Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman

Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, FRS, holder of Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz; is ‘Advisor to the PM’, Federal Minister and Chairman of Higher Education Commission. His rich portfolio also tells us much more about his designations, awards and honors. Nevertheless, he is a down-to-earth and humble soul.

Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rehman signifies success and his personality exhibits brilliance. Eminence does radiate irrespective of class, creed and religion – for the very nature of eminence allows it to stand out, always. Dr Atta-ur-Rehman carries himself with contentment and humbleness, thus revealing the gratification which he truly possesses.

If we think of distinctions in academia, of professionalism at work, of honest struggle and of glory stretched out, the eminent figure of Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman presents itself as the complete personification of all these ideas.

Academically, he has been really very sound right from the very early stage of his academia. He got 1st Position in O Levels way back in 1958 and again topped in his A Levels in 1960. After completing his ‘Overseas Higher School Certificate’ from Cambridge with flying colors he did his “B. Sc (Hons) in Chemistry” (Year 1963) in First Division and secured 2nd Position. His appetite for knowledge and intellect always encouraged him to continue acquiring knowledge with a resolve so strong that he never gave in. He then did his “MSc in Organic Chemistry” from Karachi, in which he secured 1st Position and was placed in 1st Division (Year 1964). Finally he became Doctor Atta-ur-Rehman when he did his “P.hD in Organic Chemistry” from Kings College – Cambridge University (Year 1968). The title of Thesis being: "Synthetic Studies in the Indole Alkaloid Field" (Supervisor: Dr. J. Harley Mason).

The young boy made it. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman did his PhD at an age in which it is an honor, for sure. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has over 761 publications in the fields of organic chemistry including 15 patents, 94 books and 59 chapters in books published by major U.S. and European presses and 508 research publications in leading internatinal journals. On the basis of his researches 68 students have been awarded Ph.D. degrees in various areas of natural product chemistry.

In the year 1964, he taught at Karachi University as a Lecturer. Then for his research for PhD he remained a Commonwealth Scholar at Kings College, Cambridge University from 1965 to 1968. To focus on teaching and research, he again remained on the duties of a teacher at Karachi University as Assistant Professor in 1969. After that, he joined Fellow (Don) Kings College, Cambridge University as ‘Fellow’, and remained there from 1969 to 1973. He further explored new avenues of research and guided MPhil and PhD students as Associate Professor at Postgraduate Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi from 1974 to 1976. He then worked with H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi from 1977 to 1980 as Co-Director in Basic Pay Scale 20. In 1979, he went to University of Tuebingen, Germany and was designated there as D.A.A.D Fellow. He is Coordinator General of COMSTECH for quite some time now. He remained ‘Federal Minister for Science & Technology’ from 14th March, 2000 to Oct, 2002. He also remained Federal Minister (In-charge) Ministry of Education from July 2002 to Oct. 2002. He is also looking after ‘Ministry of Science and Technology’ and ‘Higher Education Commission’.

He works day in and day out, thus serving Pakistan with commitment and dedication.

AWARDS AND HONORS:

His Awards and Honors are too long to be summed up in this very brief profile. A brief overview of his awards is given below.
The Royal Society London was established in 1645 under the charter of Royal Decree of the United Kingdom. Since then the Society has had some of the most eminent scientists of the world including over 100 Nobel Laureates and such luminaries as Sir Issac Newton and Sir Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein as its Fellows. Prof. Atta-ur-Rehman was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society on 14th July, 2006.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rehman is well known in his field for his prolific research publications in the field of natural products chemistry, for the excellent international chemistry conferences which he regularly organizes in Pakistan, and for his contributions in the establishment of one of the best centers in natural products chemistry (H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry).

He was awarded the degree, Doctor of Science, of Cambridge University (Sc.D.), which was conferred, on him in October 1987. Sir Syed Engineering University awarded D.Sc. to Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman in October 2003, Gomal University awarded D.Sc. degree in April 2004 while University of Karachi honoured him with D.Sc. in 2005. He was the first recipient of the award of “Scientist of the Year” (for 1985) conferred by the Government of Pakistan in 1987, and he was awarded the “Islamic Organization Prize” by the Minister of Health of Kuwait on behalf of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science for the year 1987 after an international competition (conferred on him in Cairo in November 1988). He has received the First Khwarazmi Prize after a competition between scientists of 57 Islamic countries. The prize was conferred on him by the President of Iran on 8th February, 1993. He was conferred the Award of the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies in Hiroshima, Japan in 1997. He has won four Civil Awards (Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Highest National Award), Hilal-e-lmtiaz. Sitara-i-lmtiaz and Tamgha-e-lmtiaz) and was also the President of the Chemical Society of Pakistan. He received the prestigious UNESCO Prize in a special ceremony in Budapest, Hungary in June 1999. He is the first Muslim scientist who has received this international honor.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman was the President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences from 2003-2006 and is the President of the Network of Academies of Sciences in the Countries of the Organization of Islamic Conferences (NASIC) (2004-present).
He aspires to make the educational institutions of Pakistan ‘Pockets of Excellence’ and has indeed come a long way in making ‘Higher Education Commission’ as a institutionalized set up.

In Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman success stands personified; truly and verily.


(Profile by: Talha Abbasi)

© Pakistani Leaders Online

Sherry Rehman

Shehrbano Sherry Rehman is a senior politician, parliamentarian and the member of the PPP. She started her professional life as a journalist. She is the first Pakistani to be recognized with an award for independent journalism by the UK House of Lords in its Muslim World Awards Ceremony in 2002. She was appointed Minister for Information & Broadcasting on March 31, 2008.

Begum Salma Ahmed

Begum Salma Ahmed Begum Salma Ahmed is the former member of National Assembly. She was also the president of Pakistan's first women's camber of commerce (WCCI) and is the President of Pakistan Association of Women Entrepreneurs (PAWE). She has an honour of being the first woman in ship-breaking industry between 1979-1983. She took the lead in setting the pace for female entrepreneurs in an Islamic country.

Bilquis Edhi

Bilquis Edhi Hilal-e-Imtiaz, wife of abdul Sattar Edhi, is a professional nurse and one of the most active philanthropists in Pakistan. She was born on august 14, 1947 in Karachi. She heads the Bilquis Edhi Foundation, and with her husband received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay award for Public Service. She is also the recipient of the Lenin Peace Prize. Her charity runs many services in Pakistan including a hospital and emergency service in Karachi.

Syed Munawwar Hassan Ameer Jama'at-e-Islami

Ameer of Jama’at-e-Islami, Syed Munawar Hasan, has an active and meaningful past to cherish; for he has travelled a long way and his efforts and initiatives have nurtured him into a mature political figure. His intellect has remained in safe hands since his early days, as he was born and bred in a noble family of Karachi. His father, Syed Akhlaq Hasan, was an educationist and retired from ‘Sind Madrassah-tul-Islam’ in 1954. His mother had active political affiliations with Pakistan Muslim League, and Munawar Hasan vividly remembers Quaid-e-Azam’s funeral which he attended as a young boy – only 7 years old. Born on 5th August 1941 in Delhi, the six year old boy was brought to Karachi by his family. He has seen through the lens of a toddler what it takes to secure a free country, and therefore holds great regard for people like ‘Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani’ who led the heroic struggle in a befitting manner.
Married and a father of a daughter and a son, Syed Munawar Hasan has his family settled in Karachi. Munawar Hasan had 8 siblings, but as of today 3 of them are alive.

Education:
He attended ‘Government Secondary School Nazimabad’ for his Matriculation, and then moved to ‘Central Government College Nazimabad’ from where he did his Intermediate and Bachelors. He obtained Masters in Sociology (1963) and Islamic Studies (1966) from Karachi University. As a student, he marked his presence as eloquent speaker, extempore orator and editor of the college magazine, while being a good player of badminton. He remained champion of badminton doubles at Karachi University, and played real good cricket and Table Tennis. Among his teachers at school, he drew inspiration from Mr SanaUllah who taught Islamiat and Mr SafiUllah who helped him learn Chemistry.
Regarding his religious education, he remained a student of Maulana Abdul Aziz, Maulana Moen-ud-Din Khattak and Maulana Muntakhib Qadri.

Student Life & Politics:
Syed Munawar Hasan joined National Students Federation (NSF) - a student body with leftist leaning - and was elected its President in 1959. Those were the Martial Law days; all political parties and organizations were banned, and an underground platform was formed to carry out the activities. The real change appeared in his life when he got a chance to come closer to the activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Sued Abul A’ala Mawdudi. As a result, he joined IJT in 1960 and shortly afterwards became its member. Soon afterwards, he was elected as President of its Karachi University Unit, Karachi City Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. Later, he reached its top slot and became all-Pakistan President in 1964 and served in that capacity for three consecutive terms. During his tenure of the President, the Jamiat organized several campaigns mobilizing public opinion regarding education problems, system of education, women education etc. During Martial Law, IJT was banned along with other organizations so its re-organization was an uphill task which he undertook successfully.

Starting off as a professional after graduating from Karachi University:
He joined the Islamic Research Academy, Karachi as a Researcher in 1963. In 1969, he was appointed its Secretary General. Under his supervision, the Academy published 70 scholarly books. He also rendered services as Managing Editor of the Monthly ‘The Criterion’ and ‘The Universal Message’, Karachi.

On board Jama’at-e-Islami:
Syed Munawar Hasan became member of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan in 1967 without any gap between the membership of the IJT and the Jama’at. He served Karachi unit as Deputy Secretary, General Secretary, Naib Ameer and Ameer of the city. He was also elected to the Central Shura and the Executive Council of the Jama’at. He represented Jama’at at several platforms, including United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA). Contesting National Assembly election in 1977, he secured the highest votes in Pakistan. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993. It was in 2009 that he became the Ameer of Jama’at-e-Islami.

A great political mind at work:
He is convinced and accepted Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W) life as a complete code of conduct for everyone to abide by in order to a true leader. Syed Munawar Hasan is very much indebted to Maulana Maududi whose thought provoking writings changed him altogether. He believes that the state must provide for a re-vamp of Education Syllabi and Education System in Pakistan in order to educate its youth in the right direction; bringing them up as good Muslim scholars in all disciplines. He takes pride in mentioning Jama’at-e-Islami’s efforts towards researching and bringing forth a practical education system at various forums at different points in time. However, Syed Munawar Hasan maintains that the state would have to mobilize its resources to implement such a system.

He feels upset for the fact that Pakistan has always been and remains a ‘Land without Constitution’. He laments those who remained in power, for not implementing the constitution in its letter and spirit. Pakistan was lucky enough to frame a constitution in 1973 unanimously but alas, the very next day the same Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto declared emergency and it rendered the constitution ineffective. Syed Munawar Hasan believes that constitution must be adhered to, and as a “Social Contract”. This is the solution to all the problems of Pakistan.
He is an ardent advocate of the supremacy of constitution and believes that it shall bring in provincial harmony; provincial autonomy and basic rights to every citizen.
Syed Munawar Hasan is sure about Pakistan’s future and has a beautiful picture in his mind for Pakistan 20 years down the line, and is working day in and day out to make it happen.

Syed Munawar Hasan’s persona revisited:
Spending his leisure time, which he hardly manages, watching TV or reading books; Syed Munawar Hasan is a true intellectual soul. He has read the creations of ‘Nasim Hijazi’ and ‘A.R. Khatoon from Delhi’, and finds a great deal of good work in the poetry of Habib Jalib, Allama Iqbal, and Faiz. He likes cats as pets. He loves being with his friends and family, and believes that a man’s acquaintances are reflective of his own personality.
He has been to many a countries which include USA, UK, Canada, Middle East and many countries of the South East and South East Asia.

Syed Munawar Hasan is well versed in English. He is a welcome speaker in the country and abroad. Many of his speeches, mostly in Urdu, are also available the shape of audio/video cassettes and CDs. He also heads a number of planning and research committees within the Jama’at.

(Profile by Talha Abbasi)
© Pakistani Leaders Online