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Arab News
16 hours ago
- General
- Arab News
Brushstrokes on a budget: How Islamabad Sunday Bazaar stall became thriving art academy
ISLAMABAD: Several works of Islamic calligraphy, landscape art and whirling dervish paintings hung on the walls of the stall while around a dozen students sat bent over canvases while husband and wife duo Azhar Qureshi and Shagufta watched over them. The scene is from the Knowledge Art Academy, located in a quiet corner between a long row of stalls at Islamabad's Sunday, or Itwar, Bazaar, a popular spot for the capital city's middle classes who come for the affordable shopping and to buy used and cheap items. Here, nestled between toys, crockery and ceramics kiosks, the Knowledge Art Academy, a tin roof supported by wooden sticks, offers art classes at the affordable price of around $12 for three months of lessons. The teachers are Shagufta and Qureshi, who has a fine arts diploma from Lahore, and has been running the academy for the past 14 years, offering an attractive alternative to pricey art schools in Islamabad. 'Our aim was to start this so that people who are interested in art can easily join our classes,' Shagufta told Arab News at the stall. 'Our fee is also very reasonable. Art is a very expensive hobby which not everyone can afford. Since people from all backgrounds come here, that's why we opted to arrange our setup here.' The academy has students ranging from age five to those in their eighties. 'I was interested in learning how to paint,' Zamad Ahmed, a second year intermediate student who attends the academy with his 15-year-old sister Fatima, told Arab News. 'But due to affordability I never learned it. But after my mother stumbled upon this place, I knew I had to attend it.' Another student is Abdul Bari, an 81-year-old retired bank manager, who visits the academy weekly to pursue his passion for Islamic calligraphy. 'After retiring as a bank manager and marrying off my kids, I have been coming here for a year-and-a-half to learn from the maestro himself,' Bari said. 'It has been 1.5 to 2 years that I have come here to learn. I am retired so I come here to spend time, and by the grace of Allah, I have learned a lot from here also.' 'HEALTHY ACTIVITY' Art schools in Pakistan, particularly those offering undergraduate programs, can be quite expensive, with some institutions charging upwards of $2,500 per year for tuition alone. The National College of Arts (NCA) is a notable example of a public university that offers art programs and has relatively high tuition fees. Other expenses, such as accommodation and transportation, can further contribute to the overall cost of attending art school in Pakistan. This attracts many to the low-cost Knowledge Art Academy. A middle-aged corporate professional who only identified himself by his first name Ijaz said he had admitted his three daughters to the academy so they could do something 'productive' during their summer vacations at an affordable price. 'We have come to generate healthy activities for them,' he said. 'Rather than sitting at home and wasting time on gadgets, on mobile or watching movies. I just want to generate some healthy activity so that they can learn something.' While Qureshi said he had received various offers from prestigious art schools and institutions, he was committed to remain focused on his humble setup. 'I've even been told to move to a proper building or classroom and teach from there,' Qureshi said. 'But that would increase the fees and affect my students who come here to follow their passion. I don't want to disturb them.' And his dedication has borne fruit, with several of his students pursuing fine arts formally while others have become art teachers and freelance artists. Rabiya Noureen, 34, who learnt to paint at the Knowledge Art Academy, now runs her own classes. 'I learned painting from here and now have my own academy,' she said. 'Now, my students even take commissioned painting work and earn money.'
Time of India
02-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Karnataka SSLC results: Students from Belagavi, Sirsi buck the trend from government schools
Belagavi/Sirsi: Defying stereotypes about govt schools performing poorly in public examinations, two girls — one from Sirsi and the other from Belagavi — have topped the 2025 SSLC examination with 100% scores. Roopa Chanagouda Patil from Govt High School, Devalapur, in Bailhongal taluk, Belagavi, and Shagufta Anjum from Govt Urdu High School, Sirsi, Uttara Kannada, are among the 22 students who secured 625 out of 625. Shagufta, a resident of Tipu Nagar, Sirsi, is the daughter of Mohammad Manjarul Islam, a cleric at a mosque in Sirsi. Shagufta's mother Saheera Bhanu had migrated to Karnataka from Bihar. Shagufta, who is now looking forward to pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) studies, said: "I am proud to secure the top position – thanks to the encouragement and support from our headmaster Anand S Koravar and the SDMC [school development and monitoring committee]. They motivated me throughout." Shagufta further said: "Hailing from Bihar, I initially struggled to read and write in Kannada. It was only after joining govt Urdu High School in class 8 that I started learning the language and eventually began speaking in Kannada. I will continue with further studies in Karnataka and aspire to excel in science." Meanwhile, sweets were being distributed at the Chanagouda Patil household and in the neighbourhood in Kabanur of Shiggaon taluk, Haveri district, as news came in of daughter Roopa, who was born in the village, emerging one of the toppers. Roopa's father Chanagouda, a farmer, and her mother Lata, a homemaker, are proud of their daughter who aspires to be a doctor one day. "I studied for 5-6 hours daily. My parents provided me with a dedicated space to study. While in school, teachers were a constant source of encouragement, too," an overjoyed Roopa said. There are four students from Roopa's school who have secured more than 600 in their SSLC exams this time. "There is ample evidence that govt schools are not inferior in any way. Children put in a lot of hard work, while teachers are always around to guide them. The programmes organised by the zilla panchayat this time to improve SSLC results also made a big impact," said GD Marennavar, principal in charge at the school. He lauded the role played by zilla panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, who motivated students through a 'talent search exam' this year. As many as 29 of 58 students from the school have passed the exam. Ashok Chandaragi, the district president of Kannada Sanghatanegala Kriya Samiti (KSKS), congratulated Roopa and added: "She will be felicitated by the Samiti soon. KSKS will also award Rs 5,000 to each student who passed SSLC, studying in the Kannada medium."
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Smart work, practice and consistency: Karnataka SSLC toppers reveal secret sauce for academic success
The Karnataka SSLC results 2025 saw 22 students secure the maximum marks (625/625) in the board examination, up from just one last year. One of these 22 is Roopa Chanagouda Patil from Devalapura village in Bailhongal taluk, which falls in the Belagavi district. A student of Government High School in Devalapur, Rupa credited her success to her teachers' guidance and her parents' steadfast support. Her father, Chanagouda, is a farmer, and her mother, Lata, is a homemaker, who, despite their humble circumstances, nurtured Rupa's academic ambitions. At the time of the result announcement, Roopa was visiting her grandmother in Kabanur village in Shiggaon taluk, Haveri district, where celebrations broke out, complemented by sweets and joyous smiles.'I studied 8 hours daily outside school hours, focusing on understanding concepts rather than just memorising. My parents gave me complete freedom to pursue my studies. I aspire to become a doctor,' Roopa said. Roopa's academic excellence has echoes in her family, as her elder sister, Vaishnavi, secured 90 per cent in the second-year of Pre-University Course (Science). Meanwhile, Belagavi district's rank in academic performance rose from 29th to 25th in the state this year. Pride of school Shagufta Anjum, a native of Bihar, moved to Karnataka for her education. A student of Government Composite Urdu High School in Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, her perfect score has brought pride to her school and her family, who are set to travel from Bihar to Bengaluru to celebrate her success. Shagufta's father, Manjarul Islam, a maulana (Islamic scholar), and her mother Manjarul Islam, a homemaker, have been her pillars of support. Shagufta's preparation was a blend of hard work and smart work. Starting her studies in December, she dedicated 2-3 hours daily to revision, ramping it up to more than three hours from January. Her approach was methodical: she participated in essay quizzes, revised extensively, and focused on understanding concepts rather than rote memorisation. 'Science and maths were tough, but if you understand the concepts and practice, you can excel,' she said. Quoting her love for mathematics, she added: 'Maths is a loved treasure, and practice is the key to unlock it.' Her science preparation was equally strategic. Shagufta used tricks to simplify complex topics. Her father's dream of seeing her pursue an MBBS degree to serve in the health sector aligns with Shagufta's aspirations to become a doctor. Jahnavi SB, a student of Vijaya Bharathi Vidyalaya High School in Girinagar, Bengaluru, was overjoyed yet astonished by her perfect score. 'I expected above 620, but never 625,' she said. Her journey to the top was marked by consistent self-study up to two hours daily, rising to five hours during exams. Jahnavi's success was a team effort, with her teachers and parents playing a crucial role in clearing doubts and encouraging extra practice. She revised thoroughly, ensured no panic during exams, and found the question papers manageable. 'The three months of preparation were easy because I stayed consistent and appeared for back-to-back preparatory exams,' she said. Her teachers' efforts in addressing doubts and her parents' support kept her motivated. Jahnavi, who has opted for PCMB (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology) in her further studies, aspires to become a scientist. Beyond academics, she is also an accomplished veena player.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Government Urdu school student from Sirsi is among SSLC toppers in Karnataka
Shagufta Anjum, a student of Government Composite Urdu High School at Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, has emerged as one among the toppers in Karnataka with a score of 625 marks out of 625. A native of Bihar, Shagufta has been studying at the Government Urdu school for the past five years. Her father, Manjarul Anjum, is a moulvi who earlier served in Bihar, and mother Sahira Banu is a homemaker. The family resides at Tipu Nagar on the outskirts of Sirsi. Shagufta is the eldest among the five children of her parents. She attributed her success to the coaching and encouragement from her teachers and parents, and hard work. She said the teachers organised special classes during Ramzan, which helped her a lot. She wants to become a doctor and wants to move to Bengaluru for her PUC. School Headmaster Anand S. Korawar said, 'Shagufta was good in academics from the beginning. We were hoping that she would do well in SSLC. Her hard work has enabled her to get full marks.' In fact, this year, the faculty organised special classes for those keeping a fast during Ramzan. In all, the school has 125 students. Mr. Korawar said a few organisations have come forward to extend support for her higher education.
