The loving and simple man behind the great legal mind
It’s a week since I lost my father-in-law. A week since he said, ‘Hi Azhara, what’s your plan today?” - a typical thing for him to say. A week since I kissed him on his forehead and said, “I will see you tomorrow.” A week since the world lost Shibly Aziz, the 37th Attorney General, former President of the Bar Association, Member of the Constitutional Council and former Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. He was widely recognised as the most knowledgeable authority in Sri Lanka on aviation and shipping law. He was member of a number of national commissions and one of the most respected and prominent President’s Counsel in the country.
To us he was an adoring father, grandfather and father-in-law. The man who would pick our two boys up from home and take them to the Wellawatte beach so that we could sleep in on Sundays.The man who would take his grandsons to McDonalds at every request, or go to Bolgoda to his lakeside property to spend his Saturdays with them. The man who could afford to drive around in his Jaguar or Land Rover but instead loved to take the train to Moratuwa to go to his property in Bolgoda. The man who could eat any kind of food from anywhere in the world but only loved his fish, “katta karawala” (dried salty fish) and “mallum” (finely chopped Sri Lankan vegetables) and my mom’s “babath” (tripe) curry. The man who came to Melbourne to visit us but looked for Sri Lankan food wherever he went and so I had to drive him to Dandenong (a Sri Lankan suburb) -just him and I for thirty minutes so we could buy some Sri Lankan food.The man who visited us in Townsville five years ago and celebrated his 70th birthday and then spent almost a month with us- cooking for us, gardening and picking up the children from school. He was particularly good at cooking theechcha meen (fried fish) Matara-style and gave me cooking lessons step by step and taught me how to make a mean pol sambol.
He was a member of the Law Commission where he used to come for meetings and coincidentally opposite where I used to live with my parents and brothers from the age of 8 at Keppitipola Road. It was almost as if I was meant to be in his life as later at the time of my marriage to his son Aadhil whom I also met on Kepptitipola Road where they had moved to when Uncle Shibly became AG; we both realised that Uncle Shibly’s father Advocate Aziz and my maternal grandfather Proctor Singawansa had worked closely together in Matara. Even his mother recounted how my grandfather would come over regularly and she would make them both tea. In fact Uncle Shibly and I found a picture of both of them along with some other lawyers and politicians while going through some old pictures when he visited us in Townsville, Australia in 2013.
I remember the trip we took to Sinharaja forest just him, Aadhil and I, two months before we migrated to Australia; his dry sense of humour only few would get.He asked the owner of the forest accommodation ‘ Wahinawada?’ (Does it rain around here?) He was making polite conversation but the guy was sharp and said ‘rain forest ne, ithin hungak wahinawa” (It’s a rainforest so obviously it rains a lot “). Uncle Shibly’s wry smile turned into a belly laugh. He loved repeating and hearing me repeat this story constantly for the last six years.
What fun we have had on too many such trips to mention both in Sri Lanka and Australia. What conversations we have had. He was devastated when we left for Australia in 2012, as he no longer had his two little companions to accompany him to the beach or to Bolgoda or to McDonalds. He didn’t say anything as he was a man of few words but we now know how much it broke his heart.
Uncle Shibly, you were a true gentleman who accepted me from day one - from the day Aadhil said he wanted to marry me. You met me at an Indonesian Restaurant with Afdhel and Aadhil so you could get to know me and then immediately gave your blessings. You treated everyone else also with respect, no matter where they came from - even in hospital you were still the most kindest and most gentle soul.
I am glad I got to spend those last two weeks with you even though it was in hospital. Even then you had not lost your sense of humour. When you wanted us to leave you would say in true Shibly style ‘anything else? then just carry on” but carry on you did, and now we have to deal with your loss, all in our own different ways.
With that small signature smile of yours you looked so much at peace as if telling all of us to not worry. In death we have only found out a fraction of what you have done for the people in your profession, your community, the country and your family. The couples you have counselled. The marriages you have saved. The number of charities you have supported big and small. The stories continue. As an active President of the Ahadiya Association, the Sunday School of religious education which is an islandwide network of schools founded by his late father Advocate Aziz of Matara/Galle you helped its continuous mission to guide thousands of youth away from wrongful conduct and take the path of offering a beneficial service to others. More than money, the time you gave to people is invaluable. People will not remember you for your professional achievements and positions but for your kind heart.
The world has truly lost a great man but heaven has gained an angel.Thank you for being in my life for the past 15 years guiding me spiritually and emotionally and thank you for producing a son who has your compassion, in your own words a big heart and whose hand you were holding when you took your last breath.Through him your legacy will live on. Till we meet again. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un - To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
Azhara Raban Aziz