Honoring Sir Rehmat Hussain

Sir Rehmat Hussain completed his B.Sc. and L.Lb. from Gawaliar, India, earning top positions that remain recorded at the university. After migrating to Pakistan in 1948, he began his first job at B.V.S. Parsi High School. While teaching, he continued his own education by completing B.Ed. and M.Ed. through evening classes. He devoted himself to academics and to showing boys how to live with courage and confidence.

He taught multiple subjects and poured his energy into after-school activities like scouting, touring many places across Pakistan with B.V.S. boy scouts. He performed his duties with sincerity and devotion, never taking a casual leave except when performing Hajj — a testament to his commitment.

After his demise, his family found these reflections on service in his personal diary:

Service is food for the soul. We might view moments of genuine service on earth as a progression of the soul. In the trajectory of life, we get many chances to serve humanity; some have many opportunities and some people none. Much in life today distracts us from serving; don't let greed, desire, numbness, and unconsciousness take you over.

Perhaps our greatest service is simply to find ways to be strong and do good in this world. This is far from easy. It requires us to be attentive everyday, an awareness to stay away from all that diminishes us, distracts us, and causes us to forget why we are here in this earthly form. But every act of service bears witness to the possibility of freeing our souls. And every time anyone serves humanity, they will restore light in the world.

Mrs. Deena Mistri often praised Sir Hussain’s sincerity: “Hussain has been my right hand staff at school.” On the day of his passing, a special assembly was called to pray for his soul, and the B.V.S. flag was lowered to half-mast. Students respected him deeply, and to this day his family feels that respect. On Eid, his grave is adorned with flowers and bouquets left by former students.

His family plans to publish a book on his life and invites memories and experiences. Please email your tributes to admin@bvsvirbaijeeites.com and share photographs so they can build a larger collection for the book.

A Grandson’s Memory

“I would like to share something about my grandfather's life that almost every student might have experienced. He was a very strict disciplinarian in school and did not spare the rod when he felt students needed it — even his own relations. Yet the moment he stepped inside the house he became the most lovable and caring person. His tender touch and the examples he gave for facing life's difficult paths, all with a smile, made him the most loved personality in our family.”

His son Ishrat Hussain (1970) and grandsons Fahad Ahmed (1992), Afshad Ahmed (1995), Danish Hasan Siddiqui (1998), and Abrar Ahmed (1999) all studied at B.V.S. Holiday mornings meant study sessions he organized, reminding them: “There aren't any short cuts to excellence so work hard for your studies and gain glory in the world.” As adults, they thank him for helping them realize their true potential.

This memoir was written by Danish Hasan Siddiqui, grandson of Sir Hussain.