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Hakim Said remembered as torchbearer of education

By News Desk
January 14, 2018

Karachi: Speakers at a meeting of the Hamdard Naunehal Assembly’s Karachi chapter paid a rich tribute to Hakim Mohammed Said and said that he was a torchbearer of education and knowledge in the country.

The meeting comprised speeches, tableau and dua-i-Said, was held on Friday at Bait al-Hikmah auditorium, Madinat al-Hikmah, Karachi, on the theme of “Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said’s educational services and 25 years of Hamdard Universisty”.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest, Shafiqur Rehman Piracha, honorary secretary of the Board of the Sindh Madrastul Islam University, former Karachi commissioner and home secretary, said that Hakim Mohammed Said came to Pakistan like the pray (poem) of Allama Iqbal: “May my life be like the candle of knowledge”, and holding a torch of education and knowledge in his hand, he started to fight against the glooms of poverty, ignorance and social injustices and raised voice against mismanagement and corruption of rulers.

He said that when the sword of Muslims had gone down in the subcontinent, their pen started to rise up and the journey of pen which began from Sir Syed reached Hakim Said through Hali, Iqbal, Zafar Ali Khan and Hasrat Mohani. Hakim Said was the continuation of Sir Syed, Hali and Iqbal, he added.

Piracha said Hakim Said promoted the spirit of patriotism – Pakistaniat -- and dedicated the earning of his institution to the health, education and welfare of the nation. He was a big supporter of women’s empowerment as he gave equal representation to girls along with boys in his Naunehal Assembly, because he wanted to create a new, modern and Islamic society in the country, he said.

The big weapon of Hakim Said was his simplicity and contentment, the ex-commissioner said, adding that Hakim Said had changed a desert into an oasis and made natural things more useful for human beings, which is called value addition.

The pain Hakim Said felt for the poor in his hearts was oblivious from his writings as he wanted to provide equal opportunities of education and progress and provide a level play field for deprived children and that was why he supported a uniform syllabus and education system for all children of the country.

He established Hamdard Village School at Madinat al-Hikmah for village children. Taking inspiration from Hamdard Village School his (Piracha’s) organisation has also set up some village schools at different places, he said.

Earlier, addressing the meeting, Mrs. Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, said that acquiring education is incumbent on every Muslim man and woman and negligence on the part of governments was beyond comprehension.

She said that the “Talimi Report”, compiled by Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said, was a leading document that should be taken into account for framing the syllabus and system of education and be made part of educational planning.

Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said had lit his candle to spread light in the society when he laid down the foundation of Madinat al-Hikmah, a city of education, science and culture in 1983. Young speakers also spoke and paid rich tribute to Hakim Mohammed Said, his achievements and services.

Two students of Hamdard Village School, Nadir Ali and Razmeen, who are now studying in the faculties of engineering and medicine in Hamdard University respectively, said on the occasion: “We are very much indebted to Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said and would dedicatedly serve the nation as engineer and doctor according to Hakim Sahib’s advice.”

Maryam Akbar compered the meeting in which, besides Fatima Munir Ahmed, Vice President, Madinat al-Hikmah, distinguished guests, parents, teachers and children participated in a large number.