By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

Indian national and well-known humanitarian worker Muslim Veettil Abdul Khader Haji (69), popularly known as Hajikka, died at Hamad Hospital yesterday.
He leaves behind his wife Suhra, son Shaheen Abdul Khader (Qatar Petroleum Medical Services), daughters Shaheena, Sajitha (HMC) and Afsar (HMC Wakrah), and children-in-law Dr Hafeez (Kottackal Clinic, Al Sadd), Bineesh Abdul Rahman (Doha) and Mariam Naushiba.
Hajikka will be buried in Abu Hamour after Asr prayers today. “He had expressed his desire to be buried in Qatar where he spent much of his life,” said a family member.
A condolence meeting will be held at the Indian Cultural Centre today at 7pm.    
Hajikka, who came to Qatar in 1966 from Chavakkad in Kerala’s Thrissur district, had been ailing for some time and had been in hospital for more than two months.
Closely associated with a large number of humanitarian activities, especially among the Asian expatriates, Hajikka was instrumental in repatriating bodies of  hundreds of expatriates to their home countries since the late 60s.
Even when he was admitted to the hospital, his services used to be sought by people of different communities. “Not a day passes without someone seeking his assistance for some issue, especially in repatriating bodies,” said his long-time associate and fellow  humanitarian worker Abdul Salam Palakkad.
Salam, who is on an assignment in a neighbouring GCC state, is returning to Doha today for assisting Hajikka’s family members in the funeral.       
Some time ago, Hajikka, who maintained close contacts with the Gulf Times said he had records of having assisted in sending home more than 2,600 bodies to different destinations since he made a beginning in 1968.
In 2005, he showed the courage to take home two bodies to Kerala when an expatriate was done to death by his co-worker. The co-worker, also a Keralite, committed suicide 24 hours later and Hajikka took both the bodies home together.   
Hajikka was always in the forefront to render a helping hand to those who sought his assistance in various issues. He not only ensured assistance to the needy and deserving sections in the community but was also in the lead in bringing such issues to the attention of various diplomatic missions.
When the Indian embassy’s open house used to be “really open” between 2006 and 2009, Hajikka was a regular participant and brought to the attention of the mission numerous issues that warranted its intervention.   
He was also active in rendering assistance to the country’s Indian fishermen whenever they sought his help.
Hajikka’s services came in for praise from many Asian ambassadors who served in Qatar in the last several years. Former Indian ambassadors Ranjan Mathai and Dr George  Joseph, Former Sri Lankan ambassador A L M Yousef and ex-Nepal ambassador Dr Suryanath Mishra were among those who did not let go opportunities to acknowledge his noble and humanitarian deeds.
Hajikka was also honoured by institutions and forums for his selfless services.
On hearing about his death people of different walks of life rushed to the hospital.
Leading NRI entrepreneur and CEO of Behzad Group Padma Sri C K Menon and former president of Indian Community Benevolent Forum Dr Mohan Thomas expressed condolence at the death of Hajikka in a statement.
Incas, Thrissur Jilla Souhrida Vedi and Friends of Tiruuvalla also mourned the death.