Goodbye Akram: Insha Allah!

Alarge number of mourners had assembled to bid farewell to A.H.M. Akram. I deeply regret my failure to attend his funeral held two weeks back.

I first came to know Akram and his family when we occupied a house at Sieble Avenue, Colombo 5, in 1983. They were our closest neighbours. Within a short period our families became good friends. My children, especially my daughter (Kesheri) and youngest son (Pulasthi), became pally with Ishan and Ayesha, who were Akram and Shanthi’s toddlers at the time.

Akram, was the eldest of 16 children of a well-known family in Galle. He was the son of late A.H.M. Hussein, a leading businessman in Galle. During one of our visits down South, I had the privilege of visiting their home and meeting his mother, a charming old lady. I find it difficult to write an appreciation of Akram but I always felt that Akram was an unfailing friend ever ready to help anyone. He was a smart good-hearted person. From the day I met him, I found him to be a faithful follower of the Holy Koran. Nevertheless, he also showed great respect for those of other communities and their religions.

Akram was an all rounder and possessed talents on many things. Whether it was motor mechanism, building construction, the hotel trade or to get over a difficult situation, he had the capacity to handle them and provide answers as solutions.

Being two friendly families we have shared our good and bad moments together, widening our goodwill. We also came to know and be associated with friends and relatives of both families.

Besides, being an old student of Stafford College Colombo Akram, had a widely diffused bank of social contacts, yet he remained a humble man relying on truth and fairness in all his dealings. His sudden demise was a great loss to his friends, family and to me personally. Goodbye Akram, “Insha Allah”! Kumar W.