Dawoodi Bohra Forum

Why can't we for sometime leave alone the so called "dawat na dushman" agenda and instead try to contribute our little bit by giving ideas for the improvement of the bohra lot. In the hope that someone somewhere is listening and willing to implement.

The basic idea is the stimulate and diversify from the business mindset. Institutes should be set up to give basic training in various fields for various categories of people. Training in the industrial fields, electronics, sewing, handicrafts, cookery, carpentry, financial services, business management, secretarial services, automobile engineering, women's self help group activities etc. Surely these would go a long way in alleviating poverty and at the same time helping create a lot of jobs. There are a few chinese sayings:

When planning for a year, plant corn.
When planning for a decade, plant trees.
When planning for life, train and educate people.

If you want 1 day of prosperity, feed people.
If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain.
If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees.
If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.

Surely these should be possible for the powers that be with the vast financial power and man power at it's disposal. And I don't think they can see and "dushmanaat" in these ideas.

Uf great aspiration but nothing possible with the current dynasty, they are genetically corrupt.

Your dreams are possible when you uproot the evil completely.

Even our Prophet SAW did not compromise or negotiate with the pagans , he completely replaced the old faith with new, hence nothing short of a revolution is practical and sustainable.

Look around you in middleast the old regime must be replaced, with no power sharing.

No harm in seeding an idea. Who knows somewhere, somebody, sometime will take notice and have a humanitarian heart to take up this kind of a project.

There are so many more things that can be done and at not much of a price. Only the political will is required.

And there are so many government and private institutional models that can be simply replicated and their experiences used to come out with a really workable model.

Thank god there is a portal where such discussions can be had without a sword hanging on your head. For this I think even the abdes must be thanking themselves for the opportunity they have to vent there ideas and anger. Otherwise they may have to just cheep and chirp some inanities on the official websites.

An example of how individuals can bring sweeping changes in society, a quality which is desperately lacking in bohras due to the vice like grip of kothar :-

Azim Premji to start two free schools in every district

MUMBAI/ BANGALORE: After chipping in for the country's educational system for a decade, the Azim Premji Foundation (APF), run by the third richest Indian on his own money, is all set for a generous initiative. The foundation plans to start 1,300 schools across the country- two per district - which will be free, impart education in the local language and be affiliated to the state board.

If the idea succeeds, it could shame India's dysfunctional public education system - and perhaps inspire other wealthy tycoons to look beyond their personal status-building.

Those associated with the planning of this Rs 9,000-crore project say that the schools will focus on the overall development of their students, including their health and nutrition. "The attempt is also to establish schools in corners that are currently educationally under-served and not to compete with existing schools, whether public or private,"

The aim behind the schools is two-pronged. "One is to build social pressure for other schools to follow suit and provide quality education. Two, we want to test ourselves, understand what it takes to deliver quality teaching and learning. One cannot tell the world to improve unless one actually leads by example,"


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 536039.cms

They should test the graduates of Jamia and than close it down.Results in newspapers.

ghulam muhammed wrote:An example of how individuals can bring sweeping changes in society, a quality which is desperately lacking in bohras due to the vice like grip of kothar :-

Br. GM,

I believe Reliance and other big corporates are not in any vice grip so any reason we dont see much philanthropy from them. except TATA and to some extent Birlas no one has done much what was expected of them.

salam!

just stumbled upon this piece of work by Allama Iqbal on revolution. a must watch for everyone. Its a poem called Farman-e-Khuda ( farishton se). This is a link of a pakistani band singing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x49heJmB ... re=related

kiun khaliq o makhluq mein hayil hon pardey, peeran-e-kalisa ko kalisa se utha do!!

aqs wrote:

ghulam muhammed wrote:An example of how individuals can bring sweeping changes in society, a quality which is desperately lacking in bohras due to the vice like grip of kothar :-

Br. GM,

I believe Reliance and other big corporates are not in any vice grip so any reason we dont see much philanthropy from them. except TATA and to some extent Birlas no one has done much what was expected of them.

A good logic. Take example of those who have not done it and defend!!!

Maqbool wrote:

aqs wrote: Br. GM,

I believe Reliance and other big corporates are not in any vice grip so any reason we dont see much philanthropy from them. except TATA and to some extent Birlas no one has done much what was expected of them.

A good logic. Take example of those who have not done it and defend!!!

Maqbool,

you should have realised till now that i am pro reform as much as you or any other sane person will be. My only contention was that lack of philanthropy is not limited to DB's only but a common phenomenon in India.

aqs wrote:
My only contention was that lack of philanthropy is not limited to DB's only but a common phenomenon in India.

when convenient, the abde argument is that we bohras are an inseperable part and parcel of the rat pack of ill-behaved, selfish, inconsiderate, boorish communities and religious groups which make up the vast kaleidoscope of india, everyone indulges in corruption, how can we be an exception etc etc ad nauseum..

otherwise, in every other respect, we are the best, we are the chosen, the only ones who will go to jannah, to hell with the rest and may the devil take the hindmost, esp. those who do not contribute to the kothar's coffers.

is this the correct summary?

@aqs,
This is a cop out. The fact remains that there are communities with a better record of social support and charity, not all of them have a record as bad as Bohras.

This poor record when positioned with the penchant for pretending that we are a superior, chosen people, just shows how deluded the abdes are. All of know where our pretensions are sourced from. The sooner we accept the reality the better for all of us.

Smart wrote:@aqs,
This is a cop out. The fact remains that there are communities with a better record of social support and charity, not all of them have a record as bad as Bohras.

This poor record when positioned with the penchant for pretending that we are a superior, chosen people, just shows how deluded the abdes are. All of know where our pretensions are sourced from. The sooner we accept the reality the better for all of us.

Smart,

Parsis as a community(that too in the past) and for very few Gujaratis no one is doing anything on community level in India. All are individual efforts. As a community we are doing many things but they look like photo ops to you, but still more is required and can be encouraged.

Parsis do much more than we do. You are right in mentioning them. On the other hand Brahmins do much more than we can even imagine. They have their network worldwide. Why them only WASPs also do much more than Bohras do. Jews are way ahead than almost everybody.

My question is, inspite of not being anywhere near the top in these matters, why do we pretend to be superior and look down upon others? Is that not a deliberately cultivated delusion?

Smart wrote:Parsis do much more than we do. You are right in mentioning them. On the other hand Brahmins do much more than we can even imagine. They have their network worldwide. Why them only WASPs also do much more than Bohras do. Jews are way ahead than almost everybody.

My question is, inspite of not being anywhere near the top in these matters, why do we pretend to be superior and look down upon others? Is that not a deliberately cultivated delusion?

If you had mentioned Christians then i will whole heartedly agree but Brahmins and Jews ??

i have not come across any community level service by them in India, might be they are not active in my place but will sure like to know where and how they are contributing.

Again looking down on others is not an exclusive Bohra domain, its a world wide phenomenon where every community and person thinks they are the best and going straight to Heaven otherwise they would have switched over to the one which they think is better, That is when conversion happens.

If you had mentioned Christians then i will whole heartedly agree but Brahmins and Jews ??

Br. Aqs
Jews have done more for their community then anyone else in the world, Whether we like it or not, they have created a country where every Jew(orthodox or reform) has a right to migrate (on the backs of Arabs and Palestinians)Which Muslim Country can say that and in DB, if you do not agree they use BARAT which is total opposite of DAWAT. If anythings DBs should follow the example of Jews and give every Bohra right to come to Markaz and provide all services regardless of payment (progressive or regressive) In USA and Western Countries they have many Charitable Healthcare Systems providing free health services, Many of the renowned Hospitals in USA were started by Jews and they do provide charitable care to their community and the others. Jewish Health System, Meal on Wheel, Homeless Shelters and help to Jewish Immigrants even in USA and other Western Countries. Every year they have SUPER SUNDAY fund raising drive in USA and raise millions and Millions of dollars for Israel and local charities
Once again let me repeat my questions of Kothari Charities and see if some one can update us on the status:
1-Burhani Medical Center (in Bohri Mohalla, Mumbai) responsible for death of my mother.
2-Saifee Technical High School
3- Zarih for Ma Fatema Zohra
4-Bhendi Bazar Upliftment

aqs wrote:Br. GM,

I believe Reliance and other big corporates are not in any vice grip so any reason we dont see much philanthropy from them. except TATA and to some extent Birlas no one has done much what was expected of them.

Bro aqs,

Two wrongs dont make One right....... isnt it ?

aqs wrote:My only contention was that lack of philanthropy is not limited to DB's only but a common phenomenon in India.

There is absolutely no lack of philanthrophy in Bohras but any attempt by individual bohras towards the same is crushed by kothar, this forum is full of such cases like that of Sir Adamji Peerbhoy, Morriswalas etc. In the recent past pressure was put even on the chamdawala family to hand over their trust to kothar but fortunately kothar couldnt succeed. The chamdawalas (Rasulbhai Adamji) have some marriage halls which they rent out, the proceeds of which goes to the needy bohras, they also import container loads of foodstuffs thru UNESCO which are distributed in the first week of every month to many poor bohras.

Only IF the kothar stops poking their dirty nose we will find scores of bohras who would be more then willing to contribute towards the welfare of the needy.

Muslim clerics to the community: Sponsor poor children's education

Lucknow: Owing to high level of illiteracy in the community, Muslims were given a call for educating at least one child other than their own, during the sermon of Eid-ul-Azha namaz at Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow on Monday.

"Muslims should come forward and sponsor the education expenses of at least one child from the community. The community lags behind in education which is the key to success," said Imam, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli during the sermon.

Mahli also appealed to the devotees for extending generous help to the community in setting up educational institutions. He asked the community to ensure polio vaccination for every child for the eradication of the disease from the country. He also touched the reservation issue and demanded that Muslims be given reservation in educational institutions and government and demanded their inclusion in SC list.

Large congregation of muslims were seen at Aishbagh Eidgah, Tile Wali Masjid and Asafi Masjid to offer namaz. At Tile Wali Masjid, Imam Maulana Qari Syed Shah Fazlul Rehman Waizi Nadwi led the prayers. Waizi also mentioned importance of education in his sermon.

"Muslims should realise the importance of education and make it mandatory that their children get quality education. It would be a great service if they also help in education of other muslim children," said Waizi.

At Asafi Masjid, Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawwad Naqvi led the prayers and exhorted the devotees for shunning social evils from the society.

http://twocircles.net/2011nov09/muslim_ ... ation.html

Former bureaucrat Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmoood has a plan for the socio-economic upliftment of Indian Muslims. For him, the core problem in the marginalization of Muslims is that they are not part of the governance in India. He explains that policy formulation and implementation is done by the civil servants and Muslims are less than 2.5% in the administration.

Given the poor representation of Muslims in the legislative bodies, Mahmood sees only opening in getting more Muslims in the bureaucracy. Through his organization Zakat Foundation of India (ZFI) Dr. Mahmood has launched an initiative to sponsor coaching for Muslims to appear in the examinations for highly prestigious Indian Administrative Services (IAS).

Initiatives like ZFI and Hamdard Study Circle are making it easier for more Muslims to appear in the examination raising the odds that more Muslims may qualify in coming years.

But Dr. Mahmood is not putting all his eggs in one basket; he is also working tirelessly to devise ways of proper utilization of two other resources of the community- Waqf properties and Zakat funds.

Similarly, Zakat Foundation of India (ZFI), as the name suggests, was setup for the proper utilization and institutionalization of zakat system. His other plans include utilization of under-used masjid buildings that get used to maximum capacity only during Juma prayers. When talking about juma prayers, isn’t it a waste that millions attend the Juma prayers but did not understand a word of khutba and go back to their life uninspired and not learning anything new? Dr. Mahmood has started having workshop for Imams in addressing modern issues before Juma prayers becoming more relevant to the community at large.

http://twocircles.net/2011nov22/zafar_m ... im+News%29

aqs wrote: If you had mentioned Christians then i will whole heartedly agree but Brahmins and Jews ??

i have not come across any community level service by them in India, might be they are not active in my place but will sure like to know where and how they are contributing.

Again looking down on others is not an exclusive Bohra domain, its a world wide phenomenon where every community and person thinks they are the best and going straight to Heaven otherwise they would have switched over to the one which they think is better, That is when conversion happens.

Brother, you live in which world? If you go only to the jamaatkhana and markaz, then surely you won't understand about Brahmins and Jews.
Yes, the fact remains that those who don't think of themselves as superior convert. But remember thinking is different from being. Bohras in spite of the fact that they don't have good social support systems, think of themselves as superior is quoted by me as an example of a deliberate delusion, systematically planted by vested interests.
Those who overcome this delusion do move away from the slavery that is presently the fate of Dawoodi Bohras. Elsewhere, I have presented statistics to show how almost 75% of those born as Bohras have moved away in the last 40 years.

Smart wrote: Brother, you live in which world? If you go only to the jamaatkhana and markaz, then surely you won't understand about Brahmins and Jews.
Yes, the fact remains that those who don't think of themselves as superior convert. But remember thinking is different from being. Bohras in spite of the fact that they don't have good social support systems, think of themselves as superior is quoted by me as an example of a deliberate delusion, systematically planted by vested interests.
Those who overcome this delusion do move away from the slavery that is presently the fate of Dawoodi Bohras. Elsewhere, I have presented statistics to show how almost 75% of those born as Bohras have moved away in the last 40 years.

Br. Smart,

The world i live in doesnt have many Jews but earlier in the same thread Br. Oma has cleared some philanthropic initiative by Jews in the western world but till date i have not seen any such thing coming from Brahmins in particular and Hindus in general.

Due to your inate hatred towards any and everything DB you are eager to make it point that its only DB in particular who are less philanthropic. Whereas i have already pointed it out earlier that its a common trend in India and not a particular domain of any single community.

regarding your statistics of 75% moving away, i have already replied in another thread

http://dawoodi-bohras.com/forum/viewtop ... 3&start=30

@aqs,
You are attributing motives to my post, which is a clear indication that you are unable to objectively respond to the matters of fact.
I have no innate hatred for anybody, let alone a pathetic personality cult. I am interested in the upliftment of the deluded common bohras. This too because I was born in a bohra family and many of my family are still stuck.

I have nowhere said that bohras fail in philanthropy. The fact is that in the last few years this philanthropy has been mis-directed. From being for the benefit of the community at large, it is now meant for the luxury of a single family and their cohorts.
You have been using the standard tools of propagandists and trying to deliberately misconstrue the words that I use. Please stop using the propagandist's principle of "Suppresso Veri, Suggestio Falsi", Suppressing the truth to suggest falsehood. This is what your masters do on a regular basis.

Jamia reaches out to the homeless

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, which is celebrated on 10th December every year, the Social Service Club, Jamia Millia Islamia reached out to the homeless and destitute in the chilly winter night by gifting them warm clothing.

The students collected warm clothes for men, women, and children from their class mates, faculty members and administrative staff of Jamia Millia Islamia by circulating an appeal along with carry bags. From the senior-most administrators to the peon, every one encouraged the students by contributing to the cause. There was an overwhelming response from everywhere.

At 2.30 pm, there was a special lecture by Shri. Indu Prakash, an award winning social activist, and an interactive discussion in the Committee Room of the Nehru Guest, Jamia Millia Islamia. The discussion was based on the theme ‘Do I Know My Duties and Rights?’, where the speaker sensitized the students about being conscious of one’s duties towards others so that the rights of everyone gets protected and preserved.

Each of the team members was assigned to personally interact with at least one inmate in the temporary night shelter and develop insights into the issue of homelessness. From 9.30 to 11.30 pm, the students engaged in exploring the life of the homeless, sharing their concerns and learning from their life experiences. Before parting each student gave a packet of winter clothes to the inmates of the Night Shelter.

The students were overwhelmed by their experiences of the day, which definitely had the potential to mark a lasting impact on their perception towards needs of the underprivileged lot. They decided to consolidate their experiences and share it with wider community through Jamia Community Radio. They also decided to gift the remaining clothes to the Rickshaw Pullers in Jamia Neighborhood and hand over the rest to the NGO Goonj for further recycling and distribution.

http://www.okhlatimes.com/jmi-news/jami ... meless.htm

A progressive madrasa in the heart of Uttar Pradesh

Bilariyaganj, Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh) : Breaking the stereotypes associated with madrasas, a 50-year-old Islamic seminary here teaches subjects like personality development and home science, runs an elaborate teacher training programme, has a higher girl enrolment ratio and has students who are no less active on social networking websites than their counterparts in the metros.

Jamiatul Falah, which means University of Eternal Success, also started a mini Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and a public hospital earlier this year.

The institution now wants to start paramedical courses for students.

Of the 4,300 students, around 2,600 are girls and most of the outstation students are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Nepal. The girls' enrolment ratio in higher classes is even more.

"Educating the girl child is necessary to empower them. The ratio of educated girls has increased now. The poor girls can also get education here," Falah headmistress Salma Jaleel told IANS.

"If someone is poor, then they don't have to pay. We will educate them as it is our responsibility," Madani said.

Falah, which has a monthly fee of less than Rs.100, provides free education, accommodation and meals to at least 30 percent of its students.

The institution's alumni are pursuing research in various universities in India and abroad.

Its hospital, Al-Falah Hospital, offers allopathy, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani treatment.

It serves at least 100 patients daily and provides free service to poor irrespective of race, caste and religion.

Falah is a junction of both curricula, old divine and modern education. I have learnt a lot from here and it is enough to open my heart and mind," said Beg, who now runs 12 schools and colleges and four madrasas in different parts of Rajasthan.

Stressing on the necessary changes in the educational system of the madrasas, Madani said: "There is an old style of teaching in madrasa system and certain changes are needed in the syllabus."

"The teaching pattern in madrassas depends on books, not subjects; we have to change it now," he pointed out.

Falah has a panel to check the quality of education and also conducts a parent-teacher meeting every three months, a rare practice in madrassas.

One can see several wall magazines in different languages like Arabic, Urdu and also English at Jamiatul Falah.

Mohammad Arif, a doctor of Unani medicine in Al-Falah Hospital, thinks that the madrasas should provide the lead to the community in every field. "There are large numbers of people who follow the madrasa teaching. If the madrasas play such kind of role, then the thinking of people about madrasas would be changed," Arif told IANS.

Madani states there is a misconception that only Muslim students can study in madrasas. "Our doors are open for students of every religion, caste and area. Hindu students have been part of Falah in the past."

http://twocircles.net/2011dec30/progres ... im+News%29

Imarat-e-Shariah: The Convergence of Shariah and Tariqat

By Prof. Akhtarul Wasey

Imarat Sharia, (Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand) is one of the institutions of the Indian Muslims in which they can rightly take pride. This institution is different and unique from many other institutions with respect to its wide objectives and universality. June 26, 1921 is the memorable day when the first Ameer-e-Shariat was elected under the president ship of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in the Patthar ki Masjid at Bankipur.

The basic objectives of Imarat Shariah were:
1) The establishment of Islamic Shariah on the principles laid down by the holy Prophet (PBUH).
2) To implement the Islamic laws as far as possible and paving the way for its implementation, for example, implementation of the laws relating to Nikah, Talaq, khula’ wakf etc. correctly.
3) Uniting the Muslims only on the basis of the Kalima (La Illaha Illa Allah Mohammad ar Rasool Allah) irrespective of their sectarian affiliations and beliefs.

Apart from these, the objectives also included providing guidance to the Muslims in the field of education, employment and development, establishment of social welfare organizations for humanitarian services, supporting peace initiatives of various religious communities of the country by treating them with love and respect and generating the spirit of respect for other religious communities.

Recently, the Imarat-e-Shariah celebrated its foundation day to which I was also invited to speak. Even after 90 years of its establishment, the Imarat Shariah has maintained its prestige and reliability within its purview. Imarat Shariah has till now succeeded in organizing eight thousand five hundred villages and localities of Bihar and Jharkhand under the Shariah based guidance by appointing responsible persons called Naqeebs in every populace. It is an achievement that it has 12 departments working under the Imarat Sharia, most important of them being the department of Baitul mal, department of jurisprudence, department of religious and modern education and relief fund.

The department of jurisprudence of Imarat Sharia is very active, organised and strong. Till now more than 40 thousand cases have been adjudicated according to the Shariah under it. These adjudications are not only according to the Islamic Shariah but also less expensive and easy to get. They are administered swiftly with the mutual agreement of the parties involved. The arbitrations of the Imarat Shariah are so well conceived with the help of evidences, witnesses and legal procedures that most of its judgements have been corroborated by the courts of law of the country. This department has set up 43 sub- courts within its ambit which serves thousands of people of these three states.

In the field of education, many ITI institutions, paramedical, computer and electronics institutions are being run efficiently for years. For religious education, the Imarat Shariah has been running primary Maktabs, schools and Darul Uloom (Universities). Maulana Sajjad Memorial Hospital has been working since 1968. Help to the poor and the widow is provided from the Baitul mal and relief work and the rehabilitation work is also carried out by the Imarat Shariah.
The reason behind the success and performance of the Imarat Sharia, apart from the sincerity and hard work and dedication of those associated with it, is the fact that Imarat Shariah had in its very beginning laid down some principles that guided it in the right direction channelizing all its energies towards only constructive work avoiding all the internal differences. The principles deserve to be mentioned here so that we can learn from them to use all our energies for the welfare of the community and avoid all the disputes and differences. Some of the principles that were laid down at the time of the foundation of the Imarat Shariah are as follows:

1) The emir will not have any say in those issues that are not related to the collective and social life. It means he will not issue any negative or positive statement on such issues. For example
a) The issue of Meelad or qayam-e-Milad
b) Majlis-e-sama qawwal
c) Kissing of the graves
d) Covering them with chadars
e) Urs of religious personalities or Sufis
f) Fatiha, neyaz
g) Imkan-e-kizb
h) Imkan-e-nazeer
i) The issue of occult sciences etc.

The "Edhi Foundation" is listed in Guinness Book Of World Records for having the largest volunteer ambulance organisation in the world.

Mr.Edhi perhaps holds the world record for giving the last prescribed bath with his own hands to about 20,000 unclaimed bodies and arranging for their burial.

24 hrs Emergency Service accross the country through 250 Edhi Centres.

The Foundation is a home for 6,000 Destitutes, runaways and Mentally ill and it provides FREE dispensary and hospital services to over 1,00,000 people annually.

Edhi Highway Centres established on highways accross the country at every 25 kilometers provide round the clock services to passengers.

Prisoner's Aid provides provisions and legal aid to imprisoned persons.

Public kitchens feed the hungry at Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

Offices abroad are Edhi Foundation Services established in Japan, UK and USA.

20,000 Abandoned Babies have been saved.

40,000 qualified nurses have been trained.

50,000 Orphans are housed in Edhi homes.

One Million babies have been delivered in Edhi Maternity Centres.

http://www.nidokidos.org/threads/169973 ... attar-Edhi

HYDERABAD: Education of minority women got a boost with an exclusive medical college for them getting the government nod. The Medical Council of India (MCI) has given approval for the Dr. Vizrat Rasul Khan Women's Medical College set up at Aziznagar in Ranga Reddy district.

The all-women medical college has also obtained the Essentiality Certificate and permission from Dr. NTR University of Health, the affiliating varsity. The Shadan Group of Institutions takes the credit for establishing the first ever medical college for girls in the country.

Dr. V.R.K. College, which has an intake of 100 seats, has invited applications from EAMCET-qualified Muslim minority girls for category ‘A' seats numbering 60 for admission into first year of MBBS. Invitations are also called from women under category ‘B' irrespective of community.

“The idea of establishing a separate medical college for women is to enable the meritorious girls from poorer sections to study medicine,” says Dr. Vizarat Rasool Khan, the man behind the Shadan Group of Institutions.

Incidentally this is the second medical college and 57 {+t} {+h} of the Shadan group. The unitary campus spread over 33 acres has a full-fledged 300 bedded teaching hospital, hostel, staff quarters and other facilities.

Empowering minorities

The Shadan group is a pioneer in setting up separate colleges for girls in pharmacy, engineering, MBA, MCA, PG life sciences right down to degree, Intermediate and school.

“No, we do not want to communalise education but empower minorities. They should become an asset and not liability to society”, says Dr. Vizarat.

The two-time MLA is happy that his 18-odd engineering colleges will be churning out 10,000 engineers every year from next year.

Now he has set his sights on producing 2,500 doctors per year.

Azam Campus in Pune, Maharashtra is also one fine example of promoting education amongst muslims. It is open to students of All religions and faith. Although majority of seats are filled by Muslims as its registered as unaided minority campus.


There are various academic institutions housed in its campus :


BBA, BCOM, BSC, BCA, B.Arch
MBA, MCA, M.Arch, M.com,
Engineering, Law, MBBA, B.Pharm, Dental


Anglo Urdo School, Vocational Training Academies etc.


State of the Art and Expansive infrastructure, with cricket ground, boys and girls hostel, teacher’s quarters etc.


It employs teaching and non teaching staff across all religions and faiths. No discrimination on admission of students. First come, First Serve Basis with emphasis on merit.


One of the prominent name of their trustee is P A Inamdar, who seem to have friendly terms with bohra community. Allows Sayedna Saheb’s milad celebrations on his campus cricket ground (free or at charge, I m not sure)


He hold few tract of land in bohra popoluated area and leases to Jamat for cultural acitivities such as, recent Sayedna Saheb’s helicopter landing was on Inamdar grounds, Ramadan markaz camp, 2009 Muharram arrangement. Etc.

humanbeing wrote:One of the prominent name of their trustee is P A Inamdar, who seem to have friendly terms with bohra community. Allows Sayedna Saheb’s milad celebrations on his campus cricket ground (free or at charge, I m not sure)

Bro hb,

P.A.Inamdar is a well known builder of pune and the dai and his parasite family have invested heavily in many of his projects. Hence it is quite possible that he must have allowed the dai to use his facilities free of charge. Its a marketing gimmick which every shrewd businessman plays. Whats the big deal in allowing his facilities to be used for a few days when in turn he can attract huge investments from the 'Royals'.

Nobel Peace Prize for Abdul Sattar Edhi —Ishtiaq Ahmed

*Edhi has, through his devotion to suffering, degraded and deprived humanity, demonstrated that it is possible to be a devout Muslim and look upon humankind as one indivisible family*

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani nominated last year Mr Abdul Sattar Edhi for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. Now the Pakistan government as a whole has done the same. The initiative has been taken in partnership with the ‘Edhi for Nobel Peace Prize’, a campaign launched by SOC Films and Peter Oborne, chief political commentator of the Daily Telegraph. This is a step in the right direction because if ever a man of God in the Muslim world deserved
to be recognised and honoured for having devoted his whole life to serving the wounded, neglected, despised humanity, it is Mr Edhi. The Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 can also be a turning point in the search for role models
that Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular can look up to.

Many years ago, I walked into the Edhi Foundation Centre in Islamabad with a view to making a donation. An elderly gentleman with a flowing beard took notice of my presence and that resulted in a long conversation. I told him I wanted my donation to be used only for programmes that delivered help without any distinction of religion or sect. He told me that it was perfectly possible because the Edhi Foundation accepts help from all and helps all in need.

That made me very curious about the people who work with the Foundation. It turned out that almost all of them were retired people who worked voluntarily. The few I met in the office had worked all their lives as clerks, superintendents, school teachers and so on. They were devout Muslims who exuded warmth and compassion just like many other elderly people that I remember. That breed of men and woman still constitute the vast majority of ordinary people, but as elsewhere they understandably do not figure in the news.

The volunteers told me that the Edhi Foundation provided help with funeral expenses to poor Hindus, Christians and other minorities in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad area. Many children abandoned by their families were placed in the childcare centres, and if it became known that a child in their care was not a Muslim, no effort was made to convert him or her to Islam. I wanted to believe that and I hope that is also true.

The crux of the argument they presented was that Abdul Sattar Edhi’s non-discriminatory approach to serving humanity did not at all conflict with their faith as Muslims:. On the contrary, they felt it was the only correct path. I am convinced the roots of such a disposition are deeply embedded in our past shaped by the Sufis, Saints and Gurus who bequeathed to us pluralist values and norms.

I was very keen to learn about the moving spirit behind the Edhi Foundation. Abdul Sattar Edhi was born in 1928 in the pre-partition Gujarat\ province in a Memon household. Memons are almost invariably Sunni Muslims unlike Gujarati Ismailis and Bohras. When Edhi was only 11, his mother became paralysed and later mentally ill. When India was partitioned in 1947, Edhi and his family migrated to Karachi, Pakistan. He started as a pedlar, and then became a commission agent selling cloth in the wholesale market in Karachi. After a few years, he established a free dispensary with the help from his community.

In 1965 he married Bilquis, a nurse who worked at the Edhi dispensary. Together they embarked upon a mission to serve distressed and abandoned humanity all their lives. Bilquis started a free maternity home in Karachi and started adopting so-called illegitimate children and abandoned babies.

Edhi got into trouble for suggesting that India and Pakistan should form a confederation. Not surprisingly, he was accused of being an Indian agent. He did that at a time when the Pakistani establishment was in a trance about militarily liberating Kashmir and plans also to extend the frontiers of an Islamic confederation in the other direction — towards south-west and Central Asia — were very popular. He came under a cloud but weathered the storm stoically and continued with his mission of serving distressed and degraded humanity. It must have been a daunting experience. He continued to expand his activities throughout Pakistan and even extended help to people outside Pakistan. Many good people helped him with donations. That reminds us that apart from the super-rich and corrupt ruling class, people in general have been generous towards the Edhi Foundation and many other such activities.

According to some reports, the Edhi Foundation runs the world’s largest ambulance service and operates free old people’s homes, orphanages, clinics, women’s shelters and rehab centres for drug addicts and mentally ill individuals. To my very great surprise, the Edhi Foundation has run relief operations in Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus region, Eastern Europe and the US, where it provided aid following the New Orleans hurricane of 2005.

Edhi and his wife received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award, established by the Philippines government in cooperation with the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. He received the Lenin Peace Prize in 1988 and the European Balzan
Prize for Humanity, Peace and Brotherhood among Peoples in 2000. The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence was conferred on Edhi in 2009. Incidentally, Madanjeet Singh — the artist, writer and diplomat-philanthropist — was born in Lahore in 1924.

It is now a test of the world conscience and indeed of the Nobel Peace Committee that they confer on this man an honour long overdue. Edhi has, through his devotion to suffering, degraded and deprived humanity, demonstrated that it is possible to be a devout Muslim and look upon humankind as one indivisible family. He and his dedicated and devoted volunteers have worked indefatigably under the worst of circumstances. It is through such practical examples that the best traditions and values of inclusive and universal humanism are demonstrated and affirmed. He has demonstrated that politics and religion have to be kept separate if one honestly and consistently believes in humankind as one indivisible family.

Abdul Sattar Edhi is undoubtedly the most deserving candidate for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize in the Muslim world. A Sunni Muslim in particular needs to be recognised and honoured so that within the majority sect of Islam the peace and non-violent constituency is encouraged to grow.

*The writer has a PhD from Stockholm University. He is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Stockholm University. He is also Honorary Senior Fellow of the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. He can be reached at billumian@gmail.com*

i hear that syedna has declared that if edhi converts to DABRism (dawoodi abde bohra regressive-ism) he will grant him hadiyat - title of sheikh - without any salam..?