By Abdul Rahman M. Baig
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH – A newly formed organization, Global Network of Telangana NRIs (GNT-NRIs) felicitated a Canadian businessman and philanthropist Sikander Jaffer, who came here to perform Haj this year.
Jaffer, originally from the state of Tamil Nadu, India, migrated to Canada in the early 80s. He performed Haj this year with his wife with great ease and paid tributes to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and thousands of Haj volunteers for making the Haj a great success.
Jaffer, who is famous in Toronto for his philanthropic and community services, has helped many Indian single or family who arrives in Canada as immigrants or visitors. He helps them in getting good accommodation, jobs, education, transportation, etc.
The program started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by Mohammed Shameem Kausar. Dr. Syed Ali Mahmood, CEO of the Global Network of Telangana NRIs, said that the main goal of this organization is to connect all Telangana NRIs around the globe in order to help each other, especially youth in getting jobs, motivating welfare work, immigration counseling and to promote arts and culture of the Telangana region, particularly the glorious history of Hyderabad Deccan. He praised Mohammad Al Qureshi Irfan and Aijaz Ahmed Khan for proposing the nascent idea of creating Telangana network. He also appealed to all Telangana organizations or individuals around the globe to be an equal partner in networking and help each other to empower economically, socially and culturally.
Regarding the chief guest of GNT-NRIs function, he said that I have known Jaffer for the last 25 years and worked together in different welfare projects in Toronto. He also said Jaffer is well-respected among the Indian-Canadian community. He hosts Iftar and Suhoor in different mosques in Toronto during the Holy month of Ramadan and carries out several philanthropic works other than these activities while maintaining a very low profile.
Aijaz Ahmed Khan, president, India Forum Jeddah and the founder President of GNT-NRIs said, “I met Sikander Jaffer just few minutes back, but he mingled with us like we are lost friends of many decades. He is a soft-hearted and very down to earth person.” He said the GNT-NRIs is honored by the presence of such a great personality as chief guest of this function.
Shameem Kausar, chief patron of Khak E Taiba Trust, said, “After listening to the success story of Sikander Jaffer’s life in Canada, I am motivated to put in similar hard work and efforts towards the community. Although KTT has been helping the poor students in getting education back home in India, I am now motivated to do more community services and philanthropic contributions like Jaffer in Canada.”
Jaffer said, “I am a descendent of a well-educated respected family from Chennai and migrated to Canada more than three decades back’. He said my children were still young when my wife and I started educating them about the simplicity of our religion and also how to work hard in life to become successful. We also trained them about the ethics and values of a successful family. Today all of my children are professionals and are married and well settled. I always thank Allah for what I am today and I hope He accepts from us whatever philanthropic and community services we do in Canada. My aim is to help everyone who comes to Canada for the first time regardless of their religion and caste.”
Young poet Altaf Shahriyar recited few of his newly written couplets in Urdu. The chief guest and the audience appreciated the talent of Shahriyar.
The master of ceremony was Khaja Muzaffaruddin, who also delivered the vote of thanks, especially to the chief guest for his presence in this gathering. He also appreciated the work of Mohammad Ishaq, Nadeem Abdul Basith, Salman Syed, Mohammed Habeeb, Syed Abdul Rafay, Syed Afzal, Siraj M, Mohammad Aleem and others that led to a successful event. He also thanked young Faraz Ahmed Khan for his excellent photography.
