The death occurred yesterday of Zainul Hussain, a veteran journalist who worked at ‘The Island’ as a sub editor.

Hussain who bid good-bye to colleagues last Friday to embark on a pilgrimage to Mecca to perform Hadj died at the airport shortly before he could emplane on the pilgrimage.

Family members said he suffered a heart attack as his documents were being processed at the airport, and he died before admission to the Seeduwa hospital yesterday morning.

He was 68 years old at the time of his death.

A friendly and unassuming man who led a simple, unostentatious life, Hussain was a respected, fatherly figure in ‘The Island’ editorial offices. After a long spell at Lake House and a stint overseas, he joined ‘The Island’ over a decade ago.

Visibly excited at the prospect of performing Hadj for the first time in his life, Hussain discussed the forthcoming pilgrimage he was planning to undertake with his wife. He was very happy he was making this pilgrimage and also spending time with his son in the Middle East.

‘I feel a little tense at times’, he admitted last Friday, obviously overjoyed as the greatest day in his life was at hand. But on that greatest day he so eagerly looked forward to, he was gone. He died the way he lived. It was a quiet, calm and peaceful exit, so typical of the way he lived.

Hussain was also looking forward to spending a few weeks with his son and family, especially the two small grandchildren, in Doha, during the journey. ‘I need to unwind myself,’ he told me with a broad smile, producing a copy of the visa his son had faxed to him the previous day.

Hussain was also planning to visit a close relative in Abu Dhabi during his return journey. But that long journey he was so excited, never began. And that greatest day in his life didn’t dawn. Had Hussain been alive, he would have dismissed such misfortunes as ‘God’s will’.

Hussain had worked for some years in the Gulf States, but as he himself said quite often, that even after being so close, he could not visit Mecca. And he did attempt to undertake the holy mission yesterday, but it was ‘God’s will’ that it be disrupted. We are grief-stricken, but even in death, Hussain would have been the happiest that it all happened that way. May be, he prayed that the end began in this manner.

Another journalist, colleague and above all, a good friend has crossed the divide. We have lost a good man — a harmless human being without malice, rancour and hatred. He was everybody’s friend, a calm and soothing presence in the office where he was ever willing to help anybody.

Hussain’s funeral took place at the Muslim burial grounds, Dehiwala yesterday evening. It defies belief that he is no more — that we will no longer see him breezing into office saying ‘good morning’ with a cheerful smile. Though death has done us apart, the memory of Zainul Hussain will live with us until we join him in a world beyond the stars....

Good-bye my dear friend, good-bye.
— Suresh Perera