ALANJI MOHAMMED USMAN SAHIB

 

                     Alanji Mohammed Usman- A Model Millionaire

Introduction

Wealth in Islam is a blessing if it is used to please Allah and a calamity when it is used to disobey our creator. History teaches lesson how some people considered wealth as their own possession and used it to fulfil their worldly desires forgetting the life of the hereafter. But some virtuous people recognise money as a source to please Allah and spend it in a proper channel. One among them was Janab Alanji Mohammed Usman Sahib, a benevolent and pious man of Visharam who generously contributed for the wellbeing of the people.

 Migration and Early Life

Usman Sahib belongs to the Alanji family. His ancestors migrated from Thittachery in present day Nagapattinam district to Kannamangalam (Khadmangal) 270 years ago. A pious businessman, owned coffee estates at Bangalore, Chikmagalur and warehouses at Madras. During early 1800s Usman Sahib migrated to Visharam got married and settled here. Usman Sahib was famous for hospitality. He constructed a guesthouse in front of his home to feed the guests, poor and needy.

Etymology of Family Name ‘Alanji’

    Once a British higher official came to meet Usman Sahib, he noticed that the guest house was always busy in feeding people irrespective of caste and creed. So, he named it as ‘ALL LUNCH HOUSE’ in due course of time people started calling it as ‘all lunch ’ later it came to be known as Alanji in Tamil.  

His Contribution

Usman sahib worked for the promotion of education in the town and had a great honour for scholars. He established many Maktab in Visharam. According to records available, Janab Alanji Mohammed Usman Saheb was the first person to establish a school in Visharam. It functioned up to the Second Half of the 19th Century. A school for boys and girls by maintaining separate sections. In due course, it acquired the name as Board School. Enrolled a good number of little learners. Janab Alanji Usman Saheb had been a source of benevolence and took great care of students. This was the period when Hazrath Moulana Abdul Wahab Sahib (Rah), founder of Madarsa-e-Baqiyathus Salihath stayed in Visharam and the Madarsa was initiated and functioned here. Later at the invitation of people of Vellore, and due to the difficulties in transport, it was shifted to Vellore.

His absence was very much sensed by the people of Visharam in general and Mohammed Usman Sahib in particular. Realizing the need for a good Islamic institution, he established Madarsa-E-Usmania in 1870s at Melvisharam. Quran, hadith, Islamic Jurisprudence and Persian were the main subjects. In 1903, the same Madarsa was renamed and re-established as Madarsa-e-Khair-e-Jaree based on new curriculum. A new building was also constructed for the same. Since its origin it has been functioning successfully as a middle school for more than a century.

His Role in Madarsa E Baqiyathus Salihath

Usman Sahib had a high esteem for Hazrath Moulana Abdul Wahab Sahib and few families of Visharam had a staunch affection with Hazrath. So he frequently visited Visharam and delivered lectures in Big Mosque whose impact lasted for months. Usman Sahib and Hazrath Abdul Wahab sahib worked hard for the establishment of Madarsa. He generously contributed and also created source of income for this seminary.

Usman Sahib as Secretary

When the Majlis-E-Shura (administrative and consultation committee) was formed in 1882, Hazrath gave the responsibility of Secretaryship to Usman Sahib. He was the founder secretary (1882-1894) of Madarsa-E Baqiyathus Salihath. Usman Sahib extended his wholehearted support for the upliftment of the Madarsa. Thousands of Students from South India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and other far eastern countries have been benefitting from this fountain of knowledge.

First Convocation of Madarsa

During his tenure, the first convocation of the Madarsa was conducted in a grand manner. Hazrath Moulana Qari Mohammed Ahmed Sahib (Rah) presided over the function who was the son of Hazrath Moulana Mohammed Qasim Nanotvi (Rah) founder of Darul Uloom Deoband. He gave away the degrees to 17 graduates and tied the dastaar (turban) to these outgoing students. Today Baqiyathus Salihath had completed 160 years of noble service. It is called as the Ummul Madaris (Mother of All Madarsas) of South India. Usman Sahib’s contribution will be remembered for ever. Apart from Baqiyathus Salihath, Alanji Usman Sahib also had good rapports with other madarsas too. He donated large sums to Darul Uloom Deoband.

Other Services

    Usman Sahib took keen interest in the welfare of the public. As a result of his tireless efforts, the Melvisharam Panchayat Board (Old Municipality) and Post office were established. He laid roads between Visharam and Badam Pahad (Bawa Adam Pahad or Adam’s Hill). A place approximately 10 kms from Visharam where the tomb of Hazrath Meeran Sha Vali (Rah) is situated at the top of the mountain. In those days, many teachers who taught in the madarsas of Visharam were from Badam Pahad. Obviously, to facilitate these scholars he might have taken this initiative. Over the years, many families from this village had migrated and settled in Visharam. The saint used to spend his time in worship. A man of extra ordinary spiritual powers. Nawab Sadathullah Khan (1710-1732) gifted 7 villages as jagir to saint but he refused to go there and preferred to stay at Badam Pahad till his death in 1728.

 Usman Well

Prophet SAW was asked “Which Charity is best?” The Prophet SAW replied ‘Providing Water’. On another occasion our Prophet SAW said “Whoever digs a well will receive reward from Allah on the Day of Judgement when anyone from amongst the Jinn, men and birds drink from it.”

Beside C. Abdul Hakeem College compound wall, one can see a water well. It was dug by Alanji Mohammed Usman Sahib for the benefit of people. Approximately, 150 years had passed but water in this well never dried. Though the well is not in use nowadays, the people of Visharam preserve it as a mark of respect for the donor.

Establishment of Usmanpet Locality

Few huts situated at a land adjacent to Usman Sahib’s house. He purchased them at considerable rate, provided place to homeless poor and established madarsa to educate his own children and the poor. Today this locality is known as Usmanpet Mohalla. Similarly, his two sons Alanji Mohamed Ishaque Sahib and Alanji Abdur Rasheed Sahib also established localities (Mohalla) as Ishaquepet and Rasheedpet.

Conclusion

Alanji Usman Sahib passed away in 1894. But the legacy he had left behind is a memorable one. It would not be an exaggeration if we call him as one of ‘The Architects of Visharam’. His role in Baqiyathus Salihath is an indelible one. He would be reaping the benefits of his good deeds in abundance even after his death. Elites and scholars sent condolence letters. Prominently, the letters of Darul Uloom Deoband received from Hazrath Moulana Qari Mohammed Ahmed Sahib was published in the form of a booklet. Through reliable sources, I came to know that a scholar and close associate of founder of Baqiyathus Salihath had compiled a book titled ‘TAZKIRA E ALANJI MOHAMMED USMAN, HAYATH AUR KHIDMAAT’. The whereabouts of these books are still unknown. If found, would be of great use. Today we get inspired by the on screen virtual heroes and had forgotten the real life champions. The educational institutions, mosques, hospitals, madarsas etc., from which the generations have been taking advantage, but their makers are forgotten by us. Hence there is a need to collect and preserve the local history. May Allah give them better reward for their charitable deeds and grant them highest position in Jannah. Aameen.

Sheher e Visharam Tarikh Ke Aayine May By Kottur Abdul Latheef Sahib and Tarikh e Shumali Arcot by Hazrath Moulana Malack Gulzar Sahib were resourceful in writing this article. Thanks to Alanji Javeed Ahmed Sahib for being informative.