Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette 

 

JEDDAH —  A recent symposium on the life and achievements of the legendary Indian freedom fighter and Congress party leader late Mohammad Abdulrahman Sahib was turned into a brainstorming session on how to save the secular fabric of the world’s largest democracy from the onslaught of the Hindu nationalist Sangh Parivar forces.



While highlighting that Sahib was the true champion of the value-based politics, the speakers underscored the need for reviving these values to defeat the hidden agenda of the Fascist forces to transform India into a Hindu theocratic state.



The event, titled “Feel India 2014: The relevance of Sahib’s vision in contemporary perspective,” was organized by Mohammad Abdulrahman Sahib Memorial Symposium Committee, in co-ordination with the Malappuram district committee of Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC), an affiliate of Indian National Congress.



The speakers emphasized that the Congress party should come forward with strong convictions to show its secular credentials and rally all other secular parties behind it in safeguarding India’s secular and democratic fabric intact.



“The Congress party can save the country if it rises to occasion to embrace the value-based politics and courage of conviction demonstrated by Sahib,” they said.



Nicknamed “The Lion of Kerala,” the charismatic leader, who served as president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, died on 23 November 1945 at the age of 47, nearly two years before India’s independence.



Sahib, who fought bravely against the British colonial rule and spent about eight years behind the bars, offered selfless and dedicated services to the society and nation as a whole in various capacities such as freedom fighter, social and religious reformer, political leader, secularist, journalist, printer, publisher, writer, orator, educationist, environmentalist, and a teacher.



Raziq Abdul Vahid, chairman of the managing committee of International Indian School-Jeddah, inaugurated the symposium which was presided over by K.C. Abdulrahman, chairman of the Symposium Committee.



Well known Indian expatriate writer and orator Mansoor Palloor was the keynote speaker.



In his speech, Pallur, who is also spokesman of OICC Global Committee, made an impressive presentation on the life and achievements of Sahib and the relevance of translating his ideals into action.



“Sahib was a legendary visionary leader and a towering personality whose life devoted fully to the nation and people. Though Sahib’s public life was less than quarter of a century, his contributions to the country and people were tremendous and his visions are still relevant even seven decades after his death,” he said.



Palloor said Sahib’s life was replete with examples of how a true believer can become a staunch advocate of secularism and a national leader acceptable to all sections of India’s pluralist society.



“Sahib was a true believer whose patriotism emanated from his religious faith and he never compromised on his commitment to secular credentials. It is possible for India’s 1.25 billion people to believe strongly in their faith and at the same time have harmonious life and peaceful coexistence.”

 

He said there were similarities between India’s Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Sahib in many respects.



"They were the living examples of the principles for which they stood for, and they never compromised on their principles with an eye on material gains. They were true believers in their religions and at the same time upheld their religious principle to show tolerance and respect to other faiths and their followers,” he said while emphasizing that such values are highly relevant in the present India where some leaders of the ruling nationalist party are in the forefront of spreading the venom of intolerance and hatred in the society and hurting religious sentiments of minorities.



The speakers at the symposium included Gopi Nedungadi, Dr. Ismail Maritheri of King Abdulaziz University, V.M. Ibrahim (executive editor of Gulf Madhyamam), V.K.A Rauf of Navodaya, Hassan Cheruppa, C.K. Shakir of Kerala Muslim Cultural Center, K.T.A. Muneer of Jeddah OICC, Nazeer Vavakunhu, Abdul Majeed Naha, Moideen Kutty Chemban, and Abdurahman Kavungal. C.M. Ahmed delivered introductory speech while Hakeem Parakkal welcomed the gathering and Sakeer Ali Kanneth proposed the vote of thanks. Usman Irumpuzhi and Chemban were presented with mementos on the occasion.