New Delhi

A well known Non-resident Indian Ghazal Mehdi who is returning home from Saudi Arabia after 25 years was given a grand farewell, including a musical evening, by the Indian community.

Ghazal Mehdi is returning to his hometown of Nathor in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district. He has been a key member of the Indian community in Riyadh due to his social and academic activities.

Mehdi is the founding member of Jamia Millia Islamia Al-Manai Association in Riyadh, and a former President of the Riyadh chapter of Al-Manai.

During his leadership of Al-Manai, he established a scholarship for gifted and needy children in Jamia Millia Islamia and launched the first directory of Jamia Al-Manai in Saudi Arabia.

The speakers at the function said the new generation of expatriates will continue his mission of serving the people.

Ghazal Mehdi has been active in the field of knowledge with his organizational skills. Apart from social sciences, he is also a serious student of Islamic studies. His understanding of the holy Qur'an, Hadith and history, the community benefited immensely. He is well versed in languages Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi and that gave him a special place in the Indian community in Saudi Arabia.

His articles and essays on social and literary topics have been published in leading Indian newspapers. Addressing the gathering, Ghazal Mehdi thanked the organizers and participants.

Referring to the current situation in the country, he said that the need of the hour was to try to understand the complex and sensitive situation of the society in more depth so that we could reach a relatively better conclusion.

He called for a joint effort to reduce socio-economic inequality, reduce the severity of sectarian, sectarian and religious hatred, strengthen the spirit of brotherhood and achieve the rights of the socio-economically weaker and working class. Needs to be accelerated and this is possible only when our thinking and action is based on the unity of humanity.

Highlighting his future ambitions, Ghazal Mehdi said that he would focus his attention on health awareness program which he would start from his homeland.

He said that apart from many other activities, the program also includes holding regular medical camps and conducting lectures to raise awareness among the patients about the diseases found in the patients, volunteering to serve the children in the field of health. Creating, utilizing their abilities and designing such courses for them, involving teachers and other distressed members of the society in the program, setting up a Diabetes Center to help control the spread of diabetes in the country. Compete, as important tasks are involved.

Among the dignitaries who addressed the gathering in full support of Ghazal Mehdi's plan for health awareness were Murshid Kamal, Convener of Riaz Branch of Indian Islamic Cultural Center, Delhi, Aftab Nizami, former President of Jamia Al-Manai Association and Al-Manai Association. Prominent personalities including Shabbir Ahmed Nadvi, Dr. Mustafa Abidi, Salman Azmi, Arif Pratap Garhi, Ghiasuddin, Ghofran Ahmed, Nisar Khan, Chaudhry Ehsan Azeem, Flight Engineer Atiq Ahmed, Engineer Anwar Pasha, Maulana Abdul Rehman Al Omari. Prof. Anis Ansari, Prof. Afzal, Shahab-ud-Din, Wasiullah Nadvi, Musa Raza Amrohi, Shakir Jafari, Architect Ahmed Shukri, Gulf Airlines Staff Nemo Khan and Dr. Rehman Ali Leading physiotherapist Dr. Hameed and journalist and writer Naqi Ahmed were also present. The audio messages sent from India by Dr. Shafaatullah, Engineer Khurshid Anwar and Dr. Najeeb Qasmi were also heard on the occasion.

Atif Nizami inaugurated this 'One Evening Ghazals' with the recitation of Divine Word and Aftab Nizami performed the duties of director.