History of KKG
We were seated in two Thals because we numbered more than 15. This was in 1982. We had grown in number from one Thal to two. We were young, energetic and a good group of friends who had a lot in common. There was much camaraderie amongst us.
Food was always slow to reach us. At least that’s what we thought. We complained. Complained! “Why are these guys doing Upri if they can’t do it right?”
We expected someone else to serve us, laughing and enjoying our private jokes and making harmless fun of the handful of young and old Khidmat Guzaars who were tirelessly serving more than 100 Thals.
It was probably Ramadan. As the days went by, the Khidmat Guzaars got slower in their Upri. Fatigued!
That particular day someone in the Thal complained again. “Yaar aa tho darojh nu chay. Alokaa sukaam serve kartha hasay. Jaman tho aavthuuj nathi!”
Someone then reprimanded him. STOP this continuous complaining. Why don’t we all get up and help solve the problem. At that critical moment, the seed of Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar was planted.
Beginning the next day, the two Thal members – 15 young friends – complaining friends – started doing Upri. 30+ years on, Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar has grown from strength to strength but the legacy of doing Upri at every Jaman continues even today.
Kaleemi, as we are dearly known today, moved on from this simple but very important Khidmat of doing Upri at every Jaman to great heights, locally and internationally. The rest is history.
Very soon Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar undertook much responsibility in doing Khidmat in an organized manner. Chotah Farzando were groomed and nurtured very early (we had members as young as 5-7 years). Having lots of fun together was a very important aspect that nurtured the feeling of brotherhood among the membership. A renaissance was created. Khidmat became fun!
Within a short time nearly the whole community had at least one youngster from each household as a Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar member – generating tremendous goodwill for the club.
With a man-power of over 200 energetic, enthusiastic, intelligent, and – most importantly – Khidmat oriented Javaans, Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar was on a roll.
We undertook many projects, including initiating maintenance of Kabrastan and Qutbi Hall, organising community get-togethers and trips annually and outings for our senior citizens.
In celebration of Aqa Moula (TUS)’s Milad Mubarak each year, we held the much awaited 6-a-side soft ball tournament, where fun and frolic for the whole community was the order of the day, and participated in a grand scale in the Carnival held during the celebrations. The dramas put on by Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar at these carnivals became a great attraction.
Further, we felicitated chosen members of the community with a Prestigious Award of Recognition for their Khidmat of Aqa Moula (TUS) and service of the Sri Lankan Bohras.
We also organised many Leadership Seminars for members as well as the community as a whole, facilitating Mumin and non-Mumin speakers.
One of the proudest legacies of our organization has become the Bohra Directory of Sri Lanka – the first one of which Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar helped the Colombo Jamaat to bring about. Many man hours were put into this project in order to gather and compile a huge amount of data for this very satisfying project.
It short, the community in Colombo relied on Kaleemi Khidmat Guzaar to come forward every time a call for Khidmat came.
Our organization was indispensable during the Asharas that took place in Colombo. From the word go we were involved with the Anjuman-e-Saifi in planning and executing these enormous projects.
Lots of hard work, strategy and clean thinking went towards the strong and principled foundation that this great association stands on today. Unreserved Khidmat of our beloved Dai-ul-Mutlaq was our first and strongest centre stone. In addition, within the Colombo Mumin community, we remind our members to always be non-political, humble, respectful, fair and judicial.
Now our children and their generation are running this great organization – hopefully along the same principles we believed in.
Today with Aqa Moula (TUS)’s Dua Mubarak, we the founder members can proudly say that the KALEEMI is the spinal cord of the Mumineen of Colombo.
Reminiscences of a Founder Member
6th Feb 2013
Current Executive Committee (2013 – 2014)
Office Bearers
- President: Janab Amil Saheb
- Vice President: Mu Ilyas Bhai Sh Esufally
- Secretary: Huzaifa Bhai Mu Ahmedally
- Assistant Secretary: Zoeb Bhai Rehmanjee
- Treasurer: Hussain Bhai Mu Shabbir Bhai
- Assistant Treasurer: Juzer Bhai Sh Esufally
Members
- Mu Zohair Bhai Sh Anverally
- Mu Murtaza Bhai Mu Amirudeen
- Mu Abbas Bhai Sh Fazlehussain
- Mu Mohammed Bhai Sh Imran
- Abizer Bhai Mu Aliasgar
- Ammar Bhai Mohammed Mu Alibhoy
- Firoz Bhai Saifudeen
- Hussain Bhai Abdulhussain
- Ibrahim Bhai Mu Hassanally
- Mufaddal Bhai Asgerally
- Shabbir Bhai Abbas Taherally
- Taher Bhai Sh Hussain Akhtari
- Yusuf Bhai Sh Hussain Enayethussain
Previous Executive Committee (2008 – 2012)
Office Bearers
- President: Janab Amil Saheb
- Vice President: Mu Taher Bhai Sh Fazlehussain
- Secretary: Mu Murtaza Bhai Sh Shabbir Bhai
- Assistant Secretary: Quaizaar Bhai Rehmanjee
- Treasurer: Mu Illyas Bhai Sh Esufally
- Assistant Treasurer: Huzefa Bhai Mu Husseini
Members
- Mu Juzer Bhai Sh Abdeali
- Mu Murtaza Bhai Mu Abdeali
- Mu Shabbir Bhai Alimohammed
- Mu Imran Bhai Sh Fakhruddin
- Mu Hussain Bhai Sh Shabbir
- Abdulhussain Bhai Mu Shabbir
- Khuzema Bhai Mu Najmuddin
- Mohammed Bhai Ismail
- Murtaza Bhai Mu Turabally
- Murtaza Bhai Shabbirhussain
- Zohair Bhai Hamza