Raasavrunda has organised a sitar and vocal recital by Ustad Hafiz Bale Khan, disciple and son of the legendary maestro Sitar Nawaz Ustad Bale Khan, at its premises, #1095, Devaparthiva Road, Chamarajapuram, on Oct. 29 at 6 pm.
He will be accompanied on tabla by Pt. Mallesh Hugar, harmonium by Pt. Prabhu Sonna and sitar support by Mohrataram Haris Khan.
About the artiste :
Ustad Hafiz Bale Khan is a renowned Indian classical sitarist and vocalist from the Dharwad-Kirana Gharana. He carries forward a six-generation musical heritage in Hindustani classical music.
He is the son and disciple of the late Sitar Nawaz Ustad Bale Khan, grandson of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and great-grandson of the celebrated sitarist Sitar Ratna Rahimat Khan.
He frequently performs and collaborates with his brother, Ustad Rais Bale Khan, forming a well-known musical duo.
Ustad Hafiz Khan is known for his sitar playing featuring the Gayaki Ang style (imitating human vocal nuances), which includes elaborate alaaps, jod and jhala. He is also accomplished in Hindustani vocal forms like Khayal, Thumri and Ghazal.
Fluent in Kannada and Marathi, he is widely recognised for rendering Kannada vachanas (such as those of Basavanna and Akka Mahadevi), Dasara Padas and Marathi devotional/ abhang compositions.
He is an A-grade artiste with All India Radio and Doordarshan. He is a recipient of honours such as the Swarasamrat Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru Yuva Puraskar.
Ustad Hafiz Khan has performed across India and internationally in countries like the UK (London), the USA, Iran, Kuwait, Dubai and Sharjah.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Culture / October 25th, 2026
Months after Gazi Jalaluddin’s passing, his two sons are finding it hard to pay teachers, provide midday meals and fulfil his vision of a residential school for girls.
Taxi driver Gazi Jalaluddin, who built three schools in West Bengal (Sundarbans and Narendrapur) for underprivileged children using taxi earnings and donations, passed away on January 9 / All pictures by Amit Datta
Gazi Jalaluddin drove a taxi in Kolkata but his life’s mission was providing education to children from underprivileged families. He founded three schools – two near the Sundarbans and one in Narendrapur – was featured on many newspapers and news clips and was even on Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
Jalaluddin died on January 9 this year and the dream he gave shape to is struggling.
“We are facing a severe shortage of funds for midday meals and the schools’ financial condition is currently very poor,” Israfil Gazi, Jalaludddin’s younger son, the head teacher of the Sundarban Shikshayatan schools that his father founded, told My Kolkata.
My Kolkata visited the schools in Thakur Chak in South 24-Parganas district, around a two-and-half-hour drive from Kolkata.
Schools built on taxi fares and public donations
Following Jalaluddin’s death, his sons, Israfil and Ismail Gazi, are struggling with severe fund shortages / Image sourced by correspondent
Jalaluddin drove his taxi in central Kolkata mostly and his efforts to provide free schooling to underprivileged children stemmed from his life experience; he missed out on education because his family was poor.
His sons became part of that mission.
“I completed my higher secondary examination in 1999 and began serving as headmaster of the free primary school in 2000, working alongside my father,” Israfil said. “I completed my MA in Bengali, becoming the first in the family to hold a postgraduate degree.”
Israfil said the family established the first school at their ancestral home in Thakur Chak as the Ismailpur Iron Foundation Primary School (IIFP).
In 2006, Jalaluddin met two social activists, Ajit Kumar Saha and Dipankar Ghosh, while driving his taxi. After visiting the school, they helped take the initiative forward. They bought land about 2km from the main school, donated it in the school’s name and built a building where classes began in 2009.
Younger son, Israfil Gazi holds an MA in Bengali; serves as headmaster and manages academic/administrative affairs across the schools
That school, Sundarban Shikshayatan, has eight teachers and 134 students from nursery to Class V.
“A society named Sundarban Shikshayatan was registered to manage the institution. He served as its secretary, with Saha as president and Ghosh as vice president. In 2019, the management was formally handed back to the family through a deed that specified that the institution would provide free education to underprivileged students,” Israfil explained.
The schools operate under separate trusts. Israfil said he formed the Sundarban Shikshayatan Trust on November 3, 2023, after difficulties with the earlier society’s annual registration renewals and audits.
The IIFP is housed in three rooms on the first floor of the family home, with the family living on the ground floor. The school offers classes up to Class IV. There are 95 students with five teachers.
The IIFP has not been able to secure approvals to become a full-fledged school because it lacks sufficient open space for children to play.
About 5km away, Sundarban Shikshayatan has open space that meets the government’s requirements for a school.
Midday meals and teachers’ allowances hit
Teachers receive minor stipends rather than formal salaries, relying on community goodwill
For years, Jalaluddin’s taxi was a crucial source of support for the schools. He collected contributions from passengers and other people to pay for school expenses, including teachers’ allowances and midday meals.
His sons have continued the work, but maintaining the network of donors has become difficult.
“My father would drive his taxi in Kolkata and collect donations from passengers. Now my elder brother does the same. But the donations are irregular. We need government and public support to keep the schools running,” said Israfil.
The midday meals in the schools, funded entirely by donations, have stopped. Teachers receive only nominal allowances, which Israfil said could hardly be described as salaries.
“Children in this school come from families where the parents are toto drivers, tailors, odd-job workers,” Israfil said. “The one-time annual admission fee is around Rs 2,700 and is paid in instalments by the family whenever it is convenient. There are government schools nearby with no proper infrastructure or teachers.”
Sundarban Shikshayatan serves 134 students (Nursery to Class V) with 8 teachers and features proper infrastructure, including open play space
When My Kolkata visited the Sundarban Shikshayatan school, the children were taking their art examination.
The school has six classrooms with a staff room, a green open space with swings, a library and a drinking water facility.
The IIFP has only four classrooms with a terrace for cultural activities.
Ismail Gazi, Israfil’s elder brother, who drives a taxi in Kolkata like their father, continues to collect money from passengers for the institutions. He also oversees the school in Narendrapur, where classes from Class I to Class IV are being held.
“My responsibility in this institution is to collect some money from taxi passengers and bring it here. That’s my duty. If anyone can help us with some books and support for midday meals, then we will be able to run the school even better,” Ismail said.
Government approval remains a hurdle
The family’s application for an official No-Objection Certificate (NOC) remains stalled
The family is also trying to secure government approval. Israfil said an application for a no-objection certificate had been submitted in 2012, but they had received no response.
Recently, Israfil attempted to complete the online application process through the Banglar Shiksha portal. Of the 29 proforma forms, they had completed 27 before the portal closed, leaving the process unfinished.
“If the portal opens again, we will try to fulfil all criteria to obtain the NOC,” Israfil said.
A residential school for girls remains a dream
Jalaluddin’s vision of establishing a residential school for girls (Sundarban Orphanage Mission) remains unrealized
The late Jalaluddin had hoped to extend education opportunities for children in the area through a residential institution offering classes from Class V to higher secondary, to help students continue their studies locally rather than lose access to education after primary school.
“We started the project called Sundarban Mission in 2012,” Israfil said. “A building was constructed under the Sundarban Orphanage Mission and classes were run for a couple of years. However, poor road connectivity made the premises difficult to access during the monsoon. The institution eventually had to close, leaving the building unused.”
He also said that Jalaluddin approached local MLAs and MPs and took up the matter with then Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s office.
Israfil said the road project was eventually sanctioned and completed, but his father died shortly afterwards.
The Narendrapur school is another part of Jalaluddin’s plans.
“The money my father received after appearing on Kaun Banega Crorepati was intended to fund a school for Classes XI and XII,” Ismail said. “As the proposed building has not yet been constructed, the institution currently runs classes from Class I to IV.”
Elder son; continues driving a taxi in Kolkata to collect passenger donations and manages the Narendrapur school branch
For both brothers, the immediate concern is to keep the existing schools functioning. Ismail continues to drive a taxi and collect donations, while Israfil manages the academic and administrative responsibilities.
Bijon Kumar Haldar, a teacher at the school, said, “We appeal to everyone across West Bengal, India, and other countries, wherever this news reaches, to extend a helping hand. This school needs your support.”
Israfil Gazi is aware that the schools need more than that.
“If there is one thing that can save my father’s vision, it is government affiliation,” he said.
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online, My Kolkata / Home> People / by Jaismita Alexander / October 28th, 2026
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram, founder and chancellor of Jamia Markaz Saquafathi Sunniyya in Kozhikode, Kerala, was conferred an honorary doctorate by Yenepoya Deemed to be University at its Endurance Auditorium on Wednesday.
The honorary doctorate was presented by Dr. Yenepoya Abdullah Kunhi, Chancellor of Yenepoya University.
Accepting the honour, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad said Muslims should give importance to secular education alongside religious education and increase their efforts in the field of education.
He said divine grace had enabled him to serve society for many years and that he had accepted the doctorate as something bestowed upon him by Allah. He praised Yenepoya University for bringing about a transformation in the education sector and noted that the institution had provided medical education to several orphaned children from Markaz. He expressed hope that free education could continue to be provided to orphans and underprivileged people in the future.
Dr. Chullikkode Hussain Saquafi, co-chancellor of Jamia Markaz, said the conferment of the honorary doctorate on Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad fulfilled a long-standing dream of the Sunni Muslim community. He said the recognition by Yenepoya University had fulfilled not only the aspirations of the scholar’s disciples but also the dreams of thousands of Muslims.
He added that academic titles would not change Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad and that his contributions to social service and educational advancement would continue. He also expressed gratitude to Yenepoya University for honouring the prominent Sunni Muslim leader.
Presiding over the programme, Yenepoya University Chancellor Y. Abdullah Kunhi said conferring the honorary doctorate on Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, who has made distinguished contributions to education and social service, was a proud moment for the university.
He said the scholar, who commands the respect of millions, had also earned recognition beyond his own community. His visionary leadership and efforts to provide education to disadvantaged and underprivileged sections of society were commendable, he said. Recalling his leadership associated with Jamia Markaz in Kozhikode and his service as Qazi of the historic Ullal Dargah, Kunhi highlighted his contribution to education and social progress.
Recalling his association with his late father, Yenepoya Moideen Kunhi, the chancellor said the blessings and encouragement of Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad had consistently supported the institution’s growth. He added that the guidance of eminent personalities had played an important role in the educational journey of the Yenepoya group, which has gained global recognition.
The programme was attended by Pro-Chancellor Dr. Vijayakumar, Yenepoya University Vice-Chancellor Dr. K.S. Gangadhara Somayaji, Registrar Dr. Ashwini Dutt, Dr. Muhammad Farhad, Yenepoya University Registrar (Evaluation) Dr. B.T. Nandeesh, Islamic Academy of Education trustee Dr. Habeeb Rahman, Jamia Markaz Vice-Chancellor Dr. Hussain Saquafi Chullikode, and several political and religious leaders.
The honorary doctorate had been announced for Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad and Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, founding chairman of SS Innovations International, as part of Yenepoya University’s 16th convocation. Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, who was scheduled to receive the degree at the convocation held on October 24, accepted it at a felicitation ceremony on Wednesday.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / October 28th, 2026
Over the years, MS came to be seen as an institution that attempted to bridge two worlds — modern education and religious values.
Mohmmad Lateef Khan of MS Education Academy speaking at institution’s 36th Foundation Day in Hyderabad
Hyderabad:
Thirty-six years may not be a very long period in the life of an institution. But it is certainly long enough to show whether a dream has acquired direction, whether an experiment has survived the test of time and whether an institution has remained true to the vision with which it began.
By that yardstick, the journey of the MS Education Academy is a story of sweat, grit and persistence. What began as a modest two-room coaching centre in 1991 has grown into a sprawling educational network with 163 institutions, 33,000 students and a growing presence across Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
The journey has been neither accidental nor effortless. Its success has been built brick by brick through determination, discipline and, at times, the courage to confront criticism.
As the MS Education Academy celebrated its 36th Foundation Day recently, its founders, teachers, students, well-wishers and distinguished guests took a walk down memory lane. The gathering included Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, doctors, entrepreneurs, academicians, NRIs, journalists and social workers — people from diverse walks of life who have witnessed the institution’s evolution.
Mohd Lateef Khan flanked by Anwar Ahmed and Moazzam Husain.
Affordable modern education for minorities
When Mohammad Lateef Khan, MS founder-chairman, and a group of like-minded people embarked on their educational journey on August 10, 1991, their objective was both simple and challenging: to provide quality and affordable modern education to the community without compromising on Islamic values.
It was a proposition that resonated with parents.
Over the years, MS came to be seen as an institution that attempted to bridge two worlds — modern education and religious values. In an environment where parents often worry about the influence of external factors on their children’s faith and identity, this became one of the academy’s biggest strengths.
The confidence it enjoys among parents was reflected in an anecdote shared by MA Majeed, proprietor of Pista House. “I faced no difficulty in getting a good alliance for my daughter. The moment it was told that she had studied at MS, the marriage was fixed,” he said.
The remark elicited laughter and applause.
But amid the applause came a reminder that no institution should become complacent. Mustafa Ali Sarvari, a faculty member of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), struck a discordant note when he raised questions about the academic standards of the institution and the wider social challenges facing the community.
He wondered why hundreds of highly educated girls continued to struggle to find suitable marriage alliances. While acknowledging that MS had done well, he felt the institution had considerable ground to cover in improving its academic standards.
“Most parents, including myself, sent their wards to this institution because it took care of their Islamic beliefs,” he observed.
The criticism, however, was not seen as an affront. Rajen Habib Khwaja, retired IAS officer, put it in perspective. “Self-criticism is essential for the development of any institution.” He summed up MS management’s determination with this couplet:
” Hum ne ek shaam charagon se saja rakhi hai
Shart logon ne hawaon se laga rakhi hai “
That perhaps was one of the most important lessons from the Foundation Day celebrations. Institutions grow not merely through praise but also through the willingness to listen, introspect and improve.
The numbers tell a story
There is little doubt that MS has come a long way since 1991. The numbers are impressive, both in terms of students and institutions. But it is the achievements behind those numbers that have given MS its reputation.
The story of Ayesha Fatima remains etched in the institution’s history. In 2005, she secured 985 marks in Intermediate, an achievement that became a benchmark for MS students. This year, Hafsa Begum raised the bar even higher, scoring an extraordinary 997 out of 1,000.
For an institution that began with modest resources, such academic accomplishments are significant. The record of professional achievements is equally noteworthy.
According to the institution, 2,116 MS students have secured merit-based MBBS seats. Another 211 have gained admission to IITs, NITs and other premier institutions. The MS Academy has also produced 154 chartered accountants, four Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil servants and more than 50 Group I and other senior government officers.
And there is another number that reflects the other half of the MS philosophy: 481 Huffaz, or students who have memorised the Quran.
For MS, these figures are not merely statistics. They represent an attempt to combine academic achievement with moral and spiritual grounding. The true success of education lies not merely in producing professionals but in producing responsible human beings.
The people behind the journey
Lateef Khan, the man who spearheaded the MS initiative, has never claimed sole credit for its success. At the Foundation Day celebrations, he recalled the contribution of several individuals who encouraged and supported the institution during its early years.
He specifically remembered Siasat newspaper and its late Managing Editor Zaheeruddin Ali Khan. “The Siasat newspaper was a launching pad for us. Particularly, Zaheer sahib encouraged me a lot.”
He also acknowledged the contribution of KM Arifuddin of Madina Education Centre and his own teacher, Fareed sahab. Such acknowledgements are significant because institutions are rarely built by one person. Behind every successful organisation are teachers, administrators, parents, supporters and well-wishers who invest their time, trust and energy in its growth.
The road ahead
Yet, the MS story is not about looking back alone. The academy has set itself an audacious target — to establish 2,036 institutions by 2036. It sounds very ambitious. But Lateef Khan does not appear intimidated by the scale of the challenge.
“A tall order but not impossible,” he says.
Former police commissioner AK Khan suggested another direction for the institution: introducing professional courses in law and chartered accountancy. Both, he felt, had immense employment potential. The management took the suggestion in right earnest as it prepares for its next phase.
Expansion brings its own challenges. The bigger an institution becomes, the greater the responsibility to maintain academic quality, professional standards and individual attention. Growth in numbers must not come at the cost of quality.
That may well be the central challenge before MS in the years ahead.
Beyond the milestones
Looking back, the MS journey is a story of dreams, milestones, values and perseverance. But perhaps the most significant achievement is the confidence that MS has managed to build among a section of the community — confidence that modern education and religious values need not necessarily be mutually exclusive.
The target of 2,036 institutions by 2036 is ambitious. So is the task of ensuring that every new institution matches the standards and vision of those that came before it.
That will require the same qualities that sustained MS through its first 36 years: hard work, discipline, innovation, self-criticism and an unwavering belief in the dream.
As Anwar Ahmed, Managing Director of MS Education Academy, aptly summed up the institution’s philosophy: We don’t FEAR. “We Face Everything and Rise.”
It is more than a slogan. It is, in many ways, the story of MS itself.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by JS Ifthekhar / August 12th, 2026
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
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
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
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
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
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
