Opinion
Remembering Azwer on his fifth death anniversary
Dr M. Haris Z Deen
It would appear like eternity. Five years have flown like the wind since Marhoom A. H. M. Azwer left us; his memory lingers on, particularly at a time when the Parliament is in turmoil and Sri Lankan politics in an utter array. Azwer’s absence is felt more than ever. No present-day MP can quote with authority Erskine May the way Azwer did.
During my presentation, the last four years, I ventured to highlight some of the political contributions, and speeches made by Marhoom Azwer within the chamber. Today, I wish to highlight some of the contributions Azwer made towards humanitarian causes out of political consideration.
Perusing copies of Hansard that Azwer was kind enough to send me, when he was a member of Parliament, I have noticed that in every adjournment motion for a vote of condolence on the death of a MP (present or past), Azwer made it a point to make a contribution and offered his sympathies to the bereaved families of whatever faith or political affiliation.
Azwer was a simple man who ensured that he kept in touch with his common clan despite having had the opportunity to engage with monarchs.
After meeting Queen Elizabeth II, after attending the Commonwealth conference, which Azwer attended as a Sri Lankan representative, he was quick to ensure that he visited his friends and relatives.
Azwer met Saudi Arabian kings and royalty many times only to present himself as a Sri Lankan representative for the moment and these events were not known to have made the amiable Azwer forget his roots, or the common touch.
Just before the 1956 general elections, Azwer was the Honorary Secretary of the All Ceylon Muslim League (ACML) Youth Front. To the dismay of the ACML hierarchy, consisting of Marhoom Al Haj Falil A Cafoor and Marhoom Dr. M. C. M. Kaleel amongst others, Azwer invited the Late Advocate Philip Balendra Tampoe, General Secretary of the Ceylon Mercantile Union, and a strong LSSPer, to address the League. Tampoe, as usual, made an excellent speech to a packed audience and declared his intention to contest a seat in the multi-member Colombo Central constituency. Azwer and Budree Hashim campaigned for Tampoe but he lost.
Amongst Azwer’s contribution are his efforts to get the BOAC/Qantas agency employees of James Finlay reinstated when the agency was taken over by the then Air Ceylon by taking it upon himself to appeal to Marhoom M. H. Mohamed who was Minister of Labour at that time.
Furthermore, Azwer as private secretary to the Speaker, Bakeer Markar, campaigned relentlessly for a pension scheme for private secretaries. He succeeded. One other important contribution of Azwer towards his parliamentary colleagues irrespective of party affiliation was the issue of entry passes to Parliament, even when they were not any more members. Now past members of Parliament need not wait in corridors of the chamber waiting for passes to be issued by the Speaker.
The writer can be contacted at
deenmohamed835@gmail.com