Zahira College, Colombo

Zahira College (commonly known as Zahira) (Sinhala: සහිරා විදුහල, Tamil: சாஹிரா கல்லுரி) is an Islamic school at Colombo in Maradana, Sri Lanka.^[1] It was founded in 1892 as Al Madrasathul Zahira by notable Islamic lawyer and educationalist, Muhammad Cassim Siddi Lebbe, with the active patronage of Ahmed Orabi Pasha of Egypt. The college also has one of the oldest mosques in the country on its campus.^[2]

Zahira College
Address
Zahira College Colombo, Orabi Pasha Street, Maradana , Western Province , 01000 Sri Lanka
Coordinates	6°55′38″N 79°51′51″E / 6.927351°N 79.864175°E / 6.927351; 79.864175Coordinates: 6°55′38″N 79°51′51″E / 6.927351°N 79.864175°E / 6.927351; 79.864175
Information
Former name	"Madarasathul Zahira"
Type	Semi government
Motto	Arabic: Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah)
Established	21 August 1892; 130 years ago (1892-08-21)
Founder	Ahmed Orabi, A. M. Wapchi Marikar and M. C. Siddi Lebbe
School district	Colombo
School number	+(94) 11 2695062
Principal	A. R. M. Triizvy Marikkar (2013 - present)
Teaching staff	250+
Grades	1–13 (English, Sinhala and Tamil Medium)
Gender	Boys School
Age	From 6 years to 19 years
Enrollment	5500+
Colour(s)	Green, white, maroon
Alumni	Old Zahirians
Website	zahiracollege.lk

The word Zahira means "excellence" in Arabic.

History

 

Zahira College Mosque, also known as the Maradana Mosque. The mosque was established long before the college was started and was patronized by A.M. Wapchie Marikar.

The idea of school mainly for Muslims was conceived by prominent individuals at the time, such as Proctor M. C. Siddi Lebbe, when circumstances were positively hostile to English education due to the reasons where English education was very much associated with proselytism.^[3] At this juncture in history of Sri Lanka almost all the schools in the country were run by Christian missionaries. Because Sri Lanka had not won its independence from the British Empire an almost state aided conversion submerged other communities. Nevertheless, Muslim pioneers in education were more than satisfied that Islam would weather assaults at conversion but that education was essential for the Muslim community's progress For its very survival. Thus, due to this and many other pertaining factors which was taken placed on those years^[4] later, Zahira College was established on Monday, 22 August 1892.

Factors influencing establishment

During a public speech made by M. C. Siddhi Lebbe in 1891 at the Maradana Mosque Hall (which later became the college mosque), he appealed to the Muslim community to unite and promote the educational advancement of the community. This led to the formation of the Colombo Muslim Educational Society. The first Secretary was I. L. M. Abdul Aziz and Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar was the first Treasurer and Head Master. With the help of Ahamed Orabi Pasha, an Egyptian exile in Ceylon and freedom fighter, Al-Madrasathul Zahira was established. In 1894 the school was registered as a grant-in-aid school Maradana Mohammedan Boys School.

 

The Gafoor Hall, Colleges Main Hall

 

The Umpichy Building across the college ground

Board of Governors

Zahira College is administered by a board of eighteen governors, from the executive committee of the Maradana Mosque, the Zahira College Welfare Society, the Zahira College Parent-Teachers Association and the Zahira College Old Boys’ Association.^[5] M. Fouzul Hameed, who took over as chairman of the Board of Governors in 2006.

Sports

Zahira college, Colombo had constructed major sports complex for the scholars who are interested in sports to represent College.^[6][7][8]

Soccer

The college has produced a number of Soccer players who represented the Sri Lanka national team.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]}

Swimming

The college swimming pool project^[15] was proposed and funded by the Old Boys Association.^[16] and it was officially opened for students, old boys and the public (after school hours).^[17] The project was initiated in 2010 and successfully completed and opened on 14 July 2012.^[18]

Cricket

Zahira college has produced a number of international cricket players^[19][20] in 1930's^[21] and later days in 20th century zahirians had joint with Sri Lankan Cricket and they are improving them to be representatives at National team of Sri Lanka.^[22][23][24]

Athletic

Many athletic players had bought a glory and fame to Zahira College by showcasing their talents.^[25]

Other

Currently, there are number of sports like Air Rifle Shooting, Basketball, Hockey, Karate, Boxing, Band, Cadeting, Chess, Scouting, Tennis etc. to the scholars.^[26][27]

Houses

Students are divided into four houses. The houses compete in all major games to win the inter-house games, with house colours and awarded to winners.

• Angora colour : Green  
• Baghdad colour : Blue  
• Cordova colour : Orange  
• Istanbul colour : Maroon  

The four house names are derived from four historic Muslim cities.

• Angora of Turkey
• Baghdad of Iraq
• Cordova of Spain
• Istanbul of Turkey

Clubs and associations

Clubs and societies

Today there are about thirteen clubs and societies in Zahira College.^[28]

Associations

There are associations where Zahira old boys owned them with respect for helping purpose to the college and to give pride further to the alma mater.^[28]

Headmasters

• A. M. Wapchie Marikar
• N. H. M. Abdul Cader
• A. S. Abdul Cader
• S. J. A. Doray
• Abdul Azeez

Principals

Name	From	To
O. E. Martinus	1913	1914
J. C. McHeyzer	1914	1920
Tuan Burhanudeen Jayah	1921	1947
A. M. A. Azeez	1948	1961
I. L. M. Mashoor	1961	1965
M. F. M. H. Fakhir	1965	1966
S. L. M. Shafie Marikar	1967	1982
R. I. T. Alles (Director of Studies)	1983	1985
Saheed M. Irshad	1986	1987
T. D. Hannan	1988
A. Z. Omardeen	1989
A. M. Sameem	1990	1991
A. Javid Yusuf	1992	1994
Prof. M. T. A. Furkhan	1995	1997
Dr. I. A. Ismail	1998
S. A. R. M. Farook	1999
Dr. M. Uvais Ahamed	2001	2006
T.K. Azoor	2008	2010
M. H. M. Jiffry	2010	2012
A. R. M. Trizviiy Marikkar	2013	present

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Alumni of Zahira College, Colombo

Zahira produced citizens who are fluent in all three national languages. During the "Golden Era of Zahira" many brilliant leaders were produced and they made enormous contribution to the nation and the world at large. Zahira's Magazine ‘Cresent’ towards the development of national languages was immense.^[29][30]

Name	Notability	Reference
V. Anandasangaree	Member of Parliament - Kilinochchi (1970–1983), Jaffna (2000–2004)
Sir Razik Fareed	Member of Parliament
A. H. M. Fowzie	Member of Parliament - National List (2015–present), Colombo (1994–2015), Mayor of Colombo (1974–1977)
Abdul Bakeer Markar	Speaker of the Parliament (1977-1983), Member of Parliament - Beruwala (1960–1988), Governor of Southern Province (1988–1993)
Ali Sabry	Minister of Foreign Affairs (2022-Present), Minister of Finance (2022), Minister of Justice (2020–2022), Member of Parliament - National List (2020–present)
Abdul Caffoor Mohamad Ameer	32nd Attorney General of Sri Lanka
Shibly Aziz	37th Attorney General of Sri Lanka
Alavi Moulana	Governor Western Province (2002–2015), Minister of Labour (2001–2002)
Naina Marikkar	Minister of Finance (1988–1989)
Prof. Tuley De Silva	Chancellor of the WUSL
Prof. Achi Mohamed Ishaq	Chancellor of the SEUSL
A.H.M. Azwer	Member of Sri Lankan Parliament for national list (1989-1994, 2010–2014)
Prof. M.T.A. Furkhan	Academic, Inductee- Global Management Accounting Hall of Fame
Ameer Ali	Minister of Disaster Relief Management (2007-2010), Member of Sri Lankan Parliament (2015–present)
A. M. Merza	Member of Sri Lankan Parliament for Kalmunai (1952–1956)
M. H. M. Ashraff	Minister of Ports, Shipping and Rehabilitation (1994–2000), Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament (1989–2000)
M. L. M. Aboosally	Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Minister of Labor, Rugby Player	^[31]
Mujibur Rahman	Member of Parliament - Colombo (2015–present)	^[32]
Saleem Marsoof	Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (2005–2014)
S. Z. M. Mashoor Moulana	Senator - Senate of Ceylon
A. J. M. Muzammil	Mayor of Colombo (2011–2016), Governor of Western Province (2019), Governor of North Western Province (2019–present)
Rishad Bathiudeen	Minister of Industry and Commerce (2010–2019), Member of Sri Lankan Parliament for Vavuniya (2001–present)
Rezvi Sheriff	academic, physician
S. Selvanayagam	Academic, Professor Jaffna University
Karthigesu Sivathamby	emeritus professor (Tamil studies), author
R. Sivagurunathan	Academic, Lawyer and Editor Thinakaran
Hasen Ali	Member of Parliament - National List (2004–2015)	^[33]
Dharmadasa Banda	Cabinet Minister for additional plantation crops (2007–2010) and Member of Parliament Monaragala (1989-2000, 2004–2010)
M. M. Zuhair	Member of parliament for the nationalist (1994–2000), Chairman Rupavahini and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran
Ben Navaratne	First class cricketer (1940-1952)
Muttaiah Devaraj	First class cricketer (1964-1967)
Ghulam Razick	First class cricketer (1960s)

References

1. "zahira college colombo located - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
2. Booso, Ahmadh (29 May 2021). "ZAHIRA, A Temple of Tolerance". Zahira College Old Boys' Association. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
3. K N O, Dharmadasa (1992). Language, Religion, and Ethnic Assertiveness: The Growth of Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. University of Michigan Press. pp. 126, 254. ISBN 978-0472102884.
4. Joseph, Joanna (20 July 2017). "Zahira College Colombo". Information about Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
5. "Zahira College, Colombo, Board Of Governors (Incorporation)". Lawnet. Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
6. "Zahira College to construct major sports complex". Sunday Observer. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
7. Farook, Ruzaik. "Zahira Sports Complex construction begins". Daily News. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
8. NewsDesk (1 November 2020). "Zahira College to build a large sports complex". ExBulletin. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
9. "Sports & Other Facilities – Zahira College Colombo". Retrieved 17 January 2022.
10. Farook, Ruzaik. "Soccer star Naina Mohamed felicitated". Daily News. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
11. "Zahira veterans felicitates soccer player Naina Mohamed on his new appointment - Colombo Times". 4 May 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
12. Wijewickrama, Navod (7 July 2020). "FFSL the main reason for Sri Lanka football's downfall - Roomy". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
13. Zahira College Batch of 2019 [@zcc_b19] (27 May 2021). "Two Zahirians has been selected for the Sri Lanka National Football Team 🇱🇰⚽Wishing our boys all the best for the upcoming games! Good Luck 👍⚽. #srilankafootball #zahirafootball #zccg9 #groupof2009 #b19 #zccb19 #zahiracollege #batchof2019 #morethanabatch #zahiracollegecmb" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 September 2022 – via Twitter.
14. "Zahira College Football, Orabi pasha street, Col-10, Maradana (2022)". www.localgymsandfitness.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
15. "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
16. "Zahira swimming pool project is launched". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
17. "Dream comes true for Zahira College with opening of swimming pool | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
18. Farook, Ruzaik (21 August 2012). "Grand opening of the Zahira College Swimming Pool Complex" (PDF). Daily News. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
19. "Sports captains – Cricket – Zahira College Colombo". Retrieved 17 January 2022.
20. "Zahira College, Colombo". batsman. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
21. "Notable Zahirians – Zahira College Colombo". Retrieved 17 January 2022.
22. "Zahira cricket prodigy Rizwan dreams of representing Sri Lanka". Times Online - Daily Online Edition of The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
23. Correspondent, Dilwin Mendis Moratuwa Sports Special. "Sixteen year old Rizwan excels for Zahira". Daily News. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
24. "Mohammed Shamaaz profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
25. "Sports captains – Athletic – Zahira College Colombo". Retrieved 17 January 2022.
26. "About Us – Zahira College Colombo". Retrieved 17 January 2022.
27. (PDF). Zahira College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
28. "Clubs & Associations – Zahira College Colombo". Retrieved 17 January 2022.
29. "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
30. "Re-launch of Zahira College 'Crescent' mag today | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
31. "Notable Zahirians – Zahira College Colombo".
32. "Hon. Mujibur Rahuman, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka.
33. "Hon. M.T. HASEN ALI, M.P.,, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 September 2022.

External links

• Official website
• The College Anthem