Dr. Mirza Umair Beg - A scientist by profession, A writer by passion
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Dr. Mirza Umair Beg, a name very much familiar equally to the world of science, especially Toxicology, and to the world of Urdu literature. He is a multifaceted talent from Lucknow, India, which is a metro city well known for retaining its vibrant ancient culture, poetry, music, dance, arts & crafts. Right now he is working as Senior Scientist at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR). The past eighteen years of his career here has bestowed a number of prestigious moments for KISR as well as Indian community all over the world.
IIK: Sir, tell us more about the drift of your career graph.
After my Ph.D in Biochemistry from Lucknow University and post doctoral practice, I joined CSIR. I was Senior Assistant Director at ITRC, a CSIR laboratory at Lucknow for more than 20 years. During the tenure I was lucky enough to be the World Health Organization (WHO) Fellow deputed from CSIR to UK, Netherlands, Belgium, FRG, Poland, Switzerland, Finland and USSR on different projects. The last deputation was in 1990 to Dubai Medical College. As the founder director of Dubai Institute of Environmental Sciences and Dubai Pharmacy College, I was able to set up a fully fledged environmental institute, the first of its kind in Gulf region, and could provide the necessary technology and knowhow to address their environmental problems.
It was during this period that I first came to Kuwait, in 1992 after the war. Frequent visits were made to conduct a study in tie up with KISR, regarding the environmental pollution due to the fires in Kuwait oil fields set by Iraqi army. Later I was called back to India. At that time I got an offer from KISR and decided to join the team in 1994 at the Department of Environmental Sciences.
IIK. More than hundreds of published papers in international journals, conference paper abstracts, scientific reports, books, which was your main area of interest and activities?
I have been into Biochemistry, Toxicology, Marine Pollution, Environmental Pollution etc all through my career. Got many chances to participate in various conferences and to be part of various scientific committees in India and abroad, attended lot many training taking the role of both participant and instructor. Also was lucky enough to be the Guide and Co-guide of eight brilliant Ph.D students, who are now enriching the scientific world through their own contributions. As a teacher and guide, I try my best to prepare my students for the future challenges in their career. I find myself as a successful teacher when they remember me with gratitude for what I have given them. In 2002, I was selected as regional team member for UNEP Global program on Persistent Toxic Substance (PTS) in Indian Ocean Region and could contribute to the Global Report on PTS which was published in English and Arabic.
Having an inclination towards teaching profession and strong determination to do something for the fellow beings, long back I started a computer institute at my parental home back at Lucknow, with few computers. That was a time when computers were hard to see and I wanted them to experience it. Later a primary school was started there and now my daughter is taking care of the school administration. I too look forward for a retirement life with them, back in my homeland.
IIK: With such a strong background of science, how do you find yourself amidst the Urdu lovers, as a short story writer?
Actually, to be a scientist is a second thing that happened in my life. As a native of the cultural city Lucknow, art and literature is in my blood. For the sake of a good career I restricted myself from the literary thoughts evolving in my mind, a lot, during the early ages of life. Though I started writing at the age of, say fifteen or sixteen, I found it important to pursue a powerful career. I believe that, for a real success in life, one has to know the priorities among the choices before him.
IIK: But still how can a person like you, who has strong bond with literature, stay away from it, purposefully?
That was the need of the hour. Once you start writing, then your thoughts, feelings everything ‘has to be’ or rather ‘will be’ centered on it. This will have an influence on your commitment towards the career. But even after a deliberate effort to stay away, I wrote plays, stories and ‘Shayari’. However, I started writing seriously after my Ph.D, in 70s. I used to give talks and conduct discussions on All India Radio (AIR). Many of my plays were then enacted and transmitted by AIR.
At this point I would like to mention Dr. S.H. Zaidi, founder director of ITRC, who dug out my taste for literature. He was a person who wanted all of his subordinates to have hobbies, to have some sort of extracurricular activities like staging a play, playing football etc to keep ourselves fresh and away from frustrations. He was the one who made many changes in my attitude towards life. Apart from radio, when Doordarshan started transmission from Lucknow, I was invited to give talks on science related subjects, which in those days helped a lot in the popularization of the subject.
IIK: Tell us more about your literary works.
As I told before, right from 70s I am writing poems, plays, and short stories, all in Urdu language. More than 60 stories were published in the then popular Urdu magazines namely “Shama” and “Biswi Sadi”. Two books published “Sangreze” and “Yug Yug Ki Baat”, were the collection of my short stories. The latter was recognized by Urdu Academy of Uttar Pradesh.
During the Holy month of Ramadan, I use to write articles in English Dailies in Kuwait, to convey the religious thoughts, which have a positivity in itself, with a social perspective.
IIK: But why only in Urdu? Why don’t you think of translations of your works in either Hindi or English?
The society we live in holds thousands of stories in itself. Only we have to be sensitive enough to know its pulse. When the true feelings and reactions on the life of our fellow beings, which touch heart, is put into words, any writer will opt for his/her own mother tongue. Any translations even by the author will not bear the same feel.
IIK: Why you opt for short stories? Why no attempt for a full fledged novels?
For me language has an extensive power to influence the minds of common man. Even the bitter facts can be made acceptable to the society, if fed in good language. At the same time it should be precise. We can’t say that no one has the time to read a long story to get the essence of it. Rather, I would say, no one has the patience for the same. Short stories convey my messages to the readers in minimum words.
IIK: What is your opinion on the literary forums in Kuwait?
Back in India, any literary associations can bring together only the indigenous writers together, unless it is an inter-state gathering, which is very much rare. You get the flavor of other regional writers only through the translated version of their works. But here in Kuwait, the expat community represents a real cross section of India. Groups like ‘Writers Forum’, in which I have a membership, helps to bring together the authors from all over India who live in Kuwait. I find it very much interesting as a platform for exchange of ideas directly from the author.
IIK: How do you evaluate our new generation? What would you like to convey to our youth?
India is blessed with lots of resources and brilliance. But the problem is that we are having a disorganized system where the unethical deeds like corruption creeps in. Changes should start from the base. With proper time management one can achieve anything, provided the priorities are set properly. Unless the circumstances force you to pursue job which does not match your dream and qualifications, go for your career, make your dream come true.
On behalf of the entire IIK team, I express my gratitude for your time and all the very best for your future.
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Reshmy Krishnakumar is a freelance Statistician based in India. She was working with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) as Research Associate. Having done her post-graduation in Statistics, she worked as lecturer at St.Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, until her relocation to Kuwait to join at Statistics Department, Kuwait University, Khaldiya.
As a freelance writer, she is contributing to various magazines, blogs, and websites. Her passion includes classical dance, writing poems in Malayalam and Hindi. While in Kuwait she was an active member of the Writers’ Forum Kuwait, Indian Women In Kuwait (IWIK) and Science International Forum (SIF) Kuwait.
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