SP MLA Rais Shaikh counters BJP minister Nitesh Rane’s claim with historical evidence of Muslim chieftains in Shivaji’s forces.
SP MLA Rais Shaikh presents historical records listing Muslim chieftains in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army, challenging BJP minister Nitesh Rane’s statement. (Image: Facebook)
Mumbai:
To counter BJP minister Nitesh Rane’s claims that Muslims were not part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army, Samajwadi party MLA Rais Shaikh has dashed off a letter to the saffron party leader listing out 10 Muslim chieftains in the legendary Maratha king’s forces.
In the letter to Rane, the SP MLA has given the names of 10 Muslim chieftains of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These are Siddi Hilal and his son Siddi Wahwah, who supported the Maratha king in the siege of Panhalgad, cavalry chief Noor Khan Beg, Sardar Shama Khan, navy chief Ibrahim Khan, bodyguard Siddi Ibrahim, navy official Daulat Khan, trusted servant Madari Mehtar and lawyer Qazi Haider. Shaikh has also added evidence of historical sources to back up the names of these chieftains.
“Like Saint Tukaram and Saint Ramdas, Shivaji Maharaj also respected the Muslim Saint Baba Yakut of Ratnagiri. Shivaji Maharaj’s rule was not a religious war. He continued the tradition of gifting Pir, Dargah, and Mosque, as is documented in historical sources. These references are also provided in the letter, along with details of primary historical sources,” said Shaikh.
The SP MLA has also gifted Rane two books ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji: Kaal Aani Kartrutva’ (Times and Achievements of Chhatrapati Shivaji) by the renowned historian Jadunath Sarkar and ‘Who Was Shivaji?’ by Govind Pansare. “Minister Nitesh Rane should read objective history so that he does not make prejudiced statements distorting history, which could further increase rifts between communities,” said Shaikh.
Rane, while speaking at a meeting in Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, had claimed that Shivaji Maharaj never appointed a Muslim chieftain and his war was against Muslims.
When asked, Rane said he was yet to receive Shaikh’s letter and he will comment on it after reading it. “But whatever I have said is true. Muslims were never a part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army,” he said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation / by Bhagwan Parab / March 24th, 2025
Advocate Faiz Syed leads new regional initiative inspired by Abdul Wahid Shaikh’s movement for justice and reform.
On 28th September, the Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar) chapter of the Innocence Network, India was formally established, with an ad-hoc committee of 14 advocates led by Advocate Faiz Syed.
Speaking to Muslim Mirror, Syed said, “We felt the urgent need to start this chapter due to the widespread issues of wrongful incarceration, false implication, filing of bogus cases, and arbitrary arrests across the country. When a sole breadwinner or a poor individual is drawn into this legal labyrinth, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to navigate their freedom.”
He added, “Our aim is to provide legal aid and guidance across the Marathwada region and ensure that no instance of wrongful implication goes unchallenged.”
The Innocence Network was founded by Abdul Wahid Shaikh, one of the accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings (7/11 case), following his acquittal by the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in 2015. Shaikh spent nine years in Arthur Road Jail before being acquitted. “We had fought the case to the best of everyone’s ability,” he recalled. “Yet, we were convicted. That experience made me question the limits of legal struggle alone.”
As he was released, Shaikh’s co-accused urged him to continue the fight for their freedom—a moral responsibility that, he says, became his life’s mission. After returning to work as a teacher, Shaikh began assisting Advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhry, who led the 7/11 defense in the Bombay High Court. It was during this time that he met Advocate Pari Jata and researcher Sharib Ali, both deeply involved in civil rights work.
Inspired by the global Innocence Network movement, Ali proposed launching an Indian chapter. Together, they began mobilizing civil society to challenge wrongful convictions, especially in terrorism cases. Their first public gathering in Delhi—attended by lawyers, students, scholars, and activists—marked the formal establishment of the Innocence Network India.
The Network describes itself as “an all-India collective of individuals and organisations working for the rights of those wrongfully prosecuted or convicted, especially under charges of terrorism.” Led by exonerees and supported by lawyers, researchers, and civil rights groups, it focuses on criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, and policy advocacy. Its website also archives documents related to the 7/11 case.
Shaikh’s first book, “Innocent Prisoners,” exposed what he described as fabricated evidence by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in framing 13 innocent men. The book was widely discussed as a crucial work highlighting the pattern of false implication of young Muslims in terrorism cases.
In 2016, the Network organized its first Innocent People’s Tribunal at the Constitution Club of India, where 16 wrongfully prosecuted individuals testified publicly about their ordeal. The report from this tribunal later informed the Law Commission’s Report No. 277. Another tribunal followed in Kolkata in 2018.
Since 2017, the Network has hosted two annual programs in Mumbai—one on the anniversary of the 7/11 bombings and another, the Shahid Azmi Memorial Lecture, in memory of the lawyer who represented the 7/11 accused. These events feature legal experts, journalists, and filmmakers such as Justice Abhay Thipsay, Hansal Mehta, Yug Mohit Chaudhry, Susan, Nazia Sayed, and Faisal Qazi, among others.
Shaikh has also used books, media, and digital platforms to expand his advocacy. His YouTube channel “Begunah Qaidi” features over 250 videos documenting cases of wrongful incarceration. His “Mobile Legal Aid” helpline operates 24×7, offering immediate support to those facing fabricated charges. “It has already helped prevent several cases of wrongful incarceration,” he noted.
Beyond advocacy, Shaikh continues to assist exonerees with legal representation, education, and rehabilitation. His upcoming books include an autobiography with Roli Books and a collaborative work profiling his co-accused.
Recently, the Innocence Network launched a think-tank to document wrongful incarcerations and misuse of draconian laws. “Our team includes researchers, professors, and lawyers,” Shaikh said, adding that a detailed report is in progress.
Sohail Shaikh, one of the 7/11 exonerees, told Muslim Mirror: “The Innocence Network may have been formally established in 2016, but its roots go back to Arthur Road Jail. Shaikh has only continued the work we all started in prison. The Network’s work made it possible for society to finally recognize our innocence.”
Advocate Shruti, a researcher with the network, emphasized, “The kind of miscarriage of justice in the 7/11 case represents a double injustice—innocent people are tortured while real perpetrators remain free. The Network’s work is vital to restoring ordinary citizens’ faith in justice.”
Shaikh revealed that new chapters of the Innocence Network are being planned in Bangalore, Jalgaon, Jalna, and Hyderabad, set to be launched later this month.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Human Rights> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Osama Rawal / October 20th, 2025
The Maulana Afzal Hussain Ideal Teachers Award 2025 and Students’ Felicitation Programme were held here Sunday to celebrate dedicated educators and outstanding students.
Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping a nation’s future, and societies that honour their teachers set a benchmark for others to follow.
Reflecting this spirit, the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA), which has been active in Mumbra since 2019, organised the event to recognise exemplary teachers for their service and commitment to education.
The award is named in the memory of Maulana Afzal Hussain, a distinguished educationist and author of several books. This year, the AIITA Mumbra Award Committee selected 26 teachers from various institutions for the honour. The awards, presented annually on World Teachers’ Day, cover multiple categories including Primary, Secondary, and Headmaster levels, from schools in Mumbra, Thane, and Mumbai Municipal Corporation areas.
The Award recipients at the level of private educational institutions included Khan Safia (Al-Ehsan School), Altaf Patel (Abdullah Patel School), Lubna Khot (Central Public School), Khan Sadaf (Rafiqah School), Qazi Alia (Dr. Asadullah School), Syed Rizwana (Mumbra Public School), Syed Feroza (National School), Sheikh Zaheer (Nice School), Zahida Chotani (Patel School), Ansari Nasreen (Sameeya English School), Rukhsanda Khan (Saadia School), Shabana Azmi (Shoaib School), and Sadiqa Sheikh (Saadia Primary School).
In the Mumbai Category, the Award recipients included Arshia Shah (Vakola Municipal School), Mehboob Makandar (Vanoba Bhave School), and Ismail Bagwan (Anjuman Khair-ul-Islam School),
In the Thane Municipal Corporation Category, the Award recipients included Fatima Naz (TMC 116), Halima Qazi (TMC 117), Tabassum Khan (TMC 124), Syed Sameena (TMC 125), and Sufyan Ansari (TMC 40),
Thane Headmaster Category, the Award recipients included Mansoori Tehzeeb (Sameeya School), Ansari Tasneem (TMC 13), Syed Sana (Leader School), and Sheikh Khairul-Nisa (Abdullah Patel School).
A posthumous award was also conferred upon Late Naheed Fatima Zainuddin Jamali Sahiba of Abdullah Patel School in recognition of her lifelong contribution to education.
The event was presided over by Advocate Jasim Sheikh, with Dr. Abdul Majid Ansari serving as the Chief Guest. Distinguished guests included Professor Javed Sheikh (JIH Local Ameer of Mumbra), Khan Najma (President, GIO Mumbra), and Ansari Nasir of Khidmat Khalq Trust.
In addition to teacher awards, students from 24 schools were felicitated for their academic achievements in the 10th and 12th board examinations.
The event, held at Sania Hall, witnessed an enthusiastic turnout of teachers, students, and community members. Members of AIITA Mumbra and the Markazi Talimi Board Mumbra played a key role in organising and ensuring the success of the programme.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / October 07th, 2025
Urdu journalist Zameer Ahmed Khan Jaleel Ahmed Khan has received the Maharashtra Rajya Urdu Sahitya Academy’s Exemplary Journalism Award 2020 for his dedicated contribution to Urdu journalism. He described the award as recognition of all sincere individuals serving society through honest and conscious reporting.
Khan, known for his association with Roznama Inquilab, Munsif TV, and MCN Urdu News, expressed gratitude to his teachers, colleagues, and readers. He said their encouragement and prayers strengthened his resolve to pursue truth and integrity in journalism.
Speaking about his professional journey, Khan said his goal has always been to guide journalism in a positive and dignified direction. He emphasized that journalism should be rooted in honesty and social awareness to enlighten the community with knowledge and justice.
He thanked Allah for the success and prayed for continued sincerity and dedication in serving society through the power of the pen. Khan also urged his peers to maintain faith and commitment to the principles of truth and responsibility in media work.
The award highlights the importance of Urdu journalism in promoting social consciousness and ethical reporting, and serves as inspiration for young journalists to pursue their work with humility and integrity.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / October 10th, 2025
Meet the man who is on a mission. He even gave up his lucrative job to completely devote himself to this cause. His goal is to inspire the next generation to become responsible and productive citizens by raising their level of awareness about education. He has been crisscrossing the length and breadth of the country since 2006.
The man is Syed Saeed Ahmed, a distinguished motivational speaker with a multifaceted personality who inspires and motivates others and unearths their hidden potential. He has an amazing sense of spontaneity, an inquisitive mind, and a captivating personality.
Throughout India, he has conducted countless personality development programs for the student fraternity, diverse academic community stakeholders involved in the teaching-learning process, the corporate sector, workers in extremely stressful work environments, and the group of people who accept their fate as pseudo-failures.
Saeed Ahmed’s workshops are widely recognized for their great content and distinctive, compelling style of delivery.
Ranked as one of the leading motivational speakers in India, Saeed Ahmed’s workshops are widely recognized for their great content and distinctive, compelling style of delivery. His energizing classes are intuitive, inspiring participants to realize their full potential, release their innate energy, and develop a burning drive for achievement and personal excellence. They are intended to provide participants with a great deal of energy and vitality, enabling them to advance both personally and professionally.
His successful endeavors to bring back to life pseudo-failures, particularly those with low motivational factors and a criminal past, have grabbed significant media attention. The last few years have seen the frequent publication of pieces celebrating these accomplishments in prominent newspapers, and multiple news channels have aired his pre-recorded interviews on the subject.
Born in Sholapur, a textile town in Maharashtra, Saeed Ahmed did his schooling through the Urdu medium and graduated in geography and political science. He went on to pursue higher learning. After completing his studies in library and information science, he did his post-graduation in the Urdu literature from Shivaji University in Kolhapur. He started his career in a modest capacity as an assistant librarian at a reputable college in Pune.
His early and modest profession served as a palette for shaping him into a multifaceted personality, as he was surrounded by antique and modern books, newsletters, and printed reference material of inter-disciplinary content. Gradually and steadily, he began to embody the roles of an actor, director, dramatist, journalist, writer, peace activist promoting global fraternity, and, most recently, a student. He is currently pursuing a doctorate at Pune University on the extremely relevant subject of “Hindustani stage and tradition of Urdu drama in Maharashtra.”
He is an expert at improving life skills, including stress management, time management, positive thinking, emotion management (for overcoming fear, grief, sorrow, rage, boredom, etc.), and a number of other crucial areas that participants may reveal themselves in. The contents change based on the situation, the amount of time available for engagement, and the participants’ overall characteristics, expectations, and concerns.
The evolution of a nationally renowned motivational speaker can be summed up by examining the thirty years of his career. This shows how a person’s life experiences, some natural and some others artificially created, play a crucial role in shaping a flexible personality that can handle any circumstance with ease. What makes the one and only “Saeed Ahmed” is a combination of his varied experiences with controversial topics and his recording of the algorithms used to address them.
Having spent a significant portion of his career working for an organization, he has encountered the typical challenges that all workers face in today’s cutthroat and materialistic workplace. As he began his dazzling career, he experienced moments of rivalry, envy, and unpleasant camaraderie from coworkers, superiors, and even higher authorities. To nearly all of them, he answered with forbearance, patience, and strengthened willpower. In actuality, they functioned as an oven to solidify his supple clay and imparted to him free psychological counseling, stress management techniques, and elegant interpersonal interactions.
Saeed Ahmed is not just a motivator of the highest caliber; he is also an actor, director, writer, documentary filmmaker, and journalist.
He was connected to several prominent theaters in Lahore, Pakistan, as well as Prithvi (Mumbai), Nehru Centre (Mumbai), Rangshankara (Bangalore), Hamdard University, Delhi, Balgandharva (Pune), and Punjab Naat-shala (Amritsar). He performed widely for an Indian audience with these theater groups, and three of his shows, which were shown consecutively for three years in a row at the “World Performing and Visual Arts Festival” in Lahore, were acclaimed internationally (2004, 2005, 2006). These were “Naquab” by Rafi Peerzada, “Jis Lahore Naee Dekhya” by Dr. Asghar Wajahat, and “Portrait” by Ratnakar Matkari.
Prior to this, most of the plays he directed and performed across the country were “Dhilli Khaat” by Naseem Mannan, “Portrait” by Ratnakar Matkari, “Najat” by Abdul Wahab Lunje, “Nafrat ke Rang” by Kazi Mushtaque Ahmed, and a few plays he wrote himself, including “Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan (Founder of Aligarh Muslim University)”, “Toba Tek Singh,” a drama based on Saadat Hassan Monto, “Kahain Hai,” and “Dilli Ka Thagh” have received favorable reviews from critics and audiences alike. He made his acting debut as a character actor in the “Sunita” serial that was broadcast on Doordarshan. His drama “Sare Jahan Se Accha” had more than forty performances in Maharashtra.
An audio presentation in the form of an audio cassette, followed by audio CDs, and is currently in the process of creating a documentary directed, produced, and narrated by him about the life of Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan. He also wrote the book “Sare Jahan Se Accha,” released by the Haji Ghulam Mohammed Azam Educational Trust, Pune.
In addition, he has contributed his expertise to the production of multiple documentaries for Pune-based organizations and cable networks.
Alongside his involvement in theater and the arts, he pursued a career as a professional journalist. From 1995 to 2001, he worked as a correspondent for Mumbai’s daily Inquilab and Munsif of Hyderabad and Pune’s Urdu fortnightly Usool. He had also interviewed prominent figures.
When asked what inspired him to pursue a career in motivational speaking, he admitted with honesty that I was a shy boy in school with an inferiority complex who was accustomed to self-analysis.
Life is a “give and take” proposition, and the previous decades of my diverse work helped me learn enough to be ready for a “second innings” or platform change, in which I now hope to “give,” and in 2002, I made a lifestyle change, he said. In the year 2006, I left the well-secured job to venture into the turbulent waters of lending my ‘know-how’ for the personality development of all, he added.
About his experiences, he pointed out that materialism is prevalent in Muslim society, and there is a wrong notion prevailing in the society that education is for seeking a job. He stresses the need for “Taleem ke saath Tarbiat.”
Under his All India Educational Awareness 93-day tour, last year he traveled 10,000 km across the seven states and conducted 179 workshops in 134 cities. In the second part of the tour, starting on November 11, 2023, he will travel to 13 states.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Pride of the Nation / by Abdul Bari Masoud / November 01st, 2023
Saad Mohammad Zahirali Patel practicing in the Godavari river
Practicing on the waves of the Godavari River, Saad Mohammad Zahirali Patel is delivering stellar performances in water sports. Since taking up the sport in his 11th grade, he has competed in numerous tournaments and won a trove of medals.
Saad believes that with better infrastructure and government support, he can definitely win a medal for the country in the Asian Games.
Originally from Ahergaon, a village in the Niphad region of Maharashtra, Saad Mohammad comes from a middle-class farming family.
Like other children, his school life was filled with play and fun, but his college years proved to be a turning point for his career. In the eleventh grade, he joined the boat club affiliated with K. K. Wagh College in Pimpalgaon Baswant.
In the seven years since, he has consistently delivered impressive performances.
So far, Saad Mohammad has participated in four All India, six national competitions, one Khelo India event, and six state-level tournaments. He won a gold medal in the 500-meter category at the 2021-22 All India competition held in Chandigarh.
He followed that up with a bronze medal at the same competition in 2023-24. At the national level, his team narrowly missed a medal, finishing in fourth place.
These national competitions taught him a valuable lesson: a single tournament can teach you what hours of practice might not. This realization has driven him to participate in as many competitions as possible.
Saad Mohammad competes in four categories: Single Scull, Double Scull, Four Scull, and Mixed events. At the university level, he was awarded as “Outstanding Athlete of the year 2022-23” by the University. He has secured one gold and one bronze medal.
His journey, both for competitions and year-round training, has been arduous. In the early days, he would work in the fields in the morning before heading for practice. It was a difficult balancing act. Currently, he is in the second year of his post-graduate studies.
Saad Mohammad’s day begins at 5 AM, and he does his workout, followed by practice for four hours. He then goes for practice in the evening.
Saad Mohammad points out that athletes from Maharashtra use “Sunny” or “Cargo” boats in most competitions, while others use modern “Nelo” boats.
“If our state also upgrades our equipment, the number of medal-winning athletes will surely increase.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home / by Arun Malani / August 28th, 2025
Continuing her dream run of academic success, Almas Nazim Syed of Government Medical College Nagpur, crossed yet another milestone by securing the top position in Maharashtra MBBS final exam, bagging 11 gold medals and a scholarship.
Daughter of Dr Syed Nazim, a general practitioner, Almas Nazim Syed, has topped every exam in her career, including the 2009 Maharashtra HSC board exam before the impressive performance in the Maharashtra MBBS final exams.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devenndra Fadnavis in Nashik to address the 14th Convocation of the Maharashtra University Health Sciences (MUHS), felicitated Almas Nazim Syed and also conferred on her citation and gold medals.
Along with Almas Nazim Syed, a total of 7,478 students from different streams of medicine were awarded with the convocation. Of these 71 gold medals were given to the students. Nine students were awarded with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Interestingly, after topping the 2009 HSC exams, Almas Nazim Syed, whose brother was then studying in second year MBBS, had vowed to study medical science with specialisation in gynaecology, and build a hospital for poor people.
“I want to fulfil my mother’s desire that I open a nursing home or a hospital to serve the needy,” she had said.
Almas’ motivation, however, was her grandma Safiya, a writer.
“I wanted to be gynaecologist and open a hospital since I was in class 5. It was prompted by my grandmother telling us one day that she was not able to pursue her dream of opening a nursing home to look after children’s studies,” she said.
A vivid reader of novels, Almas is fully determined to achieve her target.
“Dare to dream. Have passion to fulfill that dream. Be persistent in hard work. Don’t be aimless in life”, were her words after cracking the 2009 HSC exams.
After clearing the MBBS finals and becoming a doctor, it will now be interesting to see how Almas Nazim Syed, married to a politician’s grandson in Akola, fulfils her mother’s desire to open her dream hospital for poor.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by ummid.com news network / May 27th, 2015
Jamia Mohammadia Mansoora, as this complex is named by its founders, is not only an education hub but also a symbol depicting state-of-the art combination of Islamic and modern Indian culture.
Sultan Manzil (Photo: ummid.com)
Malegaon, despite an appalling history of negligence by successive governments at the centre and state, still has the tag of being a town of literate, erudite and cultured masses firmly intact.
True to this identity, the first thing that greets the people entering the town from the western side on the Mumbai-Agra National Highway and touching the banks of Girna River is the grand educational complex.
Mansoora, as this complex is named by its founders, is not only an education hub but also a symbol depicting state-of-the art combination of Islamic and modern Indian culture.
Lush green lawns, buildings of class architecture, classrooms with modern amenities, model computer rooms – one each for boys and girls, well-equipped laboratories, library with valuable collection of rare books, hostel with suitable lodging, playground – enough not only for cricket but also for games like basketball and football, giant mosque with separate arrangement for women having a capacity exceeding 5000 people and what not. The campus stretched on 56 acres of land has everything that parents would love to have for the education of their children.
Moreover, Mansoora is perhaps the only place in India having a dedicated mosque for girl-students where they not only offer prayers five times a day but also it is they who lead the prayers every day. Above all, they have a unique syllabus for study that not only masters them in Islamic as well as Modern subjects but also train them in meeting the emerging challenges.
The brainchild of Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi, who with the help of his friend Saith Mohammad Khaleel of Malegaon initially, and single-handedly later on, turned the Mansoora into a model not only for those working eagerly on Madrasa modernization but also for many schools and educational institutions in India where quality education and desired results have become scarce.
The Beginning
King Abdul Aziz University of Saudi Arabia had organised an International Conference in 1975. The theme of this conference was to deliberate on the possibilities to amend the existing Madrasa syllabus followed at the time by most of the Islamic institutions and bring them in line with the modern requirements. Besides Muslim scholars and Ulema from all across the world, Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi and noted Muslim scholar Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Miya Nadvi were also invited to the conference. The deliberations on the all-important issue in the conference kept Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi impatient throughout the way back to India. He consulted on the matter with Maulana Ali Miya Nadvi and then tirelessly began searching for options to establish a Model Madrasa in India.
Masjid Aisha of Mansoora is the largest Mosque in Malegaon (Photo: ummid.com)
At this juncture, Maulana Mukhtar Nadvi met his friend Saith Mohammad Khaleel of Malegaon in Mumbai. The two men, though living miles away from each other, had many things in common. While Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi had the vision and plan to convert his dream into a reality, Saith Mohammad Khaleel had the required resources in plenty.
Simultaneously, Saith Mohammad Khaleel proved a powerful backer and a great motivator for Maulana Nadvi. The combination worked and what Muslim leaders and Islamic scholars dreamt at King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia in 1975, became a reality in 1979 thousands of miles away in Malegaon.
Mansoora
A man with a vision, Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi was also a master in doing things in novel ways. Hence for his dream Education Institute – running on a unique syllabus based on Islamic as well as Modern Education pattern and stretched on 56 acres of land touching the banks of Girna River along the Mumbai-Agra road in Malegaon – chose Mansoora as its name.
Mansoora, as Maulana Mukhtar Nadvi used to recall, in the 9th century was a historic locality in Baghdad. Iraq’s capital Baghdad during that time was the source of wisdom, knowledge and erudition, and a preferred destination for scholars and academicians. People from all across the globe seeking knowledge and wisdom used to converge at Baghdad. In the heart of the city and centre of all academic activities in Baghdad was Mansoora. A thousand years later, Mansoora took rebirth in Malegaon – a small town in North Maharashtra predominated by Muslim population.
A Model Curriculum
For the Curriculum and Syllabus to be followed at Jamia Mohammadia for boys and Kulliyah Aisha Siddiqua for girls – as he named the first two institutions founded by him in Malegaon – Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi worked on two levels.
Realising that the existing Dars-e-Nizami – normally followed by the Mada’ris (plural of Madrasa) in India – is not sufficient to meet the emerging challenges and requirements of even the Islamic studies, he after consulting renowned academicians and scholars of the time, introduced suitable and needful amendments in it.
Abdul Latif Ali Al Shaya Faculty of Engineering, Mansoora (Photo: ummid.com)
At the same time, he introduced the modern subjects like Science and Mathematics, and also the languages like English, Hindi and Marathi for students that included boys and girls both. Finally, the curriculum that came into being out of his efforts was a perfect combination of Islamic and Modern Education pattern.
Simultaneously, he meticulously worked for obtaining the all-important affiliation and recognition from the state education board, and also from the Indian and foreign universities. Thanks to the determination, commitment and speed with which he worked, both of his institutes were very soon recognised by the Mahrashtra State Secondary Board and also by Jamiah Islamia, Madinah Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Mansoora: A Force to Reckon With
Due to the hard-work it needed on the part of the students as well as the teachers, the curriculum was really tough when introduced in the beginning. However, once it was on the roll, results started pouring in consistently and with surprising rewards. The Jamia students – both boys and girls, soon found them not only scoring excellently in Islamic studies but also coming with flying colors in state board exams.
Kulliyah Aisha Siddiqua for girls
However, the brightest moment for Mansoora came in 2008-09 when one of its students Abdur Rehman along with sixteen others created history at Jamia Islamia Madinah Munawwara, Saudi Arabia. While Abdur Rehman topped his faculty and bagged student of the year award, sixteen others from Mansoora cleared the University exams with distinction. The results were so impressive that Jamiah Islamia sent its Head of the Education Department to Mansoora. He specially traveled from Saudi Arabia to Malegaon to have a personal and first-hand account of the way students are taught.
JMES Goes National
After he succeeded in his mission, Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi invited people from various places – specially those who were part of the deliberations with him at King Abdul Aziz University in 1975 – to have the first hand experience of what was dreamt in that conference. At the same time, while extending all supports, he urged them to replicate the model in their localities.
Independence Day Celebrations at Jamia Mohammadiya Mansoora, Malegaon
However, when he found some of them wary and some others hesitant, he took it upon himself to do the job. Soon JMES spread its wings to other parts of the country and established branches at Maunath Bhanjan, Aakot, Dhule, Bangalore, Mahesla and Mewaat – all running on the Mansoora pattern and affiliated to the respective state boards.
Future Ambitions
The Mission was partly accomplished. Maulana Mukhtar Ah Nadvi died September 9, 2007. Behind him he left, besides Mansoora in Malegaon and a chain of education institutes spread all across the country, an able and equally ambitious son Arshad Mukhtar. At the helm of the affairs now, Arshad is smartly following his father’s footsteps. His dream is to convert Mansoora into a big University – capable of offering every subject that exists on the earth.
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[The writer, Aleem Faizee, is Founder Editor of ummid.com. Aleem Faizee has also worked as a Researcher at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and with Action Aid for its research work published as “BROKEN PROMISES -A study on the socio-economic status of Indian Muslims: Seven years post Sachar”. His research work “Mollywood: The Rise and Fall of a Subaltern Cinema” is part of the book “Creative Industries in India” published by Routledge India of Taylor and Francis Group, London. A prolific writer, Aleem Faizee has also wrote for The Times of India as a Freelance Journalist for over 10 years. The above article was originally published on January 22, 2010.]
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source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by Aleem Faizee, ummid.com news network / August 20th, 2025
Dr Anwar Siddiqui, head of Panchakarma at Shri KR Pandav Ayurveda College and founder of Kerala Ayurveda & Panchakarma, received the Influential Ayurvedacharya Award from Sakal and Baidyanath. The award recognized his contributions to Ayurvedic medicine and social service.
The event was attended by Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Baidyanath’s managing director Suresh Sharma, and 45 leading Ayurveda doctors from across India. Dr Siddiqui, a BAMS and MD in Panchakarma from Poddar Government Ayurveda College in Mumbai, also holds a Master’s degree in Sanskrit. He has authored the book Ayurvedic Detoxification in Obesity, published in Germany.
With more than two decades of practice, Dr Siddiqui has gained recognition for treating chronic illnesses through Panchakarma therapy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he helped set up a free hospital in Pachpaoli, strengthening his reputation for service to both healthcare and the community. Dr Siddiqui is a prominent leader associated with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and a member of its Maharashtra State Advisory Council.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / August 24th, 2025
It was a moment of joy and ecstasy for 18 years old Arshiya Choudhari of Solapur when she was announced second topper in Maharashtra state conducted Common Entrance Test MHT-CET 2016 for admissions to Medical courses and can now choose college of her choice for MBBS admission.
The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET) exam was held on May 5, 2016 for which results were declared on Wednesday.
A student of A D Joshi College, Arshiya scored 199 marks out of 200 and declared second topper. She has also topped HSC exams in the state this year by scoring 97.85% (636 out of 650 marks).
The feat is very special for Arshiya because she herself prepared for the exam by dedicating 6-7 hours daily for study at home after HSC exams. “I did not join any private classes but relied upon self study at home. I am happy that I could score this much and prove people that private coaching is not always required if you have dedication”, Arshiya told TwoCircles.net.
She is now aiming to complete MBBS course and then she will decide about specialization or masters.
“I want to pursue MBBS from KEM College in Mumbai. After completing degree I will decide whether to go for administrative services or masters”, She added.
However, in any case she wants to connect with the people and serve them. “I am very eager to serve people. I see there are very few Muslim woman doctors and therefore I decided to become a doctor”, she told when asked why she chose to become a doctor.
Speaking with TwoCircles.net Yunus Choudhary, father of Arshiya expressed delight and said she is free to take admission into the college of her choice.
Yunus, who is a Jr. Engineer in water supply department in Solapur told, “I was confident that she will clear CET with excellent marks as she is a hard working girl. I will not restrict her from joining any college for MBBS”.
Nusrat, mother of Arshiya is a practicing doctor and wish to see her daughter serving the community by becoming a doctor. “I want Arshiya to become a successful doctor”, she told.
The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET) is an entrance examination conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research with an intention to provide admissions into various graduation courses for Engineering and Medicine streams.
The medical entrance examination has been in news since May 4 when a Supreme Court order made it mandatory for medical aspirants to take the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). However, following several protests from parents and state education ministers, the President passed an ordinance that reversed the Supreme Court verdict partially.
Therefore for Maharashtra, admissions to medical and dental colleges will be done through the MHT-CET scores for this year.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News> Indian Muslim> Women> Youth / by A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net / June 04th, 2016
