The three day celebrations of India's biggest social reform revolution in the Dawoodi Bohra community, also known as the Bohra Youth movement, culminated on Sunday, 16 February.  The last two days of the event witnessed the inauguration of a photo exhibition showcasing the 50 year struggle and achievements of the Bohra reform movement.  This was followed by a delegate session on 15 Februray.  The final day, 16 February was dedicated to the elections of the Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra Community (CBDBC) and passing of resolutions, along with a representation to the office of the Dai in Mumbai.  This marked the end of the 2 year long Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Dawoodi Bohra Reform movement, with a promise to extend the cause of social reform across the country.

Delegate Session and Photo Exhibition - 15 February

The delegate session on 15 February was attended by members of the Dawoodi Bohra community representing the Bohra Youth reform division.  In this session, members discussed the present status of the movement and the administrative intricacies as well as brain stormed on the strategic aspects of development of social reform in the Dawoodi Bohra community.

Elaborating on the journey so far, Dr. Irfan Ali Engineer said that the reformists are open to dialog, but the fundamental reform ideology of protection of constitutional rights, self respect and freedom of expression need to be intact. Anees Miyaji, Secretary of Bohra Youth Sansthan, in his address to the media, highlighted the fact that though the structured reform movement began in 1970, the seeds for the cause of social reform in the Dawoodi Bohra community were sown way back in 1890.

In 1890, Udaipur Mewar bench gave its decision in favour of the reformists in the Dawoodi Bohra community.The Paliwala family in Udaipur had won the case against the administrative department of the Syedna. In 1921, the first delegation from the reform section, under the leaderhip of Seth Jeevan Ali Taj participated in the first education conference of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Burhanpur. In 1968 Bohra Youth raised its voice for independant decision making powers, under the leadership of Ghulam Hussain Faizee. From 1989, the Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat, which is a registered independent body under the auspices of the Bohra Youth Association, began the Dawoodi Bohra Welfare Society. The DBWS caters to the needy and provides the economically weak with basic necessities.  This society consists of over 1000 members.

A photo exhibition, .showcasing the tragedies and victories of the Dawoodi Bohra reform movement was inaugurated by Ram Punyani at the Bohra Jamaatkhana, Udaipur.  The exhibition was a result of a laborious 4 months of consolidating old, worn out and soiled photographs from across the last 50 years and presenting the journey in pictorial form to the visitors at the exhibition.  This exhibition drew crowds in large numbers on both 15 and 16 February.  Members from within and outside the community showed interest in the exhibition, which once again gave renewed life to the efforts that had been put into the movement across the last 5 decades.

Elections of Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra Community (CBDBC), Mumbai

The new executive of the Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra Community was elected on the third day of the 3 day conference.  Outgoing Chairman Dr Irfan Ali Engineer handed over the mantle to Commander (Retd) Mansoor Ali Bohra, who will be the new Chairman of CBDBC.  Dr Irfan Ali takes up the role of General Secretary. Razia Sanwari was retained as Vice President along with Shaukat Ajmeri and Dr Shujat Vali. Yunus Baluwala was eelcted as Treasurer of CBDBC.

Passing of Resolutions

Spokesperson of the Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat, Mansoor Ali Orawala informed media that six resolutions were passed in the morning session of the third and final day of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bohra reform movement.  These resolutions gave a snapshot of the ideaology of the reform movement, while at the same time, preparing a strategic road map for the future.  Some of the resolutions also highlighted the current burning issues within the society and country.  These resolutions were as follows

16th All World Dawoodi Bohra Conference convenor and Secretary of Bohra Youth Sansthan, Anees Miyaji, in his thank you note, addressed those present in the audience and thanked the Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra Community, Bohra Youth Sansthan and Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat, Bohra Youth Girls Wing, volunteers, Photo Exhibition committee for their efforts.  He also thanked the district administration, Udaipur Police, UMC, Traffic police, Press and Media for getting together and making this event successful. Towards the end of the event, delegates from outside Udaipur were felicitated by the organising committee.  Those felicitated include Zahra Ben Cyclewala from Surat, Qassim Ali from Ujjain, Shaukat Ajmeri from Canada, etc.