Dow 79 had a good number of foreign students immersed in the rank and file. Recalling some of them from Iran, the name of Zeba Muhammadi and Mohsin

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1 English & Urdu Text : Presentation : Khalid Iqbal Shoaib Sobani

2 Dow 79 had a good number of foreign students immersed in the rank and file. Recalling some of them from Iran, the name of Zeba Muhammadi and Mohsin Nagabi strikes ones mind vividly. One other name is that of Jamal Mir Miran Jamal had a few friends in the class and was a quiet, low key man. Without any roar he graduated like many others.

3 Jamal joined Paediatrics and started with the DCH programme by Billo Sahib. Before he passed the examination a summersault smacked his plans for the future. Revolution in Iran brought major changes in the life of expatriates. Jamal s life became difficult when his source of income from the family stopped suddenly.

4 He had to quit efforts for post- graduation and roamed in the streets of Karachi to sustain a living. He opened up a general practice clinic in Nazimabad. He was a genuinely naïve man for he could not read the wicked designs of his dispenser who stole everything and simply ran away one fine morning. This was an insult added to the injuries and out of desperation poor Jamal picked up the job of a Resident Medical Officer in Usman Memorial Hospital Karimabad. Life took another turn for Jamal when he managed to move to Canada in For several years he worked in Psychopharmacology Department of McGill University with Dr. Mohammad Amin who was the Professor of Psychiatry.

5 Jamal then got a break asa Psychiatry Resident at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and ultimately got FRCPC. He settled in British Columbia since He has been serving as a staff psychiatrist at Vancouver General Hospital. He is also the manager for acute adult assessment and provision of tertiary care treatment facility at Vancouver Coastal Health Services which can house 39 patients. He also has the privilege of serving Iranian, Afghan and sometimes Urdu / Hindi speaking persons at Cross Cultural Psychiatry Clinic. He is presently Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia.

6 Jamal is married to Ruby, whom he met in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is of Afghani heritage settled in Canada for ages. She has done Masters in Educational Psychology. She works part time with Family Services of Vancouver conducting educational sessions with students. They have a daughter by the good name of Parisa (which in Persian means angelic) she is in grade 11 and is going to be 17 in June. The physical changes in Jamal s persona looks beyond recognition from the times of 79. Whenever he is asked to describe his life in a one liner he gives a very condensed reply. I was born in Iran, grewup in Pakistan andmatured in Canada.

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10 PERSONALITY UPLOADED ON 30 TH MARCH 2013 Jamal i do remember you, to recall someone after a long long time itself look like a dream which was true once upon a time, sorry to know the bad situation in Iran, here in Pakistan the life has become very very miserable due to corrupted political leaders as well as religious leaders, on top is the regional problems, Pakistan sooner or later will be a failure state, whatever is holding the country is Kahuta the Nuclear Station S.A.Abbasi Hello Jamal, It is good to hear from you. Yes Bundoo Khan and Student Biryani are all still alive and well, but not in the form you and I knew it as. Karachi has changed for the worst. Although I do go back for visits, it is not the place I recognise. It is good to hear from you and do keep posting. All the best. Hasan Dear Jamal, Congratulations for your success, we are all happy that you succeeded professionally and and now living a happy life with your beautiful family in a beautiful and peaceful country. It is indeed commendable for you to acknowledge the sentiments of your friends of this forum. It is a breath of fresh air as some of our friends, who never bother to read or reply. We share your frustration, at least some of us, with the violent politics of Islamists, be they Khomeneites Shias or Wahabi/ Salafi Taliban, that they are not only tearing apart Muslim societies of the world, but they are actually, as you say ' axing the tree of Islam from its roots '. We all remember all those famous popular Nehari of Burns/ Bunder road, Bundoo Khan Tikka, and High School Biryani Place, who had perfected the art of making cheap and tasty Biryani, albeit with donkey meat! Ahmed Saeed.

11 PERSONALITY UPLOADED ON 30 TH MARCH 2013 Dear all, I want to thank you for kind comments and sentiments. Like each and every one of you I have also had my share of trials and tribulations of the life journey. Alhamdolellah I am happy and content with my family, my professional position and my adopted country Canada. However I still cherish the time I spent in Karachi driving around in my Suzuki Motorcycle going. I used to stay in Hasan Square. I still sometimes crave Bandar Road Nihari shop and Bandoo Khan Tikka shop and I do not know how many of you remember High School Biryani place. As you all are aware, revolution in Iran was hijacked by Khomeini and the mullahs and demolished the very fabric of the society. Mullahs and their cronies have looted the country, created a dreadful secret service and perfected the art of torture and suppression. I went to visit Iran in 2010 after 31 years and was saddened what I saw. People have changed a lot, they are more materialistic than any western country. Unfortunately one of the victims of this so called Islamic regime is Islam itself. They lie and cheat in the name of Islam and by promoting Shiism have created a huge rift between muslims. Instead of worshiping Allah, Shias are worshiping the shrine of dead descendants of prophet. As if Mullahs destruction was not enough, the Taliban have also been axing the tree of Islam from its roots. Muslims now identify themselves as Shia or Sunni, and we have become a divided Umma that destroy each other by bombing mosques or sending suicide bombers. I do not want to tire you out with my pet peeve as I can go on for hours. Suffice to say that we muslims are an Umma in crisis and there is no sign that it is going to get any better in foreseeable future. Regards, Jamal

12 PERSONALITY UPLOADED ON 30 TH MARCH 2013 Dear Jamal, Thanks for writing back. Believe it or not it is a rarity, not many people acknowledge the sentiments expressed for whatever reasons. I can tell you that your pet peeve will get a large sympathetic audience here on this forum. We have been doing a collective '' matam"(breast beating) on this perversion of religion brought on by the mullahs and their protégé, Talibaan. You remember the places and hangouts well. I have no recollection of High School Biryani. You are brave you went back, I am afraid even to go back as it may shatter the nice memories of the good old days. Nice to hear from you. Keep in touch. Bashir Thanks shoaib for Jamal I remember having discussion with him regarding shah of Iran and his brutality With out realizing that khomanie and his Islamic force will make new records of torture,murders and destruction of communists,bahaies and opposition. JAMAL great to know that you are alive and well Tell us some thing about present Iran Best regards to your family Shershah

13 PERSONALITY UPLOADED ON 30 TH MARCH 2013 Dear Jamal It is so nice to see you with your family. I have been to Vancouver twice and in my last visit had a trip to Victoria as well. You certainly live in one the most beautiful part of this world. If I had known one would have met up. Hopefully during my next visit. Please do write about yourself. Ifti I remember Jamal very well and sometimes think about him I have enjoyed good times with him He was very anti shah and politically aware I miss him A good friend I am glad he is doing well if any one has his phone number? please younus rakla