28th September 2013 marks the day when a father, a teacher, a thinker and a mentor of many, Professor Javaid Austin left this cruel world to meet his demise. A notification through a Facebook page about the departure of such a great man was of such a shock to me that it felt unreal. Within a split second, a series of events and memories flashed before my eyes relating to this individual and I kept myself hard from shedding tears in front of my companion.
Short and dark complexioned,
grey haired and a bit bald but exceedingly energetic
and dedicated for his old age, Professor
Javaid Austin was one of the most influential persons
I have ever met in my life. I had the privilege
of being his student during
the year 2011-2012.
His classes were an amalgam
of mathematics, ethics,
life science and fun. I do not remember a single day during his time with us that we didn’t
learn something new about life. As the final days of year approached, the number of students attending
the classes decreased
significantly until I was the only student
left who visited
FCC for his lectures. During
those days we used to sit in his private
office in A-Block
(Seemi Tajammul Building)
where he taught
me affectionately and wholeheartedly. I owe him my second
year’s mathematics final exam.
I can quote quite a number
of my own fond memories
of him but the one to which all the people, who knew him personally, can relate to is the way he greeted his students when he used to enter the class.
That enthusiastic, yet lovable “God bless you beta” coming
out of his mouth is one of my fondest
memories of him. I still remember the day when he told us that he was above 60 and even had a by-pass surgery
and yet was so energetic
that he didn’t
even use a cane to support him. He was really proud of his unprecedented physical
fitness for his age.
Professor Javaid
Austin had many virtues, one of which was his righteousness. He never compromised
on his morals
and discouraged anyone
how had the slightest trait of immorality.
Once during our class he quoted an incident where another car crashed into his own. Apparently the other driver
was at fault.
Professor Javaid came out of this car as the other man (and his companions) did. Before anything
could be said between the two parties,
Professor Javaid remarked,
“Look mister. Neither
you nor I am going to accept
the fault. We both know that we both are at fault so why fight over this?” The other man was a bit taken aback but remarked positively
that he was right. This incident showed
how optimistic he was about his surrounding
and life, and how cool his mind was.
Time is a cruel thing. It takes away our loved ones and leave us gloomy. But this is how life goes on. Professor Javaid
may have left us and may never talk to us again,
but the memories
he has left of himself
in the minds of the people he spent his life with are eternal.
It is my wish that his soul may rest in peace.
He will never be forgotten.
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