Shaheen Group expands to Mangalore in collaboration with Shepherds International Academy
Mangalore: The renowned Shaheen Group of Institutions, a leading name in the field of education, has made its entry into Mangalore by joining hands with Shepherds International Academy. The two institutions have collaborated to establish a new campus, Shepherds Shaheen, at Arkula along the Mangalore-Bangalore Highway. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Press Club in the city, attended by key representatives from both institutions.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdul Qadeer, Chairman and Founder of the Shaheen Group of Institutions, expressed his vision for providing quality education that focuses not just on academic excellence but also on character building. “Our aim is to create an environment where students can flourish, grow as individuals, and become better citizens first—before they go on to become doctors, engineers, and other professionals,” he said. He highlighted that Shaheen’s approach has always been about holistic development, ensuring that students receive not just bookish knowledge but also a strong foundation in values and ethics.
The collaboration with Shepherds International Academy marks a major milestone for Shaheen, as this is its first institution in Mangalore. With a sprawling 3.6-acre campus, Shepherds Shaheen promises to offer modern facilities in an eco-friendly setting, ensuring that students get access to world-class education in a serene and inspiring environment.
Mohammed Nissar, Chairman of Shepherds International Academy, welcomed the partnership and said that combining Shepherds’ decade-long commitment to progressive education with Shaheen’s proven excellence in competitive exam training will open new doors of opportunities for students in Mangalore and nearby regions. General Secretary Mohammed Rizwan, Treasurer Shajid AK, and trustees SM Farooq and Naushad AK were also present at the event and expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration.
Sheikh Shafiq, Regional Head of Shaheen Group for Bangalore and Mangalore, said that the institution is known for its exceptional track record in medical and engineering entrance exams. He assured that the new campus would maintain the same level of academic rigor and student support as Shaheen’s other centers across India.
Established in 1989 in Bidar, Karnataka, by Dr. Abdul Qadeer, the Shaheen Group of Institutions started with just 17 students and has now grown into one of India’s largest educational networks. Today, it operates over 105 branches across 13 states in India and even has an international presence in Saudi Arabia. More than 40,000 students study at Shaheen institutions, making it a significant force in the country’s education sector.
Shaheen has gained nationwide recognition for its exceptional results in medical and engineering entrance exams. Since 2008, over 5,000 students from Shaheen have secured MBBS seats in government medical colleges, and many more have entered top engineering and professional courses. Remarkably, Shaheen students consistently secure 1% of all government MBBS seats in India and 15% of those in Karnataka. Many of its students have gone on to study at prestigious institutions such as AIIMS Delhi, proving the effectiveness of its academic training programs.
In Karnataka, Shaheen has a particularly strong presence, especially in its home district of Bidar, where it operates multiple campuses, including separate facilities for boys and girls. The institution has earned praise for its innovative curriculum, excellent faculty, and focus on student well-being.
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False narrative created over 2002 Gujarat riots, courts found us innocent: PM Modi
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the discourse around the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat was an attempt to create a false narrative and his political opponents in power at the Centre wanted him to be punished but the courts cleared his name.
In a podcast with Lex Fridman, Modi said the perception that the 2002 riots were the biggest riots ever in Gujarat was an attempt to push misinformation.
"If you review the data from before 2002, you will see that Gujarat faced frequent riots. Curfews were constantly being imposed somewhere. Communal violence would erupt over trivial issues such as kite flying contests or even bicycle collisions," Modi said.
The prime minister said the riots in Gujarat in 1969 lasted for more than six months and that was an era when he was nowhere on the political horizon.
Modi said the Godhra train burning incident took place barely three days after he was elected as a legislator of the Gujarat Assembly.
"It was a tragedy of unimaginable magnitude, people were burned alive. You can imagine, against the backdrop of incidents like the Kandahar hijacking, the attack on parliament, or even 9/11, and then to have so many people killed and burned alive, you can imagine how tense and volatile the situation was," he said.
"Nothing should happen, we also wish so. Everyone would wish there should be peace," the prime minister said during the podcast released on Sunday.
Modi, who was the Gujarat chief minister at that time, said the big incident at Godhra was the sparking point and violence took place. He said that a fake narrative was spread regarding the Godhra case.
"But, the courts investigated the matter thoroughly and found us completely innocent. Those who were truly responsible have faced justice from the courts," he said.
The prime minister said his political opponents were in power at the Centre when the violence took place and they were keen to see him punished over the allegations.
"At that time, our political opponents were in power, and naturally they wanted all allegations against us to stick. They wanted to see us punished. Despite their relentless efforts, the judiciary analysed the situation meticulously twice and ultimately found us completely innocent," Modi said.
The prime minister said the most important thing was that Gujarat, which used to witness violence almost every year, has not seen riots since 2002.
"Over the past 22 years, there hasn't been a single major riot in Gujarat.
"Gujarat remains completely peaceful," Modi said.
The prime minister said his approach has always been to avoid vote bank politics.
"Our mantra has been, sabka saath sabka vikas aur sabka prayas. We have moved away from the politics of appeasement practised by our predecessors to the politics of aspiration," Modi said during his over three-hour interaction.
He highlighted how some people tried to malign his image after the riots but ultimately justice prevailed and the courts cleared his name.
