On the occasion of International Women’s Day a seminar on ‘The Rights and Duties of Women in Islam’ was organised by 3S Classes at Medical Road. Speaking in the seminar as Chief Guest President, Sir Syed Awareness Forum, Prof. Shakeel Samdani of Aligarh Muslim University said that the rights which were given by the Islam to the women about 14 centuries ago are still not available to the non-Muslim ladies. The Prophet of Islam (SAW) has done great favour to the women at large that can never be forgotten by the history. He said that the majority of allegations which are labelled against Islam are relating to women’s rights and it is said that Islam neither gives any rights to women nor liberty but the situation is otherwise. The Islamic Sharia gives complete liberty to women and they are allowed to do every work within the limits of Sharia. Islam gives the equality not similarity. Of course Islam does not permit the so called liberty of the west which permits nudity, obscenity, selfishness and frailty.
Replying the criticism of Islam he said that in western countries the rate of divorce and wife beating is the highest but the situation in Muslim countries and Muslim societies is much better. The provision of divorce provided by Islam is not a ‘Zehmat’ but ‘Rehmat’, if it is exercised in accordance with Quran. Even in India the dowry related deaths and the petitions relating to divorce are less in Muslims. As far as polygamy is concerned various reports of government of India have revealed that Muslims are less polygamous than non Muslims. In his marvellous speech Prof. Samdani said that the three women of Islam Hazrat Khadija (RA), Hazrat Fatima (RA) and Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (RA) have no parallel in women’s history and these three women have shown a clear cut path of sacrifice and success which will be remembered till the day of judgement. The life history of Hazrat Ayesha (RA), the beloved wife of Prophet of Islam is full of sacrifice and service for the cause of Islam and after the demise of Prophet of Islam (SAW) she lead the Muslim world intellectually and spiritually for decades.
Managing Director of 3S Classes, Imran Khan said that Islam has given all the rights to the women but there is a limit of those rights. Islam has accorded the best status to motherhood and in this way enhanced the status of women which has no parallel in the history.
Mrs. Anjum Tasneem of Uday Singh Jain Girls College threw light on the history of women’s day and said that on this day seminars, symposiums, conferences and processions are organized but the desired results are not achieved. Women are still being oppressed and harassed. While citing various reports she said that the laws are not balanced and the freedom which has been given to the women are immoral, unethical, unreasonable and un Islamic. That’s why instead of relieving them from hardship, their problems are increasing day by day. She advised the audience to turn towards the Islamic laws and lead their lives accordingly.
Mohd. Usama of Madarsa Arabia Tameer-e-Millat, Aligarh said that if the Muslim women want peace and dignity in their lives they should lead their lives in accordance with Sharia. They should also create an Islamic environment within the family.
Other speakers of the seminar included, Suhaib Salahuddin Siddiqui, Mohsin Jamal and Furqan Ahmad. The program was a great success in the sense that a large number of non Muslim ladies and teachers attended the program. In this program a book on ‘ Indo Islamic Culture’ authored by Imran Khan was released by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries.
The seminar was attended among others by Gaurav Sharma, Swati Yadav, Monika Singh, Poornima Singh, Ayesha Samdani, Hilal Asghar, Uzma Almas, Abu Khuzaima, Asma Alisher, Huda Khan Nadim Ahmed, Abdullah Samdani etc.
source: http://www.milligazette.com / The MIlli Gazette Online / Home> Community News / March 10th, 2015
Mohsin E Millat Award being presented to Dr. Syed Shah Khusro Hussaini by Prof. Shakeel Samdani
Aligarh :
Dr. Syed Shah Khusro Hussaini, Founder and Chancellor, Khaja Bandanawaz University was conferred with “Mohsin-E-Millat Award” by Sir Syed Awareness Forum (SAF) during a function which was attended by many prominent personalities from the field of education at University Polytechnic Auditorium, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
During the occasion a seminar on “Modern Education and Muslims” was also organised by the Forum.
Addressing the seminar Dr. Syed Shah Khusro Hussaini said that education is necessary for Muslims throughout the world. He said that, Islam is a modern religion and if the principles of Islam are followed honestly, then everyone can achieve success in their lives. He further said that he is the admirer of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and he is trying his best to carry forward the mission of Sir Syed by establishing a university. He appealed to the Muslims to focus on education as it is the key to success. In the last he said that division on the basis of school of thought is causing harm to the Muslims. It should be avoided by them.
Presiding over the seminar, Prof. Mohd. Hanif Beg, Pro Vice Chancellor, AMU said that in today’s world it is very important to discuss on the issues of education. He congratulated the SAF for organizing the seminar on modern education. He further said that Sir Syed has always given importance to modern education. At the end he requested the students to work hard for civil services and judicial examinations.
Prof. M H Beg, PVC, AMU delivering Speech sitting IPS Abdul Hamid, Dr. Khusro Hussaini, Prof. Shakeel Samdani, Prof. Pathan and others
Guest of Honor, Mr. Abdul Hamid, IPS and Registrar, AMU said that today Muslims are lagging behind in the field of modern education. Sachar Committee report has confirmed that the educational status of Muslims in India is lower than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He said that higher education is the only solution of this problem. He requested the students of AMU to focus on their education and keep themselves away from unnecessary activities. At the last he congratulated Prof. Shakeel Samdani, President SAF for organizing a wonderful seminar on a very important topic.
President of the forum, Prof. Shakeel Samdani, while delivering his speech, said that Muslims have dominated the world in the field of education, science, literature, etc for about 600 years and this was only possible because they focused more on education and research. He congratulated the South India for carrying forward the mission of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. South Indian Muslims have established much more education institutions as compared to Muslims of North India. He further said that Dr. Khusro Hussaini has established 24 educational institutions and the most important among them is the Khaja Banda Nawaz University. He said that the work of Dr. Hussaini is appreciable as he has helped the poor sections of the society by establishing educational institutions. At the last he said that it is the pleasure of SAF that Dr. Hussaini has accepted the Mohsin-E-Millat Award.
Principal of Abdullah College, Prof. Naima Gulrez said that North India is lagging behind in establishing educational institutions as compared to South India. She gave the example of Parsis that although they are numerically less in population but they are one of the most prosperous community in the country. It is because they are educationally advanced and they focus very much over modern education. She expressed her sorrow about the condition of Muslim women in the society.
Vice Chancellor of Khaja Banda Nawaz University, Prof. Abdul Jaleel Khan Pathan congratulated SAF for conferring ‘Mohsin-E-Millat Award’ on Dr. Hussaini. He said that it is the need of hour to carry forward the mission of Sir Syed and to provide quality education to Muslims.
Dr. Mohib Ul Haque, said that the time has come for Muslims to focus on modern education if they want to succeed. He congratulated Prof. Shakeel Samdani and SAF for their contribution in establishing Tipu Sultan Block at AMU.
Anjum Tabassum Lashkri (Karnataka) and Mr. Tariq Hussain, AMU were felicitated with “SAF Excellence Award”. Ayesha Samdani conducted the seminar and Mansoor Ilahi proposed the vote of thanks. Sarah Samdani also spoke on this occasion. Poetess Rehana Shaheen recited a Nazm on Sir Syed.
Wajahat Jilani welcomed the guests and Aman highlighted the objectives of the Forum.
On this ocassion, Mr. Syed Ali Hussaini, Pro Chancellor of Khaja Banda Nawaz University, Mr. Haider Pasha Qadri, Sajjada Nasheen, Dr. Moinuddin, Superintendent, KBN Medical College, Gulbarga, and Maulana Syed Abdur Rasheed were present.
Seminar was made a great success with the tireless work and efforts of Adv. Shoeb Ali, General Secretary, SAF, Dr. Haider Ali, Abdullah Samdani, Mohd. Muthair, Hunain Khalid, Danish Iqbal, Sarim Ali, Hamza Noman Masood, Saad Asad, Pawan Varshney, Himanshu Singh, Ajay Singh, Hamda, Kashif Sultan, Ayesha Farheen, Razia Chauhan, Talat Anjum, Rubia, Fauzia, Faiz, Adeel Shervani, etc.
Many prominent figures who attended the program include Prof. Tariq Chattari, Chairman, Dept. of Urdu, Prof. Humayun Murad, Dr. Iqbal Siddiqui, Prof. Zafar M. Nomani, Prof. Kamil, Prof. Khalid Azam, Prof. Ashar Ansari, Prof. Mujeeb Ansari, Prof. K. Khalil Ahmad, Prof. Shakeel Ahmed, Dr. Nazar Abbas, Dr. Ayesha Munira, Dr. Raihan Akhtar, Dr. Rahat Abrar, Dr. Masood Anwar (Shahjahanpur), Dr. Yameen Ansari (Delhi), Syed Ikram Ul Haq (Hapur), Dr. Raghib, Dr Wasim Ali, Mohd Nasir, Dr. Kalimullah, Dr. Rahmat Ullah, Dr. Qaiser Ansari, Dr. Obaid Iqbal Asim, Dr. Iqbal Hadi, Dr. Naseem Ahmad Khan, Dr. Ali Nawaz Zaidi, Dr. Zafar Ahmad, Dr. Mohsin Khan, Adv. Khan Wajahatullah, Rabab Khan, Dr Zeba Azmat, Dr Tabassum Chaudhary, Huzaifa Amir, Secretary, AMUSU, Khalid Masood, Ex President, AMUSU, Raas Masood Khan, Court Member and a large number of students were also present in the seminar.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Exclusive Reports> Indian Muslims / by Muslim Mirror Networks / December 10th, 2018
The Uttar Pradesh Chapter of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) organized an ceremony at Hotel Arif Castle for the recipients of the 4th National Awards for Social Excellence and the 8th National Awards for Excellence in Education from Uttar Pradesh.
Among special guests were senior gastro surgeon Dr. Waliullah Siddiqui from Apollo Hospital and Mirza Mubeen Baig from Gautam Budh Nagar. Distinguished educationist and career counsellor Dr. Amrita Das was to attend as the chief guest but could not participate due to health issues, so former senior bureaucrat Zahra Chatterjee filled the role.
The programme began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Maulana Muhammad Rehan Qasmi.
The welcome address was delivered by AMP’s Zonal Head for Central Zone, Syed Shoaib. AMP’s State Head, Shaheen Islam, introduced the audience to AMP’s objectives and activities, mentioning that this non-governmental, non-political, and non-profit organization was founded in 2007. Over the years, AMP has been engaged in educational, social, economic, and developmental activities aimed at empowering marginalized communities.
Guest of honour Mirza Mubeen Baig emphasized that working for NGOs is becoming increasingly challenging, and only those organizations that serve selflessly and with sincerity will succeed. He stressed the need for collaboration among serious NGOs to benefit from each other’s experiences.
Dr. Waliullah Siddiqui congratulated the awardees for their contributions to education and social services, highlighting that the responsibility for educating and nurturing children lies with both parents and teachers. In today’s changing times, this responsibility has grown even more significant. He shared personal lessons from his life, crediting his parents for playing a central role in his achievements.
Speaking as the chief guest, retired IAS officer Zahra Chatterjee praised AMP’s work and said that every individual’s contribution is crucial for the nation’s development. She stressed the need to reach out to the last individual to ensure educational awareness and economic stability.
Farooq Siddiqui, Head of AMP’s National Coordination Team, addressed the audience, stating that these awards aim to encourage individuals and organizations committed to transforming the nation through their selfless services. He emphasized the importance of collective efforts and mutual cooperation, noting that the welfare of the country and nation lies in unity and partnership.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Mohammad Mohiuddin, Chapter Head of AMP Lucknow, and the event was hosted by Dr. Sumbul Shakeel.
The recipients of the National Awards for Social Excellence included the Best NGO awardees:
Tauheedul Muslimeen Trust, Institute of Social Harmony and Upliftment.
Among the Change Maker Awardees were:
Professor Dr. Nuzhat Hussain from Lucknow, Dr. Mohammad Mubashir, Sabiha Ahmed, Balbir Singh Maan, Dr. Kaleem Ahmed Khan from Kanpur, Dr. Saba Yunus, Shahid Kamran Khan, Sagheer Khaksar from Balrampur, Dr. Saleem Mohammad Khan and Naseem Ahmed Khan from Aligarh, and Ramesh Chandra Srivastava from Ayodhya.
The recipients of the National Awards for Excellence in Education included:
Professor Mirza Mohammad Sufiyan Baig, Professor Naseem Ahmed Khan, Ausaf Azeem Kirmani from Aligarh, Mohammad Shahid Khan, Dr. Mohammad Shamim, Samiullah Ansari from Kanpur, Chitra Maheshwari from Lucknow, Dr. Roohi, and Maulana Mohammad Rehan Qasmi.
Lifetime Achievement Awardees included senior teacher Sheila Lawrence from Lucknow and Jamaluddin Khan from Kanpur.
A large number of attendees were present at the event, including Dr. Anis Ansari (former IAS), Mohammad Khalid Ashu, Mujtaba Khan, Najm-ul-Hasan Rizvi Najmi, Dr. Uzma Mubashir, Syed Abrar, Rizwan Ansari, Mohammad Zeeshan, Mohammad Imran, Javed Akbar Khan Lodi, Shahenshah Ansari, Fahad Mahmood, Ayesha Mahmood, Alma Siddiqui, Ayesha Alvi, Zaheer Baig, and Aqib Rauf.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by India Tomorrow / September 03rd, 2024
Bicharpur Village (Shahdol District), MADHYA PRADESH :
Once known for illegal liquor, Bicharpur village in Madhya Pradesh is now a football hub, producing around 45 national players.
Learn how coach Raees Ahmed’s efforts kickstarted this transformation.
Almost a decade ago, Bicharpur — a village in the tribal-dominated Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh — was notorious for its rampant production of illicit liquor and narcotics. The primary source of income for many families was the production of liquor from the locally available mahua fruit.
“In this village, every house has been making kachhi shat (mahua liquor) for generations. They did not consider it wrong or illegal since it was deeply ingrained in their culture for a long time. Even children, regardless of their ages, were involved in this work. In fact, the villagers, including children, consumed liquor regularly; it was like their everyday tea and the medicine for any disease,” Raees Ahmed tells The Better India.
However, today the village has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a hub for the rising stars of football . It has produced around 45 state and national-level football players — including Sanya Kunde, Rajni Singh, Laxmi Sahis, Anil Singh Gond, and Hanuman Singh.
Because every household in the village has a football player, it has come to be known as the ‘Mini Brazil’ of Madhya Pradesh. The journey of Bicharpur village from its miserable state to ‘Mini Brazil’ was orchestrated by former footballer and coach Raees Ahmed.
An unlikely football hub
Raees says that the Shahdol division has been a football hub for nearly three generations. The tribal children grew up playing football but without any formal training. Raaes, who has been playing football since the age of 10, was one of them.
“We used to learn football by seeing players in tournaments. But we did not have any formal training or guidance in the sport,” says the 53-year-old who grew up following Diego Armando Maradona — a professional football player from Argentina.
Earlier, the tribal children grew up playing football but without any formal training.
When Raees was in Class 8, he recalls, he played in the ‘under 19’ category at the national level. He went on to play football professionally at the national level seven times during his career. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1995, he secured a job as a sports teacher at a higher secondary school in Shahdol.
Then in 1997, he took formal training from the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Kolkata. “To be a player and to be a coach are two different things. Since I was a national-level player, I thought I was an expert, but I was under the wrong impression. There [at NIS], I realised I had very limited knowledge. I realised if I had known these professional techniques, I could have played at the international level,” he says.
Coming back home, Raees went back to his old job. A couple of years later in 2001, he visited the nondescript village of Bicharpur, roughly three kilometres from his workplace.
“I saw many children in this village playing football. They had the fitness of an athlete but lacked training and techniques. They did not know how to pass the football and when to hit the ball to score a goal. After speaking to them, I realised that they did not know much about the outside world, and suddenly, I remembered my childhood!” he adds.
That day, Raees decided to be the support he desired when he was a child.
Where there’s a will…
Every evening, post his office hours, Raees would set out for the village on his bicycle. He started training children in the age group of 8–12 years. But there was no formal set up for the ground and tribal children lacked basic amenities like shoes and jerseys. “Initially, I would dedicate half of my salary to arrange basics for them,” he says.
Raees says, Shahdol divisional commissioner Rajeev Sharma established at least 1,200 clubs in all villages across the Shahdol division.
Seeing a good response from the children, the coach also encouraged them to quit the mahua work if they wanted to seriously dedicate themselves to building a career in sports. “These children helped their families quit nasha khori (alcoholism) and switch to other works like labour jobs,” he informs.
Raees adds that by 2003, these children started playing in the ‘under 14’ category at the state and national level, and by 2004, girls also started participating in the sport. So far, the coach has trained at least 1,500 children, and of these, 45 have made it to the state and national level competitions.
One of his students, Laxmi Sahees, has been playing football since she was 12. She would tag along with her brothers to the football ground after school. She tells The Better India, “Initially, we went out of curiosity and for fun, but soon, we became so interested that we would rush to the ground for daily practice after finishing all household work.”
She continues, “Raees Sir told us about the tournaments for the women’s team. And within a year, in 2007, I participated in the national level competition and was selected in the first round. We competed with Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and UP and reached the quarter-finals.”
“Football has given me an opportunity to learn about the outside world. If I had not been into football, I guess I would have been married off at an early age and had a few kids like my elder sisters,” adds the 27-year-old who, so far, has played at nine national level competitions.
Raees and his students with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Currently, Laxmi coaches 40 students from Bicharpur and nearby villages. In the recent Khelo MP Youth Games 2023, her students bagged gold.
Laxmi’s coach sir is extremely proud of her and her students. “It is a matter of extreme pride to be able to compete and be a state champion coming from a small village,” remarks Raees.
Over the years, Raees says, Shahdol divisional commissioner Rajeev Sharma also recognised the talent in Bicharpur and established at least 1,200 clubs in all villages across the Shahdol division. “Today, 80 to 85 football tournaments are organised in the division every year. By 2022, there had been a noticeable improvement in the local people’s quality of life. They now enjoy facilities like electricity, a professional ground, and an open gym. Additionally, the government provides a dedicated budget for the sport in the area,” he adds.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also highlighted the budding footballing talent of Bicharpur on Mann Ki Baat. “Just imagine — a tribal area, which was known for illicit liquor and was infamous for drug addiction, has now become the ‘football nursery’ of the country. That is why it is said, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’. There is no dearth of talent in our country, but there is certainly a need to find and nurture them,” said the PM.
मध्य प्रदेश के शहडोल में फुटबॉल क्रांति नाम के एक कार्यक्रम ने यहां के युवाओं की जिंदगी बदल दी है। इसने न सिर्फ उन्हें नशे के चंगुल से बाहर निकाला है, बल्कि देश को कई प्रतिभावान खिलाड़ी भी दिए हैं। pic.twitter.com/AVSeAVcTs2
Raees still coaches students in the division, and now he’s joined by national players from Bicharpur who are mentoring new talent in the Shahdol division. For him, the village’s transformative journey has been emotionally inspiring.
“Whenever I watch my students on TV, competing against other skilled players, I feel nervous throughout the match. When our students win, it is not just their victory but also a win for me as their coach. It brings happy tears to my eyes. Now, my students are also training other children, and the happiness cannot be expressed in words. Over the past few years, the entire village’s atmosphere has transformed. We hope to produce many more national players from the entire Shahdol division,” says Raees.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Raees Ahmed.
source: http://www.thebetterindia.com / The Better India / Home> English> Stories> Football> Rural India / by Shivani Gupta / October 09th, 2023
Mustafa Kamal Sherwani, was Doctor in Law (LLD), a senior Law faculty in Shia Post Graduate Degree College, Lucknow, belonged to Lucknow in all its totality. He was the Principal of the institution too. He had in himself all. Ingrained in Muslim historical legacy, feudal ancestry grounded to the masses, Muslimness never brooding to exclusiveness and a diehard human rights campaigner-all to the hilt. He passed away to heavenly abode on March 3, 2025, leaving a void, which would never be filled, in a community otherwise resigned to the fate in this present political squall.
He represented the post-Babri Masjid demolition genre and hit the political windscreen as a flag bearer of All India Muslim Forum in 1993, he assiduously pursued the agenda to sensitize Muslim political consciousness, and definitely succeeded to carve a special niche for Muslim space in Lucknow, the citadel of communal cauldron, during the high days of Kalyan Singh, Ram Prakash Gutpa, Rajnath Singh, all Bhartiya Janta Party Chief Ministers and Prime Minister AB Vajpayee.
His able mentorship made Muslims not recede into a cocoon but instead there was hardly a month, which passed, and Lucknow did not witness AIMF protests, on streets, many times opposite Vidhan Sabha. In fact, MK Sherwani, political credibility, is what made it all, as even when there were no mobile phones, MK Sherwani, could mobilize around 100 AIMF workers and supporters in one hour.
I too had interactions with him on many sundry afternoons. Despite political one-upmanship, when he was betrayed by his friends and colleagues, which also is a hallmark of Muslim polity, he never betrayed a sign of acrimony but instead was always with his trademark infectious smile. Yet, surely, the dent was inside. He never would divulge the name of those who passed AIMF meetings information to local intelligence sleuths and onto the political establishment those days. He however was very skeptical to the politicization of Muslim clergy, and would argue, that Hindu religious leaders perpetuate the Hindu political leadership, but instead, Muslim religious personnel kill their own political voices, of course, in exchange for the worldly charms.
His stint as a former Vice Chancellor of Zanzibar University and Department Head of Law and Shariah at the same university, never dimmed the belonging he had for his first love. AIMF. He would tell me that even before he would have tea there, he would log on to all Hindi/Urdu and English newspapers with dateline Lucknow to keep a tab on events back home, and issue statements on it. He made a stint to Finland, for his landmark 75 lecture series, on India’s cultural heritage and diversity. A great feat unto itself.
He was an old Aligarh Muslim University alumina and was once accused of sedition. He had to pass through a 15 years ordeal, which he would transform in a form of a book Secular Horror which is available on Amazon. I had done its review long back. The torment started after he had published an article ‘Secularism vis-à-vis Hindu chauvinism’ in Radiance Viewsweekly, the mouthpiece of Jamaat-e Islami Hind. His treatise Iblees ( Satan) and the Mullas was his uneasy exhortation as to how Muslim political aspirations have been killed at the altar of Muslim clergy machinations. A leaf he took from Allama Iqbal from whom he was greatly influenced. His ceaseless efforts in the form of I am a Citizen of the World, dedicated to Hindu-Muslim unity, Tribute to Hazrat Imam Husain, are still available on his facebook page.
His legal acumen made him a constant figure at the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court. He made into a perfect stature who would hog the courts with petitions to safeguard Muslims rights.
He would unequivocally apprise Muslim masses, through his speeches on streets and seminars, as to how assembly seats in UP with sizeable Muslim presence, have been categorized as reserved for Scheduled Caste/Tribes! In stark violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
He was sharp-as-a-tack, who would always dither into narratives with warmth and wit, much always to the laughter and lighting of the mood during his speeches. Masses would start to chuckle on his disarmingly simple eloquence which made even ordinary look like an art. He made everything relevant. His would allure everyone with comfortable ease to make ordinary become extra ordinary. He was in constant search for a tonal alchemy where there was to be a moral entity, and where, justice would ultimately be served (read to Muslims).
There is no denying the fact that he, along with the likes of Saleem Peerzada and Zafaryab Jilani, Muhammed Azam Khan, was a preserve of a tortured genius with traumatic back stories. Hashimpura, Malina, Bhagalpur, Meerut, Babri Masjid riots etc.
He was always by the side of Zafaryab Jilani, on every Babri Masjid demolition anniversary ( December 6, 1992), emphatically on the probe, that the possibility of order be restored. But, then, last but not the least, he belonged to an era where even the best of minds are ordained ( sic) for cynicism and fatalism! Yet he, as were his friends, did not choose escapism. Zafaryab Jilan was the convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee and Saleem Peerzada had founded of Parcham Party of India.
He was a friend of friends. Today he is no more, so are Zafaryab Jilani and Saleem Peerzada. They made a great camaraderie. A coterie which had thronged the Vidhan Sabha street, against the then BJP supported UP CM Mayawati, when she had refused to issue a fresh notification to Central Bureau of Investigation, to restart the case against LK Advani, the then main accused of Babri Masjid demolition, after he was exonerated by the CBI court in 2003, which of course he is now. It is ironic that today, after 40 years; a grandiose Rama Temple has come on the site of demolished Babri Masjid. But, no one demolished it?
Today three of them are not there. Death may be permanent but certainly not defining. The passage of time is however never irrelevant as strive for justice cannot be dampened. The zest for it always feels possible. The mark of hope can never be condescended. MK Sherwani is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons, Zafaryab Jilani by his wife, a daughter and two sons, Saleem Peerzada did not marry. Three of them were LLM. Muhammed Azam Khan until his first year, before he was arrested during ‘emergency’. Saleem Peerzada was a civil engineer. All the four were from AMU. MK Sherwani will be remembered long time for his LLD thesis Quran and Modern Jurisprudence and it is here yours truly also played a role. I had taken the copy to the publisher to get it published.
Muhammed Azam Khan is right now undergoing a tortuous survival in jail. When will the discontent end? Their lives of struggle will always be the yardstick to give a whiff of element even in the event of hoping against hope.
****
The writer is a former UP State Information Commissioner.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Obituary / by Haider Abbas / August 29th, 202
Raffat Begum was a gifted poet and wrote with the pen name ‘Asmat’ and took advice from Azhar Inayati, a renowned poet of Rampur. She also wrote several barsaati folk songs celebrating monsoons as did Nawab Raza.
The names of brides have vanished from wedding cards in Rampur. So, we are cordially invited to the wedding of ‘Arif Khan, S/o Samiullah Khan to the daughter (no name) of Wahidullah Khan’. Even the names of women are concealed from vocalization by disrespectful male lips. The nameless miasma enveloping our girls is a recent trend in Muslim etiquette of this erstwhile princely state. It negates the ninety year journey the women of the city have traversed–all the tiny and large steps of emerging out of the zenanas, educating themselves and finding a voice. Maybe the unnamed daughter getting married was educated at one of the local women’s colleges established by the erstwhile Nawabs and has ambitions that involve a becoming.
The emancipative journey of Rampur women began with the decision of a queen – Raffat Zamani Begum, wife of Nawab Raza Ali Khan– to leave the confines of the harem and become something more than a name. Nawab Raza (1930-1947), an enlightened ruler fully supported his wife in her decision and was possibly influenced by her in his very western and ‘modern’ outlook. As the princesses and female members of the royal family followed Begum Raffat, there was a filtered down liberation among the women and girls of upper classes, and over the years a snowball effect that touched the lives of the of all classes of Rampur women.
Raffat Begum was the daughter of Sir Abdus Samad Khan, Prime Minister of Rampur under the colonial rule, an impeccable gentleman who traced his antecedents from the Najibabad royal family. She was married to the crown prince, Raza Ali Khan, when she was five and he was six years old. The little bride sat on her grandmother’s lap, her heavy nath supported by her grandmother’s palm as the nikah ceremony was performed. The young daughter in law was granted all the paraphernalia of the future queen while still living with her father and had to attend court on special occasions. At a time when brides were given a new name and a title, her name was changed from Askari Begum to Raffat Zamani Begum.
When Raffat was thirteen, her father in law, Nawab Hamid Ali Khan (1894-1930) demanded that the rukhsati (going away ceremony) be performed. Raffat’s father insisted that they wait at least till the groom had completed his education. Raffat Begum wrote, and is quoted in her sister Jahanara Begum’s memoir, that the relations between the two gentlemen became strained. Finally, Nawab Hamid walked on foot from his Khas Bagh palace to the bride’s house, ‘Rosaville’, and the ceremony which usually took days was performed in a few hours; Raffat Begum left her paternal home amidst songs extolling the valiant Rohilla Nawabs and martyrs of ancient battles.
The teenage couple began their married life often separated by the political intricacies and rules of the harem. Oral history says that they were not allowed to live together for seven years and Raffat Begum was declared infertile after her first son was born. Raza was forced to take a second wife by his father and stepmother. The women of Raffat Begum’s family did not practice strict purda. Her mother was the daughter of the regent of Rampur, General Azamuddin Khan (1888-1891) who had earned the ire of the maulvis of the time for his ‘kristaan’ viewpoint and his championing of female education. Some say he was murdered because of his radical outlook. It is therefore unsurprising that the educated Raffat Begum rejected the claustrophobic harem life she had endured for the first ten years of her married life as soon as Nawab Raza came to power. The couple showed a proclivity towards the ‘modern’ and western lifestyle in all areas and Raffat Begum became a major mover in the drastic transformation of the Rampur durbar, the zenana and Rampur culture. Though not documented in written histories, the influence of Raffat Begum on the dress, cuisine and court etiquettes finds testimony in oral history.
We get a vivid description of the Begum in her stepdaughter , Mehrunnisa Begum’s memoir, ‘An Extraordinary Life.’
Home tutored in English, Persian and Urdu, Raffat Begum entertained distinguished guests at royal banquets and sat for official pictures––the first pictures of women from the royal family. She wore latest western dresses, make up and was a chain smoker –– a ‘modern’ thing to do. In fact, she encouraged her children to smoke as it was considered fashionable. However, some women continued to live in the royal zenana ––more out of lack of choice and under confidence–– but there was no constraint on their movement. Given that Nawab Raza’s predecessor, Nawab Hamid confined his women to a sequestered life behind the laal purda, this was the beginning of a drastic change in the thought process and lifestyle of elite Rampur women.
The young princesses were sent to a boarding school after being brought up by British nannies in a strictly regimented nursery. Emulating the new trend, the elite landowning families and those associated with the court started educating their sons and daughters at boarding schools. So, my mother and her siblings were sent to La Martinere in the 1950s. The 1960’s saw Rampur’s first female doctors, teachers, writers and lawyers ––aspirational models for young girls studying in government colleges now housed in the old palaces and zenanas of yore. Nawab Raza gave a lot of emphasis to education particularly female education and the girls from ordinary families were now sent to girls’ schools in the city after initial misgivings. Covered rickshaws and thelas (carts) transported the burqa clad young ladies to schools. My mother became a doctor in 1967 and the women of my family practiced a flexi-veil where they would cover their heads, sit in curtained cars in Rampur and don sarees and bellbottoms outside of Rampur.
Raffat Begum was a gifted poet and wrote with the pen name ‘Asmat’ and took advice from Azhar Inayati, a renowned poet of Rampur. She also wrote several barsaati folk songs celebrating monsoons as did Nawab Raza. Some of her poetry was published.
Begum Noor Bano, her daughter in law and ex-Member of Parliament, recalls the after-dinner dastan sessions with the children and grandchildren gathered around their beloved ‘Mummy’. The dastans were later written down by a scribe.
Mapara Begum, a court singer, says she would give importance to the lowliest person and welcome everyone with warmth. Which is why she was fondly called Raaj Maata, the queen mother of Rampur.
A few years after Nawab Raza’s death in 1966, Raffat Begum moved back to her father’s place, Rosaville, with her retinue of servants. It was an empty house. Her parents had passed away and her brothers and sisters had left in pursuit of their lives and careers. Life had come a full circle. She passed away at Rosaville in 1986 – an elegant begum, spirited and dignified till the end. Her plaintive lines are still echo on the lips of old timers:
“Aisey beemaar ki dava kya hai,jo batata nahi hua kya hai;
Kaun suntan hai is zamaney mein, kis se kahiye iltija kya hai.”
How can a person who cannot describe her ailment find a cure?
Even if I could find words for my pleas, would my entreaties find listeners.
Receiving yet another invite to the marriage of an anonymous daughter, I tried to remember the names of the wives of acquaintances and distant relatives. I came up with Naeem mamu ki biwi, Munney sahib ki ammi etc. etc. We are all guilty of using the blanket term bhabhi or khala to address the married women of various ages; we are introduced as wives, mothers and granddaughters. I used to laugh at the old style of explaining connections––‘Munney mian ki beti Shaddan Khan ke ghar mein hai’, indicating that Munney mian’s nameless daughter is married to Shaddan Khan. We have accepted an anonymous existence here and it is only logical that our girls get shrouded in namelessness on their wedding day.
Tarana Husain Khan is a writer and researcher based in Rampur. Her historical fiction ‘The Begum and the Dastan’ has been recently published by Tranquebar. The views expressed are the author’s own.
source: http://www.shethepeople.com / SheThePeople / Home> Books / by Tarana Husain Khan / March 02nd, 2021
He has written scores of books in Arabic, English and Urdu. One of his unique books is Attibyan which helps in teaching Qur’an to neo-Muslim brothers and sisters.
New Delhi :
Dr. V. Abdur Rahim, world renowned Islamic scholar, multilinguist, author, teacher and translator passed away in the holy city of Madinah on Thursday.
Author of several popular books on teaching Arabic language, Dr. Abdur Rahim was laid to rest in Jannat al Baqi cemetery near the Prophet’s Mosque after Friday noon prayers, reports reaching here said.
Dr. Abdur Rahim has written scores of books in Arabic, English and Urdu. One of his unique books is Attibyan which helps in teaching Qur’an to neo-Muslim brothers and sisters. The scholar was closely associated with Chennai-based Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT) and a majority of his books have been published by it.
Dr. Abdur Rahim was born in the small town of Vaniyambadi in Tamil Nadu in 1933. After completing his secondary school studies, he joined Presidency College, University of Madras where he majored in English language and literature. He graduated in 1957. In 1964, he joined the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo, from where he completed his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Arabic philology.
Dr. Abdur Rahim adopted innovative teaching methodologies and pedagogical approaches, which revolutionised the teaching of Arabic. He joined the Islamic University of Madinah in 1969, where he played a pivotal role in the program of teaching Arabic as a foreign language. He also imparted his knowledge at various institutions, including the Islaamic University Omdurman Sudan, Khartoum University Sudan, and Arabic Institutions in Germany, Washington D.C., and British Guyana.
His most significant contribution to Arabic education was the development of the renowned Madinah Arabic Course. This comprehensive series of textbooks and audiovisual materials simplified the complexities of the Arabic language, making it accessible to learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds. His teaching not only facilitated learning but also promoted intercultural dialogue and understanding.
Beyond his teaching endeavors, Dr. Abdur Rahim served as the Director of the translations section at the King Fahad Qur’an Printing Press in Madinah, where he contributed to translating and interpreting the Qur’an into various languages, ensuring its accessibility to people worldwide.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to Arabic language education, Dr. V Abdur Rahim was honored with the prestigious President of India Award. This recognition celebrated his tireless efforts in promoting Arabic language learning and fostering cultural understanding through linguistic knowledge.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> India / by Team Clarion / October 21st, 2023
Meet the man who is on a mission. He even gave up his lucrative job to completely devote himself to this cause. His goal is to inspire the next generation to become responsible and productive citizens by raising their level of awareness about education. He has been crisscrossing the length and breadth of the country since 2006.
The man is Syed Saeed Ahmed, a distinguished motivational speaker with a multifaceted personality who inspires and motivates others and unearths their hidden potential. He has an amazing sense of spontaneity, an inquisitive mind, and a captivating personality.
Throughout India, he has conducted countless personality development programs for the student fraternity, diverse academic community stakeholders involved in the teaching-learning process, the corporate sector, workers in extremely stressful work environments, and the group of people who accept their fate as pseudo-failures.
Saeed Ahmed’s workshops are widely recognized for their great content and distinctive, compelling style of delivery.
Ranked as one of the leading motivational speakers in India, Saeed Ahmed’s workshops are widely recognized for their great content and distinctive, compelling style of delivery. His energizing classes are intuitive, inspiring participants to realize their full potential, release their innate energy, and develop a burning drive for achievement and personal excellence. They are intended to provide participants with a great deal of energy and vitality, enabling them to advance both personally and professionally.
His successful endeavors to bring back to life pseudo-failures, particularly those with low motivational factors and a criminal past, have grabbed significant media attention. The last few years have seen the frequent publication of pieces celebrating these accomplishments in prominent newspapers, and multiple news channels have aired his pre-recorded interviews on the subject.
Born in Sholapur, a textile town in Maharashtra, Saeed Ahmed did his schooling through the Urdu medium and graduated in geography and political science. He went on to pursue higher learning. After completing his studies in library and information science, he did his post-graduation in the Urdu literature from Shivaji University in Kolhapur. He started his career in a modest capacity as an assistant librarian at a reputable college in Pune.
His early and modest profession served as a palette for shaping him into a multifaceted personality, as he was surrounded by antique and modern books, newsletters, and printed reference material of inter-disciplinary content. Gradually and steadily, he began to embody the roles of an actor, director, dramatist, journalist, writer, peace activist promoting global fraternity, and, most recently, a student. He is currently pursuing a doctorate at Pune University on the extremely relevant subject of “Hindustani stage and tradition of Urdu drama in Maharashtra.”
He is an expert at improving life skills, including stress management, time management, positive thinking, emotion management (for overcoming fear, grief, sorrow, rage, boredom, etc.), and a number of other crucial areas that participants may reveal themselves in. The contents change based on the situation, the amount of time available for engagement, and the participants’ overall characteristics, expectations, and concerns.
The evolution of a nationally renowned motivational speaker can be summed up by examining the thirty years of his career. This shows how a person’s life experiences, some natural and some others artificially created, play a crucial role in shaping a flexible personality that can handle any circumstance with ease. What makes the one and only “Saeed Ahmed” is a combination of his varied experiences with controversial topics and his recording of the algorithms used to address them.
Having spent a significant portion of his career working for an organization, he has encountered the typical challenges that all workers face in today’s cutthroat and materialistic workplace. As he began his dazzling career, he experienced moments of rivalry, envy, and unpleasant camaraderie from coworkers, superiors, and even higher authorities. To nearly all of them, he answered with forbearance, patience, and strengthened willpower. In actuality, they functioned as an oven to solidify his supple clay and imparted to him free psychological counseling, stress management techniques, and elegant interpersonal interactions.
Saeed Ahmed is not just a motivator of the highest caliber; he is also an actor, director, writer, documentary filmmaker, and journalist.
He was connected to several prominent theaters in Lahore, Pakistan, as well as Prithvi (Mumbai), Nehru Centre (Mumbai), Rangshankara (Bangalore), Hamdard University, Delhi, Balgandharva (Pune), and Punjab Naat-shala (Amritsar). He performed widely for an Indian audience with these theater groups, and three of his shows, which were shown consecutively for three years in a row at the “World Performing and Visual Arts Festival” in Lahore, were acclaimed internationally (2004, 2005, 2006). These were “Naquab” by Rafi Peerzada, “Jis Lahore Naee Dekhya” by Dr. Asghar Wajahat, and “Portrait” by Ratnakar Matkari.
Prior to this, most of the plays he directed and performed across the country were “Dhilli Khaat” by Naseem Mannan, “Portrait” by Ratnakar Matkari, “Najat” by Abdul Wahab Lunje, “Nafrat ke Rang” by Kazi Mushtaque Ahmed, and a few plays he wrote himself, including “Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan (Founder of Aligarh Muslim University)”, “Toba Tek Singh,” a drama based on Saadat Hassan Monto, “Kahain Hai,” and “Dilli Ka Thagh” have received favorable reviews from critics and audiences alike. He made his acting debut as a character actor in the “Sunita” serial that was broadcast on Doordarshan. His drama “Sare Jahan Se Accha” had more than forty performances in Maharashtra.
An audio presentation in the form of an audio cassette, followed by audio CDs, and is currently in the process of creating a documentary directed, produced, and narrated by him about the life of Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan. He also wrote the book “Sare Jahan Se Accha,” released by the Haji Ghulam Mohammed Azam Educational Trust, Pune.
In addition, he has contributed his expertise to the production of multiple documentaries for Pune-based organizations and cable networks.
Alongside his involvement in theater and the arts, he pursued a career as a professional journalist. From 1995 to 2001, he worked as a correspondent for Mumbai’s daily Inquilab and Munsif of Hyderabad and Pune’s Urdu fortnightly Usool. He had also interviewed prominent figures.
When asked what inspired him to pursue a career in motivational speaking, he admitted with honesty that I was a shy boy in school with an inferiority complex who was accustomed to self-analysis.
Life is a “give and take” proposition, and the previous decades of my diverse work helped me learn enough to be ready for a “second innings” or platform change, in which I now hope to “give,” and in 2002, I made a lifestyle change, he said. In the year 2006, I left the well-secured job to venture into the turbulent waters of lending my ‘know-how’ for the personality development of all, he added.
About his experiences, he pointed out that materialism is prevalent in Muslim society, and there is a wrong notion prevailing in the society that education is for seeking a job. He stresses the need for “Taleem ke saath Tarbiat.”
Under his All India Educational Awareness 93-day tour, last year he traveled 10,000 km across the seven states and conducted 179 workshops in 134 cities. In the second part of the tour, starting on November 11, 2023, he will travel to 13 states.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Pride of the Nation / by Abdul Bari Masoud / November 01st, 2023
Former national footballer Syed Ahmed Khan passed away at the age of 64. He is survived by two daughters and a son.
Ahmed was a prominent player who represented the Police team for nearly three decades. His long career and consistent performance earned him respect in the football community. Teammates and officials remember him as a disciplined player who dedicated his life to the sport.
The Telangana Football Association expressed condolences to his family and acknowledged his contribution to the game. Football lovers in the region recalled his role in strengthening the Police team and inspiring younger players during his career.
His death is a significant loss for the local sporting fraternity. Community members paid tribute to his achievements and extended support to his family.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / September 01st, 2025
After the partition and independence of India, the contribution of Muslim faces in Indian sports is a fascinating story. It also sends a clear message that, despite the communal division of the country, all avenues remained open for Muslims in India. The nation saluted talent, not religion. The contribution of Muslims in the field of sports should be the subject of a dedicated book.
However, in this article, we present the 10 most successful Muslim sportspersons of India.
Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan
Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan
Cricket, the most popular sport in the country, has a long list of Muslim players like Ghulam Ahmed, Salim Durani, Abbas Ali Baig, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Farooq Engineer, Syed Abid Ali, Syed Mustafa Hussain, Syed Kirmani, Ghulam Ahmed Hassan, Mohammad Azharuddin, Arshad Ayub, Zaheer Khan, Syed Saba Karim, Mohammad Kaif, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Wasim Jaffer, Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, and Sarfaraz Khan.
However, one of the initial cricketers, who happened to be a Muslim and shone like a star, was Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan, known as “Tiger Pataudi”. He became the youngest Test captain in the history of the game. He represented India in 46 Tests and scored 2793 runs.
In March 1962, he became the youngest Test captain at the age of 21 years and 77 days against the West Indies. His notable achievements include leading India to their first overseas Test match victory in New Zealand in 1968, which was also their first overseas Test series win.
Despite losing vision in his right eye in a car accident in England in 1961, Pataudi proved his mettle on the cricket field. Even today, Tiger Pataudi commands the same respect and popularity in Indian cricket as he did in the past.
Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin
Another Muslim cricketer, Mohammad Azharuddin, nicknamed “Indian cricket’s wonder boy,” earned this title right at the beginning of his Test career. In his debut series against England in 1984, he scored three consecutive centuries — a feat yet to be repeated.
Azharuddin played 99 Tests and 334 One Day Internationals for India. As captain, he led the team to victory in the 1990-91 and 1995 Asia Cups and reached the semi-finals of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He captained India in three Cricket World Cups during the 1990s, which remains a record.
Syed Shahid Hakim
Syed Shahid Hakim receiving award from President Ram Nath Kovind
Once, India was a contender for the top slot in the World Cup Football and the Olympics. Though the situation has deteriorated, the list of Muslim footballers Taj Mohammad, Ahmed Khan, Yusuf Khan, B.P. Saleh, Syed Naeemuddin, Noor Mohammad, Rahmat, T. Abdur Rahman, Mohammad Habib, Mohammad Akbar, and Latifuddin come to the fore.
However, Syed Shahid Hakim comes across as one of the brightest and enduring football player of the post-independent India. He is son of Syed Abdul Rahim, who was once the coach of Indian Football team. A former Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force, S.S. Hakim’s international career highlight was the 1960 Rome Olympics. Although India didn’t progress beyond the group stage, a 1-1 draw against France was nothing short of a feat.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Hakim turned to coaching and later served as an assistant coach of the Indian national team. He was also a FIFA referee and officiated in the 1988 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar.
Mohammad Shahid
Mohammad Shahid
In Hockey, a sport once dominated by India, several Muslim players made a mark on the game, including Akhtar Hussain, Aslam Sher Khan, Mohammad Shahid, and Zafar Iqbal.
Among them, Mohammad Shahid from Banaras earned the most fame. His wizardry in the 1970s and 80s — marked by agility and magical dribbling — turned him into a star at a very young age.
He was part of the team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, silver in the 1982 Asian Games, and bronze in the 1986 Asian Games. He also played in the 1981-82 World Cup, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and the 1988 Seoul Games. He captained the Indian team during 1985-86 and announced his retirement from international hockey in January 1989.
Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza is the only Indian woman to break into the top 100 in singles and later became World No. 1 in doubles in Tennis. She won six Grand Slam titles — three in women’s doubles and three in mixed doubles.
Between 2003 and her singles retirement in 2013, she won 43 titles and spent 91 weeks as World No. 1 in doubles. Sania also won 14 medals (including six golds) in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Afro-Asian Games. In 2007, she achieved her career-high singles ranking of 27, the highest ever for an Indian woman. In April 2015, she became the World No. 1 in WTA doubles rankings — the first Indian to reach the top.
Syed Modi
Syed Modi
In Badminton, Syed Modi has been the most successful and popular Muslim player. He is regarded as one of the most successful Indian badminton players, winning the National Championship eight consecutive times from 1980 to 1987 — a historic feat.
He also won a gold medal in men’s singles at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games and international titles such as the Austria International (1983 & 1984) and the USSR International (1985). In 1988, Syed Modi was tragically shot dead in Lucknow.
Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen is the shining star of Indian women’s Boxing. Nikhat became a boxing sensation after winning gold at the 2011 Women’s Junior and Youth World Boxing Championships. She won silver at the 2019 Asian Championships in Bangkok, gold at the 2022 World Championships in Istanbul, and gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
In 2023, she won another gold at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship in New Delhi, becoming only the second Indian woman to achieve the feat twice. She also won bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and secured a quota for India at the Paris Olympics, where she reached the Round of 16 in 2024.
Shama Parveen
Shama Parveen
Indian men and women have dominated Kabaddi in the world. Among Muslim women, the most prominent name Kabaddi layer is Shama Parveen from Bihar, who began her career in 2008.
She has won several honors at different levels. She was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championship.
Nasreen Sheikh
Nasreen Sheikh
Nasreen Sheikh of Delhi captained the Indian women’s kho-kho team and became the second player in this sport to receive the Arjuna Award. She led the Indian women’s team in the South Asian Games, where India won gold. She was also part of the Indian team that won the inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup held in January 2025 in New Delhi.
India defeated South Korea, Iran, and Malaysia in the group stage, beat Bangladesh in the quarterfinals, South Africa in the semifinals, and thrashed Nepal 78-40 in the final. For her performance, she was awarded the
Alisha Abdullah
Alisha Abdullah
In Motorsports, Alisha Abdullah stands out among women. Alisha, known as India’s fastest car racer and the country’s first female bike racing champion, was born in Chennai in 1989. She was passionate about racing from a young age. In 2004, she ranked among the top five in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship. With her father’s support, she transitioned from car to bike racing.
However, after a serious accident in 2010 while riding a bike, she returned to car racing. She is the first female motorsports star in the country to receive a Presidential Award.
In Motorsports, Alisha Abdullah stands out among women. Alisha, known as India’s fastest car racer and the country’s first female bike racing champion, was born in Chennai in 1989. She was passionate about racing from a young age. In 2004, she ranked among the top five in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship. With her father’s support, she transitioned from car to bike racing.
However, after a serious accident in 2010 while riding a bike, she returned to car racing. She is the first female motorsports star in the country to receive a Presidential Award.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> The Changemakers / by Aasha Khosa, ATV / August 06th, 2025
