Mohammed Anis Ur Rehman Khan was born at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 10th September 1922. His early education started at Mission Public School, Nawabganj. Bareilly, and Islamia High School, Budaun (Uttar Pradesh, India). After completing his premedical education in Christian College Lucknow, he graduated from Lucknow Medical College in 1944.
He joined Indian Medical Service (IMS) in 1944, and due to World War-II, was immediately seconded to Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC). He served in Singapore and Malaya during the world war.
After creation of Pakistan, he was repatriated to Pakistan in January 1948. Soon he proceeded for postgraduate studies to the UK. He qualified DA (London) in 1952, and was awarded FFARCS (England) in 1953. While in the UK he worked as honorary registrar in anesthesia in Postgraduate Institute Hammer Smith for a period of 18 months.
On return to Pakistan he was appointed Classified Specialist in Anesthesia in Army Medical Corps (AMC). He also happened to serve as Agency Surgeon Gilgit from November 1958 to 1960 in Northern Areas of Pakistan. College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) recognized his untiring service to the healthcare as well as the young specialty of anesthesiology in Pakistan, and awarded him honorary fellowship (FCPS) in 1965.
He took active part in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 as Head, Department of Anesthesiology, Combined Military Hospital Lahore, and was awarded Tamgha-i-Imtiaz –Military [TI (M)] for his meritorious services. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on 28th July 1967 and was posted to Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi Head, Department of Anesthesiology. From this point started his splendid career as a Chief Instructor for postgraduate training in anesthesiology, and produced a large group of excellent anesthesiologists to serve in the military as well as civil medical healthcare institutions. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier on 15th August 1975, and continued his services as Advisor Anesthesia till his appointment as commandant of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), now redesignated as Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute (AFPGMI) Rawalpindi, on 5th April 1978 and promoted to the rank of Major General. Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute has been the premier institution of postgraduate training and accreditation for military doctors and nurses. He is since then.
The general remained an instructor in anesthesiology and physiology at AFM College Rawalpindi for 20 years.
In addition to various other duties, he also served as Director of Experimental Research Wing. He worked as a research student for a period of 2 years at AFM College, out of which he spent one year at Department of Research in Basic Medical Sciences at Royal College of Surgeons from 1971 to June 1972. He served as a member of the Academic Council of AFM College for 11 years.
In recognition of his great services to the nation, he was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz-Military [HI(M)] in 1979.
He was known to be untiring in the true sense of the word.
After 38 years of service he retired from active service on 9th September 1982, but continued to be an active member of the faculty. Dozens of his students fondly recall his outstanding teaching and coaching skills. He is truly known as ‘Baba-i-Anesthesia’ (Father of Anesthesia) in Pakistan.
His was a master of outdoor sports, including shooting, angling, riding and polo. Everyone was fascinated by his towering personality, pleasant manners, subtle sense of humor and the depth of knowledge. At times he gave an impression of being blunt, but his acquaintances know him to be extremely considerate and kind at heart. He was extremely constructive in his behavior and desired perfection in everything. He brought up the standard of AFM College to such a level that even the best of people experienced in education adored it. Always devoted to the welfare of his juniors, he himself exhibited the highest sense of devotion to duty. Dr. Khan passed his last few years of life at his rural farmhouse, to fulfil his passion for shooting wild ducks and other animals.
After a protracted illness Dr. Khan breathed his last on 15th March 2006 at Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. May his soul rest in peace, Ameen!
Brig. M. Salim, SI(M)
Prof. of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
E-mail: brigsaleem1@gmail.com
Dr. Latif Shah, DA, MCPS
Specialist Anesthetist,
Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan.
E-mail: sainmastang@gmail.com