Bhatkal’s Dr. Haneef Shabab selected for Karnataka Urdu Academy Award 2024
Bengaluru: Veteran Urdu scholar, poet, and educator from Bhatkal Dr. Haneef Shabab has been selected for the Karnataka Urdu Academy Award 2024 for his “Collective Services and contributions to Urdu Literature.” The award will be presented to him on February 27 at a special ceremony in Bengaluru,
Dr. Shabab, who has dedicated his life to the promotion and enrichment of Urdu literature, has made significant contributions as a poet, teacher, researcher, and mentor. With a 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 been widely recognized, and his work has played a crucial role in nurturing a new generation of Urdu scholars. He has also spent over 25 years teaching Urdu at Shams English Medium School in Bhatkal.
Over the years, he has been actively involved in seminars, workshops, and literary festivals, bringing together scholars, poets, and Urdu enthusiasts.
Beyond academics, Dr. Shabab has also been a social thinker, using his writings to reflect on human emotions, cultural values, and the changing times.
One of his internationally acclaimed works is the poem Aur Line Cut Gayi, a powerful and emotional piece that highlights the tragic reality of female foeticide. This poem, written as a conversation between a deceased child and her mother, is framed in the child’s voice from paradise. The poem’s delivery, filled with conviction and sorrow, has left a profound impact on audiences worldwide, earning it recognition for its deep social message.
Dr. Shabab has also made contributions to Urdu journalism. His articles, editorials, and literary critiques have had impact Urdu media, offering in-depth perspectives on cultural and social issues.
He has also published two books, both of which are collections of his poems. His first book, "Sulagte Khwaab," was released in 1997. His second book, “Lahu Lahu Mausam," published in 2009.
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Cong takes swipe at PM over India not being part of US-led 'Pax Silica' grouping
New Delh (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said it is perhaps not very surprising that India is not part of a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon supply chain, given the "sharp downturn" in the Trump-Modi ties, and asserted that it would have been to "our advantage if we had been part of this group".
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the news of India not being part of the group comes after the PM had enthusiastically posted on social media about a telephone call with his "once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC".
In a lengthy post on X, Ramesh said, "According to some news reports, the US has excluded India from a nine-nation initiative it has launched to reduce Chinese control on high-tech supply chains. The agreement is called Pax Silica, clearly as a counter to Pax Sinica. The nations included (for the moment at least) are the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia."
"Given the sharp downturn in the Trump-Modi ties since May 10th, 2025, it is perhaps not very surprising that India has not been included. Undoubtedly, it would have been to our advantage if we had been part of this group."
"This news comes a day after the PM had enthusiastically posted on his telephone call with his once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC," the Congress leader asserted.
The new US-led strategic initiative, rooted in deep cooperation with trusted allies, has been launched to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
According to the US State Department, the initiative called 'Pax Silica' aims to reduce coercive dependencies, protect the materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence (AI), and ensure aligned nations can develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
The initiative includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. With the exception of India, all other QUAD countries -- Japan, Australia and the US -- are part of the new initiative.
New Delhi will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19-20, focusing on the principles of 'People, Planet, and Progress'. The summit, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump on Thursday discussed ways to sustain momentum in the bilateral economic partnership in a phone conversation amid signs of the two sides inching closer to firming up a much-awaited trade deal.
The phone call between the two leaders came on a day Indian and American negotiators concluded two-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement that is expected to provide relief to India from the Trump administration's whopping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
In a social media post, Modi had described the conversation as "warm and engaging".
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi had said without making any reference to trade ties.
