Award named after N.R. Madhava Menon, father of modern legal studies in India
C.K. Sahala Farsana, student of the Nehru Academy of Law, Lakkidi, and first-rank winner of Calicut University in five-year LLB examination, has won this year’s N.R. Madhava Menon Memorial Award for the best law student.
The award has been given by the Victims Information, Sensitisation, Welfare and Assistance Society (VISWAS), an organisation providing succour for the victims of excesses and crimes.
Ms. Farsana was adjudged the best student considering her academic and non-academic performance, especially her leadership in social work. She had won prizes in quiz, debate, and essay competitions held in several parts of the country.
Kalyani Balachandran from Al Ameen Law College, Kulappully, was adjudged the runner-up. M. Shabas from V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan Law College, Elavenchery, and Amrit M. Nair from Al Ameen Law College, Kulappully, won consolation prizes.
Former district judge M.R. Balachandran Nair, former diplomat Sreekumar Menon, and Deputy Director of Prosecution K. Sheeba constituted the judging committee.
Principal district judge B. Kalam Pasha gave away the awards instituted in the memory of N.R. Madhava Menon, who was widely considered the father of modern legal studies in India. Menon was a former Vice Chancellor of the National Law Universities and former director of the National Judicial Academy.
VISWAS secretary P. Premnath, vice presidents B. Jayarajan and R. Devikripa, joint secretaries Deepa Jayaprakash and N. Rakhi spoke.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Palakkad – January 10th, 2022
Suhana Safar, a fifth-year student of BA LLB integrated course at SDM Law College Mangaluru, has secured second rank at the Karnataka State Law University (KSLU) examination.
Suhana is a resident of Ullal Kodi and daughter of Haneef and Ruqiya.
She had appeared for the KSLU final year exams 2021 in Kannada medium and has secured second university rank.
In the history of Odisha, there had never been a Muslim woman helming the top post of any municipality. That changed last week when she won the election to the chairperson post of Bhadrak town.
Thirty-year-old Gulmaki Dalawzi Habib has smashed many social and political conventions. Fighting the polls as an Independent in Bhadrak, the 31-year-old of Puruna Bazaar area made the candidates of three major political parties – the ruling BJD, BJP and Congress – bite the dust.
In the history of Odisha, there had never been a Muslim woman helming the top post of any municipality. That changed last week when she won the election to the chairperson post of Bhadrak town.
Gulmaki won the election by defeating her nearest rival, Samita Mishra of BJD, by a margin of 3,256 votes. While she secured 28,115 votes, Samita bagged 24,859 votes. The BJP candidate came a distant third with 6,787 votes while the Congress nominee could only secure 1,977 votes.
In a communally-sensitive town like Bhadrak, Gulmaki’s poll victory was an outcome which was least expected.
Though there were councilors from minority community in the past, the municipality chairperson post was never helmed by a Muslim. The fact that a Muslim woman could be choice of voters, majority of whom were Hindus, was something which even poll pundits could not predict.
The chairperson-elect said she was both humbled and proud to be the first Muslim woman in the State to be elected to the top municipality post.
“The whole of Bhadrak town is celebration my victory. People were steadfast in their support to me. I dedicate my win to both Hindus and Muslims of the town,” she said.
Of the total 30 Wards in Bhadrak Municipality, 12 are dominated by Muslims while two have a sizable population of the minority community.
There are more than 87,000 voters in Bhadrak town of whom over 34,000 are Muslims.
Contrary to the perception, there was no reservation in the minds of Hindu voters towards a Muslim candidate.
“While campaigning, I was treated like one of their own. In my personal experience, there is no divide between Hindus and Muslims as was being spread by some people during the elections. Irrespective of religion, voters showered their love and blessings on me.”
Though Gulmaki is a political greenhorn, her husband Sheikh Jahid Habib was the former district vice-president of BJD’s youth wing.
In the run-up to the urban local body polls, people of Puruna Bazaar demanded a chairperson candidate from the area which always bore the brunt of civic authorities’ neglect.
However, BJD ignored the demand following which Gulmaki filed nomination as an Independent candidate.
Development of the town is top on the agenda of Gulmaki, who hold a degree in Business Administration.
“Roads and drainage system need to be be drastically improved in the town. Especially in Puruna Bazaar, the living conditions are poor. I plan to work on these issues first after taking office.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Odisha / by Anup Nayak, Express News Service / March 28th, 2022
Aurangabad, MAHARASHTRA /Sheffield, South Yorkshire, U.K.
Sabahat Khan who is pursuing her post-graduation in public health, won with more than 2,500 votes out of a total of 6,900 votes.
“People saw me as a person and my potential to represent them as a student leader, not my attire. And that’s most important, said Sabahat. (Source: Facebook/Sabahat Khan)
Sabahat Khan, a hijab-wearing woman who is from Aurangabad, has been elected president of the students’ union of Sheffield Hallam University in UK.
Khan, who is pursuing her post-graduation in public health, won with more than 2,500 votes out of a total of 6,900 votes.
“People saw me as a person and my potential to represent them as a student leader, not my attire. And that’s most important,” said Sabahat.
“I am proud of who I am and will do everything in my control to empower all those who wear hijab. I come from Aurangabad, but I had ideas and see where they have taken me. No stereotyping has stopped me and it should not stop anybody. There is a lot more to me than what I wear. Instead let’s focus on points that are more important,” said Sabahat, who did her BSc from Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.
Sabahat said her work as international students’ officer (ISO) during the pandemic has helped her connect with international students from all backgrounds.
But she also insists on pointing to the inclusive and supportive culture of the society at Sheffield Hallam University. “Irrespective of gender, ethnicity and religion, everybody deserves the same treatment,” said Sabahat.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Mumbai / by Pallavi Smart, Mumbai / March 24th, 2022
Bushra topped among all institutes of the VTU with an aggregate CGPA of 9.73. She is also the first-rank holder in the civil engineering branch as well as in the women’s category.
Bushra Mateen receives the gold medals during the 21st annual convocation ceremony of Visvesaraya Technological University in Belagavi on Thursday
Bushra Mateen, a civil engineering student of SLN College of Engineering, Raichur, won 16 gold medals at the 21st annual convocation ceremony of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Belagavi on Thursday. Bushra thus set a record for the most number of gold medals by a student in VTU’s history to date, overhauling the previous tally of 13.
Bushra topped among all institutes of the VTU with an aggregate cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 9.73. She is also the first-rank holder in the civil engineering branch as well as in the women’s category.
She won the Shri SG Balekundri gold medal, JNU University gold medal, VTU gold medal, RN Shetty gold medal among others. She won two cash prizes too.
Bushra Mateen, a civil engineering student of SLN College of Engineering in Raichur
‘My father is a civil engineer and so is my elder brother. I got my inspiration from them. My family has been supportive of my choices, from taking up the course to choosing the college, they agreed with my choices and interest. My father wanted me to study medicine, but he was equally supportive when I told him about civil engineering. It involves visiting sites, practical and labour work that can challenge a girl’s capabilities but I always believed in my strength. This branch is not restricted to private companies but also has government jobs and my goal is to prepare for the UPSC now,” said Bushra.
“I always referred to textbooks as it increased my knowledge and prepared me for a competitive environment. I believed in God and never compared myself to others. I believe nothing is impossible to achieve if you have self-confidence and determination,” added Bushra who also expressed her gratitude towards the faculty of SLN College of Engineering for guiding her throughout the degree.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Rishita Khanna, Bengaluru / March 11th, 2022
Rishita is an intern with The Indian Express, Bengaluru
Amid the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, another hijab-clad student Lamya Majeed from Karnataka has bagged seven gold medals and two cash prizes in M.Sc Botany at the 102nd convocation of the University of Mysore.
Majeed, a native of Mangalore district is currently working on her master’s thesis in the University of Mysore. She opted to study M.Sc Botany but didn’t have anything specific in her mind. As the years passed and she developed an interest in the subject and wants to engage in research works to help farmers.
Interested in plant pathology and plant disease, Lamya has also applied to go abroad for more research work, especially in the UK. She has also cleared the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).
Speaking to THG, Lamya said, “I’m a very average student and didn’t expect to get this much. But I really like the subject and my dreams are to do research in the field of Life Sciences. I had good company with me who also had similar dreams are like-minded people. We would all support each other and some of my best friends were like good support for me. Particularly, my parents, they’re my greatest support.”
When asked if she faced any obstacles during her journey, the gold medalist said, “I didn’t face any obstacles from my family but some other people have done it. Especially, because I opted for regular science courses, you know, the general Indian mentality of engineering and medicine. So my subject wasn’t something that is kind of not even mainstream, especially in my family. There are not many like the people who have done BSc or MSc, everyone took. And people were like because I couldn’t study engineering, I took botany. It’s not something that was hyped, I would say, not the first choice for many people.”
But the good thing is, Lamya said, the environment in her university was really nice. “They really encouraged research. So, I am someone who wants to get into research, which is why I am doing botany. It was a risky move in a way that you know, most of us are expected to just like go into teaching, or do this thing. I want to continue doing a Ph.D.,”
The 23-year-old topper wants to encourage to people to come in this field because basic sciences and research is something that is a thought like only certain section certain people can do but “it’s obtainable and not out of reach for not general public. An average person can dream of being a scientist or researcher,” she said.
With a percentage of 86 in her Pre University Exam and interest in biology, people expected Lamya to go into medicine. She said, “But that was not where my interest was. I have massive respect for whoever takes medicine but it was not for me.”
“I wasn’t really sure what a gold medal is, who select it or how do they select, nothing. It was actually a shock for me because one of my friends called me early in the morning and asked did you see they released the gold medalists’ names and your name is there several times on the list. I was like, oh my god, it was completely unexpected. My parents are so proud of me,” she told THG, when asked what was her reaction when she first got to know that she bagged 7 gold medals.
Daughter of a retired employee of Bharat petroleum, Lamya has worn hijab all her life, and never faced any problem at all. She said, “I have worn hijab and never faced any problem even now.”
“I really don’t want to comment on this (hijab controversy) although, I’m just upset that it has happened. I don’t really want to say anything I’m just wearing that itself is a statement,” Lamya said she doesn’t want to engage in the hijab dialogue.
Further talking of her future plans, she said, “I want to do PhD and become a research scientist in Plant Sciences. So right now I am in the University of Mysore working in the final year of my master’s thesis. I am currently working on that but in the meantime, I have been writing competitive exams. I’m trying to trying to build a portfolio so I can apply for PhD. I would either study here or even abroad because the opportunities are there in many places. I’m just seeing where I can fit the best.”
Conveying a message to especially young girls, the golden girl from coastal Karnataka said that they should trust themselves. “Girls should believe in their own worth and believe that they are as capable as anyone in their peers.”
When we feel like we are not being provided with the right opportunities, or we are not being taken seriously compared to others then we should take a stand because we are worth just as anyone else,” she adding that when given opportunies, “we can do so much more.”
“I believe everyone deserves the rights and opportunities that should be available to every child, regardless if they’re a boy or girl or trans or whatever they are. I want them to feel like they are deserving of every opportunity, deserving of love. They should feel that way and work towards their goals. They should believe in themselves, no matter who they are, and work towards their dream. If they trust themselves in the long run, no matter what people say, they’ll have themselves.”
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Rabia Shireen / March 26th, 2022
Powerlifter Gulshan Banu Kazi has not only made her native Udupi, India proud but also Dubai proud by securing a world record among the master category athletes in the Professional Raw Organisations Push-Pull Championship 2022, a national level event held in Bengaluru recently.
This sporting event held at Onyx Fitness was one of the most popular internationally sanctioned national powerlifting championships, consisting of three main events -Bench Press, Deadlifts and Push-Pull.
Record holder Gulshan Banu Kazi is a 43-year-old mother of three, working six days a week at a corporate office in Dubai.
A native of Udupi, she is from Udupi and an alumnus of St Cecily’s and PPC College here .
She is a competitive Powerlifter. Powerlifting is a form of competitive weightlifting in which the contestants attempt three types of lifts in a set sequence, squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Gulshan started powerlifting training in the year 2019.
The training is tough. She trains at least four times a week for about 90 minutes each time and keeps a watch on her nutrition intake and sleep pattern.
She has been participating in a powerlifting competition in UAE and did well there. One of her latest has been the Pro-League National Championship-2022 where she hit five personal records and registered a World Record in Deadlifts (U82.5kg Masters and Open Category) by pulling 180 kgs. She becomes the first woman of India in her age and her weight category to pull off this deadlift.
Last April, she participated in the WPC National Powerlifting Championship securing four gold medals in Bengaluru. Gulshan Kazi won the Best Lifter Award in the Masters’ category.
Gulshan used to be above 100 kgs till 2016 when she suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Resistance training and tracking her food intake enabled her to start losing weight and gaining muscle. Soon after, she was introduced to powerlifting and has been consistent at it ever since.
She is grateful to Raju Pal, her first coach who introduced her to powerlifting and taught her all the basics.
Now she is training under Mohammad Azmat who is a multiple-time national and international medalist in powerlifting, having won medals for India in different federations. He has been coaching her since 2020.
Gulshan Kazi is looking forward to her representation at World Championships and working hard to make India proud.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Middle East / by Daijiworld Media Network – DRD / March 22nd, 2022
Powerlifting champion Sk. Sadia Almas presenting a bouquet to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at Tadepalli on Tuesday.
Proposal for setting up a powerlifting academy at Mangalagiri approved
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced a final assistance of ₹5 lakh on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh government for international powerlifting champion Shaik Sadia Almas.
Ms. Sadia, along with her father Samdhani, met Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy at his chamber in the Assembly . She won three gold medals and a bronze medal at the Asian Powerlifting Championships held at Istanbul in Turkey in December 2021.
Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy appreciated Ms. Sadia and approved the proposal of establishing a powerlifting academy in her hometown of Mangalagiri. He said that the government would make all efforts to encourage athletes in the State.
Sports Minister M. Srinivasa Rao, Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, Special Chief Secretary Rajat Bhargava and others were present on the occasion.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Tharun Boda / Vijayawada – March 22nd, 2022
Nazreen C J, who is hearing impaired, marvels art connoisseurs by transforming unheard tunes into elegant moves, reports Anuja Susan Varghese.
Nazreen is also interested in painting and photography | A Sanesh
Ernakulam :
The differently-abled are often blessed with myriad capabilities. Heightened sensory powers and special skills, developed by some individuals over several years overcoming challenges, at times leave audiences spellbound.
Such is the tale of Nazreen CJ, hearing impaired from birth. The limitations, however, did not stop the Kochi resident — called Kukku fondly — from exploring art and travel, and from honing her many talents. An expert bharatanatyam dancer, her performance, syncing steps by sensing vibrations of the beat on the floor, is an amazing sight.
From Class V, Nazreen has practised dance to the rhythm of classical music, mastering not just bharatanatyam, but kathak and mohiniyattom as well.
“She was a bright child from the very beginning,” says Nazreen’s mother, Noorjahan Jani. “We realised she could not hear or speak only after she was two, and by then it was too late.”
One huge positive for Nazreen, now 22, was that she studied in a regular school, enabling her to understand conversations by lip-reading.
“She learned to accept she was different from other children. Being part of the Kochi Kalabhavan, she received opportunities to perform in cultural events on various stages and also in television programmes,” Noorjahan points out. Family support is a pillar of strength for Nazreen, with her mother accompanying her to cultural events and competitions.
“During her schooldays, we travelled to Mumbai, Chennai and Ranchi. Though she is very confident now about managing on her own, we are still reluctant to let her travel alone,” says Noorjahan. Realising her mother was talking about her adventurous dreams, Nazreen gestures to say that they worry needlessly.
Her sister, Jasmine Anseer, says Nazreen did not have any special training method or additional assistance while learning classical dance. “She would pick up the steps and the rhythm as shown by her dance teacher. She continues with the steps till the dance sequence ends.” Her mother also recalls bitter experiences, when Nazreen was denied opportunities due to her condition. “Some organisers fear she would make mistakes on stage. Such experiences hurt her the most, yet she didn’t back down. Whenever she received opportunities, she has made sure that she puts up excellent performances,” Noorjahan says.
The walls of their home are stacked with prizes, with Nazreen having excelled in other fields too, like drawing, painting and photography. She used to play badminton as well. Recently, she modelled for Seematti, one of Kerala’s leading textile brands.
“She is a very different person when on stage. It won’t be apparent to anyone she can’t hear the music. Be it ramp walk or western dance, she nails them with elan. During solo performances, we just have to ensure one of us is there off-stage to alert her when the song starts and is about to end,” says Jasmine.
When asked about her ambition, Nazreen joyously nods and gestures she wants to become a wildlife photographer. Nazreen did her BSc in maths at the St Teresa’s College, and is now busy with programmes and photography sessions.
“Due to Covid, things were dull for a while. But life is now back on track,” says Jani C S, Nazreen’s father, beaming with pride. And Nazreen gestures, looking forward to the shows lined up.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Anuja Susan Varghese / Express News Service / March 20th, 2022
28 students received the MS Ramaiah gold medals while an equal number received Venkatamma Ramaiah silver medals.
Seven students were awarded PhD, 453 students master’s and 1,187 students bachelor’s degrees. (Photocaption) Gold and silver medallists Nidhi Santhosh, Dr.Aishwarya Swathi, Samreen Fathima, Bennett M Darshan, Kabita Kumari, Harshit Agarwal and Kavya C at the convocation of Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences on Monday Credit: DH Photo/Prashanth H G
The sixth convocation of Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences took place here on Monday with as many as 1,647 students receiving degrees.
Seven students were awarded PhD, 453 students master’s and 1,187 students bachelor’s degrees. Twenty-eight students received the MS Ramaiah gold medals while an equal number received Venkatamma Ramaiah silver medals. Eight research students received Gowramma Ramaiah silver medals for best-presented research theses.
Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairperson, AICTE, presented the degrees to the students. “The main aim of education is to instil moral values and create selfless citizens who work for the welfare of the country. Students have the responsibility of creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat. They should also understand the National Education Policy and respond to the changing needs of development,” he said.
University Chancellor M R Jayaram, Vice-Chancellor Prof Kuldeep Kumar Raina and Registrar Prof M Sai Baba were also present.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City> Life in Bengaluru / DHNS, Bengaluru / March 15th, 2022
