People & Events Track

For the first time ever, a Saudi national of Indian origin has been selected for the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA) 2006. The name of Dr. Majid Kazi, consultant at the Royal Court, was announced by T.N. Anantha Krishna, first secretary (press & information), at the Indian Embassy recently. He said that the selection was made by the jury for the PBSA 2006 in New Delhi.The awards, given to non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs), were handed out by India’s President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in Hyderabad. The award was instituted in 2003 to honour NRIs and PIOs among the Indian diaspora for their contributions that have helped cement India’s relations with the countries of their residence. Dr. Kazi is the first recipient of the award from Saudi Arabia.Dr. Kazi, who hails from Hyderabad, currently works as the consultant cardiologist at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center. He was also the personal physician to late King Fahd. A graduate from Osmania University (Hyderabad), Dr Kazi did his MD from the US and took fellowship in cardiology from Dalhousie University, Helifax (Canada).

Prof Jawed Shaikh, founder president of Rashtriya Muslim Bahujan Parishad and senior lecturer in the electrical engineering department of Yeshwantrao Chavahan College of Engineering in Nagpur was conferred the National award of “Role Model” on the occasion of World Disability Day, recently. The award is presented to five individuals from the country for their outstanding contribution, inspite of their physical disability. Prof Jawed is the lone Muslim from Maharashtra who won this award for his struggle to establish the Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation in Maharashtra, apart from working towards the economic and educational upliftment of minorities in the State. Prof Jawaid suffered post-polio paralysis in his left limb.

(Email: jawedshaikh01@hotmail.com)

Prince Charles and Tony Blair are among leading figures to have paid tribute to one of United Kingdom’s most influential Islamic scholar, Dr Zaki Badawi, 83, who passed away in London, last fortnight. He was Principal of the Muslim College in Britain and called for Muslims to engage fully with life in the country.


Blair described him as “a wonderful mix of spirituality and practicality”, while the Prince said his death was “a blow personally, and for the country”.


Dr Badawi was a former imam of Regent’s Park Mosque, in London, and forged close ties with Jewish and Christian leaders. Following his election in 1984, he had served as the chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams of the United Kingdom.


The Muslim College in Britain was a seminary he founded to train imams and Muslim leaders in the West. In the aftermath of the 7 July, 2005 London bombings, Dr Badawi was consulted by the government on how best to tackle extremism. Prince Charles said in a statement: “His brand of wisdom, scholarship, far-sightedness and above all humour, has ensured that Zaki played an extraordinarily important role in the life of this country and amongst the Muslim community. His hard-won legacy will, I hope, provide a fitting tribute to a truly remarkable and warm-hearted man.”


Dr Badawi’s death came on the day of a major gathering of Christians and Muslims at London’s Lambeth Palace to mark the launch of the Christian Muslim Forum. Dr Badawi had agreed to serve as an adviser to the Forum and had been due to attend the event. Blair paid tribute to the cleric’s “excellent work” which he had carried out during “a lifetime of service”.


He said Dr Badawi had been “a special person” and it was poignant he had died on the same day the Forum had been launched.


Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, who worked on inter-faith initiatives with Dr Badawi, said he was the “face and voice of Islamic dignity and tolerance”. “He was a man of conscience and courage and I cherished his friendship,” Sir Jonathan added. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, described Dr Badawi as a “uniquely effective interpreter of Islam,” and paid tribute to Dr Badawi’s contribution to Christian-Muslim dialogue.

The Sisters, Daughters of the Church, Arunodaya, a prominent seminary and Convent in the city, organised an inter-religious prayer meeting recently. Verses from the holy books, the Quran, Bible and the Bhagvad Gita, referring to peace and communal harmony, were recited by representatives of the three communities. This was followed by the message of peace and power of prayer by Swami Thyagishwarananda of Ramakrishna Math, Father Ronnie Prabhu, secretary, KRC-Inter-Religious Dialogue and a representative from Islamic Voice conveyed the message of peace in Islam.

Over 130 patients were operated for cataract at the 28th annual Free Eye Camp in Kotila, recently. Kotila, a village, 15 km away from Azamgarh, organises a free eye camp every year. The Camp was first initiated by Shaikh Badruddin Ansari, way back in 1977, with the help of the villagers in Kotila. While the village has many Muslims, most of the patients are non-Muslims and are economically backward. The camp brings together Muslims and non-Muslims in a spirit of harmony. The District Magistrate, Raja Ram Upadhyay was the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the eye camp.