When I went to the venue I found the conference was a closed-door event, restricted to government officials alone. The press was not allowed in and no scribe was anywhere around.

Possessing romantic notions of intrepid journalism, I tried to creep in quietly, but was detected and unceremoniously ejected (this was 30 years ago; nowadays I would be locked up under the PTA on account of my ethnicity). I was asked to leave the premises.

I returned to office disappointed and dejected. It was around lunch time and the Editor, News Editor and Chief Sub Editor were not around. I must have cut a forlorn figure as I sat alone dejected about failing to complete my mission.

A valuable lesson

It was then that one of the Virakesari’s senior reporters observed me for a while with a smile and then walked across to me. It was M.P.M. Azhar. He patted my shoulder and asked whether I had gone out on an assignment. I told him about what happened.

He laughed and said in Tamil, “No problem. You can easily find out what happened there.” I was, of course, puzzled about how one could get the information without being physically present at the meeting.

Azhar then telephoned some of his contacts and asked them to help me. He also helped me identify some conference participants through the official directory and told me how to approach them on the phone.

Soon I was busily picking up information from multiple sources. Azhar then instructed me how to turn the information I gathered into a news story. I did so, and when the News Editor returned to his desk, I had filed my copy and got an appreciative nod from him.

I went up to Azhar’s desk to thank him for his help. He brushed it aside and said in Tamil, “Remember, it’s best if you can see things for yourself firsthand. But even if you can’t be on the spot, there are ways and means to get to know what happened.”

I learned a valuable lesson then that one need not be physically present, on the spot, to know and write about what had happened.

The lesson that I learnt then is still applicable on a larger scale nowadays as I write about Sri Lanka from Canada.

Down memory lane

Upon hearing that veteran journalist Mohammed Pichai Muhammad Azhar had passed away, my mind went down memory lane. I recalled the incident narrated above and many others during my close association with him.

Azhar, whose soul departed on August 28, was 62 years old at the time of his death. He was a man who regarded journalism as a profession and vocation.

Azhar, who began dabbling in journalism at the age of 18, went on to found his own newspaper 12 years ago. He was the Founder Editor of the Tamil weekly Navamani, which means nine gems.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Azhar was indeed a ‘gem’ in both his personal and professional capacity. It was my good fortune that this man took a liking to me in my tenderfoot days and took me under his wing.

As far as journalism was concerned he was friend, philosopher and guide to me as I cut my teeth as a cub reporter. In those days there was no college or academy to teach journalism. It was basically a skill you acquired on the job.

It was a harsh, tough world out there and cynical veterans had little time or patience to teach raw recruits. I was indeed lucky that Azhar became my mentor. I was privileged to learn many tricks of the trade from him. He encouraged and advised me and was proud of my progress.

He would take me to Parliament with him and allow me to watch proceedings even though I was not accredited officially to cover Parliament. This was possible then as security had not become a problem those days

Azhar also introduced me to many Muslim politicians. It was through Azhar that I first met people like Dr. Badiuddhin Mahmood, Bakeer Markar, Abdul Majeed (Muthur) Naina Marikar and A.C.S. Hameed. My first meeting with M.H.M. Ashraff was also due to Azhar.

I remember enthusiastically bombarding a senior politician with questions, displaying my knowledge. He promptly clammed up. Later Azhar admonished me gently saying, “Never show politicians you know more about a subject than them. Pretend to be an ignoramus”.

Guru and friend

He always monitored my career. This continued even after I joined the English language media. Azhar would offer both praise and criticism whenever he felt it was necessary. Later when I ran my own Tamil weekly in Canada, he was one of my primary sources of information.

After the Tigers unleashed violence and stopped the paper, I became a columnist for English newspapers in Colombo. Once again it was Azhar and senior journalist N.M. Ameen that I turned to for gaining an insight into Muslim politics. I also bought the Navamani regularly to keep myself informed of Muslim affairs.

Though his name was spelled in English as ‘Azhar’ he was called ‘Azwer’ in Tamil. I always called him “Azwer Naanaa” (Elder Brother).

I know that some people use the term “Naanaa” derisively when referring to Muslims. For me, it was a term of respect and endearment.

The Virakesari years of my life were a pleasant period. The two Muslim journalists were Azhar and ALM Sanoon. There was the photographer Nazeer and drivers Farook and Salahuddeen. We got along famously.

During my years at Virakesari, I often visited his home then at Maligawatte. Many are the meals I have had at his place then and I have also interacted with his family members.

Azhar lost his wife a few years ago in a motor accident. He was very close to her and was shattered by her death. He also sustained injuries and had a phobia of three-wheelers thereafter.

He leaves behind his mother, brother, son and four daughters. My deepest sympathies to them and other family members, as I share their sorrow over this irreparable loss.

Mohammed Pichai Muhammad Azhar was the nearest to a ‘guru’ during my formative years as a journalist. I was privileged to have him as a fraternal friend. This article therefore is a humble tribute to honour his memory.

Islamic renaissance

Azhar was one of two sons who lost his father at a very young age. His mother struggled to bring up the children in Maligawatte. While his brother Nizam became an entrepreneur, it was printer’s ink that ran in Azhar’s veins.

The Muslim youths of Maligawatte underwent an electrifying change when the pedagogue Al Haj Mukthar A. Muhammed of Weligama took up residence there.

This was a period of Islamic renaissance. Due to Mukthar’s efforts, an organisation, Majlis Islam, was set up. This in turn paved the way for the formation of the Muslim United Front.

Azhar was an executive committee member of this organisation. Some of the other prominent members were Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran M.M. Zuhair, Attorney-at-Law Farook Thaheer, School Principal N.M.M. Razeen and Azhar’s brother Nizam.

This organisation began publishing a journal titled Puthumai Kural (New Voice) and later another, Eluchi Kural (Resurgent Voice), in Tamil.

Azhar was an editorial board member and contributed extensively to these journals. This was his journalistic baptism. His entry into professional journalism came in the late sixties of the last century when he joined the Thinapathy, run by the Dawasa group of newspapers.

Azhar always acknowledged the late Thinapathy Editor S.T. Sivanaygam as his ‘guru.’ He made his mark as a reliable reporter and soon graduated to being Parliamentary correspondent.

When the MD Gunasena group was sealed under the emergency in 1974 during Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s time, Azhar was out of a job. It was then that he joined the Virakesari.

Azhar was at the Virakesari when he married in 1976. His wife was from Malwana, the land of Rambuttan.

The Thinapathy resumed publication in 1977 but Azhar opted to remain at Virakesari.

The journalist

He was a reporter known for his accuracy and speed in filing copy. He could cover all the essentials with a great economy of words.

He was a Parliamentary correspondent for more than 25 years. He saw many politicians come and go. The quiet, soft-spoken Azhar was highly respected by Tamil and Muslim MPs. He seldom made mistakes and covered proceedings without giving cause for complaint.

At the Virakesari he was well-known for his lobby column ‘Paralumandra Palahani’ and political column ‘Arasiyal Athirvettugal.’

Azhar was also involved with the publication Uthayam run by the UNP Muslim Youth League. He was a founder member of the Muslim Media Forum and served as Treasurer from its inception.

Azhar was a devout Muslim with great social and political consciousness. He also felt deeply for the plight of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

The community has many grievances that needed to be articulated and redressed. It has been long felt that the community required a national newspaper to voice and address particular concerns.

Several people including T.B. Jayah and Naleem Hadjiar recognised this need and attempted to rectify it. Despite their best efforts, the birth of a newspaper for the Muslims remained a mirage.

Finally, the mantle fell on Azhar’s shoulders. With the help of two committed Muslim businessmen, M.C.M. Rizwie and Thaha Muzammil, Azhar commenced publishing the Navamani in 1996.

There were many pessimists. Yet, the Tamil broadsheet Navamani has survived mainly due to the dedication and hard work of Azhar and other idealist employees.

Navamani

Despite its popularity and valuable contribution to society, the newspaper ran into financial difficulties a year ago. Azhar and colleagues struggled to keep it going, sometimes working without remuneration.

The Muslim Media Forum stepped in and enlisted support from the community to keep it afloat. A new company was formed and funds were raised. People rallied to help Navamani. The crisis was overcome.

The mainstay of Navamani was the column ‘Arangathukul Antharangam’ and its balanced editorials. They were written by Azhar.

There are different shades of political opinion among Muslims and the newspaper gave coverage fairly to all. No Muslim politician was able to accuse the paper of being partisan to a particular party or politician.

Many Muslim leaders consulted Azhar on important issues. His advice was valued highly.

The late M.H.M. Ashraff was associated with Azhar from the days of Eluchikural. The need for a Muslim party was often discussed at Azhar’s home.

The birth of a renewed Sri Lanka Muslim Congress under Ashraff’s leadership was welcomed by Azhar. He made it a point to take me along with him for the inaugural session. The fragmentation of the SLMC after Ashraff’s tragic demise was a very troublesome matter for Azhar.

The Navamani newspaper also gave wide coverage to the problems faced by Muslim localities, particularly those tiny enclaves amidst overwhelming Sinhala and Tamil majorities.

The difficulties and dangers faced by Muslims of the north east were given full exposure. Recently, the paper campaigned hard for a Muslim to be appointed as Eastern Province chief minister.

Muslim viewpoint

Educationists, writers, poets and artistes among the community were also afforded a forum by Navamani.

The Navamani was unique in expressing the Muslim viewpoint on crucial issues. It was both an index as well as maker of Muslim opinion. As a result, the newspaper enjoyed wide readership among Muslims.

Most Muslim majority neighbourhoods had organisations called Navamani Vasagar Vattam (readers’ circle).It was a popular, people-based newspaper.

Azhar’s dream was to develop the weekly into a daily. He would often tell me that I should write regularly for the paper once it became a daily. Alas! That was not to be during his lifetime.

He was a God-fearing Muslim who observed the tenets of his religion. I have rarely heard him speak ill of anyone. Even his political criticism was sweetly, and not bitterly, expressed.

He seldom got angry but when he did it was like a volcano erupting. But it was righteous anger and everyone kept quiet on those occasions.

I have never known him to be a schemer or plotter getting into cliquish office politics. He always steered clear of such petty activity.

A true gentleman

He was a gentle man and a gentleman among journalists. A real gem of a person. I shall miss him. His death is a great loss to the Muslim community as well as to Tamil journalism.

Azhar was engaged in morning Subuhu prayer and reciting the Kaleema when he had a heart attack and a stroke.

Al Haj M.H.M. Azhar’s mortal remains were taken from his residence in Wellampitiya and buried at the Maligawatte Muslim burial grounds on the same day.

May the Almighty be merciful and grant him Jennathul Firdous.

DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at: djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com