Personal Memories of Dow by Busharat Ahmad MD (Class of 1956)

Personal memories and recollections.

 I migrated to Pakistan from Delhi India in October 1947 and joined D.J.S.Science College in Karachi and graduated with F.Sc. in 1949. I migrated to Pakistan from Delhi India in October 1947 and joined D.J.S.Science College in Karachi and graduated with F.Sc. in 1949.I applied to the Dow and was admitted in 1950, but after 1 month I was told that my admission is cancelled because a seat is needed for a minority student of Parsi faith. I was disappointed and was told to apply again next year.While waiting I decided to join the freedom fighting forces in Kashmir. I joined the “Furqan Force” and fought at the Sirinagar front under General Ayub Khan. Please see my photographs in uniform with F.M. Douglas Gracie the then C in C of the Pakistan Army and other group pictures.  Kashmir experience was enjoyable . I  received a bullet wound to the head during last few days of my enrollment. 

 I applied again and was accepted in 1951..in DMC.

It was a happy time and I enjoyed my classmates. (Total of 87 with 50 girls) and had good time. Interaction with all the teachers was the same as mentioned by Basheer Sahib.  I remembered Prof. Waheed Sahib he was great, had a good sense of humor and always talked to us even socially. Good command of URDU, used both hands at the same time to draw the anatomy diagrams on the blackboard,  remarkable. He would show up in the dissection hall at least twice a day and came with his signature long forceps and wold pick up a tissue and ask “Maulana  what is this?”

Prof. Mazhar ul haque was another kind friendly soul and was always  available for advice and consultation. Was a good teacher.

During later years the politics became heavy. NSF was active and we had a few strikes and exam. postponements. Those were the days of Hashmi and Sarwar.

I was very active in sports, served as Gymkhana Secretary and arraigned annual sports extravaganza at the then  “POLO GROUNDS”

Chief guests were Mohtrama Fatima Jinnah one year and the President the next.  Pleas see the attached Photos with Mohtrama FaimaJinnah passing out awards.

I graduated in 1956 and had the first ever cap and gown ceremony at the University of Karachi . Prof A.B.A. Haleem was the VC of the university.

I was accepted as House officer in the Dept of Ophthalmology under Dr. A.D. Minhas at the Jinnah Central Hospital. He was a good teacher and I learned a lot and did lot of surgery and enjoyed my stay there. See some photos.

After finishing my year I was  assigned as a medical officer to Kandiaro Hospital in Nawabshah distt. in Sindh. This was the 2 year stint that all MB BS graduated had to perform as public service under the orders of the Federal Govt and their choice. It was Ayub’s days.

I left Pakistan in 1959 for the States.

After passing my Boards in Ophthalmology and doing research and teaching at the Harvard Medical School I decided to return home and joined the teaching faculty at the DOW. in 1969. ProfMahmood Ali Shah had just retired as Principal and was the Professor of Ophthalmology at the Civil Hospital and really embraced me in the dept.He was very kind and helpful and actually became a close friend. I was an honorary faculty but Prof Shah gave me the free reins in the dept. I enjoyed teaching and clinical work.

I decided to get married to Adeeba and Shah Sahib was an honored guest at the ceremony and actually chief guest at the Aqeeqa ceremony of my first child.

I returned to the States in 1971 and joined the Harvard teaching faculty.

I stayed in touch with Shah Sahib even then and came back at least twice a year to work in the  LRBT Eye  hospital in Korangi of which he was a co- founder .

I as “Chairman of the Eye Bank Association of America” headed a team of Corneal Surgeons, technicians, administrators and trainers and came to Karachi to start Eye Banking in Pakistan in 1979. Sadly Shah Sahib had passed away and we dedicated this trip and Pakistan Eye Banking in his name.  I miss him. Shah Sahib was a graduate of the Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary of Boston affiliated with Harvard. I have gone back since then to Pakistan and worked in Eye Camps in various areas of Sind Baluchistan and Punjab.

I am proud to be a DOWITE.

Busharat Ahmad MD