Two players from Kashmir, Shaista Wani of Srinagar and Farhana Rehman of Pulwama
Srinagar:
Two players from Kashmir, Shaista Wani of Srinagar and Farhana Rehman of Pulwama, have been selected to represent India in the Asian Women’s Softball Championship, to be held in Xi’an, China, from July 14 to 20.
Their selection to the Indian national team marks a proud moment for the Union Territory and reflects the growing presence of women athletes from J&K on national and international platforms. Both Shaista and Farhana cleared tough national trials and took part in intensive training camps in Indore and New Delhi.
The Asia Cup is a qualifying tournament for the Women’s Softball World Cup 2026. The top two teams from this championship will advance to the global stage.
Shaista and Farhana have been consistently performing at national events for years and began their sporting journey at a young age.
Their hard work and dedication have brought them to this milestone.
Congratulating the athletes, J&K’s Youth Services and Sports Minister Satish Sharma said their selection is a proud moment for the region. “This shows that girls from J&K are rising in sports and competing at the highest level,” he said.
Sarmad Hafeez (IAS), Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, said this achievement reflects strong training, discipline, and athlete development. “Our girls are proving their talent internationally,” he added.
Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, J&K Sports Council, also praised the players, calling them role models for other young girls in the UT. “The Sports Council is committed to supporting female athletes with better training and facilities,” she said. (KNS)
source: http://www.freepresskashmir.news / Free Press Kashmir / Home> Achievers / by News Desk / July 10th, 2025
He shone the spotlight on the often-ignored role of the 2.5 million members of the British Indian Army who had served during the Second World War.
Historian Ghee Bowman. | https://www.forcek6.org.uk/about
One day in 2013, when Ghee Bowman was working on a project on the city of Exeter’s multicultural history, he found a book featuring three photographs of Indian soldiers in the English county of Devon during the Second World War.
It piqued his curiosity.
“I thought I knew about the Second World War, but I’d never imagined that there were Indian soldiers with turbans and mules in Devon,” he wrote.
Though he had a BA in drama, Bowman decided to start an MA in history – and went on to write a PhD dissertation on the 4,227 men of Force K6 contingent who spent most of the war in England.
Through their stories, he shone the spotlight on the often-ignored contribution of the 2.5 million men and women of the British Indian Army who had served during the Second World War.
When Bowman started digging, he found that the British Army arrayed against Nazi Germany in Europe early in the war needed mules to transport artillery and supplies. The men of Force K6 and their mules were shipped in from India, more than 11,000 km away.
Several had been evacuated from Dunkirk in France in 1940 when the Allied defense collapsed and spent years in England.
source: youtube.com
Before Bowman died on May 10, he had spent the previous 12 years researching the Indian Army in Europe during the Second World War. His two books on the subjects are superbly researched and cracking reads.
pix: google.co.in/books
Bowman’s first book was The Indian Contingent – The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of the Battle of Dunkirk, published in 2020. It is the story of the 299 men of the 25th Animal Transport Company of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps.
Because the British used to group men of the same religion and creed together, these men were mainly Muslim. The role of Indian soldiers fighting in North Africa and Italy during the war had been documented. But little was known about the men who were in France.
The Great Epinal Escape – Indian Prisoners of War in German Hands was published in late 2024. Bowman had been toying with the title The Greatest Escape, a reference to the popular movie about the war, The Great Escape. It was about the escape of 500 Indian prisoners of war from a camp at Epinal in France in 1944.
On May 11, 1944, American planes bombed a camp at Epinal in France housing 3,000 Indian prisoners, breaking some walls. Several hundred escaped, of whom 500 reached Switzerland. It was the largest PoW escape during the Second World War.
Though the Indians were conspicuous in the middle of France, they managed to make their way across the border through their grit and the bravery of civilians who helped them along the way.
#OTD 11th May 1944; a sunny day in Épinal, a small town on the river Moselle, close to the Vosges mountains and Germany. The scene is set: nobody knows that this quiet French place, untouched by war since 1940, will become the site of the largest POW escape of #WW2
1:21 PM . May 12, 2024· / 18.7K View
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Very little has been written about the experience of individual Indian soldiers in the Second World War. With his micro-histories, Bowman took a step towards filling this gap – and pointed the way for other researchers to do so too. Besides, in a time of rising xenophobia in the UK, Bowman’s work serves as a reminder of the long presence of South Asians – and Muslims – in the country and their contributions to keeping it secure at one of its most vulnerable moments vulnerable moments .
After submitting the manuscript for his second book, Bowman wondered how he could do more to tell the story of Indian soldiers during the Second World War. About six months ago, he decided that he had he hit upon the best and most gratifying way of doing this – not by writing more books or articles and making podcasts but by helping families get to know more about a grandfather or uncle who had fought in the conflict.
This would not result in thousands of social media posts and perhaps only one family would get to know about the work. But to Bowman, helping even one person trace their family history was priceless.
“I’m very happy to share what I already know with families and the wider Indian public,” he wrote. “I’ve got letters, photos, recommendations for medals that I’ve found in archives and newspapers. I would love to be able to restore these to the descendants of these brave men.”
He decided to co-opt the willing and reached out to researchers across the world. He created a page on his website listing useful resources. I was proud to be his man in India and Southeast Asia.
To the good people of #Plymouth. As you think about Muslims in the city this morning, you might like to know about the 4 Muslim graves at Weston Mill Cemetery, 3 miles from where the #plymouthriots happened last night.
These four men were soldiers of the Indian Army, part of #ForceK6 – Muslim Punjabis sent 7000 miles to help the British in its hour of need. Here are some of their officers inspecting coastal defences in November 1941.
I had the privilege of getting to know Bowman in June 2023, when I reached out to him as I had just begun researching the Indian Army in World War II Singapore. He helped me find sources, to write a book proposal and introduced me to his publishers and others who turned out to be crucial for my own book.
Even as he was trying to help family members trace their relatives, Bowman had been going through a grave personal health crisis. In his regular newsletter in May 2024, he mentioned that he had a fall. His last newsletter was on February 1. He said he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy and doing well.
He died three months later. Bowman once described himself as “a historian, teacher and story teller…a Quaker and a lifelong learner”. He was all that and much more – he helped others without any gain for himself.
Gautam Hazarika is a Singapore-based author whose book The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II is being published by Penguin India and Pen & Sword UK later this year. He can be contacted at ghazarika70@yahoo.com.sg
source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home> Tribute / by Gautam Hazarika / May 27th, 2025
Kilakarai (Ramanathapuram District) / Chennai, TAMIL NADU :
Death of Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman has not only shocked who knew his mission and lifelong works but also those who have benefited by his devotion and those who took inspirations from him. His untimely death has brought a vacuam in Indian educational scenario and it is almost impossible to be filled up in near future.
Indian Muslim Community has legacy of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University before it, Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman has achieved almost that place and has become another inspirational figure.
Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman was born in kilakarai falling under Ramanathapuram district of Tamilnadu state in 1927. Due to his works and philanthropist bent of mind, Dr. Rahman became a well known personality who devoted himself for the upliftment of the economically weaker sections and minorities through their educational empowerment. He did not lagged behind in providing good facilities of health care to the deprived sections of society.
B.S. Abdur Rahman, Vice Chairman of Emirates Trading Agency LLC and Associated Construction and Investments Co. LLC (ETA-ASCON), the Dubai-based $2 billion industrial behemoth, was a multi-faceted personality, much like the diamonds he dealt with when he began in humble business in Sri Lanka, over half a century ago.
Diamond merchant, industrialist, educationist, philanthropist, shipping magnate, generous contributor and enthusiastic participant in many other business and social activities he is a renaissance man whose outlook was Millennial. Meaning, while his values were classical, his thinking was forward looking.
Kilakarai, on the coast of Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu, where Abdur Rahman (fondly known as Sena Aana) was born, is a town made famous in the region by his illustrious ancestor, Vallal Seethakathi.
The forbears of Abdur Rahman migrated to Kilakarai from Arabia in the 12th century. Kilakarai, which means East Coast in Tamil, was a flourishing port to which mearchants from the east and west came. A densely populated area, predominantly by Muslims, it owned its prosperity to them.
From centuries they traded with Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon), dealing in pealing in pearls, gemstones and conches. Even today, many of them live in Sri Lanka or do business with the island. Abdur Rahman too began his career in Ceylon. Among the pearl traders of Kilakarai was Buhari Aalim. Abdur Rahman was his son.
Aalim was an expert in valuing precious stones and pearls. He would hold a gem between his right thumb and index finger and, looking at it against the sun, study the quality of the watermark within to judge the worth of the precious stone. He would be unfailingly correct.
Watching his father at work, the young Abdur Rahman was soon able to understand the nuances of the trade. This training and experience helped him to become one of the most successful merchants in the diamond trade in due course. When Abdur Rahman first went to Colombo, he was fifteen years old. He had with him just Indian Rupees 149. He worked as an errand boy for diamond merchants, carrying their diamonds and other gems from sellers to buyers and back. He was at the time staying with some traders from Kilakarai and neighbouring villages. They allowed him to stay with them without any payment, but he had, instead, to fetch tea them from a nearby hotel, clean the rooms and perform other menial tasks.
A lesser person perhaps would have thrown in the towel. But Abdur Rahman was made of sterner stuff. Before long, he used his persuasive skills to obtain gemstones from another merchant and began trading in them. In time he became a successful gem trader. The base that Abdur Rahman built in Ceylon was to help him in all his future activities.
He began visiting Belgium, then as now, a centre of the gem trade, the USA, South America and set up business in Penang, Malaysia, Chennai, Kolkata (then Calcutta), and then in Hong Kong. It was in Hong Kong that his business flourished. Incidentally, Abdur Rahman was the first person from Kilakarai to go to Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong he launched the Precious Trading Company in 1954. Later, his very special brainchild, the Amana Group of Hong Kong, was established. It was under its banner that the multinational company ETA-ASCON came into existence.
He was a firm believer in education and took upon himself the task of educationally empower the poor and the deprived. He established a wide network of educational institutions. In 1967, he founded Seethakathi Trust and in 1979, All India Islamic Foundation to achieve his target of serving the community and nation. He founded twelve educational institutions including an Engineering University, a woman’s college, an Arabic College two boys schools, 3 girls schools, a woman Nursing college, a Teacher Training College, B.Ed College for woman and 2 hospitals beside orphanages in rural and urban areas. His biggest achievement was founding a 60 bed Yousuf Zulaikha hospital at Kilakrai and a 150 bed Crescent hospital at Madurai. He did not lagged behind in providing comfort of life to most deprived orphanages and founded Al Momin orphanages for boys and girls at Ottapidram, Tanjore, Kilakarai and Thiruvithancode of Tamilnadu.
Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman was farsighted man and knew the importance of administration. He was well aware that to uplift community, it is very necessary that Muslim youths join Indian Administrative Services and so he established Crescent IAS and Carriers Guidance Academy in 1994 beside an Islamic Studies & Cultural Centre at Chennai.
His social works span to wide area. Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman founded B.S. Abdur Rahman Zakat Fund Foundation in 2007 which provides educational grants for students. Through this foundation, B.S. Abdur Rahmand has maintained magniticence of Zakat which may be called a pillar of Islam and which is an instrument for survival of poor Muslims. He 1017 Self Help Group (SHG) which became beneficial to 17093 deprived and helpless women. He also founded and managed various other trusts like Yousuf Zulaikha (1993) Chennai for education, health care and women empowerment. United Economic Forum in 1994 and Seethakathi NGO in 2002.
He also establish new milestones in business field.
He was founder Chairman of Dubai based ETA – Ascon – Star Group and was treated a renowned Indian entrepreneur in UAE. It may be known that the group has a turn over US$ 5.5 billion and employs 50,000 people. With his visionary zeal and entrepreneurial spirit.
B.S. Abdur Rahman has been the guiding force behind many companies in India, among which the most important is the Buhari Group the Indian Multinational. The prominent companies and establishments under Buhari Group include East Coast Construction Ltd. (ECCI) 50 years in the field of construction, Coal & Oil and many other automobile dealership companies.
In recognition of his services he received many awards also.
The Aligarh Muslim University Students Union conferred him life membership while Sathyabama University awarded Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his contribution to Women Education.
In fact Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman had became an inspirational force to young generation during his own life time. There are very few people who climb the ladder of success and remember the down trodden sections of the society or do anything meaningful for them.
Whatever Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman has done for the manginalised and deprived sections of society will be always not only remembered but will also be documented in social and educational history of India. The best tribute to Dr. B.S. Abdur Rahman will be to follow the path shown by him not only in business but other fields also.
-Dr. Jasim Mohammad / Author is Editor of The Aligarh Movement monthly
source: http://www.hastakshep.com / Hastakshep.com / Home> Uncategorized / by Dr Jasim Mohammad / March 29th, 2019
Panniyur (Ramanathapuram District) / Madurai, TAMIL NADU :
He was a servant of the British East India Company and the Nawab of the Arcot before turning against them.
He started his military career as Yusuf Khan, a Muslim convert, and fought in the early wars between the English and the French for the possession of southern India. It was through a conspiracy that the British captured him.
A surprise engagement: Kamal Haasan, director and actor of the film Marudhanayagam, explains a point to Queen Elizabeth on the sets on October 16, 1997. The Queen launched the shooting. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES
Many were surprised when the visiting Queen Elizabeth launched actor Kamal Haasan’s dream film, Marudhanayagam, in 1997. It was a time when there was a demand for an apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. But Maruthanayagam was a servant of the British East India Company and the Nawab of the Arcot before turning against them. It is a misnomer to call him Maruthanayagam as he built his military career as Yusuf Khan, a Muslim convert.
“Muhamed Yusuf — better known in his time as Yusuf Khan — was by far the ablest of the Indian soldiers who fought in the early wars between the English and the French for the possession of Southern India,” writes S.C. Hill, author of Yusuf Khan: The Rebel Commandant. Hill, an Indian Educational Service officer, was in charge of the records of the Government of India. Published in 1914, the book draws heavily on the Madras Records, the Orme Collection of Manuscripts in the India Office, The French and Dutch Archives, the Tamil poem, The War of the Khan Sahib, and documents at the British Museum.
A man of genius
“Yusuf Khan was, in fact, of the same type as Haidar Ali [Hyder Ali] — one of those men of genius who naturally comes to the front in times of great social and political unrest. Had he been left without outside interference to settle scores with his quarrel with his native suzerain, like Haidar Ali with the Raja of Mysore, there is absolutely no doubt that he would have succeeded in establishing his independence,” writes Hill. Historians depended on the memoirs of Ponnusami Tevan, manager of the Ramnad Zamindari, to trace the background of Maruthanayagam Pillai. The title, Pillai, became part of his name as he was born in the Vellala caste at Paniyur in Ramanathapuram district.
In his youth, he was wild and disobedient to his parents, and ran away to Pondicherry and served under a European for three years and a half. Then, he was dismissed for theft. According to the French account, his ears were cut off as a punishment. Hill, however, dismissed the accusation as groundless, saying it was never mentioned until after the death of Yusuf Khan and then only by those who, if not actually hostile, were certainly biased against him.
After leaving Pondicherry, he joined the army of the King of Thanjavur and subsequently Nawab Muhammed Ali of Arcot. According to another account, he joined another European, Brunton, after his dismissal. Brunton had him instructed in several languages. He entered the services of the British by joining a company of sepoys which he had raised himself in Nellore, under Robert Clive, shortly before the Battle of Kaveripakkam.
According to British officer Major-General Stringer Lawrence, Yusuf Khan was “brave and resolute but cool and sensible in action — in short, he is a born soldier and better of his colour I never saw in the country.”
Freed from trammels
It is not clear why he chose to become a Muslim, and Hill has a theory. Maruthanayagam Pillai wanted to avoid what befell Aryanatha Mudali, the great general of the 16th Century and founder of the Poligar (Palayakar) system in Madurai. J.H. Nelson, the author of The Madura Country Manual, says Aryanatha Mudali, despite being a great warrior and administrator, was dissuaded by his family from becoming the king because he was a Vellala. “For Yusuf Khan then to rise to the position to which he attained, it was necessary for him to be freed from whatever trammels might be imposed upon him by his religion. This was effected by conversion — voluntarily or by force is unknown — to Muhammadanism,” writes Hill. But the Nawab objected to the elevation of Yusuf Khan, though to a Muhammadan, the “lowly birth” was “no hindrance to his success”.
Appointed Governor
Yusuf Khan, however, was appointed a Governor by the British. He ensured peace in the provinces of Madurai and Tirunelveli, which belonged to the Nawab, but had been placed by him under the control of the Madras Council.
“The name of this hero, for such he was, occurs almost as often in the pages of the English historian (Robert Orme) as that of Lawrence of Clive,” Sir John Malcolm writes about Yusuf Khan, who later rebelled against the Nawab and declared his alliance to the French. This led to a war between Yusuf Khan and an alliance of the British and the Nawab, and the seizure of Madurai. The British captured Yusuf Khan through a conspiracy and one of the participants in the conspiracy was Srinivasa Rao, his diwan and chief adviser.
The British officer Marchand, who went with the conspirators, says he was seized in his darbar. But the Dutch account says the capture occurred in a private room. Bishop Caldwell, quoting a native account, says he was arrested at his prayers by Moossoo Marsan and his Hindu diwan Srinivasa Rao “He begged them to kill him there and then rather than deliver him to the Nawab. He was carried under guard to Marchand’s quarters,” says Hill.
On October 15, 1764, the Nawab wrote to Madras that the “Rebel was hung at five o’clock in the evening, which struck terror into the hearts of our enemies”. His body was dismembered. The head was sent to Tiruchi, the limbs were sent to Thanjavur, Palayamkottai, and Travancore. The trunk was buried at Sammatipuram, where the Khan Sahib’s ‘pallivasal’ still stands.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Tamil Nadu> In Focus / by B. Kolappan / August 09th, 2024
India’s Sohail Khan scripted history at the Kudo World Cup 2025 by securing a silver medal in the Men’s -250 P category, registering the nation’s best-ever finish in the senior men’s division at the global event. The prestigious tournament was held in Burgas, Bulgaria and featured participation from top Kudo athletes from around the world.
Hailing from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sohail, also known as the “Golden Boy of MP,” performed exceptionally well to earn his place on the podium.
Sohail began his campaign in the Round of 16 against Pakistan’s Abdulla, but advanced via walkover after the opponent failed to meet the weight requirement. In the quarterfinal, Sohail battled hard to secure a narrow 1-0 win over Bulgaria’s Rusev Radoslav.
In the semifinal, Sohail delivered one of his most dominant performances of the tournament, defeating Andzej Voinius of Lithuania by a commanding 4-0 margin. With this win, he secured his spot in the final and guaranteed India at least a silver medal, a first for the country in this category.
In the gold medal bout, Sohail faced a tough challenge against France’s Quentin Miramont. The contest was intense and evenly matched, with neither fighter managing to score a definitive point in the standard two rounds.
As a result, the referee decided to extend the bout to a rare third round, the first time in the entire World Cup that any fight had gone that far. Despite Sohail’s spirited and resilient performance, he eventually fell short by just two points, settling for silver in a historic finale.
Sohail’s success is also a reflection of the strong support system behind him. He is coached by Mohammad Aijaz Khan, with Harikant Tiwari serving as his conditioning coach, Deepak Tiwari as his strength and nutrition coach, and Bhabajeet Choudhary as his striking coach.
This silver medal is the latest addition to Sohail’s decorated career. A former Junior World Cup gold medallist (2017) and a four-time gold medallist in the Akshay Kumar International Kudo Tournament, Sohail had finished as a quarterfinalist at the 2023 Senior World Championship.
He entered the 2025 World Cup as the 12th seed following his bronze at the Eurasian Cup earlier this year, and has now exceeded expectations by becoming India’s top senior performer at the global level. — IANS
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Indian Muslims> Sports / by Clarion India / July 08th, 2025
Tippoo Sultaun delivering to Gullum Alli Beg the Vakeel his sons who are taking leave of their brother previous to their departure from Seringapatam (1793) Painting by Henry Singleton
“The Christian drummers were seized, taken to the palace where Tippu’s sons were confined, and made to beat the “general” ; lights flashed in the palace, refreshments were brought out; a mob of sepoys called on the princes to place themselves at their head; Tippu’s own flag, green stripes on a red field, was nailed to the flagstaff. Prince Muizuddin (son of Tipu Sultan) ordered his horse to be saddled, and told off a party of sepoys to go and seize the principal hill fort; when that was captured and the dead body of Colonel Marriott, paymaster of stipends, brought before him, he promised he would mount his horse and ride through the native town proclaiming the restoration of the Mahommedan power.”
A Slice of History
This is the account by Colonel Alfred Keene of the night of 10 July 1806 at Vellore. The rising, popularly known as the Vellore mutiny, was a dress rehearsal of a sort of what would happen in May 1857 at Meerut.
Keene pointed out, “In the mutinies of Vellore and the greater one of 1857, two points of similarity stand out prominently. In each is the unreasoning fear of an attack on the institutions of religion and of caste; for the greased cartridges in the latter mutiny had as much to do with the outbreak as had the new head-dress in 1806, and the presence of the remnants of the Moghul Dynasty at Delhi acted in 1857 precisely as had the presence of Tippu’s family at Vellore in 1806.”
After the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the English East India Company shifted his children to Vellore. In early 1806, the Commander-in-Chief ordered a new headgear and, the removal of beards, tilaks, earrings, or any mark of caste identity.
The Indian sepoys of the 2nd Battalion 4th regiment showed dissatisfaction in May 1806 and disobeyed the orders. These sepoys were tried in army court and 21 of them were found ‘guilty’. Of them, one Hindu leader and other Muslims were discharged from the duty and sentenced to receive 900 lashes each. The other 19 were not discharged but ordered 500 lashes each. The order was passed on 29 June and published to the army on 2 July 1806.
The wife of a serving English officer at Vellore, F. W. Blunt, wrote in a letter to her family in England, “Nine of the ringleaders, as they were called, were brought down to Madras and here passed publicly through the streets in irons, destined to receive the most dreadful military punishment…… The nine men in irons awaiting a most severe punishment was made use of by the sons of Tippoo, who have been kept prisoners in the Palace at Vellore since the taking of Seringapatam and served to ripen a design that had been long formed. A conspiracy was formed by the Sepoys to murder all the Europeans and take possession of that Fort.”
Tipu Sultan
On the night of 10 July 1806, Shaikh Kasim, a sepoy, led the English East India Company sepoys in starting a general massacre of the English troops.
Lt. Col. W. J. Wilson in ‘History of the Madras Army’ wrote, “The sepoys went away shortly afterward, and were heard to call out “Come out, Nawab, come out, Nawab, there is no fear.” This was supposed to be addressed to Futteh Hyder, the eldest of the four Mysore Princes.”
Of the 372 Englishmen present at Vellore, 128 were killed that night by the Indian sepoys. The English flag was replaced with the flag of Tipu Sultan, which was handed over by Moizuddin, the eldest son of Tipu. He was proclaimed the leader of the revolutionaries.
Though the immediate cause was the headgear and other orders, the revolt had been planned for a long time. Charles Macfarlane wrote, “The splendour which the sons of Tippoo were enabled, by the liberality of the Company, to keep up, attracted a continual influx of visitors, including all that came to Vellore from the countries which had once belonged to their father. Among these men were very many who had lost by the change which had taken place in Mysore, who hated the tranquillity which we had introduced into their country, and who longed for the old days of rapine and violence. It is believed that these desperadoes contributed to a regular conspiracy and facilitated the execution of the daring design.
It is said that the confederates intended that all who were brought to join in the insurrection should act upon a preconcerted plan, which had been digested and privately circulated by some of the turbulent Marawa chiefs; and that in connection with these desperadoes were some few Frenchmen, disguised as fakeers or dervishes, who went about the country inveighing everywhere against the English as robbers and tyrants. It is also stated that placards were fixed up within the mosques and Hindu temples, where Europeans never entered, to excite a general spirit of revolt among the whole native population of Madras.”
The English Government set up an enquiry commission headed by Major General Pater which submitted its report on 9 August 1806. The report said, “There are two principal causes which appear to us to have led to the mutiny. The late innovations in the dress and appearance of the sepoys, and the residence of the family of the late Tippoo Sultan at Vellore.”
Sir J. F. Cradock, the Commander-in-Chief, disagreed with these findings and argued in his submission that change in dress was a pretext and the real objective was to restore the rule of Tipu Sultan’s family.
The Court of Directors after the investigation declared that the “immediate cause of the discontent among the sepoys was the introduction of certain innovations in their dress, which were offensive, and, as they held, degrading to them; and that the captive sons of the late Tippoo Sultan, with their adherents and abettors, took occasion, from the dissatisfaction of the sepoys, to instigate them to insurrection and revolt, with the view of effecting their liberation, and the restoration of the Mahomedan power.”
The mutiny was suppressed by noon on 10 July. Colonel Gillispie stationed at Arcot came to rescue the Englishmen at Vellore before 7 am. His forces, which also included Indian sepoys, killed more than 500 Indians in the fort within a few hours.
At least 15 English officers including, Colonel Fancourt, H.M.’s 34th regiment, commanding the garrison, Lieutenant-Colonel McKerras, Captain Willison and Lieutenants Winchip and Jolly of the 23rd, Captain Miller, Lieutenants O’Reilly, Smart, and Tichbourne of the 1st, and Lieutenants Eley and Popham of the 69th, Mr. Mann Deputy Commissary of Stores, Mr. Gill Conductor of Ordnance, Mr. Smith the Military Paymaster and Major Armstrong of the 16th N.I. were killed.
Among the captured sepoys, six were blown away with cannon guns, five were shot by firing squads, eight were hanged, and several others were transported for life. Out of the retainers of Mysore Princes, one was sentenced to death, two to transportation for life, one to imprisonment for life, and one to imprisonment for ten years. The sons of Tipu Sultan were sent to Kolkata with stricter vigilance.
Lord William Bentinck, Governor, and Sir J. F. Cradock, C-in-C, were removed from their respective offices by the Court of Directors.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Saquib Salim / July 10th, 2025
Indian origin Sabih Khan, a native of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh brought laurels to India in general and his hometown in particular on being appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Apple. He replaces Jeff Williams. Currently, Khan serves as Senior Vice President of Operations. Indeed, an honour to Sabih Khan, known for his extraordinary skill and a brilliant strategist besides an architect of Apple’s supply chain.
Bringing glory to his native Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, Sabih Khan (58) has been honoured with the post of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Apple, marking a significant step in the company’s ongoing leadership transition. Notably, Khan has been with Apple for three decades and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Operations and will take over from Jeff Williams later this month, the iPhone maker announced in a statement.
Before joining Apple’s procurement group in 1995, he worked as an applications development engineer and key account technical leader at GE Plastics. A quick look into his biodata revealed that he was born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh and later moved to Singapore during his school years before settling down in the US. Interestingly, he is armed with dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from Tufts University, and a master’s in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
Sabih Khan’s father Saeed Ullah Khan was a resident of Rampur who had settled down in Singapore decades ago. Sabih received his primary education there, after which he moved to America and received higher education from there. Apple CEO Tim Cook described him as “a brilliant strategist and one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain.”
“Sabih leads with heart and values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer,” Cook added. “He helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges.”
Moreover, Khan has been playing a vital role in shaping the global supply chain that powers Apple’s operations around the world. In 2019, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations, reporting directly to Jeff Williams. In this role, he led key initiatives in advanced manufacturing, expanding Apple’s global footprint, and navigating complex supply chain challenges, especially during turbulent global events.
According to sources, Khan has also been a major force behind Apple’s environmental efforts. Under his leadership, the company has reportedly reduced its carbon footprint by over 60 per cent, thanks to stronger supplier partnerships and green manufacturing practices.
Further, he also oversees Apple’s supplier responsibility programmes, which aim to improve labour conditions, and provide education and training for workers at production facilities globally. In his new role, Khan will be playing a vital role in shaping the global supply chain that powers Apple’s operations around the world. He has also been a major force behind Apple’s environmental efforts. Under his leadership, the company has reportedly reduced its carbon footprint by over 60 per cent, thanks to stronger supplier partnerships and green manufacturing practices.
Jeff Williams, who has been with Apple for 27 years, will continue to report to CEO Tim Cook and oversee Apple’s design team and health initiatives until his planned retirement later this year. His transition also signals a shift in the structure of Apple’s leadership, with the design team set to report directly to Tim Cook after Williams steps down. Sabhih Khan has made not only his native Moradabad but also his home country India proud.
[The author is former Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle chief]
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Pride of the Nation / by M Rafi Ahmed / July 10th, 2025
A grand launch event was held in the capital today for the book “Naushera ka Sher — Brigadier Mohammad Usman”, celebrating the life of the 1947–48 war hero. Authored by senior journalist Kauser Usman from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, the book honours Brigadier Usman, famously known as the “Hero of Heroes.”
The book was officially released by former Vice President of India, Mr. Hamid Ansari, who is also a family member of Brigadier Usman. Speaking at the event, Mr. Ansari said,
“Brigadier Usman was more than a soldier — he symbolised patriotism, courage, and sacrifice. Kauser Usman’s book is a fitting tribute and an inspiration for future generations.”
Brigadier Mohammad Usman was one of the few Indian Army officers who laid down his life during the India-Pakistan war of 1947–48, without retreating. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest wartime gallantry honour.
Author Kauser Usman said,
“This book is my humble tribute to a national hero. Brigadier Usman’s life, simplicity, and service to the nation continue to guide us.”
Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, former Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, also attended the event.
The book is published by Pharos Media Publishing Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Art & Culture / by Mohd Naushad Khan / July 11th, 2025
Ather Siddiqi was a researcher of eminence in his field and his research has been nationally and internationally recognised in the scientific world.
Professor Ather H. Siddiqi was born on December 29, 1931, in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He attained his early education at the Govt. High School, Saharanpur and obtained the degrees of B.Sc. (1950) and M.Sc. (1953) from A.M.U. Topping the university in Science and Zoology, he received two gold medals. He did his PhD in 1956 under the supervision of Professor Babar Mirza from Aligarh Muslim University.
Ather Siddiqi joined the Department of Zoology as a lecturer in 1953. After three years, he joined Purdue University, USA and completed another doctorate in 1958. He became a reader in 1961 and was appointed as a professor in 1977. Prof. Siddiqi also taught at universities in Nigeria and Libya and returned to India in 1980. He served as the Chairman of the Department of Zoology (1985-88) and as the President of the Indian Society for Parasitology. He also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Life Science in 1988-89, finally retiring from his services in 1994.
His scientific work on helminth taxonomy was published by the New York Academy of Sciences in the form of an exhaustive monograph. Despite that, he received his basic training in classical zoology in the early sixties. Later on, he switched to experimental work in parasitology. Ather Siddiqi was a researcher of eminence in his field and his research is nationally and internationally recognised in the scientific world.
Siddiqi’s Immersion in Urdu Writing
Apart from research articles, his popular writing in Urdu started in the 1980s. His first article in Urdu appeared on the life and scientific contribution of his mentor Professor Babar Mirza in the Quarterly “Fikr-o-Nazar” (January 1987). He published two articles in the early years of “Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq”, Aligarh: ‘Ilm-ul-Hayatiat ke Isatiza se Khitab’ (December 1987), ‘Mohammad Babar Mirza-Apnay Chaman ka Aik Deedawar’ (August 1989).
After his retirement in 1994, he devoted himself completely to Urdu writing. His lengthy article, ‘Mashriq say bezar na Maghrib say Hazar Kar’ narrateing the scientific and cultural activities of European countries was serialised in January 2005-June 2006 issues of “Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq”.
Similarly, his Urdu travelogue ‘Saat Haftay Inglistan Main’ (Seven Weeks in England) was published in the June and July 2006 issues of “Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq”. It carried interesting information regarding the scientific and cultural development of England.
His article based on his visit to Spain ‘Undlus Ka Shandaar Mazi’ (The Bright Past of Spain) discussed the scientific and cultural development of medieval Spain.
Ather Siddiqi along with Syed Zillur Rahman, contributed a chapter, ‘Aligarh Muslim University: Development and Progress of Science Teaching and Research, 1877-1947’ in Science and Modern India: An Institutional History, c. 1784-1947 (ed. Uma Das Gupta), Centre for Studies in Civilisation published in 1999.
A Glimpse into his Published Works
He is regularly contributing a literary column ‘Hairat Sarai Ke Kahania’ to “Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq” which consists of the translation of interesting short stories taken from the internet.
Recently, his popular science articles ‘Parasitism: Aik Dilchasp Tareeq Zindagi’ (Parasitism is an Interesting Way of Life) and ‘Yek khuliya Tufailiati Beenariyan’ (Unicell parasitic diseases) appeared in the February 2022 and February 2023 issue, respectively, of the Urdu monthly ‘Aajkal’, Delhi.
After retirement, Ather Siddiqi devoted himself to Urdu writing and authored, translated and edited dozens of books. The names of some of his books are: ‘Kiya aur meri Hayat Kiya’, ‘Lizzat Aabla Pai’, ‘Nishat Aabla Pai’, ‘Hairat Sarai ke Kahaniyan’ (Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4). In 2022, he published “Rah wa Rasam Aashnai”, his last book. He also rendered Retd IAS officer Musa Raza’s book, “Land of Regrets: Kashmir”, in Urdu as “Kashmir Sarzamin Pashemani”.
Ather Siddiqi was one of the best teachers, an internationally acclaimed Zoologist, and a passionate Urdu writer. And above all, he was a wonderful human being. He passed away on 8th November, 2023, in Delhi at the age of 92 years due to old age illness.
References:
Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq, Aligarh (various issues) Science and Modern India: An Institutional History, c. 1784-1947 (ed. Uma Das Gupta), Centre for Studies in Civilisation, New Delhi, 1999.
source: http://www.heritagetimes.in / Heritage Times / Home / by Dr Asad Faisal Farooqui
Yusufpur (GhazipurDistrict), UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI / London, U. K :
Begum Zohra Ansari sold away ‘Dar-us-Salam’ to raise party funds and worked for the victory of the candidates of the Indian National Congress and for the defeat of the candidates of the Muslim League, who wanted partition.
Begum Zohra Ansari, an activist of the Indian National Movement whom Mahatma Gandhi addressed as “Vasthad Bi, was born in Delhi. She was the adopted daughter of freedom fighters, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari and Begum Shamsunnisa Ansari.
Besides playing an important role in the National Movement, her parents provided hospitality to leaders and a cadre of the Indian National Movement and scholars and people of repute in different walks of life in their residence ‘Dar-us-Salam’. It was very spacious like a royal palace.
While Begum Shamshunnisa Ansari was busy in these responsibilities, Zohra helped her. Thus she had an opportunity to see from close-quarters leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Motilal Nehru, and the Ali Brothers and to serve them. Right from childhood she evinced interest in literature, history, and social sciences. She also gained proficiency in Urdu, Arabic, Persian, and Hindi.
Zohra Ansari and Mahatma Gandhi
Zohra Ansari rendered her services in Wardha Ashram for a long time. Mahatma Gandhi came to know about her command over Urdu and started learning the language from her. He used to address her in his letters as ‘Vastad Bi’ and ‘Beti.
Zohra Ansari and Mahatma Gandhi used to have regular correspondence on various issues. In his letter dated 22 December 1932 to Dr Ansari, Gandhiji remarked that he used to look forward to Zohra’s letter every week. When Zohra expressed her desire to go to jail as a part of the National Movement, like her parents, Gandhiji asked her to wait and promised to allow her to go to jail.
Begum Zohra Ansari married Dr Shaukatulla Shah Ansari (1908-1972) who was her relative and leader of the Indian National Movement. Begum Zohra Ansari lost her father in 1936 and mother in 1938. She took an active part in the Freedom Struggle along with her husband. Both wife and husband opposed the partition of India.
She sold away ‘Dar-us-Salam’ to raise party funds and worked for the victory of the candidates of the Indian National Congress and for the defeat of the candidates of the Muslim League, who wanted partition. Post Independence, Begum Zohra Ansari led a simple life and passed away on 28 July 1988 in England.
source: http://www.heritagetimes.in / Heritage Times / Home / by Syed Naseer Ahamed / December 12th, 2023
