Veteran Urdu poet Dr. Haneef Shabab honoured with Karnataka Urdu Academy Award 2024
Bengaluru: Renowned Urdu scholar, poet, and educator Dr. Haneef Shabab from Bhatkal was conferred the prestigious Karnataka Urdu Academy Award 2024 at a special ceremony held here on Thursday, February 27. The award recognizes his "Collective Services and Contributions to Urdu Literature."
Dr. Shabab has dedicated his life to the promotion and enrichment of Urdu literature, making significant contributions as a poet, teacher, researcher, and mentor. With an unwavering passion for Urdu, he has spent decades preserving and promoting the language through his scholarly writings, literary works, and academic initiatives.
His research and critical analyses of Urdu poetry and prose have earned widespread recognition, and his efforts have played a pivotal role in nurturing a new generation of Urdu scholars. For over 25 years, Dr. Shabab has taught Urdu at Shams English Medium School in Bhatkal, inspiring countless students.
Beyond academics, Dr. Shabab has been an active participant in seminars, workshops, and literary festivals, bringing together scholars, poets, and Urdu enthusiasts. His work extends to social commentary, where he uses his writings to reflect on human emotions, cultural values, and the evolving societal landscape.
One of his globally acclaimed works is the poem "Aur Line Cut Gayi", a poignant and powerful piece addressing the tragic issue of female foeticide. Written as a conversation between a deceased child and her mother, the poem is framed in the child’s voice from paradise. Its heartfelt delivery, filled with conviction and sorrow, has left a profound impact on audiences worldwide, earning recognition for its deep social message.
Dr. Shabab has also made notable contributions to Urdu journalism. His articles, editorials, and literary critiques have enriched Urdu media, offering insightful perspectives on cultural and social issues. Additionally, he has authored two books, both collections of his poems. His first book, "Sulagte Khwaab", was published in 1997, followed by his second book, "Lahu Lahu Mausam", in 2009.
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Rupee hits record low of 96.14/USD, settles at fresh closing low of 95.86/USD
Mumbai (PTI): The Indian rupee crashed below the 96/USD mark on Friday before closing at an all-time low of 95.86 (provisional) against the US dollar as elevated crude oil prices and inflation concerns added to the downside pressure on the rupee.
Rupee has registered over 6 per cent losses so far this year, and in the past six trading sessions, it has depreciated nearly 2 per cent as Iran war risk escalation pushed crude oil prices higher. The dollar index moved northwards after strong US retail sales and stable labour market data reduced expectations of aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Forex traders said global uncertainties, relatively high valuations, and the lack of AI-led investment opportunities have weighed on capital flows.
Moreover, weak net FDI inflows are likely to exert pressure on the balance of payments, while rising crude oil prices stoke inflation worries.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 95.86, then slumped to a record low of 96.14 in intraday trade, registering a fall of 50 paise from its previous close.
The USD/INR pair finally settled at 95.86 (provisional) against the US dollar, registering a fall of 22 paise from its previous close, helped by likely RBI intervention.
On Thursday, the rupee weakened to a fresh record low of 95.96 before closing with a marginal gain of 2 paise at 95.64 against the US dollar.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 99.15, higher by 0.34 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading up 3.14 per cent at USD 109.04 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex fell 160.73 points to settle at 75,237.99, while Nifty declined 46.10 points to 23,643.50.
Foreign Institutional Investors turned net buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 187.46 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.
Meanwhile, the country's exports in April rose by 13.78 per cent to USD 43.56 billion despite global challenges, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Friday.
Imports grew 10 per cent year-on-year to USD 71.94 billion in April. The trade deficit during the month stood at USD 28.38 billion.
"We expect the rupee to trade with a negative bias on elevated crude oil prices and inflation concerns. Strong dollar and FII outflows may also weigh on the rupee. However, any intervention by the RBI and hiking of import duty on gold and silver may support the rupee at lower levels. USD-INR spot price is expected to trade in a range of 95.60 to 96.20," said Anuj Choudhary, Research analyst at Mirae Asset ShareKhan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday hailed their talks as "historic" and "landmark", as the American leader wrapped up his three-day visit on a high note, but no deals on any contentious issues were announced.
Both Presidents, who held several rounds of talks covering a range of global issues, including the Iran war and bilateral trade frictions, concluded their discussions with a private meeting at Zhongnanhai, the well-guarded compound in Beijing where top leaders reside.
