U.A.E:

M V Kunhu Mohamed of Jaleel Holdings came to the UAE as a driver way back in the 60s.

Dubai:

M V Kunhu Mohamed came to the UAE way back in the 1960s as a driver. Now, 73, Kunhu Mohamed is a billionaire businessman and his tale is a true real rags to riches story.

We at Gulf News headed out to meet the man behind the success of Jaleel Holdings – one of the largest wholesale distributors of food in the Middle East today. 

Once a driver, now a billionaire in UAE

Kunhu Mohamed started working in the UAE in the 1960’s.

He recalled, “I came to the UAE in a boat way back in 1969. I worked as a driver in the Ras Al Khaimah Sheikh’s palace. The Sheikh had a beautiful garden where fresh vegetables and fruits would be grown. The produce from the garden was absolutely fresh. The garden was so big and the produce [was] a lot.”

“So I started taking some extra produce into the market. Soon the demand grew and I got a driver to come pick up the produce from me and sell it in the market. Soon the business started growing. I got a lot of help – from a monetary perspective – from the Sheikh’s family. They gave me money to expand my little business that I was involved in,” he said.

That was the beginning, the business man claimed, saying: “Soon my sales began to grow multifold.”

Starting out

In 1972, Kunhu Mohamed set up his business officially.

The company began as a wholesale fruit store in Deira, Dubai. Over the years they expanded their business diversifying into various other sectors. The company streamlined its operations bringing all businesses under the umbrella of Jaleel Holdings in 2008.

Having a dream

“A dream becomes a reality with sweat, determination and hard work. Today Jaleel Holdings has earned a reputation of trust. Our products and services are delivered in the quickest possible manner, at competitive prices, keeping intact the quality of all products. This is only possible when you have the support of your market and backing of your team and staff. All this happens after years of hard-work.”

“I had a dream and that has borne fruit today. I feel blessed. The organization has stayed true not only to these values but also ensuring the delivery of the finest quality services and products across sectors and I will not have it any other way.”

Reminiscing the past

“Before I came to the UAE I lived and worked in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. But the political scenario was not conducive for business people. So I left the city to come work in the UAE. I arrived in a boat just like many others did during my time. There was sand, sand and only sand. My first job was that of a driver. I worked for the royal family. It was perhaps one of the best days of my life.”

“My employers treated me with kindness, like I was their own. I was a mere driver, but they respected me for who I am. I feel so much gratitude for them even today.”

Kunhu Mohamed said : “As part of a company that helps create positive and exciting experiences for the trading community, I am greatly gratified to work with an energetic, forward-looking workforce that is dedicated to serving the company’s customers and stakeholders at the highest level.”

Working around professional beliefs

Kunhu Mohamed said the success and growth of his business has been due to consistency in terms of standards and policies that the company has adhered to. “We have received alot of support from our local and international partners and stakeholders who have all truly made our enterprise a massive success. nd to the efforts of our supportive local and international partners.”

“Over the years, our professional belief in ethics and quality has evolved into a set of corporate standards and practices, which we use as our benchmark for excellence. This attitude of providing the highest level of quality in all of our endeavors has paid-off at every step of the way. Today, we pride ourselves on being a trustworthy name in the trade across the GCC.”

He said he learnt all this from his early days of working in the Sheikh’s palace. “They encouraged me to grow and excel and this is what I do today with my staff. Not just that as a policy in my company today, we pay salaries on time. I don’t believe in making the employees suffer. This is how my life was when we came to the UAE. There was love and respect given to me and I am doing the same for my employees.”

Kunhu Mohamed recalled how he received immense support from the royal family when he wanted to start his food distribution business. “Today, I am in this position in life – all thanks to the love and support I received back then. I want to pass this on to my staff.”

Meeting the challenges

Through the decades, Jaleel Holdings has grown from strength to strength despite market challenges. In fact through the years, the company has encountered three major setbacks but managed to bounce back after.

“The challenges were either due to market slowdown or like in one instance when I had a fall out with my relatives who were managing my company. I was living in India at the time. When I came back to UAE to take over my business, I saw red. Basically the company was running at a loss. There were loans in the company’s name.”

Bouncing back in 1985

In 1985, Kunhu Mohamed re-started his business. He came back with a vengeance, a lot of will power and determination.

“And so I worked from the scratch and built my business back again. I remember my oldest son who had to be educated for college looked at my company balance sheet. He asked me how he could go to college when there was no money in the account. I promised him the balance sheet would look green by the time he returned and that it was.”

“Today, I am helped by aided by professional standards, thoroughly tested policies and with the support of over 1,500 dedicated team members we continue to take steps in moving forward with major developments that are rapidly taking place at home and around the globe.”

“Going ahead, we will strive to endeavor to be one of the most actively competitive companies in this region with emphasis on efficiency in operations, reliability for our customers and trust on discovery and amendments on new techniques and business strategies.”

“I could not have achieved my success anywhere else in the world. The land of UAE has given me and my family much and I am so grateful for that.”

source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Gulf News / Home> UAE Success Stories> Exclusive / by Anjana Kumar, Senior Reporter / January 30th, 2020

ASSAM:

Shakil Injam, who received advanced martial arts training in China, is an invited trainer for the Special Forces of the Indian Army. He teaches innovative techniques to the country’s armed forces to give them a cutting edge in a fight without weapons along the India-China border.

The 28-year-old fighter is a national-level bodybuilder, strength lifter, strength and conditioning coach, certified sports nutritionist, and Black Belt in several disciplines of martial arts (MA).

Born into a family associated with education and literature, Shakil was a gifted student. He. His father, Ismail Hussain, a prominent writer and educator, wanted to make his only child a Sanskrit professor.

“My father wanted to make me a professor of Sanskrit. Similarly, my mother wanted to join the administrative service. I did perform well in my academic career. I passed my HSLC or Matric exam with a Distinction from Assam Jatiya Bidyalay. After the HSLC exam result, I was admitted to Srimanta Sankar Academy for a higher secondary or Plus II course in humanities.

“I passed Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Dispur College. In 2015, I completed my Master’s Degree in English from the University of Gauhati University. As my parents were involved in arts and culture, they enrolled me in Satriya dance and music training when I was young. But all these things did not excite and inspire me. I aimed to do something exceptional to make my life more enjoyable and exciting. Eventually, I started receiving training in martial arts,’ said Shakeel in an exclusive interview with Awaz-The Voice.

After training in Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwondo, Wushu, Gymnastics, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing for about 6 years in Assam, Shakeel finally decided to move to Henan Province, China in 2016 for further training. In China Shakeel received training for three months at Yuntaishan International Wushu School, a leading Chinese Wushu academy. The academy is also known as the Chinese Army School.

“I am always interested in learning new martial arts techniques. I also received training in wrestling in Gurgaon, and Haryana, after coming from China. I spent three months in Kerala to learn the ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu. I had participated in many national-level martial art competitions and won prizes,” said Shakil Inzam. He is currently training many youngsters at Legacy Combat MMA & Fitness in Chandmari, Guwahati.

Shakil is also a national-level bodybuilder who has shown rare talent in martial arts. He finished fifth in the Junior Mr. India competition. Shakil’s achievements in various fields of sports attracted the attention of the Indian Army. They invited the talented martial artist from Assam to train the personnel of the Special Forces. He has already undertaken many courses for the soldiers of various regiments of the Indian Army for their posting on the India- China border.

It is pertinent to mention here that under an agreement, the troops of India and China are not supposed to carry or use firearms against each other on the border. This was agreed upon by the two countries given their understanding that boundary is disputed in many places and both are trying to resolve it.

“I have been involved with some groups of the Indian Army since 2019. They are called Special Forces. I train the Special Forces soldiers in unarmed combat. Every year for about a month I go to army camps and the soldiers are unarmed I teach fighting techniques. Every time the training camps are held in different places. I am proud to serve my motherland in this way,” Shakil said.

Shakil said that martial arts can turn the younger generation away from social ills like drugs or drug abuse. He said martial arts is an addiction and whoever makes it a part of life is never like drugs or drug abuse can’t work.

“Many perceive that martial arts are a violent sport. But it is not. It requires a lot of patience, restraint, and discipline. People who learn this art never go to fight unnecessarily on the streets There is a lot to learn for fighting in the professional field. You cannot win a fight here with your body strength,” Shakil said.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> India / by Mukut Sharma, Guwahati / January 06th, 2023

Coimbatore, TAMIL NADU:

One weekday morning, Syeed was busy readying his children for school, when his neighbours alerted him about arrangements being made to axe a tree at Ondipudur.

COIMBATORE: Leaders of countries across the world may have pledged to grow one million trees by 2030 during the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in November last. But the grassroots change is brought about by uncelebrated people rooted in quaint vicinities flung far from the world of parleys and summits.

Meet K Syeed from Coimbatore town who has saved over 600 trees from illegal felling over the last two decades. The man is a mystery to many as he is seen speaking to ailing trees at times. Even so, when the trees begin to recuperate eventually following the regular tête-a-tête, the residents here can only wonder what secrets lay concealed in nature.

When the 44-year-old recently came to know that the peepal tree that was transplanted on Rathinam college campus six years ago from roadside near Eachanari was not flourishing at the new spot, he soon decided to make a new friend. He kept visiting the tree and striking ‘conversations’ with it. The tree is thriving now, said locals.

One weekday morning, Syeed was busy readying his children for school, when his neighbours alerted him about arrangements being made to axe a tree at Ondipudur. Instead of dropping his kids at school, Syeed lugged them along to the spot at once.

“We reached there just in time. It took three hours to persuade the building owner to budge. After saving that age-old tree, I left my children at school in the afternoon. School can wait, schooling can’t,” Syeed said.He has also gathered like-minded people and formed a team against deforestation.

They not only prevent the axing of trees, they also move legally against those laying to waste nature through the revenue department, which is the custodian of land and trees.Some time ago, the highways department applied for approval from the revenue department for axing 180 trees along Siruvani road, and permission was granted to bring 78 trees to the ground.

“We couldn’t believe it when the order came. A team of environmentalists conducted a field inspection and reduced the number of trees that were required to be cut to 38. Likewise, we have stopped cutting of trees at various locations,” he added.

Syeed and his teammates realised they could achieve much more if they worked jointly with government officials. They started an initiative to transplant trees eight years ago, and they have helped nearly 1,000 trees turn a new leaf so far. “I hope governments in the future earmark lands parcels exclusively for planting trees,” he added.

If a tree falls in the forest, and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make a sound? The answer is a resounding yes; the sound of the earth mourning a beloved dweller’s demise. But, not all of us can hear it.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by G Senthil Kumar / Express News Service / January 08th, 2023

Mangalore, KARNATAKA / NEW DELHI :

New Delhi :

Asian Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) has appointed K. Mohammed Haris, Managing Director of Mukka Sea Food Industries Pvt. Ltd, Mangaluru as Trade Commissioner for United Arab Emirates by consensus of the Member countries on Wednesday. He was appointed by Saad Al Dabbagh, Chairman at the head office based in Doha, Qatar.

“While I warmly welcome Haris into the board as the Trade commissioner, his experience and commitment to excellence will be a major asset for the Global Trade bodies and especially between India and the Arab nations. Congratulations and best wishes in his new role as Trade Commissioner.” said Saad Al Dabagh in Qatar.

“India-UAE relations are witnessing an unprecedented momentum with a large number of opportunities for cooperation and increasing investments, in key sectors like infrastructure and technology” said Haris who is actively looking at his new role in promoting trade relations between India and the Arab world specifically the United Arab Emirates.

“In the trade world, there is no one quite Haris from Mukka Exports. He is brilliant, hard-working and devoted to getting trade right. He’s been a devoted entrepreneur for nearly two decades on the Fishing and Sea food business, advancing the prosperity of India’s trade narrative. Through his work on various trade agreements, he has opened the doors for Indian businessmen to deliver goods and services in the UAE, strengthening our economy, and securing our leadership abroad,” said Dr Krishnakumar IAS, the former minister of Defense and Agriculture, Govt of India.

Arab world considers it very significant that the Trade Commissioner from India who is inaugurated as the head of the trade commission in the international organization which embodies diversity with many memberships from developing countries in light of maintaining and reinforcing the multilateral trading system. AACC hopes that the Trade Commissioner will address a myriad of challenges facing the India UAE Free trade agreement thorough cooperation with the Members, by demonstrating his deep expertise and experiences, his calibre of coordination with major countries, as well as his managerial ability to run multilateral institutions, which he has previously cultivated in his distinguished capacities in leadership roles and as a founder promoter of Mukka Sea Food Industries Limited. He has worked in different verticals with strategic assignments across companies, said a release.

He would help the UAE exporters who can now benefit from greater market access through preferential tariff rates. Some products will be subject to zero tariffs from day one – others will see them reduced over time. The CEPA, which was signed earlier this year, is expected to increase the total value of bilateral trade in goods to over $100 billion and trade in services to over $15 billion within five years, said the release.

He is the Managing Director at Mukka Sea food Exports Limited and his role of building new businesses and forging international relationships with the Arab World qualify him for taking up the role of Trade commissioner for the United Arab Emirates. As a co-founder of SHIPWAVES he was responsible for building the next general digital platform for Global trade by streamlining the supply chain with Cloud and AI and Blockchain technologies. He also set up India’s first steam sterilised fish meal plant with expansion of 8 plants across the globe. Mukka group today has a turnover of over INR 600 Crores (Dhs 300 million) per annum and is one of Asia’s fastest growing companies.

“Haris is a great choice for one of the new Trade Commissioner as he joins the AACC to usher in a new era with more Indian leadership than ever before,” said Tribhuvan Darbari the Vice President of the board. As he has skillfully negotiated trade deals and crafted our nation’s trade policy while gaining a sophisticated understanding of the opportunities available and the challenges facing the Indian market that is looking at 5 Trillion in the short term. I look forward to working with him, as well as the Director General, to resolve the Committee’s long-standing concerns with the Free Trade Agreements. I also look forward to addressing issues that have not always been prioritized, particularly when it comes to climate change, labor, and SME’s economic empowerment. I wish him the very best in this new endeavor and thank him for his commitment to public service.” he said.

source: http://www.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / January 01st, 2023

Bhatkal, KARNATAKA :

Bhatkal:

The two-day Millennial celebrations of Jamatul Muslimeen Bhatkal kicked off with a massive traditional rally in the town on Tuesday.

The rally was organised to give a traditional fervour to the celebrations, with people wearing traditional local costumes as a mark of respect to their culture and traditions.

Local sports clubs joined together and presented tableau of traditional wedding and other significant events of the Nawayath history.

The locals also wore the traditional Lungi as their outfit during the rally.

The two-day event will see a massive event to celebrate the 1000 years of the organisation on the first day while on the second day a get together with local non-Muslims and their leaders will also be organised on Thursday.

Jamatul Muslimeen Bhatkal has been preparing in full swing for over three months for the event and has called on people to attend the celebrations in numbers to make it a grand success.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / January 04th, 2023

INDIA:

Yesterday was the 103rd Birth anniversary of Captain Abbas Ali, Great socialist freedom fighter of Aligarh, and member of INA. Here is a biographical note on him.

Captain Abbas Ali, distinguished freedom fighter, close associate of Subash Chander Bose, fighter of Indian National Army, and hardcore socialist, was the son of Ayyub Ali Khan, a Dafadar officer in British Indian army. He was born on 3rd January 1920 at Khurja, Bulandshahr (U.P.). Belonged to the Rajput Muslim family of freedom fighters, his grandfather Rustam Ali Khan was hanged by British army at Kala Aam in Bulandshahar (United Province, now Utter Pradesh) after the 1857 mutiny. Abbas Ali was influenced by revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh since his school days. As a school student, he also participated in a protest march on 25th March 1931 at Khurja to denounce death sentence to Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Soon after Bhagat Singh’s hanging, he joined Naujawan Bharat Sabha established by Bhagat Singh and actively participated in the activities of NBS, while he was in School. According to Qurban Ali, renowned journalist and son of Abbas Ali, while paying homage to his father said, his father sings the following Urdu couplet:

بھگت سنگھ تمھیں پھر سے آنا پڑے گا

حکومت کو جلوہ دکھانا پڑے گا

اے دریائے گنگا تو خاموش ہو جا

اے دریائے ستلج تو سیاہ پوش ہو جا

بھگت سنگھ تمھیں پھر سے آنا پڑے گا

حکومت کو جلوہ دکھانا پڑے گا

Translation:

Bhagat Singh You will have to come again
Will have to show your strength to the government

O river Ganga, be silent

O river Sutlej, turn black

Bhagat Singh You will have to come again
Will have to show your strength to the government

After matriculation, in 1937, from JAS High School of Khurja, he went to Aligarh Muslim University for higher studies. While pursuing his studies at AMU he came in contact with great communist leader of his time Dr Kunwar Muhammed Ashraf. On his inspiration he first joined All India Students Federation (AISF) a student wing of left parties established in 1936. He later on joined British Army and associated with Royal Indian Army Supply Corpse (R.I.A.S.C) in 1939 as junior commissioned officer (JCO) and posted at various parts in United India and South East Asia during Second World War II (1939-45).

When Japanese forces attacked British forces in South East Asia, being part of British forces, Capt. Abbas Ali fought with the Japanese forces but when General Percival surrendered with more than one lakh British army. after the Japanese destroyed two major British war ships. Capt. Abbas Ali became prisoner of war (POW) with Japanese. During this captivity he joined Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj established by General Mohan Singh. In 1945, he played a crucial role in INA’s programme ‘Dilli Chalo’ under the leadership of Netaji Subash Chander Bose. He fought with Indian Army in Arakaan but when Japanese surrendered, he was arrested along with 60000 fellow soldiers of INA. He was court martialed and sentenced to death.

After Independence in 1947, he was released by the Nehru Government then he joined the mainstream politics. He was hardcore socialist; and in 1948 he joined socialist party of Acharaya Narendra Deva, Jayaprakash Narayan and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya. He was General Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh unit of Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP) in 1966-67, and of Socialist Party in 1973-74. In 1967, when he was state secretary of Samyukta Socialist Party, SSP, he played key role in formation of the first Non- Congress Samyukta Vidhayak Dal (SVD) government in Uttar Pradesh led by late Chaudhry Charan Singh, who later became Prime Minister of India for a brief stint. During Emergency he was imprisoned for 19 Months. After emergency, he became first President of the UP unit of Janta Party. In 1978 he was elected to UP Legislative Council for six years. He was a member of UP Sunni Central Waqf Board for six years. He passed away on 11th October 2014 after a brief illness at Aligarh’s Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College.

References and Further Readings:

Ali, Captain Abbass. Na Hoon Kisi Ka Dast-e-Nagar-Mera Safarnama (Khudnawisht). Rajkamal Publication, Delhi, 2009

Ali, Qurban. Captain Abbas Ali: a true patriot and son of the soil.

source: http://www.milligazette.com / The Milli Gazette / Home> News> Community News / by Asad Faisal Farooqui / January 04th, 2023

ANDHRA PRADESH :

On January 5, the first statue of Fatima Sheikh, who was one of the first Muslim woman teacher in modern India, was unveiled in the premises of Zilla Parishad Urdu High School, Emmiganur town in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district.

Fatima Sheikh was one of India’s finest social reformers and educators. She is believed to be the first Muslim woman to teach modern education in the country.

Jyoti Rao Phule and Savitribai, a well-known couple of social reformers who fought to promote girls’ education, were known to have lived with her.

Fatima Sheikh is credited with allowing the Phule couple to establish the first all-girls school in Bombay Presidency at the former’s home in erstwhile Poona.

She taught at all five of the Phules’ schools. In 1851, she established two schools in Mumbai on her own.
Fatima has played an important role in teaching Dalit children at Phules’ School.

Fatima’s statue was donated to the school by Mr. Nakkmittala Srinivasulu. Smt. Patnam Rajeswari took the lead of this programme and High School HM Mr. Kondaiah, Teacher Mrs. Jeba, Social activists N. Vijyalakskhmi, Mr. K. Jeelan, Mr. Parashi Asadulla, Smt. Prbhavathamma, Teacher Mr. Md. Khadeer (Kurnool), writer Mr SVD Azeej (Kurnool) and good number of students took part in the Programme.

Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh government added a lesson on Fatima Sheikh’s contributions to the eighth-class textbooks.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Education> Indian Muslim> Women / by Muslim Mirror / January 05th, 2023

KARNATAKA:

Mangaluru :

Supreme Court judge, Justice S Abdul Nazeer, hailing from Moodbidri who was one among those who gave historic verdicts on Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid, triple talaq and demonetisation issues, retired on Wednesday, January 4.

He was the only Muslim among the five-judge bench who announced the Ayodhya verdict.

He was born in Moodbidri on January 5, 1956. He completed his primary school education at Beluvayi, obtained B Com degree at the Mahaveera College, Moodbidri and Law degree at the SDM college, Mangaluru.

He worked as a lawyer in Bengaluru at the Karnataka High Court, Bengaluru in 1983 and was appointed as permanent justice in 2003. He received promotion as a Supreme Court justice in February 2017.

He had heard the case of demonetization just two days before his retirement and pronounced the judgement. He used to give speeches in Kannada and Tulu.

Other judges of the Supreme Court have commended his work.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP) / January 04th, 2023

KARNATAKA :

Justice Nazeer, who was known for keeping the atmosphere light in the courtroom, demitted office after being in the apex court for about 6 years.

New Delhi: 

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on Wednesday said Supreme Court judge Justice S. Abdul Nazeer was a judge dedicated to the law and all those affected by it, and was a “people’s judge”.

Justice Nazeer, who was known for keeping the atmosphere light in the courtroom, demitted office after being in the apex court for about 6 years.

In his address at the farewell function organised for Justice Nazeer by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Chief Justice Chandrachud said he was a farmer at heart, and it was a difficult life for him to grow up on his uncle’s farms and he had even scavenged for fish which used to wash up on the beach there.

Justice Nazeer was a judge dedicated to the law and all those affected by it and was a “people’s judge”, he added.

SCBA President Vikas Singh said Justice Nazeer was the only Muslim judge on the bench, which decided the Ayodhya title dispute, and there was an expectation that he would author a separate judgement, “concurring, or not”.

“He is a true embodiment of secularism in this country. He not only agreed to give a unanimous verdict without naming who wrote that judgment, but he also agreed with the view of the majority,” Singh said that it showed for Justice Nazeer, it was the “nation first, himself as a judge second, and himself as an individual last”.

The Chief Justice also said: “Justice Nazeer has been here and has done everything that is expected of a judge…” He appreciated Justice Nazeer for rendering services as a collegial colleague on the bench and in the collegium.

Education and Career

Born on January 5, 1958, at Beluvai in Karnataka Dakshina Kannada district, Justice Nazeer enrolled as an advocate on February 18, 1983, after completing his LLB degree from SDM Law College, Mangaluru.

He practiced before the Karnataka High Court and was appointed as its Additional Judge on May 12, 2003. He became a permanent judge on September 24, 2004 and was elevated to the Supreme Court on February 17, 2017.

Justice Nazeer was part of several landmark constitution bench decisions, which included triple talaq, right to privacy, Ayodhya case, and recently on the Centre’s 2016 decision on demonetisation, and free speech of lawmakers.

Justice Nazeer said that the situation in the Indian judiciary today is not as grim as it used to be though a wrong impression is conveyed due to misinformation.

“There is always room for improvement. If I say Indian judiciary is immune to gender inequalities, I can’t be farther away from reality,” he said, emphasising that the representation of women in the judiciary is still very low.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> India / by IANS / January 04th, 2023