Contributed By: Dr. Equbal Wajid (ahmedsi03@marafiq.com.sa)
Padamashree Dr. Syed Hasan was born in the village Paithana of Jahanabad District, Bihar, India in the year 1924. His father Mr. Hafeez was a serviceman. He belongs to a middle class Malick family. The maternal side of Dr. Syed Hasan was richer. He was admitted in Jamia Milliaya Islamia, New Delhi, at the age of 10. His mother named him on the name of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan the founder of Aligarh Muslim University. She wanted him to become a big man like Syed Ahmed Khan [ the fonder of Aligarh Muslim University] Dr. Syed Hasan talked more about his mother than his father. When he came Kishanganj, her mother lived with him. She was not satisfied of what her son intended to do.
In 1934 he was admitted in Jamia Primary School, New Delhi. He passed his matriculation from Jamia Higher Secondary and admitted in Jamia College. He took his graduation 1946. After graduation he was sent to YMCA College Madras. There he took his diploma in Physical Education. Then, again he joined Jamia Millia Islamia as a Head Master in the Primary School.
His teachers at Jamia MIllia Islamia were Dr.Zakir Hussain [who later become the President of India] , Prof. Mohammad Mujeeb [ Served as Vice Chancellor ,Jamia Milliaya Islamia] , Dr. Abid Hussain [ Educationist and Writer] Ghaffar Madhaoli [ Maths teacher] Akhtar Hasan, Syed Mujtiba Husain Zaidi, Akbar Ali, Irshad ul Haque, Maulana Aslam Jaipuri [ a reputed Muslim cleric] Khawaja Abdul Hai Farooqui, Barkat Ali, Saeed ud deen Ansari, Ali Ahmed, Waqar Azeem [ a reputed Critic of Urdu Fiction] , Hafeez ud Deen, , and E. G. Kalat etc.
He was very close to Dr. Zakir Hussein. When Prof Mohammad Mujeeb was the Vice Chancellor of Jamia MIllia Islamia. He recommended Dr Syed Hasan’s name for a fellowship by Lincoln University , Pelselvania, USA, which was accepted, and he got a chance to study there.
When the post man handed him a letter which seemed to have come from foreign. One of his colleagues told him:
“ KUCH DAAL MIEN KALA HAI” [ There is something wrong ]
“ AAP HI KHOL KE DEKH LIJIEY” [ then, let you must open it.] said Syed Hasan and as his fellow teacher opened the letter and shouted :
“MUBARAK HO AAP KO FELOWSHIP MIL GAI HAI’ [ Congratulations ….!!!! …..you have got the fellow ship.]
Dr. Hasan was too glad to receive the letter. Very soon he flew for America. He was admitted in Lincoln University and was later transferred to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Dr. Syed completed his MS in Education in USA. While working as a Graduate-Assistant and graduate fellow he won his Ph.D. in education at Southern Illinois University. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi.
He also have a high regard for the relationship and cooperation among faculty and students. He also saw the transformation and expansion of Southern Illinois University under the leadership of its then President Dr. Delyte Morris. At Southern Illinois University he was also blessed with great teachers like Dr. Charles E. Skinner [Professor of Psychology] Dr. Willis G. Schwartz, [Dean of graduate studies] Dr. Eugene D. Fitzpatrick [Chairman of Guidance] Dr. Clarence D. Samford [Chairman of Education] Dr. Edward J. Shea[ Chairman of Physical Education] and Dr. Arthur E. Lean[ Dean of the Education] .
Dr. Syed Hasan was a man of character. He said that in his 10 years stay in USA he never touched wine and women. When his fellow girls intended to have sex him, he use to escape them gently. He use to tell them that even if they put off their clothes before him, they couldn’t trap him to have sex with them. He always practiced to be more and more resistant of seasonal hazards. In winter he never used caps and mufflers. Even some time he walked bare headed in the snow fall in winter while a layer of half to one inches of ice could freeze on his head.
It was the annual occasion of the annual sports in his university. He decided to take part in wrestling. When the time came he was ready to take part. Among the audience there were male and female students, teachers and guests. Dr. Syed Hasan took part. He entered in the wrestling pad, warmed himself up and came face to face of his counterpart. They both trying their best to defeat each other, his counterpart was an American. The Asian and the American fight each other with full enthusiasm and at last it was the Asian who defeated the American. Dr. Syed Hasan won the game. His classmates cheered him. His teachers were joyful. The audience gazed at him in surprise. Later he represented the Southern Illinois University in wrestling.
While studying in USA he also worked part time in Hotels. This was a cleaning job. The used plates were coming in on a conveyer belt, if someone delays he will soon find a herd of dirty plates before him. An American lady was also working part time with him. She was rather weak and slow. She could not maintain the equilibrium, so the dirty plates gathered about her time to time. Dr. Syed Hasan not only did his work fast but he also helped his American fellow lady in her work to run fast.
He was simple by nature. Once one the street he saw some stainless steel plates laying in the municipality drum. He was astonished why someone has thrown these new plates. He don’t hesitate to take those plate to his house. Dr. Syed Hasan was much impressed with America and Americans. He always used to praise them. He laid the foundation of the Insan College on 24th of October 1980 and told that he chooses this date because it is the foundation day of the UNO. Even the color of the Flag of Insan College was sky blue matching to the color of the flag of UNO.
Once, in America, his house caught fire due to reason unknown. He was out station. When he reached near the street he saw smokes and flames coming out of a house. When he came closer and closer then he knew that it was his own house. After the incident, as Dr. Syed Hasan told us that the neighbors helped him with clothes, food items, and house hold items in such a way that it was more than the loss. After the incident he had better house, clothes, foods, and house hold items. In this way he was impressed with the American people. He wanted us to be honest and laborious.
Once it was an afternoon of Summer in USA, Dr. Syed Hasan had to take a class on motivation in the State college of Forsberg. When he entered the class all the student snoozed and looked idle. It was the last class of the day. Nobody was ready to be attentive. The class looked too boring. Then, slowly Dr. Hasan started to motivate the students, within minutes the situation was changed and everybody was laughing. The students felt themselves fresh and attentive to the class. When the class was over Dr. Syed Hasan told them:
“My today’s class is a good example of motivation. When I entered in the class nobody among you was ready to be attentive, rather than most of you were in slight slumber. What I did, that you all felt changed and get interested in the class is the practical example of motivation”
The students enjoyed most and admired Dr. Syed Hasan for his profound talent of being a wining behaviorist and a successful teacher.
When in 1964, at the State college of Forsberg, USA, the award for the “Instructor of the Year “ was about to be declared. Dr. Syed Hasan was sitting idle in a corner in the convocation hall. He was not expecting that his name could be announced for this award. Suddenly his name was announced and he was called upon the stage to receive the award. Dr. Syed Hasan remembered that when his name was announced the audience stood up in regard. This was a high prestige which Dr. Syed Hasan enjoyed in his life. In his speech Dr. Syed Hasan said that he wants to serve his own country and so he had decided to resign his position. The people were more astonished to listen it. This news was covered by newspapers in USA. (to be continued)
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