By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Do you know who was the first Muslim martyr journalist of the 1857 War of Independence? Maulvi Mohammad Baqar. Was Gama, the Rustam-e-Zamana (World Wrestling Champion), a Muslim? Yes, he was Ghulam Mohammad Bakhsh.
A book telling about 150 eminent patriotic Indian Muslims will soon hit the Indian market. Many of the personalities selected from the time span of 1857 to 2007 are very known like Bahadurshah Zafar, Maulana Mahmudul Hasan and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad but many more are unsung heroes like Gama, Baqar and Rainbow Hadi, the first cricketer who scored 100 in Ranji Trophy.
Celebrating India: Reflections on Eminent Indian Muslims (1857-2007) will be launched at Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna on December 7. The book will be released by Justice S S Nayyar Husain of Patna High Court and Dr. Razi Ahmad, Secretary of Gandhi Sangrahalaya.
Why this book? “When India is celebrating centenary of 150 years of India’s first War of Independence I thought I should also contribute through a book that would highlight the contributions of patriotic Indian Muslims who served the nation selflessly in the period of 1857 to 2007 by taking part in the 1857 War of Independence, in freedom movement or by enhancing India’s glory and prestige in different spheres like art, culture, music, sports, academic and journalism,” says Meher Fatima Hussain to TwoCircles.net.
“This book is written on the celebrative occasion of anniversaries marking 150 Years of India’s First War of Independence, 1857 and 60 Years of India’s Independence as a mark of honor and with the sincere objective of highlighting the contributions of one-fifty eminent Indian Muslims to freedom movement, nation building, enhancing country’s prestige in diverse spheres and furtherance of composite culture through reflections on their biographical profiles,” says the author Meher who is Lecturer at Dr. K.R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia.
A graduate of Patna University Meher’s area of specialization is Modern Indian History and Minorities Studies. She has a monograph published from Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Her several research papers have been published in reputed journals.
“I thought that by writing this book I would be paying tribute to the patriotic Indian Muslims,” says she adding that the book will definitely inspire the younger generation to emulate those who overcame their personal ambitions for the larger cause of the nation.
Book is published by:
Manak Publications Pvt. Ltd.
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Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-110 092
India
Phones: 91-11-22453894, 22042529
email: [email protected]
http://www.manakpublications.com