“A thing of beauty is a joy forever” – John Keats’s immortal words… true to all ages, and very true to the creations of a gifted artist Wajid Khan. The more you know him, the more you know that you don’t know about him. He is a painter, inventor, sculptor, thinker, designer and everything that encompasses the definition of an artist.

An artist is a dreamer, consenting to dream of the actual world. Wajid Khan is not an exception. He dreamt of giving the world an endowment of most amazing fine art and ‘Nail Painting’ came into existence.

The first Nail Art or Nail Painting came into being in year 2005 after onerous contemplations and rigorous efforts of approximately three years. It was just a dot for others, but for Wajid Khan, it conceives a portrait.

One nail trailed another and then hundreds and thousands… strenuous efforts… great imagination… extreme patience… and a beautiful thing is born out of crude iron nails. The first was a tribute to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.

Nail Art belongs to Wajid Khan. He owns a patent for it.  It is basically an art of hammering an iron nail into a hard acrylic sheet to create an unimaginable portrait and abstracts with fine details of facial expressions of the object. It takes 3-6 months to complete a nail painting.

Born on 10 March 1981 in a small village of Mandsour district of Madhya Paradesh state (India), Wajid Khan, at the age of 14, invented a tiny electric iron, probably the world’s smallest. After this invention, he invented a water theft device and a centralized, touch-activated switch for household appliances. He also created a painting on canvass, apparently world’s first of its kind, which appears like a 3D animation.

Another dimension of his personality reflected in sports. He is a sturdy Rugby player and was associated with ‘Indian Rugby Football Union’ as General Secretary.

Numerous people have admired and honored the incredible work Wajid Khan. But above all, he feels the most honorable, is an appreciation and encouragement by former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Khan has been fortunate to spend productive time with Dr. Kalam at National Innovation Foundation, a research and invention wing.

Summing up seems just impossible while critically appreciating the creations of Wajid Khan. With over 140 inventions to his credit, Wajid Khan says “It’s just a beginning” and we, the people, remain awestruck and world waits for another astonishing creation to come.

Despite of his commendable work Wajid’s big dream is to spread his knowledge to others. He wants to organize free workshops, seminars throughout the country.

विदेशों में अपने प्रतिभा का लोहा मनवा चुके आसिफ इक़बाल उर्फ ताजिर को अपनी माटी ने जब आवाज़ दी तो वह खुद को रोक नहीं पाए और दुबई से अपनी अच्छी-खासी नौकरी छोड़कर बिहार लौट आए. फिलहाल आसिफ बिहार के पश्चिम चम्पारण ज़िला के बेतिया शहर के लोगों में शिक्षा की अलख जगा रहे हैं. इसके साथ ही वो पश्चिम चम्पारण ज़िला वक़्फ बोर्ड के कोषाध्यक्ष के तौर पर अपनी सेवा अंजाम दे रहे हैं.

30 वर्षीय आसिफ ने अपने स्नातक तक की पढ़ाई अलीगढ़ मुस्लिम विश्वविद्यालय से मुकम्मल की. साल 1998-99 में ए.एम.यू. छात्र संघ के कोर्ट मेम्बर भी रहे. इसके बाद आई.एम.एस गाज़ियाबाद से इन्टरनेशनल बिज़नेस में एमबीए किया और नौकरी के खातिर दुबई चले गए. वहां उन्होंने सिमेंस में एरिया मैनेजर के तौर काम किया, फिर ए.बी.एम. इंफोरमेशन टेक्नोलॉजी के बाद स्टैण्डर्ड चार्टड बैंक, दुबई में टीम लीडर हुए और फिर दुबई बैंक के ब्रांच मैनेजर के पद पर स्थापित हुए. इसके बाद लंदन में स्विस बैंक से ऑफर मिला, लेकिन वो लंदन में 90 हज़ार पौंड का शानदार  ऑफर छोड़कर अपने मुल्क हिन्दुस्तान चले आएं और अपने वतन में समाजिक कार्य शुरू किया. आज आसिफ की ही देन है कि उनके इलाके के वो छात्र जिन्हें पढ़ाई से कोई मतलब नहीं था, जो दिन-रात में अवारागर्दी में मस्त रहा करते थे, वो आज देश के महत्वूर्ण विश्वविद्यालयों से अपनी पढ़ाई कर रहे हैं.

वो बताते हैं कि सब कुछ छोड़ कर आने की वजह यह है कि जब मैं नौकरी कर रहा था तो अक्सर यह सोचा करता था कि आखिर हमारे इलाक़े और यहां में इतना फर्क क्यों है? बहुत सोचने और समझने के बाद यह समझ में आया कि हमारे इलाके के लोग यहां से ज़्यादा अच्छे और मेहनती हैं पर कमी है तो सिर्फ शिक्षा और एक सही आदमी की, जो उन्हें सही रास्ता दिखा सके. दरअसल, हमारे इलाके के लोगों का कोई रहबर नहीं है. अगर सही आदमी इन लोगों का रहबर होता तो हमारा इलाक़ा दुबई से भी ज़्यादा अच्छा और ख़ुबसूरत होता. बस थोड़े से त्याग की ज़रूरत है, फिर तो कहीं भी बदलाव लाया जा सकता है. बस यही बातें मुझे वापस अपने वतन में लौटने को मजबूर कर दिया और मैं बगैर कुछ सोच-समझे वापस अपने मुल्क, अपने वतन आ गया. अब मेरी पूरी कोशिश यह है कि मैं अपने इलाक़े को एक नया मोड़ दूं, और अपने शहर को दुबई व पेरिस से भी ज़्यादा खुबसूरत शहर बनाउं.

आसिफ इन दिनों अपने इलाके में एक ऐसा इंगलिश मीडियम स्कूल खोलने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं, जहां गरीब बच्चों को मुफ्त शिक्षा मिल सके. यही नहीं, जो बच्चें आगे पढ़ना चाहते हैं, उनके लिए भी यह काफी मददगार हैं, उनकी काउंसिलिंग कर सही कैरियर के चयन में भी मदद करते हैं. उनके घर पर सुबह से शाम से छात्रों की एक अच्छी-खासी भीड़ होती है, जो उनसे गाइडेंस के लिए आते हैं. वो कहते हैं कि हमारे शहर के बच्चों में पढ़ने की ललक तो बहुत है, पर आर्थिक स्थिति बेहतर न होने की वजह से उच्च शिक्षा हासिल नहीं कर पाते हैं. ऐसे में उनका सारा ध्यान उनके लिए स्कॉलरशिप का इंतज़ाम करना, सरकार द्वारा दिए जा रहे स्कॉलरशिप के लिए फार्म भरवाना, शहर व राज्य से बाहर के कॉलेजों व विश्वविद्यालयों की जानकारी देना, किस कोर्स में दाखिला लेने से क्या फायदा होगा इस बारे में बताना, ऑनलाईन फार्म भरना सिखाना और नए जेनरेशन को उन तमाम चीज़ों व अधिकारों के बारे में बताना जिन से शहर के लोगों को ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा लाभ मिल सके, पर है.

यही नहीं, इसके अलावा आसिफ लोगों सूचना के अधिकार की भी ट्रेनिंग देते हैं, ताकि सरकारी विभाग में उनके रूके हुए काम बगैर किसी रिश्वत के तुरंत करवा सके. यही नहीं, उन्होंने आरटीआई की मदद से ज़िला में अल्पसंख्यक स्कीमों में होने वाली धांधली को भी उजागर किया और फिर इस मामले को लेकर अल्पसंख्यक मंत्रालय भी गए, जिसके बाद इस मामले की जांच के लिए बिहार सरकार को नोटिस भी जारी किया गया.

इसके अलावा आसिफ दहेज प्रथा के खिलाफ भी एक मुहिम चला रहे हैं. इसके लिए उन्होंने एक टीम बनाई है, जो लोगों को जागरूक करने के साथ-साथ गरीब लड़कियों की शादी के लिए आपस में पैसे जमा करके शादी में मदद करने का काम करते हैं. उसके अलावा लड़की के परिवार वालों को सरकार की तरफ से चल रही कन्या विवाह योजना जैसे स्कीमों के बारे में भी बताते हैं.

बकौल आसिफ, पहले समाज व सिस्टम में ढलने में परेशानी हुई पर अब दुबई के फाइव स्टार की तुलना में ढ़ावा का खाना ज़्यादा अच्छा लगता है. इनका मानना है कि बाहर रहने वाले सारे बिहारी प्रदेश के बारे में ज़रूर सोचें और जहां तक संभव हो विकास में अपनी भागीदारी निभाएं. ऐसा करने से ही बिहार देश का समृद्ध राज्य बन सकेगा.

Seemanchal is one of the backward areas of India, which falls in the state of Bihar. In the tall claims of India making progress, Seemanchal area still lags behind in all the development parameters. Paying lip service for the development of the area has become a norm these days. People after getting education usually forget their roots and get busy in leading a cozy lives in the comforts of big cities. But Mohd. Aadil Hasan Azad is an exception to this. After getting higher education from the  University of Pune, Aadil decided to serve his area through the capabilities and capacities he built through education. Mostly, poor, malnourished and unheard, Aadil’s influence on the people of his area has been considerable. Some were attracted by his emphasis on economic and political decentralisation while others praised him for acts like Scholarship distribution, Legal awareness and removing caste and gender barriers.

Aadil, still running in his late 20′s is young and dynamic lawyer, who started his practice in Supreme Court with Mr. Salman Khursheed. But soon he realized that besides, being a good lawyer, he has to be a good activist also. So, he moved to his roots and started working for the uplift of the people of his area. To help students excel in the field of education, Aadil started a campaign for scholarships. It was his sustained effort that resulted in the submission of 55,000 forms for various scholarships. He also negotiated with the ministry of minority affairs in New Delhi and was successful in getting increased the quota of scholarships for Bihar from 1 lakh 45 thousands to 2 lakh 80 thousand.

Mohd. Aadil Hasan Azad, aged 27 years has a strong educational background. He did his BSL LLB from University of Pune, Diploma in Cyber Law from Asian School of Cyber Law, Pune, Diploma in Criminology, Symbiosis International University, Pune. He has a good family background. His grandfather was Chief Justice Khalil Ahmad, who later became Governor of Odisha and Lokayukta of Jammu and Kashmir and also founder member of Commerce College Patna, Oriental Minority College Patna and Zakir Hussain +2 School, Patna. His Nana jaan Mr. Jamel Ahmad was congress MLA and chairman of Bihar State Small Scale Industry Corporation, who was also founder secretary of RPM Women’s College, Patna. Aadil’s maternal grandfathers’ father Mr. Shah Kamal was given the title of Khan Bahadur by Britishers in 1908. He belongs to the family of freedom fighters. Bismil Azeemabadi, who penned ‘sarfroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai… dekhna hai zor kitna bazuye qatil me hai’. Bismil, the poet, was Aadil’s maternal grandmother’s elder brother.

Aadil’s father Mr. Abul Hasan was CEO of Bihar Waqf Board and mother was the professor and HOD of Urdu Department in RPM Women’s College, Patna. Aadil started his social involvement in issues pertaining to the nation and soon became the general secretary of North Indian Students’ Association from 2005-08 and finally became its president from 2008-2010.

After leaving Pune finishing his studies, he got the assembly ticket from Lok Janshakhti Party of Shri Ramvilas Paswan from Balrampur in Kathiar district of Bihar. He and his family had contributed in more than one ways to improve the infrastructure of this constituency. Aadil’s father’s efforts bore fruits and Ajhrail, a place in this constituency got a railway station and a post office. He was also instrumental in bringing a post office to Madhepur. Not only this, he donated a land costing about 60 lakh rupee for the construction of a government hospital in Ajhrail. Aadil is also not behind from his father when it comes to the development of this particular constituency. It was because of the efforts of Aadil that Barsoi could get the speed post service. BSNL tower in Kurum also bears the stamp of his hard work. He also actively participated for AMU Kishanganj Campus Movement and AIIMS, Raiganj and even approach Prime Minister of India in this regard.

He organised various legal awareness camp and highlighted the negative aspects of petty cases. He made the rustic villagers understand that petty cases can be solved through negotiation and costly litigation only hampers their growth. It was not that he went unnoticed, the number of cases dropped and soon he was selected by the Bihar Government for Legal Awareness Camps in most backward Seemanchal region. The next task Aadil took was the empowerment of widow and divorced women. A large number of divorced women benefited from the scheme of the Government of Bihar wherein they got 10,000/- per head. With his unique ability to analyse a given crisis critically and constructively engage with multiple parties who may not necessarily agree with him, he was instrumental in getting his work done for the people of his region. Aadil, is a class apart with his insightful analysis, gentle advocacy and brilliant articulation.

Now a days campaign for special status for Seemanchal keeps Aadil busy. He keeps organizing demonstrations and seminars for the cause of Seemanchal. Educational advancement of his area is his priority. For this he regularly spreads awareness about Right to Education and has also filed a case in the Supreme Court regarding the implementation of RTE. Social justice is at the core of his heart. He favours reservation for Muslims and also is contesting a case in the Supreme Court for the 4.5 percent reservation for minorities.

In short span, Aadil has earned credibility and respect from wide spectrum of people. The vibrant environment he created and the support reaffirmed by numerous like-minded people has certainly boosted his confidence and we can expect more people joining the same league or genre.

]]> http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/12/adil-a-man-with-a-mission/feed/ 1 http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/12/beyondheadlines-congratulates-honorary-editor-kkdash-for-joining-australian-think-tank/ http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/12/beyondheadlines-congratulates-honorary-editor-kkdash-for-joining-australian-think-tank/#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:01:40 +0000 admin http://beyondheadlines.in/?p=14464 Afroz Alam Sahil for BeyondHeadlines

BeyondHeadlines Team Congratulates Mr. Kamala Kanta Dash for being nominated to head the Public Policy and Communications division of an Australian think tank in Melbourne, Australia. Mr. Dash joined as the new director at South Asia Community Link Group-Australasia (SACLG-Australasia) and will be responsible for shaping policy and research initiatives on South Asian and Australian communities. He will engage with the Australian and South Asian governments, universities, industry and communities to undertake research and advocate policy issues. President Farrukh Hussain and Secretary Deepak Vinayak congratulated Mr. Dash in a press release.  South Asia Community Link Group-Australasia (SACLG-Australasia) is a policy, research and advocacy think tank representing the interest of the South Asian Communities in Australian continent. As a non-political, not-for profit organization SACLG provides a strong platform to the South Asian and broader Australian communities to come and work together in collaboration for a peaceful, cohesive and harmonious Australia.

Mr. Dash has been with BeyondHeadlines (BH) for more than a year and works as the Honorary Editor to guide us in the process. As a firm believer in the values of democracy and secularism, he has strong credentials in community service, media and policy analysis. We at BH have been happy to have his guidance and support. He played an important role in shaping Initiative for Nation’s Service and Affirmative Action Network (INSAAN), an India based International Foundation. The name INSAAN was his suggestion as he felt that we Indians have not been doing enough to promote Insaaniyat, “the intrinsic human quality that connects all of us.” Ideologically rooted in the ideas of social inclusion, communal harmony and interfaith he chose to work on the Muslim Community(ies) of Delhi for his PhD and wanted to understand Muslim Community Engagement in Public Policy with a specific focus on Police-Muslim Engagement. He is working with Prof Marika Vicziany, Dr. Pete Lentini and Dr. Ben MacQueen for his PhD in Public Policy and South Asian Studies at Monash University.

Mr. Dash comes from the village of Brahmapur of Kendrapara in the state of Odisha. He has an MA in Political Science from Ravenshaw and an M.Phil in IR from JNU. He was awarded Odisha Government’s Higher Education Fellowship in 2003 to pursue an MPhil in JNU and also received Australia India Council (AIC) Fellowship in 2006-07 to study Civil Society and State Interface in Fighting Terrorism in India and Australia. During his JNU days he worked for popularising Yoga and National Service Scheme (NSS) on the campus and beyond. In Australia he has received training in community dialogue from Centre for Dialogue of La Trobe University and promoting healthy relationships in families from Spectrum. He has won awards in community service, debating and script writing.  We at BeyondHeadlines and INSAAN International Foundation are proud of our association with Mr. Dash and wish him all the best in his new role.

Read These Three Status Updates from a Facebook Profile…

My house is being used as LIBRARY by one Hindu, one Muslim and two Christian students. One girl stays with me. One girl comes in morning have lunch with us and leaves in evening. Two others come after school hours and leave at night. When I come back from office all for reading together in my hall. Seriously that sight fills me with some happiness. I just smile at them and proceed to my work. We all celebrate together all our festivals and enjoying their Company..

Today early Morning I Called my Department Minority officer and asked ‘Dec 18th National Minorities Rights Day, how are you celebrating it?” He  said “Sorry mam not aware of it’. I said we must celebrate it with two motives. First to give awareness about various government schemes available for them and second to impart confidence in them that they are equally empowered to enjoy their rights as part of the main-stream. He called me after 1/2hr and said no other Department, not even State Head Office celebrating. When I insisted he sought time. Finally we decided to celebrate it on 21^st December, between next year we will do it on Dec 18th only,  and this year we will be initiators.

When I took charge (some two months back, off course whole October was full of holidays and hardly anybody was in HQ except me.:-). The 2011-12 MGNREGA pending bills for payment in my Department were Rs. 14 crore, Today I reduced thee to Rs.50 lacs..

And The Profile description reads- MY HEART IS A TENDER LEAF BUT MY BRAIN IS TOUGH LIKE A DIAMOND. Because am very emotional human being but at the same time I don’t loose myself in the wave of that motions, rather I use them to do my best to serve the needy. I think what I mean is I EMPATHIZE very soon in every incident… but don’t become traumatic but try to do my best to the victims.

These status updates are from Profile of Miss Pallavi Akurathi. Pallavi is an IAS officer Currently posted as Deputy Secretary, Hyderabad Karnataka Area Development Board, Gulbarga with additional charge of chief executive officer, Zilla Panchayat, Gulbarga. 

Pallavi uses her home as a study place for future civil service aspirants. BeyondHeadlines Believes Pallavi is a real Hero India Needs. Here is a Short Interview with Pallavi.

Q. What inspired you to use your home as a library, and when did it all began?

A. It was just not a pre-planned one. Being a single lady I thought I can have the company of my students whom I have been training through phone and Facebook. So one day I posted on facebook that willing girls can join me and prepare. I selected two girls a year ago who started staying with me and when I was transferred one girl went back. But Seema Faruki, whom I have been training from past 2 years over phone, being a native of Gulbarga she started coming to my home and  reading as her home is too small with many family members. And a local officer who liked the serene atmosphere in my home requested me that her children will also read in my home. I happily accepted that… and that is how it happened.

Q. Are the students preparing for Civil or Just General Studies?

A. Two girls are preparing for civils and remaining two are tenth and PUC.

Q. Do you provide them reading material? Also, Please share the best experience of being together with them.

A. Actually I donated all my books immediately I got my results to some Libraries in Hyderabad. Now I suggest them what to read and how to read. of the four only Seema needs financial support which am ready to provide.

Q. There are many IAS officers in India, and what we read about them is not very pleasing, what makes you choose this difficult way of social service along with your JOB?

A. One day when I was sick both Sweta and Megha did their best to take care of me. Being far away from all my family members in a totally new land yet God ensured somebody to take utmost care of me. This happened when I was in Sakaleshpura, When Sweta’s father came to my home to see her while returning he said ‘Am very very happy that my daughter is with you’. When Megha’s dad came he complimented me ‘now I have one more daughter’ After few days Sweta lost her dad and at that time  I spent whole night with her MOTIVATING with my emotional filled words and inspired her to pursue to realize her dad’s dream and not to give up. My words did not go waste. She became normal soon and RESTARTED her battle.

Q. It is been three years you are in service, Have you ever thought that you are not able to do what you really wanted to do? Apart from your personal efforts.

A. Hmmm… Administration is not just development as I thought before joining service. It is running the system, ensuring orderliness, not allowing evil to spread and then Development. Nothing to feel missing. I am enjoying my job.

Q. A sentence, or a thought, or any incident that keep your spirits high and inspires you?

A. Yes… There are two quotes which I always tell myself. First WORK AS IF NO GOD IS GOING TO HELP AND PRAY AS IF NO WORK IS OF ANY USE. Second, IF You TREMBLE WITH INDIGNATION AT EVERY INJUSTICE THEN YOU ARE A COMRADE OF MINE.

Q. It is quite normal to be offered bribes or favors when one is at higher post of service, how do you react to such offers, simply smile away or have deep thoughts about it?

A. No one dared to do so before me.

Q. Ok, you consider your honesty a weakness or Strength?

A. Any good quality is always a strength. When there is a law and order problem or any problem issue people respect and obey only that officer who has good personal records. Honesty is certainly a priority quality amongst such qualities. Apart from that unethical earnings take out the basic mental peace. BEING HONEST ONE IS SERVING NO ONE BUT OWN-SELF… for our happiness and mental peace and confidence and for basically LEAVING THIS WORLD WID A SMILE AND REACHING GOD CONFIDENTLY.

Q. Please share a moment of Pride of your duty, any Work (in your official capacity) that has made you proud?

A. When I was in Sakaleshpur I removed the encroachment of a local politician in the way of an old Muslim lady as SDM there. He encroached the way towards her crop lands. I was humbled when she came to my home to meet me and took my hands into hers and started crying that am leaving that place. I was transferred to Gulbarga. I never thought that people remember us so much. I was just moved.

Q. You qualified for the Civils Twice? What made you give your efforts another chance?

A. I cleared thrice. 101, 194 and 55th ranks. My target was IAS only not just civils. I see only the eye of the bird like Arjuna.

Q. Apart from Being an IAS, the best moment of your life so far..?

A. By birth I am an artist. A Kuchipudi dancer, poetess in Telugu, good in chant singing, painting, rangoli, mehendi designing, litlle bit embroidery, flower arrangement etc. All creative things. When I meet village grannys who know nothing about IAS etc. They say that they like me a lot just because of the way I wear my saree and my traditional appearance and my Indian creative skills like rangoli. I feel happy… And AFTER SELECTION EVERY PARENT SAY THAT THEIR DAUGHTER JUST LOOKS LIKE ME ONLY… HA HA HA… THIS COMMENT MAKES ME FEEL THAT GOD HAS BLESSED ME.

Q. And the Last question, Most of the times the honest feel frustrated when they saw their counterparts rise to prominence, they are left behind because system feels them incompetent? Are you ready to face such circumstances?

A. HA HA HA… everybody have their own definitions of PROMINENCE. AM HAPPY AS LONG AS THE VILLAGE GRANNY CALLS ME AFFECTIONATELY ‘KANAMMA’ a kannada word for Gudiya Rani. Am extremely happy with that. I don’t need any awards Just need some place in some ones heart.

Q. I forget to ask, Have you ever experienced Financial difficulties? The background of your family?

A. My dad retired as State Govt. Servant, Mom is house wife… one elder sister and one younger brother. I don’t have big financial problems but I had academic problems and throughout the preparation I could not have access to intrnet, a handicap indeed in these days. And as am a Telugu medium girl my problems were totally different. AM THE FIRST GIRL TO BECOME IAS WITH TELUGU MEDIUM. Because of that medium I studied in govt. schools where vegetable venders, rikshaw pullers daughters were my classmates. It was 8 Year Tapasya with Telugu medium I had to struggle ten times more than an English medium student to pass this exam. In every coaching center I was treated as secondary citizen just because of my medium. They made fun of me that am day dreaming to become IAS with telugu medium… but 8 long years. Though my rank slipped in between I just focused on my target and realized my dream.

Q. And I must ask, what are your thoughts about today’s women?

A. We can’t generalize anything. But to address high numbers. I like the career orientation of women but I feel sad when I see metro girls in those western wears. throughout my life I never wore jeans.

]]> http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/12/pallavi-akurathi/feed/ 6 http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/12/beyondheadlines-announces-a-series-on-young-leaders/ http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/12/beyondheadlines-announces-a-series-on-young-leaders/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:26:20 +0000 admin http://beyondheadlines.in/?p=14317 BeyondHeadlines since its inception has strongly felt the need to acknowledge and promote the incredible work that young women and men are doing throughout India. In the coming days we are going to publish profile stories of brave and inspiring young minds who have contributed to their respective fields.

Readers are requested to nominate candidates from the following categories. Nominations are welcome from both Urban and Rural India. Nevertheless, we will be keen to know more about the works of young minds who come from a rural background and/or who are working in rural areas. Nominations from women and minority communities are especially welcome.

Some key categories are mentioned below for guidance. Readers can also send their nominations outside these categories.

1.      Young Community and Social Workers

2.      Young Lawyers (for Community Empowerment)

3.      Young Doctors (in Urban and Rural Health Development)

4.      Young Academics, Teachers and Researchers

5.      Young Civil Servants

6.      Young Journalists in English and Regional Languages

7.      Young Political Leaders (for Vision, Inclusion and Empowerment)

8.      Young Fiction and Non-Fiction Writers

9.      Young actors, artists, painters and designers

10.  Young Sports Persons

11.  Young Entrepreneurs (for innovative, empowering and sustainable business practices)

Age Limit: 18-35

Nomination: Must be either by Self or by Friends and Colleagues

Deadline: No Deadline, Rolling nominations

Nominator must be able to provide the following documents in order to justify the nomination.

Required Documents:

• A Cover Letter
• A comprehensive and updated CV
• Personal story of life, education and inspiration
• Vision and Achievements so far
• Challenges faced in achieving goals
• Awards and Recognition
• Future Plans
• Web Links (if available) and Photographs
• Three Recommendations explaining why the candidate is an inspiring youth leader

Email: beyondheadlinesnews@gmail.com

]]> http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/12/beyondheadlines-announces-a-series-on-young-leaders/feed/ 0 http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/09/movement-for-samajwaad/ http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/09/movement-for-samajwaad/#comments Fri, 14 Sep 2012 07:40:43 +0000 admin http://beyondheadlines.in/?p=13093 Isha Fatima for BeyondHeadlines

पूंजीवादी ताकतों ने आर्थिक विकास की जो चकाचौंध हमारे देश में पैदा की हैं, वह सबसे ज्यादा भारी समाजवाद और साम्यवाद पर पड़ी हैं. सबसे बड़ा सवाल यह है कि बदली हुई परिस्थितियों में समाजवाद की अवधारणा कैसे जीवित रहेगी. सच पूछे तो हमारे देश में समाजवाद का भविष्य ख़तरे में है. देश में समाजवाद लाने के लिए एक शख्स पिछले 16 सालों से संघर्षरत है.

कहते हैं कि दिल में जज़्बा और आंखों में उम्मीद इंसान को अपनी मंज़िल तक पहुंचने के रास्ते दिखा ही देती है. इसी जज़्बे और उम्मीद के साथ बिहार के लखीसराय ज़िले में जन्मे 50 वर्षीय डा. रमाइंद्र कुमार एक ऐसी जंग लड़ रहे हैं, जिसके बारे में आज कोई सोचता भी नहीं है. रमाइंद्र कुमार ने ‘समाजवाद’ के लिए न सिर्फ अपना घर-परिवार व रोज़गार छोड़ा बल्कि अपनी खुशियों को भी त्याग दिया है.

रमाइंद्र कुमार पिछले 16 वर्षों से दिल्ली के जंतर-मंतर व देश के अन्य हिस्सों में 24 या 48 घंटों की भूख हड़ताल, यात्रा और सत्याग्रह कर रहे हैं.  यह एक ऐसा संघर्ष है, जिसके खत्म होने की सीमा उन्हें खुद भी नहीं मालूम… वह कहते हैं कि यह उम्मीद ही है, जो उन्हें इस आन्दोलन को इतने लम्बे समय तक लड़ने की हिम्मत और ताक़त देती है.

वह इन दिनों जंतर-मंतर के एक ऐसे कोने पर बैठे हैं, जहां से हर एक इंसान गुज़रता है, मगर अब तक मीडिया के कैमरे की नज़र उन पर नहीं पड़ी है. हालांकि इन्द्र कुमार ने अन्ना-आन्दोलन में मीडिया की चकाचौंध को बखूबी अपनी आंखों से देखा है. बस हसरत भरी निगाहों से देख अपने दिल को यह तसल्ली दे लेते हैं कि ये तो साम्राज्यवादी ताक़ते हैं, जब देश की मीडिया समाजवादी हो जाएगी, उन्हें ज़रूर पूछा जाएगा.

बहरहाल, रमाइंद्र कुमार की यह लड़ाई पांच मुद्दों पर आधारित है. विश्व व्यवस्था परिवर्तन, विश्व शांति, भारत बचाओ, दुनिया बचाओ, तिब्बत बचाओ… और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण इस देश में समाजवाद लाओ… चाहे गर्मी हो या सर्दी या तूफानी बारिश ही क्यों ना हो, कोई भी उनके हौसलें को अब तक तोड़ नहीं पाया है.

रमाइंद्र कुमार, जिन्होंने अपनी एमए तक पढ़ाई जे.एन.यू से की है. वह जे.एन.यू. में नामवर सिंह के निगरानी में रिसर्च एसोसिएट भी रहे. उन्होंने अपनी एम.फिल व पी.एच.डी की उपाधि दिल्ली विश्वविधालय में सरवन कुमार सिंहा की देखरेख में की. अपने इन अध्ययनों के कार्यकाल में रमाइंद्र ने दस किताबें भी लिखी, जिनमें से ‘बदलो बदलो सारे जहां को बदलो’ और ‘नई व्यवस्था का आह्यवान’ काफी प्रसिद्ध हुई. रमाइन्द्र बताते हैं कि जेपी आन्दोलन में 21 महीने भागलपूर जेल में बन्द भी रहे हैं.

रमाइंद्र ने अपना यह आंदोलन 1996 में पूंजीवाद के बढ़ते प्रभाव के कारण शुरु किया था. उनका मानना है कि आज हमारा देश जिसकी आधे से ज़्यादा जनसंख्या गरीब है, वह देश पूंजीवाद का पुजारी बनता जा रहा है. गरीब और गरीब होता जा रहा है, तथा अमीर और अमीर… समानता का कहीं दूर-दूर तक कोई निशान नहीं. जहां आज भी देश के दस में से सात परिवार दो वक्त की रोटी के लिए तरस रहें हैं. वहीं पूंजीपति अपने घरों को महल बनाने में व्यस्त हैं.  समाजवाद के नाम पर माया का जो खेल खेला जा रहा है, वो त्रुटिपूर्ण है.

रमाइन्द्र बताते हैं कि दुनिया में पूंजीवादी व्यवस्था हावी है. इस व्यवस्था में 7.5 अरब की आबादी में से 1 अरब आबादी भी खुशहाली का जीवन नहीं जी पा रही है.  3 अरब गरीबी की स्थिति में 1 अरब भूखमरी के कगार पर जीवन जीने का मजबूर हैं.  पूंजीवाद ने दुनिया की अधिकतम आबादी को गरीबी, भूखमरी, बेरोजगारी, बीमारी, जलालत, निर्दयीता और हिंसा दी है. इसलिए पूंजिवादी व्यवस्था का विकल्प तलाशना मानवता के लिए अनिवार्य है.

रमाइंद्र ने यह जंग उन लोगों के खिलाफ छेड़ी है, जो समाजवादी मुकुट पहने समाज ही को लूटने में व्यस्त हैं.  मुलायम और अखिलेश जैसे समाजवादी नेताओं पर सीधा निशाना साधते हुए कहते हैं कि यह ढ़ोंगी समाजवादी हैं.  यह  समाजवाद के नाम पर अलग ही सेवा में लगे हैं, जिन्हें केवल अपनी चिन्ता है.

वह ग़रीब जिसे पीने का पानी तक उपलब्ध नहीं है.  जिनके घरों में कई-कई दिनों तक चुल्हा नहीं जलता. ऐसी दयनीय स्थिति को देख रमाइंद्र ने हर गरीब को अधिकार दिलाने की कसम खाई है. अब वो अपने इस मक़सद में कितना सफल होते हैं, ये तो भविष्य के गर्त में है.

]]> http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/09/movement-for-samajwaad/feed/ 0 http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/05/mohammad-yunus-first-chief-minister-of-bihar/ http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/05/mohammad-yunus-first-chief-minister-of-bihar/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 08:34:29 +0000 admin http://beyondheadlines.in/?p=11256 Mohammad Sajjad

While turning the pages of history of the colonial Indian Muslim politics, only issue that comes immediately to our mind is their engagement with the question of Hindu-Muslim relations, communalism, and power sharing formula in various sectors/ institutions. Here is a case a little away from all such issues.

It is a relatively lesser known aspect of history that Mr. Md. Yunus earns the distinction of having served as the first Premier (Prime Minister, now called Chief Minister) of Bihar during April- July 1937.

Starting his career as barrister, he also flirted with journalism by bringing out English daily, Patna Times, an English weekly, edited by Shambhunath Jha. He was elected on the symbol of the Muslim Independent Party (MIP) in 1937, which had emerged as the second largest party in Bihar, almost routing the separatist political formations like the Syed Abdul Aziz led Muslim United Party, i.e. MUP (launched in December 1936, subsequently it merged with the Muslim League, which was organizationally almost non-existent in Bihar till the 1937 elections), and Ahrar. As many as 20 candidates were elected on the symbol of MIP, 6 more independent candidates and 3 Muslim candidates belonging to the Congress (including Dr. Syed Mahmud, 1889-1971) won with the support of the MIP.

In the 1937 provincial elections the Congress and the MIP contested elections with seat adjustments. The MIP won 15 out of 40 reserved seats and the Congress won five seats. The Muslim League was unable to secure any seats.
Such ideological affinity and electoral adjustment gave rise to an impression in the public mind that the Congress and MIP would jointly form the government in Bihar. The Congress, however, reneged on the tacit understanding, giving a rude shock to the Muslims. The Congress, on the issue of ‘Governor’s discretion’ initially refused to form the ministry. The Congress insisted that it would form the ministry only after an assurance from the Governor that he would not use his special/ discretionary powers. The deadlock in Bihar continued from April to July 1937; till then the MIP, the second largest Party, formed its ministry under Md. Yunus, making it clear that it would give way to the Congress, once it decided to accept office. The plea of the MIP was that the Act of 1935 itself provided for Governor’s special powers, and the very fact that the Congress contested elections on the basis of the Act was evidence of the Congress’ acceptance of the condition (Governor’s special powers). Some Urdu sources indicate that the MIP wished to form a coalition ministry with the Congress, which was not acceptable for the latter, even in July 1937. Accordingly, the MIP, being the second largest party, formed its ministry (for about 120 days during April-July 1937), though making it pretty clear that it would give way to a new ministry as soon as the Congress reconsidered its decision. However, there took place a sort of ‘Hindu backlash’ against the MIP, whereby, according to Taqi Raheem, even the Socialists, including Abdul Bari, were embittered by the fact of the MIP’s formation of the interim ministry. (For details see my essay in SAHC, London, vol. 2, no.1, January 2011, It details how the Congress outrageously denied legitimate share in power to the Muslims)

What was MIP? 

The Muslim Independent Party (MIP) was a political party launched on 12 September 1936 by the Imarat-e-Shariah, under the leadership of Maulana Abul Mohasin Mohd Sajjad (d. 1940) of the Jamiatul Ulema-e-Hind. This [the Imarat-e-Shariah] was an agenda of Maulana Azad, in whose, “scheme of things, in countries like India where Muslims were a minority and did not hold political power, the Imarat would function as an institution of political authority and state power…He envisaged it maintaining a relationship with the country’s government through a collective agreement” (Papiya Ghosh, IESHR, 1997). Assisted by ulema and mashaikh, in order to prepare a legitimate popular support base, the Imarat had to establish shariat courts (Darul Qaza).  The MIP was described as a party for the emancipation of the poor and the uplift of agriculture. The MIP supported the Congress goal of independence but aimed at securing constitutional safeguards for religion and culture. For bearing ‘an unmistakable resemblance with the Congress’ the MIP earned lamentations of the Bihar Muslim League (The Indian Nation, 9 November 1934). Its leaders like Usman Ghani, Hafiz Md sani and Shaikh Adalat Husain of Bettiah had suffered imprisonment for having participated in the Civil Disobedience movement of 1930-32 (The Indian Nation, 10 November 1934). Imarat-e-Shariah’s mouthpiece Imarat, an Urdu fortnightly (banned during the Civil Disobedience Movement) and subsequently giving birth to Naqeeb, Urdu weekly articulated the muttahidah qaumiyat (composite nationalism) and contested the two nation theory of Jinnah’s Muslim League till very end.

How did Yunus’ ministry perform?

Displaying his deep concern for being accommodative towards all social groups, Yunus made it a point to have people from a cross section in his cabinet.  He kept the departments of Law and Order, Judicial and Jail, Education and Registration with himself. Babu Guru Sahai Lal was given Rural Development; Kumar Ajit Prasad Singh Dev was given Local Self Government, and Abdul Wahab Khan got the Revenue dept.

Agrarian issues seem to have been addressed on priority basis by the Yunus led ministry. An Urdu account (1987) written by his contemporary, Asghar Imam Falsafi (1902-1997), in his, Mr Mohd Yunus ke Daur-e-Wizarat ka Ek Aks, records that Mr. Yunus was very accessible to the common people, undertook mammoth visits of the villages, directly hearing the problems of the peasants; he paid special attention to the production of sugar-canes and to control flood. [Taqi Raheem has also compiled Tazkira-e-Yunus.] In 1931 food grain prices had fallen. He, therefore, reduced the burden of rent to be paid by the tenants. The Hindi-Urdu tension and the Hindu-Muslim tension was a subject nobody could afford to ignore then. He was a type of politician who never tried to shift the blames. He never allowed the personal prejudices to influence his professional business. For example, his decision to accept the office of the ministry was met with great uproar by the Congress and the Socialists. On 31st March 1937, they staged a huge dharna before the house of Mr Md Yunus; which had turned violent and stone pelting was done on Yunus’ house.  Thus they were arrested by the police. On 1st April, immediately after accepting the office, the first order issued by Mr Yunus was to release them, and other under-trial prisoners/ freedom fighters unconditionally. Frequent jail inspection to look after the inmates (mostly freedom fighters), where he had hours long detailed conversations with the inmates, and it was a testimony of his style of functioning. Responding to a communal tension in Aurangabad, on 22 April 1937, he rushed to the place of occurrence, involved the two communities in talks and persuaded them to agree for peaceful living, without calling even a single extra policeman; he personally led the procession of idol immersion. This exercise consumed his four hours and things were settled effectively. Lord Zetland is said to have got highly impressed with such a prompt, effective and judicious way of dealing with such sensitive matter, and therefore he showered laurels for his administrative management. The Hindus-Muslims of Aurangabad jointly hosted a feast in which Yunus was the chief guest.

His ministry restored the Local self Government (Democratic Decentralism), convened elections for it. Then in late 1937, he undertook a survey of the Diara lands (the then Monghyr district) along with the collectors, commissioner and the Member of the Revenue Board, and asked them to prepare a master plan for the agrarian development of that region. In 1915-16, a 15 year land settlement was made which expired on 31 March 1930, and then this settlement was again extended. But the Yunus ministry substantially reduced the rent (raiyati) to be paid by the peasantry of Diara.  It included complete waiver of the arrear of the rent for 1933-34, which was Rs 5039. And for the subsequent three years the waiver was up to 50%. This was not done out of electorally dictated hasty populism, but Yunus got done a comprehensive survey by Nagendra Lal Bose, the Deputy Collector. A proper legislation was done (Act 112), applications for the reduction of lagan were invited by the Settlement officers of the thanas, on four anna stamp paper, without requiring signature of an advocate. This was done by extensive campaign in the villages so that the peasants don’t fall prey of bureaucratic corruption (bribery).

Earlier in 1908, he had participated in the Lahore session of the Congress of 1908. For many years he served as the President of the Bihar Students’ Association. In 1916, he represented in the Imperial Legislative Council and during 1921-32 he was a member of the Bihar Legislative Council.

He called a comprehensive meeting with the owners of the sugar mills of the Tirhut Division, and persuaded them to operate the mills till entire crop of sugarcane reaches the mills, for it he also got reduced the rail fares by 60% so that import of the sugarcane from the adjacent provinces could be encouraged for the mills. These steps helped in mitigating the peasants’ restlessness, and thereby rural indebtedness was sought to be fought. For further achievement on this aspect of rural indebtedness, he undertook following four steps:

(a)    Establishment of a board to arbitrate the loan related disputes,
(b)   A ceiling on the rate of interest taken by the moneylenders,
(c)    Establishment of Land Mortgage Banks,
(d)   Registration of the moneylenders and ways of monitoring them

For this, he asked Y.A. Godbole, ICS to undertake journey of some of the provinces who was supposed to propose for a Conciliation Board of Cooperatives. The moneylenders were asked to furnish a list of the borrowers.
Similarly, to control flood, he personally joined the labourers working with spades to dig soil for embankment in the Adampur village of Siwan Subdivision. It earned him great popularity, and people greeted him throughout his journey from Adampur to Chapra. Every district was provided with at least 100 boats, before the rainy season and onset of flood. He also kept soliciting suggestions from the experts on containing flood.

On 16 May 1937, he rushed to Dumraon to resolve the dispute between the industrialist Ramkrishna Dalmia and the Maharaja of Dumraon. With a peace between the two, Dalmia invested a capital of Rs 5 crores, and factories of cement, lime, and paper were opened. This effort at industrial development heralded a big opportunity of employment.

In 1929, on an experimental basis, the colonial government had permitted the use of Urdu script, along with Nagri, only in Patna Division. In June 1937, Yunus extended this to entire province. [In Manbhum (then in Bihar, now in West Bengal) district, Bengali was also allowed along with Nagri].  In fact, the Bihar branch of the Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu had convened a meeting in the Anjuman Islamia Hall of Patna on 27 May 1937 pressing for this demand, and they had convened around one thousand meetings in different parts of Bihar, including some in rural areas. The Tribune is said to have given wide coverage of this movement for Urdu, and editorialized in appreciation of this step.

The magnificent, imposing buildings of the Assembly and Council, and that of the Patna Civil Court were constructed by his ministry.

He remained lifelong President of the “Theosophical Society” and “Mel Milap Association” of Annie Besant (Mahamaya Prasad was the Secretary); had donated his one of the personal houses to it. It also launched a magazine Mel Milap, it was a bilingual journal (Urdu and Nagri), which also published poems of Yunus.

He kept reiterating that the day the congress will decide to accept the office, the MIP will step down, this decision came on 7 July 1937, but as an officiating Premier he had to continue in the office till 19 July 1937. He was particularly fond of debates in the assembly/council (in fact his own election as the Premier of Bihar was done after 4 day long debates participated and arbitrated also by Maulana Azad), had 3-4 day long debates on the Act of 1935 and then proposed amendments and moved Agriculture Income Tax Bill, and a Bill for exempting the Waqf properties from taxation. He also proposed Bills for:

(a) Protection of the personal laws of the Muslims,
(b) A draft proposal for proportionate representation of Muslims in the municipal and district boards,
(c) Protection and maintenance of the Muslim Waqf properties

Besides, after quitting the office of the Premier, he did not remain silent and inactive. He spoke in the assembly on the issues like the riots of Tilkori (Hazaribagh, 10 May 1938), Giani Nabiganj (P.S. Sikandra, Monghyr, 7 July 1938), Deawan (26 July 1938), Bhagalpur (2 August 1938).

Early Life of Yunus

Born at Penhara (P.S. Naubatpur, Subdivision Danapur, Patna), he belonged to the descendents of a Sufi, Hazrat Shah Ibrahim Malik, whose tomb is on the hills of Bihar Shareef (Nalanda). His father was Moulvi Ali Hasan, a zamindar of the village, and advocate in the Patna Court. Yunus was the younger son, [elder being Yusuf, also Bar at law], got Bar at law from England in 1906 and came back to Patna. He was very fond of games and sports. He was married to Zaibunnesa, daughter of Moulvi Abdul Jabbar, an affluent zamindar and a leading lawyer of Mirzapur (UP); this family originally belonged to Patna from where they had migrated to Mirzapur. Md Yusuf Imam, barrister and leader of Congress was brother of Zaibunnesa. Besides being a successful lawyer, Yunus was thrice elected to the Legislative Council of Bihar and he was on the Patna Municipal Board during 1917-23. He also served as Director, Bihar Bank, and Bihar & Orissa Provincial Cooperative Bank., and also of Bihar United Insurance Company. He was the Chief Whip, Bihar Legislative Council, 1921-26. Yunus had a sudden attack of coronary thrombosis, while walking in a street of London, where he died on May 13 1952, and was buried in the graveyard of Brooklyn, a suburb, 7 kms away from London.

His sons Yasin Yunus and Yaqub Yunus were also advocates, and the elder (Yasin) acted his secretary. They preserve his diary and two collections of poems, Kalam-e-Yunus, and Payam-e-Mohabbat. [Yaqub Yunus, probably an Alig, was also associated with the All India Muslim Majlis Mashaweraat of Syed Mahmud (1889-1971) in 1960s.   (Courtesy: bihardays.com)

(Mohammad Sajjad is Assistant Professor at Centre of Advanced Study in History, AMU, Aligarh)

Here is the political profiles of the arrested activists:

Debalina Chakrabarty: Secretary of Kolkata based women’s organization Matangini Mahila Samiti, has participated in the people’s movements of Singur, Nandigram and Lalgarh. She has been a member on many fora, such as the SEZ Birodhi Prachar Mancha, resisting the aggression of neoliberal capital in West Bengal. She has also participated on various fact-finding teams, including one of the first reports to probe the socio-economic effects of the purported Jindal SEZ in Salboni, West Midnapur district, West Bengal.

Samik Chakraborty: He is an activist with the Mazdur Kranti Parishad and is also a documentary filmmaker with the activist cinema group Canvas. Earlier, Samik was the state secretary and president of the Progressive Democratic Students’ Federation. Samik is currently a fulltime activist, being involved in many of the peoples’ movements in the past decade ranging from the movements in Singur, Laalgarh, lockedout factory workers’ movements in the Hooghly and 24 Parganas industrial belt, union struggles of Hindusthan Motors, Gorkhaland agitations, relief and rehabilitation demands for Aila affected people of the Sundarbans and more recently the struggle of the slum evictees of Nonadanga. As a member of Canvas, he was involved in shooting and producing a host of documentaries. Samik is also an activist of the Sanhati Collective.

Manas Chatterjee: He is a full time activist of CPIML Liberation. He is a member of the Party’s Kolkata District Committee, and Secretary of the Jadavpur local Committee. He is a veteran of many anti-eviction movements in the past, and has been at the forefront of the organisation of rickshaw workers in the Jadavpur region, as well as the organisation of workers in the industrial complexes of the region. He is a district committee member of Kolkata AICCTU.

Debjani Ghosh: Debjani is one of the leaders of the student organisation USDF at Jadavpur University, and has been actively involved in many political struggles in and around Kolkata. She was one of the many students injured during the lathicharge by police inside JU campus in 2010 November. She has participated in the solidarity struggle for labourers at the Naihati Jute Mill in 2010. Recently, she had been arrested during the protests against the TMC government’s failure to release political prisoners and withdrawal of joint forces from Jangalmahal. She was also was one the 12 USDF activists arrested while setting up a commemorative dais on Sidhu Soren’s martyr day. She has been part of the protests against the arrest of PCAPA leaders and is also part of the efforts to bring the land deal in Singur back in focus, as recently as August 2011.

Siddhartha Gupta: He has been active in the anti-land acquisition movement of Bengal since 2006, as part of Gana Pratirodh Mancha. Earlier he had been a member of the Revolutionary Youth League. At the time of this arrest he was employed as a physician at a hospital in Calcutta. He has been actively involved in organizing several free medical camps and had also visited Lalgarh for providing medical care to the people there. On one such visit in 2011 August he along with Abhijnan Sarkar was arrested. Siddhartha was also associated with Shramjibi Swasthya Udyog and has been one of the few doctors who visited the POSCO resistance area on health mission.

Partho Sarathi Ray: He has been active in various democratic rights struggles for a number of years, as a member of various solidarity fora, both in West Bengal and across India. He has reported on a wide variety of peoples movements, from Lalgarh to POSCO. He has also written a number of fact-finding reports, e.g. on Falta SEZ and South City Mall. He has also written a large number of analytical articles, on the political geography of SEZs, the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India, the penetration of corporations in retail and the middle class of India. He has also contributed to various other magazines and journals, on similar issues. Partho is an activist of the Sanhati Collective.

Abhijnan Sarkar: Abhijan has been a member of the student group USDF and has actively participated in peoples movements in West Bengal for many years, as part of different solidarity fora. He is the editor of the periodical “Towards a New Dawn” in Kolkata. Abhijnan is also associated with the Sanhati Collective and has reported on the police repression on the Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee in Lalgarh. (Courtesy: Pratirodh)

]]> http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/04/nonadanga-profiles-of-activists/feed/ 1 http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/03/anna-bole-to-farsanwala/ http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/03/anna-bole-to-farsanwala/#comments Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:18:01 +0000 admin http://beyondheadlines.in/?p=10614 Zafrus Salam, BeyondHeadlines

Over the past one decade the snacks industry in India has seen rapid growth due to the increasing demand of vegetable snacks. It is no surprise that this industry is a major contributor to the country’s GDP.

In India, snack markets offer a wide variety of snack options, ranging from roasted banana wafers, Chakli & Chikkis. These snacks make great accompaniments to tea, coffee, and other beverages.

There are scores of food businesses in Dharavi mostly run by Tamilians.  Some of these sweets and spices produced by these entrepreneurs are sold in the city’s upscale stores and hotels. 

Pushparaj Thiagaraj, known as Chikke or Farsanwala Anna, started his career as a daily labourer in Dharavi in the mid sixties. Anna displayed sharp business acumen very early, and it took him years to get started in his own business. Eventually, he got into roosted grain business under the brand of Swan Agri Products Pvt. Ltd in 1991. His products soon received wide acceptance and the demand increased so much that he found it difficult to supply on time. In order to meet the demand he hired skilled labors from north India and set up new units in MIDC-Rabale, New Mumbai.

The rapid development in Mumbai in the last one decade and the rise of the middle class provided the fillip to snacks manufacturers to expand their businesses. Catching up on the trend, he launched P K T Enterprises in 2004, which manufactures all kind of snacks.

Pushparaj Thiagaraj, proprietor, P K T Enterprises says, “Low price and high volumes is key to our success.” He adds, “The Company is doing well and as a result, the total turnover of my company amounts to Rs. 4.5 crore per annum.”

When asked about Dharavi’s redevelopment issue he says, “Small scale business will be affected. Small businesses will have to pay taxes. Protection, security and stability will become a major issue.”

Thiagaraj sits in his furnished and air conditioned office along with an office assistant at Anna Nagar, Dharavi.