Former President Noor Hassanali and his wife Zalayhar celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on May 17, 2002.
Although they were both from the south of Trinidad, 30-year old Noor Hassanali only met 17-year old Zalayahar Mohammed in 1948 on his return to Trinidad as a barrister-at-law. The late Marion Walls, wife of the Principal of Naparima College where Zalayhar had transferred from Naparima Girls' High School in order to complete her Higher School Certificate, was the matchmaker.
Mrs Walls told me "I have a nice girl for you." "I told her I am not ready yet." She insisted " But you have to see her because you are not going to meet anybody like that again and I know she suits you."
They met, their parents frowned slightly when they realised that Noor's elder brother was already married to Zalayhar's elder sister, but love had its way and they were married in two ceremonies on May 17, 1952. Hector Deeble was the presiding officer for the morning's Registration of Marriage at the Red House in Port of Spain, the witnesses were Shah Sabazali and Ayoub Hassanali. The Muslim Ceremony was performed by Imam Mohammed Yacub Khan at Zalayhar's parents home in the presence of family. The groom presented his bride with a white-gold chain and pendant with matching earrings, all inlaid with sapphires. And in a reversal of convention, gave her a dowry. Their honeymoon was spent at Atlantis Beach Hotel in Mayaro.
The Hassanalis golden celebrations started since the month of February when her brother and aunts were visiting from Canada. By the month of May, the family celebrated Zalayhar's 71st birthday on May 3, Mothers' Day May 12, and a day of family and close friends on the actual anniversary in the south where most of their family live.
The celebration continued on May 19 when Noor was honoured at an awards function for Masters and Administrators of Naparima College where he had been Sports Master and Senior French Master for five years before going abroad to study, and a member of the College's Administration Board from 1948-1960. Zalayhar too served for ten years as a Member of the School Board of St Augustine Girls' High School. Unusual that both as Muslims should be asked to serve on the boards of Presbyterian-oriented schools.
The Hassanali family celebrations will start all over again in August when daughter, Amena, Deputy Head of John Mason School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, her husband Brian Sutton and two sons, Jamal and Karim, arrive for a vacation and her father's 84th birthday, which falls on August 08.
The golden couple's son, Khalid, Executive Manager Support Services at Petrotrin, has three children, Behzad, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Faria, a psychology student at York University, Canada, and Adam, an A-Level student at Naparima College.
During their fifty years of togetherness, the Hassanalis, like any other couple, have had their ups and downs especially with moving from place to place because of his job as a Magistrate and Judge, but they agree "these are all challenges that you face and overcome them all. We draw from each others strengths and energies. The so many good things we enjoyed put the unfortunate things completely out of the picture. Relatives also give you strength and we are very close to our brothers and sisters. The family is the joy of our life."
However, Noor Hassanali, a most humble gentleman, never envisaged that he would be President of this country, which would see him, and his wife as First Lady, residing in The President's House at St Ann's.
He was a very surprised person when the call came from the government of the day, the National Alliance for Reconstruction, asking him to be President. With his very dry wit: "I asked are you alright in your heads?" And was told that his was a unanimous selection, the people wanted it, whereupon he reiterated " Everybody, all the Cabinet have something wrong with their heads. Are you alright in your heads."
Zalay and I talked and agreed "well just one term." The Hassanalis went for two terms through three different governments, the NAR, PNM and UNC. In their retirement they are kept very busy with Non- Governmental Organisations and other groups all over the country, and enjoy their residence at Westmoorings-on-the sea.
This greatly loved and admired couple, both in good health, were still being showered with flowers, gifts and congratulatory messages up to the time of our interview last Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, by Wednesday afternoon they were burying Mrs Hassanali's great-nephew, Jaleel Mohammed, who died in a car crash on Tuesday night on the foreshore. On behalf of the Sunday Newsday, I extend deepest sympathy.
The former President expressed gratitude "to the citizens of the country for giving us this opportunity to serve the country" making special mention of "the journalists who have all been very kind to us."
The couple considers "our strengths are that we are both people oriented. We love and get along well with people. People as a subject is a most fascinating subject."
In closing, they quoted verses remembered from College:
Life is Sweet because of the friends we have made
And the things which in common we share
We want to live on not because of ourselves
But because of the others who care.It's giving and taking for somebody else
On that all life's splendour depends
And the joy of the world when you have summed it all up
Is found in the keeping of friends.