Mangaluru: Former DU Prof. Dr. Shamsul Islam unveils posters on 1857 War martyrs from Karnataka
The event was organized as part of the 'BV Kakkilaya Inspired Oration for 2023'
Mangaluru: On Saturday, at the University College campus in Mangaluru, Dr. Shamsul Islam, a retired Associate Professor of Political Science from the University of Delhi, unveiled posters containing the names of four significant incidents in the state and the names of 132 martyrs from Karnataka who participated in the First War of Indian Independence in 1857. This event was organized as part of the 'BV Kakkilaya Inspired Oration for 2023' on the topic of "Joint Martyrdoms, Joint Heritage of 1857 War of Independence" by the BV Kakkilaya Foundation.
The names of these martyrs were compiled by Dr. Islam from the 'Dictionary of Martyrs: India's Freedom Struggle 1857-1947' and included those who participated in battles at Nargund, Koppal Fort, Halagali, and Surapur in Karnataka.
During his oration, Dr. Islam emphasized that paying tribute to martyrs is a way of showing respect to Mother India. He stressed the importance of acknowledging and discussing the contributions of these martyrs, stating that failing to do so sends a negative message. Dr. Islam also touched upon the principles of the Rashtriya Swayamseva Sangh (RSS), asserting that they were against both the nation and humanity.
"The person who assassinated the Father of the Nation was neither a Pakistani nor an agent of the IS. Gandhiji was assassinated by a person who impersonated a fake sense of nationalism," he asserted.
Prior to Dr. Islam's lecture, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who are students of the University College, staged a protest against the lecture alleging the lecture aimed to propagate leftist philosophy among college students. The protesters carried placards with messages like "Go Back Shamsul" and "Save UCM." There were attempts by the ABVP members to confront Dr. Shamsul Islam and Prof. Keshavan Veluthat, a retired Professor of Mangalore University and historian, as they arrived at the venue. Tight police security was provided on the University College campus, and Prof. Veluthat was escorted to the stage by law enforcement officers.
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CBI faces flak over unprofessional wanted ad: ‘Ball’ instead of ‘bail’, unclear photos raise eyebrow
New Delhi: India’s premier investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is under criticism after the release of a public advertisement seeking information about three wanted accused in a counterfeiting case. Far from serving its purpose, the ad has sparked ridicule and concern over the agency’s professionalism.
The CBI ad, intended to appeal to the public for information about three Nigerian nationals, Dosunmu Oluwatosin Abimbola, Sanni Aminat Olajumoke, and Adenowo Adekunle Azeez, has been criticised for glaring errors and poor execution.
Journalist Sanket Upadhyay, speaking on his YouTube channel Red Mike, slammed the ad, questioning who drafts such notices. Pointing to the hazy images of the accused, he remarked that “to get the reward, people should at least be able to see the image,” and sarcastically described the visuals as resembling a “seventh-time photocopy.”
The most glaring mistake? The word “bail” is repeatedly misspelled as “ball.” The ad reads: “On being granted ball, they have jumped the ball, absconded…”, a language slip that has not gone unnoticed, with social media users mocking the agency for its linguistic negligence.
In addition to the spelling error, the photographs of the accused included in the ad have been called out for being “beyond recognition.” Blurry, pixelated and unclear, the images fail to serve the very function of helping identify the accused, prompting users to ask, “Is this a CBI Ad or a joke?”
The ad mentions that each accused carries a reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to their arrest. The three individuals are accused in a 2009 case registered by the CBI’s Economic Offences Unit (RC SIB 2009 E0003, EOU-V, New Delhi) under sections 120-B, 489-A, and 489-B of the Indian Penal Code. According to the CBI, they were granted bail but subsequently absconded and have been declared proclaimed offenders by a Delhi court.
While the agency is urging the public to share any leads, critics say the CBI must first ensure its outreach materials are accurate, clear, and professional.
The CBI has not yet issued any clarification or correction regarding the ad.
Contact information listed in the ad:
Superintendent of Police, CBI, EOU-V, 4th Floor, Plot 5-B, Opp. Electronics Niketan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003
Telefax: 011-24362132
Email: speou5del@cbl.gov.in (misspelt in original ad)
CBI Control Room: 011-24360334, 24362755, 24361273
