Abdul Ghafoor Parekh was a well-renowned Islamic scholar, educator, humanitarian and expert in the Quran and its translation. He was known for his vast knowledge of Islamic theology and his ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and accessible manner.
Early lLfe and Education
Abdul Ghafoor Parekh was born in 1948 in Nagpur, India. He completed his Post Graduation in Commerce from Nagpur University. He was fluent in several languages including English, Urdu, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati (Kutchi-Memoni), and Arabic. He was raised in a devout Muslim family. His father, Padma Bhushan Maulana Abdul Karim Parekh, was a social worker, recipient of various national and international awards, and scholar, known for his translation of the Quran into the Urdu language. From a young age, he showed a deep interest in the Quran and its teachings. He was very well equipped with the book his father compiled, Lughatul Qur’an (Quranic Dictionary) which has been read widely throughout the globe and has been translated into several Indian Languages along with English, Turkish and Portuguese. Abdul Gafoor Parekh being the eldest son played a key role in continuing the mission and legacy of his father.
Personal Life
Parekh was a devout Muslim and was known for his deep commitment to his faith. He was a father to two sons and two daughters and was someone known to be deeply devoted to his wife and children. After his father’s demise in 2007, he continued with his work and legacy. He avoided publicity and mass lectures. He believed in shaping individuals personally within his reach and capacity.
Career
After completing his education, Parekh began his career as an educator, teaching at a number of universities and madrasas in India. He quickly gained a reputation as an expert in the Quran and its translation, and his classes were highly sought after by students.
He developed a unique and efficient method for teaching Arabic with 200 hours only. Many academic institutions and universities in India and abroad have adopted his system. Parekh’s expertise in the Quran and its translation led to many invitations to speak at conferences and seminars around the world. He was a much sought-after speaker and has traveled extensively, sharing his knowledge and insights with audiences in many countries.
In addition to his teaching and speaking engagements, Parekh has also designed several curriculums to teach Arabic. His lectures have been widely heard and highly praised for their scholarly rigor and excellence.
Parekh’s knowledge and understanding of the Quran and its teachings have made him a respected figure in the Muslim community. His work as an educator and author has helped to deepen people’s understanding and appreciation of the Quran, and his teachings continue to inspire and guide people of all ages and backgrounds.
“If people all over India understand Quranic Arabic in large numbers or even more, if people believe, it is possible to learn and understand the language, it is because of Ghafoor sir. He opened our minds and hearts to the word of God and made us believe that it reigns supreme. He leaves behind a literary legacy for teachers to emulate in India and abroad. He was a friend, philosopher and guide, a beacon for teachers and a proud mentor. He could cut you down to size with his words and yet praise you in the next sentence,” said Dr Kamran Khan, Surgical Oncologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, with deep sorrow.
“It’s indeed a great loss. Like his father Janab Abdul Kareem Parekh, he worked very hard to spread the knowledge of Quran with understanding and left a legacy which is truly an inspiration for the generations to come,” said Haseeb Ahmad Khan, Manager, IT, MSEDCL. “His teaching style was so influencing that one cannot afford to miss a single class,” said Farheen Khan, a homemaker.
“One cannot forget his zeal, enthusiasm, and unique style of teaching the Qur’an. I attended some of the various teachers’ training classes a couple of times that he would conduct for teachers from Mumbai in the field of Islamic Sciences and Education. He pulled out references from Qur’an to explain how Qur’an was an excellent source of understanding the Seerah questioning the teachers on the chronology of the ayahs and nuances that usually goes unnoticed due to not understanding the beauty of Arabic grammar. I particularly remember his class in May 2013 when he announced that he wouldn’t be able to travel to Mumbai due to his deteriorating health marking that class as his last, which made all the teachers sigh in unison. He did come to Mumbai a couple of times after it. His unique advice to his students would leave a huge impact on them, his words still touch and shape me as a person, towards serving humanity and recognizing one’s true potential. He will by far be one of my most favourite teachers of all times, may Allah elevate his status and that of his father” said Zulekha Shakoor Rajani, an Islamic Educator and Counsellor.
Throughout his career, Parekh dedicated his life to spreading knowledge and understanding of the Quran, making it accessible to people from all walks of life. He would draw his living from the Timber business and travel to teach as much as he could. His work has had a profound impact on countless individuals, and his legacy as a leading expert in the field of Quran and its translation will continue to be remembered for many years to come.
On the eve of 24th January 2023, the cast and crew of the documentary All that Breathes was huddled in producer Aman Mann’s house to see the ceremony of the nominations for Oscar awards. Others involved in the film joined online. As soon as the list was announced, there was jubilation in the room.
All That Breathes by Shaunak Sen is among the shortlisted documentary feature films for the best in this category. From India, another film, The Elephant Whisperers by Kartiki Gonsalves is another documentary nominated for the coveted award in short category.
After Writing with Fire in 2022 this is the second time when Indian documentaries have made it to the Oscars. All that Breathes is a 90 minutes feature based on the story of brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Muhammad Saud who run the “Wildlife Rescue Centre” in North Delhi’s Wazirabad for treating owls and raptors (big kites).
The film has already been screened in Sundance Film festival, Cannes International Film Festival where it bagged the best documentary award. It has also been screened at Dharampura International Film Festival. It’ll be screened in Bangalore at a World Wildlife conference on 12th February then at the BAFTA followed by the Oscars ceremony in March.
As Awaz-the Voice visited their three-storey Home-cum-office-cum-hospitals in Wazirabad after the film made it to Oscar Nominations, brothers Nadeem and Saud spoke stoically about this event, for they were immersed in thoughts about where to raise funds from for their organisation and the mission.
They say that to run an NGO like theirs funds were a dire need and people weren’t that enthusiastic about helping out raptors like Kites, Vultures, Owls and other similar avians, “Some consider them a bad omen while others feel they aren’t endangered, it is easy to get funds for tigers, lions rabbits and elephants but not for carnivorous avians…they have zero cuteness factor”
Nadeem says, “We don’t have any recognition even now, it isn’t like after watching our film we were ushered with a lot of funds, our film producer did give us some, but it is strange as to how even after such a good film people are hesitant with the funds..” Nadeem jokingly chips in, “Many channels have released funds for doing a story on us but they cannot release funds to help our cause…”
Inside the building, the walls of the office have chipped sea green paint. Behind the reception counter are two chairs and a working computer. While Nadeem and Saud are seated, Salik is moving to and fro looking after the chores while an incumbent team member Sana is documenting the records on the word file.
Nadeem,42, and Saud,40, started the NGO in 1993. Salik joined the team later To solve the problem of constant lack of funds, the brothers have set up an organization in the USA because they find “It a bit easier to get funds in the US..” “We lack the running money for day-to-day basis—like salaries, transportation, bird food, medicines, and other expenses are always on the back of our mind; we always have what after two months, what after three months..”
On being asked as to why kites and other raptors were so important for the ecosystem they say that the Kites, Egyptian Vultures, Falcons and others help in clearing up the filth left by the slaughtering of animals, these big birds are nature’s scavengers, “India is the second largest exporter of meat after Australia..the waste from the slaughterhouses is normally dumped in Ghazipur, there one can see upto 7 thousand kites that eagerly wait for the dump…”, he adds.
He further adds that in Delhi open garbage system is a normalcy and then there is the tradition of feeding the eagles and the kites, “In Old Delhi and parts of Rajasthan people feed them, they consider them lucky, in a very dramatic manner the meat loaves are thrown in the air while the raptor scales down with its wings to savor upon the treat..”. This scene also serves as the opening for the trailer.
He adds that, “Rajasthanis often come and give us meat to feed the birds as they feel connected to their roots by following the tradition..”
Apart from treating Kites they also treat barn owls, sparrow hawks, harriers, falcons, migratory birds, egrets, storks, hornbill, “last year we had around 3100 birds, we are the largest care takers of the raptors in the world, this is because we have the highest population of kites and more than that we have manjha (glass powder covered kite flying threads that are suicidal for birds), thus we have means of hurting them as well with us..”
He adds that injuries due to manjha (flying kite thread coated with glass powder) are rampant in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, “we are continuously trying our best to augment the research around operating the birds injured due to manjha and we have presented the same techniques in the US conferences…”
He says that to their amazement the, “US wildlife centre likes our work and we discovered that even there this work hadn’t been done to retrieve a fully functional wing…” Nadeem and Saud told Awaz the Voice that their work falls under Wildlife Rehabilitation and they were a part of the community of rehabilitators, “US has the largest rehabilitator community and we often get sponsored trips to the US to take training and courses and incorporate them here..”
Nadeem says that their rehabilitators community is highly accepting and they don’t feel foreigners at all while on work trips, “We stay at other members homes thus fooding and lodging is expense free, I feel they are eager to share information which we as Indians lack a lot…the findings in the US are shared by one and all..the findings are shared annually worldwide through conferences…”
The rooftop hospital in Wazeerabad has three enclosures, the first one is an open on where healed birds are kept, it is designed in a manner that until the bird can fly 10 ft effortlessly, it won’t leave, whereas the rest of the healthy birds can come and go as and when pleased. Enclosure two holds surgery cases whose treatments are underway, whereas the the third Enclosure are reserved for birds under medication. Nadeem adds, “Since 2010 we get all the birds that are carnivorous, so in a way we are easing their work..”
The birds meanwhile cooed on top of their voice making the reporter realise their existence. While the rooftop was covered with black kites, Egyptia Vultures and falcons looked like foreigners. Nadeem continues, “We are a collection point for hospitals like Charity Jain hospital, Sanjay Gnadhi hospital, Menaka Gandhi Hospital, Animal care hospital, Karol Bagh jain hospital, we collaborate with them…” He says that their rescue rate differed according to seasons, during the bird’s nesting season they got maximum cases, “during this time we just need to feed them and give them water, we give them drips they are easy to maintain…”
“Second kind of cases are those due to the wounds by the Manjha, these are deep cut wounds in which even the bones are shattered…” He adds that in such kind of wounds the next part is to regain their functnality, “We may heal it and forget about wing functionality but then reconstructing is where the process lies. Here we need better understanding and better doctors. In humans we can achieve it through microsurgery but in birds they can lead to gangerine and then death…” He believes that even in birds also the wings can be fixed but then, “we do not have that kind of facilities. ..”
He adds with a shrug, “Animal hospitals abroad are better maintained than human hospitals here in India , cataract surgery for animals is available in abroad but in Indiat have Dr.Reena Dev who specialises in cataract surgery..” Talking about his favorite moments from the film he says he liked the end credits a lot, “When you see the movie you’ll see a lot of kites sitting on the trees and after color correction it looks like an oil painting, the shot gives the feel of a still shot until a bird flies far off then comes the names and it feels as if words are drooping down from the branches…it feels surreal…”
Talking his heart out about disappointments has eased Nadeem a little as he then reminisces his childhood days saying, “Bachpan se mai oscars zaroor dekhta tha..in fact DD Metro pe bhi Oscars aate the..(I always used to watch Oscars on DD Metro in my childhood) but after coming into this profession our lives are upended, we have no personal life whatsoever…”
The three years shooting gave them some special moments and for Nadeem the moment when they swam, across the river to rescue birds will always be special.
He says, “Our favorite ones are mostly deleted, out of the 500 hours of working footage only 90 minutes were in the Final Cut..still the camerawork and cinematography is beyond our imagination…”
Documentaries juxtapose real lives and thus a scene shows the duo (Nadeem and Saud) fighting over some trivia matter when asked they both reply instantly, “Asi ladaiyan toh roz hoti hain..(We fight like this on a daily basis)… See the work we are doing is very stressful and that too without money, there is a lot at stake and when workload increases our temperature also soars but then we are family so it is all in good faith..” “After 5 minutes we are like..what was it we were fighting about..we are best friends and brothers for life..so yea..this is normal..”, Saud adds.
Saud says that Shaunak took three months to make them feel at ease with the camera’s presence, “He started shooting us when we finally started yawning in front of the camera which was one of his idiosyncrasy, he used to say treat the camera as a fly on the wall..” Sharing his experience at various screenings Nadeem says, “at DIFF people were whistling on the scenes that they liked, they started clapping whenever they liked a shot whereas Cannes is very cosmopolitan..” He says that the close collar dress code at Cannes is a sign of respect for the artist, “we came across many great artists, the cameramen were running after them but we couldn’t recognise them, people were clicking selfies but then I didn’t knew them and then Shaunak was like Oh..Nadeem they are so and so of the Industry…”
Talks about Cannes has lightened the air and Saud seeems relaxed and hopefull than before yet he says, “Asli Khushi tab milegi jab Oscar milega..(we’ll be really happy after bagging the Oscars)” Salik chimes in saying, “It is a tough call but we are hopefull..” He adds, “We never thought that one day a documentary will be made on our efforts or that we will become world famous one day, it feels great…” Salik has a camera friendly face and when for the first time he saw his photo on the big screen he was excited. His favourite scene from the feature is the one where the kite takes his spectacles, “I just say arey chasma le gayi yeh mera(oh! She took my specs), it was as if they were aware of being documented…then there is a moment when I rescued a squirrel and it stays in my pocket, i had no idea that it was being shot but then it came out really well…” Salik feels that their social media presence has increased after the movie.
The ambience of the room feels lighter than before as the talks about the upcoming awards night are now the topic and who’s going to wear what becomes the major question now. Saud says, “There isn’t any prep for it as such, if there’ll be a photo shoot then we’ll prefer it in traditional Indian attire …”
Saud then smiles and tells Awaz the Voice, “In France people stopped us on the road and complimented us for our traditional wear..” Nadeem looked befuddled and happy for the first time when he says, “the women were wearing such long gowns that two to three men were carrying it yet our Indian attire outshone them.” Saud continues, “It was white linen Kurta with a closed collar and Jawahar cut jacket..” “We made sure to keep it as close to Indian traditions as possible..” Abdul Rehman of skylark tailors stitched our whole attire, Saud says, “When people asked is your tux from Paris, we replied “No, Chandini Chowk…the fabric was sourced from Katra Neel and Krishna Market in Old Delhi…”
They add, “We didn’t had much time, it was done at the last moment…” Even for Oscars Abdul Rehman will be stictching the attire for the brothers. One may find skylark tailors in Ballimaran near Rabia Girl School. Coming to footwear it was sourced from SreeLeathers and Ballimaran. Sharing their hopes and visions for the future the duo says that they want a hospital outside their home with proper operation theater, x-ray machines, blood testing laboratories, “someone gave us their lab equipment when they shut down theirs but we don’t have any money to hire a lab assistant…”
Meanwhile two boys rushed in with an injured kite to whom Nadeem attended like a professional healer. He felt for signs of injury through palpitations that were done manually and later placed it under observation after giving it first aid. He wishes people to be more sensitive and more aware of the surroundings like the movie which says “life is kinship and we are the community of air” thus “we must learn to share our surroundings with all the things alive around us. I am not asking everyone to open a hospital but we can still make time to help each other…”
On being asked what after Oscars and what if they win they say, “We’ll be back to work after the oscars..” They went on to add, “On 1st march there is a technical film festival and we are trying to reach them to learn how to document our work as many techniques that we know can be shared with the world…”
“We want to document our research in print and digital format now…We are working on orthopedic surgeries and very few know about it, especially the wounds by th kite flying thread, the surgeries require intricacies, for example if the bird is brought in late o the hospital then the technique to cure them is different..”
“The muscle moisture has evaporated, thus the method to cure them is different and difficult…we are currently researching the same…” Saud adds,“We don’t want our techniques to die with us,we wish them to be known to the world..” Nadeem winds up by saying, “Wildlife preservation conference see a huge footfall by the conservationists every year thus we wish to present it there…”
They again looked disappointed when they said, “It is tough to work with Indians, they have big egos, whereas people abroad are much more open to learning new techniques” “We have had hands on experience..through consultations with various vets we have developed these techniques, also we have had interaction with human doctors more thus we have tried to replicate the same in the birds..”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Shaista Fatima / February 07th, 2023
The athletes were short-listed after a panel of jury, consisting of sports journalists and writers, voted for their preferred players, based on their achievements.
Hyderabad:
Reigning boxing world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nikhat Zareen and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu were among five athletes nominated on Monday for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) award.
Others who made the cut were wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who recently staged a protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and accused him of sexual exploitation and intimidation, and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu.
The athletes were short-listed after a panel of jury, consisting of sports journalists and writers, voted for their preferred players, based on their achievements.
The winner will be chosen by a public vote that began on Monday and will continue till February 20 midnight. The winner will be announced on March 5.
Rupa Jha, the Head of India BBC News, announced that they have introduced a new award category — BBC Indian para-sportswoman of the year.
Ekta Bhyan, the 2018 Asian para Games gold medallist, welcomed the move and emphasised on the need to make the stadiums more accessible to the physically challenged athletes.
“The stadiums and swimming pools should be accessible easily for the disabled athletes. Mental barriers need to be broken, about 60 to 70 percent of disabled population is still restricted to homes. More awareness and work is required at grassroots level,” Bhyan, flanked by London Olympics bronze-winning boxer Vijender Singh, said.
“Sports should be a part of education. Why should disabled athletes start their careers at the age of 15 or 16, sport should be accessible to them much earlier and there should be a comprehensive and non-discriminatory policy for disabled,” she added.
Vijender said the women athletes are two steps ahead of their male counterparts and deserve respect more than the awards.
He lamented that the national boxing federation does not keep in touch with boxers like him.
“I know about the current status of boxing as much you (media persons) know. We are not called for even Nationals or other events. I was asked about Indian boxing by Salman Khan and Rahul Gandhi and told them I don’t know because we are not involved,” he said.
He advised that every village in India should have its own multi-sport stadium to encourage youngsters.
source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Sport / by Telangana Today / February 06th, 2023
OBE is one of the most prestigious honors awarded in the UK and is given to individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields.
Hyderabad-origin Dr Raghib Ali
Dr. Raghib Ali, a renowned physician in the UK, was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Prince William in a ceremony held at the historic Windsor Castle. The award, presented by the Prince of Wales, recognizes Dr. Ali’s contributions to the NHS and the COVID-19 response.
Dr. Ali’s achievements in the field of medicine are well-known and have earned him recognition both nationally and internationally. His dedication to his patients and his innovative approach to medicine have set him apart from his peers and earned him a reputation as one of the leading medical professionals in the UK.
Order of the British Empire
The OBE is one of the most prestigious honors awarded in the UK and is given to individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields. Dr. Ali’s award is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it reflects the respect and admiration that he has earned from his colleagues, patients, and the wider
Dr. Raghib Ali is Our Future Health’s Chief Medical Officer, an Honorary Consultant in Acute Medicine at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Senior Clinical Research Associate at the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Public Health Research Center and Associate Professor at New York University Abu Dhabi.
In March 2020, he took leave from his university work and volunteered to return, unpaid, to frontline NHS duties and worked on the frontline in all four waves of COVID-19.
In October 2020 he was appointed as an unpaid independent expert adviser on COVID-19 and ethnicity to the UK Government’s Race Disparity Unit and subsequently worked closely with Equalities Office, the NHS, the media, and community organizations to improve vaccine confidence and uptake.
Graduated from Cambridge University
Dr. Raghib Ali graduated from Cambridge University in 2000 and has been awarded postgraduate degrees in Epidemiology and Public Health from the Universities of London, Cambridge and Oxford and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 2013.
He has been involved in health inequalities research since 2004 – as secretary of the UK Biobank ethnicity subgroup, Director of the INDOX Cancer Research Network and as Principal Investigator for the first study of cancer incidence by individual ethnic group in England.
He is also the Principal Investigator for the UAE Healthy Future Study investigating risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Raghib Ali’s has strong family ties to Hyderabad. His dad (late) Mir Irshad Ali attended Osmania University and migrated to the UK in 1963. He was well known in the immigrant community, and he combined his professional career as an accountant with a life-long commitment to community service in various towns and cities across the UK. Dr. Ali’spaternal grandfather (late) Mir Sajjad Ali was a Finance Secretary for the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Ali is married with three children, and he loves to visit Hyderabad whenever his busy schedule allows.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home / by Guest Contributor / posted by Sameer Khan / February 05th, 2023
The first Muslim judge of a high court in colonial times, Syed Mahmood’s professional conduct offers a counterpoint to the declining standards in Indian judiciary.
WHEN Justice Abdul Nazeer addressed the 16th national council meeting of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad at Hyderabad last December, he said, “Great lawyers and judges are not born but made by proper education and great legal traditions, as were Manu, Kautilya, Katyayana, Brihaspati, Narada, Parashar, Yajnavalkya, and other legal giants of ancient India.” In the symposium on “Decolonisation of the Indian Legal System”, Justice Nazeer also said the “continued neglect of their great knowledge and adherence to the alien colonial legal system is detrimental to the goals of our Constitution and against our national interests…”.
Perhaps Justice Nazeer should have also recalled 19th-century jurist Justice Syed Mahmood (1850-1903). A pioneer in bold assertions against the colonial judiciary, he produced incisive legal commentaries that reflect an audacious dissenter’s point of view. Writing in an Urdu newspaper, his father, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, narrates Mahmood’s resignation from the Allahabad High Court in 1893 to “protect the self-respect of Indians against the racism of British judges”.
In that era, conceptions of nationhood were still evolving in India. Indian judges would not muster the courage to contest the racism of the imperial power or fellow European judges. But Mahmood did, in intrepid ways. Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1877 and figures prominently but contentiously, stereotyped as a British loyalist and separatist in debates on contemporary nationalism. Mahmood supported his father’s modern education project, but unfortunately, his contributions are largely ignored by historians and the legal fraternity.
By 1920, MAO College, now Aligarh Muslim University, was the most prominent residential university in the country. Its history department has been a premier centre for advanced studies for a half-century. In 1889, primarily on Syed Mahmood’s initiative and his gifts in terms of books, journals and cash, AMU established a law department. Yet, he was neglected in its research. Only in 1973, seven years after the centenary of the Allahabad High Court, the Aligarh Law Journal brought out Mahmood’s contributions, and legal scholars reflected on his high calibre as a lawyer and judge.
The good news is, in 2004, Alan M. Guenther did his doctoral thesis on Mahmood at McGill University, Canada, which is available online for the public to access. His meticulous and well-researched account touches almost every aspect of Mahmood’s public life. Guenther also published an extended essay in 2011on Mahmood’s views on English education in 19th-century India. (In 1895, Mahmood had written a book on the theme for his speeches at the Educational Conference.)
In 1965, Asaf Ali Asghar Fyzee (1899-1981) complained, “Syed Mahmood’s contributions to the transformation of Muslim law in India have been largely neglected by historians and survive primarily as footnotes in legal texts on Muslim law.” Guenther, too, observes, “…overshadowed by the life and writings of his illustrious father, Ahmad Khan, his legacy has not received the attention it deserves. A large part of his father’s achievements in the reform of education, in fact, would not have been possible without the assistance of Syed Mahmood. But when he reached the age at which his father had made his most significant achievements, [Mahmood] had his life cut short.”
Mahmood had laid out his life plans clearly. S. Khalid Rashid, writing in 1973, reports that Mahmood decided early on that, like his ancestors, he would devote the first third of his life to educating himself, the second to earn a living, and the last to “retired study, authorship and devotion to matters of public utility”. But Guenther writes about how Mahmood’s health had deteriorated through alcohol abuse and disease. He died before he turned 53, broken by forced retirement, estranged from his father (who had died five years previously), stripped of responsibilities at the college he had helped found, separated from wife and son, and in poverty. He was selling personal items to repay debts. “His father’s numerous writings and letters are still republished, but Syed Mahmood’s contributions to Muslim thought are hidden in bound volumes of the Indian Law Reports and brittle files of government correspondence,” Guenther writes.
One aspect of Mahmood’s last years is captured by Prof. Iftikhar Alam Khan’s Urdu books, Sir Syed: Daroon-e-Khana (2006, 2020) and the recent Rufaqa-e-Sir Syed: Rafaqat, Raqabat wa Iqtidar Ki Kashmakash. These accounts expose the smear campaigns of the three companion successors of Sir Syed—Samiullah, Mohsin-ul-Mulk and Viqar-ul-Mulk—against Syed Mahmood as they vied for the secretary’s post at MAO College. Often European members of MAO College conspired with them. Exploiting his weaknesses and eccentricities, they ousted him to get a hold over college affairs, compounding his hurt during his tragic final years.
SYED MAHMOOD’S ROLE IN SIR SYED’S EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISE
Having returned to India in 1872 after studying in England, Mahmood took time out of his budding legal career to assist his father’s reform work, particularly setting up MAO College. He prepared a detailed plan along the lines of his experiences in Cambridge. His specific aim, explained in February 1872, was to produce future leaders of India through an educational institution whose residential nature would be “as indispensable an education as the course of study itself”. The aim was to create a society of students and teachers quite different from the rest of society.
He travelled with his father to Punjab in 1873 and spoke at a rally to promote the project. In 1889, Sir Syed introduced a motion to nominate Mahmood as joint secretary of the board of trustees of MAO College by highlighting his assistance despite the opposition he faced. In particular, he considered his son’s influence the primary factor that persuaded European professors to come to India and teach there.
European staff members confirmed this around six years later when there was renewed opposition to Mahmood continuing as joint secretary. The principal, Theodore Beck (1859-1899), testified, “Syed Ahmad….acknowledged his reliance on Syed Mahmood for advice in all matters, and his imprint could be noted in the correspondence relating to the school. He declared his firm conviction that Syed Mahmood was the one person who shared his vision for the college, and apart from him, no one would be able to administer the school in keeping with that vision.” However, Samiullah (1834-1908) disagreed with Sir Syed on this count. As a result, a tussle for power began in the college management. The power-play could explain why AMU felt inhibited in bringing out a biography of Mahmood, a research gap that Guenther’s doctoral thesis fills. He has extensively relied on important correspondences of Mahmood preserved in the London India Office (British) Library.
SYED MAHMOOD’S TRYST WITH MUSLIM LAW
Mahmood is a forgotten pioneer of the transformation of Muslim law in modern South Asia. In 1882, at just 32, he became the first Muslim judge of the high courts in British India. He delivered numerous landmark decisions that shaped Muslim law, the law in general, and its administration.
Earlier, he blazed a trail his younger contemporaries followed in their judicial roles in British India. He was one of the first Indian Muslims to study in England and train in the English system of jurisprudence, the first Indian to enrol as a barrister in the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in 1872, the first appointed as a district judge in the restructured judicial system of Awadh in 1879 and the first Indian assigned as a puisne judge to the High Court at Allahabad. He was the first Muslim in any High Court of India. He cleared a path for Indian Muslims to participate in administering justice in India. But his contribution is not limited to creamy career opportunities for Muslim youngsters. His lasting legacy is how Muslim law is perceived and administered in South Asia today.
CHAMPION OF ACCESSIBLE JUSTICE
An abiding concern of Mahmood was the cost of administration of justice. Court procedures were lengthy and expensive, and the “mass of law” was complicated. Distance from courts was another concern, for which he proposed a network of village courts for “on-the-spot” adjudication. He sought to make justice accessible through unpaid tribunals and honorary munsifs. He prepared a comprehensive draft for this, Guenther informs.
Furthermore, he attacked the [racial] mindset and court fees and stamp duties on legal documents. He ruled in August 1884 and February 1885 that “…if justice costs the same amount [to the] rich and poor, it follows that the rich man will be able to purchase it, whilst the poor man will not.” He declared, more than once, that British judges in India were too quick to find fraud.
In a speech at the Allahabad Bar in April 1885, Mahmood raised the language issue in judicial transactions, saying laws should be in languages intelligible to the masses. He insisted on the vernacular in arguments, pleadings and justice delivery and translated verdicts so that people unfamiliar with English could rest assured that judgments are reasoned. Of course, the issue of judicial language continues to be debated, and for this, acknowledgement is due to Mahmood.
AN INDIAN DISSENTER IN THE HIGH NOON OF BRITISH COLONIALISM
Mahmood is known most for outstanding dissenting judgements. In volume 2 of his 2021 book, Discordant Notes, Justice (retd.) Rohinton F. Nariman writes that Mahmood was known for detailed judgments, some of which stand out for thoroughness and fearless language. Mahmood would refer to the original Sanskrit versions when ruling on Hindu laws and the Arabic texts for Muslim laws, rather than using interpretations of the relevant texts.
From the 1860s to 1880s, during the codification of laws, he sought limits on importing British laws and protested that the local context was getting overlooked. His concern was not just the laws but their efficacy and adaptability within India’s cultural diversity.
Guenther observes, “…throughout his life, he identified himself as a Muslim as well as an Indian and a subject of the British crown, and that he was actively involved in the education and improvement of the Indian Muslim community. At the same time, Mahmood… [made] efforts to promote harmony between people of diverse backgrounds, and…[supported] initiatives that improved the situation of all Indians, regardless of religious affiliation…”
An anecdote from Altaf Hali’s Hayat-e-Javed (1901), cited by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (2006), is worth sharing. “Contrary to the culture of sycophancy and genuflecting before the English colonial authority….Syed Ahmad Khan and his high-profile and brilliant son Syed Mahmud strived to conduct themselves as if they were equal to the English….Syed Ahmad Khan had stayed away from the [1867 Agra] Durbar because Indians had been given seats inferior to the English. A medal was to be conferred on Syed Ahmad Khan at that Durbar. Williams, the then Commissioner of Meerut, was later deputed to present the award to Syed Ahmad Khan at Aligarh railway station. Willams broke protocol and showed his anger at having to do the task under duress and said that government orders bound him, or he wouldn’t be presenting the medal to Syed Ahmad Khan. Syed Ahmad Khan accepted the medal, saying he wouldn’t have taken the award, except that he too was bound by government orders.”
Indian democracy is an outcome of anti-colonial nationalism, and dissent is its core component: Mahmood’s dissent contributed to nationalism in his time. In 2022, the V-Dem Institute described India as an electoral autocracy where dissent is being criminalised, and the judiciary is failing to contain the majoritarian upsurge. Mahmood’s professional conduct is an encouraging counterpoint to the degeneration in the Indian judiciary.
WHAT DID MAHMOOD THINK OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS?
According to Guenther, though Mahmood never joined the Congress, he was “equally aloof” from the anti-Congress propaganda his father indulged in. “…a rare catholicity characterised his views on most of the controversial questions,” he writes. He adds, “His acceptance among the Hindus [elites] generally was demonstrated by the fact that they tried to send him as their representative to the Imperial Legislative Council, though he never received that appointment.”
Nonetheless, like his father, Mahmood harboured class and regional prejudices. Guenther reveals an article Mahmood wrote in The Pioneer on 4 September 1875, suggesting the government must strive to with the sympathies of the “higher classes of natives”. When challenged to defend his position by “Another Native” in the same newspaper two weeks later, Mahmood responded that people in Punjab and the North-western Provinces [now Uttar Pradesh] were, historically speaking, of “much greater political significance” than those of Lower Bengal. Gunther cites his write-up: “…any educational system that succeeded in ‘attracting the Bengalee and fail(ed) to exercise any influence upon the higher classes of the Rajpoot, the Sikh, and the Mussulman’ must be regarded as a failure.”
Considering the socio-regional composition of top functionaries of AMU, even impartial insiders would testify that it still harbours regional and sub-regional prejudices. The Sir Syed Academy is releasing many publications during the ongoing centenary celebration of AMU. Publishing Guenther’s dissertation may be a fitting tribute to Mahmood, who must be regarded as a prominent co-founder of MAO College.
Mohammad Sajjad teaches modern and contemporary Indian History at Aligarh Muslim University. Md. Zeeshan Ahmad is a lawyer based in Delhi. The views are personal.
First published by Newsclick.
source: http://www.theleaflet.in / The Leaflet / Home> History / by Mohammad Sajjad and Zeeshan Ahmad / April 01st, 2022
Bengalis are a race of foodies who practically eat to live and live to eat. It’s an inevitable component of any adda and the Bengalis are dead serious about it, any day, any time. Even people who have lived all their lives in the comfort zone of their homes and hearth do not hesitate to become the quintessential explorer when discovering new food or joints.
And when it comes to something like biriyani, the happiness of the Bengali Epicurean is one of exuberance and excitement and all one’s self-restraint is defeated as the flavourful aroma overpowers the senses. Truly, biryani is one dish that Bengalis unanimously love indulging in though it is not an indigenous dish of India.
The exact origin of biriyani is not known, though historian Lizzie Collingham writes that the modern biryani was developed in the royal kitchens of the Mughal Empire (1526–1857) and is a mix of the native spicy rice dishes of India and the Persian pilaf. According to Pratibha Karan, who wrote the book ‘Biryani,’ biryani is of Mughal origin, derived from pilaf varieties brought to the Indian subcontinent by Arab traders. She speculates that the pulao was an army dish in medieval India. Armies would prepare a one-pot dish of rice with whichever meat was available. Different varieties of biryani developed in the Muslim centers of Delhi (Mughlai cuisine), Rampur, Lucknow (Awadhi cuisine), and other small principalities in North India. In South India, where rice is more widely used as a staple food, several distinct varieties of biryani emerged from the Hyderabad Deccan. Whereas, some believe that the dish originated from Tamil Nadu (Ambur, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Salem, Dindigul), Kerala (Malabar), Telangana, and Karnataka (Bhatkal), where Muslim communities lived.
Navratan Biryani
All said and done, there is no denying that biriyani staged a bloodless coup and became the monarch of all gourmets in India, kings and paupers alike. The deliciously complex blend of flavours, spices, and aromas in biryani epitomizes the zenith of Indian cuisine. The ingredients for biryani vary according to the region and the type of meat and vegetables used. Meat (of either chicken, goat, beef, lamb, prawn, or fish) is the prime ingredient with rice. As is common in dishes of the Indian subcontinent, vegetables are sometimes also used when preparing biryani. Corn may be used depending on the season and availability. Navratan biryani tends to use sweeter, richer ingredients such as cashews, raisins, and fruits, such as apples and pineapples. The spices and condiments used in biryani also differ according to regional preferences.
The evolution of biryani spans many centuries, many cultures, many ingredients, and many cooking styles. From an army dish to a dish fit for royalty, the biryani today is a pan-India culinary favourite. Its varieties reflect the local tastes, traditions, and gastronomic histories of their regions of evolution. There are so many types of biriyanis with local and hyperlocal variations that one is truly spoilt for options when it comes to experiencing this melting pot of flavours.
Biryani can be cooked using one of two styles/techniques, pakki (“cooked”) and kacchi (“raw”). In pakki biryani, the rice, marinated meat, and vegetables are partially (“three-quarters”) cooked separately, before being combined into layers in a cooking vessel. Different layers of rice may be treated with different spices (e.g., with dissolved saffron or turmeric to give the rice different colours and flavours). The contents are then baked to complete the cooking and allow the flavours to combine. Alternatively, the components may be fully cooked, and then simply combined by layering before serving.
Kacchi Biryani
In kacchi biryani, layers of raw marinated meat are alternated in layers with wet, pre-soaked, raw rice (which may be treated with different spices as above), and cooked together by baking, or applying medium-to-low heat (typically, for at least an hour). Cooking occurs by a process of steaming from the ingredients’ moisture: the cooking vessel’s lid is sealed (traditionally, with a strip of wheat dough) so that the steam cannot escape (proper Dum pukht). A yogurt-based marinade at the bottom of the cooking pot provides additional flavour and moisture. Potatoes often comprise the bottom-most layer because, with their natural moisture content, they brown with less risk of getting burned accidentally. The lid is not opened until the dish is ready to serve.
Kolkata Biryani
In Bengal, the Calcutta or Kolkata biryani evolved from the Lucknow style, when Awadh’s last Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was exiled in 1856 to the Kolkata suburb Metiabruz. Shah brought his chefs with him. The Kolkata biriyani is characterized by the unique presence of potato, along with meat and egg. It is said that the former Nawab of Awadh was a great connoisseur of good food and encouraged his chefs to try new ingredients in the dish. The potato was an exotic vegetable in India and his chefs added it to biriyani, transpiring pure magic!
Unlike other Indian biryanis, which are eaten with salan or raita, the Kolkata biryani is a complete meal and needs no accompaniment. Many, however, many swear by the combination of biryani and chaap—slow-cooked meat in a luscious gravy. It’s a great spicy companion to the otherwise mellow biryani. As one of the most popular dishes in Kolkata, it also has a fan following to match.
Dhum Pokht Biryani
Some of the oldest and best-known biriyani joints in Kolkata include names like Shiraz Golden Restaurant on Park Street, Aminia in New Market, India Restaurant in Kidderpore, ZamZam in Park Circus, and New Aliah Hotel. Many new players have entered the fray and are also doing very well. The delicate flavour of Kolkata biriyani combines well with mutton pasanda and mutton chaap. Gourmets recommend Kachi Gosht biryani at India Restaurant, a recipe derived from Hyderabadi biryani preparations.
The Dhakai version of the dish from the Bangladeshi capital is no less seductive and is believed that it could have traversed the sea route to reach this port city, which was once ruled by nawabs. In 1610, after the Mughal rulers declared Dhaka as the provincial capital, Mughal subedars and other high officials arrived in Dhaka to manage the administration, and they brought — along with intrigue, grandeur, and tantrums — the biryani. Back then, people believed that the biryani could be prepared only for members of the ruling family, and that too on special occasions. The cooks came from the west, where the Hyderabadi biryani had only started to spread its aroma around India.
Somewhere along the way though, the Dhaka biryani developed its characteristics, which set it apart from its Hyderabadi progenitor – and even from the Sindhi, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Tehari offshoots. The Kachchi Biryani is perhaps the most pleasant and authentic cuisine of Bangladesh. So, what makes Dhakai Kachchi different from other schools of biryani?
It refers to the ingredients which are cooked raw and in layers. Layers of meat, rice, and potatoes are infused with delicious blends of aromatic spices to prepare the Dhakai Kachchi Biryani. The key is to get the right balance of spices – not too spicy, not too bland, just right with succulent pieces of meat and potatoes.
Dhaka is also known for selling Chevon Biryani, a dish made with highly seasoned rice and goat meat. The recipe includes highly seasoned rice, goat meat, mustard oil, garlic, onion, black pepper, saffron, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, salt, lemon, curd, peanuts, cream, raisins, and a small amount of cheese (either from cows or buffalo). Haji Nanna Biriyani is a favourite joint as are Hazi Fakhruddin Kachchi, Shalimar Kachchi, Bashmoti Kachchi, Sultan’s Dine, and scores of others.
Awadhi Biryani
Unfortunately, a majority of biriyani lovers are not acquainted with the real taste of true-blue biriyani because the fare dished out at most eateries can be best described as “frying pan biriyani”. Here you may find long grain Basmati rice with a hint of saffron, but the traditional cooking process is not followed. Instead, most chefs have developed the fine art of “assembling” the dum ki biriyani. Despite all, Bengal’s love affair with biriyani continues unhindered and grows by the day. mellow biryani. As one of the most popular dishes in Kolkata, it also has a fan following to match.
Some of the oldest and best-known biriyani joints in Kolkata include names like Shiraz Golden Restaurant on Park Street, Aminia in New Market, India Restaurant in Kidderpore, ZamZam in Park Circus, and New Aliah Hotel. Many new players have entered the fray and are also doing very well. The delicate flavour of Kolkata biriyani combines well with mutton pasanda and mutton chaap. Gourmets recommend Kachi Gosht biryani at India Restaurant, a recipe derived from Hyderabadi biryani preparations.
The Dhakai version of the dish from the Bangladeshi capital is no less seductive and is believed that it could have traversed the sea route to reach this port city, which was once ruled by nawabs. In 1610, after the Mughal rulers declared Dhaka as the provincial capital, Mughal subedars and other high officials arrived in Dhaka to manage the administration, and they brought — along with intrigue, grandeur, and tantrums — the biryani. Back then, people believed that the biryani could be prepared only for members of the ruling family, and that too on special occasions. The cooks came from the west, where the Hyderabadi biryani had only started to spread its aroma around India.
Hyderabadi Biryani
Somewhere along the way though, the Dhaka biryani developed its characteristics, which set it apart from its Hyderabadi progenitor – and even from the Sindhi, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Tehari offshoots. The Kachchi Biryani is perhaps the most pleasant and authentic cuisine of Bangladesh. So, what makes Dhakai Kachchi different from other schools of biryani?
It refers to the ingredients which are cooked raw and in layers. Layers of meat, rice, and potatoes are infused with delicious blends of aromatic spices to prepare the Dhakai Kachchi Biryani. The key is to get the right balance of spices – not too spicy, not too bland, just right with succulent pieces of meat and potatoes.
Dhaka is also known for selling Chevon Biryani, a dish made with highly seasoned rice and goat meat. The recipe includes highly seasoned rice, goat meat, mustard oil, garlic, onion, black pepper, saffron, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, salt, lemon, curd, peanuts, cream, raisins, and a small amount of cheese (either from cows or buffalo). Haji Nanna Biriyani is a favourite joint as are Hazi Fakhruddin Kachchi, Shalimar Kachchi, Bashmoti Kachchi, Sultan’s Dine, and scores of others.
Unfortunately, a majority of biriyani lovers are not acquainted with the real taste of true-blue biriyani because the fare dished out at most eateries can be best described as “frying pan biriyani”. Here you may find long grain Basmati rice with a hint of saffron, but the traditional cooking process is not followed. Instead, most chefs have developed the fine art of “assembling” the dum ki biriyani. Despite all, Bengal’s love affair with biriyani continues unhindered and grows by the day.
source: http://www.getbengal.com / Get Bengal / Home> Culture> Food / by Shuvra Dey / November 16th, 2022
Virinjipuram (Bilanjpur) North Arcot District, TAMIL NADU / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:
A website documenting the life and works of the late Maulana Mufti Ashraf Ali Baqavi, former ‘Ameer-e-Shariat’ (Head of the Shariah) of Karnataka, was launched today in Bengaluru.
The website www.muftiashrafali.org, which is aimed at keeping the legacy of the late Islamic scholar alive was launched in the presence of the current Ameer-e-Shariat Maulana Sageer Ahmed, Dr Rahi Fidai, Maulana Dr Maqsood Imran and Hafiz L. Mohammed Yusuf, among others.
“The primary purpose behind creating this website was to introduce to the younger generation a scholar, a mentor, a social activist and a self-effacing person who made such a difference to the people who had the privilege to know him closely,” said writer and researcher Khalid Noor Mohammed, who is behind the launch of the online repository.
Maulana Mufti Ashraf Ali Baqavi
Mufti Ashraf Ali was born on February 26, 1940, at Virinjipuram (Bilanjpur) in the North Arcot district, in Tamil Nadu, India. After completing his Aalimiyat course at Madrasa Al-Baqiyath us Salihath, Vellore, he went on to complete his Fazilat and Ifta courses at the prestigious Darul Uloom, Deoband, UP, India, after which he was appointed the Shayk-ul-Hadith at the Darul-Uloom Sabeelur Rashaad, Bangalore, India.
Mufti Sab, as he was fondly called, took over the rectorship of Darul Uloom Sabeelur Rashaad, while continuing to serve as Shaykh-ul-Hadith (Master teacher of Hadith), after the demise of his father, Maulana Abus Sauood Ahmed. Owing to his sagacity and learning, as well as his accommodating nature, he was unanimously elected Ameer-e-Shariat of Karnataka, a position he held until his passing away on 8th September 2017.
Mufti Ashraf Ali rose to eminent positions at both the national and international levels. He was a founding member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Vice-president of the All India Milli Council, an executive member of the prestigious Islamic Fiqh Academy; in addition to being an honorary member in numerous academic boards and governing councils of prestigious Islamic Institutions.
“Mufti Saheb was an embodiment of the lofty teachings of Islam and a great role model. Despite his teaching assignments, he would be at the forefront of social causes, never losing his calm and disarming smile,” said Khalid Noor Mohammed reminiscing his association with the late scholar.
Khalid hopes that the website will serve as a template for documenting the lives and works of other illustrious scholars and statesmen of the Muslim community. “Eventually, these collections of ‘stories’ will serve as an encyclopedia of the stalwarts who shaped the destiny of the community and left it richer and more dignified.”
source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> News / b y Shaik Zaker Hussain / September 20th, 2020
At 65, Sheikh Nazim is one of Kolkata’s old ‘bhistiwalas’ (water carriers). Every day, he walks along the city’s lanes and bylanes, witness to the living history of its brick and mortar heritage. One of the last survivors of our rapidly changing times, he is still tireless, still inseparable from his water bag or ‘mussock’ (mashak), which is so much more than just a repository for about 30 litres of water. It is, in fact, a repository of an entire history. Some of that history has now been captured in ‘Ripples Under the Skin’, a film by documentary maker Farha Khatun. And Nazim is the face of the film.
Farha Khatun
This is also a story about Kolkata, told from the perspective of a migrant labourer. There was a time when thousands of people like Nazim travelled to Kolkata from Bihar (including what later became Jharkhand) in search of livelihoods. With time, the city became their refuge, giving them a roof over their heads, some form of income, and at least two square meals a day. Some of them managed to scrape together enough money to build a home of their own, some spent an entire lifetime in rented rooms.
Farah’s film is up for screening on December 19 and 21 at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival, in the Short and Documentary Panorama section. Explaining her choice of subject, Farah says, “I myself came to this city as a migrant in search of a living. Nazim chacha’s story was an inspiration. People like him fight relentlessly to stay afloat in the face of all odds, and help each other whenever needed. My film talks about this bond between warriors, through Nazim chacha.”
Farah herself travelled to Kolkata’s Roopkala Kendra to study film editing all the way from the remote Medinipur (West) village of Belda. Life as a Muslim woman among the city’s teeming millions wasn’t always easy. And her socio-political beliefs didn’t help. Which is what drew her to Nazim, who she met through a journalist friend. As she puts it, “I want my film to talk about the marginalised. We are all connected to water, and Nazim chacha is part of that connection.”
With previous films like ‘I Am Bonnie’ (co-directed with Satarupa Santra and Sourav Kanti Dutta) and the 2021 National Award-winning Urdu film ‘Holy Rights’ (a 53-minute docu on Muslim women kazis), Farah has taken ‘Ripples Under the Skin’ to Barcelona International Environmental Film Festival in Spain, Queens World Film Festival, USA, International Film Festival of Shimla, and other festivals.
Bhistiwalas hark back to a time when Kolkata had no pipelines to carry water. Their mussocks made of goatskin were a familiar sight across the city, carrying water to all quarters. Indeed, the word ‘bhisti’ apparently comes from the Persian word ‘behest’ or heaven, an indicator of the life-giving nature of the profession.
Mussocks slung across their shoulders, bhistiwalas supplied water primarily for cooking and bathing, though until the 195os, many of them were also engaged in washing some of the city’s important thoroughfares. Both Kolkata and Dhaka were home to entire neighbourhoods of bhistiwalas, though the picture has changed beyond recognition now. Of the handful of bhistiwalas who still supply water to a few North Kolkata homes and shops, Nazim is one.
Ripples Under the Skin poster
A demanding profession at any age, being a water carrier at 65 is a stiff challenge. Nazim charges Rs 10 for water supplied to ground floors, and between Rs 20 and 30 for upper floors. There was a time when he could carry up to 40 mussocks of water, which has now come down to eight or 10. At present, his only customers are meat and tea sellers, and forget the big screen, he cannot even remember the last time he saw himself in a photograph.
Kolkata is still home to around 40 bhisti families, most of them originally from Katihar in Bihar. Living in rented homes in central Kolkata, they primarily cater to the areas around Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Brindaban Das Lane, Marquis Street, Elliot Road, the clientele comprising roughly 30 homes. Beginning their work at the crack of dawn, they visit each home and shop in turn. Nazim is happy with whatever he earns, his strong shoulders emblematic of an equally strong temperament. That is the strength of someone who carries history on his shoulders.
Ripples Under the Skin (Hindi, 29 minutes) will be screened at Nandan-3 at 2.00 pm on December 19 and at Sisir Mancha at 1.30 pm on December 21
source: http://www.getbengal.com / Get Bengal / Home> Culture> Film, Theatre & TV / by Suman Sadhu / December 17th, 2022
These researchers include Prof. (Dr.) Zafar Ahmad Reshi and Associate Prof. (Dr). Irfan Rashid Kakroo, both working in the Department of Botany of University of Kashmir, and Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Dar who is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Botany, Amar Singh College Srinagar.Special arrangement
In a significant development, three Kashmir based academicians have published their research work in one of the leading journals “Nature Ecology and Evolution”.
These include two Professors from University of Kashmir Srinagar and one from Amar Singh College, Cluster University Srinagar.
The researchers from Kashmir have been able to publish their research work in the leading Journal at global level which marks one of the rarest occasions.
These researchers include Prof. (Dr.) Zafar Ahmad Reshi and Associate Prof. (Dr). Irfan Rashid Kakroo, both working in the Department of Botany of University of Kashmir, and Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Dar who is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Botany, Amar Singh College Srinagar.
Notably, this study is a finding of the global network MIREN (Mountain Invasions Research Network; https://www.mountaininvasions.org/) and the Valley based three academicians and researchers are part of the work. This study has revealed that climate change is reshuffling plant species in general and alien plant species in particular.
The study has revealed that climate change is also contributing to a rapid upward shift of alien plant species which is posing a serious threat to our fragile high altitude ecosystems including endemic plant species.
The results of this study are extremely important for mountainous regions like Kashmir as alien plant species are increasingly threatening ecosystems of the region. This publication is recognition of the quality of research being carried out by this group and will encourage and motivate local youth towards quality research.
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) faculty have invented an environment-friendly cement. The cement was invented by Dr Ibadur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Jamia Milia Islami, including other researchers from AMU. The Patent Office, Government of Australia has granted a patent to this cement as an intellectual property.
The invention is entitled ‘A Method for Preparing Modified Cement and Evaluating Mechanical and Chemical Properties,’ it’s main objective is to reduce carbon emissions.
Professor Mohammad Arif, Professor Abdul Baqi, Er Mohammad Gamal Al-Hagri, Er Amer Saleh Ali Hasan and Dr M Shariq are the co-inventors from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Dr. Rahman said “There is a pressing need for the construction and other industries to go through green revolution-in other words, industries need to adopt and introduce environment-friendly materials.”
An official statement said this invention emphasis on the cement replacement effects with micro-silica fume, nano-silica fume and fly ash in a combination of two supplements on the mechanical properties of the concrete mixes.
The inventors said that the mixture of micro and nano-silica fumes, improves the mechanical properties of concrete and ultimately the microstructure and chemical analysis of the modified concrete show amplification in the morphological properties of concrete yielding to pore filling with further dense and compact formation.
Dr. Rahman has been working for the last eight years in the field of nano-based modified cement and concrete composite during his PhD research. A JMI statement said Dr. Rahman now has two patents to his merit.
Last year September, the intellectual property at the Patent Office, Government of India bestowed Dr. Rahman, the patent titled “High Strength Cementitious Nanocomposite Compositions and the methods of making the same.”
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Lifestyle / by Rabia Shireen / June 11th, 2021
