H. Abdur Raqeeb awarded best Journalist award!

H. Abdur Raqeeb awarded best Journalist award!
T. Azeez Luthfullah
The News :
H. Abdur Raqeeb, Editor of Samarasam Tamil Fortnightly was awarded 'The best Journalist Award' by the Islamiya Tamil Ilakkiya Kazhagam.
The award was conferred upon H. Abdur Raqeeb in the First State Conference of Islamiya Tamil Ilakkiya Kazhagam (Tamil Islamic Literary Organization) held in Trichirappalli on 17 and 18th of May 2008.
Islamiya Ilakkiya Kazhagam is the pioneer literary Organization in the State. So far it has organised ten World Tamil Islamic Literary conferences.
As the State conference was being organised for the first time, it evoked tremendous response. Anybody who is somebody in the Tamil Islamic literary field was there. The historic Jamal Mohammad College, the venue of the conference, was flooded with the hordes and hordes of writers, poets, journalists, authors, teachers, Ulemas and social activists. The men behind this momentous occasion were Kaviko Abdur Rahman, a legendery poet and S M Hidayathullah, a literary activist and author.
The Award : The best Journalist award comprised of a citation, a shield and a cash award of Rs. 5000/-.
The Magazine:
Samarasam Tamil Fortnightly is the trendsetter and frontrunner in Tamil Muslim Journalistic arena. A popular literary critic has aptly commented that the history of Tamil Muslim Journalism could be divided into two parts. viz Before Samarasam and After Samarasam. Before the advent of Samarasam, Muslim magazines used to be read by Muslims only. The content of these magazines were limited to the confines of Masle Masayil. Samarasam broke the ice and leaped into the next phase. Many other magazine followed suit. Samarasam is being sent to more than 350 govt libraries all over Tamil Nadu. Forty percent of the readership is Non-Muslim. Samarasam has succeeded in striking a chord with non-Muslim readers. It receives letters from its non-Muslim readers and it regularly publishes articles of veteran non-Muslim writers too.
The Man: Moulana M A Jameel Ahmed was the Editor of Samarasam for more than a decade. When young and energetic H Abdur Raqeeb took over the mantle from him, he introduced many new concepts. Being a perfectionist Raqeeb was not satisfied. So, to equip himself, he enrolled himself as a student in M.A. Mass Communication and Journalism in University of Madurai at the age of 44 and passed the exams. This shows his burning desire and passion in the field. He was always attached to the magazine and pour his soul and spirit in it. He has written innumerable articles. He is also the author of Azhaippiyal Sindanaigal (Dawah Insights) a handy guide for those who do dawah.
Mr. Abdur Raqeeb has nowadays taken up the onerous responsibility of making Islamic banking a living reality in India. He has been appointed as the convenor of Islamic Banking Committee by the Markaz. He is also a member of Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora and has served the tahreek in various capacities.