Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Now, Dr. Israr



Anxiety was creeping in as I was waiting for my interview with the science teachers. Finally, when I sat there, the biology teacher asked me why I was interested in studying science. I said that I was good at biology. Or something to that effect, I don’t remember the exact words. He asked, “What is the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell”. I was silent. But thanks to the other teacher sitting nearer, who whispered something in my ear. And I replied, “Animal cell is made of meat while plant cell is made of wood”. Interview was in my local language, Pashto, so it was a lot sillier than it sounds in English. And I was admitted into science class in my high school.






Me explaining the mysteries of life :)



Later, during a monthly test, we were asked how many chambers a frog heart had and I replied 4. Teacher said it was incorrect and that there were 5 chambers. So I thought, I should remember this thing. Next month, question was, “How many chambers a human heart has?” I replied, “Five”. Again it was the wrong answer.


In my arts/drawing class, we were asked to draw a bird. So I drew this beautiful bird using all the crayons available. I showed it to our teacher, he appreciated it and I was very happy. But then he asked me whether it was a dog. I was perplexed but he said what that collar was doing on its neck. I was silent.


Finally, we were having our matriculation exams and I would check the schedule every day, once before paper started and again after the paper so that I could prepare for the next one. But after a few days, I literally memorized it by heart and it was not necessary to check again and again. On weekend, I reached home and I was happy that the next paper was of physics and so I started solving the numerical questions as I liked those. After a good preparation, I reached the bus stop on Monday morning. There I met my class-fellows and casually I asked one of them what he was studying. He replied, “Circulatory system”. I was surprised what that fool was doing. Who on earth study a biology topic on the morning of a physics exam? But world is full of such idiots and clearly he was one of them. We reached our school and when the question papers were distributed, the gravity of the situation fully dawned upon me. I nearly fainted as it was a biology paper.


After school, there was interview for college admission and panel of subject specialists were firing different questions at rate of 60 questions per hour. English teacher asked me about a poem and I started, “Twinkle twinkle little stars…” Later I realized that had I read my English book at school, I would have known that there were many other poems. History teacher asked me who the father of Muhammad bin Qasim was. I said I didn't know. I answered questions of the other specialists with equal confidence. I got admission. And I found some wonderful teachers. I learnt about different subjects. In biology, I finally learnt that Rana tigrina was actually a frog.


During the exam, we were asked to dissect an earthworm. I was confidently dissecting when the examiner came and stood beside me asking questions. I was replying really well and showing him different parts of the  dissected creature. He seemed really impressed about my knowledge and surgical skills. I couldn't believe that sometime ago, I didn't know how many chambers a heart had and now examiner was impressed with my command of biology. I secretly glanced around to see if some other students were looking and jinxing me? During my reverie, I heard a distant voice, on second thought it was voice of the examiner. “For dissection, the ventral side should have been up while you have started dissecting on the dorsal side”. And the 4-chambers/5-chambers me was back.


Many years later, today before I was to present my PhD thesis, destiny seemed to be the only explanation for my long journey. I don’t know why I can’t remember any particular instance from my university life. I shall write more about it when something comes up. For now, I am devouring the moment.



35 comments:

  1. Heartiest Congratulations, Dr. Israr! A deserving title after a long journey. Yes, devour the moment!

    Looking forward to reading more. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you poetess :) yes it was a very long journey but i am thankful i reached there in time :) have a nice time :)

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  2. HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS Dr.Muhammad Israr :)

    a long journey finally reached to its destination so many sacrifices so many hardships so many compromises have to made in university life on the other hand secondary and higher secondary school are innocent memories engraved not only in our memories but in our hearts too :)

    well now its time to relax and enjoy your professional life as professor of bio-technology and i am sure your students will gain maximum useful knowledge and skills from a talented forensic scientist :)

    loads of prayers with best wishes :)

    stay happy and blessed :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you maria.. :)
      yes it was very very long journey and there were many events which can be called sacrifices but at the end im glad and thankful that my hardships and sacrifices pale in comparison to what others have gone or going through in their lives...
      hahaha... yes i think if i am ever a professor, my students will enjoy as they will have much free time while i will be on facebook :P

      thank you for your good wishes..and i wish you the same for your phd :)

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    2. And now Sir is our professor and we don't have time to do facebook because he is did'nt miss any class. He is extremely punctual. A very able teacher having knowledge of almost anything. As i am graduating i will miss you sir.

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  3. Finally the day of glory, ray of light, blissful success and ripe of hardships arrived for my sweet brother and companion Israr, the great! Now we all can say proudly ‘’Dr. Israr Khan’’. I would specially congratulate the proud parents who prayed utmost, worthful teachers for their nourishment, precious supervisors whom struggles and extreme hard work give birth to another scientist. I personally seen many professionals with success in their part, but the way this enchanting student has performed is simply remarkable. His success stories started since the day he topped the GRE exams (pre-requisite for getting admission in PhD) with in the country. Then he was declared successful on the board of alumni of CEMB, one of the leading institution of Pakistan in research. Now here we go, he has been declared successful in his public defence of PhD thesis.

    It’s not only he loves Biology and dissections of frogs and surgeries of other inhabitants since his childhood but he is master blaster of wonderful things includes miraculous writings (Blogs and messages), classic specialist of IT and a profound professional in languages. Sometimes I personally wish to be his student. Those in coming near future who will be sitting in class of Dr. Israr will be more than lucky ever!

    Congratulations again for achieving a true milestone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you very much for such a wonderful comment dear buddy :)
      hahaha.. no you cannot say Dr. Israr Khan as it cant be.. you can say Dr. Muhammad Israr if you like but i would rather prefer M. Israr simple and plain without any docotr :)
      hahaha... you had spoiled the story of my phd starting from admission to phd award :) so now i dont have to write about it as you have aptly put it into words with your superior eloquation :)
      hahaha... yes i hate dissections and i would love to read and write blogs but life has it that it is the other way around and i have to do the biology :(

      i wish you are right about my students as i am very worried about their future :P

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  4. Finally the day of glory, ray of light, blissful success and ripe of hardships arrived for my sweet brother and companion Israr, the great! Now we all can say proudly ‘’Dr. Israr Khan’’. I would specially congratulate the proud parents who prayed utmost, worthy teachers for their nourishment, unmatched supervisors whom struggles and extreme hard work give birth to another scientist. I personally seen many professionals with success in their part, but the way this enchanting student has performed is simply remarkable. His success stories started since the day he topped the GRE exams (pre-requisite for getting admission in PhD) with in the country. Then he was declared successful on the board of alumni of CEMB, one of the leading institution of Pakistan in research. Now here we go, he has been declared successful in his public defence of PhD thesis.

    It’s not only he loves Biology and dissections of frogs and surgeries of other inhabitants since his childhood but he is master blaster of wonderful things includes miraculous writings (Blogs and messages), classic specialist of IT and a profound professional in languages. Sometimes I personally wish to be his student. Those in coming near future who will be sitting in class of Dr. Israr will be more than lucky ever!

    Congratulations again for achieving a true milestone!

    ReplyDelete
  5. HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS~!!! :) :) :) :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you very much.. already much Sweets warna i wish to send u a mithai ka dabba :P

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  6. Pays you right for being yourself. Congratulations and all the best for your future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sir.. its the wishes/prayers of people like you that i have reached here :)

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  7. You've worked hard,and burned the midnight oil, finally it has all paid off,
    you've reached the light at the end of the tunnel, even though it seemed so far away!
    Congratulations on earning your Ph.D. Degree!

    I had spent very little time with you and a very few chances of get together, but these few moments were rich of inspirations.

    God Bless You...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you :) i feel blessed :) I wish you the same for your degree as well :) yes i regret there was very little time available but i am glad you find it worth it :)
      stay blessed :)

      Delete
  8. Congrats Doc! :D
    Your matric incidents are very interesting! My biology classes and exams never went that lengendary.. :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahaha.. thank you :) and i wish yours dont go that legendary :) wish you best luck :)

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  9. Your humility is a big part of why you will deserve your doctorate. Congratulations. Every time you are wrong you will learn more. That you know that is your special gift.

    I now to you, dr. Israr
    Love
    kj

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. to err is human and to learn is also human :) no that is not special gift, my special gift is to have valuable friends like you :)
      have a nice weekend :)

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  10. Replies
    1. thank you very much :) have a nice weekend :)

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  11. Replies
    1. thank you :) and i see your name and it reminds me of my blogpost that i have drafted and wanted to post :) the other side of me :)

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  12. MashaAllah. Truly happy for you daactor saab :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you :) and somehow i read it as "da actor saab" :P

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    2. Lol. Potato potaato. Same thing ;)

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  13. Enjoyed reading this post of yours, Dr.Israr! All the best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sandhya :) have a lovely weekend :)

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  14. Where are you? Miss your post so much Dr Israr!
    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are truly hypercryptical :) and I have posted and i think you commented on that :)

      Delete
  15. I thought so strongly of you today, remembering your wonderful writing and our meaningful exchanges in communication. Same as Anna whose comment is above mine, I miss your posts!
    Your news in this post is marvelous, and the background story is so touching. Many congratulations and good wishes to you, Dr. Israr!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lydia. you are one of the few bloggers, whose comments i cherish more than my writings :) yes i miss it too but life has been kind of stagnant lately and could not gather the necessary energy/concentration to read or write anything ...sorry for that... and thank you for your well wishes :) have a nice weekend :)

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