Mahmood Cheeroo: a fine intellectual
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By Assad Bhuglah
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The first time I met Mahmood Cheeroo was in 1988 when I was the desk officer at the then Ministry of Trade for trade-related projects in the context of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). I had to enlist his collaboration on a regional initiative for bulk purchase of rice and petroleum products, for which he had wide experience as a senior officer of the State Trading Corporation. But it was as from 1996 that we started to get to know each other in the context of the negotiations for the SADC Trade Protocol. I was leading the Mauritian delegation in all the meetings of the SADC Trade Negotiating Forum (TNF) and he was representing the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Since then we had developed a very excellent working relation; we met almost every three days in consultative meetings between the International Trade Division which I was heading and the MCCI for which he was the General Secretary. For almost two decades, we together attended almost all the major international regional trade meetings across the world. His last travel together with me was in September 2011 when we attended the bilateral meeting in Ankara between the trade ministers Mauritius and Turkey in the context of the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Just prior to his retirement in 2013, he started getting health problem. Nonetheless, we continued to interact at social level, given that both of us became Board members of the Islamic Cultural Centre as from 2015.
Quality of Worship
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A believer who worships continuously may feel weary at some point. God, out of His mercy, knows that we humans could naturally feel weary, even in worship. Therefore, He diversified the acts of worship so that we can worship God in a variety of ways.
For example, prayer is a fixed act of worship that must be performed five times a day. But God recommended other forms of supererogatory prayers, such as the late-night prayer, the prayer of thankfulness, and prayer in times of need, and so forth. If the believer is weary from (optional) prayers, he may perform the obligatory prayers only, but at the same time, he may involve himself in other forms of worship, such as charity, performing umra, seeking knowledge, being kind to neighbours and relatives, helping people, and so forth. All these are forms of worship that draw one closer to God.
Leniency and Consultation
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Al-e-Imran (The House of Imran) - Chapter 3: Verse 159
"It is part of the mercy of Allah that you are gentle with them. Were you severe or harsh-hearted, they would surely have dispersed from around you. So bear with them, and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in matters of public concern. Then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah. Verily, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Allah)."
Lemon in the Oriental Traditions
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By Assad Bhuglah
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Lemon is part of the Mauritian folklore. Cyril Ramdoo’s sega “alouda lemonade vanne dan bazar” has immortalized the typical image of a routine activity at the Central Market of Port Louis where about thousands of people come to re-energize themselves with the local beverage. Street-vendors also positioned themselves with lemon-water at strategic locations to help thirsty travellers to beat the tropical heat. By doing so, they have been unknowingly contributing to mitigate the effects of some serious diseases. The artisanal or home-made lemon-drink is the cheapest beverage that common people can afford to buy. For quite long time it has been a tradition to serve Sherbet flavoured with lemon to guests at home and during important occasions like Iftaar, Eid, Milad and other social events. Today, much of this tradition is replaced by industrially produced beverages. Among the varieties of lemon that are highly prized in Mauritius is the “limon Rodrigue” which is distinguishable by its tiny size and high concentration of juice. The usage of lemon is widespread in Mauritius; but this article will refrain from covering the superstitious practices associated with this fruit.
Prologue in Heaven
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Culture began with the "prologue in heaven." With its religion, art, ethics, and philosophy, it will always be dealing with man's relation to that heaven from whence he came. Everything within culture means a confirmation or a rejection, a doubt or a reminiscence of the heavenly origin of man. Culture is characterized by this enigma and goes on through all time with the steady striving to solve it.