History of Paarl Families (Part 2)

Khan Family
A personality that contributed a lot to the education of the Muslim community of Paarl
and who dominated the scene for three generations, is Hadji Abdul Gamied Khan, known
to most of the older generations as “Meester” Khan. In Cape Town he was known as
Betta Khan. Betta is an Indian title for brother.
Meester came from Simons Town to replace Hadji Aziz Latief, who retired and later
tragically passed away in a car accident. Thus, Meester became principal of the Paarl
Moslem School as a very young man, more or less in 1930. Some of his pupils in 1930
were Auntie Mariam Abrahams, Boeta Osman Sonday, Auntie Jaynie Moerat, Hadji
Abubie Moerat, etc. Even people like the late Hadji Manie Nackerdien, were pupils of
Meester Khan. In our own case, Meester taught my father-in-law, Hadji Adam Moerat,
my wife and myself, and our children. That means three generations in our case.
Very few Paarlites know the history of Meester, besides that he was married to Sis
Gadie (nee Morton), who was formerly from Johannesburg. Her brother, Boeta Osman
Morton married Auntie Atieka Latief from Paarl. Meester and Sis Gadie had three sons
and three daughters, namely Rashied, Shamieg, Roedie Solker, Farouk, Kariema Davids
and Fahiema Jakoet.
I had to interview the eldest surviving member of Meester’s family, Roedie Solker, to
find out more about Meester’s history. What I learnt was that Meester’s father was a man
named Munshi Achmat Khan, who immigrated from a part of India, which is today known
as Pakistan, at the start of the 20 th century. The late Munshi, as so many Indians, came
to seek his fortune in this country, as well as to escape British imperialism in their own
country. He travelled by boat and landed at Simon’s Town, where he settled. He married
a beautiful young girl, named Rachmat.
The couple had two children, named Abdul Gamied and Fatima. Munshi decided to
move to Australia, but his wife’s family decided that the children were too young for the
long travel. Munshi, thus travelled alone, and never returned to South Africa. In fact he
married an Australian wife, who corresponded with Meester years afterwards. That wife
also had children of Munshi. Some of the correspondence are still in the possession of
Roedie Solker.
Meester’s sister, Fatima, married Imam Achmat Toefy of Stellenbosch. Their children
are still resident in Stellenbosch. They are Yasminah Raziet (wife of Laam Raziet), Imam
Nawhaawhie, Rachmat Cornelson, Salegga and Mustapha (who is married to Suraya,
daughter of Boeta Yusuf and Auntie Rhoda Moerat of Paarl).
Meester retired at the age of 60 as principal of the school in 1970, and was succeeded
by one of his former pupils, Fouzul Latief. In the earlier years, until the early 1950s,
Meester was often called upon to go on stage to deliver speeches at public occasions.
This was the case in 1952, when a very distinguished guest, Moulana Abdul Aleem
Sidique, from Medina, visited Paarl and addressed a public audience in the Paarl Town
Hall. Meester also contributed articles on Islam to the Paarl Post on a regular basis. The
family resided in Templer Street for many years, before they were forced to move to
Paarl East, by the Group Areas act. If there is one person who needs to be remembered
by the Paarl Muslims, by naming an institution after him, it is Meester Khan. I have
suggested in the past that an A G Khan Museum would be appropriate to honour his
name among future generations.
19