Syeda Amtul

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Mohammed Azharuddin, former Indian cricket captain and ex-MP, enlightened Indian youths about the negative effects of speeding at International Indian School Alumni Association (IISJAA) organized event on the destructive effects of speeding.



Azharuddin, guest and the keynote speaker, drove the message home to over 2,000 students, as well as senior teachers of IISJ, with an illuminative speech.



“This event is very important for me as I heard the heartbreaking news of the demise of two students weeks back in an accident, I would like to offer my condolence to the families of the departed students,” said Azharuddin, who too had lost his son in a tragic accident 2 years back.



“It’s not easy to cope,” he said, adding, “One should take a lesson from the (recent) incident. A student comes to school to study and learn good things. One should obey the guidelines of their parents and teachers.



“Once a child is born, the parents’ attention turns on him, they always talk about their child, focus on him as they want to provide the best in life for the child.



“The child too should listen and build with them his life. However, in today’s world, many a child starts driving cars and vehicles to kill time, or to show off.



They start driving at school age and that’s just useless, they will not gain anything from that, but instead if they focus this time learning, by studying and by becoming a good person then they would gain a lot in life.”



He added: “Everyone has a talent, Allah has given many things in our life, try to recognize it. Once you realize your talent then you have to start working on it because if you are not on the right track you are doing total injustice to yourself and to your parents.



“What is the use of their efforts and money, if you squander it? They work hard for you so that you can become a good person. Education is must for everyone.”



“I remember during my school days, we hardly got time to enjoy, neither did we have these facilities at that time. But now you are very lucky to have all these facilities. However, I think all these facilities are being misused by students nowadays, which is not at all a good sign.



“If you get a car, it’s a vehicle to go from one place to another, then what is the use of driving it at a high speed? It takes only few seconds to make a mistake while driving and that mistake leads to every possibilities of loss of life, which leads to nothing in life.



“I am also a father and have lost my son in a speeding accident. It’s a very painful thing, and I have also learned a lot from it. I just came here purely because I want to be a part of this gathering to convey my condolence and message.



“When I heard about the accident, I said ‘Oh the same thing has happened again’. May Allah bless them.”



Azharuddin said, “It has become a trend among teens now to speed and compete with each other on the road. I think it’s not at all a good sign to compete on these things rather it would be better to compete in studies and sports.”



You are lucky that you are able to attend school, your teachers and parents are giving their best to you, you must appreciate them, work hard, be safe and learn the lessons from past, he said.



Each day is a process of learning in one’s life. No one is perfect, we all learn from our past and try to be better next time, you may have a beautiful life ahead. Riding bikes and driving cars are not bad, but one has to drive safely. My son always wished to have a bike, but I always prayed to Almighty Allah that he doesn’t let anyone else to go through that trauma, he added.



Before starting his speech Azharuddin requested the audience a minute’s silence in prayer for his son as well as the two children Osama and Lloyd who died in an accident two weeks back.



Asim Zeeshan, president IISJAA, said, “What has happened in last two weeks is beyond any explanation, the emotions were high and bonding strong and that strength could be seen everywhere.



“Even we in our childhood and teenage days committed several mistakes as well, but the intensity of lawlessness amongst current students is perhaps on the rise over here.”



He thanked the Indian community at large who came forward in support of the accident victims. “The death of Osama and Lloyd is beyond explanation but they have opened a new chapter of bonding amongst the Indian community, let us continue to do charity work for the sake of the community at large,” he added.



Asif Dawoodi also addressed the gathering with some Urdu couplets describing Azharuddin has a unique celebrity and was applauded.



The welcome address was by Fursee of grade 12th. A bouquet was presented to chief guest by the school principal Syed Masood Ahmad. Fatima Afsar, IISJAA Joint secretary, delivered the vote of thanks. Ali Siddiqui, Abdul Rahman M. Baig, Atif Khan, Sabah Noureen were also present from the IISJAA executive committee. Vice principal, headmasters and senior teachers of IISJ were also present. A question and answers session was also the part of the program.