Logging life

I am a big fan of Urdu Science magazine. I was impressed to see that in the August 2009 issue of the magazine, they talk about an issue that is current or at least it was hot at that time. Usually, this is not the case. "Science aur insaani zindagi" by Prof. Iqbal Muhiyuddin was also good.

Two interesting articles on May 30th, 2009 issue of Radiance. One is how Muslim can participate in the secular world around them. Second is a critique of Darwinism, unfortunately this article is not on their website. It is an interesting article and worthy of a read because it is not a copy & paste job. Last page article titled "The Most Eligible Widower" by Ausaf was however a painful experience. First of all, there seems to be no point of this article. Secondly, Mr. Ausaf seems to be still stuck in 18th century. Read on: "She was short-statured, flabby, black and had no sense of gait and dress." and one more "Both having darken shades and less-than impressive persona." This is not really the type of language that generates "radiance."

Assam United Democratic Front made history in 2006 by winning 10 seats in Assam Assembly election. Cashing in on the success, it had launched branches in at least five other states and now calls itself All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). The first serious set back for the three year old party came when it lost the recent by-election to one of the seat previously held by its president. This is a warning sign for the party and what it represents. In the last Lok Sabha election, party president Badruddin Ajmal was able to win a seat, proclaiming proudly that they are here to stay and their 2006 success was no flash in the pan. But the success of UDF has lot to do with the years of goodwill generated by the social work of Deoband graduate and businessman Badruddin Ajmal. Badruddin who won from two places in 2006 assembly election, vacated Jamunamukh and fielded his brother Sirajuddin for the by-election. Sirajuddin won comfortably and though he doesn’t speak Assamese he was able t...

The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple Though it includes many Indian narrative of the the great war of 1857 but still this book is dominated by English narrative to this important piece of Indian history. One is surprised that how close Indian forces were to routing British forces but due to weakness on the strategic front, their bravery could not make up for it, all of India was lost to the British for 90 more years. Mughals had no choice but to support what started out as a mutiny but soon became a war against the British. British were going to end the recognition of the Mughals as emperor of India and Mughal family was supposed to move out of the Red Fort. This situation gave the dying Mughal empire last hope of revival and they did gave a good fight but palace intrigues also had a hand in them losing this important battle. British forces were helped by a number of spies and if it was not for them the fall of Delhi would not have taken place. Though the book focuses o...

Justice MSA Siddiqui believes in doing work and keeping a low profile. This is the reason that you have not heard much about the organization he heads and the work he does. Justice Siddiqui is the chairman of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI). Justice Siddiqui was in the United States, last month, to receive American Federation of Muslims from India (AFMI) Excellence Award for his “illustrious legal and judicial career and for his outstanding contributions in the field of education.” TwoCircles.net caught up with him during his stay in Boston to find out more about the work of the Commission that he heads. NCMEI was set up by the UPA government in 2004. NCMEI provides for any minority educational institution to seek affiliation to any affiliating university of India. Any problem faced by the minorities in establishing their own education institutions, a fundamental right under Article 30(1) of the Constitution, can also be resolved by approaching NCM...

DSC02562 Originally uploaded by kaaashif These are important elections but let's talk about other issues. At least this is what the note appear to say for National and the World magazine - May 16 2009 Vol 16, 419 issue. Sure a magazine will have its regular features but what kind of magazine is this though calling it "battle royal' does no special on elections to inform its readers about issues at stakes. Click to read "To Our Readers." http://www.nationandtheworld.com/

maulana_azad_SBI Originally uploaded by kaaashif On the occasion of Maulana ABul Kalam Azad's birthday on Nov. 11th. Attached is the ad recently run by the State Bank of India that rightly describes him not only as a freedom fighter but a scholar. It also gives him credit for establishing many educational institution but few know that idea for IIT was chalked out and first IIT set up when he was the Education Minister. He should also be called Father of IITs.

A directorial debut movie for Ismail Merchant, In Custody or "Muhafiz" is a beautiful movie about Urdu, poetry and Urdu poetry. Shot in Bhopal and released in 1993 this is a marvelous movie with lot of messages about the condition of Urdu and a glimpse of Muslim culture from past to present. The message of the movie is clear - if Urdu has to survive in India, Hindus need to accept and cherish it.

Former career diplomat Ishrat Aziz talking to Saad Bin Zia says: Maulana Azad was made the in-charge of the West Asia/Arab World Section in Foreign Ministry although Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was himself the Foreign Minister because as you know Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru very rights beleived that there are certain insights that Maulana Azad can give on the Arab World because of the fact that Maulana Azad knew this region well and he had his own perceptions about them. This comes right after the revelation that Nehru had permitted of opening of Israeli Consulate in New Delhi. Though until recently, Indian Passports came with the stamp that it is not valid for travel to Israel. In the article "Alleviation of Poverty' writer Mr. Chaudhari Fariduddin mentioned that if all Muslims of India who have zakat due on them paid their zakat then it will come out to be 10,500 crore rupees and 1/3rd of that will be from North India. I am yet to figure out calculation or the source. Anoth...