C. ABDUL HAKEEM SAHIB AND HIS SERVICES AT KAVERIPAKKAM

Contributions of Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib to Kaveripakkam and its Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School

Kaveripakkam is situated on the banks of river Palar in Chennai-Bangalore National Highway Just 25 kilometres East of Visharam. On 5^th December 2016, I was relieved from the school duties to attend an In-service training programme conducted by RMSA at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kaveripakkam.  As per records, this school was started on 2^nd July, 1926. When I saw the inception date I started thinking that this was a period of the great Philanthropist of Melvisharam Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib whose generosity had no bounds. He freely donated large sums for the cause of education and common welfare. I thought that, definitely Hakeem Sahib might have contributed something to this institution. 

Having these thoughts in mind I got the opportunity to meet with the Imam of Kaveripakkam Jamia Masjid Janab Syed Mohiuddin Sahib. He is an old man and a member of school PTA in 1996. On enquiring the details of the school, he came out with a bunch of information. He said that this school was established even before 1926. Actually, it was started as a primary school when the people of Kaveripakkam had no zeal for education. Nawab sahib motivated the public to send their children to school. In the year 1926, it was recognised by the government. The school developed and raised to the status of middle school. If the people of Kaveripakkam had to continue their studies, either they had to go Good- Let School at Sholingur or to Government High School at Walajah. And in those days, it was not an easy task for pupils, because of poor infrastructural facility. So in 1934, a group of elders from Kaveripakkam sought the assistance of Abdul Hakeem Sahib for the upgradation of school. It was a time when Nawab Sahib was the President of North Arcot District Board. He accepted the request and in no time the school was upgraded as a high school with his support. Even though it was a government school financial assistance was given by Nawab Sahib at times of need.

In 1931, to ensure regularity of pupils, the government collected a nominal fees which was a blow to the poor students. As a result, many pupils left the school. On knowing this, Nawab Sahib came a step forward to relieve the poor from this burden. He used to pay the annual fees to all the pupils of the school.  Apart from this, he financially helped the poor pupils also.

Above all, Nawab sahib with his usual generosity donated 5 acres and 50 cents of large land for the school playground. As the days passed, the present generation of Kaveripakkam forgot his contributions and the land donated by Nawab Sahib was used for common purposes. Particularly for cattle grazing. The school strength gained momentum and a need for spacious school building was felt in 2005. The PTA members wanted to build a new building in the above mentioned ground. But there was strong opposition from the public as many of its parts were encroached.

With the intervention of the then district Collector and the Tahsildar, the matter was negotiated with the public. Mr. Pandurangan, (Ex-President (DMK) (1996-2001) Kaveripakkam town Panchayat) was in favour of constructing the school. So he traced the details of the land and astonished to know that, this land (5 acres and 50 cents as per registered documents) was actually donated by Janab Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib to the Kaveripakkam boys’ school at the time of inception. After knowing the truth, the people were convinced and got aware of the forgotten contribution.

Hence a new school building was constructed by the Government of Tamilnadu on the same land to accommodate the growing strength at an expense of 1.4 crores in 2008. Though a big portion of this land is encroached and its retrieval looks almost impossible but the land within the campus is enough to use as a playground. Alhamdulillah, the land is used for the purpose it was donated. Thanks to Nawab Sahib’s generosity.

Another important contribution of Nawab Sahib to Kaveripakkam was the construction of the Market near the fort temple street. The locals say that it was called as Kaveripakkam Dina Seri(daily) Market. It has a big arc at the entrance clearly visible from the main road. It also bears a marble stone tablet inscribed as Janab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib, 1935. It was opened in the month of May. At the top of the arc, there is a space about which the people say that there was a wall- clock fixed on it. Muslims say that the arc also had sacred number ‘786’. But presently, it is not there. The market is in damaged condition and it is not in use. From the ruins it is clear that the market might have had around ten to twelve shops. The local people acknowledge this and they say that it had vegetable and meat shops.

On 19^th of December during lunch break, Imam Sahib took me to Mr.Sekar Mudaliar an alumnus of the school. He was initially a Tamil Pandit and now a retired Head Master. He also acknowledged the above information about the school. Of course it is a government school but the contribution of Nawab Sahib was really marvellous. But he was unaware of the Nawab Sahib’s role in giving financial aid to the school teachers. He praised his selfless services and secular outlook. He suggested me to meet Mr. Sundramurthy Mudaliar, a retired teacher of Kaveripakkam School.

 The next day was the last day of the training, I was very eager to meet Mr. Sundramurthy Mudaliar. After lunch, along with Imam Sahib I met Mr. Sundramurthy Mudaliar, aged 90, an alumnus of the Kaveripakkam School (1932-1943) and also a teacher of the school (1952-1985). He is very feeble and lean. Due to old age, he had difficulty in hearing and speaking yet he shared the information with a smiling face. He told us that he had seen C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib and depicted his personality as: “He was a tall, lean man wearing turban and wielding a stick in hand.   He used to visit the school once in a month and Mr. Subramania Sastri who was the H. M. of the school would accompany him. Mr. Subramania Sastri used to give a list of poor students to Nawab Sahib, immediately he would sanction the required amount. Apart from that Abdul Hakeem Sahib would also give clothes to the poor students. Mr. Sundramurthy says that I too had received a cloth from him.

He narrated another interesting incident about Nawab Sahib. “Once Mr. Ayyadurai Mudaliar of Sandathur lent a big amount from C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib but he was unable to pay the due. As the time passed, again he needed money, so he approached Nawab Sahib once more. Nawab Sahib had shown him the documents pertaining to the previous loan and refused to give money. But Mr. Ayyadurai requested to give him money and said that this time he wants money for feeding the poor. Nawab Sahib gave the demanded amount as loan and enquired the date, time and place of ANNA DANAM. On that particular day, Abdul Hakeem Sahib visited the spot. He saw Mr. Ayyadurai serving food to the poor, immediately he wrote a sentence on the loan document, ‘due cleared, the total amount received and signed on it and gave it to him”. Such is the munificence of our elders. Islamic scholars say that a benevolent man is beloved to Allah.

What a service by this great soul for the humanity!

Prophet (SAW) has said that, “All creatures are Allah’s family and those who are dearer to Allah treat His family with kindness.”

Nawab Sahib gave freely to each and every one without any discrimination. He was secular and free from narrow mindedness. Eight decades have passed to his death, but his contributions are benefitting the poor and the common man even to-day. The above information of Kaveripakkam boys’ school is an accidental finding. More is there, to be discovered if we do research systematically on his contributions.  According to Prof. Abul Fazal (Head of the Dept. of History Islamiah College, Vaniyambadi) “What the people of Visharam know about Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib is only one tenth of information.”

Hence there is a need to collect and preserve the local history. If we analyse the history of Melvisharam we come to know a number of great personalities. Their social, cultural, religious and educational contributions are worth mentioning. Allah had given them opportunity and they did it individually or as an organisation. May Allah give them better reward for their charitable deeds and grant them highest position in Jannah.  The educational institutions, mosques, hospitals, madarsas etc., from which the generations have been taking advantage, but their makers are forgotten by us. Due to lack of interest, they are unrecorded.  Unfortunately, studying and writing history is considered as waste of time and useless.  As a result, no significant effort has been taken by us to record the services of our elders.

 Documentation of their selfless and sincere services will serve as a source of motivation to us and for the future generation. And if we fail in doing so, we will forget our own history. According to scholars, “The nation or a community which forgets its own history will not develop and it will lose the qualities and virtues of a civilized society. Further it will pave the way for the decline of that nation.” To-day we are living in a society where the social values are deteriorating.  So it is high time to realize the importance of History. Let us preserve our glorious past to make future glorious.

All Praise Be to Allah, Who destined my visit to this town and blessed me with the strength to gather these details. I would like to convey my thanks to our Headmaster Janab M. Rafeeque Ahmed sahib who in spite of my reluctance to attend RMSA training programme due to busy schedule at school, insisted me to attend the programme at Kaveripakkam. Surely, the trip to Kaveripakkam and the training programme was very resourceful for me. My heart-felt thanks are to those who provided me these information.

(A Report by S. Md Sadathullah B.T., Assistant Islamiah Boys Hr. Sec. School, Melvisharam)

Sources:

1. Interview with Janab Syed Mohiyuddin Sahib Imam Jamia Masjid, Kaveripakkam and a member of school PTA in 1996. (Dated: 08.12.2016)          

2. Interview with Mr. Pandurangan, (Ex-President (DMK) (1996-2001) Kaveripakkam town Panchayat) (dated: 09.12.2016)

3 .Interview with Mr. Sekar Mudaliar, Tamil Pandit, retired Headmaster and an old student of the school, (19.12.2016)

4. Interview with Mr. Sundramurthy Mudaliar, aged 90, an alumnus of the Kaveripakkam School (1932-1943) and also a teacher of the school (1952-1985)