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In memory of legendary world boxing champion, Muhammad Ali...
6-13-2016
I have been watching, listening and reading about Muhammad Ali in the media for the past several days. His death caused a worldwide outpouring of grief. I am told by my family members that perhaps it is because of my age, that I often become overwhelmed to the point that I find it difficult sometimes to watch certain scenes on television.
Muhammad Ali’s death also brought back some very old fond memories for me, since Muhammad Ali won the world heavyweight championship in 1964, the same year I came to British Columbia. He was two years older than me.
My passion for sports is well known amongst my friends and family. I have been active in sports throughout my life and I have a few sports heroes. I admire squash legend Hashim Khan who died in 2014. I wrote about my personal connection with him in my book; Pakistan to Canada: A Journey. Muhammad Ali is the other sports figure that has touched me deeply. I remember in the 1960s when Muhammad Ali inspired many of us in various positive ways. I consider both Hashim Khan and Muhammad Ali as two of the most significant sporting figures of the 20th century.
In the 1960s, Pakistan and Islam were not so known in British Columbia. Most Canadians had not heard about our country of origin or religion. As I have shared my experiences in my book, I was really puzzled to be called an “East Indian” when I arrived in Canada. I never really liked this description of my origin and identity, especially as I have personally seen the struggles and sacrifices of my family and others striving for an independent beloved homeland, Pakistan. I was a child when, along with my family, we had to abruptly leave everything behind for a bigger cause. Understandably, for me the term “East Indian” did not sit well and it was not a matter to be ignored. I did not want to be identified as such, therefore, I always took the opportunity to clarify that I am originally from Pakistan. I learned that Canadians did not know anything about Pakistan. I consider myself to be a Canadian, but if I am asked where I come from, I would gladly state that I am a Canadian of Pakistani origin.
I also learned that majority of the Canadians were not familiar with our faith and religion of Islam here in British Columbia. The first masjid in Vancouver was a significant accomplishment thanks to the dedication, hard work, and generosity of some visionary folks. We ought to acknowledge and recognize the meaningful contribution of our community’s pioneers. It took a while before the “Tide of Islam Starts to Rise over Vancouver” was acknowledged in BC.
(The Vancouver Sun, May 21st, 1966. See an image of this newspaper clipping, please see page 40 of my book.)
I wrote in my book that in 1965, Hashim Khan was invited to play exhibition matches at the most prestigious and private club in Vancouver. The Vancouver Lawn Tennis club was buzzing with excitement to welcome the living legend. First hand, I saw the outpouring of admiration for Hashim Khan, an incredible athlete and a humble World Champion. Some dignitaries present told me that they did not know much about a country called Pakistan but they knew that Hashim Khan was from Pakistan. Similarly, I have witnessed how Muhammad Ali as a charismatic sporting figure made Islam more known about and familiar in North American society.
In the early 60s, there were not too many people from Pakistan living in Vancouver and British Columbia. There were few families living around the lower mainland and some other parts of British Columbia. Most of us were students from East and West Pakistan. At that time, there were very few professionals and mostly single folks living in different parts of the lower mainland.
Students from Pakistan were active and well organized in celebrating Pakistan’s historic commemorative occasions. We often got together in different places to listen to Pakistani music and reminiscence about our homeland since most of the times we were utterly homesick. I started appreciating my East Pakistan friends who were very interested and actively involved in music and literary events. Together, we all joked that whenever we students were invited for dinner by a local family, our gracious hosts would be in trouble since all the rotis and rice would never be enough to fill the bellies of us starving students! We yarned for our staple food and more familiar aromas and atmosphere. It was so different time and hard to express what we went through.
Some of us were drawn in to global political affairs and the 60s were a very interesting time in universities across US and Canada. There was an active student movement which became quite vocal and influential in advancing the public opinion. I was considered a student leader who actively participated in current political and social affairs. Later, in my senior university years, I was elected as President of the UBC School of Social Work Students Union. Incidentally, Moe Sihota became Vice President of the Union.
Muhammad Ali’s stance and views were so convincing that even those who were not interested in sports saw him as a very influential remarkable personality. We students from Pakistan were particularly attracted to him because of his conversion to Islam and his strong religious convictions. We were a relatively young excited bunch and followed Muhammad Ali’s earlier struggles and career with great diligence and admiration. We eagerly watched all his fights and prayed for his victories.
We became very interested when we learned that he was coming to Toronto to fight the Canadian boxing champion George Chuvalo in 1966. But we were very upset to learn that there was strong backlash and protest against Muhammad Ali coming to Canada. Students from Pakistan in Vancouver were concerned about this matter and wanted to do something. We held several informal meetings to strategize our action plan. Some of us became somewhat emotionally charged and were willing to hold protest rallies. There was a tentative plan to highlight our concerns through protests at certain key locations. However, many students were on scholarships and on student visa, and quite understandably they did not wish to be involved in such activities. They felt vulnerable and concerned about jeopardizing their status in Canada. Therefore, a few of us who were seriously interested in a protest rally had to abandon this particular option.
I then decide on my own that I would write a critical letter to the Editor of the largest newspaper in British Columbia, the Vancouver Sun. Several well-meaning friends discouraged me that it may have some adverse impact on me and my future. However, I was adamant to do something about what I was observing as an avid sportsman. I was not hesitant to express my anger without being diplomatic. I was also willing to put my address in the letter and many times I have been told that I am a naïve, idealistic and emotional person. My last line of the letter to Editor states that: “Mr. Smyth’s statement is garbage. It should be disposed of any cost.”
Many of us speculated that such a critical public letter against an influential and powerful tycoon would not appear in the Sun newspaper. In the letter, I blamed the media for poorly handling such sports affairs. But to everyone’s great surprise it was published on March 26th 1966 in the Vancouver Sun, prominently as the first letter among the few published that day. I was told that the Vancouver Sun had a process in place where they receive scores of letters from the public every day and based on their analysis and review, only a few carefully selected letters to the editor were publish due to the shortage of space. I was moved by the very kind and considerate response I received not only from my Pakistani friends but also from many other groups. The day the letter was published happened to be my birthday. We celebrated informally the occasion at the International House at UBC. I received a birthday card. There was also friendly teasing and joking that I soon would be deported.
There is need here to provide readers with brief background information on what compelled me to write such a strong letter publicly condemning a figure like Mr. Smythe.
There is a well-known Conn Symthe Trophy in hockey. The boxing promoter Bob Arum arranged for Muhammad Ali to fight Ernie Terrell the WBA champion in Chicago in 1966. However, there was very strong backlash against Muhammad Ali’s anti-war stance which prompted the fight to be cancelled. No venue in the US was considered viable. Fight promotors then considered the Toronto Maple Gardens as a possible site. However, the owner of the Maple Leaf Gardens, Mr. Conn Smythe vehemently refused to host the fight. Mr. Smythe objected to Muhammad Ali’s anti-war stance and felt that his loyalties as a Canadian were to the USA.
But eventually, in the end, the boxing fight took place in Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens in 1966 and Muhammad Ali won by unanimous decision. I watched the fight with some friends on a television and I cannot adequately express my true emotions of that historic occasion. I had tears in my eyes and I was choking with emotions. Moments before the start of the match, Muhammad Ali stood in his corner facing the ropes, laced up in boxing gloves, raised his hands to pray and say a Dua’a. I also prayed for him in silence and I heard a loud voice in the back; “Allah-O-Akbar.” It gave me shivers down my spine. We were impressionable youth brimming with emotion and excitement, and we became overwhelmed when Muhammad Ali won the fight. We warmly hug each other while jumping up and down like little children.
We were often feeling homesick and lonely in a faraway land and different culture. Anything remotely related to Islam and Pakistan was our preoccupation. We wanted to do anything that was good for our homeland and our faith. If there was anything worrisome about our beloved mother land, such as the 1965 war, we suffered more than anyone could have comprehend back home.
In the end of April 1972 when Muhammad Ali came to Vancouver to fight the second time against George Chuvalo at the Pacific Coliseum, he stayed in Vancouver for several days. The fight took place on May 1st and again he won by unanimous decision. I wanted so badly to see the bout live and in person but alas, I simply could not afford the price of the ticket.
There is much that I can write and say about Muhammad Ali, but I simply wanted to share his Canadian connection and what moved me so much as a twenty-two year old boy who loved sports.
June 6th Monday, marked the start of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayers. I have seen that many have gathered for memorial services for Muhammad Ali crossing all borders and boundaries of faith. “We surly belong to Allah and to him we shall return.”
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