Maulana Abul Kalam Azad played, with great dedication and distinction, the roles of a leader of the Indian Muslim community and the Indian national movement. If, on the one hand, Azad firmly maintained that the Quran was the true guide for religion and politics, on the other he described himself as "…a reformer, guide, of the Caravan of the Quam, the Muslims".This great reformist Muslim leader and scholar of Islamic holy texts and traditions comfortably merged his Islamic loyalties with secular Indian nationalism and, as a committed Muslim believer and a nationalist, he unhesitatingly - and unambiguously - fought for Hindu-Muslim unity. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed deserves to be congratulated for writing an extremely competent biography of the scholarly nationalist leader who remains an unquestioned symbol of India's "composite culture".The first six chapters are devoted to the development of Azad's personality and ideology, and the remaining four narrate his role in the freedom struggle.

Maulana Azad's tragic contradictions

Business Standard

Mushirul Hasan is a prolific writer who has authored and edited many reputed scholarly works on modern Indian history. This edited volume, titled Islam, Pluralism, Nationhood: Legacy of Maulana Azad, consists of brief introductions on very special documents dealing with key developments in the life of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. By collecting and publishing these rare documents - confidential facsimiles of memos, notes and letters, which have been lying in government files - the author has enriched the discourse on Azad's contribution to Indian national public life. This is all the more important since, as Professor Hasan points out, "information on Azad's role after Independence is thin".Azad's life story can be understood if it is kept in mind that he was an Islamist scholar by training, with an early education that spanned Mecca, Calcutta and the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental college, Aligarh (later Aligarh Muslim University). But his grounding went much beyond his roots as a scholar of th

Maulana Azad's contested legacy

As BBC's Middle East bureau chief between 2010 and 2013, Paul Danahar had an invaluable ringside view of the extraordinary events shaping the region when the tyrannical regimes of the Old Middle East were coming to an end as a consequence of people's protests. In a sense, this was the endgame of the Cold War and of the collapse of the Soviet Union. "In the Old Middle East the unholy alliance between 'the land of the Free' and the world of dictatorships limped on because no one knew what else to do," Mr Danahar writes. It was people like ordinary school teachers, farmers and accountants who created a New Middle East, which "is a process, not a result and the present reality is religion, not nationalism or Arabism, is now the dominant force". This is the context of eight very well-written chapters dealing with Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Libya and Syria.The Arab Spring began with the collapse of dictatorship in tiny Tunisia (2011) and spread to Egypt, where the famous Tahrir Square dem

West Asia's failed revolution

It is based on Talmiz Ahmad study of historical evolution of doctrinal Islam combined with his experience of living in these countries as a diplomat

Islam's war within

From the terrorist attacks on the twin towers in New York on September 11 in 2001 to the Arab Spring of 2011, no one can doubt that the first decade of the 21st century has presented a raft of new challenges for governments and governance around the world. Ross&rsquo; thesis is that in managing crisis situations, the capacities of government or states are limited so the people have to take the initiative to manage the problems they face.

For a new world disorder

The real significance of this study lies in the fact that current American foreign and strategic policy concerns are fully articulated by William H Avery, who is not only a former diplomat but also belongs to an elite think thank that plays a crucial role in shaping America&rsquo;s global strategies.

Indian foreign policy, US style

Patiala (Punjab) [India], December 21: Thapar Institute of Engineering  &amp;  Technology (TIET), recognized as one of India's premier institutions, announces the opening of admissions for the MBA and PhD programs at its business school, LM Thapar School of Management (LMTSM), for the upcoming academic year. TIET is renowned for its academic excellence, research contributions, and strong industry linkages, offering a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines.

LM Thapar School of Management Announces Admissions for MBA and PhD Programs for the Upcoming Academic Year

New Delhi [India], December 21: Tis the season for whipping up famed family holiday recipes and serving special, homemade holiday desserts. With so many treats surrounding us this time of year, it's easy to accidentally overindulge. Combine the loads of delicious food with cold weather and a lack of regular sleep and exercise (not to mention the stress of the times we are living in), and you might find yourself headed straight to sniffle town.

How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays

New Delhi [India], December 21: The year 2024 was a defining period for industries in India, showcasing resilience, innovation, and adaptability across real estate, education, manufacturing, energy, and consumer goods sectors. Companies capitalized on emerging opportunities, achieving remarkable milestones while laying robust foundations for future growth. As they reflect on their achievements, these industry leaders are also setting bold visions for 2025, aiming to drive innovation, sustainability, and excellence in their respective fields.


Industry Leaders Envision 2025 While Declaring 2024 as the Year of Transformation and Innovation

The Andhra Pradesh government and EdTech company PhysicsWallah have signed an agreement to set up a University of Innovation (UoI) at an investment of up to Rs 1,000 crore.
The UoI is set to emerge as the first institute of eminence in the state and aligns with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's aim to provide the state's youth with education in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.
We are committed to investing up to Rs 1,000 crores by GSV Ventures - US and other investors, the purpose is to create an institution that combines academic learning with industry relevance. The UoI will help learners with the skills they might need in a constantly evolving job market, in an attempt to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, said PhysicsWallah founder and chief executive Alakh Pandey in a press release on Friday.
The UoI will work towards blending academic excellence, innovation, and research, focusing on addressing key challenges in education and ...

PhysicsWallah, PW, edtech

Despite police permission being denied, top Telugu actor Allu Arjun attended the theatre where 'Pushpa-2' was screened on December 4, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy charged on Saturday.
Even after the death of a woman in a stampede, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out, CM alleged.
Responding to the issue after AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi raised it in the Assembly, Reddy, referring to videos in circulation, found fault with Allu Arjun for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowds in spite of the heavy crowd.
Reddy further said the theatre management gave a letter to the police on December 2 seeking security for the visit of top actors and others on December 4. However, the police rejected the application, citing difficulties in crowd management.
Before entering the theatre and exiting, the actor stood through the sunroof of his car and waved to the crowds leading to thousands of fans jostling to get a glimpse of him, he said.
H

A Revanth Reddy, Reddy, Revanth,A Revanth,Telangana CM

RBI stated that while it has directed banks not to charge excessive rates of interest, it does not directly regulate the rates charged by banks

Supreme Court, SC

The government on Friday announced an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for copra by up to Rs 420 to Rs 12,100 per quintal for 2025 with a budget outlay of Rs 855 crore.
A decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The MSP for 'milling copra' has been increased by Rs 420 to Rs 11,582 per quintal, while for 'ball copra' by Rs 100 to Rs 12,100 per quintal for 2025, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.
The total financial implication would be Rs 855 crore.
Cooperative agencies Nafed and NCCF will be the central nodal agencies for the procurement of copra, he added.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ashwini, Vaishnaw

December marked the second policy review meeting for the external members, who have a fixed four-year term

Inflation, Vegetables, Fruits, Budget 2024

They also support a rate cut to avoid the risk of sharp currency appreciation if India does not normalise interest rates when most other global central banks have already embarked on an easing cycle

RBI, Reserve Bank of India

The reserves stood at $655 billion in the week ended December 6, having declined by $3.2 billion during that week

The country's foreign exchange reserves have risen by $311 billion since December 2018, when the tenure of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das began. This represents the largest forex jump under any governor to date. India now has th

Ashwin featured in 287 international matches for India, including 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is

R Ashwin's list of records

Gems and jewellery exports saw a decline of 12.94 per cent to USD 1,986.21 million (Rs 16,763.13 crore) in November on prolonged geopolitical tension, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said on Wednesday.
Gems and jewellery exports in November 2023 stood at USD 2,281.4 million, the GJEPC data added.
Cut and polished diamonds export in November declined 39.81 per cent to USD 666.01 million compared to USD 1,106.53 million for the same period last year.
Provisional exports of polished lab grown diamonds during November declined 42.37 per cent to USD 62.88 million over USD 109.10 million for the previous year.
However, the plain gold jewellery exports grew 72.12 per cent to USD 652.81 in November as compared to USD 379.27 million in the same period of the previous year.
"Prolonged geopolitical tension continues to remain a matter of concern for the Indian gems and jewellery industry, which has led to a slowdown in exports after seeing an uptick in the previous ...

jewellery

Ahead of the 2025 Delhi elections, Arvind Kejriwal announces free treatment for those aged 60 years and above under the Sanjeevani Yojana if AAP retains power

Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday announced that Sri Lanka has achieved flexibility with the IMF on its rigid state revenue tax regime, something that was part of his election promise.
Also, import of private cars -- banned from 2020 -- would be allowed from February 2025, Dissanayake, who is also the Minister of Finance, told the parliament.
Speaking about the agreements reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during its third review of the USD 2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), the president said his government has been able to raise the tax threshold.
We have been able to raise the tax threshold of pay as you earn (PAYE tax) so that those who have bigger incomes pay more while those who earn pay less, Dissanayake said, adding there would be other VAT exemptions and withholding tax on interest incomes for the retired.
An income of Rs 1,50,000 per month will be tax free, Dissanayake said referring to the current free amount upto only Rs 1,00,000.
F

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Anura Kumara

There are more than 2,500 big and small hotels in Jaipur

Interglobe hotel barcelona

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the loss of lives in a boat accident off the Mumbai coast and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased.
Thirteen persons died and 99 others were rescued after a Navy craft crashed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday, the Navy said.
At about 4 pm, a Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry Neel Kamal off Karanja near Mumbai, the Navy said in a statement. The ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination.
"The boat mishap in Mumbai is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Those affected are being assisted by the authorities," Modi was quoted as saying by his office in a post on X.
"The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the boat mishap in Mumbai. The injured would be given

Modi, Narendra Modi

Dhaka has been behind on payments to Adani Power since supply started in July 2023

Adani group

The Trump administration has earmarked clearly three areas on the basis of which it will determine trade negotiations. One clearly is to look at ways to reducing its trade deficit with some countries

trade deficit

Mumbai ferry accident: An FIR was filed at the Colaba police station in south Mumbai under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the Navy speedboat driver

Capsize, Mumbai Capsize, Boat Capsize

Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya questions excess recovery claims, seeks relief from authorities

Indian businessman Vijay Mallya leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain February 11, 2020. (REUTERS/File Photo)

C P Bhambhri

C P Bhambhri

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Maulana Azad's tragic contradictions

Maulana Azad's contested legacy

West Asia's failed revolution

Islam's war within

For a new world disorder

Indian foreign policy, US style

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LM Thapar School of Management Announces Admissions for MBA and PhD Programs for the Upcoming Academic Year

How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays

Industry Leaders Envision 2025 While Declaring 2024 as the Year of Transformation and Innovation

Andhra, PhysicsWallah ink Rs 1,000 cr deal to set up varsity of innovation

Allu Arjun attended 'Pushpa-2' screening despite police denying permit: CM

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Supreme Court removes 30% interest cap on late credit card bill payments

Cabinet hikes copra MSP by upto Rs 420 to Rs 12,100 per quintal for 2025

Policy rates have limited impact on food prices: MPC external members

MPC minutes: External members back rate cut, say inflation hampering growth

India's foreign exchange reserves decline by $1.9 bn to almost 6 month low