It is hard to believe that 15 years have elapsed since the passing away of my dearly beloved father, Alhaj Sabjoo Abdul Careem, chairman of the Careem Group of Companies and Elite Washing Soap. Fond memories of him live on.
My Daddy’s life was like the soft petal of a flower, a life lived in submission and praise to Almighty Allah. He was genial, generous and gentle in all he did. He won the hearts and minds of all. His counsel and words of wisdom won him many friends (and foes as well).
He was a fond father and a loving husband. He cared greatly for his dearly beloved wife Jennath, and his lovely family of eight. All those who knew my Daddy had praise for him, referring to the exemplary way he brought up his family and the love and affection he showered on them. He was certainly a special kind of person.
The final moments of darling Daddy are still vivid in our memories. On that fateful day he woke up from his sick bed, looked hard at me and said, “Please give me time to do the Amal [prayers].” Such was his strong belief, and the devotion and dedication to his Islamic faith.
May Almighty Allah grant him Jennathul Firdouse, Ameen. This is the sincere prayer and the greatest wish of a grateful daughter.
In my heart
I will never forget you.
My heart still aches
As I whisper
I love you, Daddy,
And I miss you so terribly.
To the world you were just one
To us you were all the world.
You made us great and proud
To own you as our Darling Daddy.
Sakina Mansoor Asgerally (Careema Careem)
Father figure, beloved brother will live on in the hearts of the Malay community
ALHAJ. NIZAM SAMATH
I scrambled out of bed when my mobile rang early in the morning on Saturday, September 24. I sensed I was in for some bad news, and sure enough the call was to inform me of the passing away of dear Alhaj Nizam Samath. Just two days earlier, he had celebrated his 68th birthday.
I felt bad that I was not present to shoulder Alhaj Nizam Samath’s janaza on his final journey. Nevertheless, from beyond the oceans, here Down Under, Was-salam, dear Uncle, childhood friend, playmate and brother at the Kandy Malay Association. May you attain Jennathul Firdhous.
Alhaj Nizam Samath was educated at St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, where he excelled at hockey. After completing a course in technical education, he served for a short period in the Police Department as a personal assistant to a police officer. He later joined the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, where he served until his retirement. He was a pioneer in the then active Kandy District Hockey Association, and was much sought after to officiate at sports events and promote sports in the district.
To us members of the Kandy Malay Association, we have lost a brother who inspired us with his knowledge of the history of the Malays in Ceylon. He helped those who sought his assistance in these subjects for their postgraduate studies in foreign universities, and he was happy to share his knowledge in order to spread the Malay language, attire, and culture.
He was recently reappointed editor of the revived “Terang”, the quarterly news publication sponsored by the Kandy Malays. At the time of his death, he was collecting information from me about the Sri Lanka Malays living in Australia for the first edition of the new “Terang”.
He was an inspiration to the Malays and a livewire at the association. He never failed to don the Malay songkok at a janaza or Malay function. He served as general secretary of the association and later as president. Drawing on his banking experience and penchant for figures, he served as treasurer for many years. He was appointed a vice-president at this year’s annual general meeting.
When he was transferred to the Commercial Bank’s head office in Colombo, he would join me at Dimo for the drive back home for the weekend. We enjoyed a great many jokes on the way, and made plans for the welfare of the Kandy Malays.
Alhaj Nizam Samath’s name will live on in the annals of the Kandy Malay Association.
Good-bye, Sweet Prince. May the Angels guide you in your journeys in Ahira, where we shall all meet again. Inna Lillahi Wainna Ilaihi Rajioon. Ameen.
Feizal Dole
‘His living will not be in vain’
Yohan de Silva
It is hard to believe that over three months have passed since you left us. The death of my nephew was a shock to all those who loved him. He was always full of life, taking charge of people and situations.
My recollections of Yohan are fond ones. I still remember having a sea bath with him a few years ago- that was the last time I met him. The times he spent with us were memorable and joyous and life has never been the same for his parents and sister after he left them.
Yohan excelled in basketball, football and maths in High School and always wanted to play professional football in the US. He was the epitome of a bright high school student, hardworking, disciplined and loving.
Like other members of his family who grieve for him, my sorrow is mellowed by the consolation that he was always loved by his parents, grandparents Ralph and Dorothy, family and his friends. While wishing his parents the strength to carry on, let me conclude with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King:
“ If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he is travelling wrong, then my living will not be in vain.”
Y. Nalin de Silva
A beautiful life and remarkable personality – gone from our midst too soon
SRINI VASANA
December 24 marked the third month since the tragic and untimely death of my niece, Srini Vasana. A valuable life was snatched away, causing immeasurable sadness and loss to her husband, her eleven-year-old daughter, and her pupils. She was 34 years old.
Srini Vasana was born to a family of three, and at the time of her death she had been a teacher for 14 years at Loyola College, Negombo.
Lovable character that she was, always a smile on her face, she was the most sought after in the family circle. To all her demise is still agonizing, a pain too great to cope with. Yes, death is a great mystery, and every death is heart-breaking for the loved ones. And when it is an untimely death, the pain is twice as great.
As a professional, Srini Vasana had an immense impact on her associates. The great honour accorded her by Loyola College reflected the school’s deep appreciation and admiration of her life and contribution to the school. The thousands who came to her home to pay their last respects showed the love she had won during her short life – love from her pupils, her fellow teachers at Loyola, and her friends.
I witnessed the great personal concern the teaching staff showed when the news came that Vasana had gone missing after leaving home that morning, on her way to Negombo.
No doubt her faith influenced her way of life. Other sources of inspiration that guided her life would have been the traditions she inherited from her parents and grandparents, also teachers.
I confess that until her death I was largely ignorant of the depth of her beautiful life and the remarkable personality she had become. Now, when I recall my own memories of her, I realise that she showed from childhood the potential to become a great personality.
She exhibited her skills as a group activist by organising the “Lama Samajaya” for all her cousins, during the Christmas get-together at our parental home. As a teenager, she had strong views on current issues, in the church and in society. She always discussed these from the perspective of justice.
It is a hard truth reflecting the sad state of contemporary society that most of us consider money the first priority in life. We crave it and value it even more than the life of another human being.
However, Srini Vasana had her own order of values. Her dedication and commitment to a higher cause, her fidelity to the calling she received from above, were the remarkable features of her life.
She had a great sensitivity to the needs of others, and she happily and readily served those entrusted in her care. I was told that whenever the school staff went on an outing, she would be the last to take her meal, once she had satisfied herself that everyone else has been adequately served.
Vasana’s exemplary life should be a source of comfort and strength to her grieving family.
We should all rejoice that Srini Vasana lived her life to the full and that she will enjoy the reward that was prepared for her even before she was in her mother’s womb. The Good Lord may have already said, “Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
To those of us grieving, only faith and hope can comfort.
Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda |
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