Maulᾱna Waḥῑduddῑn Khᾱn’s Views on Relation Between Islam and Secularism

The article explores views of Maulᾱna Waḥῑduddῑn Khᾱn on relation between Islam and secularism as there is no specification of his thoughts on the above issue as critics and other scholars tend to show confusion when they approach Khᾱn’s thoughts from that specific angle. Maulᾱna Waḥῑduddῑn Khᾱn is an Indian religious scholar and peace activist who is alive and known for his modern, cosmopolitan and peaceful thoughts. In this article the scattered and disjointed views of Khᾱn on relation between Islam and secularism have been portrayed as to give context to his original views and show his actual stance which might remove the confusion prevalent amongst intellectuals and scholars as to spot Khᾱn’s basic stance on the above issue. The definition and different experiences of secularism has been shortly described along with projection of diversity of stance from other Muslim scholars as to broaden the very background of the issue. Later the views of Khᾱn and his approach to the issue have been presented. The article will throw light that how Khᾱn perceives the issue of relation between Islam and secularism and what is the point of convergence and divergence between Islam and secularism. This article will also highlight that whether he deals the topic on the basis of creed or philosophy or pragmatism and that whether he takes secularism as beneficial or damaging to the interest of Muslims and Islam. The article also shed light on the scheme of Khᾱn that how Muslim should deal with the phenomenon of secularism.

Environment Friendly Synthesis of Acetic Acid Based Compounds and Their Biological Characterzation

The present study complies with different principles of environment friendly synthesis utilizing efficient instrumental techniques i.e.; microwaves and replacement of hazardous solvents with eco-friendly ones. The overall progress of chemical reactions achieved through application of environmental chemistry, was compared with the traditional methods. In the first part of this research work, synthesis of substituted ethyl 2-(4-nitrobenzylidene) hydrazinyl acetate was carried out for which, substituted benzoic acids were esterified to corresponding ethyl esters under the influence of microwaves followed by its hydrazinolysis. Substituted benzohydrazides thus obtained, were then reacted in a microwave oven with different benzaldehydes to get a series of substituted 4-nitrophenyl methylidene benzohydrazides. They were then changed into targeted products after reaction of substituted 4-nitrophenyl methylidene benzohydrazides with ethyl chloroacetate in the presence of dry acetone in anhydrous conditions by using microwaves. In the second series, naphthyl acetic acid was converted to ethyl naphthalen-1ylacetate followed by its hydrazinolysis. The compound 2-(naphthalen-1-yl) acetohydrazide thus, formed was reacted with different benzaldehydes under conventional and green technologies to get a series of substituted methylidene-2(naphthalen-1-yl) acetohydrazide. The targeted compounds were synthesized after their reaction of substituted methylidene-2-(naphthalen-1-yl) acetohydrazides with ethyl chloroacetate under anhydrous conditions. In the third series, substituted ethyl methylidene-1-[(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetyl] hydrazinyl acetate were synthesized by using 2,4-dichloro phenoxyacetic acid. After esterification of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid ethyl (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetate was synthesized which underwent hydrazinolysis. The compound 2-(2,4dichlorophenoxy) acetohydrazide thus formed, was reacted with aromatic aldehydes and ketones to give methylidene-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetohydrazide derivatives. Methylidene-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetohydrazide on esterification under anhydrous conditions yielded ethyl methylidene-1-[(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetyl] hydrazinyl acetate. Similarly, in the fourth series derivatives of ethyl -1-[(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy), acetyl]-2- hydrazinyl} acetate was synthesized after four steps of synthesis. Methyl xx chloro -phenoxyacetic acid was esterified in the first step to synthesize ethyl (4chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetate which underwent hydrazinolysis to give 2-(4chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetohydrazide. The compound 2-(4-chloro-2methylphenoxy) methylidene acetohydrazide was prepared after reaction of aromatic aldehydes and ketones with 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetohydrazide. These Schiff bases were changed into targeted compounds after reaction with ethyl chloro acetate under anhydrous conditions. Comparison of both the conventional and microwave assisted reactions indicates a significant reduction in reaction times and improvement in reaction yields. Besides chemical characterization, some of the synthesized compounds (series-1 and 2) were evaluated for their phytohormonal ability on tissue culture raised Bougainvillea glabra explants and hydroponically grown sunflower seedlings. Series-2 compounds were also evaluated for anti-fungal activity. Some of them were found to possess the potential as plant growth promoter. Series-3 and 4 compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity assay protocol against 3T3 cell line and anti-cancer activity on Hela cell line. Few of them were found to possess potential as lead compounds for drug discovery.