Beyond the Summit- World Peace and Harmony (An Old and Rare Book)

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Apart from being an academic of repute Dr. K. Hussain, the popular founder Principal of the prestigious Saboo Siddik College of Engineering is a person, who has served the country in a variety of ways--like spreading the message of inter-faith harmony and goodwill, inspiring the youth to serve the suffering. educating the people to become ideal citizens and others. There are many engineers and scientists in the country; also, we have many able administrators. In Dr. K. Hussain, not only do we have a combination of an eminent engineer and an able administrator, but also of a keen student of history and current events. He is a man of wide and varied interests. Reading and Writing. Photography, Practice of Yoga and Listening to Music are some of his favourite hobbies.

"Beyond the Summit" is a collection of Dr. Hussain's articles, written from time to time for various magazines and periodicals on a wide variety of subjects like Inter-religious harmony, National Integration, Education, Historical monuments like The Taj Mahal', 'A Tale of Two Shrines', and National Heroes like Bahadur Shah Zafar. Maulana Azad, Tippu Sultan and others.

The essays on Religions and prophets give evidence not only of Dr. Hussain's knowledge, but also of his deep study of scriptures of different religions including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and others. He has imbibed the real spirit of 'Sarva Dharma Samabhav', equal regard for all religions, as preached by Gandhiji, and the unity underlying all religions. Such writings can certainly go a long way in making people understand the real significance of Secularism.

Like Gandhiji, Maulana Azad one of the stalwarts of the Indian National Congress also did not believe in the two-nation theory propounded by Jinnah and the Muslim League. Commenting on this. Dr. Hussain rightly observes "To the nationalist mind of Maulana Azad, true spirit of Islam symoblised Universal brotherhood, which transcended all narrow religious communal and sectarian considerations". The author has not only tried to follow the course of events, both in India and Pakistan, but also shown courage to criticise the Governments and the peoples of both the countries, where, according to him, they have deviated from the right path. His criticism of Pakistani National Assembly's decision to declare Ahmadiyas as non-muslim minority, and his suggestion of having a confederation of S. E. Asian countries are suggestions, which are significant and worth consideration.

Unlike the fundamentalists and educationists with closed minds. Dr. Hussain, adopting a rational and progressive attitude regarding the system adopted in the Madarasas, well observes "the cobwebs of ignorance, obscurantism and prejudice that have gathered round this system of education have to be swept-off".

Dr. Hussain adopts a rational attitude towards almost all the problems, he has preferred to deal with, including communal harmony, education, noise pollution and others. His writing appeals both to the heads and hearts of the people, mainly because his style is simple and direct. One also gets a glimpse of the author's humour and literary flourish, which are evident in articles like 'who built the Taj Mahal and 'Josh--the Triumph And Tragedy of a poet'.

Thus, on the whole, 'Beyond The Summit' is a very useful and interesting collection of essays on topics of both permanent, as also of topical interests, which would prove useful for all those interested in building up a strong and united India.

I am grateful to Dr. (Ms.) Usha Mehta for writing an inspiring 'FOREWORD'; and to Mr. S. B. Kolpe, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer and (Retd) Major General E. D'Souza, for writing their thought-provoking INTRODUCTIONS', highlighting the salient features. about the various articles, contained in the book "Beyond the Summit", which had indeed made my task of writing the PREFACE easier.

During my professional career spanning over forty years, as an Engineer and an Educationist, I had written articles (as and when possible, amidst my hectic schedules of official’s duties) in various journals and magazines; and also presented papers on a few important topics at some National/International seminars.

A separate book containing articles and papers devoted exclusively to Technical and Vocational Education, based on my experiences had been published under the title "Engineering Education and Technology Quest for New Horizons". The present book contains articles dealing with various other topics, ranging from philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Inter-Religious Harmony, National Integration, General Education, Literature, and History; and even some auto-biographical and personal accounts, with reference to certain incidents/events/persons, which had some subtle and heart-warming human touches, revealing certain un-usual and hidden aspects, of human nature and human character. 'Remembering the Dawn of freedom', 'Ignorance and Prejudice National Style', Dear Masterji', 'A Patriarch Remembered', 'Life is a many splendored Thing, 'Some Reminiscences of an Epoch', A Journey to the Abode of Clouds', 'A Retrospective from the shadows of the corridors of Power' The Crisis of National Character' and 'An Interview' are some of the articles in the book, which belong to this personal' category.

Some of the above-mentioned articles had been published in the 'SUMMIT', the annual Magazine of the MHSS Institution of Engineering & Technology, which 1 had the pleasure and privilege of editing and publishing, since its inception in 1984. The title of the magazine 'SUMMIT', indeed appropriately symbolised a cherished ideal to reach for higher and higher goals of excellence and perfection. The title of the book 'Beyond the Summit' assumes a special significance in this context. As per a philosophical quotable quote, life is aptly described like climbing a huge mountain. While one may think, he/she had reached the 'SUMMIT' he/she finds another SUMMIT, and yet an-other SUMMIT beyond... The challenging task of ascending the gigantic mountain, thus continues 'ad infinitum' to climb higher and still higher goals.

I first came to know Dr. K. Hussain, and Mrs. Hussain, some years ago, when he had kindly invited me to speak on peace and harmony at one of the Institution's functions. That as it may, we both share a deep and abiding interest in peace and harmony, a subject very dear to me, if not for any other reason, but that I grew up in such an environment during my 35 years’ service in the Indian Army, an organisation I am intensely proud of. Since then there has been no looking back over the intervening years on this very flourishing and productive relationship, because of the commonality in concerns and interests: Ecology: the Environment: Inter Religious Dialogue; Peace Communal Harmony: Values; and Leadership. To this end I have been a frequent invitee to Saboo Siddik college of Engineering Understandingly, I consider it leg and a pleasure to pen this introduction to his book "Beyond The Summit", an anthology of his numerous articles appearing in the media and magazines a pointer to Dr. Hussain's multi-faceted personality, whose abiding concern is what we all seek, viz, Peace and Harmony. This interest becomes manifest through the pages of the Institution's Annual magazine "Summit".

Dr. Hussain may not recognise it, but his concern is reflected unwittingly in one of my three modest manifestoes for the recent Assembly Electons!! Such is this nexus between two like-minded individuals, one an academic and the other a soldier. If proof is at all needed of the wide range of interests of an individual, who is by profession an academic, the areas and subjects covered in his articles would surely be an indicator. This very absorbing and interesting collection of essays and descriptive articles covers, inter alia, inter religious understanding, Peace and Harmony. Human Rights, Justice and Peace, History, Personalities influencing Indian History like Bahadur Shah Zafar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Josh Mahilbadi et al. The views and concerns expressed by him in these wide-ranging themes are not only balanced, but more importantly unbiased, reflecting his abiding passion for national integration and his anguish at India's major tragedy of communal disharmony. Is it any wonder then why he is listened and heard with so much respect, why he is called upon to share his views; why, among his many admirers are Gandhian Dr. Usha Mehta and journalist S. B. Kolpe: why, he has written with such feeling "A Man And His Roses", a fitting and eulogy the late S. Rajagaopalan, who contributed so tangibly to the construction of the new Institute building. He displays a flair for descriptive prose evident in the article "Abode of the Clouds". Whether this gentle and committed academic shares his thoughts with his fellow-persons, be it on "The School For Gifted Children" or environmental concerns as in "Jehad on Uncleanliness" or "The National Menace of Noise Pollution", there is a constant discernible streak of compassion for individuals, and nature, but never with rancour, sarcasm, vindictiveness, bigotry or bias.