Dr. Firasat of the NED University, Karachi

 

Upon learning of the death of Dr. Syed Firasat Ali, I couldn't help but wonder what his legacy would be. The answer came to me quite simply: I am his legacy, as are thousands of his other students. His children and all the people he inspired through his good manners and scholarship are also a part of his legacy. Additionally, the research papers he wrote and the nonprofit work he supported are part of his legacy as well.

It's worth noting that in Pakistan, people are not typically known by their first names. Instead, we call people by their most uncommon name. For example, both Mohammad Aslam and Aslam Mohammad (or Aslam Ahmad) would be called Aslam. Dr. Syed Firasat Ali was thus known as Dr. Firasat at the NED University. I remember him as my Fluid Mechanics teacher at the NED.

Dr. Firasat Ali was forced to permanently move to the United States in 1988 due to the violence in Karachi, particularly following the Bushra Zaidi incident. He initially taught at a few community colleges in the New Jersey area before finding a permanent position at Tuskegee University in Alabama. After retiring from Tuskegee in May 2022, he and his wife lived with their youngest son in Auburn, Alabama. In November 2022, he had a cardiovascular issue but after a medical procedure involving the placement of stents and a pacemaker, he was in good health and returned to his regular routine.

Dr. Firasat Ali died on Friday, January 13 in Auburn, Alabama. He passed away the way he wanted to: quickly and without too much pain. He had seen the many faces of death through the passing of his three brothers, one sister, and several cousins. He did not want to die after losing his mind, like those suffering from Alzheimer's disease do.  What fun is dying if one is not even aware that they are alive?

On Wednesday, January 11, Dr. Firasat complained of a stomachache. Early the next morning, he had difficulty breathing and was taken to the ER around 6 AM. His blood oxygen level was 90%, but he was in pain. He was sedated around 12 PM, but his oxygen level kept decreasing; by night it was 80%. The doctors at the hospital couldn't figure out what was happening. On Friday, his oxygen level dropped to 70% and he passed away at around 1:30 PM the same day. He was buried in a local cemetery in Auburn on Saturday, January 14, with around 80 people in attendance.

Dr. Firasat Ali's life was not atypical of a Mohajir life: born in a minority province, middle life spent in Pakistan, moved to North America and buried there. His life was shaped by the strong political forces of his times: the South Asian Muslim identity crisis, particularly after the fall of the Mughal Empire, the hasty exit of the British from South Asia, leaving behind fragile political entities, the Cold War, and the American experience after slavery and the civil rights movement, which paved the way for immigration from post-colonial states.

Dr. Syed Firasat Ali's son wrote about his father here:

https://www.facebook.com/asimali1

Dr. Sohail interviewed Dr. Firasat Ali:

 Dr. Firasat Ali's speech at a convention:

 

https://archive.org/details/DrSyedFirasatAliAtTheNedConvention2011

An older email exchange

On Thursday, August 23, 2007 at 09:12:02 AM PDT, Cemendtaur wrote:


Thanks for writing back, Dr. Firasat Ali.
I did jump through a few email addresses in the last
couple of years--must have missed your posts in those
transitions.  But I do remain a great fan of yours and
really appreciate the way you taught me (and us) at
NED.
I am sorry to learn that you won't be able to attend
the upcoming convention.  The convention would have
been an excellent opportunity for us to meet you and
for you to meet your former students and maybe a few
classmates.  Kindly do look into possibilities to
attend the event.  It is on a Saturday, and it would
be a large gathering of NEDians.  Your attendance
would really add a lot of value to it.

Very warm regards,
Ali Hasan C.

--- Syed Firasat Ali <firasat_ali@> wrote:

>
> Dear Ali Hasan:
>
> It is indeed a pleasure to get see your email
> message after a gap of few years. During this gap, I
> sent few email messages to you at couple of email
> addresses but did not understand what happened.
>
> Thanks for your invitation. I regret that I would
> not be able to make it.
>
> Please keep in touch.
> Regards,
> Syed Firasat AliAssociate Professor Aerospace
> Engineering DepartmentTuskegee University, Tuskegee,
> AL 36088Phone(334)727 8853(Office/Phone mail);Fax
> (334) 727 8090 (write attention Dr. Ali)> Date: Tue,
> 21 Aug 2007 23:46:19 -0700>

From:
> cemendtaur> Subject: Dr. Firasat Ali.

This
> is your student from your NED days.> To:
> fali> CC: firasat_ali> >
> Dear Dr. Firasat Ali,> >

Salam> > Hope you and your
> family members are doing great.> I hope you remember
> me. I was in touch with you a few> years back but
> then lost contact.> > NEDians of North America are
> arranging this year's> convention in San Jose,
> California. It would be> absolutely great if you
> would attend. Details are> here:>
> http://convention2007.nedians.org/> > Kindly do
> write back and let me know.> >
Warm regards,> Ali
> Hasan C.> > > > >
>
__

Photo, courtesy of Asim Ali (son of Dr. Syed Firasat Ali)