Remembering Dr BB Qureshi

It was with a heavy heart that I read about the sad demise of Pakistan’s first female PhD Dr BB Qureshi at an old citizen’s home a few days ago. After completing her MA in Economics from Aligarh University in Mumbai, she went to Dublin to pursue her PhD and returned to Pakistan for a life selflessly dedicated to promoting academics. She had also been a teacher at many leading institutions of the world and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan was one of her students. A legendary woman and role model, she toiled hard her entire life to promote literacy in Pakistan.
It was in October last year that Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad paid homage to her. She was honored at a ceremony and due notice was taken of the years of neglect that she suffered at the hands of a nation that she had served well. However, nothing was actually ever done to improve her living conditions and provide her with the comfort and care that she deserved.
When the nation mourned the death of child prodigy Arfa Karim, many thought that we would in the future grant due timely rewards to our gifted citizens. However, the conditions in which Dr BB spent the last days of her life highlight the fact that we will time and again fail to acknowledge the achievements of our citizens until all we can do for them is express our grief at their plight long after they have departed from this world and reward them with empty obituaries. May this great lady rest in peace and may Allah Almighty grant her a place in the heavenly abode.
AMNA BILLOO
Karachi