‘The universal struggle for a just human order’ – Salima Hashmi

Sarwar & Salima, 1970s. Photo by Rashida Reza

Celebration of Dr Mohd Sarwar’s Life

Salima Hashmi

Karachi, 31 May 2009, PMA House

I put my stamp of approval on Doc Sarwar as prospective bridegroom for my friend when she sheepishly introduced him to me in June 1962.  Abba and I were on our way to Moscow on the Llyod Triestano Shipliner – he to receive the Lenin Peace Prize and I to go on to art school in England. It was a rushed meeting but my friend was anxious – the tall good-looker seemed an OK bet as far as I could see, so I gave him a nod.  I suspect he knew he was being appraised  … the approval stood the test of time.

So how does one encapsulate a lifetime of intrepid friendship, the good humour, the intense partying and talking, and the occasional gleeful ‘gheebat’ about the world in general.

Of course there was always this locking of horns with Shoaib Hashmi – as to who was better at getting out of doing the darndest thing around the house.  How one could get the air-conditioner serviced whilst sitting in the armchair and reading the newspaper!  How to get the water tap running whilst sipping afternoon tea, and watching cricket on T V.  How to shop for the best mangoes in town long distance and, most importantly, how to sort out the country’s problems in each other’s company late into the night.  Never passing up the chance to be caustic about those bolshies who thought they were actually doing it: they came in for some extra flack.  In the words of dear Billum Apa “Saari saari raat revolution karte hain aur saaraa saara din sote hain“.

One could never accuse Doc of being lax about the real things – work – motivation and more work.

As a comrade, his relationship with Abba was an unspoken clear bond based on a shared understanding of the universal struggle for a just human order – Faiz wrote something for his other pal and comrade, Major Ishaq.  He would have said the same for Doc.

Major Ishaq ki yaad mein

‘Time to create a left-oriented think tank’, News, Jun 1, 2009

http://tinyurl.com/pma-news ‘Time to create a left-oriented think tank’

Monday, June 01, 2009 By Shahid Husain Karachi Eminent jurist and former governor of Sindh, Justice (Retired) Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim said on Sunday it was high time a “left-oriented” think tank was established in Pakistan. Speaking at a memorial meeting for the late Dr Mohammad Sarwar at the PMA House Sunday evening, he said people said that Pakistan was a failed state but one should remember that it was the establishment and not the people of Pakistan who had failed. “Things are changing for the better,” he said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with us. Religion has become a cause of killing,” he remarked. He said people were ready to listen today and this was evident from the fact that there were few people around when the Judges’ movement kicked off but it culminated in a huge success. He said it was time to live up to the ideals of Dr Sarwar since “it’s our time to say.” He said the people of Pakistan needed a new leadership since the old leadership had failed totally. He said Dr Sarwar fought for a just society, a society free from exploitation and it was time to create a just society. Dr Badar Siddiqi, former General Secretary of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said death was more universal than life because every body dies but there are people who live on even after they’re gone through their noble deeds and universal love. Dr Sarwar, he said, was one such person who strove for the establishment of a just society. He said Dr Sarwar established the Democratic Students Federation (DSF) that happened to be the first students’ organisation in Pakistan. Thereafter, he also established the All- Pakistan Students Organisation (APSO) and the Inter-Collegiate Body that comprised students unions from across the country. Dr Siddiqi pointed out that Dr Sarwar led the historic 1953 student movement that forced the authorities to accept many demands of the students, including the establishment of the University of Karachi. He said Dr Sarwar was injured when police resorted to firing on a student’s procession on January 8, 1953 in which seven students and a child were killed, and he also was arrested. He said after he was released from jail, he along with his colleagues, including Dr Adib-ul-Hasan Rizvi, Dr Syed Haroon Ahmed, Dr Moinuddin Ahmed, and Dr Jaffer Naqvi played a vital role in the affairs of the Pakistan Medical Association and transformed it into a strong and dynamic force. He said Dr Sarwar struggled for provision of health cover to the people and was never overwhelmed even by ferocious dictators such as Gen. Ziaul Haq while negotiating on behalf of PMA. “I will not classify him as an individual; he was an institution,” he said. He said the number of people who visited Dr Sarwar’s residence was unbelievable and they included Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Syed Sibte Hasan, Habib Jalib, Zohra Nigah, Ali Imam, and Bashir Mirza, just to name a few. Former student leader Mairaj Mohammad Khan said Dr Sarwar was an institution whose roots were very deep in society. He said 1953 movement led by Dr Sarwar was not confined to the students but impacted the entire society. “It was movement to change Pakistani society,” he said. He said the DSF was banned in 1954 because it was against imperialist military pacts and was against a dependent economy. Prof. Dr Jaffer Naqvi said Dr Sarwar was a phenomenon and a staunch enemy of dictatorship. Prominent singer Tina Sani sang a poem of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Messages of Asif Hameedi, Eric Rahim, and Dr Mangi who are abroad were also read at the ceremony. A six-minute documentary on Dr Sarwar was also shown in the programme.

“An institution in himself” – Dr Badar Siddiqi

Sarwar & Badar, Karachi, 2008. Photo: B. Sarwar

Dr Badar Siddiqi

Citation for Dr Sarwar at PMA House

May 31, 2009

“Death is more universal than life;

everyone dies but not everyone lives.”

-   A. Sachs

We have met today to remember Dr. Sarwar. This man lived –  and lived an amazing life.

I think everyone who knew him very well would agree with me that above all he was a very kind person with a great sense of humor who would make people laugh.

We should all be thankful that we were given the chance to have known a man named Sarwer. So let us celebrate the amazing life he led. He will greatly missed.

When someone passes away one thinks if

“Did he/she live with passion

Did he/she contribute something to the world that was previously missing?”

Did He/She  touch other people’s lives in a positive way?

I for one have no doubt that his life was full of all three areas and more.

Sarwar was a leader and a extraordinary person. He was an institution in himself.

He added a new dimension to whatever he touched.

Most of us know this. It is all history now.

He formed Pakistan’s first student union DSF –  Democratic Student Federation – and was chosen its first President. He also developed the unique organization Inter-Collegiate Body bringing everyone under one banner…..ICB  1953

He was among the leaders of the historic student movement of 1953. He was injured and arrested and it was in jail that in 1954 he cleared his final medical examination. When they though he will now be OK for them they released him.

Going through all this would have been enough for any ordinary human being anyone but not Sarwar who was no ordinary man.

When a member of the medical profession he joined  the new leadership team of PMA where Sarwar, Hashmi, Khawja Moin, Haroon, Jaffer Naqvi – they traveled all over Pakistan organizing the medical profession and made PMA a strong and respected organization.

The new PMA launched a movement for just rights of the profession  and provision of healthcare for the population of our country.

In the early 1980s in the background of strikes an all Pakistan PMA delegation met the government. Sarwar then the General Secretary led the delegation. I remember both of us sitting in an Islamabad hotel the night before discussing the strategy to present the demands to the five Generals led by Gen. Ziaul Haq. That night he taught me so much about how to keep calm  and keep focused on the objectives and never to lose temper. He told me in the early hours of the morning that I will present the case for PMA as his personal background might weaken our case. This says a lot about the personality of this man.

He lived an amazing life. Sarwar  was one of those persons whom everybody liked immediately because of his simplicity, because of his naturalness, because of his comradeship, because of his personality, because of his originality, even before his other singular virtues were revealed.

These qualities which acted as magnet  to attract a galaxy of personalities to his house which was always a open and welcoming with his lovely wife Zakia at his side who we subjected to unfair demands. It is at Sarwar’s house that I had the rare privilege of meeting people from all walks of life in intimate and memorable gatherings which included all shades and of people. Poets, artists, writers, journalists. The atmosphere and the wealth which flowed from these meetings is impossible to put in words.

I will never forget evenings with great personalities like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Habib Jalib, Ahmed Faraz, Zehra Nigah,Syed Sibte Hassan, Ali Imam, Bashir Mirza{B.M}, Saleem Asmi – one could go on with an unending list

I will forever be grateful for the privilege more then 30 years  friendship  with a friend like him. All the memories I have shared with him will forever be cherished and remembered I will forever be grateful to have known Sarwar.

Doston Ke Dermian Wajeh Dosti Hai Tu

(Loosely translated: “You are the reason for our friendship”)

KARACHI: Progressive student leader remembered, June 1, 2009

Progressive student leader remembered, Dawn  – http://tinyurl.com/sarwar-pma-dawn

By Our Staff Reporter
Monday, 01 Jun, 2009 | 02:39 AM PST

KARACHI, May 31: Tributes were paid on Sunday to a pioneering former student leader, Dr Mohammad Sarwar, who struggled for the rights of students, workers and the downtrodden masses.

Friends and admirers of the late Dr Sarwar belonging to different walks of life, including law, engineering, literature and the fine arts, spoke of their association with the late general practitioner at a meeting organised by the Pakistan Medical Association at the PMA House.

Former Sindh Governor Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, who as a young lawyer had defended Dr Sarwar and many of his comrades in the 1950s, said that Dr Sarwar founded the Democratic Students Union in the early 1950s because he felt students adopted the “politics of idealism”, and he also created a body that linked all students in other educational institutions in the city together, so that “principled politics could be strengthened in the newly born country”.

Unfortunately, however, first the DSF was banned and then succeeding governments banned student unions altogether for many years, Mr Ebrahim said.

He said that the “old leadership has failed and it is high time that a new leadership, believing in high ideals, emerges to lead the country and bring justice to society. He said equal rights for all must be ensured.

Mairaj Mohammad Khan said that Dr Sarwar was a “true progressive”, having a broad minded and secular way of thought, he “respected religion but was against this kind of interpretation of religion under which women were lashed and people were beheaded”.

Dr Jaffer Naqvi said that people could have a discussion with Dr Sarwar for hours and while they may continue to disagree with him, he would always listen attentively and was so tolerant that would never get angry or raise his voice.

In an interesting revelation, Arif Hassan said that the government had originally prepared a master plan of the city in 1951, with the proposed federal government buildings located opposite the university. When the DSF brought students into politics, however, and took to agitations and protests against the government, voices were heard in cabinet meetings calling for a change in the proposals, to relocate the federal government buildings. Eventually, he said, Ayub Khan moved the federal government apparatus over 1,000 kilometres away.

Aziz Tank, Samreen Hashmi, Badar Siddiqui and others also spoke while Arshad Mehmood, Tina Sani and Atiya Dawood recited poetry. A few documentaries on interviews and discussions with Dr Sarwar were also screened.

Reality checks and the spirit of volunteerism – Mohsin Tejani

Spelt retreat at Sarwars 2007

May 31, 2009

Mohsin Tejani

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Since I am here to speak on behalf of SPELT, I would like to begin by highlighting an important trait of our organization which would help the audience understand the kind of relationship Dr. Sarwar and SPELT enjoyed together. The Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers is all about volunteerism; a characteristic that is difficult to achieve individually, and demands equally from people around you. Effective volunteerism has a bearing on other people’s time as well, their commitments, obligations, and their preferences. These other people are the ones who bear out with our spirit of volunteerism and support us in our various endeavours. SPELT never misses a chance to recognize the efforts of its volunteers.

Actually, at the end of all major events organized by SPELT, we formally acknowledge the contributions of family members of SPELTers, but somehow, today we feel that one silent but ardent supporter, advisor, and well-wisher of SPELT has left a vacuum that no one else can fill up. We all know that Zakia Sarwar and SPELT are synonymous to each other – but not many people know that behind the scenes, Dr. Sarwar had a peculiar way of supporting the organization. He not only allowed Zakia Apa to fully engage in SPELT activities, but always – and I say always with a capital A – he always went out of his way to make it possible for her to carry out various SPELT tasks and assignments. It is important to put on record that for more than 10 years, SPELT was housed in Dr. Sarwar’s house, and later when we had our own office, Dr. Saheb always made us feel that his house was second home to SPELTers. Every quarter we organize the SPELT retreat at Dr. Sarwar’s, and every year at our annual conference, Dr. Sarwar’s house turns into a guest house where our presenters enjoy home hospitality. He was the kind of host who never raised an eyebrow at his place being turned into an office – and that too several times in a year.

So much so that even during this phase of severe illness, we would sit in his bedroom and discuss SPELT matters. Instead of feeling irritated or bored, even in that uncomfortable condition he would participate in the conversations and give valuable advice: “Yaar, aap log fallaan idarey sey kyon baat nahin kartey?” (Why don’t you talk to this or that institution?) “Bhai mera khayaal hay kay aap logon ko yeh karna chahiyey; ya yeh nahin karna chahiyey.” (Look, I think you people should do this, not that…); “bhai iss sey SPELT ko kiya faida hoga? teachers ko kiya faida ho ga? Yaa bachoon ko kiya faida hoga?” (Look, how is this going to benefit SPELT, teachers, or students?) — a reality check, sort of, that he would always ask thought provoking questions and give pertinent remarks for all of us to reflect upon.

He would interact with all of us – senior or junior – at our level, whether any SPELT visitor talked about politics, problems with education in Pakistan, sports, leadership – any topic – Dr. Saheb always had valuable contributions to make to the discussion. And then at every meeting, get-to-gather, or any other occasion he showed his sincere concern about our well-being; “tum chai kaa kehdu us sey” (Ask them for tea), “yaar aap log kitna kaam kertey hein?” (Hey, how much work do you guys do?), “Aray Zakia ney kuch khilaya pilaya tum logon ko, yaa naheen?” (Hey, did Zakia give you something to eat and drink or not?).

These may sound small things but they’ve gone a long way in placing SPELT where it is now. Like I said earlier, junior or senior – SPELTers have very fond memories of interacting with Dr. Sarwar.

Ladies and Gentlemen: SPELT is in its 25th year and we strongly feel that a silent but passionate patron of SPELT is no more with us. We wish he was with us to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the organization. SPELTers will miss Dr. Sarwar for ever. May God bless him and shower His choicest blessings upon him. Ameen!

PMA Reference invitation – ‘Celebrating Dr Sarwar’

Memorial Meeting Former Student Leader Dr. Mohammad Sarwar

on

31st May 2009 (6:30 PM)

at

PMA House Garden Road, Karachi

organized by Pakistan Medical Association

Historical Photographs and a short documentary will be screened.

All are requested to please come and join us to celebrate the life time achievements of

Dr. Mohammad Sarwar.

‘Idealism and hope’ – from Eric Rahim, Glasgow

If there is any such thing as the history of the Left movement in Pakistan then the decade of the 1950′s, rather the first half of it, will be remembered as a time of idealism and hope. And Sarwar’s name will stand out as one of the most outstanding figures of the period. He will be remembered for that, but equally for his deep human sympathies to all. To all the friends who are gathered to say farewell to Sarwar, I say my thoughts are with you and I share your loss.
Eric Rahim, Glasgow

Message read out by Gul Jaffri at the PMA Reference, May 31, 2009

‘In good spirits’ – from Dr. Asif Ali Hameedi, Chigaco

May 27:  It was so sad to learn of the demise of Sarwar. Although I met Sarwar on my last vist to Karachi last year at which time he was going through chemotherapy. Inspite of the grave diagnosis he was very calm and in good spirits. That was of course typical sarwar. He would not lose his nerves even in the most trying circumstance.

I met Sarwar when we got into Dow Medical College in 1948. He newly arrived from Allahabad with a All India Students Federation background and I from Aligarh with a Indian National Congress heritage from my father. Arriving in Karachi in the midst of the turmoil of 1947-1948, with the city of Karachi over flowing with people arriving from all over the Indian sub-continent was a catalyst to ponder, which I think made both of us to evaluate the values in our lives.

While we attended the Medical College in the day, in the evenings both of us and a few other friends would sit down in the garage of Dr. Waheeduddin’s house in Sehwani Colony where Sarwar lived at the time and discuss social and political turmoil brought on by the partition of India and the birth of Pakistan. To understand the happenings and the consequence to the people and the society, we would study everything from the French Revolution, Spanish Civil War, Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Rise and Fall of the German National Socialists (Nazis), the Mao Tse Tung triumph in the China’s long civil war and even the Quakers and the Fabians in England. It was indeed surprising that we still managed to keep our heads above water in the Medical College and get through all the Exams on time.

Sarwar had a remarkable degee of courage. One day we were distributing a pamphlet in the Preedy street in Saddar when a CID man, later we learned was a guy named Hashmat, approached Sarwar and wanted to know his name and told him that he was a Police officer, Sarwar refused and told him point blank that if he was a Police officer then he should find that himself. We as teenagers at that time would normally be scared of a Police Officer and such but not Mohammad Sarwar.

Sarwar was a man with sound and very stable temperament. If any one had any bizarre ideas, he would promptly shoot it down. It always paid to check with him before floating any new ideas or schemes.
He had great compassion for his friends and foes alike. He would never stoop to low tactics in the student politics. He was a great Human Being.

I wish and hope that when his body is reduced to the elements and the molecules it was made of, these would some day recreate another Human Being with the same quality and configuration, so that the world would not miss a fine creation like Dr. Mohammad Sarwar.

With that wish I would again give my deepest sympathy and condolences to all the Family and the Friends for this great loss to all of us.

– Dr. Asif Ali Hameedi, Chicago
Message read out by Haris Gazdar at the PMA Reference on May 31, 2009

Report about Dr Sarwar passing on in ‘Awami Awaz’, May 27, 2009 (Urdu)

Urdu Daily 'Awami Awaz', Karachi, May 27 2009

Report about Dr Sarwar reference in Sindhi daily ‘Anjam’, May 27, 2009

News report in Sindhi Daily Anjam Karachi-May 27 2009