‘Madri Meharban ki Meharbanian- Ahmad ki topi Mohammad kay Sir’

Bilal was one of the promising boys in his class at M Dass Public School. His father Mohiuldin was a tailor master by profession. 

Mohiuldin was running his tailor’s shop at Kralkud. Signboard of the shop read “Oxford Tailors”. The locality was predominantly inhabited by Kashmiri Pundits. Majority of his customers was from Pundit community. Mohi-ul-Din was master of ready wit and humour. His behavior had earned him many friends from his Pundit clientele. He would often discuss prospectus of his son Bilal with his friends. His friends were extremely impressed by the academic performance of Bilal.

1983, Bilal took entrance examination for the Medical Entrance Test. His father’s friends were more impatient to know the result of the selection list. To their dismay, Bilal’s name was not in the list of selected candidates. Both his friends and Mohi-ul-din were upset. In the meantime Government headed by Farooq Abdullah fell down and Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister was replaced by his estranged brother-in-law G M Shah on 2nd July 1984.
Around February 1986, to usurp power, Mufti Mohammad Syed, the then State Congress President stage managed attack on Kashmiri Pundits at Wanpoh and around. Temples in South Kashmir were desecrated. Those days any communal disturbance in any Indian State was followed by replacement of the Chief Minister of the State. Intelligence Agencies reports exposed the conspiracy behind the communal unrest in the valley.
The Central Government took cognisance of the conspiracy and imposed Governor's Rule in the State. 6th March 1986 was the last day of GM Shah in his office as CM of the State.
March1986,one day Pran Nath (Name changed), his friend asked Mohiuldin about the future plans of Bilal.
Mohiuldin said, “Bilal is disgusted. He refused to take admission for BSc at S P College. He is no more interested in studies. He seldom changes his clothes. He is no more regular for Nimaz. He spends most of his time with shopkeepers playing carom by roadside at slack hours. We are all worried about him. He failed to fight trauma. He has become aggressive and psychic. "

Pran Nath tore one of the pages of the register meant for recording measurement of customers and wrote an application addressed to the Governor on behalf of Bilal . The next day along with Bilal, they went to Raj Bhawan, approached the Governor and submitted the application to him. The Governor referred the case to his advisor Jamil Qureshi, who investigated and restored his first rank.
Along with Bilal, one more dropout Khalid Bhat or Zarar Bhat (Both ex. Students of M Dass) brother of Dr.Salma took cue from Bilal and on the intervention by the Governor got medical seat at GMC Srinagar.

Call from 09419008834

13th July 2010 at mid day (1: 33 PM) my mobile phone buzzed to the song ‘Manz lajikh kamun kamun Manzi namun mubarakh. The caller was from an unknown number 09419008834. On the other end, it was reciting the ring tone ‘Om Buer Bavasva……I clicked the phone and from the other end it said in American accent: “Hello sir, I am Bilal, your student. Do you remember me?”
I said: “I remember many Bilal. Are you Dr. Syed Bilal?”
Surprised! He said: “Yes sir. How did you place me after such a long time?”
I said: “I have quoted you in a number of my write ups. You are one of the pearls of my treasure, how can I forget you. You are the worthy son of Master Mohi-ul-din tailor master proprietor Oxford Tailors at Kral Khud. You were being looked after by your elder brother who is working in J&K Bank. You are from Karfali Mohalla. One of the friends of your late father is Geologist Jawahir lal koul. Tell me the episode to refresh my information as to how you managed Medical seat”.
Dr. Syed Bilal one of the top most Heart Specialist in America said: “Sir despite my first rank in the list of competitors, Farooq Abdullah’s administration had dropped my name and sold the seat to someone else.
Soon to my good luck Jag Mohan took over as Governor. One of my father’s friends came with a piece of advice that worked. I along with my father approached the Governor. The Governor referred the case to his advisor Jameel Qureshi, who investigated and restored my first rank.
Governor’s Rule in 1984 was a blessing in disguise for me. Dr. Zarar Bhat also got seat only after the advisor to the Governor Jamil Qureshi investigated the bungling of Farooq’s administration.”
“Are you married?”: “asked I.
“Yes sir. I am father of one male and one female baby from a Kashmiri wife. This time my mother is accompanying me. I had planned to see all my friends and teachers, but I am almost imprisoned due to hartal and curfew. Sir how is Nisha Madam? Do you remember her?”
I said: “Nisha Madam is working as a teacher somewhere in America. Being my colleague in the initial years of my making, how come I should forget her.”