MOTHER'S CRY FOR HELP: A TRAGIC STORY FROM HYDERABAD

Mubina wants to find money for her daughter's costly treatment.

Life could not have been more unfair to Mubina Begum, an educated woman, who is now reduced to seeking alms on the road for her daughter'S medical treatment. On Wednesday, this haLpless young woman was spotted by The Hindu, begging on the footpath abutting the newly constructed railway over-bridge at Lakdikapul. In the perambulator before her was her 13-month-old daughter Habeebunnissa, who looked extremely sick and under-aged. Two older kids played on the footpath. My daughter is diagnosed by doctors at Niloufer Hospital with a hole in the heart. The CT Scan, they said, will cost Rs.1,000, and more money will be needed for blood transfusion,said Mubina, 26, showing the medical reports. Not able to find money for the treatment, she has resorted to begging on the footpath. Incidentally, Mubina is a B.Com. graduate, married off five years ago to a worker in a hotel. Her parents died when she was a child, and she was raised by her aunt who stayed in Chandrayangutta. Nine months ago, her husband died following complications due to excessive drinking at a party after the birth of Habeebunnissa.

Mubina had little means to sustain the family on her own. Two months ago, she was thrown out of the rented house she was staying in as she was not able to pay rent. Her kith and kin too deserted her, fearing the responsibility of taking care of three kids. Since then I have been living in a small shack near Niloufer Hospital and begging to find money for my daughter's treatment. I have neither the Arogyasri card, nor ration card to seek free treatment,she said. Mubina had worked as a sales representative before her marriage and hoped to find some work after things fell in place. Mubina has no contact number. She can be found near Niloufer Hospital in Red Hills.

NOTE: MR. HABEEB AHMED IS TRYING TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH MUBINA AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU WHEN WE HAVE MORE DETAILS.

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CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY

Dear Fellow Hyderabadis

As we proudly celebrate our first year, it is time to take a stock of the goals we have set at the start of the year, and measure the progress we have made toward them. My HUMBLE GRATITUDE to each and every member of our association; we are on track to achieve what we have set out to accomplish. This could not have been possible without the support of each and every member of the HCA family.

 
 I am great believer in the importance of setting goals that are high but realistic. A worthwhile goal should be within your reach but still require you to stretch. Opening yourselves to a new challenge helps you find out what you are really capable of.

This month HCA founders will embark on yet another major challenge as we rollout the 2013 VISION PLAN. The founding members have set a simple and vital goal: to do the most we can with all the resources we have. To do this, we will focus our service in the areas where we know we can have the most impact.
The VISION PLAN will encourage and foster ideals of community through social and cultural activities. Secondly, this will encourage our community to serve in areas of Education and Community Development in a serious, lasting way. These are areas in which our friends in Hyderabad and around the world have already been working for many years, and in which we have experience and confidence.
It is a prudent approach that I believe will lead to a foundation more capable of doing good in the world.

We look forward for a wonderful year 2013. I thank you and congratulate you, Hyderabadis, on the first anniversary of this wonderful organization. To gather we shall take this association to the next level.

Mohammed Abdul Quddus

President

Building Goodwill & Better Friendships

BIDRI METAL CRAFT

The Bidri craftsman use fine inlay of silver on blackened alloy of zinc and copper. The metal craft originated between the 13th and 15th centuries under Bahamani Sultans. This craft is widely practiced in Hyderabad.

Each step in the art of making Bidri is an art in itself. Historically, among the popular bidri crafts were in forms like water jug and basins, spherical belly hookahs, vases, urns, spittoons and perfume containers but today we see its contemporized version features like cufflinks, name plates and jewelry boxes. Dr M.A. Nayeem in his book "The Heritage of the Bahamis & Biridis of the Deccan" describes the history and the art of making bidri metal craft.

The art of encrusting one metal on another in the form of wire came from the original tradition at Damascus Syria. The tradition travelled to Deccan during fifteenth century with the migration of one expert craftsman Abdullah Bin Kaiser who travelled Khawaja Mohiuddin Chisti from Iraq/Iran to Ajmer. After few years Abdullah Migrated to Bijapur, which was then the provincial town of Bahamani Kingdom and began trade.

Dr. Nayeem writes in his book that these beautiful gifts were presented to Sultan Abdullah Alaudin Ahmed II (1436-1458) on his coronation. The Sultan was fascinated with the sparkle of the silver design against the contrasting black background. The craftsman Abdullah was invited to settle in Bidar, which was the capital of Bahamis. But it was Mahmud Shah Bahmani, the son and successor of Abdulllah who took interest in this art and flourished it.

The Bidri was part of the collection of princes and aristocrats as noted in writing of 1885 in which the Kings of Bidar used during religious rituals. The Russian traveler Althanasius Nikitin who visited Bidar during 1470-74 took several Bidri ware craft for presentation to the Russian Emperor.

The basic material of Bidri ware is an alloy of metals composed of zinc 83.5 percent, lead 3percent. The process is divided in stages; the mould making, the smelting and the inlaying. The constituents are melted and poured into a mould of blackened clay; which are broken when the metal is cooled and the shapes have solidified. The surface is then smothered and rubbed black with a solution of sal-ammoniac and salpeter. Ornamental designs are then delicately etched or incise on the black surface with a sharp pointed instrument of steel and clipped of deftly to receive the silver inlay. Then with a hammer and punch, fill the cavities with small foils or plate of silver or gold. This makes the luster of the inlay stand out.

Bidri ware is delicate but does not rust. This art, Bidri will continue to be — and will always be — made beautifully, thoughtfully, and locally in Hyderabad.

REMARKABLE DIASPORA: MR. MOHAMMED YOUSUF

 

A CHAMPION OF DISABLED OF INDIA

Sitting quietly behind the computers of the US Department of Transportation in Washington DC, Mr. Mohammed Yousuf design the next generation infrastructure to improve our lives. But more importantly, he devotes his life helping improve lives of the millions of disabled men and women around the globe. This makes him the greatest Engineer of our time and a Champion for the disabled.

Mr. Yousuf moved to the USA in 1990 after graduating in Engineering from Osmani University in hyderabad. “I was the witness of the treatment towards disabled as no one was willing to give me a job”, says Mr. Yousuf.

Mr. Yousuf stopped walking at the age of about 2 years; the polio that attacked his body left most of it paralyzed but for his spirit. The social norms, unfriendly society, lack of access to school and transportation, pretty much left him house bound, in isolation and segregated. He went to school for the first time at the age of 12; and since never looked back.

The challenges, the barriers, the accessibility and inclusion issues faced by him left him a deep desire to fight against the same issues that once challenged his very existence. His disability and the experience of dealing with his own society have left him exposed in some cunning ways to the gaps, challenges and the opportunities in disability development and inclusion.

In 2001, Mr. Yousuf started EquallyAble Foundation with few friends in Michigan. Ten years later, the foundation has done some remarkable work to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, not only in India, but also in the USA and many other countries.

He serves on many other committees to empower people with disabilities.

Mr. Yousuf lives with his wife, a daughter and two sons in Fairfax, Virginia.

Dear Friends: Join Hyderabadi Cultural Association and support our Gift of Hope program to help disabled.

 

Numaish: The Exhibition

 

The “Numaish” or All India Industrial Exhibition will be celebrating its 73rd event this year. Started in 1938 with a small group of graduates from Osmania University, with 100 stalls, primary objective to sell the local products. Sri. Shankerji  (below) was the founder member of Osmania Graduates Association and Honorary Secretary of the first Exhibition Committee. He is remembered as the driving force that propelled the Exhibition Society over three decades.

The Numaish Masnuaat- e-Mulki meaning exhibition of local products started as the local bazaar of indigenous trade and crafts festival with entertainment like mini-train, the ferris wheel, and the rides. Food vendors include chaat , pani-puri, samosa and then no celebration is complete without sweets. The original venue was Public Gardens. The Numaish last for 46 days in an area of 23 acres in the heart of Hyderabad. The original name “Numaish” was changed to All India Industrial Exhibition. However, in 2009,  again the name was changed back to its original name Numaish.

Today, Numaish has come to be recognized as one of the biggest displays in the country for trade, commerce and industry, with participants from all over the country.

 

EXHIBITION SOCIETY IS HELPING COMMUNITY:

Entry charges for 2013 are just Rs. 20 per head from Rs 10 until last year.  The revenues from Numaish support the activities of the Exhibition Society, including the management of 20 educational and vocational training institutions that serve over 30,000 students of Hyderabad and the surrounding districts. It is estimated that in 2011 over 21 lakhs visitors attended the Numaish. Above: HE The Niza visiting the Numaish.