The Hindu : National : An emotional journey

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

National

National

An emotional journey

RELIVES PAST: Begum Zareen, mother of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf , and her grandson, Bilal Musharraf, talking to the media during their visit to Sir Syeed Ahmed Mazar in Aligarh on Friday. — PTI

ALIGARH, MARCH 18. It was an emotional journey back in time — more than six decades ago — as Begum Zareen, mother of Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today spent four hours at her alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University, where she and her husband had studied.

Memories crept through the septuagenarian Begum Zareen's mind randomly as she, accompanied by her son Bilal and Gen. Musharaff's brother, Javed, moved across the university campus visiting Macdonnel's Hostel, where her husband, Musharafuddin Musharraf, had stayed for six years in the 1930s, and the Abdullah College, where her sisters studied.

"This is an unforgettable moment and I will cherish it. I have come back to this place after a long time," said Begum Zareen.

"This love and affection you showered on me is an experience itself and it brings tears in my eyes. I miss you all. I'll come back here if the Almighty allows me more time on earth," she said.

Even as she entered the hostel room where her husband had stayed Mr. Bilal and Mr. Javed whistled their way into it surprising the inmates.

Flowers welcomed them and an excited Mr. Bilal said: "I am overwhelmed to be here and very happy to be among youngsters. Grandmother had told me about dada's days here and I had always wished to come over here one day."

Musharrafuddin joined the AMU in 1932 when he was 15 and took the bachelors degree in Arts three years later. But he continued to stay there till 1938 but could not complete his post graduation. His father, Syed Sharaffuddin, was also an alumnus of the university.

When two inmates of the room, Inamullah Haq and Kamal Ashraff, came out to meet Begum Zareen outside the hostel, she told the duo: "You will surely be higher ups someday."

At Adullah College, where her sisters studied, Begum Zareen interacted with the "girls of today" but could not find the rooms where her sisters had stayed. But she met her onetime old friend, Birjeesh Abdullah Kidwai, daughter of Sheikh Abdullah, who was the founder of the college. Birjeesh Kidwai drove from Delhi to meet her.

Signing in the visitor's book of the college, Begum Zareen wrote: "This college of female education is an inspiring, living and very prestigious. I am overwhelmed to be here." — PTI

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