Tag Archives: Indian Muslims

An Indian restaurant in Tashkent celebrates Uzbekistan’s love for Bollywood

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INDIA / Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN :

Housed in the Le Grande Hotel in Tashkent, the restaurant is a definite stopover for tourist groups from India and is popular for its Bollywood nights

Wall dedicated to Indian celebrities who visited Raaj Kapur restaurant in Tashkent. | Photo Credit: PTI

In the heart of Tashkent, a city known for its rich history, stands an Indian restaurant celebrating the legacy of legendary Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor and the love of the Uzbeks for him even 35 years after his death.

Styled on the Bollywood theme, the ‘Raaj Kapur’ restaurant which is one of the three major Indian restaurants in Tashkent, is not new but at least 16 years old and is a hit among not only Indian tourists but also locals for its lip-smacking dishes.

Three superstars from the Kapoor family — Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor — have also dined at the restaurant on different occasions.

“People in Uzbekistan are crazy about Bollywood and generations of people from Uzbekistan and Russia – even the young – are aware of Raj Kapoor and his cinema and regard him as Bollywood’s numero uno. The restaurant attracts more crowd for its name and less for Indian food, which most visitors discover after enjoying a meal,” Sameer Khan, Resident manager, Raaj Kapur restaurant told PTI.

‘A definite stopover’

Housed in the Le Grande Hotel in Tashkent, the restaurant is a definite stopover for tourist groups from India and is popular for its Bollywood nights where Uzbeks also groove on top chartbusters from the 90s.

While Khan, who is originally from Mumbai, manages the property, the idea of the restaurant was first conceptualised by Jay Al Atas, an Indonesian who fell in love with Indian food during a visit to the country and was also impressed with the craze for Raj Kapoor in Russia and Uzbekistan.

“A lot of Indian tourist groups come here on a regular basis while Uzbeks enjoy the food on occasions and also love clicking pictures here. Whenever a Bollywood celebrity from India comes here, there is a bustling crowd,” he added.

The restaurant is also the official caterer for the majority of Indian events — be it the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit or ones like a recent Bollywood night which saw performances by Daler Mehandi and Ravi Kishan.

Five chefs from different parts of India are behind the variety-loaded menu at the restaurant.

“We offer all kinds of cuisine that are available in India. Our bestselling dishes are butter chicken, biryani, cheese naan and dosa,” said chef Kalamuddin Sheikh who hails from Orissa.

Wall dedicated to Indian celebrities who visited Raaj Kapur restaurant in Tashkent. | Photo Credit: PTI

Celebrity guests

A wall in the restaurant boasts of the renowned people who have visited the restaurant be it politicians like Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh or Bollywood celebrities like Mithun Chakraborty, Shibani Kashyap, Daler Mehandi, Gulshan Grover, among others.

“We have placed signed sketches of the celebrities from India who have visited us. The restaurant is a big hit here,” Sohail Khan, Quality Manager at the restaurant told PTI.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by PTI / October 30th, 2023

Meet Hyderabad photographer who can ‘read messages from clouds’

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

Younus believes that clouds have strong messages related to nature, possible dangers, future developments, and love

'Messages from Clouds' captured by Hyderabad boy
Kohinoor diamond shaped cloud captured between minarets of Charminar

Clouds carry divine messages for humanity, believes Younus, a 27-year-old, photographer from Hyderabad who spends most of his time clicking the clouds in the sky and deciphering the messages therein.

Describing himself as a passionate nature lover, Younus has so far captured over 8,000 images of clouds, which hint at awareness messages related to nature, possible dangers, future developments, and love.

Coexistence

One such picture, he feels, narrates a tale of peaceful coexistence between humans and nature. When skygazers look at the picture, they immediately fall in love with it.

Fauna Fantasia: Peaceful coexistence between humans and nature

Mother bird and chick

Another image of clouds featuring a mother bird feeding her chick calls for the protection of birds and their safety. These birds, he said, largely contribute to the stability of the environment.

Mother bird and a chick

“Affection between a mother and child is displayed by clouds, giving a message to the world that nature must be protected the same way like mother protects a child,” said the photographer Younus.

Mother and child shaped among clouds

Kohinoor on Charminar

His another click, Kohinoor diamond-shaped cloud between the minarets of the historic Charminar, makes citizens recall the priced jewel that no longer belongs to Hyderabad. Today, it is a part of the crown jewels on display at the Tower of London.

Cloud in shape of Kohinoor Diamond

Global warming

A spaceship-like cloud reminds us of the existence of aliens in the universe

His another picture, shows an ape and a dragon formed by the clouds. “The flames coming out of the dragon’s mouth are relevant to the rising global warming,” lamented Younus.

Clouds shaping an ape and a howling dragon

“Crab and Bear are looking over the humans and motivating them to succeed,” explained the photographer.

Clouds in the shape of Crab and Bear

“Pterosaur, an extinct species of flying Dinosaur was captured above the fort of Bhongir, said Younus, adding that the sun, mountains and trees are permanent. However, many animals have become extinct and new animals have evolved.

“It reminds us that someday, the human race is also going to be extinct,” said Younus.

Huge cloud shaping the extinct pterosaurs, captured above the Bhongir fort
Clods depicting a lion, cat and a crocodile in discussion

Telangana shaped cloud

27-year-old Younus Farhaan started capturing cloud pictures in 2008. His hobby soon turned into a passion in 2013, when he captured a cloud in the shape of a Telangana geographic map. The state was formed the next year.

World cup victory

In 2011, he captured a cloud that formed the shape of the coveted Cricket World Cup trophy. Soon after, India won its second World Cup under the captainship of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Since then, cloud pictures by Younus have been displayed at multiple locations, within and outside Telangana.

Clouds call out for ‘protection of nature’

Younus believes that clouds have strong messages for humans. People must take time from their busy schedule and glance at nature for a few minutes.

Recently, his cloud pictures were displayed to 500 girl students at Safdaria Girls High School in the city.

The motive behind the exhibition was to link the students with nature. “Though the girls were aware that clouds make shapes, they were surprised to find out the messages they wave,” said the delighted photographer.

“Nature keeps evolving and keen observation can reveal the messages hidden in the clouds related to the changing environmental trends,” said Younus.

“People must be made aware that protecting nature is the duty of every human,” he said.

A few of his photos are currently on display at the cloud exhibition at Ravindra Bahrati. ‘Fauna Fantasia’, the exhibition was inaugurated on October 4.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Masrath Fatima / October 12th, 2023

Kerala: Veteran Mappilapattu singer Ramla Beegum dies

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Kozhikode District, KERALA:

The veteran Maappilapattu singer, Ramla Beegum, passed away at her residence in Kerala’s Kozhikode district on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at the age of 85.

In addition to her renown as a Maapilapaatu singer, Ramla gained fame as a Kathaprasangam artist, captivating audiences with her unique storytelling style that weaved together tales from both Muslim and Hindu cultures.

Her performances graced stages both nationally and internationally.

To this day, Ramla’s Mappilapattu songs and lyrical narratives, such as “Husnul Jamal Badrul Muneer,” continue to captivate the hearts of art enthusiasts. Some of her most cherished renditions included “Aalam Udayon…” and “Iruloka Jayamaniyum…”

Ramla has performed narrations of literary classics such as Kesavadev’s ‘Odayil Ninnu,’ Kalidas’s ‘Shaakuntalam,’ and Kumaran Asan’s ‘Nalini’ on international platforms.

Her exceptional talent has earned her numerous awards, including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academi Award and the Folklore Academi Award, to name a few.

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / September 27th, 2023

Indian National League hails Kerala port minister Ahammad Devarkovil for initiating big port project in Vizhinjam

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KERALA:

New Delhi:

The Indian National League (INL), a part of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition government in Kerala, has lauded its leader, Ahammad Devarkovil, who serves as the Minister of Ports in the state cabinet, for initiating a massive international seaport project in Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram.

Marking a historic milestone in the development of Indian port, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan waved the green flag on Sunday to welcome the first-ever ship at the Rs 7,700 crore deep-water international Vizhinjam port.

He was joined by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, Kerala’s port minister Ahammad Devarkovil, Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, various state ministers, and APSEZ CEO Karan Adani.

They waved a green flag, signaling the tugboats to guide the massive Chinese ship, Zhen Hua 15, from the wharf to the docking yard.  This under construction seaport is India’s first deep-water container transshipment port with the capacity to host large cargo ships and the world’s largest luxury cruise ships.

Owned by the Government of Kerala, it will be operated by the Adani Group for 40 years, handling 75 percent of India’s container trans-shipment needs and reducing reliance on ports in other neighboring countries upon full commission.

Emphasizing its international importance, the Chief Minister announced that it would be commissioned by May next year. However, the flagging-off ceremony sparked political controversy, with both the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF claiming credit for the project. Congress leaders argued that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was the driving force behind the project, but the LDF dismissed the claims.

During a press conference at the Press Club of India here on October 16, leaders of the INL spoke on various issues, including the Palestine-Israel conflict, opposition coalition INDIA, the caste census, News Click raids, and the minority character of Aligarh Muslim University.

INL National President Prof. Mohammed Suleiman, Kerala State Chief Ahmed Devarkovil, its All India General Secretary Muzammil Hussain, National Committee Member CP Anwar Sadat, Delhi Head Rafi Ahmed Khan, and General Secretary Qamar Ali addressed the media.

Addressing the press conference, Prof. Suleiman said that India’s support for Israel was tarnishing the country’s international image. He demanded a national-level caste census to ensure the welfare of minority communities and protect their rights. Expressing concerns over the media raids, Prof. Suleiman said that the raids against NewsClick and other journalists were a continuation of the Union government’s attempts to intimidate the media.

The INL, working in 11 states since its establishment in 1994, issued a press release stating its commitment to working nationwide against the Hindutva forces led by Narendra Modi. The statement said, “the party aims to establish a secular and democratic coalition called “INDIA” to eliminate communal and fascist influences from the national political landscape. The INL started its campaign in Kerala as well as other states to make the voters ready to strengthen the anti BJP platform.”

Praising Ahammad Devarkovil, the INL emphasized that in his role as the Minister of Ports, he has showcased his acumen and talent, as evident from Sunday’s ceremony when a large ship from China was anchored at Vizhinham.

Calling on the international community for opening the blockade of Gaza and ensure supply of medicines, food, water and electricity to the suffering people of Gaza, the INL said that the party supported the persecuted Palestinians who were fighting against the illegal occupation of their land by the Zionist regime of Israel. To ensure durable peace an independent, the INL demanded a sovereign Palestine state must be established.

Strongly objecting to what it described as the BJP government’s nefarious designs to abolish the autonomy and minority status of Aligarh Muslim University, the party has called for the reinstatement of the AMU Amendment Act of 1981. Moreover, it demands the prompt commencement of the process to appoint a permanent Vice-Chancellor and the immediate scheduling of elections for the AMU Student Union.

The INL has also announced that Dr. Baseer Ahmed Khan, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Open University and former Chairman of the AMU Students’ Union, has joined the Indian National League.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Development / by Anwarulhaq Baig / October 17th, 2023

Of healing and healers

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NEW DELHI :

Hakim Nabina has passed into legend.

Three years older than Hakim Ajmal Khan, one was reminded of him when Ajmal Khan’s great-granddaughter came for admission to Hamdard University last week, accompanied by her father.

While Ajmal Khan’s name lives on beyond his ancestral haveli, Sharif Manzil in Ballimaran, Hakim Nabina had no fixed abode and believed to have been born in the Walled City too, got most of his fame in South Delhi where he was brought by some dealers in Unani medicine.

Born in the same year as Rabindranath Tagore, he was 105 when Dr. S. A. Ali of Hamdard met him in 1965 to seek medication for a digestive problem. The hakim, who had probably been born blind or had lost his vision in childhood, felt the patient’s pulse and diagnosed that his heart and liver were in good trim but not his digestive system. “Did you by any chance eat arbi (yams)?” he enquired. Dr Ali confessed that he had in fact had a piece of the vegetable though he was not fond of it. The hakim told him to have light food in future and prescribed some medicine which cured his ailment.’

Syed Ausaf Ali, himself an octogenarian now, says Nabina lived at Hazrat Pattey Shah’s dargah, behind Humayun’s Tomb. What he prescribed was dispensed by dealers in Unani drugs. When someone complained that the charges were very high, he advised them not to go to the dispensers but take medicine from him directly.

Pattey Shah or the saint amid tree leaves was actually named Shamsuddin Ataullah and died in AD 1300 during the reign of Alauddin Khilji. He got the nickname because whenever Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya visited his khanqah or hospice, he would hide behind bushes and tree leaves, saying he was not worthy of coming face-to-face with the Auliya. This is what has been affirmed in Sadia Dehlvi’s book on the Dargahs of Delhi. It is said that the Shah belonged to the Chishti silsila or order of saints. “During the day he would light a fire and cover himself with its ashes, while at night he slept in a grave-like hollow (something emulated by the eccentric Spanish painter Salvador Dali, who spent his nights in a coffin). When he died Hazrat Nizamuddin led the funeral prayers as per the Shah’s last wish. Hakim Nabina seems to have developed a spiritual rapport with Pattey Shah and lived most of his long life at the latter’s shrine. When he died is not known but it was probably during Indira Gandhi’s first prime ministership, which would mean that he was nearly 110 years old at that time.

The hakim is not to be confused with Hafiz Nabina Doliwale, the blind mendicant who lived under a tree near the southern gate of the Jama Masjid. Nobody knew his real name also, except that he was one who could recite the Quran by heart (Hafiz), was blind (Nabina), wore no clothes and loved to travel free in a doli or palanquin. He and Hakim Nabina were both born in the same year (1860), when Bahadur Shah Zafar was passing his last days in Rangoon. But Hafiz Nabina died at the age of 87 much before the hakim sahib. Everybody in the city knew him and he also finds mention in Ahmed Ali’s “Twilight in Delhi” as he often visited the hero of the book, Mir Nihal. He was regarded as a majzoob (a man possessed), lost in himself and supposed to be in contact with the jinns, without much care for hygiene.

However Hakim Nabina, despite his mystical leanings, never gave the impression that he was a majzoob. His direct communion was with Pattey Shah and he passed his life in the service of those who came to him to be healed. That he could tell a patient what his illness was merely by touching him and pointing out, “Thou ailest here and here,” was a sign of his deep knowledge of human nature and anatomy and the Unani system of medication. Like Hafiz Nabina, he was a recluse but of a different sort who did not discard the ways of the world in matters of dress, behaviour and etiquette. Old-timers remember him as a worthy contemporary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, who had acquired the halo of Massiha (messiah) of the ailing populace!

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> /Down Memory Lane / June 22nd, 2014

Start-up incubator helps Hyderabad entrepreneurs take off

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

India’s first student-focused non-academic business incubator, Edventure park has incubated 157 student start-ups, out of which 30 have already been launched in the market and more than 10 have raised funding from institutional investors.

Founder and CEO Meraj Faheem told The Siasat Daily that the incubator has an army of campus leads who identify talented entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and provide them with the environment, support, and encouragement that they need.

“We have a four-month-long pre-incubation program where we work with idea-stage start-ups,” he added.

The students come up with ideas, the incubator assesses the ideas and after an application process, there’s a three-round interview process. This is followed by the selection of upto 25 start-up ideas that then go through a four-month-long pre-incubation program.

“On the basis of their progress, Edventure park selects 10 out of the 25 start-up ideas who are then taken to the incubation program, and then the acceleration program,” Meraj Faheem remarked.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Usama Hazari / June22nd, 2022

Dadasaheb Phalke Award conferred on Waheeda Rehman

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Chengalputtu, TAMIL NADU / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA:

Waheeda Rehman, 85, is a towering legend of Indian cinema known for iconic roles in films like ‘Guide’, ‘Pyaasa’ and ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’

Waheeda Rehman


Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on September 26 announced that veteran Bollywood actor Waheeda Rehman would be conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021, honouring her stellar contribution to Indian cinema.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the 85-year-old actor through an X (formerly Twitter) post. “Delighted that Waheeda Rehman Ji has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award. Her journey in Indian cinema has left an indelible mark. A beacon of talent, dedication and grace, she embodies the best of our cinematic heritage. Congratulations to her,” he said.

Ms. Rehman has been critically acclaimed for her roles in Hindi films, prominent among them being Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool, Chaudhavi Ka Chand, Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam, Guide and Khamoshi.

The announcement coincides with the birth centenary of Dev Anand, who had worked with Ms. Rehman in the classics like Guide (1965), an adaptation of R. K. Narayan’s book; and crime thriller C.I.D. (1956), which was her first Hindi film. Earlier, she had acted in Telugu films Rojulu Maraayi and Jayasimha, which were released in 1955.

“In her career spanning over five decades, she has essayed her roles with extreme finesse, leading to a National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman in the film Reshma and Shera. A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, Waheeda ji has exemplified dedication, commitment and the strength of a Bharatiya Nari who can achieve the highest level of professional excellence with her hard work,” said Mr. Thakur.

The Minister said: “At a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (women’s reservation Bill, 2023) has been passed by Parliament, her being awarded this lifetime achievement award is a fitting tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian Cinema and one who has dedicated her life after films to philanthropy and the greater good of society.”

The award will be presented during the 69th National Film awards ceremony. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award selection committee comprised prominent Indian cinema personalities, Asha Parekh, Chiranjeevi, Paresh Rawal, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Shekhar Kapur.

Ms. Rehman has worked in more than 90 films. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her roles in Guide and Neel Kamal (1968). She also bagged the National Award for Best Actress (1971) and was honoured with the Padma Shri by government in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies / by The Hindu Bureau / September 26th, 2023

Asian Games 2023 boxing: Nikhat Zareen settles for bronze; Parveen Hooda secures Paris 2024 Olympic quota

Amazing Feats, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

India’s Nikhat Zareen bowed out in the women’s 50kg semi-final after losing 3:2 to Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat. Parveen Hooda is assured a medal in the women’s 57kg.

Nikhat Zareen 
(Boxing Federation of India (BFI))

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen finished her campaign in the women’s 50kg event with a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023 boxing tournament in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China.

Nikhat Zareen lost her semi-final bout against Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat by a 3:2 split decision. Zareen and Raksat faced each other in the quarter-finals of the world championships earlier this year and the Indian boxer had come out on top then.

In Hangzhou, both Nikhat Zareen and Chuthamat Raksat started the bout cautiously, the two only able to land soft punches with measured jabs. In the final round, the Thai boxer managed some decisive hooks to take control and won the bout by the barest of margins.

“My experience was great. I had very good bouts in these Asian Games,” Nikhat said. “Today, unfortunately, I couldn’t win the semi-final match against Thailand. But it’s fine, I will take this as a learning lesson.

“I’ll definitely come back stronger. I’ll learn from my mistakes from this competition, and I definitely look forward to that.”

Earlier in the day, Parveen Hooda made it to the women’s 57kg semi-finals by defeating Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan by unanimous decision. The 23-year-old Indian boxer, by virtue of making the top four, secured a maiden Asian Games medal as well as a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics next year.

However, as National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

Boxing at the Asian Games 2023 is also a Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier event. In men’s events, the gold and silver medallists in each of the seven weight divisions will be issued a quota to Paris 2024. In the women’s categories, four quotas will be on offer for all categories other than the 66kg and 75kg, for which there will be two berths on offer like men’s.

Parveen Hooda will face Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Jasmine Lamboria missed out on a medal after she lost by RSC (referee stops count) in the women’s 60kg quarters against Ungyong Won of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Indian boxer endured three standing counts in a space of one minute before the referee stopped the bout.

source: http://www.olympics.com / Olympics.com / Home / by Anurag Peesara / October 01st, 2023

The Awe-Inspiring Wildlife Drawings of Shaikh Zain ud-Din

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Museums, Libraries (wef. April 16th, 2022), World Opinion, , , , , , , ,

Patna, BIHAR (BRITISH INDIA) :

An 18th-century album of India’s flora and fauna showcases the startling work of an overlooked master.

Bird
Shaikh Zain ud-Din’s Brahminy Starling with Two Antheraea Moths, Caterpillar, and Cocoon on an Indian Jujube Tree was originally part of an album commissioned by his British patrons. © Minneapolis Institute of Art

In the late 1770s, a British colonial official named Sir Elijah Impey and his wife, Lady Mary, commissioned the Indian artist Shaikh Zain ud-Din to catalog a private menagerie, including various bird species, the couple had assembled at their home in Calcutta. Using paper and watercolors from England, Zain ud-Din, a Muslim from the city of Patna, modeled his work after English botanical illustration, but he also brought to the job his training in the ornate Mughal artistic tradition—and his own distinctive style. Today critics praise the quality of the colors and the composition, in which a bright, simple background offsets the keenly wrought details of plants and animals. “Everything is incredibly precise and beautifully observant,” says Xavier Bray, director of London’s Wallace Collection, which this month mounts the first UK exhibition of works by Indian artists commissioned by officers of the British East India Company.

The expat aristocrats who patronized Zain ud-Din and his fellow artists had been sent abroad to help manage their country’s growing empire, but once there many, like the Impeys, fell in love with the subcontinent, as well as its flora and fauna. “These paintings,” Bray says, “were made into albums to be leafed through back home, on a rainy day, drinking Earl Grey tea.”

History failed to record much about Zain ud-Din’s life beyond his watercolors for the Impeys. But the new show, which includes 99 paintings of nature studies, portraits and landscapes by 18 artists, makes an argument that he and his contemporaries should be recognized on their own merits, as some of India’s greatest painters. “Anything with a colonial air about it is now considered politically incorrect,” Bray says. “But what we’re trying to do is bring back these extraordinary artists who have been almost completely forgotten.”

Bat
A Great Indian Fruit Bat, or Flying Fox (pteropus giganteus), by Bhawani Das, Calcutta, c. 1778-1782. Courtesy Private Collection
2nd bird - Indian Roller
Indian Roller on Sandalwood Branch, by Shaikh Zain ud-Din, Impey Album, Calcutta, 1780. © Minneapolis Institute of Art
Stork
Asian Openbill Stork in a Landscape, by unknown artist, Lucknow, c. 1780. Courtesy Private Collection (Photo: Margaret Nimkin)
arum
Arum tortuosum (now Arisaema tortuosum, family Araceae), by Vishnupersaud, c. 1821. © The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

source: http://www.smithsonianmag.com / Smithsonian Magazine / Home> Arts & Culture / by Amy Crawford, Contributing Writer / December 2019

A student at the age of 92, Salima Khan is new Internet sensation

Amazing Feats, Education, Videos, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , ,

Bulandshahr, UTTAR PRADESH: 

A student at the age of 92, Salima Khan is new Internet sensation
Salima Khan is seen with Dr Pratibha Sharma and her great-grand daughter-in-law

Salima Khan is a new Internet sensation who enrolled herself in Chawli Primary School in Bulandshahr at the age of 92, becoming an inspiration to many. 

Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh): 

Remember Swara Bhaskar’s much acclaimed film “Nil Battey Sannata” released in 2016 where the ace actress goes back to school, attending class right with her daughter much to her dismay?

The plot is “recreated” in real life in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh though for a different reason where a Muslim woman in a video is seen sitting in a classroom with her great-grand daughter-in-law.

Salima Khan is a new Internet sensation who enrolled herself in Chawli Primary School in Bulandshahr at the age of 92, becoming an inspiration to many.

The immediate reason behind Salima Khan’s inspiring endeavour at this age is to receive pension given to elderly citizens under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).

The government under this scheme gives a monthly pension of Rs. 200 to elderly citizens of 60 to 79 years and Rs. 500 thereafter.

“Amma used to come to me with a request to help her in getting pension. I promised her help provided she come to school every day for at least half an hour and learn something”, the Headmistress told media.

Despite facing a number of age-related issues, including hearing loss and weak eyesight, Salima Khan started coming to school and attend classes.

“Salima is a regular student and is never absent. She is attending the school since the last ten months. In this period, she has learnt a lot of things”, Dr Sharma said.

“Even at this age the interest and dedication with which Salima Khan learns is motivatinf for other students”, she added.

Salima who was unable to recognise letters is now able to write her name with fare fluency and can also confidently count up to 100.

“Acha lagta hai padhna. School aana bahut badhiya lagta hai. (I like to study and attend school)”, 92-year-old Salima Khan said in the video now going viral.

Inspired by Salima Khan, as many as 25 other women of the village, including her daughter-in-laws, have decided to go to school.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by ummid.com news network / September 29th, 2023