Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Jeddah’s Indian community is going to miss a prominent leader par excellence with the return of Usman Irumpuzhi to India on Dec. 19. 

 

He can rightly be called a "goodwill ambassador" of the Keralite community living here.  

 

Irumpuzhi carved out a niche with an all-round presence and leadership role in most of the social, cultural, literary, artistic, media, sports, and voluntary activities of the community in a span of nearly 35 years.

 

The community saluted him for his versatile talent and pioneering role as an active social worker, journalist, writer, literary critic, cartoonist, author, and organizer. 

 

Over the past few weeks, nearly 40 major organizations representing almost all religious, political, cultural, literary and sports spectra, organized separate farewell parties for him. 

 

The speakers were unanimous in saying that Irumpuzhi has set an exemplary model for social work with unique qualities of selflessness, simplicity, sincerity, innocence, dedication, and commitment. 

 

“It is fabulous that all these qualities plus his pleasing character and impressive personal demeanor generated only friends and not a single enemy for him,” they said.  

 

Irumpuzhi told Saudi Gazette: “I have not had any grudge with anyone during the three-decade long social work. I think there are no enemies for me. If you behave with people in a gentle way and listen to their concerns and accommodate their views in a friendly way, then nobody can hate you,” he said.

 

Irumpuzhi is well-known for his outstanding services to the community as a whole. 

 

He energized the community and shared his sharp-witted views and meticulous ideas on any topics he dealt with. 

 

Over the past two decades, his presence was there at almost all gatherings of the community in the city. 

 

He never affiliated to the parameters of any single organization but was receptive to all organizations and as such they invited him to enlighten them with his views and guidelines. 

 

He was instrumental in the formation of several organizations and platforms for the Indian community, including Saudi Indian Football Forum (SIFF), Jeddah Haj Welfare Forum, Indian School Parents Forum (ISPAF), Jeddah Indian Media Forum and Center for Information and Guidance India (CIGI). 

 

He has served as leader of these leading organizations.   

  

Irumpuzhi, who arrived in Jeddah on 14 Aug. 1980, was working as assistant marketing manager at Al-Fadul Freight Solutions at the time of farewell.

He has dreams to devote his life back in India mainly to reading, writing and other literary activities, in addition to bolstering the family relations. 

 

Irumpuzhi thanked the entire community for giving him full support to make his life more meaningful, memorable and enjoyable. He urged the community members to hold fast to the bonds of friendship, cooperation, cohesion and collective work for the betterment of both individuals and society. 

   

As a local journalist, he worked as Saudi correspondent of Mathruboomi daily for about 15 years and as correspondent of Amritha Television until up to his departure. 

 

He has also served as reporter of Varthamanam daily, associate editor of Pravasalokam web magazine, besides editing a number of souvenirs for different organizations in the Kingdom. “I was the first Keralite journalist who reported Haj for an Indian newspaper,” he said.

 

Irumpuzhi is author of several books including travelogues, collection of short stories and studies on Keralite expatriates. 

 

They included “Arabian Vasanthangal” — a collection of features about Arabian life and culture, and "Arabikkadalum Arabikkarayum" and “Pharovamaarude Naattil” — both feature studies about Arabian life and culture. He has also authored four collections of short stories.

 

As a well known cartoonist, Irumpuzhi contributed cartoon columns to a number of magazines and periodicals. More than a dozen exhibitions of his cartoons were held in the Kingdom and India. 

 

His cartoons portrayed mainly the pain and anguish of expatriates who are struggling to make ends meet after leaving behind their families back home. 

The thought-provoking cartoons also covered intensity of love and compassion, as well as an indignation to the hypocrisy and pretensions prevailing in the society. Some of his poems and features were published in English language.

 

Irumpuzhi has bagged several awards and prizes for his literary works, and outstanding contributions in the realms of social service, best coordination and overall performance.

 

Sabira is Irumpuzhi’s wife. The couple have a son, Yaseen, and a daughter, Ameera. Irumpuzhi’s brothers, Khaled and Ummar, who came before him are still in Jeddah.