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A tribute to Lord Noon

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Article by Shamsuddin Agha

Gulam Kaderbhoy Noon, Baron Noon, MBE (24 January 1936 – 27 October 2015) was a British businessman originally from Mumbai, India. He was known as the “Curry King”. He operated a number of food product companies in Southall, London. He was a member of the Dawoodi Bohra community.

Noon was born in 1936, into a Muslim family which operated a sweet shop in Bombay. His father died when he was 7, and a relative ran the business until Noon took over its management at the age of 17. He renamed the shop “Royal Sweets”, and expanded its clientele and size until it was capable of exporting internationally.

In 1964, Noon travelled to Britain and emigrated permanently in 1972.

He established a sweet shop in Southall, producing such products as Bombay mix. Noon founded and operated a number of food product companies in Southall, London, specialising in lndian cuisine. His main business was Noon Products which he established in September 1987, manufacturing chilled and frozen lndian and Thai ready meals, predominantly for UK supermarkets. Whilst he didn’t invent the dish, Noon is credited with the popularity of chicken tikka masala in Britain.

In 1994, the company experienced a serious factory fire which destroyed much of its manufacturing capability; however within ten weeks of this fire the company had begun selling its products again. Noon kept all his staff in employment during this period.

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1996. He was later made a Knight Bachelor in the 2002. On 27 January 2011, he was created a life peer as Baron Noon, of St John’s Wood in the London Borough of Camden and was introduced in the House of Lords on 31 January 2011, where he sat on the Labour benches.

He was awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of East London on 12 November 2009. In January 2013, Lord Noon was appointed as the chancellor of the University of East London. On 26 April 2012, Noon was a made a Fellow of Birkbeck College of the University of London.

1936 – 2015

Hazaron Saal Nargis Apni Benoori Pe Roti Hai Bari Mushkil Se Hota Hai Chaman Mein Didahwar Paida

(For a thousand years the narcissus has been lamenting its blindness; With great difficulty the one with true vision is born in the garden).

لارڈ نون کی وفات پر
دل وجان سے پیارا
ہر کسی کا دلارا
تھا وہ سب کی اٰنکھوں کا تارا
وہ بیشک تھا ہمارا نون

جو تھا بے انتہا مالکِ عزت
جو تھا بے انتہا مالکِ شہرت
جو تھا بے انتہا صاحبِ حرمت
وہ بیشک تھا ہمارا نون

کیٰ روتوں کو جس نے ہنسایا
کتنے لوگوں کی قسمت جگایا
غرضمندوں کی ظلمت مٹایا
وہ بیشک تھا ہمارا نون
میرا بھایٰ تھا وہ جان والا
میرا بابا تھا وہ اٰن والا
میرا نانا تھا وہ شان والا
وہ بیشک تھا ہمارا نون
کون کہتا ہے کہ وہ چلا گیا ہے
کون کہتا ہے کہ وہ بسر گیا ہے
کون کہتا ہے کہ وہ گزر گیا ہے
وہ تو ہمارے دل میں بسا ہے
وہ تو ہماری جان میں بسا ہے
نون ہمیشہ زندہ رہے گا
نون سدا پایٰندہ رہے گا
شمس الدین اٰغا
۲ نومبر ۲۰۱۵

દિલોજાન નૂન
દિલોજાનથી પણ પ્યારા
દરેકના પ્યારા
સૌની આંખોના તારા
એ, અલબત્ત, હતા આપણા નૂન.
ઇજ્જતવાન હતા
કીર્તિવાન હતા
ગૌરવવંત હતા
એ, અલબત્ત, હતા આપણા નૂન.
કંઈ કેટલાંયનાં આંસુ ખાળી હસતા ચહેરા કર્યા
હળેમળે એ દરેકનું ભાગ્ય ઉજાળ્યું
દુ:ખદરદમાંથી કેટલાંયને પાર કર્યા
એ, અલબત્ત, હતા આપણ નૂન.
એ મારા ઝિંદાદિલ ભેરુ હતા, બહાદુર હતા
એ આબરુદાર પિતા સમાન હતા
એ શાનઆબરુ વારસાની હતી
એ, અલબત્ત, હતા આપણ નૂન.
એ ગયા, એમ કોણ માનશે ?
એ ભૂલાઈ જવાના, તેમ કોણ માનશે ?
એ દિવંગત થયા છે, એમ કોણ કહશે ?
અમારાં હૃદયમાં બિરાજમાન છે
અમારાં અંતરમાં એમનું સ્થાન છે
નૂન સદાય ચેતનવંત છે
નૂન સદાય અમર છે.
(ગુજરાતી ભાવાનુવાદ : વિપુલ કલ્યાણી)

Dearer than the heart,
Dearer than the soul,
The star of all our eyes,
That was our Noon.
A man of respect,
A man of fame,
A man of dignity,
That was our Noon.
He turned so many tears into smiles,
He brought blessings to all he met,
He freed countless from misery,
That was our Noon.
“My brother was brave”,
“My father was dignified”,
“My grandpa was awe-inspiring.”
That was our Noon.
Who’s to say that he is gone?
Who’s to say that he is no more?
Who’s to say that he has passed?
He lives in our hearts,
He rests in our souls,
Noon is forever,
Noon is eternal.
English Translation: Qudsiyah-Bano Agha-Shah

  • Gulam Noon article Hindi
  • Hospital Bed Rajasthan
  • Memorial Rajasthan Hospital Reception
  • Memorial Rajasthan Hospital
  • Memorial Rajasthan Hospital
  • Gulam Noon Memorial Service Rajasthan Hospital
  • Rajasthan Hospital blood pressure
  • Guests Arun Harnal
  • Memorial GK Noon Guests-Harnal Sekhon
  • GK Noon’s daughters
  • Noon’s surviving family
  • Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackery meets with relations
  • Taj Lands Memorial

Gandhi in London

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A new statue commemorating the life and works of Mahātmā Gandhi – the inspiration for the non-violent civil rights movement – was unveiled in the Parliament Square, London on 14th March 2015. Tributes were paid by Rt. Hon. Prime Minister David Cameron; Mr. A. Jaitley, Minister of Finance, Government of India; a reading by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Indian Actor and Reflection by the grandson of Mahātmā Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

The text of the speech delivered by Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi is re-printed and circulated at the Indian Muslim Federation (UK) programme:

‘Unity in Diversity’

organised by the Indian Muslim Federation (Newham Branch) on Tuesday, 31 March 2015 at Newham Town Hall, London.

He looked rather like this, sixty-eight years ago, to his assassin.

He looked straight into his eyes, quite exactly like this.

Gandhi was walking, of course, not standing. And he walked straight into those three bullets.

He embraced those darts, he did. With the might of his pain for others, the depth of his faith in God, he hugged them.

He had fought for years to prevent the division of India along the lines of religions.

But with that division a fact, he fasted for peace amongst the two main peoples of India – Hindus and Muslims – and for trust between the newly independent India and new-born Pakistan which included what now is Bangladesh.

Had he lived, he would have asked to have the man who shot at him, freed. He had as we know, been greatly influenced by Jesus, the Christ. Gandhi had just begun to dream to work for a new India that may or may not be rich, may or may not be powerful, but which will be fair and just, to its own poor, and to the immiserated everywhere.

He believed in learning from Truth – the one with the capital ‘T’ – and from the many truths of India, the truths that made her great , the truths that keep her small – and not running away from them, papering them over or pretty-fying them. Peace and its offering, happiness, can only come by acknowledging what I real. He said “the way of peace is the way to truth”.

Gandhi scorched by his love, he healed by his fire.

We need him in India today more than we ever have. He said there was so much he had left unfinished he would like to be re-born. But he would not want us to be looking out for the re-born Gandhi. In any case, that would be a loser’s way of doing things. Gandhi was no loser. India is no loser. India finds herself, from the debris of her mistakes, the ruins of her aspirations. Whenever she has been considered ‘lost’, she has been found by an astonished world, a relieved world, to be the mother of her greatest son, Gautama the Buddha in the composure that lies beneath the turbulence, and to the genius of her immensely wise and even sagacious people, of all faiths and of the other great faith – faith in their striving hands. I have used ‘she’ for India with deliberation for that ‘she’, the woman in India, worshipped in concept but neglected, exploited, abused in reality, is one of the scorching truths of India.

The fact that London, the capital of the then Imperial Power he dis-engaged India from, raises a statue for him even as India has some people contemplate a temple for his assassin, shows that Gandhi’s work for freedom of belief and expression succeeds in the most unbelievable ways.

You were not infallible Mohandas Gandhi. You erred often, as your wife, Kasturba, knew more than any other person. But you owned your errors, tried always to be better than your best. Bronzed and hearkening, here, in what once was your ‘opposite ground’, you will give heart to those who want a world that does not fear the bully, the bomb or the blatant lie. You will show us, too, that money cannot buy, nor power-suborn the truth.

On behalf of his ‘family’, which means not just his biological descendants alone – he did not elevate family descent – but all those anywhere who experience the tyranny of bigotry and exploitation and try to resist it, I felicitate Great Britain and Her Majesty’s Government for creating space for this Gandhi statue on this great Square. That large ‘family’ celebrates the fact of his statue taking its place right beside that of his political descendant, Nelson Mandela. How many countries celebrate the life-work of a man who opposed it with vehemence for more than three decades? Not many.

Britain celebrates Gandhi today because while oppose he did, he opposed it in a cause that Britain now sees was just, and in a way the world now sees was fair – so fair as to have set an all-time example. On behalf of all present here today and the generations of pedestrians, young and once-young, from all nationalities and customs who will see it, I offer to Britain’s sense of history congratulations, her wisdom, appreciation and to the master-sculptor of this statue, Philip Jackson.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi born April 22, 1945 is the grandson of Mahātmā Gandhi, and son of Devadas Gandhi and Lakshmi Gandhi. His maternal grandfather was C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji). He is the younger brother of Rajmohan Gandhi, and the late Ramchandra Gandhi, and Smt. Tara Bhattacharjee (Gandhi), all of whom are distinguished in their own right. Gopalkrishna Gandhi and his wife Tara Gandhi have two daughters, both of whom are married.

He has authored one novel (Saranam – “Refuge” in English) and a play in verse (Dara Shukoh). His other books are – “Gandhi and South Africa”, “Koi Acchha Sa Ladka” (translation into Hindustani of Vikram Seth’s novel ‘A Suitable Boy’), “Gandhi and Sri Lanka”, “Nehru and Sri Lanka”, “India House, Colombo – Portrait of a Residence”, “Gandhi Is Gone. Who Will Guide Us Now?” (edited), “A Frank Friendship/ Gandhi and Bengal: A Descriptive Chronology” (compiled and edited).

Gandhi graduated with a master’s degree in English literature from St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University. He joined IAS as an Officer in 1968 and served in Tamil Nadu state till 1985 and Secretary to Vice-President of India (1985 – 1987), Joint Secretary to President of India (1987 – 1992).

He is the Chairman of Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai since December 2011. He was appointed the chairman of governing body of Indian Institute of Advanced Study, and president of its society on March 5, 2012.

In 1992 he became Minister (Culture) in High Commission of India, UK and Director, The Nehru Centre, London, UK. This was followed by various diplomatic and administrative positions for the rest of his career including High Commissioner of India to South Africa and Lesotho (1996), Secretary to President of India (1997-2000), High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka (2000), and Ambassador of India to Norway, and Iceland (2002), before his retirement from IAS in 2003. In 2004, he was appointed Governor of West Bengal on 14 December 2004.

Indian Muslim Federation (UK)

The Indian Muslim Federation (UK) is the largest organisation of Indian Muslims in United Kingdom and has NGO status with ECOSOC, United Nations. The Federation was founded in September 1969 by British Indian Muslims in the wake of the anti-Muslim riots in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Federation maintains contacts with the British and Indian Governments, representatives of the United Nations and its specialised agencies and governmental and non- governmental organisations.

Siraj Tirmizi

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The Indian Muslim Federation Executive Committee expresses their deepest sympathies at the sad demise of Mr. Siraj Tirmizi Editor of Gujarat Today, published from Ahmedbad, India and of Lokhit Prakashan Sarvajanik Trust.

May Allah bless his soul and give strength to his family members to bear this loss.

Ameen.

British Indian Muslims remember Demolition of Babri Masjid at its 20th Anniversary

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On the 20th anniversary of demolition of Babri Masjid, members of Indian Muslim Federation (UK) fully endorsed the joint statement of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat and Babari Masjid Movement Coordination Committee issued in India.

IMF (UK) members urged all Indian origin people living in UK to recall the greatest tragedy of Independent India, the deliberate and organized demolition of the Babari Masjid, Ayodhya in India on 6 December, 1992. The demolition of the three domes of the Babari Masjid amounted to the destruction of the three Pillars of the State the Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Government and the anti-secular elements which were responsible are yet to be punished.

IMF (UK) members appealed to the secular people of India and all over world to recall the tragedy with dignity and draw the attention of the Indian Parliament which is yet to discuss Justice Liberhan’s Report, the Supreme Court which is yet to deliver its final verdict in the title suit and of the Government of India which is yet to punish anyone including those who openly celebrated the Demolition and those who proudly claimed the ‘credit’. People of Indian origin living abroad questioned that why the wheels of justice move so slow in India in this case which tarnish the international image of the secular and democratic image of India. Justice delayed is justice denied.

IMF (UK) members fully endorsed the AIMMM and Babri Masjid Committee’s resolution to demand:

  1. That the Government of India take up a discussion on the Liberhan Commission Report in the Indian Parliament without any further delay;
  2. That the Government of India take up a discussion on the Liberhan Commission Report in the Indian Parliament without any further delay;
  3. That the Supreme Court of India consider the Orders of the Special Bench of the Allahabad High Court on the Title Suit expeditiously;
  4. That the Government of India pay adequate compensation to the families of the people who lost their lives, to those who were injured in post-demolition violence in Ayodhya and to the owners of the houses and shops torched on that day.
  5. That the Government of India grant permission to the Muslim community to reconstruct the Masjids, Dargahs and Mausolea that were demolished/damaged in Ayodhya and to construct boundary walls for all the Qabristans;
  6. That the Government of India activate and implement the 1991 Law for the Security of the Religious Places in order to protect such sacred places in future from intentional and deliberate damage.

IMF (UK) members also remembered and prayed to the Almighty for eternal peace for those who lost their lives on that day and in the post-Demolition riots throughout the country.

Jalse Seerat-un-Nabi

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Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association UK and Indian Muslim Federation Leytonstone organised a really wonderful Jalse Seerat today at the IMF Hall in Leytonstone. It was utterly fulfilling to hear about Seerah, particularly with the participation of highly sophisticated women like Shahnaz Suri and Akhtar Siddiqui.

Programme

The programme was introduced by Khurshid Hasan of AMU and Shamsuddin Agha of IMF jointly! Akhtar Siddiqui welcomed all the guests and speakers to the event,

The main speakers were:

Dr Mohammed Fahim, the Chairman of the Trustees and Chief Imam at the Qurani Murkuz Trust, South Woodford. His talk was on the aspects of Seerah in the present day context. What a dynamic speaker! He had the audience spellbound.

Professor Abdul Ali Hamid: Vice Principal, Muslim College, scholar, author and a life member of the Association. He presided over the proceedings and presented a talk on aspects of Seerah.

Dr Shahnaz Suri: Aligarh, founder member, former treasurer and President of the Association presented a talk on Seerah from the female perspective.

Adil Siddiqui: Recitation of Naat” (Urdu). He is a long term member and a friend of the association and blessed with beautiful melodious voice. He recited really powerfully and touched everyone’s heart.

Finally Irfan Mustafa gave a vote of thanks.

As usual, I learnt so much from these amazing people most of whom have studied at Aligarh Muslim University!!

Dr Syed Aziz Pasha

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Dr Syed Aziz Pasha, OBE The members and trustees of Indian Muslim Federation (UK) were saddened by loss of Dr Syed Aziz Pasha, IMF Trustee who passed away on 23 November 2011 after a long illness. Dr Pasha was from India and became a distinguished leader of the British Muslim community in Britain for last five decades. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon – to God we belong and to Him we return.

Dr Pasha, who was 81 years old, dedicated his life to public service following a promising career as an international lawyer. He served as President and then a Trustee of Indian Muslim Federation (UK) one of the oldest Muslim organisation in UK since its establishment in 1969. He later on established the Union of Muslim Organisations (UMO) – an umbrella association of many Muslim organisations to lead the causes of Muslims in Britain.

Dr Pasha was determined that Muslims should play their full part in mainstream life. He played major role in identifying policy issues that affected British Muslims as a faith community and championing issues such as provision of state funding for Muslim schools.

For his dedication to the community, he was honoured OBE in 2005 and was a recipient of many awards from different communities and government organisations.

Mr Irfan Mustafa, General Secretary of Indian Muslim Federation (UK) said “it is a sad day for all communities in Britain particularly for Muslims as Dr Pasha dedicated his life for betterment of Muslims and all communities in the country. We should learn from his good work, his commitment and dedication and should carry on the torch he lighted with his hard work for the community”.

Indian Muslim Federation (UK) was always close to Dr Pasha’s heart and he always kept in touch with the organisation as its trustee and well wisher. He would be missed by members of all communities in Britain.

Deputy High Commissioner for India Mr. Rajesh N Prasad

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The IMF – (Indian Muslim Federation) organised an Eid-ul-Fitr celebration for 2011 award high achieving students who scored outstanding marks. Chief guest Deputy High Commissioner for India Mr. Rajesh N. Prasad presented awards.

Honouring Lord Gulam Noon

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The IMF – (Indian Muslim Federation) organised a special dinner to celebrate and honour the successes of the philanthropist businessman Sir Ghulam Noon, who is now known as Lord Ghulam Noon.

Shamsuddin Agha and Councillor Masood Ahmed were the main organisers of this event which took place at the Walthamstow Assembley Hall – In Lord Noon’s words, a venue even more grand than Buckingham Palace itself.

The dinner was a private affair attended by a small number of people all of whom were invited to take part in this tribute to a great man who has set an example for many others about what is possible if one has the right attitude, the stamina to work hard and commitment to one’s goals.

Out of all the speeches paying tribute to Lord Noon, Stephen Timms MP’s brief tribute praised Lord Noon’s maiden speech at the House of Lords. The other most impressive speaker was undoubtedly Qudsia Bano, a very capable young lady of only 13, looking really pretty in pink.

She talked cheekily about how “Noon Nana” had always patted her on the head but now she is growing so tall that she can pat him on the head!! Despite all the chuckles at this comment by Qudsia, most notably the loudest from Lord Noon and his wife Mohini Kent themselves, it has to be said that Lord Noon does deserve a pat on his head not only for all the wealth he has generated for this country but also for all his work for charities.

Lord Noon’s elevation to the House of Lords is the latest feather in his cap and in his own words; he is totally content now and feels that he has attained every goal he ever set himself. Whilst I have always been aware of the work of the Noon Foundation, the first time I really started admiring Lord Noon was when I saw his interview on Venus TV.

He comes across as a humble person whose ideas about life and work reflect the same attitude as most ordinary people who want to get on in their lives and live in an environment of peace and security. I was particularly touched about the story about his mother who gave her 21 room house in India, just built by her husband to a group of refugees in the 1940s.

In the 80s or 90s, she feared that due to the price increase, her son may try to get the property back so she asked him to convert it into the names of the people who had occupied it for several generations. And the son obliged her regardless of the loss of millions of rupees! This story also indicated where Lord Noon gets his philanthropist tendencies from.

There are in fact a lot of Asians who have become millionaires in the UK. There are I believe 200 or so. What sets most of them and Lord Noon apart is that there is no shadow or black mark on Lord Noon. No extra-marital affairs, no criminal activities, no investigations.

Whilst it’s not that difficult to earn daulat (money) if one is not too bothered about following the right path, and it’s quite easy to gain shohrat (fame) too if one knows how to use the media, the most difficult thing to earn is in fact izzat (respect). That involves not taking short cuts. And of course only the blessed few have real mohabbat (love). It seems that Lord Noon is one of those rare individuals who is blessed with all of these!

That’s the sort of thing that shows the true character of people!

The IMF deserve a pat too for organising this event!

If you want to joining the Indian Muslim Organisation please follow the membership link above.

Ibrahim Wagh

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Ibrahim Wagh born 1st November 1932

He came to the United Kingdom in 1962 on a Tata scholarship and studied art at the Central School of Art, London and in 1965 worked in the Civil Service for the Department of Transport and Environment, London as a Leading Illustrator. Where he became a fellow of the society of industrial artists and designers.

The Indian Muslim Federation are saddened by the loss of long time supporter Ibrahim Wagh who has recently passed. Ibrahim Wagh was born in Mumbai, India. Ibrahim established his art studio at the Bhulabhia Institute and also worked with Indian Peoples Theatre (IPTA) with prominent actors, directors and writers. He received the silver medal from the Bombay Art Society Annual Exhibition and was awarded the first prize in the final year of studies from the Sir J.J School of Art, Mumbai.

In 1988 he researched ceramics at Goldsmiths College, University of London and was awarded art residencies for work in Japan and Canada. In 1993 he was awarded a fellowship with the Digswell Art Trust until 2002.

Ibrahim’s objective when arriving in the United Kingdom was to gain recognition for his chosen art profession and recognition for his colleagues (Indian artists living in the United Kingdom) by the Arts Council for Great Britain. He was the founder member for the Indian Art Collective and the Indian Artists Group and became closely involved with the Commission for Racial Equality and the Indian High Commission,London with the opening of the first Gallery for Indian Artists in South Audley Street (Indian High Commission premises) and later the Horizon Gallery.

His contribution to the arts included support for his own community in the United Kingdom and his involvement with Kokni Muslim Group.

Ibrahim portrayed his contributions to the arts as a painter, ceramist and an enameller.

In the late 1990’s he developed renal failure and went on dialysis . He leaves behind his wife Anna, whom he has been with since 1970.