Iqra Arabic School to celebrate 25 years with Annual Day, Hifz Valedictory function on May 3
Mangaluru: Iqra Arabic School, which has been providing both Islamic and secular education in Mangaluru for the past 25 years, will be holding its Annual Day and Hifz Valedictory Function on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Town Hall in the city. The event is scheduled from 3 PM to 9 PM and will mark the institution’s silver jubilee.
As part of the programme, the school will felicitate students who have completed the memorisation of the Holy Quran, along with those graduating as Hafizath and Ulama. The event is expected to see the presence of students, parents, alumni, and community members.
The function will be held in the presence of various dignitaries. The Chief Guest for the evening will be Moulana Syed Bilal Abdul Hai Hasani Nadvi, Rector of Nadwathul Ulama in Lucknow and Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Other invited guests include Dr. A. Razzaque Ahmed from Tufts University, USA; Dr. Shantaram Shetty, Pro-Chancellor of Nitte University; and Dr. Javed Jamil of Yenepoya University.
The programme will be presided over by Syed Mohamed Beary, Chairman of the Hazrath Moulana Abul Hassan Ali Nadvi Education & Charitable Trust, which manages Iqra Arabic School.
In a press statement, Salim Khalifa Nadwi, the Principal of the school and trustee Haji Mohammed Haneef, invited the public to attend the event and be part of the celebration.
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Maharashtra secures historic sword of Raghuji Bhosale in London auction
LONDON/MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has acquired the sword of Raghuji Bhosale, founder of the Nagpur Bhosale dynasty and a distinguished commander in the Maratha army under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, after winning it in an auction in London.
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar formally took possession of the weapon on Monday. It is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on 18 August, where it will be received with ceremonial honours, as reported by The Indian Express.
News of the sword’s availability surfaced on 28 April this year. Minister Shelar consulted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after which the government began preparations to participate in the auction.
A group of Marathi-speaking residents in London gathered to witness the handover. Hemant Dalvi, Deputy Director of the Archaeology Department, accompanied the minister during the formalities.
The sword is an 18th-century Maratha Firangi. It has a straight, single-edged European blade with a gold-inlaid Mulheri hilt and near the hilt is the European manufacturer’s name, while the spine bears a gold-inlaid Devanagari inscription reading “Shreemant Raghoji Bhosale Senasahib Subha Firang,” confirming its connection to Raghuji Bhosale. The hilt’s gold koftgari work and the green cloth-wrapped rounded pommel add to its rarity as Maratha weapons of the period typically lacked elaborate ornamentation or inscriptions.
Raghuji Bhosale I, ruled from Nagpur between 1695 and 1755. He expanded Maratha influence into Bengal, Odisha, Chanda, Chhattisgarh, Sambalpur and parts of southern India. His military campaigns, included victories over the Nawabs of Bengal, Cuddapah and Kurnool. The Nagpur kingdom was also known for its rich deposits of iron and copper, used for weapons and trade.
While few historians believe that the sword left India in the early 19th century, as part of the war booty taken by the British East India Company after their victory over the Bhosales at the Battle of Sitabuldi in 1817, others say it was taken later as a diplomatic gift.
The sword will be escorted from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to PL Deshpande Kala Academy in Dadar by a ceremonial bike rally upon its arrival in Mumbai next week. A cultural programme titled Gad Garjana will be held the same day in the presence of state dignitaries.
Minister Shelar described the acquisition as an important moment for Maharashtra’s heritage and extended his thanks to the Chief Minister, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for their support in securing the artefact.
