Syed Ali Mujtaba recognized by a book promoter in the US

Syed Ali Mujtaba recognized by a book promoter in the US

Katherine D. Morgan is a writer and bookseller who lives in Portland, Oregon. She recognized Chennai-based author Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba for his book “Indian Muslims Tryst with Destiny.”

She writes an email to Syed Ali Mujtaba, saying: Hi!  “I came across your book, “Indian Muslims’ Tryst with Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities,” and spent some time looking at how the book’s subject matter can appeal to the different readers who may be interested in its discussion.

“What stood out to me is that the book is not limited to a historical or political discussion. It brings together questions of democracy, community development, political participation, leadership, capacity building, and merit-based education. That gives the book several potential reader entry points across political and social studies, contemporary Indian affairs, education, community leadership, and readers interested in the civic experiences of Indian Muslims.”

“Another interesting aspect is the book’s focus on what it presents as constructive, community-driven responses, particularly around political empowerment and education. That creates a more specific positioning angle than simply presenting the book as a discussion of the challenges facing a particular community.”

“While looking at “Indian Muslims’ Tryst with Democracy,” I noticed a few areas that I believe are worth bringing to your attention, particularly around its different potential reader communities and how the book’s subject can be presented across those on discovery paths.”

“I have put together some initial observations that may give you a different perspective on the book’s current visibility and potential readership. There is no obligation. I simply thought the observations could be useful to you.”

Best regards, Katherine Morgan (Independent Book Promoter & Audience Scout). This Email was received with the title: ‘A few overlooked opportunities I noticed for Indian Muslims’ Tryst with Democracy’ on Sep 20, 2026, 2:20 AM from  (katherinemmorgan19@gmail.com)

Katherine Morgan’s essays, criticism, and book reviews have appeared at Huffington Post, Bitch Media, LitHub, The Rumpus, and HelloGiggles, among others. Katherine’s work has been nominated for the two Best of Net awards.  She spends her days working at her bookstore, Grand Gesture Books, which specializes in romance novels.

 

‘Modi Chalisa’ at Press Club of India bodes ill for the institution of the Press

‘Modi Chalisa’ at Press Club of India bodes ill for the institution of the Press

Syed Ali Mujtaba

1. An event at the Press Club of India in New Delhi where a cutout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was worshiped has stirred a hornet’s nest. This event, where Prime Minister Modi is depicted as Lord Ram and being worshipped, was captured live on video cameras.
2. On the Press Club premises, participants recited ‘Modi Chalisa’. The videos show four to five people performing an aarti before the cutout of the Prime Minister, who is holding a bow in his hand, a replica of Maryada Purushottam Ram.

Participants at the event were seen reciting the ‘Bhagwan Shri Narendra Modi Chalisa’ and chanting slogans such as, “Jai, Jai Modi, Har, Har Modi.” A banner at the venue also read “Bhagwan Shri Narendra Modi Chalisa.”

This image of Lord Ram sent a clear message to viewers that it will henceforth be worshiped across India.  

The Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board had organized this event. Its vice-president, Rajan Singh, says the event was organized to announce the construction of a temple dedicated to “Lord Shri Narendra Modi ji” in Bihar. He reasoned that the temple is planned because Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that he will protect the rights and opportunities of the transgender community.

Criticism about the Press Club’s credibility being eroded spread thick and fast on social media. Thismade  the Press Club of India issue a clarification: “that the hall was hired by an organization for holding a press conference, but when the terms for renting out the place were violated, the Club authorities immediately intervened and stopped the event."

Notwithstanding, the fact remains that such clarification does not assuage the sentiments of those who hold the Press Club as the fourth pillar of Indian democracy that is meant to air the voices fighting for constitutional values.

Certainly, by this act of omission or commission, the credibility of the Press Club of India has eroded considerably. The charge is that the Press Club, instead of opposing the government’s ambition to turn India into a Hindu state, is providing a platform to forces that espouse such a cause.  

Certainly, the Press Club’s answer does not satisfy the public trust. It has lost its rationalist and socialist values by providing a platform to such fringe elements. It’s seen as a platform to air a Hindu communal agenda.  

Public Interest litigation is warranted against the Press Club, and its authorities should be questioned as to why this body, claiming to be the guardian of the press, is indulging in anti-constitutional activity.

This is not the first time Press Club premises are used to spread communal Hindu religious ideas. One such person whom I have stumbled upon is Pushpendra Kulshreshtha (PK), who used the Press Club of India premises to spread hate against Indian Muslims and Islam.

He was Bureau Chief of Pakistan’s Aaj TV news in New Delhi. It’s due to that ID PK got himself elected as general secretary of the Press Club of India not once but thrice.  It was in his third term, in 2009, that he was caught doing financial irregularities with the Press Club. At an extraordinary general body meeting where over 200 members of the Press Club attended the EGM, the Hindu chauvinist was disgracefully removed.

PK, during his tenure as an office bearer of the Press Club of India, addressed the RSS gathering where his speeches were full of wild allegations against Muslims and Islam. His speeches were couched with lies, unsubstantiated facts, defamation, slander, and libel. He was heard saying, Islam is the cause of every problem in the world. He wanted to wipe out every Muslim from the face of the earth. He certainly enjoyed the state patronage. Instead of being arrested, PK’s hateful speeches were allowed to be circulated on YouTube.  

To quote Mr. N. Ram, a prominent media figure and Director of “The Hindu Group,” who has identified two interconnected challenges confronting the press today: erosion of public trust and growing threats to its freedom and independence. He called on press clubs across the country to play a proactive role in restoring the press's credibility.

Speaking at the National Conclave of the Federation of Press Clubs in Hyderabad on August 22, 2026, he said the credibility crisis could not be attributed entirely to forces outside journalism, but a section of the media had also contributed to the problem through communal rhetoric and excessive proximity to political and corporate interests.

Mr N. Ram, while talking about the credibility of the press, said such things can neither be taken for granted, nor can be demanded from the public. 

“When journalism becomes indistinguishable from political propaganda” and when television debates substitute “noise for information”, public trust inevitably suffers,” he said.

Mr. Ram argued that public trust was equally crucial for the press club to remain an effective democratic institution. The press club has an important role in rebuilding that trust by promoting professional ethics and independence, he said.

India ranks 157th (down from 151st in 2025) out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index in 2026. India scores 31.96 out of 100 in the category of "Very Serious" environment for journalism. Reporters Without Borders published this annual index.  

---

Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com

 

Four women among 10 Muslim change-makers in Tamil Nadu

 Four women among 10 Muslim change-makers in Tamil Nadu

 Syed Ali Mujtaba 

Chennai – A Report published by Awaz- the Voice (ATV), a news platform, highlights 10 Muslim change-makers in Tamil Nadu, among them four are women. These change-makers are driving social change through education, arts, and activism. They represent diverse fields, ranging from environmental conservation and literature to political activism and education, aimed at improving society in Tamil Nadu.

Daud. Sharifa Khanam is the fairy godmother of battered Muslim women in Tamil Nadu. For nearly two decades, she has been active in India’s women’s movement. From her base in Pudukkotta, Sharifa Khanam has dedicated her life to helping battered Muslim women. Sharifa Khanam, founder of STEPS, a women’s empowerment institution, is now working to establish a women’s mosque. Khanam believed that Muslim women had nowhere to turn when they faced injustice. Sudden divorces, triple talaq, denial of maintenance, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse were often dismissed by the police as matters falling under Shariat or Muslim personal law. These cases were pushed back into male-dominated jamaats. So the mosques for women can only be a shelter for such battered Muslim women.

Nikath Fathima Sohail heads the MWA Matriculation School in Chennai and supports educational initiatives for Muslim women. She is also co-chair of the Academy for Women. Besides, she is part of several other education-related organizations for Muslim youth and women. She went on to set up five learning centres for children with learning disabilities and to head a school for matriculation, which today has 1,500 students. She worked for 30 years for girls and for their social uplift in Tamil Nadu. She is co-chair of the Academy for Women under the umbrella of Anjuman-e-Himayat- e-Islam. The passion to help children and the destitute that she found in herself as a young school girl has lit the lives of hundreds of youths, mostly girls, with empowerment and education.

Fatima Muzaffar Ahmed represents the changing face of the Indian Union Muslim League IUML as she became an office bearer in the Chennai Corporation, among six Muslim women councilors elected in 2022. Her election was not surprising for most people, as she comes from a political lineage. Her father, AK Abdul Samad, former national general secretary of IUML, represented Velur twice in the Lok Sabha and twice in the Rajya Sabha.A.S.Fathima Muzaffer is also grand daughter of MoulanaAbdul Hameed Baqavi, the first person to translate the Holy Quran in Tamil Language. 

Sofia Ashraf is no ordinary rap artist. A rapper utilizing music to protest, advocate for women’s empowerment, and address social issues. She has been using her gifts as an artist and singer for social change and women’s empowerment. Through her rap singing in Chennai’s lanes, Sofia has challenged stereotypes of women, taboos on their bodies, and even the workings of Corporations. She has a no-holds-barred approach in highlighting issues related to women, be it their social standing, their biology, or discrimination heaped on them by society. Her rap video against Union Carbide for the Bhopal Gas tragedy is a landmark in art with a cause. This reporter has the honor of interviewing Sofia Ashraf for her Union Carbide rap, when no one had a wind of her abilities.

NawabZada Mohammad Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot, has been the face of communal harmony and philanthropy as the heir of the royal family of Arcot. The Prince of Arcot family holds a quiet bit of influence in Chennai’s social and cultural life. Ameer Mahal, their palace, is a centre of humanitarian initiatives led by the Arcot Foundation for the poor, irrespective of religion. The present Prince, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, is regarded with affection in the city, but much of the visible day-to-day outreach — charity drives, interfaith events, and other initiatives — is handled by his son, Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali.Nawabzada is an avid musician, renowned for his prowess as a pianist. He has composed and sung the fascinating track 'Raaste,' which has 50 million views. 

Zakir Hussain is a Bharat Natyam dancer who broke gender and community barriers as a dancer and is today seeking empowerment through his dance form. He has travelled and lived outside India for most of his younger days. He lived in Canada, Switzerland, and Germany, conducting dance classes for Indians there. He got a name for performing abroad.He pursued his passion for classical dance, training under Smt. Chitra Visweswaran.  He is highly regarded for his research on temple rituals and his dedication to traditional dance, often performing and promoting interfaith harmony, such as donating a ruby crown to the Srirangam Ranganathar Temple. 

Mohammad Saleem is a conservationist focused on rescuing endangered birds and is known as a “bird man.” He is Tamil Nadu’s own Salim Ali, having spent his life on rescue missions for endangered birds around India. Mohammad Saleem never attended a course in conservation biology or even biology. He completed a degree in computer science. But his heart was always longing to look out for the well-being of the speechless creatur
es — birds, snakes, dogs, and other beings. He runs an NGO called the Environment Conservation Group for a sharper focus and action-oriented approach to saving endangered animals. From a techie to a wildlife warrior, Mohammad Saleem’s inspiring journey shows how one person’s passion can protect nature, save endangered species, and awaken collective responsibility.   His advocacy has been featured in media outlets ranging from BBC News to NDTV,

Mohammad Usman is the founder of Madrassa-E-Imdadiya for the Blind in Tamil Nadu, India, established around 2010-2012 to provide comprehensive Islamic and formal education to visually impaired children. The institution empowers students from deprived backgrounds, using Braille for education, offering them dignity and skill development. It is recognized as a pioneering, full-fledged, and inclusive, or in some contexts, one of the first, blind-friendly madrassas in India. A Madrassa for the visually impaired that teaches students through Braille and publishes Braille books. Mohammad Usman's enterprising vision has made a change in Tamil society. 

Keeranur Jakir Raja is a Tamil writer focusing on the lives of marginalized individuals. Today, he is a noticeable name in the Tamil literary scene.  Men, women, and children from the marginalised sections of the Muslims in Tamil Nadu find new lives in the pages of his novels. His writing is bold, honest, and provoking criticism from the conservative and orthodox sections of the Muslim community in the state. Keeranur Zakir Raja's first story was 'Param', a short story, published in 1995. His first short story collection was 'Sembaruthi Pootha Veedu published in 2004.  The first novel, Meenkara Theru, was published in 2006. He started his own publishing house called Keeranur Books in 2022.

Mahmood Akram is a19 years old  polyglot from Chennai.  He has the ability to read, write, and type in 400 languages and he can speak 46 languages fluently.  Mahmood’s achievements have earned him world records, awards, and the respect of linguists around the world.  At ten, he wrote India’s national anthem in 20 different scripts in under an hour. At twelve, he translated a sentence into more 20 languages within three minutes. Born to a polyglot father who had mastered 16 languages, Akram grew up immersed in sounds, scripts, and phonemes. His story is not just about his success but also about appreciating the diversity of languages that bring people together.

These ten brilliant men and women from Tamil Nadu are spreading the light of empowerment and joy around the state. They are leaving their mark in their chosen fields and influencing others to rise above their circumstances or comfort zones to make an impact on society. These leaders are breaking barriers, empowering communities, and fostering development in the state and the region. The report highlighting 10 Muslim change-makers in Tamil Nadu was prepared and published by Awaz-the Voice (ATV), a news platform.

UGC Equity Regulation 2026 has Stirred a Hornet’s Nest

 UGC Equity Regulation2026 has stirred a Hornet’s Nest

Syed Ali Mujtaba

The University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Regulations 2026 have ripped open the underbelly of Hindutva politics in India. Protests are out in the open by the upper caste Hindus against the UGC equity regulation that acknowledges the victimization of the marginalized sections of the Indian communities in the campuses of higher learning

The UGC has recognized that caste-based discrimination is taking place within educational campuses, particularly against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Communities.

Data tabled in the Lok Sabha reveals that complaints of caste discrimination in university campuses have increased from about 173 cases in 2016–17 to over 350 in the 2023–24 academic year.  Another data says that more than 13,500 SC, ST, and OBC students have dropped out of the IITs and IIMs, and other central university campuses over the past five years. 

Another data point the chronic underrepresentation of marginalized communities in faculty positions at central universities. In the Scheduled Castes category, nearly two-thirds of the sanctioned professor posts are vacant. In the Scheduled Tribes category, 83% of the sanctioned posts remain vacant. In the OBC category, of the 423 professor posts, only 84 have been filled. These are not marginal gaps but structural absences that shape everyday academic life in the Indian university campuses.

Rohith Vemula Case

Rohith Chakravarthi Vemula was a PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad who committed suicide on January 17, 2016. His death drew national attention and pointed to the alleged systemic discrimination imposed by the caste Hindus against the marginalized communities in India. His parents, Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, filed a petition in the court complaining about the atrocities committed against their groups in the university campuses. Later, both committed suicide after allegedly facing sustained caste-based harassment in separate institutions. This prompted the Supreme Court to direct the UGC to implement the 2012 anti-discrimination rules.

What is UGC's Equity Regulation 2026?  

The UGC has introduced the Equity Regulations 2026 to address caste-based discrimination faced by students from reserved categories in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). The UGC’s new rules mandate that all universities and colleges should establish an Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC) along with campus-level equity committees tasked with inquiring into complaints of discrimination and prompt remedial measures. These committees must include representatives from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), persons with disabilities, and women.

The objective of the UGC equity regulation was to move beyond the 2012 guidelines and create a binding, institutional mechanism for grievance redressal and control the growing incidence of discrimination against the marginalized section of society.  

In response, the upper-caste Hindu groups went for widespread protests against the UGCs’ move to introduce ‘equity in higher education.' The protesters argue that the regulations fail to provide an explicit grievance mechanism for the students belonging to the upper caste who are in the general category, and say this may deepen inequality in the university campuses.

Sensing the growing anger among the upper caste youth, the BJP government indulged in a firefighting exercise.  It made Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan clarify that the UGC regulations are court-mandated, constitutionally sound, and subject to judicial oversight—seeking safety in legality rather than political conviction.

The other thing that the BJP government did was to prompt the Supreme Court to issue an order to the UGC to keep its Equity Regulation 2026 in abeyance. The Apex Court reasoned that the regulation was sweeping in nature.  This is yet another instance where the Supreme Court went back on its own ruling and changed its tone to support the sentiments of the few at the expense of further marginalization of the downtrodden communities of India.

How the BJP has put its foot in its Mouth? 

The UGC's Equity Regulations have left the BJP government with no other option than to put its foot in its mouth. It can't afford to alienate upper-caste that’s pushing the Hindutva cart with fire and zeal to make a Hindu Rashtra. Neither can the BJP retract from the constitutional protections of the marginalized communities that have been historically wronged. 

The vengeance with which the upper caste opposed the UGC regulations far exceeds the actual scope and purposes of the regulation for which it was meant. The upper-caste Hindu called it a civilizational threat to the Santam Dharma. They raised an alarm that deeply remains entrenched in their superiority of the upper cate as enshrined in the Manusmriti. This unofficial constitution of Hindu Rastra bestows special power and privileges to a section of the caste group, keeping other specificities in the Indian social system below its feet.  

The UGC equity regulation controversy has put the BJP in a bind.  It has swallowed a dead rat that it cannot vomit up.   The option before it was to do a tightrope walking and it did somehow. The party has spent years courting OBCs and Dalits to show the solidarity of the Hindus against the Muslims. It cannot antagonize their sentiments, a cry for equity. At the same time, the BJP remains glued to its upper caste, which remains the vanguard of its Hindutva project.  

The Equity Regulations of the UGC have left the BJP to make a hard choice. Ultimately, the saffron party tilted the balance in favor of upper-caste even if that means denying equity to the marginalized sections of society.

What the UGCs’ equity controversy tries to communicate is that the upper caste superiority remains paramount in the Indian society.  The government of the day never wants to create a playing field for all the communities in India. It continues to deny the equity quotient, hook or crook, to some 85% of society. The irony is that this 15% of the social group has been successful in their diabolical design.

One of the recent examples of upper caste domination was seen when they objected to Muslim’s admission in a medical college based on their merit. The medical college in Jammu, run by the Vashino Devi Trust, has admitted Kashmiri students who scored highly in the NEET exam. This was not tolerated by the upper caste group, and they saw to it that the college is permanently closed and no Muslim student could ever become a doctor.

The message from the UGC controversy is that the Hindutva group wants to maintain its power, privileges, and superiority in India. It wants to discriminate against the marginalized communities and continue with the system that has been operational in India since time immemorial.

We like it or not, this is a new normal in India where a section of Indians do not want the equity rule to be applied, particularly in the campuses of higher learning, and also in the Indian social structure.   

----------------------

Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com