SENIORS DANCE & DINE TOGETHER

SENIORS DANCE & DINE TOGETHER, ENJOY

  MESMERIZING SONGS, MAGICAL VOICES

BY JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION AWARD WINNER

TORONTO: Had William Shakespeare been alive he would have written a very touching  poetry on the realistic feelings, actions and expressions of seniors gathered at a get together organized by the Seniors Club at the TNO Youth Centre in the Thorncliffe Park Drive locality on Sunday, January 20, 2013.

The seniors, comprising a dozen people of ages over 50 and 80, joined by some youngsters of ages between 20 to 30 years, participated in the social-cum-cultural event, made it really lively and memorable and fully enjoyed every bit of the moment.

Without any questioning and complaints, grumpiness and egoism, the seniors, belonging to respectable families with glorious past status and tremendous contributions, showed great respect, love and care for each other and the other guests.

With maturity, good understanding, consensus and eagerness for participation in a family and friendly environment and atmosphere, they happily contributed $20 each to organize and make the event practically successful. And they did it.

Those who actively participated included: Noorain Fazli, real uncle of Amir Khan (Bollywood Superstar Hero) and whose voice remarkably matches the voice of  Radio Pakistan’s famous news reader late Shakil Ahmed, Muhammad Salahuddin (Ex-Bureaucrat (PIA)-cum-Professional Singer), Syed Sajid Ali (Ex-Banker-cum-Singer), Mohammad Shafi (Ex-Banker (NBP), Syed Shakeel Ahmed (Ex-Bureaucrat), Nasim (Ex-Pakistan Railway Guard), Azhar Bokhari (Ex-Educationist), Tariq Rehman (Ex-Educationist), Mirza Nooruddin (Ex-Bureaucrat (PIA) and also close relative of Noorain Fazli and Amir Khan), Aziz Ali (Sindhi Wadera---Landlord), Muhammad Idrees (Brother of Tariq Rehman), Javed Zaheer (Professional Journalist), Mujeeb uddin (Graphic Designer and son-in-law of Mehboob Ashraf, a renowned Music Director of Pakistan), Abdul Munaf (An active member of the Steering Committee of Residents of 35, 43, 47 & 49  building in Thorncliffe Park Drive area) and Abdulla Ravat.

Except Syed Shakil Ahmed and Abdulla Ravat, who are from Indian community, the rest belonged to the Pakistani community. Above these and all, they are proud of being members of the Canadian community, society and system and are fully enjoying the taste of Canadian fabric, beauty and facilities.

            The event was purely friendly, social and cultural. Although all topics including politics, religions, policies and personal experiences are openly discussed at the weekly meeting on every Saturday but there was no room for politics at this event or would be at other such events. This is how community members could be brought together and united. This is how they can really love, respect, promote, help and support each other---With trust, confidence, love and respect.

The aim is to keep the groups, events, meetings and gathering clean, safe and protected and to ensure success. The exploiters, opportunists and hypocrites in the community posing as leaders and volunteers cause the most damage to togetherness, unity and community. They are the root cause of non-formation or failure of any group or emergence of true leadership. They are only interested in their vested interests and as a result the people fail to unite and finally suffer.   

The classical and sensational music, songs, poetry, jokes, delicious food and Kamal Ka Dhamal (Sensational emotional dances of spiritual touch) were soul-touching and worth enjoying during the get-together. Syed Sajid Ali and Syed Shakil Ahmed sang some golden Hindi songs hits of Mukesh, Rafi, Hemant Kumar and Kishore. Despite being old, they did their best with good voices. They used to be very good in the past and had won hearts and awards.

The main attraction and lead singer was Muhammad Salahuddin, an earnest devotee and special student of King of Ghazal Mehdi Hassan. Salahuddin is a popular professional singer with remarkably great resemblance of Mehdi Hassan’s voice. He mesmerized the audience. There was pin drop silence except when he sang the `Shahbaz Qalandar’ hit beat and compelled some lovers to rush to the dance floor and start Kamal Ka Dhamal. Rarely people would have seen such Dhamal of oldies in select gatherings of seniors.

Such was the sweetness, sensation and enchantment of songs and voice of Muhammad Salahuddin. Literally they could not control their feelings, emotions, happiness and themselves. It was a scene worth watching. Such was the effect of magical voice of Muhammad Salahuddin and songs of Mehdi Hassan. It was indeed a Great Tribute to Mehdi Hassan.   

Since Mehdi Hassan is highly respected, liked and enjoyed by the particularly Indian community, Muhammad Salahuddin is more popular in Indian community and there is great demand  to organize major events to hear his mesmerizing and magical voice. Those interested could contact Muhammad Salahuddin at (647)853-9601. This is the best way to pay respect and tribute to the Legendary Singer, Pride of Pakistan and King of Ghazal---Mehdi Hassan.

Both Mirza Nooruddin and Muhammad Salahuddin were employees of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and are close family friends. It was Mirza Nooruddin who introduced Salahuddin to the Seniors Club of TNO. Now Thorncliffe Park has opened its doors to this great singer Salahuddin and already there are plans to organize programs.

On November 30, 2008, Muhammad Salahuddin released his first album `REBORN’ in Toronto, Canada. The CD, `REBORN’, is based on greatest hits of Mehdi Hassan. Mehboob Ashraf’s daughter, Afsheen Mansoor, and son-in-law, Mansoor Khan, were special guests on the occasion.

Aziz Ali gave a religious touch with recitation of a Quranic verse. He  said: “It is good to start any event with recitation of Quranic Verses and name of Allah (The Almighty). Even the program ended with spiritual touch of `Shahbaz Qalandar’, which charged the audience and made them Mast Mast (Emotionally charged).

Mujeeb uddin, who accompanied and assisted Salahuddin, is the son-in-law of Mehboob Ashraf,  a famous music composer/director of Pakistan and a close friend of Salahuddin,

Mujeeb uddin is a Professional Graphic Designer. He is in Canada since the last three years. He was in Dubai for ten years. In Pakistan, he was associated with media and leading advertising agencies. He was a graphic designer at the prestigious `Financial Post’ newspaper.

Mujeeb was a graphic software teacher and claims that the editor of Financial Post, Sohail Abbas Gokal, was his student. Mujeeb could be contacted at Cell: (416)768-1230. Office (905)907-6911—Ext 269.  

Team leader of the Seniors Club, Tariq Rehman, deserves the credit for his efforts for seniors. He not only got a place for the seniors at the TNO Youth Centre (Worth noting----Seniors at the youth place) but convinced many seniors to join the club as active team members.

Here, they are provided table tennis, carom board, computer facilities with many more to come including exercises and breakfast, etc. Right now, Tariq Rehman claims to arrange from his pocket tea and crispy samosas for the members.

In future, the members hope and expect that the TNO will step forward to take better care and provide more and best facilities, entertainment, recreation and food. It is not appropriate to put a burden on seniors. Willingly they can contribute and do what they want. This option needs serious consideration in the interest of all---members, organizers and sponsors.    

Tariq Rehman said: “Jehad Aliweiwi, Executive Director of Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office (TNO) and Ahmed Hassan, a Director at TNO, and some other members deserve the credit for the Seniors Club. Since day one, both of them took and are taking great interest in the club activities and members.”      

The Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office (TNO) is a community-based multicultural agency. Programs and services include information and referral, a family violence program, women’s counseling, settlement services, language classes for newcomers, employment assistance services, an Ontario Early Years Centre for Don Valley West riding, youth services and delivery of community information workshops and seminars.

The communities living in the Thorncliffe Park locality expect more constructive and positive policies, practical actions and activities. The struggling communities are fed up with false promises and dirty politics of characterless characters---exploiters, opportunists and hypocrites and all evils and devils in disguise. Unlike Rain Frog type leaders, they always look towards a true leadership which will stand by them and help and support them.    

It is hoped and expected that the Seniors Club of TNO and all other such groups, organizations, leaders and volunteers would keep themselves clean and protected and adopt a positive approach and direction.. There should be no room for dirty politics, rain frogs, exploiters, opportunists and hypocrites. Enough is enough. We have reached the Zero Tolerance level.

---Javed Zaheer, Free Expression Award Winner, Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner, Member/Honorary Director of NEPMCC, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Ex-Member of The National Club and The Ontario Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan Abroad’, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’, ex-Senior Sub-Editor of English Daily DAWN, Pakistan, Chairman, CANOPI, and Director, Canpak Camber of Commerce, is contributing purely on Voluntary and Honorary Basis in order to serve all people and communities. Contact: (416)696-0981/jazamedia@hotmail.com. To read more JZ’s exclusive articles, please visit: www. nepmcc.ca and nationalethnicpress.com (Editorial Sections. Scan years from 2004 to 2011. Also visit www.javedzaheernews.blogspot.com.