http://www.twocircles.net/2009oct20/muslim_print_journalism_india_review_and_suggestions_improvement.html
Muslim print journalism in India: A review and suggestions for improvement
By Omar Khalidi
21 October 2009
Introduction
Newspapers and magazines everywhere have played a major role in informing the readers and influencing public opinion since the press began in India in the nineteenth century. Like in all other aspects of modernization, Muslims lagged behind almost every group in journalism. This article reviews English language Muslim press in India since independence and suggests concrete steps for improvement.
Leaving aside Muslim journalism in Persian and Urdu for the time being, we know of a handful of English newspapers and magazines the community members ran since the last hundred years. Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar’s (1876-1931) Comrade and Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948)’sDawn, which was founded in Delhi in 1941 come to mind. Comrade was like a flash in the pan, as it published for barely 3 years, 1911-14. Dawn departed to Karachi at the dawn of independence and Pakistan’s creation.
Between August 1947 and early 1950s, there was no English press devoted to Muslim issues. From around mid 1950s to mid 1960s only two low circulation magazines covered stories of Muslim interest: one was Victor Courtois, (d. 1960) a Belgian Catholic’s paper published from 1955 to 1960 in Calcutta and Siraat of Indian Union Muslim League, published in Madras in the 1960s. The Jamaat-i Islami’s Radiance was launched in 1963. The Jamiat al-Ulama collected 600,000 rupees in the 1960s to start an English daily newspaper but failed to accomplish the goal.
For the next two decades, Radiance shined over as the only paper in English focusing on Muslim issues, albeit from a Jamaat-i Islami perspective, until Syed Shahabuddin, a retired IFS officer and politician (b. 1924) began his Muslim India in 1983, which folded up in December 2002; then The Milli Gazette resumed it in 2003 only to close it in January 2005. Given Syed Shahabuddin’s amazing energy, it is unsurprising that he revived Muslim India, a second time in 2008.
In mid 1990s, Muslim elite in Delhi led by Sayyid Abulhasan Ali Nadwi, Syed Hamid and Hakim Abdulhamid and some businessmen tried to launch a daily newspaper in English. The effort was fruitless. Instead, Syed Hamid began a tabloid One Nation Chronicle in October 1989 in Delhi but it failed to make a mark and changed as a fortnightly under a new name Nation and the World and it is still published. A Bangalore-based businessman A.W. Saadatullah Khan started a fortnightly Islamic Voice in 1987, which began an online edition in 2004. At the dawn of the twentieth century Zafarulislam Khan began The Milli Gazette in New Delhi in January 2000. The most recent additions are the Eastern Crescent, run by Markaz al-Maarif of Assam since 2006 and Eastern Post of Kolkata which began in August 2007.
Regardless of its intellectual and physical qualities, Radiance remains the oldest surviving magazine. Its subtitle “Views weekly,” aptly sums up the majority of its contents, “views,” which are just that, not always backed up by data. Muslim India’s contents are not original but copied from other sources. Islamic Voice is advertisement intensive, with some original and copied articles. The Milli Gazette publishes longer pieces, but like other magazines discussed here, they are devoid of statistics. Given that India is a vast country and the resources of the magazines meager, it is understandable that Islamic Voice and The Milli Gazette’s contents are south and north intensive. The emergence Eastern Post is welcome addition for the coverage of West Bengal for its large Muslim population.
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Journalism in Theory
What does one expect from any journalistic writing? A minimum is a story based on the simple, eminently logical, straightforward principle of who, what, where, when, and why? Does the press devoted to Muslim issues in India follow the principle? If not why not? What can be done about it? The present writer has read almost all magazines listed here from Radiance since 1963 to Eastern Post, which started in 2007. I find that all the magazines do an extremely poor job of reporting factual news by not strictly following the ideal journalistic norms of who, what, where, when and why.
Lack of professionalism in Writing
A majority of the times, there is little clarity in the news. Often names of places are assumed to be known even if they are obscure villages in a vast country like India. No indication is given of their location within a state, much less within a district. Maps are of course rarely provided. Dates are routinely absent. Many stories begin with words like “recently,” “sometime back,” “some years ago,” with no attempt at precision. Life spans of even the most famous persons are seldom given. Terms, concepts, ideas, abbreviations, and acronyms often go unexplained or unexpanded. Headlines often do not explain the content and usually written without adequate background. Most of the stories are without statistics, much less statistics over time for comparative purposes. Original source of articles are often missing or deliberately not included to give the impression that these articles are original to the magazine.
Themes and Topics of Muslim Journalism
Regarding topics and themes within the papers, there is an excessive preoccupation with the “Islamic, Muslim World,” meaning mostly the Middle East and within it, the Palestine issue. Nothing original is written about these topics as none of the journalists has a first hand experience of the region. There seems to be little realization among the editors and management that nobody cares to read unoriginal writings about places far off from India.
All of the Muslim magazines lack journalists in the field to cover even the important events and developments in their own immediate physical neighborhood. This was dramatically illustrated when both Radiance and The Milli Gazette failed to cover Batla House police encounters of unarmed civilian Muslims in September 2008 in New Delhi. It is shocking that neither of the two magazines had staff to be deployed in an area literally walking distance from their offices. Instead both merely copied the findings of NGOS and Jamia Millia Islamia faculty findings.
What can be Done?
Suggested Topics for Investigative Journalism
Conclusions
I have been an avid reader of Radiance, Muslim India, Islamic Voice, and The Milli Gazette. The editors and management of all four magazines are my friends and I have written for all four. So what I say here is on the lines of Allama Iqbal’s famous line, “Khugar-i hamd se thoda sa gila bhi sun lay,” hear the complaints of an avid admirer! My major works, Khaki and Ethnic Violence in India, 2003 and Muslims in Indian Economy, 2006, are replete with references to all three print magazines. I have cited them so many times—wherever appropriate, of course---that at least one reviewer of my book complained of my reliance on Radiance, of course forgetting that I have citedEconomic & Political Weekly, Organizer and numerous other Indian journals as well. My plea therefore is for the magazines cited here to consider the following topics for investigation:
1. Compare development—number of schools, hospitals, roads, irrigation and power, water and sanitation---in Muslim majority districts or taaluqas/tahsils with Hindu-majority districts and subdistricts. An excellent comparison would be Murshidabad with Birbhum, for example. Or Muslim majority taaluqas of Bidar, Karnataka with Hindu-majority taaluqas in the same district.
2. Investigate the working of Haj Committees, Urdu Academies, Minorities Commissions, Madarsa Boards, and Waqf Boards—both at national and central levels.
3. Monitor the performance of Muslim members of state legislatures, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Do they speak out or they are absent from attendance of the legislatures? If present, are they speaking out at all? How many bills did they introduce or participate in debates?
4. Scrutinize the activities of Muslim organizations and individuals who collect money from Muslims. Do Muslim organizations give accounts of zakat, fitraht, khairat, sadaqat, or goods---skins of sacrificial animals collected every year. Asking for accounts is to make the organizations and individuals accountable to the community. An organization with transparent accounts is likely to attract more funds, not less.
5. Audit the performance of Muslim educational institutions receiving funds from the state. For example, what is the intellectual and scientific output of Aligarh and Jamia faculty members since last six decades? Have they published any of their research in peer-reviewed journals of national and international reputation? What in particular is their contribution to studies on the economic and political situation of Indian Muslims?
6. Don’t forget that all reportage must be based on the simple, eminently logical, straightforward principle of who, what, where, when, and why? They will vastly improve the quality of the contents.
These are suggested topics. Further topics and themes can ensue if the brains of the community and its well-wishers everywhere can participate in an open conversation free from personal vendettas and selfish agendas.
--
Omar Khalidi can be reached at okhalidi@mit.edu.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
PROPHETS WASIATH TO ALI (RAL)
PROPHETS WASIATH TO ALI (RAL)
(1) Refrain from sleeping between Subah and Ishraq; Asr and Maghrib; Maghrib and Isha
(2) Avoid sitting with stingy people
(3) Don’t sleep between people who sit
(4) Don’t eat and drink with your left hand
(5) Don’t eat those food you have taken out between your teeth
(6) Don’t break your knuckles
(7) Don’t look at the mirror in the night
(8) Don’t look at the sky while in salaath
(9) Don’t spit in the toilet
(10) Don’t clean your teeth with charcoal
(11) Sit and wear your trousers
(12) Don’t break tough things with your teeth
(13) Don’t blow on your food when it’s hot
(14) Don’t look for faults of others
(15) Don’t talk between iqamath and azan
(16) Don’t speak in the toilet
(17) Don’t speak tales about your friends
(18) Don’t antagonize your friends
(19) Don’t look behind frequently while walking
(20) Don’t stamp your feet while walking
(21) Don’t be suspicious about your friends
(22) Don’t speak lies at anytime
(23) Don’t smell and eat
(24) Speak clearly so others can understand
(25) Avoid travelling alone
(26) Don’t decide on your own but consult others who know
(27) Don’t be proud of yourself
(28) Don’t be sad about your food
(29) Don’t boast
(30) Don’t chase the beggars
(31) Treat your guests well with good heart
(32) Be patient when in poverty
(33) Assist a good cause
(34) Think of your faults and repent
(35) Do good to those who do bad to you
(36) Be satisfied with what you have
(37) Don’t sleep too much- it will cause forgetfulness
(38) Repent at least 100 times a day
(39) Don’t eat in darkness
(40) Don’t eat mouthful
(1) Refrain from sleeping between Subah and Ishraq; Asr and Maghrib; Maghrib and Isha
(2) Avoid sitting with stingy people
(3) Don’t sleep between people who sit
(4) Don’t eat and drink with your left hand
(5) Don’t eat those food you have taken out between your teeth
(6) Don’t break your knuckles
(7) Don’t look at the mirror in the night
(8) Don’t look at the sky while in salaath
(9) Don’t spit in the toilet
(10) Don’t clean your teeth with charcoal
(11) Sit and wear your trousers
(12) Don’t break tough things with your teeth
(13) Don’t blow on your food when it’s hot
(14) Don’t look for faults of others
(15) Don’t talk between iqamath and azan
(16) Don’t speak in the toilet
(17) Don’t speak tales about your friends
(18) Don’t antagonize your friends
(19) Don’t look behind frequently while walking
(20) Don’t stamp your feet while walking
(21) Don’t be suspicious about your friends
(22) Don’t speak lies at anytime
(23) Don’t smell and eat
(24) Speak clearly so others can understand
(25) Avoid travelling alone
(26) Don’t decide on your own but consult others who know
(27) Don’t be proud of yourself
(28) Don’t be sad about your food
(29) Don’t boast
(30) Don’t chase the beggars
(31) Treat your guests well with good heart
(32) Be patient when in poverty
(33) Assist a good cause
(34) Think of your faults and repent
(35) Do good to those who do bad to you
(36) Be satisfied with what you have
(37) Don’t sleep too much- it will cause forgetfulness
(38) Repent at least 100 times a day
(39) Don’t eat in darkness
(40) Don’t eat mouthful
மாலிக் பாய் - மறக்க இயலாது
மாலிக் பாய் - மறக்க இயலாது
இந்தியனுக்கோர் இன்னலென்றால்
உறக்கத்திலும் எழுந்தோடி உதவிடுவாய்
இந்திய ஒருமைப்பாடு உன் உருவில்
நடமாட யாம் கண்டோம்.
சமய பேதங்கள் களைந்தெடுத்து
சமனிலைபேணி நட்பு கொண்டாய்.
உள்ளங்கள் அனைத்தையும் கவர்ந்தாய்
கனிவான உன்பேச்சால் !
சவுதிவாழ் தமிழனுக்கு தனிமதிப்பு
உன்னால் வந்த உயர்வன்றோ !
மாணவர் நலம்நாடி ஓய்வின்றி உழைத்தாய்
உன் நாடி துடித்து ஓயும்வரை.
சேவைக்கென்றே பிறந்தவன் நீ-பிறர்
தேவையறிந்து பணிமுடித்தாய் !
செங்கடல் ஓரத்தில் தமிழுக்கு அணிசேர்க்கும்
சங்கம் கண்ட பாவலனே !
உனைப்போல் ஒரு தமிழன் இனி எமக்கு கிடைப்பானா
பனைபோல்தன் வாழ்வினை தமிழுக்கு தருவானா ?
இறையருள் உன்னை சொர்க்கம் சேர்த்திட- திரு
மறையளித்தவனை மண்டியிட்டு வேண்டுகிறேன் !
கனத்த இதயத்துடன்,
அபு மர்வான்.
Nizamuddin (Abu Marwan)
nizams55@gmail.com
jmiqbal@gmail.com
dateSun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:59 AM
subjectRe: மாலிக் பாய் - மறக்க இயலாது.
Haji Ragagiri Mallick is very simple,humble and gentleman.
He has been consistently contributing tamil short stories to Magazines like Rani.Devi. Etc and of course lot in Islamic magazines too.His short stories collection book also ,is remarkable one.
Mr.Mallick's involvement and participation in Tamil social and literary activities and uniting Tamil masses in Saudi are remarkable.
His untimely demise is shock to us and my heart felt condolences to his beloved elder brother Er.Abdul Bari (brothers are so close each other and great example for unity)and his family Allah taa'la give strength to bear this loss and sabr is the great tool to exercise and the same may Allah give to the family.
Let us pray the departed soul to rest in peace and Allah give him heavenly place.
Valoothoor,MJMIqbal,
Dubai
mohamad ali
toMuduvai Hidayath
dateWed, Oct 14, 2009 at 9:26 PM
subjectRe: Fwd: மாலிக் பாய் - மறக்க இயலாது.
mailed-byyahoo.com
signed-byyahoo.com
hide details Oct 14 (7 days ago)
பேரன்புடையீர்,
அஸ்ஸலாமு அலைக்கும்.
அருமைச் சகோதரர் ராஜகிரி அப்துல் மாலிக் மறைவு பேரதிர்ச்சியையும் பெரும் வருத்தத்தையும் அளிக்கிறது.
தமிழ் நாடு முஸ்லிம் தொண்டு இயக்கத்தின் செளதி அரேபிய ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளராகவும், பன்னாட்டு இஸ்லாமிய இலக்கியக் கழகத்தின்
செளதி அரேபிய ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளராகவும், இனிய திசைகள் மாத இதழின்
பேரார்வலராகவும் மாலிக் ஆற்றிய அரும் பணிகள் பல...
அரபகம் வாழும் அனைத்துத் தமிழர்களுக்கும் பேருதவியாகத் தனது வாழ்நாளை முற்றிலும் அர்ப்பணித்துக் கொண்ட அற்புத மனிதர் அவர்...
தாய்மொழியாம் தமிழுக்குச் சங்கம் கண்டு தொண்டாற்றிய இலக்கியக்கர்த்தா... சிறந்த சிறுகதையாசிரியர்...
நல்லதோர் கவிஞர்... பன்னூலாசிரியர்...
தாய்மண்ணிலும் அரபகத்திலும் கல்விப் பணிகள் எண்ணற்றவையாற்றிய
அதிசய மாமனிதர்.. தான் பயின்ற ஜமால் முகம்மது கல்லூரியின் வளர்ச்சியில் உறுதுணை நின்ற உத்தம மாண்பாளர்... அரபகத்தில் இந்தியக் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களின் ஒருங்கிணைப்பிற்கும் உயர்விற்கும் அரும்பாடுபட்ட ஆற்றலாளர்... ஆயிரக்கணக்கான மாணவர்களின் கல்வி தொடரத் துணை நின்றுதவிய வள்ளல் பெருந்தகை... சமுதாய அமைப்புகளானாலும் அரசியல் அமைப்புகளானாலும் ஆர்வம் செலுத்தி ஆலோசனைகள் வழங்கி நிதி உதவி
உரிய பணிகளாற்றிய சமுதாயப் புரவலர்... அனைவரையும் அன்பால் ஆளுமை கொண்ட நல்ல பண்பாளர்...
அவர்தம் மறைவு அனைவருக்குமே பேரிழப்பாகும்..
யாருக்கு யார் ஆறுதல் கூறுவது? யாருக்கு யார் தேறுதல் சொல்வது?..
இறைவனின் நாட்டமெனெ அறிவு ஆற்றுப்படுத்த முனைந்தாலும்
மனித மனம் அழுதுகொண்டுதானே இருக்கிறது...
கையற்றுப் போன இந்த நிலையில் இறையை நோக்கிக்
கையை ஏந்துவதைத் தவிர நம்மால் வேறென்ன செய்துவிடமுடியும்...
யா அல்லாஹ் மறைந்த மாண்பாளரை உன் பொருத்தத்தில்,திருப்தியில் இருத்திக் கொள்வாயாக..
அவரது பாவங்களையல்லாம் மன்னித்து மறுமை நல் சுவன
வாழ்வை வழங்கி அருள்வாயாக...
அவரது உத்தமத் துணைவியாருக்கும் நல்லறப் பிள்ளைகளுக்கும் உற்றாருக்கும் உறவினர்களுக்கும்
ஆறுதலும் தேறுதலும் தந்து அவர் விட்டுச் சென்ற பணியைத் தொடர அருள் புரிந்து உதவுவாயாக...
முந்திச் சென்றவருக்காகப் பிந்திச் செல்ல இருக்கிற நாம்
துஆ செய்வோம்... அவர்தம் பணி தொடர்வோம்..வஸ்ஸலாம்...
அன்பு,
சேமுமு.
(பேராசிரியர் டாக்டர் சேமுமு.முகமதலி
பொதுச்செயலாளர் தமிழ்நாடு முஸ்லிம் தொண்டு இயக்கம்
பொதுச்செயலாளர் பன்னாட்டு இஸ்லாமிய இலக்கியக் கழகம்
ஆசிரியர் இனிய திசைகள் மாத இதழ்)
semumu
இந்தியனுக்கோர் இன்னலென்றால்
உறக்கத்திலும் எழுந்தோடி உதவிடுவாய்
இந்திய ஒருமைப்பாடு உன் உருவில்
நடமாட யாம் கண்டோம்.
சமய பேதங்கள் களைந்தெடுத்து
சமனிலைபேணி நட்பு கொண்டாய்.
உள்ளங்கள் அனைத்தையும் கவர்ந்தாய்
கனிவான உன்பேச்சால் !
சவுதிவாழ் தமிழனுக்கு தனிமதிப்பு
உன்னால் வந்த உயர்வன்றோ !
மாணவர் நலம்நாடி ஓய்வின்றி உழைத்தாய்
உன் நாடி துடித்து ஓயும்வரை.
சேவைக்கென்றே பிறந்தவன் நீ-பிறர்
தேவையறிந்து பணிமுடித்தாய் !
செங்கடல் ஓரத்தில் தமிழுக்கு அணிசேர்க்கும்
சங்கம் கண்ட பாவலனே !
உனைப்போல் ஒரு தமிழன் இனி எமக்கு கிடைப்பானா
பனைபோல்தன் வாழ்வினை தமிழுக்கு தருவானா ?
இறையருள் உன்னை சொர்க்கம் சேர்த்திட- திரு
மறையளித்தவனை மண்டியிட்டு வேண்டுகிறேன் !
கனத்த இதயத்துடன்,
அபு மர்வான்.
Nizamuddin (Abu Marwan)
nizams55@gmail.com
jmiqbal@gmail.com
dateSun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:59 AM
subjectRe: மாலிக் பாய் - மறக்க இயலாது.
Haji Ragagiri Mallick is very simple,humble and gentleman.
He has been consistently contributing tamil short stories to Magazines like Rani.Devi. Etc and of course lot in Islamic magazines too.His short stories collection book also ,is remarkable one.
Mr.Mallick's involvement and participation in Tamil social and literary activities and uniting Tamil masses in Saudi are remarkable.
His untimely demise is shock to us and my heart felt condolences to his beloved elder brother Er.Abdul Bari (brothers are so close each other and great example for unity)and his family Allah taa'la give strength to bear this loss and sabr is the great tool to exercise and the same may Allah give to the family.
Let us pray the departed soul to rest in peace and Allah give him heavenly place.
Valoothoor,MJMIqbal,
Dubai
mohamad ali
toMuduvai Hidayath
dateWed, Oct 14, 2009 at 9:26 PM
subjectRe: Fwd: மாலிக் பாய் - மறக்க இயலாது.
mailed-byyahoo.com
signed-byyahoo.com
hide details Oct 14 (7 days ago)
பேரன்புடையீர்,
அஸ்ஸலாமு அலைக்கும்.
அருமைச் சகோதரர் ராஜகிரி அப்துல் மாலிக் மறைவு பேரதிர்ச்சியையும் பெரும் வருத்தத்தையும் அளிக்கிறது.
தமிழ் நாடு முஸ்லிம் தொண்டு இயக்கத்தின் செளதி அரேபிய ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளராகவும், பன்னாட்டு இஸ்லாமிய இலக்கியக் கழகத்தின்
செளதி அரேபிய ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளராகவும், இனிய திசைகள் மாத இதழின்
பேரார்வலராகவும் மாலிக் ஆற்றிய அரும் பணிகள் பல...
அரபகம் வாழும் அனைத்துத் தமிழர்களுக்கும் பேருதவியாகத் தனது வாழ்நாளை முற்றிலும் அர்ப்பணித்துக் கொண்ட அற்புத மனிதர் அவர்...
தாய்மொழியாம் தமிழுக்குச் சங்கம் கண்டு தொண்டாற்றிய இலக்கியக்கர்த்தா... சிறந்த சிறுகதையாசிரியர்...
நல்லதோர் கவிஞர்... பன்னூலாசிரியர்...
தாய்மண்ணிலும் அரபகத்திலும் கல்விப் பணிகள் எண்ணற்றவையாற்றிய
அதிசய மாமனிதர்.. தான் பயின்ற ஜமால் முகம்மது கல்லூரியின் வளர்ச்சியில் உறுதுணை நின்ற உத்தம மாண்பாளர்... அரபகத்தில் இந்தியக் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களின் ஒருங்கிணைப்பிற்கும் உயர்விற்கும் அரும்பாடுபட்ட ஆற்றலாளர்... ஆயிரக்கணக்கான மாணவர்களின் கல்வி தொடரத் துணை நின்றுதவிய வள்ளல் பெருந்தகை... சமுதாய அமைப்புகளானாலும் அரசியல் அமைப்புகளானாலும் ஆர்வம் செலுத்தி ஆலோசனைகள் வழங்கி நிதி உதவி
உரிய பணிகளாற்றிய சமுதாயப் புரவலர்... அனைவரையும் அன்பால் ஆளுமை கொண்ட நல்ல பண்பாளர்...
அவர்தம் மறைவு அனைவருக்குமே பேரிழப்பாகும்..
யாருக்கு யார் ஆறுதல் கூறுவது? யாருக்கு யார் தேறுதல் சொல்வது?..
இறைவனின் நாட்டமெனெ அறிவு ஆற்றுப்படுத்த முனைந்தாலும்
மனித மனம் அழுதுகொண்டுதானே இருக்கிறது...
கையற்றுப் போன இந்த நிலையில் இறையை நோக்கிக்
கையை ஏந்துவதைத் தவிர நம்மால் வேறென்ன செய்துவிடமுடியும்...
யா அல்லாஹ் மறைந்த மாண்பாளரை உன் பொருத்தத்தில்,திருப்தியில் இருத்திக் கொள்வாயாக..
அவரது பாவங்களையல்லாம் மன்னித்து மறுமை நல் சுவன
வாழ்வை வழங்கி அருள்வாயாக...
அவரது உத்தமத் துணைவியாருக்கும் நல்லறப் பிள்ளைகளுக்கும் உற்றாருக்கும் உறவினர்களுக்கும்
ஆறுதலும் தேறுதலும் தந்து அவர் விட்டுச் சென்ற பணியைத் தொடர அருள் புரிந்து உதவுவாயாக...
முந்திச் சென்றவருக்காகப் பிந்திச் செல்ல இருக்கிற நாம்
துஆ செய்வோம்... அவர்தம் பணி தொடர்வோம்..வஸ்ஸலாம்...
அன்பு,
சேமுமு.
(பேராசிரியர் டாக்டர் சேமுமு.முகமதலி
பொதுச்செயலாளர் தமிழ்நாடு முஸ்லிம் தொண்டு இயக்கம்
பொதுச்செயலாளர் பன்னாட்டு இஸ்லாமிய இலக்கியக் கழகம்
ஆசிரியர் இனிய திசைகள் மாத இதழ்)
semumu
This man Saves Lives, One Click at a Time
This man Saves Lives, One Click at a Time
Nagpur, Oct 20 (Rediff): For over ten years now, Khushroo Poacha has stood by the sole belief that to do good work you don't need money. Poacha runs indianblooddonors.com (IBD), a site that lets blood donors and patients in need of blood connect with each other almost instantaneously. He also does not accept cash donations.
The site has been live for almost ten years and with over 50,000 donors in its database, IBD is perhaps a classic example of what the Internet is truly capable of. But more importantly, it is a reflection of a single human being's desire to make a difference to this world.
It all started in the mid-'90s when Khushroo Poacha, an employee with the Indian Railways in Nagpur saw a doctor being beaten up because he couldn't save a patient's life. No one in the mob seemed to understand that it was the lack of blood that caused the death.
"A few years later, I witnessed the death of a welder because he couldn't get blood. The two incidents really shook me up," Poacha says, "And that was when I expressed to my wife my desire of doing something."
Poacha, however, had no clue about how he could make a difference until one day, sitting in a cyber cafe with a 56 kbps connection, the idea came to him.
"I did not know head or toe of the Internet, let alone about domain names, but I knew this would be the tool that would make a difference," he says, explaining the dotcom extension to the site.
Over the next few months, Poacha liquidated practically all his savings, purchased a domain name and started up indianblooddonors.com.
"During the time, there were no companies booking or hosting web domains in India. I was paying USD 300 every three months to keep the site live and running. Meanwhile, I had spent almost Rs 40,000 in developing the site and had gone practically bankrupt," he says.
Poacha says he even went to a local newspaper to place an ad. "I needed visibility and that was the only way I thought I could reach out to the people. The day the ad appeared, I was expecting a flood of registrations," he recollects. "No one registered."
The silver lining to the dark cloud came when someone from the outskirts of his hometown Nagpur contacted him, expressing interest. "It was a saving grace," Poacha says.
Meanwhile, the dotcom bubble had burst and Poacha was being told what a fool he had been. And then there were household expenses to be taken care of too.
"There were many occasions when unpaid phone bills would be lying in the house and there would be no money to pay them off," Poacha recollects, adding that "things always have a way of sorting themselves out. And mysteriously during such times, a cheque would make its way into the mailbox."
Poacha admits that his wife was quite apprehensive about his endeavour. "But she believed in me," he says, "And that has made all the difference."
Visibility, however, was still an issue. No publication was willing to write about him. No major hospital or blood bank was interested in taking his calls.
And then the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake happened. As visuals of the devastation flashed before his eyes on television, Poacha realised yet again he had to do something.
Only this time he knew just what.
"I called up (television channel) Zee News and requested them to flash the site's name on the ticker and they agreed."
Five minutes later, the ticker was live. Ten minutes later, the site crashed.
"I spoke to the people who were hosting the site (by now website hosting had started off in India) and explained to them the situation. They immediately put me on a fresh server and over the next three days or so I received some 3,500 odd registrations," Poacha recollects.
Realising the difference he had made, the 42-year-old started working on getting visibility again.
Over the next few months, Poacha had contacted every major magazine and sure enough, a few responded. "Outlook (magazine) wrote about me, then (British newspaper) The Guardian followed suit and then came the BBC," he says.
Along the way, IBD had also gone mobile. All you had to do was type out a message and send it to a short code and you'd have a list of blood donors in your inbox.
As luck would have it, the service became far too popular for Poacha's pocket. "By then I had stopped taking cash donations and had to discontinue it," he says.
Interestingly, IBD is not yet registered as an NGO. "We function as individuals. We don't take donations and only accept bumper stickers (of IBD) and postage stamps to send out those stickers and create awareness," he says, "I was asked to deliver a lecture at IIM during a social entrepreneurship seminar and was asked what my sustenance model was. I replied I didn't have one. And I have been doing this for the last ten years."
Today, the database of IBD is growing at the rate of 10-15 users every day and the requests have grown from 25 to 40 per day.
Poacha says he eats, drinks and breathes IBD. "The zeal I had ten years ago has not diminished and the site continuously sees innovation." The latest, Poacha tells us, is the option of being an exclusive donor to one patient.
"During my journey, I realised there were some patients who required blood every month. So if you want, we can put you onto them so you can continue making a sustained difference to one person's life."
IBD is currently on an auto pilot mode and Poacha continues to keep his day job. He says, "Initially I would take the calls and personally connect the donor with the patient's relative. But I know only three languages and I'd get calls from all over India," he laughs.
Poacha recounts an incident that never left him: "A man from Chandigarh called me and told me he was desperately seeking A-ive blood for his 2-year-old. About five minutes after the call, he got the (difficult to find) blood group he needed. Soon after the surgery he called me up crying, thanking me for saving his child's life. For me, it was just another day at work. But his whole world was at stake that day. I can never forget that call."
Last year Poacha was invited to the Asian Social Entrepreneurs Summit 2008 in South Korea where venture capitalists argued that it wasn't possible to sustain an endeavour without money. He says, "I pointed out that Mother Teresa had no revenue model when she started the Missionaries of Charity. If you want to do good work, you simply do it."
For someone who has sustained his enterprise for a decade with just a few bumper stickers and postage stamps, Khushroo Poacha knows best.
Nagpur, Oct 20 (Rediff): For over ten years now, Khushroo Poacha has stood by the sole belief that to do good work you don't need money. Poacha runs indianblooddonors.com (IBD), a site that lets blood donors and patients in need of blood connect with each other almost instantaneously. He also does not accept cash donations.
The site has been live for almost ten years and with over 50,000 donors in its database, IBD is perhaps a classic example of what the Internet is truly capable of. But more importantly, it is a reflection of a single human being's desire to make a difference to this world.
It all started in the mid-'90s when Khushroo Poacha, an employee with the Indian Railways in Nagpur saw a doctor being beaten up because he couldn't save a patient's life. No one in the mob seemed to understand that it was the lack of blood that caused the death.
"A few years later, I witnessed the death of a welder because he couldn't get blood. The two incidents really shook me up," Poacha says, "And that was when I expressed to my wife my desire of doing something."
Poacha, however, had no clue about how he could make a difference until one day, sitting in a cyber cafe with a 56 kbps connection, the idea came to him.
"I did not know head or toe of the Internet, let alone about domain names, but I knew this would be the tool that would make a difference," he says, explaining the dotcom extension to the site.
Over the next few months, Poacha liquidated practically all his savings, purchased a domain name and started up indianblooddonors.com.
"During the time, there were no companies booking or hosting web domains in India. I was paying USD 300 every three months to keep the site live and running. Meanwhile, I had spent almost Rs 40,000 in developing the site and had gone practically bankrupt," he says.
Poacha says he even went to a local newspaper to place an ad. "I needed visibility and that was the only way I thought I could reach out to the people. The day the ad appeared, I was expecting a flood of registrations," he recollects. "No one registered."
The silver lining to the dark cloud came when someone from the outskirts of his hometown Nagpur contacted him, expressing interest. "It was a saving grace," Poacha says.
Meanwhile, the dotcom bubble had burst and Poacha was being told what a fool he had been. And then there were household expenses to be taken care of too.
"There were many occasions when unpaid phone bills would be lying in the house and there would be no money to pay them off," Poacha recollects, adding that "things always have a way of sorting themselves out. And mysteriously during such times, a cheque would make its way into the mailbox."
Poacha admits that his wife was quite apprehensive about his endeavour. "But she believed in me," he says, "And that has made all the difference."
Visibility, however, was still an issue. No publication was willing to write about him. No major hospital or blood bank was interested in taking his calls.
And then the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake happened. As visuals of the devastation flashed before his eyes on television, Poacha realised yet again he had to do something.
Only this time he knew just what.
"I called up (television channel) Zee News and requested them to flash the site's name on the ticker and they agreed."
Five minutes later, the ticker was live. Ten minutes later, the site crashed.
"I spoke to the people who were hosting the site (by now website hosting had started off in India) and explained to them the situation. They immediately put me on a fresh server and over the next three days or so I received some 3,500 odd registrations," Poacha recollects.
Realising the difference he had made, the 42-year-old started working on getting visibility again.
Over the next few months, Poacha had contacted every major magazine and sure enough, a few responded. "Outlook (magazine) wrote about me, then (British newspaper) The Guardian followed suit and then came the BBC," he says.
Along the way, IBD had also gone mobile. All you had to do was type out a message and send it to a short code and you'd have a list of blood donors in your inbox.
As luck would have it, the service became far too popular for Poacha's pocket. "By then I had stopped taking cash donations and had to discontinue it," he says.
Interestingly, IBD is not yet registered as an NGO. "We function as individuals. We don't take donations and only accept bumper stickers (of IBD) and postage stamps to send out those stickers and create awareness," he says, "I was asked to deliver a lecture at IIM during a social entrepreneurship seminar and was asked what my sustenance model was. I replied I didn't have one. And I have been doing this for the last ten years."
Today, the database of IBD is growing at the rate of 10-15 users every day and the requests have grown from 25 to 40 per day.
Poacha says he eats, drinks and breathes IBD. "The zeal I had ten years ago has not diminished and the site continuously sees innovation." The latest, Poacha tells us, is the option of being an exclusive donor to one patient.
"During my journey, I realised there were some patients who required blood every month. So if you want, we can put you onto them so you can continue making a sustained difference to one person's life."
IBD is currently on an auto pilot mode and Poacha continues to keep his day job. He says, "Initially I would take the calls and personally connect the donor with the patient's relative. But I know only three languages and I'd get calls from all over India," he laughs.
Poacha recounts an incident that never left him: "A man from Chandigarh called me and told me he was desperately seeking A-ive blood for his 2-year-old. About five minutes after the call, he got the (difficult to find) blood group he needed. Soon after the surgery he called me up crying, thanking me for saving his child's life. For me, it was just another day at work. But his whole world was at stake that day. I can never forget that call."
Last year Poacha was invited to the Asian Social Entrepreneurs Summit 2008 in South Korea where venture capitalists argued that it wasn't possible to sustain an endeavour without money. He says, "I pointed out that Mother Teresa had no revenue model when she started the Missionaries of Charity. If you want to do good work, you simply do it."
For someone who has sustained his enterprise for a decade with just a few bumper stickers and postage stamps, Khushroo Poacha knows best.
Kayalpatnam
Kayalpatnam
Why the name 'Kayalpatnam'?
In Tamil, the word Kayal stands for the sea and the adjoining lands. Patnam literally means a city or town. Hence Kayalpatnam refers to the city adjoining the sea. Few towns nearby also carry Kayal as part of their name.
Masjids
Kayalpatnam has many Masjids. People can pray their prayers without fails in Masjids nearest for them. It has Masjid for each Streets. These include:
Sahib Appa Thaika [Thaika Street]
Masjid-ul-Khabeer [periya khutba palli][1000 Years old Masjid}
Masjid-ul-Sagheer [Siriya khutba palli]
Al Jamiul Azhar Jumma Masjid (In Bazaar)
Magdoom Palli (Built 1050 years ago)
Haji Appa Thaika Palli [available at Main Road and Inaugurated after reconstruction on 28-08-2008; 1428 Shahban 25]
Karpudayaar Palli
Araam Palli
Kadaipalli (consider located very straight to Kaaba)
Kuruvithurai Palli
Marickar Palli
Appa Palli
Kuttiappa Palli
Hafil Ameer Palli
Masjid-ul-Thayim
Mela Palli
Shaik Hussain Palli - behind USC ground
Pudhu Palli (Masjithul Jatheeth) (In front of Moghdoom Street)
Arushiya Palli
Mohideen Palli
Koman Palli
Kosumarai (used to be Masjid)
Irattai Kulathu Palli ( Meeqail Mosque)
Ahmed Nainar Palli
Siru Nainar Palli [also called as Kathiriyya kodimara siru nainar palli]
KMT Palli Vasal
Masjid seyyidina BILAL raliyalallahuthala(2009)
and more. And it is also said that there are more than 100 Masjids and mostly having its Historical Monuments.
People can hear the sound of azan during each waqt of prayers with beautiful voices.
Kayal Streets(Alphabetical order)
Alagapuri
Aliyar Street
Ambala Maraicar Street
Appapalli Street
Arampalli Street
Arunachalapuram
Azad Street
Bye-pass Road
Cross Street
DCW Colony
Deevu Street
Gurusadi
Hajiappa Thaika Street
Jailani Nagar
Kadarkarai Poonga (North)
Kandipichai Thottam
Kattu Thaika Street
Keela Nainar Street
KMK street
Kochiyar Street
Koman Street
Komanputhur
KTM street
Kuthukal Street
Lakshmipuram
L.F Road
Maatukulam
Magdhoom Street
Mangala Vinayagar Koil Street
Mangalavadi
Maraicar Palli Street
Maruthuvar Street
Melanesavu Street
Muhyideen Street
Muthraman Koil Street
Muthuwappa Thaika Street
Nainar Street
New Bazaar Street
Odaikarai
Parimar Street
Periya Nesavu Street
Poonthottam
Quai-e-milleth Nagar
Ratnapuri
Sadukai Street
Seethakathi Street
Sethuraja Street
Singhithurai
Sinna Nesavu Street
Sitthan Street
Sivan Koil Street
Solukkar Street
Thaika Street
Thaikapuram
Thenga Pandaka Salai
Uchinima Kaalimamman Street
Vaaniyakudi
Vandimalaichi Amman Koil Street
Vannakudi Street
Veerasadachi Amman Koil Street
Visalachi Amman Koil Street
If some of the streets are not above listed you can edit by yourself
Education
The town of Kayalpatnam had good philanthropists to promote education amongst not only in Kayalpatnam, but also in the neighboring towns. Some of the leading schools and colleges were promoted by the people from the town. These include:
Islamic Colleges
Muaskar Rahman Women's Arabic College, Cholukkar St.
Ayesha Siddeeka Women's Islamic College
Mahlara Arabic College, Ambala Maricar St.
Zaviya Arabic College, Keemu Kacheri St.
Hamidhiyya Quran Hifl Madhrasa, Muthuwappa Thaika St.
Hamidhiyya Islamic Fundamental Educational Center, Muthuwappa Thaika St.
Malharul Abdeen Islamic Fundamental Educational Center, Thaika St.
Arusul Jannah Women's Arabic College, Deevu Street
Institutes of Kayalpatnam
Central Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Girls
Central Higher Secondary School for Boys
Elkay Higher Secondary School
Government Girls Higher Secondary School
Kamalavati Higher Secondary School
Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Boys
Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Girls
Thulir Institution For Mentally Disabled Children
Wavoo Wajeeha Women's College of Arts And Science
Zubaida Higher Secondary School For Girls
A good advantage of education here is the students shine excellent in both general studies as well as Islamic studies. We can see lot of Kayal Engineers/Chartered Accountants(one of the most sought pofession for KAYALITES)/ doctors/ graduates across the world, who also did their Haafiz [memorizing the Holy Qur'an] course during their childhood.
Kayal Tamil
Vaapaa = Father
Ummaa = Mother
Kaakaa = Elder Brother
Raathaa / Laathaa = Elder Sister
Chachappa = Paternal Uncle
Chachi = Maternal Aunt
Appaa = Grand Father
Vaapichaa = Paternal Grand Mother
Moomaa / Kannumma / Kammaa = Maternal Grand Mother
Pasaaaru = Break Fast
Pootee = Great Grand Mother
Pootee Appaa = Great Grand Father
Pootan = Great Grand Son
Ootee = Great Great Grand Mother
Ootee Appaa = Great Great Grand Father
Ootan = Great Great Grand Son
Aanam = Gravy
Puliaanam = Tamarind Water (Rasam)
Valanthu = Utensils
Nasuvu (as in Nasuvuraan) = Cheating
Vaanaa/Maana = (I) Don't Want
Eekithu = It is there/Available
Appittaa/Appittan = (She/he) has grabbed (it)
Sepaale = Stupid
pacha hayathu = Innocent
Moandhu = Kiss
Baangu = Any of Five Times obligatory prayer call
Adupaangara = Kitchen
Peethuraan = Being Proud
Jeyppu = Pocket
Angana Kulley = Somewhere there
Ingana Kulley = Somewhere here
Kadavaapotti = A basket made of palm leaves - used to carry grocery edibles
Kuththuppanium = Sweet lozenges
Palkuthi = Spleen
Maangaa = Kidney
Avantharai = Danger
Jaans = Gents Drawing Room
Vootankilai = Ladies Drawing Room
Thatotty = Terrace
Vattilappam = Egg Pudding
Sadavaa Irukuthu = Feeling Lazy
Navulu/Navunduko = Move/Give Way
Mudukku = Lane (in between houses)
Kaluvu = wash (used for both clothes,utensils; word 'thuvai' is not used) Kanambo = much more
Why the name 'Kayalpatnam'?
In Tamil, the word Kayal stands for the sea and the adjoining lands. Patnam literally means a city or town. Hence Kayalpatnam refers to the city adjoining the sea. Few towns nearby also carry Kayal as part of their name.
Masjids
Kayalpatnam has many Masjids. People can pray their prayers without fails in Masjids nearest for them. It has Masjid for each Streets. These include:
Sahib Appa Thaika [Thaika Street]
Masjid-ul-Khabeer [periya khutba palli][1000 Years old Masjid}
Masjid-ul-Sagheer [Siriya khutba palli]
Al Jamiul Azhar Jumma Masjid (In Bazaar)
Magdoom Palli (Built 1050 years ago)
Haji Appa Thaika Palli [available at Main Road and Inaugurated after reconstruction on 28-08-2008; 1428 Shahban 25]
Karpudayaar Palli
Araam Palli
Kadaipalli (consider located very straight to Kaaba)
Kuruvithurai Palli
Marickar Palli
Appa Palli
Kuttiappa Palli
Hafil Ameer Palli
Masjid-ul-Thayim
Mela Palli
Shaik Hussain Palli - behind USC ground
Pudhu Palli (Masjithul Jatheeth) (In front of Moghdoom Street)
Arushiya Palli
Mohideen Palli
Koman Palli
Kosumarai (used to be Masjid)
Irattai Kulathu Palli ( Meeqail Mosque)
Ahmed Nainar Palli
Siru Nainar Palli [also called as Kathiriyya kodimara siru nainar palli]
KMT Palli Vasal
Masjid seyyidina BILAL raliyalallahuthala(2009)
and more. And it is also said that there are more than 100 Masjids and mostly having its Historical Monuments.
People can hear the sound of azan during each waqt of prayers with beautiful voices.
Kayal Streets(Alphabetical order)
Alagapuri
Aliyar Street
Ambala Maraicar Street
Appapalli Street
Arampalli Street
Arunachalapuram
Azad Street
Bye-pass Road
Cross Street
DCW Colony
Deevu Street
Gurusadi
Hajiappa Thaika Street
Jailani Nagar
Kadarkarai Poonga (North)
Kandipichai Thottam
Kattu Thaika Street
Keela Nainar Street
KMK street
Kochiyar Street
Koman Street
Komanputhur
KTM street
Kuthukal Street
Lakshmipuram
L.F Road
Maatukulam
Magdhoom Street
Mangala Vinayagar Koil Street
Mangalavadi
Maraicar Palli Street
Maruthuvar Street
Melanesavu Street
Muhyideen Street
Muthraman Koil Street
Muthuwappa Thaika Street
Nainar Street
New Bazaar Street
Odaikarai
Parimar Street
Periya Nesavu Street
Poonthottam
Quai-e-milleth Nagar
Ratnapuri
Sadukai Street
Seethakathi Street
Sethuraja Street
Singhithurai
Sinna Nesavu Street
Sitthan Street
Sivan Koil Street
Solukkar Street
Thaika Street
Thaikapuram
Thenga Pandaka Salai
Uchinima Kaalimamman Street
Vaaniyakudi
Vandimalaichi Amman Koil Street
Vannakudi Street
Veerasadachi Amman Koil Street
Visalachi Amman Koil Street
If some of the streets are not above listed you can edit by yourself
Education
The town of Kayalpatnam had good philanthropists to promote education amongst not only in Kayalpatnam, but also in the neighboring towns. Some of the leading schools and colleges were promoted by the people from the town. These include:
Islamic Colleges
Muaskar Rahman Women's Arabic College, Cholukkar St.
Ayesha Siddeeka Women's Islamic College
Mahlara Arabic College, Ambala Maricar St.
Zaviya Arabic College, Keemu Kacheri St.
Hamidhiyya Quran Hifl Madhrasa, Muthuwappa Thaika St.
Hamidhiyya Islamic Fundamental Educational Center, Muthuwappa Thaika St.
Malharul Abdeen Islamic Fundamental Educational Center, Thaika St.
Arusul Jannah Women's Arabic College, Deevu Street
Institutes of Kayalpatnam
Central Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Girls
Central Higher Secondary School for Boys
Elkay Higher Secondary School
Government Girls Higher Secondary School
Kamalavati Higher Secondary School
Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Boys
Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Girls
Thulir Institution For Mentally Disabled Children
Wavoo Wajeeha Women's College of Arts And Science
Zubaida Higher Secondary School For Girls
A good advantage of education here is the students shine excellent in both general studies as well as Islamic studies. We can see lot of Kayal Engineers/Chartered Accountants(one of the most sought pofession for KAYALITES)/ doctors/ graduates across the world, who also did their Haafiz [memorizing the Holy Qur'an] course during their childhood.
Kayal Tamil
Vaapaa = Father
Ummaa = Mother
Kaakaa = Elder Brother
Raathaa / Laathaa = Elder Sister
Chachappa = Paternal Uncle
Chachi = Maternal Aunt
Appaa = Grand Father
Vaapichaa = Paternal Grand Mother
Moomaa / Kannumma / Kammaa = Maternal Grand Mother
Pasaaaru = Break Fast
Pootee = Great Grand Mother
Pootee Appaa = Great Grand Father
Pootan = Great Grand Son
Ootee = Great Great Grand Mother
Ootee Appaa = Great Great Grand Father
Ootan = Great Great Grand Son
Aanam = Gravy
Puliaanam = Tamarind Water (Rasam)
Valanthu = Utensils
Nasuvu (as in Nasuvuraan) = Cheating
Vaanaa/Maana = (I) Don't Want
Eekithu = It is there/Available
Appittaa/Appittan = (She/he) has grabbed (it)
Sepaale = Stupid
pacha hayathu = Innocent
Moandhu = Kiss
Baangu = Any of Five Times obligatory prayer call
Adupaangara = Kitchen
Peethuraan = Being Proud
Jeyppu = Pocket
Angana Kulley = Somewhere there
Ingana Kulley = Somewhere here
Kadavaapotti = A basket made of palm leaves - used to carry grocery edibles
Kuththuppanium = Sweet lozenges
Palkuthi = Spleen
Maangaa = Kidney
Avantharai = Danger
Jaans = Gents Drawing Room
Vootankilai = Ladies Drawing Room
Thatotty = Terrace
Vattilappam = Egg Pudding
Sadavaa Irukuthu = Feeling Lazy
Navulu/Navunduko = Move/Give Way
Mudukku = Lane (in between houses)
Kaluvu = wash (used for both clothes,utensils; word 'thuvai' is not used) Kanambo = much more
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