Alavi Moulana – trade unionist and humane activist

Remembering a champion trade unionist. A man who always fought and lived for the coexistence among communities. This is the 88th birthday of former Governor of the Western Province and trade union leader, Alavi Moulana.

A great human being with high qualities, Alavi Moulana has rendered yeoman service as the Western Province Governor and senior vice president of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Alavi Moulana was conferred the Jana Prasadini title, at the felicitation ceremony held under the patronage of former President Mahinda Rajapkasa.

Whatever position he held, he never forgot the working class community and always fought for their rights. Despite his status he was always in the forefront when it comes to staging protests to safeguard the rights of the working class. Seeing him participating in trade union activities at Lipton Circus or in front of the Fort Railway Station was a common sight to all.

He had a unique ability to build cordial rapport with people. When a dispute is reported at a workplace, the name of Moulana automatically pops to mind since he has a marvellous ability to overcome such tense situations, having an extraordinary ability to lead and organize people towards a set goal. He was a trilingual.

The veteran entered politics in 1948 as a trade unionist and went on to serve as a councillor in the Colombo Municipal Council, and later as a Cabinet Minister.

In 1994, he entered Parliament, was the Deputy Minister of Media and thereafter as a Cabinet Minister of Provincial Council and Local Government, and in 2001 was appointed as Cabinet Minister of Labour. He was appointed as the fifth Governor of the Western Province on 01 February 2002.

Moulana joined the SLFP in 1956 under the leadership of the late Premier S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, was the one time Senior Vice President of the party and the Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya. He was also an advisor to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on Muslim Affairs and had served as acting Governor for Sabaragamuwa Province in 2009.

We have not seen a May Day gathering without his presence. Alavi Moulana was very clever in joining rhyming words in his speech.

The crowd that thronged at his funeral was a clear indication how much he was loved by people, irrespective of race or religion. The vacuum created by his demise will be very difficult to be filled.

Although we had a relationship with Alavi Moulana’s family, I became closer to him when I went to invite him for a function at my first school as a teacher – Welithara Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Balapitiya. I served there for almost seven years traveling up and down from Mount.Lavinia. Later, from 2002 to 2012 I served at St. Mary’s College, Dehiwala, and was able to invite him as the Chief Guest for a function and to the centenary celebration of the college. Our relationship grew well.

After the completion of my 10 years tenure at St. Mary’s College I tried to release myself from provincial school to a national school. Here again As Seyyed Alavi Moulana gave his fullest support for me to get my release and get to Royal College, where I serve now.

When my transfer was effected, I visited him to thank him and the words he uttered still echo in my ears. He said “People get their work done from us and they never see us after that. You have come to thank me for the work done. Maintain these qualities”. Today being the Senior Games Master / Assistant Principal at Royal College, I am really grateful to this great personality.

May almighty Allah bless him and grant him jannatul Firdous!

RIYAZ ALUHER