National
India-Pakistan authors come together to re-trace a woman who belonged to both countries
A timely book tries to point to how much India and Pakistan have in common. “The Begum: A Portrait of Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s Pioneering First Lady,” is authored by Indian poet-translator Deepa Agarwal and Pakistani writer Tahmina Aziz Ayub, with an insightful introduction by acclaimed Indian writer Namita Gokhale.
The book traces the life and times of Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, who was the wife of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan. But there is a story behind the story that few are aware of. She was born Irene Margaret Pant in the Kumaon hills in the early 20th century. Her family had converted to Christianity a generation earlier.
The protagonist comes across as an intelligent, outgoing and independent woman. She was teaching Economics in a Delhi college when she first met “the dashing Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan”, then a rising politician in the Muslim League.
As per the assertions in the book, she was inspired by both the man and his idea, married him in 1933 and thus Irene Pant became Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan.
“In August 1947 they left for Pakistan-led by Liaquat’s mentor and friend, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Ra’ana threw herself into the work of nation building, but in 1951 Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated, and the reasons for his murder are still shrouded in mystery. Ra’ana continued to be active in public life-and her contribution to women’s empowerment in Pakistan is felt to this day,” reads the authors note in the book, published by penguin Random House India.
But she was much more than the sum total of her life in Pakistan with her story embodying several major tropes of the Indian subcontinent’s recent history.
Ra’ana, for instance, was immensely impacted by three religions: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, and she participated actively in all the major movements of her time — the freedom struggle, the Pakistani movement and the fight for women’s empowerment in Pakistan.
She was also fierce as upon seeing what went wrong after 1947, she spoke out openly against the rise of religious conservatism in Pakistan and the growing role of corruption.
But the beauty of this book lies in the fact that it is authored by two women, one coming from India and the other coming from Pakistan. It was perhaps the only way to trace her life and rescue her story from history.
“With almost mathematical precision, her 86 years were divided into 43 years plus some months in each of her two lives. She was an intimate witness to history — the two nations, the bifurcation of East and West Pakistan, the creation of Bangladesh, the course of the Cold War, the rise of Gorbachev, and the increasingly unequivocal hold of the army in Pakistan. From Jinnah, through Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and to General Zia-ul-Haq, she spoke her mind and held her own,” Gokhale notes in the introduction.
Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan passed away in 1990, by when, reminds Gokhale, she was known recognised and honoured as “Madar-e-Pakistan” or “Mother of Pakistan”.
And her story is finally out on the stands now for readers from both countries to read and contemplate on the continued crisis that has come to define our bilateral relations.
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
