At 69, Hyderabad man shoots his way to three golds medals

Amazing Feats, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Leaders, Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022), Sports

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Shafath Ali Khan demonstrated the precision and composure that have defined his long career

Hyderabad: 

At the age of five, Nawab Shafath Ali Khan won his first prize at the Madras State Shooting Championship. Six years later, at 11, he clinched his first National Games gold medal in shooting. Now, at 69, the veteran marksman has added three more gold medals to an already remarkable collection.

At the recently concluded 300-metre Big Bore State Shooting Championship and Elite Big Bore Championship, held from August 16 to 21, Shafath Ali Khan once again demonstrated the precision and composure that have defined his long career.

The competitions were conducted in three categories — the Telangana Big Bore Shooting Competitions 2026, the Deccan Elite Open Big Bore Grand Prix and the 2nd Telangana Super Big Bore Open Shooting Competition.

Khan emerged triumphant in the 300-metre peep-sight rifle, 50-metre telescopic rifle and open single rifle super big bore events, winning three gold medals. Mohammed Abdul Razak Hussain secured a silver medal, while Mohammed Mustafa Khan, former Director General of Police (DGP) Anjani Kumar and Amit Sanghi won bronze medals in their respective events. Sartaj Fatima clinched both gold and silver medals, while the youngest participant, Raza Ali Khan, also impressed by winning a gold medal.

The event, held at the Octopus Greyhound Shooting Range in Ibrahimpatnam, attracted nearly 400 shooters from across the country, including about 20 women. It was organised by the Telangana State Rifle Association.

For Shafath Khan, however, the latest victories represent much more than another addition to his trophy cabinet. They are a continuation of a family tradition that spans five generations and is deeply connected with shooting, forests, wildlife and public service.

Shafat Ali Khan on the podium.

Book release

The occasion also saw the release of his coffee table book, “5 Generations of Glorious Shooting.” Published by the Mediaplus Foundation, the 60-page volume is far more than a compilation of photographs and memorabilia. It offers a visual account of an extraordinary family whose lives have been intertwined with India’s forests and wildlife for generations.

Every photograph carries a story, of danger, perseverance, precision and passion. The images capture silent forests, majestic wildlife, tense rescue operations and the determination of men whose work has extended far beyond adventure to encompass public service and wildlife management.

The book takes readers into a world few have the opportunity to witness. Its pages reflect the patience of the tracker, the science of wildlife management and the split-second decisions required during difficult operations. Beneath the drama and adrenaline is a profound respect for nature and the animals that inhabit it.

For readers, the book provides a rare insight into the realities of managing human-wildlife conflict in modern India. It seeks to move beyond popular myths surrounding hunting, wildlife rescue and forest operations, portraying instead the responsibility, skill and sacrifice involved in protecting both people and animals.

A legacy lineage

The legacy documented in the book goes back to Shafath Ali Khan’s grandfather, Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Bahadur, and his father, Nawab Arshad Ali Khan. Their love for forests, wildlife and the outdoors became an integral part of the family’s identity.

The family’s connection with shooting goes back even further. Shafath Ali Khan’s maternal great-grandfather, Nawab Fakhrul Mulk Bahadur, played a pioneering role in introducing shooting competitions in India in 1877. He was also a tutor to the sixth Nizam, Mir Mehboob Ali Khan, whom he introduced to firearms and hunting.

Today, the tradition continues into a sixth generation.

Shafath Ali Khan’s son, Asghar Ali Khan, has stepped into his father’s formidable shoes and carried forward the family’s involvement in wildlife and outdoor pursuits. His grandson, Arshad Ali Khan Junior, is also beginning to embrace the family tradition. The teenager is currently undergoing training in skeet shooting.

Few families can claim such a sustained lineage of shooting, fieldcraft, wildlife knowledge and public service.

“I have inherited the love of wildlife and knowledge of flora and fauna from my ancestors,” says the soft-spoken Hyderabadi shooter with characteristic humility.

More than just a marksman

For Shafath Ali Khan, marksmanship is only one part of his expertise. As India’s only authorised expert entrusted with tranquilising dangerous wild animals, his work demands considerably more than the ability to shoot accurately. It requires an intimate understanding of animal behaviour, extensive knowledge of forests, patience and the ability to make critical decisions within seconds.

His career has placed him at the difficult intersection of wildlife conservation and human safety. When a dangerous animal enters human habitation or a conflict situation escalates, there is little room for error. The objective is not simply to display shooting skill but, whenever possible, to save lives, both human and animal.

At 69, Khan’s latest three gold medals therefore carry a significance that goes beyond sport. They represent decades of discipline, a lifetime spent honing his craft and a family heritage that continues to evolve.

From a five-year-old boy winning his first shooting prize to a 69-year-old veteran standing atop the podium once again, Shafath Ali Khan’s journey is a remarkable testament to precision, perseverance and an enduring passion that has passed from one generation to the next.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by JS Ifthekhar / August 26th,2026

UT Ifthikar Fareed receives Star of the Year Award 2026 by GMU in UAE

Amazing Feats, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, World Opinion

KARNATAKA / AJMAN, U.A.E :

Ajman:

Prof. U. T. Ifthikar Fareed, Chairman of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Council, Karnataka, India, has received the Star of the Year Award 2026 at the 6th International Annual Awards and Conference on Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine held at Thumbay Medicity in Al Jurf, Ajman, UAE.

The award was presented by Chief Guest H.E. Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Court, Ajman, in recognition of Prof. Ifthikar Fareed’s years of leadership in promoting allied health and rehabilitation education.

The conference was organised by the College of Health Sciences at Gulf Medical University in collaboration with Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital. The CME-accredited event offered eight hours of continuing medical education and brought together physiotherapists, orthopaedic and neurological specialists, occupational and speech therapists, educators and students from the UAE, GCC countries and beyond. The ceremony was presided over by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group.

Twenty-six leaders and institutions were honoured with the Innovation in Rehabilitation Awards 2026. The recipients included H.E. Majid Al Usaimi, Executive Director of Dubai Club for People of Determination; Mrs. Naima Saleh, President of the Emirates Physiotherapy Association; Dr. Ahmed Al Kharusi, Associate Dean of the Oman Physical Therapy Association; Dr. Yousef Abdulkhaleq Dhuhair of Rashid Hospital; Dr. Hyung Seok Nam of Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah; and the Humaid Bin Rashid Foundation. Clinicians from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Al Qassimi Hospital, Ajman University, the University of Sharjah, Kalasalingam University and Thumbay Healthcare were also among the award recipients.

Addressing the conference, Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice President of the Healthcare Division at Thumbay Group, announced plans to increase the capacity of Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital (TPTRH) by 30 per cent to meet growing patient demand. The expansion will increase the number of treatment areas from 27 to 39 and treatment beds from 36 to 48. It will include six new outdoor and therapeutic treatment areas, along with the expansion of five dedicated treatment zones and seven specialised treatment areas.

The hospital is also deploying robotic and digital rehabilitation technologies, which the group describes as firsts in the UAE. These include the GPARM/MOTUS Gait Trainer for robotic-assisted gait rehabilitation, MLS Robotic Laser Therapy for pain management and tissue healing, Robotic Moxibustion and 3D Nasometry for speech and acoustic analysis, and augmented and virtual reality-based paediatric gait training.

The group said the upgrades aim to position TPTRH as the country’s leading advanced rehabilitation centre.

Dr. Thumbay Moideen also announced plans to open new rehabilitation centres in Dubai, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah as part of Thumbay Healthcare’s expansion. The centres are intended to bring advanced rehabilitation services closer to patients across the UAE and support the teaching and training of students at Gulf Medical University’s College of Health Sciences.

The conference featured sessions on emerging rehabilitation technologies and practices, including robotic exoskeletons, virtual reality, wearable sensors, tele-rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, phoniatrics, spine care and compression therapy.

The speakers included Dr. Juan Camilo Cortes, Chair of Neuro Rehabilitation at Dubai Health, and Dr. Gamal Youssef, Professor of Phoniatrics at Alexandria University.

The event was supported by Ekso Bionics, Hpotech Medical, M A S Medical Surgical Articles & Requisites Trading, Bauerfeind Middle East & Africa, Modawina Medical, Fourier Intelligence, and Alpha Medical and Dental Services.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.com / Vartha Bharati, English / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / October 26th, 2026

The History-Sheeter: Excerpt from Dr. Kafeel Khan’s new book

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues

UTTAR PRADESH :

In this excerpt from The History-Sheeter, Dr Kafeel Khan recalls joining the Shaheen Bagh protest against the CAA on 31 December 2019 and traces how his flood-relief work in Assam exposed him to the anxiety of the NRC’s exclusion of nearly 19 lakh people, set against the government’s contradictory messaging on a nationwide NRC and a decade of growing hostility toward those questioning the state.

History-sheeter is a term used by Indian police to refer to an individual with a criminal record, due to which they maintain a detailed file, or history-sheet, on them, even without conviction. In 2018, after being falsely accused in connection with the deaths of children at Gorakhpur’s B.R.D. Medical College, he was released from prison. He later recounted his experience in The Gorakhpur Hospital Tragedy: A Doctor’s Memoir of a Deadly Medical Crisis (2021). His troubles, however, were far from over. Within months, Khan was arrested again over a speech he delivered at Aligarh Muslim University. The Uttar Pradesh government invoked the National Security Act to detain him, and he spent nine months in custody before his release. By then, his continued fight for justice had brought him into prolonged conflict with the state.

source: amazon.in

In The History-Sheeter, published by Juggernaut, Dr. Kafeel Khan recounts his third arrest and the ordeal that followed, including his imprisonment during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also reflects on how his experiences found a fictional counterpart in Shah Rukh Khan’s film Jawan. Unflinching in its account of the personal costs of dissent, the book examines how those who challenge authority can be criminalised and subjected to the power of the state.

The following excerpt is from the first chapter, “Insiders Turned Outsiders.”

Insiders Turned Outsiders

31 December 2019.

Delhi was in the grip of one of its coldest winters in decades. Under a blue tarpaulin at Shaheen Bagh, women sat wrapped in shawls, children asleep in their laps, and men stood at the edges of the gathering. They had occupied that stretch of road for days. They said they would not leave. They had come out of their homes to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that became law on 12 December 2019.

I stood among them that night – neither as a doctor nor as an organizer, but as a citizen.

I had already learnt what it meant to be marked by the State. I knew what silence could buy. Safety, perhaps. Distance. Rehabilitation.

But by then, silence no longer felt neutral.

In August 2019, when I began conducting free health camps across Assam with a team of doctors from the Medical Service Centre, we witnessed much devastation. As happens nearly every year, floods had destroyed fields and homes, leaving in their wake all types of infectious diseases like cholera, malaria, skin diseases, hepatitis, eye diseases, ear discharge and many such ailments. In addition, I saw how people live on riverine islands in this state without the most basic facilities. They don’t have access to a safe water supply, no electricity, and boats are the only means of transport. We found that primary health centres (PHCs) were shut, schools were destroyed and communities were severely affected in many places.

Dhubri, Assam, August 2019: In a free health camp during a flood relief effort, an exhausted mother watched as I examined her son.

The Assam experience took me across various thresholds. We would walk miles with the local people from one camp to another. We were able to see up close how they lived, how they struggled and what they celebrated. It was during this time that I began to understand the confounding question of citizenship for the people of Assam.

What I did not realize then was that this was going to pull me into the subsequent big struggle with the powers that be. When the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) list was released on 31 August 2019, nearly 19 lakh people were excluded from citizenship rolls out of a population of 3.3 crore. The history behind this moment was long.

For decades, migration from what was once East Pakistan, and later Bangladesh, had shaped Assam’s politics. The Assam Movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s, led by the All Assam Students’ Union, culminated in the Assam Accord of 1985. Under that agreement:

Anyone entering Assam after 24 December 1971 would be considered an illegal migrant. Those who entered between 1966 and 1971 would be disenfranchised for 10 years before regaining citizenship. Those who entered before 1966 would be recognized as citizens.

This administrative categorization might appear orderly on paper.

On the ground, it was anything but. To prove citizenship, residents had to establish linkage to ancestors present before 1971 through specified documents – electoral rolls, land records, the 1951 NRC, educational certificates.

Driving licences were invalid.

Aadhaar cards were invalid.

PAN cards were invalid.

‘Hum itna kaagaz kahan se laayega? (Where do we get so many papers from?)

Floods had swallowed land and homes. Names were misspelled across generations. Ages were incorrectly recorded. Entire families depended on fragile, fading sheets of paper to assert belonging.

In village after village, people spoke in hushed voices of detention camps.

‘O bada camp bana hai. Camp mein band rebna padega. (Big camps have been built. We will be kept there.)’

As a doctor, I had come to treat. Instead, I encountered something harder to diagnose: the anxiety of erasure.

In September 2018, during a rally in Rajasthan, the home minister referred to illegal immigrants as ghuspaithiyee and deemak- infiltrators and termites- promising that they would be removed one by one.

While his party spokesperson justified his ‘termite’ analogy on television, the poll promise to rid the country of illegal immigrants was amplified in speech after speech, several times in the lead- up to the May 2019 general elections. One significant promise of his, which became an oft- repeated phrase, was: ‘Aap chronology samajh lijiyee. Peble CAB aayega…fr NPR…fr NRC aayega…Aur sirf Bengal ke liye nahi…saare desh ke liye aayega aayega (You, please understand the chronology. First, we will bring CAB and after that, we will bring NPR, and then NRC and not only for Bengal but for the entire country). This, repeated again and again across social media, underscored how the Citizenship Amendment Bill (later Act) (CAB) would be followed by the National Population Register (NPR) and then the NRC across the country to identify ‘outsiders’.

This style of speaking in a code had become commonplace by 2019 and drew little protest. Perhaps many people reasoned, ‘We are not illegal immigrants, so why should we care?’ Such campaign speeches were part of the BJP’s successful re- election in 2019 – a victory that gave the party an even bigger majority than they had secured in 2014.

Yet, on 22 December 2019, at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, the prime minister stated:

‘No discussion on a nationwide NRC has taken place anywhere.’

Both statements were public. Both were recorded and circulated widely.

In Parliament on 10 and 11 December 2019, while introducing and defending the CAB, the home minister insisted that the law was about granting citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan – not about taking it away. For many citizens, especially those already struggling with documentation under the NRC in Assam, the assurances did not calm fears. Words matter. When those in power use them repeatedly, they shape the climate of belonging.

In the decade that preceded December 2019, something had shifted in the air of the republic.

Mob violence had entered headlines with disturbing regularity. Hate crimes were debated, then normalized. Election campaigns increasingly invoked Mughal invaders and the descendants of Aurangzeb. ‘Go to Pakistan!’ had become a reflexive insult hurled at anyone questioning state policy. The word ‘anti- national’ was no longer an accusation; it was a weapon. 

The signs had been visible for years.

Dr Kafeel Khan is a paediatrician and author from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. He completed his MBBS and MD in Paediatrics at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, and worked at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences in Gangtok before joining Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur. Following the medical crisis at BRD Medical College in August 2017, Khan was suspended from service and later imprisoned. He subsequently established the Dr Kafeel Khan Mission Smile Foundation and launched initiatives including the Health for All campaign, which advocates for a legal right to healthcare, and Doctors on Road, which aims to bring medical services to underserved communities. Khan’s first book, The Gorakhpur Hospital Tragedy: A Doctor’s Memoir of a Deadly Medical Crisis, was published in 2021 and subsequently translated into several Indian languages. The History-Sheeter is his second book.

This is an excerpt from The History-Sheeter by Dr Kafeel Khan, reproduced by arrangement with Juggernaut

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> Bookshelf / by Dr Kafeel Khan / October 19th, 2026

Around 2,000 students participate in CIO’s Science Olympiad in MP

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education

Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH :

Bhopal: 

A Science Olympiad was organized for the first time across various cities in Madhya Pradesh, drawing the participation of over 2,000 students from grades 6, 7 and 8. Students from different districts across the state took part in this competition on Sunday.

The Science Olympiad was organised under the aegis of the Children’s Islamic Organization, (CIO).

The objective of the Science Olympiad is to foster an interest in science among children, develop their observational and analytical skills, and encourage them to understand the natural world. It also educates children on the environment and the responsible use of natural resources.

The Olympiad question papers were tailored to the students’ respective grade levels. The papers for grades 7 and 8 were based on the NCERT science curriculum, while the curriculum for grade 6 also incorporated environmental science. To ensure accessibility, the materials were made available in English, Hindi, Urdu and various regional languages.

Several officials from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Madhya Pradesh Unit and the CIO visited various examination centers across the state to oversee the proceedings and encourage the students. These included Syed Shahid Ali, vice president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (Madhya Pradesh), along with other regional leaders and CIO representatives.

Examinations were held in several locations, including Bhopal, Jabalpur, Indore, Ujjain and Seoni.

Hina Farhan, Secretary of the CIO (Madhya Pradesh), congratulated Reshma Yasir and her entire team for the successful organization of the Olympiad. He noted that the event’s success was the result of the collective efforts of the state units and team members. The Olympiad also received coverage from local media, television channels and social media platforms. The Trust commended this initiative, describing it as a commendable effort to foster an interest in science, enhance academic skills and promote a sense of a healthy society among children.

This Science Olympiad was organized in collaboration with various regional schools and startup partners, aiming to raise awareness about science among children, refine their skills and support their advancement in the field of education.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by Pervez Bari / October 29th, 2026

AMU Inaugurates First Student-Built Health-Tech Startup, Aivion Care, Along with Newton AI Ed Tech

Business & Economy, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Science & Technology

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Aligarh :

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has inaugurated Aivion Care, its first student-developed health-tech startup, along with Newton AI Ed Tech at Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College. The ventures were launched with support from the V-Inspire Research Centre, the Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (RIED) Cell and the AMU Innovation Foundation (AMUIF), under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon.

Held under the theme “Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s Vision of Scientific Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Bridging Traditional Medicine with Modern Healthcare Technology”, the programme was attended by more than 100 students in person, while over 50 participants joined online.

Aivion Care, a venture of AI Confidence Cure Pvt. Ltd., connects doctors, patients, pathologists and pharmacists through a smart application and device. Its features include online consultations, medication reminders and secure digital healthcare records. The device currently measures ECG, oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate and temperature, with blood pressure and glucose measurement capabilities under development.

Founder Saif Malik, Founder and CEO Daniya Parveen, and Chief Technology Officer Ziaul Islam demonstrated the platform and outlined its future plans. Newton AI Ed Tech Pvt. Ltd., founded by Karamveer Singh of Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology and Zaid Malik of the Faculty of Medicine, was also formally inaugurated.

The programme was presided over by Prof. Syeda Aamena Naaz, Chairperson, RIED Cell, and Dean, Faculty of Unani Medicine. Dr Abdulwasey Mohammed, Director, Founder and CEO of V-Inspire, joined online as Chief Guest and delivered a presentation on “Innovations to Wealth Creation”. The organisers announced that V-Inspire would soon establish a centre in Aligarh. Prof. Anees Ahmad, Director, V-Inspire and former Chairperson, Department of Industrial Chemistry, AMU, was the Guest of Honour, while AMU alumnus Engr. Mohammad Salman, from the 1973 batch of Mechanical Engineering, attended as Special Guest.

Among those present were Prof. Syed Fahad Anwer, Director, AMUIF; Prof. Sajjad Athar, Director, ICUIC and AMUIF; Dr Syed Javed Rizvi; Prof. Ekram Khan; Prof. Badrudduja Khan, Principal, Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College; Prof. Zamir Ahmad, Coordinator, RIED Cell; and Mohd Shariq Azam, General Manager, DawakhanaTibbiya College, along with faculty members and students.

Dr Abdul Aziz Khan, Faculty of Unani Medicine, convened the programme, which concluded with the presentation of mementoes and a vote of thanks.

source: http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / Home> Educational News> University News / by iednewsdesk / October 29th, 2026

AIMPLB and FMM Launch QR Code to Guide Muslims in Responding to Maharashtra’s UCC Questionnaire

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Mumbai:

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Federation of Maharashtra Muslims have jointly released a QR code to help Muslims respond to the Maharashtra government’s online questionnaire on the Uniform Civil Code.

The Maharashtra government has formed a committee to examine the possible implementation of the UCC in the state, following similar moves by other states. The committee has launched an online portal and invited public responses to 37 questions. Of these, 31 require objective answers in the form of yes, no, or no comment. The remaining six require short written responses.

Recognising that many people lack familiarity with the portal and the appropriate answers, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, in consultation with its legal team and in coordination with the Federation of Maharashtra Muslims, decided to release a QR code to assist respondents. The QR code opens with a short explanatory video that walks users through the process step by step. It provides the recommended answers to all 37 questions, including ready-to-copy text for the written responses, along with instructions on how to paste them into the government portal. The QR code also includes a direct link to the government portal for easy access.

At present, the Board has released the QR code for individual responses. Guidance for organisational responses will follow shortly.

A meeting of Board and Federation representatives was held at the Mumbai Aman Committee on the evening of October 29 to formally launch the QR code. Participants expressed satisfaction with the initiative and appealed to the public to participate in large numbers, share the QR code widely, and display it at mosques and other prominent locations.

Participants specifically urged Islamic scholars and imams to use their Friday sermons to raise awareness about the UCC, explain its implications, and encourage congregations to submit their responses using the QR code.

Addressing those who question the usefulness of such efforts, speakers at the meeting noted that even when results are not immediately visible, formal opposition becomes part of the historical record. They expressed the view that future governments would take note of this documented opposition and work to correct laws imposed under pressure.

Among those present at the meeting were Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Khan Daryabadi, Mufti Saeedur Rahman Farooqui, Hafiz Iqbal Chunawala, Farid Sheikh, Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, Dr Azeemuddin, Abdul Haseeb Bhatkar, and Shakir Sheikh.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / October 29th, 2026

Beyond Misconceptions: ‘Women in Islam’ Gallery to Highlight Rights, Dignity and Contributions at Hyderabad Expo

Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Misconceptions often thrive where understanding is limited. Muslim women, Islamic family values and the rights accorded to women under Islam have long been subjects of public debate, with social media frequently amplifying stereotypes and misinformation. An upcoming exhibition in Hyderabad seeks to challenge these perceptions through facts, historical accounts and Islamic teachings.

The gallery aims to encourage informed dialogue by addressing common misconceptions about Muslim women’s status, rights and role in society, drawing on historical evidence and references from the Qur’an and Hadith.

A special gallery titled ‘Women in Islam’ will be one of the key attractions at Beyond the Divide: Countering Hate Expo. Building Harmony, a three-day public exhibition is being organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Greater Hyderabad, at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds from October 30 to November 1.

Separating Myths from Facts

One of the central themes of the gallery is women’s economic independence and property rights. Challenging the widespread perception that women have no property rights under Islam, the exhibition highlights their right to own and manage property, inherit wealth and retain control over their personal assets. It also explains that mehr (dower), given to a woman as part of marriage, belongs exclusively to her.

The question of consent in marriage is another major focus. The gallery seeks to dispel the notion that a woman’s opinion carries little weight in matrimonial decisions, highlighting Islamic teachings that require the bride’s consent for marriage.

Education and the pursuit of knowledge form another important theme. Contrary to the perception that Islam discourages women’s education, the exhibition highlights the contributions of women scholars throughout Islamic history. Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah, the wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, was a renowned authority on Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence who taught and guided generations of scholars.

The gallery will also explore women’s participation in public life, challenging the stereotype that Muslim women have traditionally been confined to their homes. From business and education to healthcare and social service, women have played active roles in Muslim societies since the early days of Islam. Hazrat Khadija, the Prophet’s wife, is among the prominent historical examples of a woman who independently conducted business.

Family Values, Rights and Responsibilities

The exhibition will also examine the Islamic understanding of family life, placing mutual respect, compassion and responsibility at the centre of marital relationships. In the Islamic perspective, the relationship between husband and wife is not merely a question of individual rights but one built on affection, mercy and shared responsibilities. While the husband is entrusted with financial maintenance of the family, women’s contributions to household management, emotional well-being and the upbringing of children are also acknowledged.

Complex and frequently debated subjects, including divorce and polygyny (a man having more than one wife), will also be addressed. The gallery aims to explain the conditions governing these practices under Islamic law, including the requirement of justice and fair treatment in polygynous marriages and the Qur’anic directive to marry only one if justice cannot be maintained.

Muslim Women Who Helped Shape India

Moving beyond religious principles, the gallery will highlight the contributions of Muslim women to India’s freedom struggle, education, social reform and contemporary public life. Abadi Bano Begum, popularly known as Amma Jaan, will feature among the women remembered for mobilising support for the freedom movement.

The exhibition will also showcase the contributions of Nawab Sultan Jahan Begum, former ruler of Bhopal and the first Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, and Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, the pioneering educationist who established a school for girls in Bengal.

Among contemporary achievers, the gallery will highlight K.V. Rabiya, a Padma Shri awardee recognised for her work in literacy and social service; Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, an IAS officer; Dr Mariam Afifa Ansari, a neurosurgeon; Dr Mazizia Bhanu, a gold medallist at the Powerlifting World Cup; and Syeda Salwa Fatima, a commercial pilot.

Their journeys, the organisers hope, will demonstrate the diverse ways in which Muslim women have contributed to the country’s social, educational and professional progress.

From Prejudice to Understanding

Built around the message that the distance between communities can be bridged through dialogue, Beyond the Divide Expo seeks to promote mutual understanding and challenge prejudice. The exhibition underscores the idea that appearances alone cannot define a person’s identity, abilities or aspirations, and that meaningful engagement begins with a willingness to understand others beyond stereotypes.

The three-day event at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds from October 30 to November 1 invites people from different backgrounds to explore the exhibits, engage with diverse perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of Islam, women’s rights and the Islamic family system.

By placing historical contributions, religious teachings and contemporary achievements side by side, the ‘Women in Islam’ gallery seeks to replace assumptions with informed understanding and encourage a more inclusive public conversation.

[The writer is JIH Hyderabad City Media In-charge]

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Features> Focus / by Vaseemunnissa / October 29th, 2026

IPS Shahnaz Illyas shows the way to deal with caste discrimination

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Leadership : IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS, IFoS, IAAS (incl.) all UPSC Services (wef. 18 June 2026), Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

TAMIL NADU :

IPS Shahnaz Illyas, SP, Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu

New Delhi :

Shahnaz Illyas, an IPS officer posted as Superintendent of Police, Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu, has shown how a bold officer can break caste and social barriers to empower those pushed to the margins.

The incident in V. Alambalam village in Villupuram District was when a group of locals blocked Dalits from entering the village temple during a festival. However, they were let in after SP Shahnaz broke the locks and stood guard to ensure they could pray safely.

Shahnaz first tried to reason with the locals opposing Dalits’ entry into the Varadaraja Perumal temple in V. Alambalam village in Villupuram District during a local festival.

However, since they were adamant and did not see anything wrong in blatant caste discrimination, Shahnaz Illyas personally led a team to break open the locks. They remained there till the discriminated-against people finished praying.

Tension brewed when local Dalit families announced they wanted to offer prayers during a temple festival. In protest, some locals locked the temple gates to keep them out.

Instead of waiting for slow official meetings, SP Shahnaz took direct action. She went to the spot, ordered the illegal locks to be broken, and stood guard, ensuring Dalit residents could walk inside and worship safely.

“The temple is a public place open to everyone. No one can be barred from entering, and everyone has an equal right to pray here”, she announced to the group of locals trying to block the entry of Dalits to the temple.

Shahnaz Ilyas

She then stood guard with over 100 police personnel to ensure the families could worship peacefully without fear of retaliation.

Photos and videos of her enforcing the law have gone viral on social media. Shahnaz Illyas is a 2021-batch IPS officer who cleared the UPSC exam on her very first attempt with a rank of 217. Before joining the police force, she worked as an IT engineer for five years.

She famously prepared for her civil services exams while managing her pregnancy and later caring for her newborn baby. Before her posting in Kallakurichi, she worked in the Chennai Cyber Crime division, where she fought against online fraud and fake loan apps.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home / by Aasha Khosa, ATV / October 14th, 2026

Bulbul-e-Deccan: Five Years On, Hyderabad’s Urdu World Still Mourns Prof Fatima Begum Parveen

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hyderabad:

Five years after the death of Prof Fatima Begum Parveen in 2021, the Urdu literary world in Hyderabad continues to feel the weight of her absence. A tribute by senior journalist JS Ifthekhar, published in Siasat, captures the depth of that loss with the authority of one who witnessed her in action across numerous literary gatherings over the years.

Prof Parveen was no ordinary academic. Associated with the Department of Urdu at Osmania University, she was simultaneously a teacher, critic, poet, researcher and translator. Her literary output extended to 23 books covering classical, Deccani and modern Urdu literature. Her works included Deccani Adab Ka Mutaliya, Zaviya-e-Nigah and Nanhi Nazmein, her Urdu translation of Prof N Gopi’s celebrated Telugu poetry collection. Her critical studies of Ghavasi, the poet laureate of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, and progressive poet Akhtar Ansari occupy a significant place in Urdu scholarship.

What set her apart, Ifthekhar notes, was not scholarship alone. Her oratory was rooted in years of study and teaching. She spoke on classical poets, Deccani literature and the evolution of Urdu poetry with a command that drew audiences at literary events across the country. Her delivery moved effortlessly from scholarly analysis to personal anecdote, from literary criticism to emotional resonance, without once resorting to academic jargon.

She earned the affectionate title Bulbul-e-Deccan for precisely this rare combination of scholarship, warmth and oratorical force. Dr Taqi Abedi, the Hyderabad-born Canadian physician, poet and Urdu scholar, described her death as an irreparable loss, saying the vacuum she left is hard to fill.

Her academic journey itself held an unlikely beginning. She first studied science, completing a BSc and gaining admission to an MSc programme in Warangal. After her family relocated to Hyderabad, she enrolled for an MA in Urdu at Osmania University in 1975, becoming the only science graduate among 49 students in her class to do so. Encouraged by Prof Mughni Tabassum, then head of the Urdu department, she went on to secure two gold medals.

At the time of her death, Prof Parveen was compiling the poetic works of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, a project that now remains unfinished.

She passed away a few days before Teachers’ Day, following complications from a Covid infection. The Bulbul-e-Deccan has fallen silent, but her books, her students and the memory of her voice endure.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence> Opinion>Urdu / by Radiance News Bureau / September 06th, 2026

Khanqah-e-Zadibal: Shia sect’s first Khanqah in Kashmir

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Srinagar , JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Khanqah-e-Zadiba

Nestled in the densely populated area of Zadibal, Srinagar, stands the centuries old Khanqah-e-Mir Shams-ud-din Araki, dedicated to the renowned theologian, who visited Kashmir first as an ambassador and, later as a preacher at the dawn of 16th century.

At a walking distance from the main Zadibal Imambara, the Khanqah is located over an elevated level looking at a horizontal line with the shrine of Sufi saint, Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom on Hari Parbat Fort to its east.

The premises comprise Khanqah, reconstructed over two decades back after several reconstructions in the past and, a mausoleum of Mir Shams-ud-Din Araki, his family members, descendents and followers around.

The new concrete structure of Khanqah, constructed more than two decades ago on modern lines, is opened for devotees on important occasions like Muharram days, according to the local caretakers. It is believed that the Khanqah, since it was established five centuries ago, had been damaged in 11 different fire incidents.

Entrance to Khanqah-e-Zadibal

The mausoleum structure is being developed by the Department of Tourism of J&K Government, for renovation, beautification and to create better facilities for the pilgrims as well as tourists, though at a low pace.

Devotees, mostly from the Shia community, continue to pour in on a daily basis offering special prayers and seeking blessings at the mausoleum. Much work on the preservation of monumental artifacts, believed to have been the tombstones on different graves or memorial plaques on which verses in Arabic are carved, are lying in disarray.

The Khanqah is looked after by the Anjuman-e-Sharie Shia, J&K

Mausoleum of Mir Shams-ud-din Araki

“Hazrat Mir Muhammad Shams al-Din ‘Iraqi (RA) was one of the most distinguished spiritual personalities of  the 15th century, who occupied an eminent position in the fields of religious learning (ʿilm), spiritual knowledge (maʿrifah), and Sufi discipline (irfan)”, Justice (rtd) Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain, a former Judge of the J&K High Court and author told Awaz-The-Voice. “Through his intellectual depth, spiritual excellence, and missionary zeal, he left a lasting imprint upon the religious and cultural history of Kashmir”, he adds.

“He was born in 833 AH (1429 CE) in Kund village in the outskirts of Solqan in Iran as Muhammad, while his honorific name, Mir Shams-al-din (The Sun of Religion) was conferred upon him by his spiritual master, Hazrat Shah Qasim Faiz Bakhsh (RA), and later know as Mir Shams al Din Íraqi”, writes Justice (rtd.) Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain.

The spiritual leader is popularly known as Mir Shams-ud-Din Araki, after the name of the area of his birth place, Arak in Iran. “After the death of Hazrat Nur Bakh in 869 AH, he (Araki) resumed his pursuit of spiritual perfection and formally became one of the foremost disciples of the Nurbakhshiya order.

Sculpted old stones at the premises of Khanqah-e-Zadibal

Mir Shams-ud-din Araki is widely regarded as the founder of the Nurbakhshiyya order, a branch of the Kubrawiya Sufi tradition, in Kashmir. During his stay in the Valley, he established the famous Khanqah-i-Nurbakhshiyya at Zadibal, Srinagar, which became one of the largest and most influential Sufi centres in Kashmir. “A widespread perception exists that Mir Shams al-Din ‘Iraqi was the founder of Shi’ism in Kashmir. Historical evidence, however, show that long before his arrival, a number of Shi’i scholars, missionaries, and religious personalities had already reached Kashmir and had introduced the teachings of Imamia sect”, comments Justice (rtd) Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain.

The visit of Mir Shams-ud-Din Araki is regarded as the arrival of third Sufi saint in Kashmir after Syed Sharf-ud-Din, commonly known as Bulbul Shah in the first quarter of 14th century and Mir Syed Ali Hamadani or Shah-e-Hamadan in later half of the 14th century.

Araki first visited Kashmir in 888 AH (1483 CE), according to Hakim Imtiyaz, adding that the visit was undertaken at the instructions of his spiritual master Shah Qasim Faiz Bakhsh in search of medicinal herbs and rare pharmaceutical plants required for the treatment of Sultan Husayn Khurasan under Shah Qasim’s medical care. On his arrival, Mir Araki found that the Valley was already an important centre of the Kubrawiyya Sufi tradition established by the followers of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani.

Since he himself belonged to the same broader spiritual lineage, he developed close relations with the leading Sufi scholars and spiritual guides of Kashmir. During this period, he devoted himself to the training of disciples, spiritual instruction, and the organisation of Sufi institutions. After residing in Kashmir for approximately eight years, he returned to his spiritual master in Khurasan.

After some time he returned to the valley and launched the propagation of religion. He spiritually trained a large number of people and helped them attain higher stages of spiritual perfection.

He guided those engaged in reciting the Awrad-i Fathiyyah (of Shah-e-Hamadan) in the Khanqahs and continued to train the dervishes. He also undertook significant work for the revival of Islam in Kashmir and remained devoted to the cause of upholding the true faith and proclaiming the Word of Truth. He acquainted countless people with the fundamentals of religion and the principles of the Shari‘ah. Among his other achievements was the construction of mosques and Khanqahs at various places in Kashmir.

Inscriptions describing the life and works of Shams-ud-din Araki mounted inside the mausoleum

Since he himself belonged to the same broader spiritual lineage, he developed close relations with the leading Sufi scholars and spiritual guides of Kashmir. During this period, he devoted himself to the training of disciples, spiritual instruction, and the organisation of Sufi institutions. After residing in Kashmir for approximately eight years, he returned to his spiritual master in Khurasan.

After some time he returned to the valley and launched the propagation of religion. He spiritually trained a large number of people and helped them attain higher stages of spiritual perfection.

He guided those engaged in reciting the Awrad-i Fathiyyah (of Shah-e-Hamadan) in the Khanqahs and continued to train the dervishes. He also undertook significant work for the revival of Islam in Kashmir and remained devoted to the cause of upholding the true faith and proclaiming the Word of Truth. He acquainted countless people with the fundamentals of religion and the principles of the Shari‘ah. Among his other achievements was the construction of mosques and Khanqahs at various places in Kashmir.

The year of the death of Mir Shams-ud-Din Araki is generally given as 932 AH (1525 CE), according to Justice (rtd) Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain. The spiritual leader was buried at his own Khanqah in Zadibal, Srinagar, he adds. “At a later stage, however, when the foreign invader Mirza Haidar Dughlat fomented unrest, rebellion, and sectarian disturbances in the Kashmir Valley, particularly in the city of Srinagar, a tradition arose that his mortal remains were transferred from Zadibal to Chadoora, and buried there. A shrine was subsequently constructed at that site”, Hakim Imitiyaz Hussain adds.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Ehsan Fazili, Srinagar / October 24th, 2026