Dr. Saabera Sultana
Professor
PhD (Clinical Psychology), Bahria University (2001)
MA (Psychology), University of Karachi (1963)
Dr. Saabera Sultana started her teaching career at Lahore College of Women in 1966. She also served as Principal of Government College for Women, Saudabad, Karachi (1991-1992). She taught at Bahria University as a visiting Professor (2001-2002). Her areas of interest are Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, Simulation of Human Behavior and Artificial Intelligence.

Her profile on our university website doesn’t say much about her. It gives no hint of her wonderful personality, kindness & her devotion towards her work. It doesn’t mention how her students dote on her. The many lives she changed. The many hearts she touched. The profile mentions nothing.

She is no more. She left us yesterday after a long battle with cancer but she is the one who is the vanquisher. Forever alive in our memories. Forever loved.

The news of her death put most of us in a state of shock. Foggy headed & confused. As the clock ticked away, grief sank in. We could feel the weight of it in our chests as if someone filled the heart with stones instead of blood. It still feels this way. The ache. The tears. The loss.

I, like most of the students, attended every course that she taught. Psychology, Cognitive & Behavioral Management were the popular subjects. Like a true clinical psychologist, she understood her students & offered every possible help. Despite being ill, she was very punctual. More regular & active than most of her students.

We’ve wonderful memories of her. I remember parts of the lectures. The researches she supervised, most of which were well-received by the international community & the conversations with her, both of academic & non-academic nature.

She was the type of teacher who encouraged us to discuss our personal problems & as well as the academic ones, who gave us a huge sum as Eidi & who brought candies for her students. We are just so lucky to have been her student.

She will be missed. Very truly missed. May Allah shower His blessings on her soul & give strength to those who loved her to bear such a huge loss. Ameen.

I want to be distant like the stars. Distant from this world, distant from flesh, distant from feelings, distant from myself. I want to forget everything. I want to forget language, love, hate, pain, happiness, theories, myths, religion, friends, family, music, art – everything retained in this complex structure of amino acids, peptides, monoaimes & bric-a-bracs.

What would it be like watching this world from a pair of distant eyes? With a mind free of prejudice & a heart free of shackles? What would it be like learning then? Will our truth be different?

I wonder. I wonder if there’s a way.