by P A Hameed Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Saudi Arabia (MB)
Riyadh, Apr 5: “Education is the key to success” was the catchphrase that pulsated in the minds of quite a few individuals of the same wavelength who belonged to the Mangalorean Muslim community. For this purposed they came together to form an organization calle Jam'yatul Falah, known as JF in short.
It is a body registered under the provisions of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act and FEMA Act of India. “Falah” means success in Arabic and Qur’anic languages. As the word itself indicates, the organization has been on the path of success in the service of the community.
The headquarters being in Mangalore, virtually the implementation of the programmes and plans is being carried out by the headquarter committee. Like-minded people with a common goal can achieve anything in any social set-up. JF has more practically translated this concept into reality by getting itself actively engaged in various programmes and schemes.
Education and humanitarian services are the two mantras on which JF has been firmly based. "Ignorance of the importance of education led our community to failure...Illiteracy and poverty are the major setbacks that have really incapacitated the Muslim community," says Kasim Ahmed, present president of JF, Riyadh Unit, who, with the combined efforts of the committee members, has committed himself for the cause of the upliftment of the community.
In fact, the list of the community services and programmes both in the gulf countries and in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts, initiated and conducted by JF has been growing. JF has undertaken and is on threshold of undertaking remarkable and outstanding missions of bringing light into the community in the form of education and to bring them in the mainstream of the society and nation. JF obviously was aware that any community gets a cutting edge only with the back-up of education. Hence it took many crucial measures uplift the community educationally and socially.
Scholar's talk and video presentation
Beneficiary students from Kemmara - Puttur
Bengare Kasba dropouts back in school
Students at Sajipanadu
The star activities which it took up on priority are:
- A meticulous campaign to create awareness among the community about the importance of education
- Running of Educational Institutes
- Management of hostels for the students
- “Back to School” programme to get dropouts back into school and prevent dropout cases
- Donating books, uniforms and other materials to poor students
- Award of scholarships to bright students for their educational advancement
- Making the technical education programme vailable through technical institutions
- Tailoring and other handicraft classes and programmes for girls
- Imparting computer education to girls
- Medical and legal aid camps for the needy in rural areas
- Communal harmony programmes
- Ambulance and Mobile Clinic facility in case of emergency and need
- And various other activities
A major portion of its funds being allotted for the educational purposes of the community Keeping in mind several surveys made and, more importnatly, Justice Rajidner Sachar’s Commission Report. The problem of school dropouts is being seriously adrressed in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. A night school in Bengare for boys allows them to work and earn during daytime. The same projects have been extended to Harekala, Adkarepadavu and Sajipa in Bantwal taluk, where classes for girls are already functioning.
Besides, the organization in also in the forefront in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and frequently conducts various seminars, presentations and awareness camps on one side, and annual get-togethers, cricket tournament, membership campaign and fund collection for humanitarian causes such as calamities, medical expenses for the genuine needy, accidental victims and deaths caused in the Kingdom and such other services on the other.
At seminars, eminent speakers and personalities from India are invited to deliver their speeches and lectures on the current issues. It has tried to bring together not only the Mangaloreans but also people from the different folds from India through its laudable humanitarian services. Thus JF, being a people--friendly and non-profit organization with strict adherence to the law of the Kingdom and Indian Law, is getting actively involved in multifarious activities and services.
A recent gathering was at ‘Al-Rushd Resort’ in Riyadh at “Jam’iyyatul Falah Get-Together-2007” , a programme held at March-end for a noble cause. Really the gathering was very excellent with more than five hundred people of all parts of Karnataka and other states also. It was open-door programme where all communities of the people particularly Mangaloreans of different communities-both men and women got together in a spirti of brotherhood. The ambience was as if they were in Mangalore.
Many events like cricket, volleyball, tug of war, passing the ball, running race for the boys, treasure hunt game, spot quiz based on both Islamic and current issues, Games for Ladies etc. were conducted, and winners and runners of the games are given with attractive prizes. The children were quick in shooting answers off the cuff.f.
Hassan Zafarullah, a luminary in Islamic oratory delivered a brilliant speech on “Community Services and its Benefits in Islam and Khaled Noor Muhammad, a Bangalorean consultant in Ministry of Education in the Kingdom spoke on “Islamic Perspective towards Charity”.
A computer presentation was made to the audience by JF treasurer Abdul Lathief Mangalore. The team spirit of organized ensured the success of the get-together.
Fabulous prizes like refrigerator, TV, washing machine, fans etc. were gven as raffle prizes.
One of the organizers Parvez Ali Euromarche thanked everyone for the success of the meet. Ayaz Ahmed, Vice President; Nawaz Gurpur, Adviser; Nazeer Ahmed, General Secretary and others were present on the occasion.
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