Category Archives: World Opinion

‘Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace’ is worn by Queen Elizabeth II and also by Kate Middleton

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA (formerly) HYDERABAD STATE :

Imaginative cuisine, stylish wardrobes, magnificent palaces, and an opulent lifestyle. These are just a few things that the Nizams of Hyderabad are known for. Well, there’s one more thing: spectacular jewelry.

Most people already know that the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan was one of the wealthiest men in the history of the world. So, it comes as no surprise that he owned a fabulous collection of jewelry – diamonds, gold ornaments, and precious stones.

Almost all this collection was purchased by the Government of India, which arranges its exhibition from time to time. 

However, the most fitting exhibition of the Nizam’s jewelry occurs, albeit unwittingly, when Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom, wears the spectacular Cartier diamond necklace. It was gifted to her by the 7th Nizam on the occasion of her wedding to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on 20th November 1947. He had also gifted her the “Hyderabad Tiara” which had a design based on English roses with 3 detachable floral brooches, all made of diamonds and set in platinum.

The aptly named Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace is also a floral piece made of diamonds that are set in platinum.

The British art historian, Hugh Roberts who authored the best-selling book “The Queen’s Diamonds”, describes it in his book as: “The pavé-set centre with detachable double-drop pendant incorporating 13 emerald-cut diamonds and a pear-shaped drop; the chain of 38 brilliant-cut open-back collets with an elongated oval brilliant-set snap”. 

The Nizam, in his generosity, reportedly instructed Cartier to let the bride (then Princess Elizabeth) choose whatever she desired from their collection. The princess then chose the necklace and the matching floral tiara. She is not its first owner, however. Cartier made the necklace in 1935, sold it and then reacquired it from the first buyer in 1936. One of its earliest pictures is of Elfrida Greville, the Countess of Warwick who wore it for a portrait in the 1930s.

But the piece has remained a mainstay in the Queen’s jewelry collection. It appears to be one of her favorites as she has worn it on many official engagements, for instance on her first ever trip to Washington in October 1951 where she met President Harry Truman. She can also be seen posing in it for official portraits that would be used on currency bills like the Bahamas Dollar. She still wears it on important occasions.

Of late there has been a renewed interest in the necklace among jewelry enthusiasts when the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was photographed wearing it on at least two occasions. It was lent to her by the Queen as the duchess is her grand daughter-in-law due to her husband Prince William. It may now be safely assumed that the necklace has passed on from being a personal wedding present to a family heirloom and will adorn the subsequent generations of British royalty.

Dr Mohammed Najeeb Shahzore

Dr Mohammed Najeeb Shahzore is a specialist physician based in Kuwait with an interest in Hyderabad’s history & culture.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Dr. Mohammed Najeeb Shahzore / September 26th, 2021

Meet the college dropout who runs a news portal in J&K

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion

JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Anzer Ayoob (22) is a college drop out from Doda who started a news portal in 2017. | Photo by arrangement

The portal is getting recognised for reporting on issues in Chenab valley which are overlooked by the mainstream media.

Jammu :

When 22-year-old Anzer Ayoob, a journalist based in Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chenab valley heard that a literary group had announced an award for his news portal, he was editing a story on frequent power outages–a recurring issue in the region. 

Ayoob is the founding editor of Chenab Times , a local multimedia news web portal that covers social, cultural, political, and current events primarily in the Chenab region. 

“Apart from highlighting the lack of electricity in the region, the other objective was to bring Chenab Valley on the tourist map of Jammu and Kashmir,” Ayoob told TwoCircles.net. 

Founded in 2017, the news portal has gained decent viewership in the region and has been appreciated by locals. 

Inspired by the positive response, the portal launched its daily news bulletin in Urdu, Sarazi and Bhaderwahi languages (spoken by the region’s population) in January 2021. 

A year on, the programmes in local languages have earned the portal a distinct fame. 

On January 23, the Pahari Core Committee, which is a representative organisation of fifteen literary groups from Doda, praised The Chenab Times for the promotion of local languages, and culture and decided to confer it with this year’s ‘Best News Portal’ award.

“Chenab Times is the sole channel that has always touched the hearts of thousands of Pahari speakers who speak Sarazi, Bhaderwahi, and Kashmiri,” said Sadaket Malik, president of the Pahari Core Committee, in a statement. 

The Chenab Times staff in Doda. | Photo by arrangement

From college dropout to editor
Ayoob is a college dropout. He was pursuing B.Sc. from Govt. Degree College Bhaderwah. “I discontinued my education in 2019 when my mother’s health deteriorated. My father passed away in 2015 and being the only male member of the family, I had to earn a livelihood,” he said. 

Ayoob believes that practicing journalism does not require a degree. “Starting a news portal began with a single idea and journalism is all about ideas,” he said.

Promoting Chenab valley as tourist destination
The Chenab Times started with a Facebook page of the same name promoting Chenab valley as a tourist destination on social media. “After 4-5 months, when our Facebook page gained 16K followers, we launched the website,” Ayoob said. 

The portal has regularly covered stories of the downtrodden. 

Slowly, the news portal began to carry news from the outside world. At present, the portal provides current news from around the world, with a special focus on video stories from Jammu & Kashmir.

The Chenab Times has around 140K followers on Facebook, 1K on Twitter, 8K on Instagram and 45K on YouTube.

Some of the stories published by The Chenab Times have been impactful. 

“There are various far-flung villages in Doda district that weren’t receiving adequate water supply and it was a crisis for the villagers. When we highlighted the issues on our portal, the villages got water supply,” Ayoob said. 

Farasat Rasool is a graduate in arts and a regular reader of the website. “Chenab Times is doing a good job by providing local news and civic concerns. The portal has given voice to the voiceless,” he said. 

Power outages deter journalism
What bothers Ayoob are the frequent power outages and blackouts in the region. The outages, he said, are impacting the portal’s multilingual programme, for which it has been recognised. 

Ironically, the Chenab valley is known as the hub of hydroelectric power projects in the region.

Due to a massive power outage in the Halla village of Doda district in late January, one of Chenab Times correspondent Fareed Ahmad Naik was unable to deliver the Sarazi language news programme. The village was without electricity for 12 days. 

“In winters, the first importance is not the story but to charge our cell phones,” Ayoob said.

Involving youth in community journalism
Ayoob believes in involving more youth from his region in doing community journalism. 

The portal has a staff of eight reporters, six of whom are from the Doda district, one each from Kishtwar and Ramban districts and a six-person editorial board, and three legal consultants. 

While press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir has been severely restricted in the last few years, Ayoob said, “poor media environment won’t deter us from doing our job.” 

Ayoob is of the view that journalism is the kind of profession “where the government frequently becomes an adversary.”

Besides power outages, another challenge faced by his portal is political targeting. “We have done stories after which we faced pressure from certain political quarters. We were summoned by police on a sarpanch’s complaint and received legal notices after we reported on the absence of doctors,” he said. 

Ayoob, however, added that he has received support from Doda police after his portal did a story on illicit liquor and drugs. “They cooperated with us,” he said.  

His goal is to recruit female reporters at his portal. “We want to give a platform to emerging women reporters in the region,” he said. 

Naseer Khora, a senior journalist and commentator from Doda, believes that “local civic concerns of the people haven’t been highlighted much in the media as politics dominates the coverage in Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Chenab Times, in particular, is making a difference by encouraging new people to enter the sector while also restoring rural journalism and reviving endangered languages,” he said. 

Shadab Farooq is TCN SEED-Fellow. He tweets at @shadabfarooq_ 

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead Story / by Shadab Faarooq, TwoCircles.net / February 04th, 2022

35 years later, Centre resumes hunt for Nizam’s gold coin

Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022), World Opinion

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hyderabad: 

The Centre has resumed the hunt for a 12 kg gold coin which has been missing for almost four decades.Touted as the world’s biggest gold coin, it was last seen in hands of titular Nizam VIII of Hyderabad, Mukarram Jah.

Reportedly, he had auctioned the coin at the Swiss Bank. However, India’s CBI couldn’t get hold of the gold coin that was passed to Jah through his grandfather and last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan.

The last Nizam had taken over the coin which was devised by emperor Jahangir. Renowned historian Prof Salma Ahmed Farooqui of HK sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, conducted research on the history and legacy of the world’s biggest gold coin and said it was invaluable to Hyderabad’s pride.  At present, the coin hunt has begun after 35 years.

In 1987, when Indian officials in Europe alerted the central government about auctioneer Habsburg Feldman SA auctioning the 11,935.8 gm gold coin in Geneva at Hotel Moga on November 9 through Paris-based Indosuez Bank’s Geneva branch, CBI came into the picture. Investigations started and much information was unearthed,” Prof Salma was quoted by TOI.

She further stated that the CBI played the role of historians while searching for the huge coin but later the search was left hanging as the officials’ didn’t return to the office.

In a book written by former joint director of CBI, Shantonu Sen said that officials discovered that Jahangir has printed two similar coins. One was given to the ambassador of the Shah of Iran, Yadgir Ali and the other was in control of the Nizams.

An FIR was registered under the Antique and Art Treasures Act 1972 by a superintendent rank officer In 1987, said Prof Salma.  She said, “Further investigations revealed Mukarram Jah was trying to auction two gold mohurs in 1987 at the Swiss auction, one of which was supposedly the 1,000 tola coin. It was valued at $16million in 1987.”

Since many years have gone by and nobody has information related to the big gold coin minted by Jahangir, Salma hopes that new efforts by the Centre may bring positive results this time.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / posted by Umm E Maria / June 27th, 2022

Qatar Indian Social Forum celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr

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Madikeri (Kodagu) / General INDIA / Doha, QATAR :

Doha :

Qatar Indian Social Forum, prominent Indian expatriate community celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with array of Cultural Programmes representing Rich cultural Heritage of Indian Subcontinent with Skits, Folk songs, Martial arts, traditional Cultural events from different Indian states in different Languages under theme ‘Celebrating Unity in Diversity’.

Welcoming the gathering, Usman general secretary of Social forum, said that the forum would like to uphold a sense of unity among Indians despite the difference in their caste, creed, and religion, and cherish different cultural backgrounds, a land that shows unity in diversity truly reflecting the theme of the evening.


Social forum president Ayyub Ullal launched ‘IndianSocialForum.com’ website, and delivered EID message, hosting these types of gatherings will promote respect for each other’s Cultural Heritage and improve collective commitment towards society at large.

‘Abdul Latheef Madikkeri Memorial Humanitarian Activist Award’ of the year

Chief guest of the Evening Subramanya Hebbagelu, vice president Indian Cultural Center, handed over the ‘Abdul Latheef Madikkeri Memorial Humanitarian Activist Award’ of the year to Basheer Ahamed, leader from Social Forum Tamilnadu, and paid tribute the veteran leader Abdul Latheef Madikeri, who passed away in April last year, in his speech stressed the importance of Serving Humanity.

Vinod Nair, president, Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) congratulated the gathering and handed over medal to Cultural teams including ‘Thullal-Parai’ and ‘Nagam-16’ from Tamilnadu, Kolkali and ‘Daughters of Kerala’ from Kerala, Tippu Sultan Drama from Karnataka, Nasheed from Northern States for their spectacular display.

Fastest Kid

Ayyub Ullal, handed over the ‘Award of Appreciation’ to Muhammed Ameen Bin Thaisser, honoring his achievement to become ‘Fastest Kid to recite’ all Elements of Periodic table.

The meet brought together more than 20 Community Leaders representing various Indian states Organization, attracting more than 500 community members. The programme ended up with a feast for all participants.

Saeed Kommachi, general secretary, proposed the vote of thanks.

www.indiasocialforum.com

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home>Middle East / by Daijiworld Media Network – Doha (EP) / May 06th, 2022

Doha: Well-known social worker Abdul Latif Madikeri passes away

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Madikeri (Kodagu) / Doha, QATAR :

Doha : 

Well-known social worker Abdul Lathif Madikeri, secretary of Qatar Indian Social Forum (QISF), an association for NRIs, passed away on Sunday April 11.

Abdul Latif was an active social worker who used to respond to all issues faced by non-resident Indians and help to find solutions for them. He always led from the front when it came to social and humanitarian works and was well-known to all NRIs in Qatar.

He was employed in Qatar Police Force for the past thirty years and has left behind his wife, three sons, a daughter, a large number of friends and relatives.

Qatar Indian Social Forum has condoled his demise, describing that his departure has left a void that cannot be filled. QISF also prayed that the almighty bestows strength to his family to bear the loss.     

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home /by Daijiworld Media Network – Doha (EP) / April 11th, 2021

World-famous cardiologist Dr Riyaz Bashir delivers lecture on medical innovations at NIT Srinagar

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Education, Events, Exhibitions, Conferences (wef. Nov 18th, 2021), Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, World Opinion,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR / Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), USA :

pix: youtube.com

‘Such lectures are aimed to provide a vibrant platform for students: Director

Srinagar:

World famous cardiologist Dr Riyaz Bashir MD, FACC, who is Professor of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, USA, Wednesday delivered an expert lecture on medical innovations at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar.


The event was organized jointly by MSME, Development Institute Srinagar in collaboration with MSME- Business Incubation Centre and IIED Centre.


The event was presided over by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Rakesh Sehgal, and world-renowned cardiologist Dr Riyaz Bashir who is also Director, Vascular and Endovascular Medicine and co-inventor of the Bashir™ Endovascular Catheter was the chief guest on the occasion.


In his presiding speech, Director NIT, Prof. Sehgal said new innovations are important and vital for any engineering institution. From medical sciences to agriculture, India is progressing in every field of science and technology. No technology will be successful until we make it sustainable, he said.


Prof. Sehgal also expressed his gratitude to Dr Riyaz Bashir for delivering a memorable lecture on medical innovations. Hosting such renowned personalities is the need of the hour, he said.


Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said research and innovation are essential to increase the abilities of young minds. “We need to develop and test solutions; predict outcomes and mitigate harm and make informed policy decisions,” he said.


Prof. Bukhari said research and innovation are critical for generating new knowledge, building new infrastructure, and educating innovators and entrepreneurs.


In his key address, Dr Riyaz Bashir delivered his lecture on medical innovations and shared his aspiring journey from Kashmir to the USA with the young innovators.


“Our team is working on removing the blockage of lung arteries by a blood clot results in pulmonary embolism – a condition requiring emergency care that affects thousands of patients across the globe,” he said.


Dr. Bashir further said existing treatments, however, may not fully remove the clot, necessitating the development of new therapeutic strategies for pulmonary embolism.


His team has developed a device known as the Bashir™ Endovascular Catheter (Thrombolex, Inc.), which effectively dissolves the clots in the lungs, with no major bleeding risk.


Dr Bashir also urged young innovators to focus on a problem and then try to find the best solutions possible. “Universe will conspire to make it successful if your intention is to help people and impact lives,” he said.
Assistant Director, MSME Development Institute Srinagar, Saheel Yaqoob Alaqband said the program was aimed to motivate young innovators, and how they will take their innovation to commercial stage.


“Ministry of MSME funds those innovations which have commercial potential and later can change the lives of the people. Dr Riyaz is an example for young innovators,” he said.


On the occasion Head IIED Centre, Prof. Saad Parvez talked about the growing startup culture and how their centre is helping to grow that culture at NIT Srinagar as well as in Kashmir.


He said IIED Centre of NIT Srinagar is the host institute for implementing MSME design and innovation schemes.


The event was attended by Prof. Babar Ahmad, Dr Sheikh Shahid Saleem, G A Harmain, Dr Noor Zaman, Dr Parvez Ahmad Reshi, Dr Dinesh Kumar, Dr Danish Ahmad, Dr Sandeep Rathee, Abdul Hamid (Rahim Greens), Dr Talib Khan (SKIMS), Dr Shiekh GM (Ex. AP, MED) and innovators from NIT Srinagar and MSME.


A formal vote of thanks was presented by Dr Sheikh Shahid Saleem. He expressed gratitude to Dr. Bashir for encouraging the young innovators and boosting their morale. He later thanked all participants for attending the special lecture.

source: http://www.kashmirreader.com / Kashmir Reader / Home / by KR Desk / May 20th, 2022

Expertise’s Sheikh Karnire receives Saudi’s Premium Residency ‘Green Card’

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Karnire (Mangalore) KARNATAKA / Jubail. SAUDI ARABIA :

Dammam:

KS Sheikh Karnire, Vice President of Expertise Contracting Ltd, has become one of the few Indians to receive permanent residency in Saudi Arabia after the Kingdom recently permitted foreign nationals to own business and property without the need for a sponsor.

Reacting to the news Sheik said, “My heartfelt thanks to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, and the entire Saudi Government. No doubt, this is a proud moment for me. I am delighted and happy. My sincere thanks to the people who have trust in Expertise and my brothers who are the driving force behind the success of Expertise. “

The Premium Residency, informally known as Saudi Green Card, is a residence permit in Saudi Arabia that grants expatriates the right to live, work and own business and property in the Kingdom without the need for a sponsor.

The introduction of the Premium Residency comes as a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform plan, which was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to boost the Saudi economy.

Expertise Contracting Company, founded in 1999 has been a renowned Industrial service provider of KSA with more than 10,000 employees and more than 5000 pieces of equipment. Expertise services span major industrial divisions allowing them to serve a variety of sectors including petrochemical, oil & gas, fertilizer, steel, cement, water treatment, and power generation verticals. With headquarters in Jubail Industrial City, KSA, Expertise boasts an operating terminal of 300,000 sq. meters and has branch offices across the kingdom.

It can be recalled that Sheik and his team had supported the stranded employees and families during COVID 19 pandemic to safely bring them back from Saudi to India through more than 10 chartered flights to the various cities of India. They are also running an NGO under the name of KS Sayeed Charitable trust supporting a number of downtrodden families with food, shelter, and education.

Hailing from a village Karnire, Near Mangalore, Mr.Sheik had entered the kingdom as an Automobile Engineer and built the company along with his 5 other brothers.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / June 11th, 2022

Entrepreneur Mohammad Mansoor honoured for contribution to sports & international relations

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BAHRAIN :

Leading Bahrain-based Indian entrepreneur, Founder and Chairman of the Saara Group, Mohammad Mansoor was honoured for his enormous contribution to sports and international relations by the one of the oldest cultural organisations in Bahrain, the – Kerala Catholics Association. 

Mansoor was presented the award as presented the award by Minister of Labor and Social Development H E Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan at a glittering gala ceremony at the Crowne Plaza hotel, in the presence of Ministers, Ambassadors, VIPs, distinguished guests and community leaders including India’s Ambassador to Bahrain, HE Piyush Srivastava, Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Julios, Peravur MLA Adv. Sunny Joseph.

Mr Mansoor, a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, is the Founder & CEO of Saara Group, which has a portfolio of operations across the domains of Information Technology, Energy, Oil & Gas, Digital Media, Sports Infrastructure, Seed Capital Investments, and Social Initiatives.

The operations of the group span across the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC), United Kingdom, United States of America, ASEAN countries and India.

As an active supporter of an array of social and cultural initiatives to empower community relations and strengthen the social fabric, he has played and played a crucial role in supporting the sports initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad AI Khalifa. 

As a cricket enthusiast, he was the brains behind launching the first-ever franchise-based T20 Cricket Premier League which was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad AI Khalifa in 2018. In 2021, he was appointed as the advisor to the newly revamped Bahrain Cricket Federation and was instrumental behind giving the sport a much-needed boost in Bahrain. So much so, that the women’s team has already inked its name in the record books by scoring the highest score in an T20 International. 

An active supporter of Bahrain’s flagship sports media property, BRAVE Combat Federation across multiple venues around the world. He spearheaded the KHK Heroes Foundation initiative assisting the economically vulnerable communities and expatriates throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain during the Coronavirus pandemic part from being a director of KHK Venture Holding. 

In 2021, he was appointed to the prestigious World Youth Group as director of the Council. The WYG has been designed by Collegiate Congress, in association with United Nations Member States, United Nations Agencies, youth and student groups; All-African Students Union (AASU), European Students Union (ESU), Young Republicans National Federation (YRNF), Young Democrats of America (YDA), higher education institutions, the private sector, and individuals from around the world.

Of the most notable among the awards that he has been conferred with is the Hind Ratan Award.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / June 14th, 2022

Manzoor Nomani was ‘intrinsically Indian’ in the first place

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Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Maulana Manzoor Nomani. Courtesy: Quranwahadith.

Maulana Muhammed Manzoor Nomani (1905-1997), most arguably was one of the five prime most Muslims of the Indian sub-continent in the last century. He was the founding member of Jamaat-e-Islami and later got associated with Tablighi Jamaat and was also the member of founding committee of Muslim World League.

Maulana Khalil-ur-Rehman Sajjad Nomani is his son who gives every credence to his father, as that is what has made him, potentially what he is today; the most potent Muslim voice in the nation.

Sajjad Nomani’s command on Arabic, Quran, Hadith, Urdu, Hindi and English, in the same verve, depth and gravitas, apart from being an eloquent speaker, an indefatigable champion of Muslim cause, a voracious reader and a writer with an unquestionable command on the intricacies of linguistic theory and cultural praxis, are all the qualities he has embodied and imbibed from his late father.

Yours truly also did once saw Manzoor Nomani Sahab, at his Nazeerabad residence, Lucknow, as he sat on his wheel chair engrossed in an Urdu newspaper and also attended to his funeral at Aishbagh, Lucknow in 1997.

It would be worthy to recollect some of the anecdotes Sajjad Sahab shared about his late father, which all are a treasure trove to understand the ‘times’ about seventy-five years back.

He reminisced that Pakistan first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was very insistent that Manzoor Sahab visit Pakistan and become a part of Pakistan Constituent Assembly to ‘pave for the ingredients’ for Islamic Jurisprudence for the state of Pakistan, and ultimately even officially sought for it, as Manzoor Sahab was one of the most outstanding figures of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence at those times.

When India’s PM Jawahar Lal Nehru came to know of it, he communicated that though he does not want Maulana to volunteer it, yet if Maulana wanted then government of India was to facilitate it. But, there was no question of Manzoor Sahab even entertaining the idea as he was an unwavering Indian by his heart, not out of any chance but primarily for his choice, as Muslims after 1947 were to choose between India or Pakistan and Manzoor Sahab stood for India.

Maulana Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani

Sajjad Sahab would also reflect that it was in 1976, when he was studying in Medina University, and had come to India on his vacations, that Manzoor Sahab kidneys collapsed all of a sudden and he went into coma. That was the time when emergency was in place. He informed that ‘intelligence inputs’ were given to PM Indira Gandhi that unless Maulana Ali Mian Nadwi, Maulana Manzoor Nomani and Qari Siddeeq Baandvi were to be arrested, Muslims were not relent to ‘vasectomy-sterilization’ and Indira Gandhi went to India’s President Fakhrudin Ali Ahmed, for his counsel on it, to which she was answered that all hell will break loose in the country in case of such an eventuality.

In the meantime, Indira Gandhi was also informed about the medical situation of Manzoor Sahab, and a chartered place to carry Maulana to Delhi was sent to Lucknow. The family members could not fathom for it, for they knew, that Maulana was be very angry once after the coma was to subside, the gesture of Indira Gandhi was hence refused, and fortunately by the midnight Maulana regained his senses, but then the next morning Indira Gandhi herself came down to Maulana’s residence. She would insist that Maulana may be flown to Delhi for his medical treatment, but all what Maulana sought from her was that she should implement justice as there was ‘tyranny’ all across the nation. He would address Indira Gandhi as his daughter and that when she played in her father’s courtyard, Maulana was to advice her father JL Nehru on critical issues.

Such has been the sense of belonging of Muslims for Manzoor Sahab , inherited too well by his son, is that while Jamshedpur raged under riots of 1979, Maulana went on to sit in a mosque for 21 days, draw into people and disbursed charity amongst the hapless Muslims, which continued for months. Maulana had an impeccable memory as Sajjad Sahab, relates, that shortly before his death, while he was searching for a Hadith, his ailing father, who was almost comatose, made him look for it on the exact page of Tirmezi- a great compendium of Hadith. Maulana Manzoor Sahab was a living authority and a luminary of Hadith-the sayings of Prophet of Islam.

Manzoor Nomani Sahab surely has left an indelible mark on Muslim civilization not across only in India but throughout the whole Muslim world. The best part however is that, it has all been very well innately translated into a relentless campaign for Muslim rights in India, by his son Sajjad Nomani, an activist always on his heels and one of the most credible voice of Muslims in the nation today. He is right now articulating the cause of Peace and Justice, a desperate call of the nation today. Sajjad Sahab is also the spokesperson of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the Apex of Muslims in the country.

***

The writer is a former UP State Information Commissioner and writes on political issues.

source: http://www.mulimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Muslim Scholars / by Haider Abbas / June 20th, 2022

ASPAIRE founding member Masood Rab passes away

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA / MICHIGAN, USA :

Mirza Masood Rab

Founding member of Alliance to Save and Protect America from Infiltration by Religious Extremists (ASPAIRE) Masood Rab, resident of Michigan, USA passed away on Sunday.

Masood Rab, originally from Hyderabad, was the founding member of the Muslim Community of the Western Suburbs of Detroit (MCWS) and the Crescent Academy. He was also the founding member of the advocacy groups, Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India (CAPI) and Alliance to Save and Protect America from Infiltration by Religious Extremists (ASPAIRE), through which he was constantly raising awareness about the plight of Muslims, amongst the American Muslim community and amongst American elected representatives, to convince them to voice their opinions against growing intolerance against Muslims.

Despite his illness in the last few months of life, he remained actively concerned about the Indian Muslims. In his 80’s, Masood Rab had been particularly concerned about the hurtful sentiments expressed against Prophet Mohammed,

He leaves behind his children Mobeen, Diba, Aqil, and Aliyah Rab, wife Zia Rab, brothers Maqsood Baig and Meraj Ali. Another brother Mashood Rabbaig too has passed away. His last rites will be held at MCWS.

Expressing his grief at the sudden passing away of his long term colleague and friend, and co-founder of ASPAIRE, Dr Shaik Ubaid stated, “Masood Rab was actively involved in advocacy till the very end. He would actively give us advice and directions and participate in remote meetings and discussions. May Allah SWT grant Masood bhai high stations in Janntul Firdaus and grant his family patience, comfort and solace”.

Unaware of his passing away, El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan of The Aafia Foundation mentioned how he sent Masood Rab, his ‘brother in Islam, a father’s day greeting and enquired about his health, before he was informed of his passing away. He also mentioned how he had tried to meet Masood Rab, but was unable to do so, because of his sickness. He too offered prayers for the departed soul.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Obituary / by Muslim Mirror Network / June 20th, 2022