B.A.Mohidin, architect of education revolution among Muslims in Coastal Karnataka
A visionary leader who did not get his due
Bajpe Abdul Khadar Mohidin (BA Mohidin) was born in a most economically backward family in Pejawar, a village near Bajpe on June 5, 1938. He grew up as an ordinary man and became famous through his hard work, commitment and visionary leadership. The political field might have lost a talented leader if he had not entered politics. BA Mohidin, who was also popular in the education and social spheres, has been recognized as the leading leader of the Coastal Karnataka's Muslim community as well.
BA Mohdin, who has the credit of being the first Muslim district incharge minister of DK district, will remain immortal in the state politics. The senior politician, who grew up without a stigma being in politics, brought the educational revolution among the Muslim community in the coastal region.
Mohidin, who found his sisters uneducated, pulled up socks to provide education to Muslim girls. Hence, to serve this purpose, he planned to use Madrasa building which was not in use in the daytime. Though the religious heads opposed this idea initially, he successfully convinced them and started the first school at a madrasa in his hometown Bajpe.
Until then, people had not begun preferring English medium schools for their children yet. Mohidin, who had understood the significance of English education, encouraged to start English medium schools along with saving Kannada medium schools. As a result, Muslims opened English medium schools in Katipalla, Krishnapura, Surinje, Jokatte, Baikampady and other areas of Bajpe. Following which the MEIF (Federation of Muslim Educational Institutions) has come up. Today if a large number of Muslims in the coastal Karnataka, especially Muslim girls, are getting the education; a large number of Muslim educational institutions have come up, then it is only because of the Mohidin Saheb's efforts.
It is the greatness of Mohidin that in his five-decade-long political career, he won love and trust of all parties and political leaders despite changing parties for specific reasons. After getting elected as an MLA from the Bantwal assembly constituency in 1978, he stood with Devaraja Arasu when Congress was getting divided in 1980. After the death of Devaraj Arasu, he again joined with Indira, but the Congress rejected him while giving the ticket in 1983. At this point, Janata Party strengthened BA Mohidin. Then he got the responsibilities of party's state general secretary, MLC and later became the district incharge minister.
BA Mohidin remained neutral when the Janata Party split in 1999. BA Mohidin, who joined the Congress in 2002, remained loyal to the party till his last breath. However, he was a human lover who did not lose friendship with the leaders of Janata Party or Janata Dal.
visionary , efficient administrator
As the Minister, the inclusion of areas around Surathkal to Mangalore city Corporation, extension of ADB project to Ullal, bridge construction to Patrame of Belthangady, water supply from Thumbe dam to Mangaluru, subsidy to small industries, establishment of Government Tool Room Training Center, pay scale to professors, permission for three medical colleges in Mangaluru, and other most important works done by BA Mohidin.
BA Mohdin was the district incharge minister when the 1998-99 Surathkal communal riots occurred. He, being an innocent secular man, had played a vital role in controlling the riots. Following which, then Chief Minister JH Patil had appreciated BA Mohidin.
Without ever going after power, utilising whatever opportunity he had, without hurting anybody, keeping his hands and mouth clean from corruption; BA Mohidin brought an educational revolution in the Muslim community in coastal Karnataka. BA Mohidin, who believed that the Muslim community could not improve without education, encouraged Muslim entrepreneurs and interested youths to build educational institutions. As a result, today thousands of Muslim girls from the community have been able to achieve remarkable achievement in the academic field.
Mohidin, who also played the leading role in the Beary movement, worked hard for the establishment of Beary Sahitya Academy. BA Mohdin, who always guided young people, did not hurt anyone. With a smiling face, he had developed a friendly relation with all.
Visionary leader did not get his due
The demise of senior political leader, education lover, ambassador of educational revolution among Muslims BA Mohidin is a great loss to the state. Mohidin had all the ingenuity, proficiency and experience required to handle even the chief ministerial post. However, he lacked a few qualities that have become most necessary to become successful in today’s political era, such as lobbying, hypocrisy, falsehood etc. Perhaps for this reason, even after securing all the qualifications he failed to get the deserving positions. But as long as he was in the politics, he did not compromise with the values he believed.
The work ‘Nannolagina Mathu’, in which he has shared memories of his life, will be released on 20th of this month. Mohammed Kulai and BA Mohammed Ali have authored it.
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Two FIRs lodged against Mithun Chakraborty for 'provocative' speech
Kolkata, Nov 6: Two FIRs have been lodged against actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty for allegedly making provocative statements during a BJP event in Salt Lake area near Kolkata last month, police said on Wednesday.
The complaints pertain to Chakraborty's speech on October 27 at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake, during a BJP programme attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Kolkata to launch the party's West Bengal membership drive.
The first FIR was filed at the Bidhannagar South police station based on a complaint by an individual, while the second was lodged at Bowbazar police station.
"We have started an investigation into the case," a senior officer of Bidhannagar police said.
Shah was also present at the programme, which was organised to kick off the West Bengal leg of the BJP's membership drive. Shah had also felicitated Chakraborty for being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award this year.
Although Chakraborty was unavailable for comment, BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar described the FIRs a result of "vendetta politics.".
Majumdar alleged that the TMC government "has once again used the police to unfairly target well-known actor and senior BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty".
He accused the chief minister of employing such tactics "to serve political interests" and claimed that the state government's actions were part of an ongoing attempt to discredit political opponents.
"There is nothing provocative in his speech. These are nothing but attempts to intimidate him by using police as a political tool," he said.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh dubbed the BJP's allegations as baseless.
"The allegations of political vendetta are baseless. He shouldn't have made such provocative remarks. The law will take its own course," he said.
Chakraborty, who received India's highest film honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, earlier this year, had asserted on October 27 that the 'masnad' (throne) of West Bengal would belong to the BJP after the 2026 assembly elections, promising to do whatever it takes to achieve the goal.
While speaking at the programme, Chakraborty, a BJP leader, said, "In 2026, the 'masnad' will be ours, and we will do everything to achieve the goal."
In an apparent reference to TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's communal remarks aimed at BJP workers during the Lok Sabha elections, Chakraborty had allegedly made provocative remarks.
Chakraborty cautioned that no one should attempt to intimidate saffron party voters into abstaining from voting in the next assembly elections.
He called upon the booth-level workers of his party to resist any such attempts.
