Riaz Ahsan
Encyclopedia
Dr. Prof. Riaz Ahsan (25 December, 1951--8 September, 2008), was a Pakistan
i statistician
and mathematician
who has worked in applied statistics, applied analysis, applications of special functions. He was a noted professor
of applied statistics in University of Karachi
, Karachi
. Previously, he has served as the president
of Sindh Professors and Lecturers’ Association (SPLA). Prof. Riaz Ahsan was born on 25 December 1951 and he died on 8 September 2008.
, Ahsan had his initial education at the BYJ School, Karachi, and completed his intermediate from Adamjee Government Science College
, Karachi
. He received his B.Sc. (Hons) in Statistics
and Mathematics
. He did his M.Sc with distinctions in Statistics
and M.A.
in Mathematics
with honors from Karachi University. Later, he received his double Ph.D. in applied statistics and applied mathematics
from the same alma mater
in 1974.
. He also served as the president of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) that works for the betterment of professors and lecturers in the province of Sindh. In 1982, he went to Nigeria
on deputation and taught statistics and mathematics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Upon his return continued as a teacher at the Government Degree Science College, Karachi, from where he was later transferred to Saint Patrick's College, Karachi. In early 1990s, Ahsan joined Karachi University as a full professor of statistics and mathematics and continued his career till his death.
in one of his legs in 2004 and was on medication since then. He recovered for a while and participated in many campaigns launched by the SPLA and fell ill again in 2008, never to recover.
Registrar Prof. Raees Alvi paid him the following tribute: “He was a wise man who always guided teachers in the right direction. He always searched for development and never had any prejudice. He always worked for the promotion of merit. This great man always fought for the rights of teachers and I would call it an irreparable loss for all of us.”
"The void he left behind can never be filled. It is a huge loss for SPLA and we would never get a personality like him in future". SPLA Senior Vice-President Manzoor Hussain Chishti said.
of Geography
at Karachi University.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i statistician
Statistician
A statistician is someone who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it...
and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
who has worked in applied statistics, applied analysis, applications of special functions. He was a noted professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of applied statistics in University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. Previously, he has served as the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Sindh Professors and Lecturers’ Association (SPLA). Prof. Riaz Ahsan was born on 25 December 1951 and he died on 8 September 2008.
Education and career
Born in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Ahsan had his initial education at the BYJ School, Karachi, and completed his intermediate from Adamjee Government Science College
Adamjee Government Science College
Adamjee Government Science College is an educational institution in Karachi, Pakistan. It was established by the Adamjee Group...
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. He received his B.Sc. (Hons) in Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. He did his M.Sc with distinctions in Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
with honors from Karachi University. Later, he received his double Ph.D. in applied statistics and applied mathematics
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
from the same alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
in 1974.
Academic career
In 1975, he started his career from DJ Science College, KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. He also served as the president of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) that works for the betterment of professors and lecturers in the province of Sindh. In 1982, he went to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
on deputation and taught statistics and mathematics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Upon his return continued as a teacher at the Government Degree Science College, Karachi, from where he was later transferred to Saint Patrick's College, Karachi. In early 1990s, Ahsan joined Karachi University as a full professor of statistics and mathematics and continued his career till his death.
Death
Dr. Ahsan was diagnosed with cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in one of his legs in 2004 and was on medication since then. He recovered for a while and participated in many campaigns launched by the SPLA and fell ill again in 2008, never to recover.
Registrar Prof. Raees Alvi paid him the following tribute: “He was a wise man who always guided teachers in the right direction. He always searched for development and never had any prejudice. He always worked for the promotion of merit. This great man always fought for the rights of teachers and I would call it an irreparable loss for all of us.”
"The void he left behind can never be filled. It is a huge loss for SPLA and we would never get a personality like him in future". SPLA Senior Vice-President Manzoor Hussain Chishti said.
Family
His father, Professor Syed Zaheer Ahsan, was a professorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
at Karachi University.
Links
- http://news.newsupdate.pk/?2008/9/9+396508
- http://www.dinnews.tv/dinnews/national/prof_riaz_ahsan_passes_away-7348.aspx