Haji Mohamedali Janmohamed

 

THE COMMUNITY LOSES A DEDICATED LEADER

 

Haji Mohamedali Janmohamed died on 9^th April 1975 at Nairobi after a short illness. His passing away was a huge loss to the Shia community in Africa, and particularly the Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat when he served from his very young age to his last breath.

 

His devotion and services to the community have few parallels and there is hardly any communal institution or project to which he did not contribute his energies, finance and time.

 

Born in 1908 with primary education as his investment he started his career as office assistant in local trading firm and with sheer hard work and vision established his own printing press, Dar-es-Salaam Printers Ltd, which today is one of the leading and reputable printing and institutions in the country. Despite such illustrious commercial achievement, Hajj Mohamedalibhai was humble and accommodating to young and old, rich and poor.

 

From 1920’s there is hardly any period in Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat which did not benefit from his services. From 1920’s Hajj Mohamedalibhai served Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat in various capacities and was instrumental in providing Jamaat with constitution, building of various properties, new mosque and Imambargha and also tenant purchase scheme as Tawheed and Mohamedali flats.

 

The president of the Federation Haji Asgher M. M. Jaffer in his tribute said: it is indeed very difficult to enumerate the services Marhum Haji Mohamedali Janmohamed rendered in various communal fields. This is because they are numerous and they include services given to so many sections and sub-sections operating under the Jamaats of Tanzania. The most outstanding contribution by Marhum was the formation and perpetuation of the Federation of the Khoja Shia Ithna-asheri Jamaats of Africa. To this end, Marhum spared no efforts, and the record of his incessant services is held by the secretariat with pride and gratitude.

 

In the year 1945 when delegates from all over East Africa attended the Preliminary Conference in Dar-es-Salaam, Hajj Mohamedalibhai acted as a secretary to the reception committee. This conference, where the general consensus for the formation of a central council was established, proved a great success, and the delegates returned to their places full zeal and enthusiasm.

 

While planning for a constitutional conference, the late Mr. A.H. Nurmohamed who was appointed as the President expressed his desire to have Hajj Mohamedali Janmohamed as his secretary. Haji Mohamedalibhai, then nearly 37 years old, was called upon to appear before the delegates and introduced by the president as a young, capable and efficient worker, on whom the hopes for our future plans were pinned.

 

It is therefore evident that Haji Mohamedalibhai was one of the architects of the structure of our Federation and played an important role in giving it a constitution.

 

In 1949, at the conference held in Mombasa at Kaderbhoy Memorial Hall, Marhum was elected as the Hon. General Secretary to the central council for a full term of three years. Marhum Haji Abdulrasul Nasser Virjee was elected the President. As it is known, Haji Abdulrasulbhai lived in Mwanza, and did not enjoy a good health. In his absence, it was Haji Mohamedalibhai Janmohamed who handled the affairs of the Central Council, and he did it very ably.

 

Haji Mohamedalibhai was reticent by nature. While taking part in deliberations at various stages, he listened to all points of view very carefully, and maintained silence which at times portrayed him as shy young man. But records reveal that he had the gift of a fiery orator. He spoke persuasively and with force, but again only when he felt that the cause for which he stood required a steadfast and strong defence. A good example is that of the Tanganyika Boarding House. In this undertaking, Haji Mohamedalibhai is remembered for his long and laborious journeys to Jamaats all over East Africa to collect funds to convince the people about the necessity of such Boarding House. In the sessions, he vehemently argued for the scheme, and saw it through eventually.

 

Upon the year 1955, Haji Mohamedalibhai took active interest in the council. In the later years, he retired from the scene, but stayed behind to act as a sincere and well meaning adviser to the officers of this great organization. As from 1959 to 1963, he remained with Marhum Hajj Ebrahim .H. Sheriff as his trusted counselor, and it must be recorded that all the lucrative investments made by the council in these years were advised by Marhum Haji Mohamedalibhai.

 

In early 1964 the community lost Haji Ebrahimbhai in his untimely death, and in the ensuing new elections, Haji Mohamedali Meghji was elected President. With the new office-bearers’ at the helm, it is remembered that Haji Mohamedalibhai Janmohamed maintained the same unfaltering co-operation, and he offered his advice in various projects of the Supreme Council.

 

As a person, Haji Mohamedalibhai Janmohamed was well-read man. His information on various subjects was up to date and incisive, and his judgement was sound. In his dealings, he was generous though extremely straightforward. So many undertakings of the Supreme Council have been supported by him financially, and the list of his private charities is quite long.

 

In his lifetime, he remained modest and unassuming, and as such we refrain form recounting his charities. Yet we are sure that our community will ever remember him as a man whom wealth, power and greatness failed to corrupt.

 

Haji Mohamedalibhai was buried on 10^th April 1975 at Dar-es-Salaam and the funeral was attended by a huge congregation. He is survived by a widow, four sons, a daughter and six grand children.

 

Extracted from Federation Samachar - Volume 15 No 1 – 1975

 

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