The passing away of A. M. A. Azeez all too early in life left almost all the people in Sri Lanka saddened. The Muslims lamented that an honest and able guide and rare example to them was no more.
The Tamils were shocked and in sorrow to see such a figure who was an honour to them as much as to any others had departed so soon. A few would only know the A. M. A. Azeez was a Muslim of Jaffna, born into a leading Muslim family beloved by all. The town's leaders and a well known lawyer sprang from amongst the relations of Azeez and gave to Jaffna enlightened and salutary leadership.
A. M. A. Azeez was an erudite learned scholar in Tamil. He attended Vaideeshwara Vidyalayam and Jaffna Hindu College, two Hindu leading schools. I remember days when I moved with Azeez. He made me realize how poor and ill informed I was in the mellifluous language of Tamil and its rich literature.
Azeez knew so much of it and would speak time and again at length about Tamil, its refined grammar and classical literature. It was therefore no surprise that Azeez was so strongly inclined and extremely keen to attend the First International Association of Tamil Research (IATR) held in 1965, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ably managed and excellently conducted by eminent Tamil scholar, Fr. Xavier Thaninayagam. The ceremonial occasion was declared opened by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
The learned contribution of Azeez at this conference was exquisitely crafted in elegant English and the audience were astounded at the wealth of knowledge displayed by the expert scholarly Azeez.
I may add that he wrote 'Ilangaiyil Islam' and also an informative, interesting contribution to the Islamic encyclopedia. He was additionally a winner of the 'Sahithiya' award, a well deserved distinction.
Azeez had and irrepressible inclination for writing, based on thoroughly extensive and deep delving into primary sources and books seeking out valuable data.
He was no doubt definitely authoritative whenever he spoke on Orabi Pasha and the Egyptian exiles and their enforced stay in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon).
The Egyptian exiles and their endowed and accomplished leader Orabi Pasha gave an irresistible impetus to a sound reawakening of the Muslims in Sri Lanka.
Azeez would also talk of the Egyptian exiles and the renaissance amongst Muslims of Sri Lanka engendered by the publication of the Muslim newspaper 'Muslim Nesan' the effort of Siddhi Lebbe, who was a renowned personality then.
This was one amongst others and may be the first adventure into journalism by the Muslims and the propagation of news and views by Muslims. Azeez was also well versed in the valuable contributions of Wapche Marikar towards the establishment of Zahira College. He would speak glowingly of the invaluable bequests and legacy that in those years of Muslim revivalism, scholars and philanthropists generously contributed.
Azeez was, I am confident, the first local Muslim who entered the prestigious and exclusive and restricted band of Ceylon Civil Servants. To be in the Ceylon Civil Service was to be at the acme of superior state administration, provincial, district or otherwise in the governance of the island.
Azeez spent a limited time in the civil service but in those years he contributed so much that even today people who speak of the days of yore, affectionately and admirably, recall the unrelenting efforts and timeless contributions in the civil service rendered by Azeez to his motherland. He retired prematurely and this was a loss to good government management.
Then Azeez moved on to a labour of love to render with equal competence enviable high standard educational service as Principal of the leading Muslim School of Zahira College in Colombo. There are quite a few I met who spoke so well of the term of Principalship held by Azeez in Zahira College.
His industry and commitment coupled with his own learning made him not only an ideal mentor but also placed him amongst the 'greats' as head of a leading educational institution.
Few will remember that Azeez came with a sound upper standard degree and had even sojourned as a scholar in Cambridge for a term before his entry into the civil service. The envy of the best solid scholars, the civil service beckoned him then to serve his country.
All what Azeez gained in his university days along with the experience garnered in the challenging civil service, he brought to bear upon his administrative and academic endeavors to further build Zahira College into a very successful and much coveted institution of school learning. The standards in the school grew better, the success rates in exams increased, the numbers of students also turned to grow more and more and above all valuable discipline and good conduct amongst the young were instilled owing to the relentless efforts of A. M. A. Azeez.
Azeez as an educationalist commanded respect. His views on learning and teaching were eagerly imbibed by the staff and put to profitable use.
To a person like Azeez, life in the school had a charm and attraction which as he once said to me in a conversation, pleased and satisfied him immensely.
Azeez was a one time distinguished member of the University of Ceylon Senate, its Council and Court, a record indeed. The campus in Jaffna honoured him with a Higher Doctorate at its first Convocation. Undeniably, a befitting gesture one must say. His interest in Arabic Tamil was laudable and something which few others knew and which he elaborated upon with vigorous interest. Azeez knew profoundly about Arabic Tamil.
It was difficult, given paucity of outstanding leaders in the island, especially amongst his own community, that A. M. A. Azeez would stay away from public service. He served in the Public Service Commission (PSC) at a time when the PSC was in impeccable and much respected body. He would often be found pouring over appeals of public servants and giving out his judicious views on their merits and demerits. He also had to spend much time and labour on assessing and evaluating the standards of applicants who were entitled to occupy the higher seats of the public services.
Azeez brought to this function a breadth of vision, a deep understanding, and sincere empathy because he recognized that he was dealing with the fate and fortune of workers, in the public sector.
He could never be biased; I found in his conversation, that he had the most desirable virtue of arriving at an objective estimate on any subject. I am sure that it was such an impartial attitude that guided him in the service he rendered in the high position as a member of the PSC.
Also the PSC lost an asset when Azeez relinquished his membership.
Fortunately in those days politicization and patronage were rare, if they ever existed and I can trust that Azeez would never have capitulated to these foibles which have polluted the public services so sadly in later years. I would like to touch upon his versatile and colorful career as a Senator, A. M. A. Azeez never veered away from the just and righteous path whenever he contributed to debate in the Senate.
His judgement on national and public affairs in politics were never tainted with petty considerations of community or religion. From what I could gather in my close association with A. M. A. Azeez was that it was a trust, thrust upon him, when in politics he had to express an opinion or view. As a political figure he added on to the Upper Chamber knowledge and gave it a respectability and dignity by his presence. He was fair on issues affecting diverse communities.
The quality of his statements and pronunciations in the Senate was laced and enriched with prudence and honesty. His language was precise in speech and his understanding of matters admirably lucid.
His short stay in politics proved beyond doubt that even an honest man who can command courage can play a useful and renowned role in politics and make politics sound all the better and purer.
Years afterwards, I still reminisce that a good man has gone. Such was the loss of A. M. A. Azeez to many others and me. His life should be a model for lesser mortals like us to emulate, to follow and adopt. His achievements and attainments never spoilt his benign and genial nature. A. M. A. Azeez remained a self effacing, modest and gentle being.
