By Dr Vusi Shongwe
IT is far too often the case that exceptionally fine people—who are often outstanding South Africans in their own right—do not get the recognition they deserve.
As an admirer of Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, I wish to ensure that this does not happen with him. Sooliman’s humility, modesty, and generosity should not prevent him from being more widely celebrated.
One cannot begin at the beginning with Sooliman because there isn't. One cannot just tick the usual boxes because Sooliman is everything, all at the same time. That is what one must know about him; it is the only way he can be understood. A 'list' is inevitable but only adds up to half the person. He is an exceptionally friendly, courteous person and one of the most open characters I have ever met. He is full of sparkling ideas, a fascinating man, and always cheerful.
As a philanthropist, he supported countless and multi-faceted causes. His generosity is unbounded, quiet, and very personal. Seeing a need arouses his desire to step in and help. He does this for individuals as well as for social and political causes he believes in. Imtiaz shows his energy and expertise selflessly and helps advance Gift of the Givers in monumental and innovative ways. He also understands the human side of management. He always had a kind word for everyone, no matter what their title or position—Sooliman, quite simply, is more interested in one’s success and happiness than in his own, and he would do everything he could to ensure it. Certainly, it is his natural generosity of spirit that has made Sooliman so successful and so obviously happy. His laugh is quick, generous, and genuine. His interest in one was constant, deep, and enveloping.
He is a warm, brilliant, and incredibly caring individual who has time for everyone and devotes his life and his genius to making the world a better place. The famous Henry A. Kissinger who was U.S. secretary of state from 1973 to 1977 once posited that the line between personal advancement and the pursuit of high principle can grow elusive. For Sooliman, however, I would argue that that line does not exist. His life has been an obligation to enable the consequential issues of our time to be pursued by the most talented and committed people for the sake of our society and the world. Sooliman has dedicated himself to serving humanity and has pursued this objective with unobtrusive humility. Character and integrity are the sources of Sooliman’s inspiration.
Indeed, Sooliman is our reminder that our ultimate legacy is service to people and not personal ambitions. Sooliman is active in most of the worthwhile movements of his time and a leader in many of them.
The poor, the homeless, and the refugee all were objects of her concern. Sooliman is a visionary philanthropist, the personification of the "diffusion of knowledge," an inspiration to us, whose sage counsel always has the long view in mind and our best interests at heart.
His wisdom is always leavened by the multiple twinkles in his eyes, and he brightens every room he ever graces. He speaks of his remarkable evenness of temper, his uninterrupted tranquillity of mind, and his undisturbed domestic happiness. Indefatigable in all offices of friendship, he advises with sincerity, admonishes with freedom, and acts with zeal.
Sooliman is a dynamic family business entrepreneur, an internationally cited philanthropist, who has prevailed on others to also do their share. He is an adventurous traveller, a gift to humanity, a world-class connoisseur of chocolate, and none of that comes close to the essence of the man. As one of South Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs and leading philanthropists, Sooliman’s impact is beyond measure.
Soolima is a true gentleman, a term that sometimes today is thrown around too loosely; a gentleman who cares, shows respect, has a huge heart, and is always thinking of the other individual. Sooliman exemplifies all these characteristics. It is incredibly difficult to overstate Sooliman’s vision. His vision has benefitted the universe. He takes joy in being with all people. He treats all people the same. It is one thing to have a great ability to help through philanthropy, but it is another thing to be a person who just engages and loves everything about it until the day his earthly stay is rounded out. Many lives were enriched by his generosity and joy.
Sooliman is a plain-spoken, self-made success with refined tastes, an outsized personality, a quick wit, and a philanthropist who has an unceasing desire to share his riches. He is a generous philanthropist who has contributed to numerous charities. Sooliman is a philanthropist par excellence. He is the embodiment of generosity and committed citizenship.
In truth, it is unlikely we will ever know the full extent of Sooliman’s philanthropy because he does not seek publicity for his gifts to his compatriots. A quiet, unassuming man and good friend to many in the philanthropy world, Sooliman rarely speaks about himself or his wealth. Sooliman is a generous, principled, sensitive, brutally honest, caring, lovely humanitarian with unparalleled integrity whose goal is to make the society we live in a better society.
He is the most well-known, bright, motivational leader and philanthropist and loved by so many. I am not sure about others; my eyes always well up with tears whenever I talk about Sooliman—a good laugh as well.
We feel privileged to have known him and the work of his teams. His gift to us is the generosity of his spirit to inspire change. Like Babe Ruth’s famous quote, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die,” the world is truly a better place because the legendary Sooliman has chosen to be the ambassador of change. His charity work represents the true spirit of philanthropy: a love for humanity coupled with a desire to improve opportunity for those less fortunate.
Regardless of his role or position, he always was willing to roll up his sleeves and contribute. His contributions to all that he touches are remarkable. Through his sheer powers of mind, which are augmented by his dauntless integrity, anything that he puts his hand to, he accomplishes with efficiency and amazing grace. It is a tribute to Sooliman's compassion and generosity that has seen him make an even greater impact for good and that he considers philanthropy to be not a duty or a service but "an indulgence."
His success in business, his volunteer service, and his generous philanthropy have made him a role model to others. He received some of the highest honours for philanthropy and volunteer leadership. Of all his accomplishments, Sooliman is most proud of being awarded the Order of the Baobab in Silver by the country of his birth, South Africa. He was awarded for his excellent contribution through the Gift of the Givers Foundation to humanitarian aid in South Africa and humanitarian relief in various countries.
We are thankful we have him in our midst. He insists that his philanthropies should be devoted to helping people to help themselves. He has a profound sense of the dignity and worth of the individual human person, which colours his social thought and efforts. Sooliman has been serving so magnificently throughout his relatively long and fruitful life. A prime mover in showbiz philanthropy and in national and international politics, he has benefitted a lot of people through his timely interventions. The more I have gotten to know Sooliman, the more, not less, of a hero and an icon he has become to me.
What becomes an icon most? Carl Jung said that "icons are visible but disguised tracks" of eternal ideas converted into three dimensions—external expressions of internal convictions. For me, Sooliman expresses something of the timeless in his very gait and every utterance. He is pure, undiminished, and irrepressible youth. He is the living embodiment of uBuntu. It is, in fact, his outrageous humanity, his extremity of depth and sparkle, which makes him so singular and expressive.
In so doing, he, as always, takes one of Osler W. Osler’s principles to heart: “We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life.” Even after he had long transitioned from this world, he will be remembered in perpetuity through his generosity.
(Dr Shongwe works in the Department of Arts and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal. He writes in his personal capacity. The views expressed here don't reflect those of the Sunday Independent, Independent Media or IOL)