2023
The book will take ‘you on a gripping roller-coaster ride of various cultures’
Image Credit: Goodreads
From a roiling India of the 40s and rollicking France of the 60s to a fear-stricken US post 9/11 terror attacks, ‘Memoirs of Three Continents: I Tell You Nothing But The Truth’, takes you on a gripping roller-coaster ride of various cultures and author Mirza Saeed-Uz Zafar Chagthai’s own journey of self-discovery.
Born in a middle class Indian Muslim family in the small town of Daryabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Chagthai, earned a string of scholarships and went to Europe for higher studies after topping at his university.
Over the past few years, he has authored many books, but the latest one is easily at the top of the heaps. Laced with anecdotal vignettes from his professional experiences as a scientist and globe-trotting scholar, the memoirs give fascinating insights into scientific and literary life in India, Europe and the US that inform and amuse in equal measure.
But, what makes the book such an absorbing read is Chaghtai’s self deprecating humour and guileless candour.
One chapter deals with the evolution of the French Fifth Republic and a detailed eyewitness account of the 1968 Revolutionary while another dwells on the idiosyncrasies and insecurities of scientists, including some Nobel Laureates.
Then there is this whole section that gives a hitherto unknown perspective on Aligarh where Chaghtai spent 40 years of his life.
Whether you are a history buff or just someone keen to learn about people and places, especially India and Europe through the turn of the century, you will be thoroughly enjoy Memoirs of Three Continents.
source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Gulf News / Home> Entertainment / by Mazhar Farooqui, Xpress Editor / June 12th, 2016
Locals are lamenting an inability to preserve their language and heritage.
The community is also grappling with sentiments of political alienation and social exclusion. Tucked away 80 kilometers (49.7 miles) from the bustling heart of Srinagar, Wantrag stands as a reflection of traditional Afghan life, where nearly 1,000 Pashto-speaking families fiercely uphold their cultural heritage . The zigzag roads that weave through recently harvested paddy fields and bountiful apple orchards enter into Wantrag, perched majestically atop a hill in the Anantnag district in India-administered Kashmir.
Upon entering the village, a striking sight unfolds — houses line the banks of a water irrigation canal, walnut trees scattered throughout the landscape have transitioned to their autumn attire, and shop signs adorned with Pashto inscriptions. The air carries the shrill of autumn and aroma of Kabuli biryani — a dish consisting of steamed rice, caramelized carrots, raisins and marinated lamb. While women might not be immediately visible, men, both young and old, are seen toiling in the apple orchards. Young boys play cricket on the winding roads while girls wearing headscarves hide behind walls.
Fears over a loss of identity
The Pashtun community’s reluctance to blend with the local Kashmiri population mirrors patterns seen in global diaspora. “Preservation of any community’s identity hinges on the conservation of its language and culture, and unfortunately, we are losing both,” Bashir Ahmad Khan, a retired public school teacher and a Pashto activist, attired in a traditional Pathani outfit, told DW.
In the early 1920s, Khan’s grandfather Noor Khaliq ventured into Kashmir from the Allai region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in present-day Pakistan. Khaliq initially arrived for business but chose to stay, and now, his descendants form a major part of Wantrag. He was one of the hundreds of Pashtuns who came to Kashmir for business in the early part of the 20th century and settled here. The descendants of those immigrants have carved out their lives, while resisting cultural assimilation.
Marginalization of the Pashto community in Kashmir
The community has grappled with sentiments of political alienation and social exclusion, a simmering undercurrent that remains prevalent among senior male members who openly condemn the treatment they perceive as discriminatory by the successive governments of India-administered Kashmir.
“Pashto has been confined to being a spoken language here, with no locally-produced texts or encouragement for its promotion,” Khan said, speaking with a deep-rooted concern for the preservation of his community’s identity.
In 1953, the Pashto immigrants were granted citizenship followed by official recognition as one of the backward communities in India-administered Kashmir, a move to uplift the community economically and socially. “Despite having a 12% reservation in government jobs… we had minimal representation in school graduates,” Khan said.
The community received a major jolt after an Indian government-sponsored survey in 1986 categorized Pashtuns under the Gujjar community, creating a sense of injustice and erasing their distinct identity, Khan said.
And four years later, the Mandal Commission or the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (SEBC) even dropped them out of the Gujjar community, leaving them without any recognition. “Our struggle for recognition as a distinct community and reservation in jobs and university admissions will continue,” Khan said.
The inception of Radio Kashmir in 1948 offered a platform for the Pashto language, featuring news and cultural programs. At that time, no other regional language was represented on Radio Kashmir, except for Pashto, Khan said. “Unfortunately, our community was kept away from modern education resulting in the gradual disappearance of Pashto programs on radio and television,” he added.
“Our space and representation were taken away from us,” said Khan, blaming vested interests among the Other Backward Class (OBC) groups in Kashmir for obstructing Pashto from gaining a presence on radio and television. “We used to have Pashto news and cultural programs on Radio Kashmir. But not anymore.”
Cultural assimilation of Pashtuns in Kashmir
Kashmiri Pashtuns, commonly referred to as Kashmiri Pathans, predominantly reside in the districts of Ganderbal, Baramulla, Anantnag, and Kishtwar, with a population of around 40,000.
Their cultural assimilation within the broader Kashmiri population has become evident, seen through the adoption of the traditional Kashmiri garment, the Pheran, and the acceptance of intermarriages. Yet, the Pashtun community perseveres in preserving distinctive aspects of their heritage, especially language, and food. A small booklet, first of its kind, was recently published to teach Pashto to children. Even tailors are strictly directed to only produce Pathan-style clothing.
“But today, we find ourselves more integrated into Kashmiri society rather than adhering to Afghan customs. As the Pheran culture gradually became part of our lives, we now require political support to preserve our traditions,” Khan said.
At a crossroads
Imbibing local Kashmiri culture while retaining certain Afghan traditions, the community finds itself at a crossroads, straddling the line between cultural adaptation and the preservation of their heritage. Endogamous marriages were once the norm, keeping the Pashtun culture intact, but as inter-community marriages become more common, there is a growing concern that their cultural traditions may erode.
While their unique customs and traditional attire have endured over time, the Pashtun community’s engagement with Kashmiri society has deepened, giving rise to a natural integration of cultures. Yet, Khan harbors concerns about the inevitable and gradual integration of the Pashtun community into the majority Kashmiri population.
“Our kids speak Kashmiri now and community is opening up to marrying their children into Kashmiri families,” said Khan, while acknowledging that, given the numerical disparity, the Kashmiri majority is bound to exert its cultural influence over time.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> News> Lifestyle> Art Culture / by Deutsche Welle / Hindustan Times / November 10th, 2023
At the age of two and a half years, Swaleha Naaz Khan fell down the stairs while playing and broke her hand. This incident marked the first time she visited a hospital. However, for Khan, a patient of Sickle cell disease, it set off a cycle of sickness, incorrect medications, hospital visits, and unsuccessful treatment. Now at 26, she recently completed her M.Sc (Masters in Science) in Computer Science from a private institute in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh and helps people fight suffering from Sickle cell disease in this small town of Madhya Pradesh.
Facing Problems in Identifying the Disease
Growing up, she constantly experienced severe body pain. Due to a limited medical infrastructure in the city at that time, doctors were unable to identify the source of her pain. Her body would frequently stiffen, prompting her father to assume she was possessed by a spirit or djinn. They sought help from hakims and babas in hopes of finding an explanation for her pain but to no avail. Khan and her family went from city to city in order to get her treated. They even travelled to Nagpur in Maharashtra for this purpose.
Dr. Shrivastav, a doctor at the city government hospital, finally diagnosed Khan with sickle cell disease while she was in 10th grade, after she was brought to the hospital the night before her board exams. “It was for the first time that I received correct treatment,” she went on to say.
The Disease Affected Khan’s Education
Previously, whenever Khan’s condition deteriorated, she was given injections to soothe her unbearable pain. “The injections were given every 8 days, causing me so much pain that I could only sleep on one side. I couldn’t sit down properly. My education was also greatly affected. I often had to miss school,” she explained. Due to being admitted a day before exams, she flunked in 10th grade.
Sickle cell disease [SCD] is a hereditary medical condition that persists throughout a person’s life and affects red blood cells, which in turn impacts hemoglobin – the carrier of oxygen in the body.
Unlike the typical disc-shaped red blood cells found in a healthy person, in SCD, these cells take on a crescent or “sickle” shape. The alteration affects their manoeuvrability in blood vessels, leading to a range of complications such as strokes, vision issues, infections, and bouts of intense pain known as pain crises.
According to Gautam Dongre, Secretary of National Alliance of Sickle Cell Organisations (NASCO), sickle cell disease can cause great damage to people’s lives. “Without accurate diagnosis, individuals with this condition may not live more than 4 years. They can be affected by organ damage within 20 years. Their joints may stop functioning properly, potentially leading to disability. In the absence of proper treatment, it can result in premature death. Otherwise, their entire life may be centered around going between the hospital and home,” said Dongre stressing that timely treatment of the disease is extremely critical.
Creating a WhatsApp Group of Sickle Cell Patients To Help Them
Khan was admitted in 2016, along with two other SCD patients, Deepika and Aishwarya. She had previously thought she was the lone patient suffering from the disease. However, she began to meet more people suffering from the disease. “Aishwarya formed a group of all Chhindwara’s sickle cell patients. We discovered that there are numerous patients with SCD in that district. At the time, we were only 15-16 years old,” she explained.
After she discovered more than 500 SCD patients in Chhindwara, Khan decided to visit the District Magistrate’s office in order to demand a separate hospital ward for them. She says that when she used to visit the government hospital, they had to purchase everything from outside. The only thing they provided was a bed, which was free. She observed that patients coming from remote villages faced several difficulties in accessing proper healthcare due to this.
“We demanded for all patients to get access to Dr. Shrivastav. After that, we asked for the availability of medicines. The whole process was really taxing. After going through several offices and facing rejections, medicines were finally made available in the hospital for free. Rarely does anyone need to purchase something from their own pockets,” Khan stated, proudly.
‘Cared for Me as if I Were Her Own Sister’: A Sickle Patient
22-year-old Nazrana Mansuri, a patient suffering from Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Chhindwara, recounted her first meeting with Khan at the hospital. Upon learning that Mansuri is an orphan, Khan assumed full responsibility for her operation. “I used to live with my khala (aunt), who worked as a daily wage earner and didn’t have the means to look after me. Swaleha took all my responsibilities. Despite being unwell herself, she stayed with me throughout the night of the operation. She not only brought me food but also cared for me as if I were her own sister. It’s been two years since my operation, and she still feels like family to me,” Mansuri said.
How Extreme Weather Made Khan’s Condition Worse
Khan said that during wintertime, her blood vessels used to thicken causing her extreme pain.
Dr. Gaurav Kharya, the clinical lead at the Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, explained that under normal circumstances, sickle cell disease may not pose a problem. However, during hot weather when dehydration occurs, and in extremely cold temperatures when small blood vessels constrict, a crisis can occur. During these episodes, the shape of sickle-shaped cells can become further distorted and obstruct various blood vessels, resulting in the typical symptoms of sickle cell disease.
In 2020, Khan joined the National Alliance of Sickle Cell Organisations (NASCO), after meeting Gautam Dongre. Today, she manages all of NASCO’s work in Madhya Pradesh and helps out hundreds of patients of the sickle cell disease with getting them treatment, diagnosis and recovery.
Shaba Manzoor and Nuzhat Khan are independent reporters based in New Delhi, India.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Indian Muslim> Lead Story> Science-Health> TCN Positive / by Shaba Manzoor & Nuzhat Khan / October 31st, 2023
Hyderali had an edge over the competition for the throne between the Haleri and Horamale branches of Ikkeri dynasty after the death of Mudduraja and Muddaiah raja. In the Haleri branch Lingaraja was fighting for his nephew Appajiraja and in the Haramale branch, Mallaiah arasa for his son Devapparaja. Finally, Devapparaja was coronated.
In this circumstance, the disappointed Lingaraja sought refuge from Hyderali along with his nephew Appajiraja and his sons which included his son Veerarajendra Raja. Hyderali took advantage of this situation by using Lingaraja as the spy. Hyder captured Kodagu and got Devapparaja and his family killed in 1774. This extinguished the Horamale branch.
As per the understanding, Lingarajendra-1 was coronated but remained the puppet of Hyder until his death in 1779. At this time, Lingarajendra’s son Veerarajendra being a minor was forcefully shifted by Hyder to Goroor. This was convenient for him to take control of the Kodagu administration through Karnik Subbarasaiah.
Hyder’s autocratic attitude in administration was disliked by the people of Kodagu. Hence they resisted his rule by various kinds of protests. Due to ill health, Hyderali died in 1782. This resulted in his son and heir Tippu sultan assuming the throne. Tippu’s rule was oppressive and this made the situation worst for the people of Kodagu. Eventually, they chose to bring back Prince Veerarajendra, who had been shifted to the Periyapatna prison from Goroor. He was to reinstate the peaceful administration of Kodagu.
Veerarajendra’s close associate Kulleti Ponappa, Hombale Nayaka, Appanarvanda Achaiah, Pattachervanda Bolakka and few other people of Kodagu set out to secretly release Veerarajendra from the prison. The warden of the Periyapatna prison was Khadher Khan Khaisighei. He was a Saurashtrian trader from Afghanistan in India on a trade contact. He was upright and empathetic individual and was sensitive to the ongoing affairs. He aided the Kodagu folks to get their prince out of a six year long imprisonment.
This became the major turning point for Veerarajendra to re-establish the rule of the Haleri dynasty in Kodagu. Soon after his release, Veerarajendra along with his Kodagu army resisted the strong determination of Tippu Sultan to capture Kodagu. The Kodagu army was brave and strong but were not very experienced in organized battle. Hence, they began setting plots in the routes of the enemy through forests and other mountain areas. This ousted the authoritative administration of Tippu who had gained an edge over the natives of Kodagu by pledging themselves in the territory.
While Tippu sent troops under various commanders to capture Kushalnagar, Beppunad and Bhagamandala forts of Kodagu, the Kodagu army won over the Sultans and Veerajendra Raja got Kushalnagar, Beppunad and Bhagamandala forts under his control.
While only Madikeri fort was in control of Tippu Sultan, the Kodagu troops way laid the routes and blocked all the provisions going there. During monsoon, when shortage of supplies was inevitable Tippu sent the necessary provisions under the leadership of Khadher Khan Khaisighei. They were attacked in Kushalnagar and captured by the Kodagu army. Veerarajendra Raja was obliged to release Khadher Khan Khaisighei out of immense gratitude towards him. His memory flashed back to his release from the Periyapatna prison. Khaisighei was also instrumental in protecting his sister when she was attacked by the muslim authorities.
However, Khader Khan Khaisighei’s loyalty was pronounced when he turns down the Raja’s favor, initially. Later on, he accepts the favor and requests that the provisions be delivered to the Madikeri fort and returns to Periyapatna. Thus, Veerarajendra Raja gains control of the territory of Kodagu.
Certain areas in Kodagu was commanded by Paleygars/nayaks. After the fall of Udichanda Palegar in Bilgunda, his property was gifted to Khadher Khan Khaisighei by Veerarajendra Raja. This gift was based on service jhagir under puthra parampara. Henceforth, they were the permanent residents of Bilgunda, living in their Aiynmane beside the Bhadrakali Village temple. This Aiynmane has all features of traditional Kodagu aiynmane.
The lineage of Khader Khan Khaisighei has been enjoying the thakkame and they decorate the respectable seat at the Hoskote Kolemandh reserved for various thakkas. Without overbearing the religious attitude they participate wholly in all the village activities including the festivals – Bhadrakali Namme and Eshwara Namme of the Bilgunda Village.
The Kodagu socio-cultural practices are followed by them celebrating the Kailmurtha and Puthari festival to the present day. These festivals are the celebration of the completion of several stages of paddy cultivation, which was the only source of traditional livelihood of the land. The thakkame of Puthari had been of the Kaisighei and is followed by his progeny now by Kaleemula Khan, the third generation.
The procession for cutting the sheaf begins at their house along with traditional fervor. The sheaf is reaped from Shafila Khan’s paddy field, where he fires the gun symbolizing the beginning of harvest. Later, the sheaf is taken to the temple and their respective homes.
Embracing Islam they have blended into the socio-cultural practice of the land they have inherited. This matured outlook has disseminated peace and harmony in and round Bilgunda Village.
Afsana Begum’s world turned upside down when, one day, she realized her businessman husband had a disease that was going to keep him away from work for the rest of his life. This mother of two had no option but to take charge of providing for her family.
She took up the reins of the business that her husband had built from scratch. She was completely immersed in raising the children and looking after the household and business was an alien territory for her.
A few years later, today, Afsana Begum is one of the leading women entrepreneurs in North East India running a widely circulated Assamese newspaper (Axomiya Khabar), a state-of-art shopping mall, a multinational chain restaurant ‘Pirates of Grill’, and a few other real estate development projects.
In an interview with Awaz-The Voice, Afsana Begum said that her husband Sailen Konwar Dutta was a successful businessman and he had built everything from scratch. However, a few years back his health failed him. At that time Afsana was a full-time homemaker and a mother to their two sons.
Afsana with her husband (Right) and sons
I had to step in and take charge of the business and it was quite new for me. Initially, I had to face a few crises and it took me time to understand and learn the basics of the trade. Only slowly things got better and I had a better grip over the businesses,” she said.
Afsana Begum says starting one’s own business is never easy and one needs to be mentally prepared for the worst possible scenarios to move ahead.
“We were running our own branded restaurant O’ Guwahati during the pre-Covid period. O’ Guwahati was the answer to Guwahatians’ demand for the best of Indian, Chinese, and Tandoori cuisine under the same roof. But tragically we had to close down the restaurant when the pandemic was at its peak. It is never an easy choice to close down something that you built from scratch but at that time it was a necessity. But then again in 2021, we opened one of the biggest franchise restaurants (Pirates of Grill) in Guwahati and after quite a lot of hard work today I can proudly say that it’s one of the best restaurants in the town,” Afsana Begum said.
Afsana Begum who did her schooling and college education from Guwahati, said that it is hard to say whether it is tough for a woman to become an entrepreneur. But it’s not easy, she added.
“Though I had the privilege of coming from a strong business background as my father late Abdul Khaleque was also a very hardworking first generation businessman from Guwahati’s Machkhowa area. But it’s still a very difficult job to gain the trust of everyone and prove that you are capable of doing the hard work. Building a business from scratch is never easy and you would need a lot of perseverance to get through it,” Afsana Begum said.
Afsana Begum has now started diversifying her business and has invested in creating her fashion brand. She now harbours the vision of providing quality and affordable clothing to women.
Afsana Begum with her sons remains a doting mother
Even after becoming a successful business woman Afsana Begum’s role as a doting mother and homemaker has not changed. Her elder son Eric Javier is a doctor and her younger one Zeedan Javier is doing a Bachelor of Business Administration in New Delhi.
Afsana along with her husband and two sons are currently based in Delhi. But she is running her business quite smoothly in Assam and credit goes to her brilliant entrepreneurship skills.
Finally, when asked about the secret of becoming a successful business woman Afsana Begum said one should have confidence in one’s abilities and must believe that she can achieve her goals.
“Build a strong professional network; seek out communities of other women entrepreneurs who can provide advice, guidance, and morale. Balancing work and personal life is crucial. It’s easy to get absorbed in your business, but taking care of your physical and mental health is equally important. Understanding your finances inside out is very important. Learn about budgeting, cash flow management, and financial planning. Being financially literate is the key to making informed decisions for your business. As you succeed, consider giving back to your community and supporting other aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women,” Afsana Begum said.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home / by Daulat Rahman, Guwahati / October 31st, 2023
Renowned Indian author Annie Zaidi has won the Fiction Book of the Year 2020 for “Prelude to A Riot” at the Tata Literature Live! Awards. The awards ceremony took place via a digital event in lieu of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Aleph Book Company published the novel in September 2019.
@AlephBookCo
Annie Zaidi is a renowned author, poet, and scriptwriter for stage and screen. Her latest book, Bread, Cement, Cactus: A Memoir of Belonging and Dislocation, published by Cambridge, won The Nine Dots Prize. Zaidi’s other books include Unbound: 2,000 Years of Indian Women’s Writing, Gulab, Sleep Tight, and more.
Zaidi is also a professor at the Jindal School of Journalism & Communication, OP Jindal Global University.
Prelude to A Riot addresses the issue of communal intolerance between three generations of two families – one Hindu and the other Muslim, and the ensuing communal violence in the town that changes their lives forever.
The Tata Literature Live! also known as the Mumbai LitFest, was held between November 16 to 22. Apart from the Fiction Book of the Year, other awards presented during the festival include Lifetime Achievement Award, Poet Laureate Award, Non-Fiction Book of the Year, First Book Fiction, First Book Non-Fiction, Business Book, and Publisher of the Year.
The jury for choosing the winner of the Fiction Book of the Year 2020 comprised of Prof. Ashwani Kumar, Padma Shri Keki Daruwalla, Prof. Madhavi Menon, and Prof. Shashi Baliga. Apart from Annie Zaidi’s Prelude to A Riot, other books in the shortlist were Aravind Adiga’s Amnesty, Gitanjali Kolanad’s Girl Made of Gold, and Memory of Light.
Winners’ List at Tata Literary Live! 2020:
Lifetime Achievement Award – Ruskin Bond
Poet Laureate Award – Javed Akhtar
Fiction Book of the Year – Annie Zaidi, Prelude to A Riot (Aleph)
Non-Fiction Book of the Year – TM Krishna, Sebastian & Sons: A Brief History of Mrdangam Makers (Westland)
First Book Fiction – Deepa Anappara, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line (Penguin Random House)
First Book Non-Fiction – Taran N Khan, Shadow City: A Woman Walks Kabul (Vintage Books) Business Book of the Year – Sunil Kant Munjal, The Making of Hero: Four Brothers, Two Wheels and a Revolution that Shaped India (HarperBusiness)
source: http://www.bombayreads.com / Bombay Reads / Home> News / by Noman Shaikh / November 23rd, 2020
The hijab-clad Karate maestro Shaheen Akhtar, 52, barely looks what she is — a 4-time National Champion in Karate, chopping her way surgically in all top events worldwide, is now appointed the first and only woman ‘Officiating Referee’ at the ongoing 19th Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in China.
Packing up her bags to serve as the International Technical Official or Officiating Referee, Shaheen is a smiling but simple granny whose daughter Sana Hava and son Ayaan Ansari are also National Champions in Karate.
She learned her first Karate kicks, stances, punches, blocks and chops aged 13 while a schoolgirl at the Christ Church School, Byculla, excelled while studying for her B.Com degree from H.R. College, Churchgate and loved it enough to make it a full-fledged professional career as a ‘karateka’.
Over four decades since, she has punched her way from Youth League to Premier League to South Asian Championships to Asian Championships to Commonwealth Championships to World Championship events globally, earning medals and honours for her discipline and laurels for the nation, both as a participant and as a referee.
“In Hangzhou, I shall be the Officiating Referee for all events of Karate at the men’s and women’s events scheduled between October 5-7, with top champions participating from 42 Asian countries… It’s a very crucial responsibility,” said Shaheen softly, in a chat with IANS.
Discussing her upcoming challenges as Officiating Referee, Shaheen said that “handling pressure” will be the most critical part of her assignment — when over two billion pairs of eyes from all over Asia will scrutinise her every move and decision.
“All countries are coming there and vying for the medals… Besides the top-class champions from all countries in the ring, there will be top games experts from different countries, sports officials, VIPs, judges and viewers in the stadium and at their homes… Any wrong decision on my part can lead to havoc right inside the stadium,” Shaheen added.
Inside the ring, when the medal-hungry champions from different competing nations would be lunging at each other, the experience will be another trial even for Shaheen, herself an established and acclaimed figure in the sport.
“My job will be to control these rivals in the ring, command them to obey and adhere to the rules of the games, if they falter then there are levels of warnings, penalties, etc. to rein them in… And all under the watchful eyes of many,” Shaheen smiled.
Only on rare occasions, the moderator ‘Kansa’ (Match Supervisor) intervenes and also equally rarely the ‘third umpire’ or the video review supervisor, mainly while appealing for points is resorted to, she explained patiently, without clenching her deadly fists or flailing her arms.
In her new role, the former 4-time National Champion, 6-time Maharashtra Champion, a 8th Degree Black-Belt holder, Shaheen is also the highest and most qualified World Karate Federation and Asian Karate Federation female Referee in the country and in South Asia.
Now, Shaheen is passing on the baton to the gen-next through SAMA (Shaheen’s Academy of Martial Arts) affiliated to Karate India Organisation, and striving to groom future state-national-international champions and referees.
“I hope my long journey inspires the younger generations to take up Karate as a serious and viable career option… India has tremendous untapped potential and there could be many young champs waiting in the wings to grab their moment of glory given the right opportunity…I am always here to help anybody,” Shaheen declared.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> India> Indian Muslims> Sports / September 25th, 2023
Nooniya Basti under Mahingaon Gram Panchayat in Kishanganj district of Bihar is largely inhabited by Shershabadi Muslims, who trace their origins to Bangladesh.
It is in this conservative milieu, where girls are not allowed to even step out of their homes unchaperoned, that Ziratunnisa Khatun, 14, and her friends have been leading a campaign on family planning since the last two years.
The Kishori group members of Nooniya Basti interact with older women showing them samples of contraceptive pills, Copper T and condoms and telling them about the merits of keeping a five-year gap between children (Photo: Ajitha Menon\WFS)
“Our group comprises girls between 12 and 18 years and we have been trained to create awareness on the need for family planning, the ill effects of child marriage, related maternal health issues and the importance of good nutrition, water conservation and sanitation,” informs an articulate Nasera Khatun, 16, President of the Nooniya Basti Kishori group.
Since October 2012, activists of the Bihar Voluntary Health Association (BVHA) have been running the Kishori programme, as part of the Department of International Development (DFID) supported Global Poverty Action Fund project, ‘Improving Maternal Health Status in Six States in India’, initiated by Oxfam India.
Shares, Meraj Danish, Thematic Coordinator-BVHA, Kishanganj, “I remember how tough it had been for us to convince the elders in the Shershabadi community to give permission to their adolescent daughters to get involved in our maternal health intervention.
“We drew them in by facilitating their access to rations given to teenage girls under the government’s Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (Sabla scheme).
“The scheme provisions for three kilos of rice, two kilos of lentils and 40 iron supplement pills in a month to every out-of-school girl in the 11-14 age group and all girls between 14 and 18 years.
“As we managed to rope in more girls into Sabla, the trust quotient between us and the community increased. These were people who were anyway battling with poor infant and maternal health, anaemia and lack of nutrition in adolescents, so eventually they came around and agreed to let their girls attend our training sessions.”
Girls, for whom family planning had been a taboo subject, were in for a huge surprise at the training sessions conducted by the BVHA volunteers.
“The meetings were a real eye-opener. As we listened to the volunteers, we soon figured out the reasons behind our mothers always feeling weak and lacking energy. We realised that most of our brothers and sisters and, in fact, we ourselves, were suffering from the ill-effects of under nutrition.
“We also understood the need for family planning and the fact that spacing between children is critical for ensuring the good health of the mother and child. Above all, we learnt to improve our eating habits as well as maintain proper personal hygiene,” elaborates Habiba Khatun, 17.
Nooniya Basti’s Kishori group began its family planning advocacy by first speaking to their own family members, relatives and friends.
“We used to carry samples of contraceptive pills, Copper T (intrauterine device) and condoms and go door-to-door, talking to our mothers and their friends. Rather than insisting on use of contraceptives to limit the number of children, we told them about the need to have at least a five-year gap between each child,” explains Tanzera Khatun, 16, adding, “this automatically brings down the number of children per couple and removes any concerns regarding forced family planning.”
Till a couple of years back, most women living in and around Nooniya Basti had no clue about family planning and were mostly bogged down by three-four children, born within just a year of each other. Consequently, the mothers and their children used to be very weak and sickly.
“This is why the women immediately related to our conversations regarding the need for the body to fully recover between pregnancies and showed a keen interest in knowing how to use contraceptives to ensure spacing between children. By and large, we spread the message that it was alright to use contraception to achieve spacing between children even if family planning per se was taboo,” reveals Sabina Khatun, 16.
Of course, it certainly was not always smooth sailing for the girls. Many women were quite unwilling to talk to “children” on issues of family planning and contraception.
“The fact that we could talk proficiently about the use of contraceptive pills and their possible side effects and demonstrate how to use Copper T and condoms added to our creditability in their eyes. After a few interactions, during our house visits, there was no hostility or shyness and the women could voice their different issues and concerns openly before us,” adds Ruksana Khatun, 16.
Whereas the community women have benefited from the Kishori group’s active engagement, the girls too have learnt a lot in the process. This has prepared them well for the future and set them apart from their lesser fortunate peers across the country.
“Thanks to this intervention, most of us have become vocal against early marriages. Moreover, we have become particular about eating nutritious food and taking iron supplement pills to fight anaemia,” points out Nasera Khatun.
The other advantage for this group has been in the form of access to better education. “Once the community elders saw how well the girls were faring, it was possible for them to seek permission to join mainstream schools to acquire better quality education, along with studying at the local madarsa. Many girls in the group are now attending regular school,” says Danish of BVHA.
At present, there are three Kishori groups in Kishanganj. Though there are about 20 girls in each, the health awareness campaign related to family planning and contraception is spreading effectively across several villages in the district, as the peer and friend circles are absorbing the knowledge and experiences of the core Kishori units and putting them to good use by reaching out to women of their own localities.
by Women’s Feature Service
source: http://www.weekendleader.com / The Weekend Leader / Home / by Ajitha Menon, Kishanganj / Vol.6, Issue 12 / May 23rd, 2015
Dr. MOHAMED BEDEEUZZAMAN is CEO of Integrated Education Council India (IECI). He completed his Ph.D in Biomedical Signal Processing from Aligarh Muslim University after having his B.Tech and M.Tech degrees from Govt Engineering College, Thrissur and NIT, Calicut respectively.
Dr. Zaman served MES College of Engineering, Kuttippuram, Kerala in various capacities for 22 years.
He was Vice Principal of the College from 2013 to 2020. He has contributed many papers and attended conferences and workshops at Rome (Italy), Prague (Czech Republic), Loughborough (UK) and Sharjah (UAE).
Dr Zaman is a good orator and prolific writer. He is an expert in outcome-based education, school grading and accreditation. He has conducted many workshops on NEP 2020 and its NCFs.
In an interview with MOHD NAUSHAD KHAN, he said, IECI gives academic support and guidance to about 100 schools, 600 plus primary/secondary madrasas, and 2 dozen colleges.
Excerpts:
What inspired you to work for education?Please tell us about your educational journey and what have you achieved so far?
In the early 90s, during inception of the college, the political atmosphere of Kerala was very much hostile to running of a private college due to its leftist leanings. Running a private college was considered almost synonymous with some anti-social activity. Being part of a team that attempts to establish something anew gave us many insights. It gave us a conviction that strong will and committed team with visionary leadership will make any dream true. The mentoring that we got from elders during the initial phases of the college was unparalleled.
Later, as Professor in the Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Department and Vice Principal of the college, I could shoulder many academic and administrative responsibilities.
By the grace of God Almighty, as NBA coordinatorI could be instrumental in getting NBA accreditation for four undergraduate programmes. This gave me an opportunity to closely learn the importance of outcome-based education. It made us ponder over the positive changes that may happen if the outcome-based approach was brought to different facets of education. Also, I strongly felt that rather than tertiary education, the outcome-based experiments will be more fruitful at the formative levels of education where the stakeholder involvement is much higher.
Fortunately, amid nurturing the dreams of doing something in a larger framework, I have got an invitation from Integrated Education Council India (IECI) to join them. IECI is a public spirited non-profit educational entity. It coordinates the activities of multitudes of educational institutions, from preschools to colleges across Kerala and Gulf region. It is engaged in preparing schemes and plans to promote quality in all facets of education.
What is the objective of your educational vision?
IECI has a rightly crafted vision statement: To make the world a better place by creating generations that uphold the dignity of humankind. We understand that the root cause of all problems that has afflicted the world today is our miserable failure to honourthe dignity of humankind. The solution to this anathema is to train younger ones to imbibe the values of human dignity, justice, and equality during their formative years.
What is the model of your educational system?
In tune with the noble vision statement, we have developed certain mission statements that act as the basis of multitudes of activities carried out by IECI. They include: To equip people to actively participate in knowledge society by imbibing quality in various facets of education, Lead students to climb the social ladder by fixing suitable benchmarks and thereby making them vehicles of social change, Nurture the future generation as responsible citizens by providing them with a worldview built upon strong moral foundations, Design and implement various curricular and no-curricular programmes that will infuse self-esteem and awareness about the cultural moorings among the stakeholders.
Our attempt is to focus our activities on those who can be linked and mapped to the given vision and mission statements.
IECI gives academic support and guidance to about 100 schools, 600 plus primary/secondary madrasas, and two dozen colleges. Our institutions stand out in that admissions and appointments are made purely on merit without any discrimination based on caste, creed, or religion. Among other things, the IECI strives for educational uplift of the backward and marginalised sections of society by awarding scholarships to meritorious but economically weaker students and for strengthening the associated schools, quality-wise.
Concerns and apprehensions about preserving cultural sensibilities act as a major barrier to the education of children belonging to minority communities. We are helping people to overcome this fear by providing quality education with due consideration to the culture and tradition of stakeholders. Everybody wants to inculcate values and morals in future generations. Many of the times, this is achieved through earmarking separate periods for value education in the weekly timetable. Though we are also doing the same, our striving is to provide a value-laden ecosystem at our institutions in a level-appropriate manner. We train our institutions to adhere to the proclaimed core values and mentor them to stand witness to these values in the process and premises.
How is your chain of schools different from other existing chains of schools?
Our school activities are organised under the banner of Vidya Council for Education (VCE). It is an agency that stands for an education that aims for good academic standards. It strives for a process by which good citizens who honour the dignity of all fellow beings will be nurtured.
India is a very large country where the educational aspirations of citizens cannot be fulfilled by the government alone. Philanthropic interventions from not-for-profit entities are very much needed to reach our stated targets of access and equity in education. Schools associated with VCE fulfil the educational aspirations of many pupils belonging to rural areas where good education is not readily available. Also, many of our students are coming from socially deprived sections. In that sense VCE is contributing to strivings of our governments to create an equitable knowledge society.
We support the associated schools to improve their governance and process. In addition to the support to improve academic quality, we plan and implement various competitions and talent search examinations. We conduct training programmes for different stakeholder segments, considering their scope in the educational process.
If you ask for two features that make our school system unique, we will immediately tell you that one is its anchoring on values and the other respect for diversity. We are engaged in the process of equipping students to live in the knowledge economy by preserving cultural sensitivities. The twin task is done within the curricular framework created by governments and statutory bodies. We believe that the beauty of India lies in its diversity and it can make use of its demographic dividend if this diversity is preserved and taken care of. We find no difficulty in making respect to diversity a core value and at the same time preserving the cultural moorings of the Muslim community to which the major share of our students belongs. We have been conducting various programmes in our schools to give exposure to students regarding the social mosaic on which they will have to lead life as responsible citizens.
As stated in NEP 2020, teaching students the importance of “doing what’s right” at a young age and giving a logical framework for making ethical decisions is an important aim of school education. Through its multifaceted activities, IECI is working towards achieving this end.
Pre-primary schools have become a market these days.How are you different from those who have only commercial interest?
As stated earlier, not only the preschool, but the entire enterprise of IECI is envisaged as a not-for-profit entity.
Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all by2030 is an important component of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of UN. This noble goal can be met only if quality education is provided since the very beginning. That is why much emphasis is being given to enhancing the quality of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) nowadays. Building the foundation for literacy and numeracy skills is a major learning outcome that is expected out of preschool education.
Even at their tender age, children are repository of boundless potentials. On many occasions they pose difficult questions that emanate from their inquisitive minds. Rather than addressing these innate queries properly, elders used to silence them. Our classrooms are also not an exemption. Instead, a conducive environment should be provided for the children where they feel the school as an extension of their homely settings. To reach this end, education must be more experiential, inquiry-driven, learner-centred and flexible.
Education is not mere imparting of literacy and numeracy skills. It should be a process that must help students to build character and enable learners to be ethical, compassionate, and value-driven.
IECI has developed two streams of pre-school curricula for foundational stage of schooling: One is Fly High and the other Heavens. Both were prepared to make the child school ready with 3-year pre-schooling. The latter gives emphasis on teaching recitation of the Qur’ān also along with other subjects.
What are the challenges before pre-primary education in India?
Following are some of the challenges before the pre-primary education:
Access and Enrolment: Due to the absence of sufficient schools or preschool facilities, many children, especially those in rural and economically backward areas, lack access to quality pre-primary education.
Equity and Inclusivity: Ensuring equitable access to all children remains a major challenge. Children from marginalised sections, including those from lower castes, educationally backward minorities, tribal backgrounds, and economically disadvantaged families, often face barriers to pre-primary education.
Medium of Instruction: It is a fact that those who are getting quality English medium pre-schooling have an edge over those who are getting substandard pre-schooling in vernacular languages in their later careers. At the same time, English medium pre-schooling is a luxury beyond the scope of many ordinary Indians.
Parental Awareness and Involvement: Lack of awareness about the importance of early childhood education among parents can lead to low enrolment rates. Additionally, some parents might not have the resources or time to actively engage in their child’s learning process.
Lack of Proper Funding: Adequate investment in early childhood education is essential to improve infrastructure, teacher training, and overall quality. While limited financial resources allocated to pre-primary education can hinder its growth and development.
source: http://www.radianceweekly.net / Radiance Views Weekly / Home> Education / by Mohd Naushad Khan / August 22nd, 2023
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