lend a HAND or lead the WAY
Number 8, August 2008
A Profile of Dr. Imteyaz Ahmad Khan
Seraj Akaram
Coming from a modest Zamindar family of a remote village of Chhapra in Bihar, Dr.Imteyaz Ahmad Khan Sahib opened his eyes in the dying days of the British Indian Empire of the forties. Soon came Independence, followed by the abolition of Zamindari system, and the associated hardships to Muslim families.
Dr. Khan was one of those youngsters of his community in his time, who did not lose himself to despondency but rather fought back to acquire a prestigious degree in Medical Science from Rajindra Medical College. He completed his medical education with a pair of old Aligarh Pyjamas and Kurta and a pair of easy sandals at his disposal. Of course he had no bike, no watch, and no shoes. Family income was not sufficient, so he managed to do with very little money but with lot of self-respect. Allah helped him earn therefore the respect of everyone else in the Medical College. Dr. Khan thus passed out his MBBS with flying colors.
His mother died young at 39 which left a void in his life but which also gave him the strength to fight adversities. His father was a visionary and grandfather a religious luminary, the combined effect of which was that the atmosphere at home was permeated with international Islamic brotherhood. Goaded by his father, Dr. I.A.Khan went on in 1968 to complete fellowship from Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin in Anesthesiology. He was helped by Muslims of UK in his initial years, which debt he returned to the community in full measure, once he was on his own. Modest to the core he was also endowed with extraordinary brilliance which ensured for him a wonderful career as a consultant in various hospitals in UK. Slight health problem forced him to go for early retirement. In fact his early retirement was a blessing in disguise for the poor and suffering community back home in Bihar. He is active in all the spheres of development; be it educational, social or religious. Dr. Sahib has a very nice small family. It is said that Allah helps those who work for his pleasure. This dictum fits squarely on Dr. Sahib. He has been blessed by obedient, able and God-fearing off-springs. His elder son is a product of the world famous Cambridge University and is a Medical Consultant in Wales, while the younger son preferred to choose dentistry and is a very successful Dental Surgeon. He has two daughters and both are leading happy married life. BaKhabar had the occasion to approach him for his views on some of the burning questions of our times. Here are his views:
Life in UK for a Muslim: This country provides the best opportunity and complete freedom to practice and propagate Islam. Nowhere in the world is there such unrestricted freedom from religious point of view as in UK. When I came in 1968, there were only 7 mosques in the whole of Britain, now there are more than 7000 and the mosques are full. You will be surprised to see increasing number of young boys sporting beards and young girls wearing Hijab at the prestigious universities. They come out with flying colors, graduating as doctors, dentists, engineers, solicitors, barristers, accountants and business executives from top Universities. In almost all the universities and colleges they have demanded and secured a place to do prayers and have established the tradition of “Jummah prayers” in the campuses. Most of the hospitals and many airports in UK have prayer facilities for Muslims. The young generations who are tomorrow’s leaders are true and fervent believers and champions of Islam.
Qualities of the British: There are two parts to it. One relates to the Government and the other to the public at large. At government level these are important features: 1.Social justice and welfare system to care for the most vulnerable in the society (Poor and elderly)
2. Law and order
3. Excellent free health and free education.
4. Free, impartial and unbiased Judiciary meaning justice and fairness to all.
The other relates to special qualities of the indigenous people like punctuality, discipline, hard work, honesty, relative lack of corruption, and the dignity of labor and efficient use of time. All these Europeans specially the British have great passion for work of charity. Majority of the hospitals in the country were made by charitable donations. Citizens contribute to the society and pay full taxes and the super-rich people in the country give away astronomical amounts of voluntary donations to hospitals, research institutes and educational institutions. Without their liberal charitable donations even Oxford and Cambridge would have ceased to function. 
....more in page-6
Water, Water Everywhere!!
Ashiya Parveen
Repeated failures of Bihar Administration have led the State of Bihar afloat once again in the monsoon. The leaders in government miss no opportunity to implicate the former government for water logging etc. which behavior of course is typical of any Indian politician. But the question that haunts is whether it’s time to make allegations or to take some stern steps to overcome this pathetic state in the lives of the people living in the State’s capital.
One can find miles of dug up roads and the innumerable pillars making faces on the passersby testifying to sluggish pace of construction. In a situation where the people had already been struggling with the problem of water logging, season after season, they have to undergo the added burden of the present Govt.’s failed initiative. To boot, these are the so-called posh localities of modern Patna that have to face all this slush and mud. The old British settled small time Mohallas are better off, and make a good case for a comparison of the two systems. During every monsoon the inhabitants of Kankarbagh, Rajendra Nagar, and Agamkuan are exposed to the nastiest experience and they helplessly keep waiting for the Govt.’s attention, which of course never comes. The mayhem brought about by water logging in the State is reflected in the death of 20 persons in the small locality of Agamkuan alone. But hats off to the Govt. that has decided not to take a second look at the situation and instead keeps on playing the blame game, convinced that in a democracy the people are the most powerless!
No doubt the challenges to Bihar are many. But prudence demands that the leaders instead of trumpeting the slogan of “Sushashan” tired to take a lead. Unfortunately, the political leadership is being led by the bureaucrats!! Since when have these faceless and spineless babus, with forty year tenure of non-stop promotions in their naukris, become champions of the society?? Does it ever happen anywhere in the world?? But our ruling politicians seem to think so.
The rot that the present government has inherited cannot go away by sweet talking to bureaucrats. Of course the criminal-politician would be equally useless in any effort to bring about improvement in Bihar. The CM should therefore have invited a couple of bright Engineers/MBAs from different private companies on contract basis to work as his advisors administering them the necessary oaths etc. and vis-à-vis the bureaucrats he should have exerted his authority. Now Nitish Kumar should know that his failure is several times more compounded than Lalu Prasad’s because he avowedly wanted to do something for Bihar and in spite of occupying the highest administrative seat he has failed to deliver the goods, whereas Laloo Prasad never even pretended to do anything for the State except to loot the exchequer and the public.
In short life in Patna is hell, but whom do we report to. On being confronted the Urban Development Minister, Bhola Singh, revealed his governmental secret that the problem of water logging in Rajendra Nagar and other areas was the consequence of a man-made conspiracy. Which man or men, he failed to identify, so far removed he is from man’s world. Thus while the city dwellers wallow in the mud and filth of road-turned-nallas and nalla-turned roads, the elected government enjoys life in the only livable patch of land in Patna, surrounding the Secretariat, which is a dazzling legacy of the British Raj in this dark land.
Ashiya Parveen is a student of M.A. (Mass Com.) at AMU, Aligarh
IDB Scholarship
Last date of IDB Scholarship is 6th October. The IDB Scholarship is an Interest Free Loan in nature and is awarded to Muslim Students who intend to take admission in First Year of the Professional Degree Course in the fields of Medicine i.e. MBBS, BDS, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Physiotherapy, Nursing including Bachelor’s Degree in Unani, Ayurvedic & Microbiology or in Engineering, Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Food Technology, Business Administration and Accountancy. This scholarship is for the entire duration of the course. It will be legal and moral obligation of the students to repay these Loans after completion of their course.
Tips to Try
- Ants Problem: Keep the skin of cucumbers near the place or ant hole
- To get pure and clean ice: Boil water first before freezing.
- To make the mirror shine: Clean with spirit
- To remove chewing gum from clothes: Keep the cloth in the freezer for an hour.
- To remove chewing gum from clothes: Keep the cloth in the freezer for an hour.
- To whiten white clothes: Soak white clothes in hot water with a slice of lemon for 10 minutes.