Zahira College, Colombo

Zahira College, Colombo is the very first Muslim school in Sri Lanka and was founded in 1892 as Al Madrasathul Zahira by two of the most prominent Sri Lankan Muslims of the day, I. L. M. Abdul Aziz and Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar, with the active patronage of Ahmed Orabi Pasha of Egypt. It is currently the largest Muslim educational institution in Sri Lanka with more than 4000 students studying there. The college is situated at the heart of Colombo city. The college also has one of the oldest mosques in the country in its premises. Zahira means "Excellence" in Arabic.Infobox_University
name = Zahira College Colombo


motto = Alhamdulillah ("Praise to God")
established = 1892
type = Public
principal = T.K. Azoor L.L.B.
city = Colombo
country = Sri Lanka
website= [http://www.zahiracollege.lk/ www.zahiracollege.lk] __TOC__

History

The idea of school mainly for Muslims was conceived by visionaries at a time, such as Proctor M. C. Siddi Lebbe of Kandy, when circumstances were positively hostile to English education due to the reasons where English education was very much associated with proselytism.cite book
last = K N O
first =Dharmadasa
title =Language, Religion, and Ethnic Assertiveness: The Growth of Sinhalese in Sri Lanka
publisher =University of Michigan Press
date =
location =
pages =126,254
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=x8NQrTmjpRcC&pg=PA345&dq=proselytizing+in+Sri+Lanka+during+colonial+era&sig=ht0vkRg6R4QBPf3PjY1sD5HfEVM&vq=%22The+Ceylon+Historical+Journal%22#PPP1,M1
isbn = 978-0472102884 ] At this juncture in history of Sri Lanka almost all the schools in the country were run by Christian missionaries. Because Sri Lanka had not won its independence from the British Empire an almost state aided conversion submerged other communities. Nevertheless Muslim pioneers in education were more than satisfied that Islam would weather assaults at conversion but that education was essential for the Muslim community’s progress if not its very survival. Thus did Zahira make its first small steps on Monday, 22 August 1892.

Factors influencing establishment

An historic public speech made by M. C. Siddhi Lebbe in 1891 at the Maradana Mosque Hall (which later became to be the college mosque) and his appeal to the Muslim community to unite and promote the educational advancement of the community led to the formation of the Colombo Muslim Educational Society. The first Secretary was I. L. M. Abdul Aziz and Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar was the first Treasurer and Head Master. With the help of Ahamed Orabi Pasha, an Egyptian exile in Ceylon and freedom fighter, the long cherished dream of Al-Madrasathul Zahira was established. In 1894 the school was registered as a grant-in-aid school Maradana Mohammedan Boys School.

College song

College song transliteration

Yaa Rabbal Aalami Val Kawni
Yaa Rabbal Aalami Val Kawni
Li Hayaathil Ilmi Vaddeenee
Li Hayaathil Ilmi Vaddeenee

Haiyaka Alaa Kullid Dahri
Liru Joo Ill Madrasathiz Zahira

Haiyaka Alaa Kullid Dahri
Liru Joo Ill Madrasathiz Zahira

Haazaa Hamdullake Ya Allah
Annashkura Fee Kaulil Aa'laa

Haazaa Hamdullake Ya Allah
Annashkura Fee Kaulil Aa'laa

Sala Vaa Thullahi Va Thasleemoo
Li Seyyidina Khairil Basharee

Sala Vaa Thullahi Va Thasleemoo
Li Seyyidina Khairil Basharee

ynopsis

O! Lord of the World and the Universe,
We pray throughout our life and ask that you gift us with Knowledge and Piety,
Zahira College seeks your blessing to flourish throughout time,
We praise and thank Thee O! Lord for all that you grant us,
And we thank Thee also for your blessings upon our Prophet, the Exalted One among Mankind.

Headmasters

*Mr. A. M. Wapchie Marikar
*Proctor Mr. N. H. M. Abdul Cader
*Mr. A. S. Abdul Cader
*Mr. S.J.A. Doray

Principals

*Mr. O. E. Martinus 1913 - 1914
*Mr. J. C. McHeyzer 1914 - 1920
*Mr. T. B. Jayah 1921 - 1947
*Mr. A. M. A. Azeez 1948 - 1961
*Mr. I. L. M. Mashoor 1961 - 1965
*Mr. M. F. M. H. Fakhir 1965 - 1966
*Mr. S. L. M. Shafie Marikar 1967 -1982
*Mr. R. I. T. Alles (Director of Studies) 1983 - 1985
*Mr. Saheed M. Irshad 1986 - 1987
*Mr. T. D. Hannan 1988
*Mr. A. Z. Omardeen 1989
*Mr. A. M. Sameem 1990 - 1991
*Mr. A. Javid Yusuf 1992 - 1994
*Deshabandu Prof. M. T. A. Furkhan 1995 - 1997
*Dr. I. A. Ismail 1998
*Mr. S. A. R. M. Farook 1999
*Dr. M. Uvais Ahamed 2001 - 2006
*Mr. T.K. Azoor

Notable alumni

*A.C.M. Ameer - Former Attorney General
*Shibly Aziz - Former Attorney General
*Saleem Marsoof - Appeal Court Judge
*M. Jameel - Former Supreme Court Judge
*Ameer Sheriff - Former Coroner of Colombo
*Sam Macan Markar
*S.M. Kamaldeen - Former Deputy Chief Librarian, Colombo Public Library and former President of the Sri Lanka Library Association
*Nizam Lantra - Former Director of Ceylon Tourist Board. Tourism Consultant for UNWTO.
*Deshabandu Prof. M. T. A. Furkhan (Chairman Confifi Group, former President CIMA, Sri Lanka)
*M.M. Zuhair PC - Ambassador to Islamic Republic of Iran
*Javed Yusuf - Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
*M. Rifai - Former Ambassador to Yugoslavia
*Razik Zarook - Former Ambassador to Singapore
*Professor Rizvi Sheriff - Chancellor of Faculty of Medicine University of Colombo
*A.H.M. Fowzie - Minister of Highways and Transportation
*Desamanya Mohammed Abdul Bakeer Markar - Former Speaker of Parliament
*Dharmadasa Banda - Former Cabinet Minister
*M.L.M. Aboosally - Former Cabinet Minister
*Naina Marikkar - Former Minister of Finance
*M.H.M. Ashraff PC - Former Minister of Ports & Shipping and Founder Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
*A.H.M. Azwer - Former Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
*Professor S.J. Wesumperuma - Sri Lanka Foundation
*Vass Gunawardene - Former Chairman, Board of Investment
*Hisham Abdeen - Former Captain of Sri Lanka rugby team

References

* [http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2483 On Orabi Pasha]

External links

* [http://www.azzahira.com Unofficial Zahira College Website]
* [http://www.zahiracollege.lk Zahira College Website]
* [http://zahirag80.com Zahira College Group of 80's]