MISCELLANY

Material on Internet is most often not to be believed. Interested quarters circulate all sort of news and pictures on the net and gullible takers lap them up with all sincerity. One such picture (picture no. 1) of a Kaaba like structure in Midtown are of Manhattan island in New York has been in circulation for nearly two years on the net. Now somebody has added a newspaper clipping of an Urdu daily from Karachi to a add a ring of credibility to the rumour that someone is constructing a 'Kaaba Bar' in New York urging Muslims to raise voice against the sacrilegious act. There was indeed cause for feeling outraged. Now even a petition is being circulated alongside the picture urging the US Government to restrain the 'bar owner' from setting up a bar in the Kaaba like structure.

We at the Islamic Voice asked a journalist based in the United States to verify the reported opening of the bar named after the holiest place of Islam.

His reply says: Indeed a cubical glass structure has come up in the said area of the New York. But it is named 'Apple Mecca' and constitutes the doorway to the newest underground Apple Computer showroom. He further informs that the building while under construction was covered with boards in dark colour and indeed presented a semblance of Kaaba. But all this talk about it being a Bar is just pure nonsense. Now that the boards that cloaked it sometime ago have been removed, it appears (picture no. 2) like a transparent glass cube. It could be also viewed on flicker.com by clicking the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vrot01/3864766434/

Sakirin Mosque in Istanbul is the first mosque anywhere to be designed by a woman architect. Completed recently, it was commissioned by a wealthy Arab Turkish family as a memorial to their mother.

Mosque architect Ms. Zeynep Fadillioglu says : When I was assigned the project, I cried. Especially, at a time when so much is being discussed wrongly of Islam not allowing women to have equal rights, the fact that a woman can build a mosque disproves this.

The metal sphere created by British designer William Pye will dominate the entrance of the Sakirin Mosque.

The fountain, along with a modern glass chandelier from China made from thousands of individually crafted shards of glass, are central pieces in what is being seen as one of most radical mosque designs in Turkey in generations.

The aim of the Sakirin Mosque - combining the influences of the past and present, and East and West - has been a difficult balancing act, Ms Fadillioglu concedes.

Its 400-metre central hall can accommodate 240 people while another 100 can pray at the balcony. The 53-year old architect took advice from theologians at every step and departed from norms set by builders of yore like Mimar Sinan. Interiors are dramatic with glass windows attracting sunlight in abundance and metal sphere placed in the middle symbolising the universe.

Muslims of Shivrajpur village in the Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh are building a bridge with Zakat contributions. The bridge is coming up over river Tamsa which flows by the village. Several of these villagers live in Mumbai and send remittances to their families in the village. But every time they visited their village their families, they had problem of accessing their village. It became more acute in July-September monsoon months when the river would swell on either side and would be in spate often.

For some time they tried convincing their political representatives in Assembly, but nothing worked. Ram Naresh Yadav from Azamgarh was the chief minister of the state for few years. Even BSP MP Akbar Ahmed Dumpy was petitioned once. They remained heedless. Two years ago they began collecting contributions from those doing business in Mumbai and work began in right earnest with mere Rs. 17,000. Village elderman Izharul laid the foundation and he supervises the construction. So far a sum of Rs. 50 lakhs has been spent on putting up pillars in the river. They hope to complete it by the next monsoon.

Once complete, the bridge connect Shivrajpur with the rest of the district and will be open for all. The villagers have shown as to how Zakat could be utilised for public works which benefit people regardless of their faith, something a traditional Muslim aalim would refuse to endorse. Shouldn't this be a model in a plural society like India?

Caesarean births were meant to reduce the death of infant and the mother through surgical intervention if dangers were apprehended in natural birth of the child. But the growing level of caesarean births points to over-medicalisation of the women's bodies. What could have been an emergency intervention, is now resorted to by nursing homes and hospitals to earn more profits. According to the World Health Organisation, caesarean birth rate among any population should be in the range of 5% to 15 %.

Medical science prohibits excessive use of c-section birth as it might cause hazards and health complications. But since the such births present opportunity to earn more, nursing homes resort to it with gay abandon. Research shows that the risk of maternal death following a c-section birth is five to seven times higher than the natural birth.

Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) from India shows that incidence of c-section births has grown from 2.9 % in 1992-93 to 7.7 per cent in 2005-06. Though it is still much below the level of concern, some states like Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala show high levels of such birth ranging between 25 % and 30 %. Data compiled by the NFHS shows that urban areas show higher occurrence of c-section births in various states of India. For instance, Andhra Pradesh records 19.4 per cent c-section deliveries in rural areas while in urban areas it is 32.2 per cent. Rural-urban disparity in some other states is 11.6-22.2 in Karnataka, 5.8-30.1 in West Bengal, 28.4-33.5 in Kerala, 19.8-26 in Tamil Nadu, 5-12.6 in Delhi, 2.4-12.7 in UP. Financial greed and pressures of private practice seem to be motivating factors. (Abridged and reworded from study by Sancheeta Ghosh and K. S. James in Economic and Political Weekly Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2010)

Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology will be hosting an Indo-German Dialogue on Accelerated Dissemination of Solar Energy Technologies (ADSET2010) on March 4 and 5.It will be in collaboration with the German Aerospace center (DLR) and the Institute of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering (ITW) of the University of Stuttgart.

A pressnote by the Rajagiri School said the Copenhagen Summit envisaged accelerated global dissemination of sustainable energy technologies. The Government of India has responded to this scenario by announcing the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). Close collaboration between nations is a prerequisite for the success of both these missions. The Indo-German Dialogue ADSET2010 is a step in this direction of initiating dialogue between nations, especially between Germany and India and can contribute towards realization of resolutions of the Copenhagen Summit and the goals of JNNSM.

ADSET2010 will also host an exhibition showcasing different technologies and products in the field.

Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee of India has strongly condemned the brutal killing of two persons belonging to Sikh minority community in Pakistan by the Taliban. “We express our deep concern over the violation of human rights in Pakistan. The beheading of two Sikhs after kidnapping them is an inhuman act and grave violation of Islamic teachings,” said Lateef Mohmmad Khan, General Secretary, CLMCI.

According to media reports, Taliban kidnapped several Sikh minority community people in Pakistan and demanded huge amount for releasing them; when the family members could not fulfill the demands, the kidnappers killed two Sikhs by beheading them and there are more Sikhs in the custody. “Civil Liberties believes that these are not those Taliban (Students) who are resisting American imperialistic forces in Afghanistan, but these people are the criminals and dacoits, are using the name of Taliban and are very much active in the frontier region of Pakistan. It seems that they can go to any extent and work for anybody for the sake of money,” Khan said.

HOME REMEDY

A nourishing conditioner for dry or damaged hair, which can be used for all hair types: Separate the white of an egg from the yolk, whip it to a peak. Add 1 Tbsp. water to the yolk and blend until the mixture is creamy. Then mix the white and yolk together. Wet your hair with warm water, remove the excess moisture, and apply the mixture to your scalp with your fingertips. Massage gently until the froth is worked into your scalp, and then rinse the hair with cool water. Keep applying the mixture until it is used up and then rinsed until all of the egg is washed away.

HEALTH

DR. TONY ALMEIDA (Bombay Kidney Speciality expert ) made the extensive.
experiments with perseverance and patience and discovered a successful treatment for diabetes.
Now a days a lot of people, old men & women in particular suffer a lot due to Diabetes.
Ingredients:
1. Wheat flour 100 gm
2. Gum(of tree) (gondh) 100 gm
3. Barley 100 gm
4. Black Seeds (kalunji) 100 gm

Method of Preparation Put all the above ingredients in 5 cups of water.
Boil it for 10 minutes and put off the fire. Allow it to cool down by itself.
When it has become cold, filter out the seeds and preserve the water in a glass jug or bottle.
How to use it?

Take one small cup of this water every day early morning when your stomach is empty.
Continue this for 7 days. Next week repeat the same but on alternate days. With these 2 weeks of treatment you will wonder to see that you have become normal and can eat normal food without problem.

Note:
Since these are all natural ingredients, taking them is not harmful. So those who are sceptical about this treatment may still try It without any harm. worst case scenario will be that you remain still same as you were before. (Via Email)