As you may know, I have been humbled and blessed to be able to, with the permission of Allah (SWT), through your generous donations, try and better the lives of Shia mo'meneens primarily in Govendhi, India.  My sole direction has been towards education (children and women) and housing.  Education because there is no other alternative and housing because of the special conditions that prevail in Govendhi.

All praise is to Allah, we have seen many successes, where we were able to help those that were in helpless situations transform themselves and their generations to come.  We have seen children, in hopeless situations, turn around, whereby they are now successful businessmen themselves and helping provide succor to those left behind.  All praise is to Allah, we have stabilized the Jafri English School where over 700 Shia students get free quality education sponsored by your generosity.  These are children out from playing in the gutters of Govendhi and now in school.  All praise is to Allah, we have rehabilitated 33 houses, providing safe refuge for children out on streets.  All this was possible with Allah's guidance and you joining hands with me in being the conduit for these desperate people.

Recently, I was requested to visit another desperate region needing help, this in W. Bengal, India.  I naturally balked.  Being a man of much caution and skepticism, I did not want to embark upon any projects that I could not personally oversee and solicit funds for.  Calcutta is after all, a three hour flight from Mumbai, and Chovis Chargana another 5 hours drive from there!  The time and personal expense required for a visit was daunting.  But, as has been the case in the past, my destiny is not of my choosing and the plans I make pale compared to what Allah (SWT) has planned for me.  After being convinced that the area really needed urgent attention, I decided to have to look, visiting Chovis Chargana between December 5 and 8 on my regular quarterly visit to India.

The area of Chovis Chargana (24 Villages) in W. Bengal is a dirt poor area of India, neglected by the government and society at large in general.  We did not know that Shia existed in the village areas until very recently.  There were Shias there when Pakistan was one and at one point, a very large concentration in a place called Hougly.  But after the breakaway of Bangladesh, all of them migrated to present day Pakistan and the few remaining were scattered around, mainly in large cities.  Shias in villages is a relatively new discovery, especially among the militant Ahle Hadith (read Wahabi) concentrations.  Due to the tireless efforts of a few dedicated ulemas and the guide of Allah, what began with a few conversions to Shia Islam has now snowballed into something that is very exiting and challenging. 

I have taken the liberty to attach the first part of my 3 part report and photos on my visit; insha'Allah, you will find it informative and worthy of support, financially and for maximum propagation.  If you cannot help me financially at this time, I urge you to please keep this project in mind for the future but at least pass it on to someone who may be able help?

These three reports will be followed by a concluding report of recommendation and plan of action.  Please read them carefully.

I cried for Govendhi - Part 2

Little has changed in Govendhi since I last visited the slums some three years ago; the potholed streets, the grime and dirt, the cow and goat dropping sometimes mixed with human excrement on the already filthy roads, the flies that harass and torment you. And to top it all off is the ever present smell; that nauseating, overpowering stench of raw sewer that even my attar coated handkerchief struggled to give relief. I tell you, no human should live in this environment.

But nestled within this sprawl is the Ja'fari English School, managed under the auspicious of Al Imaan Foundation with the generosity of people like you. It has been six years that I annually approach you for support for the children that attend this school. These are very poor children; the testament of this fact is where they dwell, this filthy mess that overwhelm all your senses and numb you. Within this environment, however, there is success and hope for the future.

Many people jest me about my passion for Govendhi. Yes, Govendhi has changed me, my concept of and expectations in life. Govendhi has been the fuel that revolutionaries my perception of what it means to be poor and destitute. We in the Western world cannot phantom what Govendhi is, no imaginative or creative writing can do that, it would be woefully inadequate. One visitor once aptly put it to me by declaring it as "one living hell". However, what I want everyone to see is the hope in the eyes of the children; no human can come away unaffected after seeing that look in their eyes.

Within this abject poverty and despair, there is reason for hope; there are success stories, where there are tangible returns on our investment in the cause of Allah (swt). I share with you the tale of two brothers. Akber and Asghar Sajidad are sons of a zari worker in Govendhi, classified by the Indian government as living below poverty status. The two sons were accepted by Ja'fari English School in 1988 in Jr and Sr KG. Both these boys attained 1 st class standings in SSC; this was unheard of from any slum area schools. Both moved on to university and both now pursue post graduate studies. Let us now calculate what you donors paid for their studies:

Rs. 3,000 times 13 and Rs. 5,000 times 5 = Rs. 64,000 or $1,500 per child.

This is for the entire education, from KG to graduate school. Imagine! I will let you decide the cost of not being able to help these two. I would probably come asking you for a donation in a form of a life saving emergency for a disease or disaster or basic necessity. Insha'Allah, we have saved their whole progeny and they will now move on and out of Govendhi.