By TwoCircles.net news desk,
Bhiwandi (Maharashtra): Mohammad Ibrahim Ansari, a renowned social activist and an esteemed personality of the city, died of heart attack last Friday, and with him buried an era of selfless social service. He was 74.
One of the most sincere and dedicated well-wishers of the community, Ansari worked both overtly and covertly. He was highly respected as a tireless social worker. A lover of Urdu, Ansari remained a long time distinguished writer of the Urdu daily Inquilab. He was President of the Bhiwandi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says a report in the Urdu daily Inquilab.
In 1960 he shifted to Bhiwandi, the power loom town, and started his own business. His business flourished due to his acumen, reputation and hard work. But in 1984 he was severely hit in the communal riots. During the riots his Ansari Baug was torched by rioters: though his family and hundreds holed up there escaped, but 18 Muslims were burnt alive. He used his licensed arms to stave off the rioters for many hours but they eventually succeeded in burning his garden and entire property.
Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, whose ancestors migrated from Mubarakpur (Qasba-e-Janin) in UP around 1857 after the first war of independence, was dedicated to the cause of promotion of education among Muslims and sincerely but silently helped talented students.
Thanks to his efforts, Bhiwandi got direct telephone service from Mumbai. He was an active member of the Maharashtra Telecom Advisory Committee. He was honored with membership in Yashwantrao Chauhan Maharashtra Open University for his service for education. He was among few especial readers of dailies who cannot help writing letters to the editors, commenting on the matters that concerned the well-being of the society. His letters were published in several dailies in different languages. A day before his demise, the Urdu daily Inquilab also published his last letter expressing his deep concern over the bomb blast in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.