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www.abplgroup.com
Asian Voice - Saturday 12th March 2011
Midland Voice Dee Katwa
Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dhiren.katwa@abplgroup.com
Charity begins at home A Midland pensioner has embarked on a two-month charity mission in Palitana, her native village in Gujarat, India. Her daughter, Dr Rosemin Najmudin, is travelling with her. Frail, but strongwilled, septuagenarian Banubai Mansurali Najmudin believes in giving back to the community, and has done for years. That’s why she’s decided to return to her ancestral roots in a bid to help the needy. But she’s no longer as mobile as she once was, particularly after fracturing her brain two years ago. So when daughter, Rosemin, a diversity consultant, offered to accompany her, she was over the moon. Over the next eight weeks, the pair will be offering their support, including financial, to various “low-profile, but
extraordinary”, charitable projects in Palitana and neighbouring towns and villages. The list includes: helping towards the purchase of medical equipment in hospitals; providing tuition fees for young women entering higher education; supplying study books; empowering young females and encouraging promising learners to pursue scholarships. Up until now, the Najmudins, who hail from the Gujarati Muslim Dawoodi Bohra community, have supported, aside from having done much more, the adoption of 26 girls, who were abandoned at birth.
Energising through creative beats Well done to talented musician Rekesh Chauhan who beat stiff competition to secure a slot at Eastern Electronic, the six-day British Asian music festival in Birmingham. Rekesh, 20, pictured, son of Rajeshbhai and Hemaben Chauhan from Hall Green, Birmingham, performed Indian classical music on the piano and guitar. He was among several existing and emerging home and overseas artists who took part in the festival which ended last week. Aside from pursuing his inherited passion for Indian music, Rekesh (www.rekeshchauhan.com) is currently in his final year of an Economics degree at Leicester University.
Top earners at Council The huge pay packets of the 47 directors and assistant directors at cash-strapped Birmingham City Council have been published on its website under a new “pay transparency” section in response to advice from central government. Of the 47, seven earn as much as Prime Minister David Cameron’s £142,500 salary and three are from an Asian background – Dr Mirza Ahmad, who earns between £105-£110k, Waheed Nazir, £90-£95k and Sukvinder Kalsi, £75-£80k. A total of 1,807 council employees have already taken voluntary redundancy and the council wants to shed 7,000 more workers to save £300 million over the next three years.
Rajiv meets minister to discuss project An innovative app and website, Theatre Ninjas, is set to become a massive global business. One of its lead pioneers is Rajiv, son of Vijay and Bindu Nathwani, 23, an English literature and drama graduate. Theatre Ninjas, which allows people to learn of a limited number of lastminute free tickets for shows, was included on the recent Sunday Times App List of the best 500 apps in the world. Rajiv, pictured, originally from Walsall, currently works in London as a researcher for BBC Learning. He recently met with Culture Minister Ed Vaizey to discuss Theatre Ninjas, which began as a spare-time project, founded by 10 friends, all drama students from Manchester University.
Straight-talking Rosemin said: “I am very sceptical of charity work. The misuse of funds, very clever corruption or people simply lining their pockets is rife. I guarantee that all funds raised will go to those people who need it and will be spent wisely.” She added: “I am happy to provide an absolute record of the money spent, to donors, on request.” Banubai “a remarkable woman” is one of nine siblings, two of whom lost their lives to cancer. After getting married, she spent many years in Kamuli, a town of a 15,000 population in eastern Uganda,
before arriving on British shores, as a refugee, in 1973. Ever since, she has lived in Worcester. Banubai, 73, and Rosemin were honoured to attend the 100th birthday celebration of their community’s spiritual leader, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin - the 52nd ‘Dai’ of the 2000-year-old community, which has around one million followers worldwide, the majority of these in India. Readers wishing to donate money, or wish to offer alternative support, can contact Rosemin at: 33 Casella Road, London, SE14 5QN or email roseminnajmudin@google mail.com or telephone 07958 070789. Photo: Banubai (centre) pictured with her middle son Kurban, his wife Farida and their daughters Sukayna, Zainub and Tasneem.
Town Hall welcomes you The High Sheriff of the West Midlands, Anita Bhalla, invited the region’s movers and shakers to a networking event in Birmingham to celebrate the city and region’s rich diversity. The evening get-together at the Town Hall featured food, drink, speeches and a dance performance by Bollywood Dreams. Ms Bhalla, pictured, encouraged guests to consider, and recommend hire of the Town Hall for weddings and parties.
Delicious plans
Celebrity chef Atul Kocchar wants to open a posh restaurant in Birmingham and go head-to-head with TV rivals Jamie Oliver and Glynn Purnell. Indian-born Atul, 40, who already runs Benares restaurant in London’s Mayfair, Vatika in Hampshire and Ananda in Dublin says moving to Birmingham would rekindle friendly rivalry.
Train forced to stop
A high-speed intercity train was forced to make an emergency stop by irate jobless jogger Kevin Chamberlain, 24, who refused to get off the line. He then told the engine driver to f*** off. The incident caused the main West Coast line to be closed for around 45 minutes, costing Network Rail £40,000. Chamberlain, from Sheldon, Birmingham, is due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on March 24.
Thief, 21, regrets theft A medical student from Leicester University stole aftershave and a T-shirt from Selfridges, Birmingham, then punched the security guard who chased after him. Simon Singh Khela, 21, from Walsall, took items worth £250. At Birmingham Magistrates, Khela, accompanied by his father, said his actions were caused by ‘impulse and greed’. His case was adjourned for reports before sentencing later this month.
Indian karaoke The Hindu Women’s Network Birmingham will host a khichi party, a game of bingo and Indian karaoke, or antakshari, as part of its annual general meeting at Shri Hindu Community Centre, Tyseley (B11 2JP) this Saturday (Mar 12). To attend or find out more contact HWN Chair Anila Chauhan on 07730493633.
News in Brief Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Here’s your chance to get involved and help towards the opportunity of earlier diagnosis by taking part in the 50:50 Challenge. Log on to www.targetovarian.org.uk to find out more. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women after breast, lung, bowel and uterine cancers and affects one in 50 women regardless of ethnic origin.
Professorship in Zoroastrianism The School of Oriental and African Studies, or SOAS, has become the first in the world to boast an endowed professorship in Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest living religions, thanks to a £1 million donation from the Zoroastrian Professorship Fund, a charitable foundation. Zoroastrianism was founded by the prophet Zoroaster in what is now Iran about 3,500 years ago.
OAP, 76, killed by train A Birmingham pensioner suffering from dementia was killed by a train after escaping from a care home. Father-of-two John Nicholls, 76, was being looked after by Heartlands Care Home in Yardley, when he wandered out of the home last Saturday and on to the train tracks at Marston Green station.
Weight loss programme for men Men from Walsall are being urged to sign up to Evolve, a new weight loss programme. The 12-week programme, which starts this month, will include swimming, gym and fitness sessions to lifestyle classes around food labelling, alcohol and eating out. To find out more call 01902 605500.
Mystery nursery Britain’s most expensive nursery is based in the West Midlands, it has emerged. And it charges £11 per hour, that’s more than Eton, the country’s top elite public school, which charges around £30,000 a year to educate one pupil for a whole academic year. But Anand Shukla, pictured, acting CEO of the Daycare Trust, has refused to name the Midland nursery.
LABA marks Silver milestone Leicestershire Asian Business Association, or LABA, celebrated its Silver Anniversary in style at a glittering ceremony in Leicester last Thursday. Full report next week.
Khyra killers lose appeal The mother and stepfather of tragic Khyra Ishaq, pictured, have lost legal challenges against their jail sentences. Angela Gordon, 36, and her former partner Junaid Abuhamza, 32, were jailed by a judge at Birmingham Crown Court last March for Khyra’s manslaughter. Khyra, 7, died in May 2008 when her body succumbed to an infection after months of starvation at her home in Handsworth. Abuhamza is suing Birmingham City Council.