Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
“Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156

“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can but a lofty and exalted destiny.” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Ismaili Imam.

A TRIBUTE TO SALIM JIWA & HIS DEVOTED WIFE MINA & FAMILY

By FAROUK B.K.S. VERJEE

Salim Sadrudin Jiwa passed away in Vancouver in September 2024 at the age of 73. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Mina, and 3 children.

Salim, born on the shores of Lake Victoria in Bukoba, Tanzania, began his journalism career in Dar es Salaam, the Capital. This was a significant time for Tanganyika, which was newly independent and faced a scarcity of local journalists. In this urgent context, ambitious Salim quickly made his mark. President Nyerere wanted local journalists to write their aspirations for a multi-racial, African Socialist society. His vision was reflected in his diverse cabinet, which included Amir Jamal, an Ismaili, as his Minister of Finance and a European Bryson, as his Minister of Agriculture, showcasing the inclusivity of his leadership.

Nyerere’s policy of African Socialism followed the Arusha Declaration of February 5, 1967, which, over the years, resulted in nationalizing businesses and individual properties. These measures unsettled many in the Indian and expatriate business communities.

For young Salim, Canada was a welcoming choice. He could apply for his status from within Canada, and with freedom of speech, as a journalist, he could write as he pleased.

He never went back.

Starting with the Province Newspaper, the second largest daily in British Columbia (BC), as a minority immigrant, he faced the usual challenge of no “Canadian experience.” His relentless ambition, determination, and sharp humour made him a daring crime reporter. His drive is a testament to what can be achieved with sheer determination. Crime reporters get hardened over time.

He reported on a murder in the posh British Properties in West Vancouver.

A daughter-in-law was killed by her father-in-law, leaving behind a daughter of 4 months.

Salim and his wife Mina stepped forward and adopted her to give the young baby a loving home and an escape from the terrible family trauma.

At his well-attended funeral in September, I met some of Salim’s retired colleagues from the Province Newspaper. I thanked them for coming and told them I had met Salim in 1975 when he was a cub reporter. His colleagues remarked that Salim was no cub; he was a Lion!

In 1985, the bombing of Air India Flight 182 over the Atlantic took over 329 lives, 90 of whom were children. The flight had originated from Toronto and had suspected links to the Khalistan Movement. To this day, it remains the largest terrorist event in Canadian history.

After a $100 Million prosecution, this crime remains unresolved. A memorial marks this horrendous tragedy in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, bearing the names of all the victims. Salim wrote a bestseller, Death of Air India Flight 182.

In his book’s dedication, he writes: “This book is dedicated to the 329 victims of the sabotage of Air India Flight 182 and the two victims of the Narita bomb, as well as their families. Also to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their extraordinary work, members of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, who must remain in the shadows, and investigators in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, the USA and India. Finally, to my wife and children for all their help.”

Fabian Dawson the former Deputy Editor of the Province expressed the following sincere and heartfelt tribute to Salim:

“Salim was larger than life character in the newsroom. He was well respected, funny and always armed with a pun.”

Fabian worked alongside Salim for almost three decades. He continued:

“Throughout his career, Salim’s ability to build rapport with sources, from law enforcement to the families affected by tragedy, was legendary….his ability to connect with people on a human level made him not only a remarkable journalist but also a cherished friend to many. Salim’s presence in the newsroom was influential as it will be unforgettable.”

Story continues below

As the Honorary Secretary of the Aga Khan Council for Western Canada in 1975, we were wary and very shy of the media. Salim was very pushy about asserting our Ismaili identity, as most had arrived here stateless, impoverished, with a loss of identity, and in culture shock.

~~~~~~

“At his well-attended funeral in September, I met some of Salim’s retired colleagues from the Province Newspaper. I thanked them for coming and told them I had met Salim in 1975 when he was a cub reporter. His colleagues remarked that Salim was no cub; he was a Lion!” — Farouk Verjee

~~~~~~

Salim was a big man with a huge heart. He did not mind stepping on toes to get his job done. He was gentle with my toes and most cooperative, as was his other colleague, publisher Promod Puri, the founder of the weekly Link Newspaper, which covers the broadest spectrum of the South Asian Communities news and social and political activities in BC. The paper continues to thrive today.

Salim’s contribution to our Just Society has been enormous but rarely acknowledged in the larger community.

His peers awarded him the prestigious Jack Webster Award for excellence in legal journalism. He also received the MacMillan Bloedel’s Annual Journalism Award for outstanding writing, journalistic initiative, public service, and contribution to the understanding of important issues.

Salim in in his last days left the following message to his family:

“I have had a full and beautiful life, and I have done everything one could wish for far and beyond any anticipation in my life. I have no regrets about the way I have lived my life. I have supreme affection for Mina, Farouk, Hafeez, Alyia, and my children’s wives.

Story continues below

“My grandchildren have been a source of love and joy. My sisters, my mother, and my father have loved me. No regrets people. Enjoy your lives, as I have mine. Do good to all. Be generous, be fair, help the less fortunate and act with justice towards all.”

Salim, you are greatly missed by your family, friends and colleagues. Rest in Peace. Brother, Ameen.

Indeed, I may conclude that by their inspiring examples, Salim and Mina are the unsung heroes and heroines of the Ismaili Jamat. They have also served the larger community as outstanding, exemplary citizens.

Date posted: October 24, 2024.
Last update: October 31, 2024 (added text of Salim Jiwa’s dedication in his book and an image of the cover page).

Correction: In an earlier version of this post, we misstated Fabian Dawson as the former publisher of The Province. He was the deputy editor.

_______________

Condolence messages: We invite readers to submit their condolences, memories and tributes to Salim Jiwa by clicking LEAVE A COMMENT.

About the writer: Farouk B.K.S. Verjee served as the Honorary Secretary of His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada for 5 years from 1979-1984. He then became the Council’s President until 1987. His terms of office saw the foundation laying ceremony of the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre (a Silver Jubilee Project) by the Honourable Henry Bell-Irving, Lieutenant-Governor General of British Columbia, as well as its opening in 1985 by Canada’s Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney (d. February 2024). Both the ceremonies took place in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and his family members.