Indian expats celebrate I-Day with gaiety, fervor

August 16, 2014

Riyadh/Jeddah, Aug 16: Members of the Indian community in the Kingdom donned patriotic colors on Friday as they congregated in the morning to celebrate their country’s Independence Day.

Flag-hoisting ceremonies took place at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Jeddah Consulate.

In Jeddah, a colorful ceremony was held in the premises of the Consulate General of India. Consul General B.S. Mubarak hoisted the national flag and read out the president’s address to the nation. Children from the International Indian School-Jeddah sang patriotic songs and entertained the audience. The Indian Embassy, located inside the Diplomatic Quarter, saw the dawn of an eventful day when Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao hoisted the tricolor at 8:30 a.m.

A large number of Indians working in different sectors attended the ceremony.

It was followed by the recital of the national anthem. The ambassador read out Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the nation.

“India demands creative thinking in governance that enables fast-track development and ensures social harmony,” said Rao, quoting from the president’s message. Rao extended greetings and best wishes to all Indian expatriates in the Kingdom and commended the members of the community for their constructive and proactive role in strengthening bilateral relationship.

Exuding hope that the Saudi-India bilateral relations will get stronger, Rao said: “The Kingdom is the part of India’s extended neighborhood and the complementarity of interests in energy security make the two countries natural partners.”

The vibrant ambiance at the Indian Embassy was represented by well-known personalities, administrators and teachers.

Patriotic songs were presented by students from the International Indian School-Riyadh.

The national flag also fluttered proudly in Jeddah, Dammam and other cities in the Kingdom.

Indian community organizations in Riyadh and other major cities across the Kingdom lined up many cultural programs to celebrate the special occasion. The 2.8-million-strong Indian community is the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom.

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15-year-old NRI boy from Kasaragod drowns in Dubai beach; sister rescued by Arab national

News Network

November 18,2024

Dubai: A 15-year-old Indian expat boy drowned after he was caught by huge waves in the sea off Mamzar Beach in Dubai.

Ahmed Abdulla Mafaz, a 15-year-old school student in Dubai, died while his sister Fathima, a university student, was rescued, according to their father Mohammed Ashraf. The family hails from Kerala’s Kasaragod.

The grieving father said the incident happened when the Indian expat family went for an outing at the beach park.

Recounting what happened, he said: “We were all sitting on the beach and playing around in the water. I had just gone to the washroom when it [the tragedy] happened.”

He said both Mafaz and Fathima knew how to swim and it was not clear how they were swept away.

“I think there were huge waves and they got pulled by the strong current.”

Fathima’s screams for help were heard by another beachgoer who rushed to rescue her. “He is an Arab national. He rescued our daughter. We have no words to thank him,” the father said.

However, there was no sign of Mafaz, a grade 10 student of New Indian Model School in Dubai.

Meanwhile, the police were called in. Dubai Police said they received a call about two persons drowning.

“As soon as we received the report, the rescue team from the Ports Police Station in Dubai conducted a search,” a spokesperson said.

However, there was no luck on Friday night. The search operation was intensified with divers and drones on Saturday, following which the boy’s body was fished out on Saturday evening.

The family has decided to lay him to rest in Dubai once the legal procedures are over, said Ibrahim Berike, a member of the volunteering team from Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) that is providing supportfor the paper work.

He said the family is shattered after the devastating tragedy. “They have four children. Fathima, who is doing MBA, is the eldest daughter. Mafaz was the third child. His other two siblings are also boys. Their mother, who was also there on the beach, is inconsolable,” he added.

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Salman Noor Elected President of Jam'iyyatul Falah Riyadh Unit

Media Release

November 14,2024

Riyadh: The Jam'iyyatul Falah (JF) Riyadh Unit held its Annual General Body Meeting at Loaloah Istirah in Riyadh on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

The gathering commenced with Master Ayman reciting verses from the Holy Quran, setting a solemn tone for the event. Br. Haneef Bardila warmly welcomed attendees, including JF Life Members, Office Bearers from various organizations, and guests, and extended his congratulations to all present.

During the meeting, Br. Muhammad Ashfaq, President, delivered the Annual Report, highlighting the unit's achievements, while Treasurer Br. Nazeer Ahmed presented the Annual Financial Report.

Br. Ashfaq updated members on the ongoing efforts of Jam'iyyatul Falah in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts for the year 2023-2024. Expressing gratitude for the support of the members and the committee, he encouraged the youth to join JF, emphasizing the importance of continuing the mission initiated by their elders 36 years ago.

The primary guest, Br. Yasin Baig, inspired the audience with a message underscoring the significance of service. He encouraged everyone to heed the Prophet's (pbuh) words: “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you become busy, and your life before your death.” He also spoke about the responsibility and blessing of serving the community through Jam'iyyatul Falah, stressing the promise of rewards in both this life and the hereafter.

Following his address, Br. Ashfaq Ahmed (President) formally dissolved the current committee and entrusted Br. Abdul Hameed and Br. Fazlur Rehman with the election process. A new Executive Committee was then formed for the 2024-2025 term, with Br. Salman Noor elected as the President, Br. Abubaker Irfan as General Secretary, and Br. Nazeer Ahmed continuing as Treasurer. Additionally, 26 other members were appointed to the Executive Committee.

The evening concluded with a dinner for all participants, and Br. Haneef congratulated the newly formed JF Riyadh Executive Committee and all attendees for their contribution to the event's success.