Literacy among Muslims has improved: Minister

New Delhi, Oct 11: The literacy among Muslims has improved from 1999-2000 to 2007-08, Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan said Thursday.

"Literacy among Muslims increased from 52.1 percent in 1999-2000 to 63.5 percent in 2007-08 in rural areas and from 69.8 percent to 75.1 percent in urban areas," Khan said while addressing a meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) here.

According to him, the literacy rate of Muslims as a ratio of the national average has also gone up from 0.93 in 1999-2000 to 0.95 in 2007-08 for rural areas and from 0.87 in 1999-2000 to 0.89 in 2007-08 for urban areas, he said.

Khan said as per the District Information System for Education (DISE) reports, the percentage of enrolment of Muslim children to total enrolment at the primary level which was 10.49 percent in 2007-08, has now gone up to 12.56 percent for rural areas and to 15.98 percent for urban areas.

Similarly, the percentage of enrolment of Muslim children to total enrolment at upper primary level which was 8.54 percent in 2007-08, has now gone up to 10.9 percent for rural areas and to 13.76 percent for urban areas, the minister said.

But he noted that as per the 2001 census, the minority community's literacy was 59.1 percent, much below the national average of 64.8 percent.

"As per the 2001 census, the literacy rate among Muslims was 59.1 percent, much below the national average of 64.8 percent," he said.

Khan said his ministry launched three scholarship schemes: pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means based covering eligible  minority students from class 1 to Ph.D. level, including professional and technical courses.

Bidar only place in south India to figure in latest World Monuments Fund list

Bidar Fort is among the three national monuments in Bidar. According to the World Monuments Fund, the sites in the list are crying for immediate attention for preservation, protection, and adaptive reuse.

The historic city of Bidar figures in the 2014 World Monuments Watch list released by the World Monuments Fund (WMF), a New York-based NGO working for the protection of monuments.

WMF president Bonnie Burnham announced the list in New York on October 8, according to P.C. Jaffer, Deputy Commissioner of Bidar. The WMF had received 741 proposals from 166 countries. But the final list contains 67 sites from 41 countries.

The three sites in India to figure in the list are the house of Sheikh Salim Chisti in Fatehpur Sikri, Juna Mahal in Rajasthan and “the historic city of Bidar”. These, according to the list, are sites crying for immediate attention for preservation, protection, and adaptive reuse.

Benefits

Mr. Jaffer said the announcement would benefit the city in many ways. It would attract worldwide attention, leading to increased tourist footfalls. It would also help the government get technical advice and support from institutions specialised in the preservation of monuments.

“It could also help us raise funds from the government or donor agencies for protection and preservation of monuments,” Dr. Jaffer said. Bidar has three national monuments — Bidar Fort, Ashtur tombs and the Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan. The city also has 20 sites recognised by the State Department of Archaeology and Heritage and over 40 unrecognised sites of the medieval periods.

“We will upload the WMF recommendations on the district website. We will also open a Facebook page on Bidar on the WMF watch list and raise awareness about the issue,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

Two interpretations centres would be set up in the Bidar Fort and at Ashtur at a total cost of Rs. 80 lakh. This would provide information to tourists on the architectural and cultural aspects of monuments. In this background, an international seminar on Bidar’s heritage would be organised in January.

According to a release issued by Ms. Burnham, a copy of which was sent to the district administration, the list contains sites that are facing several preservation challenges like climate change, armed violence, neglect by authorities, lack of resources or even increased tourism activity that can damage monuments. An independent panel of international experts on archaeology, culture and preservation had prepared the list, Ms. Burnham said.

Over 150 sites have been preserved and protected by the WMF and its associate organisations in several countries since 1996.

Merajuddin Patel : One of Most Successful and Cherished Son of Hyderabad Karnataka

Today is 5th anniversary of Merajuddin Patel (State prez JDS and Former Minister ) one of most successful Leaders from Hyderabad karnataka region.

A two-time MLA from Humnabad Assembly constituency in 1994 and 2004, Mr. Patel was known for his amiable nature and secular credentials. He served as Minister for Municipal Affairs in the H.D. Deve Gowda Ministry and as Animal Husbandry and Wakf Minister in the Dharam Singh Cabinet. 

He started his political career in 1980’s by becoming a local panchayat member in Humnabad in Bidar. He later rose to become Minister in the then Governments headed by Deve Gowda in 1994 (Minister for Municipal Administration) and N Dharam Singh in 2004 (Animal Husbandry). He was one of the close-confidents of JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda, who made him State party President in 2007.

He died of a massive cardiac arrest in Gulbarga on Tuesday, Oct 7 2008. He was 52 and is survived by his wife and five daughters. His body was taken to his native Humnabad in Bidar district for last rites on Wednesday, Oct 8. Patel (52), who was there to participate in the function at which the newly appointed district President of the party, Shankaranna Vonekyal, took charge, had heart attack at the Government Guesthouse where he was staying. Patel was immediately shifted to Surya Urocare Centre and later shifted to Basavalingappa Nisty Memorial Heart Hospital here. Patel, who slipped into a coma immediately after being shifted to urocare centre, breathed his last at the heart hospital, while a team of doctors was conducting an angioplasty on him.

he was arguably one most successful politicians in Hyderabad karnataka region and was one of very few leaders who was equally popular among people of all religions and castes .

Fresh sexual assault complaints against Asaram, son

DHNS
Fresh sexual assault complaints have been registered against controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu and his son Narayan Sai here after two sisters accused the duo of abusing them.

Asaram, 75, was arrested in August on charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl and has been in prison at Jodhpur in Rajasthan since then.

"We have registered two complaints, one against Asaram and another against Narayan Sai of sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges," Surat Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said today.

"The victims are two sisters," he said.

The complaint against Narayan Sai has been registered at Jhangirpura police station in Surat, while the one against his father Asaram has been transferred to Ahmedabad as the alleged incident happened there, Asthana said.
The police will question Narayan Sai in connection with the complaint shortly, he said.

The older sister in her complaint is understood to have accused Asaram of sexual assault, while the younger one filed a complaint against his son. The incidents reportedly happened between 2001 and 2006.

Mysore shines as Dasara kicks off

Mysore Oct 6: Colourful Dasara celebrations marking the start of Navaratri began on Saturday in Mysore, with a series of events lined up for the next ten days promising to keep both young and old in festive fervour.
Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekar Kambar launched the festivities by offering floral tributes to Goddess Chamundeshwari at Chamundi Hill amid fanfare.
Apart from the government-sponsored programmes, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysore royal family, holds “khasgi (private) durbar” in the evenings during the nine-day festivities. Special rituals are observed by Wadiyar during Navaratri.
Among other events, a dance ballet by actor and danseuse Hema Malini on October 8 and Hindustani concert by Pandit Jasraj on October 13 are expected to enthrall visitors.
The grounds opposite Maharaja College will host Yuva Dasara, which will feature singers Sonu Nigam, Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan, local talent Vijayprakash of “Jai Ho” fame, from October 7.
Having Mysorean Siddaramaiah at the helm of the state’s affairs this time, the festivities will have US ambassador to India Nancy Powell and Consul General from Chennai as guests for “Jamboo Savari” and “Torchlight Parade”.
Pandit Sampath Kumar Acharya, an authority on “dasa” literature, was conferred “Sangeetha Vidwan” award, an honour bestowed on achievers in the field of music as part of the festival.
Soon after the festival began at the hill shrine, several  events got underway. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah witnessed the events, even as the film festival at Kalamandira turned out to be a star-studded one featuring actors- turned-politicians Housing Minister M H Ambareesh and Women and Child Development Minister Umashree.
Local hero Darshan, couple Upendra and Priyanka, yesteryear actors B Sarojadevi and Leelavathi, actor Vinodraj, music directors V Harikrishna and Gurukiran also graced the festivities.
Tourism Minister R V Deshpande launched the tonga and chariot rides, which are part of tourism initiative. He also inaugurated “Mythri,” an effort to provide tourist friendly services.
“Dasara” exhibition, the event that will continue even after curtains fall on the festivities, was also opened.
Aerial joy rides at Mysore Airport, adventure sport and water sport at airport and Varuna lake respectively, wrestling at D Devaraja Urs Multipurpose Stadium, sport at Chamundi Vihar Stadium, cultural events at Palace will be among prime attractions during the next nine days.
During the festival, the city will also glitter in the night, as most of the prominent buildings and stretches will be illuminated.

 coastaldigest.com

Independence Lies in the Freedom to be Happy

It started raining at 3 o’ clock when I was sitting at the English Department with my friend Eeliya. Monsoon is at its peak and the showers were welcomed in this humid weather. The grey sky beautifully contrasted with the lush greenery of Jamia. We looked on quietly at the ambiance which our surroundings created. The rain it seemed was slowly washing away the squalidness of the day. Sometime later, when there was no sign of the rain gods letting up, we decided to venture out in the growing thunderstorm.Eeliya quickly opened her pink polka dotted umbrella and stepped into the rain. I, on the other hand, unwrapped my frightening fluorescent yellow raincoat and donned it with a certain shyness attributed to occasions where you do something out of the ordinary in public. We hiked up a run to where my bicycle was parked, unlocked it and walked till the gate where my friend found a rickshaw and after our customary byes went her way. I, for a moment, sat on the seat contemplating the traffic.

But deciding it was futile to wait, pushed on the pedal and in a matter of seconds was on my way.

And what a way it was! The countless pelting like stones droplets made a screen in front of my eyes making my vision unclear. The roads were all potholes with rivulets of water zigzagging it. But I, like Wonder Woman with my yellow cape billowing by, dodged all the puddles, along with some motorcycles as well. I even said ‘whoosh’ when the tires streaked through a puddle. People were passing me by in a blur. Some were staring, others laughing. I just flew past them without a care in the world, enjoying the rain.

[Image via blog.vortex-intl.com]

When I reached home my parents took a look at me and covertly smiled. My brothers were not so sparing and laughed in my face. I, definitely, was looking a sight in my wet as rags raincoat.

Yet it was such a fun exercise.

That day for me was an awakening of my independent self.

The feeling of freedom which I got riding when the slippery roads were almost empty and the few people who were present were huddled under the umbrella of a tree was infinite. It made me think that I’m also capable of doing things, which others are wary of, if I set my heart on to it. Riding a cycle is no daring act but I being a girl, people look on with such a surprise as if I’m a rare entity. And after the surprise comes the comments and the judgments. Many females due to these unwelcomed advances are wary of doing things which they have a right to. I, therefore, treasure it as my privilege and independence.

Independence constitutes many ideas and phenomena. For some it is as basic as getting a right to education; for others it may be going out late without any supervision; and for a few others it is a state of mind. For me, however, independence is synonymous with happiness. Riding my cycle to college makes me independent simply because it makes me happy.

It also entails living my life without any peer pressure where nobody is breathing down my neck telling or showing me what is cool or uncool, or what is right or wrong.


[courtesy Jamiajournal.com]

[Zainab Abrar (class of 2014) is a graduate student in the Department of English. She can be reached via email at: rebelzain.fatma@gmail.com.]

[This article is in response to a call-for-articles made by Jamia Journal on the occasion of India's 67th Independence Day. We asked our readers to write and send in their opinion on what independence meant to them. Of all the submissions we received, "Independence Lies in the Freedom to be Happy," by Zainab Abrar was deemed to be the best. The first, second, and third runner-ups respectively were: "Born to Fly," by Mohd. Usman Mallick; "Strive for Your Full 'Half Independence,'" by Aqsa Khan;  and "Independence: Freedom to Live Freely" by Sheikh Aamir Ali.]

SIO takes to ground against Saffronisation of Education

Raichur, Karnataka: Students Islamic Organization of India, [SIO] Raichur unit, Karnataka Zone, observed a protest rally against communalisation of education on 3rd October 2013. Later, a memorandum directed to Chief Minister of Karnataka was submitted through district commissioner [D.C] of Raichur.
They alleged that the social science text books of 5th and 8th standard of the state syllabus, which came into effect from last year and also the text books of 6th and 9th standard of the present academic year, contains some factually incorrect contents.


“These contents are highly biased, objectionable and communally motivated against a community,” a statement by SIO local unit said.
As these books have already reached the school children, there are very chances that the contents of the text books may inject communal hatred in the young minds. It is also worried that this would cause hegemonic behavior among the students, they feared.
The text book committee did not include concepts of social justice, history of downtrodden and the contribution of various cultures to the development of Kannada language and Karnataka as recommended by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and SERT into the syllabus, they contended.
“The contradictory and twisted facts in the text books will create false perception among students against the actual history,” SIO believes.
SIO regrets that the State Government did not take any immediate action to withdraw communalised text books, even though, Sri Kimmane Rathnakar, the Primary and Higher Secondary Education Minister had promised with a statement in the early days of the Government to withdraw such text books.
SIO believes that the communal factors in the text books may lead to communal divisions among the students if the Government does not take any action in this regard, while the 2nd academic semester will be commencing from next month.


SIO has appealed to the State Government to officially categorize those contents and to issue a circular immediately to all schools with strict instructions not to teach those contents containing communal factors.
They have also appealed to the Honorable Chief Minister to withdraw all the text books in the coming days and to bring out revised text books only after proper consultation by appointing expert educationists to the text book drafting committee.
The Organization also demanded to reframe the text books according to the recommendations made by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

Courtesy TCN news