11/04/1941 – 09/02/2019

Haji Master Mahamood was born to K Mohidin Beary and Bibi Fatima on April 11, 1941, in a small village named Kodi, on the coast of the Arabian Sea near Udupi, in Kundapur.

He had to drop out of school after the 8th standard to take up responsibilities at home from a tender age. His life became his teacher, enabling him to render great service to the educational, social, and religious sectors in Kodi.

A revolution in education ensued in Kodi with Abdulla, Haji Master Mahmood’s grandfather, establishing the first educational institution in the area in 1906. The educational services of his family were strengthened when his father, Haji K Mohiddeen Beary, became a teacher. After their father’s demise, when his brother Syed Muhammad Beary and other siblings proposed a plan to establish various educational institutions under a new group named the ‘Haji K Mohidin Beary Educational Trust’ in Kodi, Haji Master Mahmood bid farewell to his business and took up the responsibility to run the institutions. Kodi wouldn’t be the educational hub it is today without the sacrifice of Haji Master Mahmood. He is the first among those who led the revolution of education in Kodi without any thought for the self.

Haji Master Mahmood was a man of deep emotions, a like-minded individual among his peers, and led a large family where everyone had an equal share in all his prosperity and assets: there was no room for complaints and no one monopolized the benefits. Well-known as the ‘Master’s son’ in his village, Mahmood experienced extreme poverty in his childhood and helped many in need by starting a fish sale business. When the educational institutions began functioning in Kodi, he left his profitable fish sales and became a recognized name through his service in the education sector.

He was a model teacher, well-loved and respected, who did his best to fulfill his father’s dreams. He dedicated his life to the service of Bearys educational institutions which were established under the presidency of his father.

He understood the timeless saying that education is the greatest form of charity. His educational institution was never profit-driven. This distinctiveness of Beary’s group is credited to the family’s commitment and concern for education. Haji Master Mahamood, a man of unique personality, always held his father’s gentle nature close to his heart. “I am completely different from him in nature. He was a true role model who tirelessly provided for the family despite his modest salary. He was inwardly soft despite his outward appearance,” he recalled.

He shared a strong bond with the parents of students, members of the school development committee, fellow villagers, and teachers. He personally reached out to invite everyone prior to the SDMC committee meeting and ensured its success.

He maintained close relationships with both Hindus and Muslims in the village. He worked tirelessly for peace and took care to prevent any erosion of mutual trust between the two communities that could disrupt harmony.

He was a successful troubleshooter in the education sector who never imposed his views on others. He consulted everyone and took them into confidence before planning a program or a new project.

He was very fond of students and spoke to them in an endearing manner in English. He was upset when a pupil fell ill at school. His great love for children can be understood by the way he remembered everybody’s name, a testament to his remarkable memory, and how he addressed them personally.

He also had a great fondness for the teachers and always said that those who worked in his institutions were genuine hard workers.

He was honored for his educational and social services as the ‘Founder of Educational Institutions’ by the Kundapur Taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishad during the 10th Taluk Sahitya Sammelan held in 2010. He was also bestowed with the Udupi District Rajyotsava Award in 2014. The Kundapur Municipality felicitated him on the occasion of Children’s Day in the same year. The Bearys Group endowed him with the title ‘Jnana Deevigeya Harikara’, which means ‘Ambassador of the torch of education’.

He was felicitated by his fellow villagers for the Rajyotsava Award during the Kundapur temple fair. The Kundapur Unit of Jamiyyatul Falah honored him in 2015. His commitment to his village dates back to the establishment of ‘Nusrathul Masakeen’, an organization serving society for the past 50 years.

He served as the president of Kodi Badriya Juma Masjid for 5 years. His exemplary commitment to communal harmony can be witnessed by his service as the advisor to the Chakreshwari Temple in his village for 25 years.

He performed Hajj in 1982 and 1997. After his first wife Zuhara passed away, he married her sister, Aminabi. Following the death of his second wife, he was betrothed to Beefathima. He has a daughter from his first wife and three more from his second wife. He passed away on February 9, 2019.