Anzar Fatima, Khalajan to us, was the second off-spring of BhaiAbba and Apa. She was married to Syed Mohammed Hasnain Jafry (Khaloojan) of Qaziara, Sitapur. She lived in Bombay, India after her marriage until she migrated to the US in 1984(?). In the US, she lived in Chicago till her death. Khaloojan died in Bombay in 1982.

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Khalajan was a housewife while Khaloojan was a Customs Officer at the Bombay Airport. Khaloojan was very famous in his department, for his sharp eyes on catching the smugglers of contraband items. Khaloojan was also a very good hockey player and used to play for Customs team in Bombay Hockey League. In fact, he joined Customs Department at their invitation, in order to play for them. There are many legendary stories about his playing time for Bombay Customs as well as with the Qaziara team. (Qaziara is a mohalla in Sitapur that has produced many great hockey players, a few of them used to play for the UP state and one of them even playing for the Indian hockey team).

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Khaloojan was a family man – very loving and caring, but at the same time very strict to his kids. My memory of Khaloojan is him always talking to us kids – nephews and and nieces, in a very caring and encouraging way.

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Both Khalajan and Khaloojan were also big proponents of modern education. Both had apparently got this significant trait of their upbringing – Khalajan being the daughter of a teacher in Shia College, Lucknow, and Khaloojan being the son of a Principal of a school. Khaloojan’s mother – Ustaniji to us, used to run a girl’s school from her home and this is how I remember her. Both, Khalajan and Khaloojan, did a lot to educate their children, as has been reflected in the family – all my khalazad’s are, mashaAllah, very well-educated.

 

My memory of Khalajan is having an ever-smiling face. She was very sweet natured and I don’t know if she ever became angry with anyone. She was a very dedicated mother also with the emphasis on educating her children. We can see the result of her effort, in her off-springs, especially daughters who are all well-educated, mashaAllah.