Mumbai, India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (10th February) inaugurated the new campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy in Mumbai. The head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin welcomed the Prime Minister at the complex.
The Prime Minister and His Holiness proceeded towards the main entrance, which is modelled after ‘Baab Zuwayla’—a gateway to the old city of Cairo built by the Fatimid imams—from where he entered the campus. They planted a fig tree, which serves as a symbol of growth, renewal, and the flourishing of knowledge. Two young members of the community presented Prime Minister Modi with doves, which were released as a gesture of peace and goodwill.
The Honourable Prime Minister then unveiled the inaugural plaque and officially inaugurated the Arabic Academy with a ceremonial untying of the ribbon.
The Prime Minister was given a tour of the campus to take him through the history, heritage and educational values of the Bohra community. Around 100 students and faculty members were situated at various locations along the Prime Minister’s route throughout the campus to greet and exchange conversations with him.
The Prime Minister then visited the Ceremonial Hall of the campus where dignitaries and members of the Dawoodi Bohra community from India and abroad were seated.
His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and head of the global Dawoodi Bohra community, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for joining him on this auspicious day.
His Holiness spoke of the decades-old friendship and bond between the Honourable Prime Minister and his respected father Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. He thanked the Prime Minister for his numerous initiatives for the betterment of the nation, remarking specifically on his presidency of the G20.
“India has been our home for centuries, and we are at peace here,” said His Holiness. He prayed that every child in the nation and across the world receives a beneficial education and the opportunity to grow and flourish.
The Prime Minister was felicitated and presented with a traditional shawl as a symbol of His Holiness’ gratitude and appreciation. He was then accompanied by His Holiness to the Western Gate of the campus and bid farewell.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that he is not here as a Prime Minister but as a family member who has been associated with this family for four generations.
The Prime Minister said every community, group or organization is recognized by its ability to keep its relevance intact with changing times. “On the parameters of adapting to changing times and development, Dawoodi Bohra Community has proved itself. “Institution like Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah is a living example of this”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister elaborated on his long association with the Dawoodi Bohra Community and said that the affection of the community keeps raining on him wherever he goes. He remembered the instance of Dr Syedna teaching at the age of 99 and talked about his close relations with the community in Gujarat. Recalling the centenary celebration of Dr Sydena in Surat, the Prime Minister recalled the commitment by the spiritual leader about the water situation in Gujarat and expressed gratitude for their continued commitment to the cause of water. Shri Modi cited this as an example of the complementarity of society and government for causes ranging from tackling malnutrition and water scarcity.
“When I go somewhere not only in the country but also abroad, my Bohra brothers and sisters definitely come to meet me”, the Prime Minister remarked as he highlighted the love and concern of the Bohra community for India.
“The country is taking the resolutions of Amrit Kaal forward with reforms like the new National Education Policy”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the new opportunities being made available for modern education of women and girls. He noted that Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah is also moving forward in this endeavor.
Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said “The people of the Bohra community in foreign lands can act as brand ambassadors of shining India. The Dawoodi Bohra community will continue to play an important role in reaching the goal of a developed India.”
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, HH Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, and Ministers from the Government of Maharashtra were present on the occasion among others.
About the Arabic Academy
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy (also known as Jamea) is the principal educational institute of the Dawoodi Bohra community. His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, is the institute’s sole benefactor and gives it its direction and its inspiration. The Academy has been functioning from its campus in Surat, India for over two centuries. In 1983, a sister campus was inaugurated in Karachi. Two subsequent campuses were initiated in Nairobi in 2011 and in Mumbai in 2013 respectively.
About the Mumbai Campus
The establishment of the Mumbai campus of Jamea was announced by the 52nd leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the late His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin in celebration of his Golden Jubilee as head of the Dawoodi Bohra Community in 2013. For almost a decade now, the Academy has been functioning from temporary premises while construction was underway on a new, monumental structure nearby.
There are currently over 600 students at the Mumbai campus, but it has the capacity of up to 700 students. There are approximately 220 female students and a little under 300 male students. Across Jamea’s four campuses globally, there are approximately 3,000 students.
There are approximately 160 faculty members and staff at the Mumbai campus.
Striking features of the Mumbai Campus
The Mumbai campus, located in the hills of Marol, is a multi-structure complex covering 850,000 sq ft and can accommodate 700 students and 100 faculty. The campus consists of boys and girls hostels, faculty residences, administration and classroom buildings, a library, a dining hall, a prayer hall, and a building dedicated to teaching the Holy Quran.
The prayer area is inspired by the al-Jami al-Azhar in Cairo, which was the original location of the Al Azhar University, one of the oldest extant universities in the world. Paying tribute to the Community’s Gujarati heritage, the interiors of the dining halls are a tribute to the ornate Gujarati residential havelis of His Holiness’ predecessors.
The ceremonial hall is embellished with designs from the mausoleum of the 47th leader Syedna Abdulqadir Najmuddin (d. 1885) who was the first to express a desire to establish a campus of Jamea in Mumbai 150 years ago. The multi-level courtyard
houses a minaret surrounded by a series of fountains and water bodies.
The Mumbai campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah is a testament to the educational legacy of the Dawoodi Bohra community in India. Alongside modern infrastructure, the new campus houses richly ornate spaces of worship and learning that celebrate the Dawoodi Bohra community’s history in South Asia where this knowledge has been preserved for centuries.
