MICH immortalizes three Muslim stalwarts

Zainul MEEADH

May 29, 2012 marks an important day in the annals of the Muslims of Sri Lanka and in the history of Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home as three of the buildings at its Pasha Villa Complex are being named after three of its past stalwarts, namely, A.H. Macan Markar; A.I.L. marikar and M.H.M. Kamil by Rauff hakeem MP, Minister of Justice as Chief Guest and Alavi Moulana, Governor of Western province and A. J.M. Muzammil, Mayor of Colombo as Guests of Honour amidst a distinguished gathering.

On his message to mark this occasion, Omar Kamil, President of the MICH says that the MICH would not be what its today if not for ther untiring efforts and dedication of the people of the calibre of Marhoom A.H. Macan Markar, Marhoom A.I.L. Marikar and Marhoom M.H.M. Kamil among others who were a source of strength to its founder President late Sir Razik Fareed. He also paid tributes to the past Presidents of the MICH, late M.A. Careem MA and late A. A. M. Marleen PC and all other officials of the Home since the inception of the MICH.

The Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home (Inc) is the pioneer Muslim organization in Sri Lanka inaugurated in the Year 1944 by some dedicated Muslim leaders headed by Sir Razik Fareed is a duly incorporated body as a Charitable Organization by an Act of Parliament in 1946.

The institution has been basically involved in the study and promotion of Islamic culture and religion. The principles of the organization are to inculcate the spirit of service to the community in particular and the country in general.

Cultural activities

The headquarters of the MICH is situated in the heart of Colombo in Fort and has its branches in Wellawatte, Dematagoda and the Home for the Elders’ in Makola.

The MICH was able to provide a number of community based projects to the community and had been in the forefront in the Islamic cultural activities since inception. It was able to translate the holiest Book of Muslims, the Holy Quran to Sinhala and made it available to public since 1960s and are presently involved in many similar projects too.

The Maradana building is situated Pasha Villa, No. 115, Dematagoda Road, Colombo 9 and had been the centre of many service projects of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home even before the headquarters in Fort was constructed.

During the World War II, the premises of Pasha Villa were occupied by the military.

Soon after the War, the Home was in need of a temporary accommodation to carry out its activities. The stalwarts of the founder of the Home, Sir Razik Fareed namely, Marhoom A. H. Macan Markar, Marhoom A. I. L. Marikar and Marhoom M. H. M. Kamil together with the Founder President - Sir Razik Fareed, W. M. Hassim JP, Vice-President and A.L.M. Lafir JP along with few others decided to lease out Pasha Villa building. Later funds were collected and the building was purchased outright. The Home even had its meetings and other deliberations at this building since 1946.

A. H. Macan Markar, Marhoom A. I. L. Marikar and Marhoom M.H.M. Kamil devoted their major part of their life towards the progress of the Home and the Board of Trustees at their meeting held on January 23, 2012 accepted the proposal of M.C. Abdul Cader, Board Member and the former Administrative Secretary of the Home unanimously and resolved to name the present three blocks of Buildings at Pasha Villa after these stalwarts of this premier Muslim Institution.

Late A.H. Macan Markar, the eldest son of Sir Mohamed Macan Markar was born in the lap of luxury but was brought up and lived in the highest tradition of any Islamic home.

He was given the highest secular education locally at Royal College and later at Cambridge University where he obtained his economic triple and as a Member of Inner Temple qualified as a Barrister-at-Law.

He was one of the founding fathers and was elected as the Joint Secretary and Treasurer.

He held this post with admirable dedication till his demise in 1985. Marhoom A. H. Macan Markar was the MP for Kalkudah by polling 6,719 in the third Parliament in 1956. In the election held in 1960, Markar was retained as the second MP for Batticaloa by polling 22,893 votes. He was also a member of the Colombo Municipal Council and represented the Maligakanda Ward. He also served as a Deputy Mayor of Colombo.

Late A.I.L. Marikar was born on August 10, 1907. His father was A.B.L.I.L. Marikar a respected English Book Seller.

His ancestry begins from Prince Jalaludeen of Armenia. He had his early education at Hameedia School and later shifted to Wesley College. He passed the London Matriculation with Special Honours in History and English Literature. He was one of the founding father s of Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home.

Holy Quran

The MICH was inaugurated on August 2, 1944. Since the inauguration, he was one of the Joint Secretaries until his demise on January 12, 1992. He was also responsible in proposing to translate the Holy Quran into Sinhala.

Late M.H.M. Kamil was the second son of the late W. M. Hassim JP, who was one of the founding fathers of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home. He was elected as the Joint Secretary and Treasurer in the year 1947.

He held this post continuously until his demise in the sacred month of Ramazan on May 21, 1987.

Marhoom Kamil’s son Omar succeeded as a Joint Secretary. Marhoom Kamil’s business skills aided the Home in augmenting its funds and in launching projects to foster and promote laudable objects of the Home.

With the take over of Textile Imports by the State in 1967, J.R. Jayewardene, Minister of State appointed Marhoom Kamil as a Director of the Lanka Salu Sala Ltd together with few other respected businessmen.

At present, the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home is headed by Alahaj Omar Kamil, the former Mayor of and Special Commissioner of Colombo as its president, M. Nowfal Barry, M. Rifath Saleem and M. Ashroff Jameel as Joint Secretaries and messrs M.C. Abdul Malick M. Nizam Mohamed as Joint Treasurers.