Book talk: Saiyid launches revised ‘Fountain of Knowledge’

Praises pour in for educationist Ameena Saiyid.

KARACHI: The work of Oxford University Press (OUP) managing director Ameena Saiyid was lauded during the launch of the revised and expanded version of ‘A Fountain of Knowledge’, a book written on the noted educationist at Marriot hotel on Thursday.

A number of the city’s noted business persons and intellectuals gathered to appreciate Saiyid’s struggle for education at the ceremony organised by Karachi Business Forum and Think Tank and 21st Century Business and Economics Club (21st CBEC). The book was first launched in 2007 and has been republished by 21st CBEC now.

Former state bank president Dr Ishrat Hussain, during his speech, said “I would like to pay tribute to Ameena on her great accomplishments in the field of education,” adding that she is a role model for young women.

Businessman Amin Hashwani said Saiyid is among those who have worked to revive the culture of reading in the country. “We must appreciate her efforts in organising a great event like the Karachi Literature Festival,” he said.

Talking about Saiyid’s struggle in her early days, Syed Salahuddin Haider, president 21st CBEC, recalled how she used take books in rickshaws to Urdu Bazaar as part of her work at OUP’s marketing department. “Hers is such a great success story that we have published two books on her and I don’t even find that enough,” he commented.

Discussing the book, Sultana Siddiqui, head of Hum Television, said “while reading this book I felt like reading about Ameena and not her book.”

Former interior minister Lt Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider said she is a role model for women all over the world, adding that Saiyid has managed to motivate everyone to read and write books. Thanking everyone for their tributes, Saiyid explained that it was not easy for her to achieve all that she had in life, saying it was her ‘great commitment’ that helped her be where she is today. “One must not fear the obstacles in life, all we need is commitment to achieve what we dream of,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2016.