Roots in Iran, life in India: Bengaluru residents Mirza Mohammad Mehdi and his wife Mehbanu Mirza battle from afar and are constantly worried about the safety of their loved ones in Iran. He describes his family as ‘Indianized’ as their food is influenced by local cuisine, noting that Iranians generally exclude chillies from their dishes.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his visit to Bengaluru in 1981

Roots in Iran, life in India: Bengaluru residents Mirza Mohammad Mehdi and his wife Mehbanu Mirza follow the war from a distance, and are constantly worried about the safety of their loved ones in Iran. He describes his family as ‘Indianized’ as their food is influenced by local cuisine, noting that Iranians generally exclude chillies from their dishes.

Roots in Iran, life in India: Bengaluru residents Mirza Mohammad Mehdi and his wife Mehbanu Mirza battle from afar and are constantly worried about the safety of their loved ones in Iran. He describes his family as ‘Indianized’ as their food is influenced by local cuisine, noting that Iranians generally exclude chillies from their dishes.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his visit to Bengaluru in 1981

Roots in Iran, life in India: Bengaluru residents Mirza Mohammad Mehdi and his wife Mehbanu Mirza follow the war from a distance, and are constantly worried about the safety of their loved ones in Iran. He describes his family as ‘Indianized’ as their food is influenced by local cuisine, noting that Iranians generally exclude chillies from their dishes.

Roots in Iran, life in India: Bengaluru residents Mirza Mohammad Mehdi and his wife Mehbanu Mirza battle from afar and are constantly worried about the safety of their loved ones in Iran. He describes his family as ‘Indianized’ as their food is influenced by local cuisine, noting that Iranians generally exclude chillies from their dishes.

Dr. Zahra Hosseini is fascinated by the story of her father, Syed Hossein Hosseini, who at the age of 12 left his hometown Yazd due to famine and came to India on foot from Iran with a large group. He traveled approximately 3,500 kilometers on foot in six months, and to survive on the journey, he took up carpentry and masonry work wherever possible. Many of them later settled in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad, where they established Irani cafes and restaurants.Many Iranian cafes are located on corner plots because such places were once considered unlucky by locals, making it cheaper and easier for expatriates to rent or buy them. “The Iranians used their intelligence and captured corner areas that were considered bad,” says Dr. Hosseini.He believes that ‘Iranian tea’ was born out of the shared evening gatherings of his father and his friends and relatives. She attributes its uniqueness to the brewing method and the use of pure milk and good tea powder. “They use a special kettle. The uniqueness of ‘Iranian tea’ also comes from a long brewing process. With Parsi diary milk and quality tea powder, it becomes the perfect tea,” she says. While originally spice-free, modern versions include saffron and cardamom for added flavor.Dr. Hussaini, who was born and brought up in Mumbai, runs a dental clinic in RT Nagar, Bengaluru, and has developed a kit for early detection of oral cancer, which is highly prevalent in rural India. Iranians settled in Bengaluru more than a century ago and contributed to its development, turning it into a garden city and creating historic properties such as Lalbagh. “He acquired substantial properties, established charitable endowments and played a role in shaping the city’s landscape,” says Mirza Mohammad Mehdi, a 79-year-old Bengaluru resident of Iranian origin who works as a consultant with Prestige. The Iranian community in Bengaluru has grown from about 2,000 people in earlier decades to about 30,000–40,000 today, of whom about 10,000 are of Iranian descent, influencing the social and architectural fabric of Bengaluru. Members of the Irani community served as prime ministers and governors for royal families such as the Wodeyars. Richmond Town resident Rebab al-Karimi’s great-grandfather, Agha Eli Askar, came to India in 1824 with his two brothers with 300 Arab horses to sell to the British. Al-Karimi says, “He found a father figure in Sir Mark Cubbon, who served as Commissioner of Mysuru, and he also loved horses. He was also very friendly with Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the then Maharaja of Mysore, who appreciated good horse meat.” Oscar’s grandson Sir Mirza Ismail was the Prime Minister of Mysuru State during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Akbar Mirza Khaleli, a resident of Sankey Road, was ambassador to Iran and Italy and high commissioner to Australia, while pediatrician Dr Mirza Sajjad Hussain supported Iranian patients in the Iran-Iraq war before settling in Bengaluru. Iranian students studying in Bangalore University and city colleges gave the city a cosmopolitan look. growing concerns Dr. Hosseini lost his father at an early age, but his ties to Iran remain intact. They have had sleepless nights after the US-Israel attack on Iran. “Many of my close relatives, including my sister and her family, still live in Tehran and Karaj,” says Dr. Hosseini, who held an Iranian passport until the ninth grade and later became a naturalized Indian citizen. She frantically called them as the war began and was dismayed to realize that they could not be contacted. “The internet was shut down for security reasons,” she recalls. Dr. Hosseini says, Iran was brutally attacked and bombed, that too during Ramadan. She adds, “They deliberately chose to attack us when we were physically weak, when we were fasting and praying.” Like Dr. Hosseini, Mohsen Ali Shirazi, a fifth-generation Iranian with roots in Shiraz (southern Iran), also frequently checks up on his relatives in Iran. “A few weeks ago, there was a bomb blast near our new house in Iran, which was built by my wife, a civil engineer,” says Shirazi, who runs Active Arena, a sports center in Marathahalli, Bengaluru. Shirazi came to India in 1994 and completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Christ College, Bengaluru. He speaks Hindi and English fluently. protests not allowed Shirazi complains that Iranian expatriates are not allowed to protest against the US–Israeli war on Iran. “We are also not allowed to put up banners displaying photographs of revered religious scholars at private functions held in residences and prayer rooms,” he says. Citing a recent incident he says: “A few hours after the confirmation of the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, about 2,500 members of our community gathered at Masjid-e-Askari, a mosque in Richmond Town, to mourn his death. The police initially refused permission, later gave permission after negotiations, but a few days later filed an FIR against 17 people, including an MLA.” Remembering Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (centre) during a visit to Bengaluru in 1981.

A prominent Iranian businessman based in Sadashivnagar, who did not want to be named, recalls hosting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his 1981 visit to India. He picked her up from the airport and kept her at his house in Sadashivnagar for three days. “People will suggest naming my house after Khamenei after the visit,” he says. Sharing anecdotes about Khamenei’s humility and piety, he says that Khamenei asked to prepare only one dish to avoid inconvenience, requested to be woken up at a specific time for the meeting, and slept on the carpet using his turban as a pillow and his cloak as a blanket. Khamenei’s assassination has devastated Shirazi. He says, “It is difficult to recover from loss. Even if I lose my children, my heart will not be broken.”gallery

Dr Zahra HussainiShe holds two patents, runs a dental clinic in RT Nagar, and has a high-profile clientele including cricketers.

Mohsin Ali ShiraziFifth generation Iranians identify as Indians of Iranian ethnicity. About 200 years ago, his great-grandfather and his friends and relatives came to India by ship via Mangaluru as horse traders, and supplied the Shiraz breed prized by the British. Shirazi says, they sold their horses in Kunigal and then moved to different parts of India.

Rebab-Al-KarimiHis family is originally from Shiraz in southern Iran. His great grandfather Agha Ali Askar Shirazi came to Bengaluru in 1824 with his two brothers with 300 Arab horses to sell to the British. Al-Karimi’s mother, now 90, has written a book titled ‘Agha Eli Askar’.

यूपी के कौशांबी जिले से एक चौंकाने वाला मामला सामने आया है, जिसने प्रशासन और आम लोगों दोनों को हैरान कर दिया है. सोशल मीडिया पर एक फोटो तेजी से वायरल हो रही है, जिसमें एक युवक खुद को मुख्यमंत्री के साथ दिखा रहा है. बताया जा रहा है कि ये फोटो असली नहीं है बल्कि इसे एडिट किया गया है. इस घटना के सामने आने के बाद इलाके में हड़कंप मच गया और लोगों के बीच यह चर्चा का विषय बन गया है. मामले में आरोप एक पंचायत सहायक पर लगा है, जिसने खुद को प्रभावशाली दिखाने के लिए यह कदम उठाया.

पंचायत सहायक पर फर्जी फोटो वायरल करने का आरोप
जानकारी के मुताबिक, मंझनपुर थाना क्षेत्र के मानपुर गौरा गांव निवासी पंचायत सहायक आशीष कुमार पर खुद को मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ का करीबी दिखाने के लिए एडिटेड फोटो सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल करने का आरोप लगा है. वायरल तस्वीर में आशीष कुमार मुख्यमंत्री के साथ खड़े नजर आ रहे हैं, लेकिन जांच में यह तस्वीर फर्जी बताई जा रही है. बताया जा रहा है कि इस फोटो के जरिए वह लोगों के बीच अपना दबदबा और दबदबा बढ़ाने की कोशिश कर रहे थे.

सोशल मीडिया पर बढ़ी नाराजगी, कार्रवाई की मांग
जैसे ही ये फोटो सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल हुई तो लोगों में गुस्सा फैल गया. स्थानीय लोगों ने इसे गलत और भ्रामक बताया है. उनका कहना है कि इस तरह की हरकतें समाज को गुमराह करती हैं और प्रशासन की छवि को नुकसान पहुंचाती हैं. कई लोगों ने आरोपियों के खिलाफ सख्त कार्रवाई की मांग भी उठाई है.

बीजेपी नेता ने की शिकायत, प्रशासन ने लिया संज्ञान
इस मामले को लेकर एक बीजेपी नेता ने संबंधित अधिकारियों से लिखित शिकायत की है. उनका कहना है कि ऐसी फर्जी तस्वीरें न सिर्फ जनता को गुमराह करती हैं बल्कि सरकार की छवि भी खराब करती हैं. पुलिस और प्रशासन ने भी मामले को गंभीरता से लेते हुए जांच शुरू कर दी है. अधिकारियों का कहना है कि फोटो वायरल करने वाले के खिलाफ नियमानुसार कार्रवाई की जाएगी.

जांच जारी है, जल्द ही कार्रवाई हो सकती है
फिलहाल पुलिस पूरे मामले की जांच कर रही है और यह पता लगाने की कोशिश कर रही है कि यह फोटो कैसे बनाई गई और इसे किस मकसद से फैलाया गया. प्रशासन का कहना है कि दोषी पाए जाने पर आरोपियों के खिलाफ सख्त कानूनी कार्रवाई की जाएगी. इस घटना ने एक बार फिर सोशल मीडिया के दुरुपयोग पर सवाल खड़े कर दिए हैं.

(रिपोर्ट: राम किशन, कौशांबी)

Saudi Arabia launches 5 rail routes to cut cargo time and costs / Image: File

saudi arabia has taken a major step towards reshaping regional trade by launching five new rail logistics routes that promise faster freight movement and lower transportation costs. The move is set to strengthen links between the Gulf ports and key economic hubs across the kingdom, making the supply chain more efficient and reliable. As global trade becomes more competitive, this initiative positions Saudi Arabia as a vital link between sea routes and inland markets.Announced by Saudi Railways Company, the new corridors are part of a broader effort to modernize logistics under Vision 2030. By shifting cargo transportation from road to rail, officials aim to reduce congestion, improve delivery timelines and reduce costs for businesses and consumers.

Saudi’s new rail logistics route

The five routes are designed to directly connect major Gulf ports to inland dry ports, industrial areas and commercial centers such as Riyadh. This integrated network allows cargo to move seamlessly from ships to trains and then to domestic markets without any delay.According to Saudi Railways Company, these routes enhance connectivity between ports and economic centres, ensuring smooth cargo flow throughout the kingdom. The focus is on building an integrated logistics ecosystem where maritime and rail operations work together, reducing reliance on long-haul trucking and making freight movements more predictable.

Benefits for business and consumers

The biggest advantage of the new rail corridors is the potential for significant reduction in transit time. Rail transport, especially for large volumes of goods, provides a more consistent and efficient alternative to road freight transport. With the rapid shift from ports to cities, businesses can expect better supply chain performance and lower operating costs.In an official post on X, Saudi Railways Company said the initiative aims to “enhance logistics connectivity between ports and economic centres” while ensuring smoother and more efficient flow of cargo. The change is also expected to reduce highway congestion and emissions in line with sustainability goals.For consumers, the impact can be indirect but meaningful: faster logistics and lower transportation costs often translate into more stable prices and quicker availability of goods in the market.

Possible rollout of 5 rail routes

Although Saudi Railways Company has not publicly detailed the exact breakdown of all five routes, the rollout is expected to align with Saudi Arabia’s existing and expanding freight rail network. Industry patterns suggest that these corridors will likely link major Gulf ports to inland logistics centers such as Riyadh, Dammam and key industrial areas in the Eastern Province.Given the Kingdom’s current rail infrastructure, the routes could integrate port connections to the Arabian Gulf into the Saudi Landbridge project, which aims to link the east and west coasts. This will allow goods arriving at Gulf ports to be moved efficiently across the country and potentially to Red Sea ports, creating a seamless international trade corridor.The rollout is also expected to prioritize high-volume cargo lanes, where shifting freight traffic from road to rail could provide the greatest gains in speed and cost efficiency. Over time, these routes may be further expanded to support cross-border GCC connectivity, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role as a central logistics hub under Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy

The launch of these routes reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-term ambition to become a global logistics hub under Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in transportation infrastructure, including railways, ports and logistics sectors, to diversify its economy beyond oil.Saudi Railways Company is playing a central role in this transformation by expanding freight capacities and improving multimodal connectivity. By connecting Gulf ports to inland economic centres, the new routes strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a bridge between Asia, Europe and the wider Middle East.Once these corridors are fully operational, they are expected to boost trade efficiency and deepen regional integration across the Gulf, creating a faster, more connected logistics network for the future.