AP Ustad, Shabana, Aamir, Owaisi, Premji, AR Rahman among world's 500 influential Muslims

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October 13, 2015

New Delhi, Oct 13: Music composer A R Rahman, Sunni cleric AP Ustad, industrialist Azim Premji, actors Shabana Azmi and Aamir Khan have made it to the list of 500 Most Influential Muslims In The World this year.

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AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi also made it to the list. Other Indians who have made it to the list include religious scholars and spiritual leaders.

Though India has world's second largest Muslim population, only 22 could enter the list of “The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims” this year.

Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qadiri Al-Azhari and Maulana Mahmood Madani are the only two Indians among the top 50.

The names of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and B S Abdur Rahman have been mentioned under Obituaries. They were in the list of world's 500 most influential Muslims last year.

The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC) in Amman, Jordan has named the 500 most influential Muslims in the world.

The report is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan, in cooperation with Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in the United States.

The list consists of a top 50 section and the remaining 450 are divided into political, scholarly, administration of religious affairs etc.

This year's list is out and here is how the Indian Muslims have fared:

Indians in the Top 50 influential Muslims list:

1) Mufi Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri Al-Azhari, leader of the Indian Barelwis and considered by his followers as the Grand Mufi of India.

2) Maulana Mahmood Madani, Leader and Executive Member of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.

Most influential Scholars from India:

1) Allamah Zia Al-Mustafa, Islamic scholar of the Barelwi movement in India.

2) Wahiduddin Khan, co-founder of Goodword, publisher of children's books.

3) Rabey Hasani Nadvi, president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

4) Bahauddeen Muhammed Jamaluddeen Nadwi, founding fathers of Darul Huda Islamic University.

Most influential politicians from India:

1) Dr Mohammad Umar Farooq, chairman and founder of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Most influential in terms of Administration of Religious Affairs from India:

1) Sheikh Aboobackar Ahmad, also known as AP Aboobackar Musliyar and AP Ustad, the General Secretary of the All India Muslim Scholars Association.

2) Sayyid Ibrahimul Khaleel Al-Bukhari, founder of Ma'din Islamic Academy.

3) Maulana Shakir Ali Noorie, President of Sunni Dawate Islami (a non-political religious organization).

4) MP Janab Asaduddin Owaisi, President of All India Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen.

Most influential preachers & spiritual guides from India:

1) H. Hazrat Allama Maulana Qamaruzzaman Azmi, founder of Al-Jame-atul-Islamia.

2) Arsad Madani, President of the 86-year old Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.

3) Professor Sayid Ameen Mian Quadri, leader of the Indian Barelwis and a sajjada nashin, or Suf disciple, of the Barkatiya Suf tradition.

4) Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, spiritual leader of 2-5 million people living in 100 countries.

5) Sheikh Dr Taika Shuaib, head of the Arusiyya branch of the Qadiri Suf order.

Most influential in terms of Philanthropy, Charity & Development from India:

1) Azim Premji, Indian business tycoon and philanthropist who is the chairman of Wipro Limited.

2) Maulana Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi, prominent businessman in India who runs the Ajmal Group of Companies

Most influential in terms of Art and Culture from India:

1) Shabana Azmi, winner of the National Film Award for Best Actress five times.

2) Aamir Khan, UNICEF brand ambassador, promoting child nutrition.

3) Allah Rakha Rahman, composer, record producer, and musician.

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News Network
December 1,2025

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Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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