Oldest living Aligarhian dies, AMUOBA grieved

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Saeed Siddiqi, the oldest survining Aligarhian, passed away in Karachi on December 30 at the age of 96 years after a brief illness. He was laid to rest at the Paposhnagar graveyard after the Namaz-e-Janaza at Paposh Jamia Masjid. His burial was largely attended by the Aligarhians including Ali Zafar Afridi, Mukhtar Naqvi and Gulzar Muhammed Khan. 

He was born at Ghaziabad, India, in 1916 and obtained his degree from the Aligarh Muslim University in 1935 before entering government service. Later he joined the Pakistan Movement where he had frequent meetings with Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Quaid-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan. 

In recognition of his meritorious services to the Pakistan Movement, Saeed Siddiqi was presented a lifetime achievement award in 2012. 

He was a known orator in the academic and literary world and had close relationship with history of Pakistan. He used to be specially invited in the functions of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) of which he was a life member. 

Besides being a famed orator, Saeed Siddiqi was a famous columnist who used to write for a largely circulated Urdu newspaper. He was also a regular contributor to monthly ‘Tehzib’ published by the AMUOBA. 

His speeches used to be punctuated with a sense of humour, reflecting his special affiliation with Aligarhians. The AMUOBA has expressed its profound grief and sorrow over the departure of their oldest surviving colleague. 

The President of AMUOBA and the Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Engr Z A Nizami, has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Saeesd Siddiqi, saying that in his death the AMUOBA has been deprived of a sincere and dedicated Aligarhian. 

The AMUOBA President prayed to Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.