In a move that has sparked widespread outrage across Gujarat, a local BJP corporator has filed an objection to the voter registration of legendary folk artist and Padma Shri awardee, Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai, popularly known as “Haji Ramkadu.”
The controversy erupted just 48 hours after the Central Government announced the prestigious Padma Shri for the artist’s lifelong contribution to the arts. During the ongoing Voter Revision Program (SIR), BJP Corporator Sanjay Jamnadas Manvar submitted a Form 7 application, seeking the removal of the name “Hajibhai Rathod” from the electoral roll in Ward No. 8.
A Question of Identity or “Incorrect Motives”?
The artist, who has played dholak in over 3,000 charity programs for cattle welfare and 1,000 stage shows, expressed deep hurt over the move.
“They tried to remove my name from voter list, I have received award. I am very upset with this. I have lived in Ward No. 8 for over 60 years. Both the State and Central governments have honoured my work. What is lacking in my identity that an objection has been raised against my name?” Haji Ramkadu asked, calling for the government to ensure such incidents do not recur.
Defending his actions, Corporator Sanjay Manvar clarified that his objection was not a personal attack on the legend. “Hajibhai is the pride of the nation. My objection was regarding the surname ‘Rathod’ listed in the rolls, whereas his official name is Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai. To avoid confusion and potential misuse of dual identity cards, I requested a correction,” Manvar stated, adding that the artist is “like family.”
Political Firestorm
The opposition has been quick to seize the moment. A Congress spokesperson slammed the BJP-led administration and the Election Commission, labelling the incident “the height of malpractice.”
“On one hand, the government honours a man with the Padma Shri, and on the other, their own corporator tries to strike his name from the voter list,” the spokesperson said. “If a national icon like Haji Ramkadu is being played with, what must be the plight of the common citizen?”
The Legacy of Haji Ramkadu
Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai is a household name in the world of Bhajan, Santvani, Ghazal, and Qawwali. Known for his unique style of playing the Dholak, he has dedicated his life to spiritual and social causes. The announcement of his Padma Shri on the eve of Republic Day was celebrated as a victory for traditional Gujarati folk art-a celebration now clouded by this local electoral dispute.
As the Election Commission reviews the application, the citizens of Junagadh wait to see if this “clerical correction” will be settled amicably or continue to fuel political tensions.
source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> News> India News / by Saurabh Vaktania (headline edited) / January 28th, 2025
A man of few words, he would listen more and speak less. He was not known for dropping names, loose talk or gossip. No wonder he had friends across the political spectrum, recalls Shahid Siddiqui.
I met Ahmed Patel in 1980 for the first time as a journalist.
He mostly preferred to remain away from lime light but I persuaded him to give an interview to my weekly Nai Duniya. Even then I was impressed by his very precise responses to the most provocative questions. I came to know him in last thirty-five years both as a politician and friend. What held him above other politicians in Delhi was his honesty and dedication not only to the Congress Party but to basic moral values of public life. While many leaders protected their personal interests at the cost of the party, Ahmed Bhai did everything rising above his own political and personal interests.
Ahmed Patel was one of the finest Congressman in modern times, especially after the demise of the generation of leaders groomed by Indira Gandhi. Congress was in shambles in the post-Narsimha Rao period and with the emergence of NDA, future seemed to be bleak for Congress. It was pragmatic, realistic, dedicated hard work of Ahmed Patel and few others, which allowed UPA, led by Indian National Congress to form a government in Delhi in 2004. His networking abilities, his humble demeanor, his ability to listen to everyone and then give a sane and practical advice to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was what kept UPA together and allowed it to come back to power with larger numbers in 2009.
There came many occasions when this twenty-four or more parties’ ragtag alliance would have collapsed, but for the persuasive abilities of Ahmed Bhai. Political analysts call him troubleshooter for Sonia Gandhi, in my view he was Sankat Mochak and firefighter for the Congress Party.
On 7th December 1992, a day after the demolition of Babri Masjid, I sent my resignation from the Congress Party. I was an AICC member and part of a Committee with Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Manmohan Singh ji, K. R. Narayanan Saheb, called, ‘Pamphlet Committee’. Ahmed Bhai immediately rushed to my house and said if you resign I will also resign, and if we Muslims resign from Congress in large numbers, would we be helping the cause of Secularism or damaging it? Ultimately a call from Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who in a way was my political Guru, persuaded me to withdraw my resignation. Much later I learned that Ahmed Bhai had requested Comrade Surjeet to call me and desist from resigning from the Congress Party.
Ahmed Bhai was famous for his nighttime politics when he would call friends and opponents for advice and information. He was fond of good food and would suddenly ring me up at night saying, ‘Yaar can I come to have a few kebabs at your house’. He used to come alone without fanfare at midnight and chat. He was a political animal, who breathed Congress politics twenty-four-seven, but never tried to harm even his worst opponents.
Ahmed Bhai was ears and eyes to Sonia Ji in the most crucial days of her Presidentship. Her ability to take everyone along and keep the party together made Congress a force again, but no less was the contribution of Ahmed Bhai, who didn’t hesitate in sacrificing even his close friends if the party’s interest demanded it and advised Sonia Ji accordingly. He was one Congressman who had hundreds of critics and opponents but no enemies. Even most bitter enemies of the Congress Party could speak to Ahmed Bhai in confidence, knowing that their faith will never be betrayed.
Congress has no replacement for Ahmed Patel, at a juncture when he is required most. His contribution to Indian democracy and Secularism is immense. At a time when politicians of all hues and parties are losing respect in the eyes of the common man, Ahmed Patel will be missed much more for his cool, unemotional, positive attitude.
source: http://www.nationalheraldindia.com / National Herald / Home> States360 > Obituary / by Shahid Siddiqui / November 25th, 2020
The Assamese version of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s Tarjuman Al Quran, Volume-I Al Fatiha, translated by Komoruzzaman Ahmed, was released here yesterday by educationist and former vice chancellor of Rajib Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, Dr A C Bhagabati.
Maulana Azad, besides being a well-known political figure, is a scholar of Islamic learning and Quran. He had translated the Quran into Urdu with commentary as Tarjuman Al Quran to help the common people understand the holy book, as it was understood by the people during Prophet Mohammad’s lifetime.
The book had originally been translated to English by Dr. Syed Abdul Latif during the life time of Maulana Azad. The book, released on June 2, is an Assamese translation of the main Volume-I, Al Fatiha of the Tarjuman Al Quran, where Maulana Azad presented the main principles of the Quran by analyzing each of the Seven Sentences of Sura Al Fatiha in detail.
The meeting was presided over by film-maker Abdul Majid.
The welcome address was made by Wasbir Hussain, author and journalist.
Addressing the meeting, Dr Ayesha Ashraf Ahmed, author and former professor of Shillong College talked about the core philosophy of the Quran. Author Ahmed also addressed the gathering.
source: http://www.assamtribune.com / The Assam Tribune / Home> Archives / by Staff Reporter / September 15th, 2010
At a programme organised at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Auditorium here, the All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC), Gujarat State, paid a rich tribute to Hakim Maulana Abdur Razzaq Qasmi Qureshi in recognition of his services.
The programme was attended by many notable personalities, including Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan (Secretary General, All India Unani Tibbi Congress), Sajjadah Nasheen Syed Mateen Ahmad Qadri (Ahmedabad), Maulana Rizwan Al-Qasmi (Director, Jamia Ibn Abbas), Shahnawaz Sheikh (Vice Chairman, INC Minority Cell), Mufti Hakim Zaid bin M.A. Razzaq Qureshi, Suhail Tirmizi (Editor, Gujarat Today), Dr. Arun Bhatt (Treasurer, AIUTC-Gujarat), Mirza Haji Israr Baig (Corporator, Ahmedabad), Dr. Ashraf Ali Ansari (Former Member, CCIM), Dr. Muhammad Tahir Rajput (Vice President, AIUTC-Gujarat), Muhammad Imran Kannauji (Press Secretary, AIUTC, New Delhi), Israr Ahmad Ujjaini (National Coordinator, AIUTC)
Other notable attendees included Muhammad Yunus, Hakim Muhammad Murtaza Dehlavi, Hakim Aftab Alam, Dr. Samiullah Pathan, and Dr. Tamim Ahmad Qureshi.
The session was conducted by Dr. Muhammad Yasir Qureshi (General Secretary, AIUTC-Gujarat), who elaborated on the life and services of Hakim Maulana Abdur Razzaq Qasmi Qureshi in detail.
Shahnawaz Sheikh, while highlighting the contributions of Hakim Sahib, stated that Unani medicine was his true field of service. Hence, the most genuine tribute to him would be to actively work toward the promotion of Unani medicine in Gujarat, and he pledged all possible support for this cause.
Syed Mateen Ahmad Qadri, Sajjadah Nasheen of Dargah Ghous Pak, proposed the establishment of a Tibbiya College in Gujarat and expressed hope that the project would be realised soon. He emphasised that such a college was essential for the complete development of Unani medicine in the state.
On this occasion, Purshottam Rupala (Member of Lok Sabha from Rajkot and former Union Minister), a close associate of Hakim Maulana Abdur Razzaq Qasmi Qureshi, also paid tribute. He acknowledged Hakim Sahib’s dedication to Unani medicine and mentioned their personal association. Rupala assured his full support for the promotion of the Unani system of medicine.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Social Service / by Radiance News Bureau / June 17th, 2025
The World Heritage City of Ahmedabad saw many revered men who silently documented the various tales the city’s monuments, structures and literature had to tell.
One such relentless pursuit was that of publisher, author and a keen student of the medieval history of Gujarat, Shahed Kalimi, who not just ran the nearly-century old Kalim Book Depot but also spent 20 years of voluntary service to set up the library at Sarkhej Roza.
A little over a month after he passed, Kalimi’s contributions to Ahmedabad’s heritage were remembered by academicians, renowned historians and heritage enthusiasts at a remembrance meeting organised in the city on Sunday.
Kalimi was the sole force behind revamping the library at one of the ASI-protected monuments of the Heritage City of Ahmedabad, Sarkhej Roza.
AS Saiyed, President of the Sarkhej Roza Committee, narrated Kalimi’s two decades of voluntary contribution at the Sarkhej Roza and lauded him for his dedication and perseverance. “Kalimi was instrumental in reviving the library at the Sarkhej Roza and setting up a publishing department at the Roza through which many books were translated and published under the aegis of the Sarkhej Roza Committee,” Saiyed said.
During his lifetime, Kalimi had translated nearly 50 books from Urdu, Persian and Arabic, into Gujarati, in a bid to bring forth the little pieces of history about Gujarat to the people here.
In fact, two of his last books – A Bird’s Eye View of Sarkhej Roza and Yaad-e-Ayyam, were released during the remembrance meet.
“Kalimi’s sole aim was to bring forth anecdotes of Gujarat’s history to the state. Being an ardent reader of history himself, he translated many books written about Gujarat and its history, Persian and Arabic to Gujarati. He has translated close to 50 works by now about various aspects of Ahmedabad and Gujarat which the state would have otherwise lost,” said Professor MH Bombaywala, curator and founder, Peer Mohammad Shah Library, one of the oldest in Ahmedabad who was present at the meeting.
Being an ardent enthusiast of medieval history of Gujarat, Kalimi turned his place of work – the Kalim Book Depot – around by diligently sourcing, procuring, even translating if needed to make history books available to people here.
Students of History and even architecture and design often frequented his book store, which was once upon a time, a fulcrum for intellectuals to gather and discuss new, radical ideas through expressions of poetry and Shayari.
The Kalim Book Depot will be a century old in 2026 and till date is known for rare books. “We have retailed the Urdu versions of Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita to people. Father used to procure a series of Urdu books from warehouses of libraries, book exhibitions, flea markets including the Gujari Bazar and wherever he travelled and patiently sorted them, to find the right kind of books for history students and later translate them,” said Mushir Kalimi, Shahed’s son.
“Father’s interest was not in the business but instead in letting the younger generation read and delve into the history about Gujarat to the people of Gujarat by translating works of authors from Persian, Arabic and Urdu languages. Therefore, if he realised someone’s interest in books, he would gift them a second book for free besides the ones they’ve bought,” said Mushir.
Kalimi was working on one of his last books just before he passed — Makbaras and Masjids of Ahmedabad. Mushir along with members of the Sarkhej Roza Committee are working towards publishing the book which will soon be out.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Ahmedabad News / by Niyati Parikh / TNN / March 28th, 2022
Built in the 15th century, Sarkhej Roza on the outskirts of Ahmedabad holds many different worlds within its vast expanse.
The site comprises a mosque, tombs as well as mausoleums, palaces, pavilions, and noble houses (Express/Bhupendra Rana)
As the sun begins setting behind the domes, the rays filter through the stone filigree splashing a gold hue in the vast compound. The devout makes their way to the vast mosque for the evening prayers; in another corner, a seeker sits in the enclosure housing a tomb, lost in a world of her own. Under the baradari, a weary traveller takes a nap; at the dried-up reservoir beyond the mosque, children play a game of cricket.
Built in the 15th century, Sarkhej Roza on the outskirts of Ahmedabad holds many different worlds within its vast expanse. The monument complex stands as a testament to Gujarat’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.
The site comprises a mosque, tombs of sheikhs, sultans, and the royal family, as well as mausoleums, palaces, pavilions, and noble houses. At its heart lies the famous Ahmed-Sar Tank, a man-made lake excavated in the 15th century by Sultan Mehmud Begada, the great-grandson of Sultan Ahmed Shah, who founded Ahmedabad in 1411.
A protected monument, Sarkhej Roza falls under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Sarkhej Roza Committee. Built in a village of indigo dyers and weavers, the monument, said to have been built by Ahmed Shah’s successor and son, Muhammad Shah II, became the repose of the mid-15th century Saint Shaikh Ahmad Ganj Baksh Khattu, one of the four Ahmads who laid the foundation of Ahmedabad in 1411 AD. Following his death in 1446 AD, Sultan Muhammad Shah II commissioned an exquisite tomb and mosque in his memory, which were later completed by his son and successor, Sultan Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah II, between 1451 and 1458 AD. Over time, Sarkhej Roza became a favoured retreat for Gujarat’s sultans and eventually evolved into a Sufi town with the addition of palaces, gardens, pavilions, royal tombs, grand gateways, and a vast artificial lake spanning 17 acres.
Historians and architectural experts consider Sarkhej Roza a unique and unparalleled collection of historical buildings. Its Indo-Saracenic architecture seamlessly blends elements of Hindu, Jain, and Islamic design, creating a masterpiece.
Among the mausoleums of Agra and Gujarat, Sarkhej Roza is believed to be the largest architectural complex of its kind. The site holds deep spiritual significance for both Hindus and Muslims, attracting visitors from all walks of life.
The intricate jali work on the outer and inner walls showcases beautiful geometric patterns, while the exquisite craftsmanship in brass, silver, and enamel enhances its aesthetic appeal. Sultan Mahmud Begada, known for his bravery and vision, decorated the structure in such a way that many believe it contributed to Ahmedabad’s recognition as a Unesco World Heritage City, although it is some 10 km from the walled city that got the tag in 2017.
Beyond its architectural splendour, Sarkhej Roza is home to priceless historical artefacts, including coins from the Sultanate period of Gujarat. The monument also houses incomplete yet beautifully handwritten copies of the Quran, a manuscript of Hidaya, and a printed Quran with Persian and Urdu translations. Additionally, an old handwritten copy of the Quran, completed in 1649 in the elegant Naskh script, remains one of the site’s treasured possessions.
Over the years, Sarkhej Roza has hosted several prominent events and dignitaries. On World Heritage Day (November 18, 2010), the complex welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then Gujarat chief minister.
Last month, during a Sufi event in New Delhi, PM Modi recalled how he had restored Sarkhej Roza when he was the Gujarat CM. “When I was the CM, a lot of work was done on its (Sarkhej Roza) restoration and very few people would know that there was a time when Krishna Utsav was celebrated with great pomp and show in Sarkhej Roza…,” Modi said.
Other notable visitors include the Iran embassy’s Khawaja Piri (August 8, 2006), Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan (January 26, 2014), and poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar (December 2, 2010).
A few scenes of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees (2016) were also shot here.
Subamiya Akberali Kadri, a retired national union leader in the banking industry, has been visiting the dargah at Sarkhej Roza since 1974. He said, “Over the years, I have actively participated in various events. One memorable occasion was when a Sufi disciple from the Rumi Sufi Academy in San Francisco performed a Sufi dance. That day, I delivered a speech on Sufism.”
During the holy month of Ramzan, Sarkhej Roza transforms into a vibrant hub of community gathering with people assembling here for evening prayers and iftar, sharing meals as a gesture of unity and harmony.
Bhavna Ramrakhiani, founder of Sarkhej Roza Crafts and Saanjhi Virasat, a community promoting diversity and heritage, said, “People are not permitted to live inside the monument except during the last 10 days of Ramzan when devotees stay inside the mosque for prayers.”
On other days, Sarkhej Roza remains a favoured destination for school trips, vacations, picnics, and family outings – and an occasional seeker looking for solace.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> India / by Sande Gona (an intern with The Indian Express, Ahmedabad / with inputs from ENS, New Delhi / Ahmedabad, April 19th, 2025.
During the months of lockdown last year, NSS units in colleges across Gujarat mobilized resources for food, masks, sanitation.
More than 5,000 student volunteers associated with NSS units in universities carried out COVID relief projects during the initial phase of lockdown
New Delhi :
The risk of contracting a life-threatening virus and the lockdown did not discourage Shaikh Afzal, a final year student of LD Engineering College, Ahmedabad from stepping out to collect food grain for the people in need.
A volunteer with the government-led National Service Scheme, in his case the NSS unit of Gujarat Technological University, Afzal felt the need to be on the ground despite the inhibitions of his family members. While the country was under a nation-wide lockdown in March last year, volunteers like Afzal risked their lives to help migrant workers stranded for days without supplies.
“I have faced a shortage of food for days at home during the lockdown and I understood their situation. They have extremely limited means. I decided to help them despite the risks,” said Afzal who resides with his 70-year-old grandmother and five other family members. He spent two months distributing food kits in various parts of Ahmedabad.
Soon after the central government announced the countrywide shutdown to control the spread of the coronavirus, a wide range of problems emerged, especially for the working class. The lockdown was extended for nearly four more months. Having lost their jobs, thousands of migrant workers attempted to leave major cities for home. In the absence of food reserves, many were pushed into starvation and others struggled to make ends meet.
Like Afzal, more than 5,000 student volunteers associated with NSS units in universities across Gujarat carried out COVID relief projects during the initial phase of lockdown. From providing masks, hand sanitizers and dry ration kits, to managing large crowds along with the police, students participated in several measures.
Prompt relief in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, one of the major cities employing daily wage workers and construction workers from bordering states, experienced food shortages amid the extended lockdown. NSS units in various colleges kicked into action to provide ground relief.
Along with Afzal, a team of 15 NSS and National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers in coordination with Ahmedabad’s district magistrate’s office conducted an extensive COVID relief drive. The team under the leadership of Chaitanya Sanghvi, the college’s NSS program officer, raised Rs. 3.69 lakh in donations from teachers and students’ parents to arrange for food kits. The volunteers distributed more than 12,500 kits in two months.
“A lot of parents were concerned about their [students’] health but my personal assurance that COVID safety measures will be taken while helping others made them feel confident,” said Sanghvi. “The students were given training by the GIDM [Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management] on how to respond to various challenges on the field,” he added.
Student of LD Engineering College, Ahmedabad distributing ration kits
Each day, for nearly two months, the team distributed 500 kits that sustained families of four for at least 10 days. On several occasions, the team members recalled being overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation on the ground. “Every day we would find a new challenge before us. We had to be cautious about our own safety while maintaining safe distance among those who came to collect the kits. The chaos escalated at times and we had to call the local police to maintain order,” said Deval Naika, a final-year mechanical engineering student.
The relief work began with 16 volunteers but the group expanded into a large team of 100 students after the initial phase of the project ended in success. The students were asked to work on the field in rotation. The effort, according to Sanghvi, helped families that were severely starved amid the lockdown. “I remember providing a food kit to a migrant worker’s family of 12 members. They told me that they were going to eat solid food after 12 days of starvation. There were small kids delighted at the sight of food. I will never forget that day,” recalled Sanghvi.
The team, in a tie-up with the Indian Red Cross Society, also conducted a blood donation drive for thalassemia major patients who were facing a shortage of blood supply during the lockdown. To allay the fear of blood donors, the team remotely reached out to the willing donors on mobile donation vans in various parts of Ahmedabad.
Porda village, Anand
Another NSS volunteer, Kishan Nileshkumar Dave, studying in Natubhai V. Patel College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Vallabh Vidyanagar, managed to provide relief to 100 families in his village, Porda, in Anand district. The volunteers carried out a multifaceted relief drive which included the distribution of food, masks, sanitizing common gathering areas and distribution of Ayurvedic immunity boosters.
Dave and his group of 10 volunteers started a fundraiser to provide relief to the families struggling without any financial help in the period of lockdown. With the help of the village sarpanch and some of its well-heeled families, Dave managed to collect enough funds to feed the hungry for more than a month.
“The money was utilized to cook food and deliver to each villager in need. We also maintained meticulous records of people who require urgent help and avoided missing out on anyone who needed attention,” said Dave. This group also served food to the policemen and health-workers on COVID-19 duty.
The team also engaged local tailors to sew 2,100 masks to be distributed in the community. In this way, they supplied masks to 920 families of the village and surrounding areas.
The volunteers also prepared herbal tonic under the supervision of the Ayurvedic Aushadhi Kendra of a nearby village, Aradi, and distributed it in Porda and the surrounding areas. Around 1,500 villagers received the immunity booster.
In addition, Dave also conducted a sanitization drive for 20 days. “Providing food and masks was not enough, we also used a sprayer machine and fogging machine provided by the Gram Panchayat and sanitized all the streets, milk collection centres, banks, and other areas of the village,” said Dave. Close to 900 houses of the village were sanitized. The volunteers also raised awareness among the villagers about the significance of personal hygiene, wearing the mask, washing hands frequently, and maintaining social distance.
As the lockdown caused huge losses for the farmers, this group brought vegetables from the village farmers and sold them at fair price to the villagers and residents of slum areas of the village like Indira Nagari. While some group members sold the vegetables, others helped maintain social distancing among the buyers.
Food delivery on national highway
With education institutions shut for months, many students had left the college campuses. They planned to contribute from home. Several NSS volunteers of Vishwakarma Engineering College, Ahmedabad, stepped up to help the migrant workers heading home along the National Highway eight. “Our NSS volunteers living close to the NH provided home-cooked food whenever possible to several families traveling on foot. Since the lockdown was sudden, it was difficult to provide funds. Therefore, each student utilised their own resources,” said Shiza Sheikh, a second-year student of electronics and communication.
At the beginning of COVID-19 lockdown, to meet the sudden rise in demand of masks, the students also distributed 1,500 hand-stitched masks from unused cloth they found at home and distributed it in various parts of Gujarat. “Even though students were scattered throughout the state, the NSS volunteers of our college were determined to help people who were in need. The students learned how to make masks through YouTube videos or by learning stitching from their parents,” Sheikh added.
source: http://www.news.careers360.com / News Careers360 / Home / by R Radhika / April 24th, 2021
World Deaf Shooting Championship: Dhanush breaks world records as India sweeps men’s air rifle event (Photo: X) / (L to R) Shourya Saini, Dhanush Srikanth (Centre) and Mohammed Murtaza Vania
New Delhi :
India dominated the men’s 10m air rifle event on day two of the second World Deaf Shooting Championship in Hanover, Germany, with Dhanush Srikanth, Shourya Saini, and Mohammed Murtaza Vania making a clean sweep of the medals.
Dhanush set two world records in a single day, first by scoring 632.7 in the qualification round, followed by a stunning 251.7 in the final.
His performance left Shourya, who secured the silver with a score of 249.9, trailing by a significant margin.
Mohammed Murtaza Vania claimed the bronze with a score of 226.2.
In addition to their success in the men’s event, India also shone bright in the women’s category with Mahit Sandhu and Natasha Joshi winning silver and bronze respectively, adding to the country’s medals tally.
The Indian contingent had already secured four medals on the first day of the competition, including one gold, two silver and a bronze.
The season three of the business reality show ‘Shark Tank India’ will see a self-made entrepreneur Adil Qadri, who has introduced the Sharks to a desi way of using attars.
Despite failing school in fourth grade due to asthma, Adil’s business has processed a whopping 10 lakh orders, averaging 3,000 per day.
From a software repairer to an SEO expert, he’s now the face of a brand that’s putting Bilimora on the map. Indeed, Adil proceeded to establish a business, defying the odds posed by his asthma.
His brand ‘ADILQADRI’ introduces a new way of using attars, emphasising long-lasting effects and premium packaging. However, Rs 6 crore debt sparks conflict among the Sharks.
Talking about his experience on ‘Shark Tank India’, Adil Qadri (Founder and CEO) said: “Appearing on Shark Tank India with our brand ADILQADRI was a whirlwind, a roller coaster of emotions and opportunities. The intense pitch sharpened my ability to face sharks’ questions and honed my strategic thinking.”
“Their feedback provided invaluable insights for refining my business model. The experience underscored the importance of composure in high-stakes situations, molding me into a resilient and articulate entrepreneur,” he added.
‘Shark Tank India 3’ will soon air on Sony LIV.
–IANS / sp/prw
source: http://www.bhaskarlive.in / Bhaskar Live / Home> Entertainment / by IANS / January 18th, 2024
Amidst the busy roads of Gujarat that have thousands of cars passing by every day, there lies a neglected divider that holds reverence for many. A petal-strewn corner on a broken divider signifies the tomb of an Amdavadi poet credited for the advent of Urdu poetry that gave rise to a league of poets like Zauq, Mir, and Mirza Ghalib.
The poet in question is none other than the father of Urdu poetry, Wali Muhammad Wali, whose contribution towards uplifting Urdu poetry to being at par with its Persian counterpart is considered indispensable.
Challenging the notion that elite poetry can only be Persian, Wali opened up a world of poetic possibilities for Urdu poets and his influence can be seen in a piece penned by the Poet Meer Taqi Meer as a tribute to the Urdu Chaucer.
Khugar nahin kuch yun hi hum Rikhta-goi kay/ Mashooq jo apna tha, bashinda-e-Dakhan tha”
(It isn’t casually that I began dabbling in Urdu/I picked it from my lover, a native of the Deccan).
The poetic legend who died 300 years ago was buried in his family graveyard in Ahmedabad after his demise. Post Independence, Wali’s grave was separated from the graveyard and found itself situated in the middle of the road.
While the death and origins of Wani might be disputed, the razing of his grave has been linked to the communal past of Gujarat. Destroyed during the Gujarat violence of 2002, Wali’s grave was part of the riot that saw thousands murdered and the demolition of many significant Muslim shrines and Dargahs. Eliminating any and all signs of the Dargah, roads were built overnight and the atrocities of communal violence were swept under the layers of tar and repairs that ensued.
A Twitter user recently went searching for the shrine and impressively remarked on the presence of the Urdu poet’s legacy that remains etched in the mind of locals. Street vendors, shoemakers, and locals seem happy to guide and give precise directions to the grave for those looking to visit the shrine. Once an ornate shrine, the grave now portrays a sad picture of desolation and jarring neglect that can be blamed on the political powerplay as well as the ‘divide and rule’ ideologies that plague the nation.
One cannot miss the imprint of Wali’s work on Urdu poetry. It remains immortal in the hearts of people and keeps the light of consciousness alive.
source: http://www.homegrown.co.in / Homegrown / Home> #HGExplore / by Riya Sharma / August 08th, 2022
