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A Brief Note on S
(Extract from the Bibliogra Compiled by S.L. Si
October
 

.H.M. Jameel
phy of S.H.M. Jameel rath Ahemed)
2010

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S.H.M. Jameel
Birth
Shahul Hameed Mohamed Jameel is a well known educationist, administrator, Senior researcher, writer, orator and author of several books.
He was born on Friday, 18th October 1940 at 6.30 p.m. in the village of Sainthamaruthu situated in the Ampara District of the Eastern Province. (Date of registration of birth was 21st November 1940)
Sainthamaruthu was then a beautiful village. It had a vast stretch of beach of the Bay of Bengal in the east; a large lotus pond and paddy fields extending upto the Badulla mountain range on the west; a predominantly Muslim village named Kalmunaikudy to the north and predominantly Tamil village named Karaithivu to the south.
Jameel's parents were Meeralebbe Shahul Hameed and Muthaliph Vaithiyar Mukulath Umma. He has four younger sisters - Jezima (Junideen), Naseera (Aboosali), Faleela (Badurdeen) and Zanoofa (Musadiq).
Education
At the age of four he was admitted to the Qur'an Mathrasa of Yoosuf Lebbe. He started his primary education at Ramakrishna Mission
school in Karaitivu, had his secondary education at Fathima College, Kalmunai and higher education at Zahira College, Colombo. Once a journalist named Nallainades wrote a series of articles in the Veerakasari paper on the experiences of prominent Principals. When he interviewed Rev. Brother M. Emmanuel, who had retired after being the Principal of Fathima College, Kalmunai for more than 25 years, the journalist posed a question who was your best student?. Bro. Emmanuel replied: “It was S.H.M. Jameel. (Veerakesari: 4.9.1988).
Having had the entire education in the English medium, he entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and obtained a special degree in Economics. He received a Diploma in Education with a Merit Pass from the same university. He joined the University of Colombo to do his

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M.A. in Education, but as the Faculty was shifted to the University of Jaffna, he continued his course in Jaffna and was conferred with the M.A. in education. He received training at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom in university administration.
Jameel was enthusiastically interested in Tamil language and literature from his early days. His first essay appeared in Sunday Thinakaran paper in 1949. (His Thinakaran Junior Club writers' number was 2364). He had won prizes in oratorical and essay contests held in schools. He was awarded the Francis Kingsbury Prize’ in 1961 at the Peradeniya university for obtaining the highest marks in the subject of Tamil at the G.A.Q. Examinations.
While studying at Zahira College, Colombo when A.M.A. Azeez was it's Principal, Jameel started participating in Radio programmes. Mr. Karthigesu Sivathamby, (later Professor) who was a teacher at Zahira at that time was conducting the weekly youth programme called “Ilaignar Manram over the radio and Jameel became one of the regular participants. This connection with broadcasting continues upto today.
Profession
Jameel started his professional career as a teacher in the Department of English at the Peradeniya University and sub warden of Arunachalam Hall. He continued to serve as a collegiate teacher, Principal, Training College Principal, Education Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Examinations, first Registrar of the Eastern University, State Secretary of the Ministry of Muslim Religious & Cultural Affairs, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Cultural and Religious Affairs and finally as Advisor to Minister of Cultural and Religious Affairs. He retired from government service on 20th November 2000.
After retirement, he was Principal of the Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from August 2001 to July 2004.
Jameel married Sithy Arifha, the eldest daughter of his maternal uncle Dr. A.P.M. Ibrahim. They have only one son - Mohamed Nasiil. Now Jameel lives in Colombo with his wife, son Nasiil, daughterin-law Fathima Shazana, grand-sons Mohamed Akmal and Mohamed Hamaad.
Contributions to Educational Development Having an in-depth knowledge and vast experience in education, he has
made use of them for the advancement of education, wherever he served.

He has worked at every level of education and used all those opportunities for the enhancement of educational facilities. He was very fortunate in obtaining the fullest co-operation of politicians, administrators, parents, students and well-wishers in all his endeavours.
His contributions are considerable in the development of Zahira College, Kalmunai and Teachers' Training College, Addalaichenai. He was a disciplinarian and an excellent administrator.
One significant contribution was his role in inaugurating the special Advanced Level classes in the Kalmunai educational district. These special classes started by the combined effort of A.M. Majeed, then Director of Education of the Eastern Region and Principals of Advanced Level schools S.H.M. Jameel, A.R. Mohamed Ali, M.H. Yaqub, A. Shahul Hameed, M.I. Uthumalebbe and Vice Principal M.M. Ibrahim and conducted through the Kalmunai District Principals' Association brought about a revolutionary change in the standard of advanced level education in this part of the Island.
There was an acute shortage of teachers in the 1970s to teach in the Advanced level classes. As such, qualified and excellent teachers were brought from other districts and combined classes were conducted during week-ends at Zahira college, Kalmunai in which hundreds of Tamil and Muslim students from Panama to Kaluvanchikudy-Mandur participated. This inaugurated an era of an influx of university admissions from this area. W
On a later occasion, when the Islamic Renaissance Movement started under the leadership of M.I.M. Naleem Hajiyar was contemplating on ways and means of improving educational standards among Muslim students Islandwide, Mr. Jameel who was a founder member of the organisation advised to extend the Kalmunai experience to other districts, which was accepted. Such classes began to be conducted all over the Island funded by the Islamic Renaissance Movement and thousands of students were benefitted.
As a unanimously elected President of the All Ceylon Islamic Teachers Union, he was very active in looking after the interests of the teachers. Many educational seminars were conducted all over the Island.
His visit to Iraq in 1980 at the invitation of the Iraqi Government brought benefit to the Islamic Teachers’ Union. This union was granted *Observer Status membership to the Federation of Teachers of Arab countries. The Secretary of the Union A.L.M. Razik participated at the

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annual conference of the Federation in Baghdad in 1982. Unfortunately this relationship could not be consolidated due to the ensuing Iran-Iraq
W2.
Writings and Speeches
Jameel's talents in writing and oratory blossomed at the Peradeniya university. His first article “Prophet Muhamed (Sal) as seen by scholars' appeared in the annual magazine of the university Muslim Majlis in 1960; the first poem "Ennalo in the Students' Council Magazine of 1962; and the first short story “Kadan Theernthathu' in a monthly magazine called Manikkural, published from Bandarawela in 1964. He continued to write several poems and short-stories while at the university.
However, he shifted his attention to research in education, history, politics, literature and folklore. He has published 18 books in these fields. He has 2 translations and 14 editions to his credit. He has contributed about 120 articles; and given Foreword to more than 50 books. He has participated in about 130 programmes over the Radio here and abroad; and 12 programmes over the television.
His articles have appeared in the following dailies, magazines and also in several special issues: Thinakaran, Veerakesari, Thinapathy, Chinthamani, Navamany, Thinakkural, Daily News, Observer, Daily Mirror, Island, Economic Times, Al-Islam, Manikkural, Miththiran, AlArab, Valarmathy, Mallikai, Senkathir and Gnanam.
His books are as follows:
Educational Philosophy & Contributions of A.M.A.Azeez (1980)
Educational Contributions of Razik Fareed (1984)
History of Sainthamaruthu Jumma Mosque (1989) Educational Thoughts - Kalvi Sinthanaikal (1990) Four personalities to remember - Ninaivil Nalvar (1993) Educational Contributions of T.B. Jayah (1994)
Bibliography of Sri Lankan Muslim Publications - Vol 1 - Suvadi Aattuppadai (1994)
Bibliography of Sri Lanka Muslim Publications - Vol II (1995) 9. Kiramaththu. Ithayam - Folklore (1995)
8.

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Islamic Education (1996) Educational Thought - 2nd Edition (1996) Bibliography of Sri Lankan Muslim Publications Vol III (1997) Educational Contributions of Badiudin Mahmud (1997) Foot Prints of Time - Kalach Suvadukal (1998) Our Heritage - Namathu Muthusom (2000) Bibliography of Sri Lankan Muslim Publications - Vol IV (2001) Kiramaththu Ithayam - Folklore - Revised 2nd Edition (2008) Muslims in Sri Lanka Parliament (2012)
Translations
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Public Finance - Pigou (1966) Tuan Burhanudeen Jayah - S.M. Kamaldeen (1990)
Compiled / Edited
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Muslims of Anuradhapura District (1992) Alama Professor M.M. Uwise (1994) Muslims of Ampara District (1997) Muslims of Gampaha District (1998) Islam in Independent Sri Lanka (1998) Sri Lanka Udana (Co-Editor R.A.A. Ranaweera) (1998) Muslims of Puttalam District (1999) A.M.A. Azeez - A Profile (2007)
A.M.A. Azeez - Senate Speeches (Co-Editor: M. Ali Azeez) (2008)
A.M.A. Azeez - Muslim Education in Sri Lanka (Co-Editor: M. Ali Azeez) (2009) A.M.A. Azeez - A Profile ( in Tamil - Co-Editor: Maruthoor A. Majeed) (2009) Family of Muthalif Vaithiyar (Co- Editors: A.M. Razmy, A.J. Sabry Ahamed, M.M.M. Musfique, Mrs. Rizana Naseer – (2009)
The Muslim Heritage of Eastern Sri Lanka (Co-editor: Asiff Hussein) (2011)

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34. A.M.A. Azeez - The West Reappraised (Co-editor: M. Ali Azeez)
(2011)
His significant contribution is the publication of 'Suvadi Aattuppadai. The four volumes contain the bibliographical details of all the books published by the Muslims in Sri Lanka since the printing of the first book in 1868. It also contains the books published on Muslim topics. Altogether 1977 books printed upto the year 2000 are enumerated here. This effort has not even been attempted so far in India, Malaysia or Singapore with regard to Muslim writings.
More than 2000 literary personalities have lived and written in Tamil language in this country during the last one hundred and fifty years. Yet, Jameel is the only person who has thoughtofand accomplished this task of documenting all their publications, which will register a permanent place for him in the literary history of this country.
Another unique work is the research book on folk-lore named Kiramaththu Ithayam'. This is a pioneer contribution in the sense that it encompasses the whole Island, unlike most of the publications in this field, which deal only with a particular region. The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation had a one-year weekly serial programme of folk-lore based on Jameel's research. This book published in 1995 won the Government Sahithya Award for Literary Research. It also received the North-East Provincial Council award in the same year. The revised second edition of this book which includes 55 rare photographs has been published in 2008, by the Muslim Women's Research and Action Forum headed by Deshabandu Jezima Ismail.
Another unique achievement is the production of a CD containing more than seven hundred selected folk songs recorded in their original tunes in a large number of villages throughout the island. This CD has been released in September 2011 by the Muslim Women's Research & Action Forum.
Two bibliographies are available containing details of the books, translations, editions, forewords, articles, speeches, radio and television programmes and research reports of S.H.M. Jameel. They are,
1. A. Sahibu Lebbe - Ennamum Eluththum - (Thoughts and
Writings)- 1995.
2. S.L. Siyath Ahemed - Arivakkangal - (Bibliography) -
2012.

Extension of Literary Services
Jameel is involved not only in his academic and literary persuits, but is also instrumental for many other persons advancing in their literary activities.
While being the Principal of Zahira College, Kalmunai, he encouraged the students in the field of writing. He joined this school as a teacher when K.M. Aboobucker was its Principal. Soon afterwards, he brought out the first printed magazine of this school named "Manava Manchari” in 1965.
The monthly magazine that he started in 1976 called 'Zahira' has been providing an opportunity for the students to develop their literary talents and it continues to appear upto now.
The Old Boys Association of this college inaugurated a scheme of publishing books in 1976 and released five books within the next four years. Those books were also the first books of poet Anbu Mohideen, M.S.M. Muzammil, Maruthoor A Majeed, poet M. Ahamed and S.H.M. Jameel. The first book of U.L. Athambawa was also subsequently published under this scheme.
In order to extend the scope of publications and literary activities, he together with the prominent literary personalities of the East, formed the Islamic Book Publishing Centre' in 1983, while he was the Principal of Addalaichenai Teachers Training College. This organization enthusiastically published books, conducted seminars, literary meetings and felicitation ceremonies. S.H.M. Jameel, A.S. Abdus Samath, Maruthoor AMajeed, Maruthoor Koththan V.M. Ismail, Anbu Mohideen, Palamunai Farook, M.A. Uthumalebbe, Pavalar Fazeel Kariapper, Maran U Zain, S.A.R.M. Seyed Hassan Mowlana, A.U.M.A. Careem and A.K.M. Niyas were the members of the Executive Committee of the Islamic Book Publishing Centre.
The book “Eluvan Kathirkal' published in 1986 was an important compilation. This contained the poems of 24 young poets of South East Sri Lanka, who started writing poems after 1970. For most of them, it was the first time that their poems appeared in a book. Some of them have risen today to be prominent poets at the national level.
It was unfortunate that the ethnic violence that erupted in the East in the 1980s stymied the activities of the organization. However, it is to be noted that from 1983 to 2000 the Islamic Book Publishing Centre published 21 books.

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The post that Jameel subsequently held as State Secretary of Ministry of Muslim Religious & Cultural Affairs, followed by the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural & Religious Affairs and later as Advisor to the Ministry, gave ample opportunity to contribute immensly to literary development. He served in those capacities continuously for eleven years when Jabir A Cader, A.H.M. Azwer and Lakshman Jayakody were ministers. His share of efforts was noteworthy in publishing a vast number of books and souvenirs; and also in encouraging writers and artistes.
The most important venture during this period was the in-depth research into the history and heritage of Muslims of Sri Lanka initiated by Minister A.H.M. Azwer and implemented by Secretary S.H.M. Jameel. Assistance of several scholars was obtained and books were published district-wise. In this mannar, seperate volumes containing the history, heritage and culture of the Muslims of the districts of Kalutara, Anuradhapura, Matale, Kandy, Matara, Ampara, Gampaha and Puttalam were published during the period 1992-2000.
This effort is being continued upto now by the Department of Muslim Religious & Cultural Affairs. Books on the districts of Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, Mannar and on areas of Akurana and Pathathumbara have been published.
Honours:
The honours conferred on S.H.M. Jameel can be tabulated as follows:
1. Shield by the Federation of Teachers of Arab countries in Baghdad,
Iraq - 1980
2. State Sahithya Award for Literary Research - 1995
Literature Award by the North-East Provincial Council - 1995
4. Golden Shawl and Memento at M.I.E.T. Arts College in Thiruchy,
India - 1995.
5. Title of Najmul Uloom' and Golden Shawl at the National
Meelad Celebrations held at Addalaichenai - 1997.
6. Felicitation by the All Ceylon Muslim Educational Conference -
1998.
7. Title of “Tamil Mamani at the Sixth Islamic Tamil Literature
Conference held in South India - 1998.

10.
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Title of Ilakkiya Aruvi” by Kavitha Malai Society of Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia- 1999.
Title of Samasiri Ilakkiyavanan' by the United Organisation of All Communities at Ratnapura - 1999.
Golden Shawl and Memento by the Colombo Thamil Sangam - 1999.
Title of “Ratna Theepam”; Golden shawl and Memento in Kandy jointly by Udatalawinna Chinthanai Vaddam, Kandy Peoples' Arts & Literature Society and Upcountry Arts & Cultural Society - 2000.
Golden Shawl and Memento by the Ampara District Coastal Area Journalists Association at a function held in Colombo - 2000
Honoured by the Priyanila Arts & Cultural Council, Colombo - 2001.
Honoured with a shield at the International Islamic Thamil Literature Conference held in Colombo - 2002.
Title of Thamil Arignan' by Zahira College, Colombo - 2004.
Title of Ariviyal Methakai by Sri Lanka Muslim Artistes Front, Colombo - 2007. Award of Legend for “Distinguished Educationist'-O.B.A. Zahira College, Colombo - 2010. Golden Shawl and Memento at International Islamic Tamil Literary Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 2011.
Service to the Nation
Jameel has rendered his services far beyond his official duties, by serving in various committees and organisations, which can be listed as follows:
.
Secretary to the Committee of the Education Ministry for introducing Western Music Examinations locally : (year of appointment) - 1973
Supervisor of Diploma in Education external students of Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kalmunai districts - 1975
Founder President - Kalmunai District Principals' Association - 1975

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10
10.
11.
12.
3.
14.
5.
6.
17.
8.
19.
20.
21.
President - All Ceylon Islamic Teachers' Union - 1978
Member of the Committee for the establishment of the Batticaloa University - 1980
Member of the Advisory Committee of the Muslim Service of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation - 1981
Member of the Board of Management of the Batticaloa University College - 1981
Committee Member of the Islamic Renaissance Movement and member of the Board of Management of the Iqra Technical Institute, Beruwala - 1981
Member of UNESCO Committee on developing Science Education in Muslim Schools in Sri Lanka - 1982
Founder President of Islamic Book Publishing Centre - 1983 Council Member of the Eastern University - 1986
Member - Computer and Information Technology Council of Sri Lanka - 1989
Member - Advisory Committee on Muslim Programme of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation - 1992
Member of the Board of Management of the Eastern Province Affiliated University College - 1992
Administrative Consultant to the South Eastern University - 1996
Member of the Islam Religion Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Education - 1996 - Appointed Chairman in 1999.
Member of the Co-ordinating Committee for the promotion of devolution friendly administrative culture under the National Integration Programme - 1998.
Member of the Executive Committee of Dr. A.M.A. Azeez. Foundation - 1998; elected President - 2006.
Vice Patron - Colombo Thamil Sangam - 1998.
Committee Member of the Thamil Net of the Governement Official Languages Commission - 1999.
Member of the Royal Asiatic Society, Sri Lanka Branch - 1999; converted to Life Membership in 2004.

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22. Chairman - Muslim Fine Arts Panel of the Arts Council of Sri
Lanka - 2001.
23. Member - Board of Quazis - 2001.
24. Member - Faculty Board of Islamic Studies & Arabic of the South
Eastern University of Sri Lanka - 2005.
25. Member - Muslim Education Commission appointed by the Minister of Education on the direction of H.E. the President to recommend improvement in education of Muslims - 2008
26. President, Board of Trustees, Ceylon Muslim Scholarship Fund -
2011.
27. Chairman, International Islamic Tamil Literary Conference,
Malaysia, Organising Committee, Sri Lanka - 2011.
Travels Abroad
Extensive travels have been undertaken by Jameel to attend international conferences, educational studies and performance of Haj. They are as follows:
1980 - Iraq
1988 - England
1991, 1993, 1995, 2003 - Haj - Saudi Arabia
1995, 2001, 2002 - Umra - Saudi Arabia
1995, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2010 - India
1995 - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah
1995 - Bahrain
1998 - Libya, Malta
2001 - 2004 - Saudi Arabia (employed in Riyadh)
2005 - Maldives
2010 - Bangladesh
2011 - Malaysia
2011 - Singapore
(Updated in December 2011)
S.H.M. Jameel
44A, Asiri Mawatha, Kalubowila, Dehiwala Tel: Oll 576 7607
Mobile: 071 861 8210 E-mail: shmjameelayahoo.com

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