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Legends-Haji Ali Mohammad Pakolawala and Teli group

Late Haji Ali Mohammad was a memon philanthropist and entrepreneur who introduced Pakistan’s first national branded drink Pakola which in no time bacame famous and mass favorite. His family came to be known as Pakolawala's, after the famous drink.He also founded Gul Ahmed-a major business group of Pakistan.

Belonging to a family residing in Dhoraji he and his brothers had done wonders in the business world and the younger ones of the family have followed their footsteps.Haji Ali Mohammad's family in known in the business circles as Teli group or more commonly Pakolawalas.This family has contributed a lot in the economy of Pakistan.This family started its business in 1890 in India. Seven brothers Haji Abdul Sattar, Haji Qassim, Haji Abdul Lateef, Haji Habib and Haji Ali Muhammad, Haji Karim, Haji Joosub started Dhabeji Salt Works, between Karachi and Thatta. In Dhoraji they started schools and other social welfare organisations and during the period 1940-41 they established a trust by the name of 'Haji Tahir Muhammad Kassim Charitable Trust' which was transferred to Karachi in 1948.

Jamal Noor Hospital courtesy for images:Hamza Motiwala and Noman Motiwala(paanjo Dhoraji)

 

 

 

All the brothers were very service-minded persons. They became one of the leading groups of industrialists of the country. They were in the forefront of social service and established several institutions to which they contributed fabulously large sums of money. Their charity extended beyond the borders of Pakistan and were well-known internationally. They contributed a large amount towards the construction of Masjid-e-Ghafooria. They are looking after and managing Jamal Noor Hospital which is providing low cost and even free treatment to the people of Karachi irrespective of caste, creed and community. They also played a leading part in the field of rehabilitation in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur and outside Pakistan.

Haji Ali Muhammad became the President of the Pakistan Memon Educational and Welfare Society. Haji Ibrahim, eldest nephew is the head of the Memon Educational Board which runs and manages many schools in Karachi. They also established a girls school in Dhoraji Colony, Karachi.

The entire family is active in industrial and charitable activities, donating large amounts in the field of education, health, and running of Madarassas all over Pakistan.Some of the family business interests, such as Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited, are now managed by his son, Bashir Ali Mohammad.
Pakola
Pakola is a line of fruit flavored soft drinks, originally introduced in Pakistan in 1950 by Haji Ali Muhammad. It is produced by Mehran Bottlers (Pvt) Ltd. It is the first nationally branded soft drink of Pakistan. Hence its name Pakola meaning 'Cola of Pakistan.' The original green color Pakola ice cream soda is still popular in Pakistan. However, other Pakola flavours, like Pakola Lychee, have gained popularity. Another famous type of Pakola is Pakola Orange, which is an orange soda with an ice cream taste.



Gul Ahmed

The Gul Ahmed Group began trading in textiles in the early 1900s. In 1953, the group decided to enter the field of manufacturing under the name Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited, and was incorporated as a privately limited company. In 1972, it was listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange. Since then, the company has made rapid progress and is currently one of the leading composite textile houses in the world.

History-Kutiyana

Kutiyana is a town located on the banks of Bhadar River, in Porbandar District of Gujar and is 68 km north-west of Junagadh.. The town was once under the rule of Junagadh Nawabs.Before independence it was inhabited by rich traders of the Memon community . The houses of the town reflect the high aesthetic taste of Memon Muslims.Their homes were very spacious and had simple yet beautiful furniture.They were not highly qualified but like all memons were very good businessman and had continued this tradition of business after partition.One of the most famous businessman of Pakistan Akeel Karim Dhedi more commonly known as AKD belongs to this community. 

Kutiyana is a well planned town with a central bazaar street leading to a magnificent mosque with high minarets and an impressive facade. Major point of attraction here is the Miskinsha pir which attracts Muslim pilgrims. Urs festival, held on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan, is attended by thousands of devotees from far and near.

Saradiya Railway Station is the nearest railhead. By road, Kutiyana is well connected with Upleta, Jetpur, Mahiyari, Madhavpur, Manavadar, Saradiya,Vanthli, Junagadh and Keshod.

Areas within or very near kutiyana which are sometimes also used as surnames like chautawala,vadala or khunpuria etc:

Amar,Amipur - Baloch - Bavlavadar - Bhadula - Bhogsar - Bildi - Chauta - Chhatrava - Choliyana - Daduka - Devda - Dharsan - Dhruvala - Farer - Gadhvana - Gokaran - Hamadpara - Helabeli - Ishvariya - Jamra - Junej - Kadegi - Kansabad - Kantol - Katwana - Kavalka - Khageshri - Khunpur - Kotda - Mahiyari - Mahobatpara - Mal - Malanka - Mandva - Moddar - Paswali - Ramnagar - Revadra - Roghada - Segras - Sindhpur - Tarkhai - Teri - Thepda - Vadala

The Occupation of Bantva and Kutiyana By Abdur Razzaq Thaplawala

Bantva and Kutiyana – presently part of Indian province of Gujrat were the home towns of the big business magnets of the Memon community in the sub-continent before its partition. When Muslim League decided to launch its own English Daily and constituted a Press Fund in 1940, Quaid-e-Azam visited Kathiawar which included Junagadh and Manavadar States to collect money for Press Fund. Bantva was a small town with a population about 20,000 peoples at that time but Quaid-e-Azam not only visited this town but stayed there for three days to collect funds from individual business magnets. It is said that the 90% of Muslim League Press Fund was contributed by Memon community of Kathiawar.

Old Karachi port,many Memons Migrated to Pakistan Via Karachi Port

At the time of partition, Bantva was part of the princely state of Manavadar. The rulers of Manavadar were indecisive about joining either of the two newly created dominions. The Muslim residents of Bantva, who mainly belonged to Memon community organized a big public meeting in early September, 1947, demanding accession of Manavadar including Bantva with Pakistan and formed a delegation to meet the rulers of Bantva & Manavadar. The delegation consisting of dignitaries of Memon community met darbars of Bantva & Khan of Manavadar on 9^th September, 1947.

On the persuasion of the subjects of the state, Manavadar accounced its accession to Pakistan on 25^th September, 1947. This was naturally not acceptable to Indian Government which sent two companies of its armed forces to Bantva under the command of Col. Himmayat Singhjee on 3^rd October, 1947. The invading forces took over all government offices and declared Bantva as a part of Indian union. Army pickets were established at various places in Bantva. On the same day Sardargadh a , neighboring town of Bantva was also occupied. Manavadar was occupied on 23^rd October, 1947, and the rulers were arrested and taken away first to Jamnagar and then to Rajkot.

Night time curfew was imposed in Bantva immediately after its takeover. In the meantime, more army enforcement kept arriving to strengthen the occupation forces. Muslims were prevented from sacrificing cows  on Idul Zoha and also from saying Id prayers in main Idgah.

Before the occupation of Junagadh State on 9^th November, 1947, the 8^th Sikh regiment reached Kutiyana on 7^th November, 1947. More forces  consisting of 40 trucks and 50 jeeps also joined the Sikh regiment on 8^th November, 1947 to occupy Kutiyana. Many Muslims of Kutiyana laid their lives.

On 10^th November, 1947, the population of Kutiyana was attacked by the personnel. They broke in the houses and took away all currency, jewellery, valuables clothing etc.

In the meanwhile, uneasy calm prevailed in Bantva whose residents knew that they were the next target. Mr. Valabh Bhai Patel, the then interior Minister of India & others made inflammatory speeches while addressing a public meeting in Junagadh on 13^thNovember, 1974 against Muslims in general and Memon community of Bantva in particular which had made handsome contribution to the Press Fund of Muslim League when Quaid-e-Azam visited Bantva in 1940. These speeches added fuel to fire and the population of bantva was attacked in the midnight of 15^th November, 1947. The attackers mainly consisted of farm labour of adjoining villages. They broke open the doors of houses with their axes and took away everything which they could lay hand on including. No Muslim could help his follow Muslims because Muslims were not allowed to come out of their homes to help their fellow brothers by the curfew enforcing army. The cries of help from men and women raised by the residents whose houses were being attacked are still remembered by this writer inspite of his young age at that time.

The entire population of Bantva was in a state of shock and helplessness. They left their houses and shops with all their belongings, and migrated to Pakistan by ships through Okha port or Bombay. About 90pc of population of Bantva & Kutiyana had left their birth place within next 15 days.

As a result of atrocities committed on the members of community in Bantva and Kutiyana, the Memons from other towns and cities including Dhoraji, Jetpur, Gondal, Upleta, Mangrol, Jamnagar etc realized that it was no longer safe for them to continue living is their home towns. Majority of them, therefore, migrated to Pakistan. They were helped to settle in Karachi and other towns of Sindh by Memon Relief Committee formed in Karachi.

The migration of Memon community from Kathiawar proved to be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan’s Economy. Using the capital brought by them from India and blending it with their business acumen and entrepreneur skills the Memons started working for the development of Pakistan. The beginning was made with establishment of trading firms with branches in various places in East & West Pakistan. Then they moved into industry. A journey started towards setting of up industries in different fields and making Pakistan a viable economy.

Immediately after partition two books were written one by Dr. Rajindra Parshad, the first President of India and Dr. Ambedkar, the author of Indian Constitution. Both the authors predicted the non viability of Pakistan. Even Mr. Naheru, had predicted that Pakistan would never be economically viable and will ultimately seek re-union with India. It was this thinking which led India to withhold Rs. 55 crores which was Pakistani share in the assets of British India.

What role did the Memons play to prove that these predications of Indian leaders were nothing but false hopes can be judge by the following quotation from Mr. Stephen R. Lewis who wrote as follows in his book ‘Pakistan’s Industrial and Trade Policies’.

“It is wonder that Pakistan’s economy survived at all in the early years. Why did it survive ? it was because of the entrepreneur skills of Muslim community who had migrated to Pakistan from their original homeland in India and prominent among them were Memons. If Pakistan beat the economic odds, then a great deal of credit goes to the Memons."

Kida se Kida-From Where to Where.....Ghapar bha ne Sehnaaj bai aj kida halia bataro

Last Week's Destinations;
Gaphar Bha Ne Sehnaaj Bai Poteji joni si grey fx me Jail Chowrangi se empress market wini riya wa.Sehnaaj bai k koi chui k uite sasti sabjion ne bio ratsion mari wino so ou gaphar bha je wese pae ne uda khanri ne wi hanre ee taan aayein bataro k uneji kitri bachat thi ouni?

Gaphar Bha(Ghaffar Bhai) and Sehnaaj Bai(Shehnaaz Bai) were going out in their old Grey FX from jail chowrangi to empress market Saddar as some of sehnaaj bai s neighbours told her that she can save money if she buys grocerry  from there.What do you think how much they would have saved.

THIS WEEK

Sehnaaj bai aj pachi tayar thi ne wethi aaye,ghare se taan gaphar bhai ne Shenaaj bhai nikriya ayein hanre aj boun kida se kida haliya ayein tassweeron naro ne bataro

Sehnaaj bai is again ready today to go out now see the pictures and guess from where to where they are heading?

When There is Hope and Determination There is always a Way

Beacon of Light- Mohammad Farooq Bakali

 The Ninth Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in New Haven, Connecticut, USA on July 1-9 1995. More than 7,000 athletes from 143 countries gathered for competition in 21 sports. The event in itself is a unique and wonderful occasion and the coaches who help special people have the confidence to compete are far more special...the more we praise them the less it is.One of those coaches was Muhammad Farooq Bakali-A memon from Vasavad Memon Anjuman.A person who is very much concerned about physically challenged people and wish to settle them in the main stream.

A factory's maintenance chief by profession Muhammad Farooq Bakali is also handling responsibilities as Pakistan Medical Association Co-coordinator for special people since 1990 and organizes various events for many NGOs.

He is a Athlete(marathon runner),land scout petrol leader,sea scout and also plays badminton and tennis.He was the coach   for athletics in 1995 Special Olympics World Games held in New Heaven, Connecticut, USA.The team  won 6 GOLD, 4 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE MEDALS. He took the challenge of coaching  Tennis players in the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill in North Carolina, United States between June 26 and July 4, 1999 .The payers then secured 2 GOLD AND 2 SILVER MEDALS .Now he tried his skills to train badminton players for The 2005 Special Olympics Winter World Games  hosted at Nagano in Japan. 

He had been the torch bearer in National games and Pakistan special Olympics.He won many appreciations and awards including appreciation awards from Ex Presidents Of Pakistan Mr Farooq Ahmed Khan Laghari,Mr Raffiq Ahmed Tarrar and ex prime minister of Pakistan Mr Nawaz Shareef .

When asked why he is so much involved with special people he said,"Basically I am a sportsman and the main reason behind it is that my family is also effected with different categories of mental retardation."

How can we help in educating special people?."First we should aware the parents that they should not hide or lock their children at home.We must have an actual figure of special people.All special people are not mentally retarded.we do not have facilities to put them separately according to their categories.Border line case child can be adjusted in normal school.They just need a single jump to get into a normal life.What they need is proper assessment."

Mohammad Farooq Bakali's message to all memons:

We should start inclusive education system in our community schools ,support the effected families,try and

provide jobs to special people;they are special because they are doing extra ordinary effort for their

survival,our youth should come forward to support them,hope it would be informative enough May Allah give 

us courage to do something for secial people of our community

His services to the memon community;

•EX CHAIRMAN SPORTS COMMITTEE (ALL PAKISTAN MEMON FEDERATION.)




•EX CHAIRMAN YOUTH COMMITTEE (ALL PAKISTAN MEMON
FEDERATION.)

•CHAIRMAN SPORTS COMMITTEE A.P.M.F.(SECOND TIME) FOUNDER MEMON
YOUTH WING.

•CHAIRMAN SPORTS(ALL MEMON SPORTS ACADEMY(AMSA)

•MEMBER EXHIBITION COMMITTEE

•MEMBER EMPLOYMENT BUREAU COMMITTEE 

.
•MEMBER RELIGIOUS COMMITTEE.

•EX MEMBER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

• •MEMBER MADICAL AID COMMITTEE.

Events organized By him for NGOs

•ANNUAL SPORTS FOR AGA KHAN SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD FOR PAKISTAN.

•FUND RAISING MELA FOR UJALA SCHOOL.

•YEARLY HEALTH WALK AND MARATHON PAKISTAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

•TRAFFIC AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SAFETY APMF.

•HEALTH WALK FOR KIDNEY CENTRE.

Pepsi Memon Cup for APMF two times

 

Pearls Of Wisdom: SAARI GHALION

 Contributed by:
 Muhammad Iqbal Ahmed Khanani

IT TALKS By Muhammad Faisal

WORLDS SMALLEST COMPUTER System.....!!!!!


Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed a pressure monitor device which can be implanted in an individual's eye ball to track the progress of glaucoma. They claim that it is the world's smallest computer system which is just 1 sq mm in size. This device has been developed by Professors Dennis Sylvester, David Blaauw and David Wentzloff. It is yet to be named.


The device contains an ultra low-power microprocessor, a pressure sensor, memory and a thin film battery. It also consists of a solar cell and a wireless radio with an antenna which can transmit data to an external reader device. This radio does not require tuning to find the right frequency and so it can link to wireless network of computers. To charge the battery, the device requires 10 hours of exposure to indoor light or 1.5 hours of sunlight. Information can be stored in the device up to a week. The device takes measurements every 15minutes and consumes an average of 5.3 nanowatts energy.

Speech Device Gives Hope To Those With No Voice

Recently, at a scientific conference in Washington, D.C., German researchers showed off a technology that might work even better for Keneda — once it's perfected. The system, called EMG-based Silent Speech Recognition, relies on a computer to construct words by reading the muscles in the face.The new Silent Speech Recognition program, which could help people who have lost their voice, was demonstrated by German researcher Michael Wand.The computer designed by him does not  listen to the sound of the voice, it translates the muscle movements in ones face into speech via a half-dozen or so wires connecting electrodes on  face to a computer. "We certainly hope to market the system, but it will look completely different then, I assure you." says Wand.

The idea is that a person can silently form the words they want to say — not actually speak them — and the computer interprets the muscle movements and turns them into sound. One might say that Wand has taught a computer to read lips.