Thavathiru Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar having a word with C. Nainar Mohamed (right). File Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam
Renowned Tamil scholar, writer and former Principal of Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchi, C. Nainar Mohamed passed away at his daughter’s residence at Texas in USA on Wednesday night. He was 85.
Popularly known as ‘Perum Pulavar’, a title conferred on him by late Kundrakudi Adigalar, Nainar Mohamed served as the Head of the Department of Tamil of Jamal Mohamed College for a record 32 years, and its Principal for four years in the 1980s. After retiring from the college service, he served as professor at Tamil University, Thanjavur for five years.
He launched the Tamizhaga Pulavar Kuzhu along with late K.A.P. Viswanatham and served as its secretary for 28 years. He also set up the Islamia Ilakkiya Kazhagam. A leading figure in Tiruchi Tamil Sangam, he continued to remain as its deputy Minister till now.
The Madurai Kamaraj University honoured him with ‘Tamil Chemmal’ award and the Ulaga Tirukkural Peravai with ‘Tirukkural Neri Thondral’ and ‘Kural Gnayiru’ awards. Through the Islamia Ilakkiya Kazhagam, he organized five International Tamil Literary conferences, which brought to light the richness of the Islamic Tamil literary works to the world.
A regular in world Tamil conferences, he has authored many books.
He is survived by wife Hasina Nainar, four sons and a daughter.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Syed Muthahar Saqaf / July 24th, 2025
UAE-based Indian doctor and philanthropist Dr Shamsheer Vayalil has announced Rs 6 crore in financial aid for the families of medical students and doctors affected by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.
The ill-fated aircraft struck the BJ Medical College’s Atulyam hostel complex during lunch hour, reducing student residences and the dining hall to rubble.
All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8(AI 171) and another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, on the ground were killed when the London-bound aircraft crashed, moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Announcing the relief from the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Dr Shamsheer, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings and managing director of VPS Health, said he was deeply shaken when he saw the aftermath of the crash.
As someone who had lived in similar hostels during his medical education at Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore and Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Chennai, the images struck a chord, he said.
“I saw the footage from the mess and the hostel, and it truly shook me. It reminded me of the places I once called home, the corridors, the beds, the laughter, the pressure of exams, and the anticipation of a call from family,” he said.
“No one expects a commercial aircraft to come crashing into that world,” he added.
“Those students started the day thinking about lectures, assignments, and patients. Their lives ended in a way none of us could ever imagine. It hit close. Too close,” he said.
Dr Shamsheer’s relief package includes Rs 1 crore for each of the four deceased students’ families, Rs 20 lakh each for five seriously injured students, and Rs 20 lakh each for the families of doctors who lost loved ones.
The financial assistance will be delivered in coordination with the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College, ensuring that those in need receive support swiftly.
This is not the first time Dr Shamsheer has responded to such a crisis. In 2010, following the Mangalore air crash, he provided financial assistance and employment opportunities to affected families at Burjeel Holdings, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / June 17th, 2025
As part of its efforts to support poor families, the Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), Karnataka Branch handed over two newly built houses on June 20 under its flagship project, ‘Home for Homeless’.
The houses were given to deserving families in the villages of Nelyadi and Kukkaje of Dakshina Kannada, who were in need of permanent shelter. With this, KKMA has now completed 17 homes under the project, marking an important achievement in its mission to help the underprivileged.
The key handover event was attended by senior leaders from KKMA Central, Kerala, and Karnataka units. Their presence showed the unity and strong commitment of the organization toward community service.
The ‘Home for Homeless’ project is led by the KKMA Karnataka Branch and its State Committee. The goal is to build strong, good-quality homes that improve the lives of poor families in rural areas. The project is a clear example of KKMA’s long-term dedication to social welfare.
This work is made possible by the generous support of Malayali and Kannadiga expatriates, as well as kind-hearted donors and well-wishers who believe in helping others and giving back to society.
Important guests at the event included KKMA Patron P. K. Akbar Siddique, KKMA Kerala State Secretary Abdul Razak Melady, KKMA CFO Rafiq Mulky, KKMA Karnataka State President S. M. Farooq, senior member Rafiq Manchi, and community members Shaz Yusuf, Salam, Adam Aahil, among others.
KKMA celebrates more than 20 years of service, and continues to be recognised for its helpful projects and strong commitment to social responsibility.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / June 21st, 2025
Faizan Zaki, Winner of the won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition, USA
New Delhi
Indians continue to dominate the spelling competitions in the USA, as the 13-year-old Non-Resident Indian with roots in Hyderabad Faizan Zaki won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in the USA.
Faizan Zaki lives in Dalla, Texas, and was the runner-up in the competition last year.
Faizan made it among 243 who made it to the national contest in Maryland on the Bee’s
Faizan won a prize of US$ 50,000 (about Rs 42.78 lakh) by spelling the difficult French word ‘ Éclaircissement’ in the final round.
With three spellers left on the Bee, Sarvdanya Kadam, and Sarv Dharavane kept getting their words wrong, leaving Faizan two words away from victory. The first was “Commelina”, but instead of asking the usual questions—definition, native language—to ensure he knew it, Faizan let his showman instincts take over.
“K-a-m,” he said, then stopped himself. “Okay, let me do this. Oh, shoot!”
“Just ring the bell,” he told Chief Justice Mary Brooks, who did so.
“So now you know what happens,” Brooks said, and the other two spellers returned to the stage.
Afterward, standing next to the trophy with confetti at his feet, Faizan said: “I’m definitely going to have nightmares about this tonight.”
Even the pronouncer Jacques Bailly tried to slow Faizan down before his winning word “éclairsissement,” but Faizan didn’t ask a single question before spelling it correctly, and after saying the last letter he pumped his fists and fell to the stage.
Faizan’s winning moment was captured in the pictures posted on X:
This year the bee celebrates its 100th anniversary, and Faizan may be the first champion to be remembered more for getting the word wrong than getting the word right.
“I think he cared too much about his aura,” said Faizan’s friend Bruhat Soma, who beat him in a “spell-off” tiebreaker last year.
Faizan had a more nuanced explanation: after not preparing for the spell-off last year, he over-improvised by focusing on speed during his study sessions.
Although Bruhat was fast when needed last year, he followed the familiar playbook for champion spellers: asking thorough questions, spelling slowly and metronomically, and showing little emotion.
Faizan’s father, Zaki Anwar, said: “He’s the best. I really believe that. He’s really good, man. He’s been doing this for so long and he knows the dictionary.”
After a little drama at last year’s contest before suddenly going into a spell-off, Scripps changed the rules of the contest, giving the judges more leeway to finish the contest before going into a tie-breaker.
This is Faizan’s winning spelling:
Faizan Zaki, previous runner-up, wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee
source: youtube.com/ Scripps News
The nine finalists performed well. During one stretch, six spellers got 28 words correct in a row and there were three perfect rounds during the finals. The last time a single perfect round occurred was in the infamous 2019 competition, which ended in an eight-way tie. Sarv, an 11-year-old fifth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, who ultimately finished third, would have been the youngest champion since Nihar Janga in 2016. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Like Faizan, who parents came from Hyderabad, Telangana, 30 of the past 36 champions are Indian Americans, a streak that began with Nupur Lala’s win in 1999, which was later featured in the documentary Spellbound.
Lala was one of dozens of past champions who attended this year and signed autographs for spellers, families, and bee fans to honor the anniversary.
Adding the $25,000 prize for second place to the winner’s $52,500 purse, Faizan raised his bee earnings to $77,500. What did he spend the most on with his winnings last year? A $1,500 Rubik’s Cube with 21 squares on each side. This time around, he said he’ll donate a larger portion of his winnings to charity.
Faizan has been spelling for more than half his life. He took part in the 2019 competition at age 7, gaining entry through a wild-card program that has now been discontinued. He qualified again in 2023 and made it to the semifinals before finishing second last year.
“One thing that sets him apart is that he’s really passionate about it. In his spare time, when he’s not studying for the bee, he’s really looking up old, outdated words that are unlikely to be asked for,” Bruhat said.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Aasha Khosa / May 31st, 2025
In 2007, Farah Usmani was working at the United Nations headquarters in New York when she made a pivotal decision that sparked a movement aimed at empowering women worldwide through financial independence.
Dr. Usmani, a physician from Uttar Pradesh, relocated to the city six years ago for work. During her search for a rental apartment, she discovered that New York’s rental prices were soaring and becoming unaffordable. After doing some quick calculations, she opted for a low-interest mortgage from the UN Federal Credit Union to purchase an apartment. She ended up buying a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, with a monthly mortgage payment that was only slightly higher than the rent she would have paid.
“This slightly higher expenditure (along with a down payment) would enable me to own an asset, and not fritter away my money on rent. It was such a wise decision. Today, 15 years later, I am on track to be a mortgage-free homeowner,” Usmani shared with the Morning Star newspaper. This experience inspired her to launch a campaign aimed at educating women around the globe about the importance of financial freedom and empowering themselves through financial independence.
Today Dr. Farah Usmani is an international health, gender and development expert based in New York.
Dr. Farah Usmani with her husband Javed Usmani
Dr. Usmani is also the first Muslim woman from India to work with the United Nations International Civil Service at Director Level. She is the recipient of the 2021 Mahatma Award for Social Impact for her work with women, girls, and minorities.
She has 25 years of experience working with the United Nations International Civil Service with UNFPA, focusing on women and girls and their reproductive health and rights.
Carrying forward her mission to empower women, Dr. Usmani is the Global Vice President of SAFAR Foundation,(Supporting Action for Advancement and Rights), a philanthropic organization focused on uplifting marginalized women and girls.
She is the Founder of “Rising Beyond The Ceiling”, a global initiative supported by SAFAR to shine a spotlight on Muslim women of India and contribute towards changing their stereotypical narrative.
The organization has published its first volume on Muslim women from Uttar Pradesh and is working on the rest of the Indian states.
Farah has received several awards and recognitions including the British Council and the Joint-Japan World Bank Merit Fellowships.
Dr. Farah Usmani
At the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), Dr. Usmani played a pivotal role in policy, planning, technical leadership, and health services across more than 50 countries, working on the rights of women and girls. She became the first Indian Muslim woman to reach the Director level in the UN’s International Civil Service in New York.
She noticed that Muslim women were often boxed into stereotypical roles on every platform. Farah made it her mission to break that mold.
“Why are our stories limited to the veil and the home?”
Inspired by this question, Dr. Farah Usmani launched Rising Beyond the Ceiling a global initiative that highlights the achievements of Indian Muslim women, brings their hidden stories to light, and challenges societal stereotypes.
This initiative didn’t stay confined to books or speeches it became a movement. A beacon of hope for every woman in a small town who dreams of a bigger world.
Dr. Usmani believes that money is not just a necessity it is power. She says, “Instead of being afraid of money, we need to befriend it.” Her husband taught her: money that doesn’t generate returns slowly vanishes. And that’s where her journey into financial literacy began.She started investing in tax-free savings, fixed deposits, and NRE (Non-Resident External) deposits. Today, her daughter Saba is also a real estate investor in Manhattan. This is not just a financial legacy it is an intellectual one, building a story of empowerment across generations.
Dr. Usmani has received numerous accolades, including Merit Fellowships from the World Bank and the British Council, and the Mahatma Award in 2021. She has worked globally for the rights of women, minorities, and marginalized girls.
She also serves as the Global Vice President of SAFAR Supporting Action for Advancement and Rights a philanthropic organization focused on uplifting marginalized women and girls.Breaking many gender barriers at different stages in her life, she has the distinction of being the first woman student to top the merit list in the pre-medical examination of the Aligarh Muslim University, where she completed her medical training.
She is the recipient of the 2021 Mahatma Award for Social Impact for her work with women, girls, and minorities.
Farah Usmani comes from a middle-class Muslim Family in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
She holds a Master’s in Health Policy, Planning & Financing given by the London School of Economics & London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine & a M.D. in Obstetrics & Gynecology from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh India. She has certifications in leadership and organizational management from Cornell University, Cranfield School of Management, Stanford University & the American Management Association, New York.
Farah is married to Jawed Usmani, an Indian civil servant, who rose to the position of Chief secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government. They have two children Faraz Usmani and Sabah Usmani.
Dr. Usmani says, “The coins our mothers and grandmothers hid in their mattresses were not just savings they were their attempt at independence.
Indian Muslim Women who feature in the list of Rising Beyond the Ceiling
The “The time has come for women to see money not as shame, but as strength.”
Her mindset, her struggles, her smile they are a source of inspiration for every woman who dreams of flying in an open sky, not a cage.
Dr. Farah Usmani’s story reads like a novel with trials, a determined heroine, a journey of transformation, and a path toward the light.
It teaches us that with courage, even the walls of a house can become the rooftop of the world’s tallest building.
Because when a woman shapes her identity by herself, she doesn’t just create a path for herself but for every generation that follows.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories> The Changemakers / by Onika Maheshwari, New Delhi / June 02nd, 2025
This recognition reaffirms Mujeeb Syed’s role as an inspiring leader in New Zealand’s multicultural landscape.
Mujeeb Syed QSM
In a significant acknowledgment of his efforts to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage, journalist Mujeeb Syed—recipient of the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM)—was honored by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan New Zealand for his outstanding contributions to the promotion of the Urdu language.
At a recent ceremony, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan NZ presented Syed with a Certificate of Appreciation, recognizing his “Service to Heritage Language – Urdu.” The accolade celebrates his dedication to championing Urdu across communities in New Zealand, especially in Auckland.
Syed has long been a key figure in community media and cultural initiatives. Through organizing literary events, promoting Urdu education, and engaging diaspora communities via journalism and storytelling, he has played a pivotal role in preserving Urdu as a living, vibrant expression of South Asian identity in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, an internationally respected institution promoting Indian culture and values, noted Syed’s commitment as exemplary. Attendees at the event praised his ability to unite generations and strengthen cultural bonds through language.
In his acceptance remarks, Syed said, “This honor is not just for me, but for every individual who believes in the power of language as a vessel of identity and expression. Urdu is a language of love, poetry, and deep heritage. I am humbled to play a small part in keeping it alive.”
This recognition reaffirms Mujeeb Syed’s role as an inspiring leader in New Zealand’s multicultural landscape, highlighting the vital importance of heritage languages in fostering social and cultural richness.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> NRI’s Corner / May 21st, 2025
A 23-year-old Sarah Aziz from Kolkata won the prestigious UK’s The Press Award for investigative reporting. Armed with BA English, she is pursuing her Master of Science in Journalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York in the US. Interestingly, she started filing stories even while doing her UG in Kolkata during 2023. Her in-depth report on Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh for Voice of America (The American Multimedia Broadcasting Network) fetched her the highly commended “Young Journalist of The Year Award”.
Be bold, be curious, and be unyielding in your pursuit of the untold stories. Yes, this applies to 23-year-old Sarah Aziz from Kolkata in West Bengal, who had put up a brave face to report from the field about the inhuman treatment meted out to Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh for Voice of America, part of American Multimedia Broadcasting Network. This, in fact, fetched her the “Young Journalist of the Year” this year.
Armed with BA English from Loreto College in Kolkata, she is now pursuing her Master of Science in Journalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York in the US. Interestingly, she started filing stories as a freelancer even while doing her UG in Kolkata during 2023. To top it all, she has been a contributing reporter for The Guardian, The Telegraph (UK), South China Morning Post (SCMP) and The Christian Science Monitor besides others.
In November 2024, Aziz published an investigative report in The Telegraph (UK), exposing the truth behind the “mysterious” death of a Rohingya child who had been detained by the Indian government in New Delhi. The multimedia report not only delved into the medical negligence and abuse faced by the child in detention, but also revealed the wider pattern of the mass arbitrary detention and torture of Rohingya Muslims seeking refuge in India.
Earlier in the same year, Aziz had exposed the hidden scandal of rape and sexual abuse faced by incarcerated women in India, particularly in West Bengal. The investigative report, published in The Guardian, laid bare the tactics used by authorities to cover up crimes against some of the most vulnerable women in the country.
Aziz has extensively covered the persecution faced by Rohingya Muslims in India and Bangladesh for multiple international news outlets like The South China Morning Post, Voice of America and The Guardian. Her investigative breaking news reporting on the 2025 Bangladesh student protests was published in The Times (UK).
On cloud nine, Sarah Aziz is reported to have said, “My interests lie in investigative reporting on human rights issues of national and global importance. Some beats I have covered extensively are women’s health, the Rohingya refugee crisis, human trafficking and Indigenous affairs both in India and the U.S. It’s a great honour to receive the Highly Commended “Young Journalist of the Year” instituted by The Press Awards (2025) and the Thomson Foundation.
Sarah Aziz dedicated this award to her dad Sheik Azizur Rahman and her seventh grade English teacher who motivated her to be what she is now. She will be graduating from Columbia University with an MS in Journalism in August 2025. Glad to learn that Sarah Aziz is a poet, translator, and artist based in Kolkata, India. In 2021, her translation of Bangladeshi activist and author Pinaki Bhattacharya’s “History of Bengal: from Ancient to British Rule” got published receiving rave reviews.
Established in 1962 by The People and World’s Press News, the first award ceremony for the then-named Hannen Swaffer Awards, named after journalist Hannen Swaffer, was held in 1963. This got transformed from British Press Awards to The Press Awards which is being given under the aegis of Haymarket Media Group on behalf of the News Media Association.
Some of the categories include Business and Finance Journalist of the Year, Campaign of the Year, Cartoonist of the Year, Columnist of the Year, Critic of the Year, Environment Journalist of the Year, Excellence in Diversity Award, Feature Writer of the Year, Foreign Reporter of the Year, Front Page of the Year, Health Journalist of the Year, Interviewer of the Year, Investigation of the Year, News Podcast of the Year, News Website of the Year, Newspaper of the Year, Photographer of the Year, Political Journalist of the Year, Science and Technology Journalist of the Year, Scoop of the Year, Specialist journalist of the Year, Supplement of the Year, The Hugh McIlvanney Award for Sports Journalist of the Year, Travel Journalist of the Year, and Young Journalist of the Year.
[The author is former Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle chief]
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation / by M Rafi Ahmed / May 31st, 2025
Omar Ahmed, a student of The Indian High School here, has scored 95.2% in this year’s CBSE Class 10th examination.
He is the son of Basheer Ahmed Mulur, a NRI engineer in Dubai, and Rukhiya Shahina Banu, a teacher at The Indian High School.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced the 10th and 12th grade examination results on Tuesday. More than 93 percent of students have cleared the CBSE Class 10 board exams, while 88.39 percent candidates have cleared the 12th grade exams
The newly elected office-bearers for the 2025–26 term include Niyaz Mohammed (Mangaluru) and Sameer Ahmed (Udupi) as Vice Presidents; Imran Manna (Udupi) as General Secretary; Irfan Ahmed (Udyavara) and S.F. Jasim (Kundapura) as Joint Secretaries; Abdul Ravoof (Udupi) as Treasurer; K.M. Akif (Karkala) as Assistant Treasurer; Mohammed Asif Gafur (Karkala) as Finance Secretary; and Munir Ahmed (Udupi) as Assistant Finance Secretary.
The proceedings began with the recitation of the Qur’an by Master Zaid Asif.
Sameer Ahmed presented the Annual Report for 2024, while the Annual Financial Report was audited and verified by SKMWA auditor Ashraf Ali.
The session concluded with a presidential address by K.M. Azeem, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Mohammed Asif Gafur.
The entire event was compered by Shahnawaz Rafiq of Ganjimutt.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / May 31st, 2025
Mulki Town ( Mangalore Taluk, Dakshina Kannada Distirct) , KARNATAKA / Dubai, U.A.E :
Mulki :
A public blood donation camp was successfully organised on Sunday in memory of Safwan Kolnad, a 25-year-old youth who tragically passed away on May 10, 2025, due to sudden cardiac arrest in Dubai. The camp was held at Mahila Samudaya Bhavan, located near the Kolnad Government School, and was jointly conducted by Kolnad Friends Kolnad (R) and Blood Helpline Karnataka (R), in collaboration with Wenlock District Hospital, Mangalore.
The event began with a dua and blessings from Sharif Darimi Al-Haitami, Khatib of Shafi Juma Masjid, Kolnad. The program was presided over by Manjunath B.S., Circle Inspector of Mulki Police Station.
Dr. Ayisha Suhana, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Chief Eye Surgeon at Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mukka, was the chief guest. In her address, she highlighted the critical importance of blood donation and how a single unit of blood can help save up to three lives. She also explained how regular blood donation contributes to better health by reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and certain cancers, while also controlling cholesterol, blood pressure, and iron levels. She advised donors to stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activity after donating blood.
As a tribute to the late Safwan Kolnad, Dr. Ayisha Suhana announced that she will perform five free cataract surgeries with premium intraocular lens implantation for underprivileged patients. She has conducted similar charitable surgeries in the past, in association with NGOs including the Naushad Haji Suralpady Memorial Charitable Trust (R).
This was the second blood donation camp organised by Kolnad Friends Kolnad (Reg) Charitable Trust, and a total of 62 units of blood were collected, including 52 male and 10 female donors.
The organisation continues to serve as a ray of hope for underprivileged patients, providing financial assistance for dialysis and cataract surgeries, and also supporting economically weaker students.
During the event, both Manjunath B.S. and Dr. Ayisha Suhana were felicitated by the organisers.
The program concluded with remarks from Yasir Arafat and a vote of thanks delivered by Abbas Ali.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / May 20th, 2025
