The Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Commemoration Meeting and the Memorial Oration were held on Wednesday 9th April 2025 at 4.30 p.m. at the Ghaffoor Hall, Zahira College, Colombo 10. As usual it was a fairly well attended and a dignified function.
The Meeting was jointly presided by Mr. Khalid M. Farouk, President of the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation and Mr. Amhar Shareef, National President of the All Ceylon YMMA Conference.
The Meeting commenced with the recital of Qirath followed by Dua by Al Hafil Moulavi Ma’jid (Madani).
Mr. Khalid Farouk welcomed the guests and spoke briefly on the achievements of Marhoom Dr. A.M.A. Azeez. He thanked Dr. B.A. Hussainmiya, Fulbright Professor and Scholar-in-Residence, Florida International University, Miami and Former Professor in History, University of Brunei for accepting the invitation to deliver the Memorial Oration on the subject of “MUSLIMS AND EDUCATION: IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE.” He thanked the All Ceylon YMMA Conference for continuously associating with the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation to conduct this annual event. He thanked Mr. Trizviiy Marikar, Principal of Zahira College for his support in making the event a success.
Mr. Muheed, the Compere, said that Dr. A.M.A. Azeez was the Founder of the All Ceylon YMMA Conference on 30th April 1950, He summoned 18 YMMA organizations operating independently and formed the All Ceylon YMMA Conference 75 years ago in this Ghaffoor Hall.
Mr. Amhar Shareef welcomed the guests and spoke briefly on the formation of the YMMA and its founder Marhoom Azeez. He mentioned that since the sad demise of Dr. Azeez the YMMA has continued to commemorate his death anniversary annually from the year 1975. The first commemoration meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. M.A.M. Hussain, former District Judge, and Secretary Mr. S.M. Kamaldeen. After the formation of the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation the YMMA collaborated with the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation to organize the memorial oration every year. He said that this year we are fortunate to have a distinguished personality, Dr. B.A. Hussainmiya as the guest speaker to deliver the Memorial Oration.
(The Memorial Orations were disrupted due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, and the Orations were not held in 2020,2021,2022 and 2023).
The Memorial Oration was delivered by Dr. B.A. Hussainmiya, B.Ed. (Hons), Fulbright Professor and Scholar-in-Residence, Florida International University, Miami (2022), Former Professor in History, University of Brunei, Darussalam, Visiting Professor, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka on the subject of “Muslims and Education: In Search of Excellence.”
Dr. Bachamiya Abdul Hussainmiya, B.Ed. (Hons), B.A. (Hons), Ph.D., is a noted South Asian historian with an academic focus on Brunei history and Sri Lankan Malay cultural heritage. His service in academia spanned over 50 years. Having retired as a Professor in History at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (1988-2016) and in post-retirement, he served as a Visiting Professor in History at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka for four years. In 2022, the Fulbright Foundation honored him by inviting him as a Scholar-in-Residence position at Florida International University, Miami, USA He is recognized widely for his unique interdisciplinary approach to historiography, combining meticulous archival research with rich cultural narratives. He has many publications to his credit. The printed copy of the oration gives his impressive CV, copies of which were available at the end of the Meeting
In his presentation Dr, Hussainmiya highlights the intellectual acumen of Dr. Azeez and explains at length Dr. Azeez’s vision for the Muslim community in various fields.
Dr, Hussainmiya then analyses the history of Muslim education over the last centuries.
The excellent Oration was well received by all. A printed copy was available for distribution.
The book “A.M.A. Azeez’s Contribution to Agriculture in the East” edited by M. Ali Azeez was released. The description of the book is as follows.
On Easter Sunday 5th April 1942, the Japanese bombed the Colombo harbour and Trincomalee on 7th April. It was during the second world war and there was a shortage of food. All AGAs were ordered to increase food production in their districts. The Batticaloa district was a vast area and it was decided to open a Kachcheri in Kalmunai to oversee the project South of Batticaloa, which was the entire Ampara district. A.M.A. Azeez, who was Additional Landing Surveyor, H.M. Customs, was specially selected and transferred at short notice by Hon. D.S. Senanayake, Minister of Agriculture as the AGA of Kalmunai. Azeez did a tremendous job within 2 years and the Ampara district became the granary of the East. This was Azeez’s greatest achievement surpassing all others, and was praised by the Hon. Minister and the Governor.
The book includes an informative article by S.H.M. Jameel on Azeez’s greatest achievement together with Tamil and Sinhala translations. There are photographs and exchange of letters between the Hon. Minister and Azeez, which show the keen interest taken by both in food production.
A.I. Marikar, who was a leading banker and an authority on Islamic Banking, was a part time lecturer at the South Eastern University. On his travel to Oluvil he saw the vast paddy fields owned by wealthy Muslim farmers who benefited by getting land from Azeez as AGA. Marikar lamented that Azeez’s name is now unsung and unheard of in the Muslim areas of Ampara district, whereas C.P. De Silva is revered as ‘Minnery Devio’ for his similar success in the Plonnaruwa district.. This prompted Marikar to write an article which is included with a Tamil translation, to rekindle the memories of the Muslims in the East.
It was announced of the sad demise of A.I. Marikar on 6th April after ailing for few months. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon. He was an old Zahirian and a very close and sincere friend of Ali Azeez.
The first copy was presented to Dr. Hussainmiya by Mr. P. Balasingham, well known journalist, past student and teacher at Zahira College and a committee member of the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation.
A limited stock of books were available after the meeting.
A Memento was presented to Dr. Hussainmiya by Mr. Khalid M. Farouk, President of the Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Foundation, in appreciation of delivering the Memorial Oration.
The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mr. Ashroff Rumy, a YMMA stalwart and Attorney-at-Law. He thanked all those concerned for making the event a success.
The Meeting ended with the recital of Salawath.
The YMMA hosted all those present with refreshment and drinks.
The Compere was Mr. M.F.S. Muheed, an old Zahirian and a YMMA stalwart, who did an excellent job.
