Govt. Medical College Srinagar establishment has passed through many important phases. Early on retired legendary professors from other Medical Colleges of Country played a pivotal role in the making of this institution. On their superannuation, senior physicians and surgeons of SMHS Hospital took over Medical College and firmly established the Institution for next two decades. During this period many bright physicians trained in the West joined the Medical College and carried on the boat successfully as late as the new Millennium. Among these, one person stood as a shining star in Medical education, healthcare and society for last over four decades. I have had special relationship with him in many roles, as a teacher, advisor, colleague, role model and above all a very noble God fearing pious human being.  As the Medical College is celebrating its 50th year, I feel privileged to pay a special tribute to this living legend.
Early on during our clinical postings in SMHS Hospital, we always enjoyed our postings in Ward 3, as most of the bed side teaching were conducted by Prof. Ali Muhammad Jan. One day we were waiting for a similar happening on a bed side in right wing of ward 3A, a smart guy walked in to take our bed side. Bed side was on a young lady with rheumatic heart disease. The visitor conducted bed side and we appreciated his depth of knowledge of cardiac physiology and clinical application of the physiological events. We were curious to know who this gentleman was. One amongst us volunteered and told us that his name is Dr. Ghulam Qadir Allaqaband and he has recently returned from UK and has joined the faculty in Dr. Jan Sahib Medical unit.
Over the next few years we enjoyed the strength and dedication with which Prof. Allaqaband would conduct his teaching sessions. He had several characteristics which qualified him to be an excellent teacher. His time schedule was to the dot. He had wide knowledge of clinical medicine and was keen to impart this to his students. Contrary to our initial impression we found him approachable and he was always ready to interact with students, look at even personal problems and give advice for a solution. This made him a popular teacher amongst a wide student base.
Since my early student days, I have watched Prof. Allaqaband in his roles as a physician, Head of a Medical Unit, Head Department of Medicine, administrator, Principal/Dean, and over these years he has spend his time with hard work and utmost dedication. He had deep interest in chest medicine based on his working in one of the reputed chest medicine units in UK (Brompton Hospital London). I have observed him walking on foot to Chest Diseases Hospital, Dalgate to do patient care sessions and help patients with chest diseases and tuberculosis. As a head of a medical unit he developed strong practices in medicine and groomed a highly dedicated group of physicians who made excellent contribution to patient care and teaching. Most of these physicians who were associated with Prof. Allaqaband in those days have developed in to medical legends on their own score over the years.
As a Head Department of Medicine, Prof. Allaqaband strengthened this speciality and streamlined the teaching, student evaluation and examination system. I have had the occasion of being an external examiner for medicine for MBBS and have been impressed by the meticulous system of evaluation and examination system conducted under his chairmanship. Prof. Allaqaband took over the newly carved post of Administrator SHMS Hospital and in this capacity he contributed significantly to enhance patient care delivery. In his capacity as Administrator he showed his mettle as a strong man with meticulous discipline, honesty, dedication and utmost commitment to optimum patient care. Prof. Allaqaband took over as the coveted post of Principal/Dean Medical College in the most trying times we all passed through and even in this period he delivered what best could be done in maintaining the Institution on its feet and improving it on many facets.
Once Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences was conceived and its foundation built, Prof. Allaqaband was one of the pioneer physicians who along with Prof. Jan Sahib and few others supported this Institution from its inception.  He held many honorary administrative positions like Chairman purchase committee, Chairman senior Selection committee, Member Apical Selection Committee,  Vice-chairman Governing Body to name a few. In these capacities he spend considerable part of his valuable time in shaping this Institution to what it is carved now. Prof. Allaqaband has stood tall in the society by engaging himself as a strong social activist. He has joined and strongly supported many social organizations which support eradication of many social evils, adversely affecting our society. This has made significant contribution about social awareness in our society. Over the years, I have watched Prof. Allaqaband as noble pious human being with strong religious beliefs and follow up practices.
Today when I pay special tribute to this living legend, I take pride in saying that Prof. Allaqaband’s career has been an embodiment of hard work, dedication, honesty, discipline. He has infused these qualities in our society and through this contributions towards the service of the community. As a person he has maintained strong religious belief and commitment to eradication of social evils.

(Prof. Muhammad Sultan Khuroo, MD, DM, FRCP (Edin), FACP, Master American College of Physicians (MACP, Emeritus) is Director, Digestive Diseases Centre, Dr. Khuroo’s Medical Clinic, Srinagar, Kashmir. E-mail: khuroo@yahoo.com; visit at: www.drkhuroo.com

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