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Kokan News

Volume 1, Issue 2, OctoberDecember 2009


Editor: Dr. Siraj Mohammed Bijle

The Newsletter of the Kokani Diaspora Community

FOREWORD
Environment and climate change has
become an urgent and pervasive
preoccupation across the globe. It is
a global challenge which requires an
ambitious global response. India and
other developing countries would be
among
those
most
seriously
impacted by the consequences of
climate change. It is for this reason
that India, along with its partners, has
been playing an active and
constructive role in the ongoing
multilateral negotiations under the
UN framework convention on climate
change.

We have the moral responsibility to


bequeath to our children a world
which is safe, clean and productive. A
world which should continue to
inspire the human imagination with
the immensity of Blue Ocean, the
loftiness of snow-covered mountains,
the green expanse of extensive
forests, and the silver streams of
beautiful rivers. Let us pledge that we
will protect our beautiful green belt
of Kokan (please see page 5).

Kokani Community in Riyadh,


Saudi Arabia calls for Educational
Help to Needy Students
The founders of Kokani Community Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have stressed the need
to help the needy students of Kokani Community back home in India. Speaking at a
Special Event of Iftar party organized by
Kokani Community Riyadh on 28th of August, 2009, Dr. Abdul Ghani Dalvi, a SWCC
Researcher said that "the Community must
invest in education of children for the welfare of the society."
Mr. Nasir Khan, the Kokani Community
President, said the society have highlighted the cases of those workers who are
stuck here in the Kingdom because of lack
of resources. The society will help the poor
Kokanis who are caught up in various legal

wrangles and provide emergency help to


workers in distress. According to Mr. Nasir
Dalwai, Chairman of the society, the meeting is organized to bring Kokanis under
one roof. He said the contribution collected from its members will be used
wisely in the interest of the community.
The society was established on 24th April,
2009 by likeminded Kokanis to build
strong and vibrant community. The idea is
to promote educational, cultural and social
aspirations of the Kokanis. The founding
members of the Kokani Community in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia can be reached through
its official website: www.riyadhkonkani.com
or email: info@riyadhkonkani.com.

IN THIS ISSUE
Kokani Muslims ............................................... 2
The Alphanso Mango ...... 3

Indian girl asks for


urgent action on
climate change ................. 6

Center of Learning:
Ismail Yusuf College ......... 4

Dr. Manmohan Singh


is King at the
G-20 summit ...................... 6

Dr. Siraj Mohammed Bijle


kokan.news@yahoo.com

Marathi Language .......................................... 7


Reader's Views ................................................. 8
Images of Kokan................ 5

Kokan News

Page 2

The Kokani Muslims


TOPOGRAPHY OF KOKAN
The Kokan, also called the
Konkan Coast, is the name
given to a stretch of rugged
and
beautiful section of the
western coastline of India from
Thane District to Goa. Konkan is
also one of six divisions of the state of Maharashtra. The
Arabian Sea is the main key role player in the development of
the Konkan region. The Konkan division of Maharashtra
comprises the entire coastal region of the state. The Districts
names are: Thane, Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Raigarh,
Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. The Literacy is: 81.36%. The Area is:
30,746 km and population is (2001 census): 24,807,357.
Maharashtra literally means Great Nation is India's third largest
state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population
after Uttar Pradesh. It is bordered by the states of Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Andhra
Pradesh,
Karnataka,
Goad and the Union Territory of
Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The
Arabian Sea makes up the state's
western
coast.
Mumbai
(Bombay), India's largest city, is
the capital of Maharashtra.
MAP OF KOKAN DIVISION
Kokni Muslims originate from the area on the West Coast of
Maharashtra in India. The Kokni Muslims are a seafaring people
and their main sources of
livelihood are farming and fishing.
The Arabs had been trading with the Costal
Indians long
before the coming of Islam and in time a trading relationship
was established. By the time the Arabs preached the word of
Islam in Arabia, links between the Kokni's and Arabs were
centuries old. The Kokni's retained their rich cultural heritage
and continued to live in peace and harmony with other
communities. At the turn of this century many Koknis had
moved out of India in search of employment, mainly to the new

British colonies in Africa where they became successful traders,


businessmen and skilled workers. Many Koknis took up British
citizenship and settled down in these new colonies mainly
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and
Rhodesia. However, after two
generations in the 1960's and 1970's these colonies started
gaining their
Independence. The Independent countries
started their own Africanisation programmes and some of
these settlers because of political reasons, immigrated to other
parts of the world. Koknis who migrated to the United Kingdom
form the bulk of the community and are mainly settled in the
big cities. Some who migrated to Britain from the Indian SubContinent for further education, settled there after completing
their education because of the demand in their professions
and skills.
Kokani Muslims
speak Kokani, a
Marathi dialect,
peculiar to the
community.
They
are
descendants of
Arab
traders.
Kokani Muslims are heavily involved in the merchant navy,
shipbuilding, and textile industries in India. Most in villages are
also involved into farming and fishing, whereas many work as
expatriates in Gulf countries. They trace their ancestry back to
the Arab traders who arrived on the Western coast of India
during the medieval era. The Diaspora spread out around India
and the rest of the world but maintains their strong sense of
community and identity. The Kokani Muslims possess most of
the important attributes of an ethnic group. Like the Moplas of
Malabar, they are the progeny of Arab immigrants and Indian
women, they speak the same dialect of Kokani language, and
marry among themselves, in anthropological terms they are
generally endogamous. Yet, according to Dr. A.R. Momin, "the
Kokani Muslim community has a well defined system of ranking
and stratification. They frequently have fair skin, and light eyes.

VISION 2020:

I.

WASHISHTI WELFARE SOCIETY FOR THE DISABLED

II.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Boat hospital in Washishti and Jagbudi River.


Primary Care Clinics in four Talukas with well equipped
ambulances and first aid.
Special Training Schools for job oriented courses for disabled children (girls and boys) from age 14 and above.
Old aged homes in Chiplun and Khed Taluka.

For the vision to be a reality, Washishti Welfare Society for


the Disabled plans to coordinate the efforts of four above
mentioned Talukas in the first phase to achieve the following
common minimum objectives which the partners/friends
have agreed to work for:

III.
IV.

V.

VI.

Total literacy by 2020 particularly in target Talukas and


complete inclusion of the disabled Community.
Mobilizing the daily earners, woman and poverty ridden
disabled in the target Talukas to form Self Help Groups
(SHG) and taste the prosperity so earned.
Introduce Community Counseling Centers.
Mobilize and organize health caravan for popularizing in
the masses the idea of good health and making them
aware of the needs and significance of health care, and
helping them to make use of government health schemes
and facilities available.
Introduce in the disabled community cultural and sport
activities which develop healthy and competitive spirit
and make use of government facilities available for this
purpose.
Publish materials to promote the mission.

Page 3

Volume 1, Issue 2 | October -December 2009

The Alphanso Mango


The traditional name of Alphanso Mango
is Ratnagiri Hapus. It is also known as
Alphonso, Alfanso, Hapoos, and Bombay
variety. The scientific name is Magnifera
Indica.
Major Cultivating Areas:
Ratnagiri
District, Sindhudurg district, Raigad
district, and parts of Pune district in
Maharashtra
State.
Valsad:
Gujarat State. Parts of
Karnataka
and
Tamilnadu.
Nutritional value of
mangoes: Ratnagiri
Alphanso Mangoes
are very rich in
nutritional
value.
Mango is one of the
most popular crops in the
tropics, adapted to a wide
range of soils and relatively easy to
cultivate. It is universally considered as
one of the finest fruits in the world, and
is aptly called, King of the Fruits ". If
there was a competition to decide the
best fruit in the world for taste and
aroma, the Ratnagiri Alphanso would

certainly be one of the front-runners. It is


the "national fruit" of India where it
accounts for 42% of fruit crop land. In a
year, India harvests more than 12 million
tones of mangoes. Its taste combines the
delicious with the exotic, with a range of
flavours. Mango is not only delicious; it is
also full of nutritional value. It is high in
beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A,
and is a rich source of the vitamin B
complex. Mangoes are mainly consumed
fresh.
How to Ripen Mangoes: Mangoes are
best ripened in Rice Straw. The mangoes
are plucked and placed in crates in Rice

"It is universally
considered as one of
the finest fruits in the
world, and is aptly
called, King of the
Fruits.

CALL FOR PAPERS


Kokan News invites research papers in all fields (e.g. ,
agriculture, aquaculture, dairy technology, disabilities and
related issues, education, food technology, health sciences,
information technology, language and literature, medicine, and
science and technology with reference to the Kokan Region.
Please send manuscript in MS Word document format, taking into
consideration the publication policies outlined below to: The Editor,
Kokan News, smbijle@yahoo.co.uk or kokan.news@yahoo.com.

PUBLICATION POLICY FOR AUTHORS / CONTRIBUTORS


The Editor of the Kokan News welcome contributions of research
articles from our readers. The Newsletter will consider for publication
manuscripts of interest to readers with special reference to Kokan. All
submissions are subject to review by the Editor and by refer in
appropriate specialties.
Submission of Manuscripts: Manuscripts are received with the
understanding that they are not under simultaneous consideration by
another publication. An abstract published prior to a full report is not
regarded as a duplicate publication. The authors transmittal letter
must accompany the manuscript and contain these statements:

straw interleaved between two layers and


top and bottom. It normally takes
between 7 to 10 days for the fruit to ripe.
The mango starts to change its color
from green to faint green to yellowish
green to yellow and finally a golden
yellow or 'mango' color. There is a
distinct and a beautiful smell around this
stage.
Varieties: Ratnagiri is well known for
Alphanso mangoes. The Alphanso
mangoes from Ratnagiri are the most
sought after mangoes, and have a cult
following among the mango lovers
throughout the world. There are more
varieties of mangoes from the Kokan
region and all over the world.

The manuscript has been seen and approved by all authors


involved and is neither being published nor being considered for
publication elsewhere. The authors transfer copyright to the
Kokan News.
Accepted manuscripts may not be published elsewhere without
Kokan News permission.
Responsibilities of Authors: The authors are entirely responsible for
accuracy of all statements and data. The Statements expressed in the
in the signed articles reflects the views and opinions of the authors
and not the policies of the Kokan News. The Kokan News does not
accept responsibility for statements made by the contributors/
authors.
Other important points to consider:
1.
2.
3.

Articles may be submitted in ENGLISH, HINDI, MARATHI, OR


URDU
DO NOT submit the same article more than once
We don't accept articles for publication against our government,
organizations or individuals. We will include articles about
development with special reference to Kokan and Kokanis and in
the interest of our nation and humanity only.

These guidelines are subject to change without notice.

Kokan News

Page 4

Center of Learning:

Ismail Yusuf College


Perched on a palm-girt hillock, dominating the surrounding rural terrain, the
Ismail Yusuf College (IY College) has a picturesque natural setting. Far from the
crowd and the noise of city life, this centre of Islamic Study and culture in Kokan
area provides an ideal atmosphere for serious study and the pursuit of
scholarship and research. Because of the cosmopolitan culture which permeates
the College. One hardly, thinks of its origin as a Muslim foundation. The broad
-based culture and wide sympathies which have characterized its successive
principals and teachers have enabled it, while keeping intact its central purpose
as a seat of Islamic learning, to harmonize that purpose with the growing needs
of a heterogeneous student population.

Self-contained and compact, and fortunate


in the possession of a campus, rare for a
constituent College of a city university, this
institution has an ethos of its own. Its
seclusion, however, has not kept the life and
spirit of this educational centre confined to
its immediate vicinity.
The Ismail Yusuf College is in many ways a
unique institution. It is not just one of the
many colleges in Bombay. It has a distinct
atmosphere, its special subjects, and
characteristically picturesque surroundings.
Though it owes its existence to the princely
donation of 8 lakhs of rupees made by Sir
Mohamed Yusuf, Kt., as far back as 1914 for
the higher education of Muslims, the Ismail
Yusuf College has, right from the beginning,
been a cosmopolitan, not a segregate,
institution where the young men and
women of different
communities learn to

live and work together in perfect harmony


and mutual trust during the most
impressionable years of their lives. While the
College provides a large number of
scholarships to enable the poorer Muslim
students to have the benefit of higher
education, and while it specializes in classical
Arabic and Persian and Islamic Studies. The
College is a full-fledged Arts, Commerce
and Science Government College whose
portals are open to all who seek an all-round
university education.
Under the wise
guidance of its first principal, Dr. Bazlur
Rehman, a man of wide sympathies and
broad vision, the College had laid well and
truly the foundations of a broad-based
cosmopolitan and humane culture. Even
during the most trying days of communal
tension the serene atmosphere of this
institution was unclouded by any communal
bitterness. Today the College has expanded

into a model institution catering to the everincreasing educational needs of the Kokan
area.
The College has provided a platform to men
as varied and eminent as Mahatma Gandhi,
Netaji Subhash Bose, Mr. M.A. Jinnah, Pandit
Nehru, Justice M.C. Chagla, Mr. Liaquat Ali
Khan, Shri S.K. Patil, Shri Morarji Desai and
Dr. M.R. Jaykar, Dr. Rafque Zakaria and
Barrister A. R. Antulay. Unlike the other
colleges, it is self-contained; it is lucky
enough to have a campus that
accommodates its hostels, playgrounds, and
gymkhana, gymnasium and N.C.C. headquarters. The College activities, however, are
not restricted to its campus. It has tried to
foster inter-Collegiate contracts by
organizing competitions in elocution and
dramatics in English and Urdu.

Other Centers of Learning in the Kokan Region

Mumbai University Fort

Bhabha Atomic Research


Centre

JJ Hospital

Tata Institute of Fundamental


Research

Bombay Textile Research


Association (BTRA)

Kokan Agriculture University,


Dapoli

SNDT Women's University

Indian Institutes of
Technology, Powai

Central Institute of Fisheries


Education, Versova, Mumbai

IGIDR,Goregoan, Mumbai

Page 5

Volume 1, Issue 2 | October -December 2009

Images of Kokan

The Kokan Region is blessed with abundant natural


resources and world-class learning centers.
The Kokani Community must therefore take advantage of
the opportunity to move forward in life.

Kokan News

Page 6

Indian Girl asks for urgent action on climate change


A 13-year-old Indian girl, speaking on
behalf of the worlds three billion
children, asked world leaders at UN,
including the Presidents of United
States and China, for urgent action on
climate change.

Yugratna Srivastava from Lucknow


at United Nations [UN]

I am so much concerned about


climate change because I dont want
our future generations to
question
us just as I am questioning the need of
more concrete action on climate
change today, Yugratna Srivastava
from Lucknow said at the Summit on
Climate Change in the United Nations.

The Himalayas are melting, polar


bears are dying, 2 of every 5 people
dont have access to clean drinking
water,
earths
temperature
is
increasing, we are losing the untapped
information and potential of plant
species, Pacifics water level has risen.
Is this what we are going to hand over
to
our
future
generations?
Please......no!
The ninth grader from St Fidelis
College spoke at the high-level
summit convened by the U.N. Chief
Ban Ki-moon.

Dr. Manmohan Singh is King at the G-20 summit


PITTSBURGH - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has welcomed a decision
to make the Group of 20 as the premier
forum for global economic decisions,
saying the views of fast growing developing countries like India, China and
Brazil have to be taken into account for
optimum impact.

nations, was ill-equipped to handle all


global issues.

With the rise of Asia, with growth of


India, China and Brazil, the economic
decision-making has to take into account
the views of these countries if it is to
have an optimum impact, Singh said at
a post-summit news conference.

It is that perception and that reality


which has, I think, persuaded many people in Europe and the United States that
this G8 is ill-equipped to handle all the
global issues, he said.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh


addressing a press conference regarding
the G-20 Summit, in Pittsburgh, USA on
September 25, 2009.

The just concluded G-20 summit of


worlds top economies, reflecting 90 percent of global economic output, agreed

to make the group the premier forum for


decisions affecting the world economy,
eclipsing the G8.

The prime minister said the Group of


Eight, the once elite club of rich industrial

Interdependence in a globalised world


means that no country, however powerful it may be, can take on the entire
burden of economic adjustment and
economic decision-making, he said.

Page 7

Volume 1, Issue 2 | October -December 2009

Marathi Language

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Kokan News

Page 8

Readers Views on the first issue of Kokan News:


Dear Dr. Bijle,
Assalam Waalaikum, first I would like to congratulate you for bringing such a beautiful
newsletter which I found on kokaniz.com. It
is really nice to know how our people are
organizing themselves to serve our community. It is a good job done.
Few weeks back I have launched a small
Kokan blog in an intention to make it into a
community
portal,
however
my
work schedule is limiting me on this but
Insha
Allah
I
will
try
my
best
to archive this objective.
I would like to request you to allow me to
add your newsletter on my blog
www.kokantimes.com, also let me know if
you have any advice for me concerning Kokan blog. The blog is under development
and will take some time to gear up.
Regards,
Wasim Chougle
kokantimes.com , Dubai
WX
Dear Siraj,
Assalam Waalaikum.
Many thanks for contacting me. My first
reaction is that I like the name Washishti. I
will Insha Allah get back to you soon.
Best wishes to you and the family. Salaams to
Dr. Abdul Ghani Dalvi. Wish you great success in your efforts.
Yours affectionately
Kasim Dalvi
London
WX
Masha Allah. A great piece of work indeed. I
am sure all Kokanis will like it and will definitely give their comments. Ill arrange to
upload it on the website.
Regards,
Faisal Tungekar
www.kokaniz.com, Riyadh
WX

Assalam Waalaikum Mohtaram


Janab Dr. Bijle Saheb,
Indeed this is an excellent work. I was sincerely impressed and give me an immense
pleasure to congratulate you and all your
other team members on this commendable
job. Kindly accept my congratulation and
best wishes for continuity of this mission. My
best salaam,
Rafiq Dalwai,
Riyadh
WX
Dear Siraj,
I am glad to see the "Kokan News", Insha
Allah it will be soon on its high prosperity
and you will get success in your sacred mission. I have forwarded your e-mail to so
many of my friends and relatives. Waiting for
your topic "Kokani Muslims & Their Culture",
it may be a very vast series.
Best of luck and Regards to you and all of
participants.
Regards,
Abdulghani A. Patel
(Q.C. Dept.), SABIC-Yanpet Co. (Ext.: 5642)
Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia
WX
Dear All,
Attached please find a small newsletter
about the "Kokan News" started by Brother
Siraj Bijle. May Almighty Allah reward him for
his bounties and social endeavors, Aameen.
This is a first edition, just a beginning, but
our support in all aspect will definitely bring
success.

Dear Br. Siraj,


Assalam Waalaikum,
Masha-ALLAH!! This is a remarkable achievement. Good effort. I am happy that people in
Saudi Arabia have joined for a very noble
cause. Similarly, we too have same in Kuwait
(check www.kokanutd.com) recently started
and working for socio-economic development of Kokani Muslims.
I would like to upload it to News Section on
iKokani Website. The newsletter has a professional look and I am sure it will draw
more people to the website. Kindly provide
your permission for uploading it on the net. I
am in re-process of changing the look of the
iKokani website soon and I hope that this
news would be of a very much interest to
Kokani Muslims around the globe. I will also
forward you some of the interesting news
that comes across to me
regarding the
Kokani Muslims so that all of us share and
benefit at the same time.
I would like to devote a Section for your
Newsletter and hope that you will be able to
upload the content yourself directly whenever you have a new issue coming). Also if
you would like to get a free email address
from iKokani ( e.g. sirajbijle@ikokani.com)
which will be configured to yahoo email
address, I can send you one. I am not sure if
you have registered in iKokani, but I hope
that you will register and bring more people
so that we can have a good database of
Kokani Muslims worldwide.
Jazaak-ALLAH Khair,
Admin@iKokani
Kuwait
WX

My request is to circulate this edition within


your contacts to reach as many as possible,
and hopefully our Kokani community will join
hands with each other for its improvement
and success.
Best regards
Maqsood Ismail
Riyadh
WX

Zahra Apartments
Enron Bypass, Guhaghar Road
Chiplun City, Dist: Ratnagiri
Contact: Dr. Siraj Mohammed Bijle
Tel: +009661-4885200 Mobile: +9665-0-627-427-0 Email: smbijle@yahoo.co.uk

Honorary Members of Kokan News


Dr. Abdulghani Dalvi
Mr. Rafique Dalwai
Mr. Nasir A. Khan
Mr. Nasir Dalwai
Mr. Abdulkarim Kurawle
Mr. Tahir Hasan Anware
Mr. Irshad Edroos
Mr. Ahmed K. Chougule
Mr. Maqsud Ashtikar
Mr. Abdulghafoor Nadkar
Mr. Abdulrauf Sable
Mr. Firoz A. Chougule

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