Daily Times

The day I learned about dreadful demise of Dr. Mughees Uddin Sheikh, It looked as if I have lost one of the most precious and treasured persons of my life. It has been a week of his poignant passing away and I am still in the state of permanent denial that he has left us for forever.

Dr. Mughees Uddin Sheikh was a leading and renowned icon of Punjab University. Being torchbearer of meritocracy, he was a larger-than-life figure for thousand students of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more than three decade, he ruled over millions of hearts with his phenomenal persona and unparalleled allegiance for welfare of aspirants. His earnest guidance, motivation and unconditional support of students in the quest of better and quality life cannot be disregarded.

Many of his students and colleagues have paid him tribute and homage for his intellectual, academic and professional achievements in golden words. Merely few words can’t do justice to his utmost greatness but I try to relate one aspect of his aspiring personality to remodel the world of his students and making their lives more rewarding, gratifying and significant for many others. Because of this personality trait, he has carved his name on hearts `of others, not tombstones. His legacy of mentorship is engraved into minds of his students and stories they share about him. I am certainly one of them.

One spring afternoon of my BS (Hons) 5th Semester in 2006, I was going home, passing the car parking of ICS. I suddenly heard a voice, “Ayesha are you interested to work in Dunya TV? I looked up and Dr. Mughees was there standing in front of me. I felt chill entering my body, cold and calming, leaving me numb. I took a deep breath and said ‘yes’. Ok come to my office tomorrow, he replied. That day, I could not speak more because I was in the state of shock. “How could he know anything about me?” “I never spoke in his class”. “I was so scared of him because he was a very strict director and dean”. Oh God! He knows my name!” Countless thoughts and questions raced through my mind. That was my first one to one interaction with him.

After few formal meetings, I gathered courage and asked, Sir, I used to think that you know only few students in my class and I am not one of them. He instantly replied I know you have always secured first position in class and maintained your CGPA 4:00 in every semester so far. I know every student of this department. My BS program is the life of this department. Every student of BS (Hons) remains close to my heart. Do you need to know anything more? Without expressing my sheer embarrassment, I said, No Sir, and left his office. This is how my inspirational journey with Dr. Mughees Uddin Sheikh started.

He had an amazing charisma and had ability to keep your engaged for hours in class room. Once I read somewhere, there is a rule of thumb that we meet at least five persons during the course of our life who leave a huge impact on us. I believe, Dr. Mughees was one of them. Being a Gold Medalist of BS (Hons), he selected me for participating in Global Media Dialogue as a visiting resident scholar in Oslo University College, Norway back in 2009 on the basis of my extraordinary performance in ICS. I knew that my father would not allow me to stay for full three months all alone in Norway. I went to his office, told him the situation but he said “No, bring your parents here or take me there, I want to talk to them.” I belong to an educated Chaudhry family in Lahore where people usually have mindset to make their children doctors and engineers. And yes my family has success stories when my sister became a medical doctor and my brother earned his engineering degree from UET. I was almost sure that my father would not allow me for any media dialogue and submit refusal on my behalf. At my insistence, my father went to his office. I was extremely nervous and anxious because my father-a man of his words and Dr. Mughees-a man of merit spent two hours together in office. When my father came out, looked at me, smiled and said, you can attend your school in Norway. OH YESS.! That was a turning point of my academic and professional career. From then to until now, he was always there for me to guide and encourage in all fronts of my academic and professional career. I earned my PhD degree from Malaysia, spent three years there. I did my Post-Doctorate from the USA. I presented several research papers in different international conferences, traveled a lot. After my every achievement, he used to call me and congratulate for my accomplishments.

I believe all of his students would agree that no one could introduce students and their triumphs and success better than Dr. Mughees. The way he used to bring in the accomplishments of his students at different platforms was laudable and estimable.

He was a visionary professor, a wonderful administrator and an extraordinary mentor. He established Mass Communication departments in three private universities of Lahore after his retirement from Punjab University. I was fortunate to have been a part of his team in all three private universities in different capacities. In Superior University and University of Management Technology, I taught M.Phil research and theory courses as a visiting faculty member under his wonderful administration. In University of Central Punjab, I excused to teach on weekends because of my family commitments but he appointed me as an external member of his departmental Post-graduate committee. In every meeting, before taking my turn as an external member of the panel I always used to request him to ask questions from students who were there to defend their research synopsis but he used to insist me to speak first. Once I asked him, Sir, you are my teacher, you please comment first. I don’t feel good to talk before you do. He replied “No Ayesha I cherish your passion for research, your enthusiasm and clarity in your opinion. The way you comment, I feel so happy to see your eagerness to grow day by day. I am proud of you”. And yes I remember how his words brought tears into my eyes and how his words were being cherished by all other members of the meeting. Only he used to know how to boost the morale of his students and colleagues.

If we display any sort of integrity and righteousness through our professional work, it is just because of his teaching. He never left his pupils in their rainy days. He was the only one who made us believe in ourselves. He taught us forbidden lesson of unconditional mass service. Undeniably, he was a true mentor and leader. The real mentorship, though, is deeper, and it’s something that chooses you. It’s a two way relationship, very deep and lifelong — even generational. I had never realized that until Dr. Mughees died. It is all about legacy that we all students have to carry on. May Allah bless him the highest ranks in Heavens. Ameen.

The writer holds post doc fellowship from Walter Cronkite school of journalism, US, teaching at ICS PU