Sify columnist releases book on Indian Muslim freedom fighters

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Leaders, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

FreedomFightersMPOs22dec2017

Patna:

In a glittering ceremony, two books on the Muslim community’s contribution to the Indian freedom movement were launched in Patna last week. The function was presided over by Harsh Mander, former IAS officer and human rights activist.

The books ‘Muslim Freedom Fighters: Contribution of Indian Muslims in the Independence Movement’ and its Urdu version ‘Muslim Mujahideen-e-Azadi aur Tehrik-e-Azadi Mein Unki Khidmat’ have been authored by well-known Delhi based author and journalist Syed Ubaidur Rahman.

The two books try to fight the oft-repeated allegations that Muslims are anti-national and have not contributed for the freedom of the nation. The books nail the lie and prove that Muslims not just participated in the freedom movement, they went on to lead the freedom struggle for a long time. The first war of Independence or Mutiny of 1857 was led by Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in Delhi and Begum Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow.

The Independence Movement in the first two decades of the twentieth century was led by Mahmud Hasan and ulama of Deoband and they had respect and support of everyone including Hindus and Muslims.

If anyone has any doubt about the Muslim contribution in the freedom movement, the fact that the Indian National Congress had as many as nine Muslims as its president till the year 1947 will remove such doubts.

While speaking on the occasion, Harsh Mander said that the divisive forces in the country are trying to divide the nation on the basis of religion and faith. He said that the danger from such forces for the national fabric and its unity has become grave.

Mander added that the threat to the communal amity in the country was never so high as is today as divisive forces are doing every thing to pit one community against the other and create a fear psychosis among the majority community prompting it to turn it against minorities.

Khursheed Mallick, a Chicago based urologist, philanthropist and director of IMEFNA said that the book is a timely reminder to the nation that Muslims and Hindus both sacrificed for the nation and this fact must be clearly told to our young generation. He said Muslims sacrificed heavily for the cause of the freedom of the nation and efforts must be made to tell the history.

Syed Ubaidur Rahman, the author of the two books, while speaking on the occasion said Muslims have been rather loath to write about the sacrifices they have made for the cause of the Independence and freedom. He said Muslims suffered badly throughout the freedom movement. They were the worst suffers in the wake of the mutiny of 1857 and its aftermath when Muslims were hounded across North India and beyond. Tens of thousands of Muslims lost their lives for the freedom.

Syed added that ulama of Deoband played a stellar role in the freedom movement. Unlike the common perception, they were secular to the core and when they established a government in exile in Kabul in 1915, they appointed Raja Mahendra Pratap as its President and Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali as its Prime Minister.

The book documents the lives of forty renowned Muslim freedom fighters including, Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmud al-Hasan, Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Dr Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, Ashfaqulla Khan, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Maulana Muhammad Mian Mansoor Ansari, Asaf Ali, Husain Ahmad Madani, Aruna Asaf Ali (Kulsum Zamani), Peer Ali Khan, Saifuddin Kitchlew, Mohammed Abdur Rahiman, Captain Abbas Ali, Abdul Qaiyum Ansari, Prof. Abdul Bari, Moulvi Abdul Rasul, Nawab Syed Mohammed Bahadur, Rahimtulla Mahomed Sayani, Syed Hasan Imam, Sir Syed Ali Imam, M.C. Chagla, Yusuf Meherally, Justice Fazal Ali, General Shah Nawaz Khan, Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Syed Mahmud, Maulana Mazharul Haque, Badruddin Tyabji, Col Mehboob Ahmed, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Maulana Shafi Daudi, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Quadri, Batak Mian .

The book launch function was organized at Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu and was presided over by Abdul Qaiyum Ansari, chairman of Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu Bihar.

Syed Ubaidur Rahman is a New Delhi based writer and commentator. He has written several books on Muslims and Islam in India including Understanding Muslim Leadership in India.

source: http://www.sify.com / Sify.com / Home> SifyNews> National / by SIFY.com / Friday – December 22nd, 2017

Bihar Elections: 24 Muslim candidates win as AIMIM draws a blank

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BIHAR :

Bihar :

The Mahagathbandhan (Garden Alliance) of JDU, RJD and Congress, led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar romped into a landslide victory in Bihar, paving way for Nitish Kumar’s third stint as the Chief Minister.

The Bihar elections result has dealt a huge blow to BJP, who were upbeat since 2014 Lok Sabha elections and subsequent wins in some states. The Mahagathbandhan bagged almost a three-fourths majority, riding on the support of Yadav and Muslim voters.

courtesy: indian express
courtesy: indian express

The Muslim candidates of the Grand Alliance managed to win 24 seats with 12 from RJD, six from Congress, five from JDU and one from CPI (ML). The number is five more than the last assembly elections, when 19 Muslims candidates were selected in the state Assembly.

All India Majlees-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), the Hyderabad-based political party ended up winning nothing in its Bihar debut.

AIMIM fielded six candidates from Muslim-dominated constituencies in Seemanchal region but lost all the seats. Party chief Asaduddin Owaisi was very optimistic of opening an account in Bihar assembly camping in the area for a couple of weeks and campaigning door to door.

Owaisi had cautiously chosen only six seats fearing that if MIM fights on more seats and votes get divided then he will be tagged with ‘vote katwa’ for secular votes. However, nothing like happened.

MIM earned 80,248 total votes, constituting 0.2% of total votes in the election. The best performance was put forward by Akhtarul Imaan from Kochadhaman constituency where he stood second and lost to JD (U)’s Mujahid Alam with 18,843 votes. Imaan is MIM’s party chief in Bihar who was also a former member of Bihar assembly. He was earlier with the JDU and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Another candidate, Tasiruddin, earned 16,440 votes from Kishanganj and stood third, though he lagged by more than 40,000 votes when compared with BJP’s Sweety Singh, who came second to Dr. Muhammad Jawaid, who won with a margin of nearly 9,000 votes.

Ghulam Sarwar from Baisi constituency settled at fourth with only 16,723 votes. Remaining three of its candidates – Md Nawazish Alam (Armour), Mohammed Adil Hasan (Balrampur) and a non-Muslim face from SC seat of Raniganj Dr. Amit Kumar lost their deposits.

List of 24 Muslim Candidates who won in Bihar Assembly Elections 2015 :

Abdul Bari siddiqui (RJD, Ali Nagar)
Abdul Jaleel Mastan (Congress, Amour)
Abid ur Rehman (Congress, Arriah )
Mohd Nawaz Alam (RJD, Arra)
Tausif Alam (Congress, Bahadu Ganj)
Abdul Subhan (RJD, Basai)
Mahboob Alam (CPI ML, Balrampur)
Nematullah (RJD, Baruli )
Fayaz Alam (RJD, Bisfi )
Mohd Ilyas Hussain (RJD, Dehri )
Faisal ur Rehman (RJD, Dhaka )
Sarfaraz Alam(JDU, Jokihat )
Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Congress, Kadwa )
Afaq alam (Congress,Kasba)
Faraz Fatimi (RJD, Keoti)
Mohd Javed Alam (Congress, Kishan ganj )
Mujahid Alam (JDU, Kochadhaman)
Abdul Ghafoor (RJD, Mahisi)
Shamim Ahmed (RJD, Narkatia )
Akhtarul Islam Shaheen (RJD, Samasti pur)
Sharfuddin (JDU, Sheohar)
Khurdsheed Afroz Alam (JDU, Sikta )
Syed Abu Dujana (RJD, Sursana)
Naushad Alam (JDU, Thakurganj)

source: http://www.twocircles.net / Two Circles / Home> India News> India Politics> Indian Muslim> Top Story / by Raqib Hameed Naik , TwoCircles.net / November 08th, 2015

Ameer Khan hears no crowd cheer; but keeps reaping medals from track

Sports, , , , , ,

Karuppupalam, Idukki District, KERALA :

Ameer Khan with his medals. Photo: Mathrubhumi......
Ameer Khan with his medals. Photo: Mathrubhumi……

Vandiperiyar:

Ameer Khan keeps reaping medals from the track, though he cannot listen to the loud cheers from the gallery.  Despite being hearing and speech impaired by birth, Ameer Khan has won 3 medals including a gold in 400-meter relay in the sports meet for differently abled persons held in Ranchi.

Ameer Khan is the son of Idukki Karuppupalam native Konnarath Abdul Raheem and Shereefa. He started showing interest in sports since he was in class 7. He became a national athlete with his hard work and training.

As a result, he won a  gold, a silver and a bronze medal in the sports meet in Ranchi. Since he cannot speak, it was Ameer’s sports trainer who informed his parents about his achievement. His entire family and friends were thrilled on knowing his victory.

Ameer Khan is a BCom student in an institution for hearing impaired at Valiyaparamba in Malappuram.

He has two sisters, the elder one Raseena Raheem has completed engineering and the younger one Ajmiya Raheem is a student of BCom. The only income of the family is Abdul Raheem’s small scale business. He is educating his children by taking educational loan.

Many associations have decided to give grand receptions for Ameer Khan when he comes home during Christmas vacation.

source: http://www.english.mathrabhumi.com / Mathrabhumi / Home> News> Print / December 10th, 2017

Ustad and the world of gharanas

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

Indore, MADHYA PRADESH /  Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

tad Amir Khan in performance. | Photo Credit: 14dfrmeena1
tad Amir Khan in performance. | Photo Credit: 14dfrmeena1

As the late Ustad Amir Khan’s magic continues to awe listeners, various musicians claim that he was from their gharana.

Ustad Amir Khan (born on August 15) was an introvert and a man of few words, yet Khan saheb had validated during an exhaustive interview for a documentary film on him by the Films Division, “Mai Indore (gharane) ke naam se gaa raha hoon.” (I am singing under the identity of Indore gharana.)

Obviously, his unique style took a tangible, modern form very gradually; turned his listeners around as gradually and became a rage, specially in Bengal. Generations of most eminent musicians came under his majestic charm.

On a more formal ground, his disciples like Pandit Amarnath, Pandit A. Kanan, Pandit Tejpal Singh and several others also had established themselves not only as performers but also as revered gurus.

Under the circumstances, the “three-generation” stipulation too was met during Amir Khan saheb’s lifetime that was crudely cut short by a horrible car accident when he was barely 62 and at the peak of his career.

Since his magic refuses to spare sensitive souls even now, several gharanedar musicians are screaming foul and claim Ustad Amir Khan as one of them.

Ironically no other gharana faces such sharp controversy; rife with appalling stories!

But a large number of musicians, in their pursuit to serve the cause of good music, do not care to indulge in such tactical claims to attest their blue blood. Moreover, the modern era is open to different ideas, irrespective of their origin or lineage. For example, I noticed a marked change in Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar’s singing around 1998. The pristine style of this top ranking khayal exponent, equally adept at handling three major styles, was suddenly steeped in soulful depths of a slower than usual Gwalior, Jaipur or Agra pace that usually floats around medium tempo.

Asked why, Kashalkar’s answer was simple, “Everybody is singing that way here (in Bengal) and it facilitates space for more emotions.” But this was actually a slow process initiated by Ustad Vilayat Khan.

For his 75th birthday celebration his ardent fan, Jayant Chatterjee had roped in Kashalkar to sing the legendary sitar maestro’s khayal and thumri compositions.

Hailed as “Amir Khan on the sitar”, the Ustad was very close to Khan saheb who was his elder sister’s husband but things soured later.

In “Komal Gandhar” (his autobiography, compiled by Shankarlal Bhattacharya; translated by me from Bengali to Hindi; published by Kanishka, Delhi), Ustad Vilayat Khan admitted to have “spent hours of riyaz together” with Khan saheb. A photograph adorning the living room of Maharaj Banerjee, a renowned but retired harmonium player, bears testimony to this fact.

Amir Khan (born 1912) and Vilayat Khan (born 1928) doing ‘riyaz together’ leaves a lot left unspoken. So does Ustad Vilayat Khan’s indelible impression on Kashalkar’s psyche. And what a wonderful result it has yielded ever since! Furthermore, Pandit Vijay Kichlu, the erudite founder-director of ITC Sangeet Research Academy, who actually was behind the phenomenal rise of the Academy’s young students, including Rashid Khan, gave a memorable introduction while presenting him during a Sangeet Ashram event on August 10th 2007. The date signifies that it was close to Khan saheb’s birthday and the introduction, abounding with audio-clips, significantly highlighted his deep imprint on Ustad Rashid Khan’s musical thoughts.

Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, veteran sarod maestro and an erudite analyst, also says that this extremely popular khayal singer with a golden voice is deeply influenced by Amir Khan’s music. So is young Arshad Ali Khan of Kirana gharana. They are not isolated cases. The list of Ustad Amir Khan’s followers or admirers is pretty impressive. Some greats, like Vidushi Kishori Amonkar and Ustad Shujaat Khan have openly admitted Khan saheb’s influence on their music.

Even four decades after his untimely demise, there are many such eminent musicians who avoid confessing his impact but their music reveals Khan saheb’s indelible stamp loud and clear. This style’s unmatched popularity had transcended all barriers during the short life-span of its creator. Moreover his disciples are carrying forward the legacy steeped in ‘abstract’ modernism. Eminent musicologist-author Vamanrao Deshpande saw this coming. He, therefore, acknowledged Indore as an independent Gharana in his book “Gharandaj Gayaki” (Marathi, published in 1961); and rightly so.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Friday Review / by Meena Banerjee / August 13th, 2015

Book on Hindu-Muslim unity released

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Leaders, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

ANDHRA PRADESH :

RASS general secretary G. Muniratnam releasing a book on freedom fighters on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: K_V_POORNACHANDRA_KUMAR
RASS general secretary G. Muniratnam releasing a book on freedom fighters on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: K_V_POORNACHANDRA_KUMAR

Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan were hanged to death by the British

At a function organised by Aam Insaf Muslim Samaj (AIMS), the book ‘Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan’ was released here on Tuesday by social activist and Rashtriya Seva Samithi (RASS) general secretary G. Muniratnam, a ‘Padma Shri’ awardee.

The trilingual book focussing on the life history of the fiery revolutionaries, who were hanged to death by the British government, is available in Telugu, English and Urdu for the benefit of readers.

The Telugu version was written by noted journalist Syed Naseer Ahamed, while B.V.K. Purnanandam translated it into English.

The duo shot to fame with the Kakori train incident, executed by Hindustan Republic Association in August 1925, after which the British regime arrested the two and awarded death sentence to them.

Even before they were to be hanged, the bosom friends gave an immortal call to Indians to stay united and move ahead, transcending the barriers of religion, caste and region.

AIMS president Shamsher Syed and secretary Rahamathulla Sharif appealed to the public to transcend the narrow communal barriers. The book is priced at ₹25.

source:  http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Tirupati – December 20th, 2017

Muslim teen’s essay wins Gita contest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, , ,

Jaipur, RAJASTHAN :

Nadeem Khan(file photo)
Nadeem Khan(file photo)

JAIPUR:

A self-confessed Sanskrit lover, 16-year-old Nadeem Khan has been declared the winner of a state-level Sanskrit essay competition on Bhagvad Gita in the Rajasthan capital.
At a ‘Gita Fest’ organised by the Akshaya Patra Foundation that concluded on Monday, two other Muslim students from Jaipur, Zaheen Naqvi of Class II and Zorabia Nagori of Class IV, also bagged top positions in a contest on the recitation of Gita verses.

The winners will receive their awards on Wednesday.

A student of Class X at a government school, Khan, the son of a labourer, has had a keen interest in Sanskrit language ever since it was introduced in his curriculum in Class VI.

“I find this language best among all known to me. I never found it alien despite the fact that I rarely get a chance to speak it, even in my class. The competition has acknowledged my devotion for the language,” said Khan.

“In my Sanskrit class, the teacher rarely speaks the language. They ask us to only focus on writing in Sanskrit. I am not fluent in speaking Sanskrit,” he added.

The teenager, however, will not able to make it to the award ceremony. “I have an exam on Wednesday but my parents and grandmother will collect the prize on my behalf,” said Khan.

The foundation organised three competitions – essay on Gita, recitation of Gita verses and handwriting competitions – which saw participation by over 8,000 students from 200 schools across Rajasthan.
Tanveer Ahmed, a government employee in the health department, was upbeat about daughter Zaheen’s win. “My daughter worked very hard. Every day she would memorise verses from the Gita for hours to improve her diction and pronunciation. It’s a proud moment for us,” said Ahmed.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The  Times of India / Home> City News> Jaipur News> Schools & Colleges / by Shoeb Khan / December 20th, 2017

When the postman knocked…

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World Opinion, , , , , , , , ,

Nagpur (Central Provinces & Berar )- Now MAHARASHTRA  / Madras  (now Chennai) –  TAMIL NADU :

Bhaskarendra Rao Ramineni who scours the Andhra Pathrika archives tells me that an obituary of Yakub Hasan says his wife Khadija Begum was a Member of the Madras Assembly and that Rajaji, paying tribute to his Public Works Minister in his 1937 Ministry, said that Hasan’s wife was from Turkey.

YakubHussainMPOs19dec2017

That gives a clear cut answer to my speculation in Miscellany, December 4.

Bhaskarendra also sends me a picture from the paper showing Khadija Yakub Hasan in Western clothes, a reflection of Ataturk’s modern Turkish women.

Yakub Hasan, a founder of the Muslim Educational Society, represented the Muslim League in the Madras Legislative Council from 1916 to 1919. Later, he represented in the Council the Chittoor Rural (Muslim) constituency from 1923 till 1939.

As Minister in charge of the PWD he played a significant role in the negotiations with Hyderabad on the Tungabadhra Project.

He convened and presided over the first Khilafat Conference (1919) held in Madras and resigned from the Assembly over the Anglo-Turkish treaty (1920) which ended the Khilafat campaign to restore the Caliphate.

Note: The above content is edited from Madras Miscellany that contained 3 stories

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Madras Miscellany – Chennai / by S. Muthiah / December 18th, 2017

Mohsina Kidwai is chief of Haj Commitee

Uncategorized, , , ,

UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Mohsina Kidwai has been elected chairperson of the Haj Committee at its first meeting here, the External Affairs Ministry said.

Hasan Ahmed and Aboo Bucker were elected as the chairpersons at the meeting, the Ministry added.

The Haj Committee was reconstituted recently and the Ministry is the nodal authority for administering it.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by Special Correspondent / New Delhi – March 10th, 2010

Achievement: Air Force Sportsmen Sergeant Shahzar Rizvi & Sergeant Deepak Kumar

Sports, , , , ,

Meerut, UTTAR PRADESH :

ShahzarRiviMPOs18dec2017

Sergeant Shahzar Rizvi has won a gold medal in 10 mtrs Pistol for India at recently conducted Commonwealth Shooting Championship held at Gold Coast, Australia.

Sergeant Deepak Kumar won Bronze medal in 10 mtrs Air Rifle at the same event.

DeepakKumarMPOs18dec2017

Both are outstanding Sportsman in shooting and they have performed consistently well in their career as well.

Sergeant Rizvi had also won Gold and Silver medal in 2014 & 2015 in the Senior National Shooting Championship respectively.

AB/ MKR\

source: http://www.pib.nic.in / Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Defence / November 09th, 2017

Shahzar Rizvi, Pooja Ghatkar win gold at Commonwealth Shooting Championship

Sports, World Opinion, ,

Meerut, UTTAR PRADESH :

Brisbane :  

Indian pistol shooters today pulled off a clean sweep in the 10m air pistol event at the Commonwealth Shooting Championship with Shahzar Rizvi, Omkar Singh and Jitu Rai winning gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

In the 10m women’s air rifle event, Pooja Ghatkar bagged a gold while her countrymate Anjum Moudgil won the silver medal. The bronze in this event went to Martina Lindsay Veloso of Singapore.

India had a productive second day at the range winning as many as five medals, including two gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

Earlier, Heena Sidhu claimed the 10m air pistol gold, while Deepak Kumar fetched a silver in the 10m air rifle event to give India a fine start at the Championships yesterday.

Sidhu shot a combined score of 626.2 (386+240.8) to claim the top honours.

This was Sidhu’s second successive international gold after she, along with Jitu Rai, claimed the top position in the 10m air pistol mixed team event in the ISSF World Cup Finals in Delhi earlier this month.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> Sports / PTI / November 01st, 2017