Engr Zille Ahmed Nizami remembered

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The man who developed Karachi to its present day level, worked for promotion of scientific education, carried forward the mission of great educationist and reformer Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and above all a great human being was remembered at a ‘Nizami Day’ function held under the auspices of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) at the campus of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology on April 9. 

Engr Z A Nizami, who remained the Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) for over 18 years after its establishment, had passed away three years ago, on April 7, 2013. 

The speakers on the occasion paid glowing tributes to Engr Zille Ahmed Nizami, former Director General KDA, former President Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) and first Chancellor of SSUET who held these coveted positions for record long periods. 

Presided over by the SSUET Chancellor and the AMUOBA President, Jawaid Anwar, the speakers on the occasion included noted scholar Prof Dr Waqar Ahmed Rizvi, Farrukh Nizami, former Chairman BISE Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai and former Director Public Relations KDA Rizwan Siddiqi who in their speeches recalled the services of late Z.A. Nizami as an Administrator, an engineer, an educationist and above all a true flag bearer of the mission of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. 

In his presidential address, Chancellor Jawaid Anwar vowed to take SSUET from its present 20th position, as ranked by Higher Education Commission, to the level of a world class institution. 

He said that those nations don’t survive if they forget their benefactors and so is Mr Nizami who will always be remembered for his outstanding works and services, especially for the cause of education, particularly in the field of science and technology. 

He recalled his long association with Mr Nizami and said he had an outstanding power of decision making. Once he would take a decision it was bound to be executed and this was reflective from his 45 development schemes he launched during his eight-year tenure as DG KDA. 

He said this university came into being as a result of hard struggle by Mr Nizami, late Zakir Ali Khan, late Brig Qamarussalam and the cooperation of AMUOBA who founded Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT) and it had the distinction of being the first engineering university in the private sector. 

Chancellor Jawaid Anwar recounted the measures which have been taken so far and are being taken for continuous up gradation of SSUET as a part of the AMUOBA’s resolve to carry forward the mission of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. 

He said its positive effects have started surfacing. He said the best step to pay tributes to Mr Nizami and his compatriot Zakir Ali Khan is to carry SSUET to the highest position. 

The AMUOBA”s Vice-President, Anwer Ali, and General Secretary, Mohammed Arshad Khan, were recognized for organizing the Nizami Day. 

In his speech, Prof Dr Waqar Ahmed Rizvi described Mr Nizami an outstanding Administrator who had the ability and capacity to administer the institutions and this can be judged from the 45 development schemes he launched as DG KDA and not a single one planned after he retired. 

He said his life was a continuous struggle and his aim was to make Karachi an ideal society with Civic Center being an icon of his focus and later SSUET being the hallmark of his mission.. He was a kind person and hundreds of poor families today are surviving because of his God-gifted kindness. 

Prof Anwar Ahmad Zai said that Engr Z A Nizami was not a person but a personality and personalities are never forgotten. He said the late Nizami had a close relationship with Silsila-e-Tasawwuf and was a staunch follower of Silsila-e-Nizami.  He said that the establishment of SSUET was the outcome of that very Silsila-e-Tasawwuf. 

Farrukh Nizami recalled his memories about his great father and said that there would be only few people who may be having score of buildings, institutions, roads and structures named after them. He said a book on the life and achievements of his father is ready and will be launched soon. Besides, a postal stamp is also being issued in his memory. 

He said his father was a true reflection of ‘Aligarh Spirit’ which was fully infused in his soul. This Aligarh spirit can be defined in three words “unity, equality and character building” and this was religiously followed by him in throughout his life. 

Rizwan Siddiqi, who remained Director Public Relations KDA, during the DG ship of Mr Nizami, said that Mr Nizami performed the feats in Karachi like that of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. What he gained in Aligarh University, he distributed it here. 

He said Mr Nizami was one of those personalities who never retire and keep performing feats for the welfare of people and SSUET is one such example from where thousands of students graduated and today bringing shine and fame for their homeland. 

On the occasion a beautiful documentary on the life, achievements and an interview of Engr Z A Nizami was also screened and applauded by the audience. 

Later the newly constructed 10-storeyed Academic Block was also inaugurated with the cutting of ribbon by a senior Aligarhian Mazhar Aslam Zuberi along with Chancellor Jawaid Anwar, Abdul asheed Khan, Farrukh Nizami, Rizwan Siddiqi, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jawaid H. Rizvi and others.