BSM Degree College in Roorkee Granted University Status, Sparking Celebration in Education Sector

Decades-old aspiration fulfilled as Uttarakhand government approves elevation of four colleges; Afzal Mangalori hails the decision as a tribute to the vision of Late Manohar Lal Sharma

Roorkee (Arif Niazi): In a major development for the education sector in Roorkee, BSM Degree College, one of the city’s oldest educational institutions, has been granted university status under the Uttarakhand Private Universities (Second Amendment) Bill. The Uttarakhand government has decided to grant university status to four colleges in the state under the amendment, and BSM Degree College is among them. The announcement has brought joy not only to Roorkee but also to the wider region, with teachers and staff celebrating the development by distributing sweets among themselves.

Afzal Mangalori, former Vice-Chairman of the Uttarakhand Urdu Academy, member of the Uttarakhand Language Institute, internationally acclaimed poet and honorary teacher at the college, congratulated Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat and the Education Secretary on behalf of the college management and himself.

Mangalori said that the people of the region had been waiting for this moment for years, and the government’s decision had brought their long-cherished aspiration closer to reality. He paid tribute to the contribution of Late Manohar Lal Sharma, saying that he had devoted his life to the development of the BSM educational institution and the promotion of education. According to Mangalori, the college’s elevation to university status represents the fruits of that dedication and vision.

As news of the decision spread, an atmosphere of excitement prevailed among the college’s teaching and non-teaching staff. They congratulated one another and distributed sweets to mark the occasion. The staff described the development as an important milestone in the institution’s history and expressed hope that university status would strengthen its academic reputation and open up new opportunities in higher education.

The teachers also expressed their gratitude to the College Management Committee Chairman, Advocate Pandit Mamtesh Sharma, and Director, Advocate Rajneesh Sharma. They said that the institution’s achievement was the result of their sustained efforts and leadership. The staff expressed confidence that the institution would continue to progress and contribute to education, research and the overall development of students.

The elevation of BSM Degree College to university status is being viewed as a significant milestone for Roorkee’s educational landscape. It is expected to create new possibilities for academic growth and strengthen the region’s higher education environment. The development has also raised expectations among students, educators and local residents regarding the institution’s future contribution to education and research.

Those present on the occasion included Prof. Deepak Dobhal, Prof. Sanjay Dhiman, Prof. Praveen Sharma, Dr. Sushmita Pant, Prof. Sandeep Poswal, Prof. Ajay Rajvanshi, Prof. Bharat Arora, Prof. Shaina Malik, Prof. Savita Saini, Prof. Mehnaz, Prof. Rachna Saini, Prof. Parul Sharma, Prof. Shalini Verma, Prof. Vinay Kumar, Prof. Afzal Mangalori, Prof. Akanksha and Ram Kumar Gupta, among others.

The development marks an important chapter in the educational journey of BSM Degree College and has generated optimism about the future of higher education in Roorkee. The academic community and residents will now look forward to the institution’s progress as it moves towards its new role as a university.

Naat-e-Pak Recitations Echo Across Roorkee as Children Showcase Their Talent

Objective is to Instil Love for the Prophet ﷺ in Children: Kunwar Shahid

ROORKEE: The Municipal Corporation Hall in Roorkee resonated with beautiful Naat-e-Pak recitations as the AWN Foundation organised a special Naat-e-Pak competition on the occasion of the sacred month of Rabi-ul-Awwal.

Around 40 children from various educational institutions and madrasas across Haridwar district participated in the competition and presented Naat-e-Pak with confidence, devotion and respect.

The young participants impressed the audience with their melodious voices and heartfelt presentations. Their performances reflected love, devotion and reverence, while parents, teachers and distinguished guests encouraged the children throughout the event.

In the competition, Shaan-e-Mustafa secured first position, Mirza Saleem stood second, while Nadeem Akhtar secured third position.

The first, second and third-position holders were presented with special prizes. Other participating children were also given consolation prizes as a gesture of encouragement and appreciation for their participation.

The programme was attended by Dr. Surjeet Singh, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority; Minister of State Deshraj Karnwal; noted social worker Haji Mustaqeem; St. Mark’s Academy Director Kunwar Javed Iqbal; Mufti Saleem; Maulana Arshad Qasmi; and Maulana Azhar, along with several prominent citizens and respected members of the community.

A large number of parents, educators, social workers and local residents also attended the programme. The atmosphere remained enthusiastic and spiritually uplifting throughout the event.

Kunwar Shahid, Secretary of AWN Foundation, said the organisation conducts various social and religious programmes every year during the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal. He said this year’s first programme was organised in the form of a Naat-e-Pak competition.

He emphasised that the objective of the competition was not merely to create a platform for competition among children, but also to nurture love, respect and devotion towards the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from an early age.

Kunwar Shahid said that when children recite Naat-e-Pak and express their reverence for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through their own voices, feelings of respect, love and devotion become stronger in their hearts.

He added that the foundation aims to spread the message of love and devotion through the voices of children and create an atmosphere filled with harmony, respect and affection.

According to Kunwar Shahid, programmes of this nature provide children with an opportunity to showcase their talent while also helping them remain connected with their religious and cultural heritage.

He said encouraging children’s talent is a collective responsibility of society and such programmes play an important role in building confidence among young participants.

The successful organisation of the event was supported by Asif Ali alias Haider, Arif Ali, Bilal Khan, Guddu Sabri, Inam Sabir, Foundation Patron Amjad Usmani and Arif Niazi.

Children representing different madrasas and educational institutions participated with enthusiasm, confidence and decorum. Their parents also displayed considerable enthusiasm and support throughout the programme.

At the conclusion of the event, the AWN Foundation expressed its gratitude to all participating children, their parents, teachers, madrasas, educational institutions and everyone whose cooperation contributed to the successful organisation of the competition.

5th Mini Uttarakhand Tennis Cricket Ball Championship Begins in Pirpura, Roorkee

Former State Minister Aditya Rana inaugurates the championship at Veer Shaurya Cricket Academy near Roorkee; eight Uttarakhand teams take part

Roorkee: The much-awaited 5th Mini Uttarakhand Tennis Cricket Ball Championship got off to a grand start today at Veer Shaurya Cricket Academy in Pirpura, near Roorkee. The championship was inaugurated by former Uttarakhand minister and senior Congress leader Aditya Rana, who formally opened the event by cutting the ribbon.

Aditya Rana received a warm welcome from the organisers and local sports enthusiasts, who honoured him with flower garlands and presented him with a memento.

After the inauguration, Rana interacted with players from different districts and regions participating in the championship and encouraged them to perform with confidence and sportsmanship.

Addressing the players, Aditya Rana said that tennis ball cricket is an exciting, fast-paced and highly engaging sport. He said competitions of this nature provide young players, particularly those from rural and remote areas, with an excellent platform to showcase their talent.

He further emphasised that sports are not only essential for physical fitness but also help develop discipline, team spirit and positive energy among young people.

Rana appreciated the organisers for successfully conducting the championship for the fifth consecutive year, calling it a significant achievement that is creating opportunities for emerging cricket talent across Uttarakhand.

A major attraction of the championship is that the winning team will get an opportunity to participate in the National Tennis Cricket Ball Championship in Goa, giving Uttarakhand players a chance to compete at the national level.

Championship organiser Amjad Usmani said that eight teams from Uttarakhand are participating in the tournament and that players are showing tremendous enthusiasm. He added that similar sporting competitions would continue to be organised in the future to provide young talent with more opportunities.

Veer Shaurya Cricket Academy coach Mr. Chaudhary was also present during the inauguration.

Sufi saints spread the message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and “Sarvadharma Samabhava” – Syed Nizami

Roorkee. Syed Farid Ahmed Nizami, Sajjada Nashin of Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Mehboob-e-Ilahi, Delhi, has said that India has been a center of spirituality and devotion for centuries. That is why Sufi saints here spread the message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and “Sarvadharma Samabhava,” due to which Indian culture was adopted by the entire world. Speaking to reporters at Khanqah Ataye Sabir in Roorkee after paying obeisance at the Piran Kaliyar Dargah Sabir Pak, Syed Nizami said that saints like Khwaja Garib Nawaz, Baba Farid and Guru Nanak Dev worked to unite hearts in India through universal brotherhood and humanitarian ideas, which made India a flower of love. Alhaj Peer Shamsul Haque Chishti Nizami, the successor of Khanqah Moiniya Nizamia in Dhaka, Bangladesh, said that Bangladesh benefited the most from the fragrance of harmony and spirituality that spread from India. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to bring India and Bangladesh closer through the Sufi circuit, which is a commendable step. Earlier, Afzal Mangalori, Secretary of Kalam Sadhna Foundation and international poet, presented shawls to Sajjada Nashin Syed Farid Nizami, Peer Shamsul Haque Chishti Nizami and Delhi Dargah media in-charge Azhar Masoodi. And welcomed with garlands. Om Prakash Noor, Imran Deshbhakt, Syed Nafeesul Hasan, Salman Faridi, Vikas Vashishtha were also present on this occasion.

BK Shivani will teach the MLAs the tricks to relieve stress!

Roorkee- To teach the MLAs of Uttarakhand state the tricks of stress relief, a program of Brahma Kumaris’ international motivational speaker BK Shivani should be organized in the assembly. For this, Sub-zonal Incharge Rajyogini BK Manju Didi of Brahma Kumaris Dehradun has requested the Assembly Speaker Mrs. Ritu Khanduri Bhushan. On behalf of Brahma Kumaris, this request letter was handed over to the Assembly Speaker by Shri Gopal Narsan associated with the organization at the residence of State Minister level Shyamveer Saini in Roorkee. Narsan also invited the Assembly Speaker Mrs. Ritu Khanduri Bhushan to go to Brahma Kumaris Headquarters Mount Abu. He said that the MLAs of the state can not only get stress relief by practicing Rajyoga, but they can also remain healthy in body and mind for a long time. He described BK Shivani’s programs as a panacea for better life management. By participating in them, a person feels happy. Roorkee MLA Pradeep Batra was also present on this occasion.

Eid was celebrated with devotion and joy, thousands of people prayed for peace and prosperity

Roorkee. Eid-ul-Fitr festival was celebrated with great devotion, joy and harmony in the city and surrounding areas. Thousands of people from the Muslim community offered Namaaz in the Idgah. Before the Namaaz, Maulana Azhar Haq, Principal of Madrasa Rahmania, while giving a speech, called for eliminating dowry, drug addiction and other evils in the society as well as connecting our children with more and more education. Haji Mohammad Mustakim Waqf Administrator Madrasa Rehmania Roorkee said that a joint campaign should be run against drugs. He said that today the biggest need is national unity, peace and harmony, which has been seen in Roorkee for years. He expressed his gratitude to the police administration and municipal corporation administration for the cleanliness and security in the city and said that we had informed the Chief Assistant Municipal Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Roorkee Rakesh Chandra Tiwari by giving a letter and demanded cleanliness and repair of roads in the Idgah area and the city on the occasion of Eid, on which the Municipal Corporation and Health Department and cleaning staff improved the system and for security, the police administration conducted the Eid Fitr namaz and festival peacefully, for which the Municipal Corporation, Health Department and Police Administration deserve congratulations. Mufti Mohammad Salim Ahmed read the Eid namaz and prayed for the prosperity and safety of the country and the state. According to the tradition of Roorkee, Hindu brothers set up their camps on the main road of Idgah and hugged the Muslim brothers and gave them sweets and gifts. They fed dates and gave their best wishes, on the other hand, Muslims also congratulated the people of Hindu society on Navratri and wished them happiness and prosperity. Mukesh Kumar, who came to Roorkee Idgah specially from SSC office, gave the message of Uttarakhand Police to the people of Muslim society under the ‘Bhiksha Nahi Shiksha Abhiyan’. CO Narendra Pant gave a message to Muslim brothers that Muslim religious leaders should come forward at a high level against drug abuse, on the other hand, for the last twenty-five years, Eid Milan program was organized by Uttarakhand Nagrik Samman Samiti at his residence in Sot, in which officials, social workers, journalists and dignitaries participated. On the other hand, in the main Idgah of the city, AIMIM state president Dr. Nayyar Kazmi, along with his party workers, tied a black band and protested against the Waqf Amendment Bill and the action being taken on Madrasas in Uttarakhand and demanded that the Uttarakhand government should immediately open the Madrasas sealed here and stop atrocities on minorities. On this occasion, Ganganahar Kotwali Inspector Amarjit Singh, SI Naveen Chauhan, Karuna Kantholi and police personnel were present. Outside the Idgah, Congress State General Secretary Sachin Gupta, senior BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jain Advocate, Engineer Mujeeb Malik, former MP Rajendra Kumar Body, former Mayor Yashpal Rana, social worker Ishwar Lal Shastri, Congress District President Advocate Chaudhary Rajendra Singh, youth leader Pranay Pratap Singh, Lavy Tyagi, Jitendra Chaudhary, Ritu Kandiyal, Premnath Prema, social worker Haji Naushad Ahmed, Subhash Saini Senior Journalist, Tapan Sushil, social worker Mohammad Mofiq, Om Prakash Noor, Vikas Vashisht, Syed Nafeesul Hasan, Manavvar Qureshi, Imran Deshbhakt, Riyaz Qureshi, Haji Mumtaz, Mohammad Meharban, Dr. Mohammad Mateen etc. offered Eid Mubarak to the Namazis.

Four more supporters of Champion arrested in firing case at MLA Umesh’s office

The police have arrested four more supporters of Champion involved in the firing at the camp office of Khanpur MLA in broad daylight. A rifle and five cartridges have been recovered from a supporter. After the arrest, the accused have been sent to jail in judicial custody.

There was a verbal war going on between Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar Sharma and former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion on social media. This war escalated from social media to firing. After this, Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion along with his supporters reached the camp office of Khanpur MLA at Kanwar Patri on 26 January and fired indiscriminately.

After this, the Khanpur MLA fled from there with his supporters. After this, Dehradun Police arrested Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion and his five supporters. Since then the police is investigating the firing case. Senior Sub Inspector of Roorkee Kotwali Vinod Thapliyal said that on Monday, the police arrested MLA Champion’s supporters Mursleen resident of village town Landhaura Kotwali Mangalore, Mangeram resident of Karanpur police station Khanpur, Rao Furkan resident of Dhandera Kotwali Roorkee and Irfan resident of village Halwahedi Bahadarabad. Police recovered a rifle 315 bore and five cartridges from Irfan’s possession.

Zubair Kazmi of Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar Sharma’s party had registered a case against 25 supporters including former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, Rao Furkan, Riyasat, Mursleen Rana, Jabir, Mangeram, Kuldeep, Sumit Awana, Sonu Gurjar, Jora, Ranveer Singh, Ramkumar, Ankit Arya, Brajveer, Pravez Alam, Pramod Jangi, Nitin, Rizwan, Irfan, Virendra Pradhan, Azad, Ranveer Singh, Omkar, Bhagat Singh. The search for other accused involved in the firing is also on.

Roorkee (Arsalan Sadiq) When the implementation of the announcement made by the Chief Minister started, the MLA laid the foundation stone of the road again in order to take credit. The matter is of Lathardeva-Roorkee road. The then MLA Deshraj Karnawal had made great efforts for the construction of this road. The Chief Minister had announced his acceptance of his proposal and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also formally laid the foundation stone of the road during a program in the area. When the Public Works Department decided to start the construction work after the budget was released from the department and the tender process was completed, regional MLA Virendra Jati, in order to take credit, again laid the foundation stone of the road today. On which there was a sharp reaction in BJP and a situation of controversy arose. Due to this controversy, the life of the Public Works Department has come to a standstill.

Former Jhabreda MLA Deshraj Karnawale says that after becoming MLA, I had laid a network of roads in my area. The people of my area are a witness that I have built roads even in those villages where roads have never been built. Deshraj Karnawal says that on my proposal, the then Chief Minister has approved this road under declaration number 123/2019 on 8 January 2019. Which was proposed from Jhabreda to Roorkee via Lathardeva Sheikh. Whose first phase has been completed from Jhabreda to Latardeva Sheikh. The second phase from Lathardeva Sheikh to Roorkee has now started. On his arrival at Jhabreda, the Chief Minister has already laid its formal foundation stone. It takes time to get the budget from the government and the tender process. The department has now started the construction work. He accused the current MLA Virendra Jati of misleading people to take credit. He has challenged and said that if the present MLA has any contribution in the approval of this road then he should present the evidence. On the other hand, State General Secretary of BJP Minority Morcha, Anish Gaur and Engineer Arshad have said that this road has been approved long ago and it has nothing to do with the present MLA. He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will expose those who take credit by telling the reality to the people.