The
Egyptian Connection
 As Lankans all of us are expected to know our own great people
whether they belong to the majority community or not, don't we? But most
of us say, 'Oh no, we don't understand other languages and we don't know
who they are'. That's funny. If we don't know, shouldn't we try to find
out or learn other languages to know more about what we don't know?
If arrogance prevents us do that, then we are the losers. If we are a
multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic, multi-religious society,
then we should know each other thoroughly to live as one unit or people
of one nation. Isn't it? Well that is logic.
These aside, let us know more about a person who was associated with
our country. Have we heard of one Ahmed Orabi Pasha? No. Sure, you have
seen the name board bearing his name in Mahanuwara!
 Without
much ado let us know the National Hero of Egypt. In fact, there is a
booklet written by the late A.M.A.Azeez (1911- ). Please don't ask me
who the latter was! .Not to digress- he was a former Civil Servant born
in Yaalpaanam, principal of Zahira College in Maradana, a senator, an
educationist, an author and an intellectual.
The Embassy of Arab Republic of Egypt in Lanka has a wing called the
Orabi Pasha Culture Centre in Mahanuwara or Senkadagala.
On August 15, 2009 the 126th Commemoration of the great Egyptian was
observed. On that occasion a booklet was lunched. The book was the late
Dr A M A Azeez's address of welcome made on the unveiling the portrait
of Ahmed Orabi El Misri. The publishers are Orabi Pasha Foundation and
Dr A M A Azeez Foundation. 'Kalabooshanam' M Y M Meeadhu has helped in
editing the text.
In his editorial MYM gives valuable information to the uninitiated.
Mahroom Ahmed Orabi Pasha of Egypt arrived in Lanka on January 11,
1883. He was the Leader of the National Revolt in Egypt.
M C Siddi Lebbe (credited to be one of the pioneer novelists in
Thamil in Lanka) described the Egyptian and the state of the Muslims
then as " he preserved like a seer the plight of Muslims who were
educationally backward, economically stagnant, culturally isolated,
religiously obscurantist, intellectually sterile and politically
insignificant"
Orabi Pasha left Lanka in 1911
The dream of Siddi Lebbe became a reality when Al Madrasathuz Zahira
was founded in 1892 with the active patronage of Arabi Pasha.
Orabi Pasha even after the demise of Sidi Lebbe devoted the rest of
his days in then Ceylon to promote English education and reforms in
religious practices.
The dream of Siddi Lebbe became a reality when Al Madrasathuz Zahira
was funded in 1892.
Dr A M A Azeez resigned from the Ceylon Civil Service to take up the
position of the Principal of Zahira College. He rendered noble service
for 13 years.
Azeez had this to say of Orabi Pasha: "His name will be remembered
with reverence not only in the land of his birth but also in our land,
the land of his exile. And Zahira will for ever remain an imperishable
monument to the immense influence for good which he exerted on the local
Muslim community."
Here are now the main points from the speech made by Dr A M A Azeez
on May 17, 1955:
It was ordained that the national Hero of Egypt, Ahmad 'Orabi' should
spend the best part of his life, a period of nearly 19 years, from
January 11,1883 to September 1,1901 in Ceylon -the land of the exile"
Orabi reached Ceylon in 1883 to serve a life term of banishment,
having been found guilty of treason and rebellion as a subject of the
Khedive and guilty of mutiny as an officer of the army and having been
painted by the foreign press as " a heavy fellah" and " the mere
mouthpiece of a turbulent soldiery"
But the verdict history was: "Ahmad Orabi was the leader of a genuine
National Movement which represented the enlightened and liberal elements
in Egypt. It was a struggle for freedom from foreign exploitation and an
attempt to extract a Constitution guaranteeing the people's rights and
safe guarding their interests from a ruler (deposed King Farook) ho had
become the helpless instrument for foreign and native reactionary
intrigue"
The booklet also contains vintage photographs of yester year covering
some of the relevant happenings related to the subject.
Readers interested in history would find the late Azeez's speech a
very informative address. |
