From A Dreamer’s World | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A brilliant blue fish glides in a patch of orange pumpkins, another lies still among lilac orchids hoping his camouflage allows him to blend in. These are a few finned beauties artist Shoeb Dastagir has depicted in his solo show A Dreamer’s World.
“I find fish quite calming and I can spend hours looking at them; that is why I began capturing them in my paintings,” says Shoeb, adding he spends a lot of time at the aquarium in Mysore Zoo. “I enjoy watching videos of aquatic life on my phone, too.”
He reels off their names — bumblebee goby, oscars and arowanas, tiger fish, a Brunei beauty and a shark — and how they are all a part of this show. “I am a Piscean, so no matter how hard life gets, fish are a calming refuge for me,” says the artist. “Fish are always calm, going about their lives despite the confines of their surroundings.”
Shoeb Dastagir | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
He talks about his love for “sunny colours such as tangerine orange, avocado green, icy blue and buttery yellows”. All these hues and more are to be found in his works that exude a touch of whimsy and play out in a fantastical land where an astronaut steps around teacups, fish nestle between blue pea and pearls, and an old-model television sits atop a bouquet of yellow roses.
Though Shoeb draws his inspiration from the natural world, a lot of his art is birthed in his vivid imagination that fuel his compositions of poetry, prose and songs as well. According to his mother Ayesha Dastagir, all these creative interests lead Shoeb to produce bigger and detailed paintings. “One can see a lot of mystical characters apart from the animals and fish, of course. I believe it is his subconscious, sensitivity and imaginary fantasy world that combine to produce something new and different.”
Most of the works in A Dreamer’s World have been executed using pastels and watercolours on paper over the the greater part of a year. Though Shoeb used to paint with oils and canvas, this change in medium came about when he moved from Bengaluru to Mysore, and working on paper seemed a more viable option as space was a constraint at the new place.
From A Dreamer’s World | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The artist, who signs his works as Schoeb, his official name which is often misspelt, is currently working on a series of portraits.
The upcoming / current exhibition comprises 24 pieces on display apart from a few others which are a part of the series and are available for sale at the gallery.
A Dreamer’s world by Shoeb Dastagir will be on display at MKF Museum of Art, Bengaluru from November 8-19. Entry free, Mondays closed.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Art / by Ruth Dhanraj / November 06th, 2025
Saniya Samreen receiving a Gold Medal from Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Chairperson of the Law Commission of India and former Judge of the Supreme Court, at the 9th Convocation of the Central University of Karnataka (CUK) held on Saturday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Defying all odds, Saniya Samreen, daughter of a fruit vendor from Aland town in Kalaburagi district, bagged the Gold Medal in Master of Commerce (MCom) at the 9th convocation ceremony of the Central University of Karnataka (CUK) held on Saturday.
She received the medal from Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Chairperson of the Law Commission of India and former Judge of the Supreme Court, in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Battu Satyanarayana, Registrar R.R. Biradar and Controller of Examinations Kota Sai Krishna, on Saturday.
Ms. Samreen, who completed her schooling and college education in Aland before joining CUK for her postgraduate studies, said that her achievement was a result of perseverance and family support.
“All of my achievements are the result of hard work, dedication, and the unwavering support and guidance from my family and mentors,” she with gratitude during her interaction with media representatives on the sidelines of the convocation.
Her father, Mr. Shamu Bagwan, earns his livelihood as a fruit vendor, while her mother, Mrs. Raziya Begum, is a homemaker. “My parents’ constant belief in me has been the driving force behind my success,” Saniya added.
Saniya, who has also qualified both the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) and the National Eligibility Test (NET) for assistant professor, said she wishes to build her career in academia.
“I aspire to contribute to the field of commerce through teaching and by shaping future professionals,” she said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / November 08th, 2025
Boys team of Al-Kareem School won the Taluk-level U-17 Throwball Tournament for Boys organised at St. Philomena’s High School recently.
The team defeated Ramakrishna Ashram in the final match.
Members of the team included Mohammed Attaulla (Captain), Farhan Khan (Vice-Captain), Mohammed Junaid, Mohammed Nadeem, Afreed Ahmed Khan, SinnanShariff, Roshan Ali, Mohammed Toufiq, Zaid Ahmed and Zayan Ahmed.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / November 10th, 2025
Delhi is the city of enterprising people, many of whom are migrants from smaller towns and cities. Many achieved successes in careers, businesses and professions — but some of them transcended the boundaries of success. They are trailblazers who give it back and inspire others. Here, we feature ten personalities of Delhi whose work makes them extraordinary and the Changemakers:
Sirajuddin Qureshi
Sirajuddin Qureshi a well-known industrialist who laid the foundation of India’s meat industry and food processing. Besides, he is one of the founders of the India Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi. He is a trailblazer in modernising and scaling up the meat and food processing industry under the aegis of his Hind Group. He set up the first modern slaughterhouse and expanded his food business to 50 countries.
However, his lasting contribution to society is his relentless campaign for promoting education among the Qureshi clan, who were small-time meat sellers and traders. He persuaded his community members to pledge to promote the education of girls and women, opt for simpler weddings and encourage youth to join professions. His social campaign was so successful that today, only 20 per cent of the Qureshi men are meat sellers, and women have higher educational standards.
Azra Naqvi
Azra Naqvi wears many hats, but her core remains attached to Urdu, the language, she claims, she breathes, thinks in, and is in her DNA. Despite having lived a fulfilling life with her husband in many countries, dabbled in different professions and roles, her heart always pined for her favourite language. So, when she got a chance to work as a consulting editor with Rekhta Foundation, she made the most of the opportunity.
Besides fulfilling her passion for Urdu at Rekhta, Azra Naqvi found an innovative use of the WhatsApp application on her mobile. First, she connected 200 Urdu women writers to establish a first-of-its-kind literary organisation, Bainalakwami Nissai Adabi Tanzeem (BANAT). The BANAT has created a sisterhood of Urdu writers. So far, BANAT has published two anthologies based on WhatsApp communication, while a third one is in process. Using the WhatsApp group, Azra Naqvi collected theme-based writings of 40 women writers.
Siraj Khan
‘Yes, We Can’ stands as a reminder that unity and opportunity can transform lives. This non-profit organisation is dedicated to empowering communities, nurturing youth potential, and creating safe spaces for growth. At the heart of this movement is Shiraz Khan, a changemaker from Old Delhi, whose journey of self-discovery and resilience has shaped the ethos of “Yes, We Can”. The seeds of Yes We Can were planted in 2015. For Shiraz Khan and his co-founder, Nandish, the pandemic wasn’t just a crisis; it was also a wake-up call. They realised that people needed support not only in material terms but also in inspiration, guidance, and community.
From grassroots awareness drives to collaborations with youth-led groups, Yes We Can has quickly grown into a space where possibility meets action. Shiraz often says, reflecting the organisation’s focus on building resilience rather than dependency.
Sahar Hashmi
Mental health in India remains a taboo; words like depression, anxiety, or personality disorder are either laughed off or bring shame. Breaking this deafening silence is Sahar Hashmi, the 29-year-old woman from Delhi. She not only overcame her mental illness but also became a beacon of hope for others suffering in silence.
In April 2025, Sahar launched a campaign, “Breaking Stigma: One Mile at a Time”. She took a 2,779 km bike ride from Delhi to Kashmir. This journey was not just about crossing the geographical boundaries, but an emotional journey against the stigma and silence of society on mental health.
Asghar Ali
Delhi-based artist Asghar Ali is spreading the message of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (Inclusive Indian culture) in society through his art. Asgar Ali, a Muslim by faith, has more than 50 paintings based on Lord Krishna and his life story to his credit.
Asghar Ali said that since his childhood, he was fascinated and influenced by Shri Krishna, colours of his peacock feathers and the flute. Asgar Ali’s major work is on the childhood form of Shri Krishna (Bal Krishna), his youth, his objectives in the Mahabharata war, as well as his leela (stories).
Asgar Ali had also organised an exhibition of his Krishna-themed paintings at the recently concluded International Geeta Mahotsav at Kurukshetra, Haryana, where people appreciated his work.
Amna Mirza
Amna Mirza is a trailblazing teacher who prefers holding her lectures outside her classroom amidst the pieces of history strewn around in Delhi. She not only makes teaching interesting, but also helps heritage and modernity coalesce. In the rat race of the modern world, Dr Amna Mirza stands tall as a teacher bringing about profound changes in people’s mindsets.
A political science professor at the University of Delhi. Dr Mirza’s journey defies the rigidity often associated with academia. She wears many hats with ease: educator, social worker, cultural custodian, and above all, a proud Delhiite who believes in nurturing the soul of a nation through its people and plurality.
Mohd. Meraj Rayeen
Md. Meraj Rayeen’s inclusive campaign to improve the conditions of indigenous Pasmanda Muslims, who comprise approximately 80 per cent of the Muslim population, is shaping social change.
Rayeen says, “Politics alone cannot be the solution to every problem.” Based on this thought, he founded the ‘Pasmanda Vikas Foundation’ over a year ago. The organisation has undertaken substantial work to change the lives of people and instil new hope and confidence within the community.
This foundation is not into rhetoric in favour of Pasmanda Muslims’ rights on political platforms; It addresses issues such as education, health, economic empowerment, and social justice.
Meraj Rayeeen believes that the development of Pasmandas is possible only with the awakening and cooperation of the community members. but the entire Muslim society, especially the Ashraf class.
Uvais Ali Khan
Uvais Ali Khan is a successful Chartered Accountant and a changemaker whose journey stands as a beacon of determination and service to society.
He quit his job and started his own business in a small apartment in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi. Borrowing from friends and banks, he began building not just a company, but a platform for change. Uvais believes in a simple but powerful idea: “Providing basic skills to an individual can open avenues for them to get a job. That single opportunity can change the life of a family for generations.
Adeeba Ali
Adeeba Ali’s life is a testimony to the power of the human spirit and willpower. The 17-year-old is not only a rising star in the world of para-shooting but also an inspiration to many others struggling with self-pity and helplessness.
Five years ago, Adeeba fell from the balcony of her house in Nizamuddin. Four years later, she stunned everyone with her stellar performance at the 26th National Shooting Championship held at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, Bhopal, in December 2023.
Adeeba’s success is not just a story of winning two medals; it is a story of perseverance that transformed disability into a new identity, not a hindrance.
Syed Sahil Agha
Storytelling is associated with Sufis and Khanqahs; it’s a medium of the message of peace and love, which instils patriotism, unity, and religious harmony, and nurtures the Ganga-Jamuni (inclusive) civilisation. Keeping the tradition in mind, Syed Saahil Agha revived this art and gave it a modern context. Today, he is one of the most well-known names in the world of storytelling.
Syed Saahil Agha conducts storytelling programs in India and abroad. He says, “I realised that people prefer listening over reading, so I thought stories should be narrated so that the public can become familiar with the past and also learn lessons from it.”
He says his aim is not just to narrate stories but also to promote Indian civilisation.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> The Changemakers / by Aasha Khosa / November 09th, 2025
Mangaluru, KARNATAKA / Kozhikode, KERALA / Dubai, U.A.E :
Shabana Faizal with her husband Faizal Kottikollon
New Delhi :
Mangalore-based Shabana Faizal has emerged as the youngest woman among India’s top 10 philanthropists, according to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025.
She has donated ₹40 crore (approximately $1.5 billion) through the Faisal & Shabana Foundation to education, health, and social development.
Shabana Faisal’s journey from being raised in a small town in Mangalore to co-leading a global enterprise is about he hard work and ambition.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 1995 as a retailer of unique, speciality and luxury products. After leading the company for eight successful years, she decided to team up with her husband, entrepreneur Faizal Kottikollon, and support him in running the world-class foundry, Emirates Techno Casting (ETC).
Shabana took charge of all human resources and administrative processes at ETC, where she created a significant impact in shaping the company’s business success.
In her role as Vice Chairperson of KEF Holdings, she is actively involved in guiding the business’s growth strategy across global markets. Deeply committed to social improvement, Shabana and her husband founded the Faizal & Shabana Foundation in 2007, with the vision of ‘Giving to Create Impact’.
At 53, Shabana’s work has placed her among some of the most influential women in India’s philanthropy world, including Rohini Nilekani, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Bina Shah.
EdelGive Foundation, in collaboration with Hurun Research Institute, recently released the 12th edition of the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025.
The list honors India’s most generous individuals and families. Over the past three years, 191 philanthropists have donated a total of ₹10,380 crore, representing an 85% increase in contributions.
The education sector continues to lead as the top donor, receiving ₹4,166 crore from 107 donors.
Shabana is the mother of four children – Sophia, Sara, Zakaria, and Zarina – but continues to play an active role in business and philanthropy. Her work makes her one of India’s most influential female philanthropists, exemplifying how professional leadership and a commitment to giving can combine to create widespread social impact.
The EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 states that the top 25 donors contributed ₹50,000 crore in just five years, or an average of ₹46 crore per day. Mumbai leads in philanthropy, contributing 28% of total donations, followed by New Delhi and Bengaluru.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home / posted by Aasha Khosa / November 10th, 2025
A new book sheds light on the ‘Malabar Revolt’ in a region which had a history of Muslims and Hindus collaboratively persevering in their resistance against colonial forces. Other books explore its links to the Khilafat movement and why it is more than a peasant uprising.
Moplah prisoners go on trial in Calicut | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Growing up in Delhi, one had only a limited idea about the resistance movement in the Malabar region. The popular history books tended to treat it at best as a little outpost of the freedom movement. Noted historian Bipan Chandra in India’s Struggle for Independence (Penguin) dubbed it as a peasant movement.
“In August 1921, peasant discontent erupted in the Malabar district of Kerala. Here, Mappila tenants rebelled. Their grievances related to lack of any security of tenure, renewal fees, high rents…the impetus for resistance had first come from the Malabar District Congress Conference at Manjeri in April 1920,” Chandra writes. Sumit Sarkar too, confined himself to calling it an “anti-landlord revolt” in his book, Modern India (1885-1947), published by Pearson. There have been noises about the association with the Khilafat movement in academic circles, though. Just as there are historians who see it merely from a communal prism. A holistic picture had failed to emerge.
Enlightening exploration
Some belated but well-deserved attention on the resistance movement has come courtesy Abbas Panakkal’s Musaliar King: Decolonial Historiography of Malabar’s Resistance (Bloomsbury). Starting off as an exploratory exercise on the 75th anniversary of the movement, Panakkal’s venture transforms into an enlightening journey.
Early in the book, the author writes, “The socio-geographical landscape of our community underwent profound transformations in the wake of the cataclysmic events of 1921-22. This epoch witnessed a staggering loss of lives, the forced displacement of families… The old mosque of Tirurangadi emerged as a veritable repository of memories and narratives, a historical bastion of ideological resistance against the British colonial apparatus.” Fittingly, it was on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the 1921 resistance that Panakkal started his exploration, speaking to the family members of those directly involved.
Among them was Muhammed Ali Musaliar, grandson of Ali Musaliar, a luminary of the 1921 struggle. The British referred to Ali Musaliar as a king; the locals regarded him as a community and spiritual leader, calling him Musaliar Uppapa. Indeed, if Musaliar was a ‘king’, Malabar was his ‘kingdom’.
Incidentally, the term Malabar is derived from the vernacular Mala, signifying hill, and the affix originating from the Arabic word barr, which means the source of all goodness. The region had a long tradition of anti-colonial resistance dating back to the 16th century. “Muslims and Hindus collaboratively persevered in their resistance against colonial forces,” writes Panakkal.
This strong anti-colonial stance had unforeseen consequences. The British, with not a little help from some Indian officials, sought to undermine the movement. Among them was C. Gopalan Nair, Malabar district deputy collector, who “unabashedly deployed his literary prowess in favour of the British cause”. Observes Panakkal: “The usage of terms such as Malabar Revolt and Moplah Rebellion to delineate these struggles is emblematic of this issue. Revolt itself is a term crafted by colonial administration, characterising violent actions against a recognised government or ruler.”
‘Peaceful coexistence’
There were others, though, whose hearts beat for the locals, luminaries who either linked the resistance to the Khilafat movement or, in isolation, read it as an agrarian struggle. Among them were Saumyendranath Tagore, who regarded it as “an organic and spontaneous ‘uprising’ of the Malabar peasantry against British imperial rule” and E.M.S. Namboodiripad, who too “didn’t discount the role played by agrarian discontent”. There was a common thread: the oppression and exploitation meted out by colonial officials and landlords was no less severe upon the Hindu peasants as they were on their Muslim counterparts. Writes Panakkal, “The Malabar narrative heralded a rare phenomenon: the harmonious convergence of Hindus and Muslims. This coalition was underpinned by a shared objective — to oust the oppressor — and a collective aspiration for a peaceful coexistence in the region.”
It is something with which even R.N. Hitchcock, police superintendent of Malabar, agreed. As written by N.P. Chekkutty in Mappila and Comrades: A Century of Communist-Muslim Relations (Other Books). “Hitchcock also reveals that Hindus were involved in the rebellion, at least in some parts of the affected areas. ‘The Hindus took an active part only in the extreme south-eastern area of the Valluvanad taluk and in small numbers for a concise time. They were then responsible for much property damage’.” In his persuasively argued book, with much of the focus on the post-resistance time in the late 1930s and 40s, Chekkutty also talks of the rebels not harming any substantial section of the local population before going on to document the failure of the Congress to retain local Muslim support after the resistance movement. It was a vacuum which both the Communist Party of India and the All India Muslim League attempted to fill.
The Khilafat angle
Interestingly, against this background of common cause transcending the confines of faith came the pan-Islamist Khilafat movement. Things became even more ironic as Malabar’s historical tapestry of anti-colonial resistance “had been woven with threads of unity binding Muslims and non-Muslims in a shared ‘jihad’ to safeguard the throne of the Hindu king, the Zamorin of Calicut,” as analysed by Panakkal. Khilafat, Non-Cooperation, Mappila, with seemingly disparate social elements, all fused to bring about a strong anti-colonial movement.
Indeed, here both the communities enjoyed a rare camaraderie, and there was a happy collective involvement even in religiously significant events like the nercha and utsavam. During the latter, Muslim families returned with bags full of jaggery candies, much like Ali Musaliar used to do for Amina, his daughter. Sums up Panakkal: “The experience of Muslims and Islam in South India is different from the experience in North India, and this is not trivial.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books> Bibliography / by Ziya Us Salam / September 18th, 2025
Tushar Goel’s film, ‘The Taj Story’, has reignited controversy over the Taj Mahal’s origins, claiming it is a Hindu temple rather than a mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The film’s debut highlights debates about the interplay of history and ideology in contemporary India.
Scaffoldings are pictured as restoration work goes on at the dome of the Taj Mahal in Agra on October 17. | Photo Credit: AFP
A little over 60 years ago, Purushottam Nagesh Oak slept and dreamt. He woke up and claimed that the Taj Mahal in Agra was actually a Hindu palace going back all the way to 4th century. Friends of Mr. Oak, an English teacher-turned-lawyer-turned-journalist but never a historian, told him that the Taj Mahal couldn’t have been a fourth century structure as the technology employed in building the Taj in the 17th century didn’t exist back then. The fantasist turned a pragmatist, and Oak brought his argument forward by a few centuries. The Taj was now claimed to be a Hindu temple. This was in 1989. He wrote articles and a book too, but found no support from historians. Even the Supreme Court dismissed his claims as “a bee in his bonnet” in 2000.
But post-2014, history is like a revolving door, you enter and exit at your ease and pleasure. You pick and choose, you circumvent and invent. Dress it up as a movie and claim you are looking at history anew. That is how we get a movie like Tushar Amrish Goel’s The Taj Story, starring former BJP MP Paresh Rawal; just like we had The Kashmir Files and The Bengal Files, starring Anupam Kher and Mithun Chakraborty, all ideological partners of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
With The Taj Story, Goel goes where no historian has gone. Proof, evidence and knowledge amount for nothing as the director makes a case for the Mughal monument being actually a Hindu temple, much like the BJP leader Sangeet Som who called it alternately a Shiva temple and a monument built by a man who incarcerated his father. Mr. Som obviously couldn’t make out a Shah Jahan from an Aurangzeb and hence got mixed up. Much like Oak, oops, Goel, who sees no difference between history and mythology, facts and fantasy.
Recorded history
Talking of facts, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after his favourite wife Arjumand Bano Begum breathed her last after bearing the last of their 14 children. Its chief architect was Ustad Ahmed Lahori. The land for her last resting place was procured from Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber who had inherited it from Raja Man Singh, a celebrated general of Akbar, who was Shah Jahan’s grandfather. Shah Jahan compensated Jai Singh with four havelis from the royal property for the massive haveli in which rests Mumtaz Mahal. His firman to Jai Singh, the latter’s agreement and the Mughal emperor’s subsequent letter of granting him four havelis in lieu of one, are all part of history; unlike the claim of The Taj Story which talks in terms of a massacre and genocide of the locals for fulfilling the wishes of an emperor and his consort!
The work on the tomb started in 1632 with the finest craftsmen from across the country and West Asia. The chief mason was Mohammed Hanif from Baghdad who earned ₹1000 a month for his efforts. The pinnacle was built by Qayam Khan of Lahore and its Quranic inscriptions were done by Amanat Khan Shirazi. The mosaic work was done by local Hindu workers. Above all, some 20,000 workmen toiled for 22 years to build the monument to love. Its white marble came from Jaipur, lapis lazuli from Sri Lanka, crystal from China and coral from Arabia. The monument uses the double dome technique, previously seen only in the Humayun’s tomb in Delhi, and never seen in the country before the arrivals of the Turks.
Not the first time
Over the years, many have tried to appropriate credit for its beauty and majesty. In the 17th century, it was claimed by many in the West that the architect of the Taj was Venetian Geronimo Veroneo, a jeweller by profession. Then came the claim by Mughal Beg in Tarikh-e-Taj Mahal that it was designed by Muhammad Effendi, an architect supposedly sent by the Sultan of Turkey. Effendi though was as much an architect as Oak was a historian. In the mid 19th century it was claimed that the monument was the result of the genius of Frenchman Austin de Bordeaux, a jeweller. However, Austin died in 1632, the year the work on the Taj began. With his death all claims of Austin being the Taj’s architect were buried. And facts began to be raised.
As for fantasy, well there is Goel’s film, never mind its claim of presenting the “untold history of the Taj Mahal”. The film, replete with stereotypes of kohl-lined, skullcap-donning Muslims aims at building a nation’s memory on unreasoned mythology, far removed from the well argued debates of history. Much like Oak’s view that Christianity was nothing but Krishan-Niti. Not game for any ridiculous claims in an insipid film which opened with a mere 14% attendance in the first show? Watch M. Sadiq’s 1963-saga Taj Mahal. Sure, you would remember its song, ‘Jo wada kiya woh nibhana padega’, penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung with much love by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar. Sadiq’s film with Pradip Kumar and Bina Rai in the lead cast, made no effort at replacing history with mythology.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies> In the limelight / by Zia Us Salam / November 07th, 2025
Renowned Scholar and Former Jamia Dean Recognized for Five Decades of Academic and Social Contributions
In a grand ceremony held in the capital, the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) conferred the prestigious IOS Lifetime Achievement Award upon Professor Zahoor Mohammad Khan (Z.M. Khan)— an eminent scholar, researcher, author, and former Dean of Social Sciences at Jamia Millia Islamia.
Prof. Khan, who also served as the former Secretary General of IOS, was presented with a citation, memento, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh in recognition of his outstanding services to education, research, and social development.
Prof. Khan’s illustrious career spans over five decades, marked by his multifaceted roles as an academician, researcher, author, and institution builder. He has authored eight books and dozens of research papers, contributing significantly to the study of political science and sociology in India. During his 23-year tenure as Secretary General of IOS, the institution evolved from a modest initiative into a nationally respected think tank. He also played a pivotal role in launching the IOS Scholarship Programme, which has supported numerous students and researchers over the years.
The IOS Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in 2007, aims to recognize individuals, organizations, or voluntary groups who have rendered exceptional service to the nation and society, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed.
Previous recipients of this distinguished award include former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi, Dr. A.R. Kidwai, Prof. B. Sheikh Ali, A.G. Noorani,, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Prof. Mohsin Usmani Nadwi Maulana Hakim Abdulllah Mughaisi, and K. Rahman Khan, among others. Prof. Khan’s inclusion in this eminent list was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the honour, Prof. Z.M. Khan said, Faith in God and the spirit of service are the most precious blessings one can receive. Faith brings with it a sense of responsibility and accountability to the Creator — that is the greatest reward of life. He also acknowledged the crucial role of institutions such as Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and the Institute of Objective Studiesin shaping his academic journey.
The ceremony was chaired by Prof. M. Afzal Wani, Chairman of IOS, and graced by Justice Zakiullah Khan (former Judge, Allahabad High Court) as the chief guest.
Distinguished guests included Prof. Akhtarul Wasey (Jamia Millia Islamia & former Vice Chancellor, Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur), Prof. M. Akhtar Siddiqui, Mr. M. Afzal (former MP), and Prof. Furqan Ahmad.
The event began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Dr. Nighat Husain Nadwi, a welcome address by IOS Secretary General Mohammad Alam, and was conducted by Prof. Hasina Hashia Vice Chairperson of IOS, who also delivered the vote of thanks.
The event not only celebrated Prof. Khan’s extraordinary contributions but also reaffirmed IOS’s commitment to honouring individuals who have significantly influenced India’s intellectual and moral landscape.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / November 07th, 2025
Social activist and Former Bihar Minister Parveen Amanullah passed away today in New Delhi. She was suffering from cancer for some time.
The family had moved from Patna to Delhi for treatment. She also went to America for treatment and recovered from there. Her health had deteriorated for two-three days. she passed away today at seven PM.
Amanullah was the daughter of former Kishanganj MP Syed Shahabuddin and the wife of senior Bihar cadre IAS officer Afzal Amanullah.
Before entering politics she was known for her activism, especially in regard to her use of the Right to Information Act, 2005 to bring out the apathy prevalent in government institutions.
Amanullah was elected as a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 2010 from the Sahebpur Kamal constituency in Begusarai district as a candidate of the Janata Dal (United) after defeating Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Shreenarayan Yadav.
She became the Social Welfare minister of Bihar in Nitish Kumar’s government and held the portfolio until February 2014 when she resigned from JD(U) citing “governance issues” and “lack of work satisfaction”. She joined Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party two days later.
source: http://www.theindianawaaz.com / The Indian Awaaz / Home> Quami Awaaz / by Indian Awaaz / October 01st, 2023
Indian-American Ghazala Hashmi, who is closely linked with the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has won the Virginia Lieutenant Governor 2025 Election result of which was declared on Monday.
Virginia:
Indian-American Ghazala Hashmi, who is closely linked with the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has won the Virginia Lieutenant Governor 2025 Election result of which was declared on Monday.
A Democrat Party candidate, Ghazala Hashmi, defeated Republican candidate and the state’s first gay statewide nominee, John Reid, to become first Muslim and first South Asian American elected as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, a Republican stronghold.
Ghazala Hashmi polled over 55% votes as against her nearest rival John Reid who got the support of around 44.7% voters. Hashmi had earlier defeated five primary challengers in June, narrowly winning the nomination with 28% of the vote, as per the final result of the Virginia Lieutenant Governor Election 2025.
Ghazala Hashmi was the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Virginia State Senate following her stunning victory over sitting Republican Senator Republican Glen Sturtevant in the 2019 U.S. elections.
Ghazala Hashmi was born in India and emigrated to the US as a child with her family. She is also a former director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning at Reynolds Community College.
Ghazala Hashmi’s AMU Link
Ghazala Hashmi was born to Zia Hashmi and Tanveer Hashmi in Hyderabad in 1964. She spent her childhood days at her maternal grandparents’ house in Malakpet, Telangana.
She migrated to the United States with her mother and older brother as a 4-year-old child to join her father in Georgia.
Ghazala Hashmi’s mother, Tanveer Hashmi, is an alumna of Osmania University’s Women’s College in Kothi from where she did BA and B.Ed before migrating to the United States.
Ghazala’s father Professor Zia Hashmi is the alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) from where he did MA and LLB. He completed his PhD in International Relations from University of South Carolina and soon after began his university teaching career. He retired as the Director of Centre for International Studies which he founded.
Ghazala Hashmi is married to Azhar Rafiq. The couple have two adult daughters – Yasmin and Noor – who both graduated from Chesterfield County Public Schools and the University of Virginia.
According to information available on her official website, Ghazala Hashmi is an experienced educator and an advocate of inclusive values and social justice. Her legislative priorities focus on public education, voting rights and the preservation of democracy, reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, environmental protection, housing, and affordable healthcare access.
Hashmi spent nearly 30 years as a professor, first teaching at the University of Richmond and then at Reynolds Community College. At Reynolds Community College, Hashmi also served as the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL).
Former Minister, MLA and BRS leader KT Ramarao has congratulated Ghazala Hashmi on her victory.
“This is massive! From Malakpet to Virginia… Congratulations to Ghazala Hashmi on becoming the first Indian-American Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. There is nothing more beautiful when democracies celebrate diversity of the world”. KTR wrote on X.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> United States / by ummid.com news network / November 05th, 2025
