“Shehla Masood : The Murder that Shook the Nation” | Entangled in fatal lust

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Green Products, , , , , , , , ,

Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH :

Author Hemender Sharma re-examines activist and environmentalist Shehla Masood’s gruesome murder with detailed insight into the events leading to the conspiracy.

Author: Hemender Sharma

Publisher: HarperCollins

If an urban woman with ‘modern’ sophistication and a ‘questioning’ attitude is killed in our country, the investigation, in most instances, begins with a close examination of her character. Shehla Masood was one such gutsy woman – an Indian environmentalist, wildlife and RTI activist. Hemender Sharma, in his book, Shehla Masood: The Murder that Shook the Nation, peels many layers to understand her life, her murder and the ultimate resolution of her case

Stepping out of her house in Bhopal to attend Anna Hazare’s ‘India Against Corruption’ campaign, Masood was shot dead from point-blank range in broad daylight on August 16, 2011. With Masood featuring in the news ahead of her murder after exposing corruption rackets through ‘RTI Anonymous’ – a portal where individuals could file an RTI without disclosing their identity – the Indian media had covered her gruesome death extensively. Shehla came from a humble background, but convent education along with brave instincts made her a savvy Muslim girl endowed with big dreams.

The book unravels the circumstances that led to her murder, the politics that subsequently unfolded and the long fight for justice that ensued. Cover-ups and attempts to tarnish her image started soon after her death. The local police tried to label her death as a suicide, while the state chief minister ordered a CBI probe within 48 hours. Names of various political dignitaries and bureaucrats were in the suspect list, but when the verdict was declared in January 2017, Zahida Parvez, an interior designer who gave the contract to kill Shehla, along with three others, stood convicted.

Zahida, a mother of two girls, in her statement, revealed her affair with Darbar (pseudonym) who was the Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department. After a few formal meetings, their friendship strengthened, leading to intimacy. Darbar, on the other hand, was already in a relationship with Shehla. Zahida was madly in love with Darbar and surely not fond of Shehla.

Darbar’s 53rd birthday was approaching and Zahida wished to celebrate it with grandeur. Bhopal has a tradition of politicians putting up their own hoardings and congratulating themselves on their birthdays. But to her disappointment, Darbar’s hoardings had no place for her, leaving her heartbroken.

She knew that Darbar was a Casanova, but couldn’t substantiate her doubt with palpable evidence. With her friend Sabah, she followed Darbar on instances to gather evidence and catch him red-handed. When Darbar went to meet Shehla on his birthday, Zahida was left fuming. Her anger and frustration usually subsided the moment she finished pouring her heart out in her diary. But this time, her anger knew no bounds. The man for whom she had waited the whole day, putting her family and daughters at stake, was drifting away from her. She assumed that Shehla was the culprit jeopardizing her illicit relation with Darbar, which was now showing visible cracks.

Zahida contacted Shakib, a contractor. When Shakib entered her office, she threw a file towards him with the initials ‘SM’ inscribed. It contained Shehla Masood’s newspaper cuttings from Hindustan Times and Free Press. She told him that she wanted this woman dead as she was negatively influencing girls. Besides, she had also lied to him about Shehla’s affair with her husband. She negotiated a deal worth Rs 3 lakh to get Shehla killed. Very soon, Shakib brewed the plan along with Irfan and Tabish, and it was only after a couple of failed attempts that they succeeded in executing the conspiracy.

On the day of her murder, Shehla walked towards her car around 11:19 am. She was about to ignite the car when Shakib pounced on her from the rear and shot her in the trachea. The detailed narrative furthers reveals Shakib’s call to Zahida confirming the murder, who further lets Sabah, her friend, know of their success. Irfan, Shakib’s partner in the crime, was let go as he turned an approver during trials. Zahida and Sabah were convicted under Section 302 (murder) with 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. Shehla’s father, upset with the verdict, asserted, “Probably the real culprit will never be caught.”

The book also details how the CBI team, led by Joint Director Keshav Kumar and DIG Arun Bothra, painstakingly reached the killers after being severely misled.

source: http://www.millenniumpost.in / Millennium Post / Home> Book Review / by Arif Mohammad / May 04th, 2019

Madhya Pradesh: 20 police officers nominated for President Medal for their exemplary services in the police dept

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , ,

MADHYA PRADESH :

Madhya Pradesh: 20 police officers nominated for President Medal for their exemplary services in the police dept

Bhopal:

 Twenty police officers of the state police will be awarded President Medal for their exemplary work in police department. Awards will be given in two categories: Vishishit Sewa and Sarahaniya Sewa categories.

The DGP announced the awards and congratulated the awardees for their achievements.

The Vishishit award will be given to the ADG training and the director of the MP Police academy Bhori Anuradha Shankar, inspector and Liberian Dr Farid Vazmi, inspector and steno in PHQ Rakesh Mohan Dixit and Bharat Kumar Bhawsar.

The Sarahaniya Sewa Award will be given to AIG RRS Parihar posted at PHQ, deputy commandant of 23rd SAF Shanu Aftab Ali, SP radio training school Indore Santosh Kori, ASP narcotics Indore Dilip Kumar Soni, inspector Deepak Kadam, head constable posted in 7th SAF Bhopal Seetaram Tiwari, head constable posted in Pawai of Panna district Pyare Garg, head constable crime branch Bhopal Rajkumar Goutam, constable Mangal Singh Yadav posted in 7th SAF Bhopal, constable Rajesh Kumar Pandey posted in 25th SAF Bhopal, constable posted at in administration section at PHQ Ravi Naresh Mishra, Subedar Sunil Kumar Tiwari and Balram Singh Rajput posted at PHQ, inspector Ramraja Gupta of Hosangabad, inspector posted in EOW Bhopal Rajiv Choudhary and sub inspector Anil Kumar Nigam.

source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Bhopal / by Staff Reporter / August 14th, 2020

Independence Day 2020: Soaked in patriotism, Bhopal Muslim man paints his house in Tri-colour

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, , ,

Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH :

Shawar Khan, resident of Bagh Frahat Afza had a dream since he and his brothers built a house of his own, to paint it in tricolor shade.

Man waiving flag/ Representative Pic

Bhopal : 

At times when patriotism of Muslims is being questioned, a Muslim man from Bhopal demonstrated it by painting his house in tricolor hues.

Shawar Khan, resident of Bagh Frahat Afza had a dream since he and his brothers built a house of his own, to paint it in tricolor shade. ‘I have love for the tricolor from school days. I used to paint tricolor hues at most of the places. I also used to make tricolor flags on occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day and distribute them for free to my friends and relatives,’ said Shawar.

Shawar has been taking up petty jobs including driving auto rickshaw for living. Corona pandemic had adverse impact on him like thousands of others and he lost living. Since then he assists his brother Raja at his grocery shop.

‘Allah ne meri murad poori kar di (Allah fulfilled my wish),’ says Shawar with sense of achievement in his tone. He said that he and his brothers built the house in 2013. ‘Since then I had a wish that the house be painted in tricolor but I didn’t have enough money,’ he added. With my brother’s help my dream has come true.

Considering wish of Shawar, his brothers came to his help and contributed money to paint the house like a national flag. It cost us about Rs 20,000, says Shawar, whose house is located near Maqbare wali Masjid in Bagh Farhat Afza.

It took about a week to pain the house tricolor. In his three storey house, the ground floor is painted green. The first floor is white and the second floor has been painted saffron to give it a tricolor look. The house after getting new looks started attracting people who are coming from all corners of the city to have a look at it.

source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Bhopal / by Shahroz Afridi / August 15th, 2020

CSIR-CDRI’s Dr Saman Habib Elected as Fellow of Indian National Science Academy

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Science & Technology, , , , ,

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Her research group’s interest in the malaria parasite is driven by the desire to understand (a) the molecular workings and functions of the relict plastid (apicoplast) of Plasmodium, (b) mechanisms of protein translation employed by Plasmodium organelles and (c) human genetic factors and susceptibility to severe P. falciparum malaria in endemic and non-endemic regions of India.

Dr. Saman Habib, Chief Scientist and Professor (AcSIR) in Molecular Biology Division, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow brought the laurels to the Institute again through her outstanding work for understanding the malaria parasite.

She is elected as fellow of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.

Her research group’s interest in the malaria parasite is driven by the desire to understand (a) the molecular workings and functions of the relict plastid (apicoplast) of Plasmodium, (b) mechanisms of protein translation employed by Plasmodium organelles and (c) human genetic factors and susceptibility to severe P. falciparum malaria in endemic and non-endemic regions of India.

Other important honours and awards in her credit:

  • Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (2016)
  • Fellow of The National Academy of Sciences India, Allahabad (2015)
  • National Women Bio-scientist Award, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India (2012)
  • Prof. BK Bachhawat Memorial Lecture Award, National Academy of Sciences, India (2008)
  • CSIR Young Scientist Award, CSIR (2001)

source: http://www.smestreet.com / SME Street / Home> News> Covid-19 / by SME Street Edit Desk / October 22nd, 2020

Gazi Abdullah’s journey from orphanage to clearing KAS exam

Education, , , , , , ,

JAMMU & KASHMIR :

As many as 25,188 candidates had appeared in the preliminary exams in September 2018

New Delhi: 

Twenty-four-year-old Gazi Abdullah of Gundana, a village at 9,000 feet above sea level in the mountainous Doda district, is one among the 70 youths who have been declared qualified for the Union Territory’s most prestigious Civil Services by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC).

These are the first results after the Commission was reconstituted as a legal requirement under the J&K Reorganisation Act of August 2019.

In the Combined Competitive Examination held in 2018-20, these 70 youth have qualified for recruitment on the equal number of vacancies in the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS), the Jammu and Kashmir Police (Gazetted) Service and the Jammu and Kashmir Accounts (gazetted) Service.

Those found fit in a medical test will be appointed in the three major services.

As many as 25,188 candidates had appeared in the preliminary exams in September 2018. On August 25, 2020, the UT’s reconstituted Commission ratified and confirmed the quondam PSC’s decision and held the viva voce of the 194 candidates who appeared in the test in September 2020. Finally the selection of 70 candidates was notified on September 29.

Son of an anganwadi worker

Gazi’s mother is an anganwadi helper working with the Centre-sponsored Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) for a monthly honorarium of Rs 3,000. She has never shared with her only child how her husband had died when he was just two-year-old in 1998.

How did Gazi’s father die? “I don’t know. I have never asked my mother,” he told Indianarrative.com in a conversation.

After receiving elementary education upto the fourth standard at his village’s Rafeeq Memorial Academy, his mother managed Gazi’s admission in an orphanage at Bemina in Srinagar.

From a downtrodden family with no support

He stayed at the orphanage’s boarding and lodging facility for seven years and passed his 11th standard exam before completing his 10+2 from Srinagar’s Iqbal Memorial Institute.

Thereafter, Gazi returned to his home across the Pir Panjal mountains and completed BSc from Government Degree College, Doda. His elementary schooling happened in the period of the peak of militancy in Jammu’s Chenab valley.

“I knew that I was from a downtrodden family with no support. So there was no compromise on seriousness, perseverance and focus on the studies. I used to read interviews of the IAS and other UPSC exam toppers which gave me inspiration and confidence to crack the JKPSC exam.

“I learned how to convert challenges into opportunities with full self-confidence and dedication. Finally it paid me off and I have made it to the civil services,” Gazi said.

First sparks of success

He revealed that the first sparks of success through competition came from the lectures some visiting officers and bureaucrats delivered at the orphanage from time to time.

Unlike most of the successful candidates of his batch, Gazi has not received any coaching for the JKPSC exam.

“After BSc, I completed MSc in Botany from the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) where I devoted maximum time to my preps for the KAS exam. I am expecting the PG results from the AMU in a few days,” said Gazi, figuring at rank 46 in the JKAS final list.

Hailing from a backward area, he has fourth rank in the RBA category.

“I am lucky enough to be one of the youngest in my batch,” he said. With the age on his side, he would rise to the rank of a Principal Secretary in his 36 years of service in the UT.

Civil Services is popular among Kashmiris

The batch’s topper Malik Kamila Mushtaq of Karan Nagar, Srinagar, is B Tech in Civil Engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar. Her father is a retired government employee and her mother is still in the public service. She picked anthropology as her optional subject and cracked the JKPSC exam in her first attempt.

“I had coaching for just one month in the beginning but later I relied on self-studies. My mother is the only source of inspiration for my dreams of higher civil service. She is an embodiment of courage and dedication and commitment from day one. I have inherited many of her values and attributes,” Kamila asserted.

Kamila’s younger sister has completed M Tech in electrical engineering from NIT Srinagar and her younger brother is currently in the counselling process for B Tech.

How did she trust the system in the wake of allegations of irregularities against the JKPSC which had to once cancel its declared results for the JKAS Preliminary? How was she confident that she would make it to the JKAS?

“Cynicism and scepticism are cureless diseases. Once you enter a competition, you must have full faith in the system. I am not aware of the past practices but I had full faith in the system which I found completely transparent and flawless,” Kamila said.

The number of the aspirants for IAS, IPS, IFS and the UT’s JKAS, JKPS and other gazetted service examinations has remarkably increased after Shah Faesal of Kupwara was declared as the IAS topper by the UPSC in 2010.

Even as few candidates qualified for the All-India services from J&K in the first 20 years of militancy, over 60 youths have cracked the country’s most competitive and prestigious civil services exam in the last 10 years. Hundreds of others have entered the civil administrative services, Police and Accounts service through the JKPSC exam during the same period.

The UT’s youngsters have shown remarkable enthusiasm in all the all-India competitive exams as thousands of them have appeared in 2020 not only in the National Eligibility Entrance Test for medical and engineering colleges and institutes but also for the tests of National Defence Academy which picks recruits for commissioned ranks in Army, Navy and Air Force.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> India> Education & Careers / by Ahmed Ali Fayyaz, IANS / October 03rd, 2020

Not just lip service: on make-up brand Tinge by Sabrina Suhail

Business & Economy, Green Products, Karnataka (under research project), ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

A snapshot from Tinge by Sabrina Suhail’s range   | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sabrina Suhail on creating a homegrown and toxic-free make-up brand suited for Indian skin

If Covid-19 has changed one thing in our perception, it is that everything we consume — from food to cosmetics — impacts our overall health. Tinge by Sabrina Suhail is a testament to this. After launching in July 2018, the brand gained popularity for its clean, customised lipsticks and foundation. It may seem that the make-up line garnered much attention in a short span, but Bengaluru-based Suhail has spent several years in preparation.

“I was never a person who knew anything about beauty; I studied chemistry, botany, zoology and psychology in college,” she says. After a second degree in fine arts, she worked as a make-up artist for 10 years, and took a course each year to learn more. “At one point, my clientèle got conscious about toxins in products and gave me a list of ingredients to avoid.” As she started reading labels — which were easy to decipher because of her chemistry background — she realised that she could create the products herself. Suhail then enrolled for a two-year diploma in colour cosmetics and formulation in New York, and took another four years to set up a studio and get certifications in place.

Sabrina Suhail   | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Recreating beauty

“I decided to start with only lipsticks because it was the easiest, and something Indian women gravitate towards,” she says. First, it was just word-of-mouth as she didn’t want to invest in marketing. Even though there was an influx in the initial months, her clientele slowly started petering out. “But after December last year I’ve seen a massive change. People come to me with lipsticks they want me to recreate with safer formulation and aroma.”

I have tried Suhail’s bespoke lipsticks, foundation and powder (all gifted by her), so I understand why her products work. With just a couple of Instagram messages, she understood the exact creamy caramel colour I wanted in my lipstick. And without meeting me even once, she delivered the correct shade of concealer and powder to match my skin tone.

________________

Green check

  • As per American cosmetic biggie Aveda’s website, the brand that has been 100% vegan as of July 2019 is planning to have all vegan products on shelves by January 1, 2021. aveda.com
  • Closer home, celebrity make-up artist Bianca Louzado’s CODE Beauty is now offering everything from cosmetic sanitisers and brush-and-sponge cleansing balms to anti-bacterial cosmetic sanitising wipes and sprays. codebeauty.in
  • Another new launch to keep an eye out for is aša beauty. The clean beauty brand’s first drop includes an easy-blend concealer, corrector, crème and matte lipsticks, lip and cheek tints, and mascara. @asabeautyindia on Instagram

_______________

Checks and balances

I was curious to understand if she had avoided talc, classified as possibly carcinogenic, but a common ingredient in some organic make-up brands. Thankfully, she does. Her formulations are based on clay, “which may not have the same slip as talc but is definitely safer and more pigmented”. All of Suhail’s raw materials are from India and everything is certified. “When I started the company, it was important for me to have my licensing.” She has the MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet), SDS (Safety Data Sheet) and PETA cruelty-free certificate. The second part is when she puts the raw material together and gets the Bureau Veritas certification, world leaders in inspection and testing.

“If I make a lipstick for you, it has to go through many checks before it comes to you,” says Suhail, who also got the CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) certification that approves of the manufacturing license, machinery, manufacturing facility, and contents used in the physical product. “Even though I don’t have that kind of space or machinery, I got the certification because it ensures that your products are made safely.”

___________

Scent of a lipstick

  • I personally do not have a problem with fragrance in colour cosmetics. In fact, the scent of lipstick is the reason I fell in love with make-up. Chanel Misia is my favourite perfume because it smells like powder and lipstick. Besides, the fragrances used in Suhail’s lipsticks are FDA approved and have no traces of phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors.

_________

Get online

While Suhail still customises colours for lips and the base, she also has a line that can be readily bought online. Tinge by Sabrina Suhail offers eye pencils, multi-sticks, balms, scrubs, wax and liquid lipsticks, plus powder foundations for Indian skin tones that range from medium to milk chocolate. The full ingredient list is mentioned on tingestore.com, and she has a ‘Return to Refill’ policy where you can send an empty tube to be refilled with a 15% off on the lipstick.

In the current beauty landscape, where new brands are launched in a short amount of time without former training, a long prep period, attention to detail and certification are rare. This brand is homegrown, clean, cruelty-free, customised, luxurious and eco-conscious. What more do we want?

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style / by Vasudha Rai / October 30th, 2020

This Kashmiri woman distributes sanitary napkins for free

Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, FREE : Healthcare / Assistance, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , ,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Irfana Zargar was settling in after a long day at work when she received a desperate call from a woman asking for sanitary napkins. Despite the lockdown, Irfana set off to deliver the napkins in person. In a dilapidated house in the downtown locality of Srinagar, she met Sabia Khan who was in a wheelchair. Sabia was the one who had made the call. Due to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus lockdown, Sabia was unable to buy essentials for herself.

Five years ago, Irfana – who stocks public toilets in Kashmir with sanitary napkins, took an initiative to help Kashmiri women meet feminine hygiene needs. She would prepare an ‘Eva Safety Door’ kit consisting of sanitary napkins, underwear and handwash, for women who cannot afford to buy them. All the arrangements are done from Irfana’s personal savings although, she says, a lot of people are now coming forward to help her.

“Menstruation is a natural phenomenon and I don’t understand why people shy away from talking about it. Some women do not buy pads because they feel ashamed. I want to change this. We have been asked to stay silent all our lives, enough is enough,” says 28-year-old Irfana who works as a Helpline Assistant in Srinagar Municipal Corporation on a consolidated-basis.

Providing kits to women in Covid wards

Irfana came across the case of a woman being treated for coronavirus in a hospital in Kashmir. Due to unavailability of sanitary napkins, the woman was forced to wear a cloth pad cut out of a curtain during her menstrual cycles. Shocked by the incident, Irfana prepared several kits and distributed them in different wards of the hospital.

On the onset of coronavirus lockdown, Irfana received hundreds of calls from women asking for kits as they could not buy pads from the local stores. As people were hoarding up essentials in the initial days of lockdown, a shortage of menstrual products was reported from all over the country. Apparently, it was not looked upon as an essential commodity. When a countrywide lockdown was imposed in India, pads did not make it to the list of essentials, the delivery of which was allowed despite restrictions. Only when the grocery stores and chemist shops ran out of supplies did the government deemed it a necessity.

“I was very anxious at that time. Not everyone can afford to hoard. Also, hospitals should take special care of stocking sanitary napkins. Pandemic or not, periods do not stop,” says Irfana.

According to Irfana, she delivered 19000 sanitary napkins and 16 Eva Safety Door kits during the lockdown. Even then, she could not reach many women due to restrictions on movement. After meeting them in person, Irfana would make sure that they received sanitary napkins every month.

“It was a complete mess. There were days when I could not help these women and it was starting to take a toll on my mental health. This was when I realized that buying sanitary napkins is a privilege a lot of us cannot afford,” says Irfana.

Unaffordable for people with lower incomes

17-year-old Zainab (name changed) lives in a one-storey house in Srinagar with her parents. Her father, a daily wager, experienced financial constraints as his income was seriously affected during the lockdown. Trying to make ends meet, her family struggled to survive the pandemic. Zainab could not muster the courage to ask her parents for money to buy pads.

“One packet of sanitary napkins costs around 40 rupees and you at least require two or three packs a month. For some people, it might be a small cost but for us, it meant a day’s meal. I had no option but to use cloth and cotton,” says Zainab.

Irfana says that under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushdhi Pariyojna (PMBJP), sanitary pads were being sold for Rs 1 per pad at Janaushadhi Kendras. Despite this many women are still unable to make use of such schemes due to lack of awareness.

Zainab is thankful that her father managed to find work after the lockdown. Some of her friends are still facing hardships and continue to use cloth. According to a report of BBC, only 15% of girls had access to sanitary napkins  during the lockdown.

“When it comes to food or menstrual products, the obvious choice would be food. But I am happy that I am able to buy pads again,” says Zainab.

Period shaming and Menstrual health

Irfana’s journey started in 2014 when she was walking the streets in one of the busiest places in Srinagar. She got her period and was unable to buy a napkin due to lack of money. Going inside a public washroom, she was appalled to see its condition.

“There was no soap and water. I had no option but to travel like this. Period shaming is so common here and in case you have a stain, you will be landed with insults,” recalls Irfana.

Since that day, Irfana made sure to donate sanitary napkins to public washrooms. Till date, she stocks around 15 washrooms in Srinagar district. After losing her father, Irfana wanted to make him proud by helping people and so she ventured out to help women in need.

Talking to TwoCircles.net about the harmful effects of using dirty or unsterilized cloth during periods, Seema Zahra, a gynaecologist based in Kashmir says, “It can be very dangerous and can cause serious health issues. It can expose them to infections which can later turn out to be more sinister.”

Dr Seema says most of the patients that come for treatment related to this problem are from lower-income groups. Due to their financial state, they are forced to look for alternatives like rags and cloths.

Even though Irfana has not received her salary for months now, she is adamant about working for the cause of women. She says these women look up to her and she cannot abandon them in these tough times.

“I have prepared more kits and I will be distributing them soon. It is important to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene and I will keep doing so no matter what,” says Irfana.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Indian Muslim> Jammu & Kashmir> Lead Story> TCN Positive> Women / by Asma Hafiz, Twocircles.net / October 30th, 2020

Shaheen Group to provide scholarship for NEET repeaters

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, SCHOLARSHIPS, , , , ,

Bidar , KARNATAKA :

Over 2,000 students from across the country are expected to benefit

Shaheen Group of Institutions has come forward to provide scholarships to long-term National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) repeaters for the 2020-21 academic year. Over 2,000 students from across the country are expected to benefit from the scholarships.

The institute has set aside ₹5 crore for the purpose. Selected candidates will be given free coaching.

NEET is the gateway examination for students who wish to study medical (MBBS) and dental courses (BDS) in government or private colleges.

Interested candidates can visit the institute’s website and register on or before November 1. Candidates can also call the toll-free number 18001216235 for more information.

Abdul Qadeer, chairman, Shaheen Education Foundation, said that they have over 42 NEET coaching franchises across the country.

“We will identify students from economically deprived families who are academically brilliant and who aspire to become doctors. Such students will be sponsored, mentored, trained and motivated to achieve their aspiration of becoming doctors,” he said.

He added that Kannada-medium students will be given preference in Karnataka. Candidates will be awarded the scholarship based on marks obtained in NEET 2020. He said that students who have lost their parents due to COVID-19 will be provided free training for NEET.

Karthik Reddy and Arbaaz Ahmed, students of the institute, secured the first and third rank in the State in this year’s NEET examination.

Karthik Reddy and Arbaaz Ahmed, students of the institute, secured the first and third rank in the State in this year’s NEET examination.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / October 30th, 2020

History being replaced by mythology: Naseeruddin Shah

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

Actor Naseeruddin Shah releasing the book Halla Bol: Safdar Hashmi Savu Mattu Baduku.   | Photo Credit: Handout E Mail

Actors and authors call for solidarity with activist and intellectuals

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah called for people to fight for their right to democratic dissent, which, he said, is increasingly being interpreted as sedition at a time when history is being replaced by mythology. He was speaking at the virtual release of Halla Bol: Safdar Hashmi Savu Mattu Baduku, a Kannada translation of Sudhanva Deshpande’s book on the playwright and director Safdar Hashmi. The book has been translated to Kannada by M.G. Venkatesh.

Safdar Hashmi was fatally injured in an attack on the theatre group when Halla Bol, a street play on exploitation and rights of factory workers, was being performed near Delhi in January 1989.

At the book launch, Mr. Shah said that the life, achievements and murder of Safdar Hashmi was a testimony as to why fascist powers and forces were so terrified about the lives of activists and intellectuals, who are being hounded in the country today. “It is high time we stand in solidarity with jailed activists and intellectuals like Varavara Rao and Anand Teltumbde,” he said.

“When I read the English and Hindi versions of Halla Bol, I was informed, amused, raged, disturbed and moved. He [Safdar Hashmi] took plays to factories, schools and streets, and informed people about their exploitation and rights. It is from his life I realised that even an actor’s life can be of use and impactful,” he added.

M.G. Venkatesh, translator of the book, said that the thoughts and writings of Safdar Hashmi are more relevant now than at the time he was killed. “The current regime is diluting labour laws, not only in a dangerous way but also in a way that insults labourers,” he added.

Author Sudhanva Deshpande spoke about the assassination of editor-activist Gauri Lankesh. “The killing of Hashmi stirred the need for the defence of freedom of art and expression,” he said.

Actor Achyuth Kumar said that the times had not changed much. “Hashmi was killed when the Congress was in power, and Gauri Lankesh was killed by the fundamental right wing. This is the way ruling dispensations suppress the voices of people. They just kill them,” he said.

Writer Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi said that we are fighting two types of viruses now. “It is said that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be available in the future. But who will and how can a vaccine be invented for those who suppress dissent, spread hatred and eulogise killings and violence?”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / October 31st, 2020

1640 Students of Shaheen Qualify NEET-2020, Institution Announces Rs 5 Cr Scholarship for Meritorious Poor Students

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, SCHOLARSHIPS, , , , , , ,

Bidar, KARNATAKA :

Dr Abdul Qadeer (3rd from left) with his NEET topper students at Press Club of India, New Delhi on October 28, 2020.

“Children of those parents who have died due to Coronavirus will get 100% free scholarship. And others will get scholarship up to 100% depending on their economic condition,” Shaheen Group’s chairman said.

Mumtaz Alam 

New Delhi :


In extraordinary performance by any institution in India’s toughest medical entrance examination, 1640 students of Shaheen Group of Institutions have qualified NEET-2020 and more than 400 of them are expected to get free government medical seats.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday along with his two top rankers – Karthik Reddy who got Karnataka State Rank 1st and All India NEET Rank 9th,  and Arbaaz Ahmed who got Karnataka State Rank 3rd and All India Rank 85th – Shaheen Group’s chairman Dr Abdul Qadeer announced to give scholarships worth Rs 5 crore to meritorious poor students who could not get good rank in NEET and want to reappear in it.

“Due to Coronavirus pandemic and floods in some parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the economic condition of people is very bad. To help those students who want to become doctor and want to prepare for NEET, we announce Rs 5 crore scholarships on behalf of Shaheen Group of Institutions at all our branches in the country. This scholarship will be given on the basis of marks obtained in the NEET,” announced Dr Qadeer.

Along with Karthik and Arbaaz, 1640 students from Shaheen institution have got above 400 marks out of 720 in NEET-2020. While Karthik Reddy got 710 marks, Arbaaz Ahmed scored 700 marks. 8 students got above 650 marks, 27 students above 600 marks, 192 students above 500 marks, 347 students above 450 marks and 525 students above 400 marks.

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Shaheen Group of Institutions@Shaheengrouporg·

Our NEET-2020 toppers in a single frame. Two students Karthik Reddy & Arbaaz Ahmed scored 710 and 700 Marks respectively. 8 students above 650 Marks, 27 students above 600 Marks 192 students above 500 Marks 347 students above 450 Marks 525 students above 400 Marks.

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Explaining about its announcement of Rs. 5 Crore Scholarship, Shaheen Group said: “The world is facing a global health crisis. While the Coronavirus has affected our social life and daily activities, Students have become increasingly worried about the impact of the coronavirus on their finances and studies. Shaheen Group of Institutions, Bidar, Karnataka has made a strong resolution to aid such students who are deprived of studies due to financial crisis in the pandemic.”

Earlier talking to this scribe over phone on Sunday, Dr Qadeer had said scholarships will be available at all 42 centres across the country.

“Due to Coronavirus, a large number of students could not study well this year as their financial condition was bad. On economic ground, we would provide free scholarship to students particularly those from UP, Bihar and Delhi,” said Dr. Qadeer.

“Children of those parents who have died due to Coronavirus will get 100% free scholarship. And others will get scholarship up to 100% depending on their economic condition,” he clarified.

“Our announcement is for students from across the country, including Delhi, UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh. We have 40 branches across the country. This facility will be available at every branch,” said Dr Qadeer.

The 100% scholarship will be available to those students (irrespective of their economic condition) who have lost one or both parents to the Coronavirus disease.

“The only criteria is that he/she must have appeared in NEET and has reasonable marks,” said Dr Qadeer.

More than 2,000 students are expected to benefit from the Shaheen scholarships.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion / Home> Editor’s Pick> India / by Mumtaz Alam / October 28th, 2020