Photo Essay: Story of an East African Ismaili Autograph Book
My Sister Zeenat’s Autograph Book
By SHARIFFA KESHAVJEE
An autograph book is a book for collecting the autographs of others. Traditionally, they were exchanged among friends, colleagues, and classmates to fill with poems, drawings, personal messages, small pieces of verse, and other mementos. Their modern derivations include yearbooks, friendship books, and guest books. They were popular among university students from the 15th century until the mid-19th century, after which their popularity began to wane as they were gradually replaced by yearbooks.
Zeenat Jamal (1936-2018)
This is a photo story about my sister Zeenat’s very special autograph book. I first want say something about her. Zeenat was born on September 12, 1936 in Mwanza where my parents lived. She went to Aga Khan Schools in Kisumu and Mombasa before attending a boarding school at Harrow on the Hill in the UK. She completed her schooling at a Finishing School in Oxford. She became a qualified stenographer. During her lifetime, she worked at Patwas Book Store, ran the London Pharmacy in Mombasa on Kilindini Road, worked at the Swiss Cottage Hotel in London, where her family were partners, and worked at the Barclays Bank in Kisumu. During the 1960s she held positions in the Ismaili community as Kamadiani and Mukhiani in Mombasa, and then served the community as the wife of Ameer Kassam Janmohamed (1931-2014). Zeenat passed away in London on January 5, 2018, and the autograph book she left behind is a source of joy for the family.
Zeenat with her husband Ameer Janmohamed (1931 – 2014).
Group pictures of volunteers at the 100 year old Kuze Road Jamatkhana. On top photo, note the beautiful wooden hand carved staircase at the Jamatkhana in Kuze. The uniforms the volunteers are wearing were designed by Zeenat. Photos: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Zeenat’s autograph book was not only memories of loved ones, messages of love and encouragement, but a memory of places she visited and schools she went to. The journal was filled by people she loved and people who changed her life.
In researching her autograph book, I decided to find out about some unique autographs books and in my search on the website of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., I came across a photo of an incredible autograph book that belonged to a Croatian by the name of Joseph Mikulee. He used to travel around the world with it and take autographs of famous men and women. During a 5 year period in the 1920’s he had recorded over 20,000 names of notables including 3 American presidents. The book came to weigh at 58 lbs, so heavy that Mikulee could no longer carry it and it had to be shipped to his next destination!
President Hoover’s secretary, Walter H. Newton, signing the famous autograph book of Joseph Mikulee on December 6, 1929, at the White House. Mikulee, who hailed from Yugoslavia, toted this giant album around the world for five years and recorded over 20,000 names of notables. Photo: Harris & Ewing photograph collection / US Library of Congress.
In contrast, Zeenat’s autograph book was tiny (see photo at top of page), but it was a much coveted book because it was leather bound and gilded in gold writing. It was bought in 1950.
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Zeenat’s Autograph Book: A Few Selections
A significant event that made Zeenat’s autograph book special for her as well as the entire family was its opening page. Zeenat was lucky to be able to visit Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah and Begum Om Habibeh, Mata Salamat, at Villa Yakimour. Visiting Villa Yakimour was very special indeed and a mulaqat with the Imam is always a great privilege. Yakimour, a combination of their two sets of initials with the word “amour”. Y for Yvette, AK for Aga Khan, ending lovingly with amour. Photos: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo taken at Yakimour in 1951 after Zeenat had her autograph book signed by Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah and Mata Salamat. Standing (l to r): Dr. Ebrahim Nathoo, Zeenat Jamal, Zarina Rattansi. Seated (l to r): Mata Salamat (holding Nasim Nathoo), Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, Mrs. Nathoo and Ali Nathoo (seated on floor). Photos: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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When Zeenat went to Harrow-on-the-Hill, a private boarding school in Southlands, her headmistress, Mrs Towers, picked a verse from Hamlet, and she took time to draw a spring of rosemary. “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Ebrahim Nathoo who was instrumental in choosing Southlands School parted from Zeenat with words of wisdom. He was expecting that as the eldest in the family she would uphold the dignity of the family as well as the community. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Alice Walker and many friends expressed the impression of friendship and generosity she made as she traveled along. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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All her classmates decided to use one page. Khatun Lakha tops the page. She was a neighboUr and a best friend, which meant that they wore the same outfits, hairstyles and went to boarding school together. Rashida Nathu and Sultan Nathu, Gulshan Hirji, cousins to Khatun were at Southlands too. Families conferred and chose to send their daughters to the same school. This facilitated finances, outings to Jamatkhana and guardians during the holidays. They remained friends all their lives. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Friends took it seriously when asked to inscribe. With drawings and colours they expressed their wishes of farewell. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Language was never a barrier. We all spoke many tongues imbibed from neighbors, community and movies, we spoke Gujerati, Kutchi, Hindi, French, Kiswahili and English of course. Some had English words too! See next image. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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By 1955 Zeenat was married into the Vellani family. Many endearing sentiments are here expressed as she made her first trip to India and met with her family in Dacca. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Nazeer Vellani was a mischievous younger brother-in-law who indeed turned the book upside down to write in green ink. He was a surgeon from the University in Dublin and his height made him dub her “ shorty.” Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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There is a note of forgiveness in this autograph, and it makes me wonder what transpired. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Mrs. Heritage was Zeenat’s guardian and was very caring. She was fond of Zeenat. Her son Timothy and Mrs. Heritage always kept in touch. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Zeenat’s music teacher took time to set the autograph in music. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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It was common to express words from the heart and Jean has done this well. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Zeenat’s mathematics teacher did it in her own special language. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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There was a friend from New Zealand too! Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
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Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee Family Collection.
Date posted: October 26, 2019.
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We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Your feedback may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation.
Thank you for sharing your sister’s autograph book; she was indeed blessed with all the experiences in her life. This is the first autograph book I’ve seen in a long time and not many get the chances your sister received.
Beautiful memories of a beautiful lady. Thank you for sharing. Much love, Pervez/
Dearest Shariffa:
Excellent thank you for sharing such priceless memories of beloved Zeenat – very fondly remembered by all of us. She was one in a million!!!!
Lots of love.
What a wonderful tribute to Zeenat through her autograph book. You are indeed the family’s story keeper. Kudos!
A privileged collection that is to be marveled. We are much obliged to the family for sharing these inspiring memories.
I was so touched by the following messages :-
“Tazeem remembers Zul Vellani acting in the film Sidartha.”
and
“Thank you Shariffa! What a lovely tribute to a wonderful sister and my childhood friend. Hope you are well. Thank you for keeping in touch.”
♥️Lucy Bhatia
What a lovely tribute to my mum. She was a kind and special person. One sophisticated lady who with my dad Ameer, made an awesome couple. Mum is greatly missed by me and my family. She would have adored her first great grandson Kalel.