Jihad for Justice chairman, Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim, highlights his community's contribution to Malaya and the importance of the Tamil language
PETALING JAYA: Indian Muslims, particularly the Tamil Muslims, are not aware of the extent of their contribution towards nation-building, said Jihad for Justice chairman Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim.
Speaking from his office located in Petaling Jaya, Thasleem, 64, said that Tamil Muslims not only came to then Malaya to do business but they also contributed immensely to society.
“How many of us know that a number of Tamil dailies in the past were set up by Tamil Muslims? We had the Vidya Vicharini set up in 1883 by Ghulam Kadir Navalar, a famous poet in Penang.
“CK Malchdoom Sahib founded Singai Varthamani in Singapore in 1875. SPSK Kader Sahib, another Tamil Muslim, started Vijaya Kedanan in 1887 in the British crown colony,” said Thasleem.
Thasleem added that Kadir Sahib also started one of the earliest Malay newspapers in 1894, known as Tanjong Pengerusi.
Thasleem also touched on Munshi Abdullah, known as the father of Malay literature in the 1800s, saying that Munshi was from a Tamil-Yemeni ancestry, and was a scholar fluent in multiple languages.
“Munshi was fluent in Arabic, Tamil, English and Malay. Nevertheless, he was very proud of his Tamil ancestry,” said Thasleem.
“And how many of us know that Munshi was one of the earliest persons in the region to translate the Bible into the Malay language,” asked Thasleem.
He also said that the word Melayu comes from the Tamil word Malai Ur- which means land of the mountains. The British imperialists corrupted the word and changed it to Malaya,” he said.
Maintaining that he is not against the Malays or anyone else, Thasleem said that it was time for Tamil Muslims to start learning about their history and cherish their cultural heritage.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m always a Malaysian first. At the same time, I would like to also preserve my ethnic identity as it defines my origins.
“My ancestors came from Alagankulam, an ancient maritime port located in Tamil Nadu, India. I’m a Tamil Muslim and proud of my heritage.” he said.
‘We must cherish our heritage’
Thasleem added that Malaysian Indians, in general, are fortunate in a way because they are still able to trace their ancestral genealogy, unlike those living in other nations.
“Indians in Mauritius, the US, South America and Fiji are only Indians by blood as they do not speak their mother tongue. It is only in recent years that they are trying to trace their roots,” he said.
Thasleem urged Tamil Muslims in the country to do some soul-searching and trace their rich history.
One way, he said, was to encourage more Tamil Muslim children to attend Tamil schools in order to at least preserve the use of the classical language.
Currently, Thasleem said the enrollment of Tamil Muslim children in vernacular schools was low.
“There are about 500,000 Indian Muslims in the country, with Tamils making roughly 90% of the number.
“But out of the about 100,000 students studying in Tamil schools, only 375 of them are from the Tamil Muslim community,” said Thasleem.
He added that in the past the Tamil Muslim community had contributed immensely to the development of Tamil schools, by offering land and funds.
However, Thasleem urged Tamil Muslims not to turn fanatical in protecting their roots, saying that it goes against Islamic teachings.
“We don’t have to be a fanatic to be proud of our heritage. Prophet Muhammad says that no race is superior to another. Don’t adopt a racial background we don’t belong to.
“The Tamil language defines our heritage and it is wrong to say that only Hindus speak Tamil. If you can’t study in a Tamil school, at least speak the language at home,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: Indian Muslims, particularly the Tamil Muslims, are not aware of the extent of their contribution towards nation-building, said Jihad for Justice chairman Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim.Speaking from his office located in Petaling Jaya, Thasleem, 64, said that Tamil Muslims not only came to then Malaya to do business but they also contributed immensely to society.
“How many of us know that a number of Tamil dailies in the past were set up by Tamil Muslims? We had the Vidya Vicharini set up in 1883 by Ghulam Kadir Navalar, a famous poet in Penang.
“CK Malchdoom Sahib founded Singai Varthamani in Singapore in 1875. SPSK Kader Sahib, another Tamil Muslim, started Vijaya Kedanan in 1887 in the British crown colony,” said Thasleem.
Thasleem added that Kadir Sahib also started one of the earliest Malay newspapers in 1894, known as Tanjong Pengerusi.
Thasleem also touched on Munshi Abdullah, known as the father of Malay literature in the 1800s, saying that Munshi was from a Tamil-Yemeni ancestry, and was a scholar fluent in multiple languages.
“Munshi was fluent in Arabic, Tamil, English and Malay. Nevertheless, he was very proud of his Tamil ancestry,” said Thasleem.
“And how many of us know that Munshi was one of the earliest persons in the region to translate the Bible into the Malay language,” asked Thasleem.
He also said that the word Melayu comes from the Tamil word Malai Ur- which means land of the mountains. The British imperialists corrupted the word and changed it to Malaya,” he said.
Maintaining that he is not against the Malays or anyone else, Thasleem said that it was time for Tamil Muslims to start learning about their history and cherish their cultural heritage.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m always a Malaysian first. At the same time, I would like to also preserve my ethnic identity as it defines my origins.
“My ancestors came from Alagankulam, an ancient maritime port located in Tamil Nadu, India. I’m a Tamil Muslim and proud of my heritage.” he said.
‘We must cherish our heritage’
Thasleem added that Malaysian Indians, in general, are fortunate in a way because they are still able to trace their ancestral genealogy, unlike those living in other nations.
“Indians in Mauritius, the US, South America and Fiji are only Indians by blood as they do not speak their mother tongue. It is only in recent years that they are trying to trace their roots,” he said.
Thasleem urged Tamil Muslims in the country to do some soul-searching and trace their rich history.
One way, he said, was to encourage more Tamil Muslim children to attend Tamil schools in order to at least preserve the use of the classical language.
Currently, Thasleem said the enrollment of Tamil Muslim children in vernacular schools was low.
“There are about 500,000 Indian Muslims in the country, with Tamils making roughly 90% of the number.
“But out of the about 100,000 students studying in Tamil schools, only 375 of them are from the Tamil Muslim community,” said Thasleem.
He added that in the past the Tamil Muslim community had contributed immensely to the development of Tamil schools, by offering land and funds.
However, Thasleem urged Tamil Muslims not to turn fanatical in protecting their roots, saying that it goes against Islamic teachings.
“We don’t have to be a fanatic to be proud of our heritage. Prophet Muhammad says that no race is superior to another. Don’t adopt a racial background we don’t belong to.
“The Tamil language defines our heritage and it is wrong to say that only Hindus speak Tamil. If you can’t study in a Tamil school, at least speak the language at home,” he said.
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