by Editor | Feb 15, 2023 | Magazine, News, Popular
New Delhi, Feb 15,2023: The 9th India Beach Fashion Week (IBFW), will be held at the Mercure, The Goa Devaaya Resort from February 12-14, 2023. The IBFW aims to be a memorable event with breathtaking fashion presentations, motivational exhibitions, and interesting workshops.
Timex will support the event, it will display its most recent line of fashionable timepieces during the event, including both men’s and women’s models. The timepieces combine traditional elegance with contemporary design, displaying the brand’s dedication to producing high-quality goods that are both functional and fashionable.
The most skilled designers in the business will be showing their most recent collections at this three-day event, which will bring together the best in fashion and style. The IBFW provides experienced and up-and-coming designers with a venue to exhibit their creativity and skill in a distinctive and unforgettable environment.
Speaking on the occasion Deepak Chhabra, Managing Director, Timex Group India, stated, “Watches are no more just time telling device but a fashion accessory and a statement piece which completes your look. We at Timex understands the ever-evolving futuristic fashion industry and applaud the disruptive fashion trends. And IBFW provides the perfect platform for this bold community. We are super excited to be a part of the IBFW. It will be great place for us to empower the young and brave new designers of this era & staying abreast with the latest innovation, creative outlook & technologies in the fashion world.”
by Editor | Jan 25, 2023 | Entrepreneurship, Interviews, Magazine
By Danish Reyaz
The heart-wrenching partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 no doubt created hatred and animosity between Hindus and Muslims, but it hit the Muslims, in particular, hard on many levels. They became rudderless in society as the intelligentsia and the wealthy class from the community migrated to the newly formed Pakistan. Those who were left behind were mostly poor. Living in the absence of any leadership and amidst an atmosphere of mistrust, they kept lagging further, both educationally and economically.
The Malda district in West Bengal faced a similar fate, with the Muslim population getting into the morass of poverty after partition. But the situation is, to some extent changing now. There are plenty of good Samaritans who are doing their utmost to change the fate of their community.
One such noble soul is Muhammed Azizur Rahman, who has risen to the occasion. Guided by the belief that there is no service better than education to remove poverty, he has embarked on a mission to ensure the best education for the children of the underprivileged.
He has founded the Tarbiyah Cambridge International School, popularly known as TCIS, in Baranagar (Danga), Jalalpur in Malda district, which has over 50% Muslim population but lacks educational institutions in proportion.
Tarbiyah Cambridge International School (TCIS) is an attempt to fill the void of modern education in the community in line with the vision of Azizur Rahman, which also puts much emphasis on religious teachings side by side.
“The present school is only the beginning. While it is set to expand to accommodate more students shortly, I have a broader vision to establish TCIS in every district of West Bengal and, if God’s willing, in neighbouring states,” says Mr. Rahman with quiet determination in his eyes.
Besides being a crusader for education, there is another dimension to his identity, and that is of a successful entrepreneur. Even before he forayed into the education field, he had cemented his position as one of the country’s leading players in the silk industry.
Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd, a company he founded in Jalapur, Malda, is a major silk exporter worldwide. He has provided employment to 50 thousand households and cultivators and many more workers at the factory, improving their economic condition.
Azizur Rahman has turned messiah for people in the poverty-stricken Malda, as he employs local masses with his company while educating their children in hisTarbiyah Cambridge International School (TCIS) to shape the future of the fledgling new generation.
He also dons the hats of a philanthrope and a social worker. The multi-faceted Azizur Rahman has all the trappings of a true leader for social causes. Here, this cover story brings you an in-depth view of his world, works, and vision.
A Polite and Professional Man
To begin with, Azizur Rahman is a man of respect, and his mere presence is enough to evoke that respect, considering his tireless service to his people and society. His success in his endeavours exalts his position further.
But despite being successful and having an enviable societal reputation, he doesn’t throw any attitude. He often wears a soft smile on his otherwise quiet face. He is polite, respectful to others, and a bit restrained in his talking. Getting him to talk about his endeavours and achievements takes some time.
A man with average height and build, Azizur Rahman, spots a Balbo beard and loves to be dressed formally in public to preserve his image as a professional man. He says, “I don’t like cavalier attitude. For success, one should always be professional in work, words, conduct, or dress.”
His Parents, Education, and Early Life
Born to Abdul Jalil and Gulnahar on March 5, 1965, Azizur Rahman had a normal childhood. Although his father was a man of his time when education wasn’t a priority in the eyes of parents, he was committed to his children receiving education. Since Azizur Rahman was sharp-minded from a very early age, his father had another potent reason to get him educated.
Reminiscing his parents’ influence, Azizur Rahman says that they were simple human beings who, despite limited means, lived a life full of gratitude towards the Almighty, a virtuous trait he inherited from them.
He says, “My parents cared to bring me up into a better individual by providing good education, rightful guidance, constant support, and inspiration to work hard. Without them, I couldn’t have become what I am today.”
The love and respect Azizur Rahman have for his parents is evident from the fact that when he started a trust for his educational endeavour, he named it “A J Gulnahar Memorial Trust.”
Coming back to his education, Azizur Rahman did his primary education from MadarsaImdadul Uloom and matriculation from Mohammadia High Madarsah. He passed his intermediate from Malda Town High School with flying colours.
About his graduation he says, “I wanted to take my father’s silk business to the next level, so I chose Commerce and secured a degree from Kolkata University in 1986.”
As soon as Azizur Rahman finished his graduation, he joined his father’s business, but it was only a formal entry for him. In fact, he had started assisting his father at the age of 12.
A Background to Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd.
As much as the Malda district is known for its delicious Malda mangoes, it is known for silk production. Silk production was introduced in Malda about 300 years ago by the king of Gaur.
With time, more households embraced it, cultivated cocoons, and produced silk so much that it became a hub for raw silk. However, it took the shape of an industry only later.
Azizur Rahman’s grandfather set out to produce silk in 1908 with a vision to organize the sector and provide employment to the local people. Later, Azizur Rahman’s father helmed it and expanded it further. He did his utmost with whatever resources and capital were available to him at that time.
But the business took a shape of factory only when Azizur Rahman took over. Azizur Rahman took a loan of 18 thousand from bank and invested it into the business along with a lot of sweat and hard work. He foundedBengal Silk Industries in 1983 and since then there has been no looking back.
Later the Bengal Silk Industries was rechristened as Starling Mills Pvt. Ltd. and registered in 1995.
About Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd
Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd. is an ISO 9001:2000 certified company which has carved its niche amidst cut-throat competition, emerging as India’s leading manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of silk and yarn products.
These products are made with hundred percent spun silk and derived from various cocoons such as Muga, Mulberry, Tussah, and Eri. The vast product line includes spun silk fabrics and sarees, silk shirts, silk textile materials, matka silk fabrics and natural silk quit. In terms of spun silk yarn, the company deals in Tassar silk, recycle silk, noil silk, moga silk, carpet silk and silk knitted yarn.
Azizur Rahman says, “Our flawless high-quality products cater to the needs of textile, clothing, interior, medical, and industrial sectors in the country and worldwide.”
M Azizur Rahman with his family at BKC in Mumbai
Making Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd. a Leading Company
The rise of Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd has all to do withAzizur Rahman’s ceaseless efforts in giving a new dimension to his family business and his desire to go the extra mile to learn new things and implement them well before it is time.
Transforming a family silk business from a cottage unit into a thriving mill and one of India’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of silk products takes a lot of planning and far-sightedness besides hard work.
Azizur Rahman went about in his endeavour pretty meticulously. First, he took a round abroad, observed international mills in Italy and Germany, and imported various modern machinery from there. He hired skilful employees with good backgrounds and experience who were further trained to handle these modern, sophisticated machines.
Azizur Rahman says, “Apart from the state-of-art machinery, our large production capacity, stringent quality, large warehouse, and vast distribution network are the other aspects that have helped us emerge as one of the leaders in the industry.”
That said, like any good business leader, he reserves the highest praise for his team. He says, “Our team has talented weavers, designers, and technicians who are highly driven, dedicated, and hard-working. Without them, this journey wouldn’t have reached this far.”
In its glorious journey, the company has also won several awards, including the Foshmi Award for the year 2003. Ukas Award, and the award from Silk Mark Organization.
All said and done, another salient factor for its popularity is the company’s ethical practices. Azizur Rahman says, “Ethics is at the core of our business. We never compromise our products for profiteering. Our pricing is competitive. We give just wages to our workers. And our entire process is transparent for others to see.”
From a few dozen, Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd. now has more than 500 employees at the factory, and 50 thousand+ households are engaged in cocoons cultivation and raw silk extraction for the company.
It has scaled up so much that the exports of its products take place to more than 40 countries spanning across the USA, Chili, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, and many other oriental countries, including India.
Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd. also has a factory outlet and showroom in Malda, providing options to customers to visit and choose products according to their requirements.
Foray into Education
The amiable and soft-spoken Azizur Rahman is a man of indomitable spirit and vision. Even after taking Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd. to new heights and providing massive employment to his people, he didn’t want to be content with that. He has an endless appetite for entrepreneurship in a social cause.
“Almighty has been very kind to me. He has given Barkat in my business. So, in gratitude towards him, it becomes my duty to do something for society.” says Azizur Rahman.
There is no better service to society than providing education because it is the passport to a bright future. In 2014, Azizur Rahman embarked on a new journey by establishing Tarbiyah Cambridge International School (TCIS).
He glowingly says, “Starting a school was a cherished dream of mine. Much as I had succeeded in the silk business, the day I laid down the school’s foundation was the happiest day of my life.”
Reasons Behind an English Medium School
The idea of starting an English medium school had begun much before 2014 when Azizur Rahman used to visit foreign countries as part of his business tours.
He says, “I have been travelling abroad since I was 16. I used to get awe-struck by seeing progress made by foreign countries. On every return, I would shed silent tears at the wretched conditions of my fellow countrymen.”
According to him, it didn’t take him long to realize that the lack of education, more so the lack of modern English education, obstructed the country’s progress. He wanted to do something about it. He decided to set up an English medium school in his native town Barangar, Malda, West Bengal. However, the poverty of the local people was something that needed consideration.
Malda is thickly populated, with about 51% Muslims, but the literacy rate here is abysmally low. Most who attend schools often fail to make any headway in life due to the lack of quality education. The situation is worse among the poor, who comprise the working class in the bidi and plastic industries and migrants and labourers. Their financial condition doesn’t allow them to send their children to a school, much less an English medium school.
“An English medium school doesn’t seem viable in the area largely inhabited by economically weaker sections. Better you start a regional medium school for them,” Azizur Rahman remembers how his friends used to dissuade him from his plan of opening an English medium school.
Nevertheless, Azizur Rahman pushed ahead with his plan because he didn’t want to profit unreasonably. He wanted English education for the children coming from poor sections at any cost, so they are not discriminated against and get an equal chance to excel in life like the children of privileged ones in society.
An English Medium School, but With a Difference
While Azizur Rahman was determined to open a school with international education standards that would be accessible to all, especially the poor, he also wanted that school to be different from regular schools.
His vision was for a school that, besides modern education, would equally give importance to moral and ethical education so that students embody worldly success and the ethical practices of life in equal measure.
Driven by that noble desire, when he established the school, he aptly named itTarbiyah Cambridge International School (TCIS). Tarbiyah is an Arabic word that means nurturing or rearing. In a broader context, it refers to systematically teaching and upbringing children in accordance with Islamic values.
“In today’s world, neither parents give Tarbiyah to their children, nor do the children have time outside school hours to learn about it. I wanted to solve this problem with TCIS, where modern education and Tarbiyah were to be given side by side under one roof,” says Azizur Rahman.
Establishment and Growth of TCIS
Having done his homework properly, Azizur Rahman, with a determined will, established Tarbiyah Cambridge International School in 2014 adjacent to his Starling Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd in a sprawling six acres of land.
The school started with about 60 students up to class IV, and now it has more than 500 students up to class XII. Since Azizur Rahman’s name carries a lot of credibility in the area, parents don’t think twice about sending their children to his school. Every year the number of students is growing, and so is the school’s expansion.
As the need was felt to create more blocks and classrooms, the second leg of construction work for the school began in 2018, which got disrupted by COVID lockdowns, but it has now resumed on a war footing. “Since the demand is high, we are scaling up our infrastructure. We are set to increase our capacity to 1000 students very soon,” says Azizur Rahman proudly.
The school has seen exemplary growth in just about nine-year existence. Arguably, the persistent focus on quality by adhering to advance learning trends and techniques since the school’s inception is the reason behind its soaring popularity.
Notable Features of TCIS
Tarbiyah Cambridge International School (TCIS) is a school for the future which is dedicated to shaping the future of its students by providing them with the best education and moulding their personality in the right directions- morally, socially, and physiologically.
Azizur Rahman says, “By inculcating religious discipline, building characters, and helping intellectual growth, we aim at creating students into good human beings who are sensitive to the needs of others, respect fellow humans, and fulfil their duties towards society and the nation at large.”
He adds that the multi-faceted Tarbiyah programme at TCIS includes Tazweed & Understanding of the Quran and the Hifzul Quran program every Sunday. Furthermore, the school has collaborated with the Markaz Group of Kerala for moral value-based education.
TCSI is affiliated with CBSE and hasa balanced student-teacher ratio for effective learning. The teaching staff are highly experienced, well-trained, and competent to unravel the talent of every student and help them build on their strengths to excel.
Azizur Rahman says, “The teachers at our school work as a team and recognize their responsibility. They are not only adept in teaching academic curriculum but also wield impeccable values essential for inspiring students to pick up best practices in life.
Besides excellent teaching staff, the school is equipped with all the modern facilities such as fully digital classrooms, a well-stacked Library, Assembly Hall, Science Lab, Media Lab, separate boys’ and girls’ hostels.
An ample number of extracurricular activities, including martial arts, roller skating, cricket, football, tennis, volleyball, etc., add to students’ sporting skills and physical fitness.
To enhance leadership skills, TCIS has introduced 50+ ECC activities like quizzes, debates on contemporary topics, dramas on social issues, instant speeches, tongue twister competitions etc., which are performed publicly on the Annual Day of school.
Apart from that, daily students’ performance reports are being published digitally to monitor them very closely and take action according to the requirement.
Azizur Rahman says, “We have already introduced robotics and coding mathematics. We intend to introduce AI in our classrooms to create smart, responsive content for the personalised care of students.”
The hard work of the team has been bearing fruits consistently. For a recent example, the second batch of 10th standard has excelled in board exams. Students have obtained 85 to 97 percent marks in the 2022 board exam. In the coming days, more powerful academic performance is expected from the students.
Making TCIS a Brand
Azizur Rahman has a broader vision to spread the education model he envisages for the overall growth of students at a reasonable price.
“The idea is to develop TCIS into a credible brand and branch out into other areas, creating a sort of educational revolution keeping the underprivileged infocus.” Azizur Rahman says, “Our entire team is working very hard to fulfil the dreams of taking English medium education to rural India.”
According to him, the management has the vision to establish up to 200 branches, focusing on rural areas by 2024. Plans are already afoot to open the first 100 branches. We have already started 42branches at the junior level and one branch up to XII standards.
The main campus is already being developed swiftly to serve as the central branch, controlling and coordinating all other branches spread in the state and elsewhere.
Azizur Rahman says, “Ensuring technology-based quality and modern education in rural India is not only an attempt to take the TCIS brand to the needy sections of the society living the far-flung areas but also a sincere effort on our part to promote the concept of Digital India, which has been developed by the Govt. of India.”
Dream for a University
The sections of society that have been left behind in progress must get a fair chance to advance and acquire leadership roles in society. To that end, universities have a major role to play.
When it comes to West Bengal, the state has a significant minority population, but accordingly, there are not enough minority universities.
Azizur Rahman says, “Universities, in general, are in awful scarcity in our country. While in developed countries, for per 50 thousand population, there is about one university, in India, we don’t have a university even for 10 lakh people.”
Well aware of the situation in his state, Azizur Rahman nurtures a dream to establish a university that will open gates for minorities to excel in higher education. However, establishing a university is no child’s play. It requires enormous funds and infrastructures, as well as resources of other kinds.
Azizur Rahman says, “I have already consulted my industrialist friends who can contribute in this regard. Insha’Allah, taking everybody along, and with government assistance, we will be able to establish a university one day. But for now, our entire focus is to move ahead with TCIS. The university can wait.”
Azizur Rahman’sWorld View
Besides being an entrepreneur and educationist, Azizur Rahman is a thinker and has the brain of an intellectual. His insights into the history and contemporary world politics are discerning and impressive.
He says the world, including our beloved country India, is going through a tumultuous period where fascist and reactionary forces have dominated and successfully changed the political discourse to that of hate and bigotry.He shows his concerns about the growing trend of Islamophobia around the world.
Nevertheless, Azizur Rahman is hopeful that the time will change and people will get fed up with hate and eventually return to the path of peace, harmony, and brotherhood.
He says, “Education has a big role in healing the world. More than the present education system, the education tied to moral and ethical values we are advocating will serve the purpose.”
Maeeshat’s View
A man of many ideas, unbounded zeal, and tireless hard work, Azizur Rahman has given a new meaning to entrepreneurship and has also shown his mettle in community leadership.
On the one hand, his Starling Silk Mills employs hundreds of people; on the other, TCIS is doing stellar work to educate underprivileged children holistically. And considering the way TCIS expansion is taking place, we can say Azizur Rahman is a leader in the making for bigger things.
For Maseeshat Media, it is always heartening to see the emergence of new entrepreneurs and community leaders. Azizur Rahman’s endeavours are highly praiseworthy, especially because they are geared towards the causes of the disadvantages.
He has dispelled the notion that the poor and downtrodden are indifferent to change their fate through education. According to him, despite poverty, these people are aware of the importance of education. They want their children to be educated, but the community lacks the leadership to tap into their willingness.
He says, “Our community needs more leaders to come forward and shoulder the responsibility of establishing more and more educational institutions. One Tarbiyah Cambridge International School is not enough.”
Azizur Rahman considers himself a dreamer, even in an adverse situation. Had he not dreamed, nothing would have materialised. But he always backed his dreams with immense hard work and an undying passion for achieving them.
The dedicated crusader is on a constant mission to better the lives of others through meaningful and constructive changes. We have the highest regard for him.
Fittingly, when he signs off, he tells his favourite quote: “Zindagi tab banti hai jab aap khush hote hain. Lekin Zindagi tab behtareen banti hai jab koi aap ki wajah se khush hota hai.”
by Editor | Oct 22, 2022 | Corporate, Magazine, Opinion, Opinions
By Danish Reyaz | Maeeshat | Guwahati
Mahbubul Hoque, during his student years at Aligarh Muslim University, was a reflective person. When he used to get time out of his study, he would often visit the tomb of Sir Sayed Ahmed and sit there in quietude, showing respect to the great man who founded the world-famous university.
Little did he realize that one day he would himself be known as Sir Syed of North East for his ground-breaking work in promoting modern education in the region that mainstream India often overlooks and neglects.
Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik presenting the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service to Mahbubul Hoque
Mahbubul Hoque is an enterprising man who broke free from his poverty-stricken childhood and went on to secure admission to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on merit. But then, after completing his Masters, he said no to lucrative corporate job offers and returned to his native place to work for his people.
Twenty years later, his achievements are downright incredible. He founded the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), the first private university in the North East region and by far the best of all his ventures.
It is an “A” Grade university accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), offering the best education in scores of professional courses to thousands of students from eight neighboring states.
Besides USTM, Mahbubul Hoque, the Founder Chairman of the Educational Research and Development Foundation (ERDF), has established nine other educational institutions, including three state-of-the-art colleges and two CBSE-affiliated schools.
The incredible story of his successful journey as an educational entrepreneur (Edupreneur) we are about to read is a testament to how a human can triumph over all odds with an unswerving spirit of self-belief and hard work to bring about a meaningful change in society.
Former President of India (Late) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam handing over his books as gift to Mahbubul Hoque
A Polite and Cultured Man
Mr. Hoque is hugely successful and reputed, yet he is a simple and down-to-earth man. He is also quite religious. He sports an Islamic beard and wears a white kurta pajama pairing it with a shadri and a skullcap.
One might mistake him for being a Maulana, but speak to him, and he will enlighten you with his vision and knowledge as a successful educational entrepreneur while switching back and forth to fluent English during the conversation.
He says, “There is no point in living a luxurious life and showing off. Life and wealth are from the Almighty for doing good deeds and to serve the society for which we are answerable on the Day of Judgement.”
A cultured man, Mr. Hoque knows how to treat you well without giving you an air of him being highly successful. He is very polite and sincere and as much agog when it comes to talking about everything related to education and institutions.
Central Auditorium of University of Science and Technology Meghalaya
“Educational development of my region remains uppermost in my mind. You can observe that while I talk,” Mr. Hoque says. We couldn’t differ, seeing how his life is a constant endeavour to bring about an educational revolution in the far-flung region of India.
Early Life and Education
Mahbubul Hoque was born on December 1, 1973, in a remote and nondescript Poorbogul village of Patharkandi in Assam’s Karimganj district. Unfortunate incidents and financial difficulties marred his early life.
When he reached the seventh standard, his father, a Panchayat Secretary, passed away. While he was in 12th standard, his mother left this world. And worst of all, on a fateful day, his elder brother, who used to help support his education, fell victim to a fatal road accident.
“Those were nightmarish times,” Mr. Hoque recalls, “But I never gave up. Initially I sold home-grown vegetables in local market and later also gave tuition to schoolchildren to finance my education.”
Nevertheless, the bright spot in his financially constrained life was that he was a meritorious student. He passed his matriculation from Karimganj and Intermediate (Science) from G.C. College, Silchar with flying colours.
He came to Aligarh Muslim University with stars in his eyes to obtain the best education. He stayed there from 1993 to 2000, studying with all his heart and soul. He did his BSc (Chemistry) with first class and PGDCA & MCA, securing first class second rank.
A promising career in multinational companies was beckoning as plenty of job offers were lined up for him. But he had a different plan for himself. He moved back to Assam with his books and one old computer that he had purchased in Aligarh.
Humble Beginning as Educational Entrepreneur
Back in Assam, Mr. Hoque decided to be an Edupreneur. In those days, Computer Science courses were gaining in demand. Since he had a way with computers in Guwahati, he wanted to start a private IT start-up in partnership. But he received a lukewarm response from the community entrepreneurs.
One of the wealthiest businessmen and community leaders who now owns a political party told him that he wouldn’t make any headway as a computer entrepreneur because his wearing of kurta pajama and a skullcap might not go down well with the students and their parents.
Discouraged and disheartened, Mr. Hoque now decided to go solo on his project. He made a start in 2001 with mere Rs 84 in his pocket, four IGNOU-enrolled students, and his old computer that he had brought along from Aligarh. His institution was a rented room at Ganeshguri area of Guwahati. In his initial days of struggle, he lived in the institution, spending his nights sleeping on the office sofa as he could not afford to rent a house for permanent stay. Once upon a time, the owners of building were also not ready to offer rental house to him. That was just the beginning but after that he did not have to look back.
He started assembling computers and sold 100 of them. With that money, he was now able to set up a 5-computer lab in Guwahati and take the franchisee of Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), a prestigious private university for distance mode education across India.
“Affiliation fee for a Manipal study centre was Rs 2 lakh, which obviously I didn’t have at that time,” Mr. Hoque reminisces, “A gentleman at Manipal, after knowing my Aligarh background and my merit agreed to grant me the affiliation keeping the fee payment pending, which I later cleared in instalments of Rs 25,000 after borrowing from a friend.”
Soon stars started smiling down on gritty and hardworking Mr. Hoque. The study centre that only had 26 students in its first batch swelled to 3500 in 2006, becoming the second largest SMU centre in India.
“We received five consecutive Excellence Awards from the hands of India’s star bowler Anil Kumble, who happened to be the Brand Ambassador of Sikkim Manipal University in those years,” says Mr. Hoque smilingly.
Central IT College
The Manipal study centre run by Mr. Hoque is now famously known as Central IT College. With time, it has added many professional courses to attract students from various streams. Besides Computer Science, the Central IT College has Management, Mass Communication, Arts and Humanities, Biotechnology, and Allied Health Services courses.
It has also been selected as the Nodal Centre for the Eastern region to conduct Biotechnology practical. The centre has 600 odd computers in its lab. It is so much enough that Infosys regularly hires this lab to conduct large-scale exams for central government jobs.
His Vision Broadens: Foundation of ERDF
Mr. Hoque had always wanted to serve the community in a progressive way. So, he was not going to rest with the spectacular success he achieved running the Manipal study centre.
He envisioned building multiple educational institutions to tap into the massive potential of the North Eastern students and thus prevent them from migrating to other parts of the country. Back then, the migrating students were shelling out lakhs of rupees for their education, accommodation, and long-distance travelling.
To realize his dreams, Mr. Hoque established the Education Research and Development Foundation (ERDF) in 2005, under the patronage of which multiple educational institutions, one after another, sprang up at several places in Assam and Meghalaya.
“After I founded ERDF, my dreams took wings. I am now operating at a much bigger and broader scale, helming so many institutions at once. It is challenging but immensely satisfying,” says Mr. Hoque.
Here is a look at the institutions Mr. Hoque has established, espoused by ERDF.
Central Public School, Patharkandi
In a rural area of Patharkandi in the Karimganj district, the Central Public School was established in 2008, the first school by ERDF. The school is CBSE-affiliated and known for providing excellent education to poor and underprivileged students at an affordable price.
Central Public School, Badarpur
Following the success of the Central Public School at Patharkandi, its second branch was opened at Badarpur in the same Karimganj district in 2010.
The CBSE-affiliated school is spread over 3-acre land and is well-equipped with everything a modern school requires. This school’s objective was similar to the first: to serve students from poor backgrounds belonging to remote underdeveloped areas.
Khairun Nessa Begum Women’s College, Badarpur
Two Central Public Schools in the Karimganj district have contributed significantly to the betterment of primary and secondary education in the region. Meanwhile, there was also a need for a college for women from the poor and marginalized section who often don’t get chance to pursue their education to a higher level due to lack of opportunities.
So, intending to write a new chapter in women’s education, Khairun Nessa Begum Women’s College, named after Mr. Hoque’s loving mother, came into existence in 2015 in Badarpur. The college is affiliated with Assam University, Silchar.
No Personal Ambition Despite Success
A man who has built so many institutions and continues doing so has no personal ambitions, but an unbounded desire to see the poor and marginalized doing well educationally. His life is a mission to build institutions and play his part in changing the educational landscape of the North East.
“There is no dearth of talent in the North East. The students here are smart and proficient in English because English is the medium of instruction in the whole region except Tripura and Assam,” says Mr. Hoque.
According to him, the only problem afflicting the region is the lack of institutions for higher education. However, in the last two decades, things have changed. Due to his and others’ tireless efforts, quality institutions have been coming up, and it is not only improving the overall educational scenario in the region but also stemming the migration of students to the rest of India in quest of a good education.
Mr. Hoque’s commitment to his cause can be gauged from the fact that despite running the Manipal study centre quite profitably, he never aspired to a life of wealth and material comfort. Instead, living in a rented house of two rooms and meagre facilities, he was busy thinking about establishing schools and colleges for the benefit of students.
“I used to earn about 8-10 crores annually from the Manipal study centre since it was doing really well. However, instead of spending the money on frivolous things for personal gratification, I used that to buy lands,” Mr. Hoque says.
The practice of buying lands proved to be a visionary move for Mr. Hoque because whenever he decided to found an institution, he already had land for it.
He says, “I didn’t have much of the backing of the wealthiest people. I knew whatever I aspired to do could be achieved if only I put the right step forward. Buying lands in advance was one of the right steps of which I am glad about today.”
Meghalaya Calling: Establishment of RIST
Dreams have their own destiny and can take you to new destinations where they can fructify. The same has happened with Mr. Hoque as he came to Meghalaya from Assam, chasing a dream.
When Manipal study centre was booming, Mr. Hoque was nurturing a dream to have a full-fledged college of his own. But, somehow, it was not materializing in Assam due to technical reasons mostly. It would have taken him long to make his dream come true if he had kept waiting.
Professor Samudra Phookan, a well-known friend of Mr. Hoque, suggested he should explore the possibility of establishing the college in Meghalaya instead. The latter was a neighbouring state not far from Guwahati; moreover, the land was cheaper there. The idea appealed to Mr. Hoque. As luck would have it, the Meghalaya government was more than welcoming in giving NOC and providing necessary cooperation to Mr. Hoque.
In no time, in 2009, the Regional Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) came up in Meghalaya, becoming the first engineering college in the state. RIST sprawls over 130-acre lush green hilly land in Baridua, 9th Mile, popularly known as Techno City in Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya.
The scenic beauty of the place adds to the attraction for the students, while its sheltered atmosphere is ideal for more focused study. On the other hand, the developed architecture, modern facilities and amenities, and highly competent teaching staff make RIST one of the best and most sought-after engineering colleges in the North East region.
The college is affiliated with North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, while the courses are AICTE approved. RIST is the largest technical campus in the North East, offering an excellent platform for students to achieve excellence.
Establishing USTM: A Giant Leap
Following the success achieved with the new schools and colleges Mr. Hoque by now had become a well-known figure in the North East. However, he was destined to do something even bigger.
It so happened that once former governor of Meghalaya Shri R.S. Mooshahary, impressed by Mr. Hoque’s excellent capability in running and managing so many institutions, asked him to apply for establishing a university. For Mr. Hoque it was a shot in the arm.
“Although something of this nature was at the back of my mind from the beginning, I had not applied thought to it. But coming it from the governor, I felt encouraged and my belief in my ability increased many times,” says Mr. Hoque smilingly.
Nevertheless, it was a mammoth task which also required huge amount of money and a massive piece of land. There were roadblocks no doubt but Mr. Hoque persevered.
“We used to land hunting relentlessly so that we can buy a mass of land at cheaper rate considering the limited financial resources we had,” says Mr. Hoque.
The hunt came to an end after Mr. Haque could manage to buy a 400-acre land, again a hillock but picturesque landscape amidst exquisite greenery in the Baridua area of 9th Mile in Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya. It is the place where the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, popularly known as USTM, has come along with all its glory.
Mr. Hoque recalls how even the government officials were intrigued when he proposed the land for establishing the university since it was slightly a faraway site from people settlements.
“Although it was a secluded place, I believed it would be excellent for the academic environment. Now the place has developed into a small city, and people from far and wide visit the campus for various reasons,” says Mr. Hoque.
USTM Journey So Far
Spurred by governor Mooshahary’s suggestion, Mr. Hoque submitted the university’s draft to the government in 2007, and swiftly, in 2008, the bill for the proposed university was passed.
However, since setting up a university was the dearest dream of Mr. Hoque he was not in a haste to start it even after getting the nod from the government. Various issues, including financial challenges, were to be taken care of before taking the plunge.
Mr. Hoque took a loan of ten crores from the bank for the construction of buildings and endowment fund. Only after everything seemed all right did USTM begin its journey in 2011.
USTM started with only 6 students in the year 2011 before growing into having more than 6,000 students, 22 departments, and 60 courses. Today it is the largest private university in the North East region in terms of total area, constructed space, and number of students.
Mr. Hoque says, “While the university was coming up, several people helped us in whatever way they could. Some helped us with materials, while some, including contractors, came forward to help us financially.” Recalling one incident he says, “One contractor even sold his wife’s gold to offer us some money.”
He further says the staff and students have also helped the university grow. For example, students even made advance payments whenever there was a financial crunch. At the same time, the staff, on several occasions, agreed on deferred payments. “I have immense gratitude to all of them who have been partners in our beautiful journey,” says Mr. Hoque.
The beautifully laid-out university is divided into several zones and blocks, with various departments, halls, and hostels spread across the sprawling property. Big modern structures, two giant entry gates, wide and clean roads, vibrant gardens, and greenery all around add to the magnificence of the university. One can’t miss getting marvelled at the prodigiously big and state-of-the-art central auditorium with a seating capacity of 3000 persons.
The university premise also houses several colleges a few of the ERDF-backed Institutions are: Professor Qoumrul Hoque School of Education—anNCTE recognized B.Ed. college named after Mr. Hoque’s elder brother, a BCI approved University School of Law and Research, the School of Business Science, approved by AICTE, a PCI approved Pharmacy College—Schoolof Pharmaceutical Sciences, Meghalaya. Another PCI approved college of pharmaceutical science established under ERDF is, Allama TR College of Pharmacy, Badarpur, Assam. A total of 1200 professionals makes up the workforce under the Foundation, offering services in different capacities.
USTM is gaining in reputation every year, and students’ faith in it is only increasing. In terms of not only results but also research, USTM has been winning many laurels. Mr. Hoque says, “Take the example of the Pharmacy department. Within four years of its establishment, it has 12 patents to its credit.”
Talking about the phenomenal response the university received from the people, he says, “Our good reputation from the Central IT College has worked in favour of the USTM. People understood we are serious people who are committed to providing best education at all costs.”
The most significant achievement of the USTM is that it received the ‘A Grade’ accreditation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in November last year in the first cycle of assessment. “The recognition is a huge validation of our vision and hard work and gives an impetus for the future,” says Mr. Hoque.
In addition, USTM has been ranked among the top 200 universities of India in the seventh edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2022. It is the only private university from the North East to feature in the list this year.
Mr. Hoque says that he has been fortunate to receive blessings and guidance from eminent academicians of India, including Professor D.P. Agrawal and Professor Ved Prakash, the former Chairman of UPSC and the current- Chairman of UGC, respectively. These people visit the university every now and then and keep enquiring about its functioning. “When such great people show their genuine concern, I really feel proud of my institution”, said Mr. Hoque.
In 2014, former President Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam Azad spent a whole day in the university during his visit. Mr. Hoque says, “It was a landmark visit. A hugely inspirational figure himself Dr. Kalam buoyed up every one of us to work unceasingly towards the progress of the university.”
Among others, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi and former ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar have also graced the university with their presence.
Mr. Hoque informs that more than 15 Vice Chancellors of different universities in India are directly and indirectly associated with them. Moreover, USTM is a signatory to about 300 MoUs with top Indian and international institutions for research and other activities.
It’s been only eleven years since USTM began its journey. And in a short time, it has managed to cement its position among the top universities in India, which is an awe-inspiring achievement.
What Makes USTM Unique?
The popularity of USTM lies in its top-quality education, top-notch infrastructure as well as right environment for the holistic growth of students. But a few novel initiatives also make the university stand out, adding to its popularity further.
Payback Policy
USTM Payback policy has been an exciting initiative that has come in for much appreciation from all quarters. Under this scheme, students clearing national competitive examinations such as UGC NET, GATE, JRF, etc., are returned their entire course fee.
The scheme has proved to be quite encouraging for the students. This year as many as 99 students have cleared these exams despite the COVID scare.
“The Payback incentive is designed to make our students more competitive and motivated. The innovative scheme is already paying good dividends as the number of successful students are increasing each year,” says Mr. Hoque.
In addition to the Payback policy, Mr. Hoque says those who qualify for the IAS exam are eligible for Rs. 5 lakh cash reward, while the 1st rank holder will get the expensive Mercedes car. This sort of scheme is unheard of in the region and can really boost the representation of the students from the North East in All India Civil Services.
Vision 50 Academy
Vision 50 Academy at USTM is another brainchild of Mr. Hoque. It is designed to provide targeted coaching to meritorious students who aspire to crack the NEET, JEE, and Civil Services examinations.
Vision 50 runs six courses in total, including integrated, foundation, and repeater courses. Hundreds of students selected through the Vision Talent Search Exam (VSTE) enroll in these courses and avail one of the best coaching programs in the North East to materialize their dreams.
In addition, 50 top-of-the-cream students in each stream are given intensive coaching and mentoring to enable them to crack these exams on the first attempt. These students are entitled to get 100% scholarship to study at the Vision 50 Academy.
Mr. Hoque says, “Vision 50 Academy focuses on meritorious and economically weaker students who are otherwise deprived of the opportunities to excel in their preparation.”
Vision 50 Academy has two other chapters at Patharkandi and Badarpur in the Karimganj district of Assam, where students from the secondary level are taken care of to prepare them for various competitive examinations.
North East Graduate Congress (NEGC)
USTM, committed to the educational progress of the North East region has been organizing the annual North East Graduate Congress since 2012, aiming to connect youths from different parts of the region on a common platform.
More than 10 thousand students participate in the confluence every year and get a lifetime chance to discuss and disseminate ideas among themselves while exploring various opportunities to shape their careers.
The NEGC lets aspiring students interact with the country’s renowned academicians, educationists, industrialists, and entrepreneurs. Through this, students get acquainted with the emerging needs of different fields to prepare and hone their skills accordingly.
“The Graduate Congress sees participation from about 300 colleges in the region where we explore various activities for three days,” Mr. Hoque says. “For the last two years, due to COVID lockdown, it was not organized. However, it will likely resume this year, and the spirit of the participants doesn’t seem to have dampened.”
Like NEGC, Mr. Hoque has also initiated several other events connecting the teaching and learning community at different institutions, including USTM. These flagship events include North East College Principles Conclave, North East Teachers Congress, North East Law Graduates Conclave, the ERDF Talent Fest, etc.
Obligation Towards Girls and Poor Meritorious Students
Mr. Hoque is a gender-sensitive person. He believes women have the as much right to education as men. Like any other educational institution he runs, USTM has 50% reservation for girl students.
“No other university can match USTM in gender inclusivity. Currently, 57% of the total students are girls. Even 70% of the teaching staff at the university happen to be women,” says Mr. Hoque proudly.
Besides the women’s representation, Mr. Hoque, having lived a poverty-stricken life himself, is a fierce proponent of the free education of the poor meritorious students. As a result, 20% of students at USTM who are from underprivileged backgrounds are getting free education.
Poor meritorious students are provided free education at USTM and in all the ERDF-sponsored institutions: 15% in colleges and university, while 20% in schools. About a thousand students are receiving free or concessional education in these institutions.
Mr. Hoque says, “I make sure that no meritorious students are ever turned away from our doorstep although they are too poor to afford the cost of their studies.”
Diversity at the Campus
Besides the education quality, diversity in any university is key for students from different communities to feel secure and have a sense of belongingness.
Exposure to diversity is also a great leveller. When students from different castes, communities, and backgrounds mingle, they learn the life lessons of tolerance and respect for others.
Mr. Hoque says, “USTM is kaleidoscope of different culture. And arguably it is the only private university in the country to have students from 36 communities, which is also a matter of pride for us.”
Mr. Hoque adds that in a time when strife among different communities across the nation has increased, USTM remains a beckon of hope.
Quick Grievance Redressal
The beautiful centrally-located grievance cell inside the campus speaks volumes about the seriousness of authorities at USTM to ensure a pleased and content student base so that they go about their studies without any worries.
Every effort is made to minimize complaint lodging hassle and hasten their redressal. Mr. Hoque says, “Being a Chancellor, I try to be accessible to all. Everybody can meet me with their problems. Anybody can call me. Plus, there is My Chancellor app through which staff and students can get in touch with me.”
Mr. Hoque further says that every university has some problem, but students at USTM are understanding enough to not go out and speak about their displeasure. “With our sincerity we have earned their trust,” he says.
Unflinching Dedication to Social Causes
Coming from the lower strata of society Mr. Hoque carries a strong sense of social responsibility. Accordingly, he has taken several steps meant to serve various social causes.
Adoption of Villages
A few years back, we had heard about the parliamentarians adopting villages- an idea that fizzled out with time, however, not in the case of USTM. Under the guidance of Mr. Hoque, each department of USTM has adopted a nearby village to sensitize villagers about the issues related to education, health, and the economy.
The departments are responsible for guiding and conducting training sessions for the villagers, especially women, on these issues. However, the thrust remains to help develop entrepreneurial skills and spirit among them.
“If India has to progress, development must reach to village level. The initiative of adopting villages is only a small part of our endeavour in this direction.” Mr. Hoque says. “Most of our institutions are in the backward areas and interestingly 80% students studying in these institutions are from remote rural areas.”
I Can I Will Academy
Among several initiatives by Mr. Hoque, I Can I Will Academy is the most laudable one. It is a residential academy for differently-abled persons where they learn various job skills based on their strengths.
“Physically challenged people, because of their disability, lag behind in society. They are in dire need of help and attention. We have taken a small step to equip them with skills and education to bring them into the mainstream,” Mr. Hoque says.
The special curriculum designed at I Can I Will Academy is flexible for these people. In addition, the curriculum also caters to those who excel in sports and culture. Since these people can’t attend regular classes due to the busy schedules of their training and practice sessions, the curriculum comes in handy for them.
Cancer Patient Helpdesk
Besides education, Mr. Hoque is interested in working for distressed patients facing a financial crisis. The needy are helped with money and all coordination to receive the best treatment. In that line, at B Barooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati, a Patient Helpdesk Booth has also been established to help guide needy patients.
Helping the Victims During COVID and Bodoland Violence
When Bodoland violence broke out in 2012, it forced lakhs of people from the minority community to take refuge in relief camps. A total of 35,000 children were affected, of which 13,000 were school-going. At that time, Mr. Hoque rose to the occasion and worked tirelessly for the educational rehabilitation of those hapless children in collaboration with the government, several NGOs, and Philanthropists.
Likewise, in COVID times, he was actively involved in relief work, helping affected people with food, medicines, and hospitalisation.
Other Welfare Activities
Apart from the above activities, Mr. Hoque is also involved in various other welfare activities such as scholarships and endowment funds to provide shelter to widows and poor unmarried girls and promote microfinance and entrepreneurship.
Also, Mr. Hoque has made provisions for giving Interest-free loans, marriage loans, etc., to the weaker section of society. Among other things, Mr. Hoque conducts relief works during natural calamities and awareness programs on various issues of public importance.
“We have only one life. But unfortunately, it is not enough to do welfare work for society. Howsoever we try, we can never repay our debt to the society and the nation at large,” says the man whose heart beats for fellow humans who are poor and disadvantaged.
The Road Ahead
Due to his indomitable passion, Mr. Hoque has built a staggering number of institutions in a short time, with USTM being the crown jewel. As a visionary Eduprenuer, Mr. Hoque has already set his eyes on the future to take USTM to the next level with several promising plans and initiatives.
Targeting A++ Grade
Hardly is there any university in India which has been accredited “A Grade” by NAAC in the first cycle. Mr. Hoque says, “However, the accreditation for USTM was not unexpected because we had worked very hard on every parameter to meet the expectations of NAAC from the beginning.”
NAAC is a UGC body meant to assess and accredit higher education institutions on 7-point criteria, including infrastructure, curriculum and faculty, research and innovations, etc.
Soon after USTM got accredited “A Grade” by NAAC, Mr. Hoque set his eyes on the “A++ Grade” accreditation in the next cycle. And he is confident about it achieving it. Mr. Hoque says that when the NAAC Chairman was visiting USTM for assessment, the latter said, “I don’t know what Grade the USTM will get in the first inspection, but I am confident that in the next cycle the university will be accredited Grade A++.”
Mr. Hoque says, “Before making such a bold prediction, he surely must have seen our unceasing commitment and mission to develop USTM into one of the premier universities.”
Medical College and Hospital
Setting up a medical college is on the cards. USTM’s Zone 5 is a dedicated area in which the proposed medical college and hospital with allied healthcare facilities will come up in the future.
Mr. Hoque says that while education is a must, health is paramount for everybody’s life. Without health education will go waste. Therefore, he is committed to one of his favourite projects of all time, i.e., establishing a state-of-the-art medical college and hospital. It will also add a new paradigm to Mr. Hoque’s entrepreneurship.
While the full-fledged medical college and hospital based on modern science will take a few years to be built, Mr. Hoque plans to start an Ayurvedic college inside the USTM campus next year.
Focus on Research
When it comes to teaching and learning, USTM is doing excellently. Lately, the university has been focusing on research as well. The pharmacy department, followed by the food and life sciences department, is particularly doing well.
However, much needs to be done on the research front, especially when the university is teeming with fertile brains and equipped with the proper infrastructure and world-class labs.
Mr. Hoque says that when research activities go up, we will also start receiving government funds, which will ease the burden on the fee structures of the courses. “In fact, when the strength of students goes up in the future, we would still like to keep the fee structure the same as now or decrease it rather than increase it,” Mr. Hoque says.
It sounds interesting in the context that USTM already has a low fee structure for the convenience of the students, who are primarily from rural backgrounds.
To promote academic research and developmental activities, USTM has signed more than 300 MoUs with several nationally and internationally reputed institutions and universities. They include AMU, Aligarh; JNU, New Delhi; Jamia Milia University, New Delhi; IIT, Guwahati; Dhaka University; UGC Bangladesh; and several Universities in Turkey.
Vision 2025 and 2030
Already the best private university in the north-eastern region, USTM, under the stewardship of Mr. Hoque, is ready to expand its footprints on both national and global levels.
Mr. Hoque has a Vision 2025 roadmap through which he aims to make it one of the best national universities by 2025. The plan is to attract 30-40% of students from the rest of India.
“Every year hundreds of students from the North East go to cities like New Delhi, Kota, Bengaluru, etc. for higher studies or preparing for national level exams, but the reverse doesn’t happen,” Mr. Hoque says.
Mr. Hoque says that the institutions in the North East have developed leaps and bounds over the years. However, they lack publicity in the press, but the same press misses no chance to overplay the insurgency issue of the region.
Therefore, it is our duty, including the political leaders and journalists, to project a positive image of the North East. If that happens, things will change for the better.
Like Vision 25, Mr. Hoque has chalked out a Vision 30 plan that envisages USTM as a global university with world-class facilities and the best educational environment to attract students and scholars from all over the world.
Mr. Hoque says they have been upgrading facilities at per the global standards so that international students feel at home and get the facilities commensurate with the money they would spend here.
“Our first target is neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, as well as South-East Asian countries. Students from these countries go to other cities in central India whereas we are nearer and can prove to be cheaper option for them,” he says, “However, we need to promote our university in better ways, highlighting the benefits we bring to the table.”
Other Plans for Future
Alongside the USTM growth plan, Mr. Hoque has several projects up his sleeves. He wants to build an array of new institutions as part of his mission to spread education to every nook and corner of the North East region.
His upcoming projects include five B Ed Colleges and ten more CBSE-affiliated schools in distant rural areas. At the same time, he has started working on another dream project—toestablish a women’s university in his native Karimganj district in Assam, proposal already submitted to the Government of Assam for enactment.
Additionally, Mr. Hoque is deliberating on starting an education TV channel and one newspaper each in Bangla and English, emphasizing education.
He has a very strong desire to make a big team of honest and dedicated workers who can transform his plans and ideas to reality. He wants to leave all educational set up for upliftment of the society and wants to see that a motivated team is working for mission education and taking it forward.
Awards and Recognition
In his stupendous journey of Edupreneurship, Mr. Hoque has received umpteen awards from various quarters in recognition of his yeoman’s service to the cause of educational development of the north-eastern region. The latest being the prestigious “Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service -2022”. He received this highest and most prestigious award from the hands of Shri Satya Pal Malik, the Governor of Meghalaya, on 26thAugust 2022, for his pioneering contribution in the field of Higher and Technical Education.
Apart from that, Mr. Hoque is the recipient of the following awards:
Maeeshat Edu Doctor Award 2022 from Maeeshat Media, Mumbai
Shikshacharya Award 2019 from the Asom Sahitya Sabha, Guwahati, handed over by Shri Tathagata Roy, the Governor of Meghalaya
Visionary Edupreneur 2017 Award by Rethink India, New Delhi, handed over by Shri Manish Sisodia, Deputy CM of New Delhi in the presence of the former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Maulana Azad Memorial Award 2016 from Barack Education Society, Silchar, Assam
NEDFi Award 2015 from NEDFi(under Ministry of Finance), Guwahti
Maeeshat Best Edupreneur Award 2014 from Maeeshat Media, Mumbai
Educlusion Award at Re-engineering India Summit-2014, Singapore, handed over by Prof. Thomas L Magnanti, President of Singapore University
Edupreneur Award 2013 by Engineers Watch, conferred by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Developmentin New Delhi.
Apart from the individual awards, he also takes pride for number of institutional recognitions awarded to USTM by the UNESCO, Green Assam Award conferred by Dr Noni Gopal Mahanta, Advisor, Education, Government of Assam and by other prestigious organisations. These awards are a symbol of recognition of Mr. Hoque’s dedication, passion, and commitment to ensuring quality education to the last mile of the backward regions.
Mr. Hoque says, “Awards are good to keep the motivation going, but nothing beats a smile on the face of a student who is succeeding in life. That is my biggest award and a validation for the work I have been doing all these years.”
Wrapping up
Mr. Hoque is a paragon of hard work and perseverance, motivated with the sole aim to bring about an educational revolution in the remote region of India that has been on the back burner in terms of development for long, thus suffering from rampant poverty.
There is no better way to alleviate poverty than to empower people with education. Therefore, Mr. Hoque has been building institutions, mostly in rural areas of the North East, to make education accessible to the poor and marginalized.
Starting from scratch with no money and manpower, Mr. Hoque today ends up with a battery of top-notch educational institutions, aggressively changing the landscape of education in the North East region of India.
A bright talent from AMU testing the water in the field of educational entrepreneurship instead of latching on to fat corporate jobs sounds unusual but describes the courage, vision, and determination of Mr. Hoque.
Mr. Hoque has successfully demonstrated that educational entrepreneurship is economically viable and a highly satisfying business model that also contributes immensely to the progress of the nation.
The need of the hour is for more people to show courage to be an Eduprenuer and be a reason to spread hope and smile to millions of students deprived of proper education to flourish in their lives.
by Editor | Aug 4, 2022 | Interviews, Magazine
By Danish Reyaz | Maeeshat | Mumbai
“pyāso raho na dasht meñ bārish ke muntazir
Maaro zamīñ pe paañv ki paanī nikal paḌe“
This Iqbal Sajid’s Sher that Adv. Yusuf Abrahani often quotes perfectly describes the latter’s attitude in life. Translating the Shair, he says, “Instead of waiting in the desert for rains to quench your thirst, you should keep beating the ground with your leg so that water streams out of it.”
Adv. Yusuf Abrahani has done the same in his life; he has invariably carved his path to success, creating opportunities and clearing every odd and obstacle.
Today he is a man of many hats. He is an excellent lawyer, a famous politician, a prolific social activist, and the current President of Mumbai-based Islam Gymkhana, of which he has been lately scripting a transformation.
Mr. Abrahani is vocal and visionary, dedicated and hard-working. He has an obstinate passion for making things work despite the complexities of a situation.
“I have a no-holds-barred approach towards accomplishing a mission. I can’t go about doing things half-heartedly. That’s not how I am,” while Mr. Abrahani says it, confidence drips from his words. And given his track record, none could ever disagree.
Advocate Yusuf Abrahani, President, Islam Gymkhana delivering speech on Education & Minorities in the 21st Century
Early Life and Education
Adv. Yusuf Abrahani hails from a middle-class family from Gujrat but ends up making a name for himself in Mumbai, Maharashtra, all thanks to his sheer hard work.
At the age of six years, in 1962, he came to Mumbai along with his parents and continued schooling. As a bright student, he kept on passing his grades with flying colours. In 1972, he passed his SSC from Habib High School and BSc. in 1977 from Maharashtra College.
Advocate Yusuf Abrahani with Sudheendra Kulkarni, former Director of Operations of the Prime Minister’s Office
Becoming a Top-Notch Lawyer
Mr. Abrahani had his inspirations in his family. His uncle was Supreme Court lawyer. Therefore, he had no second thoughts about opting for law. In 1980, he passed his LLB from KC Law College, and since then, there has been no looking back.
“Having top lawyers in my family helped me learn the ropes of the profession quickly,” Mr. Abrahani says. “Plus, I had an argumentative mind since the beginning, the most critical thing to be a good lawyer.”
Mr. Abrahani used to fight his cases with a flair and lots of legal acumen. His career flourished. In no time, he became one of Mumbai’s most sought-after lawyers, who had a knack for winning high-profile cases.
Just after four years of practice, he was elected as the President of the Maharashtra Young Advocate Association, which was an admirable feat at such a young age.
Politics Beckons
With his reputation growing thick and fast, he had an offer to stand in the Corporation election. Hazrat Zahiruddin Khan Saheb, one of the esteemed religious leaders of the community, approached Mr. Abrahani’s father requesting him to allow his son to fight the Corporator election.
The father turned down the offer saying his son was doing well as a lawyer and had no interest in politics.
However, Khan Saheb and a few locals remained insistent, visited him again, and finally managed to persuade him to give the go-ahead to his son for the election.
“More than me, the people were confident of my victory. They had already figured out how I was an ideal candidate to win because of my education, social activism, and expertise as a lawyer,” says Mr. Abrahani.
After eleven years of sparkling practice as a lawyer, Mr. Abrahani forayed into the world of politics, realizing little that he was embarking on another defining life journey.
In 1992, he contested his first Corporator election from B ward with a Muslim League ticket and won it, amassing the second-highest number of votes in Mumbai that year.
He was so popular that in 1997 he again fought the Corporator election, this time from the Samajwadi party’s ticket, and won handsomely, in reward for stellar developmental works he had done in the previous tenure.
During his two-term Corporatorship, he distinguished himself as the Party President of the Muslim League and Samajavadi Party, respectively.
“I am the first candidate in the corporation history to have held the Party President position for record ten years,” says Mr. Abrahani.
Again, he was on the Standing Committee for eight years, five years on the Central Haj Committee, and two years on the Improvement Committee. He was also the Chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).
With an honest ambition of serving society, Mr. Abrahani kept climbing the ladders in politics. In 2004, he became an MLA from Trombay with over 50 thousand votes.
Joining the Congress
Thanks to his impressive electoral strategies, Mr. Abrahani has always been a winnable candidate. “I know how to win an election. However, sometimes you need bigger resources to pull it off,” says Mr. Abrahani.
“So, joining Congress, the grand old party of India, in 2002 came in handy for me. I could reach a larger electoral base, which helped me become an MLA two years later,” he adds.
According to him, remaining in two parties for ten years and observing the functioning of other parties from close quarters convinced him that Congress’ ideology of secular and liberal politics was best suited for the country.
He further says, “I am firmly committed to the Congress because I have a strong ideological affinity with the party.”
Advocate Yusuf Abrahani in jolly mood
A Politician with Ideas
Adv. Yusuf Abrahani is a man of ideas who has been involved in brainstorming with the party’s top brass. He says, “Rahul Gandhi used to ask me why, after all, Muslims are moving away from the Congress.”
He further says that impressed with his diagnosis and solutions to the problem, Rahul Gandhi wanted to make him All India Minority Commission Chairman. However, he politely declined the offer, expressing that he would rather like to work in Maharashtra than pan India.
“I did several outreach programs to pull back Muslims into Congress fold, and to a great extent, I have been successful. Today Muslims in Maharashtra are largely behind Congress more than any other party,” he says with satisfaction.
But soon in the next moment, he laments over the political marginalization of Muslims happening all over India. He attributes this to the weakening of Congress since Muslims in hordes deserted Congress in favour of regional parties like SP and RJD after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992.
“I have been saying this for a long time that a weak Congress is not in the interest of Muslims. Congress is the only party that can stand up against the BJP juggernaut. Muslims have to flock back to it. The sooner it happens, the better,” says Mr. Abrahani fervently.
Adv Yusuf Abrahani, Sr. Congress leader & legal luminary Salman Khursheed with Mohammed Adeeb Ex MP at Islam Gymkhana
Coming in Contact with Islam Gymkhana
The Britishera Islam Gymkhana, a social and sporting club that, until a few years ago, seemed to wear a worn-out look, is now a vibrant place to hang around.
The responsible person for this transformation of Islam Gymkhana is no other than Adv. Yusuf Abrahani, its current President.
“Coming in contact with Islam Gymkhana happened in my active political career and it has an interesting story,” says Mr. Abrahani
He says that once, they had a function of Congress Minority Department for which Anjuman-I-Islam’s ground at Victoria Terminus (now, ChhatrapatiShivaji Terminus) was booked. But just on the eve of the function, Anjuman’s President withdrew the permission on some flimsy ground.
“I wasn’t going to take it lying down,” Mr. Abrahani says. “I had made the payment and accepted the receipt. Plus, I couldn’t have arranged the function at a short time at a different venue. So I protested and sat on a dharna until we were allowed to hold the function as scheduled.”
The issue blew up so much that barrister A R Antulay had to intervene, who directed the President to allow Anjuman’s ground as and when required for the community purpose.
Going a step further, Mr. Antulay also ensured that Mr.Abrahani had access to the ground of Islam Gymkhana for the community purpose.
“Essentially, it was Mr. Antulay who introduced me to Islam Gymkhana, which was not much of a familiar place for me until then.” Mr. Abrahani says.
Becoming the President of Islam Gymkhana
Adv. Yusuf Abrahani is a leader who is voracious for development no matter where he serves in whatever capacity. Even while he was a primary member of Islam Gymkhana, he was forthcoming with his views and ideas about the club’s development.
With time, he realized that aggressive implementation of ideas is needed to bring Islam Gymkhana on par with other gymkhanas or to outshine them. But the then President, as well as the management committee, was lacking in drive.
Adv. Abrahani says, “In fact, complacency had crept into the management, which was holding office for last eighteen years without an election after coming to power.”
“We filed a petition in court for an election to be held, and once the court passed an order in that regard, I decided to throw myself into the fray for a President post,” he adds.
After a long time, an election was held in Islam Gymkhana in March 2019. The election was free and fair, which saw hundreds of club members voting with much excitement, rising above caste, sect, and religion.
Members showered their blessings on Mr. Abrahani to be the next President with a record number of votes.
Mr. Abrahani says, “The 2019 election has heralded a new era for Islam Gymkhana. My team and I is staunchly committed to its reforms and redevelopment.”
COVID and Controversy
The start of the new management committee was tumultuous, however. No doubt the development works were afoot since day one after the election, but soon COVID struck, putting things on hold in lockdowns.
“I like to work in speed. COVID came in the way, yet what we achieved within a short period is incredible. Earlier, the Gymkhana used to look like a Yateem khana (Orphanage), but now it has facilities on par with a five-star hotel.”
No one who have ever been to Islam Gymkhana before Mr. Abrahani took over can deny it. There is a stark difference to see now. The gymkhana looks totally revamped, modernized, and aesthetic.
Regarding the controversy, it also happened early on. On the heels of winning the election, Mr. Abrahani banned the card games played in Islam Gymkhana for years. It led to resentment from a few members, and it soon blew into a controversy.
However, despite the controversy getting media attention and the decision being challenged in court, Mr. Abrahani stood his ground.
“In the name of card games betting and gambling were taking place here. We have evidence of it,” Mr. Abrahani says. “Plus, Islam doesn’t permit gambling. We won’t tolerate any illegal or immoral activity inside the Islam Gymkhana premise.”
As it happens, resistance to the ban on card games is wearing thin, and now more and more members support it.
“Since the ban of card games, the atmosphere in the gymkhana has improved. There have been no more gambling-related fights and brawls, inconveniencing other members, especially the women.” Mr. Abrahani says.
An Agent of Quick Transformation
Mr. Abrahani was elected as President of Islam Gymkhana on the back of the developmental promises made in his manifesto and members’ faith in his ability to walk the talk.
And true to the expectations, in a quick time after the landmark election, he has metamorphosed Islam Gymkhana into a vibrant club where people unwind and socialize amidst the aesthetic architectural restructuring and ample availability of modern amenities.
“Previously, Islam Gymkhana was in a wretched condition, which was an embarrassment for the Muslims because gymkhanas also reflect the status of the communities they represent,” says Mr. Abrahani.
Nevertheless, the same gymkhana today stands immensely transformed with new facilities coming up at a swift pace. It has become a crown jewel for the Muslims in Mumbai.
The gymkhana now boasts a beautiful air-conditioned lobby, a well-furnished conference hall, a banquet hall, a dressing room, an exquisite restaurant, and many other structures, all creating a glitzy ambience.
The overhauled gymkhana houses a state-of-the-art gym equipped with all the modern equipment, where one can tone up and build muscle. Jacuzzi, Steam, Sauna, and Spa have also been added as parts of the health and mental wellbeing section.
However, the highlight will be the 27/10 metre state-of-the-art swimming pool that is now under construction. The soon-to-be-opened swimming pool will not only cater to the swimming exercise of the members but also serve as a training spot for the professional swimmers.
Adv. Yusuf Abrahani recalls when card games were banned, some members complained to him, saying Islam Gymkhana was a club, not a Madrasa. He would respond wittily, “Tell me, if I thought it was a Madrasa, why would I open a Spa, Sauna, and Pool here?” He reiterates, “Banning card games was a principled step.”
On the front of games and sports Islam Gymkhana now looks quite modern. The playground, with the addition of floodlights and multi-purpose turf, has enhanced its utility. Indoors, a new room with four life-size Billiards and Snooker tables has come up, in line with the international standards. Another room for pool, table tennis, and carom has been renovated, letting the players enjoy their games wholeheartedly.
The all-around transformation of Islam Gymkhana has raised its stock manifold, and in a quick time, it has emerged as a prime hub for sporting, social, and cultural events and activities in Mumbai. With the popularity soaring, a new branch of Islam Gymkhana is also set to come up at Lonavla shortly.
Gender Sensitivity
Mr. Abrahani is all for women’s participation in the public sphere. Since becoming the
, he has ensured that women members frequent Islam Gymkhana as and when they want.
The first thing he did was employ a few female staff so that the fair sex visitors feel at ease in approaching them when needed. To access the Spa, Sauna, Swimming Pool, etc., the female members have women-exclusive timing slots to maintain their privacy. At the same time, a separate prayer hall for women has also been erected.
Mr. Abrahani says, “These are the small confidence-building measures that go a long way in assuring women of respect and safety and thus increasing their visits and participation.”
For better coordination in decision-making for women-centric issues, there is a Ladies Auxiliary Committee from which Mr. Abrahani seeks suggestions regularly.
Indeed, women’s visibility at Islam Gymkhana has increased more than ever, and so do their say and involvement in important matters.
Dedication to Social Cause
Adv. Yusuf Abrahani is known to be someone who doesn’t mince words. He is honest and upfront. But away from it, he also has a tender side to his personality, which is evident in his charitable works.
He is the founder of the Social Educational Welfare Association (SEWA), which is committed to the community’s welfare on both social and educational levels.
Since its inception in 1998, it has helped over 20 thousand poor students, providing them with fees, books, uniforms, etc. Hundreds of teachers, professors, and principals have been felicitated by the NGO with SEWA AWARDs, one of the most coveted awards among the teaching community.
SEWA also feeds the hungry. “Roti Bank” is an ambitious scheme of Mr. Abrahani meant to ensure that nobody in Mumbai goes to sleep empty stomach.
Health is another area in which SEWA works to ensure hospital facilities and medicines for the poor living in the slums and shanties. In these areas, it often organizes blood donation and eye check-up camps.
During COVID, SEWA organized free vaccination drives at the community level, benefitting thousands of people. From time to time, the NGO also engages in different activities. Recently, it organized a helmet distribution program for the safe journey of riders.
Besides all that, one of the most noteworthy initiatives of Adv. Yusuf Abrahani is to launch a campaign calling for the increase in the Hadiya of Imams and Muezzins.
“It is a matter of shame for us that our Imams and Muezzins who play an important role in our lives from birth to death are paid so poorly.” Mr. Abrahani laments, adding, “They deserve a respectable Hadiya to look after themselves and their families at a time when the cost of living has gone up beyond measure.”
Thankfully, his appeal struck a chord with the community leading to a rise in the Hadiya of Imams and Muezzins at different places, not at once, but we can say a start has begun.
After becoming the President, Adv. Yusuf Abrahani identified two Imams as permanent at Islam gymkhana’s mosque and dramatically increased their compensation from a mere Rs.1,000 to Rs.15,000 monthly.
Mr. Abrahani has also led a campaign to cut down expenses on ostentatious weddings, a bane for our society. “Many girls in poor families are going unmarried for want of money. If we resist unnecessary expenditure on flashy celebrations, that amount can be utilized in marrying off four-five poor girls,” he says thoughtfully.
Islam Gymkhana Opens Arms to Charity
Through Mr. Abrahani’s efforts, Islam Gymkhana has now started spending on charity as well. “Earlier, the gymkhana was viewed as a sporting place for fun and frolic only. It took an amendment in its constitution to include charity as one of its activities,” says Mr. Abrahani.
During the peak of COVID, food packets for the poor and oxygen cylinders for needy patients were distributed in Mumbai. Workers and labourers who remained stuck in the gymkhana due to lockdowns were provided food, accommodation, and financial help.
Most significantly, Islam Gymkhana has taken a step toward a noble cause: to provide free legal aid at the grass-root level in partnership with the Global Care Foundation.
The gymkhana helps the non-habitual under–trials with legal and financial aid and rehabilitation after release.
“There are countless examples where poor offenders are in jails for years for minor crimes because they can’t pay the bail amount. If we can help them set free and provide them with a chance to reform and rehabilitate, there can’t be a more pious act than this,” Mr. Abrahani says.
Islam Gymkhana now plans to do charity for various other causes. Opening schools and colleges are ambitiously on the list, for which funds will be arranged later.
Mr. Abrahani says, “Earlier, we had started with an aim to spend at least five percent of gymkhana’s income on charitable causes, but as we expand the scope of charity, it calls for significant expenditure, which we are willing to spend anyways.”
Oratory Skill and Other Talents
Mr. Abrahani has the gift of a gag. He says, “Whatever I have achieved today as a lawyer or politician or in any other role is because of my zeal to work and speaking ability.”
Talk with him a few minutes, and it will dawn upon you that speaking is Mr. Abrahani’s natural talent. He speaks slightly fast, but it is impactful and eloquent. His speeches are rousing, disturbing, and entertaining at the same time.
His oratory skill is not dependent on a particular language. Be it Urdu, Hindi, English, or Marathi, he is equally effective in every language he speaks.
Speaking of language, Mr. Abrahani is a connoisseur of Urdu poetry. He could be seen interspersing his speeches with excellent Shairs from famous poets. Whether it is Mushaira, a book launch, or any other literary event, Mr. Abrahani will likely have a hand in it either as an organizer or a guest.
Mr. Yusuf Abrahani is also a sports enthusiast who plays Cricket, Football, Snooker, Volleyball, etc., at a good level. Interestingly, he has an interest in acting and singing too. Not many know that he has worked in plays and short films.
A Dedicated Family Man
Adv. Yusuf Abrahani is a busy man who remains surrounded by people all the time, but he makes it a point not to neglect his family. Despite his busy schedule, he likes to hang out with the family.
“Family is the first unit of society. A man not doing justice to his family can’t be a good community leader,” Mr. Abrahani says. “My family is where I get love and care and derive fuel to work for the community tirelessly.”
Mr. Abrahani says that throughout the years since his marriage, his wife Mehraj Abrahani, has been a tremendous support. “I am thankful to her for how she has managed my household and our children, allowing me time to do public works,” he says with gratitude.
Mr. Abrahani has three loving children. Two daughters, Sana Yusuf Abrahani and Sifa Yusuf Abrahani are married into eminent families, while his son, Shahzad Yusuf Abrahani, is educationally well-qualified and a successful businessman. Like his father, he also takes part in various political activities.
Shehzad Yusuf Abrahani
The children are proud of their father. His son, Shahzad, says, “My father is a family man. His level of concern and commitment toward family is impeccable. He is always there for us, encouraging, supporting, and sometimes admonishing. We appreciate his ability to not compromise with his family time despite his hectic public life commitments.”
What Maeeshat Thinks
The beleaguered Muslim community in India has many leaders, but problems afflicting the community never end. The old-school leaders are hobbling to drive the community to the path of progress the way their counterparts from other minority groups like Jains, Parsee, Punjabis, etc., are doing.
The Muslims need community leaders who have a pulse on time. Adv. Yusuf Abrahani fits the bill. He is not a status quoist but shows great interest in shaking things up. He is aggressive, innovative, and a tireless stickler to his plan and vision until success is achieved.
His achievements for the community are tremendous as a lawyer, politician, and social crusader. Moreover, as the President of Islam Gymkhana, he has successfully shown that if the leader is strong-willed and hardworking, results follow quickly, in a matter of days and months.
We at Maeeshat Media, in recognition of Mr. Abrahani’s stellar leadership qualities and excellent track record of work, believe he is a true community change maker. He has a rare ability to galvanize old and youth alike into action and transform things for the better. We wish him a great life ahead and immense success in his future endeavours.
by admin | Jan 10, 2022 | Magazine
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