Honouring a humanist: SIUT Sukkur opens clinic in memory of writer, poet

Dr Tanveer Abbasi wanted to donate his kidneys to SIUT .

SUKKUR:

To honour the memory of a renowned writer, Dr Tanveer Abbasi, who failed to donate his kidneys to SIUT, the transplant facility decided to open a clinic.

Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplant (SIUT), Sukkur, inaugurated its Dr Tanveer Abbasi Clinicial Laboratory on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by SIUT founder and renowned urologist Dr Adeebul Hassan Rizvi along with Dr Qamar Tanveer Abbasi, and others.

In his welcome address, Dr Rizvi recalled the days when he was a medical student and he met Dr Tanveer for the first time at the Mitha Ram hostel’s Room 21. Since that time, Dr Rizvi has been greatly influenced by his philosophy of life, which was all about serving the humanity.

Donating kidneys

Dr Rizvi recalled with a smile how happy Dr Tanveer was with the success of SIUT. He donated more than Rs6 million to the cause. “He announced that he would donate his organs to the institute,” he said. “When he was admitted in a Islamabad hospital, he called me to come and get his kidneys, but I failed to reach on time.”

Writer and poet Adal Soomro said, “There are only a few people who manage to change the direction of history and Dr Tanveer had earned a special place in history by believing in giving whatever he had for the cause of humanity.”

Another writer and poet, Ayaz Gul, also agreed. “People in this world run after wealth, Dr Tanveer just ran after serving the humanity.”

Commissioner funds cause

Sukkur Deputy Commissioner Dr Shahzad Tahir Thaheem said people like Dr Abbasi, Dr Rizvi and Abdul Sattar Edhi were quite rare, therefore everyone should help them in their noble cause of serving the humanity. He urged the people to promote Dr Abbasi’s message, while he handed over Rs1 million cheque to Dr Rizvi and committed that he would continue making efforts in collecting funds for his cause.

The commissioner also lauded the services of Dr Abbasi in his speech.

Comrade’s appraisal 

One of the few remaining communist leaders in Pakistan, comrade Sobho Gyanchandani called Dr Tanveer and Dr Rizvi heroes of our country. “I was a comrade, I am a comrade and will remain comrade till death,” he said, adding that he had requested Dr Rizvi to open up a branch of SIUT in Larkana.

In a lighter mood, the comrade said, “I am an expert at begging and will proudly beg to generate funds for this purpose.” He pulled out his wallet and donated Rs500 to Dr Rizvi for SIUT Larkana. “Look, I have started fund raising from my own pocket.”

SIUT Sukkur was set up in 2009. It has three operation theatres equipped with modern facilities and two wards for both, men and women, its in-charge Dr Iqbal Ahmed said.

Tale of a wife

Dr Qamar Tanveer Abbasi, the wife of the late humanist, recalled her time being married to Dr Tanveer. “Despite the fact that our families observed parda [veil], Tanveer asked me not to wear a veil after we were married,” she said. A strong believer in equal rights for women, Dr Qamar talked about how he taught her driving and swimming.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2013.