Our Participation in the Urs
(Anniversary) of Peer Baba Abdul Qadir Wijanagrami at Qadir Nagar of Peer Baba
Bunair Swat on 6th of June 2014
By
Engineer Bashir Ahmad Khadim, CEO MEGACONSULTANTS, Islamabad
Power
Consultant, Noon Sugar Mills, Bhalwal District Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
Introduction:
Late Baba Obedullah Khan Durrani was the Principal
of Engineering College Peshawar University where I remained his student of
Electrical Engineering for four years from 1962 to 1966. He was a great spiritual
healer and a great orator of English Language and also an excellent Engineer.
His most famous skills lay in his secret supreme powers of helping people
without giving any chance of knowing as to who had helped them. His approach
was always indirect and totally hidden. He helped me in my most difficult times
of student life. When I was admitted into the first class of electrical
engineering in the Engineering College of Peshawar University in 1962, I lived
in a single-roomed humble hired house of nearby village called Tehkal Bala with
my wife and my eldest daughter. There was no water, no electricity, no
flooring, no kitchen and no water in the single room of katcha house I had
hired at five rupees per month. Very secretly he managed my shifting from the Ghareeb Abad
mohalla of Tehkal Bala village to the most comfortable servant quarter attached
to the official bungalow allotted to honorable Abbas Hasan Rizvi who was the
Head of Mathematics Department in the Engineering College of Peshawar University
in those days. Honorable Professor Abbas Hasan Rizvir was also a great man. He
used to come to me in the servant quarter of his bungalow to help me solve the
Mathematics papers of the previous years. How can I repay his sympathy with me
throughout my stay with him? Professor Obedullah Khan Durrani had brought him
from United Kingdom.
Peer Baba Abdul Qadir of Wijianagram located in
Andhra Perdesh state of southern India was the spiritual leader of Professor
Durrani. Professor Durrani died in 1990 and was buried at Qadir Nagar located
at northern end of the valley of Peer Baba Bunair in Swat. The anniversary of
Peer Baba Abdul Qadir Wijanagarmi is celebrated in India and at Qadir Nagar
simultaneously. I had been wishing to visit the shrine of Professor Obedullah
Khan Durrani for the last many years but could not do so till my friend Mr.
Khurram Haneef took me in his personal car to Qadir Nagar on 6th of June 2014
(Friday). Honorable Dr. Ikram who had been very closely associated with Professor
Obedullah Khan Durrani for many years accompanied us in this historic tour to
Qadir Nagar. It was a mere coincidence that the anniversary of Peer Baba Abdul
Qadir at Qadir Nagar happened on the same day when we were visiting the shrine
of professor Obedulla Khan Durrani on 6th of June 2014. As per a stoned
encryption on a wall the place is situated at an altitude of 3260 feet above
sea level and it was acquired in or before 1963. In the following paragraphs is
given a brief description of this sacred and adventurous tour of ours:
1)
In
the early hours of 6th June 2014 (Friday), I received a telephone call from my
friend Mr. Khurram Haneef of Abbotabad
city of Pakhtoon Khawa. He has been Naib Nazim of Mansehra. We exchanged our
views for more than half an hour on various important topics of the day. At the
conclusion of our long telephonic talk, I reminded him of his long awaited
promise of taking me to Qadir Nagar in Bunair of Swat where our most respected
late Principal of Engineering College Peshawar was buried in 1990. After about
ten minutes, I received another telephonic call from him that he was ready to
fulfill his long outstanding promise right at that moment without any further
delay provided I was ready to go with him immediately. I requested him to wait
for my telephonic response to his kind offer for a few minutes.
2)
I
checked the fixed schedule of my daily activities for the day. There were no
urgencies of immediate nature. Hence I told Mr. Khurran Haneef on phone that I
was ready to go with him to Peer Baba Bunair. To save time he advised me to
take a taxicab to Hasan Abdal where he would meet me in the famous Restaurant
called PRINCE CAFFE. I immediately hired a taxicab and even without informing
my family I left for Hasan Abdal. It took me about one hour to go to the PRINCE
RESTAURANT/ Coffe of HASN ABDAL located on the G.T. Road. On reaching our
mutually agreed destination, I informed my friend on phone that I had reached the
agreed place and I was waiting for him on a cup of hot tea which I had already ordered
for me and my taxicab driver, Mr.Fakhar Ameer Lalwani. Mr. Khurram Haneef told
me that he would join me along with his famous well-read friend, Dr. Ikram Khan
after about one hour. I finished my hot tea that was very bitter and without
any taste at all. Afte the tea, I bid farewell to my taxi driver making the
payment of one thousand rupees as the agreed fare. Now there was nothing I
could do except to wait for my friend, Mr. Khurran Haneef and his companian,
Dr. Ikram Khan whom I had never met before.
I started recalling my good old memories of student life at the
Engineering College of Peshawar University from 1962 to 1966. No other
University on earth could be compared with the most excellent University of
Peshawar in those days. This is not an exaggeration.
3)
After
about one hour, my friend Mr. Khurram Haneef and his comrade Dr. Ikram Khan
came. They wanted to take a cup of tea before starting our adventurous journey
going through very dangerous areas of our beloved country. I advised them not
to spoil their taste as I had already experienced the bitter tasteless hot cup
of tea served to me by the famous PRINCE CAFFE of Hasan Abdal. Hence without
wasting any further time, we took a hurried start to our destination at Peer
Baba Bunair of Swat. We first went to Mardan city through the most pleasant
route of Motorway. At Mardan, we decided to follow the shortest but most
dangerous route to our destination going through Garhi Shabaz, Rustam city and
further on through a tribal belt where a grand expressway is being constructed.
Most of our route consisted of very green fields, lush green gardens and most
scenic valleys. About thirty kilometers of mountainous terrain where the grand
expressway is being constructed is mostly unpopulated and e area where you can
feel some unseen fear and terror. This has been the abode of most horrible
terrorists who had captured this vast zone and had occupied the region of Peer
Baba Bunair after numerous killings; only a few years ago. It was with the
honest sacrifices of our brave soldiers that this occupied vast zone was taken
back from the terrorists. All the nation
had lost its hopes to recapture the area but a long struggle of our brave
dedicated army regained the lost control over this golden area.
4)
It
was the day of Friday on which I normally avoid all journeys unless these
become absolutely unavoidable. The most terrific apprehension is that of
missing the blissful Juma (Friday) prayers. At the start of our journey, we had
designated Dr. Ikram Khan as the leader of our route and travel. I had very humbly expressed my fears of losing
the Friday prayers on our way to Bunair. Dr. Ikram Khan and my friend, Khurram Haneef, had kept silent on expression of my apprehensions
of missing the Friday prayers. Hence I had very clearly concluded the sad
outcome. They told me that we had to pass through the dangerous area and we had
also very limited time at our disposal because we wanted to return the same day
to our homes at Abbotabad and Islamab. Hence they could not promise anything
like the offering of Friday prayers on our way to Qadir Nagir of Peer Baba
Bunair in Swat. It was their kindness to tell me their frank and candid opinion
for which I thanked them saying that the Friday prayers do not remain
obligatory during the journeys. This
statement of mine was a diplomatic one.
At the heart I felt great sorrow at the loss of Juma (Friday) prayers,
perhaps for the first time in my life. As the people usually say proverbially
that what cannot be cured must be endured. So I endured it peacefully.
5)
On
our way to Peer Baba of Bunair via Shahbaz Garhi, Rustam city and the tribal rugged horrific
terrain, I enjoyed the journey as per my wild instincts and temperament. Our route
leader, Dr. Ikram Khan had told me at the outset that he would continue a question
and answer session throughout our journey. I told him that I personally I do
not like it because of two main reasons. The first reason is that this shall
interfere in my deep sightseeing on our way to Peer Baba. The second reason is
that my blunt and frank answers to his questions may spoil his good mood. He
told me that as an admitted route and travel leader, it was his prerogative to
order his companions as he wished and it was imperative for them to follow him
in letter and spirit. Eventually I surrendered to his orders. But after our
session of a few questions and answers, he preferred to remain silent. It was
my great luck or perhaps his that he realized the bare and bitter facts very
soon. Mr. Khurram remained mostly impartial and silent in our bitter discussions.
It was a great kindness on his part as both of them belong to the staunch
sophism school of thought to which I am somewhat allergic. On our way through
the dangerous rugged mountainous zone there was a charming waterfall where many
truck drivers and villagers were enjoying their bath. Our travel leader was
kind enough to offer us the permission of offering zohar prayers but the nearby
mosque was very small having no facilities of ablution and natural
facilitations. So we did not accept his good offer. He seemed somewhat angry at
the rejection of his good offer.
6)
We
continued our tedious journey and passed through many stern check posts being
supervised by horrible security guards where many persons were being
interrogated and detained. They were demanding some serious documents of
identification which none of us possessed. Mr. Khurram Haneef was always
available to us for our rescue. He behaved and responded in such a peculiar
style that our interrogators forgot as to what was being demanded from us. It
was a great relief on our being allowed to pass through the horrible security
gates. I wanted to ask Mr. Khurram Haneef from where he got the peculiar skill
to handle such odd situations. It was very interesting to note that our travel
leader never took any initiative at such odd moments. He preferred to remain
silent and unconcerned like me at such odd situations. We passed through many
such vulnerable episodes and odd situations till we neared the area of Peer
Baba Bunair of Swat which is not less than Switzerland in any way except in
terms of missing cleanliness and man-made beautification of the entire
environments. I recalled my old sweet memories of forty four years back when I
was there in Switzerland on week my ends from Munich of West Germany. In those
days I was a fellow of ITU/UNO with my Headquarters at Frankfurt. I was lucky
not to be disturbed by our travel leader during my sightseeing of charming Peer
Baba zone all around me. I had visited this charming area of Peer Baba about
forty four years ago along with my Bengali friend, Mr. Ali Ahmad and his
charming wife with a lovely baby called Nayeena. We had spent about one week
going to various charming spots of Swat. Mr. Ali Ahmad was a jolly freeman. He
enjoyed the scenic spots of Swat through mad loud music and lunatic dancing in
the public. The residents of Swat in those days were much more orthodox and
religious minded. I was all the time afraid of being tortured by them for such
unethical deeds. But luckily, no
untoward incident happened. It was due to the extreme discipline and pleasant
atmosphere created by the founder of Swat, Gul Khan Babajee to whom I met
during the India-Pakistan war of 1965 in his palace at Mingora for about two
hours interviewing him at length. He was really a great and rare personality.
He presented me with his autobiography and some other gifts of extreme value.
During the horrible shelling of Indian planes at Peshawar University we (I, my
wife and our eldest daughter, Maryam Bashir Khadim) had fled with my
engineering class-fellow, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Swati to his home at Mingora. I was
a student of third year electrical engineering of Peshawar College of
Engineering and Technology during those days. Old respected father of my class-fellow,
Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Swati was one of the personal guards to the founder of the
Swat State. I had sought the interview with the honorable old and frail founder
of the Swat State through the kind courtesy of my class-fellow's father. He
told me how he formed the Islamic state of Swat, how it was snatched away from
him by his enemies and how he recaptured it from them through his untiring struggles.
I asked him as to what were his activities during his retired life of those
days. He was kind to tell me that his only activity was to recite the holy
Quraan and prepare for the death which was approaching him soon. He had
constructed his would-be tomb near the palace which was visited by me four
times. It had two stories; the ground floor and the basement. He was buried in
the basement which was open for all to visit it and which was closed
permanently after his burial. I often read his fine life history,
personally presented to me by him in September 1965. I frequently recall my
personal interview with him lasting for about two hours. It was a masterpiece
of struggle and achievement.
7)
We passed through Daggar area and its main
localities. Our leader asked us to stop for taking tea at a restaurant. It was
a dirty place and the tea was also not good. I was feeling very hungry and
wanted to have lunch instead of tea. However, we were obliged to follow the
orders of our travel guide and leader as per our agreement made by us before
the start of our arduous journey.
8)
Thanks to my great friend Mr. Khurram Haneef who
had brought some delicious burgers from Abbotabad to serve as our lunch. We passed by the holy and
famous shrine of Peer Baba Bunair which had been visited by me twice before
about forty four years ago. The locality around the holy shrine of Peer Baba
Bunair has totally changed now and I could not recognize it properly. Our
travel leader did not allow us to stop and visit the holy shrine of Peer Baba
Bunair on the pretext of short time at our disposal. I consoled myself again
telling myself that what cannot be cured must be endured patiently. We moved
ahead to gain time to reach our destination at Qadir Nagar as soon as possible.
There were lush green fields of fruits and vegetables. There was too much
greenery all around us making the atmosphere somewhat, darker, congested and
suffocating. There were a large number of marble factories making the zone
seriously dirty. The rainy natural flow nallahs are almost chocked with the
marble waste. The atmosphere is infested with the abundance of flies and
mosquitoes. Pakhtoons are a great nation but they have not yet learnt the value
of cleanliness. In fact this applies to our entire nation. There are many
schools and colleges now here everywhere but the real affordable education is
still missing. There is an atmosphere of fleecing and negative competition
everywhere. The poor are still poor and the rich are getting richer. There
seems none to check and block the negative race. I very seriously felt that we
are degenerating very quickly. Will the negative race stop somewhere and
sometime soon? Apparently there seems no positive hope. Let us pray and work
hard to stop the degeneration and start the new enlightenment. Let there be honest
volunteers and not the fake NGOs implanted by our enemies to destroy us.
9)
We finally reached our destination at Qadir Nagar
at about four O'clock in the afternoon. This place is situated at the height of
about four thousand feet above sea level and forms a very slanting fertile mountainous
end of the valley. There are almost vertical rocks in the eastern side and lush
green mountains on the western side. The entrance to the restricted locality of
Qadir Nagar is from the southern direction. There is a main gate beyond which
none can take his vehicle ahead. There is a medium sized mosque on the
left side of the main gate. Later on, when we went to offer our Zohar and Asar
prayers in this mosque, we found it the most neglected and dirty place in the
entire sacred area of Qadir Nagar. This was the first shock of my visit to this
place and it was really very pinching. I wanted to research and find out the
real cause of the sheer negligence here in many respects. It was a very
critical mission that I was forced to undertake. I had absolutely no intentions
of carrying out any serious research or investigation. My sole purpose was to
visit the tomb of my honorable great Principal of my Engineering College
Peshawar where I had developed a unique liking for him considering him my role
model. He loved me and helped me in most distressing days of my student
life. He was an orator of English language
and a great helper of the universe rather than an excellent engineer. I learnt
thousands of noble things from him. He had an exceptionally high regard for me
for which I did not know the underlying reason. He had very unique ways of
helping me secretly. His approach was never direct. His greatness was hidden
behind his superb secret miraculous expertise not yet known to mankind so far. I did my best to find out his secret
underlying unique skills. Thousands of people surrounding him called him a black
magician. Thousands called him a spiritual guide or a peer. But I differ in my
opinion from all of them. He was a strange secret reformer and a unique
universal helper for the needy and the suppressed. He was certainly not a
magician because the magicians are invariably negative and harmful. He was not
at all harmful but he was all help to whom he met in any manner whatsoever. He
was a great healer. I witnessed his marvels of medical healing at many
occasions. He was very rational and never neglected the force of logic in his
speeches and deeds. I have personally witnessed incredible orators like
Ataullah Shah Bukhri. But the logical serene speeches of Professor Durrani were
far more superior and effective in all respects. When I got admitted into the
Engineering College of Peshawar University, professor Durrani was out of Pakistan on a
long tour of Europe for a couple of months during the summer vacation. On his
return, he told us in a general gathering all about Europe detailing us the
good and bad points in particular. I still remember his most vivid logical
masterpiece of oratory in the English language. The audience appeared dumb and
non- existent. There was complete silence without even a murmur during his long
speech. I remained spellbound for many years to come. It was something which
enlightened everyone of the audience in some way or the other for many years to
come.
10)
After
entering the main gateof Qadir Nagar restricted boundary, we find on our right side
an elevated building with stairs marked as "Restricted Area" as it is
a small hydro power station. The gushing high speed waters originating up from
the huge natural water fountains are flowing down with great potential to
produce sufficient electric power for the entire locality. This hydropower
produced is almost free of cost. Hence it is being lavishly consumed here. The
inner portion of the bigger mosque was locked from all sided but the fans
inside were running at full speed forever. I do not know if it is wastage or it
could be termed as an unfair and unjustified act. The surplus electric power
being produced here could be easily supplied to the poor residents of the area.
11)
On
the front open lawn of the bigger mosque near the main gate on the left side, a
small vegetable farm has been made. There are some vegetable plants grown on
this small vegetable farm but none of the plants is producing any yield. The
grower appears either untrained or negligent otherwise sufficient quantity of
the produced vegetables and fruits could make the inhabitants of the shrine self-sufficient.
In fact, the entire area of the shrine is without much landscaping and
beautification. Even the simple trimming of undesired overgrowth has been
avoided. The land is extremely fertile and there is abundance of irrigation and
valuable mineral water for drinking, everywhere. The wild overgrowth itself is
enchanting everywhere in many ways.
12)
In
fact, the entire Baba Peer of Bunair zone should be examined thoroughly and
critically to identify all the negative and harmful aspects. Diseases like asthama are being produced by
the constant humid moisture of rain and fountain waters and the overgrowth of
plantation is blocking the access to
full natural solar radiation that could kill the fatal bacteria and harmful
germs present in the atmosphere everywhere. In the presence of excessive
plantation which is blocking the access to solar radiation, there is very
little possibility for natural evaporation to excessive moisture which produces
the bacteria and germs of numerous diseases. The natural solar radiation which
could kill these harmful germs and bacteria producing many diseases and
blocking the much desired natural evaporation has been almost totally blocked
by the undesired overgrowth of poplar trees and other undesired excessive
plantation everywhere. The agricultural yield can be doubled at least if the
overgrowth and undesired excessive plantation is sufficiently reduced and kept
within permissible limits. I wish to visit the area again to tell the
inhabitants what has to be done in this respect with why and how of the
negative issues involved. I hope the NGOs and Imams of the mosques and staff of
the educational institutions could do wonders in this respect within a week or
so through proper awareness and training.
13)
Land
of the entire area is extremely fertile and sufficient water for the irrigation
is easily and freely available. These are the only two essential necessities
for the agricultural produce. Despite the excessive plantation and overgrowth
of poplar trees etc. the agricultural production per acre cultivated land of
this zone is more than double as compared to that of Punjab. I witnessed
incredibly huge amounts of tomato, various vegetables and fine quality fruits
being produced from only one acre of the agricultural land. The yield could be
multiplied by adopting adequate scientific procedures and techniques of modern
age. I served at very elevated positions in more than a dozen of advanced
countries where I witnessed how very large scale mechanization and modern scientific
methods are being used. The same or similar advanced skills could also be used
in our country. Despite the incredible potential of agricultural production
with the availability of fertile land and sufficient irrigation water, the
farmers were mostly found poor and backward. I investigated the cause of this
negative phenomenon. Ultimately I found one major reason for this poverty and
backwardness. The huge agricultural production of various fruits and vegetables
cannot be transported to the national and international markets which could buy
these golden products at much higher rates. It is the duty of the local and
federal governments to provide the needed transport facility at very low rates.
This shall certainly raise the standard of living manifold for the residents of
this area.
14)
To
my big surprise, the quality of the fruits and other agricultural products of
this area was mostly found very good. This is perhaps due to fertile land and
fresh natural irrigation waters which are full of natural chemicals necessary
for the agricultural products. I do not know if insecticides are being used or
not and to what extent. I wish to visit the area for sufficient time to
investigate and prepare suitable recommendations. I do not know as to when I could
do so in view of my large number of consultancies. I shall have to get rid of
my urgent assignments to relieve myself for the tasks of this zone. May God
Almighty grant me the required valuable chance. I request the concerned social welfare
organizations of this zone to associate with me to reinforce my efforts for the
sake of producing huge and fast results within minimum possible time. I am sure
this would revolutionize this golden area of our country.
15)
I
have already described the status of first level area of Qadir Nagar adjoining
the main gate. The second level area is ahead on a higher altitude. There is a
large conference hall on the right side at a higher elevation. In front of this
conference hall is located a vast open floor made of concrete in the northern
direction. There are flowers grown on the borders of this vast open floor.
There is a passage to go to the third level zone of Qadir Nagar to a guest room
for the visitors of this shrine. Climbing up a few stairs on the right side is
located the guest room where several visitors were taking rest on the beds. We
introduced ourselves to them. On a comfortable bed in the corner was resting a
healthy gentleman of about seventy years or more. His face looked very familiar
to me. Later on, it was revealed that the gentleman was Mr. Hafeezullah Cheema
who had been the Minister of Pakistan Railways and Communications in the
premiership of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. I knew him well and he also knew me very
well. He had been coming to my office several times for resolving some of the
problems of his native area at Sargodha. He became very famous due to the
whitepaper published by the opposition of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. His constituency
was the first to be described in the whitepaper. I was the Divisional Engineer
Telegraph at Sargodha at that time. I had also been appointed as the Divisional
Coordinator for the election activities of Sargodha Division. We had good chat
recalling the old memories. We also exchanged our addresses with a view to meet
each other at convenient time. He lives in his agricultural farm located at
17th mile on the Islamabad-Murree Road. We invited each other with great
enthusiasm and cordiality for future personal meetings at Islamabad.
16)
After
easing ourselves and completing the ablution process we went to the bigger
mosque near the main gate. We prayed zohar and asar prayers together. The main
covered portion of the bigger mosque had been locked from all sides but many
fans were running at full speed. This is really not justified in anyway. This
shows sheer mismanagement of God given resources. The hydropower being produced
at Qadir Nagar is almost free of cost. The surplus power should be supplied to
the neighboring poor residents. The mosque was found very dirty and totally un-cleaned.
The water taps of the ablution pipe were rusting. There was no arrangement for
offering the collective daily prayers. This all is extremely sad and pathetic.
This should be attended to immediately without any further delay.
17)
After
offering our zohar and asar prayers we came back to the guest room mention in
previous paragraphs where other visitors were resting. After some time, it was
announced that the urs (anniversary) celebrations shall start soon and we
should all go to the mansion which is actually a meeting place for formal gatherings.
We first went to the graves of late professor Durrani and Mohyuddin Ahmad Pasha
who was a devoted follower of our respected professor Durrani. We prayed there
for ourselves and for the souls of the dead personalities. After that we went
to the general meeting room of the mansion where some visitors were already
sitting. Mr. Tishna was apparently presiding over the meeting. We were
introduced to those who were present there. After a few minutes, it was
announced that the ceremony of urs (anniversary) is going to take place. I had
never before attended any urs . Hence my curiosity compelled me to participate
in the formal rituals. Huge wooden boxes were taken from the veranda to the
outer fortified concrete platform adjoining the two graves mentioned above. The
wooden boxes were opened and I saw large and very costly ornamented and
embroidered sheets of cloth and flowers. These were taken into the inner
fortification with a grand open-roofed marble canopy which had been constructed
over the graves in an open unique design of a great artistic value. The costly
cloth and flower sheets were placed over both the graves with identical
qualities and similar patterns. Bottles of very high quality perfumes were sprayed
over the graves and the flowers of very high quality were then placed over the
graves. Then a very comprehensive long prayer was offered collectively. This
wonderful long prayer was very touchy and effective. Very earnest prayers for
the uplift and welfare of all the Muslims on earth were offered.
18)
After
the end of the long and touchy prayers, all the visitors were lead to the
nearby mansion mentioned earlier, which is actually a general meeting place. We
were introduced again to those who were present there at that moment. M. Tishna
told the audience that the most important and the last item of the urs
(anniversary) was going to take place. In this last item someone associated
with the honorable late professor Durrani has to narrate some of his personal
experiences related with honorable Professor Durrani . Others can join him to
add any other related details. To my surprise, Mr.Tishna declared that for that
particular day I should narrate my personal experiences with the honorable late
professor Durrani. This decision of Mr. Tishna was perhaps taken unanimously by
all concerned as I was associated with honorable professor Durrani as a humble
engineering student for four years from 1962 to 1966. I hesitated for a few
moments as I was not prepared for this great and sudden surprise to me.
19)
Finally,
I had to obey the orders and accordingly I narrated some of my personal events summarized as under in the
form of very short episodes:
a)
First
of all, I narrated my first sudden exposure to honorable professor Durrani near
Tehkal Bala village at about midnight in 1962 when I was fetching a pitcher of
water from my Engineering College and the honorable professor Durrani was
running bare-footed with an old man who was carrying the emergency medical kit.
They were running to save the life of a patient at the verge of death. I later
on learnt that the patient on the death bed had recovered soon.
b)
Then
I narrated my shifting from the humble hired katcha house in Tehkal Bala
village without any essential requirements to a very comfortable servant
quarter attached with bungalow of Professor Abbas Hasan Rizvi who was then
working as the Head of Mathematics Department of Engineering College,
University of Peshawar.
c)
I
had been awarded two scholarships of rupees one hundred per month each. Some
jealous persons complained against me that I was entitled to one scholarship
only. Professor Durrani fought my case very secretly and most vigorously by
convincing the syndicate members and the Vice Chancellor of the University, Ch.
Mohammad Ali Sahib. He also got the incredible help of Dr. Nazeer who was the
Registrar of the University at that time. I can never forget his struggles to
help me at that distressing juncture of my student life. God Almighty may bless
them all with the best part of the paradise.
d)
I
was appearing in my B.Sc. Examination privately from the Punjab University with
my examination centre at Barkat Ali Government High School Rawalpindi (located
in front of Liaqat Garden s Rawalpind) At the same time and the same day I had
to take the annual examination of my third year engineering in the paper of
hydrology while my Physics paper of the Punjab University was to be held at
Rawalpindi simultaneously. Dr. Ataullah who was the Head of Hydrology
Department of the Engineering College of Peshawar University got the hydrology
paper deferred at my request and perhaps at the secret instructions of
honorable professor Durrani. This act of respected professor Ataullah was
something incredible. Later on, it was revealed that Professor Durrani had
managed it secretly through his supreme influence. It is very interesting to
note that I had not contacted my honorable professor Dr. Ataullah. I was in a
great hurry to leave for Rawalpindi from Peshawar by the worn out Government
Transport Service (GTS) which normally took six hours to reach Rawalpindi. I
left a humble polite message to be conveyed to my honorable Head of Hydrology
Department through my friend Sh. Mohammad Jahangir who was a student of M.Sc.
Chemistry in the University of Peshawar.
As a result of the postponement of my hydrology paper a general strike
was observed as a protest that the annual paper of Hydrology had been deferred
at the request of a single student damaging the interest of other students.
This special act of kindness to me was perhaps because of the secret
intervention by honorable professors Ataullah and Obedullah khan Durrani. Dr.
Nazreer who was the Controller of Examinations at that time had played the key
role. Professor Obedullah Durrani had finally managed the termination of the
general strike
e)
There
are many such acts of some special kindness to me by Professor Durrani and his
team which had been very carefully selected by him from all over the world.
Many such acts are described in my booklet titled as" My Recollections of
Peshawar University" printed and published many years ago under the
instructions of my great friend Mr. Khurram Haneef. I shall later on make it an integral part of
this travelogue.
f)
To
my bad luck I came in association with some people who were deadly against
Durrani Sahib. Mr. Hameed was one of such persons. He was the Superintendant of
Workshops of the Engineering College of Peshawar University. He came to me very
often when I was the Divisional Engineer (Telephones) with my office in the
Telephone House Islamabad located in front of our National Assembly House
Islamabad. His two daughters were married to some persons here at Rawalpindi.
He used to come to them and meet me in my office after or before his meeting
with his daughters. His last visit to me is extremely interesting when he
looked very puzzled at the looting and returning back of some very valuable
items when he along with some other passengers of the wagon were looted by the
unknown dacoits on the G.T. Road near Akora Khatak. On searching his briefcase
and finding a book of Babajee Durrani they returned not only his valuable items
but all the items they had snatched from other passengers too. This had
drastically changed his negative thinking about Babajee. After this sad or
happy event of his he never came to me again. I do not know if he is alive or
dead now.
g)
The
first strange and totally incredible event of my student life at Peshawar
University is about the events that occurred at my admission to the Engineering
College of Peshawar University in 1962. I had come to this University campus to
see one of my old associates, Mr. Naseer Ahmad Khan who was then a student of
M.Sc. Chemistry and he was the living with maternal uncle, Professor Zaheer
Ahmad Khan of the Chemistry Department. After my stay with him at night, I went
to the Engineering College of Peshawar University for getting some information
about the admission process. Engineering College of the Peshawar University was
closed due to summer vacation but someone was sitting in the office of the
Principal. The name of the Principal was clearly written out on above the door
as” Obedullah Khan Durrani”. I strolled before this office many times before
this office till finally I was called in by the gentleman sitting on the chair
of the Principal. He asked me to sit down a chair near him. I very politely told
him that I wanted to be admitted into the Engineering College and for this
purpose I had come to get the relevant information. He kept very silent for
many minutes while I remained puzzled at his complete silence. After about five
minutes or so he told me that it was the last day for the admissions. I almost
fainted at this sudden sad news. He felt my anguish and consoled me saying that
nothing was lost. He took out a blank
admission form and asked me to fill it hurriedly. Alas, I had no data with me
to fill the admission form as I had simply gone there to get the relevant
information. I had thought that the admissions would open after the summer
vacation which was to end after two months or so. He realized my problem and
told me to write the information I remembered a d for the remaining rows and
columns I must write arbitrarily. He advised me not to leave any applicable row
or column of the admission form blank as it would make it ineligible for
consideration. Noticing a great surprise on my face, he very kindly explained
that he would give another blank admission form to be filled properly and very
accurately on my return to my home. He advised me to back soonest possible and
return the blank form duly and accurately filled by me. He further explained
that the correctly filled blank form would replace the incorrectly filled
previous form. My happiness knew no
bounds. I thanked him and hurriedly came out of his office. He called me back
with loud voice. He told me that there was something very essential remaining
still. It was the medical fitness form to be properly filled by the civil
surgeon of a district and after its signing and stamping it must be submitted
to him as it was the last day of admissions. He told me that it normally takes
a minimum of two weeks. I succumbed I n the chair after knowing this
impossibility. Anyway, I came out with the blank medical fitness form he had
handed me over. I sat on a bench placed on the green vast lawn of the
Engineering College. After about half an hour of deep pondering, all of a
sudden, an idea flashed into my mind. I thought that apparently, obtaining the
medical fitness certificate was impossible but there was no harm in trying it.
Hence I got up and hurriedly caught a double-roofed bus going to Peshawar city.
All of a sudden, I got up and caught the bus going to Peshawar city whewre the
bus conductor dropped me near the Peshawar Museum bus stop. I hurriedly walked
to the office of the Civil Surgeon Peshawar where very long four or five lanes
of the needy persons were waiting for the honorable surgeon who had gone out of
his office to attend to some of his errands. After some hesitation, I also
stood in one of the lanes for my turn which could never come to true
apparently. After about half an hour, a very well-dressed gentleman passed by
me and after taking a few steps ahead he turned around. He caught hold of my
arm and politely dragged me along with him to an excellent vast office. He sat
on the grand chair which apparently looked the chair of the Civil Surgeon of
Peshawar. Very politely he asked me to sit on one of the chairs beside him. I a
very loud voice he said to me “Oh Mr. Basher Khadim, where have you been so
long?. I did my best to trace you at many places but failed. Don’t you remember
how fiercely we used to play football at Bannu?” I kept silent and after a
pause of ten or fifteen seconds, he asked me why I was standing in the long
lane in front of his office. I politely told him that I need a medical
certificate for the admission into Engineering College of Peshawar University
for which it was the last day. He again paused and kept silent for about two
minutes and then asked me if according to my personal true opinion I was
medically fit in all respects. After some hesitation I replied in affirmative
on which he called his personal secretary and wrote a few lines on a small chit
of paper for some doctors of the Lady Reading Hospital. The Personal Secretary
brought a huge file containing many laboratory test results and medical
certificates. He took out a long medical form and filled it with suitable
entries. After that he signed at the bottom of the medical fitness form
stamping it with an official rubber stamp. He handed it over to me advising me
to rush to the Engineering College of Peshawar University. Instead of going
straight to the Engineering College I went to a nearby mosque where I prayed
many nafals of gratitude to God Almighty. Then I rushed to the engineering
College where the Vice Principle, Mr. Shafaat Khan was still waiting for me
although it was very late and it was about sunset time. I handed over my
medical fitness certificate on which he remarked” Well done, I knew that you
will get it today. Be assured you stand
admitted. Please go back home and prepare yourself to attend the engineering
classes here. But note that you have to fill the blank form of admission given
to with accurate data at home and return it to me soonest possible so that I
could replace it in place of the fake one randomly filled. My happiness at this
moment knew no bounds. I rushed out of his office thanking him from the cores
of my heart. This noble act of Professor Shafaat Khan was in itself a great
miracle for me. It is not directly related to my association with honorable
Professor Durrani as he was out of Pakistan in those days on a personal private
tour. Professor Shafaat Khan later on became the Federal Secretary of Education.
He was an angle for me sent by God Almighty especially to help me out of the
way. There is only one thing I could never understand throughout my life. It is
the totally non-comprehensible miraculous role of the role of the Civil Surgeon
of Peshawar who managed the medical fitness certificate on the last day of the
admissions.
h)
It
is of extreme surprise that actually to the best of my knowledge and belief I
had never before met the honorable Civil Surgeon Peshawar. I even do not know
his good name till today. In fact never before I had seen Bannu at which I used
to play football with the honorable Civil Surgeon. How could I explain al this?
There is absolutely no way.
Concluding Remarks:
I narrated my
above mentioned miraculous experiences with reference to my special association
with my respected professor Obedullah Khan Durrani and his friends who did miracles for me very secretly during
my student life of four years at the Engineering College, University of
Peshawar. I am sure he might have done similar miracles to many other students.
At the end of the conference, the participants (their list is enclosed at the
end of this travelogue) thanked me for my personal narrations of the greatness
of professor Durrani and his great associates. We were already late to depart
and retrace our journey back to our homes from where we had come to visit this
sacred place. We asked permission to leave the audience who were not ready to
bid us farewell. Anyway we had to leave them when the sun was setting and we
had to cross some very dangerous areas where a grand expressway was being
constructed. Many people bid us farewell. Advocate Ameen particularly came to
see us off at our car. We thank him honestly.
My Suggestions and Recommendations for the
improvement:
At
the end of my travelogue I feel it appropriate to submit my suggestions and
recommendations with a view to carry out some improvements where ever possible as
summarized under:
1. Security arrangements at the main gate need enhancements.
In view of prevailing security situation present security arrangements must be
examined critically for necessary enhancements. The boundary of Qadir Nagar has
to be fortified properly with only one or two entry points only which must
properly guarded through duly trained armed personnel.
2. A good gardener should be appointed for the
necessary works of trimming the excessive plantation and undesired overgrowth
of plants. This would be necessary to make the shrine self-sufficient for
growing of fruits and vegetables. This would also be economically beneficial.
3. Landscaping and beautification of the entire
area shall make it more attractive for the visitors. This needs an extensive
remodeling and innovation of the area as a whole. Most of the area is
unproductive an unplanned. Excessive and wild overgrowth of the plants and
plantations is dangerous and harmful as it blocks the much desired natural
vaporization and solar radiation. I can help in this respect. Please note that
those items of any nature which bear any deep association with honorable
Babajan Durrani Sahib must be preserved.
4. A regular Imam for the bigger mosque near
main gate must be appointed to ensure regular collective prayers five times a
day. He could also teach the local students holy Quraan and Arabic language to
understand it properly. He could also
serve as a religious guide and spiritual teacher to the residents of this place
but a very appropriate selection should be made to avoid any sectarian clashes.
This is a very critical matter to be decided with great care.
5. The trust is already making commendable
efforts to impart quality free education. More courses could be offered for the
vocational skills to eradicate the unemployment. A suitable dispensary should
be operational round the clock. Proper medical arrangements should be made to
cater for any sudden emergencies. An ambulance should be promptly available as
and when needed.
6. More transparency of donations with the
related details of income and expenses should be ensured. This would to
encourage new donors to participate with full trust and confidence. A simple
audit should be carried out annually by a trustworthy team. Full record of the
detailed accounts and their annual audit must be kept properly.
7.
Wide circulation of the free services
being rendered by the trust for the masses should be properly publicized to
ensure more donations from the rich people at regular periods. This will ensure
the generation of adequate funds for the running and the new social welfare
projects. The Board of the shrine must
hold quarterly meetings very regularly to discuss and take timely decisions. It
should also review the progress of running projects with a view to identify
arrange the essential requirements.
Bashir Ahmad
Khadim,
Power
Consultant, Noon Sugar Mills Bhalwal district Sargodha, Punjab Pakistan
Phone:+(051)
2212476 Mobile phone: + 0345-5096929
