Category Archives: Books (incl.Biographies – w.e.f.01 jan 2018 )

The Angel of Dharavi and Doyen of Aristocracy

Amazing Feats, Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri Award (since January 01st, 2024), Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , ,

HYDERABAD / MUMBAI :

There once lived a woman who epitomised the saying, ‘courage lies in compassion.’ Though born into the creamy tier of society, Bilkees Latif exemplified ‘living life large’ with regal grace, compassion, humility, and service to the downtrodden.

Bilkees Latif – The Enigma of Versatility | Source: You & I

Born to Nawab Ali Yawar Jung of Hyderabad and Alys Iffring from France, Bilkees grew up with a silver spoon that never got to her head or turned her into another conceited, snobbish socialite of the affluent society. Instead, she carved the path for her own legacy, decking it with added laurels for an already illustrious family that graced the halls of fame in professional careers and philanthropy alike.

The happily married couple whom even death could not keep apart for more than a few months | Source: You & I

Bilkees was married off in her early teens, as per norms of those times, to the son of another Nawabi family, the former Air Chief Marshall Idris Hasan Latif. Fortunately, she embarked on a happy marriage where the couple reached new heights of their family legacy, giving back to society with sophistication and empathy. He was one of the rare commissioned Air Force officers under the British Raj when she married him. Down the lane, Bilkees captured his illustrious life in her words, in a book titled The Ladder of His Life, an apt title, because he was the perfect stairwell through which she reached amazing feats*.*

They say greatness is not in lending help; it is in giving the downtrodden the best chance to lift themselves out of their howls. Tapping into the networking skills inherited from her family and her role in the Raj Bhavan as the wife of an Air Chief Marshall and the Governor of Maharashtra, she initiated her most lauded mission of improvising the largest slum of Asia, the Dharavi region in Bombay (now Mumbai). Among the many charitable and rehabilitator organisations she founded, The Society of Human Environmental Development (SHED), was the first. Embedded amongst the Godrej, Wadias, along with personalities like Sarojini Naidu, and Mahalaqa Bai Chanda of the society, she channelled their resources to the best purpose of giving hope of self-reliance to the helpless and discriminated.

A smile that never wavered along the slum dwellers or through the dignitaries | Source: You & I

Her life was a slide ranging from a diplomatic hostess for the likes of President Mitter as the wife of the Indian Ambassador in Paris or when Queen Elizabeth visited Hyderabad, with dexterous flair and culinary delights, to squatting with the slum children during her drive for hygiene or to understand the core issues of almost nil literacy rate, unemployment, drug addiction, etc. She has journaled her experience, which not only involved persistence to gain the dwellers’ trust but also a consistent tussle with the mafia and other powerlords, in her book O Dharavi.

Receiving Padma Shri from the President | Source: You & I

Today, the tourists who throng Dharavi do not go to witness the squalor of the slums. They visit to admire the very source of the largest economy of Maharashtra, generated from the 99 per cent of the hygienic houses that own some kind of home industry, may it be food, crafts, or hundreds of other options in the legitimate market. Her selfless strife to accomplish her solutions to the innate problems of the slums and not just hear them and forget once out of sight won her the much-deserving Padma Shri in 2008.

Cover pages of two of her books | Source: Penguin, Amazon

Mere words fail to encompass the versatility of Bilkees, as a seamstress of her enigmatic chiffon sarees with Banarasi borders. She was an exceptional artist, attested through one of her works, which was an 8-foot mural exhibited in Osaka, at the Japan Aero Exposition. Her elegance mirrored in her words as an author to her culinary skills and deep insight into the Deccan culture capsuled into “Essential of Andhra cookbook” apart from her other books like The Fragrance of Forgotten Years. She was the Founder member, Board member, President, and Trustee of many organisations like INTACT, the Indian Council for Child Welfare, Anjuman-e-Khawateen, the Board of Air India, and many others. She was the lamp of the literacy drive for children and had helped open 107 Bal Bhavans affiliated with the National Bal Bhavan as the Chairperson and Children’s Museum that organised creative activities for children all over India.

Just like her active life, she faced cancer in her painful last years with equal courage, poise, and humility, before she passed away in October 2017. Some people achieve so much and touch so many hearts that it becomes impossible to encapsulate their lives in just a few lines. Bilkees was one of them, her lifespan must have ended at eighty-six, but her legacy will be carried on, in each breath of Dharavi who are reaping the valorous efforts of her compassion, and in the memories of each of those whose lives she touched, one way or the other. She left behind two sons and a daughter.

Her lovely family of ‘hum do hamare teen’ | Source: You & I

Bilkees Latif was a woman who amalgamated an unaffected natural charm, grit, down-to-earth versatility, and kindness, into such a perfect blend, that it is seldom found in aristocracy. The words from her own pen in her book seem to resonate with the prayers of all those hearts she had touched with her kindness – “Keep her happy wherever she is, please.”

source: http://www.thisday.app / Home / by Waheeda Bi Khan

The Mughal Mapmaker and his Remarkable Hajj Maps

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Museums, Libraries (wef. April 16th, 2022), Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022), World Opinion

MUGHAL INDIA :

Safi ibn Vali’s Mughal Hajj maps

The Salamat Ras departed Surat in India on the 20th September 1676, carrying hundreds of pilgrims from Gujarat. On board was Safi ibn Vali; unlike the other pilgrims, his journey was sponsored by Zib al-Nisa, daughter of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1658-1707). Along with completing his Hajj, Safi ibn Vali was given the task of creating a Hajj guidebook for future pilgrims. Presumably aimed at Indian pilgrims like himself, the ‘Anis al-Hujjaj’ (The Pilgrim’s Companion) contains advice regarding all aspects of the pilgrimage, including the journey to Jidda by sea.

His book is but one of many surviving pilgrimage guidebooks, from various parts of the Islamic world, forming a long-established tradition. They are typically accompanied by diagrammatic views of the holy sites, and Anis al-Hujjaj is no different in this respect. What sets it apart, however, is its use of colourful illustrations depicting various scenes of the pilgrimage, as well as the remarkable accuracy of its maps.

Safi ibn Vali’s Anis al-Hujjaj (‘Pilgrims’ Companion’), possibly Gujarat, India, circa 1677–80. Ink, gold and opaque watercolour on paper; modern leather binding. 3 separate folios show here side by side.  Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art. Copyright Nour Foundation. Courtesy of the Khalili Family Trust.

The illustration below is a map of Jidda. Jidda was a major port for pilgrims arriving for Hajj, and is thought to have been founded by Caliph Uthman in 647 AD. Safi ibn Vali, arriving at the port himself, maps major parts of the city. Archaeologist Dr Geoffrey King examined the map and found that the vast majority of places and landmarks depicted lie in the same position today.

Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art. Copyright Nour Foundation. Courtesy of the Khalili Family Trust.

The upper section of the map depicts Hawa cemetery, thought to be the burial place of Eve, the mother of humanity. While the pink markers represent other graves, the black square indicates the head side of the resting place of Eve (peace be upon her), the white square her naval, and the gravelly area her feet. In Safi ibn Vali’s time, her grave, which is more than 100 feet in length, would have been marked by some sort of edifice. It is possible that the structure that can be seen in the image below, an illustration from 1894, or one similar to it, was what he saw two centuries earlier. The structure is no longer standing; it was destroyed in 1975 and covered with concrete by Saudi religious authorities.

Illustration of the Tomb of Eve in 1894, Jidda.

The middle section of Safi ibn Vali’s map shows the old city of Jidda. When examining the area, Dr King found that everything was accurately placed; a parade of shops and houses in the old city, as well as the surrounding roads, are all found in the same position today. There is however, one surprising discrepancy; an obvious landmark was mapped by Ibn Vali on the wrong side of the road. The green-domed Shafi’i mosque is shown in the Anis al-Hujjaj on the east side of the main street, whilst today it can be found on the west side; “This confuses me- was this main street in Jidda on a different alignment when the Anis al-Hujjaj was composed, or is it a simple error?” Given the remarkable accuracy of the map in every other way, King says this discrepancy is especially puzzling. The Shafi’i mosque is the oldest mosque site in Jidda; its floor is well below street-level, a fact that, according to Dr King, indicates that it predates the Shafi’i period. The oldest standing part of the mosque today is its Ayyubid minaret, dating back to the 13th century.

Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art. Copyright Nour Foundation. Courtesy of the Khalili Family Trust.

Since there is no question over the identity of the mosque depicted by Safi ibn Vali, further research needs to be conducted to reach a clear conclusion over the discrepancy. In the foreground of the Jidda map, the governor of the city is shown welcoming pilgrims. There are numerous such illustrations in Safi ibn Vali’s book, depicting various scenes of the Hajj. On the folio below, pilgrims are shown on the day of Eid al-Adha. In the top right hand corner, pilgrims in ihram throw stones at the three pillars representing shaytan, while others have their heads shaved after completing the rites of the Hajj. In the foreground, animals are being slaughtered for the Eid sacrifice.

 Safi ibn Vali also made mention of various holy places to visit that are not part of the Hajj itself. The illustration below is a typical diagrammatic view found in the tradition of Hajj guidebooks. According to the captions, the building in the upper section marks the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). In Ibn Vali’s time, the blessed area was marked by a small mosque with a courtyard and dome. Today a simple library building built in the 1950’s stands over the area. Depicted beneath the upper section are the birthplaces of Lady Fatima and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may God be pleased with them both) as well as the Madrassa of Sultan Sulayman and a Sufi lodge of the Bektashi order. The clothes worn by the visitors indicate their various nationalities.

Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art. Copyright Nour Foundation. Courtesy of the Khalili Family Trust.

While Safi ibn Vali’s Anis al-Hujjaj is not unique in its function, the accuracy of its map of Jidda, and possibly others, such as Surat in India and Mocha in Yemen, which are also represented, is remarkable, setting it apart from other guidebooks of the same genre. Its colourful illustrations give the viewer a sense of the energy of the pilgrimage, as well as the diversity of the pilgrims represented. Given that many of the sites Ibn Vali illustrates no longer exist in the same form, his work takes on added historical importance, preserving a past all but lost to modernity.

Bibliography 

L. York Leach, Paintings from India, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, volume VIII, London 1998, cat.34, pp.124–9.

J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.332–41, pp.284–7.

source: http://www.sacredfootsteps.com / SacredFootsteps.com / Home>Asia> Arabia> History / by Zara Choudhary

Bengal to Barbados: Sabir Nakhuda’s quest to unveil the untold story of Indian migration on the Caribbean island nation

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), NRI's / PIO's

INDIA / BARBADOS :

Nestled in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, next to North America. It’s one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. The story of Indian migration to Barbados began around 1910 with Bashart Ali Dewan from West Bengal, the first documented migrant from India to the island. Intrigued by this historical narrative, Indian-origin Sabir Nakhuda, a former journalist and author who grew up in Barbados, dedicated 15 years to researching and crafting his book – Bengal to Barbados: A 100 Year History of East Indians in Barbados. “It is a labour of love and a crucial mission to preserve the history of a community whose story needed to be told,” he remarks while connecting with Global Indian.

This year Sabir Nakhuda co-founded the Bengal to Barbados Foundation Inc. and Bengal to Barbados Digital Project with his friend Suleiman Bulbulia to highlight the distinctness and impact of East Indian-Bajan identity. The digital project, which is being co-curated by the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, weaves together migration stories from Bengal, Gujarat, Sindh, and South India with themes of cultural integration, heritage, and intergenerational experiences.

Sabir Nakhuda (centre) with Indian-origin people during the launch of Bengal to Barbados Foundation and digital project

Quest to revive Indian legacy in Barbados

In 1953 author Sabir Nakhuda’s father travelled from the village of Tadkeshwar in the Surat district of Gujarat to the distant Caribbean Island of Barbados for work. He was one of those Indian migrants from the region who were seeking better opportunities far from home. Five years later, in 1958, when Sabir was just ten years old, his father sent for him to join him in this new land. His mother and younger brother followed them in 1960, and the place became their new home.

“Growing up in Barbados, I navigated a unique cultural landscape, balancing my Indian roots with my new life in the Caribbean. I completed my primary and secondary education on the island, and later, pursued higher education in Canada. Fluent in Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu, I always maintained a strong connection with my heritage, even as I adapted to my new environment,” Sabir tells.

It wasn’t until he began working at The Barbados Advocate, one of the oldest newspapers on the island, that he realised how little was known about the East Indian community in Barbados. He came across a few interviews from the 1950s with two elders from their community, which touched on their arrival in Barbados. But it quickly became apparent that there was so much more to uncover. “There were no documented records or any other accounts of our community’s history on the island. This realisation sparked a determination in me to dig deeper and document our story,” he remarks.

Sabir Nakhuda at the 2024 Genealogy Market, Barbados

With no written records to rely on, Sabir turned to oral history, visiting and interviewing various members of both the Barbadian and East Indian communities. He collected documents, photographs, and artefacts, piecing together the fragmented history of this often-overlooked group.

During my research, a particularly significant moment came when a family of early Bengali migrants shared an airmail letter with me. The sender’s address on the back of that letter led me to India, where I was determined to trace the roots of the first migrant who came to Barbados.

Sabir Nakhuda shares

In 1999, Sabir took a trip to India with a purpose – to find the first migrant from India who landed in Barbados. It was a journey that took him to the village of Jinpoor, where he found the descendants of the first migrant – Bashart Ali Dewan. It took him about two weeks to find the village of the first migrant.

“I interviewed his sons, other family members, and villagers, documenting their stories through pictures, videos, and recorded interviews. Often, my Bengali friends helped translate, ensuring that the rich history of these families was accurately captured. These recordings, now preserved in my hard drive, form a crucial part of the historical record I have worked to create,” he says. 

Bashart Ali Dewan – first Indian migrant to Barbados | Photo Courtesy : Bengal to Barbados Foundation Inc

Keeping heritage and connections alive

Along with his research, Sabir Nakhuda has also collected various Indian artefacts, including old bicycles, jackets, relics, and photographs. These items, along with the history of the East Indian community, have been displayed in genealogy and archive exhibitions in collaboration with the Barbados Archives Department, where Sabir has been a contributor for many years.

“I also give lectures on the arrival of East Indians and their contributions to nation-building in Barbados, ensuring that our story is told and remembered,” tells Sabir who is enjoying an active retired life.

Due to his research that lasted 15 years, the author and former journalist has developed strong connections with the families of other Bengali migrants across various villages in West Bengal. “Although I am a Gujarati and not related to Bashart Ali and his family, I visit them and family members of other migrants spread across various villages in Bengal, whenever I travel to India.” he mentions.

Sabir Nakhuda presented his book to Barbados PM Freundel Stuart in 2013 and President of Guyana, Mohammed Irfan Ali in 2023

Sabir Nakhuda has been to many parts of India dozens of times, and makes a point to visit his own uncles, aunts and extended family members in India, whenever possible.

One of my most cherished experiences was being invited to speak at the Visva-Bharati University at Shantiniketan in West Bengal in 2019, where I discussed the Indian diaspora in the Caribbean. I was elated to visit the place built by Rabindranath Tagore, as he is one of my favourite poets.

Sabir Nakhuda shares

In addition to his historical work, Sabir Nakhuda also writes poetry in English, Gujarati, and Urdu, and has continued his oral research, currently focusing on a book on the migration of Muslims from India to Barbados. “This upcoming work will detail the names of the villages from which Muslims have migrated, the history and pictures of these villages, and a chronology of every individual who came to Barbados from 1910 to 2023,” he says.

Creating legacy for future generations 

The year 2016 was eventful both for Barbados as a nation and for Sabir Nakhuda as an author. It was the year when the nation celebrated 50 years of its independence. The same year, while attending the Commonwealth Prime Ministers meeting, Barbados’s PM Freundel Stuart presented Nakhuda’s book Bengal to Barbados to India’s PM, Modi. “PM Stuart later told me that he discussed the context of my book with PM Modi and highlighted the contributions East Indians have made in various fields of nation-building,” the author recalls. The foreword of the book was written by none other than PM Stuart himself.

During Barbados’s 50th anniversary of independence, the author was selected to serve on the committee organizing the celebrations. A time capsule was placed at the historic site of Independence Square in Bridgetown, the capital, where the Independence flag was first raised. Among the artifacts, two books were included: the autobiography of Sir Garfield Sobers, a former Barbadian cricketer who is considered Barbados’s national hero and the greatest all-rounder in the world, and Bengal to Barbados.

The time capsule is set to be opened on Barbados’s 100th anniversary in 2066. While I may not be around, my future generations will be, and most importantly, the legacy of the East Indian presence and our stories will resurface.

Nakhuda says with pride

Cover Image of Sabir Nakhuda’s book

Connecting the dots

Sabir Nakhuda’s friend Suleiman Bulbulia’s interest in co-founding the Bengal to Barbados Foundation Inc. with him stems from the same deep commitment to preserve and promote the history and culture of the East Indian community in the Caribbean island nation. He even has a distant connection with the first documented Indian migrant to the country. “My paternal grandfather’s second wife was related to Bashart Ali Dewan, the first documented East Indian migrant to Barbados,” he says.

Born and raised in Barbados, Suleiman’s paternal and maternal grandfathers migrated from Kaphleta, Gujarat in the 1930s. With the Bengal to Barbados Foundation Inc. the retail senior manager by profession seeks to bridge cultural understanding and acceptance of Indian-origin people in the island nation.

Suleiman Bulbulia during the launch of Bengal to Barbados Foundation and digital project

Both Sabir Nakhuda and Suleiman Bulbulia are dedicated to documenting the stories, history, and legacy of East Indians in Barbados. Their goal is to collect tangible, historic items from the Indian community to create a permanent display of these artefacts. Additionally, they aim to share the collected information through their website and social media platforms.

“Our efforts have centred around providing accurate historical information about the Indian community in Barbados while promoting their culture, knowledge, and heritage. These efforts have led to an understanding and acceptance of the Indian community among both the government and the general public in Barbados. Additionally, our work has strengthened the bonds of friendship between India and Barbados,” Suleiman signs off.

source: http://www.globalindian.com / Global Indian / Home> Story> Global Indian Exclusive> Indian Art & Culture / by Amrita Priya / September 05th, 2024

Ajaz Ashraf’s Book on Bhima Koregaon Unveiled at IIC

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Uncategorized

NEW DELHI :

Senior journalist Ajaz Ashraf’s book, Bhima Koregaon: Challenging the Caste, was launched at India International Centre last evening.

The book, published by Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, delves into the enduring struggle against casteism, focusing on the events surrounding the Bhima Koregaon incident and its broader implications.

During the book’s introduction, Ashraf described Challenging Caste as an exploration of the violence at Bhima Koregaon, portraying it as a confrontation between two conflicting worldviews – one seeking to dismantle social hierarchies and the other intent on preserving them.

The book provides a deep analysis of the songs and performances at the Elgar Parishad event, which controversially critiqued Brahminism and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It also brings to light archival evidence suggesting that Govind Gopal, a Mahar, rather than the Maratha couple Bapuji Buva and Padmavati, was associated with the cremation of Chhatrapati Sambhaji. The book further examines the influence of James Laine’s controversial book on Maharashtra’s anti-Brahmin consciousness and vividly recounts the events of January 1, 2018, when Bhima Koregaon became a flashpoint.

Ashraf also challenges the narrative propagated by Pune police and National Investigating Agency (NIA), which blamed the violence on a supposed Maoist conspiracy involving 16 anti-caste, civil rights activists, intellectuals, and lawyers. According to Ashraf, the book dissects the flaws in this narrative and exposes weaknesses in the evidence allegedly planted on the accused’s hacked computers. He argues that the conspiracy against the sixteen not only brought immense suffering to their families but also highlighted inherent inequalities in India’s social order, which undermines the democratic process.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Colin Gonsalves, speaking at the event, criticised the judiciary’s handling of Bhima Koregaon cases, calling it a betrayal comparable to judiciary’s actions during the Emergency. However, Gonsalves noted a shift in the Supreme Court’s attitude, with some judges now recognising the injustices inflicted on leading activists and lawyers.

Former MP Subhashini Ali participated in the panel discussion, emphasising the pervasive hatred that the Brahminical class harbours not only towards Muslims and Dalits but also towards intermediary castes.

MP Manoj Jha, who had earlier released the book in Parliament, discussed the importance of preserving and transferring memories across generations. He highlighted how subaltern communities, like the Dalits in India, often struggle to retain and pass on their memories, a challenge that has historically been faced by oppressed groups worldwide.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Review Article> Book Release> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / August 30th, 2024

A.G. Noorani (1930-2024): Eminent constitutional expert and prolific writer is no more

Amazing Feats, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Leaders, , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

A long-term contributor to Frontline, Noorani was widely respected for his insightful analysis on constitutional and human rights issues.

A.G. Noorani is remembered as an intellectual who upheld the principles of democracy and constitutionalism throughout his long and distinguished career. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

Renowned lawyer, constitutional expert, and prolific author who made significant contributions to legal scholarship and political discourse in India for over six decades, A.G. Noorani is no more. A long-term contributor to Frontline, Noorani was widely respected for his insightful analysis on constitutional and human rights issues.

Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1930, Abdul Ghafoor Abdul Majeed Noorani began his career as a lawyer in the Bombay High Court in 1953. Though he practised law, Noorani devoted much of his time to writing on legal, political, and historical topics. His sharp intellect and deep knowledge of constitutional matters made him a sought-after commentator on Indian politics and jurisprudence.

Noorani was a regular contributor to leading publications like Economic & Political Weekly, The Hindustan Times, and The Statesman. However, it was his association with Frontline magazine, which began in the 1980s, that brought his incisive writing to a wide audience. His column “Constitutional Questions” ran for over three decades and was known for its meticulous research and balanced analysis of complex legal issues.

As an author, Noorani penned over a dozen books on various aspects of Indian constitutional law, politics, and history. Some of his notable works include The Kashmir Question (1964), Ministers’ Misconduct (1973), Constitutional Questions and Citizens’ Rights (2006), and The RSS: A Menace to India (2019). His writings often took a critical look at government overreach and erosion of democratic norms.

Noorani was known for his strong advocacy of civil liberties and secularism. He was a vocal critic of laws that he believed infringed on fundamental rights, such as preventive detention laws and restrictions on freedom of expression. His legal expertise made him a respected voice in debates on judicial reforms and accountability.

Though he never held any official position, Noorani’s opinions carried weight in legal and political circles. He was often consulted on constitutional matters and his writings were cited in academic works and even Supreme Court judgments.

Noorani leaves behind a rich legacy of constitutional scholarship and political commentary. He is remembered as an intellectual who upheld the principles of democracy and constitutionalism throughout his long and distinguished career.

While revered in progressive and liberal circles, Noorani was not without his critics. Some felt his views were too idealistic or out of step with changing political realities. Nonetheless, his commitment to constitutional values and rigorous analysis earned him respect across the political spectrum.

Here’s a curated list of articles Noorani wrote for Frontline. We have kept them outside the paywall to honour the genius that he was.

Please read them and share your comments.

https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/ag-noorani-1930-2024-tribute-eminent-constitutional-expert-prolific-writer-human-rights-kashmir-rss-hindutva/article68581034.ece

source: http://www.frontline.thehindu.com / Frontline / Home> Obituary> Tribute / by Team Frontline / August 29th, 2024

Urdu periodical “Jamhoor”, Aligarh: Champion of Democratic Values

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

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

To celebrate the declaration of India as a democratic country, an Urdu periodical ‘Jamhoor’ was started from Aligarh, on the same day when the Indian Constitution came into force, i.e., on 26th January 1950.

Aligarh :

The Constitution of India was enacted in our country on 26th January 1950, after repealing an earlier act known as Government of India Act-1935. This implementation marked the beginning of the democratic form of government in India.

To celebrate the declaration of India as a democratic country, an Urdu periodical ‘Jamhoor’ was started from Aligarh, on the same day when the Indian Constitution came into force, i.e., on 26th January 1950. It was published three times a month, on 6th, 16th, and 26th day of the month. It was owned and edited by Mohammad Umar Khan Chattarvi (1924-2003), a well-known literary and pro-Urdu figure from Aligarh. Chattarvi was also the founding Secretary of the Urdu Board Aligarh and Idara-e- Ilm-o-Adab, Aligarh, under which he organised various Urdu literary activities and worked to promote Urdu education. He was a good poet and carried the pseudonym, “Samar”. In addition, he also held the posts of Secretary of Anjuman Taraaqi Urdu, Aligarh, and the National Anti-Communal Committee. He also served as the vice-president of the Aligarh Congress Committee.

Mohammad Umar Khan Chattarvi (1924-2003)

In 1957, in his editorials, he raised his protest against corruption in government circles and vehemently criticised its policies against the people. He questioned many decisions of the government, and in this regard, he exposed many faces. The then government did not appreciate his views, and he was soon arrested and sent to jail. Thereafter, protests started in Aligarh for his release. In 1958, the district court acquitted him honourably. Even after his release, he continued to edit ‘Jamhoor’. He believed that the strength of a democratic system rests on questioning and analysing the government’s work. He passed away on 16th March 2003, at the age of 77.

Every year, on the occasion of the Republic Day (26th January), “The Jamhoor” used to publish a special issue ‘Jamhooriat Number’ in which it meticulously examined Indian democracy and identified the real issues of the country, such as corruption in the government sector, educational inequality, poverty, illiteracy, minority issues, and communal problems, and so on. This special number was continuously published for thirteen years until it ceased its publication in 1962.

Jamhoor also started publishing a series of special articles on Indian democracy, contributed by Dr. Mohammad Hashim Kidwai who was then a young assistant professor of political science at AMU. This series was published continuously for about ten years. In his articles, Kidwai analysed and explored the political activities related to India over the previous year, highlighting the points that would contribute to the weakening of the Indian democracy.

On the cover page of the Republic Day special issue of 1951, under the title ‘Heroes of India’s Independence’, sketches of Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Acharya Kirpalani, and Sardar Patel were published. The same issue carried articles of Dr. Parasram, and Mohammad Hashim Kidwai, respectively titled “Position of Minorities in the Republic of India” and “Some Disturbing Thoughts on Democracy”.

‘Jamhoor’ helped the helpless Muslims at every stage of the post-independence period by fostering national unity and integrity and debunking Pakistan’s propaganda. Through their editorials and columns, ‘Jamhoor’ pulled Indian Muslims out of their inferiority complex and tried to convince them that their future is safe in India and they should not fall into Pakistan’s mischievous propaganda. For this purpose, it published messages, statements, and speeches of national leaders from time to time, so that the atmosphere of peace and tranquilly in the country can be maintained.

‘Jamhoor’ made a unique and indelible mark in the field of journalism. Its editorials and columns highlighted public concerns and issues in independent India, and helped to find new avenues. These features of ‘Jamhoor’ guaranteed its success and advanced its popularity.

At a critical juncture, during the early years of the post-independence years, when Hindus and Muslims were looking at each other suspiciously, there was a lot of prejudice on both sides, this newspaper played a significant role in promoting national unity and a peaceful society. Jamhoor apprised the government of the basic problems of the people, and exhorted both Hindus and Muslims to exercise patience and take steps towards the development of the country.

Many eminent scholars, such as Dr. Hashim Kidwai, Riyazur Rahman Sherwani, Muqtada Khan Sherwani, Waseem Alig, Dr. Ashraf, Haroon Khan Sherwani, Dr. Parasram, Zia Ahmed Badayuni, Abdul Shahid Sherwani, Zaheer Ahmad Siddiqui, Abu Anjum Qamar Sohouri, Aziz Ahmad Siddiqui, etc. immensely contributed to Jamhoor through their writings.

References:

Farooqui, Asad Faisal. Aligarh Ke Sahafat, Educationl Book House, 2016

Jamhoor, Aligarh (1951-1960) preserved in MAL library, AMU.

Idara-e-Ilm-o-Adab, Salana Report, 1959 (Annual Report, Compiled by Mohammad Umar Khan Chattarvi Samar)

The author may be contacted at asadfaisalamu@gmail.com

source: http://www.milligazette.com / The Milli Gazette / Home> News> Special Reports / by The Milli Gazette Online / by Asad Faisal Farooqui / March 16th, 2023

AMU Faculty Bags Nishan-e-Urdu Award

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

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Dr. Faiza Abbasi receiving the Nishan-e-Urdu Award from Mr Abbas Ali Mehndi at Lucknow

Aligarh :

Dr. Faiza Abbasi, Director, UGC Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MMTTP), Aligarh Muslim University, has been honored with the prestigious Nishan-e-Urdu Award by the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Committee, Uttar Pradesh Government. The award ceremony took place at the Premchand Sabhagar of the Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon Hindi Sanstha, Lucknow on June 22.

The Nishan-e-Urdu Award is conferred upon individuals who have significantly contributed to the promotion of the Urdu language in India but neither got their employment from Urdu nor studied through the Urdu medium. Dr. Faiza Abbasi was selected for her contributions to the Urdu language, despite the fact that she holds a PhD degree in Wildlife Sciences and has been teaching Environmental Studies to undergraduate students in the departments of Shia and Sunni Theology and Quranic Environmental Ethics at the Khaleeq Ahmad Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, AMU, which primarily imparts higher education to the students from Madrasas.

Dr. Abbasi has authored, edited, and translated five books in Urdu on educational, scientific and literary topics and regularly writes for Urdu journals and magazines, including the Tehzib ul Akhlaq and Fikr-o-Nazar. She also emceed at Jashn-e-Rekhta and organized Urdu literary evenings, voluntary Urdu language classes, and delivered lectures on the contributions of non-Muslim Urdu poets.

She was felicitated by Mr Abbas Ali Mehndi, Vice Chancellor, Era University, Lucknow, at a programme convened by Shri SN Lal, Convener, and Jitendra Kumar, Additional Secretary of Languages, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Focus / by Radiance News Bureau / July 01st, 2024

Little-known history of Indian Hajj pilgrims during Mughal decline retold

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 )

MUGHAL INDIA :

Rishad Choudhury’s book reveals how pilgrimage transformed Muslim political culture and colonial attitudes towards it, creating new ideas of religion and rule.

Pilgrims and their ceremonial procession around the Kaaba in Makkah in 1880. Photo: Clu

Every year, Muslims from around the world gather in Makkah for Hajj. Men and women in pilgrim garb circumambulate the Kaaba and perform the sacred rituals enjoined for pilgrims.

But the Hajj is more than a religious gathering. For centuries it was the source of cross-cultural exchanges and trade between Arabia and the rest of the Muslim world.

A new book that sheds light on this is Hajj Across Empires: Pilgrimage and Political Culture after the Mughals, 1739-1857 by historian Rishad Choudhury. It looks at how Islam’s annual pilgrimage changed politics and society in the subcontinent at a time when the Mughal Empire was in decline and as British colonial rule was being established.

During the Mughal rule in India, pilgrims from South Asia were an important source of revenue in the Hijaz, and the Ottoman bureaucracy even referred to the Hajj as “Mevsim-e-Hindi”, the Indian Season. Choudhury writes how “revenues from Indian pilgrims and trade added crucial heft to the imperial treasury”. He adds how they also annually replenished the coffers of the Sharif of Makkah, “who collected half the commercial tariffs at Jeddah”.

Pilgrim vessels from the subcontinent would set sail from Surat, a West Indian entrepot once known as the Bab al-Makkah (Gate of Makkah). It was a cosmopolitan city with reports of Arab, Persian and Turk traders and emigres being there into the late 18th century. The Mughals built lodgings and infrastructure to help pilgrims in the city. Later, during British rule, Surat lost its status to other port cities like Mumbai and Kolkata.

While the patronage of Hajj has a long history in the subcontinent, Choudhury writes that it was under the 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar that organised pilgrim movements from north India began.

British sponsorship of the Hajj

When the East India Company began to take over the subcontinent, it didn’t initially get involved with the Hajj. However, several developments led it to eventually administer the Indian pilgrimage to Makkah. One key turning point was Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798, which triggered greater British interest in Middle Eastern politics and the need to keep an eye on the Indian Ocean against potential invasions. Sponsorship of the Hajj also allowed the British to lend their colonial rule an air of legitimacy.

Choudhury details how local royals, particularly women, would make appeals to the British for allowances to travel for Hajj.

“Despite their royal status, in the end, the colonial state and Indian rulers alike regarded women’s immobility as necessary to preserving order in aristocratic households,” Choudhury writes.

In the region of Awadh (northern India), for example, the rulers repeatedly attempted to frustrate the plans of noblewomen seeking to leave for Makkah as pilgrims, writes Choudhury. He adds: “Particularly stringent controls were placed on begums who happened to be beneficiaries of the British.”

Among those petitioning the British was Saiyid-un-Nisa, a widow of Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century post-Mughal ruler of Mysore who was killed in battle with the British.

She wrote a long letter to the East India Company detailing her circumstances and requesting permission to travel to Makkah for pilgrimage.

Then there was the Mughal courtier Munir-ud-Daula, who also tried to leave for Hajj with a request to the British but failed to win the emperor’s permission and was “dissuaded” from the trip by the British after they were approached by the Mughals.

Under the ruse of protecting Hajj vessels from India, the British justified the conquest of the Yemen capital Aden in 1839, as it summoned a casus belli after an alleged assault, by a “crowd of Arabs” on another Hajj vessel, the Darya Daulat.He adds: “The British in this instance specifically also cited the need to protect royal Indian women going on Hajj, as the Darya Daulat was the property of a princess from Arcot.”

Hajj Across Empires is not a book about the theological or spiritual specifics of the Hajj itself. Rather it is in part an anthropological study of Indian pilgrims grappling with the decline of the Mughal Empire, and its successor states, as British colonialism took hold in their homeland.

While religious developments and changes from the era are generously described in the text, it is more about networks of Sufis and the different interpretations of Islam being imported from Arabia by pilgrims.

However, the book suffers from the use of too many words, and simpler vocabulary may have brought clarity to Choudhury’s otherwise thoughtful analysis. This may have helped the book, which is due for release this month, reach a more mainstream readership.

Also, the book’s themes do not feel very tightly connected, with the range of issues including the bazaar economy of the Hajj, imperialism, diplomacy and localised cults of shrine pilgrimage within the subcontinent. Readers are at risk of losing the thread at times.

However, it’s an important addition to literature on the topic, even if the niche subject matter will probably only appeal to academic readers.

Hajj Across Empires: Pilgrimage and Political Culture after the Mughals by Rishad Choudhury will be published this month

source: http://www.thenationalnews.com / The National / Home> Culture> Books / by Syed Hamad Ali / January 01st, 2024

Leaving AMU was a stroke of luck: Advocate Eijaz Maqbool

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Leaders,

NEW DELHI :

Advocate Eizaj Maqbool

“Khush kismat hain woh log jo Aligarh chhor dete hain; I was once told that leaving Aligarh was a stroke of luck,” says Eijaz Maqbool, a senior Delhi-based senior advocate as he reflects on the pivotal points in his life.

“It was a decision driven by a deep-seated desire to contribute meaningfully to society through the practice of law,” he told Awaz-the Voice. His tenure as the Vice-President of the Students’ Union at AMU was formative and one particular seminar which he organized left a lasting impression on him.

With his mother a teacher and father an assistant collector in customs, he reflects on the bare minimum salary that was just enough to sustain their family.

He left Aligarh with 20 recommendations and a dream no less than that of becoming the Prime Minister, Maqbool arrived in Delhi after having cycled for 138 kilometers.

Maqbool faced significant challenges in Delhi while trying to settle as a lawyer. “The reality of establishing myself in the legal fraternity struck hard,” he says. He found it challenging to find accommodation in Delhi for for prospective landlords held his being a Muslim, a law graduate, and hailing from Bihar, as his disqualifications as a tenant.

Advocate Eijaz Maqbool with his book

Undeterred, Maqbool found a mentor in Justice Tarkunde, who was already an established advocate in Delhi.

Maqbool started working for Rs 800 in Karanjawala, a law firm that is one of the major law firms in Delhi today. “In the Supreme Court, specialization does not exist as there’s no strict divide between civil and criminal cases and one handles all branches of law,” he explains. “We are jacks of all trades and masters of none,” he quotes.

Maqbool speaks about a few landmark cases in the legal history that he was associated with. “One of the pivotal cases in my career was the ‘Kihoto Hollohan’ or the ‘Aaya Ram Gaya Ram’ case,” he recalls, highlighting its constitutional significance in addressing political defections. Another watershed moment was his representation in the Babri Masjid dispute, where he advocated for the Muslim side – a role that garnered his media attention and scrutiny.

Beyond his legal achievements, Maqbool holds a passion for travel – he has visited 63 countries. He feels travelling not only enriches his experiences, it also informs his global perspective on legal matters. He says he plans his vacations well in time, before the Supreme Court vacations.

Interestingly, Eijaz Maqbool intends to write his travelogue scoring 100 countries.

On the challenges young lawyers face, Maqbool says that they face problems in securing mentorship and recognition. “The early years are pivotal,” he comments.

He admits that post-COVID, there is a decline in remunerations and placement for young lawyers, he advises greenhorns: “There is no substitute to hard work and as it is said, the genius is 1% intellect and 99% perspiration.” He asks young lawyers to work on networking, good command of the English language, and being technologically adept.

“The adoption of digital filings and virtual hearings by the Supreme Court has revolutionized legal practices,” he says and hopes it would percolate to the lower courts.

Maqbool is committed to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals and instilling in them a deep sense of integrity and commitment to justice. “My sons and my daughter-in-law have followed my footsteps,” he says proudly.

“Many of my juniors have flourished in their legal careers, which is immensely gratifying.” As he contemplates his legacy, Maqbool emphasizes the importance of upholding judicial independence and the rule of law.

“The judiciary must serve as a vigilant guardian against governmental overreach which is currently not the case”, he asserts.

The advocates often face ethical dilemmas in the need to draw a balance between working for the client’s best interest and upholding their responsibility as a law officer of the court by doing one’s best and leaving it to the court to decide in favour or against the case at hand. Maqbool quotes Urdu poet Akbar Allahabadi on this:

Paida hua waqeel toh shaitaan ne kaha,

Lo aaj ham bhi sahib-e-aulaad ho gaye’

(When a lawyer was born Satan said, “I have become a father today”)

During the COVID lockdown he studied the writings of about a hundred legal luminaries, dabbled in his love for Urdu poetry, and most importantly authored ‘Law, Humour, and Urdu Poetry’ that showcases his work as a advocate.”

A member of the Delhi High Bar Association, Supreme Court Bar Association, and International Bar Association, London, throughout his distinguished career, Advocate Maqbool has indeed touched the pinnacle of glory in his profession.

Starting as a law student in Delhi to establishing his boutique law firm in Noida, UP, his story reflects personal achievement and the profound impact of legal advocacy in shaping societies.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rimsha, New Delhi / July 02nd, 2024

Former IGP, Poet Khaleel Mamoon, No More

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru ,KARNATAKA :

Bengaluru :

Khaleel ur Rehman, a noted Urdu poet and former Inspector General of Police, Karnataka breathed his last on Friday after a cardiac arrest.

Born here in 1948 and better known by his pen name Mamoon, he won the 2011 Sahitya Academi Award for his poetry collection Aafaaq ki Taraf. In 2004, Mamoon became the first Urdu writer to win the Karnataka Rajyotsava Prashasti.

After working as a staff artist for All India Radio, Delhi and later working as an Assistant editor of Daily Salar, Mamoon joined the Indian Police Service in 1977 and eventually promoted to IPS and retired as IGP in 2008.

Mamoon has published a number of works. Lissan Falsafe Ke Aine Me on the philosophy of language. Unnees Lillahi Nazmen is a translation of poems written in praise of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by Scherzade Rikhye. Nishaat-e-Gham is a collections of Ghazals. Kannada Adab is a collection of translations of Kannada language poetry and fiction. His poems are published in ‘La Ilah’ and ‘Andherey Ujaley Mein’ – two voluminous poetry collections.

His poetry stands out for its animated use of everyday images, sometimes shocking metaphors and use of wit that lay bare everyday experiences. His poetic sensibilities are steeped into the sufi-mystical traditions of Indo-Persianate culture. He experimented in the genres of both classical ghazal and azad nazam in a collection Saanson ke paar. He was most prolific in the genre of nazm which he thought suited to articulate the changing experiences of contemporary times – Jism-o-Jaan se door, Banbas ka Jhoot, Saraswati ke Kinare.

He served as the President of Karnataka Urdu Academy during 2008-10. During his tenure, he also edited the literary organ of the Karnataka Urdu Academy Azkaar.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus / by Mohammed Atherulla Shariff / June 22nd, 2024