By TCN News,
New Delhi: Radiance Viewsweekly organized its Golden Jubilee Celebration programme at India Islamic Cultural Centre here today. In order to celebrate the event, readers, friends, well-wishers as well as mentors gathered in the auditorium.
It was a proud moment for all those assembled to mark the occasion and the smile on their faces revealed their zeal and satisfaction to do more in the years to come in order to represent the voice of the community in a more meaningful manner.
L-R: Ausaf Saied Vasfi, Nusrat Ali, Jalaluddin Umari, Kalbe Sadiq, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Dr. Javed Jamil
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Shahabuddin, former president of All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat categorically said that over the years Radiance has become the mouthpiece of the community and that he is an avid reader of Radiance. “I have found Radiance to be more trustworthy than other newspapers and magazines that I get in the office and I read Radiance the most. The noteworthy point of Radiance is that it does not fuel the fire of sectarianism and communalism but rather it has followed the path of tolerance in its approach and contents,” he averred.
The journey of 50 glorious years of the magazine was highlighted with the presentation of a documentary by Yawar Rahman.
Major highlights of the programme included release of Golden Jubilee Special issue dated 29 September – 5 October 2013 at the hands of Chairman Board of Islamic Publications (BIP) and Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Omari along with other dignitaries present on the dais. This special issue is the gist of the coverage of Radiance on the various issues confronting the nation and the community since its inception.
Another highlight of the event was introduction of new website (radianceweekly.in) presented by Mr. Kamal Ahmad, Manager Radiance Viewsweekly.
Yet another highlight was presentation of a 9-minute 50-second documentary on the 50-year journey of Radiance Viewsweekly by Mr. Yawer Rahman. It was an effort to build a mosaic of the achievements of Radiance in all walks of life.
On this festive occasion, Radiance also recognized the services of its former Deputy Editor, Dr. S Ausaf Saied Vasfi and some former journalists. Dr. Vasfi was conferred with Life Time Achievement
Award along with a citation signed by Chairman BIP Maulana Jalaluddin Omari. It was an emotional moment while Dr Vasfi was being awarded for his five-decade association with the Radiance in various capacities. Some journalists who had rendered their services at the desk of Radiance but are now working elsewhere were given mementos in recognition of their services to Radiance.
Kuldip Nayar, peace activist and renowned journalist whose celebrated column “Between the Lines” found place in Radiance for almost two decades, emphasised the need to protect, preserve and promote secularism. He vehemently said that it becomes the responsibility of the minority community will have to “secularise Hindus”. He further said that during troubled times or disturbances in our neighbour or during riots it is only the Muslim community that suffers the most because of the fact that towards the end Hindu-Muslim riots get transformed into conflict between police and Muslims.
On this memorable occasion Dr Kalbe Sadiq stressed the need to build greater unity among Muslims by putting an end to all kinds of sects and differences. He urged the community members to get united by deriving a single mission keeping on the backburner all issues and differences that are impediments in the way of unity and brotherhood.
Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, Editor, The Milli Gazette said that he was aware of Radiance right from his school days. He had written articles in Radiance while he was abroad. He said that despite all achievements a lot more is required to be done by the community or existing Muslim media to make their voice heard and talked upon. The Muslim media has to be more sensitive to the issues that matter them the most.
In his presidential address, Syed Jalaluddin Umari, Amir, JIH said that the remarkable and unique feature of Radiance is that it covers every issue in Islamic perspective and urged the dignitaries present in the programme to find solutions of their problems in the light of the Quran and Sunnah because therein lies solution to all problems faced by us or by Non-Muslims.
Vote of thanks was delivered by Sikandar Azam, Editor Radiance Viewsweekly and the programme was conducted by Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Aslam, Editor-in-Chief of Radiance Viewsweekly.