We are happy to announce that Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali Azimjah, the Prince of Arcot, India, will be among our Guests of Honour at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards Presentation Ceremony, scheduled to be held at Sky City Convention Centre on Monday, November 18, 2013.
He will also be the Guest Speaker at the annual Mother Teresa Anniversary celebrations to be held at the Catholic Church of Christ the King, located at 260 Richardson Road in Mt Roskill, Auckland at 3 pm on Sunday, November 17, 2013.
The Indian Government recognises him as the Prince of Arcot with the honorific of ‘Your Highness’ or ‘His Highness,’ and grants his Warrant of Precedence on a par with State Ministers, before the Mayor of Chennai (where he lives) in all government ceremonies and functions.
The Federal and State Governments recognise him as ‘The First Nobleman in the Muslim Community of South India.’
Nawab Mohammed will be accompanied by his wife Sayeeda Begum to New Zealand.
Their visit is sponsored by BNZ Partners, Title Sponsors of our Awards.
Great lineage
Born in the Royal House of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed is the son of His Highness the late Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader Azimjah, the immediate past Prince of Arcot. The family traces its lineage from the second Caliph of Islam, Hazrath Omer bin Khattab (580 AD).
According to the official Indian Gazette, the perpetual original grant of the title of ‘The Prince of Arcot,’ with the accompanying dignity and honour continues today.
It is understood that the Presidential Order issued in 1969 abolishing the privy purses granted to former rulers, princes and princesses and derecognising their status do not apply to the Prince of Arcot.
He was the Sheriff of Madras (now Chennai) for two separate terms (1984-85 and 1988-89). A strong advocate of peace and non-violence, Nawab Mohammed is involved in many social, cultural, educational and religious organisations in India.
People’s Royal
As a non-political and non-communal person, he maintains cordial relationship with the Central and State Governments and Founder Secretary General of ‘Harmony India,’ an Association that promotes communal amity, secularism and national integration.
Nawab Mohammed said that he was pleased to accept the invitation extended by Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee and Indian Newslink to visit New Zealand.
Ï am deeply honoured by the invitation received from the two organisations and my wife and I look forward to our first visit to your beautiful country. We will be delighted to meet the members of the Indian community and other New Zealanders in Auckland,” he said.
Applauding excellence
Wenceslaus Anthony, Chairman of the Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee said that his association with the Nawab Mohammed went back to the 1980s when he was the Deputy Director of the Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA) at Loyola College in Chennai.
“I also remember my visits to ‘Amir Mahal,’ the Prince’s palace on his invitation to meet a number of dignitaries. He always encouraged business excellence and was proud of the reputation of LIBA and its contributions to the business community.
Hence, his acceptance to speak at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards Presentation Ceremony in November is an evidence of his encouragement to people of Indian Origin to excel in business,” he said.
Mr Anthony said that the Mother Teresa Committee will also be privileged to have him as the Guest Speaker at this year’s Mother Teresa Anniversary celebrations.
“I am sure that people of New Zealand will cherish the opportunity of listening to such a man of eminence at both events in November,” he said.
Further details about the Prince of Arcot and the two functions will appear in our ensuing editions.
