The excellence awards ceremony and annual meet – 2025 of the Muslim Educational Institutions Federation (MEIF) of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, held at Barakah International School, Adyar Mangaluru, on May 22.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mohan Alva, chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri, said, “Education institutions should not be limited to one community. Education institutions should not be confined to the community that founded them. Instead, schools should reflect a “mini-India” that transcends barriers of religion, caste, and ethnicity. Everyone should have access to education. An atmosphere must be created where all are included. Just as India is home to various castes, religions, languages, and ethnicities, schools too should represent this diversity and become a mini-India. Schools should be a reflection of society, imparting education that builds communities rather than dividing them”
Praising the achievements of MEIF, Dr Mohan Alva also promised assistance in providing scouts and guides training to students in MEIF schools.
MEIF honorary president Umar T K delivered a keynote address, and MEIF president Moosabbi P Bary presided over the event.
A booklet detailing the federation’s annual programmes for 2024-25 was unveiled by Y Abdulla Javed, director of Yenepoya Group.
President of the Baraka Group of Institutions Ashraf Bajpe and Unni Haji, , along with Bahrain Sinan Zakariya, were honored during the ceremony.
National trainer Rajendra Bhat also shared his thoughts.
The event also included a felicitation ceremony honoring students who achieved outstanding results in PUC and SSLC examinations.
Outstanding SSLC performers from MEIF schools who were felicitated include Sumaiyya Nuha (619), Dakshin S Salian (618), Nidha Khadeeja Noor (617).
PUC toppers honored include Prithvi Acharya (585), Ayesha (584), Ayesha Shamran (584), Farahath M A (591), Maheen Fathima (590), Ayesha Falak (563), Aleemath Sayida (556), and Nafia T N (556).
From MEIF SSLC Kodagu – Fizah V (618), MEIF SSLC Chikkamagaluru – Taheen Fathima (597), and Karnataka SSLC state topper Shagufta Anjum from Sirsi (625) were also felicitated with mementos and cash awards.
Vice president of the Presidency Group of Institutions Suhail Ahmed and president of the Manipal HPR Group of Institutions Hariprasad Rai, were present as chief guests and extended their best wishes.
MEIF East Zone vice president Mustafa Sullia welcomed the gathering. General secretary Riyaz Ahmed K B and secretary Mohammad Sharik announced the names of the award-winning students. Farvez Ali delivered the vote of thanks, and lecturer Abdul Razak Anantadi compered the event.
MEIF Kodagu chapter president K A Shadli, Chikkamagaluru chapter president Zameer Ahmed, vice president Shabih Ahmed Qazi, and treasurer Nisar Fakir Mohammad were also present on the occasion.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld / Home> Karnataka / by DaijiWorld Media Network – Udupi (TP) / May 23rd, 2025
Sadaravan Village (Sitapur District), UTTAR PRADESH :
Girls outperform boys in Jamia Millia Islamia’s internal examinations, and Umaima’s performance has emerged as a shining example
New Delhi :
Reflecting dedication and discipline, Umaima Bano, a student from a small village in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, has made her mark in the results declared by Jamia Millia Islamia. Scoring 96.4 per cent in the Class 10 board examinations, Umaima becomes one of the top 10 rank holders this year.
The Class 12 and 10 results were released on 14 and 15 May, respectively. This year, girls have notably outperformed boys in Jamia’s internal examinations, and Umaima’s performance has emerged as a shining example.
Umaima hails from Sadaravan, a remote village in Sitapur district. Her father, Kamal Ahmed, is the principal of a private intercollege, and her achievement has brought pride not only to her family but also to her entire village.
Despite her modest background, Umaima demonstrated excellence across all subjects. According to the official marksheet, she scored 97% in Hindi, 98% in English, 99% in Mathematics, 93% in Science, 95% in Social Science, 96% in Urdu, and 95% in Islamiyat.
Her performance reflects a well-rounded grasp of both academic and language-based subjects. Speaking to local media, her father expressed pride in her efforts:
“Umaima has always been a disciplined and hardworking child. We had faith in her, but her achievement has exceeded our expectations,” Kamal Ahmed said.
Umaima’s academic journey has been marked by determination. She completed her primary education from New Vision Public Inter College in Muhammadabad, Uttar Pradesh. She then appeared for Jamia Millia Islamia’s national-level entrance test, securing an impressive 45th rank.
This feat earned her a place in the prestigious university, where she now lives in a student hostel to pursue her studies with greater focus.
“I want to become an IAS officer and serve my country,” Umaima shared when asked about her future goals. “My parents’ sacrifices inspire me every day to work harder.”
The news of Umaima’s success spread quickly across her village, where neighbours and well-wishers gathered to congratulate the family. Local teachers and community leaders praised her for being a role model for rural students.
“Umaima’s success has shown that even students from small villages can reach great heights with sincerity and support,” said Feroz Khan, a teacher from her former school.
Jamia officials also acknowledged the importance of recognising merit from all backgrounds.
“At Jamia Millia Islamia, we are committed to nurturing talent from every corner of the country. Umaima’s story is a testament to the power of equal opportunity and hard work,” said an official from the university’s examination board.
This year’s results have also highlighted the consistent rise of girl students at Jamia. University records indicate that in both Class 10 and 12 results, girls have performed better than boys in average marks and top positions.
With her academic brilliance and strong moral foundation, Umaima Bano has not only brought laurels to her family and community but has also become a symbol of hope and empowerment for girls in rural India.
As celebrations continue in Sitapur, many hope that Umaima’s journey will inspire others to dream big, work hard, and break through social and geographic barriers.
source: http://www.clarionindia.com / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> Indian Muslims / by Mohammad Bin Ismail / May 18th, 2025
In a time marked by growing communal tensions and polarizing narratives, young author and scholar Syed Amjad Hussain’s book ‘Bihar Aur Sufivad’ arrives not only as a work of history but also as a much-needed spiritual intervention. Spanning more than 300 pages, the book immerses the reader in Bihar’s rich and pluralistic Sufi heritage, offering a profound counter-narrative rooted in peace, love and human dignity.
Bihar is generally remembered for its political agitations and socio-economic challenges, but beneath the surface lies an older, deeper history – a rich tapestry of sufi saints who arrived as early as the 12th century. Through systematic research and a respectful tone, Hussain revives this forgotten spiritual geography.
Beginning with the arrival of Hazrat Peer Shah Mushk Nafah, Hazrat Momin Arif Ansari Yemeni and Hazrat Imam Muhammad Taj Faqih Zubairi Hashmi, followed by the transformative presence of Hazrat Qazi Syed Shahabuddin Suhrawardi Peer Jagjot Kashgari in Fatuha (Patna), the book presents a chronologically overlapping map of Sufi presence in Bihar. These are not mere biographies; they are glimpses into a world where divine love was not only preached but lived, practiced and internalised.
Thematic Depth, Scholarly Rigor
Divided into well-organised sections, ‘Bihar Aur Sufivad’ details the lives of 20 influential sufi saints. Each chapter offers insights into their teachings (taalim), spiritual practices, miracles (karamaat) and most importantly, their social engagements. The saints in Hussain’s work are not passive mystics withdrawn from the world; they are reformers, healers, poets and bridges between communities.
The book also discusses the various sufi orders (silsilas) present in Bihar – Firdausi, Shattari, Husami, Warsi, Chishti, Qadri, Suhrawardi and Naqshbandi – illustrating how each infused its own spiritual philosophy into the soil of Bihar. Of special mention is Hussain’s inclusion of female figures such as Hazrat Bibi Kamal of Kako Sharif, a rare and valuable recognition of women’s contributions to Bihar’s mystic culture.
Language, Tone and Accessibility
Hussain’s writing flows with a gentle rhythm that recalls classical Urdu and Hindi scholarship yet remains accessible to contemporary readers. The prose is rich and poetic without sacrificing academic precision. His background as a researcher is evident in the meticulous citation of works in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi and English, many of which are obscure or little known to the general public.
This is not a dry academic treatise; it is a living, breathing narrative of spiritual heritage, crafted to engage scholars, young seekers and general readers alike.
Relevance in Today’s India
What makes the book particularly significant is its timing. At a moment when histories are being erased or rewritten to suit political agendas, this book affirms that India’s collective spiritual heritage must not be forgotten. The sufi saints of Bihar transcended caste, creed and religion. Their khanqahs were open to people of all faiths. They preached service, not supremacy.
In this age of ideological divisions, Hussain’s work reminds the bridges that once united communities. It is a call to return – not to nostalgia, but to the ethics of inclusiveness, humility and compassion that the sufis embodied.
‘Bihar Aur Sufivad’ is more than a book; it is a spiritual journey and a historical reclamation. In reviving the voices of Bihar’s forgotten sufi saints, Hussain does more than pay tribute; he builds a bridge for contemporary readers to reconnect with a heritage that offers solutions to some of our most pressing problems.
This book deserves a place not only on library shelves but also in classrooms, living rooms and community discussions. It is an invitation to think, to remember and to heal.
Hussain has not merely authored a book – he has attempted to revive a spiritual legacy and present it afresh to the modern world. This work warrants a place of honour in the study of Indian Islam, Sufism and regional spiritual histories. It is hoped that it will inspire further research, dialogue and, most importantly, personal transformation.
It is strongly recommended for scholars, spiritual seekers and anyone interested in the rich diversity of India’s syncretic traditions.
(Dr. Shujaat Ali Quadri is an Indian journalist, deputy director of the Indo-Islamic Heritage Center and the chairman of the Muslim Students Organisation of India)
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Arts & Culture> Book Review / by Dr Shujaat Ali Quadri / May 07th, 2025
Shezah Fatima, Sumbul Khan, Tarannum Rangrez and Mohammed Ashhad are four Muslims who have figured in the MPBSE Madhya Pradesh 10th List of Top 10 for the year 2025 released along with the result Tuesday.
[Representative image by Grok 3]
MP Class 10 Result 2025:
Madhya Pradesh SSC 2025 Toppers List: Shezah Fatima, Sumbul Khan, Tarannum Rangrez and Mohammed Ashhad are four Muslims who have figured in the MPBSE Madhya Pradesh 10th List of Top 10 for the year 2025 released along with the result Tuesday.
Shezah Fatima from Jabalpur bagged a total of 498/500 marks and secured the 3rd rank in Madhya Pradesh.
On the other hand, Sumbul Khan of Sagar district and Tarannum Rangrez of Damoh district bagged a total of 496/500 and secured the 5th rank in the MPBSE 10th Toppers List 2025.
Also in the Madhya Pradesh SSC Merit List 2025 is Mohammed Ashhad. Ashhad bagged 495 out of the total 500 marks and stood 6th in whole of Madhya Pradesh.
The state topper in the MPBSE SSC 2025 board exam is Pragya Jaiswal of Singrauli district. She has scored 500 out of 500 marks i.e. 100% marks to secure the top rank in the MP Class 10 board exams 2025 held from February 27 to March 19, 2025.
MPBSE 10th Toppers 2025
The top three students in the Madhya Pradesh board SSC Merit List 2025 are:
Rank 1: Pragya Jaiswal from Singrauli (500 marks)
Rank 2: Ayush Dwivedi from Rewa (499 marks)
Rank 3: Shezah Fatima from Jabalpur (498 marks)
Girls have preformed excellently well across the board.
According to the 10th result announced today, a total of 212 students have featured in the Madhya Pradesh SSC Merit List 2025. Notably, 144 of them are girls.
MP 10th Result 2025 – Top 10 Districts
Narsinghpur district has topped in terms of pass percentage in both MP 10th exam, followed by Mandla district. The list of top 10 districts are:
Narsingpur 92.73% of regular students pass
Mandla 89.83%
Balaghat 88.07%
Anooppur 87.66%
Neemuch 87.29%
Shajapur 86.22%
Sehore 85.54%
Hoshangabad 84.08%
Dewas 84.05%
Jhabua 83.88%
MPBSE 10th 2025: Division wise Result
Over 4 lakh students have passed MP 10th SSC 2025 exam with 1st division.
First division: 4,290,42 students
Second division: 1,821,72
Third division: 2,200
Pass division: 0
Details of Regular Students
Registered: 8,100,19
Absent: 5,087
Appeared: 8,049,32
Cancelled: 125
Withheld: 39
Result declared for: 8,047,68
Pass: 6,134,14
Failed: 1,91,354
Pass percentage: 76.22 per cent
The state has registered an overall pass percentage of 76.22%. It is the best result in the past 15 years, the MP board said.
Steps to Check MP board Class 10 HSC Result 2025
Click here to go official MPBSE official website: “mpresults.nic.in“.
Click on “HSC (Class 10th) Exam Result 2025”.
Enter roll number and name.
Click on “Submit”.
The results will be displayed on the screen.
Save the results and take a print out for further reference.
The students can check their MPBSE Class 10 or HSC results 2025 along with Class 12th HSSC Vocational Exam 2025 on the official website www.mpresults.nic.in, mpbse.mponline.gov.in, mpbse.nic.in, ExamResults.net, MPEducation.net indiaresults.com results.mpeducation.net, knowyourresult.com.
MP Board Previous Year Toppers
In 2024, the MP board Class 10 exam, the state had registered an overall pass percentage of 58.10%.
In 2023, the MP Board Class 12 Exams were held from March 2 to April 01, 2023, at various test centers across the state.
A total of 7,29,426 students had registered for the Class 12 MP Board exams. Out of them 7,27,044 appeared in the exam and 4,01,366 (55.20%) were declared passed. The pass percentage of boys in 2023 was 51.91% and that of the girls stood at 58.69%.
Narayan Sharma (488 marks), Gaurav Mourya (486 marks), Ritin Lodhi (486 marks) and Prachi Patel (485 marks) were toppers in Science stream.
On the other hand, the MP Board Class 10 Exams last year were held from March 1 to March 27, 2023, at various test centers across the state.
A total of 8,20,014 students had registered for the Class 10 MP Board exams. Out of them 8,15,364 appeared in the exam and 5,15,955 (63.29%) were declared passed. The pass percentage of boys in 2023 was 60.26% and that of the girls stood at 66.47%.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by ummid.com news network / May 06th, 2025
Muqita, Fatima and Shakila are a few of the over hundred persons who get monthly pension from the Soghra Waqf Estate of Bihar Sharif in Bihar. They are quite thankful for the Waqf Estate but they are not aware about the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act.
This is just one of the hundreds of Waqf Estates which is providing help to the needy in one or the other way. Apart from the monthly pension, it also provides financial help for medical treatment to the needy.
BBC Hindi recently made a video report about the financial help being provided by the Soghra Waqf Estate.
According to this report Muqita Khatoon is about to turn eighty. Sadly, mother of four sons Muqita lives alone. Twenty-five years back her husband Bashir passed away. Muqita has nothing but the memory of her husband and a few utensils in her rented house. She pays the rent of this single room from the pension of Rs. 600 she gets from Soghra Waqf Estate. She says that many a time she is forced to sleep without any food.
Sogra Waqf Estate was established in the year 1896. Bibi Sogra, an enlightened lady, donated land for Waqf in sixteen districts, including Nalanda, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Nawadah. It is reported that Soghra Waqf Estate consists of around twenty-one thousand acres of land. It is said that Bibi Soghra set priority for women as beneficiary of the Waqf.
Fatima, 66, of village Sabbait in Nalanda district is dependent on the pension she gets from Soghra Waqf Estate. She was deserted by her husband only after three years of marriage. Fatima lived with her father but after he died, she was left helpless. Then she got a pension of Rs. 500.00 per month from the Soghra Waqf Estate. She is happy that someone from her neighbourhood also filled the form for the social welfare scheme of Bihar government from which she gets Rs. 400.00 per month. She is happy to get Rs. 900.00 per month and terms it as ‘bahut rahat’ (big relief).
Soghra Waqf Estate is providing monthly pension for 113 needy persons of Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Nawadah and Gaya districts.
Mokhtarul Haque, Mutawalli of Soghra Waqf Estate, says that there are talks of no representation of women and Pasmanda but it must be said that Bibi Soghra herself was the Mutawalli of this Waqf from 1896 to 17 March 1909. “Thus the leadership was in the hands of a woman.”
Shakila Khatoon lost her husband and son. She is forced to cover her face with a dupatta because of cancer. She is getting financial help from this Waqf Estate for her treatment. She used to make Bidis and smoke it also. She quite emotional says that she gets financial help from the ‘Estate’. “I used to get Rs. 1000-2000 for my treatment. Though it was not a big amount but when you get nothing from other sources, it becomes more important,” said Shakila.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Features> Focus / by Md. Sami Ahmad / Radiance News Bureau / May 11th, 2025
Amna Asim receiving the best paper award at Jesus and Mary College, DU
Aligarh:
Amna Asim, a first-year MA History student at the Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University, won the Best Paper Prize at the release event of Maazinama Volume IV, held at Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi.
Her research paper, titled “Memory and Resistance: Tracing India’s Counter-Monumental Legacy through Jallianwala Bagh,” was also published in Maazinama Volume IV, the annual academic journal of the Department of History, Jesus and Mary College. The paper explores the concept of counter-monuments as powerful symbols of collective memory and resistance, with a focused analysis of Jallianwala Bagh’s historical and cultural legacy.
Judges Dr. Devika Mittal and Dr. Bipasha Rosy Lakra appreciated her research and the methodology employed.
Prof. Hassan Imam, Chairperson and Coordinator of the Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History, AMU, congratulated Amna Asim on her achievement and praised her for earning this scholarly recognition.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards / by Radiance News Bureau / May 16th, 2025
Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, National President of Urdu Development Organisation, felicitating Shariya Fatima Sherwani on securing 100% marks in Urdu in the CBSE Class 10 exams
New Delhi:
Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, National President of Urdu Development Organisation (UDO), personally visited the home of Shariya Fatima Sherwani, daughter of renowned journalist Sadiq Sherwani, to congratulate her and encourage her on achieving exceptional results in the CBSE Class 10 exams.
It is noteworthy that Shariya Fatima Sherwani secured 100% marks in Urdu, not only setting a new record but also serving as a strong rebuttal to those who hold negative views about the Urdu language.
Similarly, Omar Habib, son of Dr. Habibullah – CMO Unani at the Department of AYUSH, Government of Delhi, posted in Tihar Jail – achieved a remarkable 96% score.
In addition, Samiq Raza, son of senior journalist Syed Izharul Hasan, scored 88.4% in Class 12 at Delhi Air Force School.
The Urdu Development Organisation expressed happiness over the achievements of these students, extended its congratulations, and announced its decision to further encourage more successful and talented students from the community on World Urdu Day, on November 9.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau / May 15th, 2025
Nuzha Fathima Sarfaraz, a student of G.M. Vidyaniketan Public School in Brahmavar, Udupi, has achieved an outstanding 95% in the CBSE Class 10 board examinations, the results of which were declared on May 13, reported the Varta Bharati.
Daughter of Sarfaraz T.S. and Farzana Sarfaraz, and granddaughter of the late T.S. Ismail Saheb and Sabeera Ismail of Kodi Bengre, Nuzha’s accomplishment has earned her praise and admiration from teachers, family, and peers alike. Her dedication, focus, and perseverance have been widely appreciated as the foundation of her academic success.
Her performance stands as an inspiration for fellow students in the region, showcasing the possibilities that hard work and determination can bring.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau / May 15th, 2025
Prof. Zakia Siddiqi Honoured with Dr. B R Ambedkar International Award
Aligarh:
Prof. Zakia Ather Siddiqi, a celebrated educationist and former Principal of Women’s College, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been conferred with the Dr. B R Ambedkar International Award (Certificate of Excellence) by the Tirupati Balaji Educational Foundation, honouring her lifelong service to education and social upliftment.
Renowned for her unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment through education, Prof. Siddiqi transformed academic standards and inspired generations of female students. As the OSD of Aligarh Public School, she introduced dynamic pedagogical reforms and steered the institution to national recognition.
Under her leadership, the Aligarh Public School secured the prestigious Digital India Competition Award four times – in 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024 – reflecting her vision of merging education with technological advancement.
Even after retirement, her dedication remains undiminished. This award not only celebrates her legacy but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for educators and students alike.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / May 09th, 2025
Ohida Khandekar’s Dream Your Museum, an installation and film about her uncle’s collection won the V&A’s Jameel Prize for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic traditions.
Selim Khandakar with his grand-niece and the trunks housing his collection. | Photo Credit: Anand Kumar Ekboty
Selim Khandakar, 71, has always dreamt of making a museum in his village for the 12,000-plus objects he has collected over 50 years. A small portion of that collection has now reached one of the best museums in the world — the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London — thanks to his artist niece, Ohida Khandakar.
Ohida, 31, has turned her uncle’s lifelong obsession into an installation and film — Dream Your Museum — which won the V&A’s prestigious Jameel Prize for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic traditions. The work is not just a tribute to what seems to be her uncle’s calling; it also challenges colonial museum structures and asks whether ordinary, personal objects deserve a place in museums. Can museums be flexible and inclusive spaces, showcasing the narratives of minority communities and customs? Are private collections the exclusive privilege of the rich?
The installation and film, ‘Dream Your Museum’, at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London.
Selim worked as a doctor’s compounder in Kolkata and started collecting random objects from the year 1970. A stamp exhibition piqued his interest first, prompting him to start collecting them. He also came across an exhibition of vintage objects from Mallik Bari, one of Kolkata’s heritage homes. “It was a record of what objects were used in the ancient times and how lives were led,” Selim tells me over a Zoom call from his home in Kelepara, a village near Hooghly, West Bengal. “It inspired me to start collecting whatever felt like a record of the common person’s life and times. From bus tickets to stamps to refills of pens, I wouldn’t throw anything away.”
An assortment of rare and mundane items makes up Selim’s collection. Old clocks, inscribed ceramics, vintage records and music players, letters dating back to Partition, perfume bottles, crystal rocks, hand fans, stamps, handbills, ink pots, cameras, train tickets, receipts, even matriculation answer sheets from the 70s!
Selim Khandakar surrounded by the objects he has collected over the years. | Photo Credit: Anand Kumar Ekboty
Gramophones to baby clothes
Much of Selim’s collection is housed in tin trunks and scattered across his home in Kelepara. It sometimes becomes a ‘travelling museum’ for people in the village to explore and interact with the objects as Selim takes them around. There is curiosity, awe, some ridicule, some laughter, and from those who understand history and record keeping, even encouragement.
Ohida’s film captures Selim walking through village fields with his trunk, stopping by the river to rinse some crystal stones, and holding them up to the sun. “Where did you find these, nanu?” asks Maria, his grand-niece, who appears in the film. “In the graveyard,” Selim replies.
Selim Khandakar walking through village fields with his trunk. | Photo Credit: Anand Kumar Ekboty
Ohida, who studied art at the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, says it is sometimes hard to understand what keeps her uncle going. Is it hoarding, as his exasperated family has often believed? She and Selim don’t think so. Instead, he thinks his collection, much like Dream Your Museum, is about storytelling. “Collecting is my way of showing people from my village a glimpse of things from around the world,” Selim notes. “Like rare coins dating back to the Mughal period or vintage perfume bottles from around the world. Often people here do not get a chance to go to cities to see such things. That’s what has always kept me going.”
Selim Khandakar’s house that was destroyed after a cyclone.. | Photo Credit: Anand Kumar Ekboty
Once displayed in his modest mud house, now destroyed after a cyclone, Selim’s possessions came close to being discarded by his family until Ohida decided to document it digitally. She reacquainted herself with both her uncle and his collection when stuck at home during the pandemic. To her artist’s eye, it is a compelling one, given its range — from gramophones to baby clothes from the 80s. “It even has a bunch of fingernails [Selim’s own] in a box. It reminds me of Marcel Duchamp’s Dadaist Fountain exhibit [1917], where he displayed an upside-down urinal. Such objects challenge conventional notions of what belongs in a museum. These items, including a broken plate passed down through generations, show the power of storytelling through objects.”
Selim laughs when asked about the fingernails. “I had once visited an exhibition where I saw art made with fingernails and thought I would do the same with mine. It made me curious, so I kept them.”
What makes a museum?
Curiosity has been the driving force behind Selim’s obsession and this is what Ohida celebrates in her work. Maria accompanies Selim throughout the film, asking him curious questions about the objects in his collection, an attempt to peek into his mind. Ohida started filming Dream Your Museum as an entry for the 2022 Berlin Biennale, where it was received well, eventually landing her the V&A award.
Filmmaker Ohida Khandakar
Growing up in Kelepara, Ohida hadn’t stepped inside a museum until she came to study art in Kolkata. “I had achieved my dream of studying art and moving beyond a village where many women still had no voice and were married off early. It made me wonder — was there a limit to our dreams? Was there a limit to the dreams of my uncle, a rural, aged Muslim man?”
With the funds from the award, Ohida is now hoping to create a museum for her uncle’s collection and a cultural space in the village. “We need accessible museums that work as alternative spaces for the narratives of rural minority communities; as safe spaces for women without opportunities; to engage those who might not typically visit traditional museums due to a lack of knowledge, distance or financial constraints.”
In Dream Your Museum, her camera gently films Selim among his collections in his crumbling ancestral home. He expresses frustration at having no permanent place even after 50 years to showcase his prized collection. “I’ll now make a museum on the moon,” he declares.
The writer is a freelance journalist and the co-author of ‘Rethink Ageing’ (2022).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Art / by Reshmi Chakraborty / April 20th, 2025
