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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250515T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250515T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20250515T063755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T071019Z
UID:3923-1747296000-1747328400@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:Honouring S. Lotun\, F. Aumeer n V. Florens 9 May 2025
DESCRIPTION:SPEECH SAFINA LOTUN 9 March 2025SPEECH FATHER LABOUR 9 MAY 2025SPEECH FARHAD AUMEER 9 MAY 2025SPEECH DR FLORENS 9 MAY 2025 \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n \nALIF SOCIETY organised a reception in honour of Ms Safeena Lotun\, elevated to CSKDr Vincent Florens elevated to OSK andFarhad Aumeer elevated to GOSK on the 12 March\n2025.\nOver 150 guess responded to our invitation. Pre-dinner cocktail was served at 1915 and dinner started at 2000 hours.\nIn her address\, Hon Shirine Aumeeruddy\, Speaker of the National assembly congratulated the laureates and highlighted the merits of the recipients of the National Awards.\nThe President on his turn spoke on each of the laureates\, pointing out how each one stood out for their contribution to Mauritius.\nEach laureate was offered a ship model as present.\nThe guest responded by thanking the organisers and how happy they were to be celebrated.\nEvent ended with desert and tea \n  \n  \n  \n  \nSPEECH SAFINA LOTUN 9 March 2025 \nLadies and Gentlemen\, \nFirst of all\, please allow me to welcome this audience which represents our pluralistic Mauritius. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. If you would allow me\, let me say a few words about Alif. Without great resources\, we have supported talented young people in their university studies. We have helped 38 students to graduate and post graduate in medicine\, 150 in engineering\, 5 in architecture\, to name just a few of the 400 and counting\, who have already completed their studies in Malaysia so far. And I would like to take the opportunity to make a special mention of a former Alif student who now leads an oncology research team at the University of Southampton in the UK and another who is responsible for installing simulators on behalf of Pratt and Whitney\, a US aircraft manufacturer. We also have an agreement with Chisty Hospital in Pakistan for the free treatment of patients who are inoperable in Mauritius. The contribution of our guests has gone a long way in this achievement. Our bank account shows that you have already contributed just enough to sponsor one Malagasy student. So\, thank you very much indeed. \nAlso let’s say a big thank you for this dinner to the SIMS company\, whose directors\, the charming Mimi and her husband Swaley Peerkhan are here\, as well as to the Director of Water Edge Garden\, Ali Rojid\, who is hosting us this evening. \nThis dinner is special and gives me a peculiar feeling. \nDid you know the houses of Daureeawoo\, Allyman Peerbux\, Sohawon and Baucha are within a stone throw from each other in Vale and that Choomka’s is in my street whereas Eshan Joomun’s folks are five minutes away and that their grand dads of were my friends. \n\nFarhad is the son of my colleague and friend.\nDr Conhya is the son the great trade unionist and prolific writer\, among the most elegant and well-dressed civil servant and a good friend of mine\n\nA special hi to my friend Dawood Rawat and to Usha Canabady who shines everywhere she goes \nTonight\, Alif has organized this event to celebrate four among the best of our compatriots\, one woman and three men: Mrs. Safina Lotun\, elevated to the rank of CSK\, Dr Vincent Florens elevated to OSK\, Father Maurice Labour and Hon Farhad Aumeer\, both elevated to the rank of GOSK. These laureates serve as an example to the whole of Mauritius and who will\, I hope\, serve to inspire a new generation. They are four personalities with impeccable qualities that we celebrate without them asking to be admired\, recognized or celebrated. There are four of them\, four journeys\, four destinies\, four stories that go towards giving a new direction to our homeland. These heroes are the new face of Mauritius who have uplifted the values of the Republic. \nWe would like to see them as the precursors of a Mauritius that has left the beaten track and enters with full force and confidence to face the new challenges. We would like our children to be enthused with the same vitalities\, and spurred by the same convictions and the same love of their country. If we have invited them\, it is because they are the symbol of commitment and courage. \nFrankly\, our wish would be to celebrate them separately to render a tribute that they deserve. Alas! If wishes were horses\, beggars would ride. \nFor Mrs. Lotun\, courage is political and an irresistible choice. Safeena Lotun\, as tradition dictates\, I would summarize your career in a few sentences: you completed your secondary studies at Queen Elizabeth College and your tertiary studies at the University of Paris VIII\, which granted you a Master’s degree in law. You have spent 27 years in the service of the nation as a civil servant in close collaboration with the greatest clerks of the State\, particularly at the Presidency\, the Executive and the judiciary.  You have been Administrative Secretary of the regional interparliamentary organisations and a member of the Society of Clerks\, a status that has allowed you to enrich yourself further by participating in conferences\, seminars and other workshops. You have also shone beyond our shores being internationally recognized for your efforts to promote the use of ICT in parliament and consolidating the partnership between our National Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union \nEvaluating the function of our parliament during COVID 19\, the 2023 Global Report on e-Parliament highlights the resilience of our August Assembly. It is thanks to your efforts Dear Madam.  Today\, Safeena\, you are an advisor to the President of the National Assembly. \nFolks\, Ms. Lotun sat in Parliament without being elected and without being a member of any political party. She denounced in her own way the infernal repression and profanation of the Assembly which we would like to call august. She did not give in to the speaker\, who wanted to muzzle the opposition with the infamous “I order you out”. Alone against all\, she was not afraid to defend freedom. But “all” had a dimension defined by autocrats who brought together the National Radio-Television\, the judiciary and other institutions in a fightback. She says goodbye to the National Assembly and leaves the fight to the people who had the last word by saying to the gravediggers of democracy: “we order you out”. This principle of virtuous living is worth a place in our Hansard. \nMadam\, there is a saying that would be very fitting – no one is a prophet in his or her own country. A nation can outlive its fools\, and even the ambitious members. But it cannot survive the betrayal from within\, according to Cicero\, a famous Roman senator.  And then\, the potentates who harassed you hadn’t heard this Turkish wisdom that could apply to them: when you introduce a clown into a castle\, the clown doesn’t become king\, but it’s the castle that becomes a circus. Congratulations. \nSPEECH FARHAD AUMEER 9 MAY 2025 \nAfter giving the loudspeaker\, the marching orders and clearing the space to Shirine\, our lady of grace and dignity\, the Mauritian people\, in their great wisdom\, opened their arms wide to welcome Farhad Aumeer to the National Assembly in November 2024. What intrigues me is “what is the source of inspiration for my friend Ibrahim\, your father\, to call his first child Farhad\, a Persian or Afghan name meaning “charmer”\, “man of joy”\, “intelligent” and a name also associated with courageous and virtuous characters. I grant it\, it’s a wise choice because Farhad has lived up to his name. \nAfter brilliant studies in London\, Farhad received his MBBCh BAO\, M.R.C.O.G and then F.R.C.O.G. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK)\, a Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy of Medicine in June 1993 and then a Fellow of the British Society of Colposcopists. He teaches medicine at the University of Mauritius while helping and lending his support to the World Health Organization. Farhad\, you are married and you have two sons\, both lawyers\, and a daughter who works in London. Your sister Shenaz and her husband Ali are here with you tonight and I greet you all. \nFarhad\, you’re a doctor\, it’s a profession I know well. I am not a doctor but I have helped admit at least forty students to medical schools in Malaysia.  At least a dozen are serving the country in different hospitals. By taking into account the evolution of medical knowledge that has brought about treatments you were not aware of at the time of your studies\, you have maintained your hunger to always remain at the top of your profession. It was great to listen to your public interventions during the COVID 19 panic that stunned an entire people a few years ago. \nSuggestions for treatment were coming from numerous sources\, sometimes some conflicting with others. You had an authoritative voice that made me think of the words of Arthur chopenhauer who had said: What the herd hates most is the one who thinks differently; it is not so much the opinion itself\, but the audacity of wanting to think for themselves\, something that the herd does not \nknow how to do. And Galileo Galilei “In the sciences\, the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.” \nYou helped the nation and the medical profession proposing diagnoses and remedies that became standard references. Obviously\, we cannot control a crisis and a global pandemic without the collaboration of all the expertise available. COVID 19 was a health crisis that threatened to mutate and evolve in worrying conditions. Decisions had to be made in all lucidity. Faced with the seriousness of the situation\, you willingly and courageously committed yourself to the service of your country because health remains at the heart of your concerns. Then your collaboration was won and the battle was won. What a tremendous achievement! Leo Tolstoy approves of you; he said If you feel pain\, you are alive. If you feel other people’s pain\, you are a human being. \nNo wonder then that your services are in high demand and so is your friendship which I judge by the number of colleagues and friends who has accompanied you tonight and whom I greet with great pleasure. I will limit myself to mentioning your medical career which brought you to the attention of the many. Also\, Congratulations for the \nGOSK\, an additional feather to your cap which you fully deserve. \nSPEECH FATHER LABOUR 9 MAY 2025 \nAfter Father Souchon\, Bishop Piat and Bishop Durhone\, Father Maurice Labour would have been the fourth representative of the Catholic Church to be honoured by Alif Society. But our proposed honoree has opted to attend the wedding of a relative. We respect his choice. \nAllow me to open a parenthesis to tell you how pleased I was to have had the privilege of dining with bishop Piat and the Apostolic Nuncio on his visit to Mauritius. Inviting Father Maurice Labour and honoring him in front of an audience like the one in front of me would have been a pledge of fruitful relations that have been continued and nurtured between the Catholic Church and Alif Society. We would also like to celebrate the good memories left by Pope Francis in his fight on behalf of the wretched of the earth. Let me reminisce on my involvement along Jean Yves Violette\, whose lovely wife is with us\, and Father Filip Fanchette to bring those involved with friends of Caritas closer to Andy Young\, Governor of Georgia in the United States. \nDear Friends. The exploit of our guests\, together with the respect of the entire nation which shares the same ideal\, must make them excited at the idea of taking over. And I am pleased to express my very warm congratulations to them on my own behalf and on behalf of Alif Society. Alif Society believes that the greatness of our country is based on its history\, with its dark pages as well as its glorious pages. What we are doing tonight\, in your presence\, my dear friends\, will be history tomorrow and we want to open a glorious page to inscribe the names of our laureates for their love for our rainbow nation. \nJoin me wish our journalist friend Murtuza Rahim a very happy birthday. And I leave you to reflect on this question: is it man who creates history or is it history that creates man? Thank you. \n  \nSPEECH DR FLORENS 9 MAY 2025 \nBear with me for an important diversion. I would like to welcome back Dr Eshan Dulloo\, the new President of Mauritius Wild Life Foundation\, an ace in biodiversity conservation\, who during forty years has been active at the FAO\, the World Bank\, our Ministry of Agriculture as Asst Conservator of Forests\, an Emeritus at the Alliance of Biodiversity International engaged in food security and where he is Honorary Research fellow after retirement. Eshan has been a key player to establish our national park and the World Bank “Seeds for needs” strategy which entitled him to the Food Planet prize in 2023. As he is back in his motherland\, we are sure he will help to protect and restore our unique diversity. \nEshan has introduced to me our next Honoree who is Dr Francois Benjamin Vincent Florens who obtained a distinction for his PhD project and who has studied at the Universities of Mauritius and East Anglia. His professional life has evolved around our flora through the Universities of Mauritius and East Anglia\, MSIRI\, the Kew Royal Botanic Garden and the Mauritius Wild Life Foundation. And when I proposed that we should meet on a certain week\, he read me his engagement: the whole week was dedicated to going out in our woodlands. I started wondering whether I was dealing with a Tarzan. \nFolks\, this week the world of Eshan and Vincent was the talk of the town with the arrival of Odysseo\, the brave French group who wants to rid our oceans from the curse of plastics. And we have invited the Director and the Dep Director of Agence Francaise de Developpement to show our appreciation for the historic work they are involved in as lead initiators. \nFolks\, nature and its preservation is and should be everybody’s concern. Unfortunately\, we have not been very kind to it. We have introduced goats on Round Island which grazed around the roots of our Unique Palm tree\, deprived it of the water retained by the grass\, killed many of them as well as the Unique Mauritian round Island snake and lizard. We pollute our lagoon and are deciding since half a century how to dispose of house effluents along coastal villages. Our woodland is diminishing drastically and we are left only the ocean if we are looking for\, what the French describes as EVASION. \nIn this context\, we need an army of Dr Florens to save us from ourselves.  His nearly lonely voice is drowned in the cacophony of goyaves de Chine pickers and lumber hungry builders. So\, let us show him our collective concern in solidarity with our motherland and our environment in his fight against threats to our flora and fauna and in ecological education. Let us protect our lagoon and our ground water from degradation\, let us save our rare species of plants and animals\, let us save our lungs which are our woodlands. Let us make Mauritius a hub\, this popular word\, of ethic living. And let us give Dr Florens a round of applause for his great ambition and understand that we will be alive only if we stop the violence against nature. \n  \n  \n  \n \n \n \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/honouring-s-lotun-f-aumeer-n-v-florens-9-may/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250616T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250616T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20250616T061335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T061335Z
UID:4041-1750060800-1750093200@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:A SATURDAY IN THE FOREST OF LE PETRIN
DESCRIPTION:OUTING\nAlif members\, friends and supporters spent  Saturday 14 June 2025 in the forest of le Petrin. The adventure was part walk to admire our nature park  and part to learn about our flora and fauna and their role in maintaining our ecological balance. \nDr Vencent Florens\, an excellent guide spoke in the layman’s language about the plant varieties\, the insects \, the birds and about the effort in avoiding extinction of our natural treasure. \n  \n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/a-saturday-in-the-forest-of-le-petrin/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250922T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250922T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20250922T055958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T062845Z
UID:4068-1758528000-1758560400@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:Get-together in honour of Vydia Mungroo-Jugurnath\, Pooja Baichoo and Dr Feyzal Solliman\,
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n \nOn Wednesday 17 September\, friends of Alif Society met over dinner at Water Edge Garden to celebrate the appointments of \nVidya Mungroo-Jugurnath  as President of the Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal \nMs Poojanjali Baichoo as Chairperson of the Central Procurement Board and \nDr. Fayzal SULLIMAN as CEO of the National Agency for Drug Control. \nDawood Auleear\,President of Alif Society and Hon. Shirine Aumeeruddy Cziffra\, in brief speeches congratulated the guests and wished them well. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/get-together-in-honour-of-vudya-mungroo-jugurnath-pooja-baichoo-and-dr-feyzal-solliman/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250922T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250922T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20250922T060902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T061535Z
UID:4094-1758528000-1758560400@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:Message to H. E the Saudi Ambassador on the occasion of Saudi Arabia's National Day
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n \n  \n  \nHis Excellency Mr. Fayez Meshel B. ALTEMYAT\,\nAmbassador of the KSA in Mauritius\,\nDear Ambassador\,\nOn 26th September you will be hosting Mauritian guests at a reception to celebrate your first Public Holiday to commemorate the establishment of the Saudi State. Your guests will miss the folk music and dance\, your traditional food and drink and fireworks which form part of your celebrations in your land.\nMany Mauritians already realise the importance of your country: the second biggest in proven oil reserve\, with a young and dynamic population\, your ambitious development projects and the influence you have in the Muslim World.\nYour leverage on the world economy cannot be ignored: your judicious intervention to stabilize the price of petroleum ensures stability of the world economy and all eyes are turned towards Riyad expecting your signal to bring peace in your region when the Israeli genocide does not give any sign of ending.\nThe Muslims are looking with excitement upon HRH\, Mohammad Bin Salman 2030 Vision\, proposing to accommodate 30m Umrah pilgrims while improving Makkah’s Road and railway connectivity with the rest of the Kingdom. We understand that you will have to expand the Haram and areas around it for accommodation and to allow the expected 2m people pray simultaneously and comfortably in air-conditioned spaces when they leave their world class hotels. They will have the pleasure to visit leisurely uncrowded streets of Eco-friendly and world class Makkah.\nThe focal point on Saudi Arabia remains your Vision 2030 which is an ambitious program of modernisation of your economy\, your tourism\, your leisure industry\, other novel industries\, to create over 1m jobs to benefit your growing young population\,\nUnifying a nation to lead it to modernisation is a Herculean process. Undeniably\, you are writing a new chapter in your history. We would like to wish you well in your new adventure and success in your quest to stand at the 62nd place in the group of developed countries.\nLong Live Saudi Arabia.\n20 September 2025 \n 
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/message-to-h-e-the-saudi-ambassador-on-the-occasion-of-saudi-arabias-national-day/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251016T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251016T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20251016T104159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251016T104549Z
UID:4104-1760601600-1760634000@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:RECEPTION IHO AMBASSADORS RIAD HULEMUTH\, INDRAJEET BABOOA\, REZA GUNY N MUNSOO KURRIMBACCUS 15/10/2025
DESCRIPTION:(41) WhatsApp \n  \nAlif Society and friends gathered on Thursday 15 October 2025 at Al Bukhara Restaurant to celebrate the appointments of 4 Ambassadors:\nRiad Hullemuth to Saudi Arabia\,\nReza Gunny to Egypt\nIndrajeet Babooa to Ethiopia and\nMunsoo Kurrimbaccus to Pakistan.\nAlif used that occasion to hand over a ticket to Khatija Dreepaul\, its recipient of a scholarship in Al Bukhary University\, in Malaysia. \n============================================================= \nSPEECH HULEEMUTH KORRIMBACCUS\, GUNNY\, BABOOA\, LIDIALAM\, AND DREEPAUL. \nAlif thanks you for your generous response to our invitation. We are getting together this evening with one main purpose:  to celebrate the appointments of four diplomats to four friendly countries. \nIndur Babooa has been appointed to the land of King Negus. \nMansoo Korrimbaccus has been appointed to Pakistan\, \nRiad Huleemuth to Saudi Arabia and \nReza Gunny to Egypt. \nWe are also pleased to introduce to you two success stories from what is perceived as a depressed area in Port Louis: a young lady who will be Alif’s student at Al Bukhari University in Malaysia and a young man who is the pride of his family and his neighbourhood and whose Head is famously known as Sarazen. \nKhatija Dreepaul\, born in UK\, grew up in Plaine Verte with her grandparents since aged two\, attended Jean Lebrun Government School and passed her HSC at GMD Atchia SSS. She is ambitious to become a professional. Alif recommended her at Al Bukhary University in Malaysia. She impressed the interviewers with brio and was selected for a scholarship. She is leaving for Keddah on Sunday next. \nSuhail Lidialam grew up in Plaine Verte too and attended Jean Lebrun Government school. He finished his HSC at Sir Abdool Razak Mohamed SSS\, completed his BA in French at UoM\, did a Masters at UTM in Communications and PR\, was recruited as a Cadet Officer in the Police Force\, attended the Indian Academy of Police and is now Police Press Officer\, the right man at the right place. \nYou would agree folks that we need youths of this kind of iron determination\, ready to take up the challenge that daily life presents and aim for success. Wish them both plenty of wonderful and happy days ahead. \nNow to our four ambassadors designate. \nCommunal living has always been\, now or at the start of civilisation\, a matter of managing the frictions between different interest groups within a country or between neighbouring countries. Frictions arose for economic\, family\, inheritance or territorial reasons. Or simply for lebensraum created by the tragedy of the commons. We all know about the warring tribes of Saudi Arabia\, the kings of India as depicted in Mahabharat\, and the provinces of China. A modus vivendi had to be devised for peaceful co-existence. That need gave birth to diplomacy. And Winston Churchill described that need in his famous words: It is better to jaw jaw than to war war. \nThe Middle East and the Indian sub-continent produced the Mohanjodaro\, today in Pakistan\, the Ur in Iraq\, the Nile Valley civilizations and the Ethiopian civilisation under King Negus Ashama ibn Abjar\, who provided refuge to those persecuted in Mecca\, prospered and created many inventions that we use today. Those civilizations progressed and enriched humanity in an atmosphere of prolonged peace: they produced artefacts\, writings\, canalizations\, the wheel\, modern agriculture\, sailing\, geography and historic monuments like the pyramids\, tombs of the Pharaohs whose mystery has yet to be fully deciphered. That peaceful co-existence was made possible by the efforts of the various emissaries at the service of kings who would negotiate to avoid war or bring peace after skirmishes.  You would also recall the emissaries who were sent by King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba and those of prophet Yacoob to the Egyptian King for provision of grains during the seven-year drought.\nOur four ambassador designates will be heading soon to their posts in the lands of those ancient civilizations who have known and perfected diplomacy. What a great place for inspiration! They will have to reflect the image of Mauritius and to project the facets\, interests and dreams of their nation in the host countries. Of course\, the economic interests would be at the top of the agenda. \nMauritius does not have the clout to influence history\, something which is left to the superpowers\, but it has to align itself with the side where its interests will be safeguarded. And it would be your duty\, dear Ambassadors to walk in the minefields without compromising yourselves or our country. And choosing the right words would require all the arts of a wordsmith. Mind the advice of Talleyrand\, who believed in the necessity of compromise and moderation in diplomacy as opposed to using gunboat diplomacy and issuing ultimatums. He added that speech was given to man to conceal his thoughts.” And I will repeat what I have told your predecessors: when you meet a butcher\, talk meat\, when you meet a baker\, talk bread\, when you meet both together\, talk sandwich. And I am paraphrasing Churchill’s formula: tell somebody to go to hell in such sweet language that he will ask you a google map for directions. \nToday\, the world is facing many challenges such as destabilisation\, climate change\, trade wars\, and unprecedented state terrorism. Fortunately\, our country has aligned itself with the overwhelming majority voices at the UN and your intervention in public is made easy. \nGentlemen\, you are the choice of the country as the government that has appointed you is the unanimous choice of the country. It is a tall order. You are condemned to succeed in your mission. Success will involve the sine qua non faculty of spinning which was the preserve of the textile industry. Take into consideration that you are at the margin of power\, not at the seat of power. And to succeed\, you must be given all the tools required. Or it will be equivalent to baking bread without flour. \nAs to Alif Society\, we are following Churchill’s advice: A nation that fails to honour its heroes\, soon will have no heroes to honour. Congratulations and best Wishes.
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/reception-iho-ambassadors-riad-hulemuth-indrajeet-babooa-reza-guny-n-munsoo-kurrimbaccus-15-10-2025/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251223T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251223T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20251223T094822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251223T094822Z
UID:4141-1766476800-1766509200@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:BOOK LAUNCH ON UNCLE IDRIS AT IAIS ON 15 DECEMBER\, MALAYSIA
DESCRIPTION:Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim launched the book on Uncle Idris\, “the man who could move mountains” \nat the seat of IAIS on December 15 2025 inn the presence of numerous admirers\, companions and University students. It is to be noted that PM Anwar has authored the forward of this commemorative launch. Prof Imtiaz Yusuf of ISTAC with PM Anwar \nPresident of ALIF SOCIETY in company of Prof. Osman Bakar\, Rector of Internation Islamic University   \nPresident of Alif Society with PM Anwar \n \nPresident of Alif Society with Prof. Osman Bakar\, Rector Of International Islamic University of Malaysia.
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/book-launch-on-uncle-idris-at-iais-on-15-december-malaysia/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251225T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251225T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20251225T062625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251225T063523Z
UID:4153-1766649600-1766682000@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:VISIT TO INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY\, MALAYSIA 16.12.25
DESCRIPTION:On December 16 2025\, Prof. Osman Bakar\, a friend since 1998\, now Rector of International Islamic University\, Malaysia\, welcomed the President of Alif Society in his office. Discussions revolved around the possibility of admitting Alif students for post graduate programs and the future of IIUM which has the ambition of becoming among the top World Universities.
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/4153/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251225T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251225T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20251225T070349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251225T070349Z
UID:4163-1766649600-1766682000@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:CONVOCATION AT AL-BUKHARY ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY 13.12.25
DESCRIPTION:ALI ROJID\, VP OF ALIF\, REGISTRAR OF AIU MRS NORPISA \, MISS SHARIFAH SOFIA SYED MOKHTAR ALBUKHARY AND DAWOOD AULEEAR \n  \n \n  \nWELCOMING ALIF MALAGASY STUDENTS OVER DINNER \n  \n  \n  \n  \nNEW AIU GRADUATES CELEBRATING THEIR SUCCESS ON THE LAWN OF THEIR UNIVERSITY \nVP of Alif\, Ali Rojid and Pressident of Alif\, Dawood Auleear attended the convocation of Albukhary Islamic University on 13 December 2025 in Alor Setar\, capital of the state of Keddah. \nThe ceremony ended with a lunch to the VIP guests offered by AIU during which the VP and the Preseident of ALIF were introduced to Miss  Sofia . Alif offered a ship model to Miss Sofia. \nThe VP and the President offered a diner to Alif Mauritian and Malagasy students.It was an opportunity for exchanges. Alif representatives were satisfied that the students were happily settled\, had adapted themselves in their new environment and progressing in their studies. \n 
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/convocation-at-al-bukhary-islamic-university-13-12-25/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251226T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251226T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20251226T060713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251226T060713Z
UID:4179-1766736000-1766768400@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:MEETING WITH ABIM AND WADAH IN KUALA LUMPUR 16.12.2025
DESCRIPTION:ABIM AND WADAH TEAM \nTwo memebrs of WADAH after offering a present to the President of ALIF. \n \nMeeting in the office of ABIM-WADAH \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nThe President of ALIF met the representatives of ABIM and WADAH in their office in Bukit Bintang\, Kuala Lumpur.The meeting was brief and during which the future of the Muslim Youth was raised. The parties parted with the promise for further meeting in Mauritius or Kuala Lumpur and to explore the avenues for co-operation.
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/meeting-with-abim-and-wadah-in-kuala-lumpur-16-12-2025/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251227T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20251227T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20251227T070731Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251227T070731Z
UID:4202-1766822400-1766854800@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:COURTESY CALL ON HRH THE PRINCE OF PERLIS 12.12.2025
DESCRIPTION:The President and the Vice President of ALIF were the guests of HRH the Prince of Perlis over lunch at a Malay restaurant after Jummah 0n 12.12.2025. \n  \nAfter lunch\, Ali Rojid\, the VP of Alif offered a present to HRH \nThe President also offered a present to HRH\, a portrait of HRH and Permasuri of Perlis made by Artist Nashrteen Asheek \nAfter Asr\, the visitors accompanied HRH on a tour of a campong [village] to distribute aid to the victims of a flood that had hit Perlis a week earlier. Ali was part of the convoy \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nAfter lunch\, the Mauritian visitors went on a sight visit. The first call was at the Royal Museum \nThe second stop was at the floating Masjid. The visitors are in company of the Imams of the floating Masjid \nSome inhabitants of the Campong posed for us \nHRH showed the boundary of Perlis with Thailand \nThe group that accompanied HRH on his charity tour. \nThe companions of HRH surrounding the the gifts destined to the refugees \nAli offered a portrait of HM the King and Permasurii\, parents of HRH Raja Muda\, after the lunch \nHRH surrounded by his religious advisers
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/courtesy-call-on-hrh-the-prince-of-perlis-12-12-2025/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260524T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260524T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20260524T063056Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T063056Z
UID:4225-1779609600-1779642000@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:RECEPTION IHO SHAKEEL MOHAMED\, J.C.DE L'ESTRAC\, DR GUNNESS N MICHAEL GLOVER
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n29TH April 2026. Water Edge Garden was the venue of a dunner-reception organised by Alif Society\,in honour of Hon Shakeel Mohamed\, Jean Claude de l’Estrac\, Dr Sunil Guness and Michael Glover\, all decorated by the Republic on 12 March 2026. \nThe Guest of honour was the Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly\, Mrs Shirine Cziffra-Aumeeruddy. Ministers Osman Mohamed\, Reza Uteem\,  Hon Farade Aumeer\, Ambassadors of Russia and Egypt and the Lord Mayor of Port Louis were the guests at ths function which gathered about 150 guests. After dinner-speeches\, each honoree received a present from Alif Society. \n  \nOPENING SPEECH 29.IV.2026. \nAssalamoaleikum. Bonsoir. Devant autant de personnalités de marque\, j’en ai dénombré au moins 24\, permettez-moi d’utiliser une formule expéditive. Alors\, Mesdames et Messieurs en vos grades et qualités\, Chers Amis\, \nNous souhaitons la plus cordiale des bienvenues à cet Arc en Ciel Mauricien présent sous ce chapiteau de Water Edge Garden. Votre présence est un témoignage magnifique du Mauricianisme. La température est agréable ; en écoutant les éclats de rire pendant le cocktail\, je dirais que l’atmosphère a favorise des échanges fructueux et amicaux. Ce moment de causette\, j’espère\, a scellé davantage les amitiés. Nous sommes toujours fiers d’être Mauricien\, mais il y a des jours\, comme aujourd’hui\, où on l’est encore un peu plus que d’habitude. Nous sommes rassemblés ce soir pour célébrer l’accession de 5 Grands Mauriciens au rang de GCSK et GOSK que la République leur a décerné. \nAvant d’entrer dans le vif du sujet\, je voudrais dire un bonjour \n\nCharles de Loppinot et Catherine de Gasquet et les nombreux Français Unis de l’Océan Indien qui font progresser les affaires entre notre pays et l’Afrique ainsi qu’en Europe.\nAussi à Madame l‘Ambassadrice Irada Zeynalova et sa collaboratrice Catherine qui œuvrent dans le même sens avec les 14\,000 Russes installés dans notre pays.\nEmmanuel Richon\, le gardien par excellence de notre patrimoine\n\nJe laisse la place à Monique Chan pour son allocution. \n  \nMICHAEL GLOVER            Delivered by Monique Chan \nMesdames et Messieurs\, \nNous disons que la jeunesse est l’avenir d’un pays. Mais qui est jeune. SSR disait à l’âge de 70 ans\, nous pas jeune nous ? et la Reine Mère disait que I am 102 years young. Je vous laisse le soin de définir la jeunesse alors. \nL’Etat avait laissé le soin à Michael Glover de traiter ce sujet extrêmement important et complexe. Il lui confie la tâche de leur garantir un avenir\, une autonomie et la chance qu’elle mérite. Est-ce que vous vous rendez compte : les années 80 étaient les années de braise\, ou l’économie était mise en respiration artificielle\, le chômage battait son plein et forçaient notre jeunesse à l’oisiveté. Et l’oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices. Michael était conscient que les jeunes sous sa charge faisaient face aux défis d’une île Maurice en crise dont cette jeunesse elle-même n’était pas responsable. L’outil à la disposition de Michael était son Ministère de la Jeunesse et de Sports. \nMichael ne baissa pas les bras. Sportif complet lui-même\, il privilégia des activités sportives à l’échelle nationale. Il pensait peut-être qu’une activité sportive épargnerait à ces jeunes les méfaits ambiants de l’oisiveté. L’histoire lui donna raison quand la jeunesse Mauricienne obtient un nombre record de médailles lors des jeux de l’OCEAN Indien et pour couronner le tout\, d’arracher aussi la médaille de champion de foot. Et qu’elle médaille pour la formation Mauricienne ! \nEt Michael avait rempli son contrat. Je me demande s’il se rend compte de la joie qu’il donna à tous les téléspectateurs agglutinés devant leurs petits écrans et la marée humaine qui défilait du Stade George V de Curepipe pour atteindre à pied la maison des jeux à Rose-Hill. Je salue ce grand Ministre de Sports qui aimait la jeunesse autant que la jeunesse l’aimait\, ce grand Mauricien était devenu un nom et un visage familier et je lui dirais notre reconnaissance : cet homme avait ressemblé et rassemble l’Ile Maurice entière. Et il porte toujours en lui l’amour de cette jeunesse. Il continue maintenant comme conseiller au Ministère des Sports avec d’autres idées et d’autres défis. Michael était déjà Commander of the Royal Victorian Order\, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur et maintenant GOSK. Tu les mérites bien\, Cher Michael. Bravo et bonne continuation. \nSPEECH SHAKEEL MOHAMED delivered by the President \nShakeel Mohamed est né dans une famille politique. Son grand-père\, Sir Abdool Razak Mohamed est originaire de l’Inde et quitta l’opulence de sa famille qui gérait une huilerie pour s’installer dans notre île. Son père Yousuf dont Alif avait célébré l’accession au titre de SC\, était un grand ténor du barreau. Shakeel cumule les deux fonctions comme son père\, politicien et avocat. Alif Society avait aussi créé une bourse d’Études Universitaire au nom de Sir Abdool Razak Mohamed. \nS’il est une qualité qui donne le sens de ce qu’est Shakeel\, ce mot est le combat. Il représente bénévolement les victimes de l’injustice dans la cour rien pour que le sourire revienne sur leurs visages. Il combat avec succès tous ceux qui veulent ternir son image à cause de son origine ou appartenance à la minorité Meiman et arrive à se faire accepter comme la voix de ses coreligionnaires dans l’Assemblée Nationale. Ainsi prime sa voix sur l’organisation du pèlerinage à la Mecque. Et je dirais au nom de mes membres : qu’il en soit ainsi \nIl est chargé du Ministère de Terre et de Logements\, comme son grand père. Il ne le dirige pas seulement\, il veut le transformer. Il n’a pas de choix face aux problèmes pressants des sans domiciles. Je lui souhaite plein de succès. \nJe parodierai Jean Ferrat mais ne chanterai pas que Shakeel a l’âme bien née. Il est un homme de vérité\, cette vérité à supprimer\, qui blesse parfois ceux qu’il aime\, un homme d’une fidélité indomptable aux valeurs du Parti Travailliste. Il est un mari et un père qui ne néglige pas les siens et qu’ils emmènent en vacances. \nJe voudrais ajouter une autre qualité rare………l’élégance\, pas seulement l’élégance personnelle\, là-dessus\, il est battu à plate couture par son épouse\, mais l’élégance morale et intellectuelle. Avec toutes ces qualités\, mon cher Shakeel\, le succès est garanti. Félicitations mon cher GCSK. \nMes chers amis\, à l’heure ou trois grandes forces gouvernent le monde : la stupidité\, la peur et la cupidité\, nous avons le bonheur de vivre dans un pays de créateurs et d’innovateurs et nous en avons réunis cinq ce soir. Leurs qualités : la conviction\, le dévouement et la vocation et qui sont comme la neige\, comme dirait un grand penseur. Elle embellit tout ce qu’elle recouvre’. L’Adage « Si tu ressens la douleur\, tu es vivant. Si tu ressens la douleur des autres\, tu es un être humain. » leur convient. Ils portent les mêmes valeurs\, celles du progrès\, la lutte contre la précarité et la diffusion de la richesse pour le bonheur national brut. Au nom de la Nation\, je leur dis notre gratitude et leur demande de faire en sorte que l’Ile Maurice rayonne toujours. Merci. \nSPEECH JEAN CLAUDE DE L’ESTRAC. delivered by the President \nJean Claude de l’Estrac\, ce grand serviteur de Maurice\, auteur de livres à succès\, homme politique aux multiples mandats\, responsable d’un quotidien prestigieux\, a connu tant de décorations\, d’honneurs et de reconnaissances de ses pairs que je ne peux pas tout détailler ; je me bornerais alors à évoquer qu’il est un visionnaire ; ce géant de la pensée l’a démontré durant ses années de combat au premier rang du MMM. Il dénonçait les puissants et la droite et séduisait les laissés pour compte pour faire tomber les citadelles des partis historiques par son éloquence. \nIl a mené une lutte inlassable pour la construction d’une Île Maurice plurielle\, libre\, égale et digne. Il est de ces hommes qui changent les cours du temps. \nEn tant que Maire de Rose-Hill\, il laissa ses empreintes sur cette ville en lui donnant un look architectural particulier. Les débats dans la Mairie sous son mandat enrichissaient le vocabulaire vite repris par les journaux et la population et ses envolées lyriques marquaient l’esprit des Mauriciens lorsqu’il qualifiait les Chagossiens comme des Palestiniens de l’Océan Indien. Je m’empresse d’ajouter\, puisque les Chagos font la une des journaux\, que Jean-Claude de l’Estrac obtint dès 1983 la reconnaissance de la souveraineté de Maurice sur les Chagos lors du sommet des non-alignés de New Delhi. \nComme Secrétaire Général de la Commission de l’Océan Indien\, il a lutté pour créer le concept de l’Indianocéanie et ainsi créer une coopération inter Iles pour trouver ensemble les solutions aux défis multiples de notre existence. Si seulement une partie de ce rêve se matérialisait\, nous n’aurions pas eu de soucis pour notre approvisionnement en nourriture car Madagascar serait devenu un grenier fiable. Mon cher J.C\, tu nous as fait vivre des années glorieuses de la vie politique. Tu me pardonnerais\, je ne peux pas résumer ta vie et tes mérites ce soir\, ni pendant tous les soirs de cette semaine entière. Comme on dit chez nous\, je ne peux pas vider la mer dans une gargoulette. Tu me confiais\, lors une de nos rencontres que tu aimerais prendre congé de la vie publique. Moi\, je dirais\, sans ambages\, l’homme d’idées n’a pas droit à la retraite. Alors\, bonne continuation\, guerrier. \nAccepte nos félicitations. \nDr SUNIL GUNNESS delivered by the President \nLe docteur Sunil Gunness\, que je surnommerais M. Sourire\, car c’est cette image de lui qu’on retient après une consultation\, est responsable de Cardiac Centre de Pamplemousses. \nLa maladie cardiaque est un fléau. C’est l’évidence. Cette maladie a progressé après un changement drastique de notre hygiène de vie. Le taux de décès était devenu alarmant. \nFace à ce défi\, il fallait refuser la fatalité et mener le combat pour la vie et rendre l’Île Maurice plus humaine. L’outil par excellence était le centre de Cardiologie à côté de l’hôpital SSR. Le Dr Gunness dirige ce centre dès sa création. \nCe centre a donné des résultats probants et le bilan est éloquent : En quelques années\, grâce au docteur Gunness\, ses collaborateurs comprenant des professionnels de santé\, chercheurs\, associations de malades – la donne a changé. Ils ont travaillé de concert pour arriver à ce résultat flatteur………..une incidence et une mortalité décroissantes. \nMais avant d’aborder ce fléau qu’est la maladie du cœur\, l’équipe du docteur Gunness a mené une campagne de dépistage qui demandait aussi un effort Herculéen car le dépistage s’associait\, par une crainte irrationnelle avec la maladie. Et ce dépistage se faisait en l’absence du séquençage du génome. \nLe docteur Gunness a voulu également tirer parti de tous les progrès accomplis dans l’outre-mer. Il faisait venir des équipes de cardiologues entre autres\, de France\, de Suisse et de l’Inde.  Ces équipes faisaient fonctionner les salles d’opération a plein régime\, même le soir\, partageaient leur savoir-faire aux collègues Mauriciens pour le plus grand bien des patients Mauriciens qui voyaient s’écourter leur délai d’attente pour leur chirurgie. \nMesdames\, Messieurs\, nous devons sans aucun doute être fiers du travail accompli par l’hôpital sous la houlette du docteur Gunness ; notre pays est désormais reconnu comme étant aux avant-postes de la lutte contre la maladie du cœur dans l’Océan indien et est devenu une destination de choix pour les malades des Comores. \nN’est-ce-pas un bilan flatteur ? Et ce bilan doit donner un nouvel élan pour progresser encore et encore. Dr Gunness\, merci d’avoir fait en sorte que la vie puisse reprendre ses droits\, pendant la maladie comme après les traitements. \n  \n 
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/reception-iho-shakeel-mohamed-j-c-de-lestrac-dr-gunness-n-michael-glover/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260531T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260531T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20260531T060146Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260531T060146Z
UID:4262-1780214400-1780246800@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:QURBANI LUNCH AT UZBEKISTAN RESTAURANT IN GRAND BAY 30 MAY 2026
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nFriends of Alif Society met at Uzbekistan Restaurant in Grand Bay to celebrate Eid ul Adha. They were the guests of Bek\, the owner of the Restaurant. Bek gave them a treat of Uzbek cuisine.
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/qurbani-lunch-at-uzbekistan-restaurant-in-grand-bay-30-may-2026/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260611T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20260611T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T001947
CREATED:20260611T071423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T071423Z
UID:4289-1781164800-1781197200@alif-society.org
SUMMARY:MEETING HE THE PAKISTANI HC AND MRS SYED
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nOn Tuesday 9 June\, the Pakistani in Mauritius and Mrs Syed paid a courtesy call on Alif Society. Alif welcomed the Pakistani couple over a dinner at Uzbekistan restaurant in Grand Bay. The evening was an opportunity of cordial exchanges.
URL:https://alif-society.org/event/meeting-he-the-pakistani-hc-and-mrs-syed/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR