Students of the Interdisciplinary Department of Remote Sensing and GIS Applications at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have earned prestigious academic admissions and professional placements at leading institutions in India and abroad, underscoring the department’s growing reputation in geospatial sciences.
At the international level, Ms Areena has been selected for a PhD programme at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Meanwhile, Mr Md Zaid Qamar has secured admission to the International PhD Programme under the UNESCO Chair in Environment, Resource and Sustainable Development at Parthenope University of Naples, Italy.
On the national front, Mr Ahsan Sayeed has gained admission to the PhD programme in Geomatics at IIT Guwahati. Additionally, Ms Mantasha, Mr Tauheed Ahmad Ansari and Mr Zuhail Abdullah have been selected as Junior Resource Persons at the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee.
The department’s students have also made notable strides in the corporate sector. Ms Shaista Perween has been appointed Assistant Manager at Tata Steel Limited in Jamshedpur, while Ms Juveriya Aqeel has secured a position with WSP in Bengaluru with an attractive remuneration package.
Congratulating the students on their accomplishments, Dr Haris Hasan Khan, Chairman of the department, said the achievements reflect both the students’ dedication and the department’s strong academic and research ecosystem in remote sensing and geospatial sciences.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / February 12th, 2026
Enso Wellness – A Platform for Mental and Emotional Health of Bangalore has been awarded the best online platform by International Business Awards 2022-2023.
Mental and emotional health needs and deserves more and more recognition in today’s era to remove the stigma attached to it, says Arouba Kabir Founder, Enso Wellness.
Born in Kashmir, Arouba Kabir setup her organisation in Gurgaon in 2015 with an aim to spread more awareness and become a one-stop solution for those who have been struggling with the issues and challenges of emotional and mental health.
“Pandemic changed the definition and made it globally possible for people to ask for help by using online platforms keeping their identity anonymous as reaching out to a mental health professional is still a stigma,” Arouba said.
Her organization is known for hosting many online series- like Stand up to Stigma, One-minute Mental Health, Ask the Doctor with eminent personalities from across the globe and conducts various online and offline workshops for Kashmiris in the last five years.
“Mental health is as important as physical health-one definitely impacts the other. We need to start talking about mental health as we do talk about physical health and make it normal for people to reach out for help when they need it.”
“And if you want to see the change, we have to be the change, so talking about your emotions, challenges, struggles and visiting a professional definitely does help make it normal,” she said.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by ATV, posted by Nakul Shivani / December 13th, 2022
The HRM Forum, in association with the Roshni Alumni Association, organised a seminar titled “HR Unplugged: From Classroom to Corporate Reality” at the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya (Autonomous), Mangaluru, on 16th February 2026.
Sujah Mohammed, CEO of Marhaba Group, Mangaluru, delivered the inaugural address, sharing insights from his personal and professional journey. He spoke about the challenges he faced and the determination required to succeed.
Emphasising the importance of communication and interpersonal skills, he urged students to continuously upgrade their knowledge to remain relevant in a fast-changing corporate environment.
Sujah also highlighted professional ethics, leadership qualities, teamwork, and practical exposure through internships as key factors in bridging the gap between theory and practice. He advised aspiring HR professionals to stay confident, adaptable, solution-oriented, and committed to their long-term career goals.
Anand D’Silva encouraged students to make the most of every session, reminding them that life experiences often teach lessons beyond textbooks. He emphasised the value of hard work, genuine knowledge, and dedication, urging students to uphold the values and reputation of Roshni Nilaya in their professional journey. He also advised them to focus on their unique growth paths, remain patient, consistent, and positive, and avoid comparing themselves with others.
Adv. Ganesh Poojary, Partner at KG Pai & Co. and Director at Coreimpact Corporate Services Ltd., conducted an interactive session on labour laws. He started with an activity that required students to categorise various labour laws under the four Labour Codes, promoting critical thinking and engagement. He then explained the codes in detail, especially the Code on Wages, and discussed its implications for employees, employers, and organisational compliance.
During the panel discussion on “Who is HR?”, Ganesh Poojary, Ranjit Christopher Picardo, Associate Director, HR and Global Shared Services Leader, Brady Company India Pvt. Ltd., and Dolfred Norbert D’Souza, Director – Human Resources and Site Leader, APAC, Flexera Software India LLP, highlighted HR as a strategic partner that bridges management and employees. They stressed the role of HR in ethical decision-making, legal compliance, talent development, and shaping organisational culture.
Ranjit Christopher Picardo also led a session on “The Effective Interviewer”, focusing on structured interviews as a tool for effective talent acquisition. He demonstrated a practical framework for interviews and conducted an interactive mock interview with students. He emphasised the high cost of poor hiring and the need for discipline, consistency, and professionalism in recruitment.
The event was attended by over 100 HR students and professionals. Dr. Meena Monteiro, Dean – PG Studies; Dr. Sebastin K V, Dean – Research; Prof. Jinsa Joseph; Prof. Deepika Sanil; Dr. Anuradha Shetty; and Prof. Ramya were present. The session was compered by Saifana Sheik, the welcome address was given by Nagashree, and Prof. Deepika Sanil proposed the vote of thanks.
The Zakat Centre India (ZCI), Patna, hosted a high-profile conference at the A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Science, bringing together community leaders, scholars, and financial experts to discuss the transformative potential of organized Zakat. The event highlighted a shift from individual giving to a structured “social security” model aimed at empowering marginalized sections through transparency and professional management.
Chief guest Amir Subhani, retired IAS officer and former Bihar Home Secretary, said Zakat is a core element of the Islamic economic system and a guarantee of social security for the weak and poor. He observed that economic inequality exists in every society and cannot be erased by force, noting that the collapse of communism proved such models unsustainable. A degree of inequality, he suggested, can foster mutual dependence, gratitude, cooperation, and empathy among social groups.
Subhani compared faith-based welfare with state-led systems in Europe, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands, where governments provide extensive social security through taxes. While India has welfare schemes, he said they remain inadequate given widespread poverty. He noted that the estimated Zakat pool forms a significant “corpus”, yet is largely distributed informally, often without verification.
An institutionalized system, he stressed, ensures proper assessment of eligibility, scale of need, and appropriate assistance. Students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and destitute individuals such as widows and the elderly all require tailored support. Organized networks can investigate cases effectively, making collective Zakat more impactful than isolated charity.
Reflecting on ZCI’s work, Subhani said many of his initial concerns about fund allocation and beneficiaries were addressed during the program. He expressed confidence in the Centre’s transparency, especially as it is led by a Chartered Accountant, and suggested issuing payment receipts to strengthen donor trust.
He emphasized coupling financial aid with mentorship. Many poor recipients, he noted, spend business funds on urgent consumption needs and lack entrepreneurial skills. Recalling government Entrepreneurship Training programs for street vendors—where he observed strong Muslim participation—he highlighted practical guidance such as customer interaction, negotiation, body language, repeat business strategies, and digital payments. Financial assistance, he concluded, should be paired with structured guidance.
Keynote speaker Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Islahi described Zakat as central to maintaining social balance in Muslim society. Dr. Rizwan Ahmad Rafiqui of ZCI Delhi stressed organized collection and distribution to maximize impact. CA SS Quadri outlined management protocols and transparency measures, while Advocate Mohammad Naushad presented the annual report. The program opened with Quran recitation and concluded with a vote of thanks by Quamar Warsi.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Sami Ahmad / February 16th, 2026
As the year draws to an end, we have compiled a brief list of the Indian Muslims who have been in news during 2021.
Danish Siddiqui :
Danish Siddiqui was a Pulitzer Award winning photojournalist from New Delhi, who was killed by Taliban while covering the war in Afghanistan. An alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia, Siddiqui was one of the country’s most well known photographers who documented the Rohingya refugee crisis, Covid deaths and the Delhi riots to win several awards. In July 2021, Reuters assigned him documentation of the Afghanistan War as an embedded journalist with Afghan Special Forces. On July 16, Siddiqui was killed in action. Governments of India, USA, Afghanistan and United Nations expressed grief and shock on his death and thousands joined his funeral procession in DelhI.
Dr Shahid Jameel :
Dr. Shahid Jameel is a world renowned virologist and is one of the leaders of India’s fight against Covid-19. The Covid-19 outbreak has thrown new challenges to the scientific community. When the Government of India set up an Indian Sars-Cov-2 Genomics Sequencing Consortium (INSACOG), which consists of 38 laboratories to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2, Jameel was appointed as the head of its scientific advisory group. He served the INSACOG in this position till May, 2021 and still advises different government and non-government bodies in strategising the war against Covid-19.
Coach Naseem Ahmed with Olympian Neeraj Chopra
Naseem Ahmed :
Naseem Ahmed: On 7 August, 2021, Neeraj Chopra threw Javelin for 87.58 mts. and became the first Indian to win an Olympic Gold in track and field events. With this success, Naseem Ahmed of Panchkula also hit the headlines. Ahmed was his first coach, who coached Chopra for almost six years at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula. It was under his guidance that Chopra turned into an athlete from a chubby child. After returning to India, Chopra went to meet and receive blessings from his coach.
Mohammad Shareef alias Shareef Chacha receiving Padma Shri from President Ran Nath Kovind
Mohammad Shareef :
Mohammad Shareef is a bicycle mechanic from Faizabad, Ayodhya and hit the news headlines this year for receiving Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, from the President Ram Nath Kovind. In 1992, his son was murdered and was eaten by animals as nobody claimed it. This incident moved him so much that he took it upon himself to perform the last rights of unclaimed dead bodies. In the last 28 years, he has performed the last rights of more than 25,000 unclaimed dead bodies according to their religions.
Firoz Alam as an IPS officer (Left) and as a Constable of the Delhi Police (Right)
Firoz Alam :
Firoz Alam’s story is straight out of a fiction, where his character bears resemblance to those played on screen by several film stars. Alam, a resident of Hapur in U.P, was a constable with Delhi Police since 2010. In 2014, he started preparing for UPSC CSE. The work pressure and family responsibilities did not allow him to devote full time to the studies, like many availing coachings could do. After five unsuccessful attempts, in his sixth attempt he qualified UPSC CSE and joined as an IPS officer. His inspiring journey from a constable to IPS had taken the nation by a storm when he joined the training after leaving the job as constable.
Sadaf Choudhary
Sadaf Choudhary :
Sadaf Choudhary came into limelight when the UPSC CSE results were declared in September and she secured 23rd rank. She was the highest rank holder among Muslims this year and will become an IAS officer. It must be kept in mind that since independence only 179 Muslims have secured ranks to get IAS allotted to them.
Mohammed Siraj praying at the gave of his father
Mohammed Siraj :
Mohammed Siraj is an Indian cricketer from Hyderabad who made it to the headlines in January by becoming the highest wicket taker from India during the India – Australia Test Match Series in Australia. To claim his 13 scalps, he played only three of the four tests in the series. The fact that his father had died just before the series and he was given an option to return to the country, which he declined citing his commitment to the nation made it even more special.
In the last test match at Brisbane, he bagged five Australian wickets to script a historic win and became a national hero. The headlines of the sports column were filled with his heroics, commitment and ability. Since then he has been a regular feature of the Indian Cricket team as a pacer.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Saquib Salim / December 30th, 2021
Engineers at Aligarh Muslim University have developed a Ferro Cellular Insulated panel to reduce indoor heat during peak summer. The innovation comes from the Civil Engineering Department and offers an energy efficient alternative to brick walls.
The research team includes Prof Abdul Baqi, Dr Mohammad Rehan Sadiq, and research scholar Yasir Khan. They designed the 90 mm corten cement panel using cement and cardboard. A gap between two layers traps air, which works as insulation. The panel keeps indoor temperatures at 25 to 27°C when outdoor heat reaches 40 to 42°C. This means a drop of nearly 15°C.
Researchers say the panel reduces the need for air conditioners and coolers. It also blocks external noise, improving indoor comfort. Dr Sadiq said the team focused on durability and structural strength while introducing a material not widely used in India.
Cost comparisons show long term savings. Building a 10×10 foot room with bricks costs around ₹1 lakh. Using the insulated panel raises the cost to about ₹1.15 lakh. However, annual electricity expenses for a brick room reach around ₹22,651 due to cooling needs. A panel built room requires about ₹10,251 per year. This results in savings of nearly ₹12,400 annually.
Researchers also found electricity use remains lower throughout the year in panel built rooms. The lighter panels reduce structural load, which improves building safety.
The team plans to introduce the technology to the market. With rising temperatures and higher energy demand, this panel offers a practical option for heat prone regions. It also reduces dependence on bricks and mortar, lowering environmental impact.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Uncategorized / by Radiance News Bureau / February 12th, 2026
Pilgrims on way to Ayyappa shrine in Sabrimala at Vavar mosque, Erumeli, Kerala
I had waited to go to Sabarimala, a hilltop shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, for a long time. Lord Ayyappa, the deity of truth and righteousness, is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu). He was said to have been adopted by the local king of Pandalam.
Ungorgettable Experiences
As a youngman, Ayyappa abdicated the crown and renounced the palace to vanish into the forests of Sabarimala to live a celibate and ascetic life. It’s in deference to Ayyapa’s celibacy that women are not allowed there till they turn 55.
After a 41-day mandatory fast, I joined my sister and her husband for the pilgrimage. The pilgrims wear black clothes and carry a bundle containing a couple of coconuts filled with ghee and other offerings for the deity.
We carried the bundle on our heads at the start of the four-kilometre uphill trek. We were not supposed to remove it before reaching the shrine.
At the crack of dawn, after breaking coconuts at the local shrine to ward off all obstacles, we left for the shrine.I was thrilled at the thought of visiting some of my favourite temples and shrines on the route, some of which I had only heard of but never visited.
Lord Ayyapa temple at Sabrimala
Holding our heavy bundles (kettu) on our heads, we stopped at Chottanikakara, Vaikom, and Ettumanoor shrines.
Soon we were at Erumeli. According to legend, Ayyappa defeated the demoness Mahishi (sister of Mahishasura) here. The name Erumeli is comes from Eruma-kolli—“the place where the buffalo-demon was slain.”
At Erumeli, the road streamed with pilgrims, mostly men and children, all clad in black. They had bright colours smeared on their faces, held colourful feather arrows, and danced to drum beats as part of a ceremonial dance called Petta thullal to mark the victory of the warrior Ayyappa over enemies and bandits.
We too swayed lightly, trying to shake off our inhibition-clad egos.
Holding arrows, wild leaves, and smeared in bright colours, we walked towards a temple there dedicated to a deity called Shastha. Shastha is an ancient protective warrior deity worshipped in Kerala even before the incarnation of Ayyappa. Ayyappa is considered a modern avatar of Sastha and is now almost synonymous with Sastha.
Vavar Juma Mosque, Erumeli
As we walked towards the temple, I was surprised. Were we at the threshold of a temple or a mosque? I saw taps for the ritual cleansing ceremony (wuzu) and a handful of Muslims saying namaz through the glass windows. It was a mosque.
We lined up respectfully outside the mosque. It was Vavar Palli (Vavar mosque), my brother-in-law explained.
Vavar was a close associate of Ayyappa. Their friendship is celebrated in folklore and devotional movies. Vavar was a Muslim, and thus the story gets significant.
“Vavar Swami may have worshipped at the mosque. That is why he is associated with the mosque,” Nasruddin Musaliyar, who traces his lineage from Vavar, explained to me when I spoke to him a few days later.
I felt pure joy at seeing Hindus offering respect outside a mosque and making offerings before worshipping the Shastha temple. After breaking a coconut at the Shastha temple, we began our long trek towards the Ayyappa shrine on Sabarimala.
It took us four or five hours, followed by a long five-hour wait in the crowd. Anyway, we had darshan in the morning. When we came out of the temple, another surprise awaited.
The shrine dedicated to Vavar Swamy
I found myself standing outside a small shrine just outside the Ayyappa temple. It was like a dargah, but I was told that it was called Vavarpadi, or the threshold of Vavar, a memorial to Ayyappa’s friend.
Pilgrims stopped to offer prayers and accept prasad of sugar candy and pepper. The man giving the prasadam said he was a descendant of Vavar and managed his tomb. He gave me his father’s number and asked me to speak to him for details about the shrine.
Nasruddin Musaliyar said that Vavar was part of a group of Arab settlers who were close to Lord Ayyappa.”This shows that the highest authority at that time accepted Vavar despite his different faith or origin,” Musaliyar said.
“Vavar Swami’s tomb and a mosque at Erumeli, where Vavar is said to have prayed, just cry out loud to us today that two faiths can co-exist and respect each other. All religions believe that there is one God. And that almighty wants to tell us that Hindus, Christians, and Muslims can co-exist in harmony,” he added.
Emotions well up as Mursliyar says that neither Ayyappa nor Vavar had asked anyone to build shrines and pray to them. These shrines represent the principle that they did not see any difference between man and man.
Author (left) with her sister and brother-in-law on the way to Sabrimala
Shrines and differences are man-made. “The Muslims don’t worship at Vavars shrine as they believe only in Allah,” he said.
There is no evidence that Vavar was buried there, though the royal records claim so. This shrine is symbolic, he says.
Ayyappa is believed to have renounced the throne, family, and palace to live as an ascetic in Sabarimala’s forests and merged with Sastha. He loved and honoured Vavar, expecting his devotees to do the same. In these times of religious tensions, such traditions continue thanks to a deity who rejected differences of caste and religion and loved everyone as human beings.
After darshan at Sabarimala, pilgrims feel lightheaded as they have all offered their heavy burdens at the shrine.
Perhaps they have removed something else also besides the kettu —the thought of differences itself.
They go as Hindus to worship a Hindu god but return feeling more than just a Hindu…a more complete human being, who embraces all differences.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Sreelatha Menon / December 29th, 2025
Parbhani has elected its first Muslim mayor from the Shiv Sena since the party’s formation in the 1960s. Shiv Sena UBT leader Syed Iqbal Syed Khwaja won the mayoral post in the 65 member Parbhani Municipal Corporation. He secured 39 votes, defeating BJP candidate Tirumala Khilare, who received 26. The majority mark stood at 33.
This marks the only municipal corporation where the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena faction has formed a civic government. The party won 25 seats, emerging as the single largest group. Congress and BJP secured 12 seats each, while the Ajit Pawar led NCP won 11. Together, Shiv Sena UBT and Congress held 37 members in the House.
Parbhani holds political history linked to religious division. In the 1990 Assembly election, the slogan Khan viruddh Ban framed the contest along religious lines. The Shiv Sena then consolidated its base in the region.
Today, the political equation has shifted. Around 42 percent of Parbhani’s population is Muslim. In the recent civic polls, 13 of the 25 elected Shiv Sena UBT corporators were Muslims, including Syed Iqbal.
A first time corporator, Syed Iqbal is a local activist. His brother, Syed Abdul Khadar, has influence in Muslim localities and maintains close ties with party MP Sanjay Jadhav.
After his win, Syed said he would focus on development and serve all communities. BJP leaders criticised the decision, while Congress stated it backed the candidate to keep the BJP out of power and honour alliance commitments.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / February 13th, 2026
A 21-year-old third year student pursuing MBBS in UKraine shared a video with her family about a group staying in the bunker of their college. Muskaan Firoz Shaikh contacted the Indian embassy for help but they asked to stay here at the same place and said they will reach.
Muskaan’s father Firoz who is working with the Bhiwandi-Nizampur city municipal corporation claims the family is tensed as the attack is going on in the nearby areas.
“She is staying inside the bunker of Bhuko Vibiyan University in Ukraine. Muskaan said there are around 150 students inside who are from across the countries. While, around 7 of them are from Delhi and Gujarat,” said Asma Shaikh, her mother who are from Padgha in Bhiwandi.
Asma through a video had appealed to the Indian government to help her daughter who is stuck inside a bunker.
Navid Shaikh, her maternal brother, claims Muskaan had approached the Indian embassy for help. “But in reply they told her to stay at the same place for a while. Till the help reached them as they were on the way. Muskaan is in regular touch with her parents and is scared as the attacks are going on in the nearby area,” added Naved.
Muskaan had shared a video with her family which shows the person shooting it. Later, the camera reached a room where three girls including Muskan were seen holding a Persian cat. The video was shared by muskaan to confirm the parents about her safety.
Naved Shaikh said they have been staying in the bunker for the last three days. “Usually they are at home and cook food. As soon as the siren buzzes they get inside the bunker. They either stay for three hours or full night in the bunker. It depends when the siren buzzes again to give a signal about the safety and they move out. But they are staying in with fear and threat to life and need immediate help. Just like others our sister too can reach home safely if the Indian government helps them,” added Naved Shaikh.
source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Jounal / Home> Mumbai / by Faisal Tandel / February 22nd, 2022
The Awaaz Alliance—comprising the Fraternity Movement, Muslim Students Federation (MSF), and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI)—has won all Central Panel posts in the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) Students’ Union elections, defeating the right-wing student group Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Harshad Shibin NK a PhD student from the Fraternity Movement has been elected as the new Students’ Union president.
Irfan Shajudheen from MSF a student of BA (digital communication) won the post of general secretary, while NSUI’s Sonu Raj 2year BA (English) student was elected vice-president. Other winners include MSF’s Haleemathu SS Adiya studying BA Arabic (Joint Secretary), Fraternity Movement’s Ayisha Neha (Cultural Secretary), and NSUI’s Udita Purkait (Sports Secretary).
ABVP finished second in all seats, while the Left student group Students’ Federation of India (SFI) emerged a distant third across all positions.
“This historic victory demonstrates the growing unity of democratic student forces committed to safeguarding campus diversity, social justice, and students’ rights. The mandate clearly rejects the politics of hatred and polarisation and affirms the students’ aspiration for an inclusive, egalitarian, and vibrant campus culture,” the Fraternity Movement said in a statement.
The newly elected panel members said they are committed to working tirelessly for academic welfare, gender justice, minority rights and democratisation of campuses.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / February 07th, 2026
