Dr. Saima Yunus Khan receiving the Exemplary Peer Reviewer Award from Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Santosh Jha at International Paediatric Dentistry Conference at Siri Lanka
Aligarh:
Dr. Saima Yunus Khan, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry at Dr. Z.A. Dental College, Aligarh Muslim University, has brought laurels to the institution by receiving the Exemplary Peer Reviewer Award for her outstanding research contribution at the 5th International Conference of the South Asian Association of Paediatric Dentistry held at Colombo Sri Lanka.
She was presented the award by the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Santosh Jha, during the conference’s inaugural ceremony. The event, attended by over 250 delegates from more than 10 countries, showcased global advancements in paediatric dentistry.
Prof. Saima also presented her original evidence-based research and chaired a paper presentation session at the conference. She has previously won several national and international accolades, including being the only Indian recipient of the prestigious and highly competitive IADR John Clarkson Fellowship.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / August 13th, 2025
Prof. Tokeer Ahmad at the Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia has been conferred with the prestigious Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) Bronze Medal for the year 2025 at the 35th CRSI-ACS National Symposium in Chemistry & ACS Lectures held at IIT Gandhinagar from July 3-5, 2025. Prof. Ahmad has been awarded CRSI Medal in recognition of his impactful research contributions in Chemistry on Hydrogen Energy and Nanocatalysis.The CRSI Medal is the highest honor by CRSI and is among the top awards in Chemical Science given in recognition of outstanding contributions in Chemistry which have significant impact through leading research and high quality publications.
Prof. Ahmad delivered the CRSI Bronze Medal Lecture titled “Designing of Functional Heterostructures for Scalable H2 Production using Overall Catalysis” at the symposium.
Prof. Tokeer Ahmad, a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), has graduated from IIT Roorkee and holds a Ph.D. from IIT Delhi. His research interest includes the designing of functional heterostructures for green hydrogen energy, CO2RR & NRR for applications in climatic sustainable environment. Prof. Ahmad has supervised 16 PhD’s, published 228 research papers and three books with research citation of ~10,000, hindex of 59 and i10-index of 186. Prof. Ahmad is also the recipient of MRSI Medal, SMC Bronze Medal, ISCAS Medal, Inspired Teacher’s President of India Award, DST-DFG award, IIT Delhi Alumni Faculty Award, Distinguished Scientist Award, Dr. S. S. Deshpande National Award, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Excellence Award of Education, Teacher’s Excellence Award and elected as Member of National Academy of Sciences India. Prof. Ahmad has figured in World Top 2% Scientists for consecutive five years since 2020 in both coveted lists including career long by Stanford University, USA. Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Mazhar Asif and Registrar JMI, Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi congratulated Prof. Ahmad and expressed their happiness on his outstanding achievement bringing laurels to the university. Prof Ahmad said that he was honoured and elated at the recognition bestowed on him, especially, as it testifies to the extraordinary research work undertaken by him on the production of Green Hydrogen Energy. Prof. Ahmad thanked the team of hard working students, collaborators, mentors, friends and family members for the Medal Award.
The Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) was established in 1999 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the country’s independence. The main objectives of the CRSI are to recognize, promote and foster talent in Chemistry and Chemical Sciences and to improve the quality of Chemical Education as well as research in all branches of Chemistry. CRSI recognizes outstanding achievements in chemical research through awards, grants, and medals. The society has active collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, Asian, German, and French Chemical Societies.
source: http://www.jmi.ac.in / Jamia Millia Islamia / by Office of Chief Public Relations Officer, JMI / July 10th, 2025
The award presented by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, Govt. of India on 13 May 2015 in a ceremony held in DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi.13th May 2015
Congratulations Dr. Nahid Ali for achieving Top 10 Innovators award for Dipstick Technology by the DST jointly with FICCI and Lockheed Martin corporation and Indo US Science and Technology Forum 2015.
Dr. Nahid Ali, Chief Scientist, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, CSIRIICB, was awarded the Gold Medal and a certificate at the “Innovators Competition” for DST-Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Programme 2015. The award was given by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, Govt. of India on 13 May 2015 in a ceremony held in DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi.
Dr. Ali’s innovation, a dipstick device for the diagnosis of Kala-azar and PKDL, has been selected among top 10 technologies out of 1500 applications received this year. The technology has already been filed for patent and also published in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases (Saha et al, 2011; 17: 1304-06).
source: http://www.iicb.res.in / CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology
Dr Anwar Siddiqui, head of Panchakarma at Shri KR Pandav Ayurveda College and founder of Kerala Ayurveda & Panchakarma, received the Influential Ayurvedacharya Award from Sakal and Baidyanath. The award recognized his contributions to Ayurvedic medicine and social service.
The event was attended by Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Baidyanath’s managing director Suresh Sharma, and 45 leading Ayurveda doctors from across India. Dr Siddiqui, a BAMS and MD in Panchakarma from Poddar Government Ayurveda College in Mumbai, also holds a Master’s degree in Sanskrit. He has authored the book Ayurvedic Detoxification in Obesity, published in Germany.
With more than two decades of practice, Dr Siddiqui has gained recognition for treating chronic illnesses through Panchakarma therapy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he helped set up a free hospital in Pachpaoli, strengthening his reputation for service to both healthcare and the community. Dr Siddiqui is a prominent leader associated with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and a member of its Maharashtra State Advisory Council.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / August 24th, 2025
While media spotlight often shines on celebrities and politicians, the real engine of India’s progress runs on the resolve of countless unsung heroes who, away from limelight, quietly transform society.
From national defense to grassroots education, sports, science, and civil service, these individuals from Uttar Pradesh show how courage, compassion, and conviction can drive extraordinary change. Here are 10 such trailblazers whose stories deserve to be heard:
Captain Sariya Abbasi: A Woman in Uniform on the Frontlines
Hailing from a small city of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Captain Sayria Abbasi broke every convention to join the Indian Army. A graduate in Genetic Engineering and with plenty of job offers and career opportunities from big companies was not enough for her to pursue in life. The call of service for the motherland was too strong to be sacrificed.
The world noticed her as a soldier deployed at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India-China temporary border, manning an Air Gun. Today, Sariya leads drone-killer teams and operates L-70 anti-aircraft guns on the border. Her journey from an academic achiever to a defender of the nation’s borders is not just about military precision; it’s about shattering glass ceilings and reshaping how India imagines women in uniform.
Dr. Faiyaz Ahmad Fyzie: Voice for the Voiceless Pasmanda Community
Dr. Faiyaz Ahmad Fyzie, an AYUSH physician, is more than a healer—he is a public intellectual, columnist, translator, and relentless advocate for the Pasmanda (socially backward) Muslim community. Raised in modest conditions, his rise to national recognition is built on fearless writing and tireless grassroots work.
When even the Prime Minister refers to Pasmanda voices, Fyzie’s years of advocacy resonate. His pen continues to empower those whose struggles were long silenced. His work is a call to conscience—and a roadmap for inclusive discourse.
Mohammad Luqman Ali: Wrestling His Way to Glory and Degree
Wrestler Mohammad Luqman Ali, a student of Social Work at Jamia Millia Islamia, is balancing body and brain. Born in Amroha’s tiny village of Mohraka Patti, his father worked on the railways, and his mother gave him religious grounding. Despite limited resources, Luqman’s grit has earned him recognition in India’s wrestling circles.
From the mat to the classroom, his dual commitment shows that excellence doesn’t require compromise. It requires discipline, heart—and a family’s belief in you.
Rubina Rashid Ali: Reviving Mughal-Era Art with a Modern Mission
In a sun-drenched corner of Aligarh, Rubina Rashid Ali has quietly built a movement. Her work in floral appliqué embroidery, a legacy of Mughal art, now supports dozens of women in Aligarh and Rampur. What was once an undervalued craft monopolized by middlemen has been transformed by Rubina into a vehicle for women’s economic empowerment.
Her home resonates not only with the sound of needles and threads but also with the hum of independence. “Real artists were reduced to laborers,” she says. Today, she ensures their hands are not just working — but also earning.
Babban Mian: A Gaushala Keeper Inspired by His Mother’s Love
At Madhu Sudan Gaushalla in Bulandshahr, Babban Mian tends to cows not out of ritual, but reverence — inspired by his late mother Hamidunnisa Begum. “She loved cows like her own children,” he recalls. After she passed away in 2015, Babban vowed to preserve her legacy.
Despite being a Muslim in a Hindu-dominated tradition, he runs a government-recognized shelter rooted in compassion, not controversy. For him, animal welfare is a universal value — not a communal issue. His work quietly redefines what shared culture and interfaith harmony look like.
Khushboo Mirza: From Amroha to the Moon with ISRO
Khushboo Mirza, scientist at ISRO and part of the Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions, is a stellar example of perseverance. After her father’s death when she was just seven, her mother raised three children alone, running a petrol pump and defying social norms.
Khushboo earned a Gold Medal in Electronics Engineering from AMU and was the youngest member of the Chandrayaan-1 checkout team. A practicing Muslim and a symbol of India’s scientific aspirations, she turned down corporate offers to reach for the stars—and took a whole generation of girls with her.
Zaheer Farooqui: A People’s Leader with a Vision for Purkazi
In western UP’s Purkazi, Zaheer Farooqui is rewriting what local leadership means. As Nagar Panchayat Chairperson, he donated land worth ₹1.5 crore for the area’s first Intermediate College and modernized local schools into PM Shri-certified institutions.
His initiatives go beyond classrooms. From India’s first double-storey government-run cow shelter to a gym for Muslim women, and one of the most sophisticated rural CCTV networks in the region — Farooqui’s governance is a blend of tradition and tech, equity and empowerment. His Tiranga Yatra revives local history, reminding citizens that patriotism is inclusive and action-oriented.
Dr. Farah Usmani: From AMU to Global Health Leadership
On a cold morning in New York, Dr. Farah Usmani stood outside an apartment, a folder in hand, her eyes bright with resolve. The daughter of Uttar Pradesh, she is today a formidable presence in global health policy.
n M.D. in Obstetrics & Gynecology from AMU, Farah sought impact beyond hospital walls. Armed with a Master’s in Health Policy from LSE and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, she’s led transformative health initiatives around the world. Her journey is one of intellect guided by idealism — a doctor who chose not just to heal individuals but to reform systems.
Anjum Ara: Bridging Communities Through Compassionate Policing
Hailing from Azamgarh’s Kamharia village, Anjum Ara, a 2012-batch IPS officer, has redefined the image of policing with a human touch. A computer engineer by training, her journey from Integral University to Senior Superintendent of Police in Shimla has been marked by integrity and reform. Known for her work in cybercrime and her community-focused policing model, Anjum is also a fierce advocate for girls’ education.
Together with her husband, IAS officer Yunus Khan, Anjum adopted the cause of Khushdeep, the daughter of a martyred soldier, pledging to support her upbringing. This act of empathy mirrors her professional ethos, proactive, principled, and deeply people-centered.
Mumtaz Khan: From Vegetable Stall to World Hockey Stage
From the bustling alleys of Lucknow’s Cantt area to the turf fields of South Africa, Mumtaz Khan’s journey is pure grit. Once helping her father at a vegetable stall, a single race at school changed her life when Coach Neelam Siddiqui noticed her speed. That moment set her on a course to become a leading forward in India’s Junior Women’s Hockey Team.
Her standout performance at the 2018 Youth Olympics, where she scored 10 goals, earned her national acclaim. Yet, Mumtaz remains rooted, balancing hope and humility as she eyes the Olympics. She is proof that dreams born in dusty streets can blaze across international arenas.
These ten changemakers hail from Uttar Pradesh, from narrow village lanes to bustling metros, from battlefields to laboratories. But they are united by one thing: quiet, relentless courage. In their lives, we find the India that persists, uplifts, and transforms—not with headlines, but with hard work.
It was a moment of joy and ecstasy for 18 years old Arshiya Choudhari of Solapur when she was announced second topper in Maharashtra state conducted Common Entrance Test MHT-CET 2016 for admissions to Medical courses and can now choose college of her choice for MBBS admission.
The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET) exam was held on May 5, 2016 for which results were declared on Wednesday.
A student of A D Joshi College, Arshiya scored 199 marks out of 200 and declared second topper. She has also topped HSC exams in the state this year by scoring 97.85% (636 out of 650 marks).
The feat is very special for Arshiya because she herself prepared for the exam by dedicating 6-7 hours daily for study at home after HSC exams. “I did not join any private classes but relied upon self study at home. I am happy that I could score this much and prove people that private coaching is not always required if you have dedication”, Arshiya told TwoCircles.net.
She is now aiming to complete MBBS course and then she will decide about specialization or masters.
“I want to pursue MBBS from KEM College in Mumbai. After completing degree I will decide whether to go for administrative services or masters”, She added.
However, in any case she wants to connect with the people and serve them. “I am very eager to serve people. I see there are very few Muslim woman doctors and therefore I decided to become a doctor”, she told when asked why she chose to become a doctor.
Speaking with TwoCircles.net Yunus Choudhary, father of Arshiya expressed delight and said she is free to take admission into the college of her choice.
Yunus, who is a Jr. Engineer in water supply department in Solapur told, “I was confident that she will clear CET with excellent marks as she is a hard working girl. I will not restrict her from joining any college for MBBS”.
Nusrat, mother of Arshiya is a practicing doctor and wish to see her daughter serving the community by becoming a doctor. “I want Arshiya to become a successful doctor”, she told.
The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET) is an entrance examination conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research with an intention to provide admissions into various graduation courses for Engineering and Medicine streams.
The medical entrance examination has been in news since May 4 when a Supreme Court order made it mandatory for medical aspirants to take the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). However, following several protests from parents and state education ministers, the President passed an ordinance that reversed the Supreme Court verdict partially.
Therefore for Maharashtra, admissions to medical and dental colleges will be done through the MHT-CET scores for this year.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News> Indian Muslim> Women> Youth / by A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net / June 04th, 2016
Students of AMU with their delivery drone prototype
Aligarh :
Showcasing creativity and technological ingenuity, a team of final-year students from the University Polytechnic, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has developed a Delivery Drone Prototype, a promising step towards autonomous aerial delivery systems.
Guided by former Principal of University Polytechnic, Prof. Arshad Umar and Dr. Tanveer Hasan, Associate Professor at the Polytechnic, the student team comprising Saubaan Ahmad Siddiqui, Ehtesham Ahmad, Shabab Khan, Ankit Tomar, Anas Khan, Muzaffar Hussain, and Omaan Ahmad Ansari successfully carried out six autonomous delivery missions within the university campus over a span of two months.
Equipped with real-time video streaming, autonomous navigation, gesture-controlled backup, and a custom dashboard to track flight data and delivery paths, the drone highlights the university’s commitment to hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.
This initiative is part of AMU’s larger vision to promote student-led innovation and applied research in emerging technologies. The project has received wide appreciation in academic circles for its relevance to real-world logistics, emergency response, and smart campus solutions.
Although this is a prototype for academic use, the team plans to enhance the system with AI-based object detection and an expanded operational range, reflecting the university’s emphasis on innovation-driven education and future-ready skills.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Aasha Khosa, ATV / July 28th, 2025
How a series of breakfast conversations grew into an exhibition and a book.
On some mornings, Diba Siddiqi would sit down at the breakfast table in her parents’ home in Bengaluru, and record her father’s voice.
He would hold forth on everything under the sun – science, history, justice, conflict, photography, politics, poetry, philosophy, the evolution of language and silence. The musings continued well after the meal was over and an Olympus digital voice recorder Diba Siddiqi had placed nearby would capture her father’s thoughts.
The sheer range of topics wasn’t surprising. Obaid Siddiqi was one of India’s most eminent scientists whose pioneering work in the field of molecular biology and neurogenetics are well known.
Siddiqi was keen to have an account of her father’s stories in his own voice so that she could revisit them later. She had tried taking notes, but found the process distracting. She started using the digital recorder so that she could give him his full attention.
But the recordings, which started in 2007, ended in 2013 when the senior Siddiqi was killed in an accident while taking a stroll near his home. He was 81.
Immersed in history
Months later, Diba Siddiqi finally revisited the “breakfast monologues” as she called them.
She immersed herself in the stories her father had shared of growing up in eastern Uttar Pradesh in pre-Partition India and the sadness at how the Siddiqis lost track of family members who moved to Pakistan.
It wasn’t long before Siddiqi began to dig through old family photographs, many of them developed in darkrooms by her father and his siblings.
It didn’t stop at that. Diba Siddiqi’s mother, Asiya, is a distinguished historian, who has spent a large part of her life studying Mumbai’s past. Siddiqi began to delve into her mother’s life too.
The result is Rooh: The Enduring Spirit, an exhibition of old family photographs interspersed with new images Diba Siddiqi has taken of places that played an important part in her parents’ lives. A book of the same name is set to be released shortly.
Dominating figure
It’s obvious that Obaid Siddiqi was an overarching presence for his daughter. “My father was this colossal figure in my life,” said Siddiqi. “No language is adequate to express his continuing presence in my life. I still find myself quietly and unconsciously carrying on conversations with him.”
Born in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, in 1932, Obaid Siddiqi completed an MSc from Aligarh University before obtaining a doctorate from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. His family lived in Benares in two spells between 1932 and 1948 before finally settling down in Aligarh.
Preventive detention
The includes an account of the two years Obaid Siddiqi spent in jail from 1949 under preventive measures at a time when 30,000 communists were detained across country. Recalling his period of detention in the company of 13 Communist leaders, he said:
“So you see jail authorities, they used the criminals, who were called pukkas, to beat us up. They were prisoners who had served ten years, fifteen years, had life imprisonment… They acted like small unofficial wardens to control other prisoners. They were dressed to look like police. They beat up our friend Syed Ali badly, giving him galis, saying, ‘Pakistan se saala Pakistani Communist banta hai!’
However, Obaid Siddiqi could also recognise the benevolent side of the police officer who had beaten up the comrades, realising that human nature can never be categorised as entirely good or bad.
His parents and six siblings managed to send him letters during his imprisonment. His sisters arranged to smuggle letters in and out of jail while delivering home-cooked food to him once a week.
In 2014, Siddiqi visited Benares, where her father spent some time as a child. Waking at the crack of dawn every day, she walked around the ancient city, photographing the people and its streets.
Mumbai chronicler
Siddiqi also took many pictures in Mumbai, a city whose past her mother has written about extensively. One of Asiya Siddiqi’s celebrated works recreates the lives of people who went bankrupt in the 19th century. Roaming the bylanes of Mohammad Ali road and Dongri, in Mumbai, Siddiqui imagined that the ghosts of these people “and their descendants surely dwell in the neighbourhood I roamed in… The descendants of tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, milk vendors, courtesans, dancing girls and prostitutes may continue to live and work here.”
Though the project is intensely personal, she believes it has broad appeal. She said she hoped viewers would let her work touch their mind and spirit and perhaps remind them of their own histories. “It is an expression of life that I have been a part of,” she said. “It has been about finding a voice in the images and bringing it together in one space.”
Rooh: The Enduring Spirit can be viewed at Bangalore’s 1 Shanthi Road gallery until February 11.
source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home> Photo Feature / by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri / February 09th, 2016
