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The Erie Canal — Utica is one of the “Big Five" canal cities across the heart of New York, together with Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. At one point it was the 28th largest city in the collectige US and equal in size to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. It was the global hub for textiles prior to Globalisation. The Erie Canal is what brought exponential growth to New York and what inspired the monicker “Empire State.”The city, located in eastern Central New York, is close by inumerable recreational opportunities and attractions in the Adriondacks, the Leathersrocking region, and the Thousand Islands. The city, has much to offer within itself however. Costs are low and recreational opportunities are high, in and around Utica.Immigrants — Utica was formerly 40% Italian as massive floods of Italian and Irish immigrants entered the city. Diverse immigration continues today, with large numbers of Slavs and Eurasians, such as Bosnians, Russians, Poles; South Asians, such as Nepalese and Burmese; SE Asians such as Hmong, Laotians, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Bhutanese; as well as, African and Caribbean immigrants, and Hispanic inmigrants. Today 20% of the city is Italian, and it remains a democratic stronghold. 26% of the city is foreign-born, and at least 40 or 50 languages are spoken at home.Local foods!: Utica Greens, Half-moon cookies, Chicken Riggies, Tomato Pie, (etc.)(Tomato Pie is shared with Philly, so we'd like to welcome all Philly visitors!! ;) )As well as dozens of scores of ethnic and local restaurants. Delicious food absolutely abounds in the city.Mafia — Utica was known as Sin City as the result of tumultuous mob wars. The city was known for it's deep and thorough connexions in organised crime — specifically the Italian Mob. If you wanted a government job, you talked to the mob.Breweries and Alcohol:Matt Brewing Company—UTICA CLUBUtica IPA — the first beer sold at the end of Prohibition.—SaranacSaranac Beers and Soft Drinks are consistent top-prize winners of Beer competitions across N. America. German in tradition, often with a kick of mearby spirit from the grogeous Adirondack Mountains...Arts and ArchitectureThe Carlile Building — predecessor to the Flatiron building and a symbol of Utica.The city boasts a diverse range of architecture. A brief snapshot:The Munson Williams Proctor Institute — a renowned art school and museum. It is associated with the Pratt Institute.The Stanley TheatreHamilton CollegeLocated in Clinton (a suburban community to Utica). Hamilton is ranked as one of the top global colleges and contends as the top Liberal Arts college in the collective US.SUNY POLY(TECHNICAL Institute)[Formerly: SUNY IT]Located in Marcy (another suburb.)The premiere technical college for engineering, maths and CS within the SUNY system. Upon completion the new Cree microchip factory will allow students to gain internship experience, while expanding upon the areas seisomgraphic stability and position along multiple major power grids, ensuring stable production of 21st century goods.St Luke's, Utica College and MVCC are also well knownHome to various sports teams including AHL teams such as the Utica Cometsand prior Utica Devils.Hosted by:The Utica Memorial Auditoriun [and Adirondack Bank Center] — “The AUD"With room for more coming soon at the:The Nexus StadiumThe Valley View Golf Club is available for golf recreation within the cityThe city is home to the Bank of UticaAnd has been immortalised as a subject of Monopoly:Val Bialas Sports Center — “Located in the heart of Utica, it is one of only two ski areas within city limits in the country. The winter sports complex within the city's Roscoe Conkling Park has a 400-foot hill with lights for evening alpine skiing; cross-country trails and an ice skating rink. The area is also popular for tubing.”The Utica Zoo — where there are many seasonal and holiday events.{Yes, I know there are supposedly other animals, I just have an overwhelming obsession with Red pandas xd ask in the comments section for other animal species xD}The city, located in Oneida county, is also known by it's Oneida name, as bilingually present on the seal and police logo.The Oneida nation is close by, including the luxury Turning Stone Resort and Casino:The suburb of New Hartford — a wealthy business suburb, known for upscale homes and extensive shopping districts, including the Sangertown Mall and Riverside Mall. .Manufacturing and former Manufacturing legacies.The city was known as a manufacturing powerhouse. Goods produced in the city such as Oneida Ltd cutlery (a company founded and headquartered in neighbouring Sherril, the smallest city in NY and within Utica's metro area) are one of the many goods which can still be found in common distribution. Production for the company had been driven out with the era of globalisation, but has resumed as the destributor of cutlery for the US armed forces.Cutlery of other manufacturers is also still produced in Utica. The Utica Cutlery Company still produces goods locally.Urban Exploreration, Urban decay and Ghost Hunting.The Old Main, New York's first Lunatic Asylum — often said to be haunted.“Opened in 1843 as the first state-run hospital for treating the mentally ill, the former New York State Lunatic Asylum was considered state of the art at the time of its completion. However, the good intentions of creating a treatment center were rarely supportive and caring. Within the massive Greek Revival hospital, facilitators regularly performed lobotomies and electroshock therapy. Patients lived in filth, confined to cramped quarters with little care. It was here that doctors invented the Utica Crib, an inhuman, long, shallow cage where they kept agitated people to calm them down or to punish misbehaving residents. Though it closed in 1973, Old Main (the local nickname for it) still stands. Some people claim they’ve seen faces looking out the window and heard screams coming from the abandoned building. Today, it’s mostly off-limits to the public, but in the government has sponsored occasional ghost tours as recently as last summer.”The abandoned Charles Town Mall is a popular Urban decay destination. (Note: to my knowledge entry isn't explicitly allowed.)Other abandoned buildings and factories dot the city. As a midsized-city, Utica's infrastructure is designed for a population of over 100,000. A population which was struck down hard by the conditions of the Rust Belt. Much of the population has however, moved to the local suburban communities.Some buildings have found new purposes, such as this former Methodist Church which was saved from destruction and concerted into a Bosnian Mosque.Utica is home to numerous Cultural Events and organisations:Due to the high number of Irish Immigrants who settled in Utica, Irish identity remains proud. St Patrick's Day is a heavily celebrated holiday in the city, one with extreme fanfare, however it is not the last stop for Irish and Celtic culture.Utica and the neighbouring Frankfort fairgrounds are home to — the Great American Irish FestivalEthnic Cultural Centres also dot the city, pictured below, an Irish Community Centre and Tavern (one of many ethnic groups represented with respective centres):The New York Railroad.Union Station — now part of Amtrak with connexions East and West between the Big Five Canal cities, and scenic connexions North to/via Thendara (roughly Old Forge, one of the major tourist villages -comllete with the largest waterpark in NY- in the massive recreational back yard the city neighbours, the Adirondacks). The beautiful station has seen continued new life breathed into it as investments into amtrak have resulted in increasing ridership. The bold architecture remains a breathtaking reminder of the past when train travel was the principle route to travel across New York.Utica Coffee — a popular staple in the region for coffee fanatics.Bagg's Square Brewing CompanyThere are also numerous historical places and famous persons of Utica. However, since this article is getting rather lengthy, we'll wrap things up.Last but not least, we have to coverThe BoilermakerCount down for the race is measured throughout the year via clock on one of the well-known buildings of the city.The biggest 15k run in the USA, and maybe world. The race attracts contestants globally.The race ends in the Brewery district, and Courtesy Alcohol is provided for the contestants.Welcome, to Utica

I am from India and belong to the state of Kerala. India is a huge continent-sized country with many states as large as many countries in Europe or Latin America. Due to this, the culture of India is so diverse and varies between states and places. So as Islamic culture of my state Kerala is mostly unique and exclusive to our region, not comparable to Islam practiced in other parts of India.One most unique factor is that Kerala was the first place where Islam spread into after its origins in Arabia, in South Asia. Islam came to Kerala during the lifetime of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) much before the religion spread even to other parts of Middle East.Though its a myth and folklore with little direct historical evidence, its widely believed that the last Emperor of Kerala - Cheraman Perumal became the first Muslim convert after he had a strange dream of the splitting of the moon. The dream haunted him for months, untill a few Arab merchants in his court advised him to meet Prophet Mohammed of Mecca to resolve his dilemma. And accordingly, he traveled to Mecca and met Prophet who helped him to understand the ultimate truth and thus converted to the Islamic faith. With his blessings, the Emperor married the daughter of Najd Ruler (modern Riyadh) and on his travel back to Kerala, he passed away near Salalah in today’s Oman where a tomb was commissioned in his honor which exists today. Prior to his death, a royal will was signed and sent back to Kerala along with Prophet’s closest companion- Malik Dinar who came to the imperial capital of Cheras- the Mahodayapuram (modern Kodungallor) where the first Mosque in the Indian subcontinent was established.Though the folktale has little evidence, historical evidence highlight India’s first mosque was indeed located in Kodungallor, which is popularly known as Cheraman Pally (The Royal Mosque of Cheras) which was built around 629 AD, thus becoming one of the oldest mosques in the world, the first in South Asia. The mosque thus retains some of the old Kerala temple concepts like facing towards east (instead of Makkah), burning oil lamps inside the shrine with traditional Sopanam (holy steps) etc and similar rituals and customsOriginal Cherman Mosque which got destroyed several times due to floods etc. The original design resembles much to the likes of Hindu temple plan, which was redesigned to current Arabic style in 1950s. As part of a revival of heritage plans, the mosque is scheduled to be redesigned back to its old styleMalik Dinar Mosque- the second oldest mosque in the country built in the 8th century that has the tomb of Malik Dinar, Prophet Mohammed’s beloved companion who brought Islam to KeralaAnd that highlights the key essence of Islam in Kerala. Unlike North India which experienced brutal invasions of Political Islam that marked its entry, Islam reached the shores of Kerala nearly 400 years before via trade and peace. Prophet’s companion- Malik Deenar, is widely credited for bringing the message of Prophet to Kerala and thus regarded as one of the holiest missionary for Muslims in the state. He established some of the oldest mosques in the country majority being in Kerala and Maldives, all dating in the late 7th century and early 8th century, and finally laid to rest in Thalangara, Kasaragod.Thazhathangady Juma Mosque, A 1000-year-old mosque in Kottayam is noted for its traditional Kerala architecture that resembles Temple with extensive woodwork, showcases the blend of Islam into Kerala cultureMishkal Mosque, an iconic mosque in Kozhikode is a classic specimen of Kerala Islamic Architecture. The Mosque was the site of Portuguese attack against the Calicut Kingdom in 16th century which led to its partial destruction, only to reconstructed by Hindu Zamorin under state patronagePonnani Valiya Pally- known as Mecca of Kerala, is one of the holiest shrines in Kerala, as it was established by one of the descendants of Prophet Mohammed. It's still the key seat of Islam in Kerala and hub of Islamic education and culture.Why Ponnanni is the 'Mecca' of MalabarCalvetty Pally of Kochi, located close to the original Palace of Kochi Kings, commissioned when the capital was shifted to Kochi Island in 14th century under state patronage. Designed in original Kerala-Arabic style, the mosque was the only non-Hindu structure to have copper roofs, a privilege only for Hindu temples in that era.As Islam came to Kerala via Arab traders, much of Islamic values followed in the state remain as to the early school of Islam- the Shafi‘i School of Islam contrary to the Hanafi school of Islam as followed in rest of India. Much of Kerala’s Islam was influenced by Arab trader community of modern-day Yemen and West coast of Arabia (old Hejaz region), thus Kerala Islam is much in common with traditions as followed in Indonesia-Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives and East African coast rather than rest of India.Islam is currently a major religion in Kerala. Muslims represent 26.5% of Kerala’s population and almost everyone practices the Sunni branch of Islamic faith. Kerala never had any indigenous Shia cult despite of its traditional cultural linkages with Persia.Muslims community always played a key role in Kerala’s socio-cultural and political history. While Muslim community is almost fairly distributed across the state, the Malabar region of Kerala (North Kerala) has a much larger concentration of Muslims, due to traditional cultural linkages of Malabar with Arabia and due to the reason, Kerala Islamic culture is heavily mixed with Arabic essence along with local traditions. Unlike rest of India, the local Islam isn’t influenced by Turkic/Central Asian Islamic influences as seen in Northern parts of India.Kollam Copper Plate- an Imperial grant issued to Muslims in 9th century in Old Malayalam script along with Kufic Arabic and Persian Pahlavi script that grants princely status to Muslim leaders and community in the societyDue to its peaceful entry, the faith got strongly rooted in an unusual combination with local Hindu customs. Arab merchants were the key linkage between Kerala and Europe for the exotic spices that were of high demand since times immemorial. This trade connection, slowly made many Arabs merchants marry local Hindu ladies and their children thus became the Mappila community (the initial Muslim community). And due to this reason, Mappilla community have a very mixed tradition between Kerala Hindu and Arab cultures. Most of the initial marriages of Arab traders were with the Nair community in 8th century and thus Mappillas were almost seen as an extension of the Nair community. When Caste system came up by 11th century due to the rise of Brahminical Hinduism over Kerala’s political sphere, Nairs became an upper caste community mostly as feudal lords and administration class, which also resulted in Mappilla community to be accorded the same status as that of Nairs. Thus within a shorter span of 3 to 4 centuries after the arrival of Islam to Kerala, Mappilla community almost became a major administrative and marital community along with their original trait as a trading community. This lead to the formation of a strong aristocracy culture within the Mappilla community, especially in Malabar side with a huge impact in the cultural and literature due to the strong stately patronage.Documentary of Uru- the wooden shipbuilding industry which changed the course of Mappilla history in KeralaUrus, that made Mappillas, the biggest mercantile community acting as a social linkage between Kerala and ArabiaThe trade linkage with Arabs, helped Mappila Muslim community to become the major mercantile community with natural traits over sea sailing and commanding large merchant ships. This gave birth to a huge Shipbuilding tradition called Urus (Wooden Ships) primarily based in and around Kozhikode and Malabar area. These Urus were of high demand by Arab community which soon became the Arab Dhows and thus further cemented higher degree of sea trading between Mappillas and Arabs. Even today, the Arab world considers Malabar Urus as the finest Dhows for leisure and cultural purposes that has considerable Arab Royal patronage.The shipbuilding culture of Kerala thus heavily associated with Islam and gave birth to a new class of Muslim community called Marakkar. Marakkar originally means Sailors, but soon resulted in the formation of a separate community within Muslims in Kerala. This slowly started the formation of an unofficial caste system within Kerala Muslims with Mappillas representing the highest caste and others in respective levels of hierarchy.Documentary on Kunjali Marakkars- the Admiralty of KozhikodeHowever the rise of Marakkar community resulted in making them as a marital community too. Till 14th century, Kerala never had a concept of Navy as such as it was all limited to the land army. Marakkar community, being sailors had to fight a lot of sea piracy between Kerala and Arabia. This made them slowly trained in Kerala Martial artforms (Kalaripayattu) along with Turkish Naval tactics to secure their positions in a naval warfare against pirates. Thus slowly Marrikkars became major naval mercenaries available to local Kings of Kerala, which was heavily patronized by Zamorin of Kozhikode in his expansionist policy. Thus sooner Kozhikode became one of the major Kingdoms in India to have a stronger Naval unit and it became famous after its celebrated naval warfare against Portuguese (though the latter had an upper hand due to its more modern naval artillery). However, the heroics of Admiralty of Kozhikode at Ponnai Fort under the celebrated Admirals- Kunjali Marakkars against Portuguese were some of the noted naval military legacies of the country. Due to this reason, Indian Navy still considers Kunjali Marakkars and the Admiralty of Kozhikode as a key Indian Naval heritage and often many facilities of Indian Navy being named after them.Indian Navy’s commemorative Stamp and postal card issue to remember the heroics of Kunjali Marakkars as Admirals of Kozhikode who organized one of India’s first professional NavyThe Muslims of Kerala thus inherited two major traits primarily- the original trading traits of Arabs/Mappillas and then the sea-faring traits of Marakkar community. Even today, the majority of Kerala’s famous businessmen and trade community are dominated by Muslims who are ambitious and enterprising much on likes of Marwadi community of North India or Chettiyar community of Tamil Nadu.Unlike rest of India, Muslims of Kerala aren’t seen as a separate entity or have any sort of distinctive identity. In many parts of India, Muslims were historically trained to speak their language- Urdu (due to Persian influence) and distinctive cultural traits that keep them away from others. In Kerala, Muslims don’t know Urdu or any other language other than Malayalam. Due to this reason, there is a higher degree of integration for Muslims in Kerala with others. In the normal course, it's very hard to distinguish a Muslim from other communities.Caste systemKerala Muslims are mostly Sunnis. However, due to its traditional association with Hindu culture, Kerala Muslims do have an informal caste system within it, though officially never acknowledged.Panakkad Shihab Thangal, the recently demised Thangal. As spiritual head of Muslims of Kerala, Thangals are always seen as representative of Prophet Mohammed in KeralaThangals- The highest caste group within Muslim community in Kerala. They were originally Sayyids of Banu Hashim clan of Hejaz in Arabia and claims to be descendants of Prophet Mohammed’s family. The present-day Thangals are supposed to be descended from Sayyid families who migrated from the historic city of Tarim, in the Hadhramaut Province, Yemen, during the 17th century in order to propagate Islam on the Malabar Coast. The term- Thangal is an honorific title much like Shastri/Bhattathiripad etc seen among Hindu Brahmins. In short, Thangals are often associated to the Brahminical equivalent class for Muslims of Kerala. They hold the key spiritual positions among Muslims, heads of several Islamic Jurisprudence councils, Grand Imams of famous mosques and heads of various spiritual councils. The most famous of them, being the Thangal of Panakkad often seen somewhat like Pope of Kerala Muslims being the spiritual head of Sunnis of Kerala and his defacto position as head of Kerala Muslim League party, one of the major political parties of Kerala.Mappillas- The biggest community within Muslims of Kerala. They were the original Muslims of Kerala as formed since the 9th century. They were mostly aristocrats heavily associated as landlord community with many holding key positions in various Hindu Kingdoms of old Kerala. Apart from that, they were much in trade and business sectors and still seen as the most important business community of Kerala. The only Muslim Royal family of Kerala- the Arakkal Kingdom of Kannur (Arakkal Kotta), belongs to this community. And notably, the community was much similar to the Nair community in many social customs and attitudes, especially in its adherence to the matrilineal traditions which wasn’t seen in any other Islamic communities in general.Marakkar - The seafaring community among Muslims, which forms the third layer. They were mostly into ship service in past and even today. Much of Malayalees who are part of Indian Merchant Navy service comes from this community. Marakkar community is spread across Kerala, Lakshadweep Island, Maldives and West coast of Sri Lanka. They also traditionally associated as a martial community, especially in naval warfare. A section of this community is associated with Shipbuilding business in Beypore who are generally referred to as Khalasis. They are extraordinary carpenters and heavily skilled in wood works. Another sub-community among is Nahas, a traditional word associated with Ship Captain in Arabic. However today they are seen as a separate community, though classified among Marakkar due to their seafaring traditions.Keyis and Koyas: These communities were originally Arab families who came and settled in Malabar by 15th-16th century. The Keyis were mostly from Hejaz region of Saudi while Koyas were mostly from Salalah of Oman. Keyis were extraordinary businessmen, notably famous for their diamond and spice trade. However, they soon emerged as key political figures who worked as mediators between British East India Company and local Kings of Malabar as well as earned repute among Hindu rulers of Malabar for saving many during Tipu’s invasion. Koyas on other hand were clerks and officials who worked in Zamorin’s court and thus seen mostly as the official class. Though these communities were highly influential in past and modern politics of Kerala, Mappilla community continue to see them as semi-foreigners, hence delegated to lower hierarchy.Pusalans : A lower caste among Muslims. They were mostly the converts who were originally lower caste members from Hindu community, converted into Islam since the 18th century, especially during the time of Tipu’s invasion. The term Pusalan is an abbreviation of the word- Puthiya Islam (Neo Converts). As Mappillas consider themselves as Nair equivalent, they often had a strong caste conscious and saw other lower castes in Hindus with social disgust just like any caste Hindus of that time. This made the same Mappila community to see these people when converted to Islam with similar levels of social disgust. Often these lower castes were darker in complexion which reinforced the racial bias against them as Mappillas had mostly Caucasian features due to their Arab mixed genes. Majority of them traditionally work as fishermen (Mukkavar), Market labourers (Angadikar), bonded farm labourers, servants etc, though much of these caste bias have reduced since the Reniassance era of 1900s and formation of several Muslim associations aimed to eradicate the bias against them.Ossans : The lowest caste among Muslims, much equivalent to Avarnas of Hindu community. Ossans, however, is much required for Mappilla community as being a traditional barber and circumcisionist community. As Mappilla community practiced untouchability to a degree, they considered many Pusalans as untouchables. Though Ossans were the lowest ranked community, had traditional rights to touch a Mappilla man, especially for grooming purposes as Mappilla Muslims maintained an extraordinary standard in grooming. So as circumcision is an important act for Muslim men, this community thus held an important status. Ossan ladies also worked in the kitchens of Mappillas as assistants or support staff.OutsidersThere are few Muslim communities, which Mappilla communities regarded as outsiders and hence never ranked in the social hierarchy. These are primarily Tamil/Deccan Muslim communities who came to Kerala for trade. Mappillas rarely considered them as genuine Muslims due to their difference in the school of thought (most of these communities believe in Hanafi school contrary to Shafi school of Mappillas). This includes Rawather community seen in Palakkad, Labbi communities of Travancore, Nainar/Memom/Kutchi communities of Cochin, Bohras of Kozhikode, Kannur and Kochi, Vattakkolis of Kasargod and Dakhni Pathans of Central Travancore. Due to the traditional hostile attitudes of local Muslims against them with several degrees of social discriminations, these communities never grew in size, thus reduced to minuscule minorities, mostly concentrated in these areas.Though Muslims of Kerala never admits the existence of a caste system in their society, most of them unofficially adhere to these class codes which is part of the social system of Islam in Kerala. The degrees of discrimination have widely reduced due to the rise of Renaissance values. But like Hindu society, the class values have something deeply ingrained in the social consciousness which often comes to play for family alliances etc.Apart from the traditional caste system, modern Muslims of Kerala are widely divided between various spiritual groups and camps. This division comes primarily over the question of reformation of values and traditions as well as political attitudes.The Muslim society is heavily divided between various social groups due to attitudes towards reforms and Quranic jurisprudence. The key groups areSamasatha Kerala Jamyithul UlemaThe Scholar council of Samsatha Kerala Jamyitul UlemaThe largest body among Sunni Muslims, popularly known as Samastha who strictly adhere to the Sufism and traditional liberal school of Shafism. They believe in the continuity of various traditions and local customs which they believe is as holy as original Quranic concepts. Though being orthodox, they are highly moderate in their views and believe in liberal approach. This body is primarily divided between EK Sunni camp named after their leader E K Abubacker Musaliyar and AP Sunni camp named after their leader- A P Abubacker Musaliyar. Generally, EK Sunnis are pro-moderate and aligned with Indian National Congress values. They form the basis of Muslim League in Kerala, while AP Sunni camp believes in Socialist Islam and heavily adheres to Left values and thus close to Communist party.Kerala Nadvathul MujahideenKNM Annual State MeetingThe reformist group, who wanted to bypass all local traditions and customs by returning to puritan values as indicated in Quran. They are upholders of Salafism. This groups started off as reformists by asking Muslims to end many orthodox (yet liberal) traditions and returning back to puritan concepts which actually was an ultra-conservative in nature (equivalent to Wahabbism of Saudi). However they played a key role in reducing caste discrimination as well as other traditional evils in Sunni societyJamat Islami HindThe Leftist group within the Muslim community, which is equivalent to the Muslim Brotherhood, that aims for an Islamic society adhered in liberal democracy and socialist values. They believe, there is no distinction between religious and material life, so as to maximize religious beliefs in the material word. As being a progressive group, they maximize Islamic principles in social life like the concept of Islamic Banking, Islamic higher education, modern medical knowledge, and research etc. They are highly against US policies and considers a majority of it as Western Imperialism.Dakshina Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema.While the other three are primarily based in Malabar, this group represents the Muslim society in Travancore and Kochi belt. They adhere to Deobandi thoughts and believes in the traditional system of Islam community.Apart from these, there are more than 40 to 50 fractions and sub-organizations, making Muslim community in Kerala, the most fractionalized/fractured community in the state.PoliticsMuslims community is strongly connected to Kerala politics as a major electorate force. The oldest party among Muslims of Kerala is the Indian Union Muslim League which is primarily based in Kerala. This party holds a huge social appeal among Muslims of Kerala, due to its history as being the only state unit of All India Muslim League (which demanded the division of British India) that opposed the concept of formation of Pakistan by dividing India into communal lines. Due to this, they left AIML and formed IUML and eventually became the second leading partner of Congress-led UDFIUML has a strong representation in Kerala State Assembly and even successfully able to place their leader CH Mohammed Koya as Chief Minister of Kerala.CH Mohammed Koya. Kerala’s first and only Muslim Chief Minister.There are several smaller Muslim political parties like INL, SIO, Welfare Party, Popular Front and many like that, which primarily opposed to the moderate stand of IUML in Kerala Politics. Being radicalized parties, they rarely able to find electoral success in KeralaArun Mohan (അരുൺ മോഹൻ)'s answer to What is your view about Congress making an alliance with IUML, whose ideology is communal?Islamic educationMuslim society gives huge importance to religious education which is part of worldwide Islamic culture. In Kerala too, Islamic education is highly regarded among Muslims. Unlike many other states, there is no state-level Govt sponsored board/curriculum for Islamic education. As Muslim society in Kerala is heavily fractured between various spiritual camps, there are multiple Islamic education boards formed by these groups.Samasatha controls the majority of Madarasas in Kerala.The traditional madarasa is called Othupally and found attached to the majority of traditional mosques where Quran and Hadiths are taught primarily in Arabi-Malayalam (a mixture of Arabic and Malayalam). The imam of the mosque also acts as the teacher of the Othupalli and gives basic Islamic education to the children of the area. Students here are taught surahs and duas from Quran and learn to read basic Arabic words to read Quran. They will also learn how to pray and other basic Islamic teachings are imparted.Single teacher Madarasa/Othupally as common in most of the mosquesThe next tier is called Dar Pallikoodams or Islamic Schools, which is very unique to Kerala. Almost all major mosques have an inhouse school located in the second floor of the Masjid where students can reside and study. A selected few from each locality gets right to live and study during their free time as well as during holidays etc. While the study in such a dedicated facility, they have a secondary role to go to other houses of each locality and teach others what they have learned from the facility. A Dar student has traditional rights to visit any Muslim family in a locality and propagate what he learned from the Dar to the younger ones of the family.Dar Pallikkoodams, one of the major Islamic residential training facilities.Normally each Dar accommodates a maximum of 50 to 100 students at a time under the guidance of an Islamic scholar. Many Dars have been modernized with the use of digital facilities and use of computer-aided educationThe third tier is Islamia Colleges or more popularly known- Arabic colleges. Technically these colleges are normal colleges teaching non-religious subjects (mostly arts and humanities) with additional subjects on Islamic education, Quran and Arabic literature. They are mostly residential in nature and aimed to provide modern education streams along with religious education.Regular Islamia/Arabic colleges where non-religious topics are taught apart from religious subjects.Further, there are few Islamic research centers mostly affiliated to International Islamic universities (mostly Al Azhar of Egypt or Madina University of Saudi) that have higher education in field of theology and religious studies.Darul Huda, one of Kerala’s largest Islamic Universities that offers higher eduation in Islamic studies and research in theology apart from secular subjects linked with Govt of India’s Indira Gandhi Open UniversityAs there are no government level boards to monitor or standardize the curriculum of Madarassas, each major organization has their own Religious Education Curriculum Board, with Samastha being the largest. Almost all of these boards have public examinations as well as scholarship options.Modern EducationTraditionally Muslim community used to view Modern Education as a Western tool to subordinate locals. The traditional rivalry between Muslims and Portuguese has created an extreme distrust among Muslim community for English Education as much of these were originally carried out by Missionaries with the support of local Kings.Various Ulemas often issued Fatwas asking Muslims not to enroll for modern English or even Malayalam schools following Western curriculum concept. This made Muslim community extremely backward since 19th century and they lost many economic and administrative opportunities which all got linked with Modern education.After the 1920s Mappilla riots, there was a huge change in attitudes of the Muslim community across Kerala. There was an urge within the community to move modern and seek modern education. Post Mappilla riots, there was a revisionist movement within Muslim community with several educated youngsters decrying against the orthodoxy of Ulemas and others resulted in forming Kerala Muslim Aikya Sanghom in 1922. The aim of Sanghom was to be a Muslim Educational Missionary much on likes of Christian missionaries.Farooq College, popularly known as Aligarh of Kerala, is the first modern college with secular subjects formed by Muslim communityThe first major modern education formed was Farooq College in Calicut which was designed on lines of Kottayam’s famed Christan Mission Society College (CMS) in 1943 which eventually became Aligarh of Kerala. The Sanghom had campaigned among Muslim community to enroll in professional colleges and seek modern education aggressively which changed the profile of Muslim society radically. Several Muslim industrialists started establishing professional educational institutions like TKM Institutions (One of Kerala’s most premier Engineering and technical institution), MES (Muslim Educational Society) with its chain of modern institutions who also still play a key role in challenging Islamic orthodoxy, KMCT as well as Al Ameen Group for its network of schools.TKM, one of Kerala’s premier technical colleges based in Kollam. The group has further expanded to all streams of education and regarded as pioneer in modern education among the Muslim community.In addition, several aided schools were established under Muslim Management, pushing the Muslim education enrollment and literacy to higher rates contrary to many other parts of the countryKerala ahead in enrolment of Muslim students in schools - Times of IndiaMuslim FashionMost of Muslim men spots in normal dressing as common to other Malayalee men with a preference to white garments and normally spot in Mundu worn towards left.Traditional Muslim women fashion as modelled for a photo shootTraditionally Muslim men used to wear almost an attire similar to Nairs, ie white Mundu. However they wear the mundu other way round, ie the borders of Mundu comes on left side, inside of the right side which is the usual custom. So as they spot either Thalangara Cap or white turban coupled with a white shirt.Ladies traditionally used to wear starched Mundu with a loose jacket (Kuppayam) and a head shawl called Thattam.However with massive Arabic influences due to the large-scale migration of Muslim youth to Middle east, a lot of Arabization has happened when the introduction of Arab styled Burqas dubbed as a religious dress for ladies. Saying so, most of the progressive Muslim girls, prefer normal Churidar or Sarees etc with full covered blouses and a head shawl.On contrary Muslim boys are highly positive to western fashion and its very common to spot them in latest freaky western fashion.Arts and cultureIslam in Kerala has heavily contributed to arts and culture in a very big way, especially poetry and literature. This is primarily due to the traditional Arabic influence which stresses heavily on classical poetry and calligraphy.Muslims have prefected a distinctive stream of music in Kerala called Mappillapattu. The Mappilla pattukal (Muslim Songs) have an unusual blend of Persian and Dravidian music styles and used to praise the greatness of Prophet Mohammed and stories from Quran and Hadiths. Over a period of time, more diverse topics such as nature, romance etc have crept in and enriched the content in a very big way.The viral song due to the wink girl- Priya Warrier is a classic example of Mappilla songs in modern cinema due to its popularity. The song is a classic Mappillapattu that describes Prophet Mohammed’s love with his wife- Khadeeja Beevi at MeccaSongs like Ente Khalbilee etc highlights the extent of popularity of Mappilla songs among Malayalees.Today Mappilla-pattukkal is one of the most popular musical streams of Kerala, enjoyed by all segments of society and a popular option for movies as well as other options.Ishal recitals, the famous Islamic Malayalam poetry culture is very popular in KeralaThe Mappillapattu culture also gave birth to a huge poetry concerts culture called Ishalravvu. It's very common in Malabar region where Muslim influences are high and off-recently many Malayalam channels do host such programs attracting even Non-Muslims for such concerts.Oppanna song as featured in a movieMappilla pattukkal is heavily used for wedding ceremonies and gave birth to a Muslim danceform called Oppanna, celebrating the bride’s romantic imaginations.Traditional Duffmuttu as performed for a competitionAnother religious artform among Muslims is Duffmuttu to commemorate Islamic festivals and special occasions. The key activity is to praise the heroics of great Islamic warriors and moments of glory by beating Duff, an Arabic instrument. A harder version of this artform called arabana muttu is equally popularSo as Kolkalli is a popular Islamic art (there is an Hindu version of the same artform) celebrated in North Malabar, which focuses on fast rhythmic steps.Mappilla literature is widely famous for its rustic, simplistic form of expression with use of satirical humor and day to day narratives of life in a simple way. This stream was heavily popularized and enriched by several celebrated Muslim writers with Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer being the most celebrated among them.The contribution of Muslims in the Development of Malayalam Language and LiteratureIslam is a well-integrated religion in Kerala and part of the Malayalee fabric. There are indeed concerns of rising radicalism, mostly fuelled by Islamic radical groups with imported ideologies, though it's still very minuscule in the society and often exaggerated in media. Such issues are common everywhere. So keeping such topics aside. there is very little Islamophobia in the society and very low communal tensions in the society unlike in few other parts of the nation.Further readingA Peek to Kerala Muslim Cuisine

Let’s start with my favourite ones : Engineers1. Leonardo da Vincida Vinci, by all accounts, was good at a few things - painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, invention, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography. The usual. His engineering concepts were unfathomable at the time and still carry about an air of magic with them today - flying machines, a type of armoured fighting vehicle, concentrated solar power, an adding machine, and the double hull. Few of which were feasible then, but which are central to how we live today.2. Isambard Kingdom Brunel"One of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history"; "one of the 19th century engineering giants"; and "one of the greatest figures of the Industrial Revolution" - it's hard to overestimate the impact Brunel had on the infrastructure of modern Britain. It's appropriate he's on a list on this site too, having given his name to a modern day university. His greatest achievement is the Great Western Railway, which operates to this day.3. ArchimedesThe greatest of all the classical engineers, Archimedes has influenced for all time the fields of maths, physics, engineering and astronomy. Though little is known about the precise details of his life, what he invented and discovered is not in doubt - the screw pump and compound pulleys can be attributed to him. The island of Syracuse, where he lived all his life, were also protected by various defense mechanisms of his design.4. George StephensonBorn in Wylam, Northumberland, we could easily have included his son Robert on this list, who was called the greatest engineer of the 19th Century and rests at Westminister Abbey. Stephenson senior gets the nod, however, for doing it all first - he built the first public inter city railway line between Liverpool and Manchester in 1830. His rail gauge is also still used the world over as the standard measurement for rail tracks, which will no doubt be of interest to some of you.5. Gustave EiffelCan you guess what landmark world structure this chap is famous for? Aside from the eponymous Parisian tower, Eiffel built various bridges for the French railway network before being commissioned to built the centrepiece for the 1889 Universal Exposition. After this, Eiffel didn't just let his good name carry him through life - he helped design the Statue of Liberty, and contributed greatly to the fields of meteorology and aerodynamics.6. Henry FordNot the inventor of the modern car, but one of the most astute engineers and industrialists of all time who founded the Ford Motor Company and the assembly line method of mass production. This meant that Ford was, to all intents and purposes, the founder of the first motor car that the average person could afford, turning automobiles from a curiosity into a necessity. It's a shame that he was also a publisher of anti-semitic material, otherwise he would be hugely admirable.7. Elon MuskEngineer, businessman, inventor, genius - four of the many labels oft attached to South African-born Canadian Musk. Founder of SpaceX - which will almost certainly be taking the average joe on holiday to space sooner rather than later - Tesla Motors - electric cars that actually, you know, work - and SolarCity, which provide solar panels for businesses all over the world. Remember the name, but then again, how could you forget one as unusual as that?8. Burt RutanAerospace engineering now, and one of the most original modern engineers. Rutan's aircraft were often peculiar looking, but have always proven light, strong, and energy efficient. His greatest achievements number Voyager - the first plane to fly non-stop around the world - and SpaceShipOne - the first privately funded spacecraft to make regular and succesful trips into sub-orbit. Honoured in the National Air and Space Museum, he is also honoured on our list.9. Steve WozniakFrom structural to electronic engineering, from the biggest buildings on earth to some of the smallest but most revolutionary technology of the past few decades. Wozniak, along with Steve Jobs, pioneered the 1970s personal computer revolution. He single handedly developed the Apple I, and was arguably the main component in the development of the truly revolutionary Apple II - he did the programming, Jobs did the case it came in.10. Fazlur Rahman KhanBorn in Dhaka - then of the British Raj, today capital of Bangladesh - can claim the title of father of the modern skyscraper. This structural engineer and architect came up with tubular designs that allowed for the easier constructions of the high rise structures we know today. Also one of the first to utilise computer aided design techniques, his gifts to the US include their second tallest building, the Willis Tower, and the John Hancock Centre (pictured) - sorry, Center. It is American after all.The most celebrated astronauts :1. Yuri GagarinAs the first man to space, no list of famous astronauts would be complete without the Soviet/ Russian born cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. In 1955, he was drafted into the Soviet Air Force and then landed to the Soviet Space Program due to his excellent flying record. He was soon selected for a special group known as the Sochi Six, from which the country would choose its first cosmonaut.2. Alan ShepardEdgar D. Mitchell, Alan B. Shepard Jr. (center), and Stuart A. RoosaIn the midst of the Cold War, Russia’s Sputnik 1 launch in 1957, shook the America’s confidence in its space and tech superiority over the Soviets. This was the first major move from either side during the Space Race. In response, the then U.S President Eisenhower formed NASA and gave them the go ahead to recruit their first astronauts from military ranks.Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. was one of the first naval aviators who were recruited by NASA under the name of the Mercury Seven in 1959. In May 1961 he made the first manned Project Mercury flight, in flight Freedom 7. He became only the second person in the world, and the first American, to travel in space.3. Valentina TereshkovaValentina Tereshkova with Nikita Khrushchev, Pavel Popovich and Yury Gagarin at Lenin’s MausoleumAt the age of 80, the Russian born Valentina Tereshkova is the oldest astronaut alive on the Earth. She was also the first women into space, two years after Yuri Gagarin. Before becoming a cosmonaut, Tereshkova worked as an assembly worker in a local textile factory.She left the Soviet Space agency and became one of the well known faces of the Communist Party in the Soviet regime. From 1966 to 1991 she held various important legal offices. She remained politically active years after the collapse of the USSR and is regarded as a hero in Russia.4. Neil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong stands alongside X-15 -1Does this person need any formal introduction? I guess not. He is arguably the most famous astronauts, especially to kids who someday wants to become an astronaut. Born in 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Armstrong graduated from Purdue University and became a member of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics before becoming an astronaut.After the Mercury 7 program, NASA wanted to recruit a fresh line of astronauts, and that’s when Armstrong joined and became part of the Gemini program. On July 16th, 1969, Armstrong alongside “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins, became the first astronauts to walk on the moon’s surface (except Michael Collins).5. Buzz AldrinBuzz Aldrin made a history in the field of human space exploration after becoming a part of the first crew to land on the Moon in 1969. As the Module Pilot on Apollo 11, he was the second person to walk on it after the commander Neil Armstrong.Before joining NASA, he was enlisted as a second lieutenant in the U.S Air Force and was deployed in the Korean peninsula during the Korean War. Three years before, the Lunar mission Aldrin went into orbit for the first time during the Gemini 12 mission, and achieved the first successful EVA without mishap.6. Sally Kristen RideSally Ride communicates with controllers from the Challenger’s flight deckSally Kristen Ride was born in Los Angeles, Southern California in 1951. She joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the age of 27 and soon became the first women from the United States in space. Internationally, Sally Ride was only the third female astronaut in space after two Russian (USSR) cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya.7. John Herschel Glenn Jr.John Herschel Glenn was an engineer, U.S Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and later Senator from the state of Ohio. In 1962, he became the first U.S national to orbit the Earth following his Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Before being selected by NASA, Glenn was a prolific fighter pilot who served in various wars, including the World War II, China and Korean War.As a fighter pilot, he received various medals and honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and more than a dozen AIr medals. In 1957, he became the first person to perform a supersonic transcontinental flight across the country, while his on-board camera took the first ever panoramic photograph of the entire United States.8. Chris HadfieldChris Hadfield is one of the prominent Canadian astronauts, who became the first national to perform a space walk. Born and raised on a farm in southern Ontario, Hatfield’s biggest inspiration while growing up was watching the Apollo 11 landing on his T.V set. After graduation, he joined national Armed Forces, and was eventually accepted into the Canadian astronaut program in 1992.In 2013, during his third and last expedition to ISS, as a commander of the mission, Hadfield was responsible for various important tasks. During this mission, he captured various space images and posted on different social media platforms which earned him a great deal of popularity from around the world.9. Pete ConradCharles “Pete” Conrad Jr., was one of the highly respected American astronauts in the world. He was an American NASA astronaut, naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and during the Apollo 12 mission, he became the third man to walk on the Moon. He joined NASA as a part of a special group called New Nine in 1962.For his first mission, he was assigned to Gemini 5, where along with his mission commander Gordon Cooper, broke the previous space endurance record of five days. After Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Conrad and Alan L. Bean became the second NASA pair to perform Moon expedition in 1969.10. Alexey LeonovAlexey Leonov (on the right) with Anton ShkaplerovThe Soviet born Alexey Leonov was the first person to perform a spacewalk or more formally an Extravehicular activity (EVA) during the Voskhod 2 mission. Actually, his spacewalk was scheduled to be taken place during the Voskhod 1 mission, but was cancelled and was scheduled a year later.During this historic event, a severe malfunction in Leonov’s spacesuit almost caused his life. Due to a minor defect, his pressurized suit began to inflate during his space walk. The inflation quickly escalated to the levels that he couldn’t even re-enter the spacecraft. To gain flexibility, he released a valve of his suit to release the pressure to bleed off, but this resulted in a quick loss of oxygen, which nearly killed him.11. Scott KellyScott Kelly with Former U.S President Barack ObamaThe retired American astronaut, engineer and a former Navy captain Scott Kelly is perhaps one of the popular modern personality among the space lovers. The veteran NASA astronaut commanded a total of three International Space Station expeditions and been in space for four different occasions.Scott Kelly made it to orbit very quickly after becoming an astronaut. Only three years later, he was the pilot for STS-103, a shuttle mission that upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope. His crew spent eight days in December 1999 in space (including celebrating Christmas there), where their main duties were to install instruments and upgrade systems on Hubble.In 2015, Kelly achieved a milestone after he spent a record 520 days in space. The record was later broken by astronaut Jeff Williams in 2016 and astronaut Peggy Whitson year after.12. Guion BlufordOn August 30, 1983, for the first time in human space exploration history, astronaut Guion Bluford of African-American heritage went to the outer space. Before starting a career with NASA, Bluford was a ranked officer in the U.S Air Force, where he continued to serve even after his initial recruitment in the space agency.At NASA, he became part of a total of four different space missions from 1983 to 1992. For his services, Bluford was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1997, and the U.S Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2010.13. Marc GarneauImage Courtesy: NASAMarc Garneau became the first Canadian astronaut to the outer space, while he was assigned as one of the crew members to the STS-41-G in 1984. Like most of the early astronauts, Garneau also started in the military, as an engineer in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1974, before being promoted to Captain. He left Navy ranks in 1989 to become the deputy Director of the newly formed CAP (now Canadian Astronaut Corps).Here, he gained further experience and became a mission specialist. After working as a ground flight controller for couple of space missions, he himself went to outer space two times in 1984 and 1966. During his entire career, Garneau registered more than 670 space hours under his belt.14. Mae Carol JemisonJemison aboard the Spacelab JapanNot many in their life can achieve everything they crave for, but she sure did. Working with NASA, Mae Jemison became the first African American female into the outer space on-board the Endeavour space shuttle in 1992. Before NASA, she was selected in the Peace Corps in 1985 following her medical degree and a brief period of medical practice.At NASA, she administered various tasks in the Kennedy Space Center, Florida before going to space. She, however left NASA to form her own research firm. She is also famous among sci-fi fans for appearing in an episode of Star Trek. And that’s not all, Jemison currently holds nine honorary doctorates in engineering, science and humanities.And finally Physicians:1- Hippocrates( father of Western medicine)Hippocrates, about 460 BC – 377 BC, is a famous doctor and the father of Western medicine. As a physician practicing and teaching in Classical Greece, he made medicine a discipline separate from theology and philosophy. Hippocrates founded a school for medicine on the island of Cos, Greece, where he taught that thoughts, ideas and feelings come from the brain, rather than the heart. He described the symptoms of many diseases like pneumonia and epilepsy. The Hippocratic Corpus is a collection of early medical works from ancient Greece, a summary of the medical knowledge of the time, attributed to him and his students. Hippocrates introduced the Hippocratic Oath, a promise physicians make to practice medicine ethically, that is still used today in revised form.2- Edward JennerEdward Anthony Jenner, 1749 – 1823, was a famous English doctor and scientist who worked in immunology and developed the smallpox vaccine. His discovery has eradicated the dreaded disease of smallpox and saved more lives than the work of any other doctor. To this day, smallpox is the only human infectious disease to have been eradicated.Smallpox was an infectious disease since prehistoric time, killing, blinding and disfiguring its victims. The concept of variolation, using the smallpox virus itself for a risky inoculation, was introduced in England from Turkey by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. A few individuals had already used the cowpox vaccine to try to vaccinate against smallpox. Jenner knew that milkmaids who worked with cows got the milder cowpox disease from cows, but did not contract smallpox. Jenner hypothesized that the pus from cowpox would provide immunity from smallpox. He successfully tested his hypothesis and published papers on vaccination. He opened the field of immunology, with the possibility of curing many more diseases. Jenner died at the age of 73 after several strokes.3-Rene LaennecRene Laennec, 1781 – 1826 was a famous French doctor and physician who invented the stethoscope, used for auscultation, that is, listening to the sounds in the lungs and heart. It became the primary medical diagnostic tool. Doctors of today still rely on his invention.The idea for the stethoscope came while he watched children playing with hollow sticks, which translated and amplified sounds. His skill as a flautist may have contributed to his invention. He authored many articles in the field of auscultation. Laennec was known for his charity to the poor during the French Revolution.4-Henry GrayHenry Gray, 1827-1861, was a famous English doctor and surgeon and author of the book Anatomy, also known as Gray's Anatomy, an authoritative textbook for medical students that is still published today. In 1858 Doctor Gray published the first edition of Anatomy, with 750 pages and and 363 drawings. The success of the book is partly due to the skilled illustrations made by his friend Henry Vandyke Carter.Learning anatomy from surgery on cadavers, he submitted outstanding student work. Henry Gray was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society at the age of 25. He became a Lecturer of Anatomy at St. George's Hospital, and published the book he is known for at the age of 31. His promising career was interrupted by his untimely death from smallpox at the age of 34.5- Ignaz SemmelweisIgnaz Semmelweis, 1818-1865, was a famous Hungarian doctor. He dramatically reduced the death rate of new mothers from childbed fever. At this time the germ theory of infection was unknown in medicine. From 10% to 35% of all women died after childbirth from puerperal fever. Doctor Semmelweis worked at one of two Obstetrical Clinics of the Vienna General Hospital.These were charitable maternity clinics where illegitimate babies were delivered. Here surgeons staffed the first maternity clinic, and midwives staffed the second maternity clinic. The clinic staffed by surgeons had a death rate 3 times higher than the midwives' clinic. Semmelweis's careful study found that the only difference between the clinics was that midwives regularly washed their hands. He required doctors to wash their hands in a disinfectant solution of chlorinated lime and thus greatly improved the survival rate of women in childbirth.His published conclusions were widely ridiculed by his peers. Suffering from a nervous breakdown, possibly Alzheimer's or syphilis, Semmelweis was confined to an asylum, beaten by guards and died from his wounds two weeks after admission. His work gained acceptance only after his death.6-Louis pasteurLouis Pasteur. 1822 - 1895, was a French chemist and one of the founders of microbiology. He was not a licensed doctor, but he improved the health of everyone. His work proved the theory that germs cause disease. He was a professor of physics and then a professor of chemistry at the University of Strasbourg.The death of two of his five children from typhoid fever motivated him to study disease and medicine. In his breakthrough work Pasteur demonstrated that fermentation is caused by the growth of microorganisms. He discovered the pasteurization process to kill the bacteria and molds that spoil milk and wine. He created a rabies vaccine and a vaccine for chicken cholera. He also disproved the theory of spontaneous generation of life forms by showing the "life comes from other life," which is called the Law of Biogenesis. This law means that maggots come from maggots and bacteria from bacteria, rather than via spontaneous generation out of nothingness.Pasteur received many honors, including a Grand Croix of the Legion of Honor from France. His death came in 1895 after a series of strokes. His remains have been placed in a crypt in the Institut Pasteur, Paris.7-Joseph ListerJoseph Lister, 1827 - 1912 was a famous English doctor, surgeon and the father of antiseptic, that is, sterile surgery. He introduced carbolic acid to sterilize surgical instruments, to clean wounds, and to clean the hands of the surgeon. His work reduced gangrene and other infections and made surgery safer for patients.At this time wounds often became infected after surgery, which led to death. French chemist Louis Pasteur had proved that rotting and fermentation were caused by microorganisms. While professor of surgery at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, Doctor Lister showed that gangrene, the rotting of human flesh, could be prevented by cleaning wounds with carbolic acid. This was the first antiseptic treatment for wounds. Like Ignaz Semmelweis, Doctor Lister noticed that babies delivered by midwives had a better survival rate than babies delivered by surgeons, because midwives washed their hands often. He also had surgeons wash their hands before and after a surgery using a solution of carbolic acid, and wear clean gloves. He used carbolic acid to sterilize medical instruments and the surgery. Lister made surgery safer and improved the infant survival rate. His work finally convinced the worldwide medical community of the germ theory of infection, discovered by Ignaz Semmelweis.Doctor Lister showed that aseptic surgery made many types of operations successful. He operated on a brain tumor, repaired kneecaps with metal wire and improved mastectomies. He was a popular lecturer and president of the Royal Society. After the death of his wife Agnes, who was his lifetime partner in his laboratory, Lister retired from medicine. In 1879 Listerine mouthwash was named after him for his work in antisepsis. Also named in his honour is the bacterial genus Listeria. He received fame and honor during his lifetime, and was made a baron. He died in his home at the age of 84.8-Elizabeth BlackwellElizabeth Blackwell, 1821 – 1910, was the first female doctor in the United States. She founded medical schools and supported women in medicine, the anti-slavery movement and the women's rights movement. Blackwell was born in England, one of nine children in a Quaker family where the daughters received a good education at home. After the family emigrated to the United States, she taught school in Kentucky to pay for medical training. She studied medicine privately under several physicians, and was admitted, by mistake, to Geneva College in New York. In spite of much prejudice, in 1849 she became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, and graduated first in her class.In 1857, Doctor Blackwell along with her sister Emily and Dr. Marie Zakrzewska, founded the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. During the American Civil War, Blackwell trained many women to be nurses for the Union Army. In 1868 she established a Women's Medical College for women, physicians, and doctors. She opened the first training school for nurses in the United States in 1873. She also was the first woman to be registered in England as a doctor. Returning to England, she founded the Women's Medical College with Florence Nightingale. Doctor Blackwell remained an active teacher, lecturer and author until she died in 1910 at her home in England after a stroke.9-Frederick BantingFrederick Banting, 1891-1941, was a Canadian doctor and scientist. Working with Dr. John Macleod, he discovered insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.At college, he transferred from divinity studies to medicine. After graduation he served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in France in WWI. He was wounded and received the Military Cross for heroism under fire. Back in Toronto, Doctor Banting set up a general practice, and also taught medicine.It was generally known that diabetes was the buildup of sugar in the blood caused by the lack of insulin, a protein secreted by the pancreas. Banting devised a successful procedure to extract insulin from the pancreas. In 1923, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this work, which he shared with Dr. Macleod.In Toronto, he founded the Banting and Best Institute, where he studied silicosis, cancer, drowning and blackout of high-altitude airplane pilots. He has received many awards and honors, including knighthood. The Banting crater on the moon was named for him. Banting was portrayed by Jason Priestley in the film Above and Beyond.Twice married, father of one child and an enthusiastic painter, Doctor Banting died in a plane crash. A CBC public survey in 2004 named him one of the top 10 "Greatest Canadians."10-Charles DrewCharles R. Drew, 1904 - 1950, was a prominent African American doctor during the period of segregation in the United States. He is recognized for his work in the field of blood transfusions.The death of his sister Elsie during a flu pandemic influenced his decision to study medicine. Doctor Drew received his MD degree in 1933 and became instructor in pathology, then an instructor in surgery and an assistant surgeon. He studied blood preservation techniques, and received his Doctor of Science in Surgery from Columbia University, New York.During World War II, Doctor Drew organized the Blood for Britain project, a prototype blood bank to collect, test, store and send U.S. blood plasma to aid Britain. The successful program continued for five months and recruited 15,000 donors. Drew opposed the practice of segregating blood by the race of the donor, on the basis of scientific search. As a result, he lost his job. However, in 1943, he was appointed to serve as an examiner on the American Board of Surgery, the first black surgeon to do so.Doctor Drew worked in research and teaching at Freedman's Hospital, Morgan State University, Montreal General and Howard University. He died in 1946 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, leaving behind his wife and four children.11- Alexander FlemingAlexander Fleming, 1881 – 1955, was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. He is famous for his discovery of the antibiotic penicillin. Penicillin changed the course of medicine. It was the life-saving drug that conquered syphilis, gangrene and tuberculosis.By chance, Fleming discovered the anti-bacterial lysozyme, a natural substance found in tears and the nose that helps the body fight germs. He noticed that his own nasal mucus dripped onto a petri dish and killed the bacteria. Penicillin, the most effective life-saving drug in the world, was also discovered accidentally. While Fleming was on vacation, a mold had grown and destroyed the bacteria on a Petri dish in his lab. Fleming's discoveries are substances that can kill bacteria but not adversely affect the human body. Fleming was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945.12-Virginia ApgarVirginia Apgar, 1909 – 1974, was a famous American doctor who founded the field of neonatology for the care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature newborn. She was a leader in the fields of anesthesiology and teratology, the study of developmental defects. She developed the Apgar test to assess the health of babies immediately at birth and to study the effects of obstetric anesthesia on babies. Her work reduced worldwide infant mortality.Doctor Apgar graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. After her residency in surgery, she trained in anesthesia and became director of the division of anesthesia at Columbia. At a time when she and women in general were discouraged from a career as a physician, she was the first woman in the positions she held. She published more than 60 scientific papers and articles and books for the general public.The Apgar test she invented was the first test made for newborn health. The test scores the health of the newborn baby on the basis of 5 observable criteria, Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration. Her name Apgar also became a mnemonic word based on these five criteria. The Apgar score indicates if a newborn needs immediate medical care. It is easily administered by trained observation.