Community Round-Up

The union minister for human resources development Arjun Singh has approved in principle a proposal for the establishment of high standard Urdu medium schools across the country. This is being done to improve the standard of education in Urdu speaking areas. These schools would be similar to that of Navodya Vidylaya. The HRD ministry has also identified 125 districts with Urdu speaking population for the purpose. Suggestion for such schools was given by Hisam Siddiqui, a member of the National Monitoring Committee for the Minority Education. The minister accepted the proposal and said that this proposal is likely to be included in the 12th Fifth Plan.

Dr Ausaf Ahmad, a renowned economist delivered a lecture on Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) economic teachings at the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) headquarters in New Delhi recently. Quoting Prophet’s sayings and events from his life, Dr Ahmad concluded that brotherhood and justice formed the bedrock of his economic policy. This lecture marked the beginning of a series of lectures on Islamic Economics which would be regularly held at the IOS. For more details email at manzoor@ndf.vsnl.net.in.


The Institute of Objective Studies here has launched www.iosminaret.org, a global Islamic website recently. An introductory brochure circulated on the eve of the launch says the website has been launched with the objective of presenting the values, ideals and principles of Islam in a rational, non-polemical and cogent manner and in the contemporary medium. According to Institute chairman, Dr. Manzoor Alam, and Academic Director Prof. A. R. Momin, the online magazine will be hoisted fortnightly.

Much to the discomfort of the Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, chief minister of the State, Mulayam Singh Yadav has completely ignored Muslims in the police forces. Despite the fact that the police plays a partisan role in any communal violence, Mulayam did not think it better to increase the presence of Muslims in police forces. Recently, about 70 inspectors were promoted to the rank of DSPs, but unfortunately none of them is a Muslim. In the last three years, many police and sub- inspectors have been appointed in the State, but out of them, the number of Muslims is less than 50.

Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, founder of Al-Ameen Educational Society and several educational institutions, sprang a surprise by ‘returning’ to public life in the third week of July 2006. He was ‘heralded into the public life’ at a function at Sira in Tumkur district organised by the Ar-Raihan group of institutions. Dr. Khan had announced retirement from public life after 40 years of single-minded service in the cause of promoting modern education among Muslims of Karnataka. The ‘return’ coincided with the celebration of the birthday of politician and MLA, R. Roshan Baig who has been recently inducted into the Al-Ameen Educational Society.


The new development has sent ripples into the house of Al-Ameen which had witnessed peace after severe convulsion two years ago following changes at the top in wake of serious rifts between Dr. Khan and another leading light of the movement, Mr. K. Rahman Khan, MP and currently deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha. Convulsion was caused by charges of embezzlement of funds in Al-Ameen Islamic Financial Investment Corporation (AIFIC) and nepotism in Amanath Bank. While Amanath Bank has recovered with the taking over of its mantle by Bangalore builder, Mr. Ziaullah Shariff, AIFIC has been wound up following massive discontent by depositors.

The Al-Hakeem Foundation for Science and Humanity was set up to foster education and scientific research among minorities on a worldwide basis using the model of meritorious grants and scholarships. Dr.Arif Khan set up this Foundation in Bangalore in 2005 along with his wife Christine. Dr. Khan had contributed 30,000 US Dollars to the Jumma Masjid School for upgrading their computer centre. Recently he dedicated the computer centre for the needy. Dr. Arif Khan gives $ 500 to the deserving students every year to expand their educational horizons and achieve their goals. For the academic year 2006-2007, they short-listed 40 children and also four from last year’s recipients. These students were given away the aid on July 2, 2006 in Bangalore.

Hazrath Moulana Mufti Mohammed Ashraf Ali, Ameer-e-Shariath-Karnataka, Principal, Darul Uloom Sabeelur Rashad, Bangalore delivered the Bangalore Lectures- Khutbat-e-Bangalore on the “Great Beloved Position of the Prophet (Pbuh) in the light of the Quran and Hadith”. Organised by the Centre for Objective Studies on July, 7, 8 and 9, 2006, the lectures brought in large crowds of men and women at the Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan, Bangalore. For those who missed these lectures, audio cassettes are available at Islamic Voice. The set of three Audio cassettes cost Rs 110. Contact, Islamic Voice, No 3, Palmgrove Road. Ph: 25544483. Email: editoriv@gmail.com

The top Defence research body in India will undertake detailed investigation into rocketry technology employed by legendary warrior and Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan. Defence Research and Development Organisation, Chief Controller (R&D), A. Sivathanu Pillai, told newsmen in Mysore on July 20, that, “Tipu’s war weaponry was very innovative and one cannot afford to neglect it. It is men in Tipu’s armoury who first used Newton’s Law of Motion. We need to do more research on the secret behind the rocketry then”. He said this after inspecting the site from where rockets were launched against the British army in the fort of Srirangapatna, 15 kms north of Mysore on the river Cauvery. Pillai has been deputed by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, India’s President to go ahead with further research on it.

The Government of West Bengal is considering establishment of the Maulana Azad Islamic Studies Centre. This was indicated here by Abdus Sattar, Minister for Minority Affairs. A blueprint for the same was prepared by a committee during the governorship of educationist Syed Noorul Hassan, in 1993. It had been gathering dust since then. The Centre proposes to study and promote the thoughts and ideals of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of India and a leading light of the freedom movement. The city already has Maulana Azad Institute for Arabic and Persian Studies for which the Government had acquired the ancestral house of Maulana Azad who led a considerable part of his life here.