Falkia Khan, Brand Ambassador of Mysuru City Corporation’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, has won first place and cash prize of Rs. 5,000 in the State-level Elocution Competition organised by Rashtrabharathi Charitable Trust, Mysuru, on account of Digvijay Divas at Gopalaswamy Shishu Vihara near Nanjumalige Circle in city on Sept. 10.
PU, Degree and PG students from several Colleges across the State participated in the contest.
Every year Sept. 11 is celebrated as Digvijay Divas as that was the day Swami Vivekananda gave the world-famous speech in 1893 at Chicago in the World’s Parliament of Religions.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / / headline edited / September 13th, 2023
Her next target, Sultana said, will be to clear the UPSC exams
Rukaiya Sultana, the daughter of a humble family from Murshidabad’s Daulatabad, has fulfilled her cherished childhood dream of becoming a public servant.
The 27-year-old woman qualified as a WBCS officer on Friday, securing 27th rank.
“I come from a poor family. My father works at a garment store and my mother is a para-teacher. Yet they have supported me throughout my academic journey. I can’t thank them enough,” Sultana told The Telegraph.
In her last attempt two years ago, Sultana could not clear the WBCS preliminary exams. However, she did not give up. She simply decided to work harder for the next time. That’s when her parents proved to be her biggest support, she added.
“I did not take admission to any coaching centre. My family couldn’t afford it. However, one of my cousins who had cracked the WBCS exams earlier is currently serving as a revenue officer. I would call her from time to time for help. She was my only guide,” Sultana said.
According to Sultana, she failed in her first attempt as she “did not prepare smartly enough”. However, this time she has secured the 27th rank and successfully completed all three steps — the preliminary, main and interview.
Her next target, Sultana said, will be to clear the UPSC exams. “I’m not stopping now,” she smiled.
It only shows how far she has come.
Sultana’s village Daulatabad, is a hamlet about 15 km away from the district headquarters in Behrampore. Since Class V, an independent-minded Sultana has been going to Kashiswari Girls’ High School in Behrampore all by herself. In both her Madhyamik and higher secondary tests, Sultana secured 85 per cent marks.
Later, she enrolled herself at the Krishnanath College in Behrampore for a BSc in chemistry and completed her post-graduate degree from Kalyani University in Nadia.
Throughout these years, Sultana never enrolled herself in any private tuition. “I knew I would not burden my parents. Their encouragement was enough,” she said.
Ruhul Hasan, Sultana’s father, earns around Rs 10,000 a month. Her mother Arjuma Khatun earns about Rs 12,000 to 13,000 every month. The cumulative amount could only provide for the family’s basic needs.
“We never had extras. We live in a two-room house and I had to arrange for the books I studied myself. I consider private tuition a luxury,” Sultana said.
Hasan could not praise his daughter enough.
“I could never admit my daughter to fancy institutions, nor am I educated enough to help her. She studied in a government school and whatever she has achieved is hers alone. I am very happy,” Hasan said.
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / Telegraph Online – Edugraph / Home> Edugraph / by Alamgir Hossain / August 30th, 2023
The Pulitzer Center is pleased to announce freelance multimedia journalist Sidrah Fatma Ahmed has been selected as the 2023 winner of the Pulitzer Center’s annual Breakthrough Journalism Award . The runner-up award goes to freelance journalist Emily Fishbein.
The $12,000 Breakthrough Award, inaugurated in 2020, is made possible through the generous support of Eva Lohrer. The award seeks to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Pulitzer Center-affiliated freelance journalists who report on the underreported issues. The runner-up is awarded $5,000.
Ahmed, a Delhi-based freelancer, is recognized not only for her dedication to producing and directing high-caliber video projects on underreported topics, but also for enriching projects with nuanced and layered storytelling.
Ahmed’s reaction to winning the award was a nod to all those she has reported on.
“It’s a moment to celebrate the people represented in my stories. There are so many stories to be told in India. I hope to use this support to do more in-depth video reporting in the areas of climate justice, gender, and health,” Ahmed said in a recent interview with Pulitzer Center Editorial Intern Alexandra Byrne.
Ahmed, who began her career in India with a legacy news outlet, felt increasingly drawn to underreported topics and people, so she struck out on her own. Ahmed told Byrne she was “a bit restless because I was spending a lot of time in the office. The whole reason I got into journalism was so that I could be in the field and I could talk to different kinds of people, and I could really explore and engage and dig and be curious.”
Her dynamic video production and in-depth reporting skills have captured the attention of numerous international news outlets, including the Financial Times, for which she directed the Pulitzer Center-supported film Can India Adapt to Extreme Heat? alongside grantee Juliet Riddell. For this project, Ahmed and Riddell succeeded in blending macroeconomic insights with personal stories from a diverse range of Indians, including farmers, scientists, vendors, and children.
Ahmed says she wants to continue to tackle relevant topics that are in the news, but she also hopes one day to produce and direct longer-format documentaries.
The 2023 Breakthrough Award runner-up is freelance journalist Emily Fishbein for her relentless focus on exposing wrongs in Myanmar over the past few years, as well as for her collaborative approach to working with local reporting partners.
Fishbein said she was “honored to receive this award. It really validates everything I have been working for as a journalist and gives me so much motivation.”
With regard to her collaborative approach, she says she seeks “to pay forward the opportunities afforded to me as an international journalist and to encourage and support rising local talent who have a passion for the issues they cover.”
Past recipients of the annual Breakthrough Award include former grantees Neha Wadekar, Mariana Palau, and Victoria McKenzie. Read more about the Breakthrough Journalism Award here.
We celebrate freelancers’ adaptability and their dogged pursuit of the truth, work that is essential in today’s news environment. These journalists provide diverse perspectives and in-depth coverage of issues often overlooked by traditional media outlets. They often work alone, with little or no safety net, and with thin profit margins. We’re proud to amplify their work and contribute to their development.
source: http://www.pulitzercenter.org / Pulitzer Center / Home> Updates / by Steve Sapeinza, Pulitzer Center Staff / August 17th, 2023
Geelani goes on to become one of the best human rights defenders of his time. He campaigned for prisoners, vulnerable communities, and individuals. Photo: Shaheen Abdulla/Maktoob
Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani was a professor at Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University. He was convicted for his alleged role in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and sentenced to death by the trial court. Later, Delhi High Court acquitted him of all draconian charges in 2003, after 18 months of imprisonment.
Geelani goes on to become one of the best human rights defenders of his time. He campaigned for prisoners, vulnerable communities, and individuals.
Geelani died on 24 October 2019 at the age of 50, leaving behind a legacy of resistance against wrongful incarceration.
A documentary by Shaheen Abdulla, Madhuraj Kumar, Farkhanda Ashfaq, and Babrah Tabassum Naikoo.
Footage courtesy: AP News, Dalit Camera
Watch on YouTube:
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob / Home> Features> India> Video / by Shaheen Abdulla / October 24th, 2021
With only 23 candidates qualifying, results for Muslims worst in 12 years.
New Delhi:
Shruti Sharma, Ankita Agarwal, and Gamini Singla have secured the first, second, and third rank respectively in the civil services examination 2021, results of which were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Monday.
Among the 685 candidates, 23 Muslim candidates managed to crack the exam and have been qualified for the Public Service.
pix: @suhailakbar
The most significant rank among the 23 Muslim candidates was Areeba Nomaan who secured the All India Rank of 109 followed by Mohd Suboor Khan who secured 125th rank and Syed Mustafa Hashmi with an All India Rank of 162.
Afnan Abdu Samed (274), Arshad Muhammed (276), Mohd Saquib Alam (279), Asrar Ahmad Kichloo (287), Ashik Ali (304), Mohammed Abdul Rawoof Shaik (309), Nazish Umar Ansari (344), Faisal Khan (364), Shumaila Choudhary (368), Mavis Tak (386), MD Qamaruddin Khan (414), Mohd Shabir (419), Faisal Raza (441), Masoom Raja Khan (457), Ashif A (464), Muskan Dagar (474), Tahseenbanu Dawadi (482), Shaikh Mohd Zaib Zakir (496), Mohammed Siddiq Shariff (516), Mohammed Shaukath Azeem (545), Makakmayum Hosni Mubarak (575), and Anwar Hussain (600) are the other Muslim candidates who cleared the exams and stand qualified for the services.
The performance of Muslim candidates in the Civil Services 2021 exams is worst if compared with their results in the last 12 years. The last time Muslims had performed poorly was in 2010 when 21 Muslims out of the total 875 had cracked the Civil Services Exam. Dr. Shah Faesal, a Muslim candidate had however bagged the All India Rank 1 in that year.
In 2020, a total of 31 Muslim candidates cracked the Civil Services exam from the total of 761 candidates that were selected for the services. In 2019, the bar was even higher with 42 Muslim candidates qualifying for services.
The years 2016 and 2017 were the brightest period for Muslim candidates. In 2016, 52 Muslims figured in the list of successful candidates whereas in 2017 their tally was 50.
The years 2016 and 2017 were the brightest period for Muslim candidates. In 2016, 52 Muslims figured in the list of successful candidates whereas in 2017 their tally was 50.
In 2015, 34 Muslims were among the 1,078 candidates recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) whereas 38 Muslims were on the list of a total of 1,236 candidates in 2014.
In 2013, a total of 34 Muslims had cleared the exam, whereas, in 2012, 30 Muslims were among the successful candidates, and four of them were among the top 100.
Similarly in 2012, 30 Muslims were among the successful candidates, and in 2011, 31 Muslims were among the 920 selected for the civil services.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> India / by Vartha Bharati / May 30th, 2022
After SSC, HSC and UPSC exams, the girl students extended their winning streak yet again by securing the top two slots in the list of the successful students in M. Sc. exams when Pune University announced the results last week.
Saima firdaus who topped MSC Maths
Saima Firdaus Mohd. Yaseen,a Muslim girl student from Malegaon, the textile town in North Maharashtra top ranked the Pune University in M. Sc. (Mathematics) scoring a thumping 88.35% in M.Sc. final year, a result normally not achieved by the students in Mathematics. She is followed by another girl student Deepali of neighboring Ahmadnagar.
Pune University has a criterion wherein it has different syllabus, examination pattern and question papers in the exams for the University campus and rest of Maharashtra. The syllabus and exam pattern for the University campus are relatively difficult and a student has to be compulsorily in the campus during the entire course.
Saima secured the first position in M.Sc. Mathematics after completing the course from the University campus, ahead of 70 other students, half of them being boys including foreigners from countries like Iran and Africa.
Acknowledging her achievement Omar Farooque of Malegaon who had secured the top rank in 2004 scoring 79% and right now working as a Mathematics lecturer at Saboo Siddique Engineering College Mumbai said, “Very few students normally opt for the tough Mathematics subject. A girl choosing the subject in itself is something different. By scoring 89% percent, Saima deserves all praise from everyone.”
A beaming Saima on the other hand is cool. “Mathematics has always been a child’s play for me”, she said to ummid.com. “Since childhood I had scored excellently well in every exam with maximum marks in Mathematics.”
Saima cleared all her earlier exams with distinction and in B. Sc. Mathematics too she scored an impressive 88.75% marks. After clearing NET/SET – a compulsory test for a college post, she is now eying for the post of lecturership at any reputed college.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by ummid.com staff reporter / August 10th, 2009
The free coaching centre on Mohammed Ali Road boasts residential facilities for out-of-town girls
Muslim girl aspirants of civil services have just got a reason to rejoice. The Fatimabai Musa Patel Competitive Examination Training Centre for Women (residential and non-residential) at Mohammed Ali Road, opening this week, fulfils an old need of the community.
Initially accommodating 20 residential and around 30 non-residential candidates, the Centre helps give wings to many girls who aspire to become civil servants and want to give the tough IAS and provincial services exams a shot.
“The need for a proper place exclusive for the girls who want to prepare for UPSC and MPSC exams has been felt for a long. Some like-minded people have joined hands to prepare this facility,” said former MLA Bashir Musa Patel who owns this place and has dedicated it to the memory of his mother Fatimabai.
Though Patel and a few other good Samaritans came forward to create this Centre, the motivating force is former CEO of Haj Committee of India and ex-registrar, Mumbai University, Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan. With experience of mentoring civil services aspirants at the Haj House’s coaching centre, Khan was suited to show the path here too. “They roped me in to do honourary mentorship here. We have already selected candidates. Initially most of the candidates are those who previously appeared for the UPSC entrance examinations but didn’t succeed and wanted to prepare again,” said Khan.
On Friday, the Centre’s director Zubia Shaikh, through a power-point presentation, explained the abysmal low representation of Muslims in the civil services. According to the Sachar Commission Report, the representation of Muslims in the civil services is only 3%.
“This Centre will propel girls to reach their goals. Even if some don’t succeed in these tough examinations, the very dream and preparations will equip them to face challenges in life,” said Shaikh.
Two candidates who cracked UPSC exams last year and were allotted IPS cadre-Mavis Tak and Tahseen Banu Dawadi-too addressed the small gathering virtually. Both are preparing again to upgrade their UPSC ranks.
“The facility created here for the girls is very important. It is not possible to prepare for this examination at home as you need the right environment, guidance, mentorship and company of fellow aspirants,” said Tak who graduated from Mira Road-based Royal College.
Soon after Tak, daughter of a freelance translator cracked the UPSC exams, several organisations and individuals, including Mira Road based ex-MLC Muzaffar Hussain and Royal College, felicitated her and her parents. In her interview to TOI, she had said that her father was the main motivating force as he had dreams of becoming an IAS. “He wanted me to achieve what he could not,” Tak had told TOI.
Hijab-wearing Dawadi comes from Karnataka and said that hijab was no hindrance to education and qualifying for the UPSC. Ayesha Kazi who is awaiting her UPSC final results this year said a centre like this where girls felt secured, confident and comfortable was needed to encourage others to aim for a career in civil services.
The Centre is getting community’s applause. Philanthropist Kaderbhai Fazlani lauded the amenities.
“The densely populated Muslim pockets in the city do not have enough facilities for students, especially girls, to concentrate and study for UPSC exams. More such centres are needed at different pockets in the city,” said businessman Sabir Nirban.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mumbai News / by Mohammed Wajihuddin, TNN / February 26th, 2023
Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program in Nandurbar
Nandurbar:
Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic arm, announced the launch of ‘Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program’ in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra to support over 600 beneficiaries for the next 3 years.
This program is undertaken in partnership with the Association for Nutrition and Development Action (ANNADA), Nandurbar District Authorities and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The comprehensive program will provide micronutrient-, fortified energy-dense food to malnourished children below six years and pregnant and lactating mothers across 10 Anganwadi centres. It will also educate pregnant and lactating mothers on breastfeeding and monitoring their health to mitigate physical and cognitive growth in children.
Thanking the Dawoodi Bohra community & ANNADA for initiating the program, Mr. Krishna Rathod, the Deputy CEO (Women and Child Development), Nandurbar Zilla Parishad said, “A health and nutrition initiative like this will go a long way in making a difference in the lives of undernourished children and achieving a hunger-free and healthy nation.
Alvin D’souza, Program Head at ANNADA, said, “Child undernutrition can lead to severe developmental issues, diseases, infections and even death. It is at the root of all the social problems and severely impacts national socio-economic development. Our program will use simple, community-relevant, ready-to-eat meals that provide almost 1/3rd of a child’s recommended dietary requirement of micronutrients. Most of these meals are millet-based and rich in protein. We are glad to have partnered with the Dawoodi Bohra community to be able to impact the lives of children in Nandurbar.”
In his address at the launch event, Kutubkhan Badri, representative of His Holiness in the nearby town of Shahada said, ” Our community leader His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin guides us to show empathy and compassion, and look after the well-being of people, particularly those in need.”
“Our community collaborated with ANNADA around five years ago to fight against malnutrition in Govandi near Mumbai and Roha near Raigad District of Maharashtra, where we saw significant change in the health of our beneficiaries. This project in Nandurbar is an extension of our nutrition and zero-hunger objective of Project Rise.”
The program in Nandurbar was launched in September to support the Government of India’s “Rashtriya Poshan Maah”, or National Nutrition Month, which promotes nationwide awareness of nutrition and hunger, especially for mothers and children.
India is home to the largest population of hungry people and almost 1/3rd of the world’s malnourished children. Almost every third child under 5 years suffers from stunting and about 20% suffer from wasting as per the National Family Health Survey 2019-21.
Maharashtra has a significant burden of child malnutrition, with less than 10% of children under 2 having access to an adequate diet. The situation is incredibly complex in rural and tribal areas. Working hand in hand with local communities, partners and Anganwadi centres can yield positive outcomes and raise the level of nutrition, health, and overall well-being of families.
About Project Rise
Established in 2018, Project Rise is the Dawoodi Bohra community’s social welfare endeavour working in partnership with local community volunteers and government bodies to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, provide access to education, address water insecurity issues, raise health and hygiene levels among children & families, and preserve and protect the environment.
About ANNADA
ANNADA is a seven-year-old not-for-profit organisation with a vision to realise a Hunger-free and nourished India. ANNADA has provided over 16 million safe, hygienic, micronutrient-fortified meals while supporting more than 1.6 lakh beneficiaries, reducing malnutrition cases by 50-60% across various interventions implemented in rural tribal areas.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Network / September 12th, 2023
Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Late Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, renowned Managing Editor, The Siasat Daily, for his immense contribution in the welfare of the people of the country, especially, States of A.P. & Telangana.
Winners of 3rd AMP National Awards for Social Excellence (NASE) 2023 were announced, on the evening of Independence Day, 15th August 2023, in an eagerly awaited function graced by honourable guests and a large gathering of participants from across India.
A memorable event to announce the awards and felicitate a few awardees present, was held at Hakeem Abdul Hameed Auditorium, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi.
86 National & State level NGOs were awarded with Best NGO Awards. 100 inspiring individuals were given Changemaker Awards.
Following are the NGOs (in alphabetical order) who were given the Best NGO Award;
Ajmal Foundation, Assam
All India Educational Movement (AIEM), Delhi
All India Payam E Insaniyat Forum, Uttar Pradesh
Daya Rehabilitation Trust Thanal, Kerala
Miles2Smile Foundation, Delhi
Manappat Foundation, Kerala
M S Education Academy, Telangana
Apart from NGOs, 100 individuals were honoured with the AMP NASE Change Maker Awards.
These are the individuals who went beyond their personal and social limitations and made a difference in the lives of the underprivileged. Some of the notable Change Makers who have been honoured are;
Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
Firdouse Qutb Wani
Aqueel Khan
Dr. Faruk G Patel
Asad Ashraf
Dr Sana Ali Khan
Faiqa Saulat Khan
Mohammad Anas
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Late Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, renowned Managing Editor, The Siasat Daily, for his immense contribution in the welfare of the people of the country, especially, States of A.P. & Telangana.
The Omar Khatani Special Award was given to Business & Employment Bureau (BEB), Jamia Hamdard.
Shri Tariq Anwar, Former Minister of State, Agriculture & Food Processing, Govt. of India, was the Chief Guest at the event. He said “It should be appreciated that AMP has been working in areas of Education and Empowerment of those who have been left behind in comparison to other sections of the Society. In conjunction with politicians, the NGOs can help to bring a positive and significant change in the Society.”
Guest of Honor, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Former President, Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur, congratulated AMP for organising the event at Jamia Hamdard which has been at the forefront of Social Development and Education. He said, “Within 15 years AMP has done significant work for the development of the Community and has managed to successfully changed the taali & gaali culture to that of serving the Society.”
Aamir Edresy, President, AMP, presented the Keynote address, wherein he mentioned that AMP believes in Collaboration and since its inception has been working with multiple organisations. He mentioned that through its NGO Connect project, AMP is connected with social organisations in each District of India, through which it implements its social welfare projects and also helps in their capacity building. He further said that these Awards are a small way of appreciating their efforts and helping to motivate them to do better.
Dr. Shahid Akhtar, Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia & Member, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), Govt. of India, said “AMP deserves the appreciation for rewarding & motivating various organisation & individuals for their work. We will work together with AMP for guiding Minority Institutions to register with NCMEI so that they get the benefits of Government’s education policies.”
Farooq Siddiqui, AMP NGO Connect Project Head, hosted the event very successfully and announced the awards for various categories at the National & State level. While addressing the gathering he said “We have successfully reached out to 6000+ NGOs in a short span of 3 years and associated with them on multiple AMP projects. These include Job Fairs & Job Drives, National Talent Search (NTS), Career Guidance Seminars (CGS), IndiaZakat.com and others.”
Prof. Mohammad Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard welcomed the Guests and the participants. Shaukat Mufti, Executive Secretary, Business & Employment Bureau (BEB), Jamia Hamdard, presented the vote of thanks.
The 9-member jury which selected the winners were led by A. R. Khan, Retd. IAS Officer & President A. R. Welfare Foundation and U. Nisar Ahmed, Retd. IPS Officer & Chairman National Centre for Research & Development. Mirza Mobin Beg, Sr. AMP Member was In-charge & Jury Co-ordinator for AMP NASE Awards 2023.
source: http://www.ampindia.org / Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) /Home / August 15th, 2023
Muslim women are not a monolith, says Dr Farah Usmani, the founder and honorary editor of the “Rising Beyond The Ceiling” (RBTC), an initiative born out of frustration with the stereotypical narrative surrounding Muslim women in India. RBTC is preparing a directory of Muslim women who have excelled in different fields.
However, millions of Indian women, who identify themselves as Muslim, reach across spectra of ethnicities and languages, states and union territories, do not look the same or sound the same and contribute towards nation building in a variety of ways, says Dr Usmani adding that the compendium is under finalisation.
Member, UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, Sabiha Ahmad, who is busy preparing the list of prominent Muslim women in Uttar Pradesh, said, “The organisation is in the process of preparing a directory of such Muslim women who hold certain positions in social, corporate and professional workspace.”
She says the women spotlighted here from Uttar Pradesh do many things—they fly planes, serve in police and armed forces, they are skeet shooters and bike riders, write books and poetry, create art, play snooker and tennis, administer and govern, espouse social issues, serve as lawyers, scientists and doctors, are entrepreneurs and corporate professionals and are substantive contributors to the progress of the country.
Recently an online international meeting was organised in which the issue was discussed at length.
Veteran politician Mohsina Kidwai; vice chancellor, Era University, Lucknow, prof Farzana Mahdi; writer Sabeeha Anwar; artist Dr Farzana Shahabuddin and Samreen Ahmad were prominent among those who attended the virtual event.
Ahmad further says there is a myth surrounding Muslim women in India that they are highly conservative, prefer to stay home, not at par in education with women of other communities.
“Rising Beyond the Ceiling (RBTC), a non-profit organisation focused on supporting and promoting Indian Muslim women and their leadership and contributions in their respective fields, is working to bust this myth,” says Ahmad, who is also incharge, RBTC UP 100 .
RBTC UP 100 is a congregation of 100 women representing 22 million (2.2 crore) Muslim women from UP.
It is working under the leadership of Dr Farah Usmani, the founder and honorary editor of RBTC initiative who is also serving at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) headquarters in New York as director-1 level.
“The stories of these Indian Muslim women are for all women and girls to draw inspiration, role model them and thus become mentors in their own districts and neighbourhoods thereby become inspirations themselves for future generations,” Ahmad adds.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home / by HT Correspondent, Lucknow / September 22nd, 2021
