Prof M Waseem Ali, Prof Saud Alam Qasmi, Prof. Syed Tayyab Raza Naqvi, Prof. Mohammad Habibullah and Prof Mohd Rashid with the prize winners at Theology Department of AMU
Aligarh:
The Sunni Theological Society of the Department of Sunni Theology, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), organised a prize distribution ceremony to honour the winners of a writing competition held on the theme, “The Legal and Historical Status of Waqf and the Formation of a Peaceful Society in the Light of Islamic Teachings.”
Professor Mohammad Wasim Ali, Proctor of AMU and the Chief Guest, commended the choice of a socially and religiously significant topic. He noted that while such themes deserve broader academic engagement, the Faculty of Theology has set a precedent for others to follow.
Presiding over the event, Professor Mohammad Habibullah Qasmi, Dean of the Faculty and Head of the Department, lauded the efforts of the Society and emphasised the importance of organising such programmes to showcase students’ academic and intellectual potential.
Guest of Honour, Professor Mohammad Saud Alam Qasmi encouraged students to take their dual expertise in modern and religious education beyond the university. “Your responsibilities are greater, and you must rise to meet them at the national academic stage,” he advised.
Professor Mohammad Rashid urged students not to be discouraged by competition outcomes, reminding them that many more opportunities lie ahead. Professor Tayyab Raza Naqvi, former Head of the Department of Shia Theology, also congratulated the Society for its timely theme selection.
Dr. Nadeem Ashraf, faculty member of the department, delivered the welcome address.
The programme was conducted by Zahid Ali, Vice President of the Sunni Theological Society. Dr. Raihan Akhtar Qasmi delivered the vote of thanks.
The event drew a large audience, including faculty, students, and staff from various departments.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / May 08th, 2025
Former president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) and general secretary of the Movement for Empowerment of Indian Muslims (MOEMIM), Navaid Hamid, honoured with the Qaide Millat Award.
The award was presented by former Madras High Court judge, Justice KN Basha at an event held at a grand ceremony at the Music Academy on Saturday.
Renowned human rights activist John Dayal, and founder of the Sadbhavana Mission, distinguished scientist Professor Vipin Kumar Tripathi, were also honoured by the southern Indian institution, Qaide Millat Educational and Social Trust (Chennai).
The annual award is given for probity in political/public life and consists of a certificate of appreciation, a cash prize of five lakh rupees, and shawl.
Congratulating the awardees on the occasion, Justice Basha said he felt honoured and privileged to present the awards to individuals who serve as beacons of light amidst the darkness of the current environment while M G Dawood Miyakhan, general Secretary of the trust, said “the awardees are based on their unblemished track record of integrity in political and personal life in India”.
Retired CSI Bishop Dr V Devasagayam said while facilitating the awardees “we are here to recognise your services, support your initiatives and to wish that you continue your fight in spite of all the odds”.
The event was presided over by the president of the Qaide Millat Trust, Qazi Dr Salahuddin Muhammad Ayub, while announcement the awards and introduction of awardees were made by the Trust’s general secretary.
On this occasion, Dr S Sadiq, former Vice-Chancellor of Madras University, and retired CSI Bishop Dr V Devasagayam, were also honoured. General Secretary Dawood Miyan Khan, Treasurer S Mushtaq Ahmed, and Principal of Qaide Millat College, Dr MA Thawab, presented certificates of honour, prize, and shawls to the dignitaries.
The announcement of the 2024 Qaide Millat Award was made in February 2025. The award jury comprised Dr Vasanti Devi (former Vice-Chancellor), Dr V Devasagayam (former Bishop), Paneerselvam (Readers’ Editor, The Hindu), and Dawood Miyan Khan (general secretary, QEST).
Born on June 23, 1963, in the walled city of Delhi, Navaid Hamid has been associated with the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat since the late 1980s. He served as its President from 2016 to 2023. A graduate in English from Zakir Hussain College, University of Delhi, Navaid Hamid has been actively involved in political and social work since his student days at the university.
During the UPA Government (2004–2014), he was appointed as a member of the National Integration Council for two terms. He is the founding secretary of the South Asian Council for Minorities (SACM) and also serves as the national general secretary of the Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians (MOEMIN). He has worked actively to support and uplift marginalized communities.
In 2008, at the Global Minorities Meet held in New Delhi and attended by delegates from 18 countries, Navaid Hamid was elected General Secretary of the Global Minorities Forum for Justice and Peace.
Previously, the Trust has presented the Qaide Millat Award to eminent personalities, including Teesta Setalvad and Nilakanoo (2015), N. Shankariah and Syed Shahabuddin (2016), Manik Sarkar and Muhammad Ismail (2017), Vice President of India Dr. Hamid Ansari and Aruna Roy (2018), AG Noorani and Thiru V mavalavan (2019), Harsh Mander and Bilkis Bano (2020), Dr Irfan Habib and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (2021), Thiru Veeramani and The Wire news (2022), N Ram (The Hindu) and Dr Abu Saleh Sharif.
The Qaide Millat award is presented in memory of Qaide Millat Maulvi Muhammad Ismail, a selfless servant of the community, freedom fighter, and a distinguished national leader. His significant contributions to the development of the country and community after independence are widely acknowledged.
As a member of the Constituent Assembly, a Member of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and as the founder-leader of the Indian Union Muslim League, his services are considered unforgettable. He was also among the founding members of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM).
The Qaide Millat Trust instituted this award on the 40th death anniversary of Maulvi Muhammad Ismail, and it is awarded annually to distinguished individuals active in public life.
source: http://www.theokhlatimes.com / The Okhla Times / Home> Local / by The Okhla Times / May 01st, 2025
At 21, Muskan Begum from Hyderabad becomes licensed commercial pilot
A 21-year-old from Hyderabad, Muskan Begum.
Hyderabad:
A 21-year-old from Hyderabad, Muskan Begum, has obtained her commercial pilot licence after completing training in Cape Town, South Africa, becoming one of the youngest from the city to have achieved the feat.
She completed her schooling from Narayana and her intermediate education from Chaitanya before starting her aviation journey. “I did my medicals in Hyderabad and cleared the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) exams from V2 Aviation Academy in Khader Bagh,” she said.
She joined the 4 Aviators Flying School in Cape Town in 2023 after receiving her South African visa. “I completed both my theory and practical exams there, and I was tested with the examiner for my CPL checkride,” she said.
“I’ve flown more than 250 hours and now legally hold a commercial pilot licence,” she told Siasat.com.
Belonging to a middle-class family of seven, Muskan credits her parents for their unwavering support. “My mom does small businesses, and my dad works in Doha, Qatar. Initially, convincing them was a tough task due to the community and irrelevant stereotypes, but in the end, I had their full support,” she said.
“Being a hijabi and getting trained in South Africa was fine with a bit of struggle. But the key was not letting others’ opinions influence me,” she added.
She is currently pursuing instructor training from the same flying school. “I’ll be working here as an instructor to build a good amount of hours and experience,” she said. “So when airline vacancies are available, I can join directly.”
Recalling where it all began, she said, “As a child, I used to see aircraft near the airport. Since then, I imagined myself sitting in the cockpit, flying it by myself.”
“Aviation was a dream at first. Now, it’s everything,” she added further.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Tamreen Sultana / May 06th, 2025
Karna Kadur (left) and co-driver Musa Sherif with the Indu Chandhok Memorial South India Rally overall winners’ trophy. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Bengaluru’s reigning National champion Karna Kadur of Arka Motorsports won a round of the FIA-Asia Pacific Rally Championship after three years at the Madras International Circuit (MIC) here on Sunday.
It was a near-flawless drive in the Volkswagen Polo by the 36-year-old Kadur, who was greatly aided by his experienced co-driver Musa Sherif from Kasargod. The duo also clinched the crown in the first round of the Blueband Fmsci Indian National Championship, organised by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC).
Kadur attributed his success to a judicial blend of caution and aggression. “After a long time, we had a trouble-free run. We had carefully planned our strategy, and it was executed flawlessly. We could have gone faster, but in view of the rising temperature, we had to exercise some caution. A few competitors suffered as they did not back off, and having seen this, I kept something in reserve in case I needed to push hard,” he said.
The results: Provisional final classification: FIA-APRC (Asia Cup):1. Kadur and Musa Sherif (Arka Motorsports) 2:03:44s; 2. Amittrajit Ghosh and Ashwin Naik (Arka) 2:04:35.8; 3. Harkrishan Wadia and Kunal Kashyap (Arka) 2:07:38.5.
Junior APRC: 1. Wadia and Kashyap 2:07:38.5; 2. Arnav Pratap Singh and N. Rohit (SNAP Racing) 2:09:25.9; 3. Abhin Rai and K.M. Moideen Jasheer (Pvt.) 2:10:16.9.
INRC Overall:1. Kadur and Sherif; 2. Ghosh and Naik; 3. Fabid Ahmer and Milen George (Chettinad Sporting) 2:06:9.5.
INRC1:1. Kadur and Sherif; 2. Ghosh and Naik; 3. Suhem Kabeer and Vinay Padmashali (Pvt.) 2:12:15.2.
INRC2: 1. Ahmer and George 2:06:9.5; 2. Wadia and Kashyap; 3. Pragathi Gowda and M. Chandramouli (Pvt.) 2:07:23.5.
INRC3: 1. Arnav Pratap Singh and N. Rohit (SNAP Racing) 2:09:25.9; 2. B. Vishak and Chiranth Jain (Chettinad Sporting) 2:09:27.4; 3. Rai and Jasheer (Pvt.) 2:10:16.9.
INRC 3T (Turbo): 1. C. Ramcharan and Vignesh Mahalingam (Falkon Motorsports) 3:15.3; 2. Naveen Puligilla and Santosh Ritchy Thomas (Pvt.) 2:28:34.9; 3. Jeet Jhabhak and V. Sekar (Pvt.) 2:59:9.9.
Women INRC: 1. Tarushi Vikram and Vybhav Mukund Rao (Chettinad Sporting) 2:17:7; 2. Phoebe Nongrum Dale and Nash Ross (Pvt.) 2:20:17.9; 3. Anushriya Gulati and Karan Aukta (Arka) 2:48:58.8.
Junior INRC: 1. Rai and Jasheer (Pvt.) 2:10:16.9; 2. Ajay Shankar and Venu Ramesh Kumar (Falkon) 2:11:47; 3. R.B. Kharbirymbai and C.P. Dhanush (Snap) 2:14:26.1.
Fmsci Gypsy Challenge: 1. Sanjay Agarwal and Dheeraj Manae (Pvt.) 2:22:23; 2. Kariappa Mekerira and Supreeth Sagar (Pvt.) 2:24:49.7; 3. Pankaj Dutt and Jibran Ahmed (Pvt.) 2:33:15.9.
Fmsci Classic Challenge: 1. Pramod Raman and K.V. Dheeraj (Pvt.) 2:21:1; 2. Siddhartha Santhosh and Sawan Satyanarayan (Pvt.) 2:22:13.6; 3. P. Satish P and S. Dinesh (Pvt.) 2:31:54.8.
In 2000, Rabiya was diagnosed with cancer, which she later overcame, after which she returned to social work.
In 2022, she was honoured with the Padma Shri for social work. (File Photo)
K V Rabiya, known for her prominent role in Kerala’s adult literacy programme, died at her home in Malappuram on Sunday. She was 59.
A native of Vellikakkad in Malappuram district, Rabiya fought against heavy odds and personal tragedies, right from childhood, to work relentlessly for the betterment of the differently abled and inspired thousands of women to enter the world of letters.
In 2022, she was honoured with Padma Shri for social work.
While still a school student, Rabiya contracted polio at the age of 12, which would eventually leave her paraplegic. Despite this, she completed her schooling and joined a college. However, she could not complete the degree course.
Rabiya then turned to books, reading everything from science to literature. Wheelchair-bound by then, Rabiya also started taking tuition classes for local children at a nominal fee.
It was by chance that Rabiya became a part of Kerala’s literacy movement, which began in the late 1980s. A college degree was a must for a literacy instructor. However, an instructor, who could not continue with the programme, sought Rabiya’s help. This marked the birth of a social worker and the beginning of her legacy.
She started teaching literacy classes in June 1990, and local elderly women and housewives were her students. She worked to convince women from orthodox families about the importance of education, and told them inspiring stories of world leaders and social reformers to get them interested in her classes.
When her number of students started swelling, Rabiya became a full-time literacy instructor. Later, she also established a library for women and became instrumental in the development of her locality, which did not have basic facilities such as roads and electricity, telephone, and water connections.
She eventually launched a voluntary organisation named Chalanam (movement), which also spearheaded literary programmes.
Her intervention was not limited to literacy alone. She started six schools for children with special needs and trained and empowered more than 250 women through a small-scale manufacturing unit. She was also at the forefront of the movement to create awareness against dowry and superstition. In later years, she was also actively involved in the e-literacy programme, Akshaya, in Malappuram.
In 2000, Rabiya was diagnosed with cancer, which she later overcame, after which she returned to social work.
In her autobiography, Swapnangalkku Chirakukalundu (Dreams Have Wings), Rabiya told the story of her inspiring life and how she chased her dreams. She also authored four other books, including the memoir, Mouna Nombarangal (Silent Pains). A documentary was also made on her life, titled Rabiya Moves.
She received several honours, including the Kannagi Devi Stree Shakti Puraskar, instituted by the Child Welfare Department of the Union government, in 2000. She also won the Youth Volunteer against Poverty award, jointly instituted by the Union Youth Affairs Ministry and the United Nations Development Programme.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> India / by Shaju Philip, Thiruvananthapuram / May 05th, 2025
The two-day ‘Beary’s Festival 2025’ was inaugurated by Skill Development Corporation President Kantha Nayak at the Karavali Utsava ground by the Karnataka Bearys Social and Cultural Forum on Saturday.
The festival includes a job fest which has attracted more than national and international 100 companies and more than 5,000 job applicants. Educational and career counseling sessions, medical check-up and blood donation camps, business meets, food fests, competitions, discussions on various issues, sessions for the benefit of youth and cultural events are also organized as a part of the festival.
Kantha Nayak, who addressed the gathering, called upon unemployed people to make the best use of the job fair as it would also make the organizers’ efforts worthwhile and advised the candidates who fail to get job not to be disappointed. She explained that it was important for candidates to hone their skills, along with gaining education, as it helps in job-hunting.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan lauded the efforts of the organizers for holding the festival aiming for communal harmony.
Pastor of Bejai Church Rev. Fr. Norman D’Souza spoke on the occasion and wished well for the festival.
Entrepreneur and TK Group member Umar TK was honoured with the ‘Motivational Award’.
Retired Superintendent of Police and Chairperson of the Organizing Committee GA Bava made the inaugural address. Moulana SB Mohamman Darimi offered dua for the programme. UT Farzana welcomed the gathering and Rafique Master was the Master of Ceremony.
State Cashew Development Board President Mamatha Gatti, NRI Forum Vice-president Dr. Arati Krishna, Presidency Group of Institutions Bengaluru Vice-chairman Suhail Ahmed, Presidency Group of Institutions Director Kausar Nisar Ahmed, Entrepreneurs Mustafa Bharat, Zakaria Jokatte, Sharief Whitestone, UT Ifthikar and UT Zulfikar Ali, SCDCC Bank Chairman Dr MN Rajendra Kumar, Nasir Luckystar, Musabba Beary, Mustafa Sullia, KM Aboobakar Siddiq, Sheik Irfani, Congress leaders KK Shahul Hamid, Padmaraj R and Pradeep D’Souza and Iqbal Parliya were among those who attended the inaugural event.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / April 19th, 2025
With over 4,000 manuscripts and 25,000 books, Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Library is a sanctuary of knowledge and wisdom.
Stepping into the Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Library, the oldest library of the city, feels like entering a secret realm concealed within the narrow lanes of Pankora Naka, Ahmedabad. This hidden sanctuary of wisdom resides within the majestic tomb-shrine complex dedicated to the esteemed Pir Muhammad Shah.
The library’s journey commenced over 250 years ago when Pir Mohammad Shah and his devoted disciples gathered a humble collection of 300 manuscripts. Now, this literary haven proudly safeguards an expansive repertoire of over 4,000 manuscripts, establishing its position as such largest collection in Western India. Moreover, it boasts an impressive assortment of over 25,000 books.
About Mohammad Shah
Let us delve deeper into the enigmatic figure of Mohammad Shah, the driving force behind the library. Born in Bijapur in 1688 AD, he embarked on a transformative journey to Mecca, where he immersed himself in the teachings of practical Sufism.
Eventually, he settled in Ahmedabad in 1711, where he would offer his daily prayers in the Jama Masjid and rest in the humble hut of a benevolent elderly woman. It is in this very location that the awe-inspiring mausoleum-mosque-library complex now stands.
A treasure trove of manuscripts and books
During his lifetime, Pir Muhammad Shah, along with his devoted disciples, amassed a treasure trove of manuscripts and books, encompassing a wealth of academic and spiritual wisdom. This invaluable collection finds its residence in the esteemed “kutubkhana”. The Pir himself was a gifted bilingual poet, penning abundant verses in Persian and Dakhani.
Today, the library stands as a testament to its illustrious past, harboring more than 4,000 manuscripts—the largest collection in Western India, alongside a rich trove of over 25,000 books. Its extensive catalog covers diverse subjects such as spirituality, Quran Knowledge, music, literature, history, geography, language, astronomy, astrology, agriculture, and more.
Within its hallowed halls, one can explore literature in Urdu, Gujarati, Arabi, Parsi, Hindi, and English. The library features a special chamber dedicated to ancient manuscripts, some dating back 800 years, as well as a display of Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah’s personal belongings, carefully encased in glass to ensure their preservation.
Translations of sacred texts and unique manuscripts
The library’s treasures extend beyond its own collection, offering translations of sacred texts such as the Bible, Rigveda, and Geeta. Visitors are also privileged to behold unique manuscripts, including a handwritten Quran by the illustrious Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
This historic repository not only embodies a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and heritage but also exudes an aura of serenity and tranquility. Explore the mosque, wander through the tranquil courtyard, lose yourself in the pages of ancient tomes, marvel at rare manuscripts, and surrender to the enchantment of bygone era. A captivating journey back in time awaits within these hallowed walls.
source: http://www.knocksense.com / Knock Sense / Home> Ahmedabad / by Zeal Jani / June 27th, 2023
Anantnag District / Kupwara District : JAMMU & KASHMIR :
Two out of 12 aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir who qualified for the UPSC Civil Services 2024 have followed their passion for “Yeh Dil Mange More” (My heart wants more) and improved their rankings in the administrative services for which they had already qualified.
The duo is Mohammad Muneeb Bhat from Anantnag district of South Kashmir (AIR 131) who is already serving the J&K government after clearing the JK Public Service Commission examination; and Mohammad Haris Mir, AIR 314 from Kupwara district of North Kashmir.
Haris Mir hit the All India rank of 345 in the UPSC Civil Services examinations of 2023 and has improved his rankings.
Interestingly, a woman – Iram Choudhary from Rajouri district of Jammu region – is the topper from the UT with AIR 40.
Mohammad Muneeb Bhat, son of the government teachers from Anantnag town of South Kashmir, had set his goal of joining the civil services while pursuing his Civil Engineering degree at the Lovely Professional University in Punjab.
He told Awaz-The Voice that he started preparing for the coveted UPSC exam soon after completing his Engineering degree. He took the exam in 2017. “The motivation for civil services came from those already qualified persons from J&K like Shah Faesal (2009) and Athar Aamir Khan (2016), though there has been a considerable number of UPSC qualifiers over the past about two decades.
“I continued to achieve the goal” till my success in the last attempt this year”, Bhat said. He stayed in Delhi to attend different institutions including the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) at the Jamia Millia Islamia.
While preparing for the UPSC examination, Mohamad Muneeb Bhat qualified for the J&K (UT) PSC examination in 2023 and was allocated the J&K Police Services. He is presently undergoing probation with the UT government.
His father, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat retired as a Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) last year, while his mother recently retired from service.
Mohammad Haris Mir qualified for the UPSC with AIR 345 last year but made yet another attempt to achieve a higher rank. He was allotted Revenue Services ((IRS) and is presently undergoing probation at the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) in Nagpur.
“To achieve a higher rank, I prepared during my probation”, Mohammad Haris Mir told Awaz The Voice from Nagpur. “The motivation (to achieve a higher rank) was like any other aspirant and the hard work has been fruitful”, he said.
As it’s permitted, Haris took leave fromn the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, to prepare for the mains of the 2024 examinination and later joined the Uttarakhand, and took leave to prepare for mains of the Civil services 2024. He later joined NADT at Nagpur.
Mohammad Haris was also motivated by the success of senior bureaucrats like Shah Faesal and Athar Amir. He qualified for the UPSC on the first attempt last year.
Though his father is a doctor, Haris opted for the humanities. Hailing from a remote area of Handwara in the border district of Kupwara, Dr Mir had shifted to Srinagar as he was posted in the Oncology Department at the SKIMS Hospital, Soura in Srinagar.
After completing the XII examination, Haris, 26, joined the 5-year degree course in Law, B A, LL.B from the Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. Though Jamia Millia Islamia offers free coaching to students from minority communities for the UPSC examinations (Residential Coaching Academy) Haris preferred to prepare without joining coaching classes. “Soon after completing his Law degree, I began to prepare through self-study for the UPSC examination….it was a full year of studies involving hard work, which led me to clear the examination in the first attempt”, he told Awaz-the Voice
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Ehsan Fazili, Srinagar / April 30th, 2025
The World Heritage City of Ahmedabad saw many revered men who silently documented the various tales the city’s monuments, structures and literature had to tell.
One such relentless pursuit was that of publisher, author and a keen student of the medieval history of Gujarat, Shahed Kalimi, who not just ran the nearly-century old Kalim Book Depot but also spent 20 years of voluntary service to set up the library at Sarkhej Roza.
A little over a month after he passed, Kalimi’s contributions to Ahmedabad’s heritage were remembered by academicians, renowned historians and heritage enthusiasts at a remembrance meeting organised in the city on Sunday.
Kalimi was the sole force behind revamping the library at one of the ASI-protected monuments of the Heritage City of Ahmedabad, Sarkhej Roza.
AS Saiyed, President of the Sarkhej Roza Committee, narrated Kalimi’s two decades of voluntary contribution at the Sarkhej Roza and lauded him for his dedication and perseverance. “Kalimi was instrumental in reviving the library at the Sarkhej Roza and setting up a publishing department at the Roza through which many books were translated and published under the aegis of the Sarkhej Roza Committee,” Saiyed said.
During his lifetime, Kalimi had translated nearly 50 books from Urdu, Persian and Arabic, into Gujarati, in a bid to bring forth the little pieces of history about Gujarat to the people here.
In fact, two of his last books – A Bird’s Eye View of Sarkhej Roza and Yaad-e-Ayyam, were released during the remembrance meet.
“Kalimi’s sole aim was to bring forth anecdotes of Gujarat’s history to the state. Being an ardent reader of history himself, he translated many books written about Gujarat and its history, Persian and Arabic to Gujarati. He has translated close to 50 works by now about various aspects of Ahmedabad and Gujarat which the state would have otherwise lost,” said Professor MH Bombaywala, curator and founder, Peer Mohammad Shah Library, one of the oldest in Ahmedabad who was present at the meeting.
Being an ardent enthusiast of medieval history of Gujarat, Kalimi turned his place of work – the Kalim Book Depot – around by diligently sourcing, procuring, even translating if needed to make history books available to people here.
Students of History and even architecture and design often frequented his book store, which was once upon a time, a fulcrum for intellectuals to gather and discuss new, radical ideas through expressions of poetry and Shayari.
The Kalim Book Depot will be a century old in 2026 and till date is known for rare books. “We have retailed the Urdu versions of Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita to people. Father used to procure a series of Urdu books from warehouses of libraries, book exhibitions, flea markets including the Gujari Bazar and wherever he travelled and patiently sorted them, to find the right kind of books for history students and later translate them,” said Mushir Kalimi, Shahed’s son.
“Father’s interest was not in the business but instead in letting the younger generation read and delve into the history about Gujarat to the people of Gujarat by translating works of authors from Persian, Arabic and Urdu languages. Therefore, if he realised someone’s interest in books, he would gift them a second book for free besides the ones they’ve bought,” said Mushir.
Kalimi was working on one of his last books just before he passed — Makbaras and Masjids of Ahmedabad. Mushir along with members of the Sarkhej Roza Committee are working towards publishing the book which will soon be out.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Ahmedabad News / by Niyati Parikh / TNN / March 28th, 2022
The inauguration of BRITFORT Academy’s Mangalore branch, in collaboration with Ace Foundation, was held on 18th April at the Kankanady Gate Building, Kankanady Bypass Road. The event marked a significant milestone in expanding quality English language education and study abroad services in the coastal region.
BRITFORT Academy is widely recognised for its excellence in Spoken English and Communicative English courses, along with its expert coaching for international English language exams such as IELTS, OET, and PTE. With a growing network of centers across India, BRITFORT continues to empower students with global opportunities through language proficiency and academic support.
The ceremony was formally inaugurated by Noushad, CEO of BRITFORT Academy, who delivered an inspiring keynote address. He shared the remarkable growth of the academy, noting that over 25,000 students have been successfully trained through their programs. The Mangalore branch represents the 16th center in their journey of expansion and the fourth in Karnataka, reinforcing their commitment to making quality education accessible across regions.
Abubacker, President of Ace Foundation, presided over the function and emphasized the importance of collaborations that empower youth through quality education and skill-building initiatives.
The event was further graced by Dr. R.G. D’Souza, Dean of the Engineering Department at Yenepoya University, who attended as the Chief Guest. B.S. Mohd. Basheer, President of Jamiyyatul Falah (Mangalore Corporation Unit), and Anwar Sadath, Managing Director of Hana Beverages Pvt. Ltd., were the Guests of Honour. All dignitaries expressed their appreciation for the initiative and their confidence in the academy’s positive impact on the region’s youth.
Nazeer Ahmed, Director of Ace IAS Academy, welcomed the gathering and highlighted the significance of enhancing language skills for academic and professional growth. The program concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Imthiaz Khateeb, Secretary of Ace Foundation, expressing gratitude to all guests and participants for their support. The event was compered by Rafik Master.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / April 2Oth, 2025
