IICC pays tributes to founder Hakeem Abdul Hameed

Story by  Shaista Fatima | Posted by  shaista fatima • 1 Years ago
The panel members
The panel members

 

Shaista Fatima/ New Delhi

While most Indian know the name and work of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University, very few may be acquainted with Hakeem Abdul Hameed, a much-awarded unani medicine expert to whom goes the credit of founding the Pharmacy college of Jamia Hamdard in Delhi.

The ones who know him call him the alter-ego of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan since he founded the the present day University Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard coaching centre, Rabia Girls School, Ghalib Academy and India Islamic Cultural Centre, Delhi.

It was only apt that on his birth anniversary, India Islamic Cultural centre (IICC) paid tribute to one of its founders by organising an interactive discussion with SY Qureshi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India on his book “Population Myth-Are Muslims overtaking the Hindus?”

The event was organized by SM Khan,former press secretary to the late president APJ Abdul Kalam and SM Yamin Qureshi, a chartered accountant by profession. The panelists were Poonam Muttreja, ED Population foundation of India and Farah Naqvi, writer, consultant and an activist.

Hakeem Abdul Hameed

Hakeem Abdul Hameed

The chief guest of the event was Mr.Badar Durrezz Ahmad, former Chief Justice of J&K whose mother was also one of the founding members of the IICC and it was presided over by Sirajuddin Qureshi, President IICC.

SY Qureshi praised Hakeem Abdul Hameed for his works. He said, “Hakeem Sahab wanted the youth of India to study as much as possible and sit for competitive examinations…”

He said that Hakeem Abdul learnt his art in Unani medicine from Hakeem Ajmal and started his Matab (clinic) from Lal Quan, Delhi, “He founded Hamdard National foundation and established IIMMR in Tughlakabad. He worked tirelessly for the betterment of the society. We cannot limit his wishes just to IICC but he was a versatile human with much more to give to the society…”

SM Khan not only praised Hakeem Abdul but also added anecdotes about his contribution to Indian society, “Today we celebrate the birth anniversary of Hakeem Abdul Hameed who gave the lease money of Rs 10lakh for procuring the piece of land where IICC today stands…”.

He went on reminiscing as to how Hakeem used to look after the construction of the Jamia Hamdard.“He wanted to impart education to the youth; single-handedly took up the responsibility of constructing the University; set up the Pharmacy college in 1972, which was then affiliated with Delhi University then now is one of the leading colleges of Jamia Hamdard…I call him Sir Syed’s alter-ego..”

He went on to mention how APJ Abdul Kalam once attended the convocation at Jamia Hamdard and quoted a couplet for Hakeem’s legacy, “APJ hardly ever quoted any couplet but that day he said, “Mai akela hi chala tha Janib-e-Manil magar, log milte Gaye aur caravan Banta Gaya….(I had but started my journey alone, I kept on meeting people and thus the group kept expanding).

Remembering the founder Babur Durrezz Ahmad said, "There is no doubt Hakeem Sahab’s contribution is humongous but it is high time that we become gender neutral as my mother was also one of the founders of IICC, so I’d say that the word father if possible be dropped. The ones who laid the foundation must be termed as founders and not founding fathers."

Sirajuddin Qureshi mentioned how Hakeem Abdul Hameed never collected or sought donations, “While Sir Syed is known for collecting chanda (donation) Hakeem Sahab saved every penny from the pharmacy he had established…” He reminisces about his youth days when he had an opportunity of meeting Hakeem, “I remember asking him for giving tips on how to start a business to which he replied, Miyan, boond boond se darya banta hai aur darya se samandar (son, droplets create lake and lakes create oceans)…he said all this while turning off a tap of water from which droplets were leaking …..”

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Nasir Abdullah, veteran film and theatre artist, Qamar Ahmed, former IPS Officer and many more luminaries of the Indian Muslim society were present on the occasion.