Giving them wings to fly

THE Flying Birds Group established in early 2005 at AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, has been trying to empower the youth of economically, socially and educationally backward areas of Delhi by teaching and promoting innovative use of new media tools and technologies.

Young women members of the group have been producing short documentary films on real life issues affecting them, such as girl child discrimination, need for adequate health care and education, eve-teasing, domestic violence, and changing gender roles. Most recently, they made films highlighting the need to conserve art and cultural heritage at various levels of society. Continue reading “Giving them wings to fly”

Seminar highlights challenges facing Indian muslims empowerment

AAGHAZ Foundation, a community-driven organisation working to eradicate illiteracy among Indian Muslim, organised a seminar on ‘Education and Empowerment Challenges Facing Indian Muslims and the Way Forward’ at Lucknow on September 16th. Academicians, muslim clerics, scientists, professionals, and businessmen turned up for the event at Umanath Bali’s J.S. Prasad auditorium. Maulana Saed-Ur-Rahman Azmi, Principal of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema, was the chief guest.

The President of the foundation and Dubai-based journalist, Mazhar Farooqui, made a power point presentation on the educational and economic status of Muslims in India.  He gave an overview of Aaghaz Foundation’s zero-expense model and its efforts in rooting out illiteracy from the community. Continue reading “Seminar highlights challenges facing Indian muslims empowerment”

Gujarat verdict and the Communal Violence Bill

THE recent verdict by the Gujarat court on the case of Naroda Patia is, to say the least, revolutionary, in its content. This verdict has brought a new confidence in the minds of victims and activists about judiciary in secular India. The Judge Jyotsna Yagnik has enhanced the prestige of judiciary, especially through her observation that communal riots are like poison in secular India. One rarely hears such a remark in written judgements these days.

It must be admitted that it is after a long time, and almost for the first time in independent India, such severe punishments have been meted out to the perpetrators of the communal violence. Both, Dr. Kodnani who subsequently went on to become minister of women and child development, ironically after killing 35 women and 30 children brutally, and Babu Bajrangi, were confident that they would be fully protected by their bosses.  Babu Bajrangi had boasted of this in a sting operation carried out by Tehelka on the eve of last Assembly elections. Continue reading “Gujarat verdict and the Communal Violence Bill”