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PROF. HAFIZ MOHAMMAD ILYAS HAFIZ (1937-1995)
Obituary: Professor Hafiz M. Ilyas Hafiz S/O Mohammad Fazle Haq died of heart
attack on December 28, 1995 at Lahore. Verily we are for God and returning
unto Him.
Prof. Hafiz was born on April 14, 1937 at Lahore. When he was
only 9 years old he joined "Madrassa Zia-ul-Uloom, Faiz Bagh", at Lahore
where he learned the Holy Quran by heart at the age of 11 years. He passed the
Matriculation examination from Islamia High School, Sheranwala Gate, Lahore in
1955 and Intermediate in 1957. He obtained the B.Sc. degree (1959) and M. Sc.
degree (1962) from the University of Punjab. The University awarded him the Gold
Medal for securing first position in the M.Sc. examination. He also obtained M.S.
degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the University of Wales, U.K. and a
diploma in German Language from Germany. During his stay in Germany he was elected
as President ofIslamic Society for 1973-74 session.
Prof. Hafiz M. Ilyas joined
the Department of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore and served as a Lecturer
(1962-1969), Assistant Professor (1970-1981), Associate Professor (1982-1991)
and as Professor of Botany (1992-1995) where he has been involved in teaching
Phycology, Genetics, Cytology, Plant Breeding & Biometry. Prof. Hafiz will
be remembered as one of the best teachers at the University. During his 33 years
at Punjab University a long succession of students, both graduates and postgraduates,
gained inspiration and understanding from his communication.
Prof. Hafiz published
over 65 scientific papers. He was co-author of Hafta Kashida Kari with
his daughter Miss Hafsa Bano. He also wrote two volumes of Fizrik Series of Some
Solved Problems of Genetics.
Prof. Hafiz started recitation of the Holy
Quran during the holy month of Ramzan in Travih prayer when he was only 15 years
old and continued to do so for more than 40 years. He had a God-gifted ability
of recitation of Quran in a beautiful accent. A very remarkable feature of his
persanality was his simlicity.
He always wore Pakistani dress, Shalwar-Qamis
and Jinnah cap. He was gifted with pleasant sense of humour and his jokes were
very simple.
Prof. Hafiz was a member of Scottish Society for Research in Plant
Breeding, U. K., Pakistan Botanical Society; Association for the Advancement of
Sciences; Scientific Society of Pakistan; Biological Society of Pakistan; Association
for the Advancement of Sciences; Plants Breeders and Botanists. He also served
as Pakphyton.
Prof. Hafiz has left behind 5 sons and 3 daughters and a host
of his friend, colleagues and students to mourn the loss. He was buried Graveyard
near Botanical Garden, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Punjab University Lahore. May Almighty
Allah shower his choicest blessings on the departed soul and may his soul rest
in heaven Amen.
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