Latest news with #Khwaja
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Stabbed youth succumbs to injury
Dharwad: Raghavendra Gaikwad, 28, from Kanthi Galli in Haveripet of Dharwad, who was stabbed by a youth, succumbed to injuries at KMC-RI in Hubballi on Monday late night. Raghavendra was allegedly stabbed by Khwaja Shirahatti on July 10 following a heated argument. Khwaja, who works as a mason had gone to Raghavendra's house to recover Rs 10,000 he had lent to Raghavendra's brother Mahantesh. Both Mahantesh and Khwaja were friends. Mahantesh was not at home when Khwaja visited his house and the latter spoke to Raghavendra. Following a verbal clash, Khwaja allegedly stabbed Raghavendra in the back and fled the scene leaving the knife stuck in Raghavendra's back. Raghavendra was rushed to KMC-RI in Hubballi for treatment. He was initially said to be out of danger but later succumbed to the injury, police said. Meanwhile, Dharwad suburban police arrested Khwaja on July 11 and were on the lookout for another person involved in the crime. Khwaja had told the police that he would take them to a place where his associate was hiding. He had led the police to a field on the outskirts of the city and allegedly tried escape by attacking police inspector Dayanand Shegunsi and SI Mustafa Bilgi. The police initially warned him and fired in the air to caution him. When Khwaja did not heed their warning, the police had shot in his leg. Khwaja was then admitted to the district hospital. Police are still looking for Khwaja's accomplice who is absconding.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Time of India
Accused man tries to flee, shot in leg by police
Dharwad: Police shot a youth accused of murder attempt when he tried to flee after attacking them and nabbed him on Friday. On Thursday, Raghavendra Gaikwad was stabbed on his back by a youth at his residence in Kanthi Galli in Haveripet of Dharwad. Raghavendra had accused one Khwaja Shirahatti, a mason, of attacking him with a knife. Dharwad suburban police had nabbed Khwaja and were looking for his associate involved in the crime. According to police, Khwaja had told the police that he would take them to a place where his associate was hiding. He led them to a field on the outskirts of the city and allegedly tried to escape by attacking police inspector Dayanand Shegunasi and SI Mustafa Bilgi. The police orally warned him and fired in the air to caution him. When Khwaja did not heed their warning, they shot him in his leg. Khwaja has been admitted to the district hospital and is being treated, the police said. Khwaja, a friend of Raghavendra's brother Mahantesh, had gone to Mahantesh's house in Kanthi galli near Haveripet to ask him to return Rs 10,000 lent to him. Mahantesh was not at home and Khwaja spoke to Raghavendra. A heated argument ensued and Khwaja stabbed Raghavendra in the back and fled, leaving the knife stuck in Raghavendra's back. Raghavendra is being treated at KMC-RI Hubballi and is said to be out of danger.
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Naseeruddin Shah writes on Diljit Dosanjh and the ‘Sardaar Ji 3' controversy: I feel no need to wear my love for anything, including my country, on my sleeve
My childhood — and upbringing — was divided between an orthodox Muslim home, a Roman Catholic, and then a Jesuit Christian school. Each ethos gave me what it could, but I was never sold on any of them and I knew what I liked or disliked about each, my own included. For example, I thought it grossly unfair that everyone 'except us' was doomed to perdition and I have never been able to get my head around that. As children, we went to Pushkar, to the magnificent Jain temple and, of course, the dargah where dreadlocked sadhus in saffron shared a chillum with green-robed Sufis and Sikh pilgrims, and where Hindu pilgrims abounded. Namaaz in the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpda surrounded by Hindu sculptures I thought was the coolest idea. The great Shankar Shambhu sang the praises of 'Khwaja ji' accompanied by qawwals from all over the sub-continent, and even by a Baul singer. I never thought of myself as a Muslim (ergo different) and nothing in my surroundings made me feel I didn't belong, no matter where I was. This was my country and I miss it. The gradually rising tide of jingoism, hatred and, of late, war fever here, cannot but have encouraged all 'right' minded citizens to no longer bother disguising the bigotry that has been latent in them all along. At the same time, it has been cause for concern for those who worry about the direction in which our country seems to be headed. The touchiness of the offence-taking brigade has begun bordering on the absurd. Criticising the quality of Hindi movies makes you 'ungrateful', a plea for sanity and brotherhood makes you 'a traitor', a grouse that Indians don't obey traffic lights makes you get advised on where you should go, speaking up for a fellow artiste is 'speaking against the country'. Anything that is remotely critical gets twisted to sound 'anti-national'. The actor who plays the lead in the beloved TV serial Anupamaa tartly enquires whether Pakistan 'allows Indian artistes to perform there?' without knowing that not only do they allow us, they welcome us and honour us. And then is everyone who listens to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or Mehdi Hasan or Farida Khanum in India a traitor? Obviously, it's only the Prime Minister who can go across the border to embrace his counterpart. For us ordinary mortals to do that is a sin. Is it in any way beneficial to us to hate every Pakistani citizen for what their government (read, army) does? Or, does it simply satisfy some feral urge? In George Orwell's book 1984, there exists a daily ritual where everyone drops whatever they are doing and abuses an Opposition leader: It is compulsory to participate in this 'two minutes of hate'. Despite it having now become 24 hours of hate, no longer confined to the leader of the Opposition, the palpable poison in the air does not cause me despair or fear. It saddens me. Hatred is self-destructive but evidently it can be sustained indefinitely if one is to go by the continuing actions of some 'cow vigilantes'. Besides, new hatreds can easily be created. I am an easy target for 'nationalists' and paid trolls (who really could do with some help in spelling and grammar) because I feel no need to wear my love for anything, including my country, on my sleeve. I know what I feel, I trust my feelings and they are no one else's business. I was born in India into the fifth generation of a Muslim family, my wife into an even older Hindu one and we hope our children can be a combination of the best of both. My father refused to go to Pakistan when his brothers left, he was certain India had a future for us just as I feel it does for my offspring. This is a dream that cannot be abandoned. If this is taken to be a justification of my Facebook post (which has been taken down, not deleted by me) in support of Diljit Dosanjh, so be it. But the fact is I need to justify nothing. I said whatever I had to say and I stand by it. Nor am I discouraged by the lack of support from the film industry. I wasn't expecting any — they all either have too much to lose or they disagree. And to the trolls, particularly the one who said to me 'Pakistan nahin ab kabristaan', I can only quote Jigar Moradabadi: 'Mujhe de na ghaiz mein dhamkiyaan, giren lakh baar ye bijliyan, / Meri saltanat yehi aashiyaan, meri milkiyat yehi chaar par.' The writer is an actor and author
India Today
18-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Locating Haldighati - Between myth and reality
"And how can man die betterThan facing fearful odds,For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his Gods."--Thomas Babington MacaulayOn June 18, 1576, a narrow mountain pass in the Aravalli Range became the stage for one of medieval India's most storied battles. The Battle of Haldighati, fought between Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the Mughal forces led by Man Singh of Amber, has since passed into legend. The very soil of Haldighati – turmeric-yellow by nature – ran red by the battle's end, forming Rakt Talai, the "Lake of Blood." For centuries, tales of this clash have been told and retold, often blurring the lines between history and myth. Yet, beyond the glow of legend lies a reality just as backgroundBy the latter half of the 16th century, the Mughal Empire under Akbar had established its dominion over much of northern India. The successful siege of the fort of Chittorgarh (1568) followed by the Naguar Durbar in 1570 led to most of the Rajputana acceding to Mughal success of the swift Mughal campaign in Gujarat opened the great trade route from the north to the ports of Khambhat, Bharuch and Surat. The route, however, had parts of Mewar that necessitated either the full conquest of Mewar or the acceptance of Mughal suzerainty by Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar.A large part of India underwent Mughal conquest in a short period, yet Mewar remained a blip on the map, independent and unrelenting. Akbar had seen the bravery of the Mewar forces during the long siege of Chittorgarh and was mindful of the cost that military conflict entailed. This made him prefer diplomacy. A series of missions followed, beginning with Jalal Khan Korchi to Prince Man Singh I of Amber, followed by his uncle Raja Bhagwant Das and Jagannath Kachhwaha. None of these could convince Pratap to accept Mughal suzerainty. Akbar, determined to secure the region (and with it, vital routes to Gujarat), eventually resolved to subdue Mewar by force. The stage was thus set for on both sidesadvertisementAfter seeking the blessings of the Khwaja at Ajmer, Akbar entrusted the task of subjugating Maharana Pratap to his ablest general, Man Singh of Amber, whom he fondly addressed as Farjand (son). The emperor presented Prince Man with a robe, a decked horse and gifts matching the Mughal army started from Ajmer with 3,000 strong cavalry, 2,000 infantry, elephants and some light artillery. The prolonged halt at Mandalgarh waiting for the Mewar forces to attack the plains led to the addition of another 2,000 men. The Bhils (the original inhabitants of the land) with their elaborate knowledge of forests and mountains, kept on giving regular updates on the movement of the imperial army to generals of repute and nobles assembled at Loseeng to decide on the future course of action. A 3,000-strong force was assembled comprising old nobles, young soldiers and Bhils. While the youth wanted to go on the offensive, the experienced generals suggested waiting in the mountains to attack from a position of strength. A consensus was reached with Maharana agreeing to go for the offensive but not too deep in the plains, which kept open the possibility of retreat in case of an adverse battle led to the Haldighati pass near Khamnor being an ideal choice to meet the invading army. The place Haldighati (Turmeric Valley) is called so due to the ocherous tint the soil has. It used to be a narrow defile with vertical rocks on both sides, making it difficult to cross by large contingents Battle of HaldighatiA night before the battle, the two armies were separated by about six miles and the river Banas. The Mughal contingent moved with Man Singh in the centre and left and right wings moving south of the main route and parallel to the river Banas respectively, with reserves under Mihtar Khan waiting at the river hours into the daybreak, waiting for the opportune moment, Maharana Pratap advanced from behind the pass and divided his men into two divisions. One attacked the vanguard under Asaf Khan and the other, commanded by Pratap, attacked the result of this was absolute mayhem described poetically by Mughal chronicler Badayuni. The intrepid charge by Pratap led to the vanguard and centre running for cover over miles. The chase of the running ranks brought the battle from the narrow pass to the plains at Rakt arrival of reserves under Mihtar Khan with the announcement that the emperor himself had joined the ranks helped reign in the running Mughal troops and bring order to the ranks. The counter-offensive with the strength of the Mughal contingent to fight in the plains led to a series of setbacks for the Mewar side with the gallant sacrifices of Raja Ramshah of Gwalior, his sons and several others. Amid the frenzy, Pratap sighted Man Singh atop his war a moment that would become legendary, Pratap and Chetak surged forward, plunging straight toward the howdah of the Mughal commander. Chetak reared and leapt, propelling Pratap within spear's reach of Man Singh. The thrust missed its mark – the Mughal general ducked, and Pratap's lance struck the mahout instead. In retaliation, Man Singh's elephant brought its tusk sword down, slashing into Chetak's flank. The legs of Chetak were injured and Pratap was encircled by enemy troops on all no victory in sight for both sides, a stalemate ensued. Pratap was goaded by old nobles to leave the battlefield for a protracted struggle, with Jhala Man taking away the crimson insignia to cover the retreat. The steed Chetak died a few miles away after bringing his master to safety. The battle sapped the Mughal contingent of any motivation to chase the retreating army. General Man Singh instead consolidated defences and in the days ahead, moved cautiously to Gogunda, waiting for and legacyHaldighati was a brief battle – a mere four hours of ferocious combat – but its impact resounded through the annals of Mewar. The battle did bring temporary territorial changes with the Mughal occupation of Gogunda and Udaipur, but it broke the myth of Mughal invincibility. Kesri Singh of Moondiyar writes that no doubt the field remains with Man, but for the emperor's army, no victory was ever more like defeat; for Mewar, no retreat was more glorious. The days ahead brought misery for Man Singh and the men. A harsh summer with no food to eat due to the scorched earth policy and looting of caravans by Bhils and Rajput soldiers led to a cautious retreat by Mughal writes that no one on the route believed the Mughal victory and all were convinced of the heroics of Pratap and his men. The emperor, unhappy with the outcome, ordered the dyodhi bandh of both Man Singh and Asaf Khan and himself marched to capture Maharana Pratap. Several missions followed but Pratap neither surrendered nor lost hope. The battle elevated the status of Pratap as the champion of freedom. A lot of like-minded rulers joined the coalition of Maharana Pratap and a long struggle followed. Beginning with the Battle of Dewair in one quick campaign, Pratap captured the entire lost territory except for two forts of Chittorgarh and the people of Rajasthan, Haldighati was not merely a battle of one afternoon, but a symbol: a testament to the idea that honour and homeland were worth the ultimate was the beginning of a long struggle and became a symbol of local resistance against imperial dominance, with Colonel Tod giving an apt epithet to Haldighati as the "Thermopylae of Mewar". And thus, the story of Haldighati lives on in both myth and myths – grand and poetic – speak to the emotional truth that Maharana Pratap's struggle has come to symbolise: courage against the odds, patriotism, and honour. The reality, meticulously pieced together by historians, reveals a nuanced and human tale of strategy, sacrifice, and resilience. Between the two, lies the true legacy of Haldighati, a legacy that continues to captivate the imagination while reminding us that history's real stories are every bit as profound as the legends they inspire. In remembering Haldighati, we locate not only a ravine in the Aravallis, but the very souls of people who choose freedom over surrender, time and time again.(Lalit Narayan Singh Sandu is an IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre and a PhD scholar in Gandhian economic thought)(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Indian Express
Mumbai man beaten to death suspecting him to be a thief
The Mumbai police on Thursday arrested a man for allegedly beating a 40-year-old man to death, suspecting him to be a thief. The deceased person has been identified as Hasan Shaikh, who does odd jobs, while the accused person has been identified as Mohammed Aslam Ansari, 43. Both live in Mahim's fisher colony. According to the police, Shaikh, along with his friend Vyanka, had gone to building number 21 in fisher colony on Wednesday night for consuming liquor. Ansari, who resides nearby, suspected that Shaikh had come there with an intention of theft and allegedly started thrashing him with a bamboo stick, stated the First Information Report (FIR). Shaikh's friend Vyanka escaped the spot out of fear, the FIR stated. Shaikh who sustained multiple internal and external injuries somehow managed to reach his home. When Shaikh's brother Khwaja, a driver by profession, returned home sometime after midnight, he saw a badly injured Shaikh lying unconscious with blood stains all over the floor. When Shaikh gained consciousness he told Khwaja that Ansari had assaulted him, the FIR stated.\ As Shaikh fell consciousness again, Khwaja along with the family, with the help of police, rushed him to Bhabha Hospital, the police said. After more than six hours of treatment, Shaikh died of serious multiple injuries. On Khwaja's complaint, Mahim police registered a murder case against Ansari under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), a police officer said
