Sunday Times 2
A noble youth leader and budding all rounder
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ADHIL BAKEER MARKAR
“Good people, the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
that God is protecting them from the evil to come”
In Arabic Adhil denotes a judge.
Our Adhil judged everything in mundane life spot-on right greatly backed by those in his Aadiliyyah – the house of justice – headed by its Chief of Justice, his Wappa (father).
This house of fame judged right when Adhil was made a full blooded blue- Royal as his initial nursery. Then on to Asian School as his springboard to qualify for his London LLB; entered the highest portal of the Law College that provided the pathway to judicial hierarchy; became a budding lawyer – motivated by paternal instincts (grandfather Speaker M.A. Bakeer Markar and father Imthiaz both wore the black cloak). More high you fly: the family judged well for him to do his Masters at the London School of Economics (the most prestigious centre of learning where even Dr. N.M. Perera, the greatest Trostkyite-democrat glorified himself obtaining his double doctorate). The decision taken at the house of justice at Bullers Lane, Colombo-7 was perfectly right, at that. But… Allah — the final judge — destined otherwise. Adhil had to submit to His Will – enjoyed the joy of the LSE environment only for a brief 28 days – Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rajioon!
My association with the Bakeer Markar family runs deep covering a period of over five decades, from the time when Bakeer senior steered the election campaign of that great national leader Dr. T.B. Jayah followed through the ‘mother organisation’ the All-Ceylon Muslim League, and up till the time he brought honour to his community by ascending to the highest pedestal in Parliament becoming the third Muslim Speaker, donning the honour of being the last Speaker at Galle Face and the first Speaker at the Diyawanna, and I being privileged to become his private secretary at both Houses. My visits to “Hakeem Villa” at Arab Road, Beruwala, were so frequent that I became almost an understudy of Bakeer’s cousins Razik (lawyer) and Shafie (later Principal, Zahira) – popularly known as the Markar trio – in politics and community service. The trio were sure gems (in academic achievement) found in the land where the Arabs first laid their footprints in Ceylon. When I met Imthiaz here, he was in bubbling babyhood.
I carry nostalgic memories of being present with grandfather Speaker Bakeer at the maternity homes when the siblings Asaf, Azam, Fadhil, Adhil and Insaf were born to Imthiaz and Fareeda (of Yahalathenna fame) – five beautiful buds in the flower beds of Markar!
The fourth sibling grew up throwing luster all round, finally crowning himself as the Secretary General of the Model UN, which made me call him affectionately the ‘Ban Ki-moon of Sri Lanka.’ So dedicated and devoted, Adhil, together with his loving brothers, and his aunts provided the exact cover and shade to his father in his multifarious activities at the Palestinian Solidarity Movement, the Bakeer Markar Centre for National Unity, the Federation of Muslim League Youth Fronts and other like spheres. He was a shining figure at the Rotary Club, a lovable youngster at the National Youth Services Council, an indispensable figure at the International Youth fora. His moment of glory dawned when he was chosen as the Sri Lanka’s delegate to address the United Nations Youth Conference as Sri Lanka’s delegate in 2015. That speech stamped the highest class of Adhil’s performance in the art of international address –so much so that everyone hailed him as a future leader of Sri Lanka, more so the voters of Beruwala; they were yearning for the day when Adhil would step into the shoes of his grandfather and father to fill the vacuum they created.
He had a great passion for cricket (he played rugby too for his college with distinction). He was absolutely sure that he would play for the LSE team if he got the chance to go there. A couple of days passed by, an excited Adhil telephoned his father: “Wappa, I am selected to play for the team. I will play at the Cricket Mahagedera (Lords grounds in London). Say Dua for me…it was an over abundant joy of tears that flowed from the eyes of Imthiaz.
Sure, the LSE team will soon take the field at Lords. I can only wish them from eight thousand miles away: “Come on boys! win the match; and dedicate it to the memory of your great all-rounder Adhil..Adhil..
A week ago before planning his short lived sojourn, Adhil came to me in an exhilarated mood immediately after completion of Jummah prayers at the Jawatte Mosque (where he finds permanent solace now) breaking the news: “Uncle, you have been so helpful to our family; in the same spirit please make Du’a for me; I am going to London for my higher studies.” Equally jubilantly, so affectionately I hugged him, and hugged him, as one who had rocked the toddler in his cradle, with heart full of Du’a for his success; the joy of tears that obscured my sight that moment, I still feel have not dried up…
On October 19, Heathrow London, at last bowed its head for the final departure of a wonderful visa holder of Great Britain in recent times.. his elder brother Asaf, uncle Zubair, Izmath Abdulla, a pioneer in the Muslim League Fronts and a close friend of Bakeer Markar family, and his wife Davesha formed the last group that bid farewell!
On the last day of his stay in this world, he answered an SMS from his niece (“how are you Maama, are you all right? “Yes, I am ok, I have a little fever, I will recover soon, Insha Allah..” Then the last words: “Are you having good fun with the new baby?” – a baby was born to her aunt the previous day. With tears she recounted the pain he felt cleverly hiding it from the little one. On the following day, his LSE colleagues found him unconsicous on the bed – Adhil was gone or as we believe had returned to his creator! The Egyptian Sheik, a Professor at the Chinafort Jamiah Naleemiya when called over later at Imthiaz’s place, consoled the family members: “Adhil went seeking knowledge to London. He had thus attained the status of Shuhada (martyr) – the route from London to Colombo is the length of his Jannah (heaven)!
May Allah Subhana’tha-ala grant him the highest felicity in Jennathul Firdous! Ameen!
- A.H.M Azwer