OBITUATY HASSEN KHADAROO.
Hassen Khadaroo passed away on Tuesday 19 November and was laid to rest in Riche Mare. He leaves behind his wife Zubeida, 8 children, some in UK and Canada, and numerous grandchildren.
I first met Hassen in late 1960s during a meeting of the Northern Islamic Association which hosted an important Egyptian delegation headed by Dr. Oweida and which offered to sponsor Mauritian students for University education in Cairo.
The departed spent most of his professional life looking after his school which started with a modest size population in 1953. He was a great humanist who gave priority to the advancement of his students than the latter’s ability to pay the Rs.12 monthly fee. His empathy won him the appreciation of the villages around Flacq; consequently, his school population peaked at 1500. Despite the handicap that colleges like Darwin’s recruits were among those with poorest pass marks, this Eastern Institution succeeded in placing students among those who come immediately after our Laureates.
This great educator never got tired of learning and of transmitting his wisdom to his staff, a wisdom that helped him win over the hearts of the most formidable bullies among the students and the co-operation of his staff to attend to duties not included in their scheme of work.
With Hassen’s departure, I lose a friend, very discreet, ready to oblige. How can I forget the lunch and cultural show he organised on my request at his school in honour of a Chinese delegation? And how Fire Brigade FC forget that France l’Aiguille owed his early formation at Greyhounds FC whose single greatest promoter was Hassen?
May Allah swt give sabr to all those in bereavement and admit Hassen in Jannat ul Firdaus.
Dawood Auleear.