جنگی قیدیوں کے کیمپ سے امریکہ کے کامیاب ترین ڈاکٹر تک کا سفر، ڈاکٹر عظیم الدین کی زندگی کی کہانی
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CreativityTranscript
00:00We are fortunate to have Dr. Khawaja Azim-ud-Din with us today.
00:03When I was 8 years old, we went to the Prisoner of War camps.
00:07Those incidents that still haunt you today.
00:10You know, 8 year to 10 year old child, we saw bombardment, we saw a lot of bad situations.
00:16The doctor has made an extraordinary contribution regarding business.
00:19How do you relate to him and how has he contributed towards society?
00:22If someone is doing public service, and especially Pakistani, then that makes me really proud.
00:30We are fortunate to have Dr. Khawaja Azim-ud-Din with us today.
00:38We will talk to him about his life and how he has made an extraordinary contribution in America.
00:43And what does he think about this?
00:44Can you tell us something about your childhood and your early life?
00:47The interesting thing about my childhood is that I was born in East Pakistan.
00:52I was born in East Pakistan, Bangladesh.
00:55In Dhaka.
00:58And when I was 8 years old, we went to the Prisoner of War camps.
01:03We spent 2 years in POW camp 1971-73.
01:09After those 2 years, we came to Pakistan in 1973.
01:13West Pakistan was known at that time.
01:15So most of my childhood was spent there, in West Pakistan.
01:19I have very good memories.
01:21Of course, when we came from the camps, we did not have any resources.
01:26Our father did not have a job.
01:28So we lived in small houses and apartments for a long time.
01:32It was a time of a lot of difficulties.
01:35But one thing in mind…
01:36You had two brothers?
01:37Yes, we had two brothers.
01:38I have an elder sister and an elder brother.
01:40So all of us, plus our parents, we were all in POW camp.
01:44For almost 1.5 years, our father did not have a job.
01:48Alhamdulillah, even at that time, our mother's emphasis was only on education.
01:55So our mother told us from childhood,
01:57Son, will you become a doctor?
01:59I told my elder brother, will you become an engineer?
02:01And I told my sister that you will do a Master's in Home Economics.
02:07So Alhamdulillah, all of us did that work.
02:09And we worked as post graduates.
02:11In which area were you?
02:13First, we were in the Federal B Area, when we came from the camps.
02:17Then after a few years, we moved to Gulshan-e-Kabal.
02:20You know, I got admission in Daw Medical.
02:22And I spent a few years there.
02:24My brother actually…
02:25Which year did you get admission in Daw Medical?
02:27I got admission in 1981.
02:29After that, I went to England for a few years.
02:34I did FRCS in England.
02:36I spent five years in England there.
02:39After that, my brother…
02:41Because he did a Master's in Structural Engineering from Berkeley.
02:46My brother insisted that I come to America.
02:50The opportunities here are good.
02:52So finally, in 1995, I moved to America.
02:57And I had a wife and a daughter at that time.
03:00So we came here to America in 1995.
03:03So these are my short stories.
03:06In such tough circumstances,
03:07can you tell me some inspirational incidents
03:09from that camp and then coming to Pakistan?
03:11I know it must have been very difficult.
03:13Can you tell me some such incidents
03:15that you still remember vividly?
03:17Eight-year-old to ten-year-old child.
03:19We saw bombardment.
03:22We saw a lot of bad situations.
03:26We saw war.
03:28Despite that, our parents tried their best.
03:31They protected us.
03:32And they actually just…
03:34They did not blame anybody.
03:36They did not blame the Indians or Bengalis or anything.
03:39They just told us to do our work well in the world.
03:42And not to look at others.
03:43When you got your education here in Pakistan,
03:46and then you decided to come to the UK,
03:49what was the inspiration to come to the UK?
03:50Or what was the inspiration to go abroad from Pakistan?
03:52And then what was the inspiration to come to America?
03:54I wanted to get good education.
03:55My mother had given me an order
03:57that you will do your masters and get good education.
04:00So going to England at that time for surgery
04:03was considered very prestigious.
04:05So it was necessary to go to England to get higher education.
04:09By the way, I did FCPS Part 1 from Pakistan.
04:11But after going to England, I completed both the parts.
04:15And in America, you heard…
04:18At that time, I heard that there is more advanced technology.
04:23Which is true actually.
04:24I have been doing robotic surgery for 14 years.
04:26So you can understand that this technology is so advanced
04:30and you know amazing technology.
04:32And it has been happening here for 14 years.
04:35And it has been happening for a long time.
04:36So that was the charm that I should learn some new things.
04:39And I can increase my career further.
04:42So how do you see the contribution of Pakistani doctors in America overall?
04:47Alhamdulillah, it is a very good contribution.
04:50And a lot of doctors have earned a lot of fame.
04:53We have a junior doctor, Mansoor Muhyuddin.
04:56He did the first transplant into the human body.
05:01Heart transplant.
05:02How many doctors are currently contributing in the entire USA?
05:06I don't know the exact figures.
05:07Maybe our own doctors can tell you.
05:08I think there are 15,000-20,000 doctors in America.
05:11In the entire USA.
05:12Yes.
05:13Okay, you said that there is a split in all states in America.
05:16Yes.
05:17Or in a particular state, where the population is more and people are stronger.
05:20No, they are present in the entire America.
05:22From small villages to big cities, they are present in America.
05:25There are two types of welfare projects.
05:26One is the local doctors contributing here.
05:28Yes.
05:29And the other is in Pakistan.
05:30In Pakistan.
05:31They are trying to do their project.
05:32How do you compare these two?
05:33Both have their place and importance.
05:35Some of our obligations are present here as well.
05:38Many people are running their medical projects in Pakistan.
05:42Many people are running their welfare projects here.
05:45I think both have their place and importance.
05:48People have some complaints regarding this.
05:51That in America, no one has jointly built a big hospital.
05:54With the help of their own organization.
05:56No one has built a big hospital in Pakistan.
05:57Have you ever thought about this?
05:58You have caught our sore throat.
06:01I am very sorry about this.
06:03We have 15-20,000 doctors here.
06:06Why can't we make a hospital?
06:11One is in America.
06:12The other is in Pakistan.
06:14It is difficult to build a hospital in Pakistan.
06:16Because if you are not living there.
06:18But we support a lot of hospitals in Pakistan.
06:22There is Indus Hospital.
06:23There is Kuhi Ghot Hospital.
06:25There is Shaukat Khanam Hospital.
06:28There is Shifa Hospital.
06:29We support a lot of these hospitals.
06:32Insha Allah, that day will come.
06:34When we will build a hospital together.
06:38This is my heartfelt wish.
06:39I would like to know about you.
06:41Because we know that you are a big organization.
06:43Pakistanis recognize you all over the world.
06:45And we are proud of you.
06:47What are your things?
06:49First of all, I would like to know about your medical work.
06:52Or about your scholarship.
06:53For young girls who want to come here.
06:54Or for new doctors who want to settle here.
06:56Who need 2-3 years time initially.
06:58Or for nurses.
06:59You said that they want to come here.
07:01And make a career here.
07:03You said that there are a lot of nurses in the Middle East.
07:05Who work in Pakistan.
07:07What do you think about them?
07:08How do we contribute?
07:09And how can we inspire new people?
07:11I am not sure if you know.
07:14There is a program.
07:15Young Physicians Committee.
07:18Through that, a lot of students come to me.
07:22And these students apply.
07:24To get observership here.
07:26So that if they do the observership.
07:28And spend some time with the doctors here.
07:32Then they know.
07:33How does things work in America.
07:36So that they are in a better position.
07:38To apply for the residency programs.
07:40I think that they are doing a lot of good work.
07:43SWRD.
07:45They have a disaster relief program.
07:48They have a matrimonial program.
07:52What more can you do?
07:55So I won't say anything negative about APNA.
07:59You must be in close contact with APNA's regional president.
08:03Yes.
08:04I used to be the president of South Texas.
08:08Now I am a little busy.
08:11So I have withdrawn from them.
08:13But APNA has my support.
08:15And there are good people working in APNA.
08:17I have seen a lot of interest in social services.
08:21You have spent 30 years here.
08:24What did you learn during this time?
08:28When a person comes to a new country.
08:30There are struggles.
08:31And there is training.
08:32The training is very rigorous.
08:34I trained for 6 years.
08:36The residency I did in New York and Pennsylvania.
08:40After that.
08:42I came to Houston in 2005.
08:46And settled here.
08:47It took me 10 years to settle here.
08:52And practice.
08:53I started this company in 2005.
08:56Now we have 3 other colorectal specialists.
08:59One of the largest.
09:01Colorectal specialty is a small specialty.
09:04So we are still one of the largest groups in Houston.
09:07I got some freedom from work.
09:10So I am not that busy at work.
09:12I had other interests.
09:14For example, I did ceramic tile work.
09:17Is this your second business venture?
09:18No, it's not a business venture.
09:19It's a hobby.
09:20Wow. Amazing.
09:22I work in many mosques in Houston.
09:26And I also work in a hospital.
09:29Wow. Amazing.
09:30For ceramic tiles.
09:31So I was interested in Islamic art.
09:35So I did a festival of Islamic art.
09:39I started it in 2014.
09:41First, I wanted to educate my public.
09:44Second, I wanted to educate non-Muslim Americans.
09:51About our heritage.
09:52So we go to colleges, universities, libraries.
09:57And do art demonstrations.
09:59And introduce people to Islamic art.
10:02Our festival also has many non-Muslims.
10:05When is your festival?
10:06Our festival is on November 9th and 10th this year.
10:10It is the largest festival of Islamic arts in North America.
10:14It is the oldest continuously running festival.
10:17For the last 10 years.
10:18For the last 10 years.
10:19This year is our 11th festival.
10:20Beautiful.
10:21You mentioned that you work with ISJH.
10:24Are you contributing anything else?
10:25ISJH is the Islamic Society of Greater Houston.
10:28Of course, we live in Houston.
10:30Whatever happens, our functions, we like to do in collaboration with them.
10:37Next month, through the Islamic Arts Society, we are doing art classes.
10:43We use ISJH's locations.
10:46How many mosques are there in Houston or Texas?
10:49Apparently, there are almost 100 mosques in Houston.
10:5422 of them are under the banner of ISJH.
10:59There are new doctors in America.
11:00You should give them a positive message.
11:02Based on your experience of USA.
11:04You are doing great social services.
11:06Kindly give this message to our viewers.
11:08When you come to America, your accent has to be impeccable.
11:12Your English should be good.
11:13You should know how to speak.
11:15Improve your English.
11:16Improve your marks.
11:17Be ready to work hard.
11:19And be ready for setbacks.
11:21Because it is not easy.
11:23You won't get it easily.
11:24Nothing happens easily in life.
11:26Dr. Khawaja Azimuddin, thank you very much.
11:28You gave such a beautiful message.
11:30With this, I would like to take your leave.
11:32Take care. Allah Hafiz.