Tag Archives: Parcham

The Muslim changemakers of Maharashtra

MAHARASHTRA :

Muslim changemakers of Maharashtra

New Delhi :

Awaz-The Voice, through its ‘The Changemakers’ series, has introduced readers to inspiring figures from Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Jammu & Kashmir.

Starting July 6, we will feature ten remarkable changemakers from Maharashtra.

These individuals not only embody the state’s vibrant and progressive legacy but are also shaping a future that is tolerant, equitable, harmonious, and inclusive.

Working quietly away from the limelight, their impactful contributions are being brought to the public through Awaz-The Voice. Here’s a glimpse into their inspiring journeys.

Dr. Farah Anwar Husain Shaikh

Dr. Farah Anwar Husain Shaikh leads the Mis Farah Charitable Foundation in Pune’s Dapodi, delivering health, education, and disaster relief to communities. Her bold advocacy for Muslim women’s right to pray in mosques challenges deep-rooted traditions, earning her a doctorate in social work and women’s empowerment. Her story is that of the struggle for equality, Farah’s tireless efforts are transforming lives and reshaping Pune’s social landscape, making her a beacon of grassroots change.

Paigambar Shaikh

Rationalist Paigambar Shaikh is redefining tradition with his “Economic Qurbani” initiative from Pune, transforming the Eid al-Adha sacrifice into a force for community growth. By channeling resources into education, microfinance, and health camps, he blends faith with practicality. He is inspired by the Satyashodhak movement. His innovative approach fosters sustainable development and communal harmony in Maharashtra’s far-flung areas, marking him as a visionary changemaker.

Marziya Shanu Pathan

Marziya Shanu Pathan, 24, is an activist. From leading a march for Malala Yusufzai at age 12 to organizing the vibrant Mumbra-Kausa Children’s Festival, she champions women and youth in her township. Her blend of fiery activism and community initiatives is uplifting Mumbra, proving her dedication to a brighter, more inclusive future.

Hazrat Ali Sonikar and Munir Shikalkar

In Sangli’s agricultural heartland, Hazrat Ali Sonikar and Munir Shikalkar are empowering the Muslim community through grassroots activism. Hazrat rallies youth with awareness campaigns and workshops, while Munir bridges gaps with local authorities to secure resources. Their collaborative manifesto, amplifying education and employment, is reshaping the future of the community, showcasing the power of local action.

Sakib Gore

In Badlapur, Maharashtra, Sakib Gore is lighting up lives through his ‘Vision Friend Sakib Gore’ initiative, driven by his grandmother’s struggle with blindness. With a belief that glasses are more than a fashion statement—they’re a lifeline to sight—he’s brought eye exams to 2.6 million people, distributed 1.7 million free spectacles, and facilitated 63,000 free cataract surgeries. His ‘Devabhau’ glasses, priced at just 33 rupees, earned him global acclaim and the ‘System Leader Award’ at a World Summit in Kathmandu. Reinvesting every profit into free glasses for the poor, Sakib’s mission is simple but profound: to lift the visually impaired out of darkness, one pair of eyes at a time.

Sarfaraz Ahamad

Solapur’s Sarfaraz Ahamad, a 41-year-old historian, brings Maharashtra’s Deccan heritage to life through his eight books. His books include the acclaimed Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and The Sultanate-e-Khudadaad. As a founder member of the Ghaziuddin Research Center which promotes objective historical research. His writings in Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, and English captivate readers. Sarfaraz’s work is reviving cultural pride and inspiring a new generation of scholars.

Sabah Khan

Sabah Khan’s NGO Parcham based in Mumbara, empowers girls through football, challenging norms and building confidence among them. Khan, 50, fosters gender equality and religious harmony, securing a dedicated football field and launching the Savitri-Fatima Foundation to support education and economic growth. Sabah’s transformative work offers Mumbra’s youth a vibrant path to self-discovery.

Afroz Shah

Mumbai’s Afroz Shah, a 42-year-old lawyer, turned Versova Beach into the site of the world’s largest clean-up, removing 20 million kilograms of trash. Afroz Shah Foundation now tackles rivers and waste culture, earning him the UN’s ‘Champion of the Earth’ title. From slums to schools, his “dates with the ocean” inspire thousands, proving one man’s grit can spark a movement.

Dr. Sabiha Inamdar

In Nashik, 43-year-old Dr. Sabiha Inamdar, an intimacy and relationship coach, is breaking taboos around sexual wellness. She creates safe spaces for women and couples to discuss intimacy and emotions openly. What makes Dr. Sabiha’s work important is her commitment to normalizing healthy conversations around sex, emotions, and interpersonal connection—especially for women. Her workshops shift mindsets, fostering healthier relationships and emotional well-being across Maharashtra.

Hussain Mansuri

Mumbai’s Hussain Mansuri, a 40-year-old philanthropist with 7.8 million Instagram followers, spreads compassion across the city’s streets. From feeding street kids to caring for stray animals, his quiet acts of kindness, rooted in Islamic values, touch countless lives. Whether delivering meals near Tata Hospital or comforting the grieving,

Hussain’s selfless mission ripples far beyond Mumbai.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> The Changemakers / posted by Aasha Khosa, ATV / July 05th, 2025

A field all to herself

April 17, 2019Community Involvement / Social Issues, Sports3rd Fatima Bi Savitri Bai Football Tournament, Maulana Azad Stadium - Mumbra - Maharashtra, Parcham, Saba Khan, Saba Khan - cofounder - Parcham, Salma Ansari, Sameera Khan - Journalist, Third Fatima Bi Savitri Bai Football Tournamentmpositiveone@gmail.com

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Non-profit Parcham has worked with authorities to create an exclusive sports ground for girls

Imagine an Indian city with open spaces full of girls playing, running, laughing… Imagine playgrounds spilling over with girls playing football, cricket and hockey. Imagine girls and their mothers in salwars , saris, tights, shorts and hijabs running across open fields chasing a ball, scoring goals, and loudly cheering. If you can imagine all this, you’re imagining a radically different Indian city! It’s different because girls don’t play. They certainly don’t play as much as boys. They definitely don’t dominate the playgrounds and maidans of our cities. Mostly they wait on the sidelines if they make it to the playground at all.

It’s a reality non-profit collectives such as Parcham, which uses football to engage with girls from marginalised communities in the Mumbai Metropolitan region, are working hard to create.

Their most recent initiative is the takeover of an empty plot of land adjacent to Mumbra’s Maulana Azad Stadium to create an exclusive sports ground for girls, the first of its kind in Maharashtra. “Parcham has been in dialogue with the Thane Municipal Corporation for a few years to create a safe space for women and girls to exercise their right to play,” says Sabah Khan, co-founder of Parcham. “Now that dream has been realised.”

Though the plot is yet to be levelled and cleared of construction debris, more than 100 girls and women recently staked claim to it by participating in the Third Fatima Bi Savitri Bai Football Tournament held at the new ground.

Image change for Mumbra

“Reserving a plot for girls to play is a big achievement for women who are minimally able to access public spaces,” says Salma Ansari, who trained in football with Parcham and now helps manage its football programme. “It’s also a major change in the image of Mumbra.” Like many Mumbra residents, Salma moved here with her family from Byculla after the 1992-93 Bombay riots. Since then, Mumbra has largely been perceived as a haphazardly-planned Muslim ghetto. “That Mumbra will now set the benchmark in working towards gender equality in public is revolutionary,” says Sabah.

This was part of Parcham’s goal when it initiated a football programme for 20 girls in Mumbra in 2012. “We wanted to make women visible in ways that were rarely seen, moving beyond narratives of victimhood reserved for Muslim girls,” explains Sabah. “We wanted women to visibly stake claim to public spaces; for girls to access playgrounds and have fun.”

The football programme now extends to 99 girls and includes the areas of Mankhurd, Bandra and Nerul.

The question that arises now is whether segregation of women from men is the only way to further women’s access to the public. In the current scenario, where any space in a building compound or open ground gets quickly overtaken by boys, it might be a viable short-term strategy.

“In our experience, when girls take the field, it’s like a mela — men hang around leering, staring, commenting, taking videos (that we ask them to delete),” says Salma. How do girls then develop the confidence to run freely, hold their bodies less rigidly and focus on developing game skills?

“While we maintain our claim to mainstream public spaces, till they accept a girl’s presence in the open field, till girls feel more confident, and their families more assured of their safety, a girls-only field may be a solution,” says Sabah. “Once the girls are hooked, it does not matter where they play; it’s only about making or saving a goal.” And in the end, that’s all that should matter.

As I wind up this Streetwise column, what better thought can I leave you with than that?

Sameera Khan is a Mumbai-based journalist, researcher and co-author,Why Loiter? Women & Risk on Mumbai Streets

Till girls’ presence in the open field is accepted and families are assured of their safety, a girls-only field may be a solution

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metro Plus / by Sameera Khan / April 17th, 2019