Tag Archives: Muslims of Bihar

These Biharis left their luxurious life for imparting education to the underprivileged

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Siwan, BIHAR :

Siwan (Bihar): 

Malcolm X rightly said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

Dr Wasim and Tanweer Ahmad perhaps had the same thoughts in their minds as they came up with the idea of providing an enriching environment to those who cannot afford the luxury of education. They along with their colleagues left their comforts of life and well-established occupation to impart education to the underprivileged children of their home district i.e. Siwan.

Dr Wasim along with Tanweer Ahmad, Sharique Ahmad, and Sana Hussain, were keen to establish an institution that would serve as a ladder to the children who were underprivileged and could not afford basic education due to the paltry amount of resources.

Dr Wasim is a doctor from Aligarh and has completed his education from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). He worked in a government hospital but gave up his job, to educate the children who are the leaders of tomorrow and who are the faces of our future.

Tanweer Ahmad, who hails from Siwan itself has completed his MBA from Williams college of LONDON and holds the post of the Director and he juggles between the tasks of administration as well as imparting knowledge to the children.

Sana Hussain, who holds the post of the Principal at the school, has achieved her master’s degree from South Korea. She works hard to maintain the smooth functioning of this institution’s administration and imparts education to the blooming buds.

Sharique Ahmad, who is also a pillar of this school, has achieved his double master’s degree in Education and English from Delhi University and AMU respectively. He works as a student counsellor and teachers’ trainer at the school. He aims at not only providing efficient educators but also endeavours to become a patient listener and a solution provider to these curious and creative minds.

They established a school named ‘bloombuds’ in Barharia, Bihar. Bloombuds was an idea born due to the concerns of its founders over rising illiteracy rates in certain parts of Bihar. The school came into existence in January 2016.

“This school has been established with the idea of providing an enriching environment to those who cannot afford the luxury of education”, says Dr Wasim, the chairman of the school.

Sana Hussain says, “We are constantly endeavouring to provide all essential facilities for the children. We aim at providing every facility that we couldn’t get while we were students; we are constantly working to educate the young minds. We are often told that we shouldn’t have left our jobs and compromised on our well-settled future but the contentment we derive out of imparting knowledge to these underprivileged children and providing them with resources that could help them  lead a better life is unmatchable.”

These four pillars of bloombuds are in a constant endeavour at providing all essential facilities for the children. They aim at providing every facility that they couldn’t get while they were students; they are constantly working to educate the young minds. They are continuously struggling to impart knowledge to these underprivileged children, so as to provide them with resources that could help them to lead a better life.

This institution has not only provided educational aid but has also stood by its children through all thick and thins.

These mentors took complete responsibility of their students from selecting the students for the entrance exam to allowing them a stay at the hostel and preparing them from beforehand.

Dr Wasim says, “We brought these students to Delhi for their exam and stayed with them until they were back safe. To promote girls’ education, Bloombuds provided 50% discount on the admission fee for girls in the last couple of years. The bloombuds family has set an example of what overall support and aid should be like.”

“Due to the collective support, hard work and indulgence, the Bloombuds family feels very proud of the selection of its six students. These students of bloombuds have cracked the Jamia Millia Islamia School’s class 9th entrance examination. We couldn’t be happier”, he added.

When we inquired about the background of these students, we came to know that all these students belong to families where they believe that education is only for the rich and the upper class.  The parents due to insufficient resources are not able to provide their children with adequate facilities, almost all the mothers are homemakers, fathers either work as drivers or in chemist shops or are shopkeepers, some even work as farmers and have little or no educational qualifications. Nevertheless, these students with their hard work and a little encouragement proved that one can achieve anything with the help of committed guidance and supervision. The parents at first were sceptical to send their children to this university, but when they saw the environment, they at once knew that this was the best for their children.

The parents due to insufficient resources are not able to provide their children with adequate facilities, almost all the mothers of these students are homemakers, and one of them is a teacher in a government school. The fathers either work as drivers or in a chemist shop or shopkeepers, some even work as farmers and have little or no educational qualification. But these students with their hard work and a little encouragement proved that one can achieve anything with the help of committed guidance and supervision. They made their parents and teachers proud after cracking the entrance exam. Four out of six students are girls, and all belong to rural areas.

On how important this result was to him, Sharique Ahmed says, “For the people belonging to a small town like Siwan, Jamia and Aligarh are a dream place to study not just for students but also for parents. Siwan is a place which is known for coaching centres and too expensive, but this school made it easy. They used to organize free coaching in summer vacation for the students as well,”

Talking about the obstacles faced in this journey, he adds, “In this blooming, there is only one hurdle and that is a hostel for girls. Parents are ready to send their children to Jamia, but their main concern is the hostel. While interviewing Zeba’s father, Mr Wahabuddin who is working in the Gulf also has only one condition and that is a hostel. So, the movement which has been started by Bloombud is becoming smooth day by day, but accommodation is one obstruction in this metro city.”

(Mehwish Matloob is pursuing MA History from Jamia Millia Islamia.)

source: http://www.beyondheadlines.in / Beyond Headlines / Home> India / by Mehwish Matloob for Beyond Headlines / August 03rd, 2019

A teacher par excellence

Education, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Darbangha, BIHAR:

I was in grade 7 or 8 when Wasi Ahmed Shamsi sahab joined B D Y High School as an Urdu and Persian teacher. Tucked away on the bank of a pond and surrounded by cultivable land and greenery, the school in rural Darbhanga was like a sanctuary, a gurukul. Away from the din and bustle of a populated location, the school was emotionally attached to people in neighbouring villages though it kept a physical distance from them.

Though the tiled roof leaked in monsoon and wall plaster had peeled off at places, giving the whole structure an impoverished look, we regarded the school as a boon. It was a privilege to be at this school which had earned a reputation for discipline and churning out good students.

The school nurtured dreams and helped shape many destinies.
It was in that positive ecosystem that Wasi sahab joined the team of a dozen or so teachers. Clad in white kurta-pajama with the skull cap covering his head, he did not wear a long beard. Like his appearance, Wasi sahab was not very orthodox in thinking too. Since he was educated at Madrassa Shamsul Hoda, Patna, one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of Bihar, he had imbibed many values which orthodox maulvis would disapprove of.

Since my father and Wasi sahab were colleagues though they taught different subjects, they had a cordial relationship and they shared a lot of things, especially about progress of their children.

Wasi sahab had spent years in urban set up before he took transfer to a school close to his village. He wanted to work for his people and therefore he got transferred from a school in Madhubani.

He was fond of reading newspapers and magazines and had even set up a library at his home. The fact that his nephew Abdul Bari Siddiqui, a senior member of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD and a former minister had also built his house in the same mohalla where Wasi sahab lived enhanced Wasi Sahab’s stature. Many of those who visited Siddiqui sahab invariably visited Wasi sahab too.  After all, he was a reputed teacher, a wise man, a man of letters, a concerned citizen.

Wasi sahab valued journalism and would “console” my father whenever he despaired at my choice of career as a journalist. If I learned my Ghalib and Iqbal a little early, credit goes to this good teacher who made his lectures interesting. He would ask us to read books beyond what was prescribed in the textbooks. Since I often saw him reading–books, magazines, newspapers–I unknowingly emulated him. He helped create in me a hobby for reading. He was happy that I chose to become a journalist.

After retirement, Wasi sahab undertook a herculean task of writing a book on people of his ilaqa (locality) who had made a mark in life.
One summer evening I visited his village home. Clad in just lungi and gunjee (vest), with a ceiling fan whirring overhead, I saw this then septuagenarian retired teacher writing furiously on his pad. Surrounded by books and papers, he was figure of a wordsmith who thought he had little time left on this earth. Age and health issues, especially diabetes, made him restless. He wanted to complete the project he had embarked upon as soon as possible. He wanted to finish the book before the final call came.

Our telephonic discussions were long. I had encouraged him to complete the project before it was too late. Concerned about his health, I would tell him not to exert himself too much as he would fall ill often. Finally, he completed the huge volume he had spent countless hours on. The bulky book in Urdu carries life sketches of many famous personalities Wasi sahab had met at different stages in his life. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he had devoted a few pages writing about my family too, especially the struggle of my father to educate his children. Wasi sahab valued education and had great regards for those who endeavoured to educate themselves and others.

When some of my friends held a discussion on my book “Aligarh Muslim University: The Making Of The Modern Indian Muslim” at Dr Zakir Hussain Teachers’ Training College, Darbhanga, he was kind enough to attend it. And he spoke eloquently about AMU’s contribution and my humble efforts to record some of the fine features of AMU.

I remember, years ago, he had organised an educational conference in his village where the famous Urdu journalist of Patna Ghulam Sarwar who later became a minister too was invited as a chief guest. It is also because of Wasi Sahab’s efforts that Ghulam Sarwar, a great orator, had attended our school’s annual Jalsa- a-Seeratul Nabi function. The headmaster late Ramswaroop Yadav had made a rule that Muslim students would hold Seerat Jalsa, in honour of the holy Prophet, while Hindu students would celebrate Saraswati Puja. Interestingly, both Hindu and Muslim students would participate in one another’s functions. Remarkably, my father, a devout Muslim, would be made in charge of distribution of prasad or sweets as gifts to the visitors at the annual Saraswati Puja. What a great example of communal harmony the school had set?

Koi lauta de woh din for se mere pyare Hindustan mein!!

Of late,Wasi sahab was not keeping well. Despite his poor health, he wanted to bring out an abridged version of his voluminous book. I don’t know if he could complete it or not.

This afternoon I recieved three calls. First, from my elder brother, then from youngest brother, followed by a call from Mujtaba, son of Wasi Sahab. All informed me about the sad demise of Wasi Sahab, my beloved teacher who taught us diligently and honesty. But more than that, he inspired us to strive to excel.

Wasi sahab will be remembered at least for two things–for being an ideal guru, a teach par excellence and for his valuable contribution to writing and preserving the history of the locality he grew up in. He has done a great service to the person of the area. Wasi Sahab now sleeps peacefully among many of his people who preceded him.

Rest in peace, Sir. I will miss you.

Maut uski hai kare jiska zamana afsos/Yun toh duniya mein aye hain sabhi marne keliye

(Death is one which is grieved by the world/Otherwise everyone is fated to die one day).

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / by Mohammed Wajihuddin in Beyond the Burqa, Spirituality, TOI / January 07th, 2024

THE INDIAN HERO : Resham Fatma – Acid reflex

Amazing Feats, Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BIHAR / Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

It burnt her face, but not her spirit. Resham Fatma, National Bravery Award winner, is confident about tomorrow

Sometime last summer, Resham Fatma, 17, decided that she needed to score 98 per cent in her twelfth standard board examinations. For days, she had been scouring the newspapers to find the best college to pursue her favourite subject, mathematics. St Stephen’s College, Delhi, it was. “Last year’s cut off was 97.2 per cent, so with 98, it will be smooth sailing,” says the Lucknow girl.

Resham has planned her future in detail. After graduation, she will do an MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad. Then, she will take the Union Public Service Commission exams, get into the Indian Administrative Service and work towards the post of district magistrate, a post from which she believes she can implement all the glorious government policies that remain on paper. “If I set my mind on something, I can achieve it,” she says. But, the future does not always work out the way you plan it. The last year has been, to put it bleakly, scarring for Resham.

The day is etched into her memory. It was February 1. On the previous day, her class had given their seniors a formal farewell. Her hair was a curtain of black satin, glossy from all the shampooing and conditioning. “See, this is me, in the centre,” she says, fishing out her smartphone and showing a groupfie with friends at the farewell.

The next day, she headed for her tuition, getting off the autorickshaw and walking the last mile as per routine. Suddenly, Riyaz, 38, her mother’s cousin, pulled up in his Tata Indica. He had been pestering her for a few years, and she had learnt to avoid him. On farewell day, he had asked her to meet him and she had said, “Main pagalon se baat nahi karti [I don’t talk to madmen].” She had no idea how mad he was.

After dragging her into the car, he held a butcher’s knife to her throat and asked her to marry him. She struggled; he got forceful. When she loosened his grip on the knife, he pulled out a barber’s razor from under the seat. “The car was auto-locked,” she says. “I was in his grip, struggling with all my strength. He banged his head on the steering and asked why I was refusing him. Then, suddenly, he pulled out a plastic bottle from the recess in the car door. It was filled with a yellowish liquid. He asked me if I knew what it was and said it was shakkar pani ghol [sugar solution]. He poured the liquid over my head.”

For a fraction of a second, she did not know what it was. Then it began to burn and she immediately shut her eyes. Her face, arm and thigh were on fire. He pulled her by the hair, still holding the knife to her throat. “I do not know how I got this phenomenal strength at that moment,” she says. “I pushed him and he crumpled towards the door. I fumbled blindly with the ignition, unlocked the car and tumbled out.” It was a dark winter evening and the road was desolate. Presently, an autorickshaw drove by and she pleaded to be taken to the police station. Luck was on her side, the occupants rushed to help. Later, as she was taken from the police station to hospital in an autorickshaw, they had to stop at a railway crossing. Passers-by peered into the auto, clucking in sympathy or gasping in horror. “That’s when I learnt that my face was black and I had my first shudder,” she says. “Riyaz mama ko mat chodna [Don’t let Riyaz get away], I screamed.”

Resham had so far known only unconditional love. She was the eldest grandchild from her maternal side, and her mother’s brothers doted on her so much that when she entered primary school, she moved from Bihar, where her father is an automobile dealer, to her grandfather’s residence at Amausi, near the Lucknow airport. Both her uncles have sons, she grew up as the only girl and the apple of everyone’s eyes. She has a younger sister and brother, who live with her parents. “I am more comfortable here, this is my home,” she says.

Resham means silk. But in the months ahead, the teenager discovered reserves of steel within her. Her long tresses were shorn, there is a huge patch on the scalp where follicles are dead. Resham, for the first time in her life, started wearing a scarf and headed for her evening coaching. She had to skip regular school at Stella Maris; her skin was not ready to face the onslaught of the sun.

In between, she kept popping into the hospital for surgeries. Her thigh needed grafting and her face needs a lot more work, but that has not deterred Resham from going out with nonchalance. A few months after the incident, her uncle declared she could do her own shopping without being escorted around like an invalid. “People ask me what happened, most ask whether it’s an allergy,” she says. “I tell them blankly, ‘No allergy, I survived an acid attack.’’’ Does she miss her old face? “Well, I am a girl, I like looking into the mirror and I’d want to like what I see,” she says. “I am still not bad looking, am I? This is my new identity.”

Most of her friends broke down when they visited and she consoled them. Her best friend is her diary. One day, she wrote about her dream: “I wanted to become the district magistrate and visit Riyaz in jail and tell him, see where you are today and where I am.” But these Bollywood-type situations are not meant for off-screen lives, even if they are as extraordinary as Resham’s.

Riyaz was arrested and was in lockup, where on December 28, he committed suicide. “I read about it in the newspaper next day and felt blank,” Resham says. “He got away so easily. He should have lived a long life, regretting every moment.”

Her earliest recollections of Riyaz are of sitting on his shoulders as he ran across the lawn. As she grew up though, his presence began getting uncomfortable. He would enter her room, force her to leave her books and talk to him. At one point, her grandfather, a former policeman, banished him from their house.

Resham today prefers to look at the possibilities that the future offers. “I have bad days, though I don’t cry in public,” she says. “Some days ago, I was very angry with Allah pak. But then, I got this call from Delhi that I was getting the Bharat Award at the Republic Day celebrations. I am so happy today. I have met big people, Modiji himself. I am a heroine, isn’t that great?” The scar tissue on her face hurts a lot, especially when she has to receive injections for treatment. But now she is complaining happily about how her cheeks are hurting with the constant smiling. “I am posing for cameras all day. Yaay,” she shrieks.

President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the ‘National Bravery Awards 2014’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan . January 22nd, 2015. pic credit: facebook.com/Muslims.of.India.Page

There’s a bit of regret, though. “When I came to Delhi, I learnt that all the other children had been felicitated by their states. But no one from my state government ever came to me. A Supreme Court order says the state has to give an immediate relief of 03 lakh to an acid attack victim. I have not got anything yet, though my family has sent several Right To Information pleas. We could afford my treatment, but there are those for whom this money means a lot more. You know, there is a lot of good intent and great laws, but what we lack in this country is implementation. That’s why I want to be an IAS officer,” she emphasises with all her Taurean determination.

source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> Web Specials> Features> Heroes / by Rekha Dixit / Headline Edited + Additional image inserted courtesy of Facebook.com/Muslims.of.India.page / February 08th, 2015

Meet Mohammad Furqan, Madrasa Graduate Selected for University of Notre Dame, Indiana

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Darbangah District, BIHAR / Indiana, U.S.A:

From a humble beginning as a student of a Madrasa to being selected for Masters in Peace Studies at University of Notre Dame, one of world’s leading universities, Furqan’s journey is an answer to those critics of madrasas who refuse to accept their relevance and contribution to the society and academia.

Meet Mohammad Furqan, Madrasa Graduate Selected for University of Notre Dame | ummid.com

While hundreds of Madarasas are being shut down allegedly for being non-productive, a good number of graduates of independent Madrasas are making great academic strides. One such Madrasa graduate, Mohammad Furqan has qualified for the Masters of Global Affairs in Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.

Furqan’s selection has been widely welcomed by graduates of different Indian madrasas and especially by the graduates of Madrasa Discourses Program run by the Keogh School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame.

Buoyed by the good wishes, Furqan said:

“It all started with the Madrasa Discourses, and it would have not been possible without the great leadership of Prof. Ebrahim Moosa and Dr. Waris Mazhari. Coming from an ordinary family, I could have never imagined to study in the USA with scholarship.”

Belonging to Darbhanga district of Bihar, Furqan graduated with a Fazilat degree from Madrasa Alia Arabia, Masjid Fatehpuri, Delhi in 2016, after which he did BA (Hons) in English Literature from Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). In 2023, he completed Masters of Arts in Islamic and Arabic Studies from JMI.

[M Furqan with his friends at Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi in a file photo.]

While continuing his formal studies, Furqan also pursued the three-year research program for Madrasa graduates namely “Advancing Scientific and Theological Literacy in Madrasa Discourses”, offered by the University of Notre Dame. It is where he made the most of his time and had the opportunity to interact with a number of renowned academicians and scholars from different countries.

Recalling those years Furqan says:

“It was indeed a life changing journey for me to connect with you all for more than five years”.

Extending his special thanks to his Madrasa Discourses fellows Mohammad Ali, Manzar Imam, Mohammad Ehtesham, Mohammad Fozail, Muhammad Zeeshan, Mohammad Aadil Affan, Ghulam Rasool, Md Khaleeque Rehmani, Abul Aala Subhani, Syed Abdur Rasheed, Tajammul Husain, Saif ul Hadi and others, Furqan expressed his intention to remain connected with what he called “our shared commitment for our society and madrasa community.”

From a humble beginning as a student of a Madrasa to being selected for Masters in Peace Studies in one of world’s leading universities, Furqan’s journey is an answer to those critics of madrasas who refuse to accept their relevance and contribution to the society and academia.

Indian madrasas need some reform but more than that they need to sustain and serve the society to carry forward the huge academic and intellectual legacy which has been the hallmark and pride of India’s story of diversity and open discourse.

(A graduate of Madrasa Discourses Program, the writer, Manzar Imam, is Director of MJ Achievers Academy LLP)

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by Manzar Imam / April 01st, 2024

Meet Shams Aalam from Bihar who receives two World No.1 Rankings and Won 06 Gold Medals, at Reykjavik Games

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BIHAR:

Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh won 6 gold medals at the Reykjavik International Games held at Laugardalslaug Iceland from 26-28 January 2024, whilst representing India.

Aalam has ranked no. 1 in men’s 100m butterfly stroke and men’s 50m breaststroke, according to World Para Swimming’s official world rankings for 2024.

In Iceland last month, Shams Alam won 6 medals, including one gold in 200m individual medley, one silver medal in 50m and 100m breaststroke and butterfly stroke, and three bronze medals in 50m and 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly stroke.

Aalam also broke Herojit Singh and Shreekant Desai’s time records in 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke, respectively.

In his interview with TOI, Alam seemed confident that he’d qualify for the Paris Paralympic Games 2024 by meeting the Paralympic time requirements soon enough. He will also be participating in the National Paralympic Games scheduled in March this year, in Gwalior. 

“I am yet to reach the Paralympic qualification mark with my timings at Reykjavik but I am confident that I will get enough opportunities to secure a berth at the Paris Games. The National Games will be my next shot at the Paris quota,” Aalam said in his interview with the Times of India.

Image

Mohammad Shams Aalam is a 37-year-old, paraplegic swimmer, who holds the world record in the longest open sea swimming by a paraplegic individual.

Born in Bihar, Alam was interested in sports as a child, particularly karate and swimming. However, after a spinal cord injury in 2010, Alam took up professional swimming and even went on to represent India at the Asia Para Games in 2018. 

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> East India / by Maktoob Staff / February 27th, 2024

Prof Towqueer Alam New Editor of Fikr-o-Nazar

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kormatthu (Sherghaty, Gaya), BIHAR / Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH:

Aligarh :

Prof Towqueer Alam, Department of Sunni Theology, Aligarh Muslim University has been appointed Editor of Fikr-o-Nazar, a quarterly literary and scholarly magazine published by the university, for a period of one year or until further orders, with immediate effect.

Prof. Falahi joined the Department of Sunni Theology as a lecturer in 1993 and became a professor in 2010. He has published about 35 books in Urdu, Arabic, English and Hindi, and more than 200 research papers in the journals of national and international repute.

He visited Mercer University, Atlanta USA in April 2016 as a Visiting Professor and travelled to UK, Iran, Kuwait, and USA to present lectures at international conferences.

The research areas of his interest are Quraniyat, Arabic Literature and Comparative Study of Religions.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / March 05th, 2024

‘Pathan, Muslim, Bihari: these identities intrigued me’ | Interview with author Abdullah Khan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Motihari, BIHAR :

The author talks about how identity and politics play a huge role in his writing.

Abdullah Khan will be at The Hindu Lit Fest 2024 in Chennai on January 26-27. 

Abdullah Khan’s journey with literature began with a discovery — that he shared his place of birth, Motihari in Bihar, with one of the most prominent authors of the 20th century, George Orwell. Since then, the written word has remained Khan’s constant companion. From his debut novel Patna Blues (2018) to his latest, A Man From Motihari (2023), Khan employs a deft handling of sensitive subjects and hot-button issues to tell stories of everyday characters in Indian society. A speaker at The Hindu Lit Fest 2024 in Chennai on January 26-27, Khan discusses his thoughts on identity, desire and aspiration.

Edited excerpts:

How much of what you write is influenced by your own story?

During my school days in Bihar, my history teacher once asked, “Are you Muslim first or Indian first?” I confidently replied, borrowing the answer from my grand uncle: “I am both, born to Muslim parents, I’m Muslim; born in India, I’m Indian. Both identities came to me at birth.” As a boy, I didn’t fully grasp the complexities of identity.

During college, I pondered over how identity shapes thoughts, realising we’re not always aware of every facet of our identity. Sub-identities and super-identities emerge, revealed by others’ prejudices. In my village, I was Pathan; in school, a Muslim. Beyond Bihar, a Bihari. These identities intrigued me.

As I ventured into fiction writing, my reflections on identity seamlessly became woven into my stories. And, conflict between circumstances and desire is integral to human existence and is a vital element in crafting engaging narratives. I found inspiration in Bihari IAS/ civil services aspirants, news, historical incidents, real-life characters, beautiful places, and even SMS/ WhatsApp forwards for plot ideas.

What comes first — the plot or the point it makes? And in the case of ‘A Man from Motihari’, what was the genesis of the story?

Plots and characters naturally come to me without any preconceived plan. As I create the story, some significant points or messages often emerge organically.

Take, for instance, the inspiration behind A Man from Motihari. A few years ago, a Bangladeshi newspaper asked me to write about the house in Motihari where Orwell was born. While standing in front of that house, I had an idea: what if a boy from Motihari is born in the same room where Orwell was born many years ago? How would the boy react when he finds out, and how would it change his life? That’s how I came up with the character of the protagonist, Aslam Sher Khan, who is born in the same house as Orwell.

Tell us about your journey — from writing to publication.

Fresh out of completing my Master’s in chemistry, when I began writing Patna Blues, I had no knowledge of the technicalities of fiction writing and no background in literature. So, writing Patna Blues served as a kind of training for me, a sort of MFA, where I learned everything from scratch through trial and error. It took almost 10 years to write and nearly 9 years to get it published. I didn’t have a peer group then for beta reading or sharing comments. The journey to publication was challenging, enduring more than 200 rejections before it was published.

For my second novel, it took no more than a year to write, and finding a publisher was comparatively easier. Style-wise, I have improved significantly and gained more confidence in my writing.

There are strong political notes in your stories. What kind of responsibility do you feel towards your readers in terms of what you write about?

I believe no story exists in a vacuum. I allow the politics of the time to become a part of the narrative as I believe it is the only way to tell authentic stories.

While writing about politics, I do not shirk my responsibility as a writer and chronicler of the truth. I strive to be as impartial as possible. I generally don’t allow my personal beliefs or political ideology to creep into the story. Instead, I focus on the characters’ take on the politics of that time and keep myself a bit distant from those events.

What’s your take on literature festivals? What can they do for writers, and their readers?

Literature festivals offer writers a chance to share ideas. They gain inspiration and build a community, while readers enjoy insights into the creative process. As writers, we also get a chance to meet authors from all over the world, and learn from each other.

I think we should do more at these festivals for aspiring authors, like arranging pitching events or conducting writing masterclasses.

I have also observed a disturbing trend at many literature fests, where organisers invite celebrities such as film stars or cricketers to boost attendance. This often shifts the entire limelight to them, sidelining writers.

Gsquare Group presents The Hindu Lit Fest 2024 in Association with NITTE Education Trust & Christ University. Bookstore partner: Higginbothams

swati.daftuar@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Litfest> The Hindu Litfest 2024 / by Swati Daftuar / January 05th, 2024

Dr Farasat Hussain: Remembering a Doctor, Healer and a Remarkable Son of Magadh

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Chhapra District / Gaya, BIHAR :

Dr Hussain was the kind of man, that if he himself were to read (or edit) this obituary, he would flinch at the mention of his generosity as a doctor or friend. Good deeds were to be done, he believed, not to be remembered or recounted.

Dr. Farasat Hussain (1952-2023)

This Sunday (August 6) when a group of people assemble to remember Dr Farasat Hussain, in ‘Renaissance’, an aptly named Cultural Centre in Gaya, set up by his lifelong friend, noted litterateur Sanjay Sahay and his wife Durba Sahay, the inter-faith gathering will be much more than a tribute to him. They will of course meet to talk about the good doctor who died on July 28 at the age of 71 in Delhi. But the meeting will embody the very essence of Dr Hussain’s life which was dedicated to bridging divides and building relationships. Be it religious, caste and class, there was not one single divide he had not jumped across.

The meeting will be very personal, no doubt, but it will also be a tribute to the India he inhabited for most of his life, where he was proud to serve as a doctor, live his life as a Magadh ka baashinda, a Bihari, an Indian, and all in all, a lively human being. But it will also be a necessary reminder in these vicious and polarised times of people who with their singular focus on humanitarian work are the secret sauce of what keeps or certainly kept India going.

Born in Bihar’s Chhapra district in 1952, Dr Hussain made Gaya his home soon after he completed his post-graduation in Orthopaedic Surgery at Government Medical College, Ranchi in 1983.

As a young doctor, he would kick-start his Rajdoot motorcycle and ride off to remote villages across Bihar to attend to emergencies. A pioneer in polio corrective surgeries in Bihar, he conducted scores of special camps where he performed more than 3,000 polio surgeries for poor children when he started his work here decades ago. He even conducted Caesarean sections when a gynaecologist wasn’t available.

In a state where public health was never really a thing, doctors like Farasat Hussain were the system. He was anyway an exceptional surgeon who had multiple opportunities and offers to make a career in the lucrative corporate medical sector, but he didn’t even consider it. He stayed in Gaya where he mixed his practice as a doctor with large-scale social work, community building and helped initiate a multi-faith effort to ensure communal harmony across the Magadh region.

But for people there, he wasn’t just a skilful surgeon and an efficient clinician, he was also a psychologist. His unique sense of humour, they suspected, was part of his treatment plan for a patient. Dr Hussain didn’t merely look at the disease of his patients, he treated the person. In a place where health infrastructure had crumbled in the decades of the 80s and 90s, he was an address for the sick where they knew they would surely get help.

He was also closely associated with the upliftment of the disabled population, who remember him as a mentor and benefactor for helping them with their livelihood. Several disabled people travelled from across the region, despite difficulties, and joined his funeral.

In 2010, the government of Bihar honoured Dr Hussain for his work. At that time, he was national president of the Association of Sports Medicine of India. He was honoured for his contribution to promote sports among disabled people, especially polio patients.

Dr Hussain was closely associated with Arpan, an organisation of disabled people in Gaya, where he was instrumental in motivating disabled youngsters to participate in sports and other activities to turn their physical challenges into opportunities that helped them move away from a life merely at the fringes of society.

Dr Hussain mentored Krishna Murari, who subsequently represented India at the sitting volleyball competition in the US.

Several other disabledyoungsters from the Magadh region also attended national sports events in cricket, volleyball and cycling. His focus on encouraging disabled youngsters to take up sports was to help in their inclusion in the social fabric, not as dependents, but as equal partners.

Dr Hussain was an integral part of the inter-faith dialogue, peace and harmony initiatives in the Magadh region.

This is why those who attended his burial say that it aptly exhibited the fruits of his lifelong work to build bridges between communities. Buddhist monks came to pay their respects to him. Hindus and Muslims came and prayed for him. Several disabled men came for the first time into a graveyard, only to express their love for the departed. There were madrassa children, who were helped by him when their institution was in extreme financial distress. A befitting farewell to a man of all persons.

Dr Hussain had been closely involved with one of Bihar’s oldest minority educational institutions – Mirza Ghalib College, where he consistently promoted progressive and secular values. Mirza Ghalib would be proud of all that he upheld there. He was also involved with a number of charity organisations, such as an orphanage at Cherki for more than two decades. This home for poor, underprivileged orphans is one of the biggest in India.

Dr Hussain was an exceptional man, who stood out because he was so restless and always busy, working, helping; a doctor in the truest sense of the word.

I happened to meet him several times, and saw an adoring grandfather to a precocious and thoughtful Farris. His quiet charm, polished demeanour and contagious smile did not mean that he ever held back on his views. A man capable of sharp candour and an openness of the heart, he could surprise you with his diagnosis of the social situation.

Dr Hussain was the kind of man, that if he himself were to read (or edit) this obituary, would frown and take serious umbrage at even a mention of his generosity as a doctor, friend, and human being. Good deeds were to be done, he believed firmly, and not to be remembered or recounted.

He is at eternal rest now. But his life needs to be celebrated for how he lived it and how he wanted the world around him to be. There is a need to nourish his legacy, intangible as it may seem. This is true today more than ever before, as we seem to have a hard time even imagining living a harmonious life as a collective.

He knew very well that there was no magic pill to fix the social fabric, no ready rafoo. But the good doc he was, he knew what it took to keep trying to get there and the importance of keeping all kinds of fevers down.

RIP, Dr Hussain.

source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> English> Health> Rights / by Seema Chishti / August 05th, 2023

Mountaineer, AI scientist, among 19 children awarded with PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Events, Exhibitions, Conferences (wef. Nov 18th, 2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

INDIA:

source: pib.gov.in

New Delhi:

A nine-year-old mountaineer, a young AI scientist, a specially abled painter and a ‘Google boy’ were among the 19 children who were conferred with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 on Monday.

President Droupadi Murmu presented the national awards to them for their exceptional achievements.

Among the winners is Aaditya Vijay Brahmane, 12, from Maharashtra, who was awarded posthumously for his extraordinary act of courage. He sacrificed his life to rescue his cousins Harsh and Shlok from drowning in a river while playing.

Aryan Singh, 17, from Rajasthan is another remarkable recipient of the award. Singh ingeniously developed an Agrobot, an artificial intelligence-powered robot aimed at simplifying the lives of farmers by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).

In Chhattisgarh, Armaan Ubhrani, also known as the ‘Google boy’, has earned the award for his outstanding prowess in mathematics and science. At the tender age of six, Ubhrani has achieved numerous milestones, including becoming the youngest author of a book series and solving 100 multiplication sums, garnering recognition both nationally and internationally.

In the domain of art and culture, eight-year-old Anushka Pathak from Uttar Pradesh has established herself in ‘Katha Vachan’ (religious text narration). Following in her esteemed father’s footsteps, Pathak has captivated audiences across 22 states with her performances, becoming a recognised figure in the spiritual realm.

Arijeet Banerjee, 13, from West Bengal, a prodigy in playing the traditional Pakhawaj, has made an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. Having performed at prestigious events like the International Dhrupad Festival, Banerjee has received accolades such as the Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi Fellowship and the Asia Book of Records.

Despite facing severe cerebral palsy, 13-year-old Hetvi Kantibhai Khimsuriya from Gujarat has displayed extraordinary artistic abilities, creating 250 works of free-hand painting, receiving numerous awards, and selflessly donating her monthly disability pension to support differently abled children.

Ishfaq Hamid, 12, from Jammu and Kashmir has become a maestro of Rabab and Matka, receiving accolades during various festivals and being honoured with the Bhai Mardana National Award in 2020.

Md Hussain, 16, from Bihar has excelled in handcrafted arts, winning accolades in state and national-level competitions, and even presenting his indigenous toys to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ programme.

Pendyala Laxmi Priya, 14, from Telangana is a Kuchipudi dancer, winning the Kala Utsav National Award 2023 in the classical dance category and holding titles like ‘Laasyapriya’.

In the realm of innovation, 16-year-old Suhani Chauhan from Delhi has developed ‘SO-APT’, a solar-powered agriculture vehicle, offering an impressive solution for sustainable farming.

Despite obstacles associated with Down syndrome, nine-year-old Avnish Tiwari from Madhya Pradesh trekked Mount Everest base camp at the age of seven and received the Shresth Divyang Bal Puraskar in 2022 for his exceptional social service.

Nine-year-old Garima from Haryana, a visually impaired girl, is dedicated to providing education to underprivileged children through her initiative called ‘Sakshar Pathshala’.

AWARDEES OF PRADHAN MANTRI RASHTRIYA BAL PURASKAR-2024

Sr. No.NameStateCategory
1.Aaditya   Vijay             Bramhane (posthumous)MaharashtraBravery
2.Anushka PathakUttar PradeshArt & Culture
3.Arijeet BanerjeeWest BengalArt & Culture
4.Armaan UbhraniChattisgarhArt & Culture
5.Hetvi Kantibhai KhimsuriyaGujaratArt & Culture
6.Ishfaq HamidJammu & KashmirArt & Culture
7.Md HussainBiharArt & Culture
8.Pendyala Laxmi PriyaTelanganaArt & Culture
9.Suhani ChauhanDelhiInnovation
10.Aryan SinghRajasthanScience                    & Technology
11.Avnish TiwariMadhya PradeshSocial Service
12.GarimaHaryanaSocial Service
13.Jyotsna AktarTripuraSocial Service
14.Saiyam MazumderAssamSocial Service
15.Aaditya YadavUttar PradeshSports
16.Charvi AKarnatakaSports
17.Jesicca Neyi SaringArunachal PradeshSports
18.Linthoi ChanambamManipurSports
19.R Surya PrasadAndhra PradeshSports
source: youtube.com / pib.gov.in

source: http://www.millenniumpost.in / Millennium Post / Home> Nation / by Team MP (headline edited) / edited with inclusion of full chart of awardees and you tube video and photograph source – pib.gov.in / January 22nd, 2024

Azhar Iqubal says fame was a big reason to take up ‘Shark Tank India’

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Azhar will be seen as one of the ‘sharks’ on Shark Tank India 3. / Azhar Iqubal says fame was a big reason to take up ‘Shark Tank India’© Provided by India Today

In Short

  • Inshorts CEO Azhar Iqubal speaks to IndiaToday.in about joining the latest season of ‘Shark Tank India.’
  • Azhar is seen as one of the 12 ‘sharks’ on the popular show.
  • Shark Tank India airs on SonyTV and SonyLIV.


The latest season of Shark Tank India will see Inshorts CEO Azhar Iqubal taking up charge as a ‘shark’. He would be one of the 12 leaders who would be picking up upcoming businesses to mentor. In a chat with IndiaToday.in, Iqubal shared how he had been inspired by many entrepreneurs while he was trying to build his career, and hopes to do the same with this show. He also said that fame was one of the primary reasons behind saying yes to ‘Shark Tank.’

Azhar Iqubal on joining Shark Tank India 3

“Shark Tank India takes entrepreneurship to masses. I have been inspired by many business people when I started out. I am a college dropout and if I can even give the confidence to someone to take that bet, it would be an achievement for me,” he shared.

Azhar Iqubal further added that he has followed the previous seasons, sometimes even on repeat: “I still remember the dialogues,” he added with a laugh. The entrepreneur also revealed that it was his ‘idea’ to take their business to Shark Tank India , and hence it was him who landed on the stage, instead of his co-founder.

When asked about his decision to drop out of IIT and start his business, Azhar Iqubal shared that his father was earning Rs 25k then. And he knew that even if he doesn’t complete college, he would get a job as a teacher for aspirants with double the salary: “I knew I had that backup so I could play that shot. I could lead a better lifestyle even if things didn’t work out. I decided to do business because I wanted to earn big. I realised that everyone rich in the country is an entrepreneur and I wanted the same for me.”

The previous ‘sharks’ have always spoken about how they became popular after the show. When asked if that was the reason he decided to be on the show, Azhar Iqubal laughed, “It was a big reason and I think every person wants that. Money, power, and fame is everything one wants, and enjoys. And if you are getting fame for something good, nothing better than that. I would be lying if I said it was not important.”

‘My mother shared that after being 10 years in Business …’

The business leader went on to recall a sweet moment where his mother told him how he has finally gained ‘recognition’ after so many years of being in business: “After the promos of the show dropped, people in my hometown started calling her. My mother shared that after 10 years of being an entrepreneur, people have finally recognised me and know that I have done something.”

Talking about himself, the businessman shared how he is a ‘number-driven’ man. Even when deciding to invest, Iqubal shared that he asks for numbers as he’s quite ‘objective’ and doesn’t take emotional decisions. 

On a final note, the businessman shared that Shark Tank India 3 will see a great mix of old and new sharks, and hence, there would be a lot of changed dynamics: “Also, you would see a lot of pitchers from small towns on the show, which will be quite inspiring and entertaining for everyone,” Azhar Iqubal concluded.

Shark Tank India airs on SonyTV and SonyLIV.

source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> Televison> Reality TV / by Sana Farzeen, Mumbai / January 23rd, 2024