[Manoj Shrivastava with Uzma Naheed, Ghazala Faisal, Nusrat Mehndi and others at a stall of the exhibtion.]
Bhopal: The 3-day National Exhibition and Shopping Carnival christened as “Jazba” left the people of Bhopal, the city of lakes, hills, mosques and mandirs too, fascinated and having a memory long to cherish with. The carnival won the heart of the citizens.
The main highlight of the Carnival was the stall of Siasat Indian Art & Calligraphy Gallery put up by Siasat, the leading newspaper of South India published from Hyderabad and Bangalore. It was the star attraction of the carnival. Entrepreneurs from all over the country participated in the carnival.
The carnival was organised by women here in Bhopal from March 16-18, 2018 at Hindi Bhavan under the aegis of Iqra International Women's Alliance (IIWA) which concluded on Sunday.
IIWA headed by Uzma Nahid is an NGO working for Socio-Economic Empowerment (SEE) of the underprivileged women. With constant hard work IIWA has successfully involved 3000 underprivileged women across the country producing more than150 items.
Alok Sanjar, Member of Parliament from Bhopal, who visited the exhibition on the last day was mesmerized and overwhelmed at the collection of rare art work at the Siasat’s Indian Art & Calligraphy Gallery. “I would leave everything and learn calligraphy while getting fully involved in it”, he exclaimed!
Sanjar was so enthusiastic about the calligraphy that he tried his hand at it on the spot and later requested for “Qalam” - pen prepared from bamboo shoot, which artist Mohammed Amir readily obliged and he carried away with him. Artist Mohammad Amir wrote Alok Sanjar’s name in Calligraphic Urdu which was presented to him by Nabeel Bari. Later, Sanjar distributed certificates to the participants of the exhibition.
He also appreciated the efforts of Uzma Naheed for empowering women of underprivileged class under the banner of her NGO IIWA. He assured her all help from his side to establish IIWA outlet in Bhopal.
Apart from this a number of interested ladies expressed their intense desire to learn the Art of Calligraphy and inquired about its intricacies and the time required for it from the Hyderabad-based Siasat’s artists. The artists Mohammed Amir and Mohammad Mazharuddin briefed the ladies about the facilities available in Hyderabad provided by Siasat to the students who are keen to learn the art and promote it.
Aimed to cultivate interest
The Art and Calligraphy stall at the “Jazba” exhibition was aimed at cultivating an interest in learning about the Indo-Islamic calligraphy tradition among the people of Bhopal who at present have lost connect with it following the onslaught of Hindi. The art of calligraphy is among the trough struck arts dying out at double the pace of evolution of multi-media. The idea is to bring calligraphy back to life and simultaneously generate employment. It may be noted here that the Islamic calligraphy and related art work is in great demand in the international market.
Meanwhile, the exhibition showcased hundreds of artifacts which included the artwork of renowned artists Nayeem Saberi, Faheem Saberi, Mohammed Hakeem, Mohammed Amir, canvas paintings of Abdul Lateef Farooqui, Wooden art of Mohammad Mazharuddin.
Calligraphy is an art
The Art and Calligraphy is an exhibition depicting the evolution of Urdu calligraphy - one of the most ornate alphabet writings - from the confines of fine print into a high art form. Urdu calligraphy flourished as the sole printed medium painstakingly crafted by calligraphers before the arrival of the computer. The publishing industry depended on the services of the calligraphers to copy out books, documents and newspapers to print. But the arrivals of computers and customized alphabets have elevated calligraphy to a fine art - kept alive by the traditional writer.
[MP Alok Sanjar being presented his name written in Calligraphic Urdu by Nabeel Bari.]
Calligraphy is an art which involves the coordination of the brain, eyes and hands. It combines knowledge with skill. Calligraphy is flourishing not only in Islamic nations, but also in Western and European countries. Islamic calligraphy is a symbol of representing unity, beauty and power. It has been an integral part of India's Islamic traditions. Calligraphy in India has evolved over centuries to acquire its own unique characteristics.
Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, Managing Editor of Siasat, said Siasat Gallery is ready to provide training to the students, adding housewives are being guided and given opportunities of coming up with innovative ideas of calligraphy with their wit and will and thus the skill has made the Art take a fresh gasp. He said their skill has allowed the art form to take a fresh turn. He informed that in Hyderabad there are three thousand masterpieces of Islamic Calligraphy and Painting. He added that India has the potential to emerge as an international hub of Islamic art and calligraphy.
The Siasat Indian Art & Calligraphy Gallery exhibition has showcased hundreds of its artifacts nationally and internationally in the past. These artifacts have been exhibited in the US, Saudi Arabia, Dubai while in India in Delhi, Aligarh, Hyderabad, Kareem Nagar, Bangalore, Bidar etc.
Qaiser Zaman, Secretary Kurwai Education Society, and Manoj Shrivastava, Principal Secretary, Department of Commercial Tax, Culture and Religious Trusts and Endowment, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, were chief guests of the inaugural function of “Jazba”, the National Exhibition & Shopping Carnival, on March 16th. Ghazala Faisal, Director Union Ministry of Communications, Nusrat Mehndi, Secretary M.P. Urdu Academy, and Razia Hamid, eminent Urdu writer, were guests of honour on the occasion.
'Potentiality of Iqra not utilised fully’
Speaking on the occasion Manoj Shrivastava stressed that the potentiality of “Iqra”, the first word of Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), calling upon Muslims to read, has not been utilised fully in making the community literate and in skill acquisition.
Shrivastava lamented that in this machine age of mass industrialisation/production the tradition of honouring the hand which is instrumental in making beautiful handicrafts items has been vanishing. However, while eulogising Uzma Naheed for promoting handicrafts, he said the efforts of IIWA will go a long way to re-establish the importance of hand once more in making the home made hand goods much sought after.
He assured to find space for outlets where the artists’ goods can be displayed depicting their originality and creativity in good measure. Educationist Qaiser Zaman in her speech while hailing Uzma’s efforts, “In India we let our laziness rule over us and thereby do not set our priorities right. The result of which most of the time we end up at the receiving end. The financial empowerment is one thing that will cement all our efforts which will give us energy and the will to help others including have-nots and our less fortunate colleagues”.
Women as managers, entrepreneurs
Ghazala Faisal, Director Union Ministry of Communications speaking on the occasion, said that real empowerment is that when one is able to take one’s own decision be it man or woman. For decision making knowledge is necessary. Knowledge not put in action is wastefulness while action without knowledge is foolishness. As such acquiring knowledge is a necessity for leading a respectable life, she added.
She said that surveys and researches have proved that women as managers and entrepreneurs, if they are capable enough, are better than men. "This is because women have unique inbuilt qualities or traits of having more emotional quotient and patience. The women should realise their potential by harnessing their qualities", she said.
Empowering poor women
Uzma Naheed while speaking at the inaugural function, said IIWA encourages skilled women by nurturing their creativity and inherent natural talent in production of various handicraft items which have ready market. "IIWA uses its creativity in modifying the existing arts and crafts of each state of India as per the latest trend. IIWA believes in forming an alliance with NGOs, Media and Corporate sector; this concept was highly appreciated by the United Nations in the International Conference in Turkey", she said.
Uzma Naheed said that IIWA also promotes women to develop new skills or modify their products to suit current trend with continuous training and workshops. In short IIWA is a platform where talents meet opportunities to womenfolk so that they manufacture any product without disturbing their family lives. "Their main concern is 1. What to make and 2. Where to sell. IIWA helped thousands of women in establishing their own business and improve their earnings. The economic uplift of women is the main agenda of IIWA", she added.
Nusrat Mehndi and Razia Hamid also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Kalim Akhtar, president of A. U. Education Society, welcomed the guests while A.U. School, Bhopal students presented the Tarana (song) “Sare Jahan Se Achcha Hindustan Hamara…….”.
At the outset the inaugural programme started with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Mushaira, Mehndi and painting competitions, Hijab show were organized during the carnival. While A. U. School, Cares Welfare Society and Tea Ville supported the three-day event.
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