Sunday Times 2
Bakeer Markar: National leader with exemplary vision
View(s):By M.R.M. Fouzi
A rich and memorable legacy bequeathed to the nation by a remarkable personality is significantly valuable and is worthy of emulation!
Thus, my thoughts are on the noble contribution that Deshamanya Alhaj M.A. Bakeer Markar, former Speaker of Parliament, professed in an exemplary manner during his precious life span. These exemplary precedents are lessons to be learnt in nation-building. I am privileged to write my thoughts as one who has seen and known this wonderful personality since my childhood.
Humble abode and lineage
The late Bakeer Markar was born on May 12, 1917, and his humble abode was “Hakeem Villa”, in Maradana, Beruwala. This village, ‘Maradana’, is historically renowned as the place where early Arab settlers built Sri Lanka’s first mosque, Masjid Al-Abrar, in 920 A.D.
Bakeer Markar
His father was Hakeem Alia Marikar Mohamed Marikar, a popular ayurvedic physician of that time. His mother was Rahila Umma Marikar. In tracing the former Speaker’s family tree, the roots go into Sheikh Jamaluddeen Al-Maghdoomi, an early Arab settler who settled down in this coastal town in Beruwala.
Early education and a legal career
He received his primary education in Beruwala and at the age of seven moved to Colombo. He was then admitted to St Sebastian College in Hulftsdorp. Thereafter, he received his senior secondary education at Zahira College, Colombo. At Zahira, he was editor of the school magazine, president of the Muslim Majlis and an active member of the Tamil Literary Association. He passed his Senior Cambridge Examination and then became the Sub-Warden of Zahira College during the time of Dr. T.B. Jayah.
In 1939, he entered Ceylon Law College. Then, World War II interrupted his legal studies. By the end of the war, he resumed his studies at Ceylon Law College and became a Proctor of the Supreme Court in 1950.
As a lawyer, keeping to legal ethics, he appeared pro bono in maintenance cases of needy women. In this way, Mr. Bakeer Markar was able to bring about an exemplary precedent at the Kalutara Bar, and lawyers took the decision to appear free of charge in such instances when needy women made maintenance claims. Thus, he was able to leave his mark in everyone’s heart in Beruwala. He served all communities in the Kalutara District in keeping with his vision: “Unity in Diversity”. He symbolised himself as an uncorrupt national leader.
When Mr. Bakeer Markar sought the position of president of the Kalutara Bar in 1972, he was contested by a senior lawyer. He won the election overwhelmingly against his rival with the full support of lawyers from the majority community.
Local politics and tutelage
Mr. Bakeer Markar’s political career began in 1949 when he was elected member of the Beruwala Urban Council. Subsequently, he was elected Chairman of the Urban Council. He instilled in the voters a much-needed civic consciousness to push through pragmatic decisions. This was possible as he was under the tutelage of Dr. T.B. Jayah. When Mr. Bakeer Markar served Zahira College, Colombo, as Sub-Warden, Dr. Jayah contested labour leader A.E. Goonesinghe at the 1946 State Council elections. Mr. Bakeer Markar successfully carried out the election campaign for Dr. Jayah. The transformational style of Dr. Jayah’s leadership led Mr. Bakeer Markar to follow suit and was immersed in the professional experience and the moral wisdom of his political guru, Dr. Jayah.
In 1955, the Kalutara Urban Council under Mr. Bakeer Markar’s chairmanship became the country’s first local council to pass a resolution that Sinhala be made the official language. He did so with an effort to unite the Muslim youths with their Sinhala counterparts. He knew to walk the talk; he was nicknamed “Sinhala Bakeer”. This earned him no wrath but mercy as a lovable character.
National politics
His entry into national politics was marked by notable achievements. He made representations to the Delimitation Commission to carve out a separate electorate for Beruwala, and in 1960 the Beruwala electorate was created. In the March 1960 general elections, Mr. Bakeer Markar was elected Member of Parliament for his home electorate. Unfortunately, Parliament was dissolved, as the UNP government lost the Throne Speech. However, he regained his seat in the 1965 general elections.
Taking up the estate worker’s cause and referring to them as “Ceylonese”, he addressed Parliament on October 6, 1965, in support of a special allowance for plantation workers. “If we are Ceylonese, they are Ceylonese,” he said and added, “If the Muslims are Ceylonese, in the same way the estate Tamils are Ceylonese.”
He initiated the ‘Beruwala Triangle Tourist Zone’. This brought in new jobs and a boom in tourism, jewellery trade, tourist hotels and the tourist-friendly development of the seacoast from Beruwala to Bentota.
He was the founder president of the All Ceylon Union of Muslim League Youth Fronts (ACUMLYF) and senior vice president of the All Ceylon Muslim League, while Dr. M.C.M. Kaleel was the president. He was honoured, admired and hailed as a national leader by all because he strongly promoted unity among ethnicities in Sri Lanka.
As an ardent UNP stalwart, his contribution to the party was immeasurable.
The turning point
The turning point in his resonant political career was the 1977 general elections. Mr. Bakeer Markar was elected first Member of Parliament of the newly created Beruwala multi-member constituency with 49,000 votes cast in his favour—a thumping 27,000-vote majority. I did enjoy my share of happiness, as I was actively involved in his election campaign as a staunch supporter.
On August 4, 1977, he became Deputy Speaker of the National State Assembly, and on September 21, 1978, he was unanimously elected Honourable Speaker. His victory at the 1977 General Elections has been recorded as: “The electoral victory of 1977 was a historic gift to the respectful minority.” He held the esteemed position of Speaker of Parliament until August 1983. It was a unique feature indeed to become the last Speaker of the old Parliament in Galle Face and the first Speaker of the new Parliament in Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte.
Role of Speaker
Speaker Bakeer Markar was admired for his high degree of impartiality, his ability to maintain order and decorum, his skill in mediation, his deep understanding of parliamentary procedure and his being a very good listener. He exercised sound judgement and discretion in applying the parliamentary rules even in sensitive situations. The Speaker’s traditional robe was reintroduced, which to this day has glamour. Further, the ‘Mace’ he reintroduced became the symbol of authority, being carried with solemnity by the Serjeant-at-Arms and placed appropriately. Thus, in recognition of his unblemished service, a commemorative stamp was issued by the Postal Department of Sri Lanka to mark his enviable tenure of office from 1977 to 1983.
Goodwill ambassador
As a goodwill ambassador, his diplomatic initiatives earned dividends for our nation. At the very outset, in 1978, he was honoured with the special invitation to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. This positive relationship brought him great honour, and then he was invited on a series of special official visits to the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Iraq, Indonesia, Cuba, the Philippines and South Korea. The close relationship with Iraq enabled him to build the ‘Saddam Hussein Village’ in the Eastern Province.
Acting Head of State
A historic landmark of his political career was when he served as acting Head of State while President J.R. Jayawardena and Prime Minister R. Premadasa were simultaneously out of the country on official business. During this time, the constitutional responsibility of the President came upon Speaker Bakeer Markar. He acted in the position of president when W.L. Wijemanne and A.R.M.B. Attanayake had to take oaths as acting ministers of Plantation Industries and Higher Education, respectively. This constitutional act performed by Speaker Bakeer Markar made him to date the only minority leader to act for the President of
Sri Lanka.
It has been rightly said that the life of Mr. Bakeer Markar has been inscribed in the public mind: “The public memory is overwhelming of a self-effacing political figure of great charm, high integrity, total incorruptibility and dignity.” He therefore belongs to the handful who possessed the vision to look for a peaceful UNITED SRI LANKA!
Governor
His final role in public office was as governor of the Southern Province. As the first governor of the Southern Province, he held office from June 13, 1988, to December 21, 1993. President R. Premadasa conferred on him the title of Deshamanya. He completed his span of public office on 21st December 1993.
The patriot
His noble deeds, expressions and voice resonate with his heart and soul, which were so close to the constituents and to all Sri Lankans. He was a sincere patriot with feelings of love and affection for the people and the country, rising deep from his heart. He passed away on September 10, 1997.
Let me quote Charles E. Jefferson: “A man is a patriot, If his heart beats true, To his country”.
| SLBC programmes on Bakeer Markar To commemorate the 28th Remembrance Day of former Speaker M.A. Bakeer Markar, several programmes have been scheduled on the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation’s channels on September 10. In appreciation of Mr. Bakeer Markar’s service to the nation, Sri Lanka Law College President Prashantha Lal de Alwis, PC, will speak on the Sinhala Service (FM 91.7/91.9) at 5 p.m.; Dr. Rayes Musthafa will speak on the Tamil Service at
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