Determined to succeed

Abdur Rashid Khan started his career as a lab technician. Today, as  Assistant Professor, he heads the central laboratory of SKIMS Bemina. Ikhlaq Qadri reports.

Financial compulsions made him leave college. This was most depressing for Abdur Rashid Khan. He had been a diligent student at schools. “I had joined Amar Singh college in the non-medical stream, but it was not meant to be, and I had to leave in the first year itself,” says Rashid. But he did not lose hope. “I always had this craving to study, and I knew well that I would, in spite of the setback.”  

Soon after he left college, he stumbled upon a notification for a one year laboratory technician course. What encouraged him to apply was the monthly stipend of 30 rupees to be paid to the selected candidates. He was selected. Now he was studying, that too on his own expenses. He completed the course in 1969.
Soon he was appointed as a laboratory technician in the Government Medical College, Srinagar. He was assigned to Chittranjan Mobile-the mobile hospital wing, which would visit rural areas.  

“Even though I now had a job, I wanted to study further,” says Rashid. He quit the job in spite of the strong opposition from the family. To support himself and the family he set up a small laboratory in his locality. “My father provided me with the monetary assistance to set up the Lab,” he says. At the same time he rejoined college and completed his graduation in 1974 in Science stream.

At around the same time Sher-i-Kashmir National Medical Institute Trust was in the stage of formation. It had small office on MA road, at the same location which today houses the Ali Jan complex.

“Out of curiosity I went in there to see if there was any job opening,” says Rashid. On entry, he was surprised to see both Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah sitting alongside Dr Ali Jan. Rashid informed Sheikh Abdullah of his qualification, and told him that he had come in search of a job. “Sheikh directed me to Ali Jan,” he says.   

Dr. Ali Jan interviewed him on the spot, and decided to send him to PGI Chandigarh for training, bearing all the expenses. “Dr. Ali Jan even gave me Rs. 450 out of his pocket,” says Rashid.

Now Rashid headed to Chandigarh for training. Dr Ali Jan took a personal interest in his progress.“One day Dr Ali Jan came to PGI Chandigarh and enquired from the then director Dr  P N Chautani about my performance and asked for the progress report,” he says. This made a lasting impression on Rashid. “It was a great inspiration for me that a reputed doctor came to see an ordinary technician like me,” he adds.

Coming back after completion of training, he was made in charge of laboratory which was then in a stone building at M A Road. It was around this time that he got a call from Dr Jan asking him to apply for a job in SKIMS. Dr Ali Jan was vice- Chairman of SKIMS at that time. “I applied and got selected,” he says.  
He was designated as Technologist in SKIMS. Soon after he landed the job, he got married. But the urge to study further  lingered. “I had desire to pursue M.Sc Bio-chemistry but that at time University of Kashmir was not offering that course.”

One day, while going through Tribune-a national daily, he read an advertisement that applications were being accepted for M.Sc  Medical technology course in the PGI Chandigarh. He applied and was selected. But as ill luck would have it, his father passed away and he could not go for the course.
Next year he tried again, and got selected this time too. He completed the course in 1983. He stood third in the batch, and received a Bronze medal for the same.

After this he sat in the PhD examination. Like other exams he qualified this too. He was admitted into the doctoral programme, which he completed at the age of 50. “I never considered that I am too old for studies. I had a passion for it,” he says.

After the completion of his PhD, he was posted first as a Tutor and then as a senior resident. It was at this time that posts for assistant professors were advertised. Being eligible for the same, he applied too. However the administration denied him candidature. “I went to Medical council of India and got clearance from them. Only I am eligible as per the criteria of MCI for the faculty as I have done my MSc from a Medical institute.”

He appeared in the interview, and was selected. However, the order was put on hold by the administration. Without losing hope he went to court.

Next year he appeared again in the interview and got selected. By this time there had been a change in the administration. This time roadblocks were not put in his selection. Since then, he is working as an Assistant Professor and also as the head of the central Laboratory at SKIMS, Bemina.

“I got many opportunities to go outside India, but I preferred my people over money as I believe that in reality a man does not need much money to sustain himself,” he says.

In his message to the student community Dr. Rashid says, “Have a sustainable resolve to achieve your goal. Honesty, sincerity and dedication is of utmost important.”