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Sectarianism amongst Muslims in Gujarat!
2007-08-13 22:01:00
The Barelvis don't let Deobandis enter their mosques though both are Sunnis.. And the latter don't tolerate the entry of the former in their mosques.It happens in many regions in the country but when the reports come from....of all places...Gujarat , it is really shocking. In Saurashtra-Kutch region the Barelvis have put up boards at the entrance of mosques, asking the Deobandis not to step into the mosques.Syed Khalique Ahmed reports in Indian Express that a Commandant, a judge and a sub-inspector were turned away in separate incidents, from the 'Barelvi' mosques. And one, Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Siddiqui, even justifies that why Deobandis can't be allowed to pray in the mosques of Barelvis.I have personally experienced this Barelvi-Deobandi schism. In the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, as also in Chhattisgarh, there are cities and villages where Muslim localities are clearly divided on these lines.Though followers of both Barelvi and Deobandi schools are...
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MIM protest at Taslima Nasreen's press conference
2007-08-09 18:26:00
The MLAs of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) created ruckus at the press conference of fugitive Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen , who had reached Hyderabad for the release of her book.Rather than assault on her, as many reports described the incident, I would call it ruckus. Mercifully she didn't get injured. As far as Majlis is concerned, it has done little good to add to its existing 'reputation'.Worse was the reaction of MIM leaders when they were contacted by news channels as they failed to put their point across (even though their behaviour was not at all justified).The MIM chief Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi kept repeating that the 'attack' was justified but failed to say what exactly was his problem with Taslima's writings. Most of his MLAs, except one, who spoke to channels, were simply irrational and had nothing to say that could in any way justify their rage and express their point of view. At least, the leaders of Shiv Sena (which MIM seems to be emulating to an extent...
More About: Press , Press Conference , Protest

Poet Saraswati Saran Kaif dies & his sons know Urdu
2007-08-05 10:15:00
Renowned Urdu -Persian poet and freedom figher Saraswati Saran Kaif, who wrote over 52 books, and was a close associate of Firaq Gorakhpuri, recently passed away.But unlike many prominent Urdu writers*, who happen to be Muslims, and their children can't read or write Urdu, Kaif ensured that his sons--one a scientist and the other a chief general manager with the Reserve Bank of India, and the youngest, a daughter, learnt Urdu.In fact, one of his sons is proficient in Persian as well. Kaif was 84 at the time of his demise. Apart from poetry, novels, stories, Kaif translated works from Sanskrit, Russian, Arabic, French and Persian. He was busy writing his autobiography. He has left behind a rare collection of thousands of precious books, which his sons plan to give to Aligarh Muslim University, where it will help research scholars and would also interest the literature lovers. I have seenSometime back I had met Kaif and was discussing how a person can still be romantic at the age of e...
More About: Sons , Poet , Aras

The story of Adnan Mulla
2007-08-03 06:18:00
Adnan Mulla, a bright youth, was kept in illegal detention for 35 days and subjected to torture, forcing him to 'confess' that he was amongst those responsible for the Ghatkopar bomb blast in 2003.After over a month when the police officials apparently got tired of their third degree measures and he didn't fall in the cops' trap, Mulla was framed under POTA and sent to jail without any charge sheet against him.He was about to get married within a few days and his fiancee, with henna on her hands, had to run to the police station and courts along with rest of the family members. Nearly 4-1/2 years have elapsed and she is still waiting for him to be released. The High Court says that if there is no evidence, a POTA accused can get bail in three years but this is the fifth year and he is yet to get out of the prison.His family used RTI to find out the truth about the illegal detention for 35 days. On the basis of this proof, the family approached POTA court for bail, but even afte...
More About: Story , The Story , Tory , Adnan

Haroon Rasheed 'Alig', journalist par excellence
2007-07-31 02:00:00
In the early 80s, when I was 7-8 years old the only newspaper column which I eagerly waited for was Haroon Rashid Alig's Khel Khiladi in Urdu Blitz.That was the most popular weekly sports column in any Urdu newspaper then. In those days Urdu papers were even more drab and hardly had any cartoons or such stuff that could attract kids like me. Apart from Shama group's magazine for children, 'Khilauna', Blitz was the only paper I used to flip through in those days.His column was not limited to the usual cricket, hockey and the boxing stuff only (in those days Urdu papers used to have regular features on Muhammad Ali, who was always referred as Muhammad Ali Kilay because of his original name Cassius Clay). Perhaps this kilay made it sound more masculine.Remembering Haroon Rasheed [On his birth anniversary: July 31]Either it was Wilson Johns, Prakash Padukone or the Chess legends like Manuel Aaron, I got familiar of these names through Blitz. Of course, the focus of column was slight...
More About: Journalism , Journalist , Shee

Rahi Masoom Raza's Scene 75
2007-07-26 21:49:00
...mera fun* to mar gayaa yaaromaiN niilaa paD gayaa yaaromujhe le jaake Ghazipur ki Gangaa ki godii meN sulaa denamagar shaayad vatan se duur maut aayeto meri yah vasiiyat haiagar us shahar meN chhotii sii ek nadii bhii bahtii ho to mujhkouskii god meN sulaakar usse kah denaaki yah Gangaa ka betaa aaj se tere havaale hai...(Preface)(*fun=art)I am reading Rahi Masoom Raza 's novel 'Scene 75'. I have read a few of his novels including his masterpiece Adha Gaon, Topi Shukla, Katra Bi Arzoo, Os ki Boond, and Neem Ka Ped amongst others.Scene 75 is a short novel. The main characters of the novel are Ali Amjad, Harish Rai, VD (Virendra) and Alimullah Khan, who have come to Mumbai in search of livelihood, and live in a small rented room.The novel is set in the decade of sixties, the nascent new born India, where the wounds of partition are still fresh. Through characters like Sarla, Ms DeCruz, Manchandani and Lata Sinha, the novelist delves into the anxities of the generation and sensiti...
More About: Urdu , Hindi

Where is poet Vali's tomb, asks High Court
2007-07-21 23:09:00
It was five years ago when the tomb of poet Vali Gujarati (also known as Vali Dakni) was demolished and a road was constructed overnight, leaving no trace of the mazaar. The mob that destroyed the heritage of their own state, went ahead with building a temple 'Huladia Godharia Hanuman Mandir' on the spot.Now, the High Court has issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), regarding the status of the shrine and its restoration. The petition has been filed by All Gujarat Minorities Association. The AMC's hand was suspected in the construction of the smooth road and AMC bulldozers were used. The make-shift temple was later removed though. Ironically, the dargaah was just next to the Police Commissioner's office. But when there was no police to save the living, who would have thought about saving the abode of a dead. Alas, he was the man who had sang paens of Ahmedabad, Surat and Gujrat. Urdu Muslim India Islam Poet ry Religion Hind...
More About: Communalism

Confusion over couplets: Six Urdu ash'aar
2007-07-18 23:18:00
This is one of the most quoted line 'is ghar ko aag lag gayee ghar ke chiragh se'.Few people have an idea about the first line. The couplet reads as:1.dil ke phaphole jal uThe siine ke daaGh seis ghar ko aag lag gaii ghar ke chiraaGh seIn most of the collections and articles, this sher is not attributed to any poet. I have learnt that the poet was Pandit Mehtab Rai Tabaan. Does anybody think otherwise? The problem is that with every passing year we are losing Urdu litterateurs who could settle such debates. The generation of poets, writers and literature-loving readers, who had thousands of 'ashaar' on the tip of their tongue, is nearly extinct now.2. There is another line: lamhoN ne Khataa kii hai, sadiyoN ne sazaa paaee haiI have been told the shaaer was Muzaffar Razmi and the full couplet is:yeh daur bhi dekha hai tariiKh ki aaNkhoN nelamhoN ne Khataa kii hai sadiyoN ne sazaa paaii hai3. Regarding...zamiin khaa gaii aasmaan kaise kaiseIt is Amir Minai's sher:hue naamvar be-n...
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Hats off to Hindu parents of the Muslim girl
2007-07-17 01:28:00
It's an amazing story. The eight-year-old girl, Naseema, was sold in her childhood but a Brahmin couple gave shelter to her, brought her up like their own child, educated and married her off to a Muslim youth working in Middle-East.The girl's father Ibrahim rolled 'bidis' and his wife had died. The youngest, Naseema, was one day picked up by a relative who had sold her when her father was away. For two years she worked as domestic servant until she escaped. And when she reached the Hindu couple they made sure that she was brought up as a Muslim, even wearing her burqa.Jaya Menon tells this astounding story in Indian Express from Vellore. She reports that Naseema and her husband used detective service to trace her father recently. Ibrahim Sharif, 65, is now deaf and mute but heard his daughter Nasima's voice on phone and 'began to utter noises'.He works at a roadside tea shop and is about to leave to Jeddah to meet her daughter and son-in-law. All these years she had remembere...
More About: Girl , Parents , Hats

Muslims: From passionate lovers to 'persecuted' lot
2007-07-09 09:46:00
Just when UK police had arrested Muslim professionals on suspicion of involvement in terror plot, a medieval Muslim emperor's monument of love was chosen as one of the seven wonders of the world.Shahjehan's gift to the world, Taj Mahal , is the greatest celebration of love in human history. It's something that makes a Muslim feel proud. But when young Muslim professionals turn radical, it must send the community in introspective mode. Of course, it is just a couple of Indian Muslims who have been caught, and though charges are yet to be proved, but the fact is that we can't ignore this trend.The world is worried. Why young, educated Muslims who have apparently everything going for them, are so overcome with rage that they not only put their lives at stake but also bring ignominy for their family (and qaum) for life. It hurts to see the elderly parents of Kafeel in the twilight of their life, facing the tough questions, and social disgrace.Why can't they get passionate about som...
More About: Terrorism , Islam , Lovers

Financial empowerment is prime, education can come later!
2007-07-06 17:30:00
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati feels that the quickest way towards empowerment of Dalits is through economic opportunity and that's why she wants quota in allotment of petrol pumps to Dalits in Uttar Pradesh.Her vision is clear. Once a family gets a petrol pump, it is not only the family but all their relatives and the clan that also gets financially empowered. With prosperity comes social respect. Surely the children would then study in English medium schools and then there is no stopping the process of speedy empowerment.At police stations across the state, the quota for Dalits, will also bring empowerment. Dr BR Ambedkar always maintained that Dalits should inhabit urban areas (where there is less caste discrimination) in large numbers and also their strength could thus be seen at places where it matters.Just an educational drive can't be enough to bring a change and it will also be long-term. However, the results of financial empowerment a...
More About: Education , Financial , Empowerment , Ducati , Finan

At last a bank for Juhapura
2007-07-04 19:59:00
Juhapura, a Muslim dominated locality in Ahmedabad , has a population of 2.5 lakh but had no bank. The residents spoke to the government officials and banks. The State Level Bank ers' Committee (SLBC) mulled over the issue several times.It took correspondence up to the level of Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and a copy to Prime Minister, before things seemed to set in motion. Now the residents hope to get a bank soon in their area--after 16 long years (The area had a bank till 1991-92 but was closed due to riots). Though it is not very surprising given the fact that the area lacks in schools and medical facilities.Dena Bank is now going to open a branch here, reports Syed Khalique Ahmed in Indian Express. The full report can be seen here. The report also informs us that Juhapura, which is termed the biggest Muslim ghetto of Gujarat , had got its name after a Hindu inhabitant: Juha Thakur.Though Juhapura has emerged as a predominantly Muslim domimated area, a few Hindu families s...
More About: Pura

Muslim students excel: Tenth topper runs tea kiosk
2007-07-01 20:29:00
Tufail Ahmad Ansari, who topped the SSC exam in night schools in Nasik division (Maharashtra), is the son of a tea kiosk owner. He appeared in the examination through Urdu medium.On the left is the photo of Tufail, who helps his father in running the kiosk. (I am sorry about the quality of the photo). And he is not alone. In over all SSC exams, the topper in Pune division was Maghribi Bibi from Anglo Urdu Girls High School who attained 95.69% and Sheikh Tanzila was ranked second.In Nagpur division, Asma Jabeen, a student of Zakir Husain Urdu High School, secured 94.61% marks and came first in the division. In Amravati division, Reshma Shekh secured second rank with 95% marks.In eight boards across the state, three toppers in night schools were Urdu medium students (read Muslim ). Apart from this, in most divisions, Urdu medium studnets have done exceedingly well. In night schools, Asma Begum, Anees and Minhaj Bano are other toppers across the state.Commenting on the academic excellen...
More About: Education , Students , Excel , Kiosk

Urdu school children protest Dalit woman cook
2007-06-28 05:47:00
Just a few days back I had written about the casteism among Indian Muslims . Now comes this news from a Government Urdu school in Bihar where the children refuse the mid-day meal because the new cook in the school is a Dalit woman.We are Muslim and won't eat food cooked by Harijan', said Rozi Khatun, 13, a student. Of course, the children didn't have much idea. Rather it was their parents who made their children, stop eating and protest the move to let a Dalit manage the school kitchen.The school is in Amri village of Rohtas district. After the reports appeared in media, ADM Dr Ram Narayan said that the officials will go there and persuade the local residents. The parents maintain that earlier there was the Muslim cook but now a Dalit woman was cooking the food, which was not 'justified'.It's astonishing indeed but a fact that Muslims are casteist in their own right. From urban Indian mindset we may find it shocking but it is a reality in rural areas in caste-ridden North India...
More About: Children , School , Woman , Protest

Power-less in UP: Hand-held 'pankha' & battery fans
2007-06-26 22:58:00
Uttar Pradesh is the biggest state in the country in terms of population and nearly 20% of Indians live in this state, which has the most fertile land and has rivers like Ganga, Jamuna, Gomti and Ghaghra.But it is probably the only state in India where the 'pankhas' (hand-held fans) sell in lakhs every year. Except Mayawati's hometown, the small Badalpur village, there is no other town that can boast of regular electricity supply.When Mulayam Singh Yadav was the Chief Minister, his village Saifai was the VVIP Town for the Electricity Board officials. The State capital Lucknow and Rampur, which Mohammad Azam Khan represented, were two other places that had a comparatively better power supply than other districts.But the day Mayawati took over the reins of the state, a newspaper report quoted a senior functionary of the Board that the VVIP status was now conferred to Badalpur, leaving Saifai in near permanent darkness. Lucknow, the State capital, gets a slightly better deal than o...
More About: Power , Fans , Battery , Hand , Held

Science to Superstition: Pratibha Patil spoke to spirit
2007-06-25 18:04:00
The President ial candidate Pratibha Patil in a public function at Mount Abu on June 14, said that she spoke to a man who died 38 years ago.Surprisingly, she had attended the function at the 70th anniversary of establishment of Prajapita Brahmakumari Ashram, in her capacity as Governor of Rajasthan, but still went on to say that 'she had conversation with Lekhraj Baba through Daadi Hriday Mohini.In front of a gathering, Pratibha Patil, said that Lekhraj Baba's spirit (aatma) came into the body of Hirday Mohini and spoke to her. It has only caused further embarrassment for the Congress and the UPA as Pratibha, who is all set to head the nation in 21st, seems to believe in 'occult' and spirits.Belief in religion is a different thing but superstition and more so, airing these views in public function, from a public figure is surely alarming. Shivraj Patil was rejected as candidate also because he is a firm believer in Sathya Sai Baba (Leftists had reservations on his uncompromising...
More About: Science , Spirit , Superstition

Importance of knighthood & Muslim world's response
2007-06-23 20:47:00
The photograph on the left shows Muslim s in Lucknow, registering their protest against knighthood to Salman Rushdie.Is it an attempt to provoke Muslims? And is knighthood important enough for people to get angry. It is an outdated concept. Britain, a former imperial power, is also neither an important nation, nor the honours given by the 'Queen'.Neither it is the Nobel prize nor any honour given by an international platform or organisation like United Nations.Meanwhile, why can't Muslim nations start some really good awards and titles for writers, activists, academicians, scientists and pioneers in other fields, and honour deserving persons both from West and the East, which would be a much better way to tackle such situations. More than 50 Muslim nations, many of them quite rich, but none seems to have an idea about what good PR is. I really don't understand this outrage over the outdated 'Sir', this colonial hangover. yeh angrez maai-baap hain kyaa hamaare!Still, if you are ...
More About: Controversy , Knighthood , Import , Muslim World

Dalit Urdu writer Jayant Parmar's poem against Manu
2007-06-22 20:17:00
Manu*, some day I would hang you by the neem tree in front of my house, totally bareAnd will tear apart your veins to see how much blood of my ancestors you have drunk...I have done a loose translation of the initial lines of Jayant Parmar' nazm. The whole Nazm in Hindi, Roman and Urdu can be read here. (ek na ek din ghar ke aage/neem kii shaakh pe/nangaa karke latkaa dunga tujhko manu...)The poet challenges the caste system and goes on to say, 'I have learnt to fly like falcon/leap like leopard and made words my weapon...It is very rare to find a Dalit voice in Urdu poetry. For living languages it is necessary that their literature should represent voices from various cross-sections of the society. There is a tradition of Dalit poetry in Marathi and now in Hindi and some other regional languages also.Urdu has no dearth of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Christian, (even Parsi) poets, there is probably no Dalit voice. And here lies the reason why Jayant Parmar becomes such an important poet. T...
More About: Poem , Writer , Manu

A unique book shop in Lucknow
2007-06-21 01:03:00
In the photograph on the left, you can see heaps of books lying in two shops that look like go-downs of old second hand books.That's in fact, a single shop, a unique place for aficionados of Urdu literature--the Khurshid Book Depot.A few years ago on a visit to Lucknow , I found this shop in Aminabad, stopped by and asked the person sitting on the desk, if he was closing this shop for ever.kyaa yeh dukaan bik rahii hai? My hope was that before finally shutting shop, he might give me a few books for throw away price.The owner, a bespectacled man, got angry. I later found that this shop has always resembled a 'kabadi ki dukaan'. However, the owner and his employees can find you any book within seconds from under the towers.This is just an outside view and I tell you, it is difficult to imagine, how the shop looks from within. But if you are a bibliophile and would like to have a rare Urdu/Arabic/Persian book in your collection, Khurshid book depot may just be the ideal place for you...
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Muslim girls netting the ball for NBA
2007-06-19 15:15:00
Afsana Mansuri, lives in a slum, works as domestic help in houses where she washes utensils, studies and still gets time for her passion--basketball.She is the source of strength for five other ambitious Muslim girls who leapt into the basketball court where they practice for hours under the floodlights, reports Shailendra Awasthi in the Indian Express.Apart from her Zarin Rangwala, Nurunnisa Khan, Sumaiya Sheikh, Afreen and Rehana, are all members of the NBA (of course, this NBA stands for Nagpada Basketball Association) that startled Mumbai's fancy club teams to reach the semis of the district level tournament on debut recently.No hi-fi shoes but just basic gear and grit, writes Awasthi. The coach Abdul Rashid says that just to ensure no Maulana objects to girls playing, we told them to wear track pants. ClickUrdu Muslim India Islam Poetry Religion Hindu Shairi Ghalib Literature Ada Lucknow Meer Faiz Indian Muslim Blog Cricket Ghazal Blogger Islamic Hindi Kavita Shayar Sahitya
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Storm in Hindi blogosphere & Shah Alam camp stories (Gujarat riot victims)
2007-06-17 02:11:00
Renowned Hindi author Asghar Wajahat's book 'Main Hindu huuN' is a collection of stories that mainly address communalism and other social issues. The last chapter titled 'Shah Alam Camp ki ruuheN' is a series of ten mini stories and a few of them were posted in some blogs, which have caused a stir. (This is apart from the controversy at blog aggregator Narad)Bloggers not familiar with Wajahat, felt that the writer was identifying himself with the trauma of Muslims alone (Is that wrong when the stories are in the context of Gujarat riots?). Anyway. A few Hindi bloggers are supporters of Sangh ideology also (I have no problem with that personally though, everybody is entitled to his views) but when it comes to literature, the level of debate should be a bit more serious and things must be put in perspective.Veteran blogger Ravi Ratlami has now posted the entire series of mini-stories on his blog here.If you can't read devanagari script....here is excerpt of one of these mini-sto...
More About: Literature , Stories , Blogosphere , Storm

Casteism amongst Indian Muslims
2007-06-13 14:48:00
Afshan and Nida were best friends and though the former got married, the latter's family couldn't find a match for her. Nida's mother asked Afshan to look for a 'suitable boy'. She told her husband who mentioned the name of a youth who was working for a prestigious company where he earned Rs 30,000 per month.But Afshan had a shock of her life a few weeks later when she found her friend's mother was furious over the suggestion. 'Woh to kunjde hain'. How dare you think that we will marry off our daughter to that family! Afshan's husband was no less shocked. He hadn't given thought to the possibility that suggesting such a handsome match for her wife's friend would turn into an embarrassment. His initial reaction was, 'Musalmaan to hai na!' The girl's family was 'offended' and angry at the couple for suggesting the boy's name.Though he lacked nothing except that he came from the caste of sabzi-farosh (now they call themselves Raeen/Rayeen). But this is the tip of ice...
More About: Indian , Muslims , Indian Muslims , Indian Muslim

Three Nazms and a Ghazal
2007-06-11 18:20:00
For centuries Urdu poets have been writing ghazals but over the last decade or so, fresh voices have become rarer. You may like a couplet here or there but few poets have the capability to astonish you.You may blame the ghazal format but then poets like Irfan Sattar prove you wrong. I was going through Shabkhoon's last couple of issues and was amazed by this Pakistani poet. The last issue has, hold your breath, 28 of Irfan Sattar's ghazals. Like Lucknow's Irfan Siddiqui (who passed away sometime ago), Sattar has also forged a new way in the Urdu ghazal.Just two couplets of a ghazal:itne barsoN baad bhii donoN kaise TuuT ke milte haiNtuu hai kitnaa saadaa-dil aur ham kitne pechiidaa haiNsun jaanaaN ham tark-e-taalluq aur kisii din kar lengeaaj tujhe bhii ujlat sii hai, ham bhii kuchh ranjiidaa haiNClick to read the whole ghazal in Hindi/Roman/Urdu scripts.Nazm often gets neglected due to the extra importance given to ghazal in Urdu poetry both due to the latter's unique form and ...
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Urdu school results in India show improvement
2007-06-10 23:12:00
The results of Urdu medium schools for the session 2006-2007 have been encouraging. Compared to past years, the pass percentage has been up in almost all the states.In Maharashtra, the pass percentage has been 79% for High School (Xth) and 91% for Intermediate (XII). In Bihar it has been 55% and 56% respectively. In West Bengal the percentage of students appearing through Urdu medium who passed has been 50% and 59% for High School and Intermediate respectively.In Rajasthan, it has been 41% and 50%, Madhya Pradesh 30% and 48%, Delhi 52% and 67%, Andhra Pradesh 45% and 65%, Punjab 42% and 50%. The figures for Karnataka that also has large number of Urdu schools is not available yet. Still, the figure is much better.Uttar Pradesh, the state with highest Urdu speaking populace doesn't have a single Urdu medium school (compared to a small district like Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh that has 55 schools).The problems facing Urdu medium students is delay in getting text books, which is annual ...
More About: India , Show , Results , Muslims

Hyderabad, the last citadel of Urdu in India
2007-06-07 09:27:00
What's different about this photograph?The display boards in shops are in Urdu apart from English, like Akshay Jewellers as seen in photo. Such boards are seen only in Hyderabad , which in a way is the last citadel of Urdu in India .May be there are such hoardings and boards in Kashmir. But I haven't been there.Few non-Muslims consider Urdu as their language and even in Cities like Lucknow it has become very rare to find billboards/display boards in Urdu.This photo was taken near Char Minar. Of course, traders have their business considerations in mind and have no great love for any language. In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena had recently started a campaign asking shop owners to write the shop names in Marathi.Urdu Muslim India Islam Poetry Religion Hindu Shairi Ghalib Literature Ada Lucknow Meer Faiz Indian Muslim Blog Cricket Ghazal Blogger Islamic Hindi Kavita Shayar Sahitya
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Malegaon & Bhiwandi electorate dump Congress
2007-06-03 21:18:00
The rout of Congress in the civic elections in Malegaon and Bhiwandi, the two Muslim-majority towns of Maharashtra, comes just in wake of Congress' dismal performance in UP where for the first time not a single Muslim MLA of the party could win.Didn't Congress have enough indications or they were just not bothered? For years they kept the Sri Krishna commission report under the carpet though they pledged to implement it before elections. The indifference of the then Congress Chief Minister late Sudhakar Rao Naik towards the riots (before blasts) is well known.And though convictions have begun in the serial blast case, justice eludes the victims of the two rounds of rioting that had killed over a thousand people in Mumbai in 1992-93. There is hardly any action against the tainted police officers. And Vilas Rao Deshmukh government has shown a contemptuous disregard to the demand for CBI inquiry in Malegaon blasts.However, the emergence of a new party Indian Muslim Congress which won...
More About: Rate , Elector

'Hindu-Muslim can be best friends' community at Orkut
2007-06-02 12:39:00
There exist innumerable communities on the social networking site, Orkut but here I am writing about the community 'Hindu-Muslim can b best friends'. If you are on Orkut member, you can reach there straight by clicking here.It's a beautiful community that seems growing fast. I must congratulate the owner, GG, and the moderators SAA and Abdullah, for the effort. Already it has 531 members and I wish the membership here would grow.http://www.orkut.com/Community .aspx? cmm=16602368Each and every day one comes across articles/messages on sites and blogs that only talk about Hindu-Muslim differences but when you come across such a sweet community, one feels delighted. I believe that millions of Hindus and Muslims have their best friends belonging to the other faith. But the micro-minuscule lumpen lot on both sides, which works with a missionary zeal and hate, to post venomous posts/comments on blogs and sites, are mistakenly construed as representative voices of Hindus and Muslims.Such ...
More About: Friends , Best friends

Reliance to open barber shops, pan kiosks & shamshaans!
2007-05-30 17:42:00
Reliance's future foray in opening cobbler shops, barber shops, tea kiosks, bangler salons, pan corners and construction of 'shamshaans', that's what says an innovative poster in Indore.Did you notice that 'kharabpati' has been deliberately missplet as 'kharaabpati'. It is put up at the historic Rajwada in Indore.Taking a dig at India's first ever trillionaire Mukesh Ambani and his company's entry in small business including opening of Reliance Fresh (Sabzi ki Dukaan).The vegetable vendors are opposing it and there have been attacks on Fresh shops in several places like Ranchi (Jharkhand).Farmers and small businessmen are anxious about the prospects. Upper-Class and Upper-Middle class people are not sure, many feel buying vegetables in AC would be a good idea. They are not worried about 'kunjra' and the castes traditionally associated with vegetable business.Consumer ban kar sochna theek har jagah theek nahin, kabhi to insaan ban kar bhi socho, says somebody.Urdu Muslim...
More About: Open , Reliance , Kiosk , Shops , Sham

'Blasphemic' couplets or lack of tolerance
2007-05-28 19:16:00
dair-o-haram meN mil na sakaa hai agar Khudaahogaa vahaan zaruur chalo maikada chaleNdil ko sukuuN milegaa kahaaN soch lijiyemasjid hai ghar se duur chalo maikadaa chaleNThese are two of the few couplets of Urdu poet Afzal Manglori that have caused a controversy in Western UP. Voices of Manglori's boycott are growing shriller apart from little-known organisations issuing statements that term his poetry as un-Islamic.There are charges that in his ghazals he has mocked at Ulema. First of all, there is nothing objectionable about these couplets. Such thoughts abound in Urdu poetry and he is no exceptionally good poet either. In fact, Urdu poetry has been historically liberal and only those with no understanding of literature can make such a hue and cry over these couplets.Meer, Ghalib and other greats took much greater liberty with religion. Had they been in our times they would have been labelled as 'mushrik/mulhid' innumerable times and God knows what would have happened to them....
More About: Poetry , Tolerance , Controversy , Lack

Is he a Hindu or Muslim?
2007-05-27 18:21:00
Saffron is generally associated with the Hindu ism these days but it is the traditional colour of Muslim Sufi robes as well, at least in the Indian sub-continent.Here is a Muslim Baba in the pix on the left. I gather that this is the pose in 'haal' (when a man gets spiritually possessed due to devotion) at the shrine of 17th century Sufi Saint in Islamabad (Pakistan).The shrine of Shah Latif Bari Qadri, known as Bari Imam, during the five-day annual Urs, attracts thousands of devotees from all over the Pakistan and even outside.I have no photographs of an 'Azaad' sufis, whom I have seen at many hospices and shrines. With their long conical 'topis' and style attracted me from childhood. Lately I haven't seen them. At an Urs sometime ago I saw a group of Azaads standing near the 'mehfil-e-qual'. They would loudly say 'Ya Haq' but before I could get my camera, they had vanished.Urdu Muslim India Islam Poetry Religion Hindu Shairi Ghalib Literature Ada Lucknow Meer Faiz India...