India: Majlis Khuddam-ul Ahmadiyya South Karnataka holds 1st new converts' convention

The medical camp treated more than 400 villagers and offered blood tests, sugar detection, blood pressure check, BMI, and treatments for many other ailments. General medicines worth more than 25 thousand rupees were distributed free of charge.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source: Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya | India
By Ahmadiyya Times staff

Some 550 people turned up for a two day convention of the new converts to Islam Ahmadiyya in Yalavatthi, a remote village in the Gadag District of the state of Karnataka.

The convention held on 3rd and 4th of April was well attended and left everyone very emotional at the end.

The chief guests included Hafiz Maqdoom Sharief, Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, Bharat, and Tariq Ahmad, Member National Majlis-e-Amila, who had travelled for 3 days in train from Qadian.


Also present at the event were Mohammad Shafiullah, Amir South Karnataka, and Moulana Kaleem Khan, Missionary In-charge for Bangalore.

Many Khuddams from various districts of the State of Karnataka (Bangalore, Shimoga, Madikeri, Sorab, Hubali, Bellary, etc) came as volunteers under the leadership of Musaddiq Ahmed, Qaid, South Zone Karnataka, and spent 3-4 days in this village. Many were not used to the village conditions and the scorching heat.

A team of doctors headed by Dr. Jawaz and participated by Dr. Tahir, Dr. Zeba and Dr. Saba and their support staff arrived from Bangalore to attend the event and organize the 2 day medical camp at Yalavatthi.

Yalavatthi  village, some 550 KMs away from Bangalore and at a 9 hours travel distance, falls under the Hubali circle which has many villages filled with Ahmadis. The circle incharge and Sadr Ijtema Committee Moulana M A Mahmood Ahmad has about 15 religious teachers under him and the teachers oversee 2-3 centers each. The teachers have been recognized for their outstanding performance.

The event was attended by several dignitaries including Members of Legislative Assembly of the Karnataka state Government, representatives of the district, current MLA Shri Ramanna Lammani and Ex MLAs Shri G S Gaddadevara Matt.

President of Taluk Panchayath Shri Ashok V. Pallad, Local district Corporator, Senior Police Officers and Local Village Leaders, including 3 high profile Hindu leaders also attended the convention.

The attendance was over 500 during the regular program and went up to over 800 during the interfaith event.

The program which started with Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya flag hoisting ceremony and a pledge to serve, offered faith inspiring speeches in local Kannada language and Urdu, delivered by various speakers of the community.

Religious knowledge and sports competitions were held for the new converts belonging to various villages in the Hubli circle, who participated with a lot of zeal.  Prizes were awarded to the winners of recitation of the Holy Quran, speech compactions,  and poem recitation.

In sports competition Kabbadi, Short-put and races were held which gave a huge moral boost and a sense of belonging and comradery for the newcomers.

The medical camp treated more than 400 villagers and offered blood tests, sugar detection, blood pressure check, BMI, and treatments for many other ailments. General medicines worth more than 25 thousand rupees were distributed free of charge.

This humanitarian aspect of the program made a very good impact on the villagers. All the local leaders appreciated the efforts made by the community.

In the Peace Meeting, Ahmadi Muslim leaders and Hindu leaders shared the platform to encourage mutual understanding and harmony in society. The current MLA, Ex-MLA and Corporator appreciated the community’s initiative to conduct such large program in small Villages like Yavatthi.  The efforts has boosted communal harmony in the region and created a very good reputation for the community among the government officials and leaders.

The government, civic, political and religious leaders promised to work with the community and help in conducting more such programs in other villages in the district.

While there were slight tensions and fears of disruption of the event by the extremists, Police personals kept guard throughout the convention and there were no incidents.

-- Ahmadiyya Times staff.
-- Shahid Badruddin and Shahid Parvez contributed to the story.