Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Udupi / Dubai, Apr 23 : Knowledge is said to be the best charity and therefore it can be safely said that there is no better gift than the gift of education.

There are a few individuals for whom their family is their world.  There are a few others for whom the world is like their family.   The second categories of people are those who always are concerned about the welfare of the people of their native land and that of the country as a whole.  If they are able to provide wings to their humble desires through financial support, such people are able to provide a new lease of life to many.   For a living they may settle in some other country,  but they are always besotted by the allure of the motherland.  They always nurture a feeling of providing all possible help to the place of their birth and to the society from which he has benefitted.

Syed Abdul Khadar (Bashu)

Syed Abdul Kader Bashu of Shiroor is one such unusual personality who always craved to do something for his own people.  The prestigious Green Valley Public School and PU College of Shiroor, which has nurtured some of the brightest student talent, typify his myriad contributions to public wellbeing. 

In his father’s footsteps

Syed Abdul Kader Bashu’s father late Meeran Sahib was a renowned entrepreneur of Shiroor.  He earned the admiration and reverence of people of Shiroor through his selfless service.  Meeran’s children who excelled in education and business brought glory not only to the family but also to entire Shiroor. It is appropriate to say that Bashu has inherited these altruistic qualities from his father, who was highly respected in and around Shiroor.  

Meerah Sahib

Meeran Sahib was known for his love for teaching, unselfish service, simplicity and altruistic service – the very qualities which have given him a special and cherished place in the hearts and minds of the people of Shiroor.  Till his death Meeran Sahib worked for the development of his native place and strived to ensure that people of Shiroor lived in peace and harmony.  He was a man of vision and character, who realized that education alone can be the harbinger of change and worked in that direction.    

Having grown in such a conducive environment and having witnessed the noble work carried out by his father Syed Abdul Kader Bashu has naturally followed in the footsteps of his illustrious father and is continuing the good work started by his father but with greater zeal and vigor.   

Syed Abdul Kader had his primary and high school education in Shiroor and Byndoor respectively.  He went on to complete his B.com from Bhandarkars’ College, Kundapur.  During his college days itself he was drawn towards politics and it helped that he was close to senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes from whom he learnt the basic lessons of politics.   Known lovingly as ‘Bashu’ among his enormous circle of friends, he served as NSUI Secretary during his stint in Bhandarkars’ College.  

In his father’s footsteps, Bashu has already started working on the projecrt of establishing a Mini Hospital exactly where his father had earmarked the establishment of a hospital for the people of Shiroor. In the first phase of development, the hospital will ensure that free medical facilities are provided for the local people and rupees five lakhs per year for the next five years have been earmarked only for free treatment of the needy people. The hospital will have a laboratory with basic facilities and an emergency ward with 24 hour service. This hospital is coming up in the same place where foundation was laid by late Meeran Sahib for a hospital and would be    the fulfillment of his father’s dreams.

Life’s journey

In 1982 Bashu went to gulf in search of employment and that proved to be the turning point of his career.  He began his career by working as a commercial representative in a private company in Dubai for two years.  Later he worked in for Salam Studio, a multinational company in the beauty and fragrance Industry in Dubai for nearly 8 years.  Armed with nearly a decade’s working experience in Dubai, he was confident of giving vent to his dreams of starting his own business.  He opened a small shop that that sold perfumes and soon tasted success due to his competence, hard work and diligence.  Within a few years Bashu emerged as a leading young Indian businessman in Dubai. 
In 1991 he married Law graduate, Zareena Yasmin of Mangalorean origin and the family is settled in Dubai.  As successful entrepreneur in Dubai, Bashu is also known for his involvement in various social service activities among Indian Diaspora there.   He has been honoured time and again for his humungous service in business, education and public service.

Long cherished dream

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Syed Abdul Kader (Bashu) is not only a philanthropist but also an educationalist engaged in shaping the future and destiny for his people by providing quality education. 

Syed Abdul Kader Bashu tasted extraordinary success in his perfume business and was a rich man.   He was however, not happy accumulating wealth or just by providing only for his family.  His personality is such that he thought of a family beyond his own and that is when the desire of sharing a part of his wealth with others began to germinate in his mind. 

Over a period of time this thought took a concrete shape and he decided to provide necessary help for students of Shiroor and the surrounding areas for education and prepare them for the tough competition of finding a suitable career. He brought together few likeminded people and established the Shiroor Welfare Trust.  Bashu’s treasured dream became a reality in the form of the prestigious Green Valley National School and PU College in Shiroor managed by this Trust.   

Established in 2000 Green Valley National School is located in a vast expanse of 10-acres of verdant landscape the school this institution is creating quite a stir emerging in Karnataka as well as in India, as a reputed and prestigious institution imparting top quality education.  The school provides ICSE syllabus up to high school and follows state syllabus at Pre-University level and is known as one of the few top notch residential schools in the country. 

Crores of money has been spent to make this a celebrated residential school.  The school pursues a student-centric approach as far as teaching and administrative matters are concerned.  Syed Abdul Kader Bashu is managing the Trust as President and Managing Trustee.   Dr Syed Hassan Sahib, Mohammed Meeran Sahib, S Kamalesha Reddy, Atulya Reddy, C K Padmakumar, Mohammed Yahya , Syed Ibrahim, Mrs. Manegar Khurshid Banu, Mrs. Yasmine Syed Abdul Kader and Mrs. Dimple Padma Kumar are the members of the Trustee.   

Results to prove

In a short span of time Green Valley National School and PU College has been able to register good results and emerge as a reputed educational institution in the state and the country.  The institution which continuously registered 100% results in SSLC and followed the same in PUC last year.  In 2010 the school achieved the most unthinkable when all the students of SSLC passed in 1st class.   The same year, Jayashree, one of the students, not only secured 97% marks but also obtained maximum marks given by ICSE in all the subjects to emerge as one among the International Top 10 students of ICSE.  

Dina Special School

When Green Valley National School began to take firm footing winning laurels and accolades with its success,  Bashu diverted his attention to provide succor to the physically and mentally challenged, who are often neglected by their own family members.   This dream became a reality 2005 when he established Dina School for Special Education and rehabilitation in Shiroor, to provide free education for the specially challenged children.  These children, who often are the object of ridicule from all quarters, have found a home in Dina school where they are able to nurture their multifarious talents.  At present about 35 children are rebuilding their lives in this special school under the careful guidance of specially trained teachers.    Due to the training and support provided at the school these children have excelled in sports and extracurricular activities both at the state and national level.

Bashu has further ensured that these children are taken care even at their homes and  their families are amply supported to ensure healthy and happy living.  He has ensured that basic facilities are ensured at the homes of all Dina School Children. Those who do not have houses are  provided housing and renovation of housing. Free electricity and Water connection or construction of well is done for all Dina Children’s homes.  E has also ensured to provide a fridge to these homes.

Bashu is desirous to further expand the school and to make it a full-fledged training school for these special children in the years to come.

Dreams aplenty

Syed Abdul Kader Bashu is a globe trotter who loves to explore the different corners of the globe.  He fondly recalls his visits to the Dead Sea and to the St Petersberg, known as the city of white nights.    He wants the children of Shiroor to get the same exposure he received and as a step in this direction he has plans to take some meritorious students to gulf countries on tour. 

Philosophy of life

Bashu who inherited his desire to provide the gift of education to the needy,  firmly believes that development is possible only through education.  Though he went to the gulf in search of employment and tasted success there he strongly believes in what he says and has demonstrated it through his social service deeds.   As a visionary who steadfastly believes ‘education is the gateway to success’,   Syed Abdul Kader Bashu has myriad dreams taking shape in his mind, all aimed at providing a new dimension to the lives of students through education.   It is the good fortune of the people of Shiroor that Bashu has the financial means and more than that the generosity and good heartedness   to spend his own wealth to accomplish these cherished thoughts. 

Syed Abdul Kader Bashu has set a good precedent for others to follow through his act of giving back to the society.  He has also proved that there is greater joy and gratification in spending one’s wealth not just for self but also for public good.  If we have few more wealthy people who think in the lines of Bashu, India is sure to emerge as a leading educational hub in the world. 

Syed Meeran Memorial Charitable Trust

Meeran Sahib’s children have followed the high ideals of their father and as a result the good work he has begun in the field of education and social service in Shiroor, continues unabated.  This work is carried out through the Syed Meeran Memorial Charitable Trust established by his son Syed Abdul Kader Bashu.

The Trust runs two schools – namely Tauheed Public School that provides quality primary and high school education to deserving children of in and around Shiroor.  The Trust also runs “DINA School” for special education and rehabilitation school and the school is managed by Tauheed Education Trust of Gangolli.  A blueprint has already been prepared to provide a comprehensive training and healthcare facility to the inmates of this school. 

Recently, an ambulance service has been donated to Shiroor Association through DINA school, to help the people of Shiroor to meet their urgent medical needs. Around 150 street lights have been erectered in the streets of Shiroor through his donation to the Shiroor Grama Panchayath.  Syed Abdul Kader Bashu says the Trust has plans to come out with many more developmental schemes for the welfare of the general public.