His Mission … His Passion … Education

By Laila Baksh Kayum

The author takes the readers on a very personal journey in the life of her father. She demonstrates how he developed a passion for learning. His mother instilled the importance of education in him and his siblings when they were very young. His selflessness comes to the forefront by sharing what he learned and lifting others along the way.

Her father realized that obstacles can be learning tools if lessons are taken from each stumbling block. He navigated his way out of poverty, and his name became synonymous with education, teaching, and two highly recognized schools in the country.

During his final days, as he began his incredible journey to the other side, vivid descriptions and detailed accounts of his visions were relayed. Some proved to be beyond human understanding. Even on his deathbed, his deep passion for education remained his primary goal.

His Mission His Passion Education shares the story of a dedicated and inspiring teacher who made it his mission to use his gifts to educate and motivate not only students but teachers as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781532027406

Laila Baksh Kayum

Laila Baksh Kayum is a former teacher, mother of two adult children and an energetic grandson. She is the author of a memoir For a breath of life, in which she shares her family’s struggles raising a child with mental and physical challenges. She currently lives with her husband and son in Canada.

Book preview

HIS MISSION …

HIS PASSION …

EDUCATION

LAILA BAKSH KAYUM

Copyright ©

2016 LAILA BAKSH KAYUM.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-2739-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-2740-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017910442

iUniverse rev. date: 08/16/2017

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Success means doing the best we can with what we have.

Success is in the doing, not the getting – in the trying, not the triumph. WYNN DAVIS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue; but the parent of all others.

CICERO

Writing this book was enjoyable, educational and in many ways rewarding, not only because of the great support I received from everyone, but also because it prompted me to ponder on the type of life Father lived. I am still in awe at his accomplishments and the fact that he made it his mission to assist others who crossed his path. While I knew about some of his early life, it fascinated me to hear stories others shared. The spontaneity of their responses spoke volumes about the depth of respect they all had for a brother, friend, teacher, uncle, grandfather and the educator he became.

Mother played an important role in providing insightful information which helped in adding value to this writing. She worked extremely hard to make the home a safe haven for the family. Yet, she chose to remain in the background as much as possible. We all recognize that she played a key role in Father’s success.

My gratitude must be extended to my siblings who provided their input and assisted in the editing process. My sister Yasmin provided all the family pictures included in this work. To all my aunts and uncles who did not hesitate to share some of their memories of Father. It was also a period of reflection especially when we discussed his early years and how tough it must have been for him to be a father to his siblings. While I realize there are many more memories, it became extremely difficult to gather everything and include in this compilation.

I am truly indebted to my cousins as well as friends for their contributions. Many of them were caught off guard when I asked for the first thing that came to their minds when they thought of Father. We laughed heartily when we spoke about his strict demeanor and the stern looks we all received when he was displeased with something we did.

I would also like to extend gratitude to my nieces, nephew and children for their input. Each gave a different perspective of their grandfather and those who were present during his last days revealed some amazing stories.

This work would not have reached its completion without the technical assistance of our IT friend, Thomas Li. He always availed himself whenever we needed his expertise.

The final phase of this book proved to be a challenge. I sought the help of my cousin Aniza, who scanned and numbered the images, inserted blank pages to house the pictures and finally uploaded the manuscript.

Many thanks to the staff at I Universe who provided the guidance when required.

My son Azeem had been at my beck and call providing his computer skills. I could not have completed this book without his knowledge and readiness to assist.

To Father who ensured my formative years equipped me with the tools I needed to live a full and meaningful life.

Finally, to my husband Faizal who believed that I was emotionally equipped to assume this mammoth project and do justice to the writing. He realized that it would have been a huge undertaking and when the lapses in the work appeared lengthy, he nudged me into action. His constructive criticism, editing abilities, and understanding proved to be of great assistance to me. I am extremely fortunate to have his unwavering support in every project I undertake.

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Father’s ancestral home.

DEDICATION

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Dedicated to those whose lives have been enriched by Father’s teachings. May the knowledge they acquired continue to inspire future generations.

To Mother who always supported his endeavors.

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Mother and Father.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgement

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

Early Years

School Gardening

Family Life

Beyond Teaching

Reflections

Excerpts

His Final Days

Conclusion

Appendix

Quotable Quotes

FOREWORD

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.

JOSH BILLINGS

Education can be described as the vehicle which propels an individual to fulfill his or her dreams. It is a philosophy which played a significant role in the life’s journey of my brother, Murtuza Baksh.

This book, written by his second daughter, illustrates the passion, determination, as well as the inner strength her father cultivated and developed throughout his life. Her candid depiction of the trials he confronted can truly attest to the strength of his character. From humble beginnings in the rural but vibrant village of Preysal, he grew to become an icon in the pursuit of one of the most rewarding professions - teaching.

The theme of this book demonstrates a tone of humble success that speaks volumes of the indomitable abilities of the human spirit - a spirit that could have been crushed because of the unfavorable circumstances in his life. Instead, he used the adversity, became creative and devised options that carried him on an incredible journey.

This writing validates what I know of my brother. It is evident that he lived his life with integrity, never succumbing to external pressures. He was a giver, never hesitating to share his prized possession - knowledge. If readers could acquire just a small portion of some of his strengths and characteristics, I am confident that they would be successful individuals.

What a legacy he left for his children, grandchildren, great grandchild, relatives, students, and by extension the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

Manzur Baksh

INTRODUCTION

God