Latest news with #Partition
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Decode Politics: Why dropping of Urdu clause for J&K govt post has set off a row
By Express News Service THE Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) order scrapping Urdu as a compulsory language requirement for a Revenue Department post in Jammu and Kashmir has renewed debate on the issue in the Union Territory. While the BJP, which had been protesting against the notification since it came out and calling it 'illegal', welcomed the CAT decision, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said non-Urdu speakers would not be 'efficient' in the posts since most land records are in Urdu. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who made the same argument, added that it was 'deeply unfortunate' that the judiciary appears to be 'influenced by divisive politics'. On June 9, the Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB), one of the two government recruitment agencies, issued a notification for a written exam for 75 posts of Naib Tehsildar in the UT's Revenue Department. As always, the JKSSB specified that the second paper of the written exam for the posts will test the candidate's 'working knowledge of Urdu'. Urdu has been the official administrative language of J&K since before Partition. While Persian was the official language of J&K in the early Dogra period, Maharaja Pratap Singh made Urdu as the sole official language over a century ago. It was during Maharaja Partap Singh's time that the first land settlement of J&K was carried out by Sir Walter Lawrence, an Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer, who was also a member of the British Council of India. Lawrence, who was appointed as the first Settlement Commissioner, started the process in 1889, completing it in five years. Thus, the first official land settlement in J&K was recorded in the Urdu language. Since the Lawrence period, all the revenue records of J&K were registered in Urdu. The pre-Partition revenue records are kept at Srinagar's Muhafiz Khana, which also has the original and official pre-Partition land records for the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) region. Hence, working knowledge of Urdu has always been a prerequisite for recruitment in the J&K Revenue Department because all land records in the UT are in this language. In the wake of the abrogation of Article 370, which granted J&K special status, in August 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, was passed by the BJP-led Central government in Parliament, which added four more languages – Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi and English – to already existing Urdu as J&K's official languages. The Bill said that these five languages will be 'used for all official purposes' in the UT. The BJP immediately called for the scrapping of the notification making Urdu mandatory for for the post of Naib Tehsildars. Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, met Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to seek his intervention to drop this eligibility criterion. Sharma's contention was that making working knowledge of one of the J&K's five official languages mandatory for Naib Telsildar aspirants 'violates constitutional principles and administrative impartiality, and creates an unfair barrier'. He also claimed this would put candidates from Jammu at a 'disadvantage'. The NC and PDP, immediately countered the BJP's stance. 'Urdu is not associated with any class, region, or religion, but is a historical and administrative language used in Jammu and Kashmir for over 130 years. During the reign of the Maharaja, all administrative work was conducted in Persian but later Urdu was adopted as a unifying language,' NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq pointed out. 'It is wrong to view every issue through a religious lens. The shajras (or the ancestral land records) have long been written in Urdu and it is not possible to change all those documents now. There is a need to acknowledge Urdu's historical role in administration, including judiciary and revenue,' Sadiq said. Subsequently, a petition was filed by job seekers with the CAT over the order. A Bench comprising Member (Judicial) Rajinder Dogra and Ram Mohan Johri (Member Administrative) said the notification was discriminatory in light of the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, and stayed 'the operation of the relevant provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Revenue (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules of 2009' that spoke of Urdu as the required language. Abdullah and Mufti both reiterated the importance of Urdu for understanding land records. 'Even before Independence, our revenue records were in Urdu. How will a staff member in the Revenue Department work if he/she doesn't know Urdu? I don't think staff members of the Revenue Department who don't know Urdu can be efficient,' Abdullah said. 'It is only logical that applicants for the post of Naib Tehsildar possess basic proficiency in the language,' Mufti said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
CM flags razing of Upendrakishore home in B'desh, India offers help to rebuild it
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she was "saddened" by reports emerging from Bangladesh that the residence of writer and painter Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury in Bangladesh was being demolished. Upendrakishore was the father of one of Bengal's most celebrated poets, Sukumar Ray, and the grandfather of filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Taking to X, she wrote in Bengali: "Reports suggest the ancestral house of Satyajit Ray's grandfather, ren-owned writer-editor Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, is allegedly being demolished. It is reported that the demolition work has already begun. This news is extremely saddening." "The Ray family is a significant bearer of Bengali culture. Upendrakishore was a pillar of the Bengal Renaissance. Therefore, I believe this house is intricately linked to the cultural history of Bengal. I appeal to govt of Bangladesh and all well-intentioned people of the country to preserve this heritage building. The Indian govt should pay attention to this matter," Banerjee added. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Later in the day, India called on Bangladesh to reconsider its decision and offered help to preserve the iconic building. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like All Senior Drivers Should Claim This Large Reward (Check If You Qualify) Read More Undo Describing the move as a matter of "profound regret", MEA said: "Given the building's landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, it would be preferable to reconsider the demolition and examine options for its repair and reconstruction as a museum of literature and a symbol of the shared culture of India and Bangladesh. Govt of India would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose." According to media reports from Bangladesh, the home was being demolished to make way for a new semi-concrete structure. According to available records, the house was built more than a century ago by Upendrakishore, then a zamindar and entrepreneur from Masua in Kishoreganj's Katiadi upazila. Upendrakishore was the first to introduce colour printing in Bengal. He also began the first children's magazine in colour, Sandesh, in 1913. According to the local media in Bangladesh, after the Partition in 1947, the property came under govt ownership and was repurposed as Mymensingh Shishu Academy in 1989. According to Daily Star, who quoted Md Mehedi Zaman, the district children affairs officer, as saying: "The house has been left abandoned for 10 years. Shishu Academy activities have been operating from a rented space." The official added that the demolition was being carried out following procedure. When asked why such a historically significant building was being demolished, he said the building posed a risk to children who gathered at the compound. In June, Banerjee had condemned the vandalism at Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Sirajganj, calling the incident a "barbaric assault on national pride and the subcontinent's cultural heritage".
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Over 350 applications for freehold status of plots by Sindhi migrants
Nagpur: The amnesty scheme to grant freehold status to lands held by refugees from West Pakistan has come as a major relief for Sindhi families living in the city. The district collectorate has so far received 350 applications for regularising plots measuring over 8 acres, and another 100 applications are expected soon. According to estimates, members of the Sindhi community are in possession of approximately 40 acres of land, including residential and commercial plots, in the Jaripatka and Khamla areas. These lands, originally allotted to Sindhi refugees who migrated during the Partition, are now eligible for regularisation under the scheme. "Another 100 applications are likely to reach the collector's office shortly. In total, 475 applications have been received or are currently in process. Of these, 175 are for commercial plots and the rest for residential ones," said senior BJP leader Virendra Kukreja, who has been actively representing the Sindhi community on this issue. "We are assisting locals in filing their applications," he added. Kukreja said even those who arrived until the year 2000 are eligible to benefit. "The applicants must pay a regularisation fee, which varies depending on the date of the supporting documents submitted," said a source. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Magé (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo According to the government resolution issued in May, applications with documents dated before July 20, 1982, will attract fees based on the ready reckoner rates of 1989. For those dated between July 20, 1982, and December 31, 2000, the 2000 rates will apply. For documents dated between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2024, the current ready reckoner rates will be used. "It has been a long wait for displaced families who fled their homes in Pakistan. The matter was finally taken up by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," Kukreja said.
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
India urges Dhaka to reconsider Satyajit Ray's home demolition, offers repair help
Authorities in Bangladesh have begun demolishing the ancestral home of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh city to make way for a semi-concrete structure, according to a report by Bangladeshi news website The Daily move has drawn strong reactions from India, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressing regret and urging the Bangladeshi government to reconsider the MEA said in a statement, "We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished." It added that "given the building's landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, it would be preferable to reconsider the demolition and examine options for its repair and reconstruction as a museum of literature and a symbol of the shared culture of India and Bangladesh." The Indian government has also expressed willingness to cooperate with local authorities in this structure in question was built by Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, grandfather of Satyajit Ray and father of poet Sukumar Ray. The century-old building was formerly used as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy and is located on a road named after another Ray ancestor, Horikishore Ray Chowdhury. The Ray family is considered to have made lasting contributions to Bengali literature and to The Daily Star, the structure has suffered due to years of neglect by local authorities. "The house has been left abandoned for 10 years. Shishu Academy activities have been operating from a rented space," the report quoted Md Mehedi Zaman, the district Children Affairs Officer, as added that a semi-constructed structure will now be built on the site to accommodate academic Ashraf, a local poet, told TDS, "The house was in a pitiful state for years; cracks developed in its roof, but the authorities concerned never cared for the rich history behind old buildings."The house was taken over by local authorities after the Partition in 1947, when the region became part of East Pakistan. In 1989, it was repurposed as the Mymensingh Shishu residents have voiced their opposition to the demolition, arguing that it erases a vital part of the city's cultural and literary Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also reacted to the development, calling it "extremely distressing." Writing in Bangla on X, she said, "News reports reveal that in Bangladesh's Mymensingh city, the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray's grandfather, the renowned writer-editor Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, steeped in his memories, is reportedly being demolished. It is said that the demolition work had already begun."advertisementShe added, "The Ray family is one of the foremost bearers and carriers of Bengali culture. Upendrakishore is a pillar of Bengal's renaissance. Therefore, I believe this house is intricately tied to the cultural history of Bengal."Banerjee appealed to the interim government of Bangladesh and the people of the country to preserve the historic home. She also urged the Indian government to intervene in the Ray, who was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, and an Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, remains one of the most celebrated figures in global cinema.- Ends
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First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
The life and legacy of 'Turbaned Tornado' Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathoner
Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, died at the age of 114 after being hit by a car in Punjab's Jalandhar. The man, who began his marathon journey at 89, had shattered records and inspired many with his resilience. Here's a closer look at his story read more Widely believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh was a British-Indian icon who shattered records across age categories, most notably, continuing to run marathons well past the age of 100. Fauja Singh, fondly called the 'Turbaned Tornado', died at the age of 114 on July 14 after being struck by a car near his home in Beas Pind, Jalandhar. Widely believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, Singh was an icon who shattered records across age categories, most notably, continuing to run marathons well past the age of 100. The frail man, who weathered many a personal storms with grit and perseverance, had spent a better part of his running career in the UK and returned to his roots just about three years ago after retiring. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We would always tell him that someone his age running in India would always run the risk of being hit, given how reckless the driving here is. This is what ultimately happened, unfortunately,' said his biographer Khushwant Singh, who chronicled the legendary athlete's journey in The Turbaned Tornado. As the world mourns the tragic end of an extraordinary life, here's a look back at the man, his journey, and the legacy he left behind. 'In my youth, I didn't know 'marathons' existed' Fauja Singh was born on April 1, 1911, in Beas Pind, a small village in pre-Partition British India. The youngest of four siblings, Singh had a frail frame as a child. Locals in his village even nicknamed him 'Stick' because his legs were too weak to support him, and he couldn't walk properly until he was five. Instead of going to school, he spent most of his early years helping out on the family farm, feeding cattle and growing crops like corn and wheat. 'I was very weak as a child. I had faced trouble walking till the age of five years but then as I spent time at the farm and with the support of my family and Waheguru, I started walking,' he told The Indian Express in an interview. Fauja Singh. Image courtesy: X Before turning 40, Singh had already lived through both World Wars and the horrors of the Partition. Despite everything, he had never thought of running in his youth. 'In my youth, I didn't even know the word 'marathon' existed,' he once told the BBC. 'I never went to school, nor was I involved in any kind of sports. I was a farmer and spent most of my life in the fields.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Singh later married and had six children. Life took a turn in 1993 when he moved to England after the death of his wife, Gian Kaur. He settled in Ilford, London, to live with his eldest son, Sukhjinder. However, another tragedy soon followed. While visiting India, Singh witnessed the accidental death of his younger son, Kuldeep. The loss left him shattered. He returned to London and began to find solace in long walks and eventually running, often frequenting parks near his home. On one of his visits to the local gurdwara, he met a group of elderly men who ran together. It was here that he met Harmander Singh, who would become his coach and one of his closest companions. 'Had I not met Harmander Singh, I wouldn't have got into marathon running,' Singh had told The Indian Express. Becoming the 'Turbaned tornado' Fauja Singh ran his first marathon—the London Marathon—in 2000, at the age of 89. He completed it in six hours and 54 minutes, kicking off a remarkable journey that would make him a global icon. 'Running gave him a new focus in life, made it worth living,' his coach Harmander Singh told The New York Times in 2010. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With each race, Singh grew stronger and faster. By his third London Marathon, he had shaved nine minutes off his previous time. In 2003, he amazed the world again at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon by clocking in at five hours and 40 minutes, improving his personal best by over an hour. He credited his health and longevity to a simple lifestyle and disciplined vegetarian diet. 'Eating less, running more, and staying happy - that is the secret behind my longevity. This is my message to everyone,' he had told BBC. 'Running gave him a new focus in life, made it worth living,' Fauja Singh's coach Harmander Singh said in 2010. PTI His dedication caught international attention. Adidas featured him in their Nothing Is Impossible campaign alongside Muhammad Ali in 2003. The Pakistani Prime Minister Pervez Musharraf invited him to the inaugural Lahore Marathon in 2005, and Queen Elizabeth II welcomed him to Buckingham Palace in 2006. Then came 2011—the year he turned 100. At a Toronto invitational meet named in his honour, Singh broke several world records in his age category. However, Guinness World Records did not recognise any of them, as he did not have a birth certificate from 1911 to prove his age. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Singh shows off his medal from the Edinburgh Marathon in 2005. 'He was not bothered by any of that. He just enjoyed the attention that he got. I once asked him 'Baba, maran ton darr lagda? (Baba, are you afraid of death?). He said 'haan, bilkul lagda. Haje te mele shuru hoye ne (Yes, of course. The fun has only started for me),' recalled his biographer Khuswant Singh. In 2012, Singh proudly served as a torchbearer at the London Olympics. His final competitive race came a year later in Hong Kong, a 10-kilometre event, after which he announced his retirement. Legacy beyond the finish line By 2016, Singh had hung up his marathon shoes, but that didn't mean slowing down. Even in his later years, he would walk up to 16 km a day around Ilford in East London, his coach Harmander Singh said. In 2015, he was honoured with the British Empire Medal for his services to sport and charity. His story reached new audiences in 2020 when writer Simran Jeet Singh published Fauja Singh Keeps Going—the first children's picture book by a major publisher centred on a Sikh protagonist. 'I'm now 108 years old, which means I'm probably more than 100 years older than you,' Singh wrote in the book's foreword to young readers. 'Can you believe that?' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fauja Singh setting a world record for the fastest centenarian in an 800m race in 2011. File image/ AP. Following his death, tributes poured in from all corners of the world. PM Narendra Modi called him 'an exceptional athlete with incredible determination' and praised how he inspired India's youth to embrace fitness. Fauja Singh Ji was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness. He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2025 Back in Ilford, Harmander Singh has launched a campaign to raise funds for a memorial clubhouse in Singh's name, reports The Indian Express. 'We're collecting £114 from close to 9,000 people around the world,' he said, 'to build something that keeps the Fauja Singh legacy alive.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even at 114, Singh was actively participating in causes he believed in. He joined the 'Nasha Mukt – Rangla Punjab' march to promote a drug-free Punjab. As the world bids farewell to Singh, his remarkable legacy will live in every marathon run, every story of resilience, and in the millions of lives he inspired. With input from agencies
