MILAD Celebration of Aqa Moula in NY-MARKAZ with Dignitaries: UNO & Indian CG
Published by DBNet Editor (jsy) May 28th, 2006 in Uncategorized95TH BIRTHDAY OF HIS HOLINESS CELEBRATED BY BOHRA NEW YORKERS.
To mark the 95th birthday celebration of His Holiness, Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin Saheb (tus), New York’s Dawoodi Bohra community organized an event at the Jamali Markaz in Queens on May 28. Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin-Saheb (tus) is the religious Head and spiritual Father of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra Muslims who are residing in five continents of the world, majority of them have Indian roots.
Consul General of India in NY, Smt. Neelam Deo and Secretary General of UN-WCRP (World Council of Religions for Peace), Dr. William Vendley were chief guests at the event. Janaab Ubai Bhaisaheb Z. Nooruddin, Aamilsaheb of New York and President, Anjuman-e-Badri, NY welcomed the guests along with Shaikh Tayeb Poonawala, President, Indo-American Interfaith Forum, New York and Director, PR & Media, Bohras Community Affairs. Shaikh Poonawala read out His Holiness’s message which calls upon his followers and all humanity that they should be tolerant towards all religions and respect and embrace the schools of all thoughts.
Speaking at the event, Consul General Neelam Deo said, “It is a great honor for me to be here. I congratulate all of you on this happy occasion. This is an opportunity for me to share the Bohra tradition and to learn something about the larger Muslim family.” Deo recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s words, which reflect His Holiness’s own beliefs, that we should not only be tolerant of other religions but also show equal respect for all. “We are secular only because we have so many different minorities in India practicing different religions. We should be grateful that this is our tradition and work hard to ensure that it remains strong and continues our tradition in Indian pluralistic society”, she added.
UNO-WCRP (World Council of Religions for Peace) ‘s Secretary General, Dr. William Vendley, who was first introduced to the Bohra community on his visit to Dar es Salaam, East Africa, congratulated the audience on the birthday of their leader. “I am deeply impressed by your community which so clearly loves and honors traditions. Your charitable activities and Saifee Hospital in India are well-known. I urge you to hold fast to the depth, the truth, the goodness and the beauty of your community,” he remarked. Dr Vendley also wished the community a success for their new project of building a mosque in Queens-New York. “What a way to honor your heritage and serve your community” , he exclaimed.
Upon a vivid introduction about Aamilshaeb-Janab Ubaibhaisaheb Nooruddin by Shk.Dr. Ahmed Khapra, a prominent community’s member, Janaab Ubai Bhaisaheb, (Chief Resident Priest of NY) spoke of His Holiness’s glorious 40 year period as the Head of the Bohra community, an era which has been one of fulfillment and progress for the Bohra-Muslims. “Sydena saheb is a firm advocate and supporter for respect for all faiths and beliefs and exhorts upon his followers to do the same. Following his teachings, our community has reached a zenith in our history. Members of our community in New York are enterprising businessmen, lawyers, scientists, engineers, doctors and other professionals. Many of them are making a significant contribution back home.”
Ubai Bhaisaheb also read out the letters from Congressman Gary Ackerman and New York’s Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, who had conveyed their wishes and greetings to the Syedna and the community on this joyous occasion. Consul General, Neelam Deo
as well as UN’s Dr. Vendley were presented with traditional shawls and books about
His Holiness and Saifee Hospital project by the NY- Aamilsaheb, Ubai Nooruddin.
At the end of the program, dinner was served to the dignitaries, guests and all community members with the varieties of delicious dishes with Bohra’s main course-BIRYANI.
(Community Event : Report by – Shk. Tayeb Poonawala, Tel. 718 476 9750)
