Book review: Unveiling the Hidden History of Women Ulema

Book Review- Banat-e Islam Ki Dini Wa Ilmi Khidmat ('The Religious and Intellectual Contributions of Muslim Women') by Yoginder Sikand

Books in English and Urdu on Muslim history rarely, if ever, mention the role and contribution of numerous remarkable Muslim women scholars. Yet, as the author of this fascinating monograph, the late Qazi Athar Mubarakpuri (1916-1996), points out, early Muslim history records many such women, several of whose names are mentioned in contemporary Arab chronicles. Indeed, he asserts, many of these texts had separate chapters devoted to such women. Some early Arab Muslim writers even penned separate books dealing with women scholars.

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Serial blasts rip through Jaipur, 60 dead; JIH condemns

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net

Jaipur: Terror struck again. This time they chose one of the most busy tourist cities in the country: Jaipur. It was 7:30 pm, 13th May, prime time for shopping when daytime temperature is above 40 degree. Markets were bustling but within minutes they were shaking with serial blasts. Seven blasts rocked the city of Jaipur, killing 60 (by 11:30 pm report from TwoCircles.net (TCN) source in the city) and wounding 100. The blasts of medium intensity took place in the walled city whose residential areas are heavily Muslim populated.

Rajasthan unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has condemned the blasts in strongest terms.

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Sikh heritage project to be completed by 2009

Submitted by Tarique on Tue, 03/27/2007 - 17:42.

Chandigarh, March 27 (IANS) A heritage complex dedicated to Anandpur Sahib, the place where the Sikh religion was born 308 years ago in 1699, would be completed by March 2009.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Tuesday set the deadline for completion of the Khalsa heritage complex at Anandpur Sahib, 90 km from here. He said the complex would be dedicated to the people on the occasion of Hola Mohalla - a festival to celebrate the valour of Sikhs.

The Rs.2.24 billion project will showcase the evolution of the Sikh religion. It is aimed at giving correct information to the younger generation of Sikhs in India and abroad.

The complex will house rare manuscripts, books, paintings and other artefacts to show the evolution of the religion.

The Punjab government has also announced that it will honour Moshe Safdie, an Israeli architect who had been involved in designing and implementing the project.

The project was announced in April 1999 on the occasion of the tercentenary of the of the Sikh religion.

An amount of Rs.1.14 billion has already been spent on the project, which has been delayed beyond its five-year deadline.

Badal said that the remaining amount of Rs.1.1 billion would be made available for the project for its early completion.

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