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Monday, January 10, 2011

Hakim Mohammed Said, a man with vision


There are a number of terms to introduce Shaheed-e-Pakistan Hakim Mohammed Said (January 9, 1920 – October 17, 1998); he was an enthusiastic educationist and Hakim (physician). In addition to these, his multidimensional personality includes a seasoned writer, a wandering tourist, an altruistic philanthropist, a true patriot and a highly responsible Governor of province, but above all he was an admirable human being and a practicing Muslim.

His professional career started with migration to his beloved country Pakistan in 1948 where he founded a small Matab (clinic) of herbal medicines. This small clinic then turned into a well known non government institution, Hamdard Laboratories Pakistan, which afterwards gained the status of an active pharmaceutical industry and was transformed into a Waqf (trust) in 1953. In 1958 Hakim Said established Hamdard Tibbia College where a degree in Uniani (Greece) Medicines was offered.

It was in early 1980s when he started to materialise his dream of establishing a city of knowledge, culture and industry. This dream started coming to a reality when in 1983 the land near Northern Bypass some 27 km away from Karachi was purchased. General Zia ul-Haq the then president of Pakistan laid the foundation stone of the mega project called Madinat al-Hikmah in June 1985. The first institute to start working was Hamdard Public School in 1990, with no electricity and gas connection, also there was no water line to the school complex and the road was even not carpeted from the city to the school. But these deficiencies could not stop the staff and students to start the process of learning at the institute.

This was only possible due to the driving force behind the project, because the man behind it was the man with vision and mission.

He used to visit the school every week and would mix with the kids. Hakim Said was a footballer during his student life therefore he focused on the physical strength of the kids also. For this purpose a well equipped stadium was constructed at the school premises. This stadium became the centre of all on campus sports and co-curricular activities.

Later on Hamdard University, Hamdard College of Eastern Medicine, Bait ul-Hikmah (library) and Hamdard Village School also started functioning step by step under Hamdard Foundation Pakistan.

This is one aspect of his personality, as a writer he produced a number of manuscripts on diverse subjects, from kid's stories to technical reports and research thesis. One of the major areas of his authorship was to write travelogues and he was really good at that, because readers used to travel with him as a companion while reading his travelogues. He was a Hafiz of Quran also, so he gathered a large number of Quranic manuscripts from across the world at Bait ul-Hikmah.

To educate and train the children he started the forum of Naunehal Assembly where kids from different schools used to participate and share their views with their fellows, parents, teachers and the eminent scholars. Similarly Hakim Said also developed a platform for the leaders by the name of Hamdard Shura. He shared his experience and knowledge at various national and international conferences, symposiums and workshops by presenting his research and delivering technical and general lectures. His debating style was simple, logical and spontaneous therefore the audience of all ages were equally able to listen and understand him.

Government of Pakistan acknowledged the services of Hakim Said to his countrymen and he was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1966 and the highest civilian award of Pakistan Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2000. These are the two major awards from a long list of achievements.

He never believed in making property for himself as he lived in the only house in Karachi since his arrival to the country till the day of his assassination. He always ate simple meal and wore white dress comprising the Sherwani that was washed by him, usually. He had a habit of fasting and he was assassinated in the same mode also.

He was a person who thinks that 'Why not' so he brought his dreams to reality not for himself but for the others, he always believed in giving and did not hesitate in giving his life in the noble cause of serving the humanity. He once said that

اس دنیا میں جتنے بھی بڑے لوگ گزرے ہیں جتنے بھی بڑے لوگ سامنے آئے ہیں تم انکی زندگی کا مطالعہ کروتو تم یہ دیکھو گے اور غور کرو گےہر بڑے انسان نے اپنی ذات کی قربانی دی ہے۔ آپ کسی بھی بڑے انسان کو دیکھ لیجیئے اس نے ایثار کیا ہے اور دوسرے انسانوں سے محبت کی ہے اور انکا احترام کیا ہے یہ چیزیں بڑا انسان بننے کے لئے بہت ضروری ہیں۔
If you look at the great people of the world, read out about their lives, you will find that and realize it that every great person has sacrificed himself. You look at any great person he would have abnegated himself and loved the human beings and respected them. This is a compulsion to become a great person.

These words reflect his thoughts and he practiced the same till his last breathe. May his soul rest is peace, amen.

3 comments:

  1. Sir,You described my father,my hero and my role model in a way that he is yours.He is with you.That is amazing.I still have faint memories...me grade1 me the...aur unka autograph na milne per bht rooi the..aur wo agay chale gaye the...mere ronay ke awaz sunke wo meray paas aaye aur mjhe goud me utha liya..me unse autograph to na le saki but I can't forget his fatherly love..hum log roz pochte the ke hakim saeed story sunane kab aayege..aur phr use saal unhonn ne aana chor diya aur kahani adhori reh gaye lekin apna asar har hamdardian ke dil o dimagh per naqsh ker gaye..!
    yeh poem me ne aaj bhe apne paas plastic coating kerke rakhe hooe hy colour kerke...lekin aaj tak kisi ko sunane ke ya sadia rashid ko dene ke himmat nahe hoi..kiun ke wooh itne azeem ..aur meray alfaz shayad unke azmat aur achaye ko bayan kerne se qasir hain aur rahenge..kiunke wo bht achay hain aur rehenge.
    I want to share my poem with you,it was written in grade6,so i didn't use fancy words,I didn't knew many back then.
    Tribute to the founder of Hamdard,Hakim Muhammad Saeed Shaheed
    The man who loved us,
    The man who encouraged us,
    He was the beam of light,
    He was kind,gentle,honest and polite,
    He wore Sherwaani that was White,
    The founder of Hamdard,
    The father of Hamdardians,
    On 17th October,1998,he(twinkling and shining star)died,
    But he would always be remembered in our minds,
    Come on,
    Lets step forward,
    To make his dreams true,
    For the blessing of his soul,
    And for his and our country Pakistan,
    Love Pakistan,
    Build Pakistan.

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  2. very well written Ameen sahib. and Humera beta i appreciate and honor your feelings for the great hakim sahib. aaj tuk Hmadard aur hakim sahib ki yaad usi taraha taza ha. kiya kiya bataao kiya khoobsoorat yaadein baatein chor gai. ek dafa sub alhamd shareef aur qul perh ker zaroor bukhsh dein jo b perhe isko

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  3. In today's haphazard World , I feel blessed that I have seen such a good person in my life who by his plain and simple ways taught us the true meaning of love.

    As a student at Hamdard he was an Angelic figure to me. I had no personal experience with him, but I was able to feel his affection because he carried this air of love and humbleness for all of us with him whenever he visited.

    He still serves as an inspiration for all of us to educate ourselves and to accomplish bigger goals in our lives InshaAllah.

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