Karachi, Speakers at a reference held on Thursday in memory of Dr Muhammad Sabir, a professor of Turkology in the University of Karachi (KU) Islamic History Department opened their hearts and minds to pay tribute to the professor who passed away last Sunday. The reference was held at the Audio-Visual Centre of the Arts Faculty, with the hall filled to capacity – a lasting testimony of the contribution and popularity of Dr Sabir.

Former chairperson of the Islamic History Department, Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, spoke eloquently about her 35 year association with Dr Sabir, and said that he was a loving person and had an aura of knowledge sans any pretension that often accompanies it. She surprised the audience with the statement that the departed professor was better known in Turkey than in Pakistan, and wrote more books in Turkish than in Urdu and English put together.

Dr Shamim Akhtar, former chairperson and professor at the KU International Relations Department, narrated the friendliness, humility and comradeship of Dr Sabir, and said that he talked amicably and had a smiling face that attracted many students from many departments.

Professor Dr Muhammad Sabir completed his Master’s degree from KU in 1958. He was selected by the Government of Pakistan to undertake a doctoral degree in Turkish language and literature on the scholarship of the Turkish government the same year. After completing his doctorate in Turkology in 1961, he joined the Islamic History Department at KU. He completed his PhD thesis on the Masnavi Hairat-ul-Abrar (Wonder of the Pious) of the greatest poet of the Turkish race, Mir Ali Shir Navai, who is also regarded as the literary hero of Uzbekistan.

He taught Islamic history and modern Turkish language at the KU till his retirement in 1995. During his association with the KU, he also served as the caretaker dean of the faculties of arts and commerce. He was the only Turkologist of Pakistan, and also edited the first-ever Turkish-Urdu dictionary in 1968.

Islamic History Department In Charge Dr Shakeel Siddiqui, Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS) President Dr Abid Hasnain, Dr Faheemuddin and Dr Sabir’s sons, Tughral Sabir and Captain Balban Sabir, also spoke on the occasion.