Prominent Educator Professor Naeem Ur Rehman Johar Departs
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago, IL

 

Professor Naeem Ur Rehman Johar aka Narbay Ram Johar passed away in September 2023. During the 1960s-1980s he served as Professor of Urdu at Public School Latifabad, Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Public School Latifabad was inaugurated by President Ayub Khan in 1961. The hard work by a group of very dedicated educators — Mr Amiruddin, Mr Anjum, Mr Saifuddin, Mr Chaudhri, Ms Zohra, Mr Hanif, Mr Akhtar Hilal Zuberi, Mr Motala, Moulana Saad Hasan, Mr Shakeel and Mr Batra — headed by the prominent scholar Dr Hamid Hasan Bilgrami — in a very short time — made Public School Hyderabad a premier seat of learning. The school had several boarding houses: Rumi, Ghazali, Tipu, Sina, and Tipu. The school offered admissions to day scholars and boarders who came from distant places — from far east Asia to East Africa.

In 1960s Hyderabad Sindh was a booming industrial  town and its suburb, Latifabad, was a much desired residential place for the economically prospering middle class. Hyderabad was also a hub of great schools: Public School Latifabad, Himayatul Islam, Model School (Sindh University), Nazareth Girls College, St Mary's Convent Girls, and Cadet College, Petaro.

Naeem Ur Rehman was born on July 3, 1943, in Hyderabad. He received his secondary education at Islamia Modern High School Hyderabad, higher secondary education at City Arts College, and obtained an MA (Urdu) from University of Sindh. At City College his English professor was Mirza Abid Abbas, a prominent poet and author. While pursuing his MA (Urdu) at University of Sindh, he was taught and supervised by great scholars: Prof Dr Ghulam Mustafa Khan sahib and Prof Dr Syed Sakhi Hashmi sahib. After graduating from Sindh University, he pursued a career in teaching which spanned over fifty years at Memon Anjuman School Surrey Ghat, Public School Latifabad, College of Excellence for Girls, Preston College, Superior Science College and The Educator. He was a unique teacher who always put in extra effort — inside and outside class — so that his students could learn, gain confidence and succeed in their careers. Thousands of his students are holding key positions in Pakistan and abroad today.

Professor Johar was a prolific writer. He wrote for Urdu newspapers and magazines. His major works include "Noor-i-Nabuwat (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)" (Translation), Insha'i-e-Adab of Sharar, Auraq-e-Preeshan (Collection of Essays) and "From Idolism to Idol-Shaking" Aap Bayti (autobiography).   Professor Johar regularly participated in various Urdu programs at Radio Pakistan Hyderabad; in the early days of his career he also wrote poetry and adopted the pseudonym Johar.

May Allah SWT bless his soul and assign him a station in Jannat-ul-Firdous. Ameen!