These frontline heroes have ensured dignified funerals for COVID-19 victims for over a year

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Karnataka (under research project), Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , ,

Kodagu, KARNATAKA :

Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez have packed the bodies of all 93 COVID victims in Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year.

Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez (Photo | Express)

Madikeri :

“I had not observed Ramzan last year and I won’t be able to take part in the festivities this year too. Work occupies a major part of my life now and my job has forced me to stay away from my family and friends,” said Syed Hussain, a forensic department staffer of Madikeri District Hospital, who is involved in packing the bodies of COVID-19 victims.

Syed joined the forensic department staff in the hospital nearly four years ago and there were moments when he questioned his career choice. “There were times when we had to conduct a postmortem of fetuses and it was heart-wrenching to carry out the job. But it was my duty,” he recalled. Syed, however, stuck to his choice and today he has offered exceptional service as a frontline COVID warrior.

Syed and Robert Rodriguez (the only other staffer in the forensic department) have packed all the 93 bodies of COVID-19 victims of Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year. “We have stayed away from our family since last year. It’s painful not to be a part of the festivities. But we do not want to risk others’ lives. I, however, visited my family last week. It was a short visit and I went to collect a few belongings,” said Syed.

He noted how it is stressful to always work wearing PPE kits and added that all healthcare workers including D-Group employees are working under stress to ensure the safety of citizens. “We have to do away with food and sometimes even drinking water as we are always wearing PPE kits,” he explained. He added that the government has not made new appointments to the district hospital and the existing staff is working under stress. “We do not get incentives for working overtime. Yet, we cannot demand things at this time of crisis and we go about doing our job,” he said.

He spoke out against publicity-seekers on social media and said, “We are working 24/7 under stress. Yet, some people shoot videos inside the hospital and make false allegations against healthcare workers. We do not expect anything huge in return for our work. The least we can ask from the public is respect. There might be a few loopholes in the hospital. But the public cannot highlight this illogically across social media for a minute’s fame. My only request to the public of Kodagu is – please respect all the healthcare workers. We too have family. But we are working for the greater good.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / Express News Service / April 27th, 2021

Former MP Wasim Ahmad passes away in Aligarh

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

pix: Twitter @rashtrpatibhavan (Apr 28, 2018) / muslimmirror.com

New Delhi:

Former Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha, Congress leader, AMU Court member, and Executive Council member, Wasim Ahmad passed away after a cardiac arrest in the late hours of Sunday (25th April) in Aligarh. He was 69.

Born on 1st March 1952, Wasim Ahmad was passionate about politics from his student days and was elected as the Secretary of AMU Students’ Union in 1979. He was very active in the movement for the restoration of the minority character of AMU (1971-81). During his Janata Party days (1977-79), he was closely associated with leaders like Piloo Mody, H N Bahuguna, Arif Mohammed Khan, and when Janata Dal was formed in 1988 he was associated with VP Singh.

Wasim Ahmad was All India Secretary, Janata Dal, 1990-94, and All India General Secretary, Janata Dal (1994-96). He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh for a short period (November 1996 to July 1998). After the fall of IK Gujral’s United Front government in 1998, he along with Jaipal Reddy and other Janata Dal leaders joined Congress Party.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Qurban Ali / April 28th, 2021

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil donates AED1 million to ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, FREE : Food, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCARE, World Opinion, ,

KERALA / U.A.E :

pix: vpshealth.com

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, donated AED1 million to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign, the first humanitarian campaign of its kind in the Arab world to provide food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 30 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America this Ramadan.

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil’s contribution is part of the large response from companies, businessmen and community members in the UAE and abroad in support of the campaign, which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Given the influx of donations, from philanthropist individuals and companies, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign fully achieved its goal of 100 million meals within 10 days of its launch.

Dr. Vayalil said, “At VPS Healthcare, we are proud and privileged to be a part of this distinguished programme. It is in line with our motto to giving back to society and helping the needy.”

The 100 Million Meals campaign is managed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Food Banking Regional Network, and local food banks and humanitarian and charity institutions in beneficiary countries.

Donations to the campaign can be made on www.100millionmeals.ae, by contacting the campaign call centre on the toll-free number 8004999, via the designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201), and by sending the word “وجبة” in Arabic or “Meal” in English by SMS on specified numbers via the Du or Etisalat networks in the UAE.

source: http://www.wam.ae / Home> Emirates> English / April 24th, 2021

Free oxygen cylinders for the needy

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , ,

Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

The United Vision Welfare and Charitable Trust, Mysuru, and MESCO has announced that it has initiated free supply of oxygen cylinders to needy COVID-19 patients. It has urged people in need of oxygen cylinders to call on 7975989229 or mobile numbers 9535831973 and 9845319775.

Oxygen cylinders along with technical support will be provided to patients at a refundable deposit of ₹5,000 per cylinder.

The facility was inaugurated by Secretary of MESCO Shabbir Mustafa at MESCO in Subhash Nagar in Mysuru on Friday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – April 24th, 2021

International Women’s Day: Women of Bilal Bagh to take to the stage

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), , , , , ,

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The cast rehearsing for the play, which is to be staged on March 8 in Bengaluru.   | Photo Credit: HandOut EMail

They are part of the cast of Safdar Hashmi’s play Aurat staged by Theatre for Change

Safdar Hashmi’s play Aurat, a commentary on patriarchy, was first staged in 1970, but remains relevant even five decades later. On International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, the Bengaluru-based Theatre for Change will be staging their version of Aurat.

What makes iteration of the play different is their decision to cast members from the Bilal Bagh community. Bilal Bagh in Bengaluru, and notably its women residents, made national headlines in early 2020, for their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). It eventually came to be known as the Shaheen Bagh of the South.

Sujatha Balakrishnan, one of the directors of Aurat, said her decision to work with the women from Bilal Bagh stemmed from her firsthand experience of seeing them in action during the anti-CAA protests. “They were just amazing out there. I immediately thought I should do our next production for Women’s Day with them,” she said.

It proved to be an eye-opener for Ms. Balakrishnan. “Working with them showed me they enjoy far more freedom than many women from ‘privileged classes’,” she said. She added that the experience has only strengthened her belief that it is a lack of opportunity that holds people down. Theatre cannot be the privilege of a particular class, she said.

The usual trajectory of a girl’s life — childhood, higher education and marriage — form the premise of Aurat. “We wanted it to be a multi-lingual effort. So, each act will be performed in a different language,” she added.

The first part of the play, where a girl and her father are discussing the necessity for her to go to school, is in Tamil and has been directed by Sujatha. “Alfiya Shaikh, a 10-year-old from Bilal Bagh, is playing the daughter in the first act. I was pleasantly surprised by the way she picked up Tamil to deliver her lines, even though it is not her mother tongue,” she said.

The second act portraying a young girl’s fight to study in college is in Hindi, and is directed by Vandana Amit Dugar. The final act depicting her life as a married woman is in Kannada, and has been directed by Sachin Sreenath.

The play touches upon harassment, patriarchy, the toll of childbirth and other everyday problems of women.

Apart from Theatre for Change’s rendition of Aurat, actor Urvashi Goverdhan will be reading a few of Maya Angelou’s poems. This will be followed by school children from different sections of Bengaluru reciting from an anthology of Safdar Hashmi’s work Duniya Sab Ke, which deals with social justice.

(Venue: Lahe Lahe, HAL 2nd Stage, Bengaluru from 6-8 p.m. on March 8. Entry free)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ruth Dhanraj / March 02nd, 2021

Mangaluru: Srinivas University announces rank list of BCA, MCA degree examinations

Education, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :

Mangaluru :

Srinivas University, Pandeshwar, here, announced the list of rank holders of BCA and MCA undergraduate and postgraduate degree examinations held during the academic year 2020-21 under the College of Computer Sciences and Information Sciences, City Campus, Pandeshwar, here.

In postgraduate degree programme of MCA Ayshath Safwana D secured the first rank with 9.76 CGPA and was awarded a gold medal.

L-R: Top Row: Ayshath Safwana D, Ayshath Napiha M, Ayshthul Barrera, Sandhya
                Bottom Row: Sarishma V, Thasreena Banu, Aravinda Sing Rao

Ayshath Napiha M secured the second rank with 9.14 CGPA.

In the undergraduate degree programme of BCA, Ayshthul Barrera secured the first rank with 9.75 CGPA and was awarded a gold medal. Sandhya secured the second rank with 9.65 CGPA, Sarishma V secured the third rank with 9.54 CGPA, Thasreena Banu secured the fourth rank with 9.02 CGPA, Aravinda Sing Rao secured the fifth rank with 8.9 CGPA.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld / Home> Campus Beat / by Media Release / April 26th, 2021

Shabana Shaikh: Dongri Police Station’s First Woman In-Charge

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Akole Taluka (Ahmednagar District), MAHARASHTRA :

Image: Twitter / femina.in

She has broken the stereotypes and her success has been an inspiration to women across the board. Shabana Shaikh is now the in-charge officer at Dongri Police Station. The 1992 Maharashtra police joinee is the first woman in-charge officer in the history of the station she had joined as a senior police inspector. She was also the first Muslim woman to become a police officer from her district, Ahmednagar. Two of her sisters have followed in her footsteps to join the police force in 1995.

She has served in the SB-I i.e. the special branch of the Mumbai Police as an inspector until now. This mother of two wants her daughters to join the IPS. She recalls that, though her father wasn’t highly educated, he ensured that Shaikh and her siblings went to school.

“I was born into a large joint family in Akole Taluka of Ahmednagar district,” Shaikh said in an interview with national daily, “We were seven sisters and two brothers. Educating girls was almost a taboo in my village.” Her eldest sister joined a college to pursue her graduation, becoming the first girl from the village to enrol into college, despite the family facing much condemnation and resistance. Shaikh herself went to college in Sangamner.

She then went to Pune to do her Masters. That was when she decided to join the police force. While she did not qualify for the direct MPSC examination for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police, she went on to crack the sub-inspector exam. That too, in her first attempt! And she did not let her higher education take a backseat during the preparations for the exams and during training; she finished her MA during her training for the sub-inspector post and pursued and achieved an LLB after that.

Courtesy: Facebook / www.femina.in

While her father had been hesitant about sending her far away to Pune for further studies, he had helped her on seeing her determination. And she did him proud with her achievements. She recalls, “My father was the proudest man when he saw my photographs in newspapers as the first (Muslim) woman police officer from the district and the many felicitations that followed.” Her and her sisters’ success in becoming a part of the police force helped dispel any idea in their village and district that Muslim girls couldn’t crack government jobs. It also helped change the wrong notions the society in their district held about girls’ education.

Last year, she was felicitated by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh for investigation and conviction in a case of Nagpada PI WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? where she was previously posted. She was honoured with a Best Officer certificate for the same. At the time she was attached to the M.R.A. Marg Police Station. Her exemplary conduct, performance and outstanding achievements were recognised on the occasion. She has had a significant impact within her area of responsibility on mandated policing tasks.

source: http://www.femina.in / Femina / Home> Trending> Achievers / by Radhika Sathe Patwardhan / January 16th, 2021

PEOPLE: Dr. Eijaz Ahmed Bhat Makes J&K Proud With Young Scientist Award

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , ,

Kenihama Village (Budgam District) , JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Dr. Eijaz Ahmed Bhat has been conferred with International Scientist Award (Young Scientist Award) at the 11th International Scientist Awards-2020 for Engineering, Science and Medicine held by VDGOOD TECHNOLOGY FACTORY.

Dr. Bhat was also conferred with Young Researcher Award 2020 for his work published in Nature Cell Research by the Institute of Scholars, Bangalore.

Dr. Eijaz Ahmed Bhat is currently working as Postdoctoral fellow in Life sciences Institute, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. He did his Masters in Biochemistry from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Department of Biochemistry. He then moved to South Korea for higher studies. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Yeungnam University, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, South Korea, in August 2018. Dr. Eijaz was awarded the Yeungnam University Post Graduate Scholarship. He has also served as a Vice president of Yeungnam University International Students Association (YUISA).

After completing his doctorate, Dr. Eijaz Ahmed Bhat joined as a postdoctoral research fellow in Zhejiang University, China, Life Sciences Institute, School of Medicine. His research interests include Study of proteins related to various signalling pathways, especially TRAF signaling; and Apoptosis, inflammation and other pathways. He also worked on very important membrane proteins in cell signalling and explored their molecular mechanism of action by using a powerful toll such as Cryo-EM or X-ray crystallography techniques.

Dr. Eijaz has more than 20 publications to his credit in International peer-reviewed journals having high impact factors like Nature Cell Research, Nature Cell Discovery, Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Microbiology, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry etc. He serves as an editorial board member and reviewer of many reputed journals like Translational Oncology (Elsevier), Cancer Treatment and Communication (Elsevier), Biochemistry and Analytical Biochemistry etc.

He is serving as Brand Ambassador of Bentham science publishers in India since 2019.

Early Life and Education

Dr. Eijaz Ahmed Bhat was born and brought up in a small village Kenihama in Budgam district of Jammu & Kashmir. He began his early education at Government Middle School, Kenihama, where he spent four years. His better performance at the school prompted his teachers to advise his parents to send him in the private school called Bright Mission School in Kanipora, one of the leading private schools at that time. He continued to excel in academic and was attracted toward research.

Later, he joined the Government Higher Secondary School in Kanipora. He was considered one of the best students in his school as well as village. He topped in both 9th and 10th standard in his school, and was greatly praised by his for the success. After completing his 10th standard, he again joined a private school called Fayaz Education Higher Secondary School at Faiz Abad Nowgam. He got admission in medical subjects here. He also qualified the Jammu Kashmir Common Entrance Test held in 2007, but later on left it as his interest lay in research field.

Ejaz then decided to go for research in Biochemistry. He gave entrance test in Sri Pratap College, Srinagar (Kashmir Division), and was opted for biochemistry, chemistry and botany subjects in the college. He was considered one of the best students in his college. He profoundly remembers his teachers Mr. Bashir, Mr. Ejaz Rizvi and Dr. Manzoor Lone, who lovingly guided him in every way possible. Apart from studies, Ejaz also actively participated in sports activities, especially volleyball and cricket, in the college.

After completing graduation, he decided to do post-graduation study outside the state. It was quite challenging for him to get a seat in Department of Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He gave the national level entrance test and got selected achieving 14th rank in biochemistry department, which had only 18 seats.

During his post-graduation, Ejaz presented the seminar lectures on the topic Systemic Lupus Erythomatosis (SLE). He also presented the postal presentation on the topic of Alpha 2 Macroglobulin as a drug delivery system. He also represented AMU at many national level conferences and seminars.

At a time when people of Jammu & Kashmir are facing political challenges and being viewed with suspicion for no reasons, Dr. Ejaz Ahmed Bhat has indeed made the nation and his state proud by emerging as a role model and inspiration for the youth. We, at IndianMuslimObserver.com, heartily congratulate for making J&K and India proud. May he continue with his excelling spree in the future as well!

[Danish Ahmad Khan is Founder-Editor of India’s First Online Muslim Newspaper – IndianMuslimObserver.com. He can be reached at indianmuslimobserver@gmail.com]

source: http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com / Indian Muslim Observer / by Danish Ahmad Khan / February 05th, 2021

After He Sold His SUV To Buy Oxygen Cylinders Last Year, Mumbai Man Now Runs Helpline For Covid Patients

Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , ,

Malad (Mumbai) , MAHARASHTRA :

_____________

Highlights :

  • This year, he and his team have set up a control room in order to coordinate and communicate effectively with those in need of help.
  • Amid the crisis, the demand for the supply of oxygen cylinders has increased manifolds. While 3 months back, he was answering 50 calls for oxygen daily, now it has shot up to 500-600 calls every day, the report said.
  • Shahnawaz and his team explain the procedure to help fix the oxygen cylinders and after usage, the empty ones are sent back to them. So far the team has helped over 4,000 people, he said.

___________

India is battling a health crisis unlike anything seen before. The massive surge in COVID-19 cases has left the country reeling and gasping for breath as hospitals remain overwhelmed.  

With an increased shortage of medical oxygen, hospital beds and the anti-viral drug Remdesivir used in the treatment of coronavirus, the healthcare system is barely able to cope up with the rising caseload. 

With an increased shortage of medical oxygen, hospital beds and the anti-viral drug Remdesivir used in the treatment of coronavirus, the healthcare system is barely able to cope up with the rising case load. Representational Image/PTI

At such a time, good samaritans are keeping the morale high as they are selflessly working to ensure they provide assistance in any way they could. Some are going out of their way to make a difference and that stands right for Mumbai’s Shahnawaz Sheikh.

Known as the ‘Oxygen Man’ in his locality of Malad, he has been working tirelessly to help make the supply of oxygen available to patients through just a phone call. Working with a team, Shahnawaz has also set up a ‘control room’ to streamline the efforts, India.com reported .

Shahnawaz Sheikh Mumbai Mirror

Shahnawaz was also in the news last year after he sold his SUV to start an oxygen supply scheme which today continues to save lives amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

This year, he and his team have set up a control room in order to coordinate and communicate effectively with those in need of help.

Amid the crisis, the demand for the supply of oxygen cylinders has increased manifolds. While 3 months back, he was answering 50 calls for oxygen daily, now it has shot up to 500-600 calls every day, the report said. 

Shahnawaz Sheikh Screengrab/YouTube

Shahnawaz and his team explain the procedure to help fix the oxygen cylinders and after usage, the empty ones are sent back to them. So far the team has helped over 4,000 people, he said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, the worst-affected state in the country, reported 67,468 new Covid cases and 568 deaths – the most in a day – linked to the virus in the past 24 hours.

source: http://www.indiatimes.com / India Times / Home> Trending> Human Interest / by Basit Aijaz / April 24th, 2021

St Xavier’s College’s professor passes away

COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Education, Leaders, , ,

His wife also breathed her last on the same day; both of them succumbed to Covid-19

M.M. Rahman / File picture

The first vice-principal of St Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Calcutta, BCom evening section, M.M. Rahman, passed away in the city on Saturday.

He was 84. His wife also breathed her last on the same day. Both of them succumbed to Covid-19.

Rahman, a professor, was the vice-principal for eight years from July 2006 to June 2014. 

“With the passing away of Prof M.M. Rahman, the college has lost a true Xaverian of 60 years of bonding and a great professor who not only taught in the college for more than 50 years but immensely contributed in shaping up St Xavier’s College, Calcutta in its present stature,” said Rev. Father Dominic Savio, principal, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Calcutta.

Rahman was awarded the Nihil Ultra Award, the highest academic award of St Xavier’s College, Calcutta, for his dedicated service to the college and “outstanding contribution in the field of higher education”.

His association with the college is a long one which started when he entered as a student in 1951.

He started teaching in the college in 1960 after completing masters in commerce from Calcutta University. He also served as the Dean of BCom morning department and assistant director of the computer centre of the college.

Rahman was known for his “outstanding personality, strict discipline, caring nature for the students, and above all as a dedicated teacher,” the release issued by the college said.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> West Bengal> Calcutta / by The Telegraph Special Correspondent / Calcutta / April 25th, 2021