By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Speakers belonging to various walks of life paid rich tributes to the late SSUET Chancellor, Engr Z.A. Nizami, for his services and highlighted various facets of his life as a world class town planner, educationist and as a friend of the less privileged.
The condolence meeting, organized by the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, with the collaboration of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) of which he was the President, was held at the Convocation Ground of the Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT).
The speakers on the occasion included former Sindh Governor Lt Gen (Rtd) Moinuddin Haider, Vice-Chancellor Ziauddin University Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqi, Prof Dr Waqar Ahmed Rizvi, Dr Taufiq Ahmed Nizami, younger brother of Engr Z A Nizami, having arrived from Aligarh, Chancellor SSUET Engr Adil Usman, Senior Aligarhian Ali Zafar Afridi, Vice-Chancellor SSUET Prof Dr Jawaid H. Rizvi, Registrar Shah Mahmood Hussain Syed, Honorary Consultant Art, Literary and Culture Forum besides Farrukh Nizami, son of late Z A Nizami.
Gen Moinuddin Haider remarked that the name of Engr Nizami will always be remembered because of the services he had rendered for the development of Karachi and specially the establishment of an engineering university of international standard.
He pointed out that after the creation of Pakistan, the Aligarhians with their talent and vision steered Pakistan to the path of progress and name of Engr Nizami will remain on the top.
The former Sindh Governor recalled Engr Nizami’s meetings with him for the acquisition of 200 acres of land where he wanted to establish bigger SSUET’s campus.
He called for continued growth of the tree planted by Engr Nizami for propagation of engineering education so that the university could continue to meet the ever changing world standards in various fields of engineering.
Prof Dr Waqar recalled that late Engr Nizami always used to invite him speak on Sir Syed Day and Iqbal Day which used to be observed every year without a break by the AMUOBA.
He said he didn’t find any match of Engr Nizami in administrative affairs which he demonstrated when he developed this city as DG KDA and proved himself as the world’s best Town Planner. He said his life was full with continuous struggle.
Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqi, recalled Engr Nizami’s association with his father and later with him and said he is the one for whom condolence meetings are being organized by scores of organizations across Pakistan highlighting his vision, greatness and various facets of his fascinating life.
He said that Engr Nizami always kept even those, who were not Aligarhians but possessed natural Aligarhian spirit, along with him for the accomplishment of his vision. He was the one who always thought about carrying the youth forward and establishment of SSUET was a step towards the said direction.
Pirzada Qasim reckoned that Engr Nizami was rich with Aligarh spirit and establishment of this university in the private sector was his major achievement of life – an achievement which will never allow us to forget him ever. He said he was a man of positive attitude so much so he always helped in the establishment of institutions like Delhi College and School and Hamdard University.
In his speech the SSUET Chancellor and the AMUOBA President, Engr Adil Usman, recalled his old association with Engr Nizami and said throughout his life he worked with all dedication. He said he along with late Zakir Ali Khan steered AMUOBA to dynamic functioning and it was he who managed the allotment of plot on which AIT and SSUET are functioning today.
He said that despite his falling health, would never miss to come to the university. He never accepted defeat from life and kept working till his death. Although today he is not among us but has become part of history.
He vowed that now the responsibility has been entrusted to him and he will make unabated efforts to accomplish the mission undertaken by late Engr Nizami and expand this university to provide best education to students.
Senior Aligarhian Ali Zafar Afridi described Engr Nizami, an epoch-making personality and said that although today he is not among us but his name will remain immortal on the pages of history.
He said that Engr Nizami was a man with dimensional personality having far sighted vision and speedy decision making capability.
He pointed out that the university established by him had so far produced over 10,000 engineers in various engineering disciplines and they are proving their feat in various countries of the world.
The SSUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid Rizvi said that Engr Nizami was the founding spirit behind the establishment of AIT and SSUET and this university which started with an enrolment of 200 students today has over 6000 students.
He said that Engr Nizami’s services for the cause of education will always be remembers and his popularity can be judged from the fact that he remained President of AMUOBA for seven terms and Chancellor of the University since 1994 till his death. He said the discipline which is witnessed in this university is because of him.
Registrar Shah Mahmood said that the dynamism of Engr Nizami and his love for SSUET was reflective from his presence at the 16thConvocation of the University which he attended despite serious illness and physical weakness.
He said that it was unbelievable of him that he attended the SSUET 14th Convocation a couple of years back despite having received the news about the death of his spouse in Washington just a night before and he did not allow the grief to show up on his face until the convocation ended and he left for his home.
Dr Tafuiq Ahmed Nizami said that he and members of the Nizami family are not prepared to believe that he has left the world, but we have to bow our heads before the will of Allah.
He said the way the people from various walks of life have spoken so high about him is a matter of solace for us.
He said that Engr Z A Nizami was an ardent follower of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and at the age of seven and he used to pursue his grand father Khaleeq Nizami to read to him the letters he used to write to Sir Syed
Khumar Farooqi said that throughout his life Engr Nizami took care of the less privileged mortals and if on one hand he allotted plots to builders for city’s development, he established big housing colonies where poor were allotted houses at negligible prices.
He described the establishment of SSUET a “Sadaqa-e-Jaria” and “ahsaan” over nation and country.
Farrukh Nizami said they always saw their “papa” at work and which ever organization he worked in, he led it to success. He said he always provided jobs to needy and never made any one jobless in his career and that was why he was paid tributes to employees of KDA even after 25 years from retirement.
Earlier Muhammed Umer Khan, a university student paid glowing tributes to their late Chancellor and described him as Sir Syed Saani”. He said he was a great benefactor of students of this university.
Another student recited the naat “Mustafa Jaane-Rehmat pe lakho salam”, a naat which will make Engr Nizami to drown into deep thought. The meeting concluded with Dua-e-Maghfirat for the departed soul.
