Doing Things eManually…

When I joined Al Qurmoshi Institute of Business Management several years ago, the then Principal, Mr. Maqsood Ali, introduced me to my colleagues – Ravi Shankar, Emmanuelle, Nayeem and Shailaja. After the formal introductions, all male faculty members decided on a more informal mode of address – instead of "Muzammil Sir," it should simply be "Muzammil," and similarly for the other names.

But here’s where the twist comes in: Emmanuelle chose to refer to himself as "eMan." He even started calling me "Muzzu" in a friendly manner. "‘Muzzu,’ you can do it," was a sentence he often used to encourage me during difficult times.

To further his career, eMan enrolled in an MA in Distance Education from IGNOU and simultaneously started research on Open and Distance Education at Osmania University. He soon excelled in his MA program.

Perhaps to celebrate this feat, eMan hosted a party for me. After the event, under a green tree in the Barkas locality, he jokingly suggested, "Muzzu, just imagine for a while that your future wife is staying somewhere close by…" I laughed at the idea – my wife possibly being from Barkas? Little did I know that eMan was unknowingly prophesying future events. During my tenure at Al Qurmoshi Institute, my future wife was indeed teaching at Jamiatul Banaat Girls Religious School in Barkas! It is a different thing that I had an arranged marriage.

Shortly after completing his MA in Distance Education, eMan joined Ambedkar Open University as a Consultant. He seized the opportunity to interview OU MBA Department professors, among others. On one occasion, he invited me to Ambedkar Open University to attend a presentation by Mr. Salawu from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). The presentation, which involved a thorough analysis of ten years' worth of data on student enrollments, course completions, and dropout rates at Ambedkar Open University, was highly enlightening.

In the following years, eMan completed his PhD and transitioned to roles at TKR College and the Guru Nanak Group before deciding to focus more on religious preaching. He became a full-time pastor while also serving as an adjunct professor at Al Qurmoshi. During this time, he authored a comprehensive paper titled “Use of Distance Education by Christian Religion to Train, Edify, and Educate Adherents.”

Between 2022 and 2023, I frequently consulted eMan regarding my PhD work.

In early 2024, eMan began exploring the possibility of establishing an academic consultancy group dedicated to thematic workshops. His vision included three key members: himself, me, and a colleague from Noida. Although the idea was still in the conceptual stage, eMan passed away on August 7, 2024, at the age of 55.

eMan’s passing is a profound loss. His contributions to education and his unwavering support throughout our professional journey will always be remembered. His visionary ideas, encouragement, and friendship left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with him. As we reflect on his legacy, we are reminded of his passion and dedication, and we carry forward the lessons he imparted with a sense of gratitude and respect.