Category Archives: NRI’s / PIO’s

Zohran Mamdani’s New York win revives a forgotten history — of Gujarati Muslim cosmopolitanism

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GUJARAT / UGANDA / New York, U.S.A :

From Mughal ports to Dutch wars to Bombay’s merchant dynasties, Gujarati Muslims once shaped the Indian Ocean world — long before one of their descendants took New York.

File photo of Zohran Mamdani | Reuters 2025

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What You Need to Know

Zohran Mamdani’s election highlights a forgotten Indian Muslim cosmopolitanism. Historically, Gujarati Muslim communities dominated Indian Ocean trade, challenging European powers and fostering diverse business relationships. Later, groups like the Khojas adapted through “corporate Islam” (jamaats), becoming powerful economic forces globally. This rich, diverse history is increasingly overshadowed by modern religious nationalism.

*AI-generated summary. Check context in original text.

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Having delivered speeches in Gujarati, Bengali, Arabic, Hindi, Luganda, and Spanish, Mamdani is a reflection of a long-forgotten Indian Muslim cosmopolitanism. The Gujarati Muslim communities he descends from once challenged the Dutch for hegemony in Indonesia; poured money into schools, hospitals, and printing presses from Japan to Arabia; and helped the British Empire consolidate its grip over Africa. To this day, that Indian Muslim history still echoes — in high-end London auction houses as much as in the working-class boroughs of New York.


The election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York last week has struck a surprising chord in the world’s media — especially considering he is technically the head of just one American city’s administration. But the buzz around this young Indian-origin Muslim, an avowed democratic socialist, is a ripple in a much older ocean.

Gujaratis in the Indian Ocean

This column began with a rather innocuous tweet pointing out that Mamdani’s multilingualism would have made him a fortune in the early modern Southeast Asian spice trade. As of writing, it has racked up over one million views and 54,000 likes — and it’s a pretty accurate reflection of what propelled Gujarati Muslims to international trade superstardom in the first place.

In her paper ‘Gujarat’s Trade with South East Asia (16th and 17th centuries)’, historian Ruby Maloni describes the great port of Khambhat in Gujarat as having “stretched out two arms — one towards Aden, the other towards Malacca.” While Banias were especially prominent in East Africa and the Persian Gulf at the time, Gujarati Muslim merchants dominated the Malacca trade, conveying relatively cheap block-print textiles from manufactories in Ahmedabad deep into Southeast Asia to trade for spices.

The most prominent among these merchants effectively formed ‘dynasties’ closely linked to the Mughal court, among others. But there was also a strong aspect of caste-based collective organisation, paralleling that of Hindu and Jain Gujaratis.

Nowhere was this more evident than in Surat, perhaps the most impressive port on India’s west coast. Its multilingual babble included Gujarati, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Dutch, English, and Portuguese. Certainly, there were clear distinctions between caste and religious groups, and within their communities Gujarati merchants — Hindu and Muslim alike — could be quite rigid. At the same time, in interpersonal and business relationships, their shared Gujarati heritage encouraged cosmopolitan attitudes.

Historian Jawaid Akhtar offers several examples in his paper ‘The Culture of Mercantile Communities in Mughal Times.’ In Surat, Armenian merchants were in business with Parsis and Muslims; Vaishnavite Bhatias, despite a taboo against crossing the ocean, jointly owned cargo and ships with Muslims. Akhtar cites documentary evidence of Bania men adopting Muslim practices such as offering dowers to their wives. Muslim and Hindu merchants also collectively represented their grievances to Mughal authorities.

On one occasion in 1669, when the Qazi of Surat compelled a Vaishnavite Bania to convert to Islam, nearly 8,000 merchants — apparently of all religions — emigrated to Bharuch in protest against this infringement of their privileges.

Gujarati Muslims quickly identified Europeans as a threat to their trade dominance in Southeast Asia. Maloni notes that Dutch East India Company records mention their difficulties with these merchants, who took them on through price wars and by installing their own candidates as port authorities. It seemed that there was nothing the Dutch could do to prevent Gujarati Muslims from trading. The Sultanate of Johor welcomed ships belonging to the merchant Haji Zahid Beg, who bought tin in flagrant defiance of Dutch embargoes. Other merchants, Maloni writes, hired cargo space on English ships; the spectacularly wealthy merchant Abdul Ghafur of Surat even flew Dutch flags on his own ships. It was only when the Dutch forcibly colonised much of Indonesia that Gujarati Muslims finally lost their grip on Malacca. But by then, new opportunities were already emerging on the horizon.

Khoja Lady | From the album presented to the Princess of Wales by the women of Bombay, featuring 13 full-page watercolours of Indian women by artist Manchershaw Fakirjee Pithawalla (1872-1937) | Wikimedia Commons

The rise of ‘Corporate Islam’

As the Mughal juggernaut began to shake and unravel in the 18th century, the old order of great merchant princes and dynasties started to fall apart. Surat, repeatedly raided by the Maratha king Shivaji, faced growing competition from the East India Company’s new port at Bombay.

Three Gujarati Muslim communities — the Bohras, Memons, and Khojas — who had hitherto been relatively small-time traders, found themselves ideally placed to benefit from the changing political landscape. Zohran Mamdani descends from the last of these.

In his seminal book No Birds of Passage: A History of Gujarati Muslim Business Communities, 1800–1975, historian Michael O’Sullivan notes that these three groups had spread “as far east as Ujjain, as far west as Karachi, as far south as Poona, and as far north as Udaipur… They thus inhabited a territory that was, by the reckoning of an Indian lexicographer in the 1840s, larger than Great Britain and Ireland, with their shared mother tongues [Gujarati] serving as the principal language of business in Central and Western India.”

The Bohras, Memons and Khojas had all converted to Islam around the 15th century, but their social and cultural practices varied drastically. Subgroups were affiliated with various Sunni and Shia sects; some were Ismaili and revered the Aga Khans, while others traced descent by region and worshipped Sufi saints.

What these groups shared, though, was the jamaat —an institution that O’Sullivan describes as a form of “corporate Islam”. Essentially, members of each jamaat shared some resources in common — schools, hospitals, that sort of thing. Particularly wealthy members, who often held senior religious positions, also maintained private family trusts and companies.

What the jamaat ensured, O’Sullivan writes, was a mechanism for organisation, exclusivity, and interpretation, allowing these communities to adapt the changing contours of Islamic practice to an era of globalisation. Jamaats could mobilise capital, human resources, and theological flexibility at a rate few other Indian institutions could match.

Collectively, these Gujarati Muslim jamaats emerged as some of the most powerful Indian economic forces of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though now outshone in the popular imagination by Parsi and Bania entrepreneurs, Gujarati Muslims similarly negotiated with the Marathas and the British, benefited from the Opium Wars, and switched soon after to manufacturing all sorts of commercial goods, especially in Bombay.

In the 1840s, Gujarati Muslims commissioned pioneering printed texts — in Gujarati — including travelogues and cultural primers for new markets like China. Their growing wealth also funded spectacular mansions, such as those in Sidhpur, now eerily abandoned. It was Gujaratis, perhaps more than any other Indian group, who built the financial infrastructure of the British Raj in East Africa — a migration line from which Zohran Mamdani himself descends.

All of this amounted to a decisive shift in the centre of gravity of Indian Ocean Islam. It was for this reason that the Aga Khan, revered by Ismaili Khojas, moved his seat from Iran to Bombay before Partition.

Sidhpur city in Gujarat | Wikimedia Commons

A cosmopolitanism forgotten

The versions of Islam promoted by Gujarati Muslims absorbed the modernist vocabulary of capital accumulation and inheritance, frequently splintering into new jamaats as they expanded into ever-new markets and cultures.

At the same time, as researcher Danish Khan notes, Gujarati Muslims attained positions of leadership and influence in Bombay well before they had even set foot in the United States of America. “The first Muslim baronet in colonial India,” he writes, “was a Khoja and the first Muslim ICS officer was a Sulaimani Bohra. Badruddin Tyabji and Rahimtoola Sayani were the first two Muslim Presidents of Congress party. Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy presided over the first session of the Muslim League in Karachi.”

But with the rise of pan-Islamic and Hindu nationalism in the early 20th century, the scales swung once again, and mercantile, oceanic histories were overridden by grievances inspired by long-dead inland kings.

Where does the history of Gujarati Muslims fit now? Mamdani’s election is ironic on many levels. In Bombay, once the historic home of the community, a BJP politician declared, in response to Mamdani’s victory in New York, that “We won’t allow any Khan to become mayor.”

The fact is that before and since, the history of Gujarati Muslims has, for all intents and purposes, disappeared into the ever–widening gap between radical Hindutva and radical Islam. Every news cycle, it seems, tears India’s many intertwined histories further apart.

Anirudh Kanisetti is a public historian. He is the author of ‘Lords of Earth and Sea: A History of the Chola Empire’ and the award-winning ‘Lords of the Deccan’. He hosts the Echoes of India and Yuddha podcasts. He tweets @AKanisetti and is on Instagram @anirbuddha.

This article is a part of the ‘Thinking Medieval’ series that takes a deep dive into India’s medieval culture, politics, and history.

(Edited by Prashant Dixit)

source: http://www.theprint.in / The Print / Home> Opinion> The Fine Print / by Anirudh Kanisetti / November 13th, 2025

Mamdani’s Hindustani Effect: A Historic Triumph for Inclusion in New York

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GUJARAT/ UGANDA / New York, U.S.A. :

Zohran Mamdani

A Historic Win

“I am a Democratic Socialist, I am a Muslim… I am not apologizing for either.” With these words, Zohran Mamdani declared victory in the New York City mayoral race, a symbolic global capital of commerce and culture. His triumph rekindled hope among conscientious citizens in New York and resonated worldwide, especially amid the rise of populist, authoritarian-leaning leaders who thrive on division and privilege wealthy allies.

Only a year prior, Mamdani was widely seen as an underdog. Yet he defeated Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who ran as an independent and received informal support from prominent national figures, including the sitting president. Mamdani garnered just over 50 percent of the vote, becoming the youngest mayor in a century and the first Muslim and South Asian to hold the office. His campaign also achieved one of the highest voter turnouts in New York City since 1969, signalling renewed civic engagement for a progressive, inclusive agenda.

Political Polarization and Economic Context

While such a victory might appear routine in an established liberal democracy, it must be understood against the backdrop of deep U.S. political polarization since the Trump era. Divisive rhetoric and exclusionary policies fractured communities and workplaces, stifling dreams and limiting opportunity.

During the Trump administration, harsh immigration enforcement via ICE and other agencies fuelled fear in immigrant communities. Arbitrary detentions, wrongful arrests, and forced family separations became emblematic of policies that disregarded due process and human dignity. At the same time, tariffs and trade disputes increased living costs, particularly in metropolitan areas like New York. Rising rents and price hikes strained households across demographics, as economic hardship transcends ethnicity, citizenship, or geography. Some commentators noted that the political climate during Mamdani’s election was marked by tension between the federal administration and certain Democratic-led cities. Debates around federal funding, social welfare programs, and executive rhetoric heightened the stakes of the mayoral race, creating a context in which Mamdani’s message of local accountability and inclusion resonated strongly with voters.

The Socioeconomic Landscape of New York

New York City, with a population of approximately 8.48 million as of 2024, is among the world’s most diverse urban centres. Over 30 percent of residents are foreign-born, representing more than 100 nationalities. Yet the city struggles with high income inequality, reflected in a Gini coefficient of 0.555. Housing shortages, rising rents, and long commutes—averaging 41 minutes—have made the city increasingly unaffordable for lower- and middle-income households, prompting out-migration to suburbs.

Employment levels have recovered post-pandemic, with private-sector jobs growing 2.8 percent in 2024–25, yet the income gap continues to widen. Households in the highest quintile earn more than twenty times those in the lowest quintile. Policies favouring high-income earners during prior administrations exacerbated this structural inequality.

A Campaign Grounded in Inclusion

Mamdani’s success can be attributed to his focus on everyday concerns of New Yorkers: affordability, public transportation, universal childcare, housing, and progressive taxation. He positioned himself against divisive political rhetoric, resonating across New York’s diverse communities and appealing to those marginalized economically or socially helping unite both conservatives and liberals as economic hardship doesn’t see political allegiance.

A defining moment in his campaign was his emphasis on local priorities. During a mayoral debate, while other candidates pledged their first visit abroad to Israel, Mamdani highlighted his responsibility to New Yorkers first, reinforcing his commitment to municipal governance over symbolic foreign policy gestures.

He also navigated sensitive international issues with nuance, affirming support for the safety and rights of Jewish residents while criticizing the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories. His stance on human-rights accountability, including adherence to ICC mechanisms, underscored a principled approach that strengthened his political credibility.

Major New York City billionaires marshalled tens of millions of dollars to thwart Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, deploying deep-pocketed political machinery in support of his opponents. For instance, former Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg is reported to have donated approximately US$8.3 million to the pro-Andrew Cuomo super-PAC Fix the City. Hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman contributed at least US$1 million to the anti-Mamdani PAC Defend NYC, and additional sums to Fix the City.

Concurrently, opposition efforts against Mamdani involved advertisements and mailers that his campaign denounced as blatant Islamophobia. For example, a mailer circulated by the pro-Cuomo super-PAC Fix the City was reported to have altered his appearance, darkening his beard and lightening his skin, a move Mamdani characterized as racially and religiously discriminatory. In addition, opponents sought to question his political allegiances, falsely portraying him as a supporter of Hamas and suggesting that he did not recognize Israel’s right to exist—claims that his campaign firmly rejected as misleading and defamatory.

Engaging Communities on the Ground

Mamdani’s outreach strategy was multifaceted and culturally inclusive. Campaign messaging spanned multiple languages, reaching New Yorkers across diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. Beyond digital platforms, he visited places of worship, including Hindu temples, Jewish synagogues, and Christian churches, reinforcing interfaith solidarity.

He also engaged with ethnic food outlets and small businesses, highlighting immigrant contributions to the city’s cultural and economic life. This ground-level engagement translated into broad support across communities—Muslims, Christians, Jews, and secular groups alike—demonstrating a shared alignment with his vision for an inclusive, socially just New York.

Diasporic Resonance and Global Context

Mamdani’s heritage evokes transnational connections to India and Uganda, reflecting the experiences of diaspora communities navigating multiple cultural and political identities. His election elicited reactions from segments of Indian nationalist (Hindutva) movements, including online circulation of Islamophobic commentary. In contrast to widely celebrated Indian-origin figures such as Rishi Sunak, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard, and Usha Vance—often cited as symbols of India’s soft power abroad—Mamdani’s identity as a Muslim and his candid critique of the 2002 Gujarat riots have positioned him outside these narratives. He has reflected thoughtfully on the experiences of Muslims in New York, observing that “to be Muslim in New York is to expect indignity,” while emphasizing that such challenges do not define the broader community. His principled approach extends to global issues as well; his measured stance on the Israel–Palestine conflict underscores a commitment to human rights and ethical governance, reinforcing his reputation as a leader guided by conscience and social justice rather than partisan or sectarian considerations.

Zohran Mamdani’s unapologetic assertion of his identity, faith, and commitment to the public good offers a potential model for Indian Muslims and other marginalized communities confronting the rise of militant Hindutva and an increasingly adversarial state. His example demonstrates that principled, assertive engagement—grounded in inclusivity and social justice—can effectively challenge exclusionary and sectarian politics. Secular political parties in India, which in recent years have often sidelined Muslim voices in public life, might draw lessons from Mamdani’s approach: defeating divisive politics requires active, unapologetic advocacy for inclusion and pluralism, rather than silence or timidity. In essence, countering the forces of social and political exclusion demands a combination of ethical clarity, strategic assertiveness, and public visibility.

A Template for Inclusive Politics

Domestically, Mamdani’s rise occurs amid American ideological polarization and Democratic Party struggles to counter authoritarian rhetoric. His unapologetic advocacy for inclusive, pluralistic, and redistributive policies offers a potential model for progressive politics, reinforcing democratic values while countering divisive populism.

Mamdani’s victory, therefore, represents more than a personal or partisan success: it is a reassertion of democratic ideals, a rejection of exclusionary politics, and a renewed belief in a morally grounded, economically just, and inclusive vision that resonates far beyond New York City.

Diasporic Resonance and Global Context

Mamdani’s heritage evokes transnational connections to India and Uganda, reflecting the experiences of diaspora communities navigating multiple cultural and political identities. His election elicited reactions from segments of Indian nationalist (Hindutva) movements, some of whom circulated Islamophobic commentary online.

In contrast to celebrated Indian-origin figures such as Rishi Sunak, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard, and Usha Vance—often cited as symbols of India’s soft power—Mamdani’s identity as a Muslim and his critique of the 2002 Gujarat riots positioned him outside such narratives. He has reflected on the experiences of Muslims in New York, noting that “to be Muslim in New York is to expect indignity,” while emphasizing that these challenges do not define the broader community. His principled, humanitarian approach extends to global issues, with a measured stance on the Israel–Palestine conflict that underscores his commitment to ethical governance and human rights.

A Model for Marginalized Communities

Mamdani’s unapologetic assertion of his identity, faith, and commitment to the public good offers a potential model for Indian Muslims and other marginalized communities confronting militant Hindutva and adversarial state policies. His example demonstrates that principled, assertive engagement—grounded in inclusivity and social justice—can effectively challenge exclusionary politics. Secular political parties in India, which in recent years have often sidelined Muslim voices, might draw lessons from Mamdani’s approach: defeating divisive politics requires active advocacy for inclusion and pluralism rather than silence or timidity.

A Template for Inclusive Politics

Domestically, Mamdani’s rise occurs amid increasing ideological polarization in the U.S. and ongoing struggles within the Democratic Party to counter authoritarian and exclusionary rhetoric. His unapologetic advocacy for inclusive, pluralistic, and redistributive policies offers a potential model for progressive politics, reinforcing democratic values while challenging divisive populism.

Ultimately, Mamdani’s victory represents more than a personal or partisan success: it is a reaffirmation of democratic ideals, a rejection of exclusionary politics, and a renewed belief in a morally grounded, economically just, and inclusive vision—one that resonates far beyond New York City.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Opinion / by Mushtaque Rahman / November 11th, 2025

Historian revisits Maulana Azad: A secular nationalist and nation-builder

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri Award (since January 01st, 2024), Education, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mecca, (Ottoman-SAUDI ARABIA / Kolkata, WEST BENGAL / DELHI :

Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin (November 11, 1888-February 22, 1958), better known as Maulana Azad, was a writer-activist-statesman.

Historian S Irfan Habib speaks on Maulana Azad on his birth anniversary at an event organised by the Maulana Azad College alumni association in Calcutta on Tuesday / The Telegraph

Historian S. Irfan Habib, while delivering his Maulana Abul Kalam Azad memorial lecture titled “Revisiting Maulana Azad in Contemporary India” on Tuesday, rued how in today’s India, anytime he posts anything on social media on the freedom fighter, 80 per cent of the comments comprise hateful abuse.

“Full of abuse… 80 per cent of the comments. And from people who have no idea of who he was, what he stood for, and what he did for India,” said Habib, whose lecture on the Maulana on the icon’s 137th birth anniversary was organised by the Maulana Azad College alumni association to mark the college’s centennial.

Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin (November 11, 1888-February 22, 1958), better known as Maulana Azad, was a writer-activist-statesman.

One of Mahatma Gandhi’s most trusted lieutenants and the youngest president of the Indian National Congress, he made crucial contributions to the freedom movement. He was also Independent India’s first education minister.

“I will speak about those issues relevant for today’s India. What he did for education, how he defined nationalism — today all those who have no idea of what nationalism is are nationalists — and how he defined Islam…. Islam too is in danger when we see what we believers have done to our own faith,” said Habib, former Maulana Azad Chair at the National University of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi.

Maulana Azad’s family moved from Mecca to Calcutta when he was two. He spent several decades of his life in this city, his residence on 5 Ashraf Mistry Lane of Ballygunge now a museum.

November 11 is celebrated as National Education Day to recognise his contribution in establishing the education foundations of India — from the Indian Institutes of Technology, the University Grants Commission, the All India Council for Technical Education, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Indian Institute of Science, and the Sahitya Akademi, the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Lalit Kala Akademi, besides the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

“Patriotism, nationalism and humanism, the difference between them Maulana tried to look at. In this (the belief in the culmination in humanism) he was very close to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, and he actually writes about it, that he believes in the idea of nationalism which was pitched by the idea of Tagore’s humanism and universalism,” said Habib.

“True relationship is only one, where the entire earth is one’s native land. This is necessary is today’s India, where we indulge in othering among own citizens, in the name of religion, caste, language, all sorts of issues, all sorts of divisive tools we use to divide Indians, while Maulana says mankind is one family and all humans are brothers, this is the idea of humanity of nationalism which Maulana left behind,” he added.

Habib underscored how the Maulana began as a pan-Islamist, speaking against the subjugation of Muslim nations by imperialist powers — a sentiment expressed strongly in his papers Al-Hilal and Al-Balagh, and it was because of his role as a fiercely upright journalist that the British Raj viewed him as one of the most dangerous persons in India.

Habib stated that after the Maulana was released from exile in Ranchi in 1920, he was torn between reading and writing in seclusion, or public life and the freedom struggle. It was soon after coming out of exile that the Maulana met Gandhi on January 18, 1920, for the first time.

“The meeting seemed to have had a profound impact on both… and they remained inseparable for the rest of his (Gandhi’s) life,” he said.

According to Habib, the Maulana fought on multiple fronts, not only against the British, but also Hindu and Muslim communalists.

“Maulana stressed on indivisible or composite nationalism, where he went back to early Islamic history, when the Prophet (Muhammad) created the first Muslim nation in Medina by aligning with the Yehudis (Jews). He saw no reason why Muslims could not join hands with Hindus and others in nation-forming…. He was appalled with communalists busy with sectarian campaigns when the need was to fight the British as a composite nationalist group,” Habib said.

“Maulana stood for a united India and remained steadfast in this resolve till the end. We are amid polarising politics where religion has become a distinct marker of identity…. The majoritarian nationalism being flaunted today runs contrary to the idea of composite nationalism espoused by Maulana all his life,” he added. “Maulana found the demand for Pakistan absurd as he was conscious of the fact that religion cannot be a binding factor for a nation.”

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> West Bengal / by Meghdeep Bhattacharyya / November 12h, 2025

Shabana Faizal is the youngest among Indian philanthropists

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA / Kozhikode, KERALA / Dubai, U.A.E :

Shabana Faizal with her husband Faizal Kottikollon

New Delhi :

Mangalore-based Shabana Faizal has emerged as the youngest woman among India’s top 10 philanthropists, according to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025.

She has donated ₹40 crore (approximately $1.5 billion) through the Faisal & Shabana Foundation to education, health, and social development.

Shabana Faisal’s journey from being raised in a small town in Mangalore to co-leading a global enterprise is about he hard work and ambition.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in 1995 as a retailer of unique, speciality and luxury products. After leading the company for eight successful years, she decided to team up with her husband, entrepreneur Faizal Kottikollon, and support him in running the world-class foundry, Emirates Techno Casting (ETC).

Shabana took charge of all human resources and administrative processes at ETC, where she created a significant impact in shaping the company’s business success.

In her role as Vice Chairperson of KEF Holdings, she is actively involved in guiding the business’s growth strategy across global markets. Deeply committed to social improvement, Shabana and her husband founded the Faizal & Shabana Foundation in 2007, with the vision of ‘Giving to Create Impact’.

At 53, Shabana’s work has placed her among some of the most influential women in India’s philanthropy world, including Rohini Nilekani, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Bina Shah.

EdelGive Foundation, in collaboration with Hurun Research Institute, recently released the 12th edition of the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025.

The list honors India’s most generous individuals and families. Over the past three years, 191 philanthropists have donated a total of ₹10,380 crore, representing an 85% increase in contributions.

The education sector continues to lead as the top donor, receiving ₹4,166 crore from 107 donors.

Shabana is the mother of four children – Sophia, Sara, Zakaria, and Zarina – but continues to play an active role in business and philanthropy. Her work makes her one of India’s most influential female philanthropists, exemplifying how professional leadership and a commitment to giving can combine to create widespread social impact.

The EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 states that the top 25 donors contributed ₹50,000 crore in just five years, or an average of ₹46 crore per day. Mumbai leads in philanthropy, contributing 28% of total donations, followed by New Delhi and Bengaluru.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home / posted by Aasha Khosa / November 10th, 2025

Bohras in East Africa play football to show human spirit on Syedna’s birthday

Community Involvement / Social Issues, NRI's / PIO's, Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , , ,

EAST AFRICA :

Volleyball match at Malindi to celebrate the birthday of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin

New Delhi :

The Dawoodi Bohra community living in Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Nakuru, Tanga, Morogoro, and Arusha in East Africa celebrated the birthday of their spiritual leader, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, in a unique and inspiring way.

A grand volleyball tournament was held in the coastal city of Malindi to mark the occasion, uniting community members in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and unity.

Held in mid-October at the recently inaugurated Kutubi Sports Complex, the two-day tournament featured teams from various cities across East Africa. Hundreds of community members travelled to Malindi to participate. The event was not just a sporting competition, but a celebration of the community’s energy, cooperation, and positivity.

A Bohra leader gives away the trophy to the Captain of the Winning team

“There is no better way to celebate His Holiness Syedna’s birthday than by embracing one of his key teachings, to be physically active, in our lives,” said community member Huzaifa Hunaid.

Although Malindi has a small Dawoodi Bohra community, hosting the tournament filled the locals with pride and confidence. A local member beamed, “It was a proud moment to see our small team successfully organise such a large-scale event. The enthusiasm and positivity on and off the court reflected the true spirit of the event—building new relationships and strengthening old ones.”

The entire community joined in the sports festival. Locals were also present in large numbers in the audience. One spectator said, “We usually come to watch football, but this volleyball tournament brought a new wave of excitement and joy to the city.”

A match of Volleyball to mark the birthday of Bohra Community’s spiritual leader Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin

The atmosphere at the Qutbi Sports Complex was festive throughout. Community members set up food stalls, serving delicious dishes, and everyone shared in the joy. After the matches, players were seen congratulating each other and exchanging pleasantries—a sight that exemplified brotherhood and affinity.

After the final match, when the winning team’s captain lifted the trophy, the entire arena erupted in applause and chants. Encouraged by the success of this event, the Qutubi Sports Club is now planning to hold a football tournament soon to further this spirit of enthusiasm and unity. The club’s objective is clear: to promote unity, health, and brotherhood through sport among East African communities.

The tournament in Malindi was not only a celebration of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s birthday but also a reflection of the community’s vibrancy, cooperation, and shared values.

The community feels the event has transformed sport into a bridge of humanity and unity.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Aasha Khosa (edited) / November 06th, 2025

Meet Ghazala Hashmi: Daughter of AMU Alumnus is New Virginia Lt Governor

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA / New Virginia, U.SA :

Indian-American Ghazala Hashmi, who is closely linked with the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has won the Virginia Lieutenant Governor 2025 Election result of which was declared on Monday.

Virginia: 

Indian-American Ghazala Hashmi, who is closely linked with the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has won the Virginia Lieutenant Governor 2025 Election result of which was declared on Monday.

A Democrat Party candidate, Ghazala Hashmi, defeated Republican candidate and the state’s first gay statewide nominee, John Reid, to become first Muslim and first South Asian American elected as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, a Republican stronghold.

Ghazala Hashmi polled over 55% votes as against her nearest rival John Reid who got the support of around 44.7% voters. Hashmi had earlier defeated five primary challengers in June, narrowly winning the nomination with 28% of the vote, as per the final result of the Virginia Lieutenant Governor Election 2025.

Ghazala Hashmi was the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Virginia State Senate following her stunning victory over sitting Republican Senator Republican Glen Sturtevant in the 2019 U.S. elections.

Ghazala Hashmi was born in India and emigrated to the US as a child with her family. She is also a former director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning at Reynolds Community College.

Ghazala Hashmi’s AMU Link

Ghazala Hashmi was born to Zia Hashmi and Tanveer Hashmi in Hyderabad in 1964. She spent her childhood days at her maternal grandparents’ house in Malakpet, Telangana.

She migrated to the United States with her mother and older brother as a 4-year-old child to join her father in Georgia.

Ghazala Hashmi’s mother, Tanveer Hashmi, is an alumna of Osmania University’s Women’s College in Kothi from where she did BA and B.Ed before migrating to the United States.

Ghazala’s father Professor Zia Hashmi is the alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) from where he did MA and LLB. He completed his PhD in International Relations from University of South Carolina and soon after began his university teaching career. He retired as the Director of Centre for International Studies which he founded.

Ghazala Hashmi is married to Azhar Rafiq. The couple have two adult daughters – Yasmin and Noor – who both graduated from Chesterfield County Public Schools and the University of Virginia.

According to information available on her official website, Ghazala Hashmi is an experienced educator and an advocate of inclusive values and social justice. Her legislative priorities focus on public education, voting rights and the preservation of democracy, reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, environmental protection, housing, and affordable healthcare access.

Hashmi spent nearly 30 years as a professor, first teaching at the University of Richmond and then at Reynolds Community College. At Reynolds Community College, Hashmi also served as the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL).

Former Minister, MLA and BRS leader KT Ramarao has congratulated Ghazala Hashmi on her victory.

“This is massive! From Malakpet to Virginia… Congratulations to Ghazala Hashmi on becoming the first Indian-American Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. There is nothing more beautiful when democracies celebrate diversity of the world”. KTR wrote on X.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> United States / by ummid.com news network / November 05th, 2025

Non-resident Kannadiga Zakaria Jokatte honoured with Karnataka Rajyotsava Award

Amazing Feats, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA / Jubail, SAUDI ARABIA :

pix

Mangaluru :

The government of Karnataka’s department of Kannada and culture has announced the Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards for 2025–26, naming Zakaria Jokatte, founder of Al Muzain Company in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and president of Mangaluru-based M Friends Charitable Trust, as the recipient in the Non-resident Kannadiga category.

Born on May 10, 1958, at Thokur in Jokatte, Zakaria is the eldest of five children of Haji B Shekuni and Katheejamma of Bajpeguttu. His journey from humble beginnings to international recognition is one of perseverance and determination. After discontinuing his schooling, he undertook various odd jobs — selling jaggery on streets, working as a welder, and even as a labourer carrying cement up to the 28th floor at construction sites abroad.

His years of hard work and sacrifice bore fruit when, in 2008, along with his eldest son Zaheer, he established Al Muzain Manpower Company in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, starting with just three employees. Through dedication and leadership, the company has now grown to employ 8,000 workers, with a goal of creating 10,000 jobs by 2027.

Following the success of Al Muzain, Zakaria expanded his entrepreneurial ventures, founding several other companies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, London, and India. He has also forayed into education by establishing an international institution in Al Khobar in collaboration with Yenepoya Group, and plans to set up a hospital and medical college in the near future. His upcoming projects include AI innovation initiatives and development ventures for the coastal region of Karnataka.

Currently residing in Bolar, Mangaluru, Zakaria lives with his wife Hazra Zakaria. His three sons — Zaheer, Nazir, and Zahid — are engaged in various business ventures abroad.

Zakaria serves as the chairman of M Friends Charitable Trust, Hidaya Foundation, and Zara Family Charity Trust. He is also associated as director, advisor, and sponsor with several organisations across Karnataka, working tirelessly for the welfare of thousands of underprivileged and needy individuals.

In recognition of his philanthropic contributions and entrepreneurial achievements, Zakaria Jokatte has received numerous national and international honours. His selection for the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award stands as a testament to his service, dedication, and pride as a global Kannadiga.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru / October 30th, 2025

Haji KS Sayeed Karnire Charitable Trust hands over 7 houses, foundation stone for 14 other laid

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Karnire Town (Mangaluru Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District), KARNATAKA :

Padubidri: 

The Haji KS Sayeed Karnire Charitable Trust handed over seven newly constructed houses and laid the foundation stone for fourteen more in Karnire on Sunday.

Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader, who inaugurated the houses, highlighted the significant impact of this initiative, noting that while owning a home is a universal dream, many are unable to realize it.

He commended the project as a model of compassion and inspiration, emphasizing that such achievements go beyond financial capability and reflect a commitment to serving marginalized communities. He expressed hope for more transformative projects from the trust in the future and wished the beneficiaries a life of peace and harmony in their new homes.

Managing Trustee K.S. Sheikh, presiding over the event, detailed the trust’s ambitious project to construct 50 houses on two and a half acres of land. Each house, valued at approximately ₹20 lakh, is fully furnished with modern amenities, including a kitchen, hall, two bedrooms, and a washing machine. Sheikh explained that these homes are provided to deserving families in Karnire who lack proper housing.

He further revealed that with the foundation stone being laid for the construction of 14 more houses. There is a plan to build 50 houses on this land again, on two and a half acres of land.

Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty lauded the trust for its compassionate service in sheltering the underprivileged.

Former MLA Mohiuddin Bava praised the legacy of Syeed Haji’s hard work, which has turned his family into a beacon of service and harmony. He remarked that the family’s actions have become a model for communal unity.

Federation of World Bunts Vice President Karnire Vishwanath Shetty said, “Even though I have added Karnire to my name, the credit for taking the small village of Karnire to the world level belongs to the Syeed Haji family. Karnire is a town where everyone lives in harmony, regardless of caste, religion or difference. While Hindus have helped in the reconstruction of the mosque here, the Muslim community has also joined hands in the construction of the Hindu temple.”

Speaking in the opening remarks, K.S. Ashraf recalled the guidance of his late parents, expressed his gratitude for their teachings of kindness and service, which continue to inspire the family’s charitable efforts. He said, “We should do good to people. Our father used to preach to wish others well. Seeing his preaching and service, we have continued it. It is a great loss that our father and mother are not with us today. If they were here, they would have been happy now.”

On this occasion, U.T. Khader honored K.S. Sheikh on behalf of Karnire Juma Masjid and Karnire Khidma Young Men’s Association.

Abdul Jalil MH of Design Plus Architects, contractor H.N.G.C. Hussain, and supervisor Ramesh Kotian were also recognized for their contributions.

Karnire Juma Masjid Qatheeb Umarul Farooq Saquafi performed the dua. Family elders M.K. Abdul Hamid Mulki, K.S. Aboobacker were present.

Also present during the program were Balkunje Grama Panchayat President Mamata D. Poonja, Harishchandra Shetty, Karnire Juma Masjid President Muhammad Ali, Adv. Bhaskar Shetty, Kote Shekhabba Kannangar, T.K. Muhammad Kote Palimaru, Karnire Harishchandra Shetty, Khidma Youngmen’s President Khidma B.N, Ismail, K.S. Ashfak.

K.S. Ashraf delivered the welcome address, K.S. Abdul Rahim offered a vote of thanks, and Muhammad Ali Kammaradi moderated the event.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / October 05th, 2025

K.S. Sheik Karnire honored with Business Excellence Award 2025 at Zee Media Gulf Green Summit

Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

KARNATAKA / SAUDI ARABIA :

Dubai: 

Recognising his outstanding contributions to business leadership and sustainable practices, K.S. Sheik Karnire, Chief Operating Officer of Expertise, was conferred with the prestigious Business Excellence Award 2025 at the Zee Media Gulf Green Summit & Awards held at Hilton Habtoor City, Dubai on September 26.

The event, organised by Zee Media in association with World WeTel, brought together global leaders, entrepreneurs, and sustainability advocates to deliberate on green initiatives and acknowledge exceptional business achievements across industries.

The award was presented to Karnire in the presence of eminent dignitaries including H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Sharjah Consultative Council and former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who graced the ceremony as Chief Guest.

Actor Arbaaz Khan attended as the Guest of Honor, while the proceedings were anchored by celebrity anchor Anil Singhvi.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / October 02nd, 2025

AMU’s Prof. Ziaur Rahman Siddiqui Nominated for “Nishan-e-Urdu 2023–24” Award by Urdu Markaz, New York

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

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Prof. Ziaur Rahman Siddiqui, Department of Urdu, AMU

Aligarh:

In a proud moment for the global Urdu community, Prof. Ziaur Rahman Siddiqui, Department of Urdu, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been nominated for the prestigious Nishan-e-Urdu 2023–24 award by Urdu Markaz, New York (USA).

The award, to be formally presented in New York on Sir Syed Day, honours individuals for their outstanding contributions to the promotion and enrichment of the Urdu language.

Mr. Raees Warsi, Founder and President of Urdu Markaz, New York, remarked, “Prof. Siddiqui’s nomination recognises his remarkable work in Urdu scholarship, research, criticism, and pedagogy.”

Prof Siddiqui is the author of more than two dozen books and over a hundred research and critical papers, blending intellectual depth with literary artistry.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / October 13th, 2025