Jamia Nagar: Very Muslim, very cosmopolitan Comment
NAT6National/Religion/TerrorismJamia Nagar: Very Muslim, very cosmopolitan CommentBy Kashif-ul-HudaJamia Nagar may be under a shadow after the terror attacks in Delhi that left 24 people dead and 124 injured. However, few know that the overwhelmingly Muslim area in south Delhi is as suave as any other middle class neighbourhood in the Indian capital.Unfairly described as a Muslim ghetto, Jamia Nagar is congested but modern. Its inhabitants include intellectuals, journalists, doctors, engineers, finance professionals and university professors. Its narrow lanes boast of the latest models of cars and bikes. Certainly, Jamia Nagar has benefited from India's economic boom.But Jamia Nagar residents' deep connection to religion is also visible in the number of mosques and the regular worshippers frequenting them. Some are multi-storeyed with beautiful architecture; some have attached madrassa providing religious education to the young. There are mosques catering to Muslim sects like Deobandi, Barelvi and Ahl-e-Hadees.Outside the mosques, there are shops and shops. Jamia Nagar's market offers matching quality and prices like other better-known markets of Delhi. No wonder many here like to shop in Jamia Nagar.Even though most shops are small businesses, some business chains have opened their outlets. About half a dozen shops of grocery chain 6-Ten do brisk business in Jamia Nagar. One 6-Ten shop I visited was cramped but full of Muslim women eagerly shopping for better quality food. Aggarwal Sweets, a popular chain in Delhi, has also set up a shop here.Jamia Nagar's population overwhelmingly consists of students. This is due to the proximity of Jamia Millia Islamia University, which gave this area its name. Jamia Millia was established by a group of Muslim leaders who answered Mahatma Gandhi's call for non-cooperation movement. Now it offers classes in modern subjects, and its student body is made up of youth of all faiths.There are a number of institutes in Jamia Nagar that offer computer classes, courses in spoken English and help prepare students for competitive exams. This is apparent from a look at various posters on the walls all around Jamia Nagar. Most of them are advertisements for schools as well as educational and coaching institutes.I was unable to find any poster that was political in nature. In fact an advertisement for tutors in mathematics was pasted on the signboard of the All India United Muslim Morcha.This is not to say that Jamia Nagar's residents are apolitical. Jamia Nagar houses the cream of Muslims of Delhi. It has the national headquarters and offices of many Muslim organisations such as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, the All India Milli Council and the All India United Muslim Morcha.The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, with its huge campus housing its various organisations, is in Abul Fazal Enclave.Those who think that Muslims overwhelmingly read only Urdu and therefore have limited understanding of the world will be in for a shock. Data collected by my associate Mumtaz Alam Falahi from a newspaper distributor of Jamia Nagar reveal that English newspapers rule the market in this part of Delhi.About 69 percent of daily newspapers read by Jamia Nagar subscribers are in English. About 24 percent of subscribers read Hindi newspapers. Urdu comes a distant third eight percent. This data does not take into account newspapers sold through vendors. Almost equal numbers read The Times of India, Hindustan Times, and the new business daily Mint.Most residents of Jamia Nagar are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They are modern in outlook but also rooted in their religion. On the streets one can find Muslims with long beards and women in burqa as well as men and women sporting the latest fashion available in India.Unfortunately, much of this is unknown to outsiders. And Jamia Nagar's fortress like police station only adds to its negative image. The shootout in a Jamia Nagar flat that left two young terrorists and a police officer has not done the people of the area any good.Kashif-ul-Huda is the editor of news website www.TwoCircles.net. He can be reached at kashif@urdustan.com--Indo-Asian News Servicekuh/mr/ 741 Words**24090935
2008-09-24 00:03:05New Bond Girl Gemma Arterton moves in with Spanish beau
London, Sept 22 ANI: Bond Girl Gemma Arterton has fallen head over heels in love with a hunky Spanish stuntman, so much so, that she has even invited him to move into her London home.According to reports, the British actress, who stars in forthcoming Bond flick 'Quantum of Solace', met Eduardo Munoz on the Moroccan set of 50million pounds blockbuster 'Prince of Persia' last month.The 19-year-old taught the St Trinian's star to ride for the movie, and despite a few communication hitches they hit it off.The couple are even said to have hired a translator to bridge the language gap."She has invited Eduardo to live with her in London and has hired a language tutor who is teaching her Spanish and him English," Contactmusic quoted a source as telling British newspaper The Mail."Gemma's Spanish is non-existent and his English is rudimentary. So she's been on set this week saying how much fun it is to have a translator who is teaching them to communicate properly for the first time," said the source.The couple is reported to be dating, and rumours are rife that Arterton is looking forward to take their relationship to the next level."She looks and acts like a woman who is head-over-heels in love. She and Eduardo have made no attempt to hide the romance. They are always kissing and cuddling. She told me she can't wait to learn Spanish so she can go to Madrid and meet his family," The Daily Star quoted the source, as saying.Earlier this year, the actress had split with boyfriend of 18 months John Nolan, 27, as her celebrity status soared. ANI
2008-09-22 04:00:00Brett Lee's ex-wife says she was thrown out of the family home
Sydney, Sept.15 ANI: Australian fast bowler Brett Lee's heartbroken wife, Liz Kemp, has claimed that she was thrown out of their family home even as she desperately sought to save her marriage.Speaking for the first time since the high-profile union ended in August, Kemp told The Sunday Telegraph that she was devastated her 22-month-old son Preston was photographed last week with a forlorn-looking Lee and drawn into a public break-up battle.Appearing relaxed and cheery as she played with little Preston at Bronte Park on Thursday, Kemp said she did not want to be portrayed as a victim."The whole thing with Preston has been heartbreaking. I'm a very private person and it's been a difficult time. I don't want it to turn into a mud-slinging match ... Brett's the one in the limelight and I prefer to stay away from it all,'' she said.Kemp, who is 28, not 31 as previously reported, is relying on friends, her parents and a PR team to help her after being portrayed as the villain in media reports supporting Lee.Several of her friends spoke to The Sunday Telegraph and detailed the couple's marriage breakdown.All say that she endured months of loneliness as Lee took on more and more overseas sponsorship deals, secured by manager Neil Maxwell, on top of his international cricket career.He has deals in Australia and endorses a string of products in India including DHL couriers, Boost energy drinks, Timex watches and New Balance shoes.The star cricketer is also heavily involved in the Indian entertainment scene. To increase his lucrative opportunities in India, Lee has now hired a tutor to teach him Hindi.A long-time friend said Lee spent only "four-to-five months'' of the couple's two-year marriage at home. The close friend said despite the loneliness, Kemp was determined to save her marriage and had been forced by Lee to leave their home."She wasn't the one who walked away from the marriage. It's been reported the reason for the break-up was cricket and the overseas travel. That's not true ... extra sponsorship Brett took on kept him away longer than the cricket season. Anybody would be lonely when their partner is away for a long time,'' said the friend.The friend also rejected suggestions that Kemp had an affair with a Brisbane rugby player.Instead, as her marriage deteriorated, she visited Queensland, where she grew up, to spend time with her two bridesmaids and her high-school friends. Her friend said: "There's no third party involved in the break-up.''Ms Kemp, who has main custody of Preston, has been living with her parents since leaving the couple's two-storey Lane Cove home.Friends have attempted to console the young mum, who has kept busy spending time with Preston and working out at the gym.The couple agreed Preston wouldn't be brought into the public eye during the break-up.But last Friday week, Lee had Preston and a photographer, who was not a member of the paparazzi, took a picture of a forlorn-looking Lee and his son in time for a sympathetic father's day story in a Sunday newspaper.The story infuriated Kemp. The couple's relationship is now acrimonious and she has hired media consultant Michael Salmon, a former Carr government staffer, to help.e is up against Maxwell, Lee's long-time manager, who has minimised damage to Lee's image. ANI
2008-09-15 02:00:00Soon, kids to be trained the Jedi way for their personal development!
London, Sept 12 ANI: School kids may soon be learning techniques for personal development - the Jedi way - all thanks to the efforts of a UK university.Queen's University Belfast is offering the course entitled "How to train in the Jedi way", which will use the psychology of the Star Wars knights for teaching."I'm using Star Wars as a kind of teaching aid looking at psychological development techniques, social and political themes that are explored in the films," TimesOnline quoted Allen Baird, course tutor, as saying.The course blurb says: "Battle your dark side: fear and aggression. Begin your own hero-quest. Lightsabres not provided."The course comes in line with Britons' latest affiliation with Jedi Knights, which started with UK's first Jedi Church being established in 2007 by brothers Barney and Daniel Jones in Anglesea, Wales.Beginning in November, the open learning course will feature dialogue and clips from the Star Wars films.According to Baird, Jedi Knights have to master flow and mindfulness, which are researched techniques that may enable students to be fully immersed in a task, and control their thoughts and behaviour.Also, the course will deal with the nature of liberty in the face of a facist empire and the place of technology. ANI
2008-09-12 07:00:00tuition topper
Anybody even superficially acquainted with the culture of education in the state will notice the unique and ubiquitous role of private tuition in urban and rural West Bengal. From preparing for kinder...
2008-08-24 19:50:06George Will: Success of &aposno excuses' schools defies liberals' hypocrisy
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Seated at a solitary desk in the hall outside a classroom, the slender 13-year-old boy with a smile like a sunrise earnestly does remedial algebra, assisted by a paid tutor. She, to...
2008-08-24 15:30:37Jesse's Story: An Urban Teen Beats The Odds
Even though he was from a D.C. neighborhood that had a "thug mentality," Jesse Jean graduated from Ohio Wesleyan in June. Two tutors at a neighborhood center helped him turn around his grade...
2008-08-23 09:43:54Grappling with Japan
They met in a cafe in Manhattan. She was working on a comic strip for her book, which was about a young artist and her quest for an apartment and a day job in Brooklyn. He was a successful French film...
2008-08-22 11:34:30Tutor wife beats up girls
Raiganj, Aug. 21: The wife of a private tutor allegedly beat up seven students at his house today, after which two of them were admitted to Raiganj district hospital. The couple's strained relatio...
2008-08-22 11:18:13Lecturers revolt over 'rate your tutor' website
As feedback goes it's a bit on the harsh side. "She is very kind and can be helpful but, boy, is she insane. The insanity leads to volatility sometimes which leads to her being not very kind....
2008-08-17 18:24:35
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