Saifee Villa (previously known as Lakshmigiri) is a mansion at 102, Thurstan Road in Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, located between Thunmulla Junction and College House, Colombo. [1]
Lakshmigiri (built in 1910) was the stately home of Hon. A. J. R. de Soysa, Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon, planter and musician [2] [3] [4] He was the second son of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa. Born in 1869 at Brodie House (later gifted to Ceylon University College) he was educated at S. Thomas' College, Prince of Wales' College and Royal College. He completed his education at Highbury House School [5] St Leonards-on-Sea, where he excelled as a sprinter and pursued a degree in music at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. [6] [7] [8] In 1911 he became the second member to be appointed to the Low Country Sinhalese seat of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
The Alfred House Estate of the De Soysa family covered a large area of about 125 acres stretching from what is now Duplication road to Cinnamon Gardens; and Thunmulla Junction to Charles Circus. [2] [3] It is said that Sir Charles de Soysa owned a total of 48 houses in the city of Colombo. Over the years, the 125-acre Alfred House Estate underwent several subdivisions, some major changes being precipitated by the master plan for Colombo which foresaw many new roads across the estate. The earlier subdivisions were however made by the De Soysa family itself, which constructed several stately mansions within the property and gifted the land in front of Lakshmigiri to Royal College, Colombo, now the University grounds (playing fields). [7] [9]
The house is an example of the beautiful colonial architecture of the time. [10] In the book India House, Colombo by Sarvodaya Vishvalekha, Lakshmigiri is described as an extravagant mix of Baroque and Italianate architecture reminiscent of a retreat of Queen Victoria with gates inspired by those of Buckingham Palace. [11] [12] The Gates of Lakshmigiri are identical to the gates of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. It said that designer of the Egyptian Museum gates [13] was inspired by the design of the Gates of Lakshmigiri. [7]
A. J. R. de Soysa had a keen interest in horse racing. It is said that he built the western and eastern towers of Lakshimigiri, to be able to observe the races taking part at the Colombo Racecourse Airstrip, situated just down the road. In 1893 he built the Chevaliar Jusey de Silva ward at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and in 1913 inaugurated the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana. [4] [14] The De Soysa Trophy (formerly for shooting) is awarded for the best cadet platoon from a girls' school by the National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka) in his memory. [15]
According to 'Colombo Heritage' as time ran on De Soysa ran into financial difficulties and various properties were sold off, the house was mortgaged, and later foreclosed. It was then bought in and around 1923 [16] by the Dawoodi Bohra "Adamjee Lukmanjee" family, [17] and has remained in their ownership to date under the name "Saifee Villa". [7] [10]
During World War II, the Royal Air Force was temporarily shifted to the Colombo Racecourse Airstrip. Lakshmigiri is located adjoining the airstrip, therefore it was transformed into one of the RAF headquarters in Colombo. Unfortunately, it was during this time that many ornaments, antiques, chandeliers & valuable furniture was ransacked by these British troops prior to their exodus from Sri Lanka.
In 1972 under the Land Reform act, a large portion of the land surrounding Lakshmigiri was seized, and the tenants were given ownership rights. What remains today is a portion of the land that once was.
The Adamjee Lukmanjee Family are members of the Muslim Dawoodi Bohra community. They were honoured to house the Head of the Community; Syenda Taher Saifuddin on all of his five visits to Sri Lanka. Lakshmigiri housed the Syedna and his royal family. It was considered a center for the community in Sri Lanka, as it was the venue for numerous religious and cultural gatherings.
On 19 June 1979, after the death of Syenda Taher Saifuddin, his heir Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, in the memory of his fathers' visits, changed the name from "Lakshmigiri" to "Saifee Villa" (where the word "Saifee" is derived from the name Saifuddin). The crown of the gates of Lakshmigiri adorns an "S" that once stood for "Soysa" family, after the name-change to "Saifee Villa", the "S" is still appropriate.
Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin stayed once at Saifee Villa. The Villa hosts numerous functions, and religious gatherings. During the era of Syenda Taher Saifuddin, as a child, Mufaddal Saifuddin, began the recitation of the Quran in Saifee Villa. [18]
In the year 2007 and 2008, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin held the 9 sermons of Ashara Mubaraka in Colombo, Sri Lanka. On both occasions, Saifee Villa [19] was chosen as the venue for his arrival reception. [20] Dignitaries such as Mr A. H. M. Fowzie were present at this event.
In 2007, in the first sermon of Ashara Mubaraka, he stated that Saifee Villa is a "Historical House" (tareekhi makaan).
Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Sri Lanka from Karachi on Monday 17 September 2012 [21] and his arrival reception was held in Saifee Villa at 10pm. A large gathering of Dawoodi Bohra community of Colombo was present at this function. On Saturday 9 June 2013 Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Sri Lanka from Chennai. His arrival reception was held at Saifee Villa where a crowd of about 3,000 people were present. He also solemnized 7 wedding Nikahs on that day. Since then, he has visited at least once on each of his 15 visits to Sri Lanka.
The house was featured in the 1981 film Kaliyugaya by Lester James Peries. [22]
The mansion is also described in the books; Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth by Anoma Pieris and India House Colombo by Sarvodaya Vishvalekha.
The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community resides in India, with sizable congregations in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East. They also have a growing presence in Europe, North America, and Australia. The present leader is the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Mufaddal Saifuddin who assumed office in January 2014.
Mohammed Burhanuddin was the 52nd Dā'ī al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras. He led the community for 49 years in a period of social, economic, and educational prosperity; strengthened and re-institutionalized the fundamental core of the community's faith; revived its culture, tradition, and heritage. In successfully achieving coexistence of traditional Islamic values and modern Western practices within the community, Burhanuddin completed the work his predecessor Taher Saifuddin had started. Burhanuddin was presented the highest national civilian honors of the states of Egypt and Jordan recognising his revivalism and restoration efforts. He was known in Arab countries as Azamat us-Sultan. Owing to extensive travels for community reach-out, he was the first Dā'ī al-Mutlaq to visit Europe, Australia, and America.
Saifee Hospital is a Dawoodi Bohra founded multi-speciality hospital at Charni Road, Mumbai, India, overlooking the Arabian Sea. Saifee Hospital is founded by the head of the Dawoodi Bohra faith, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, dedicated the hospital to the memory of his revered father, Syedna Taher Saifuddin.
Taher Saifuddin, also known as Tahir Sayf al-Din, was the 51st and longest serving Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras. Saifuddin adapted the modernisation in Western and European ideas, and established its benefits for the Bohras, whilst still steeped in the traditions and the culture of the community's Fatimid heritage. Saifuddin laid substantial groundwork in terms of philanthropy, education, entrepreneurship, social outreach, political outreach, and community upliftment upon which his successors, Mohammed Burhanuddin and Mufaddal Saifuddin, continued to build, resulting in an unprecedented era of prosperity among the Dawoodi Bohras.
The term Da'i al-Mutlaq literally meaning 'the absolute, or unrestricted, missionary', is the most senior spiritual rank and office in Tayyibi Isma'ilism. The Da'i al-Mutlaq has headed the Tayyibi community since the seclusion of the 21st Tayyibi Imam, at-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim, traditionally placed in 528 AH/1134 AD.
Mufaddal Saifuddin is the spiritual leader, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of one million Dawoodi Bohras, a subgroup of the Tayyibi, Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam. He is the second son of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, Mohammed Burhanuddin, whom he succeeded in 2014. He is the Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Miliya Islamia University situated in India. He has led a number of cultural, social, and economic initiatives. In Islamic Cairo, he rebuilt shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt and led the restoration of medieval Fatimid architecture, notably Al-Anwar Mosque, Al-Aqmar Mosque, Al-Juyushi Mosque, and Lulua Mosque. In Yemen, he has spearheaded several campaigns to improve socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants of the Haraaz region, introducing sustainable agricultural systems, improving local infrastructure and providing equal access to education for children.
Abu Taher Khuzaima Qutbuddin was the son of the 51st Da'i al-Mutlaq, half brother of the 52nd Da'i and a Mazoon of the Dawoodi Bohras, a subgroup within the Mustaali, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam. Qutbuddin was appointed as Mazoon by the Da'i al-Mutlaq, Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin in 1965.
The 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras, Mohammed Burhanuddin died in January 2014. As per the tenets of the sect each predecessor is required to nominate his successor prior to his death. Following his death, a question on succession arose where two rival claimants emerged for the title of 53rd Dā'ī al-Mutlaq: his son, Mufaddal Saifuddin, and his half-brother, Khuzaima Qutbuddin, who was previously Mazoon of the Dawoodi Bohra.
Taher Fakhruddin is the 1st Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Qutbi Bohras, a sect within Shia Islam. He is the son of Khuzaima Qutbuddin, the 53rd Syedna succession controversy. After the death of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, Mohammed Burhanuddin, due to the succession controversy, one claimant emerged, Khuzaima Qutbuddin. Followers of Khuzaima Qutbuddin regard Taher Fakhruddin as a rightly appointed Da'i al-Mutlaq whereas followers of Mufaddal Saifuddin do not recognise him as the Da'i al-Mutlaq.
Mukasir al-Da'wat Shahzada Qaidjoher Ezzuddin is the eldest son of Mohammed Burhanuddin, the grandson of Taher Saifuddin, and elder brother of the incumbent 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq Mufaddal Saifuddin. He is one of the four rectors of Al Jamea tus Saifiyah.
Syedi Fakhruddin Shaheed is the 11th-century holy Ismaili, Fatimid, mustaali saint who was first Ismaili martyr, martyred during missionary work among Bhils local tribal in Rajasthan and buried in Galiakot, India. The mausoleum is the most venerated place amongst his followers.
Abdeali Saifuddin was the 43rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra. He was the son of 41st Da'i al-Mutlaq Abduttayyeb Zakiuddin III and the brother of the 42nd Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin. He was a Dai, scholar and poet and one of the most venerated Dawoodi Bohra Dai's.
Taha Najmuddin is the second son of Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras and the grandson of Mohammed Burhanuddin. He is an Arabic scholar at Al Jamea tus Saifiyah and heads a number of socio-economic institutions of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Syedi Khanji Pheer was an Indian Ismaili Dawoodi Bohra saint. He lived in the 17th century. His family settled in Udaipur, coming from Gujarat during Udaipur's establishment. He was titled Saheb-e-Hiqmatul-Marefat. He was the teacher of seven Dawoodi Bohra Da'is.
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah is an Arabic academy dedicated to Islamic learning based in India, Pakistan, and Kenya. Established in Surat as Dars-e Saifeec. 1810 by Abde'Ali Saifuddin, it was after extensive renovation and expansion carried out by Taher Saifuddin and Mohammed Burhanuddin, the university gained prominence. Today, as holder of the office of Dāʿī al-Mutlaq, Mufaddal Saifuddin is the sole benefactor of the institute.
Bawa Mulla Khan was a Dawoodi Bohra saint who lived in the 18th century in India. He died on the 29th of Shawwal. His shrine (dargah) is in Rampura, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin, also known as Husain Mufaddal Saifuddin, is the third and youngest son of Mufaddal Saifuddin, the current incumbent of the office of the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq. He is a Qāriʾ and an honorary member of Naqabāt Qurrāʾ al-Quran in Cairo. He is currently the Chairman of Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust.
Shahzada Malekulashter Shujauddin is the third son of Mohammed Burhanuddin II, the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras, a branch of Tayyabi Mustaali Ismaili Shi'a Islam.
Shahzada Huzaifa Mohyuddin was the fourth son of Mohammed Burhanuddin II, the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras, a branch of Tayyabi Mustaali Ismaili Shi'a Islam.
Ghurrat ul Masajid, also known as Saifee Masjid, is a Dawoodi Bohra mosque in South Mumbai, Bhendi Bazaar. It was constructed in the early 20th century by Taher Saifuddin.
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