The Indian Patent Office has granted a patent to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) faculty members and research scholars for an innovation titled “A Novel Bioformulation and a Process for the Preparation Thereof” (Patent No. 605826).
The invention was developed by a team led by Dr. Ziaul Haque, along with Prof. Mujeebur Rahman Khan, Sarwar Nawaz, Lavi Haider and Mohd Shahid Anwar Ansari. Filed through AMU’s IP Cell, the patent marks a significant contribution to sustainable plant protection and bioformulation technology.
The achievement highlights AMU’s continuing research efforts in biocontrol and innovation.
source:http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / Home> Educational News> University News / by iednewsdesk / October 16th, 2026
Prof. Orus Ilyas of the Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and research scholar Umrah Viqar presented their research at the 36th European Mustelid Colloquium, held alongside the Białowieża Ecology Conference in Białowieża, Poland.
Prof. Ilyas presented a paper titled “The Underappreciated Apex: Reviewing the Ecological Role and Conservation Status of the Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula) Across the Himalayan and East Asian Bioregions”, examining the species’ ecological significance and conservation status across the Himalayan and East Asian regions.
Umrah Viqar presented her research on “Ecological Insight into the Yellow-throated Martens, Martes flavigula: Habitat Use and Dietary Pattern in the Reserved Forest of Ranikhet Kumaon, Himalayas”, focusing on the species’ habitat use and dietary patterns in the Himalayan region.
The presentations highlighted the ecological importance of the yellow-throated marten and the need for a better understanding of its ecology, distribution and conservation challenges.
Prof. Ilyas received financial assistance from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) to participate in the conference, while Umrah Viqar received support from the organisers.
source: http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / Home> Educational News> University News / by iednewsdesk /October 16th, 2026
Atif Syed tells Booked how his new book recovers Aligarh’s overlooked past. The account places AMU within a longer history of battles, migration and heritage.
Aligarh Beyond AMU: Atif Syed on the Forgotten History of a City That Outlasted Empires
For many people, Aligarh is inseparable from Aligarh Muslim University and the Aligarh movement led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. But the city’s history stretches across centuries, encompassing successive rulers, military campaigns, French families, forgotten neighbourhoods and monuments that remain largely outside the public imagination.
In a conversation with Marya on Booked, Atif Syed, author of Aligarh: The City That Outlasted Empires, discusses his attempt to recover these overlooked narratives and place them within a larger account of the city.
The project began as a personal curiosity. Born in Aligarh but having left relatively early, Syed wanted to understand more about the city beyond its familiar identity. As he researched, he found that much of the existing narrative concentrated on the more recent past, leaving earlier chapters comparatively unexplored.
Among the discoveries that surprised him were the French families who lived in Aligarh for generations. One of them, George Peche, learnt Persian and Urdu and became an Urdu poet. Syed also describes the historical accounts of visitors, residences, gardens and neighbourhoods that reveal a more cosmopolitan and layered past than is commonly associated with the city.
The story reaches back much further. Syed discusses the settlement’s earlier identity as Koil or Kol, the conquest associated with Qutb al-Din Aibak, and the detailed accounts preserved by Persian historians. He also examines the 1857 uprising in Aligarh and the Battle of 1803, when British forces fought the Marathas and their French allies.
For Syed, the city’s geography is central to understanding its history. Located along routes connecting larger centres such as Agra and Delhi, Aligarh repeatedly became entangled in wider struggles for power. Its older town played a significant role long before the development of the Civil Lines area and the expansion of the institution that would become Aligarh Muslim University.
This does not mean diminishing the university’s importance. Syed describes the Aligarh movement as transformative, but argues that focusing exclusively on it risks losing the centuries of people, personalities and events that came before. He compares the movement to the finale of a story: the ending makes more sense when the audience knows the entire plot.
The author also explains his approach to historical research. He says he relied on primary accounts, academic sources, historical journals and documentation, distinguishing traditional accounts from claims grounded in historical evidence. His aim was to make the book readable as a narrative while remaining careful about the sources behind it.
Preserving the city’s physical heritage is another part of the project. Syed says that some historical sites, including tombs and monuments hidden in narrow lanes, are difficult to locate. His book therefore includes a map linked to QR codes that direct readers to the sites. He hopes greater awareness will encourage efforts to conserve monuments that are in poor condition.
Aligarh: The City That Outlasted Empires is thus both a historical exploration and a tribute to the author’s birthplace. Its central proposition is that a city cannot be understood through a single institution, period or identity. To see Aligarh more fully, its lesser-known stories must be brought back into view.
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> Books / by India Today Web Desk / October 16th, 2026
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-ho…
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-horned grasshoppers. The discovery was led by Muzamil Syed Shah and a team of entomologists from Aligarh Muslim University. The new species have been named Conocephalus usmanii, Conocephalus nagariensis, and Conocephalus ganderbali.
Prior to this study, the mountainous region of Kashmir was thought to host only a single species of this genus. The team’s findings suggest that the area’s complex topography, which includes the Western Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range, has fostered a much richer variety of insect life than previously recorded. To find these elusive insects, the researchers trekked through various habitats, including tall meadow grasses, bushes, and deciduous forests, collecting adult specimens during the day.
The researchers used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to distinguish the new species from their known relatives. This allowed them to capture high-resolution images of the stridulatory files, a microscopic row of teeth on the male insect’s wings that acts like a musical comb to produce their characteristic chirping sound. By counting these teeth and measuring the shape of the insects’ body parts, the team was able to prove they had found entirely new branches of the tree of life.
Each of the three new species possesses unique physical blueprints that set them apart. Conocephalus nagariensis, found in the Budgam district, is distinguished by its spindle-shaped appendages (cerci) and a stridulatory file containing exactly 34 teeth. It is dedicated to Dr. Rajendra Nagar, a researcher credited with discovering several other species of katydids across the country, and bears his name.
In contrast, Conocephalus ganderbali, discovered in the Ganderbal region, is notably small and slender, with a musical file of only 28 teeth and a unique V-shaped incision on its underbelly. Its name is derived from the Ganderbal district in Kashmir, the specific locality where the researchers first collected the specimens.
The third species, Conocephalus usmanii, features a flat, elongated plate on its abdomen and a musical file with 36 teeth. It was named in honour of Professor Mohd Kamil Usmani, a scholar who has made significant contributions to the study of Orthoptera (the group of insects including grasshoppers and katydids) in India.
Beyond the three new species, the study also provided new records for other katydids in the region, such as Conocephalus longipennis and C. kwasiphaiensis, which were previously known only in other parts of India. This suggests that Kashmir serves as a vital corridor for insect migration and evolution.
The discovery highlights how much of the natural world remains unexplored, even in well-known geographical areas. The researchers noted that because Kashmir is so biologically diverse yet understudied, many more species likely remain hidden in plain sight within its mountain valleys. The physical type specimens used to describe these new insects have been deposited in the Museum of Zoology at Aligarh Muslim University, where they will serve as a permanent reference for future generations of scientists.
This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by an editor at Research Matters.
Parvez Parwaz, a 72-year-old former journalist and social activist, died in Gorakhpur District Jail on Sunday while serving a life sentence in a gangrape case. Jail officials said he suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes. He developed breathing difficulties late Saturday night and was taken to the district hospital, where he died around 2:50 am during treatment.
Parwaz had been in custody since September 2018 after a woman accused him and another man of gangrape. A district court sentenced him to life imprisonment in July 2020.
His death has revived attention on his prolonged legal challenge against a 2007 speech by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, then a BJP MP from Gorakhpur. On 27 January 2007, Parwaz recorded Adityanath addressing a gathering near Gorakhpur railway station amid communal tension following a clash during a Muharram procession. Adityanath was quoted saying that for the blood of one Hindu, “we will not get an FIR registered against the administration, but will instead have at least 10 such people killed.”
Violence followed in parts of the city, with reports of at least two deaths and extensive property damage. Parwaz sought an investigation into alleged incitement. A local court rejected his plea, and later efforts, including before the Supreme Court, did not yield the proceedings he sought before his own criminal case led to imprisonment.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Media / by Muslim Mirror Desk / October 13th, 2026
The thought of joining the Indian Navy never occurred to a young Khurram Shahzad Noor while he was growing up in a village of Western Uttar Pradesh.
It was a meeting with a colonel while he was attending a tuition class. The Army officer encouraged him to consider a career in the armed forces. Today, after retiring from the Indian Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral, a fairly senior leadership position, he remembers the encounter with the stranger who changed his life.
Today, he has a distinguished career in the Indian Navy behind him and is active as a poet, writer, and motivational speaker. His life demonstrates that a person need not have to choose between discipline and imagination, or public service and passion. Both can coexist and enrich life.
Though the armed forces do not believe in flaunting the religious identities of the officers and men, Dr Rear Admiral (retd) Khuram Shahzad Noor is the first Muslim to reach such a top position in the Indian Navy.
Rear Admiral Khurram Shahzad Noor
Born into a family with roots in the village of Nagina, Bijnor, Noor’s childhood did not suggest the extraordinary career that lay ahead. Born prematurely at around seven months, he was physically weaker than many children of his age. He took longer to learn to walk and found ordinary sporting activities demanding. Running for a short distance could leave him exhausted.
For a child growing up with such limitations, the prospect of joining the armed forces might have appeared distant. Yet those early difficulties eventually became a source of strength. Rather than allowing physical limitations to define his future, Noor chose to challenge them.
The road ahead required discipline, education and perseverance. Noor eventually joined the Indian Navy and went on to serve the country for approximately 35 years. His professional journey was closely associated with technology, education and training. He developed expertise in anti-submarine warfare, a specialised field that requires precision, patience and the ability to understand complex underwater operations.
Reflecting on his professional responsibilities, Noor says, “I teach anti-submarine warfare, where I look after the training of Navy officers.” The statement offers a glimpse into another important aspect of his career: preparing the next generation of naval officers for the responsibilities that come with serving at sea.
Rear Admiral Khurram Shahzad Noor at an event
Submarine warfare is a highly specialised domain in which knowledge, technology, judgment and teamwork have to work together. Noor’s role as an instructor placed him not merely in the position of an experienced officer but also that of a mentor responsible for transferring knowledge to those who would eventually shoulder the nation’s maritime responsibilities.
Speaking about the Navy’s role during Operation Sindoor, Noor explained that naval operations have a distinct character. “The role of the Navy in wars is very specific. We do not come out in the open until it’s a full-fledged war declared,” he said.
For Noor, the Navy’s contribution is not limited to moments when ships are deployed in direct combat. He highlights the less visible but equally significant role of maritime engagement.
“The Navy does a lot of Sea Diplomacy, which no other armed forces get to do. This is a positive part that the Navy contributes to,” he said. “Sea diplomacy allows a country’s naval presence to serve strategic and diplomatic purposes during peacetime. Through maritime cooperation, international engagements and interaction with other nations, naval forces can help strengthen relationships while simultaneously protecting national interests”, Noor added.
Noor also explained the distinction between the Navy’s role during a declared war and its responsibilities at other times. “When it’s a properly declared war, we cut lines and follow orders at sea. Otherwise we are never in attack mode, but in support of what is going on the borders, to make things easy for the army,” he said.
His observations underline the coordinated nature of India’s defence structure. Different branches of the armed forces have distinct responsibilities, but their larger objective remains common, safeguarding the country and supporting one another when circumstances demand it.
Recalling tough days during his training, a young cadet ran away from the academy. Five days later, the boy returned with a letter from his father. The letter said the boy had two choices – face his father’s wrath at home or return to the Naval forces.
Recalling the incident with a laugh, Noor said the young cadet chose to return to the academy.
Rear Admiral Khurram Shahzad Noor
Yet behind the uniform and military responsibilities was another personality, one connected with words. “I deeply believe in languages”, Noor shared.
Noor’s love for poetry did not disappear amid the demands of naval life. Instead, literature became another way through which he could explore human emotions, relationships and society. The contrast is striking: a professional trained to listen for faint signals beneath the sea also became a poet attentive to the quieter signals of the human heart.
His creative interests extend beyond poetry. He has also explored short filmmaking and storytelling, using creative expression to examine human relationships and social themes. These pursuits reveal a personality that refuses to be confined to a single professional identity.
Noor’s life challenges the assumption that a person’s early circumstances determine the limits of his future. The child who struggled to keep pace on a football field eventually spent decades undertaking demanding naval responsibilities. The officer associated with submarine warfare also became a teacher and mentor. The military professional developed into an educator, poet and communicator.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Vidhush Gaur, New Delhi / August 23rd, 2026
Zubair Rizvi speaking at a function of Urdu Academy
It was February 21, 2016. A seminar on Urdu was in progress in the Qamar Rais Hall of Delhi Urdu Academy of Delhi. The president of the Urdu Academy Zubair Rizvi rose to speak. He apologized for becoming emotional and said it was difficult for him to speak. Zubair Rizvi had been heading the Academy for 30 years and the audiences too it as the idiosyncrasy of a reputed poet. He left his speech midway and walked slowly to his chair and sat down in it. Rakim Numan, the chief guest, who was seated close to him found him feeling uneasy. He rose and rushed towards Zubair’s seat. Before he could pour water from his bottle to the doyen of Urdu litterateur, he had collapsed.
Majid Deobandi, vice chairman of the Academy immediately ran towards Zubair. People lifted him and rushed him to the hospital. A few minutes later Zubair Rizvi was declared dead.
The gem of a litterateur from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, died working till his last breath and amidst fans and admirers. He was laid to rest the same day in his ancestral cemetery in Amroha.
Zubair Rizvi
Zubair Rizvi was a writer par excellence. He was also the best scholar with an awakened consciousness about the literary heritage of Urdu. As a popular poet, he enjoyed adulation and cherished admirers. He made his mark as a successful poet in mushairas all over the world including India Pakistan, Canada, etc., and introduced a new tone to contemporary poetry. He was also a successful broadcaster and a staunch intellectual critic. During his days with the All India Radio, he was posted as Station Director of the Rampur station for some time.
One of his famous poems, Yeh Hai Mera Hindustan, which he read with gusto at many a Mushaira, not only gained great popularity among Urdu lovers but was also included in many textbooks.
Zubair Rizvi was born on April 15, 1935, in a scholarly family in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh; the atmosphere in his family was filled with religious and spiritual fragrances. His father Muhammad Rizvi and his mother Fahmida Rizvi were famous religious and scholarly figures.
A distinguished poet, Zubair donned many hats in his prismatic career: Broadcaster; Secretary, Urdu academy; Lecturer, Mass communication; Jury for AIR, Writer, and Magazine composer.
He began his career at the famed Hamdard Dawa-Khana, followed by a position as an interviewer, scriptwriter, and interviewer at AlR, Delhi where he interviewed celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Lata Mangeshkar, and Dilip Kumar.
He rose to the position of Director of Sports at AIR.
A sher of Zubair Rizvi
A postgraduate of the Delhi University, Zubair Razvi, joined Urdu Academy, Delhi as Secretary after 30 years of service at All India Radio. He was the director of the Urdu Academy for two years, and during this time he did an incredible job of promoting and helping Urdu lovers learn the language. He held seminars on popular topics such as The Role of Urdu in Bollywood which was attended by Yash Chopra, Gulzar, and Farooq Shaikh to name a few.
He was appointed a member of many jury committees for script selection and also appointed as a guest lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Jamia Milia Islamia Delhi.
His journey as a poet started from Hyderabad at a very early stage; around the 1950s. He had the chance to share the stage with then-famed poets like Kaifi Azmi and Ali Sardar Jafri. Soon, he made a place for himself as an Urdu Poet. Be it critics or less-informed audiences, Zubair Rizvi is regarded very highly by both as an Urdu poet, writer, and a significant contributor to Urdu Literature.
Cover of one of Zubair Rizvi’s books
In verse, he mainly tried his hand at Ghazal, Nazm, and Geet. He has over 17 books to his credit, some of the more important ones among these include, Lahar Lahar Nadiya Gahri (Collection of Poems), Khisht-e-Deewar, Musafat-e-Shab, Purani Baat Hai, Dhoop Ka Saibaan, Ungliyaan Figaar Apni, etc.
Two books have been written on his life and work and he has compiled and edited 24 books.
His remarkable contribution to the field of literature can be fathomed by the breadth of awards he amassed during his lifetime. These included: The All India Radio New Delhi- External Services Division Award; Sant Gyaneshwar National Award for the year 2009 by Maharashtra Urdu Sahitya Academy; All India Mushaira Award of Honor S.C.D. Govt College SAHIR Memorial Society Ludhiana (2002); Urdu Academy Delhi Award for Ghalib Aur Funoon-e-Lateefa; Consulate General Of India, Jeddah, Saudia Arabia- Certificate of Appreciation; Certificate for Sufi Studies-Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Academy (2001); Karnataka Urdu Academy, Bangalore; Urdu Academy at Delhi Secretariat presented an award to his book Sang-E-Sada; Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy, Lucknow Award for Sang-E-Sada (2014); National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language -World URDU Conference (2016).
As a poet, his beyond-the-borders following can be gauged by the different mix of mediums that his works have featured. A few of these special features include: Door Darshan Serial “Khali Haath”, written by Dr. Harikrishna Devsare, had Zubair Rizvi’s lyrics. In five Indian states, the NCERT Urdu curriculum has selected Zubair Razvi’s iconic patriotic song” Yeh hai Mera Hindustan, Mere Sapnon Ka Jahan Is Se Pyaar Mujhko” for school textbooks. He was also quite famous for his recitals and was invited to Mushairas in Asia, Canada, Europe, and especially America where he once performed in 15 different states in one tour.
Zubair Rizvi’s passion for Urdu was undying, and to spread this language of love to lands far and wide, he started the famous magazine Zehn-e-Jadid – Bari Zaban Ka Zinda Risala, which is now being published and edited by his wife Jamshed Jahan.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Siraj Naqvi / December 12th, 2023
Bushra Bano defies four surgeries, responsibility of two kids to become IPS
Aligarh :
Its very rare in the history of Indian civil services that women candidates face interviews when they are more than eight months pregnant and have undergone multiple surgeries.
Dr Bushra Bano, a resident of Sork Qaswa in Kannauj district, uttar Pradesh, and Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Firozabad (Sadar tehsil), has faced this odd meritoriously. She has secured 234th rank in the latest UPSC list of successful candidates. She was allotted the Indian Police Service (IPS).
Bushra is mother of two children, both born through caesarean surgeries. Besides, she had to endure two more major surgeries. Yet her resolve to continue her education and later pursue competitive exams for various Indian services remained unaffected.
“I was a gifted child since childhood. At least this is what my parents feel proud of and all my acquaintances admit. I started my primary education at the age of four in Class 2. All through my academic life, I have been a topper. After completing my B. Sc in Mathematics (usually rare for girls in India), I decided to go for an MBA and I completed that before I turned 20.
“Just after that I joined PhD in Management at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The very next year, I qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) that gave me confidence to make my education self-reliant and a passion to earn on my own. I finished my PhD in a short time of two years and few months,” Bano told this correspondent in a candid chat from Firozabad.
She said that while she was still pursuing her research at AMU, she started teaching at Hindustan and Anand Institute in Agra.
“Then I got married to Asmer Hussain, an assistant professor in Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. Perhaps as a marital boon, I was also selected as an assistant professor at the same university and both of us taught together,” said Bano.
However, the Saudi sojourn was not suiting her heart.
“I was working there, but my heart always stayed in India. The only memorable thing for us was to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca. After four years, it became impossible for me to defy the pangs of homesickness. I consulted my husband and resigned. He stayed back,” said Bano, insisting that it was the most difficult decision of her life.
After arriving in India, Bano didn’t sit idle. She was now a mother of a son. She joined a post-doctoral programme in AMU and at the same time started preparing for various competitive exams.
“My first attempt at the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was not successful. However, I managed to join a reputed Coal India company as assistant manager. My posting was in Sonbhadra. Next year, I got through the prelims of both the Public Service Commission (PCS) of UP state and UPSC.
“In June 2018, I cleared the Mains of both the exams. I was pregnant with my second child then and when interviews were conducted, I was in the last stage of my pregnancy. The UPSC first declared its list. I had secured 277th rank and was allotted the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS). Later, when the PCS result was announced, my rank was 6th and that meant I was eligible to become Deputy Collector or Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Thus, I joined as SDM of Firozabad Sadar in 2020,” said Bano.
Bano also shared an interesting episode of her married life.
“In families with kids, it is usually women who sacrifice. But in my case, my husband sacrificed his Saudi job for me. Since it became clear that I would work in India and our children would also be with me, he decided to resign from his job and join us in India. Now, he works as a businessman,” said Bano.
She added that her husband, who was teaching without a PhD, is now also pursuing a PhD.
As an SDM, Bano has been famous for her stand on illegal mining in Firozabad. She has also been strict in ensuring law and order and devising ways to bring relief to weaker sections of society.
She wears a hijab and it raised some eyebrows in her office. “Some people thought I was a ‘kattar’ (hardliner) Muslim. But, when they began to understand me, their doubts melted and now I am their favourite madam,” said Bano.
One of the most joyous moments in her life came when her another attempt at UPSC brought her 234th rank and she was allotted IPS.
“But I have decided that I will join it only when I am offered my home cadre. Otherwise, I am happy as SDM in UP,” she said.
Bano’s advice to young Muslims, especially girls and their parents, is that youth should be given the choice to pursue their passion at whatever stage in their lives.
“I chose to quit my Saudi job, come to India and opt for these services and my family supported me. Such cooperation from your dear ones makes a lot of impact in your life,” said Bano. -IANS
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Women / by Muslim Mirror / January 04th, 2022
A young Muslim girl from a poor family in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh has created history with a remarkable display of talent and determination. Noor Jahan painted portraits of 15 Indian freedom fighters simultaneously, holding multiple pens in her mouth at one time, and completed all 15 portraits in a single frame.
The feat left many stunned, including industrialist Anand Mahindra, who called it nothing short of a miracle. Mahindra was so moved by Noor Jahan’s extraordinary skill that he announced a scholarship to support her education in painting and the arts.
Noor Jahan grew up in a poor household in Badaun, a district in western Uttar Pradesh. Despite limited resources, she developed a rare artistic ability. Her technique of holding multiple pens simultaneously in her mouth to draw detailed portraits of historical figures is entirely her own.
The portraits she painted feature 15 freedom fighters who played a role in India’s independence movement. Completing all 15 in a single frame, using only her mouth, drew wide attention across the country.
Anand Mahindra, who regularly highlights exceptional talent on social media, described Noor Jahan’s work as astonishing and pledged to fund her further studies in the field. His support has brought significant national attention to the young artist from Badaun.
Noor Jahan’s achievement carries a clear message: poverty places obstacles in a person’s path, but hard work and genuine skill remove those obstacles. Her story also challenges stereotypes about Muslim communities in India, proving that talent and ambition exist across every background and economic condition.
She has shown that a Muslim girl from a struggling family in rural Uttar Pradesh can write history through skill and effort alone.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Arts & Culture> Latest News> Markers of Excellence> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / September 07th, 2026
Those who supported partition sought the then Hyderabad PM’s intervention to stop funds to Darul Uloom in UP
An image of the complaint sent to Sir Akbar Hydari against Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madani; and other connected documents preserved at the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute.
It was the time when Hindus and Muslims joined hands to fight for India’s freedom, and Darul Uloom at Deoband in Uttar Pradesh and scholars of the Islamic seminary played a vital role.
So much so that those who opposed the strong anti-partition stand of celebrated freedom fighter Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madani, who taught hadith (tradition of Prophet Muhammad) at the institution, termed it ‘anti-Muslim’, and even sought a rescinding of a grant to the seminary from the State of Hyderabad.
Documents preserved at the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute reveal that on August 22, 1938, one G.H. Siddiqui from Bijnore had complained to Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Sir Akbar Hydari, saying that Maulana Madani had unfurled a Tricolour atop his allotted quarters. He then proceeded to describe the seminary as an ‘institution which has now become a political centre of anti-Muslim religious propaganda and is now, no more an institution to give pure Islamic education’. He then sought to know whether it would be possible to briefly stop the annual grant to teach a ‘lesson’ to the staff.
Sir Hydari’s handwritten note, polite in tone and tenor, found its way to the Vice Chancellor of the seminary, Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani, another celebrated Islamic scholar, to know whether this was true, even as he requested him to investigate the matter.
In his response, Maulana Usmani said that not only was the incident true, but the small flag that was once atop the quarters was replaced by a much larger one. The maulana, whose political leanings were diametrically opposed to those of Maulana Madani, supported the creation of Pakistan and eventually moved there. He had pointed out that the incident had happened in his absence. While Maulana Madani’s office had responded to inquiries, he himself had not.
The letter shows that there was not much that Maulana Usmani could do. In the letter he writes, “Esteemed sir, you may remember that as I have previously informed you that 10 or 11 years ago, when my predecessors appointed the maulana as principal of the institution, they had accepted all his conditions, that his political activities and leanings would not be restricted.”
Academic and author Shamsul Islam, in his book “Muslims Against the Partition of India”, writes that Maulana Madani, who was fiercely against partition, was famous for saying in 1937, nearly a year before the incident as mentioned in the letter to Sir Hydari, that ‘nations are based on homelands, not religion’.
Speaking to The Hindu , noted cleric and president of Jamiat-e-Ulama Hind (Arshad Madani group) Maulana Arshad Madani, who is the freedom fighter’s son, opined that the staunch opposition to partition was a result of foresight, and conviction in peaceful coexistence of communities.
“He was of the strong opinion that partition would not auger well for Muslims in India and Hindus in Pakistan. He believed that for 1,300 years, both communities lived next to each other without problems. We saw what happened after partition. He was imprisoned for a total of nine years, including in Sabarmati jail, and in Matla,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Syed Mohammed / August 14th, 2021
