OBITUARY (2007-2010) Their legacy we hold fast… The Department of History (General), University of Karachi will always be indebted to the galaxy of great scholars and exemplary teachers who contributed their selfless services for the uplift of the department and promotion of the discipline at large. Dr. Mahmud Husain, Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi, etc. are some of those legendary figures. We, the faculty members are proud heirs to the scholarly traditions left by them. Last few years have been extremely unfortunate when we had to endure irreparable loss of three pillars of the department. Professor Emeritus Dr. Riaz-ul-Islam (1919-2007) Dr. Riaz-ul-Islam was one of the most senior and world renowned historian of Pakistan. He was a veteran Pakistan Movement worker and an expert in the medieval history of South, West and Central Asia. Born at Rampur, India, on December 30, 1919, he completed his MA and PhD from Aligarh in 1942 and 1946, respectively. In Pakistan he served as Deputy Director Archives, Ministry of Education (1951-53). Later he got another PhD from Can tab in 1953 and joined the Department of General History of Karachi University where he served for 26 years. On his commendable achievements , University of Karachi bestowed him with honorary post of Professor Emeritus. Apart from Karachi University, Dr. Islam had the honor of teaching at Muslim University Aligarh (1942-45), St. Stephen’s College Delhi (1945-47), Punjab University Lahore (1948-51), School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, (1962-65), Firdausi University Mashhad, Iran (1977) and St. Anthony College Oxford (1983-86) He also served as the advisor to the Board of Advance Studies and Research (BASR), University of Karachi till his death. Dr. Islam was also the Founder-Secretary and in fact, the life and soul of the Institute of Central and West Asian Studies which, thanks to his tireless efforts, has a long list of publications to its credit. He was well versed in a number of languages like English, Urdu, Persian, and had a considerable knowledge of Turkish, French and Arabic. He has written and edited a large number of books and research articles for which he travelled across the globe to U.K, France, Austria, Italy, Russia (including Central Asia), Turkey, Iran, USA, Canada and Australia. His publications include Indo-Persian Relations (Tehran, 1970), Shamlu Letters: A New Source of Iranian Diplomatic Correspondence (Karachi, 1971), Calendar of Documents on Indo-Persian Relations vol. I and II (Karachi, 1979, 1982), Sufism in South Asia: Impact on 14 th Century Muslim Society (Karachi, 2002) and many others. In recognition of his services he was awarded ‘Sitara-e-Imtiaz’ in 2006. Professor Riaz-ul- Islam died on August 13, 2007 at the age of 88. The Department will remember him as a founder, a flawless researcher, a great teacher and a continuous source of inspiration. 109 Professor Abdur Rehman: (1931-2010) Professor Abdur Rehman was another beloved teacher who served the Department as a learned scholar, a straight forward and honest chairperson and a compassionate teacher. Professor Rehman was born on May 1, 1931, in Hyderabad Deccan, India. He completed his Masters in History from Usmania University and later on migrated to Pakistan. He joined the Department of History, University of Karachi in 1961 and pursued a long career in academics till his retirement in 1991. His selfless services in the consolidation and uplift of the Department will always be remembered. Professor Rehman was well versed in English, Urdu and Persian and was particularly interested in the fields of Medieval South Asia. He died on October 5, 2010 at the age of 79. The Department will remember him as a great teacher, a selfless guide and a fatherly figure for the young generation. Professor Asrar Ahmed Siddiqi Last but not the least; Professor Asrar belongs to the third generational leadership of the Department of History (General). Born on October 20, 1957 he managed to complete his masters in General History from University of Karachi in 1987 with flying colors despite the financial problems faced by his family after the early death of his father. Nevertheless, being the eldest son, he selflessly continued to support his family. He joined the faculty of the Department in 1988 and soon became the most popular teacher among the students. In 2002 he visited United States on a Fulbright Scholarship . He attended a number of national and international conferences and wrote a number of research papers. He was an expert on History of Pakistan since 1947, Constitutional development and Foreign Policy of Pakistan. He was just about to complete his Ph.D thesis when he fell fatally ill before his death at the early age of 52. Professor Asrar had an incredible charisma that attracted students of all shade and hue, from all over the campus to his room. According to Prof Dr. Peerzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, the Vice Chancellor Karachi University, “he was the man of true university culture”. His door was always open for the students, faculty members and non teaching staff. For all of them he was a benevolent teacher, a guide and a friend to look up to in all moments of joy, need and grief. For some he was a messiah. Yet, he was a bold and straightforward speaker. A dauntless crusader against all irregularities he never faltered in doing the right thing even in face of threats to his life. Since November 14, 2009, Asrar Ahmed Siddiqi is no more. He lived and died for the Department. ============================================== 110 .