SSUET founding father passes away at 82
Salam took great interest in culture and literature, taking active part in organising debates and literary events.
KARACHI:
Brigadier (retired) Qamarus Salam Khan, one of the founding fathers of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), passed away after a heart attack at the age of 82 on Friday.
Salam was born on June 15, 1929, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. He studied at the Muslim University, Aligarh, and was an active member of the Pakistan Movement. He first came to Sindh with a group of Aligarh students before the 1946 elections to speak with candidates who were contesting the election for the Muslim League. In 2010, he was awarded a gold medal for his contribution to the Movement.
After partition, Salam migrated to Pakistan and joined the army. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for valour in the 1965 and 1971 wars and retired from the army in 1981, to settle in Karachi.
As one of the founding fathers of SSUET, Salam was an integral part of the university. He was on the board of governors, head of its literary and culture forum and vice-president of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA). He also used to oversee the campus’s security matters.
Uncharacteristic though it may be for a military man, Salam was very involved in culture and literature and would prepare students for debates and literary competitions. SSUET registrar Shah Mehmood told The Express Tribune that Salam was a regular contributor to the magazine ‘Tehzeeb’ and had written two memoirs, Talatam say Kinaray Tak and Pas-e-Aaina in which he speaks of his days in the army.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2011.
Brigadier (retired) Qamarus Salam Khan, one of the founding fathers of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), passed away after a heart attack at the age of 82 on Friday.
Salam was born on June 15, 1929, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. He studied at the Muslim University, Aligarh, and was an active member of the Pakistan Movement. He first came to Sindh with a group of Aligarh students before the 1946 elections to speak with candidates who were contesting the election for the Muslim League. In 2010, he was awarded a gold medal for his contribution to the Movement.
After partition, Salam migrated to Pakistan and joined the army. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for valour in the 1965 and 1971 wars and retired from the army in 1981, to settle in Karachi.
As one of the founding fathers of SSUET, Salam was an integral part of the university. He was on the board of governors, head of its literary and culture forum and vice-president of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA). He also used to oversee the campus’s security matters.
Uncharacteristic though it may be for a military man, Salam was very involved in culture and literature and would prepare students for debates and literary competitions. SSUET registrar Shah Mehmood told The Express Tribune that Salam was a regular contributor to the magazine ‘Tehzeeb’ and had written two memoirs, Talatam say Kinaray Tak and Pas-e-Aaina in which he speaks of his days in the army.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2011.