Born in India 85 years ago. The British dished out my birthplace to Pakistan as a parting gift. Till then sun never used to set on the British Empire but these days it hardly rises there. That made...vizualizați mai multeBorn in India 85 years ago. The British dished out my birthplace to Pakistan as a parting gift. Till then sun never used to set on the British Empire but these days it hardly rises there. That made my family and I, a refugee from 1947 onwards. Decided to become a world class citizen. Traveled all over the globe from age 26 to date. Been in USA permanently since 1977. Delayed writing my memoirs, till pushed by teachers of my grandkids at community service centers. Friends like Bashar, the rich Lebanese who was mesmerized by my daring story of saving his countryman from the gallows in Libya, so he could escape 200 miles in the dead of the night to safety into Chad. He also wanted me to publish right away. Finally our joint friend, the well-known actor, and a noble soul Sydney Poitier, gave me two books authored by him and said I must be true and open. The common link between Bashar, Sydney and I, is the desire to help others through community service and volunteer work for non-profit charities.
They also knew how I have come out unscathed from the 2008-market downturn and the severe recession caused by drying up of credit, job losses, and declining Housing Market. They said publishing my life story would help build the much-needed Faith amongst those suffering from economic depression. A pioneer always has the courage to undertake new challenges, they declared. I had an Engineering background, and graduated twice. First B.Sc. from an American Campus in Lahore, Second from University of London, in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, in 1948 (a 56 month course in 18 ½ months, with scholarships.)
I received the Diplomas from the Queen Mother and her uncle at the Royal Albert Hall; Sir Thomas Beecham conducted the Orchestra. Only 26 were successful, and I had the honor of a dancing swirl with shy Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen of England,) because Princess Margaret quickly tapped my shoulder and whisked me away, to dance with her.vizualizați mai puține