| World Association of Dow Alumni |
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Inauguration of World Association of Dow Alumni
(L-R) Shabtab Karatela '88, Dr Shakeel Abbas '83, Dr. Sarwar '84, Dr. Shafeeq '78, Dr. Zeelaf '89, Dr Shoaib Tauheed '85, Dr. Saeeda Haider, Dr. Mabel Zaki, Dr. Hamid Zaki, Dr. Saeed Quraishy '83 and Dr. Teepu Sultan with the candle. In 2003, DOGANA took the initiative to galvanize alumni and organized a winter meeting in Dow. The atmosphere was very conducive for such activity as at the helm of Dow, Dr. Tipu Sultan was the principal. What was initially a simple request to hold a Dow alumni meeting, annual function style, later blossomed into a fully orchestrated, Dow Alumni event for the whole city to remember. Within few days Dr. Tipu Sultan had formed a team of very dedicated Dowites who would mobilize Dowites across the country. It was indeed very heartening to see so many Dow alumni responded to the invitation which was published in the local newspapers and sent to various hospitals. Dow alumni in large numbers came for the occasion. Dow alumni from USA were more then 30; many came from UK, Saudi Arabia and Middle East, New Zealand, Malaysia. After such a long time the Dow alumni in Karachi had an event for which they were extremely enthusiastic. It was the general impression that this kind of alumni activity and the association was long due. On the bright sunny winter morning of the December 22, 2003, Dow alumni came with their friends, class fellows and spouses. Many of them had not been to Dow for many years. There was a welcoming red carpet laid outside the Arag auditorium for Dow alumni for the inauguration ceremony. The colorful shamiana was placed in the lot between Arag and Moin Auditorium for the refreshment. The Arag auditorium had not been so packed in years, but that morning was special. Senior and junior Dowites all packed the auditorium and people had to stand in the back and many gathered outside the Arag. With the real electricity clearly palpable in the hall, Dr. Saeeda Haider as the master of ceremony set the stage for this big event. Opening the meeting with the tilawat was Tahir Shamshi. Dr. Teepu Sultan Inaugurated with the speech and the invitation to all the Dow alumni to become part of the greater Dow alumni association with the aims of helping Dow. The President of DOGANA Zia Moiz Ahmad was then invited to the stage. He emphasized the need of organizing Dow alumni in Karachi, in UK, in the Middle East and other parts of the world. He praised the extraordinary efforts of class of 76, 77 and 78 for setting an example for others to follow in helping Dow and CHK. He stressed that, Dow being the thread of connection, we must join and form a World Association of Dow Alumni. To mark the occasion for the participation by every Dow alumni present there, candles were distributed to everyone. With everyone holding a candle in their hands, a light was passed along to lit all the candles in the Arag auditorium. The Arag auditorium lights were dimmed, and a very joyous moment was felt when everyone holding a candle illuminated the auditorium and ready to sing along the tarana of Dow. The "Dow Tarana" was sung in chorus. It filled the auditorium, and no doubt, many eyes were seen with tears of joy and elation. The atmosphere was certainly of a very genuine reverence for our alma mater. Many people were amazed at the turn out of Dow alumni that working day morning.
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