Hasham Mitha
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Reprinted here courtesy of E.A. Circle.
Dear Jaffer, referring to Khalid Malik’s article on Ismailis, he must be a remarkable person to have a school mate travel 1700 kilo meter round trip to attend his wedding, and to retain him as a friend for 60 years. Also his other Ismaili friends are very loyal and helpful to him.I knew a great Ismaili in Soroti. His name was Hasham Mitha. For some years he was Managing Director of the Eastern Province Bus Co. Ltd., among other businesses. Had he concentrated on his business, he would have been a multi-millionaire. But he devoted himself to social service, along with running his petrol station.
He served on the Soroti Town Council, was President of both the Indian Association and the Muslim Association, and was active in the Jamatkhana. He was a man of immense physical strength and enormous courage. It was common knowledge among the pioneers of Soroti that during the war years, when there was rationing in Uganda, and a European Rationing officer behaved unreasonably, Hasham Mitha slapped him in front of everyone. But such was his prestige and standing in Government circles that the matter ended there.
I do not know if Hasham Mitha studied the Bhagwat Gita. But he practised everyday the teaching that when you offer someone something, do not do it in the expectation that the favour will be returned.
He would invite people to his parties year after year, never expecting a return invitation. He would offer you drink after drink, never expecting that you would offer him a drink in return.
He died while his business was in debt, but the attendance at his burial was such that Soroti had never experienced. Almost every head of household was there, as also the District Commissioners, local Government officials. A true local hero.
Hemant Kelshiker Feb 2022
