Appreciation

Ceylon Observer
5 Dec 1972                                         

MOHAMED SAMEER BIN HAJI ISMAIL EFFENDI

I knew Mohamed Sameer bin Haji Ismail Effendi, who died recently at the ripe old age of 82 only in the last few months of his life.  But those few hours I spent with this Ceylon Moor historian and scholar were fruitful, for the knowledgeable Sameer revelled in discussion and discourse though medically advised not to talk much.

For his painstaking research work on his community Sameer was presented with a gold medal and a citation by the Moors Islamic Cultural Home in a special ceremony.  He traced history diligently from archives, museum publications and from ancient inscriptions.

Sameer was one of the the first batch of students admitted to Hameediah School, Colombo, in 1900.  Later he studied at City College and at St. Thomas' College (then in Mutwal).  He showed literary promise at an early age and while only 19 edited a Tamil monthly "The True Messenger".

Until his death Sameer was one of the few surviving Muslims to have met the famous Arabi Pasha, the day before Arabi left Ceylon (on September 10, 1901) and to have attended the historic Fez Question mass meeting on the Maradana Mosque grounds on December 31, 1905.

In 1915 he was a pioneer member of the All-Ceylon Muslim League (founded by C M Meera Lebbe Marikar, who was also its Secretary) and of the Moors Union, whose President, Mr. N.H.M. Abdul Caderceremonially released Sameer’s publication on the life history of I L M Abdul Azeez on November 25, 1915.  He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Moors Islamic Cultural Home.

 Sameer wrote prolifically to local and foreign newspapers the time he was free from his duties as Chief Clerk of the Colombo Municipal Council, which he served for 30 years, and was in constant correspondence with Muslim organisations and personalities all over the world from China to Finland and the United States.

 He helped to reorganise the affairs of the Maradana Mosque, Colombo for 30 years variously as Secretary, Treasurer and Managing Trustee.

 Always a religious man, Mr. Sameer had this verse hung by his bedside:

                         I am not fit for Heaven

                        am too weak for Hell"

                        Forgive me!

                        O Forgiver of sins"

 M.M.T.  [M.M. Thawfeek]