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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Begum Farzana Hussain (A Living Legend)
Note: This exclusive interview has been sent to us by Engr. Nageen Hussain, D/O Lt. Col. Syed Abdul Hussain and Begum Farzana Hussain
"Even if I had 10 sons, I will give them to Pak Army and Pakistan" Family lunch, winters 2009
Born to: Capt. Muhammad Faqir Muhammad
Married to: Lt. Col Syed Abdul Hussain s/o Jailer Syed Abdul Rahim (Madras)
Mother to: Shaheed Lt. Col Syed Tahseen Hussain , Imtiazi Sanad (Military); Shaheed Capt. Faisal Bin Hussain
_______________________________________________________________
A beauty with confident sea green eyes, bordered by wrinkles sat in front of me. Two adjectives for her would be Decent and Elegant. She started speaking and I started wondering how it feels being a born celebrity and living that life. Oh yes, I am talking about Begum Farzana Hussain, one woman who genuinely proved to be the mother from this nation!
When asked to comment on her premarital life, her eyes sparkled with pride and she started:
My dad, Capt. Muhammad Faqir Muhammad was from 18 Royal Garhwal Riffles, 16 Punjab Regiment of the British Army. He and my father in law, Jailer Syed Abdul Rahim (Hawaldar in Royal British Army) fought together in the Second World War. My father in law was taken as a POW in Burma while my dad returned. This happened in 1944.
In July 1944, I was born and as my dads diary states, we moved to Pakistan sometime in October 1947. My dad was posted in Malir cantt. Unlike today, back then Malir cantt was scarcely populated and we used to play with an airplanes broken wing, which was lying in our backyard since day one. The memory of that wing still makes me feel how lucky I am as most people never get a chance of touching an airplanes wing.
I got my elementary education from Karachi Grammar School (KGS). In the summer vacations after my matriculation, my dad was posted to East Pakistan. So, my mum and Dad went to East Pakistan while I and younger siblings stayed back with dadi (paternal grandmother). I was a student of the Govt. College of Women, Frere Road, Karachi.
Exactly after two years, i.e. in summer vacations following my intermediate final exam, my mum and dad returned, along with them was my newly born younger brother.
One fine evening, while walking in the Nazimabad park, my dad met my father in law, Rahim uncle. Rahim uncle narrated how he returned after seven years of being a POW and then decided to come to Pakistan.
Rahim uncle had two sons and two daughters. His eldest son was in Foreign Service and was in Turkey while the younger one was a Captain in Pakistan Army. His younger son had been pet named nanay jan (the loved child). Cousins younger to him used to call bhai sahab.
So, bhai sahab, just like dad was also posted in Karachi. In army life, get to gathers are a norm. Every weekend there is a party at someones place.
My dad was the mess secretary (as some might be misguided, a mess secretary is the officer in charge of the mess) of Services Mess (then was called Services club).So, we had parties packed weekend every week.
May be it is in one of these parties in which my charm struck the Captain (chuckle). Hence, Rahim uncle asked my dad for my hand for his son. And so, in September 1964 I was married to Captain S.A. Hussain (at Services Club only).
She removed her specs and closed her eyes for a moment, as if relaxing after walking through all those years again. Her tone, reflected zestfulness and excitement that she must have felt during all those events. I inferred that the love that she was brought up with; the discipline that she learnt while her parents were away and the contentment of being lucky enough to enjoy all these happy moments are some rare blessings.
She called the maid to bring in tea. Maid walked in with a tea trolley that had a large and a small tea cozies, sugar pot, cups, tea spoons (wrapped in a table napkin) and saucers. Impressed! I was. She thanked the maid, and the maid left. How well trained her servant was!
She moved ahead from her recliners rest to pull the trolley closer. I motioned in a gesture to make the tea. She smiled and said, I will do it, thanks. And she continued, the family of this maid is with me since my elder sons martyrdom. She is in 9th class and goes to morning school. Her mum also works at my house .
I nodded. She looked outside the window as if is contemplating for my next question.
So, finding the moment appropriate, I asked, how was your post marital life?
Keeping the cup on the saucer absolutely soundlessly, she started again:
Hussain was a very loving husband. On our wedding he gifted me a Ruby ring which my daughter still loves wearing. I remember he asked me what do I want as a gift and I said a world tour.
At that time, a Captains salary was not enough to take his wife around the world. But soon after the wedding, we were posted to Murree, and living there was lovely. Hussain would always appreciate me by saying the love of my wife is such that she has never served me cold food even in Decembers of Murree. Back then, there were no microwaves! Hussain had gone to forward area (war zone) due to 1965 war. So, he was usually away from home and returned at odd hours and that too for a very short duration.
I remember, on 18th September, 1965 our first child was born in PNS Shifa Karachi. He named the son, Tahseen and was very happy.
I and Hussain both shared the passion of giving our children the best education.
His wishlist had just one wish and that was to live a perfect life. He always thanked Allah, for giving him a perfect life. To him the perfect life was a beautiful wife and a lovely child and a peaceful home.
I and Hussain have never argued. May be because we were clear on our domains! House was my domain and he never interfered in it. But I always sought his approval before making any change. So was disciplining the children. Spoiling (as I would often tease him) the children was his domain.
Actually, we never argued because when he would be angry I used to keep my quiet. And when I used to mad at kids, he dint interfere. That doesnt mean he wasnt bothered. He used to calm me down later and express how sorry he is feeling for the child who had been beaten!
After Tahseen, we had another son, Taskeen and a daughter, Naureen. Today, I can proudly say that my husband never ever raised his volume on our daughters. He would always say, my daughters will go away one day and so I cant be harsh to them. Extremely loving a father he was!
In 1973 we had our third son, Faisal. By then, we were posted in Lahore. Tahseen, Taskeen and Naureen were school going children and we had a Volkswagen! The driver used to drop them at school. In the lunch hour he would take French fries and juice to school. In the afternoon, I used to pick them myself.
Every weekend, I and Mrs Salima Riaz (wife of Captain Riaz) used to go for a movie in the afternoon, while our husbands took the children to their mess. Waheed Murad was our hot favorite hero. We were a group of around 8 ladies, all wives of Army officers and member of the ladies club.
When Mughal-e-Azam was released, my batman got around 15 tickets. I remember that afternoon; we (15 ladies) picked our children early from school and dropped them at our husbands offices. Our husbands took the children home and we went to watch the 3 o clock show. The reason for going early was the queue at cinema doors. Good, fear free days they were. Now, ladies cant even think of going to cinema alone.
Our 14th wedding anniversary was very dramatic. Hussain gifted me two air tickets of England and said, we are going on a world tour. My jaws dropped open as I was amazed to see how well he remembered what I asked him for, 14 years ago.
I and Hussain flew to England and travelled by road or train around Europe. On our way back from England, we bought a Mark II. Our return was also a road journey via Afghanistan. It was amazing and adventurous!
On return, Hussain was posted to Jhelum as ESD Jhelum.
Hussain had bought a 500yards land in DHA Karachi and wanted to build a house. So, he went to Karachi to get the initial work done. He stayed there for a month. And then, I was there for the interior decoration. At that time, he got me the kitchen done by Prestige, which then costed 70,000 PKR.
Our house came out very fine. When Hussain came to Karachi, he loved every inch of it.
Hussain then took me for Hajj.
After Faisal, we had three daughters. Hence, all together I and Hussain had seven adorable children. Hussain mimicked it as snow white and the seven dwarfs.
She let out a small laughter and looked at me. This time, I had to pull myself out of my imaginations. I had mixed feelings. On one side, I felt how stress it would have been to live without your husband when he is in the forward area. On the other, I felt, what a disciplined and fun packed life she had been living! I was jealous how very perfect could ones life be and why cant a civilians life be like this?
She interrupted, my thought process, spare me for a few minutes as I have to offer Maghrib prayers. Would you like to pray as well?
I nodded in affirmation and so she rang the bell next to her. The maid appeared, and I was again wondering how well organized her house is that no one shouts to call the maid. The maid guided me to the guest room where I prayed.
When I returned to the drawing room, Begum Farzana Hussain was still not there. So, I started exploring wall pictures. There was a couple where she was standing next to a handsome man in uniform, who obviously, was Lt. Col Hussain!
There was a picture of a batch of Ghora gali College, a boarding school in Murree. There were group photos of two different PMA long courses. There were two graduation photographs one of her daughter and another of her son.
Those are our family photographs .. I turned and saw a beaming smile. They are very nice, I replied. She nodded in affirmation and whispered undoubtedly.
Tell me about your children I continued.
I have three sons and four daughters.
Three of my daughters are married to three thorough gentlemen. The youngest one is engaged.
Of the three sons, one is living in United States with his lovely wife and adorable children. The other two were in Pakistan Army and by grace of Allah both are shaheeds (martyrs).
Hussain always said, if my sons will join Pak Army I want them to return in Pakistani flag. His sons fulfilled his wish!
Hussain passed away on 10th January 1995 due to a heart attack. An year after, on 1st January 1996 Capt. Syed Faisal Bin Hussain, was martyred. On 25th February 2003, Lt Col Syed Tahseen Hussain was shaheed. On the following 14th August, Tahseen was given an Imtiazi Sanad.
There was a moment of silence. I saw tears in her eyes, which she swiftly wiped away.
Sadly, I quivered my lips I am sorry, I really did not want to upset you.
She stretched her lips in a small smile and said Even if I would have had ten sons, I would have given them to Pakistan Army.
I am proud of my sons! They are courageous men. Faisal topped all his boxing matches at PMA and won the skiing competition at Malumjaba with an injured knee. He was recommended for being an instructor at Infantry School, Quetta.
Tahseen went on UNMOP (United Nations Mission of Peace) twice; first to Gulf war and then to Prevalaka, Croatia. He was also posted to Siachin for 6 months. I remember when he returned all his nails fell off due to extreme temperature change.
As soon as Tahseen returned from Croatia, he was promoted (as Lieutenant Colonel) and posted to Kailer, Kashmir where he was commanding 646, Mujahid Battalion. From there he returned in Pakistani flag!
Few days ago, one of his sub-ordinates returned from Kailer and came to meet me. He told me that in Kailer, there has been a road named after Tahseen!
I was amazed at how strong this woman is! I feel giving a single child good education is a big achievement. Impressive, is the fact that all her children are well-educated and career-oriented professionals.
I asked what happened to Shaheed colonel sahab in Kashmir.
She replied
The weather was extremely cold and there was heavy rain. He had a night check of the forward posts. After climbing a few miles he felt breathlessness. His escorts requested him to move back. He was determined to check the jawans (soldiers) on the forward post and was not willing to move back. The lack of oxygen was taking its toll! He started feeling excruciating chest pain but finally did reach the forward post. On the post his pain was uncontrollable and so the escort wired to Bagh CMH for emergency.
Due to heavy snow and rain, it was impossible to land a helicopter and take him to CMH Rawalpindi.
From the forward post, his escorts brought him down on a stretcher. He was taken to Bagh CMH, where after four hours he expired.
I was spell bound. I had no words. I dint know what to say. I was just looking at her and tears were rolling down from my eyes.
All I could think of was: How great a bunch of soldiers we have! Mothers of these soldiers should be appreciated for embellishing our nation with gems. Who lay their lives for the country we should be passionate about them! We should respect them for what they do for us (the civilians), since what they do is exceptional!
...Long live Pakistan
She touched my hand ...Are you Okay?
I recovered and humbly acknowledged, You are my ideal Thank you for sharing your military life with us.
(c) Pakistan Army: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Begum Farzana Hussain (A Living Legend) | Facebook Pakistan Army's Notes @ facebook
Note: This exclusive interview has been sent to us by Engr. Nageen Hussain, D/O Lt. Col. Syed Abdul Hussain and Begum Farzana Hussain
"Even if I had 10 sons, I will give them to Pak Army and Pakistan" Family lunch, winters 2009
Born to: Capt. Muhammad Faqir Muhammad
Married to: Lt. Col Syed Abdul Hussain s/o Jailer Syed Abdul Rahim (Madras)
Mother to: Shaheed Lt. Col Syed Tahseen Hussain , Imtiazi Sanad (Military); Shaheed Capt. Faisal Bin Hussain
_______________________________________________________________
A beauty with confident sea green eyes, bordered by wrinkles sat in front of me. Two adjectives for her would be Decent and Elegant. She started speaking and I started wondering how it feels being a born celebrity and living that life. Oh yes, I am talking about Begum Farzana Hussain, one woman who genuinely proved to be the mother from this nation!
When asked to comment on her premarital life, her eyes sparkled with pride and she started:
My dad, Capt. Muhammad Faqir Muhammad was from 18 Royal Garhwal Riffles, 16 Punjab Regiment of the British Army. He and my father in law, Jailer Syed Abdul Rahim (Hawaldar in Royal British Army) fought together in the Second World War. My father in law was taken as a POW in Burma while my dad returned. This happened in 1944.
In July 1944, I was born and as my dads diary states, we moved to Pakistan sometime in October 1947. My dad was posted in Malir cantt. Unlike today, back then Malir cantt was scarcely populated and we used to play with an airplanes broken wing, which was lying in our backyard since day one. The memory of that wing still makes me feel how lucky I am as most people never get a chance of touching an airplanes wing.
I got my elementary education from Karachi Grammar School (KGS). In the summer vacations after my matriculation, my dad was posted to East Pakistan. So, my mum and Dad went to East Pakistan while I and younger siblings stayed back with dadi (paternal grandmother). I was a student of the Govt. College of Women, Frere Road, Karachi.
Exactly after two years, i.e. in summer vacations following my intermediate final exam, my mum and dad returned, along with them was my newly born younger brother.
One fine evening, while walking in the Nazimabad park, my dad met my father in law, Rahim uncle. Rahim uncle narrated how he returned after seven years of being a POW and then decided to come to Pakistan.
Rahim uncle had two sons and two daughters. His eldest son was in Foreign Service and was in Turkey while the younger one was a Captain in Pakistan Army. His younger son had been pet named nanay jan (the loved child). Cousins younger to him used to call bhai sahab.
So, bhai sahab, just like dad was also posted in Karachi. In army life, get to gathers are a norm. Every weekend there is a party at someones place.
My dad was the mess secretary (as some might be misguided, a mess secretary is the officer in charge of the mess) of Services Mess (then was called Services club).So, we had parties packed weekend every week.
May be it is in one of these parties in which my charm struck the Captain (chuckle). Hence, Rahim uncle asked my dad for my hand for his son. And so, in September 1964 I was married to Captain S.A. Hussain (at Services Club only).
She removed her specs and closed her eyes for a moment, as if relaxing after walking through all those years again. Her tone, reflected zestfulness and excitement that she must have felt during all those events. I inferred that the love that she was brought up with; the discipline that she learnt while her parents were away and the contentment of being lucky enough to enjoy all these happy moments are some rare blessings.
She called the maid to bring in tea. Maid walked in with a tea trolley that had a large and a small tea cozies, sugar pot, cups, tea spoons (wrapped in a table napkin) and saucers. Impressed! I was. She thanked the maid, and the maid left. How well trained her servant was!
She moved ahead from her recliners rest to pull the trolley closer. I motioned in a gesture to make the tea. She smiled and said, I will do it, thanks. And she continued, the family of this maid is with me since my elder sons martyrdom. She is in 9th class and goes to morning school. Her mum also works at my house .
I nodded. She looked outside the window as if is contemplating for my next question.
So, finding the moment appropriate, I asked, how was your post marital life?
Keeping the cup on the saucer absolutely soundlessly, she started again:
Hussain was a very loving husband. On our wedding he gifted me a Ruby ring which my daughter still loves wearing. I remember he asked me what do I want as a gift and I said a world tour.
At that time, a Captains salary was not enough to take his wife around the world. But soon after the wedding, we were posted to Murree, and living there was lovely. Hussain would always appreciate me by saying the love of my wife is such that she has never served me cold food even in Decembers of Murree. Back then, there were no microwaves! Hussain had gone to forward area (war zone) due to 1965 war. So, he was usually away from home and returned at odd hours and that too for a very short duration.
I remember, on 18th September, 1965 our first child was born in PNS Shifa Karachi. He named the son, Tahseen and was very happy.
I and Hussain both shared the passion of giving our children the best education.
His wishlist had just one wish and that was to live a perfect life. He always thanked Allah, for giving him a perfect life. To him the perfect life was a beautiful wife and a lovely child and a peaceful home.
I and Hussain have never argued. May be because we were clear on our domains! House was my domain and he never interfered in it. But I always sought his approval before making any change. So was disciplining the children. Spoiling (as I would often tease him) the children was his domain.
Actually, we never argued because when he would be angry I used to keep my quiet. And when I used to mad at kids, he dint interfere. That doesnt mean he wasnt bothered. He used to calm me down later and express how sorry he is feeling for the child who had been beaten!
After Tahseen, we had another son, Taskeen and a daughter, Naureen. Today, I can proudly say that my husband never ever raised his volume on our daughters. He would always say, my daughters will go away one day and so I cant be harsh to them. Extremely loving a father he was!
In 1973 we had our third son, Faisal. By then, we were posted in Lahore. Tahseen, Taskeen and Naureen were school going children and we had a Volkswagen! The driver used to drop them at school. In the lunch hour he would take French fries and juice to school. In the afternoon, I used to pick them myself.
Every weekend, I and Mrs Salima Riaz (wife of Captain Riaz) used to go for a movie in the afternoon, while our husbands took the children to their mess. Waheed Murad was our hot favorite hero. We were a group of around 8 ladies, all wives of Army officers and member of the ladies club.
When Mughal-e-Azam was released, my batman got around 15 tickets. I remember that afternoon; we (15 ladies) picked our children early from school and dropped them at our husbands offices. Our husbands took the children home and we went to watch the 3 o clock show. The reason for going early was the queue at cinema doors. Good, fear free days they were. Now, ladies cant even think of going to cinema alone.
Our 14th wedding anniversary was very dramatic. Hussain gifted me two air tickets of England and said, we are going on a world tour. My jaws dropped open as I was amazed to see how well he remembered what I asked him for, 14 years ago.
I and Hussain flew to England and travelled by road or train around Europe. On our way back from England, we bought a Mark II. Our return was also a road journey via Afghanistan. It was amazing and adventurous!
On return, Hussain was posted to Jhelum as ESD Jhelum.
Hussain had bought a 500yards land in DHA Karachi and wanted to build a house. So, he went to Karachi to get the initial work done. He stayed there for a month. And then, I was there for the interior decoration. At that time, he got me the kitchen done by Prestige, which then costed 70,000 PKR.
Our house came out very fine. When Hussain came to Karachi, he loved every inch of it.
Hussain then took me for Hajj.
After Faisal, we had three daughters. Hence, all together I and Hussain had seven adorable children. Hussain mimicked it as snow white and the seven dwarfs.
She let out a small laughter and looked at me. This time, I had to pull myself out of my imaginations. I had mixed feelings. On one side, I felt how stress it would have been to live without your husband when he is in the forward area. On the other, I felt, what a disciplined and fun packed life she had been living! I was jealous how very perfect could ones life be and why cant a civilians life be like this?
She interrupted, my thought process, spare me for a few minutes as I have to offer Maghrib prayers. Would you like to pray as well?
I nodded in affirmation and so she rang the bell next to her. The maid appeared, and I was again wondering how well organized her house is that no one shouts to call the maid. The maid guided me to the guest room where I prayed.
When I returned to the drawing room, Begum Farzana Hussain was still not there. So, I started exploring wall pictures. There was a couple where she was standing next to a handsome man in uniform, who obviously, was Lt. Col Hussain!
There was a picture of a batch of Ghora gali College, a boarding school in Murree. There were group photos of two different PMA long courses. There were two graduation photographs one of her daughter and another of her son.
Those are our family photographs .. I turned and saw a beaming smile. They are very nice, I replied. She nodded in affirmation and whispered undoubtedly.
Tell me about your children I continued.
I have three sons and four daughters.
Three of my daughters are married to three thorough gentlemen. The youngest one is engaged.
Of the three sons, one is living in United States with his lovely wife and adorable children. The other two were in Pakistan Army and by grace of Allah both are shaheeds (martyrs).
Hussain always said, if my sons will join Pak Army I want them to return in Pakistani flag. His sons fulfilled his wish!
Hussain passed away on 10th January 1995 due to a heart attack. An year after, on 1st January 1996 Capt. Syed Faisal Bin Hussain, was martyred. On 25th February 2003, Lt Col Syed Tahseen Hussain was shaheed. On the following 14th August, Tahseen was given an Imtiazi Sanad.
There was a moment of silence. I saw tears in her eyes, which she swiftly wiped away.
Sadly, I quivered my lips I am sorry, I really did not want to upset you.
She stretched her lips in a small smile and said Even if I would have had ten sons, I would have given them to Pakistan Army.
I am proud of my sons! They are courageous men. Faisal topped all his boxing matches at PMA and won the skiing competition at Malumjaba with an injured knee. He was recommended for being an instructor at Infantry School, Quetta.
Tahseen went on UNMOP (United Nations Mission of Peace) twice; first to Gulf war and then to Prevalaka, Croatia. He was also posted to Siachin for 6 months. I remember when he returned all his nails fell off due to extreme temperature change.
As soon as Tahseen returned from Croatia, he was promoted (as Lieutenant Colonel) and posted to Kailer, Kashmir where he was commanding 646, Mujahid Battalion. From there he returned in Pakistani flag!
Few days ago, one of his sub-ordinates returned from Kailer and came to meet me. He told me that in Kailer, there has been a road named after Tahseen!
I was amazed at how strong this woman is! I feel giving a single child good education is a big achievement. Impressive, is the fact that all her children are well-educated and career-oriented professionals.
I asked what happened to Shaheed colonel sahab in Kashmir.
She replied
The weather was extremely cold and there was heavy rain. He had a night check of the forward posts. After climbing a few miles he felt breathlessness. His escorts requested him to move back. He was determined to check the jawans (soldiers) on the forward post and was not willing to move back. The lack of oxygen was taking its toll! He started feeling excruciating chest pain but finally did reach the forward post. On the post his pain was uncontrollable and so the escort wired to Bagh CMH for emergency.
Due to heavy snow and rain, it was impossible to land a helicopter and take him to CMH Rawalpindi.
From the forward post, his escorts brought him down on a stretcher. He was taken to Bagh CMH, where after four hours he expired.
I was spell bound. I had no words. I dint know what to say. I was just looking at her and tears were rolling down from my eyes.
All I could think of was: How great a bunch of soldiers we have! Mothers of these soldiers should be appreciated for embellishing our nation with gems. Who lay their lives for the country we should be passionate about them! We should respect them for what they do for us (the civilians), since what they do is exceptional!
...Long live Pakistan
She touched my hand ...Are you Okay?
I recovered and humbly acknowledged, You are my ideal Thank you for sharing your military life with us.
(c) Pakistan Army: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Begum Farzana Hussain (A Living Legend) | Facebook Pakistan Army's Notes @ facebook
