Mangaluru-based veteran film journalist Rauf Ahmed passes away
Mumbai: Veteran film journalist and writer Rauf Ahmed, a native of Mangaluru, who was known for introducing changes in film journalism in the mid-1970s, died at his residence in Versova here on Sunday morning, after a short bout of ill health.
He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
The son of Abdul Rahim, a retired judge from Bunder, Mangaluru, Rauf Ahmed completed his graduation at St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, before moving to Mumbai where, in 1975, he joined the Times of India training course, with contemporaries M J Akbar.
With an interest in film journalism, Ahmed launched the magazines ‘Super’ and ‘Movie’, after which, he took charge as editor of ‘Filmfare’, the film magazine of the Times of India. Sidelining film industry gossip that was popular during his times, he gave the news and articles on the industry a fresh look, while this change gave a new look to film journalism.
Ahmed’s wonderful style of writing and artistic design of the magazines caught the attention of the readers. Under the veteran, vintage music, parallel cinema and full-fledged nostalgia also found an inlet into mainstream film magazines. As a result, serious and studious writing joined the regular entertainment matter in the magazines.
Rauf Ahmed was the editor of ‘Filmfare’ for six years. During his tenure, the Filmfare Award ceremony too witnessed major changes. The venue of the ceremony was shifted while the style of the award ceremony was changed to that of the Academy Awards.
The journalist worked with many superstars in the film industry, including Amitabh Bachchan.
Ahmed worked with the Asian Age magazine and other fields of journalism, but film journalism remained his favourite.
In his 2016-book ‘Shammi Kapoor – The Game Changer’, Ahmed describes in an interesting manner how veteran actor Shammi Kapoor changed the very style of the Hindi film hero.
Yet, it would be well worth noting that Rauf Ahmed was himself a game changer in film journalism in India.
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4% quota for Muslim contractors: BJP to challenge K'taka's 'unconstitutional move' in court
New Delhi/Bengaluru, Mar 17 (PTI): The BJP on Monday termed the Karnataka government’s proposal to provide four per cent reservation to Muslims in government contracts an "unconstitutional misadventure" and said it will oppose the move at all levels, including challenging it in court, until it is rolled back.
The ruling Congress in Karnataka and the BJP hit out at each other over the issue in the Assembly.
Earlier on Friday, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, reserving four per cent of contracts for Muslims in civil works valued up to Rs two crore and goods/services contracts up to Rs one crore.
"The BJP firmly opposes the proposed unconstitutional move and demands that the Siddaramaiah government immediately roll it back," BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who represents the Bangalore South Lok Sabha seat, told a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
He alleged that the Siddaramaiah-led government’s decision was a "calculated move" to appease Muslims, "at the direction and patronage of the Congress top leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi."
"This patently unconstitutional and prima facie illegal act will be challenged in court. The BJP will fight against the move both inside the Assembly and on the streets. We will also raise the issue in Parliament and protest outside it," Surya said.
The BJP MP said that the Karnataka government’s move is a threat to national integrity, unity, and sovereignty.
"We will fight and oppose this in the courtroom. We will take the fight to the people of Karnataka. Until this unconstitutional move is rolled back, the BJP’s fight will continue," he added.
Meanwhile, in the Karnataka Assembly, the ruling Congress and the BJP once again sparred on Monday over the budgetary provision of four per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts.
The Congress rejected the BJP’s allegation that religion-based reservation is "against constitutional provisions."
Defending the reservation, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists are citizens of this country.
"We have concerns for minorities and backward communities. When the BJP says it wants to take everyone along, let it appoint Christian and Muslim ministers. Only then does BJP state president B Y Vijayendra have the right to speak about equality. Let him read the state anthem written by Kuvempu—then he will understand what makes Karnataka a peaceful garden," Shivakumar told reporters.
Hitting back at Shivakumar, Vijayendra said that it was the BJP government, not the Congress, that had appointed Dr A P J Abdul Kalam as the President of India.
"We appointed Najma Heptulla, Justice Abdul Nazeer, and Arif Mohammed Khan as governors. Musician Ustad Bismillah Khan was bestowed with the Bharat Ratna by the BJP government," Vijayendra told reporters.
According to him, Congress's appeasement politics is not new.
He questioned the Congress party’s concern for Dalits, asking where it was when its MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s house was "torched by Muslim hooligans".
The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, claimed that several Supreme Court judgments have stated that there is no provision in the Constitution for religion-based reservations.
"Yet, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wore a ‘topi’ (skull cap), organised Tipu Jayanti, and introduced Shaadi Bhagya (launched in 2013, it provides financial assistance to economically backward minority women). He gave grants to Muslims beyond what they had asked for. Now, by offering four per cent reservation in contracts to Muslims, the Congress government has made an assault on Hindus," he alleged.
Ashoka argued that there had never been a religion-based contract system in Karnataka, but the government had introduced one, which could lead to conflicts between communities.
In the Karnataka Legislative Council, Leader of the Opposition, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy raised the issue.
He said that religion-based reservation is "not allowed under the Constitution."
"You have granted four per cent reservation to Muslims in contracts. We oppose religion-based reservations. I urge the government through you not to implement it," he stated.
Countering him, Congress MLA B K Hariprasad asserted that the reservation aligns with constitutional provisions.
