Author: Ipsita Sarkar & Nyla Ahmad
“My parents were illiterate. I hailed from a poor family where we struggled to make ends meet. My Class 12 Board Exams were postponed several times due to the conflict situation in Kashmir. I failed my Medical Entrances multiple times. I was mocked for my poor English-speaking skills in college. I was depressed, angry, and jealous. Everybody thought I was a failure. I had lost my chance of becoming a doctor. But I refused to give up. I challenged everyone that a day would come when I would be teaching all doctors instead of…” Prophetic words they were, just that, Dr. Fayaz Mir did not know.
On 22nd July 2020, around 100 High School Scholars from The Kashmir Education Initiative (KEI) Scholars were gathered at a virtual conference to hear the inspiring journey of Dr. Fayaz Mir, Immunologist, and Research Scientist it the Department of Medicine at Qatar Metabolic Institute.
Dr Fayaz Mir, also a recipient of a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from Medical Harvard School, Boston, USA, began the session by talking about his very humble beginnings in Tral, South of Kashmir. His parents, father who was a laborer and mother, a weaver toiled hard day and night to ensure proper education for their children. They made painstaking sacrifices and with their meager income of hardly Rs 200 per month, they were able to shift their son from dilapidated open-air school to a relatively upmarket one with a monthly fee of Rs 53 to complete his high school education.
Then like most Kashmiri kids, Dr Fayaz too joined the rat race towards Medical Exam preparations but failed in each attempt to clear the Exams. Disappointed and feeling humiliated to even face his Medical friends in college, he reluctantly pursued a BSc followed by yet another failure in obtaining an MSc. But not the one to give up. He took a risk and shifted to Bengaluru at a friend’s suggestion where he started pursuing an MSc in Biotechnology. His classmates ridiculed him at every step, for his weak English comprehension and speaking skills and even for asking questions in the case, he did not understand the teacher’s words. Did that deter him? The KEI Scholars asked.“If you ask a question one time, you will be a fool only one time. But if you do not ask any questions, you will remain a fool for the rest of the time! I am proud of myself that I allowed myself to become a fool at that time. Afterwards, I became an expert at that very subject. That was a great achievement!” Dr Fayaz said.
When the KEI Scholars asked him, what made him study so hard without getting bogged down by peer pressure, he answered that his parents and teachers were his driving force. His parents cut down on their own expenses to send their son’s monthly fees in college. His teachers would answer his questions and gave him the Kuby Immunology book to study from. He had to read it several times to understand the language. His weakness became a strength as constant revisions of the text made him an expert on Immunology. Thus, a new journey began...
From being laughed at for asking questions, he became a topper in Immunology. Doors and windows of the wider global world started opening for him with a bang- he went on to specialize in cellular immunology and get a Doctoral Degree in Immunology from Max Planck in Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany. After completing his Ph.D., he moved to the University Hospital Bestle, Switzerland for a short post-doctoral stint on designing the approved vaccines against pneumococcal infections.
In 2010, he was awarded Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Medical Harvard School, Boston, USA. He researched the cellular and molecular immune mechanisms of immune privileges.
Dr Fayaz reminded the Scholars to stay true to their roots and parents, no matter how well they had done in life. When his brother was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, Dr Fayaz gave up his luxurious life and lucrative career in the United States to return to his modest hometown in Tral, Kashmir. He stood by his family, even after his brother’s death. A few years later, he settled in Qatar, working in the reputed Qatar Metabolic Institute, where he is specializing in the study of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders and the role of the immune system in metabolic disorders in obese individuals.
Fate had made his prediction come true…he was now teaching all doctors. The latter has been learning from his research and applying his lessons in advanced medicine.
Enraptured by his words, the Kashmiri youth at KEI could relate to his sorrows and pain as if they were their own and were motivated by his victories and how he had beaten all odds. He reminded them that these teenage years were the most critical, confusing, and delicate years of one’s life and to tread on this route with caution. Failures were important and the biggest teachers he said. He added what was also important was to contribute to society and engage in social work.
Mr Omar Hafiz, the Program Manager and one of the Lead Mentors at KEI added that in current times, the only thing that was freely available was the power to dream and the only free resources included proper guidance. And with both, it was possible to pedal your dreams towards success and happiness.
Dr Fayaz concluded the Session by telling the young audience that he saw his own reflection in them, thus reminding them to have sabr (patience). He quoted a few Kashmiri proverbs:
“Jahan mai ehli imaan soorat e khurshhed jeetay hain” (First when you are down, how you will rise up despite of problems)
“Idhar doobey, udhar niklay, udhar doobey, idhar niklay” (Secondly, when you are successful, you have to keep your roots in contact. You have to be conscious and remember your past)
“Tundi e baad e mukhalif se na gabraaye uqaab” (If you want smooth life, you are not going to experience anything new)
“Ye tou chalti hai tujhe ooncha uthaane ke liye” (Life is about experience. Do what you like, but not at the cost of your priorities)