By Salman Sultan, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: It was the vision of Maulana Ziauddin Burhanuddin Bukhari (1939-93) which got translated into beautiful well planned concrete structures giving birth to an exclusive and unprecedented Muslim colony called “Millat Nagar”. Mumbai, therefore, not only has the “Sea Link” as a landmark but “Millat Nagar” also falls under this category.
Mumbai Sea Link (day time)
Mumbai Sea Link (night)
Muslim localities have stereotypically been associated with filth and squalor. Not anymore, “Millat Nagar” in one single stroke of philanthropy on part of Late Maulana Bukhari breaks the myth and challenges posh localities in all respects of sanitation, space and planning. For Muslims, names like Al-Makkah, Al-Madina, Al-Safa, Al-Marwah, Al-Muzdalifah, Al-Namira etc. are a pleasant surprise. The beautiful mosque in whose compound Maulana Bukhari was laid to rest is a testimony of the supremacy of Allah in the eyes of Muslims. The air-conditioned mosque is a marvel of architecture and its beautiful landscape with well maintained flowers and grass has a soothing effect on eyes.
Gate of Millat Nagar Mosque “Masjid-Al-Salam”
Millat Nagar Mosque
Mr. Suheem Ahmad Nomani, CMD, Wens Drugs (India) Pvt. Ltd. was the Secretary of Millat Nagar Housing Federation from 1992 to 2001. Mr. Nomani told that Millat Nagar mosque “Masjid-Al-Salam” is the first mosque after Independence which was registered as a mosque. It has a capacity of 3000 people. Mr. Nomani is also the founder of Allama Shibli Nomani Charitable Trust, a registered body which runs “Madarsa Jamiat Dawatul Quran Wa Sunnat Allama Shibli Nomani R.A.” in Hansoor, Mysore (Karnataka).
Mr. Ashhad Ali Ghaznawi @ Achho Bhai, son of famous poet and politician Late Amjad Ali Ghaznawi, is the present Vice-President of Millat Nagar Housing Federation. They arranged an after dinner poem recitation function at the residence of Mr. Suhem Ahmad Nomani in Millat Nagar.
Mr. S.A. Nomani and Mr. Ashhad Ali Ghaznawi holding a rare photograph of Allama Shibli with his father and other relatives.
The residents of Millat Nagar present in the function included Zubair Ahmad Khan, Neyaz Ahmad Shaikh, Mohammad Inam Jod, Afaq Ahmad, Alauddin Siddiqui, Feroz Ahmad Shaikh, Ashhad Ali Ghaznawi, Shamim Ahmad Nomani and Suheem Ahmad Nomani.
Mr. Firoz Ahmad Shaikh on extreme left rendering his voice to classical Ghazals
Mr. Feroz Ahmad has the exceptional gift of reciting classical Ghazal exactly in the style and tone of the original poet. The video clips are a testimony to this. First video is the ghazal of Fina Nizami Kanpuri and the following one that of Khumar Barabankwi.