Rehan Ali Khushik
Many historians refer to the Sindh Madresa which is now known as Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) Karachi as the most productive ground for men, ideas and dreams that led the subcontinent’s Muslims during their political struggle in the early 20th century. Eminent personalities, like, Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto and Muhammad Ayoub Khuhro studied in this important institution during this phase. These erudite scholars received their school education and transformed themselves into strong trendsetting and life-altering individuals. These leaders created a congenial environment during their studies. From primary to secondary school and then college to a
university, its voyage remained pleasant and serene. The university is fortunate enough now to have a most deserving academic gem namely Prof. Dr Mujeebuddin Memon popularly known as Dr. Mujeebuddin Sehrai who is son of the great Sindhi poet, intellectual, historian, archeologist, educationist and researcher Taj Sehrai as its second vice chancellor. He is expected to join this great institution forthwith as the second vice chancellor and becoming the successor of the first ever vice chancellor Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh. This institution of high repute was credited for being the premier talent pool of the young people, especially Muslim fraternity before the creation of Pakistan; it was
often accused of being the promoter of the Pakistan Movement. Founded on September 1, 1885 by Hassan Ali Effendi- a Sindhi settled in Karachi, Sindh Madrasa has continuously been imparting quality education to the people who later earned good name and fame for their wisdom, diligence and hard- working. The originally "kafila serai" grounds of pre-colonial Karachi that were located to the east of Mithadar eventually incorporated into the school grounds. Its establishment was supported by Indian Muslim jurists including Syed Ahmad Khan and Syed Ameer Ali. It became a popular school for many
Muslims of Sindh and Balochistan. Modeled after a British public school, Sindh Madrasa remained a high school until 1943 when it was elevated to a college, and in February 2012 was chartered as a university by the Government of Sindh. Today, Sindh Madrasa is a publicly funded university located in the Serai Quarter of downtown Karachi, near Habib Bank Plaza building and I. I. Chundrigar Road on an eight-acre estate which is home to several colonial era buildings most of them designed by architect James
Strachan. Sindh Madressatul Islam offers four year undergraduate programs and two year master& degrees, however it doesn't award doctorate degrees so far but the university possesses some faculty members with PhD degrees teaching there. The university has constructed a 15-floor academic tower in its current campus. The institute has been associated with several prominent South Asian Muslims including Pakistan's founding father and first head of state Mohammad Ali Jinnah who received his
matriculation from the school in 1892, apart from Jinnah, Sir Shahnawaz & Ayoub Khuhro, Muhammad Hashim Gazdar (9th Mayor of Karachi), Abdullah Haroon and Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah also studied here. Undoubtedly, the leadership of Prof. Dr. Mujeebuddin Sehrai will lead the Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) to the new avenues of success as he is really a focused individual. When we peep into
his life and past performance, we come to know that he started his academic career as a lecturer (BPS- 17) in Mechanical Engineering Department at Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET) Jamshoro in August 1988 and thereafter earned Quaid-e-Azam merit scholarship and rushed to United Kingdom for higher studies. Dr. Memon completed Ph.D. from the world reputed Thermo-fluid Mechanics Research Center (TFMRC) of Sussex University UK. After Successful completion of Ph.D., he was appointed as Associate Professor (BPS-19) in year 1995, Professor (BPS-20, 21) in year 2000 and
then became Meritorious Professor (BPS-22) in year 2013. Dr. Memon has maintained an active scholarly interest in Mechanical Engineering issues. He is author of fifty-two (52) research papers and supervised three PhD scholars with notable honor to produce first PhD in Mechanical Engineering CDepartment at MUET, Jamshoro.
