By Dr Noman Ahmed, Professor, and Dean
Faculty of Architecture & Management Sciences
NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi
Our teacher Architect Badar us Saqib Ali Khan passed away in Karachi few weeks ago. He was a veteran architect, teacher, mentor and guide to many generations of architects. I remember him as a soft-spoken teacher who was extremely concerned about the wellbeing, development and progress of his pupils. It will be useful to recount and reflect about the outstanding contributions he made to architectural education.
Badar sahib was an alumnus of University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. He was a well-rounded professional who was engaged with various professional assignments in design, construction and supervision works. In 1980s, he began his association with Dawood College as a visiting faculty. Within the domain of architectural studies, his interests were diverse. He taught, conducted and participated in courses and studio exercises of very wide range. Professional practice, building science, construction and detailing, workshop techniques, landscape design, history of architecture, thesis work, studio and many other related subjects were all dear to him. He had his own style of teaching which was rather unique. When assigned a course, he would structure an outline, gather useful reference material and literature for sharing with students. In his signature soft and polite style, he would deliver the contents of his lecturer and invited the students to participate. Given his soft demeanor, the students were naturally attracted to engage with the course or studio work with enthusiasm. While many of these tasks were commonplace in architectural studies, Badar sahib infused a rare value in it through his characteristic hard work and enthusiasm. He undertook the routines such as assignment or examination work and assessment so passionately that the students immensely benefitted from his invaluable inputs. Badar sahib was a genuine teacher who was entirely selfless in his conduct. In many cases, his students would engage and discuss their work for long hours. He was content, at ease and never short of time for students. I observed Badar sahib extending professional support to those struggling students who would find it very difficult to stay on course during the demanding phases of architectural studies. In many instances, such students who were overwhelmed by the burden of academic tasks or getting pulled down by the nature of challenges, were consistently mentored by Badar sahib. Many such students became very successful in their professional careers.
In personal life, I believe it is difficult to find any one like Badar sahib. He was a most humble and simple person. He was completely unassuming in his conduct. In other words, he was a true ‘dervesh’ in his style, bearing and life. He did not care about material or money. In many situations, he was not paid a single penny for the extended services to architectural education. His devotion to his work was exemplary. Badar sahib never cared about any recognition of his services or inputs to education. Like a true scholar, he was always open to learn new things. Despite being very senior, he was found in the first rows of lectures and presentations, even when given by his former students. His colleagues and friends held him in high esteem. It will be proper if academic institutions and professional bodies may consider to recognize his services posthumously.
