15/03/1924 – 16/12/2005

Khalid Muhammad, born on March 15, 1924, in Mangalore to Haji Fakir Saheb and Amina, hailed from a middle-class family. He was married to Fatima and had five sons and one daughter.

His educational journey began at Badria Primary School, followed by Canara High School in Mangalore. Subsequently, he pursued a BA degree from a private college and obtained a B. Ed from the university.

Khalid Muhammad’s significant contribution lies in the establishment of Mangalore’s first night school, named “Navabharat,” inaugurated on March 15, 1943, under the illumination of oil lamp. The school aimed to provide education to illiterate workers who were unable to attend regular daytime classes.

His initiative marked the inception of the city’s first night school, known as the ‘Navabharat Night School,’ which has continued its service for 77 years (as of 2020), catering to the educational needs of the underprivileged and underserved segments of society.

Khalid Muhammad’s motivation to open the school stemmed from a touching encounter during his teenage years. At the age of 16, while he was still in ninth grade, he encountered a tin maker named Muhammad, who would daily present him with a letter from his son, seeking Khalid’s assistance in reading and writing a reply.

Moved by the tin maker’s plight, Khalid Muhammad questioned why the man couldn’t learn to read and write on his own. When the tin maker expressed his inability to do so due to his age, Khalid took it upon himself to teach him literacy.

Every evening after school, Khalid would gather the tin maker and other eager learners in the dimly lit room of the tin shop, using a makeshift slate and a lamp to teach them the basics of reading and writing. Soon, other illiterate boys from the neighborhood, including a hotel worker and the son of a step repairer, joined in.

Witnessing the growing interest of these children in education, a local elder stepped in to provide a conducive learning environment by arranging for a proper room, benches, tables, and other necessities. Thus, what started as informal teaching sessions in a humble tin shop gradually evolved into the Khalid Muhammad School, which later gained renown as the Navbharat Night School.

Recognizing the importance of the school’s mission, a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Dr. K. Nagappa Alva to support its development. With the dedication and contributions of its members, including U. Keshav Rao, Kalyani Shetty, Radha L. Rao, Shad Talwar, and P.S. Venkatesh Krishna, the school continued to thrive.

In 1983, the Navbharat School took a step forward by purchasing its own building, ensuring its sustainability and further cementing its role as a beacon of hope and opportunity for economically disadvantaged students.

As Khalid Muhammad’s dedication to education continued to grow, he established the “Navabharat Education Society” to further the development of the school he had founded. Under his leadership, Ahmed Haji Mohiuddin Thumbe assumed the presidency of this society, with Dr. C. Vamana Shenoy serving as the honorary secretary and Ramachandra Master as the convener.

During the night, Khalid Muhammad served as a teacher at the Navbharat Night School and in day as the headmaster at Badria School in Mangalore. His wife, Fatima, also contributed to the cause of education by working as a teacher in a girls’ school.

The Navbharat Night School, under Khalid Muhammad’s guidance, not only prioritized the education of adults but also placed special emphasis on teaching the Kannada, Hindi, and English languages. In 1953, the school achieved a significant milestone when it successfully prepared students for the examination conducted by Madras University in English medium. Subsequently, in 1955, these students performed admirably in the exam. Many of the school’s alumni went on to achieve remarkable success in various fields, including medicine, law, education, and banking.

In recognition of Khalid Muhammad’s outstanding contributions to education, he received numerous awards and honors from esteemed organizations such as Dr. Virendra Heggade of Dharamsthala, Mangalore’s Talent Research Foundation, Inland Builders, Mangalore Pals Computers, Santosh Arrangers, and the Lions Club, among others. Khalid Muhammad’s lifelong dedication to educational service came to an end on December 16, 2005, when he passed away at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy of enlightenment and empowerment through education.