A Goan by birth, Dr. Zahir Kazi, president of Anjuman-i-Islam, was conferred with the ‘Padma Shri’ award by President of India Droupadi Murmu on Republic Day. This honor came as the most pleasant surprise and honour to him on his birthday, January 26. Speaking to The Goan, Dr. Zahir, a radiologist and five-term president elected unopposed of the 140-year-old educational and social welfare organization based in Mumbai, claims that he had not imagined that this day would come.
“I had not imagined that I would be one among the chosen few to receive this highest civilian honor, and I feel it is the fulfillment of my 40 years’ service to the nation. I have blended my passion and my profession to contribute to the fields of health and education, as I think that’s the most important sectors that our country needs to do a lot more. I did what I could as a doctor. I feel education is the ultimate goal, and it should reach the last person in the rural area and the most deprived person in society. I took it up as a mission and at 70, still committed to it,” said the doctor hailing from Ponda.
Recalling his days in Goa as a student of Almeida High School in Ponda, Dr. Zahir claims that he was an all-rounder student, who participated in all events and was equally good at academics, sports, and other cultural events. “I continued being active in social events in Goa Medical College too. During my six years in GMC, I got a lot of love and affection from co-students and teachers. I got a platform to be socially active, was chosen as president of GMC student’s organization too,” boasts Dr. Zahir who went to Mumbai to do post-graduation in the 1980s.
He joined Topiwala College, worked for four years in Bombay Hospital, then went to the US on a fellowship in ultrasound technique, and also got a fellowship for MRI in Pennsylvania. “I returned to work at Hinduja Hospital and later started my private practice at three places in Mumbai “ Bandra, Mumbai Central, and Babulnath Chaupati. I was attached to many hospitals, but in my busy schedule, I used to travel to Konkan once a month to cater to poor patients there,” recalls the radiologist.
When he was in his mid-thirties, Dr. Zahir thought he should give back to society, and balancing his profession and passion to do something for the needy, he joined Anjuman-i-Islam, a centuries-old organization started in 1874. “It’s been three decades now that I am associated with Anjuman, first as a member, then chairman, and then general manager “ for the last 15 years I am the president, five terms, elected unopposed,” claims Dr. Zahir.
“We went beyond India, formed an NGO in New York, London, and now in other Middle East Countries. Creating our presence there with the help of alumni all over the world. We have 75,000 students registered with us who would step forward to take the mission of helping others,” explains Dr. Zahir.
“This is my giving back to my home State Goa, and it is for the first time in the history of the Anjuman-i-Islam that we are planning to start something beyond Maharashtra, in Goa,” concludes Dr. Zahir who insists that the family speaks Konkani at home.
