When conditions are not favourable for exhibiting talent to the fullest, wise people seek opportunities elsewhere. Shazia Khan profiles a Kashmiri scientist who prefers living abroad till he achieves his goal.
Tariq Maqbool Wani is a budding scientist of valley. He is pursuing his post doctorial training from world’s top immunology Centre in Atlanta, USA and is credited for contributing dozens of valuable publications on human genetics and immunology system. All his publications are highly appreciated globally.
Armed with post doctorate degree from Blais? Pascal University, France he has also secured many prestigious scholarships at national and international level including European Unions Fellowship, French Association Miopathy Fellowship (FAM) and Dr K Vijay’s Summer Training Fellowship.
“Nobody can predict the future but it is up to a person to set the direction for himself, take the risk and move forward”, says Tariq.
Spending more than six years abroad, there has been no looking back for Tariq. However, he still remembers the most important period of his life while being a new student in the field of biochemistry.
“It is always easy to start with a new field with all your potential but to maintain the same potential for long is difficult”, says Tariq. “At a very young age I made my mind to excel in the field of science. Right from the beginning I worked very hard to get the dues of hard work.”
Hailing from district Baramulla’s Pattan area, Tariq was born and brought up in an affluent business family. He received his early education from Pattan’s local school “White Candle Public School” and later shifted to Srinagar’s New Era School for his middle and secondary education. “I always stood first in my standard. In class tenth I secured distinction. Though my parents were quite happy but I was not satisfied. I knew I could have done better”, says he.
In early 1990’s when the situation in valley was very tense, Tariq decided to step out from valley to continue his studies. He completed his higher secondary schooling from Delhi’s Modern School and returned back for appearing CET in valley and made it through. For graduation, he selected Biochemistry and did honours from Aligarh Muslim University. “During my graduation I received Dr K Vijay Ragawan’s summer fellowship training at Bangalore. Working in his lab was an experience to explore a different world of Science. It helped me to set the goal of my life”, says Tariq.
After graduation he appeared in GATE and qualified it which helped him to get admission in Master’s Programme at Aligarh Muslim University and top his batch.
For further studies he applied to many universities abroad for post doctorate programme. “After many attempts I succeeded in receiving European Union Fellowship and Association of French Miopathy Scholarship that helped me to get admission in Blas? Pascal’s University, France.
Tariq did his post doctorate degree in “Genetics and Development” and completed his thesis in three and half years.
Tariq says that stint at Blais? Pascal University encouraged him to discover his extra ordinary interest for human system. “They have a different strategy for studying. They do not impart the education but develop sharp skills in you so that you will start thinking and analysing of your own observations.”
To chisel his skills further he applied for his post doctorial training at world’s best immunology memory centre at Atlanta USA, under the guidance of Dr Rafi Ahmad Director Memory Vaccination Department.
For the last few years he is working on the concept of differentiation of Memory T Cells. “Once you will succeed in knowing the differentiation between these T cells it can help make better vaccine for improving memory power in human beings”, informs Tariq.
Ask him does he have any plan to return valley. He says, “Well at the moment I am yet to complete my mission. I am staying in that part of world which is helping me to discover newer ways for human health.
“I will come back only after I have achieved what I am striving for. That way I can contribute to my land”, adds Tariq.
For Tariq success is phenomenal and indescribable. “There are no words to define it. I don’t know whether it has hit me yet but success for me is a privilege, the dues of my labour and talent.”
New aspirants must “Be comfortable and satisfied with what they are doing. No one can put a definite head or tail to any one‘s success. It is something which you have to discover for yourself.”
