2020 - The Year of COVID-19

The world devasted by COVID-19 pandemic. 

NRIF delegation meets Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, 

Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Riyadh

NRIF delegation meets Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Riyadh.

It was an honor and privilege to NRI Forum Riyadh to meet and present the bouquet to Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Riyadh.

Dr. Sayeed Mohiuddin briefed NRI Forum's social, cultural, educational and sports activities. Dr. Suhel interacted cordially with Forum members and appreciated the services of NRI Forum for the Indian community. He assured the delegation that EOI will help and extend its coordination for the welfare of the citizens any time needed.

Seen in the pictures below L to R: NRI Forum's Vice President - Dr. Syed Anwar Khursheed, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan - Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India - Riyadh, Dr. Sayeed Mohiuddin - President, NRI Forum, Nooruddin Jahangeer - General Secretary, NRI Forum and Mr. Shakeel Mah - Treasurer, NRI Forum Riyadh.

“Unleash your potential” urges the Area-1 of Toastmasters International, Riyadh.

Dr. Hifz-ur-Rahman addressing the gathering

Toastmasters International is a useful platform for developing the communication and leadership skills of individuals and enhancing their personalities. This was expressed by the Chief Guest of the evening, Dr. Hifz-ur-Rahman, Second Secretary, Information & Culture, Embassy of India, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was speaking at an Annual Contest’s gathering of Toastmasters International representing Area-1 of Division A.

Addressing a jam packed Hall at Coco Palm, Riyadh he specially asked the youth to take up challenging roles in Toastmasters to boost their speaking skills and heighten their leadership qualities.

As more and more people are getting aware of its benefits, many new Clubs have come up in Riyadh including Corporate Toastmasters Clubs in well-known Companies and Universities too.

Following Clubs of Area – 1 participated in this years Annual Contest:

1.    Riyadh Toastmasters Club

2.    SPICERS

3.    Bazm-E-Urdu Toastmasters Club

4.    Malayalam Toastmasters Club

Mr. Shabeer Mohammed Kottoth chaired the Meeting, as the sergeant-at-arms TM Ahmed Al Khatami started the session. Mr. Shabeer welcomed the audience and presented a bouquet to the Chief Guest. He also welcomed T.M. Dr. Sanjay, Mahat Area 1 governor; T.M. Madam Jovett Lopez, Division A governor; and D.T.M. Saif Ali Sheikh, immediate District governor from Saudi Arabia.

Final Results of the Area-1 Annual Contest were as follows:

Table Topic Speech Contest:

1st place winner - TM Antony Menachery--(RTM)

2nd Place winner - TM Joe Nino Orapa--(SPICERS)

Speech Evaluation Contest:

1st place winner - TM Aamir Shamim--(RTM)

2nd Place winner - TM Syed Tasqeer Hassan--(RTM)

Humarous Speech Contest;

1st place winner - TM Siva Ramalingam--(RTM)

2nd Place winner - TM Joe Nino Orapa--(SPICERS)

International Speech Contest:

1st place winner - TM Antony Menachery--(RTM)

2nd Place winner - TM Mark Antony Manticajon-(SPICERS)

Many prominent Toastmasters attended the event including, TM Mohammed Mubin as Chief Judge of the Contest, TM Iftikhar Noor as Target Speaker, TM Noor Al Ameen as Sponsorship Chair, TM Surendran as Gifts and Awards Chair, TM Sayeed Mohiuddin as Media and PR Chair and TM Taqiuddin Mir as Logistics Chair.

TM Kaunain Shahidi presented the vote of thanks which was followed by a gala dinner at the venue. A large number of enthusiastic attendees marked the success of the program their quality time with healthy competition.  

My active participation in some important events held recently

APUS extends ardent solidarity to RISA activitites

https://www.facebook.com/msayeid/media_set?set=a.10152105174153299.1073741846.742618298&type=1

International Exhibition & Conference on Higher Education 2014

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.655194474529784.1073741828.125797487469488&type=1 

My Blog Site

Visit my blog site www.sayeedm.com

Lady candidates need not apply

It was probably the April of 1974. Bangalore was getting warm and gulmohars were blooming at the IISc Campus. I was the only girl in my postgraduate department and was staying at the ladies' hostel. Other girls were pursuing research in different departments of Science.I was looking forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate in computer science. I had been offered scholarships from Universities in the US. I had not thought of taking up a job in India.One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex, I saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard job-requirement notice from the famous automobile company Telco (now Tata Motors). It stated that the company required young, bright engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background, etc.At the bottom was a small line: "Lady candidates need not apply."I read it and was very upset. For the first time in my life I was up against gender discrimination.Though I was not keen on taking up the job, I saw it as a challenge. I had done extremely well in academics, better than most of my male peers. Little did I know then that in real life academic excellence is not enough to be successful.After reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform the topmost person in Telco's management about the injustice the company was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but there was a problem: I did not know who headed Telco.I thought it must be one of the Tatas.. I knew JRD Tata was the head of the Tata Group; I had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually, Sumant Moolgaokar was the company's chairman then) I took the card, addressed it to JRD and started writing. To this day I remember clearly what I wrote."The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who started the basic infrastructure industries in India, such as iron and steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives They have cared for higher education in India since 1900 and they were responsible for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I study there. But I am surprised how a company such as Telco is discriminating on the basis of gender."I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I received a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at Telco's Pune facility at the company's expense. I was taken aback by the telegram. My hostel mate told me I should use the opportunity to go to Pune free of cost and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap!I collected Rs 30 each from everyone who wanted a sari When I look back, I feel like laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then they seemed good enough to make the trip.It was my first visit to Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city.To this day it remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do in Hubli, my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways.As directed, I went to Telco's Pimpri office for the interview.There were six people on the panel and I realised then that this was serious business."This is the girl who wrote to JRD," I heard somebody whisper as soon as I entered the room. By then I knew for sure that I would not getthe job. The realisation abolished all fear from my mind, so I was rather cool while the interview was being conducted.Even before the interview started, I reckoned the panel was biased, so I told them, rather impolitely, "I hope this is only a technical interview."They were taken aback by my rudeness, and even today I am ashamed about my attitude. The panel asked me technical questions and I answered all of them.Then an elderly gentleman with an affectionate voice told me, "Do you know why we said lady candidates need not apply? The reason is that we have never employed any ladies on the shop floor. This is not a co-ed college; this is a factory. When it comes to academics, you are a first ranker throughout. We appreciate that, but people like you should work in research laboratories."I was a young girl from small-town Hubli. My world had been a limited place.I did not know the ways of large corporate houses and their difficulties, so I answered, "But you must start somewhere, otherwise no woman will ever be able to work in your factories."Finally, after a long interview, I was told I had been successful. So this was what the future had in store for me. Never had I thought I would take up a job in Pune. I met a shy young man from Karnataka there, we became good friends and we got married.It was only after joining Telco that I realized who JRD was: the uncrowned king of Indian industry. Now I was scared, but I did not get to meet him till I was transferred to Bombay. One day I had to show some reports to Mr. Moolgaokar, our chairman, who we all knew as SM. I was in his office on the first floor of Bombay House (the Tata headquarters) when, suddenly JRD walked in. That was the first time I saw "appro JRD". Appro means "our" in Gujarati. This was the affectionate term by which people at Bombay House called him.I was feeling very nervous, remembering my postcard episode. SM introduced me nicely, "Jeh (that's what his close associates called him), this young woman is an engineer and that too a postgraduate.She is the first woman to work on the Telco shop floor." JRD looked at me. I was praying he would not ask me any questions about my interview (or the postcard that preceded it).Thankfully, he didn't. Instead, he remarked. "It is nice that girls are getting into engineering in our country. By the way, what is your name?""When I joined Telco I was Sudha Kulkarni, Sir," I replied. "Now I am Sudha Murthy." He smiled and kindly smile and started a discussion with SM. As for me, I almost ran out of the room.After that I used to see JRD on and off. He was the Tata Group Chairman and I was merely an engineer. There was nothing that we had in common. I was in awe of him.One day I was waiting for Murthy, my husband, to pick me up after office hours. To my surprise I saw JRD standing next to me. I did not know how to react. Yet again I started worrying about that postcard. Looking back, I realise JRD had forgotten about it. It must have been a small incident for him, but not so for me."Young lady, why are you here?" he asked. "Office time is over." I said, "Sir, I'm waiting for my husband to come and pick me up." JRD said, "It is getting dark and there's no one in the corridor. I'll wait with you till your husband comes."I was quite used to waiting for Murthy, but having JRD waiting alongside made me extremely uncomfortable. I was nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him. He wore a simple white pant and shirt. He was old, yet his face was glowing. There wasn't any air of superiority about him. I was thinking, "Look at this person. He is a chairman, a well-respected man in our country and he is waiting for the sake of an ordinary employee."Then I saw Murthy and I rushed out.. JRD called and said, "Young lady, tell your husband never to make his wife wait again." In 1982 I had to resign from my job at Telco. I was reluctant to go, but I really did not have a choice. I was coming down the steps of Bombay House after wrapping up my final settlement when I saw JRD coming up. He was absorbed in thought. I wanted to say goodbye to him, so I stopped.. He saw me and paused.Gently, he said, "So what are you doing, Mrs Kulkarni?" (That was the way he always addressed me.) "Sir, I am leaving Telco.""Where are you going?" he asked. "Pune, Sir. My husband is starting a company called Infosys and I'm shifting to Pune.""Oh! And what will you do when you are successful.""Sir, I don't know whether we will be successful." "Never start with diffidence," he advised me "Always start with confidence. When you are successful you must give back to society. Society gives us so much; we must reciprocate. I wish you all the best."Then JRD continued walking up the stairs. I stood there for what seemed like a millennium. That was the last time I saw him alive.Many years later I met Ratan Tata in the same Bombay House, occupying the chair JRD once did. I told him of my many sweet memories of working with Telco. Later, he wrote to me, "It was nice hearing about Jeh from you. The sad part is that he's not alive to see you today."I consider JRD a great man because, despite being an extremely busy person, he valued one postcard written by a young girl seeking justice. He must have received thousands of letters everyday. He could have thrown mine away, but he didn't do that. He respected the intentions of that unknown girl, who had neither influence nor money, and gave her an opportunity in his company. He did not merely give her a job; he changed her life and mindset forever.Close to 50 per cent of the students in today's engineering colleges are girls. And there are women on the shop floor in many industry segments. I see these changes and I think of JRD. If at all time stops and asks me what I want from life, I would say I wish JRD were alive today to see how the company we started has grown. He would have enjoyed it wholeheartedly.My love and respect for the House of Tata remains undiminished by the passage of time. I always looked up to JRD. I saw him as a role model for his simplicity, his generosity, his kindness and the care he took of his employees. Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky; they had the same vastness and magnificence.(Sudha Murthy is a widely published writer and chairperson of the Infosys Foundation involved in a number of social development initiatives. Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy is her husband.)

Article sourced from: Lasting Legacies (Tata Review- Special Commemorative Issue 2004), brought out by the house of Tatas to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of JRD Tata on July 29, 2004.

A chance to see the world

Dr. Prashant Kamalapurkar (extreme left) is a good friend of mine and an equally good human being.

Ophthalmologist Prashant Kamalapurkar and Devata Hospitals have restored the sight of two more residents of the Government Blind School and a visually challenged youth pursuing MA (Sociology) in Gulbarga University.
It was a get-together with a difference at the Devata Hospital this Sunday as all the residents of the Government Blind School came together to share their happiness over two of their schoolmates getting back their vision. They also met 23-year-old Veeresh, in his final semester at Gulbarga University, who also underwent corrective surgery which enabled him to see the world for the first time.
Vice-Chancellor of Gulbarga University B.G. Mulimani, had taken a special interest in Veeresh and had sanctioned a sum of Rs. 30,000 from the Student Welfare Fund for the operation. Veeresh’s parents own a tea stall in Tavaragera village in Gangavati taluk in Koppal district.
A couple of months ago Dr. Kamalapurkar performed the first of corneal transplant operation in the Hyderabad Karnataka region by transplanting the cornea donated by an elderly lady. It was transplanted into Siddaram of Kanameshwar village in Jewargi taluk in Gulbarga district who is studying in the Government Blind School. Incidentally, Dr. Kamalapurkar was the first ophthalmologist to set up an eye bank in the Hyderabad Karnataka region here.
The elderly lady’s family donated the eyes of another person in the family who died on January 27. Dr. Kamalapurkar said that unfortunately only one of the donated eyes could be used. Dr. Kamalapurkar said that the eyesight of Rafeeq, who had completed SSLC in the blind school and was working as a peon in the same school, was restored. Dr. Kamalapurkar said that the eyesight of two other visually challenged boys, Manappa of Shahapur taluk and Mahantesh of Chincholi, was restored through corrective treatment and providing the right kind of lens.

Productivity Toolbox

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Mohammed Vakil at the RKB Show Part 3 of 10.AVI

Mohammed Vakil at the RKB Show with Mr. Rajiv K. Bajaj on Lemon TV. Here, he is singing 'Sarakti jaye hai rukh se naqab...' from his album 'Guzarish', originally sung by Jagjit Singh ji.

Leveraging LinkedIn For The Job Search

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Twitter: All You Need To Know--How To Use Twitter For Your Business

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