Prof Dr Masoom Ali Tirmizi, a Science Educator Par Excellence Passes away
By Dr Ahmed S. Khan*
If you are thinking a year ahead, sow seed. If you are thinking 10 years ahead, plant a tree. If you are thinking 100 years ahead, make people aware. By sowing seed once, you harvest once. By planting a tree, you will harvest tenfold. By opening the minds of people, you will harvest a hundredfold. - Chinese proverb
Indeed, visionary people who look 100 years ahead and beyond, build institutions, open minds and spread awareness. After the creation of Pakistan, scientists like DrSalimuzzaman Siddiqui, DrRaziuddin Siddiqui, Dr M. Qudrat-i-Khuda, DrMasoom Ali Tirmizi, DrMujtaba Kareem were among pioneers for making significant contributions in developing science and technology infrastructure and manpower.
Dr Syed Masoom Ali Tirmizi, a prominent physicist and former Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi (UoK), passed away in Karachi on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. Syed Masoom Ali Tirmizi was born in 1921 in Badaun, UP, British India. He completed his MSc from Aligarh University, and after creation of Pakistan, came to Karachi and started teaching Physics at the D.J. Science College. In 1952, when the University of Karachi was founded, he joined the department of Physics; one of the most sought after departments by students at that time. In 1957, he obtained DPhil from Oxford University. DrTirmizi succeeded, Professor Mujtaba Kareem as chairman of Physics Department (1968-1976). He served as the Dean, faculty of science (1976-79). After the departure of Prof Ehsan Rasheed, DrTirmizi served as Vice Chancellor UoK (1979-83). Despite numerous political, social and financial challenges and turmoil, he led the university as an able leader. After completion of his tenure as VC, he continued to be a professor of Physics until 1986. He also taught at Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology for a brief period.
DrTirmizi excelled in promoting science education in Pakistan. He authored a number of books on Physics, and published a plethora of research papers in national and international research periodicals. He was one of the pioneers of promoting research and teaching of Physics in Pakistan. His areas of specialization were Cryogenics, Solid State and Low Temperature Physics, and Physical Oceanography. In recognition of his efforts and services, the government of Pakistan awarded him the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (TI).
DrTirmizi was married to prominent marine biologist, DrNasimaTirmizi, who passed away earlier in 2005. She also received her doctoral degree from Oxford University in Biology. She was the granddaughter of Urdu’s legendary scholar, Deputy Nazeer Ahmed sahib, and wrote interesting pieces in Urdu using the pen name of NasimaBinteSiraj. DrMasoom and DrNasimaTirmizi were a dynamic, and certainly a most adorable, couple who jointly authored many scientific articles and strived for the promotion of science education in Pakistan; during their tenures at the University of Karachi, they taught, advised and mentored thousands of students, who are successful professionals all over Pakistan and around the globe today.
DrTirmizi Sahib was a humble and soft-spoken person. Remembering the prominent educator, DrAzhar Ahmad Ansari, former professor and chairman, Department of Applied Physics, University of Karachi, observes: “DrTirmizi was our teacher in 1962 in the second year of BSc (Hons) course. He taught us electricity and magnetism. He also used to teach Superconductivity courses to III-year and MSc students. He had been the Chairman of the Department of Physics and the Dean faculty of Science before becoming the Vice Chancellor of the University. He had a pleasing personality and was accommodating to his colleagues and very considerate to his students. His wife MrsNasimaTirmizi was also a distinguished member of the University faculty. It’s been over a quarter of a century that I had no contact with him. He went to USA to live with his son and I left for Saudi Arabia.”
Reflecting on the personality of DrTirmizi, and the state of emergence of University of Karachi in 1950s, Prof. Naqi Akhter, former chair of Electronics Engineering & Technology programs at DeVry University, Chicago, observes: “DrMasoomTirmizi was a professor of Physics at the University of Karachi when I entered the school as a BSc (Hons) student in 1955. Dr A.B.A. Haleem (Abu Bakr Ahmad Haleem), commonly referred as ABBA HALEEM was the Vice Chancellor. He was very genial, intelligent, and devoted to his job, which gave the University of Karachi a great start. Since the school was created as a federal institution, it had adequate funding.
We had about 25 students in our group. Two are worth mentioning: Arshad Husain who topped in Citywide High School exam in 1953, and Syed Naqi Akhter (myself) who stood second in Citywide High School exam in 1953. Out of 25 students, two were female: SaghirunNissa and Aqeela Ghazi. We started at the old campus, which was located at Strachan Road, if my memory serves me right. The campus started its partial move to a new location, 12 miles from the city center to the suburbs of Karachi in 1957, and the new campus become fully functional in January 1960.
In the new campus the department buildings were more capacious, had larger and better equipment in the Labs, multiple lecture theaters with audio-visual facilities that improved the delivery of lectures. (In contrast, when I visited the campus in 2000, the lab equipment had badly deteriorated and hardly any modern equipment was visible. At that time General Pervez Musharraf was the President of Pakistan. The word was out that I am a good friend of the President's younger brother, DrNaved Musharraf. D. Zafar Zaidi, the then VC, invited me to lunch. He said that University funding has been drastically slashed by the Federal Government causing all the problems. He asked me if I could persuade the president to reverse that trend. I did mention that to the president when I met him at the Millennium party. The President had already appointed an education adviser and gave him the authority to ameliorate the higher education system in the country. But, unfortunately, Musharraf was toppled and the rest is history. I have come to know that recently, the 17th VC of UoK, DrAjmal Khan passed away in Karachi on May 4, 2019. He was under severe stress and faced numerous challenges; he too was struggling to acquire appropriate finances to run the University.)
DrMujtaba Karim was the chairman of our department. In addition to DrTirmizi, the other professors, I can recall, were: Dr M. Aslam (PhD University of Chicago), MrBande Hassan (completed PhD from Cambridge later on), MrWaheed Ansari (also completed PhD from Cambridge later on, he was the nephew of YaganaChangezi, a famous poet. Sometimes after classes he would recite Yagana's poems to a few students in his office), and Mr Jamal Ahmed (Teaching Assistant). The academic standards were quite rigorous, quite a few graduates went overseas for higher education and completed their graduate programs successfully. We used to have quite a few seminars presented by both departmental and prominent authorities from different other institutions. In extracurricular activities, we had departmental picnics to places like Hawkes Bay beach, and some scenic places in northern Pakistan like Swat. The Physics Department also participated in Students Union activities like intercollegiate debates. In 1957, I was elected the departmental representative to the Students Union, and later the Union appointed me as the debating secretary of the University.
DrTirmizi was one of my teachers. I found him to be a very understanding and helpful teacher. He lectured very thoroughly and clearly, and answered all questions with great patience without getting upset, which was the wont of some teachers. If you still did not understand, they would suggest that you see them in their office for further explanation. I had a very pleasant experience with him during my lab exam. He came, with an external examiner, to check and do the viva voce. Before they came, the lab equipment was giving me trouble. So they asked me what I thought was the problem. I think I lucked out to point out a part that might be the problem, and it turned out to be correct. Both DrTirmizi and the external examiner were very pleased and awarded me a score that was unprecedented. DrTirmizi told me later that what impressed them was my problem-solving skill under stress and on my feet. A few years later, after graduating with my Master’s, I applied for the Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States. One of the interviewers happened to be DrTirmizi. I did get the travel grant but not the full scholarship. So I must say that he was definitely very helpful in my career. I am very sad to learn of his demise in Karachi and offer my heartfelt condolences to his family. I firmly believe that, with his passing, a pillar both in teaching and administration has been lost. May God Almighty grant him peace and a special place in heaven. Ameen.”
Indeed, DrMasoom Ali Tirmizi was an educator par excellence. Today, Pakistan needs able academicians like DrMasoom Ali Tirmizi, who can revive the current attenuating state and status of science education and elevate it to the international standards.
(*Dr Ahmed S. Khan (dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org) is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar (2017-2020). Professor Khan has 35 years of experience in Higher Education as professor of Electrical Engineering. He has authored many technical books, including the Science, Technology & Society (STS) series of books that include Technology and Society: Issues for the 21st Century & Beyond, and Nanotechnology: Ethical and Social Implications. He also serves as an evaluator for the engineering & technology accreditation body ABET)
