Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled Almaeena speaks at a function for veteran journalist Javid Hassan in Riyadh on Monday. Seen from left are: Shah Subhani, Javid Hassan, Rajeev Shahare, Niaz Ahmed Khan and Mohammed Quaiser. (AN photo by Manzoor Ahmed)

RIYADH, 28 March 2008 — Glowing tributes were paid to Javid Hassan, Arab News’ outgoing Riyadh-based senior reporter, for his sincerity and dedication on Monday night. The venue was one of a series of events held to bid farewell to the veteran journalist who is leaving the Kingdom after a 27-year stint at Arab News.

Osmania University Old Boys’ NRI Association (OUOBONA) and Tanzeem Hum Hindustani jointly organized the event, at which Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy, presided and Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of Arab News, was the chief guest.

Shahare paid tribute to Hassan for his professionalism and sense of dedication in the discharge of his duties. He said his work reflected responsible reporting, avoiding the path of sensationalism.

Speaking on behalf of Arab News, Almaeena commended Hassan for the sincerity and dedication with which he served the paper.

Raid Qusti, Arab News reporter, recalled his association with Hassan and said what stands out in his memory, besides his professionalism and willingness to help others, was his passion for work: “He continued to work even after leaving Arab News. When I asked him ‘why don’t you relax at home as your body has a right on you?,’ he replied: ‘I sleep for eight hours and that’s enough. I find peace in work’.”

Separate functions were organized by Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), and Yahind.com, a popular Internet portal.

TECRO Representative Sheng-tsung Yang commended Hassan’s role in promoting Saudi-Taiwanese relations through Arab News. He hoped that the newspaper would continue to extend its cooperation in future as well.

Niaz Ahmed Khan and Mohammed Quaiser, president of OUOBONA and Tanzeem respectively, lauded Hassan’s sincerity and devotion. They also presented plaques of appreciation on behalf of their associations to Shahare, Almaeena and Hassan, who also received gifts from Dr. Riaz Mehdi, president of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys’ Association, Abdul Malik Mujahid, general manager of Darussalam publishing company, Salahuddin Qureshi of Budget Rent-a-Car, and Sam Mathew, an executive with a multinational company.

K.N. Wasif, a well-known photojournalist, took particular note of Hassan’s health consciousness.

Replying to the felicitations, Hassan said he would never forget the warm and memorable event. In a prepared speech, he spoke on the importance of media literacy and the level of awareness that it raises in all fields.

At the Yahind function, Shahare said: “A profession is different from a job. One can keep changing jobs, which are not necessarily related, because of monetary consideration. Such a person will not have a high level of commitment compared to a professional who is dedicated to his job.” He also talked about the professional commitment of Hassan and how he used to ask probing questions.

Guest of Honor Dr. Ali Al-Shammary, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Riyadh College of Dentistry and Pharmacy, who is also the GM of Mawyah Group of Clinics, recounted how Hassan helped Mawyah Group through his writeups.