Abul Ghuraba – Father of the Needy

Khojabhai — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 07:55:11 +0000

MARHUM HAJI GULAMABBAS KASSAMALI BAHADURALI MAWJI
1919-1970

Haji Gulamabbas was born in Mombasa in 1919, had a formal education for only two years. However with perseverance, he acquired enough knowledge to be able to fluently read, write and speak Guajarati and English and was at ease whilst conversing in Urdu and Kiswahili. He also showed deep interest in religious education and developed close friendship with Mulla Mohamed Jaffer (father of Alhaj Mulla Asghar) and Haji Alibhai M. Gulamhusein (a teacher at Hussain at night School).He conducted a small business in old town of Mombasa which became the hub of activity during the nights of Mahe Ramadhan where religious discourses would be held under the banner of ‘anjuman-e-saa-e-meen’ (‘group of those who fast’) led by Mulla Mohamed Mulla Jaffer and chaired by Haji Mohamed R. Valli. In the last decade of his life he joined Gulamhussein Rehemtulla Walji as partner in the business of insurance brokerage and both then embarked on welfare activity in the community.

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY:
On the socio-welfare scene, initially he joined Ithna-Asheri Volunteer Crops and later on he became a active member of the managing committees of Ithna-Asheri Young Men’s Union (established in 1945) and Mombasa Jamaat. As a delegate and councilor representing Mombasa Jamaat, his presence was recognized at the meetings of the Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Africa and views and opinions expressed by him eloquently and in a soft but emphatic tone were given due importance.In 1953, together with Mulla Gulamhussein Datoo (Bishon) and Mulla Mohamed Mulla Jaffer, he floated the idea of inviting reputed Ulema to recite majalis in Mahe Muharram and also as resident Aalims. This resulted in the visits of Mullah Jaffer Hussein, Allamah Rashid Turabi, Syed Mohammed Naqvi, Syed Mohammed ljlal Khwaja Mohammed Latif Ansari and other leading Ulema from sub-continent as Zakereen during Mahe Muharram and as resident Aalims.From 1960 to 1970, he dedicated almost all of his time in serving Faiz-e-Hussein the then subsidiary body of Ithna-Asheri Young Men’s Union (formed in 1945 to cater for the needs of Hajis, Zuwwar, other travelers, the sick and the poor). He extended the services of Faize Husseini to Nairobi whilst accompanying patients to Nairobi for medical treatment.

At the time of revolution in Zanzibar in January 1964, while attending the funeral of Haji Ebrahim Hussein Sheriff Dewji (the then Chairman of the Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Africa) he displayed the qualities of able leader in organizing distribution of food, medicine and clothing to the affected people during those traumatic times. He stayed in Zanzibar for almost a month and gave praiseworthy support to the community who were affected in the aftermath of the Zanzibar Revolution.

A MILESTONE IN MOMBASA JAMAAT
In 1966 he brought up the idea of amalgamation of the two Jamaats in Mombasa. Having mobilized the youth of both the Jamaats. This noble idea was immediately welcomed by Chairman of the Africa Federation Haji Mohamedali Meghji and Alhaj Mulla Asgarali M.M. Jaffer (who was at time Hon Secretary of the Africa Federation) resulting in the dissolution of the two separate Jamaats on 18^th October 1966 and formation of a single Jamaat on 28^th October 1966. Haji Gulamabbas was elected as a managing committee member of the amalgamated Jamaat.

HONOURS AND RECOGNITION
The Federation of K.S.I. Jamaats of Africa awarded “Husseini Medal” to him for commendable services and that also after much persuasion he accepted it.

He breathed his last on Friday 23^rd October 1970, at the young age of 52 leaving a lasting impact on the community having earned the title of “Abul Ghuraba” (father of the needy) from the public at large.

To honor his service to community Mombasa Jamaat established Memorial Trust of “Haji Gulamabbas Kassamali Bahadurali on 24^thOctober 1970. The proceeds of which are being utilized for academic and welfare needs through Faize Husseini.

We request you to remember Marhum Haji Gulamabbas and all Marhumeens with Sura-e-Fateha for their maghferat.

Source Africa Federation Archives

A Journey from Natal Road to Wood Lane.

Khojabhai — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 07:44:05 +0000

London Jamaat owes a deep debt of Gratitude to Huseinbhai Dharamsi Gangji

He was ‘Bapa’ not just to Mohamedali, Muhsin, Jaffer and Akber and their sisters, but to many in London Jamaat. His very personality instinctively evoked the respect of a father because he touched so many in his special paternal manner, by his radiant presence in a quiet non-assuming yet so profound a demeanor. He was as engaging and witty as always, when I last saw him in Bhavnagar a few months ago, reading his Gujarati newspaper, checking out the cricket scores. He seemed so very refreshed and at peace sitting in his armchair just as I recalled seeing him many years ago counting sadaqa and nuzurat coins at the WF Secretariat in London.

The name ‘Stanmore’ has become synonymous with London Jamaat to day. Similarly the signposts on the journey of our Community has had numerous locations which, like Stanmore today, had become an identifier of London Jamaat. Before ‘Stanmore’ it was ‘Hammersmith’ and before (the formal inception of the Jamaat) there were various locations such ‘Kilburn’ , ‘Chatsworth Road’ etc. As the generation of students and young professionals of the 60s in London will recall, that along with Cumberland Place (East Africa House) and Barnet, (Jiwa Residence), the name Natal Road’ will remain forever etched in our memories. The warmth of the Dharamsi residence at 36 Natal Road, Bounds Green, was a palatial refuge for those of us living in cold lonely bedsitters shoving coins in the grey gas meters with a voracious appetite for pennies. Thankfully the doors were always open and the chai and ‘fatiya’ were indeed a treat at every majlis

The thousands who benefit from the outstanding services of London Jamaat today owe a deep debt of gratitude to Marhum Husainbhai Dharamsi Gangji because many of the founders and active workers, including all of his sons, who shaped the London Jamaat, were nurtured in their formative years, especially in the liberal sixties, directly or indirectly at Natal Road.

Bapa was one of a handful of elders who had the foresight to quietly and positively invest in education, not only in his own children, but in the youth of that generation. He led the way to emphasizing the value of higher education in the West, in an exemplary fashion. Education was his passion. As a historical note, it was in 1958 that he rebuilt the Faiz School building in Zanzibar – a place which has its own history. It was as early as the 1870s that the elders led by Dewji Jamal used to gather for religious services at the old school Faiz location when the Jamatkhana had become out of bounds to the dissident Khojas.

His loss is a loss to us all. The family lost a dearly loved father, grandfather, great grand father and a great great grandfather. The Community too has lost a great great elder who saw, participated in and experienced at first hand the evolution of this Community, especially the London Jamaat, spanning over five generations.

That truly is the legacy of Bapa as we all called him and really meant it.

We pray to the Almighty for his Maghferat and for a place in the close proximity of the Masoomin. Amin

Hasnain Walji

Khoja Heritage Project » Personalities

Abul Ghuraba – Father of the Needy

A Journey from Natal Road to Wood Lane.