A young Muslim girl from a poor family in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh has created history with a remarkable display of talent and determination. Noor Jahan painted portraits of 15 Indian freedom fighters simultaneously, holding multiple pens in her mouth at one time, and completed all 15 portraits in a single frame.
The feat left many stunned, including industrialist Anand Mahindra, who called it nothing short of a miracle. Mahindra was so moved by Noor Jahan’s extraordinary skill that he announced a scholarship to support her education in painting and the arts.
Noor Jahan grew up in a poor household in Badaun, a district in western Uttar Pradesh. Despite limited resources, she developed a rare artistic ability. Her technique of holding multiple pens simultaneously in her mouth to draw detailed portraits of historical figures is entirely her own.
The portraits she painted feature 15 freedom fighters who played a role in India’s independence movement. Completing all 15 in a single frame, using only her mouth, drew wide attention across the country.
Anand Mahindra, who regularly highlights exceptional talent on social media, described Noor Jahan’s work as astonishing and pledged to fund her further studies in the field. His support has brought significant national attention to the young artist from Badaun.
Noor Jahan’s achievement carries a clear message: poverty places obstacles in a person’s path, but hard work and genuine skill remove those obstacles. Her story also challenges stereotypes about Muslim communities in India, proving that talent and ambition exist across every background and economic condition.
She has shown that a Muslim girl from a struggling family in rural Uttar Pradesh can write history through skill and effort alone.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Arts & Culture> Latest News> Markers of Excellence> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / September 07th, 2026
Berar (During British in Hyderabad), now in MAHARASHTRA :
Nizam Osman Ali Khan of Hyderabad and Berar, Himayat Ali Khan the Prince of Berar listening to a presentation
The universal ideals of Islam found a distinctive expression in the historic region of Berar, where the faith spread not only through political authority but also through the influence of scholars, Sufis, jurists, poets, educators and public servants. Over the centuries, Berar became a centre of Islamic learning, Urdu and Persian literature, social reform and public service, producing generations whose lives reflected the Qur’anic ideals of knowledge, justice, compassion and service to humanity.
Situated in the heart of the Deccan, Berar emerged as a meeting ground of diverse cultures and traditions. Mosques, madrasas, khanqahs, libraries and charitable institutions shaped both the religious and intellectual life of society. Islamic scholarship developed in dialogue with local cultural currents, creating a rich and distinctive regional heritage.
The Muslims of Berar were notable not merely for their attachment to religious tradition but for their active engagement with the wider world. They served as judges, administrators, teachers, physicians, lawyers, bankers, writers, journalists, freedom fighters and philanthropists, contributing significantly to the social and cultural development of the region. Their achievements demonstrate that Islam, when lived in its authentic spirit, inspires excellence in every sphere of human endeavour.
Unlike historical accounts that focus mainly on rulers and political events, this work highlights individuals whose enduring influence arose from scholarship, moral leadership and public service. Some belonged to the medieval period, when Islam was taking firm root in the Deccan through scholars and Sufi saints; others flourished under the Bahmani, Imad Shahi, Mughal and Hyderabad administrations; many emerged during the colonial era and in independent India, responding creatively to changing social and educational challenges.
Their fields of achievement varied greatly, yet they were united by common values: knowledge as a sacred trust, integrity as the foundation of leadership, and service to humanity as an expression of faith. Whether they taught in madrasas, administered public institutions, wrote poetry, healed the sick, established schools or worked quietly for community welfare, each contributed in some measure to the intellectual and moral life of Berar.
The spread of Islam in Berar was gradual and deeply connected to institutions of learning and public welfare. From the fourteenth century onward, the growth of towns, educational centres and religious institutions transformed the region into an active participant in the intellectual currents of the medieval Deccan. Persian scholarship flourished for centuries, later enriched by the development of Urdu literature, poetry and historical writing.
Equally important were the contributions of ordinary men and women whose names seldom appear in conventional histories. Teachers in village maktabs, imams guiding local congregations, merchants supporting charitable works and families nurturing learning within the home collectively sustained the spiritual and cultural life of the community. Their quiet efforts formed the unseen foundation upon which more celebrated achievements were built.
The personalities presented in the following pages represent only a small cross-section of this rich inheritance. Some attained national prominence, while others exercised influence within local communities. Together they illustrate how Islamic values were translated into scholarship, public service, literature, education, jurisprudence, spirituality and community leadership across successive generations.
This section is therefore more than a collection of biographies. It is a tribute to a civilisational tradition that flourished in Berar and formed an integral part of India’s composite cultural heritage. In remembering these distinguished men and women, we preserve not merely their personal achievements but also the ideals they embodied—faith enlightened by reason, learning tempered by humility, and devotion expressed through selfless service to society. Their legacy continues to inspire future generations and deserves an honoured place in the history of both Berar and Indian Islam.
The Modern Legacy
Berar’s rich intellectual traditions continued into the modern era through its judicial lineages, literary circles, educational institutions, and public service. Madrasas, mosques, khanqahs, libraries, and scholarly households remained the custodians of an intellectual culture that regarded knowledge as an amanah—a sacred trust to be exercised with integrity, wisdom, and responsibility for the common good.
Across the Bahmani, Imad Shahi, Mughal, and Asaf Jahi periods, the Qazis of Berar successfully adapted to changing political systems without compromising the ethical foundations of their office. Their authority rested not upon political power but upon scholarship, moral integrity, and the confidence of the communities they served. This remarkable continuity enabled the House of Qazis to maintain its influence even as successive dynasties transformed the Deccan’s administrative landscape.
With the advent of modern India, this legacy assumed new forms. Descendants of Berar’s scholarly traditions emerged as judges, advocates, parliamentarians, educationists, scientists, physicians, administrators, industrialists, writers, entrepreneurs, and spiritual leaders. While their professional pursuits diversified, they remained united by a shared commitment to justice, learning, ethical leadership, and public service. In doing so, they demonstrated how a centuries-old culture of scholarship could flourish within the institutions of a democratic nation.
Foremost among these distinguished personalities stands Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah (1905–1992), one of the greatest jurists produced by the erstwhile Central Provinces and Berar. Educated at Morris College, Nagpur, before proceeding to Trinity College, Cambridge, and Lincoln’s Inn, he returned to practise at the High Court of the Central Provinces and Berar. His brilliant legal career included serving as Advocate General, Judge, and Chief Justice of the Nagpur High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court of India in 1958. In 1968, he became India’s first Muslim Chief Justice. He subsequently served the nation with distinction as Acting President of India and later as Vice President of India, embodying the highest ideals of constitutionalism, judicial independence, and public service.
The biographical sketches that follow present some of the most eminent representatives of Berar’s modern legacy. Though drawn from diverse professions and walks of life, each reflects the enduring values that have characterised the region’s intellectual and spiritual heritage: scholarship, integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serving humanity.
Kazi Syed Karimuddin belonged to the distinguished Qazi family of Berar, a lineage renowned for its contributions to Islamic jurisprudence, education, and public service. A respected lawyer, parliamentarian, and statesman, he combined professional distinction with an unwavering commitment to constitutional values. As an active member of the Constituent Assembly of India, he made thoughtful and principled interventions in the framing of the Constitution, particularly in defence of civil liberties, minority rights, and the guarantees of equality, freedom, and the rule of law that now form the bedrock of the Republic. Through his legal practice, public service, and constitutional vision, he strengthened the Qazi family’s enduring reputation for scholarship, integrity, and enlightened leadership while promoting education, communal harmony, and ethical public life.
Kazi Syed Ghiyasuddin belonged to the eminent hereditary Qazi family of Berar, renowned for its legacy of judicial scholarship and public leadership. A distinguished statesman of Maharashtra, he served as a Cabinet Minister for over a decade during the tenure of Chief Minister Y. B. Chavan. He later held several key portfolios in the State Government, exemplifying the family’s enduring tradition of service, integrity, and administrative excellence.
Justice Mohd. Mujibuddin Qazi served with distinction as a Judge of the Bombay High Court, being appointed an Additional Judge in September 1981 and confirmed as a permanent Judge in December 1982. Widely admired for his judicial scholarship, integrity, fairness, and balanced judgments, he retired in February 1992 after a distinguished career devoted to the administration of justice. Following his retirement, he served as Chairman of the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal and later as Chairman of the Anjuman Hami-E-Islam Trust, continuing his distinguished contribution to public life and educational administration.
Justice Mohd. Arifur Rahman Khan was a distinguished member of the higher judiciary whose career was marked by scholarship, integrity, and judicial independence. Through his service on the Bench, he upheld constitutional values and the rule of law while contributing significantly to the administration of justice. His achievements reflect Berar’s enduring legacy of legal excellence.
Justice Zaka Azizul HaqHaq is a distinguished former Judge of the Bombay High Court, serving principally at the Nagpur Bench. Elevated to the Additional Judge rank in 2013 and later confirmed as a permanent Judge, he became widely respected for his judicial scholarship and integrity. Following his retirement, he was designated a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India. He was appointed sole Administrator of the Anjuman Hami-E-Islam Trust, one of Nagpur’s foremost educational institutions, where he has continued to render distinguished service in educational administration and public life.
Dr Syed Mahmood Hussain (S. M. H.) Khatib was an eminent zoologist, pioneering entomologist, and former Head of the Department of Zoology at the Institute of Science, Nagpur. His outstanding research advanced entomological studies in Central India and inspired generations of scientists. Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University perpetuates his memory through the Dr S. M. H. Khatib Memorial Gold Medal and the S. M. H. Khatib Memorial Entomology Research Forum.
Dr Fauzia Khan traces her lineage to the Naqshbandi spiritual tradition through her father, Dr Zafar Naqshbandi, a distinguished physician of Aurangabad. She is a prominent politician from Maharashtra and an advocate of women’s empowerment, education, and public welfare. She made history as the first Muslim woman to serve as a Minister in the Maharashtra Government, holding the portfolios of Education, Health, and Women & Child Development. A former Member of the Rajya Sabha, she has devoted her public life to advancing inclusive governance, social justice, and the welfare of women and marginalised communities.
Qazi Syed Sirajuddin belonged to the distinguished hereditary lineage of the Qazis of Berar. He was a scion of the historic Qazi family of Kalamb, whose judicial and religious authority extended over several generations. Associated with the honorary office traditionally held by the family, he upheld its long-established reputation for integrity, scholarship, and public service. Through his standing within the community, he helped preserve the prestige of an institution that had long served Berar as a guardian of justice, Islamic learning, and moral leadership, while sustaining the family’s enduring legacy of civic responsibility.
Manzoor Hussain Shor (1916–1991) was a distinguished Urdu poet born in Amravati, Berar, where he first established his literary reputation. Following the Partition of India, he migrated to Pakistan and became a respected poet, critic, academic and teacher, later serving at the University of Karachi. His landmark poetry collection, Nabz-e-Dauran (1959), established him as a leading voice of modern Urdu nazm, while subsequent works further enhanced his literary stature. His poetry combined classical elegance with modern sensibilities, preserving the rich literary heritage of Berar while making a lasting contribution to Urdu literature across the subcontinent.
Dr Syed Naimuddin was an eminent scholar of Urdu and Persian who served with distinction as Professor, Head of the Department, and later Principal of the Government Vidarbha Institute of Science and Humanities, Amravati. His pioneering research in Persian and Indo-Turkish literary studies earned international recognition, and one of his scholarly works was published by the Government of Turkey—a rare honour reflecting the global appreciation of his academic contributions. Through his teaching, research, and literary scholarship, he made a lasting contribution to the advancement of Urdu and Persian studies in India.
Dr Syed Rafiuddin Qadri was a distinguished scholar of Arabic and Islamic Studies, renowned for his profound erudition and lifelong dedication to higher learning. A recipient of the President’s Award for Arabic, he earned national recognition for his outstanding contribution to Arabic language and Islamic scholarship. He was also the son-in-law of the revered Sufi saint, Peer Nahe Miyan of Bhopal, reflecting his close association with a distinguished spiritual lineage alongside his own remarkable academic achievements.
Wajida Tabassum was an acclaimed Urdu novelist and short-story writer born in Amravati, Berar. Later associated with Hyderabad, she emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in modern Urdu fiction. Renowned for her bold narrative style and unflinching portrayal of Hyderabadi aristocratic society, gender relations and social change, her works challenged conventional norms and secured her a prominent place in twentieth-century Urdu literature.
Manzar Bhopali (Syed Ali Raza) was born in Amravati, Berar, and is one of the most celebrated contemporary Urdu poets of India. Widely admired for his powerful recitation and lyrical expression, he has represented Urdu poetry at prestigious national and international mushairas. His poetry, rooted in classical tradition yet responsive to contemporary concerns, has earned him recognition across the Urdu-speaking world.
Qaisar Amravatwi was a distinguished Urdu poet and writer born in Amravati, Berar. A respected representative of the classical literary tradition, he contributed significantly to the development of Urdu poetry through his refined diction, literary scholarship and elegant style. His writings enriched the cultural life of Berar and secured him a lasting place among the region’s notable literary figures.
Dr Bano Sartaj was born in Pandharkawada, Yavatmal district of erstwhile Berar. Dr Bano Sartaj is a distinguished fiction writer, humorist, translator and educator. Former Principal of Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Education, Bilaspur, she has made significant contributions to Hindi and Urdu children’s literature. Through her creative writings and academic engagement, she has enriched literary culture while promoting education and imagination among younger generations.
Dr Syed Firozuddin Qadri was a distinguished scholar of Islamic thought and Urdu literature. His doctoral research on Shah Waliullah Dehlawi made a significant contribution to the understanding of one of the greatest reformers, theologians, and intellectual figures of eighteenth-century India. Through his teaching, research, and scholarly writings, he enriched the fields of Islamic studies and Urdu scholarship while upholding Berar’s enduring tradition of learning and intellectual inquiry.
Syed Saulat Hussain Kazi served with distinction as a District Judge and earned widespread respect for his impartiality, legal scholarship, and administrative ability. Though descended from the Khateeb family, Saulat Husain retained the title of Kazi because his branch held the hereditary Qaziat of Anjangaon. Besides his public standing, he was an accomplished writer and reciter of devotional na’ats, earning admiration for his literary and religious contributions. He was an accomplished mystic poet whose writings reflected spiritual insight and literary refinement. His wife, Mrs Surayya Saulat, was a poet whose literary talent found expression in a published collection of poetry.
Shaukat Husain Khateeb e belonged to the distinguished Khateeb family of Ellichpur (Achalpur), a lineage closely associated through matrimonial ties with several eminent Kazi families of Berar. He served as Assistant Director of Education in the erstwhile Hyderabad State under the Nizam.
Dr G. S. Khwaja, a native of Patur, Akola district, is an eminent historian, epigraphist, scholar of Arabic and Persian inscriptions, medieval numismatics, Islamic calligraphy, and architecture.After completing his postgraduate studies in Arabic and Persian literature and journalism, he obtained his Ph.D. from Nagpur University. Retired s Director, Epigraphy, in 2016.A recognised khattat (calligrapher) and scholar of Indian Islamic heritage, he authored important works including Mashaheer-i-Berar Biographies (2005), which preserves the memory of distinguished personalities associated with Berar’s historical and cultural tradition.
Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, son of Late Syed Akhtar Husain, represents the contemporary intellectual and public leadership tradition of Berar.He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Nagpur University in 1983, after completing his M.Sc. and B.Sc. from Nagpur institutions.Alongside his academic background, he has contributed to journalism, public affairs, and social issues. He was associated with the founding of the Welfare Party of India in 2011 and serves as its National President.He has also been associated with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board as a senior member and spokesperson, contributing to public discourse through writing, lectures, and organisational work.
Khan Mohammad Azhar Hussain was a distinguished public figure from Akola who served as a Minister in the Government of Maharashtra and represented the Akola Assembly constituency in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Known for his integrity and commitment to public welfare, he worked for educational advancement, minority welfare and regional development. His enduring association with educational institutions and community service earned him wide respect in Berar’s public life.
Dr Mirza Rafi Ahmad Baig, affectionately known as “Mirza Express,” spent much of his later life in Amravati, from where he captivated audiences across Maharashtra through more than 6,000 performances. His residence, aptly named Mirza Express, became a landmark for admirers of his wit, Varhadi humour, poetry and literary brilliance. Through his unique blend of satire, storytelling and cultural insight, he emerged as one of the finest ambassadors of Varhadi literature and Berar’s rich literary heritage.
Dr Humayun Athar Khatib is a distinguished ophthalmic surgeon from Berar who has earned international recognition for excellence in eye care. After advanced specialist training in Edinburgh, Scotland, he served with distinction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where his clinical expertise and compassionate service won wide professional respect. His outstanding contributions to ophthalmology have enhanced the reputation of Berar’s medical fraternity both in the Middle East and internationally.
Hamid Husain Khateeb was a distinguished Islamic scholar, accomplished orator, and prolific writer who served as the All-India Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Widely admired for his eloquence, intellectual depth, and leadership, he made significant contributions to Islamic thought and public discourse. Through his scholarship and organisational work, he promoted religious education, moral reform, and social awareness.
Sulaiman Khateeb was the foremost exponent of Dakhani Urdu poetry and was celebrated as the Badshah-e-Mizahiya Shayari. Through humour, satire, and vivid portrayals of everyday Deccan life, he elevated Dakhani into a respected literary medium while preserving its distinctive language, culture, and enduring literary heritage.
Ahmad Husain (Talegaon)was remembered as a prominent literary and political figure. His family’s enduring commitment to scholarship is reflected in later generations, including his grandson SQRIlyas, a noted authority on Muslim Personal Law and a prominent member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
Nawab Anees Ahmad Khan graduated in Commerce from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. A distinguished philanthropist, educationist, and community leader, he devoted his life to the advancement of education and public welfare in Berar. He rendered valuable service as a member of the Maharashtra State Urdu Academy, the Berar Muslim Education Society, and the Vidarbha Youth Welfare Society.
Shafaqat Husain Kazi He was a distinguished public servant who served as the Honorary Magistrate of Anjangaon during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Renowned for his exceptional command of English, sound administrative acumen, and unimpeachable integrity, he enjoyed widespread respect among both the public and the civil administration. His career reflected the ideals of justice, enlightened leadership, and civic responsibility, leaving behind a legacy of public service that continued to inspire subsequent generations of the Kazi family.
Khan Bahadur Azmat Husain Khateeb was a distinguished religious scholar and public figure whose learning, integrity, and service earned him the prestigious title of Khan Bahadur. As Khatib of the historic Jama Masjid of Ellichpur, he played a pivotal role in preserving the region’s rich Islamic scholarly tradition while promoting education, religious instruction, and community welfare. Revered for his eloquence, moral leadership, and commitment to public service, he remains one of the most respected figures in the intellectual and religious history of Berar.
Syed Zulfiquar Hussain Khatib was the son of Syed Azmat Hussain Khatib and Mohammadi Begum. After obtaining his LL.B. from Aligarh Muslim University, he devoted himself to legal practice, public service, and the preservation of the distinguished religious and educational traditions associated with the historic Jama Masjid of Achalpur.
Zehra Begum Khatib received her education at home, when formal schooling for girls was uncommon. A gifted Urdu and Persian poet, her literary works were deeply rooted in classical Islamic learning, ethical values and traditional literary culture. Her poems became for her the primary medium of communication. Alongside her devotion to family life, she actively encouraged education, particularly for girls. She is remembered for her literary refinement, cultural influence, and enlightened vision, which harmonised religious learning with intellectual cultivation. She rendered her poems in a mellifluous tone.
Bughdadi Begum was a distinguished Urdu poetess from Berar whose literary talent earned her admiration in the region’s vibrant cultural circles. Her poetry, frequently recited at mushairas, was celebrated for its elegance, sensitivity and expressive beauty. Unlike poets whose writings centred on classical religious themes, her work explored the experiences, emotions and everyday concerns of ordinary life with remarkable grace and insight. She occupies a respected place in Berar’s rich Urdu literary tradition.
Syed Akram Husain Khatib studied under the Calcutta Board before pursuing higher education at Aligarh Muslim University. He served as Rationing Officer at Nagpur from 1945 to 1955 before assuming the hereditary office of Khatib of Ellichpur. Remembered for his generosity and compassion, he devoted his life to assisting students, patients, and families facing social and legal difficulties. His humility, scholarship, and spirit of public service earned him enduring respect throughout Berar.
Syed Abdur Rauf Shah was one of the foremost political leaders produced by Berar during the closing years of British rule. A Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Central Provinces and Provincial President of the All-India Muslim League, he worked closely with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in strengthening the League’s organisation. At the historic Lahore Session of March 1940, he emerged as one of the principal spokespeople of the Muslims of the Central Provinces in support of the Lahore Resolution. He also served as Salar-i-Ala (Supreme Commander) of the Muslim League National Guards in the region.
Sami Khatib was an eminent industrialist and philanthropist, and the founder of one of India’s leading pharmaceutical enterprises. Widely recognised as a pioneer of the Indian pharmaceutical industry, he received the prestigious Vijay Ratna Award in 1991. He subsequently served on the Government of India’s Drugs Advisory Committee (1996–1999). Through the Sinkhai Foundation and his long association with Anjuman-i-Islam, Maharashtra College, and Kamala Nehru College of Pharmacy, he rendered distinguished service to healthcare, higher education, and philanthropy.
Mohammad Mohibbul Haq was a distinguished parliamentarian of the Indian National Congress who represented the Akola Parliamentary Constituency in the Third Lok Sabha after his 1962 election. A respected public representative from Vidarbha, he actively participated in parliamentary affairs and consistently worked for the region’s political, educational, and economic development.
K. M. Asghar Husain represented Akola in the Fourth and Fifth Lok Sabhas as a distinguished parliamentarian of the Indian National Congress. Throughout his public life, he devoted himself to advancing Vidarbha, earning widespread respect for his integrity, accessibility, and steadfast commitment to democratic values.
Qazi Syed Shahabuddin obtained postgraduate qualifications in the humanities and law. He is remembered among the eminent personalities associated with Berar’s intellectual heritage for his contributions to education, scholarship, and community life. His career reflected the family’s enduring commitment to learning and public service.
Mohd Izhar Qazi is a distinguished human resource professional based in Mumbai. He has served as a trustee of one of India’s leading minority educational institutions and has actively contributed to educational administration, institutional development, and community service. His professional accomplishments demonstrate the Qazi family’s continued engagement with modern educational and social institutions.
Razia Sultana Ahmed was a distinguished educationist and social worker based in Mumbai. She was the first woman from Berar to obtain a postgraduate degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Throughout her career, she occupied leadership positions in several Muslim educational and social organisations, becoming a pioneer in promoting women’s education and social empowerment.
Khalida Sultana Qazi obtained her postgraduate degree in Philosophy from Osmania University. Widely respected as an authority on the philosophy and thought of Sir Muhammad Iqbal, she made significant contributions to the study of Islamic philosophy, comparative thought, and modern Muslim intellectual history through her scholarship and public lectures.
Dr Rana Noor Siddiqui is the founder of the Begum Noor Jehan Salam Ahmed Trust, based in Yavatmal district, an educational trust dedicated to the advancement of learning and women’s empowerment. Under her visionary leadership, the Trust has established and nurtured several educational institutions, beginning with the Sunrise English Medium Convent, Wani, followed by the Noor Jahan Begum Salam Ahmed Arts and Commerce College, Wani, and the Noor Jahan Begum Salam Ahmed Women’s College of Law, an exclusive institution devoted to women’s legal education.
Qazi Syed Moinuddin was a prominent advocate practising at Yavatmal. Widely respected for his integrity, legal scholarship, and public spirit, he enjoyed an excellent reputation within the legal fraternity. His distinguished professional career strengthened the longstanding association of the Qazi family with the administration of justice.
Prof. Mohd. Ahtemad Qazi devoted his academic career to the teaching of Zoology. An inspiring teacher and respected scholar, he earned the admiration of generations of students through his scholarship, dedication, and commitment to scientific education. His work exemplified the growing contribution of the Qazi family to higher education.
Prof. Syed Salahuddin Qazi was an accomplished teacher of Zoology at a leading college. Remembered for his commitment to scientific education and academic excellence, he inspired generations of students through his disciplined scholarship and devotion to teaching.
Prof. Syed Minhajuddin Qazi was a distinguished educationist and social figure of Nagpur. A respected Professor of Chemistry, he devoted his career to higher education while actively participating in educational, literary, and community initiatives. His influence extended far beyond the classroom through his mentorship of students and involvement in public life.
Qazi Syed Saifuddin graduated in Science from Aligarh Muslim University after securing a merit scholarship. Deeply committed to humanitarian service, he made his residence in Nagpur a welcoming home for students from Yavatmal and neighbouring districts pursuing higher education. His generosity and hospitality benefited countless young scholars.
Prof. Abrar Hussain Khatib earned a doctorate in Physics and taught at a leading college. Alongside his distinguished academic career, he served as the Khatib of Ellichpur, exemplifying the harmonious integration of religious scholarship with modern scientific education. He remains an outstanding example of intellectual versatility.
Syed Hishamuddin Khatib was a prominent political leader of Balapur. Serving for many years as President of the Municipal Council, he earned widespread respect for his civic leadership, administrative ability, and dedication to public welfare. His long public career contributed significantly to local self-government.
Syed Natiquddin Khatib represented Balapur in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and also served as Chairman of the Municipal Council. His distinguished public career reflected his commitment to democratic governance, efficient administration, and community development, making him one of the region’s respected political leaders.
Syed Mukarram Husain Khateeb, currently serving his third consecutive unopposed term as President of the iconic, over-a-century-old Sadar Muslim Library, Nagpur, established in 1922, has also been deeply involved in strengthening school education and uplifting students from poor and working-class families, often extending financial assistance to deserving pupils. With a collection of more than 30,000 books in classical and modern languages, the Library has long been a distinguished centre for promoting Berar’s rich literary and cultural heritage.
Abdul Qadar Khatib was a distinguished educationist and scholar of Urdu, Arabic, and Persian. He taught these classical languages at a leading college in Vidarbha and inspired generations of students through his scholarship, simplicity, and devotion to learning. His intellectual legacy continued through his son, Dr Humayun Khatib, an internationally respected ophthalmic surgeon based in Edinburgh.
Dr Naim Durdana Kazi was an eminent scholar of Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, holding Triple M.A. degrees, a PhD, and the traditional qualifications of Maulvi, Munshi, and Fazil. She served as Principal of Bapuji Aney Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Yavatmal, and was a member of the Boards of Studies of both Nagpur and Amravati Universities. Her research on Allama Rashidul Khairi and her contribution to Urdu scholarship earned her widespread academic respect.
Mardan Ali Khan was a distinguished jurist, Urdu poet, and public figure. A recipient of the Nagpur University Gold Medal in Urdu, presented by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he began legal practice at Akola before serving as a Civil Judge and First Class Magistrate. Returning to the Bar in 1973, he authored the acclaimed ghazal collection Sarood-e-Rafta, leaving an enduring legacy in law, literature, and public service.
Dr. Mansha-ur-Rahman Khan was a distinguished Professor of Urdu, celebrated poet, literary critic, and scholar. Through his teaching, research, and creative writings, he made enduring contributions to the Urdu language and literature. Widely respected as a mentor and public intellectual, he enriched the literary and cultural heritage of Berar through his refined scholarship and poetic expression.
Syed Ejauddin Tariq Qazi is a distinguished civil engineer who graduated from the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal. He also obtained professional qualifications in accountancy in the United Kingdom and is presently settled in London. His successful international career reflects the continuing professional excellence and global outlook of the Qazi family.
THE ENDURING LEGACY OF BERAR
The history of Berar’s scholarly families is ultimately the history of ideas carried through generations. Kingdoms disappeared, political frontiers shifted, and administrative systems were repeatedly transformed, yet the ideals that sustained these families remained remarkably constant. Justice, learning, ethical leadership, and service to society continued to define their identity across nearly seven centuries.
The preservation of this legacy now assumes particular importance. Many manuscripts remain unpublished; family archives await systematic documentation; oral traditions risk disappearing as older generations pass away; and numerous scholars who contributed significantly to regional intellectual life remain absent from mainstream historical narratives. Recovering these forgotten histories is therefore not merely an academic exercise but an act of cultural preservation.
Future research must extend beyond biography to encompass the broader institutional history of Berar’s mosques, madrasas, khanqahs, libraries, schools, and courts. Such studies will reveal that the region’s intellectual life was sustained through networks of scholars whose influence extended across the Deccan, Central India, and beyond. Berar deserves recognition not merely as a geographical region but as one of India’s important centres of learning.
In remembering the Houses of Qazi, Khatib, and Qadri, we recover more than the history of distinguished lineages. We recover a vision of civilisation in which knowledge is inseparable from character, public office is inseparable from moral responsibility, and learning achieves its highest fulfilment in the service of humanity. That vision constitutes Berar’s enduring gift to India and secures its rightful place in the nation’s intellectual history.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslims / by Moin Qazi / August 04th, 2026
A district-level Muslim Women’s Conference was held at Royal Palace, Yavatmal, under the Women’s Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Yavatmal (North), drawing more than 3,000 women and girls from across the district. The conference was organised around the theme “Tum Se Hai Taameer-e-Ummat, Tum Se Hai Tehzeeb-e-Hayaat,” focusing on women’s role in family life, moral values and social responsibility.
In the run-up to the event, a district-wide quiz competition was held based on Hum Aisi Banein by Mael Khaerabadi, a book on the lives of the Sahabiyaat, the female companions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Copies of the book were distributed to students in high schools and colleges across Yavatmal district, with the Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO) and the Women’s Wing coordinating the effort in towns and villages.
Winners across three categories received cash prizes totalling ₹30,000, along with mementos and certificates, presented during the conference.
The presidential address was delivered by Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi, State President of JIH Maharashtra, who spoke on the importance of prayer (Salah) as a pillar of Islamic life.
Other speakers included Prof. Mubashshira Firdaus Khan, Assistant National Secretary of the Women’s Wing; Nafisa Atiq, State Secretary of the Women’s Department, Vidarbha Region; Dr. Sabiha Khan, a member of JIH’s Representative Council; and Shameem Bano, District President of the Women’s Wing, Yavatmal. Dr. Rana Noor of Wani, a social worker and educationist involved in setting up the first women’s law college in the Vidarbha region, was also present.
Sessions covered topics including women’s role in building society, household financial management, and raising children with strong values. A separate session addressed the challenges young women face online, including social media platforms and artificial intelligence, and the need to navigate digital spaces responsibly.
The conference featured what organisers described as the first interactive panel discussion of its kind held exclusively for Muslim women on such a scale, facilitated by Dr. Uzma Shah of Wani. The panel discussed family and societal challenges and the multiple roles of Muslim women as students, mothers and community leaders, along with discussions on mental and spiritual well-being and parenting.
Children from the Children’s Islamic Organisation (CIO) performed the CIO Tarana, and the event was anchored by GIO members Aqsa Mirza and Fariha.
The concluding address was delivered by Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi on the theme “O Daughters of Islam! You Are the Pride of the Ummah,” focusing on women’s character, values and responsibility in strengthening families and society. Organisers said the event, supported by the Yavatmal Volunteer Tehreeki Team, was conducted with discipline and coordination despite the large turnout.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / September 29th, 2026
Dr Afla Rafeeq of KS Hegde Medical Academy has secured the 21st All India Rank in the NEET-PG 2026 examination, scoring 614 marks out of 720.
According to data released by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), 2,73,096 candidates registered for the examination, while 2,65,980 candidates appeared for the test.
Dr Afla is currently pursuing her MBBS internship at KS Hegde Hospital. During her MBBS course, she secured 13 gold medals. She now aims to pursue postgraduate studies in Radiology.
Originally from Bajpe, Afla completed her schooling up to Class 8 at Ansar School in Bajpe. She later completed her SSLC at St. Mary’s High School, Mangaluru, securing 97% marks.
She subsequently studied at Sri Chaitanya PU College, Mangaluru, where she secured 96% marks and achieved a top rank.
Dr Afla Rafeeq is the daughter of Mohammed Rafeeq and Fathima Rafeeq.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / September 25th, 2026
Zulekha Shakoor Rajani, Head of the Department of Islamic Psychology at Ummeed
The average scroll lasts seconds. The average craving wants an answer now. We have built a culture around instant gratification and then wondered why patience, self-understanding, and emotional regulation feel so difficult. Zulekha Shakoor Rajani wants to slow down that conversation.
A Counselling and Spiritual Psychologist, Clinical Director, and Head of the Department of Islamic Psychology at Ummeed Counselling Centre in Bengaluru, Rajani works at an unusual but increasingly relevant intersection: psychology and faith. With more than 8,000 hours of clinical practice, she works across counselling, psychoeducation, mentoring and professional training, while exploring what it means to understand the human being through an Islamic psychological framework.
Her message to young people is simple: before trying to fix your life, understand yourself.
For Rajani, the journey towards psychology and Islamic Psychology was not the result of a single defining moment. It grew from two interests that had been present since childhood.
Raised in an Islamic environment and surrounded by scholars through her family, she developed an interest in Islam alongside her fascination with psychology. She describes her abilities and opportunities through the concept of salahiyah, the capacities Allah gives a person, and believes her path was shaped by the opportunities that followed.
Zulekha Shakoor Rajani
Those opportunities eventually took her beyond India. At Cambridge Muslim College, she studied Islamic Psychology, gaining exposure to both theory and practice alongside a select international cohort.
She later trained through the Khalil Centre, including clinical Islamic psychology experiences in Chicago and Istanbul, while also pursuing specialised training in Tazkiyah Therapy, Islamic Psychology, and Marital Counselling.
Her professional journey in Islamic Psychology began taking a more definite shape six years ago. Today, her work spans clinical practice, research, supervision and training. She also serves as a facilitator and teacher at Al Balagh Academy and as an Executive Advisory Member of International Students of Islamic Psychology India.
But for Rajani, the growing need for this field is inseparable from the state of mental health awareness in India.
“The concept of mental health has been very weak in India,” she says.
Zulekha Shakoor Rajani speaking in a function
Although psychological discourse has expanded significantly, she believes India still has considerable ground to cover when it comes to recognition, acceptance and understanding of mental health care.
Within Muslim communities, she sees an additional opportunity to explore the relationship between psychology and iman in a way that is culturally and spiritually meaningful.
“There is a lot around psychology and iman,” she says, pointing to the scope for developing approaches that speak to the lived realities of Muslim communities.
Yet awareness can easily be distorted. Rajani believes the media has a significant role in shaping how society understands mental health and sometimes in creating misconceptions around it.
“The media plays a very important role in misconceptions regarding mental health,” she says.
Zulekha Shakoor Rajani with her colleagues
One of the biggest challenges, she believes, is that people often wait too long before seeking professional support. There are stages in life when seeking help can prevent a concern from becoming much more difficult, but recognising that need remains uncommon.
Her clinical work has shown her what meaningful change can look like. Some of the moments she finds most rewarding are deeply human ones: seeing a couple reconcile after working through their differences, or watching someone move beyond patterns of early repression and begin coping in healthier ways.
For a relatively young field in India, however, there is another obstacle: a shortage of adequately trained professionals. Rajani believes expanding the field responsibly through both clinical work and research is essential.
Her concern becomes particularly urgent when she talks about young people.
Gen Z has grown up in an ecosystem designed around immediacy. Social media offers constant comparison; entertainment is available on demand; food, shopping and communication are increasingly built around convenience. Rajani sees the psychological consequences in what she describes as a growing “urgency” among young people.
“There is a lot of urgency in this generation,” she observes, linking it to reduced patience and what she calls “dopamine hijack.”
Her answer is not to reject technology or modern life, but to develop greater awareness of self. Young people, she believes, need to understand their insecurities, their attachments and the ways their nafs, their inner drives and tendencies, shape their behaviour.
Zulekha Shakoor Rajani (Right) with an unidentified person
Social comparison is another serious concern. Constantly measuring one’s appearance, achievements, relationships or lifestyle against carefully curated online versions of other people’s lives can quietly erode self-esteem and satisfaction.
Relationships, too, are changing. Rajani points to attachment issues involving spouses and children, parenting concerns, shifting family roles and struggles around boundaries. These changes, she says, are creating difficult questions about identity and the place of women in society.
This is where her understanding of Islamic Psychology moves beyond simply adding religious language to conventional therapy. Her work explores the human being through a broader bio-psycho-social-spiritual lens, bringing together psychological understanding, physical and social realities and spiritual dimensions.
That philosophy also informs her extensive work outside the clinic. Rajani has conducted more than 100 workshops, retreats and seminars addressing youth development, parenting, marital enrichment, addictions, emotional regulation, women’s psychology, resilience and the nafs. She has also presented at national and international forums on spirituality, psychology, counselling and psychosocial rehabilitation. Her work has increasingly focused on developing culturally rooted approaches to mental health and strengthening the research base of Islamic Psychology.
Her recent academic work reflects that direction. In 2026, she presented research on “Retraining the Nafs in the Age of the Screen: A TIIP Framework for Behavioural Addiction in Muslim Youth,” bringing together clinical learning, supervision and questions about technology’s influence on young Muslims.
In 2025, she was also recognised as one of the “40 Under 40 Leaders” by the All India Muslim Development Council, adding another milestone to a career increasingly focused on making mental health conversations more accessible and culturally grounded.
Yet perhaps her most important advice is the simplest.
“Don’t wait for things to get very bad,” she says. “One consultation would be helpful.”
For Rajani, seeking help is not a sign of failure. It can be the beginning of understanding what is happening within.
And in a generation constantly encouraged to optimise everything, from productivity to appearance to relationships, perhaps her most radical suggestion is to pause and look inward.
Because mental health, in her view, is not only about learning how to cope. It is also about intellectual stimulation, personal growth, understanding the nafs, reconnecting with one’s deeper sense of purpose, and asking a question that no algorithm can answer for us:Who are we becoming?
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz,TheVoice / Home> Stories / by Saniya Anjum / September 25th, 2026
Nahida Manzoor, Kashmir’s first woman to scale Mountain Everest at the age of 23, says that she does not see many women in India interesting in mountaineering and she wants to change that.
Speaking to Awaz-the voice, Srinagar-based Nahida, says that women don’t have to necessarily scale major peaks like Everest. “Mountaineering is meant to give one the experience, test one’s mental and physical stamina and discover their own capabilities.”
Nahida taking a troop on a trek
“Adventure is not primarily about profit”, Nahida said.
“I believe India needs more trained mountaineers who are take encouraging people to experience the mountains as a personal responsibility. I regularly lead expeditions and longer treks involving groups of varying experience levels. Such trips can be challenging because participants differ considerably in speed, endurance and confidence”, Nahida shared.
Nahida heads Pampori and Daughters Adventure, a company through which she organises trekking, expeditions and outdoor activities.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Mahadev
“My approach is simple: nobody gets left behind”, Nahida believes. While leading a trek, she deliberately stays at the back of the group so that she can keep an eye on the slowest participants.
For her, the people accompanying her are her responsibility, and safety takes precedence over speed or reaching a destination quickly.
For Nahida Manzoor, mountains are not merely destinations to be conquered. They are spaces where courage is tested, limits are pushed and possibilities are expanded. A trained mountaineer from Srinagar, Nahida has transformed her childhood fascination with the hills into a career dedicated to adventure, trekking and encouraging more young people, particularly women, to enter mountaineering.
Her own journey demonstrates what becomes possible when training, family support and determination come together. From trekking around her Srinagar neighbourhood as a child to becoming the first Kashmiri woman to stand on Mount Everest, Nahida has often entered spaces where women remain underrepresented.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Sunset Peak
Her work has also extended to promoting adventure tourism in Kashmir. In 2024, she launched a paragliding venture in Barsoo village in Pulwama’s
Awantipora area, with the stated aim of creating employment opportunities for local residents.
Recently, she has climbed Sunset Peak, (4,745 metres), Shyn Mann Peak (4,300 metres) and Mount Harmukh, one of Kashmir’s most prominent mountains.
Nahida Mazoor at Mt. Sheen Myean Peak
In October 2025, Nahida recorded a scaled Mount Harmukh. A mountaineering summit registry records her ascent on October 17, 2025, at an elevation of about 5,142 metres.
Then came Mount Everest. In 2019, Nahida became the first woman from the Kashmir
Valley to summit Mount Everest. She reached the 8,848-metre peak with Sherpa guide Nima Kancha during her maiden Everest attempt. The expedition was not simply a physical challenge. Funding the climb itself was a major obstacle.
With the expedition estimated to cost around Rs 30 lakh, Nahida launched an online crowdfunding campaign after struggling to find sufficient sponsorship. Contributions from several supporters, government officials and organisations eventually helped make the expedition possible.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Friendship Peak
Her Everest achievement turned her into a symbol of determination for young women in Kashmir. But Nahida did not regard the summit as the end of her journey. Instead, it became the beginning of a larger mission.
Before it, she had already climbed peaks including Mount Deo Tibba in Himachal Pradesh, Friendship Peak, Mount Mahadev and Tatakooti Peak in Jammu and Kashmir.
Nahida’s journey as a mountaineer began when she joined the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhans to get trained in mountain climbing. She completed an advanced training, along with courses in skiing and rock climbing.
Her training taught her that climbing is as much about mental endurance and discipline as physical strength. This way Nahida, the girls amid Kashmir’s mountains turned her fascination for peaks into a profession.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Harmukh (5070 Mts.)
In an earlier interview, Nahida recalled deliberately carrying heavier loads during training to build stamina. The demanding preparation eventually helped her take on some of the most challenging mountains in the region and beyond.
Nahida’s latest expedition was Mt. Koh-e-Noor (South-West) which is 5146 mts. “This expedition was not only challenging but also meaningful and unforgetable for all of us. I am deeply honoured to become the first female climber to sucessfully summit Mt. Koh-e-Noor (SW) an add my name to the history of this mountain”, Nahida shared.
Nahida Mazoor at Mt. Koh-e-Noor
Her relationship with the mountains began early. Nahida started trekking when she was around 10 years old, exploring the hills around her home. During her school years, she was an all-rounder and participated in several sports, including badminton, volleyball and table tennis.
She was even selected for a national-level table tennis championship but could not participate. Eventually, it was mountaineering that captured her imagination completely.
The second of three daughters, Nahida grew up in Zewan on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Her belief that “there’s nothing that a girl cannot do” was strengthened by a family that encouraged all three sisters to participate in sports and pursue their ambitions. Her father, Manzoor Ahmad Pampori, played an important role in supporting her sporting interests. Nahida has often credited her parents for giving her the freedom to chase unconventional dreams.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Vidushi Gaur, New Delhi / September 22nd, 2026
In an interview with Maktoob, author Andaleeb Wajid reflects on writing young lives, Muslim women and ordinary Muslim worlds, while discussing her latest novel Have You Met Me?, her memoir on grief and a writing career spanning more than 50 books.
In an interview with Ashikha N for Maktoob, writer Andaleeb Wajid discusses her latest novel Have You Met Me?, her enduring engagement with young adult fiction, writing across genres, the experience of writing her memoir Learning to Make Tea for One, and the complexities of writing Muslim women and ordinary Muslim lives.
Andaleeb Wajid has built a distinctive place for herself in Indian popular fiction by writing stories that find drama the familiar — in families, friendships, love, food, growing up and the small negotiations of everyday life. A prolific writer, she has published nearly 50 novels across genres, with young adult fiction and romance forming an important part of her body of work. Her books have found a devoted readership for their accessible, warm and deeply relatable characters. Her YA novel The Henna Start-Up won the Neev Literature Festival Award and the Crossword Book Award in 2024, while Asmara’s Summer was adapted into the Amazon Prime series Dil, Dosti, Dilemma. She has also written about grief and loss in her memoir Learning to Make Tea for One. Her latest book, Have You Met Me?, returns to young readers with a story of family, memory and belonging. Across her work, Wajid has remained interested in the lives women and young people lead beyond the usual binaries of rebellion and conformity — and in giving ordinary lives the space to become stories worth reading.
Andaleeb Wajid’s latest novel, Have You Met Me?, is also her 52nd novel. For Wajid, the book carries a strong connection to her childhood, particularly the summers she spent with her cousins at her grandmother’s home in Vellore. Recalling what made the book special to her, she says, “It’s special in many ways. Growing up, my siblings and I met my cousins in my grandmother’s home in Vellore. We actually had an old jhoola, like the one you see on the cover, and those summer holidays were some of the best times of my life. Time had a different quality to it, there was no homework or tuition and the day could just be spent doing nothing, lazing around on the jhoola, playing card games with my cousins. I wanted to relive that, recapture that but also focus on what it means to grow up and become distant. And I wanted to put that in a contemporary context and see how that story would flow.”
The book adds to a body of work that spans romance, YA, horror, mystery and children’s fiction. Asked about moving between genres, Wajid acknowledges the variety is intentional: “I don’t like to be boxed into just one genre, and that’s why I write across them. I also get bored if I have to write in the same genre over and over again. Switching genres is a way for me to keep my writing exciting and fresh, especially because every genre has its own rules and I have to be alert enough to know what I’m working on.”
Young adult fiction, however, remains particularly important to her. Explaining what draws her to the genre, Wajid tells us, “It’s not so much young readers but the themes that I like exploring in YA novels. It’s a different level of seriousness when you look at a young adult book. What might seem ordinary to an adult might be a life-changing moment for someone younger and I like to focus on those moments and draw them out. A good YA book for me is one that gets the young generation without trying too hard, but is also not preachy and trying to tell them how to live. A good YA novel is a good book, and it’s just the characters who are younger.”
Her approach to fiction is markedly different from the experience of writing Learning to Make Tea for One, her memoir about grief. Speaking about the difficulty of turning her own experience into a book, Wajid notes, “Writing this was one of the most difficult things I’ve done but I felt like it was something I needed to do. Grief fades over time and changes as we grow older, which is a good thing. But I also wanted to hold on to it and remember how it felt, which is a bit strange since I haven’t read it from start to finish even once, after it was published. I think it was a way of catharsis for me, and as a writer, writing is how I process everything, including my wounds. Fiction always comes easily. Creating imaginary lives where everything works out for everyone in the end is fun. Writing about my life felt starkly different in comparison.”
Wajid also writes romance under the pen name Inaara Sheikh. Explaining the decision behind the pseudonym, she says it was not primarily about artistic freedom. “The pen name is very new, just a year old, and I’ve written plenty of romances under my own name already and will also continue to do so in future. Inaara was more of an experiment to see how things would work on Amazon KDP where I self-publish these books. The reason for moving to Inaara wasn’t about creative freedom, but more a marketing move. When I self-publish more and more books under my name, I feel it gives a certain message to publishers which probably deters them from wanting to take my books. This is the main reason why I decided to self-publish on Amazon with a pen name.”
The sheer scale of her bibliography has also brought with it labels such as “prolific woman writer” and “Muslim woman writer”. Wajid points out that her response to these descriptions has changed over time. “Well, it used to irritate me at first but now I don’t bother myself with it. I can’t help the way others think about me, but what I can do is be consistent in writing and publishing. Eventually, I think people will see me as just a writer and not a Muslim writer. In any case, I don’t mind any longer. All women writers face this in different ways because they’re already being called ‘women’ writers. You don’t hear of any male writers being called ‘men writers’, do you?”
At the same time, her Muslim identity has inevitably shaped the way readers encounter her work. Her Muslim characters are often allowed to exist beyond their religious identity, and Wajid elaborates this was not initially a deliberate representational strategy. “I didn’t think so deeply about it at first. I was writing stories about people like me, people I knew, the kind of life I was familiar with, if a little fantastical. However, readers felt like this was such a refreshing change to read about ‘normal’ Muslim lives and it really made me wonder, how much things have changed that a depiction of normalcy seems so out of the ordinary.”
Family is similarly central to her fiction, something Wajid connects directly to her own upbringing. “While families are supposed to be a safe space, this isn’t something that always happens and I like to see how characters evolve inside families that are not regular, that are fractured in their own ways.” Her female characters, meanwhile, have become increasingly assertive over the course of her career. Reflecting on that evolution, Wajid observes, “It probably has to do with my own evolution as a person, not just a woman. Also, I have this understanding that women are conditioned from a young age to settle, to adjust and to make do with whatever they are given. I think writing characters with more agency than women might have in real life is my way of making them aspirational.”
That agency does not necessarily require her female characters to reject their families. In Everything Sucks, for instance, the women negotiate family expectations without necessarily turning away from family itself. Wajid sees this less as rebellion than as a process of finding one’s place. “I think women are beginning to understand which battles to fight and which to not waste their time with. It isn’t so much as rebellion as finding one’s place in the world. Many women see themselves in relation to others and I think it’s important that they see themselves on their own too.” She sees a similar gendered distinction in the way ambition is perceived. Speaking about Abir, the protagonist of The Henna Start-Up, Wajid observes, “Ambition in women is considered unbecoming, no matter the context. There’s always a hushed sense of ‘oh, that one’s a hustler’, but this doesn’t apply to men. If a man hustles, he’s considered worldly-wise. For a woman, she’s considered to be aiming too high. Abir’s ambition in The Henna Start-up doesn’t care about how she is perceived, which is something I find inspiring.”
When asked which stereotype about Muslim women she would most like to see disappear, Wajid does not hesitate. “Just one? Sorry. It has to be the whole hijab/abaya perception as being oppressed and that we need someone who doesn’t subscribe to these so they can ‘come and save us” Her understanding of Muslim womanhood has also been part of her development as a writer. Looking back at the early stages of her career, Wajid recalls, “I think early on, I focused on my identity as a Muslim woman in India and I did not shy away from it in my writing. Understanding who I am goes a huge way in making my books the way they are.”
Even after 52 novels, Wajid is already working on what comes next. She adds, “I’m currently working on a Young Adult novel, as that’s one of my favourite genres. I would love to write crime fiction but I feel that it’s too realistic and also requires the sort of research I might not be able to do.”
With more than five decades of writing still ahead of her in spirit, Wajid’s work continues to find significance in lives that are often considered too ordinary to become stories. For Wajid, perhaps, there will always be another ordinary life, another relationship or another moment of growing up waiting to be turned into a story.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktooob Media / Home> Literature> Bookshelf / by Ashikha N / September 06th, 2026
Malabar Gold and Diamonds, which is located near Sub-Urban Bus Stand on B.N. Road, Mysuru, celebrated Teacher’s Day by honouring teachers Haleema Sadiya, B. Indirani, M.S. Gangambike, Sunithamma and Hema for their contributions to the society.
They are seen with Educationist Arshad Hussaini, Malabar South Zonal Head P. Sharafudeen and Deputy Store Head Dayanand.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery> Photonews / by Star of Mysore / September 15th, 2026
Seventeen police officers from Karnataka have been conferred the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of Independence Day, 2026. | Photo Credit: File Photo
Seventeen police officers from Karnataka have been conferred the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of Independence Day, 2026.
H.N. Dharmendra, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-rank officer, has been awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service.
Recipients of the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service include Sara Fathima, currently the Superintendent of Police (Railways). Among DSPs, the medal has been awarded to Mahadeva T. and Pramanad P. Ghodake.
Recipients of the medal among inspectors include Nayeem M., Shanmugha Varma K., Bavuddeen Rukmuddeen Gaddekar, and Guru Prasad Gopalnaik. The medal has also been conferred on Thomas Mathew P.M., Commandant, and Sreeinivasa M., Sub-Inspector.
Among constables, the recipients are S.A. Manohara, Maria Joseph Dinesh Kumar F., Nagesh Manchaiah, Abdul Kamal Abdul Hameed, Mahadevaswamy, Chandrashekar G. Chikkannanavar, Abdul Rabbani, and Gyanadev Naval Tarase.
In the Fire Department, the medal has been conferred on Shivakumar Swamy H., Regional Fire Officer, and Basavaraju M., Assistant Fire Station Officer. In the Home Guards Department, the medal has been awarded to Meerasab MaboobSabmulla, Senior Platoon Commander, and Raghavendram, Platoon Commander.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 14th, 2026
Kuttippuram (Tirur Taluk , Malappuram District), KERALA :
Author Sajida A Zubair with volunteers and members of the Ila Foundation during a discussion at its centre in Kerala.
“We human beings have started living in compartments. Muslims go to the masjid, Hindus go to the temple, Christians visit the church, and Sikhs go to the gurudwara. But where are the spaces for human beings, for all of us to visit simply as human beings?” –Ila Foundation’s Mohammed Najeeb.
Kuttipuram (Kerala) :
Travelling to Kuttipuram in Kerala was not merely a journey I had planned. It was a journey that carried with it a deep sense of emotion and transition. When I boarded the flight to Thiruvananthapuram earlier this month, I was setting out to leave my youngest daughter to follow her own choice of college and take the next step towards her higher education. As a parent, it was a moment filled with conflicting emotions: Pride in watching her move towards her dreams, and a quiet ache in letting her take those steps away from home.
After completing all the formalities and spending some cherished time with friends during the Onam holidays, I set out once again, this time by train. It was my first train journey in 22 years. A small journey in distance, perhaps, but one that felt significant in ways I had not anticipated. I finally reached Kuttipuram, carrying with me a sense of gratitude and anticipation, to meet Mohammed Najeeb Kuttipuram and thank him personally for the remarkable work he has been doing.
Though I went straight to their home from Tirur railway station, I met him only the following morning. I was told that Najeebka is a man who is deeply disciplined when it comes to time. There was no exception to that rule.
That morning, I was not simply meeting Najeebka. I was about to be introduced to a dream he had nurtured with conviction and purpose- the Ila Foundation.
The first question I asked him was perhaps the most natural one: “Why Ila?”
Najeebka, as he is fondly called by those around him, paused for a moment before answering.
“Life is a lesson,” he said. “We spend this journey going to school, finding a job, getting married, raising children, and then focusing on their education and building a house. We spend much of our lives fulfilling these responsibilities. But what’s next? What comes after all these responsibilities are fulfilled? That thought gave me the push to do something beyond these responsibilities.”
Here are excerpts from my conversations with the founder and volunteers of the Ila Foundation, recorded during my visit.
Sajida A Zubair (SAZ): What is Ila?
Najeebka: Ila which means leaf, comes from the fable of the ‘Ant & Leaf.’ Ila is a breathing space We human beings celebrate the first breath of life, and we mourn the last. In between those two moments, we breathe every single day, every single moment, yet we rarely pause to think about those breaths. We take them for granted. Ila is a space that allows us to pause- to breathe, to reflect and simply be. We human beings have started living in compartments. Muslims go to the masjid, Hindus go to the temple, Christians visit the church, and Sikhs go to the gurudwara. But where are the spaces for human beings, for all of us simply as human beings? Ila is that space. It belongs to everyone. That is why Ila has no doors. It is open to everyone. There are no compartments at Ila Foundation that differentiate among human beings.
SAZ: How is Ila’s palliative care initiative different from other such center?
Najeebka: I felt that there was very little change or evolution in the way palliative care was being provided in many centres. Many of them remained where they were when they first began. The focus was largely on medicines, injections, catheter changes and other forms of medical support. But Ila was conceived as something beyond medical care. We wanted to provide emotional support as well, to create a space where people could feel heard, cared for and valued.
SAZ: What makes Ila different from other organisations? What does it mean to be a volunteer at Ila?
Every volunteer who comes here is first made to understand one thing: before anything else, we are human beings. Learning how to be a human being is the first lesson we give to anyone who comes here to contribute. Our volunteers come from different religions, castes, races and creeds. But the understanding that we are human beings first is what brings us together and makes us a family. That is also why Ila does not have the usual hierarchy. We don’t have board members, a president or a secretary. We simply have volunteers. We come together because we believe in the same purpose.
We need to realise that the health we have is one of the greatest blessings we receive in life. The moment we truly understand that, we should feel the responsibility to reach out to those who are struggling with their health. At Ila, we try to see ourselves simply as human beings, and to see the people we care for in the same way.
Ila foundation is not just to care for those who are suffering, but to make all of us a little more human in the process.
SAZ: What is Ila doing to prepare the next generation with this same idea?
Najeebka: One of our important initiatives is the CEEP- Capital Exploration and Enhancement Programme, which begins with children from the eighth standard onwards.
We want to encourage these children to ask themselves some fundamental questions: Who am I? What am I capable of? What do I want to achieve in my life? We train them to discover their strengths, develop a sense of purpose and build a mission for their lives. More importantly, we help them understand how to face and overcome the challenges that life will inevitably bring.
We give special attention to the training of female students as well. So far, 24 training sessions have been conducted. These children will, in another ten years, become part of different sections of society- some may enter politics, some may become professionals, teachers or take up other roles. Wherever they go, Ila hopes they will carry with them the values they have learned here and contribute to a positive and compassionate transformation of society. Our dream is not simply to train children for successful careers. It is to nurture human beings who can make a meaningful difference wherever life takes them.
SAZ: How would you describe your association with the idea behind Ila?
Sulfikhar, Volunteer, Ila Foundation: Najeebka is my childhood friend and an elder brother for me. I have known him for many years. He is a traveller, and during his journeys across North India, particularly through villages, he spent a great deal of time doing social work and reaching out to people in need.
For more than 25 years, these travels became a part of his life. It was through these experiences, and the people he encountered along the way, that the idea of the Ila Foundation gradually took shape.
But Ila is much more than a charity or a place that simply provides assistance. It offers care and compassion to people dealing with health challenges, but its purpose extends beyond those who are unwell.
Ila is also a space for those who are healthy. It’s a place where they can look within themselves and work towards cleansing their inner selves. We all carry our own diseases of the soul- ego, jealousy, anger and many other negative emotions. Ila encourages people to recognise these within themselves and try to overcome them.
That, for me, is what makes Ila different. It is not only about caring for a person’s physical suffering; it is also about helping people become better human beings.
SAZ: What kind of care and support does Ila Foundation provide?
Fasina, who coordinates the palliative care volunteers: Ila provides support to people with a range of health needs. The Drug Bank provides medicines, particularly for psychiatric patients. Those requiring rehabilitation support are registered, and the medicines they need are provided to them. We also have a dialysis unit with 10 machines, operating in two shifts. At present, 34 patients are receiving dialysis care through Ila.
Our palliative care programme extends beyond the walls of the Foundation. We have four home-care units that visit patients at their homes every 15 days. The visits include checking their vital signs, wound dressing and attending to other medical needs.
But medical care is only one part of what we do. Just as important is the time we spend with them, sitting beside them, listening to them and offering emotional and moral support. Sometimes, simply knowing that someone is there for you can make a great difference to a person who is suffering.
During my visit to the Ila Foundation, I had the opportunity to accompany one of its home-care units. We set out at 9 in the morning, travelling from one home to another and meeting families who, despite the immense difficulties they face, continue to hold on to hope and remain remarkably positive about life.
What struck me most was the way many of them spoke about Ila, not merely as a source of medical care, but as an institution that had brought a sense of confidence, dignity and hope back into their lives.
One such story is that of Shabiri Girish, 45, who lives with his wife and two school-going children. A construction worker by profession, his life changed dramatically when he fell from the fourth floor of a building and suffered a serious head injury.
For nearly three years, his family explored every available avenue of treatment, hoping that he would one day regain the ability to walk. But despite their efforts, he eventually lost movement in his legs.
It was then that Shabiri Girish registered for palliative care with the Ila Foundation.
When Ila’s care began, it offered him something that went beyond medical assistance. The emotional and moral support he received gradually helped him regain confidence and look at life with renewed hope. In time, Ila provided him with an electric wheelchair and helped him set up a small shop beside his home.
Today, Shabiri Girish has regained a measure of independence that once seemed almost impossible. His journey is not simply a story of overcoming physical limitations; it is also a story of dignity, resilience and the power of being supported when life seems to have taken everything away.
He and his family now speak of Ila with deep gratitude. More than recipients of its care, they hope to remain connected with the Foundation and contribute as volunteers, sharing their own journey to inspire others who may be going through similar struggles.
I was also given the opportunity to spend some time with a group of specially abled beneficiaries of Ila. We sang, played games and shared moments of laughter. They welcomed me into their circle with such warmth and innocence that, for those few hours, there seemed to be no sense of difference-only the simple joy of being together.
One of the children smiled and told me, “We love coming here every week. We wait eagerly for Tuesdays for these sessions.”
The excitement in those words said more about what Ila means to them than any explanation could. For these children, Tuesday is not just another day of the week. It is a day they look forward to- a day of friendship, play, laughter and belonging.
And that’s when I knew Ila Foundation is indeed a space to breathe freely and perhaps that is the most powerful aspect of Ila’s work-the transformation of those who once needed support into people who themselves want to become a source of strength for others.
If you are in Kerala, Ila Foundation deserves to be on your itinerary.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home>Health / by Sajida A Zubair /edited in headlines / September 14th, 2026
