Justice with the dead…a noble gesture.

Hoardings are the skylines of the present modern cities educating the common public for the forthcoming products, schemes, etc. OOH is common term in the advertising industry which means Out Of Home advertising. Billboards and hoarding are being expedited and the research and development in advertising industry have revolutionarised this mode of advertisement. The catchy and elegant hoardings and billboards add to the decoration of the cities, we can say these are the clothing for the cities. But in Faizabad we see difference in the OOH advertising–there is no product or catchy caption–in stead it reads; if you find unidentified body or unattended patient contact Mohd Sharif.

I read it and out of curiosity went to meet Mohd Sharif. A person more than 70 years in age, with grey beard, wearing white kurta pajama, performing a job of a cycle mechanic, which is his only source of livelihood. Residing in Mohalla Khidki Alibeig, Mohd Sharif also dreamt unlike all the parents to educate his children and this he did to the brim making his eldest son-Mohd Rais-a doctor. Mohd Rais went to Sultanpur–a small town in UP’s Awadh region–and never returned back. His clothes and the wrist watch proclaimed his mysterious death after about a month. As per the normal human behaviour one is shattered on the death of ones young off-spring but it was different in case of Mohd Sharif. The entire episode had a turning point. Death of his young son left his wife in a state of shock leaving her speechless, till date. Mohd Sharif could not perform the last rituals for his son and since then till today has performed last rituals of more than 1600 dead considering all to be his own loved ones.

18 years have passed for this Good Samaritan doing this noble act. His act is not confiding to Muslims but to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, etc and he performs the last rites of the dead according to their respective religious rituals. He has criminated about 900 Hindus, 600 Muslims and rest from other faiths. When asked why he started to do this the prompt reply from Mohd Sharif was, “All the human beings are children of one God and I have pledged that I will do this till my last breath to save others from the fate like my son”. This humanly cause of Mohd Sharif has added a suffix to his name as Chacha–uncle–and is now popular as Sharif Chacha.




Thanks giving prayers starts the day of Sharif Chacha at about 5 am which is sequential to his daily walk to the local hospital of which he is an integral part now, as stated by a hospital staff. A senior resident doctor said, “I have seen patients recovering with the kind and parental care of Sharif Chacha and going back to their homes. Without fail he comes here and does the sponging and cleaning of the patient’s body which the real parents might not do sometimes”.
Faizabad is adjacent to Ayodhya which has seen a communal riot on the eve of demolition of Babri Masjid. But it is Mohd Sharif who has been the thread to weaving the communal blanket with his noble gesture. It is not only that he takes care of the unclaimed dead bodies of Faizabad but also from Ayodhya. “His transformation is completely remarkable. He could have nurtured anger towards humanity for his son’s death as not able to perform the last rituals, in stead he started to perform the last rituals for all the abandoned death bodies and made it his strength,” was the comment of C. K. Mishra a journalist. R. S. Gupta the city magistrate said, “Sharif Chacha is our identity. He is a living symbol of national integration”. All the people of Faizabad and Ayodhya respect Sharif Chacha from common citizens to the priests and the government officials. “We all adore Sharif Chacha the torch bearer of humanity and it was this year that we facilitate him on the Republic day,” were the comments of R. K. S Rathore (IPS).

An African had been playing the role of Hanuman in Ayodhya for many years. It happened so that the actor got badly burnt during the performance. None of the Ram Bhakt came forward to care for the ailing Ram Bhakt. It was only Sharif Chacha who took care of him till his last breath. “According to Hindu scriptures, the family of the dead is entitled to perform the last rites but when Mohd Sharif does it for the unclaimed dead is a supreme act,” was the comment of Acharya Satendrya Das (Main Priest Sri Ram JanamBhoomi). He further added that Sharif’s age has never been any hindrance in his noble acts and that too single handedly. Dr. KarunaSheel (Budh Priest) said, “Sharif Sahib is a living angel doing the noblest job for the people who are entirely dependent on others for the final journey. He is not given help of any kind from anyone but he still performs his act as a duty”.
An old house property of Wafq Board has been the shelter for this Good Samaritan for all these years. The financial conditions for this living angle are always meager and still in this derisory state he is happy with a desire of wedding for his daughter who has attained the age of marriage. “I request the government to provide me a railway pass so that I may take the patients to their homes after they recover to health,” was the desire which Sharif Chacha shared with me.


It was a group of youngsters who jointly put in efforts and made a documentary on Sharif Chacha, “Rising from the Ashes”. “They came to this city and work with me and it was first time I felt that there are people in this world who have a caring heart,” said Sharif Chacha. “Rising from the Ashes” is produced and directed by Mohd. Gufaran Khan, Shah Alam, Syed Ali Akhtar and Shariq Haider Naqvi who have proved that we still have the heart and all the people are sons of one God.
By Armaan Amrohvi
(armanamrohvi@gmail.com)

कांग्रेस नेता दिग्विजय सिंह बाटला हाउस मुद्दा सोनिया गांधी के समक्ष रखेंगे।

वरिष्ठ कांग्रेस नेता दिग्विजय सिंह ने जामिया मिलिया इस्लामिया यूनिवर्सिटी के छात्रों और शिक्षकों से कहा कि बाटला हाउस मुठभेड़ जांच का मुद्दा वह पार्टी अध्यक्ष सोनिया गांधी के समक्ष उठाएंगे।

मुठभेड़ के दो साल पूरे होने के अवसर पर सिंह को हालांकि छात्रों के एक तबके की ओर से विरोध का सामना भी करना पड़ा। विरोध करने वाले छात्रों का आरोप था कि जब दिग्विजय आजमगढ़ गए तो उन्होंने कुछ और कहा तथा दिल्ली में कुछ और।

ज्ञात हो कि दिल्ली के जामिया में मंगलवार को जर्नलिस्ट यूनियन फॉर सिविल सोसाइटी ने जामिया विश्वविद्यालय में आतंकवाद विषय पर हो रहे सम्मेलन में दिग्विजय सिंह को काले झंडे दिखाए।

जेयूसीएस के पचासों नेताओं और दर्जनों कार्यकर्ताओं ने साजिद-आतिफ के हत्यारे दिग्विजय वापस जाओ, आजमगढ़ को आतंक की नर्सरी के नाम से तब्दील करने वाले कांग्रेसी दिग्विजय वापस जाओ, साजिद और आतिफ की हत्या पर विजय मनाने वाले काग्रेंसी दलाल वापस जाओ, बाटला हाउस आंदोलन को तोड़ने वाले दिग्विजय वापस जाओ, हमारा मानवाधिकार आंदोलन जिंदाबाद, इंकलाब जिंदाबाद के नारे लगाते हुए दिग्विजय वापस जाओ के पर्चे फेके।

कार्यक्रम में मौजूद लोगों ने भी समर्थन में नारे लगाए।दिग्विजय सिंहं के आने का जमकर विरोध किया गया। सम्मेलन में शिरकत कर रहे कार्यकर्ता इस बात से बेहद नाराज थे कि बटला हाउस एनकाउंटर के मसले पर दिग्विजय सिंह और उनकी पार्टी के विचार अलग-अलग है।

'समय लाइव डॉट काम' के संपादक पाणिनी आनंद ने बातचीत में कहा कि कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा दिग्विजय सिंह के प्रति ऐसे विरोध के संकेत पहले से मिल रहे थे। उन्होंने कहा कि इस मसले पर उनका विरोध होना लाजिमी था।

उन्होंने कहा कि जिस वक्त ये घटना हुई थी तब राज्य में और केंद्र में कांग्रेस की सरकारें थी उसके बावजूद इस मामले को गंभीरता से नहीं लिया गया और ना ही इसकी कोई गंभीर जांच हुई।

जेयूसीएस के संयोजक शाह आलम और विजय प्रताप ने कहा कि आजमगढ़ आज पूरे देश में आतंकवाद के नाम पर बेकसूरों के उत्पीड़न के आंदोलन का केंद्र है। बटला हाउस के बाद बने जामिया टीचर्स सालीडैरिटी एसोशिएसन फोरम पर हम आरोप लगाते हैं कि वह इस आंदोलन को दिग्विजय सिंह जैसे कांग्रेसी दलालों को बुलाकर कमजोर कर रही है।

जेयूसीएस ने कहा कि दिग्विजय को काला झंडा दिखाकर हमने आजमगढं के आदोलन की परंपरा को बरकरार किया। जिसने इसी तरह फरवरी में आजमगढ़ जाने पर दिग्विजय को काले झंडे दिखाए थे।

इस यात्रा का विरोध जामिया टीचर्स सालीडैरिटी एसोशिएसन फोरम ने भी किया था वो बताए कि क्या दिग्विजय ने बाटला हाउस फर्जी मुठभेड़ की न्यायिक जांच करवा दी है जो उसे इस तरह मंचों से वो नवाज रही है।

इस मसले पर कांग्रेस नेता दिग्विजय सिंह ने कहा कि मुझे पता था कि मैं वहां जाउंगा तो लोगों की नाराजगी झेलनी पड़ी। उन्होंने कहा कि मैं काले झंडे दिखाने से नहीं डरता। विरोध के दौरान दिग्विजय सिंह चुपचाप बैठे रहे या मुस्कुराते रहे।

उन्होंने कहा कि हमारी भी सीमाएं है और हम लोगों को सोनिया जी और प्रधामंत्री से मिलवा सकते है लेकिन बाटला हाउस एक इमोशनल मुद्दा है जो एनएचआरसी का भी मुद्दा है लेकिन हम पार्टी में इसकी चर्चा फिर से करेंगे।

Digvijay shown black flags over his flip-flop on Batla encounter.

New Delhi: It was a reception no politician would like to have. But senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh couldn’t have avoided this. Black flags and slogans welcomed him, the moment he entered Center for Information Technology conference hall to address a gathering on the issue of “The Politics of Terrorism and Suspicion: Two Years since the Batla House ‘Encounter” organized by Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association on Tuesday at Jamia Millia Islamia.
Before Mr. Singh’s arrival could have been announced by the organizers, protests and slogans received him. The protesters were taking slogans like “Digvijay hi, hi”, “Digvijay Murdabad” and “Vapas jao, vapas jao, Digvijay vapas jao”.

They were showing their anger, first of all, at the alleged flip-flop by Mr. Singh over Batla House ‘encounter’ which happened on September 19, 2008. Reportedly he had doubted the genuineness of the ‘encounter’ when he had visited Sanjarpur in Azamgarh in February this year, the place Atif and Sajid belonged to (the duo was killed in that ‘encounter’).

He had also dropped the hint that the ‘encounter’ might be fake. Many media reports had quoted him saying "there were five bullets on top of his head. How can you get bullets on top of the head in an encounter?”
His visit was in the context of branding of Azamgarh as factory of terrorists. His visit to Azamgarh and subsequent defense for its contribution in the Indian freedom struggle and in the larger secular ethos of India, had created a hope among a section of Muslims. Many considered it as ‘healing touch’ of the Congress party towards the Muslims of Azamgarh. But it was youth essentially- a class which gets targeted by the investigative agencies on the name of terrorism- which had got hopes that something will be done about the ‘encounter’ at least in terms of a judicial enquiry.
But what disappointed Muslims and social activists, was his subsequent denial of his statements about the ‘encounter.’



The protests was also an expression of the frustration felt by the Muslim youth at the fact that apparently they cannot do anything about the injustice being done to them. What is most depressing for them is that even the political class which pretends to stand for their causes ends up being completely ineffective.
Mr. Singh later pointed out that he was expecting this kind of ‘welcome’ but he preferred this to staying away from the community. In his defense he invoked his ‘limitations’ and ‘compulsions’ in the political establishment of which he is directly or indirectly a part.



Mr. Singh rejected the idea that the Congress is using him as a tool to placate Muslims’ anger before elections.
Source:TwoCircle.net)

दिग्विजय को दिखाए गए काले झंडे.

बटला हाउस एनकाउंटर के मुद्दे पर दिग्विजय सिंह को काले झंडे दिखाए गए।
दिल्ली के जामिया में मंगलवार को जर्नलिस्ट यूनियन फॉर सिविल सोसाइटी ने जामिया विश्वविद्यालय में आतंकवाद विषय पर हो रहे सम्मेलन में दिग्विजय सिंह को काले झंडे दिखाए।
जेयूसीएस के पचासों नेताओं और दर्जनों कार्यकर्ताओं ने साजिद-आतिफ के हत्यारे दिग्विजय वापस जाओ, आजमगढ़ को आतंक की नर्सरी के नाम से तब्दील करने वाले कांग्रेसी दिग्विजय वापस जाओ, साजिद और आतिफ की हत्या पर विजय मनाने वाले काग्रेंसी दलाल वापस जाओ, बाटला हाउस आंदोलन को तोड़ने वाले दिग्विजय वापस जाओ, हमारा मानवाधिकार आंदोलन जिंदाबाद, इंकलाब जिंदाबाद के नारे लगाते हुए दिग्विजय वापस जाओ के पर्चे फेके।
कार्यक्रम में मौजूद लोगों ने भी समर्थन में नारे लगाए।दिग्विजय सिंहं के आने का जमकर विरोध किया गया। सम्मेलन में शिरकत कर रहे कार्यकर्ता इस बात से बेहद नाराज थे कि बटला हाउस एनकाउंटर के मसले पर दिग्विजय सिंह और उनकी पार्टी के विचार अलग-अलग है।
'समय लाइव डॉट काम' के संपादक पाणिनी आनंद ने बातचीत में कहा कि कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा दिग्विजय सिंह के प्रति ऐसे विरोध के संकेत पहले से मिल रहे थे। उन्होंने कहा कि इस मसले पर उनका विरोध होना लाजिमी था।
उन्होंने कहा कि जिस वक्त ये घटना हुई थी तब राज्य में और केंद्र में कांग्रेस की सरकारें थी उसके बावजूद इस मामले को गंभीरता से नहीं लिया गया और ना ही इसकी कोई गंभीर जांच हुई।

जेयूसीएस के संयोजक शाह आलम और विजय प्रताप ने कहा कि आजमगढ़ आज पूरे देश में आतंकवाद के नाम पर बेकसूरों के उत्पीड़न के आंदोलन का केंद्र है। बटला हाउस के बाद बने जामिया टीचर्स सालीडैरिटी एसोशिएसन फोरम पर हम आरोप लगाते हैं कि वह इस आंदोलन को दिग्विजय सिंह जैसे कांग्रेसी दलालों को बुलाकर कमजोर कर रही है।
जेयूसीएस ने कहा कि दिग्विजय को काला झंडा दिखाकर हमने आजमगढं के आदोलन की परंपरा को बरकरार किया। जिसने इसी तरह फरवरी में आजमगढ़ जाने पर दिग्विजय को काले झंडे दिखाए थे।
इस यात्रा का विरोध जामिया टीचर्स सालीडैरिटी एसोशिएसन फोरम ने भी किया था वो बताए कि क्या दिग्विजय ने बाटला हाउस फर्जी मुठभेड़ की न्यायिक जांच करवा दी है जो उसे इस तरह मंचों से वो नवाज रही है।
इस मसले पर कांग्रेस नेता दिग्विजय सिंह ने कहा कि मुझे पता था कि मैं वहां जाउंगा तो लोगों की नाराजगी झेलनी पड़ी। उन्होंने कहा कि मैं काले झंडे दिखाने से नहीं डरता। विरोध के दौरान दिग्विजय सिंह चुपचाप बैठे रहे या मुस्कुराते रहे।
उन्होंने कहा कि हमारी भी सीमाएं है और हम लोगों को सोनिया जी और प्रधामंत्री से मिलवा सकते है लेकिन बाटला हाउस एक इमोशनल मुद्दा है जो एनएचआरसी का भी मुद्दा है लेकिन हम पार्टी में इसकी चर्चा फिर से करेंगे।
19 सितंबर को बटला हाउस एनकाउंटर के दो साल पूरे हो गए।

Digvijay shown black flags on Batla issue

Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday was shown black flags by section of students and activists in Jamia Milia Islamia University in the national capital. They accused him of double speak on the Batla House encounter case.
Singh was in Jamia University to participate as one of the speakers in the seminar on 'The Politics of Terrorism and Suspicion', held in the university on Tuesday.

The group of students and activists, wearing black arm bands showed him black flags. They even raised slogans like “Digvijay go back”.

Our channel Samay’s special correspondent Panini Anand spoke to some of the students and social rights activists, who participated in the seminar. They pointed out several big loopholes in the police version of the events in Batla House encounter case.

They further reiterated that the youths of the community won’t take the oppression by the state any longer and they will continue to protest at the top of their voice, until they get justice.

Meanwhile, Singh assured students and teachers of Jamia Milia Islamia of taking forward their concerns over the Batla House encounter probe. to party president Sonia Gandhi.

"It is true that when I was in Azamgarh I said that I will not like to speak about the case but I said that I will raise the issue of clubbing of cases at the highest level when I get back to New Delhi," Singh said.

He pointed out he and his party had sought for a judicial probe into the encounter and even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was approached concerning this.

"I can assure you that if a delegation of yours is keen, I can arrange for a meeting with the Congress president so that you may raise all your issues before her," Singh said.
He told the students that he faces opposition from his own party men on the issue.

"Whether you believe it or not, I face opposition from within my own party over this issue but still, I am ready to stand by your side and come where ever you want to raise your concerns," the Congress leader said.
Singh denied any claims from the section of agitated students that Congress was using the Batla House issue for its political gains and reminded that it was the only party that "stood by the community".

Meanwhile, a huge torchlight procession was held in Jamia Nagar on Saturday under the banner of All India Student’s Association (AISA).

Students and faculty of Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University and JNU participated in the procession, demanding the judicial probe in the Batla House shootout.

On September 19, 2008, two suspected terrorists allegedly involved in Delhi serial blasts, Atif Ameen and Mohammad Sajed were killed in an alleged encounter in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi. Both of them were students of the University as well.

A Delhi police officer Mohan Chand Sharma was also killed in the shootout.(source:Sahara Samay)

Delhi CM Dikshit visits Jama Masjid shootout injured in LNJP Hospital .

New Delhi, Sept.20: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit paid a visit to the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash (LNJP) Hospital on Monday morning to inquire about the health and welfare of two Taiwanese tourists who had been shot at and injured near Gate No.3 of the Jama Masjid in the Walled City on Sunday.

The hospital’s medical superintendent and other senior doctors reportedly briefed Dikshit about the victims’ injuries and their present medical status. She urged medical staff to provide the victims’ with the best of care and to ensure their early recovery.

The injured Taiwanese — Zewei (40) and Chiang (38) are said to be out of danger.

On Sunday, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited the hospital to see two injured Taiwanese nationals.

A red alert has been sounded in Delhi and Mumbai following the shootout as the attack comes barely two weeks ahead of the Commonwealth Games to be held here between October 3 and 14. Security has been tightened around at least 400 ‘sensitive’ sites in the wake of the incident. Orders have issued not to allow cars or other vehicles to be parked within 100 meters of these sites.

Taking serious note of the Jama Masjid shooting incident the Home Ministry has reportedly sought a detailed report from the Delhi Police about it.

Two persons riding a motorbike shot at the two Taiwanese who were traveling in a tourist bus. Police and witnesses said eight to ten rounds of fire were directed at the bus before the attackers escaped.

One of victims was injured in his skull and the other in his abdomen.

Delhi Police said that it is still questioning the eyewitnesses in relation to the incident.

Chief Minister Dikshit has urged the people not to panic as proper security arrangements were being taken in the wake of the incident.

It couldn’t be assumed at present that the attack was “a terrorist activity”, she added.

Delhi Commonwealth Games village seriously compromised, says Fennell .

New Delhi, Sep 21: Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell has expressed grave concern about the athletes’ village in New Delhi, saying that the facility is “seriously compromised”.

Fennell said that the state of the village has “shocked” many team officials ahead of the October 3-14 Games.

“Many issues remain unresolved,” The Age quoted Fennell, as saying in a statement.

“Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that ... the Commonwealth Games village is seriously compromised.”

“The condition of the residential zone has shocked the majority ... significant operational matters remained unaddressed,” he added.

Fennell has also written to the Indian government, and has called for immediate deployment of resources to fix problems.

According to reports, there is still a large amount of post-construction clean-up to be completed, along with issues surrounding cleanliness, plumbing, wiring, internet and mobile phones.

It is also believed that six nations- New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Wales and Canada – are assessing preparations for the Games.