– M Rafi Ahmed
Coimbatore: As to the quote “Good things come to those who wait” by English poetess and writer Lady Mary Montgomerie, known by her literary pseudonym Violet Fane, the long wait for a ‘Town Kazi’ in Coimbatore city finally ended following the appointment of Moulana Moulavi Alhaj M A Abdur Rahim Imdadi Baqavi by the Tamil Nadu Government. Thanks to the concerted efforts of Coimbatore Sunnath Jamaath Federation led by its general secretary Haji M A Inayathullah and Coimbatore District United Jamaath general secretary M I Mohamed Ali for spearheading the move on this count.
In the wake of a selection panel constituted by the District Collector Pavan Kumar G Giriyappanavar, a list of three names was shortlisted and forwarded to the Government. Patience and perseverance paid off for Moulavi Abdur Rahim who was chosen for the post of Coimbatore Town Kazi. Sadly, it took nearly 25 years to fill up the post as it fell vacant following the passing away of Moulana Syed Qasim on June 7, 2000.
Notably, Qasim served for over 22 years from November 11, 1978. Lack of mutual understanding and cooperation among the Ulama, Jamaaths, Islamic outfits led to inordinate delay in the appointment of ‘Town Kazi’ while not to speak of the Dakhni Sunnat Jamaat members claiming right as traditionally the post was held by the scholars from their clan. On one pretext or the other, the appointment got postponed as there wasn’t any consensus among the Tamil and Urdu speaking Muslims.
Browsing through the pages of ‘Pettagam’, a compilation of 300-year history of Coimbatore, Muslims brought by Holy Quran researcher, writer and publisher Dr A Ameer Althaf, a chapter titled ‘Town Kazi 1938’ revealed that even before Indian Independence Town Kazis were appointed in the Muslim dominant localities. As such, the post of Kazi existed in six areas – Kanur, Thudiyalur, Ondipudur, Thondamuthur, Sevur and Kunnathur then. Details of who held the posts till 1937 couldn’t be ascertained.
It is learnt that the ‘Town Kazi’ played a pivotal role in sorting out all issues in jamaaths at a time when Jamaat Ul Ulama Sabai didn’t exist. Even after the formation of Jamaat-Ul-Ulama Sabai, the need for Town Kazi was seriously felt by the Muslim community. A copy of the court document publicised in Pettagam revealed the details of those who held the post of Town Kazi traditionally in Coimbatore after 1938.
Quite explicit that the Town Kazi post was held by Urdu speaking scholars as Coimbatore had a sizeable Dakhni Muslims then. Now, the situation is totally different as Tamil and Malayalam speaking Muslim populations have surpassed the other counterparts. Several attempts were made by the district heads since 2000 persuading the Jamaaths, Islamic outfits, Ulama to work in unison for the selection of an Islamic scholar as Town Kazi shedding all linguistic differences.
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Meanwhile, there were views from several quarters for having two posts of Town Kazi namely Coimbatore South and Coimbatore North as Coimbatore witnessed massive growth and expansion. Perhaps, this could have resolved the confronting issues had the Government taken a decision for an amicable solution which would have been acceptable by everyone.
In this backdrop, the newly appointed ‘Town Kazi’ Moulavi Alhaj M A Abdur Rahim was accorded a rousing reception at Podanur Masjidhul Jannah this morning wherein executives from several jamaaths, Jamaath-Ul-Ulama Sabai, Islamic scholars greeted him. This only reminds me of the quote – All’s well that ends well.
