News

BANATWALA AGAIN WINS

Once more it is a moment of justifiable pride for the community that a very distinguished Cutchi Memon Janab Ghulam Mehmood Noor Mohammed Banatwala Sahab has been elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from a costituency in Kerala State. He is the former President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat, Mumbai and the President of All India Muslim League.

This is the seventh time that Mr . Banatwala is elected to the highest Legislative House of the Nation. He defeated his nearest C.P.M. rival by more than 1,25,000 votes.

We extend our heartiest congratulations to him and pray for his long and successful life.

We have also been informed that a Cutchi Memon of Nagpur, Janab Anees Ahmad has also been re-elected to Maharashtra State Assembly. This is his second entry to the state assembly. He represents Indian National Congress. We offer our happiest greeting’s to him.

Biographical sketch of Ghulam Mahmood Banatwala

Top

The Seventy Seventh Annual General Meeting of Cutchi Memon Jamat, Mumbai was held on Sunday, 25 th August 1999 at the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana Mumbai.

A good number of member's of the Jamat from the city attended the meeting. The President of the Jamat, Dr Abdul Rauf Sumar, presided over the meeting.

After Tilawat-e-Quran, Fateha was offered for the eisal-e-sawab of those member's of the Jamat who had left us during the year. The President made a special mention of Late Abdullah Bhai (Jumma Bhai) who had served very faithfully and honestly the resident's of Malad Colony and the Jamat for the last several year's.

The Jamat had earlier printed and circulated the Seventy Seventh Annual Report of the working of the Managing Committee during the year 1998-99 alongwith the audited statement's of the Jamat and the trusts under its management for the year ended 31-03-1999.

After the approval and adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting, the member's discussed the Report and the Report and the Account's of the Jamat. Among those who addressed the meeting were Messrs Abdul Sattar Mandviwala, Abdul Majeed Bawla, Yousuf Mohammed Saleh, Fareed Dhiyan and Mohammed Siddique Dadani. They made a few useful suggestion's for the betterment of the community. The President replied to the community. The President replied to the queries raised at the meeting. The Report and the accounts were then passed and adopted unanimously.

An addition to the clause 66(2) of the Rules & Regulation's of the Jamat moved by Mr. Abdul Majeed Bawla was also unanimously accepted by the members. The Jamat hosted lunch for its members after the meeting.

A junior college at the Cummoo Jafar Suleman Girl’s High School. This new junior college has been started functioning since July 1999.

The college is having Arts and Commerce faculties and it is nice to learn that in it’s inaugural year the college is having 50 students in each of two faculties. This Girls’ junior college is a tremendous boost for the muslim girls who had to discontinue their academic pursuit after S.S.C. as their parent’s didn’t allow them to go for further studies in the college which are having co-education or which are far away from the areas of their residence.

It is worth noting that two Cutchi Memon ladies of Mumbai Jamat, Humaira Ubaid Lakdawala and Lubna Ayaz Jummani have been appointed as lecturers in this college. We are grateful to Mr Basheer Moosa Patel, the local M.L.A. for his deicated and tirelesswork in getting the permission and other required formalities completed in such a quick time to enable the trustees to start this college during the current academic year itself. This college is functioning in the school building consequent to shifting of the Haji Karim Mohammed Suleman Maternity Hospital from the school building to a very spacious place of about 3500 square feet at 30, Mohammadali Road.

The said maternity hospital is a Cutchi Memon Institution which is also managed by Haji Karim Mohammad Suleman Trust. The Trust is having the tenancy of this large place for the hospital in its own name.

Earlier in June 1999 an inaugural function was held to mark the start of the said hospital at the new place at Mohammadali Road. The distinguised speakers at this function included Messrs Shakir Gaya, Dr. Ibrahim Gaya, Mohammad Husain Patel, Maulana Zaheeruddin Khan, Maulana Musanna Miyan and Dr. Abdul Rauf Sumar. They appreciated the efforts of Mr. Basheer moosa Patel in getting this large place and the tenancy for this hospital. Mr. Basheer Patel, promised all co-operation in his speech.

We are pleased to note that the Haji karim Mohammad Suleman Maternity Hospital is serving much better at this new premises. The hospital is having two fully equiped operation theatres with spacious general and higher class wards.

There is a good nursing staff and two of the three resident doctors are always available at the premises. Three reputed Gynaecologists and Obstericians are offering their professional services with dedication and enthusiasm. We have been informed that many deliveries have been conducted successfully during the last three months and a few operations have also been performed with good success.

We congratulate the trustees and the staff of the hospital, and the Junior College.

The 44th Annual General body meeting of the Cutchi Memon Students' Cirlce was held on 11th july 1999 at the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana, Mumbai. The meeting started with recitation from the Holy Quran. After the approval of the reports and accounts, Messrs Anjum Lakdawala and Sajid Allana declared the names of the following members of the new Managing Committee who were elected unanimously for the year 1999 - 2000.

The Managing Committee also hosted lunch after the meeting, Messrs Irfan Dadani, Jt. Secretary, Anjum Lakdawala and Abdul Aziz Mandviwala, both committee members of Cutchi Memon Jamat, Mumbai also attended the meeting.

The New Managing Committee co-opted Mr. Usman Salehmohammad Arbani for one vacant post in the committee.

The new managing committee mostly comprises of young students studying in XI and XII standards. The committee commenced its first round of curricular activities with Essay Competition on 15th August 1999, Qirat competition on 22nd August 1999 and Marathon race competition on 29th August 1999.

Teachers' Day alongwith Elocution Competition and felicitation to all successful students of S. S. C. , H. S. C. , GRADUATES and POST GRADUATES was held on 5th September 1999. Dr. Abdul Rauf Sumar, President of Cutchi Memon Jamat presided over the function. Mr. Abdul Rahim Banatwala (founder member of the Circle) graced the ocassion as Chief Guest.

The guests of honour included Mr. Masood Abdul Majeed Memon, Mrs. Bilquees Iqbal Lakdawala, Mrs. Razia Sohail Lokhandwala, Mr. Shabeer Abdul Latif and Mr. Abdul Rasheed Patel.

About 40 teachers of the Cutchi Memon Community from various schools were felicitated on this occassion. The distinguised guests addressed the well-attented gathering and appreciated the activities of the students' circle.

After finishing the first round of activities, Managing Committee organised its other programmes on following Sundays.

The Managing Committee has decided to organise its 47th Prize Distribution function on 13th November 1999 at Patkar Hall alongwith a variety entertainment programme. For details the students are requested to contact the office of the Circle between 7.30 and 8.45 pm.

The Secretary of the Cirlce, Mr. Abubakar Dadani informs all those students of the Jamat who wish to become the members of the Circle, to send their bio-data at the Circle's office. He expects a good participation and full co-operation from students fraternity to the newly elected Managing Committee of the Circle.

The General Body of Cutchi Memon Jamat, Alleppey at its meeting held on 4/7/99 has unanimously elected the following persons as office bearers and committee members.

The General Body also elected following Office Bearers and members for the Cutchi Memon Noorani Masjid, Alleppey

Mr. Iftekar Saleem, an enterprising Cutchi Memon of Bangalore received Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award on 20th August 1999 at Bangalore. He is one of only twenty people who were chosen from various sections of the society for their distinguished contributions to the development of India and enriching the life and for achieving outstanding excellence in their fields of activities. These awards are instituted by International integrity peace and friendship society.

Iftekar is the grandson of Mr. haji Siddique Buddha who was a resident of Dadar, Mumbai. His father Saleem later moved to Bangalore and Iftekar joined his father's business in 1977 at a very young age.

He married the daughter of Mr. Rehmatullah Gubitra (Aziz Bhai) on 28-5-1995 at bombay. He is in his family business of garments and children's wear, shoes and apparels. His hobbies include reading and social work. He is particularly interested in the educational and social upliftment of the community.

Mr. Iftekar Saleem is the only Cutchi Memon and only one from Bangalore amongst twenty persons who have been awarded this prestigious Rajiv gandhi Excellence Award in August 1999. We congratulate you, Young Man.

As in last year, Janab Mukhtar Ahmad Seth arranged classes for imparting religious education to the children at the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhanna, Secunderabad during summer vacation from 11-4-1999 to 30-5-1999.

The inaugration of these classes on 18th April 1999 started with Tilavate Qur'an Pak by Janab Qari Mohammad Iqbal which was followed by an address by Maulana Mohammad Khalid Qasmi Saheb who spoke on the importance of religiouseducation. In this Madrasa five teachers imparted religious knowledge which included recitation of Qur'an-e-Majeed with Tajweed, learning of traditions (Ahadith) and Seerat-e-Nabvi (S. A. W. S.) and basic knowledge of Urdu language. Eighty seven boys and girls attended these classes. It was nice to learn that during all fourty days the attendance of the students was hundred percent.

At the end on 30th May 1999, a function was held Messrs Wajid Hashim Sait, Abubaker Sait, Mohammad Ibrahim Sait and Zubair Abdul Qadir Sait examined the students and appreciated their showing.

The students who stood first, second and third at the examination were awarded. All other participants also received consolation prizes. The function and the Madrasa terminated with dua by Hafiz Rehmatullah Saheb.

Vasai Memon Jamat is a happy blend of all memons - Cutchi, Halai and other memons to serve all the muslims residing at Vasai, Nalasopara, Virar and nearby vicinities. The Jamat renders financial help to needy persons, provide educational guidance to students and render other social services.

Like in every year this year too, the Jamat held a function for prize distribution to all those students from memon communities from Vasai and nearby places who secured good marks at school/college examinations.

This year the prize the prize distribution function was held on 29th August 1999.

The Niaz-e-Ghous Pak (lunch) was also arranged before the prize distribution function.

The Vasai Memon Jamat was organised about 25 years ago by a young Cutchi Memon Social worker of Vasai, Mr. Hasham Joosab Memon, who is now the Joint Secretary of the Jamat.

We are pleased to note that an Urdu poetry "KIFAYAT SHA'ARI" composed by Janab Abdul Ahad Saaz, a renowned Cutchi Memon Urdu Poet of Mumbai Jamat and a Joint Editor, of Rabitah, has been included in the Urdu Text Book "BAALBHARTI" for fifth standard students by the Maharashtra Secondary School Education Board.

We have reprinted the said poetry in our Urdu section in current issue of Rabitah (printed version). Our felicitation to Saaz Saheb.

Miss Shabina Ibrahim Nawab a promising young girl from a Cutchi Memon family at Vasai has earned a good name in her college. She was adjudged good not only in her studies but also in other curricular and social activities of the College. Recently she has been elected as the "Head Girl" in her Thomas Baptista Junior College - Vasai.

This should be a remarkable achievement for her in a college which is a Catholic college where there are predominantly Catholic students and it is not easy to win such a position by election.

Shabina has also won an elocution competition at the college and stood second out of 36 competitors.

Mrs. Haleema Mohammad Husain Patel, an active social worker and Vice President of Cutchi Memon Bazm-e-Khwateen, Mumbai has collected a set of prayers (duas) from Quran Shareef and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H.) (Ahadith) and has printed and published the same in a 64-page book in Urdu.

The booklet is titled Safeena - e - Rehmat. This book is divided in different chapters, each of which contains authentic prayers for different physical and spiritual ailments and spiritual upliftments.

Mrs. Patel is distributing the said book without any cost for the benefit of its readers. The Foreword of the book is written by Janab Maulana Musanna Miyan Saheb who has appreciated the dedicated work of Mr. Halima Patel.

Those of our readers who would like to have the book may contact Mrs. Halima Patel at 67, Kambekar Street, 1st Floor, Mummbai - 400 003. We pray that the Almighty may reward her for this benficial work.

The Cutchi Memon Women's Association, Pune is an active organisation which is working for the educational, social and cultural upliftment of the community in Pune.

This year the Association organised Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (P. B. U. H.) programme on 17th July 1999 at lady Hawabai Girl's High School. Shakira Memon started the programme with Tilawat-e-Quran Shareef. At this function, little girls of the Jamat who observed first fast of their lives and also those who kept all the fasts and those who completed Nazirah Quran Shareef were awarded at the hands of Hawabi Jaferani Saheba, Cutchi Memon ladies who performed Hajj last year were also felicitated.

The treasurer of the Association, Mrs. Naseem Umar earlier welcomed the audience. The Joint Secretary, Ms. Rabia Yousuf Dhalani informed the gathering that the Association would hold prize distribution function for successful students of the Jamat in October 1999. She also declared that a new Directory of the member of Pune Cutchi Memon Jamat was being prepared. The President of the Association, Shenaz Parwani proposed vote of thanks. Nusrat Nawaz and Bilqees Contractor compered the function.

A general meeting of the Cutchi Memon Mandvi Channa, Mumbai was held on Sunday, the 6th June 1999 at the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana, Mumbai. One Hundred Fourty members of the Channa attended the meeting. Dr. Abdul Rauf Sumar was present as a Special Invitee.

Mr. Abdul Sattar Mandviwala, the Ho. Secretary of the Channa presented the Report and the statements of accounts for the last two years, which, the members after some discussion, approved and adopted. Later the election of the new Managing Committee of the Cutchi Memon Mandvi Channa for two years' term (1999 - 2001) was conducted. The following members constitute this committee.

We regret that in the list of new Managing Committee of Cutchi Memon Jamat of Andhra Pradesh, Secunderabad which we printed in the previous issue of Rabitah (Issue No 43) the name of Janab Mohammad Abdullah Abdul Rehman Sait was not printed. Mr. Mohammad Abdul Rehman Sait has also been elected unopposed as a committee member for the two years' term (1400 - 1402). Our greetings to him.

We have also been informed that the Managing Committee of Andhra Pradesh co-opted Mr. Mohammad Ahmad Haji Mohammad Yousuf Sait Nagpuri on 28-6-1999 thus increasing the strength of the Managing Committee to 12 members.

Albaraka / Albarr Finance House Limited organised an inter-school elocution competition on "Seerat-un-Nabi" i. e. the holy life of the Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) on Sunday, 8th August 1999 at and under the auspicies ofZakeria Patel Welfare Centre, Khadak, Mumbai - 9.

The competition was amongst the girl students of the schools studying in the Std. V to VII (Junior Group) and from Std. VIII to X (Senior Group). Thirty Six girls from 19 various schools participated in the competition. Every speaker in the competition exhibited a good spirit and enthusiasm to express her knowledge on Prophet's life, in an impressive manner.

The Trophy for this year was won by Anjuman-e-Islam, Begum Jamila Abdul Haque High School, Versova, while Anjuman-e-Islam High School, Bandra won the 1st Prize for the Senior group and Farooque High School for girls, Jogeshwari bagged the 1st prize for Junior group. Iqra-un-Nisa Shams Chowdhari Township Municipal School was awarded consolation prize for an impressive performance.

Our readers may be reminded that Albaraka Albarr has been arranging such programmes every year since 1995. The objective of such competition is to create an interest amongst the students about Islam and the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) and to promote the talent of the students in the art of public speaking.

The Zakaria Patel Welfare Centre, a Cutchi Memon establishment has been an active organisation in serving the women's welfare.

The centre has been carrying out various activities like the sewing classes which has specialised in making school uniforms, cooking classes, the computer classes and Mahendi Fancy work classes.

A young Cutchi Memon from Pune, Dr. Kinan Shareef has passed B. D. S. examination with distinction and started his dental clinic at M. G. Road, Pune. He is the son of Mr. Yousuf Shareef who is the Hon. Secretary of Moledina High School & Junior College, Pune.

It is worth knowing that Dr. Kinan is very sympathetic towards his poor and needy patients and is very sincere in treating them with much consideration.

We congratulate him and hope that his patients including Cutchi Memons of Pune will be greatly benefitted in getting their dental ailments treated well.

It is nice to know that Imran Anwar Chapra, a member of Halai Memon Chhotani Jamat has topped Burhani College of Arts & Commerce at the Final B.Com examination of Mumbai University this year (April 1999).

He aggregated 73% of marks. Imran is a young student who is also fond of sports. He has been representing his college at University level in Inter-College Cricket Tournament. He is now doing Chartered Accountancy (C. A.) Course with Computers. We wish him more laurels.

Mrs. Hameeda Ghulam Husain Hamlani is appointed Hon. Principal of Nursery Classes at Malad Colony which is managed by Young Memons' Association, Malad.

She is a B. A. graduate of Mumbai University with sociology and Islamic studies as her principal subjects. She was a teacher at "Phulwari" in the Jamatkhana before her marraige and subsequent residence at Malad.

Baby Farrina Nisar Memon, grand daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Abdul Hameed Zariwala of Malad, was awarded a certificate of honour by her school, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Fort, Bombay for securing 2nd place in the race "Watch the leap".

The Cutchi Memon Jamat, Mumbai will be holding its annual prize distribution function for the successful school students on 28th November 1999.

The successful students (both boys and girls) who have passed their S. S. C. examination of March 1999 and the School students from K. G. to IXth standard who have stood frist or second rank or obtained 80% or more marks in their respective classes at their final examination of April 1999 are requested to send the xerox copies of their marksheets at the earliest to the office of the Mumbai Jamat during office hours.

The next issue of Rabitah (January 2000) will be Eid-Number. We request the members of the community to send suitable articles, poems, etc. least by first week of December 1999.

We shall appreciate and welcome original articles and writings and information and activities - both past and present - concerning with the Cutchi Memons including life sketches and biograhies of prominent personalities of the community.

We have received the copies of the marksheets from the undermentioned students of Mumbai Jamat who have passed their S.S.C. Examination of March 1999.

It is great to learn that our students are going for higher studies for graduation and post graduation. We are printing names of such students of our Jamat who graduated after passing their May 1999 examination and have been kind enough to send us the xerox copies of their marksheets. Our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to them.

As the entire material for publication of this current issue of Rabitah (Issue No. 43) was being sent to press, we received a happy information on phone from Mr. Haroon Seth of Bangalore that Mrs. Nafeesa Fazal, a distinguised Cutchi Memon lady of Bangalore has been included in the newly constituted government of Karnataka by being appointed a State Minister. We feel it is a great moment for the community.

Mrs. Nafeesa is the daughter-in-law of Janab Abdul Hameed Fazal Sait, the owner of reputed business house, M. Fazal & Sons and the daughter of Janab Abdul Kareem Sait of Coimbatore. She won the recently held election for Karnataka Assembly on Indian National Congress ticket. We congratulate her and her family and hope that her inclusion in the government will result in further progress of our community too.

We are pleased to inform our readers that later we learnt Janab Azeez Sait of Mysore has also won the election of Karnataka Assembly. He too represents Sonia Congress. Janab Azeez Sait is a very well known and reputed Cutchi Memon who was a former Vice-President of All India Cutchi Memon Federation and a former minister of Karnataka State Government. We extend our deep felicitations to him.