Latest news with #Baghdadi
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bollywood's first actor to buy Rolls Royce was an Indian immigrant who bought food from first earning
At a time when female actors in Hindi cinema were mostly confined to traditional, virtuous roles, Nadira broke stereotypes and built an identity that was both daring and unforgettable. Best remembered for her role as the glamorous Maya in Raj Kapoor's Shree 420 (1955), she became Bollywood's first screen vamp, giving depth and credibility to characters often sidelined as negative or undesirable. Born Florence Ezekiel in 1932 to a Baghdadi Jewish family in Baghdad, Nadira migrated with her family to Bombay (now Mumbai) as a child. She began acting in films at the age of 11, debuting as a child artist in Mauj (1943). Her big break came in Aan (1952), where Mehboob Khan cast her as a Rajput princess opposite Dilip Kumar. Hardships to Financial Independence Coming from an immigrant household, Nadira experienced financial struggles in her early years. In a 1999 interview, she recalled how her first salary of ₹1,200 a month eventually grew to ₹3,000—a considerable sum in the early 1950s. When she received her first three-month installment of ₹3,600, she admitted to being overwhelmed, even asking filmmaker Mehboob Khan for a ride home because she felt unsafe carrying so much money. Her family was equally astonished at the sudden financial turnaround. She later revealed that her mother initially suspected the money was stolen. Nadira quickly used her earnings to purchase food, household necessities, and even gold jewelry, recalling that she bought such an abundance of groceries that much of it had to be shared with neighbors. Typecast After Shree 420 Despite her initial success, Nadira faced a career setback after Shree 420. Though her performance as Maya was celebrated, she later described it as the turning point that limited her opportunities. Producers repeatedly offered her vamp roles, forcing her to reject nearly 200 films before reluctantly accepting the typecasting that defined her career. For a period, she admitted to being out of work and struggling, as filmmakers expected her to replicate the same glamorous, cigarette-holding persona she had portrayed on screen. Yet, she turned these roles into iconic performances. In later years, actors like Jaya Bachchan openly acknowledged how commanding Nadira was on screen, describing her presence as intimidating during the filming of Ek Nazar (1972). First Indian Actor to Own Rolls Royce Nadira's success in the 1950s and 60s translated into a lifestyle few in Bollywood could match at the time. She became one of the highest-paid actresses of her generation and, remarkably, the first Indian actor to own a Rolls Royce in the 1960s. At a time when such luxury cars were virtually unseen in India, her decision to import one symbolized not just wealth but independence and influence. According to ETimes and Hindustan Times reports, Nadira's choice set a precedent for Bollywood stars decades before names like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Priyanka Chopra would acquire the same brand. Over her career, Nadira appeared in around 70 films, including Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960), Pakeezah (1972), and Julie (1975), the last of which earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Despite her fame, she never married and eventually lived alone in Mumbai, even after much of her family migrated abroad. Her final major appearance was in Josh (2000), after which she battled health issues, including meningitis, liver complications, and paralysis. She passed away in 2006 at the age of 73.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
The last Jews of Calcutta: A community on the brink of disappearance
'We were a community of five thousand in the 1940s; now we're just 20 odd members, aged 60 or above,' says Jael Silliman, scholar and author of Jewish Portraits, Indian Frames: Women's Narratives from a Diaspora of Hope (2001). One of the last remaining Jews in Calcutta, Silliman reminisces about the time when the Jewish community met in synagogues for service, in Jewish clubs for sports and leisure, and came together to celebrate New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and the holiest day of all — Yom Kippur. But colonialism and circumstances reduced Calcutta's Jewry to a mere handful. Today, only remnants remain: a few synagogues, schools, and a cemetery. The Jewish Girls' School (JGS) on Park Street still runs, but without a single Jewish student. Synagogues remain scattered across the city, but regular services have ceased. 'They cannot gather a minyan, the required number of ten males necessary to hold a service,' says Silliman. Nahoum & Sons in New Market is still the city's beloved Jewish legacy, but its menu has evolved to cater to modern tastes. This is the story of Calcutta's Jewish community and their descent into oblivion. The first Jews to arrive in Calcutta belonged to the Baghdadi community, one of the three Jewish communities in India. The other two — the Bene Israel of Maharashtra and Gujarat, and the Cochin Jews — had settled in India long before the Baghdadis. According to Navras Jaat Aafreedi, assistant professor of Modern Indian History and Jewish History at the Presidency University, 'The oldest written reference to the presence of the Bene Israel in the Konkan strip belongs to the year 1734.' The community, Aafreedi says, was described as one that was monotheistic, that refused to indulge in idol worship, that observed Sabbath on Saturday, and a community that refrained from consuming pork and circumcised their male offspring on the eighth day of birth. Sayan Lodh, whose PhD focuses on the Judaizing Movements in India at Presidency University, says that Baghdadi Jews arrived in Calcutta in several waves, beginning in 1798 with Shalom Ovadya HaCohen from Aleppo, Syria. HaCohen was joined by family and other merchants from Iraq, Syria, and Persia who traded in jewellery, indigo, spices, opium, and silk. 'They gradually established a thriving commercial network stretching from West to East Asia, extending across all major ports such as Basra, Bombay, Calcutta, Singapore, and Hong Kong,' notes Lodh. This, according to him, came to form 'Jewish Asia'. These merchants rented and purchased houses from Armenians, with whom Calcutta's Baghdadis maintained a close relationship for centuries. 'Until the Baghdadi elite moved to southern Calcutta between 1900 and 1950, they shared the city's grey town with Armenians, Anglo-Indians, Greeks, Portuguese,' writes academic Nathan Katz in Who Are the Jews of India? (2000). The next wave of migration was in the 1830s when there was flooding in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. A large number of Jewsmoved to Calcutta and set up trading houses. In a short time, they made a great fortune. Lodh says, 'They, in turn, re-invested their wealth in real estate, owning some of the prominent landmarks in Calcutta [Esplanade Mansions (built in 1910), Chowringhee Mansions (1907)]…' The final waves of Jewish immigration to Calcutta occurred in the early to mid-twentieth century, 'driven in part by the Ottoman Empire's policy which made it compulsory for all males to serve in the army as World War I approached, and later by the horrors of Holocaust during World War II,' says Lodh. Commercial opportunities, according to Silliman, were another driving factor. 'As the British presidencies of Calcutta and Bombay developed, Jewish merchants came here in search of fortune,' she says. By the 1940s, there were over 4,000 Jews in the city. Several Jewish institutions had also been established, including three synagogues, the Jewish Girls' School (1881), and the Jewish Ezra hospital (1887). 'There's also the Ezra House and the Gubbay House in the Alipore zoo, housing birds and reptiles. It is named after Jewish philanthropists,' says Silliman. The Calcutta Jews strictly observed their Baghdadi practices, including speaking Arabic, eating regional cuisine, and wearing traditional clothes. However, the Mutiny of 1857 came as a significant turning point. As Katz notes, 'This traumatic event propelled India's Baghdadis to abandon their familiar Middle Eastern cultural roots and to seek European status and identity.' Part of that process was to imitate the British and shed their Indianness. The 'anglicisation' of Calcutta's Jews, as described by Lodh, began with language. English replaced Arabic in Baghdadi homes and offices. 'By 1915, this transition had been effected among the elite and by 1930, English was the language used for all community records, correspondence, and education,' adds Katz. The elites of the Jewish community sent their daughters to Loreto House, a Catholic school. While earlier residing in the greytown district of Burrabazar, Baghdadi Jews now began moving closer to the white town districts of Bow Bazar, Park Street, and Ballygunge. Jewish architecture, too, resembled British style. 'The Maghen David Synagogue, for instance, externally resembles a church with a tall spire and a clock tower,' observes Lodh. Baghdadi Jews also served as sheriffs, municipal councillors, and honorary magistrates in Calcutta. In 1879, Elia David Joseph was appointed Sheriff, an honour later conferred on his two sons. 'The Baghdadi Jews, in fact, adopted a Judeo-British identity,' asserts author Suparna Ghosh Bhattacharya in The Baghdadi Jews in India (2019). The anglicised women of the Baghdadi community played sports such as badminton, hockey, and basketball, emulating the lifestyle of British women. 'Their clothing changed, and so did their religious rituals,' says Lodh. He also mentions the practice of cutting cakes during weddings and wearing European suits and wedding dresses. However, mimicking the rulers proved fruitless. The revision of electoral rolls for Central and Provincial (Bengal and Bombay) Legislatures between 1929 and 1935 eliminated the Baghdadis from the European group and categorised them as 'non-Mohammedan' along with the Bene-Israel and Cochin Jews. 'The Baghdadis finally understood their predicament in siding with the British, and gradually started to come closer with the other two Jewish communities in India…from the 1930s,' writes Lodh in his journal article The Role of Baghdadi Jews in India's Freedom Movement (2024). A Jew, Bernard V Jacob, attempted to establish an 'All India Council' to bring the three Jewish communities together. However, a cohort comprising all the factions remained a distant dream. The Baghdadis refused to assimilate with their co-religionists. They did not participate in politics either, and barely understood the nationalist sentiment of fellow Indians. Partition in 1947 deepened the crisis. 'Questions of their ethnic and communal identity became urgent, and they could no longer define themselves in terms of their Jewishness alone,' argues academic Joan G Roland in The Baghdadi Jews in India. Many Baghdadis recognised that being both Indian and Jewish was possible and compatible. When the Constitution of India was adopted on 26 January 1950, notes Roland, the Jews also celebrated. 'They declared their allegiance to India, participated in Indian elections, and most accepted Indian citizenship…even though they felt their economic future was uncertain,' she adds. Still, life after the British worried the community. With the departure of the colonial rulers and the emergence of the State of Israel a year later, Baghdadis made up their minds about leaving Calcutta. 'It is also possible,' reckons Lodh, 'that what they witnessed in Calcutta, the communal riots during the partition period, made them uneasy about living in independent India.' He mentions the account of Flower Silliman, a beloved member of the Baghdadi community who passed away last year, recalling how she witnessed the riots as a teenager and was deeply traumatised by the experience. Socialist policies issued by the Indian government further discouraged the Jews. The regulations restricted imports and controlled the export of foreign exchange, hampering the business of many wealthy Baghdadis. 'As Calcutta's Jews began emigrating in increasing numbers to Israel, the UK, America, Canada, and Australia, JGS, in its new premises, became all but devoid of Jewish students,' says Silliman. In 1953, the school administrative body decided to admit non-Jewish students. The identity of Calcutta's Baghdadi Jews remained ambiguous, neither British nor Indian. They were always worried about assimilation and strived to distinguish themselves from the Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities of the city. Katz says, 'These Jewish immigrants were attracted to India largely because of the opportunities the British presence afforded, and they left India soon after the British did.' He adds that they were never intrinsically Indian as the Bene Israel or Cochini Jews – truly, 'an identity aloof.' Today, only a few Baghdadi Jews remain. When asked about their numbers, Aafreedi says: 'How do you count Jews?' Jewish identity, he explains, is passed through the mother. 'Anyone born of a Jewish mother is Jewish, irrespective of what the person's faith is. Conversely, someone with a Jewish father but a non-Jewish mother would typically need to undergo conversion.' The heritage buildings spread across Calcutta are among the last remaining links to the city's Jewish past. 'What I've learned from studying Calcutta's Jewish community,' says Lodh, 'is that several communities, other than the Bengalis, have played a role in shaping the city far out of proportion to their numbers. The Jews are one such community.' Who are the Jews of India? by Nathan Katz Calcutta Mosaic: Essays and Interviews on the Minority Communities of Calcutta edited by Himadri Banerjee, Nilanjana Gupta, Sipra Mukherjee The Jewish Community of India: Identity in a Colonial Era by Joan G. Roland Nikita writes for the Research Section of focusing on the intersections between colonial history and contemporary issues, especially in gender, culture, and sport. For suggestions, feedback, or an insider's guide to exploring Calcutta, feel free to reach out to her at ... Read More
Economic Key
09-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Key
Green Investments Unveils "B.almetr" Platform for Fractional Real Estate Ownership with EGP 600 Million Investment
Green Investments has announced the launch of its digital fractional ownership platform ' which allows clients to invest in real estate by purchasing spaces starting from just one square meter, without being restricted to a fixed number of meters. The launch comes as part of the company's strategy to offer innovative and secure investment solutions in the Egyptian market, with a business volume reaching EGP 600m. Eng. Abdel Rahman Baghdadi, CEO of Green Investments, stated that the ' platform represents a qualitative leap in the fractional real estate investment sector. It enables individuals to invest in ready-to-move-in units that offer real rental returns—without the need to purchase an entire unit. He noted that the platform is designed to provide investment opportunities starting from EGP 500,000, with rental returns reaching up to 30%. He added that all properties listed on the platform are carefully selected and consist of existing, operational units—not just conceptual drawings or future promises. He emphasized that ' embodies a modern approach to shared investment, opening the door for a wider range of investors to benefit from real estate returns in a more flexible and secure way. Baghdadi explained that the platform has submitted its documentation to both the Financial Regulatory Authority and the Central Bank of Egypt to obtain the necessary licenses, noted that the platform was established entirely in accordance with the provisions of the Egyptian Investment Law, ensuring the highest standards of governance and transparency. He added that ' has launched its first investment project through the 'Epic' project, which allows clients to acquire ready-to-operate commercial units with active lease contracts—enabling investors to generate returns from day one of purchase. He highlighted that the ' platform offers a unique and unmatched set of benefits for investors. These include real ownership in an existing, income-generating property—rather than a project under construction—along with genuine lease contracts that provide some of the highest rental yields in the New Administrative Capital. The platform also features flexible contract terms with no post-dated checks or late payment penalties, and includes a built-in safety exit option, allowing investors to request a full refund—without any deductions—after 18 months from the contract date in case of financial difficulty. He added that a major advantage for investors is the flexibility to partially resell their ownership—enabling them to sell a portion of their square meter holdings without having to liquidate their entire share, a feature not typically available in traditional real estate investments. He concluded that Green Investments was established in the Egyptian market in 2018 and possesses extensive experience in real estate development and asset management. The company is backed by Egyptian-Saudi investments, enhancing its financial strength and capability to offer advanced investment products tailored to meet the needs of both local and international investors. تم نسخ الرابط
West Australian
25-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Dateline boss throws $1M cash at US gold-rare earths play
In what appears to be a major confidence booster for Dateline Resources' Californian gold and rare earths project, managing director Stephen Baghdadi has dug deep into his pocket, tipping $1.06 million of fresh cash into the ASX-listed explorer's coffers. After exercising more than 53 million options, Baghdadi's new investment has lifted his stake in Dateline to a hefty 396.9 million shares and gives the boss a commanding 12.85 per cent slice of the company. It also injects immediate capital into the company's exploration war chest. Including the new cash and commitments from additional option exercisers, the company's bank balance has swelled to almost $9 million - a sizable wad of money for a junior explorer with a single, high-impact asset. As the company gears up to chase gold and critical minerals at the previously producing Colosseum gold mine in the Walker Lane trend, one of America's most mineral-rich corridors, Baghdadi's cash splash suggests he sees serious upside on the horizon. Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi said: 'Exercising these options was an easy decision because I have great confidence in Dateline's long-term future. Our project is a high-quality asset with tremendous upside. Increasing my stake in the company underscores my commitment to our long-term vision and growth.' Colosseum currently hosts a JORC-compliant resource of 1.1 million ounces of gold at a healthy 1.26 grams per tonne (g/t). With mining studies already underway, the project is shaping up as a potential company-maker. More than two-thirds of the resource sits in the measured and indicated categories, offering a solid foundation for development. Last month, Dateline upped its gold price assumption for the project from US$2200 to US$2900 (A$4450) per ounce as part of its ongoing bankable feasibility study. The change lifted Colosseum's net present value by 134 per cent to US$550 million (A$850M) and almost halved the payback timeline from three years to an impressive 17 months. The company is eyeing a total gold haul of 635,000 ounces over an 8.3-year mine life with annual average production of 71,000 ounces at a solid 1.3g/t. Notably, the operation is expected to recover 92 per cent of the gold. Operating costs are projected at just US$1182 (A$1818) per ounce, with all-in sustaining costs of US$1490 (A$2292), both comfortably below Dateline's revised gold price outlook. However, the real kicker may lie beneath the gold. The company believes the Colosseum site could also host a rare earths deposit similar to the world-famous Mountain Pass mine, 10 kilometres down the road. Production at the carbonatite-hosted Mountain Pass mine kicked off in 1952, at an extraordinary grade of 7 per cent total rare earths. The mine was the world's dominant supplier of rare earths from the 1960s through to the 1990s and shares the same geological setting as Colosseum. Preparations are well advanced to test the theory with targeted rare earths drilling as part of an upcoming exploration program. The company is also zeroing in on hidden breccia pipes that appear to line up with Colosseum to the south. Recent field mapping and rock chip sampling of felsite outcrops - a key volcanic feature often linked to gold deposits - revealed the geochemical fingerprints of a much larger mineralised system. The samples returned strong hits of pathfinder elements such as antimony, bismuth and tellurium, all hallmarks of an intrusion-related gold system. With Baghdadi tipping in more than $1 million of his own cash, punters are likely to have a good reason to take a closer look. Senior management making such bold cash commitments can often signal future success. As the global spotlight intensifies on gold and critical minerals, Baghdadi's timing appears near perfect. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
Sydney Morning Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Dateline boss throws $1M cash at US gold-rare earths play
In what appears to be a major confidence booster for Dateline Resources' Californian gold and rare earths project, managing director Stephen Baghdadi has dug deep into his pocket, tipping $1.06 million of fresh cash into the ASX-listed explorer's coffers. After exercising more than 53 million options, Baghdadi's new investment has lifted his stake in Dateline to a hefty 396.9 million shares and gives the boss a commanding 12.85 per cent slice of the company. It also injects immediate capital into the company's exploration war chest. Including the new cash and commitments from additional option exercisers, the company's bank balance has swelled to almost $9 million - a sizable wad of money for a junior explorer with a single, high-impact asset. 'Exercising these options was an easy decision because I have great confidence in Dateline's long-term future.' Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi As the company gears up to chase gold and critical minerals at the previously producing Colosseum gold mine in the Walker Lane trend, one of America's most mineral-rich corridors, Baghdadi's cash splash suggests he sees serious upside on the horizon. Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi said: 'Exercising these options was an easy decision because I have great confidence in Dateline's long-term future. Our project is a high-quality asset with tremendous upside. Increasing my stake in the company underscores my commitment to our long-term vision and growth.' Colosseum currently hosts a JORC-compliant resource of 1.1 million ounces of gold at a healthy 1.26 grams per tonne (g/t). With mining studies already underway, the project is shaping up as a potential company-maker. More than two-thirds of the resource sits in the measured and indicated categories, offering a solid foundation for development. Last month, Dateline upped its gold price assumption for the project from US$2200 to US$2900 (A$4450) per ounce as part of its ongoing bankable feasibility study. The change lifted Colosseum's net present value by 134 per cent to US$550 million (A$850M) and almost halved the payback timeline from three years to an impressive 17 months.
