Renowned journalist, Padmashree awardee Fatima Rafiq Zakaria passes away
Aurangabad, Apr 6: Noted educationist and journalist Fatima Rafiq Zakaria , a Padmashri awardee, died here in Maharashtra on Tuesday.
Zakaria, 85, was the wife of the former minister, MP and writer late Rafiq Zakaria, and mother of noted journalist Fareed Zakaria.
She was the chairman of the Maulana Azad Educational Trust.
She breathed her last on Tuesday evening, a senior official of the Maulana Azad College said, adding that she was undergoing treatment at a hospital here for the last one week.
"Her last rites will be performed in Maulana Azad Campus on Wednesday morning," Maulana Azad College principal Mazhar Farooqui told PTI.
Fatma Zakaria headed several other educational institutions.
She had a long career in the fields of journalism, social work, publishing and education spanning over 50 years, another official said.
After completing her education in Lucknow and Mumbai, she established childcare and a women's industrial home in Mumbai in 1958 where over 500 underprivileged children were given day-care and education while their mothers were trained to support the income of their families.
In 1963, Fatma Zakaria started writing for children in The Illustrated Weekly of India. From 1970 to 1980, she worked with the prestigious English magazine on different posts.
She also worked as Assistant Editor with The Times of India.
She was awarded Sarojini Naidu Integration Award for journalism in 1983.
She is survived by two sons- Arshad Zakaria and Fareed Zakaria.
"An innovative, personality which was active in society. My Condolences are with Arshad and Fareed Zakaria," NCP MP Supriya Sule tweeted.
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Public can obtain e-pass online to watch Independence Day celebrations in Bengaluru: BBMP
Bengaluru, Aug 13 (PTI): For the first time, the general public can obtain e-pass online to watch the 79th Independence Day celebrations, said Maheshwara Rao, Chief Commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday.
Rao, along with the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru, Seemanth Kumar Singh, was briefing the media here about how Bengaluru is preparing for the state-level ceremony to be held on August 15 at Field Marshal Manik Shah Parade Ground, Cubbon Road, Bengaluru.
“Earlier invitations were distributed by government officials to special invitees and to those involved in the ceremony. Now, people can obtain an e-pass from the Seva Sindhu website (www.sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in),” added the commissioner.
He said a live telecast of the programme is also available on Doordarshan.
According to him, the viewing gallery for the public at the venue has been expanded to allow more people to watch the programme in person.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hoist the Indian flag, following which he will inspect the parade in an open jeep and receive the guard of honour.
Siddaramaiah will also deliver an Independence Day message.
On ground security checks are already underway, said the Police Commissioner.
“Police have been deployed on guard duty at the ground for the last 15 days. They are also checking all the hotels, lodges and rest houses for any suspicious activities,” said Singh.
CCTV cameras and baggage scanners, Door Frame Metal Detector and Hand-Held Metal Detector have been installed around the ground to closely monitor all the events, he added.
He also appealed to those with green passes (e-passes) to arrive at Gate no. 05 from the Manipal Centre side via Cubbon Road.
He urged people not to carry any unnecessary luggage or items with them. Even essential items like mobile phones, water bottles, helmets, cameras, radios and umbrellas are best left behind to facilitate quick entry into the venue, he added.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru Traffic Police has appealed to the public to use public transport and metro service as much as possible, due to the lack of space for parking vehicles at Manik Shah Parade Ground and nearby areas.
Parking will not be allowed at Central Street (from Anil Kumble Circle to Shivajinagar Bus Stand), Cubbon Road (from CTO Circle to K R Road and Cubbon Road Junction) and MG Road, from Anil Kumble Circle to Trinity Circle), added a Traffic Police advisory issued on Wednesday.
