Sunday Times 2
Remembering Meezan Hajiar: An Inspiring entrepreneur and philanthropist
View(s):By Latheef Farook
A book on Meezan Hajiar – businessman, real estate developer, philanthropist and founder of schools – will be launched on December 13 at the BMICH.
In its preface, the book notes that it began as a labour of love and effort to preserve the life and legacy of Meezan Hajiar as a historical figure and visionary whose values continue to inspire the present generation.
Compiled over several years, it draws on interviews, archival research, oral histories and family recollections. Great care was taken to ensure that the voice of the community, and not just individuals, was heard throughout. It is a record of a life lived with remarkable purpose, deeply rooted in the Sri Lankan Muslim experience of the 20th century.
Meezan Hajiar was a self-made entrepreneur who started from humble beginnings and built a thriving business empire. He began his business endeavours in 1925, and by the late 1940s, he had grown to be a successful businessman and the proprietor of his own business, Meezan & Company.
Meezan Hajiar first purchased Ancoombara Estate in 1946, followed by numerous tea, rubber, and cocoa estates. The crown jewel of his real estate venture was the acquisition of Wariyapola Group on May 8, 1962.
The group comprised three large estates, namely Wariyapola, Viharagama, and Kandenuwara, planted with tea, rubber, cocoa, and cardamom. At the time, Wariyapola Cocoa was considered to be of excellent quality and was much sought after.
From the early years of his business life, Meezan Hajiar strictly followed the practice of dedicating a proportion of his earnings towards charity. Through the passage of time, his business ventures grew, and he found himself in a position to assist society in greater and even more effective ways.
Meezan Hajiar was instrumental in the financing and development of Zahira College, Matale, where I also studied.
The Meezan Institute of Technology (MIT) is the latest branch of Meezaniyah Arabic College and a leading provider of computer education in Sri Lanka. It offers a wide range of courses, from beginners to advanced learning in a variety of computer-related fields, which include programming, software development, web design, networking, and security.
He played a crucial role in promoting and facilitating A C S Hameed’s entry into politics. Upon being elected to parliament, Hameed became the first cabinet minister of Sri Lanka, apart from former prime ministers, to hold the foreign affairs portfolio.
Meezan Hajiar died on August 16, 1964, at the age of 54 and was buried in the premises of the Matale Town Mosque.