Pallikkere (Kasargod District) / Kozhikode, KERALA / Dubai, U.A.E :
Kozhikode:
PA Ibrahim Haji, one of the most prominent businessmen, educational entrepreneurs, and philanthropists of India and the Middle East, passed away on Tuesday in Kozhikode aged 78.
According to the reports, Ibrahim Haji was first hospitalized on December 11 in Dubai Healthcare City on December 11 after he suffered a major cardiac arrest. He was later shifted to MIMS Hospital in Kozhikode on December 20. He breathed his last on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital.
Ibrahim Haji was the founder vice-chairman of Malabar Gold and Diamonds. He also served as the director of Chandrika newspaper, vice-chairman of Indus Motors, and founder chairman of PACE Group of Institutions.
Born in Pallikkara in Kasaragod district on September 6, 1943, Ibrahim Haji migrated to the Gulf in 1966 where he set up the successful textile, garment, and jewelry businesses. He ventured into the education sector with the launch of Pace Group of Institutions in 1999. At present, 20,000 students from 25 countries pursue many courses in various PACE institutions in India, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. In Kerala, the group owns RIMS International School in Kannur, PACE Residential School, and Blossom Public School, both in Manjeri. The group also owns the PA College of Engineering, PA College of Pharmacy, PA Institute of Physiotherapy, PA Polytechnic, and PA First Grade College in Mangaluru in Karnataka.
His mortal remains will be kept for public viewing at his house in Kuttikkattoor in Kozhikode till 3 pm.
Burial will take place at Vettekkad Juma Masjid in Manjeri after 4pm.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / December 12th, 2021
As we gear up to bid goodbye to the year 2022, here’s an about-turn to look at the most influential Muslim women who with their girt and strength have embedded their names in history.
Meet Mehr Sheikh from being a news anchor working with a company in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, to setting up her office in front of the same company, she has come a long way. She is presented as one of India’s youngest mainstream female motivational speakers, founder-director of Papr Network, and Editor-in-Chief of Nikology, a YouTube channel with nearly 2 million subscribers.
From being routed in regular corporate life to breaking the barriers and taking running as a full-time profession Sufiya Sufi set many records. From being the fastest female to run the Indian Golden Quadrilateral Road in 6 days, 12 hours, and 6 minutes to taking up the challenges of running continuously 200 km in Qatar and later running across the globe she has come a long way.
With many beauty pageants coming back to India in 2022, Tabassum took the podium a notch up when she represented India as one of the jury members in a beauty event held in South Korea’s Seoul
In the field of sports, Nikhat brought laurels to India as apart from winning the gold at the world championship, she won gold at the National Championship, the CWG and the Stranjde Memorial championship.
Do not marry your sisters, daughters, and other relations to men as their second wives or to those who are inclined on marrying another woman for no reason.” Hundreds of Muslim women unanimously passed the above resolution moved by Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz at the 7th All India Muslim Ladies Conference in 1920.
The All India Muslim Ladies Conference was established in 1914 under the presidentship of Begum Sultan Jahan, the ruler of Bhopal, and the leadership of women like Begum Waheed, Abru Begum, and Begum Shafi to bring social, educational, and economic reforms among Muslim women. Within six years of its inception membership of the Conference increased from a few dozens to hundreds. These women raised money to open and maintain girls’ schools in different parts of India and formed a public opinion in support of education.
Apart from the white robe of a doctor and the operation theatre, Dr. Jahanara Begum, a prominent obstetrician of Assam, also dons colourful costumes and has a wide stage to perform. Away from the hospitals and clinics, Dr. Begum has made theatre a part of her life despite her hectic professional schedule. While she has healed thousands of people as a doctor, she has also impressed numerous playwrights and audiences as an actor.
Syeda Salva Fatima – Amazed at her confidence, he decided to give wings to her dreams and she was enrolled in the Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy in 2007. Despite failures, she remained undeterred and finally completed her training. She logged in 200 hours of flying in the Cessna 152 aircraft and 123 Hours of solo flight. She says,My best moment was when I flew for the first time. Also, every time I fly the big bird Airbus 320 in command, that’s the best feeling ever!
Farida Jalees, the founder of Lucknow Mahila Sewa Trust, who had boldly four startups during the Covid-19 lockdown to sustain the livelihoods of some 2.5 lakh women associated with her self-help group, said, “we have never felt these two (festivals) are different. We endeavor to make Jeevika Bakers viable and for this, I have been making use of every festival to sell baked foods under a canopy in marketplaces.”
Dr.Muhammad Raziul Islam Nadvi is a renowned Urdu author advocates Muslim women’s participation in mosques and namaz
Naseem Shafaie, the only Kashmiri woman to get the Sahitya Akademi award and the recipient of this year’s State Award for Literature rues that the Kashmiri language is being ignored by natives who prefer to speak with their children in Urdu (Hindustani) and not in their mother tongue. She laments that the language was not getting due treatment by its natural speakers. “Let all read it and be it our language,” she told Awaz-the Voice. She said there is a general trend among people in Kashmir to speak in the Urdu (Hindustani) language to their children at their homes.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Shaista Fatima, New Delhi / December 29th, 2022
Indian middle-distance runner Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath created history by becoming the first Indian athlete to run the men’s 800m in under 1 minute and 45 seconds. Competing at the Memoriał Czesława Cybulskiego athletics meet in Poznań, Poland, Afsal clocked a remarkable 1:44.93, breaking his own national record, reported the Ommcom News.
The 29-year-old athlete, who serves as a Junior Warrant Officer in the Indian Air Force, had previously set the national record at 1:45.61 during the UAE Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai earlier this year. Despite finishing sixth in Heat A/1 in Poznań, Afsal’s performance was a personal best and a significant milestone for Indian athletics.
The top three spots in the heat were claimed by Polish runners, with Maciel Wyderka taking the lead with a meet record and personal best of 1:44.23, followed closely by Filip Ostrowski (1:44.25) and Patryk Sieradzki (1:44.26).
The Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver, is named after the renowned Polish coach Czesław Cybulski, a key figure in Poznań’s sports history.
Hailing from Palappuram in the Palakkad district of Kerala, Afsal trains in Bengaluru under the Reliance Foundation program. He has previously won a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, and another at the 2019 South Asian Games in Kathmandu, Nepal. His journey to fame began in 2013 when he clinched gold at the inaugural Asian School Track and Field Championships in Malaysia.
With this record-breaking run, Mohammed Afsal continues to raise the bar for Indian athletics on the global stage.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / July 06th, 2025
Mohammed Siraj scripted history with a stunning display of fast bowling at Edgbaston, claiming 6/70 to bowl out England for 408 in the second Test of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. His fiery spell handed India a strong 180-run first-innings lead.
With Jasprit Bumrah absent, doubts hovered over India’s bowling attack. But Siraj, supported by Akash Deep’s four wickets, kept India firmly in control. This came despite a massive 303-run partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith.
Siraj dismissed key English batters, including Zak Crawley, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes. He then ran through the tail, removing Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.
This six-wicket haul is the first by a visiting pacer at Edgbaston since 1993. It is also the third-best performance by an overseas fast bowler at the venue.
At 31, Siraj joins an elite group of Indian pacers with five-wicket hauls in England. The others are Amar Singh, Chetan Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Ishant Sharma. This is his fourth five-for in Tests and his best performance in England.
Despite the long stand from Brook and Smith, India’s pace attack—led by Siraj—remained disciplined and aggressive. They kept the pressure on England and are now in a strong position to level the series.
India will aim to carry this momentum forward as the match enters a crucial phase.
Siraj’s brilliance echoes his historic Asia Cup 2023 performance—where he delivered one of the finest spells in a tournament final. His rise now mirrors the legacy of legends like Chaminda Vaas and Anil Kumble.
Siraj has firmly established himself as India’s new pace spearhead.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> > by Mohd. Naushad Khan / July 05th, 2025
Dr Thumbay Moideen was honoured for transforming the Thumbay Group into a global model of purpose-driven entrepreneurship in healthcare, education & Research.
In a moment of immense pride and global recognition, Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder and President of Thumbay Group, has been conferred his Fifth Honorary Doctorate, this time by the prestigious University of Lublin, Poland.
This accolade reaffirms his unmatched contributions to global healthcare, medical education, and Research for the community development.
The honorary doctorate was awarded in recognition of Dr. Moideen’s extraordinary leadership in establishing the First Private Academic Health Sytem and the region’s largest private medical university — and for transforming Thumbay Group into a global model of purpose-driven entrepreneurship in healthcare, education & Research.
Under his visionary leadership, Thumbay Group has impacted millions across more than 175 nationalities, offering compassionate care, research excellence, and world-class medical training.
The University of Lublin acknowledged Dr. Moideen’s pioneering efforts in integrating innovation with empathy, notably through the Thumbay International Research Grant (TIRG) — an initiative investing AED 3 million annually in areas like cancer immunology, AI in healthcare,precision medicine and many more Area’s of Research.
From a young entrepreneur in Karnataka to being celebrated as the most respected Indian Muslim and leading Beary in the world, Dr. Thumbay Moideen’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when faith meets action. Recognized as the leading NRI from Karnataka in the Gulf region, he is admired not just for his accomplishments, but for the values that drive them.
Once someone who measured success through projects and milestones, he has evolved into a changemaker who defines impact by how many lives his work touches.
With this latest recognition, Dr. Moideen joins an elite group of globally honoured visionaries who have reshaped industries while staying rooted in service, humility, and impact.
This doctorate reflects not only his entrepreneurial brilliance but also his enduring belief that health and education are fundamental rights, not privileges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Moideen said: “If our work has empowered others to dream, to heal, to grow, then I consider it a success. It’s no longer about how far I’ve gone, but how many I’ve taken along. I want Thumbay Group to be remembered as a force that empowered the underprivileged, raised the standards of education, healthcare & Research.”
The vision of Thumbay Group is to deliver excellence by building a seamless ecosystem of education, healthcare, and innovation. From its flagship Gulf Medical University to hospitals, labs, rehabilitation centers, and AI-driven research programs, the Group continues its mission of shaping the future of healthcare —the Group plans to Double its Healthcare capacity and expand its all business to grow 5 fold and have a global presence.
source: http://www.gulftoday.ae / Gulf Today / Home> News / by Gulf Today, Staff Reporter / June 18th, 2025
UAE-based Indian doctor and philanthropist Dr Shamsheer Vayalil has announced Rs 6 crore in financial aid for the families of medical students and doctors affected by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.
The ill-fated aircraft struck the BJ Medical College’s Atulyam hostel complex during lunch hour, reducing student residences and the dining hall to rubble.
All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8(AI 171) and another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, on the ground were killed when the London-bound aircraft crashed, moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Announcing the relief from the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Dr Shamsheer, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings and managing director of VPS Health, said he was deeply shaken when he saw the aftermath of the crash.
As someone who had lived in similar hostels during his medical education at Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore and Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Chennai, the images struck a chord, he said.
“I saw the footage from the mess and the hostel, and it truly shook me. It reminded me of the places I once called home, the corridors, the beds, the laughter, the pressure of exams, and the anticipation of a call from family,” he said.
“No one expects a commercial aircraft to come crashing into that world,” he added.
“Those students started the day thinking about lectures, assignments, and patients. Their lives ended in a way none of us could ever imagine. It hit close. Too close,” he said.
Dr Shamsheer’s relief package includes Rs 1 crore for each of the four deceased students’ families, Rs 20 lakh each for five seriously injured students, and Rs 20 lakh each for the families of doctors who lost loved ones.
The financial assistance will be delivered in coordination with the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College, ensuring that those in need receive support swiftly.
This is not the first time Dr Shamsheer has responded to such a crisis. In 2010, following the Mangalore air crash, he provided financial assistance and employment opportunities to affected families at Burjeel Holdings, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / June 17th, 2025
Faizan Zaki, Winner of the won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition, USA
New Delhi
Indians continue to dominate the spelling competitions in the USA, as the 13-year-old Non-Resident Indian with roots in Hyderabad Faizan Zaki won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in the USA.
Faizan Zaki lives in Dalla, Texas, and was the runner-up in the competition last year.
Faizan made it among 243 who made it to the national contest in Maryland on the Bee’s
Faizan won a prize of US$ 50,000 (about Rs 42.78 lakh) by spelling the difficult French word ‘ Éclaircissement’ in the final round.
With three spellers left on the Bee, Sarvdanya Kadam, and Sarv Dharavane kept getting their words wrong, leaving Faizan two words away from victory. The first was “Commelina”, but instead of asking the usual questions—definition, native language—to ensure he knew it, Faizan let his showman instincts take over.
“K-a-m,” he said, then stopped himself. “Okay, let me do this. Oh, shoot!”
“Just ring the bell,” he told Chief Justice Mary Brooks, who did so.
“So now you know what happens,” Brooks said, and the other two spellers returned to the stage.
Afterward, standing next to the trophy with confetti at his feet, Faizan said: “I’m definitely going to have nightmares about this tonight.”
Even the pronouncer Jacques Bailly tried to slow Faizan down before his winning word “éclairsissement,” but Faizan didn’t ask a single question before spelling it correctly, and after saying the last letter he pumped his fists and fell to the stage.
Faizan’s winning moment was captured in the pictures posted on X:
This year the bee celebrates its 100th anniversary, and Faizan may be the first champion to be remembered more for getting the word wrong than getting the word right.
“I think he cared too much about his aura,” said Faizan’s friend Bruhat Soma, who beat him in a “spell-off” tiebreaker last year.
Faizan had a more nuanced explanation: after not preparing for the spell-off last year, he over-improvised by focusing on speed during his study sessions.
Although Bruhat was fast when needed last year, he followed the familiar playbook for champion spellers: asking thorough questions, spelling slowly and metronomically, and showing little emotion.
Faizan’s father, Zaki Anwar, said: “He’s the best. I really believe that. He’s really good, man. He’s been doing this for so long and he knows the dictionary.”
After a little drama at last year’s contest before suddenly going into a spell-off, Scripps changed the rules of the contest, giving the judges more leeway to finish the contest before going into a tie-breaker.
This is Faizan’s winning spelling:
Faizan Zaki, previous runner-up, wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee
source: youtube.com/ Scripps News
The nine finalists performed well. During one stretch, six spellers got 28 words correct in a row and there were three perfect rounds during the finals. The last time a single perfect round occurred was in the infamous 2019 competition, which ended in an eight-way tie. Sarv, an 11-year-old fifth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, who ultimately finished third, would have been the youngest champion since Nihar Janga in 2016. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Like Faizan, who parents came from Hyderabad, Telangana, 30 of the past 36 champions are Indian Americans, a streak that began with Nupur Lala’s win in 1999, which was later featured in the documentary Spellbound.
Lala was one of dozens of past champions who attended this year and signed autographs for spellers, families, and bee fans to honor the anniversary.
Adding the $25,000 prize for second place to the winner’s $52,500 purse, Faizan raised his bee earnings to $77,500. What did he spend the most on with his winnings last year? A $1,500 Rubik’s Cube with 21 squares on each side. This time around, he said he’ll donate a larger portion of his winnings to charity.
Faizan has been spelling for more than half his life. He took part in the 2019 competition at age 7, gaining entry through a wild-card program that has now been discontinued. He qualified again in 2023 and made it to the semifinals before finishing second last year.
“One thing that sets him apart is that he’s really passionate about it. In his spare time, when he’s not studying for the bee, he’s really looking up old, outdated words that are unlikely to be asked for,” Bruhat said.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Aasha Khosa / May 31st, 2025
In 2007, Farah Usmani was working at the United Nations headquarters in New York when she made a pivotal decision that sparked a movement aimed at empowering women worldwide through financial independence.
Dr. Usmani, a physician from Uttar Pradesh, relocated to the city six years ago for work. During her search for a rental apartment, she discovered that New York’s rental prices were soaring and becoming unaffordable. After doing some quick calculations, she opted for a low-interest mortgage from the UN Federal Credit Union to purchase an apartment. She ended up buying a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, with a monthly mortgage payment that was only slightly higher than the rent she would have paid.
“This slightly higher expenditure (along with a down payment) would enable me to own an asset, and not fritter away my money on rent. It was such a wise decision. Today, 15 years later, I am on track to be a mortgage-free homeowner,” Usmani shared with the Morning Star newspaper. This experience inspired her to launch a campaign aimed at educating women around the globe about the importance of financial freedom and empowering themselves through financial independence.
Today Dr. Farah Usmani is an international health, gender and development expert based in New York.
Dr. Farah Usmani with her husband Javed Usmani
Dr. Usmani is also the first Muslim woman from India to work with the United Nations International Civil Service at Director Level. She is the recipient of the 2021 Mahatma Award for Social Impact for her work with women, girls, and minorities.
She has 25 years of experience working with the United Nations International Civil Service with UNFPA, focusing on women and girls and their reproductive health and rights.
Carrying forward her mission to empower women, Dr. Usmani is the Global Vice President of SAFAR Foundation,(Supporting Action for Advancement and Rights), a philanthropic organization focused on uplifting marginalized women and girls.
She is the Founder of “Rising Beyond The Ceiling”, a global initiative supported by SAFAR to shine a spotlight on Muslim women of India and contribute towards changing their stereotypical narrative.
The organization has published its first volume on Muslim women from Uttar Pradesh and is working on the rest of the Indian states.
Farah has received several awards and recognitions including the British Council and the Joint-Japan World Bank Merit Fellowships.
Dr. Farah Usmani
At the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), Dr. Usmani played a pivotal role in policy, planning, technical leadership, and health services across more than 50 countries, working on the rights of women and girls. She became the first Indian Muslim woman to reach the Director level in the UN’s International Civil Service in New York.
She noticed that Muslim women were often boxed into stereotypical roles on every platform. Farah made it her mission to break that mold.
“Why are our stories limited to the veil and the home?”
Inspired by this question, Dr. Farah Usmani launched Rising Beyond the Ceiling a global initiative that highlights the achievements of Indian Muslim women, brings their hidden stories to light, and challenges societal stereotypes.
This initiative didn’t stay confined to books or speeches it became a movement. A beacon of hope for every woman in a small town who dreams of a bigger world.
Dr. Usmani believes that money is not just a necessity it is power. She says, “Instead of being afraid of money, we need to befriend it.” Her husband taught her: money that doesn’t generate returns slowly vanishes. And that’s where her journey into financial literacy began.She started investing in tax-free savings, fixed deposits, and NRE (Non-Resident External) deposits. Today, her daughter Saba is also a real estate investor in Manhattan. This is not just a financial legacy it is an intellectual one, building a story of empowerment across generations.
Dr. Usmani has received numerous accolades, including Merit Fellowships from the World Bank and the British Council, and the Mahatma Award in 2021. She has worked globally for the rights of women, minorities, and marginalized girls.
She also serves as the Global Vice President of SAFAR Supporting Action for Advancement and Rights a philanthropic organization focused on uplifting marginalized women and girls.Breaking many gender barriers at different stages in her life, she has the distinction of being the first woman student to top the merit list in the pre-medical examination of the Aligarh Muslim University, where she completed her medical training.
She is the recipient of the 2021 Mahatma Award for Social Impact for her work with women, girls, and minorities.
Farah Usmani comes from a middle-class Muslim Family in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
She holds a Master’s in Health Policy, Planning & Financing given by the London School of Economics & London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine & a M.D. in Obstetrics & Gynecology from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh India. She has certifications in leadership and organizational management from Cornell University, Cranfield School of Management, Stanford University & the American Management Association, New York.
Farah is married to Jawed Usmani, an Indian civil servant, who rose to the position of Chief secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government. They have two children Faraz Usmani and Sabah Usmani.
Dr. Usmani says, “The coins our mothers and grandmothers hid in their mattresses were not just savings they were their attempt at independence.
Indian Muslim Women who feature in the list of Rising Beyond the Ceiling
The “The time has come for women to see money not as shame, but as strength.”
Her mindset, her struggles, her smile they are a source of inspiration for every woman who dreams of flying in an open sky, not a cage.
Dr. Farah Usmani’s story reads like a novel with trials, a determined heroine, a journey of transformation, and a path toward the light.
It teaches us that with courage, even the walls of a house can become the rooftop of the world’s tallest building.
Because when a woman shapes her identity by herself, she doesn’t just create a path for herself but for every generation that follows.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories> The Changemakers / by Onika Maheshwari, New Delhi / June 02nd, 2025
The Muslims of North eastern India are a spirited community and are contrinuting immensely to the nation building.
Here are ten Muslims whose stories inspire others and make us look at human spirit differently.
Abid Azad
After his work in the bank, this young professional roams around various places in Assam to feed the hungry. Since the days of COVID-19 and the consequent lockdown, Azad has been providing food to those on the streets, hospitals, and others in need. He distributed meal packets to patients and their attendants at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for Iftar, and also delicious foods for Hindus and people from other faiths.
Ahmed Ali
The presence of Ahmed Ali, an unlettered rickshaw puller from Assam who has built a chain of schools in and around his native village, at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26 this year caught the attention of everyone. The Government of India had invited him as a special guest for his extraordinary services to society. He has built a chain of educational institutions from his earnings to encourage children to go to school.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Ahmed Ali, a resident of a rural village in the Sribhumi district of southern Assam, in his monthly radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Ahmed Ali used his earnings from pulling the rickshaws to support his family and established nine schools in southern Assam. Due to poverty, Ahmed Ali remained unschooled, but he wanted to ensure nobody in his society had to remain illiterate.
Nazrul Haque
He has been recently honored with the prestigious Assam Gaurav Award by the State Government for his outstanding achievements in fish farming and employment generation. Haque, who began his entrepreneurial journey with just Rs 10,000, has successfully overcome numerous challenges and now owns multiple fisheries. His dedication to aquaculture has not only contributed to the fishery sector’s growth in Assam but also provided job opportunities to hundreds of unemployed youths.
Nabab Ali
If Dronacharya awardee the late Ramakant Achrekar, the celebrated coach of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, had the privilege of nurturing the cricket legend’s son Arjun too, so did Assam’s very own Achrekar, Nabab Ali, who has not only molded former Assam Ranji captain Parag Das but also his son Riyan Parag to be the first ever cricketer from Assam to be in Team India. Fondly called Nababda (Brother Nabab) by one and all in the cricket circles, Nabab Ali may not have hit too many centuries and half centuries during his brief cricketing career, but he has cracked more than a ton as far as the number of quality cricketers he has produced for Assam as well as India.
Dr. Mustafa A Barbhuyan
Hailing from a remote village in southern Assam’s Hailakandi district, Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya has been selected among the top 100 most influential people in Pathology, specifically, as one of the Top 20 Heroes of Pathology in the US for this year.
Syedullah Nongrum
He is the voice of Khasi Muslims and a bridge between communities in Meghalaya. Nongrum spearheaded the construction of Madina Masjid, the only glass mosque in India. This magnificent structure situated in Shillong, not only serves as a place of worship but also houses an Islamic learning center, a school for underprivileged children, and a higher education college with modern facilities in science, arts, and technology.
The mosque is the only glass mosque in India, and reportedly the first glass mosque in Asia, making India the third country to have a mosque built of glass
Arshel Akhtar
Arshel Akhtar wants to make cycling a priority for Guwahati residents and is working on creating a narrative on it. From working across diverse areas like Information and Technology, software development, banking, and share investing, Arshel was appointed as the first ‘Bicycle Mayor’ of Guwahati in 2018. He continues to find solutions to urban mobility issues through his non-profit organizations, Pedal for a Change and The Green Lane Foundation. Akhtar has formed an active citizens group called the Bicycle Councillors of Guwahati, which will work together to make cycling a safe, accessible, and aspirational mode of transport among all sections of society.
Nahid Afrin
She first shot to fame when she became the second runner-up in the 2015 edition of Indian Idol Junior. In 2016, she made her debut as a playback singer in Bollywood with the film Akira starring Sonakshi Sinha in the lead role. In 2024, Nahid Afrin was appointed as UNICEF India’s Youth Advocate, marking a significant milestone in her career. Nahid, along with three other Youth Advocates, will work with Bollywood’s star actor Kareena Kapoor-Khan, who is named as the National Ambassador by UNICEF.
Maulana Nurulamn Qasimi:
At a time when there are many misconceptions about Islam in society, Maulana has tried to dispel those by clearly explaining the principles and ideals of Islam. Maulana Nurul Amin Qasimi is a cleric who preaches Islam in the right form with exceptional thoughts.
Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhry
Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhury, who retired as the Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, has acquired the nickname of “The Birdman of Assam.” He is the first in Assam to write books on the birds of North Eastern States. His studies have contributed to the conservation and awareness of various bird species. He has authored 28 books, 50 technical reports, and more than 900 articles and scientific papers.
Choudhury, 63, had played a pivotal role in protecting habitats and declaring the white-winged wood duck as the State bird in Assam in 2003.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories> The Changemakers / posted by Vidushi Gaur / June 08th, 2025
As hundreds of students fail to secure MBBS seats through merit or management quotas, Shaheen Group of Institutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Medical Social Institute of Tajikistan, under which 500 students will be able to pursue MBBS degrees at the institute.
As part of the collaboration, the Ambassador of Tajikistan to India, along with the Cultural Ambassador and other diplomatic representatives, visited the Shaheen Campus. Dr Zainab, the Tajikistan coordinator, assured that full security is provided to international students there.
Dr Abdul Qadeer, Chairman of the Shaheen Group of Institutions, explained that this agreement offers such students a chance to fulfill their dream of becoming doctors.
He further stated that students can complete the entire six-year MBBS course, including hostel accommodation and Indian food, for just Rs 32 lakh.
Dr Qadeer shared that the course fee can be paid in easy installments. The registration fee is Rs 49,500, and registrations will remain open until the end of June. The Rs 32 lakh package also includes insurance coverage.
In a significant move, Shaheen Group and its medical partners will provide FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) coaching from the first day of the MBBS course. This ensures that students are well-prepared to obtain a license for medical practice after graduation. For more information, visit: www.msitshaheen.com.
source: http://www.thehansindia.com / Hans India / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by The Hans India / June 02nd, 2025
