DR. Ibrahim Masoodi
Years , years back, I went to my friend’s home , Mr Naseer Ahmad Dar.We were class fellows and friends. Invariably, we would come together from school to home often sneaking our ways through the narrow lanes of Khushaal Mattoo and chotta Bazaar Sopore . Their old home was situated in front of Jamia Masjid Sopore immediately on the bank of River Jhelum.Those days, his father was dealing with timber business .
They had a unique wooden house having a wooden fence.To enter their home, one needed to go down from the main road on a partially broken , cemented staircase leading to the river bank.A unique feeling would sprout while entering their home .
Lots of wooden blocks standing in rows on sides and a large iron balance in the centre for weighing wood .A couple of employees working in between in the compound.
A small ,single storey annexe near the nook of this interesting compound immediately near the gate was Mr Naseer’s study.A small wooden staircase from the compound led to his room .
I entered the room, Mr Naseer was reading, near the window and he had a wooden desk in front of him .
He warmly welcomed me.
We started our usual chat .
Soon, our chat was interrupted by a gentle knock at the door . In came the well-built tall, middle-aged person in a white glistening shirt .
He had a white rounded cotton cap on his head, which was beautifully fenestrated, Mr Naseer’s father Abajan ! “He is Ibrahim , my friend at school.” He warmly welcomed me .
“Let us have tea together on the other side,” Abajan affectionately invited.
After a few minutes both of us left the annexe and entered their living room which was led by another wooden staircase from the compound.(If by any stretch of imagination you are unable to visualise it , imagine a houseboat on the ground).
A characteristic sound , critch critch , could be heard while walking on their wooden floor.
“Beta , where do you live ?” Abajan inquired.
I introduced myself, and he felt very happy as he knew my father .
“You are as good as my son and most welcome to our home.”
In a moment, his warmth melted all the barriers of strangeness, and I no longer felt like a powerless pawn.
A male servant brought tea in a Samovar without any ostentatious show.
Abajaan got up in between and opened the window.
A cool breeze refreshed the living room.
He smiled and said, Betay! Do you think we require a fan here ?
I could feel the air currents from river Jehlum bathing the living room .
Abajaan, You are right of course a fan is not needed, Said I.On the opposite bank of river one could see Kaniqah Moulla and the nearby old temple from their northern window. The River Jehlum banks have always reflected a unique kashmiri ethos and symbolised our rich culture and age old communal harmony.
The only noise one could hear in their living room was from rumbling of water near abutments of old Sopore Bridge.
Nevertheless, their home lacked a feminine touch Abajan had lost his beloved wife years back. His daughter Dr Saleema Dar, was posted in Srinagar , Kashmir .
Another daughter, Miss Rafia, was only 7 to 8 years old at that time.
“A good company is a gift and remember the environment nourishes you” , Abajann said while sipping tea .
“Keep company with optimistic people who will add to your knowledge and encourage you, drive you towards your goal ”, for it is better to be alone than in a bad company ,he went on in this vein .
As the discussion was going on, another young man came out from the nearby room ,yawning and rubbing his eyes .”What is the discussion going on?”he said
Ibrahim ! He is Dr Hafizullah , our elder brother , said Mr Naseer.
I wished him .
He had come from Maharashtra ( where he was pursuing B .Vsc) the night before and was still tired.
Dr. Hafizullah joined the discussion.
Abajan ! I agree with you, company is very crucial in life and especially at their age.
“These are your formative years and time is your real wealth, so focus very hard on your studies”, he further said
Abajan related a few enlightening stories of his eventful life and cracked a few jokes in between .
It will not be out of place to mention two aspects of Abajaan’s personality .
He had a flourishing houseboat manufacturing business, and that had unfortunately collapsed. But he had never given up.Thus he had learnt to walk after stumbling.
The second bolt in his eventful life was the death of his first wife at an early age and then the death of his second wife as well.
Thus, he had to play the role of mother as well as father in the upbringing of his children from his two wives .
This is a difficult and uphill task.
His sole aim was the education of his bright children, and he left no stone un turned.
While the discussion was brewing, Nanaji, second brother of Mr Naseer, came and joined the discussion .
He was holding two magazines, Science Master and Science reporter ,in his hand. Nanaji was a few years senior to us .
He was a well-known speaker and a brilliant student in the school
“Naseer! I recommend “Science Master” to both of you. Just subscribe to this magazine” .
Well, science reporter stuff is not for you . It is for the advanced researchers, Nanaji advised.
Mr Nanaji had a unique habit , he would often scan most of the newspapers & journals at Mr Abdul Subhan news agency , a few feet small shop in front of Jamia Masjid Sopore in their neighbourhood.
While writing this, I feel the wonderful smell of ink the bundle of newspapers would emit from this news agency .
May his soul rest in peace .
Coming back to the discussion, Dr. Hafizullah said, “I think,”let them focus more on their subjects .They need to study in a smart way .
All of you should now think about which profession you would like to go to.
It requires effort from the beginning ,he further added .
“I have decided not to be a doctor”, Nanna Ji said .
“I am aware of Dr. Dass ( name changed ), who had so many complications during his career , most of the time none of his faults. It is a stressful life .
“I would rather go for engineering,” Nanaji added.
Contrary to this, Mr Naseer went on praising the medical profession .
After the death of his mother at a very early age, Mr Naseer had been in close connection with his maternal side and his uncle, the late Mr Ghulam Hassan Dar.
Mr Ghulam Hassan Dar was working as a senior haematology technologist at SKIMS .
He would often relate stories from SKIMS and would discuss Prof Khuroo Prof Guru and other brilliant faculty at SKIMS soura .
Invariably, Mr Naseer would narrate SKIMS stories to us in the school, as related by his Mamaji
Abajan kept his index finger at his left temple and, with a broad smile, glanced at his bright sons, including me, and said,
“All professions are equal”
“Whatever you want to choose , try to become the best.” It is not the profession but the person that matters.
Go on improving yourself every day ,endlessly, success will touch your feet. “
Pearls indeed!
“Ibrahim ! you become a doctor, but I want to become a businessman”, I want to be my own master and grow my own project,”Mr Naseer said.
I went on listening to the sweetly tuned arguments between three brothers, affectionately moderated by their genius father , the great Abajan.
I was naive like any adolescent.
Nevertheless, it was a very rich experience for me .
This wonderful interaction is as fresh as a rose in the meadows of my memory even though a lot of water has flown down the river Jhelum since then.
I enjoyed penning it down
Indeed, the company matters a lot at all stages of life .
This phenomenon is nicely depicted by Dr Iqbal
“Howi na zaag mein paida buland parawazi ,
Karaab kargaie shaheen bachay ko suhbat Zaag
( The company of low flying birds spoil high flying hawks) .
At that age, it was hard to understand how this great father was building his relationship with his children.
How he was giving them freedom of speech and encouraging their expression without imposing his own will or unfulfilled desire
Parents must keep an eagles’ eye on their wards, especially during adolescence,
as times have drastically changed,
Parents need to be friends with their children.
Parenting, of course, is a tough job but Abajan had mastered the skill and emerged as a role model
He is a very intelligent person, and may he live happily and healthily.
I did subscribe to the Science Master and I would impatiently wait for the postman to bring my copy every month .I had all the copies until our house was gutted in an unfortunate fire at Hatishah Sopore .
Our Nanaji is Mr Rashid Ahmad Dar National award winning chief engineer currently serving PHE Kashmir division. Mr Naseer is doing a National level pharmaceutical business along with his younger brother Mr Bashir Ahmad Dar . Dr. Saleema Dar retired as Professor Ophthalmology GMC Srinagar Kashmir.
Dr Hafizullah retired as Joint director animal husbandry
Dr Hafiz proved a poineer for establishing commercial broiler Poultry in Kashmir Helped to establish over 100 commercial broiler Poultry farms providing livelihood to more than 500 souls established a family business of commercial broiler farming rearing over 20000 (twenty thousand birds) in three poultry farms at sopore .
Their praise worthy progeny is Mr Shoaib Hafiz S/ O Dr Hafizullah who after graduating from prestigious Vellore institute of technology established Pijam foundation, an NGO of national repute receipient of several national awards imparting skill based digital education to underprivileged children empowering them for a better tommorrow whereas a lakh of kids from lowest economic group stand already covered.
One million students is the target to be covered by 2025 , the state of J&K being a priority Dr Nusrat Hafiz D/O Dr Hafizullah is serving as a senior resident Gynea at GMC Baramulla
Long live Abajan !
Loads of love to the genius family.
The author can be reached at ibrahimgastro@gmail.com
