Ashfaq Hossain

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Birth

I was born on 24th day of January (don't worry about the year, it is just way too long) around 10am to my parents M Afzal Hossain and Rawshan J Hossain in Pabna, a north-western district of Bangladesh. Youngest of my parents' five children, following my four sisters, I am very incorrectly perceived to have enjoyed a pampered childhood, having Aladin's Jinnie on my right hand and a wish-machine on my left. The reality was much rude: I felt like I was the most unimportant person in the whole family, nobody even cared to listen to any of my opinions (until very recently), and above all, I was under constant threat to perform, to behave and to obey. It has been quite a long time from those growing up years that I started to realize how profoundly I am loved by my family, how much pride they have pinned on me and how deeply woven I am, by fondness, care and sure subtlety, to my intricate family fabric.

Nevertheless, my earliest photographs portray me as a reasonably dull-ish boy, hardly smiling to the camera. This was a kid whom you wouldn't feel like giving a hug or a fond kiss (too bad).

Just in case you are interested, and for the sake of history, here are some of my baby-hood pictures:

My Earliest Picture (15 days)
Amma Comforting Me At NanaBhai's Place
Finally Pacified
Me And The Ducks
My 3rd Birthday With Abba
Amma, Toddler Sisters, Myself at NanaBhai's Place

Growing Up and Early Education

My first school was Viqaroonnesa Noon School in Dhaka where I studied upto Class II from Kinder Garten I (KG-I). My earliest report cards (still preserved by my Mother) show, surprisingly enough, excellent ranks and comments from the class-teachers. "Surprising", because (as far as I can remember and surely which is the case at present) I hated textbooks and studies with passion but was never strong enough to express it then, within any surroundings of family or else.

The most profound influence during my growing up years was from my eldest sister who was an extremely studious person and was clearly respected by all of us who followed. Apart from being the top student in her classes, she had a literary mind, she was religious and could, but very rarely did, help us in our studies in an excellent manner.

I studied in almost all parts of Bangladesh (as my Father's job took him to different places every few years/months). From Viqaroonnesa Noon School, I went to Rajshahi (a nothern division headquarter) to study in River View School for a few months before we moved over to Chittagong (a south-eastern division headquarter). I skipped Class III and got an admission in St. Placid's High School in Class IV. I continued in St Placid's upto Class VII when we moved over to Khulna (a south-western division headquarter). I conciously denied another double-promotion from Class VI to Class VIII, thinking that I would miss my basic development in Algebra and Geometry. This was, as I still realize now, a very good decision. My Chittagong years are full of memories where I wander around with a stick in my hand, through the jungle-filled meandering footways on high-hills, chasing chicken, cows and what-not. Our hill-top house enjoyed an excellent view of the beautiful west-side of Chittagong and the Bay of Bengal. We could actually see the ships waiting in outer anchorage and their first lights in the evening. From our vantage point, I was thralled by the rains which I could see coming from the sea, through the port to us. It was a good experience in Chittagong even though I was secluded from a neighbor-vested atmosphere in the hill-top. I still think those were the best few years of my upbringing, being so close to nature.

I continued doing quite well in my studies despite my complete bitterness, as mentioned earlier.

I studied in St. Joseph's High School in Khulna from the end of Class VII upto beginning of Class IX, when we moved over to Dhaka. This was a turning point in my life as regards my academics were concerned.

I passed the Matriculation Examination from Govt Laboratory High School in Dhaka and was placed in the Combined Merit List (17th). I moved onwards to Dhaka College to complete HSC. I was ranked 3rd (among some 60,000 students) in the Combined Merit List, which still remains as the apex of my academic achievements. I continued onwards to the Engineering University to graduate in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In retrospect, I realize that I never enjoyed many of the subjects that I was required to study during my undergraduate years in BUET . I studied Electrical Machines, Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Power, Fluid Mechanics and many such subjects thoroughly. These, I knew, were not my interests, but I had to study as there were no choices of courses. I enjoyed the computer courses thoroughly.

Marriage

I got married with Izzat Tanzeen on 23rd December 1993 in Dhaka. When getting married, Izzat was a Senior in Electrical Engineering in BUET. She graduated in March 1995 and joined me in USA. Izzat has now completed her Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (Fall 96) at the University of Illinois.

Here we are together (July 1995) in a northern California scenic overview. We also visited Yosemite during summer 1995.

Izzat interned at Tandem Computers Inc., located at Cupertino, California, during Summer 1996. She worked for the Firmware group at Tandem. Her job involved testing and troubleshooting different functionalities of Tandem's custom-designed Mite ASIC.

Here are some graduation pictures of Izzat. She was carrying our child at a very advanced stage when photographed.

Cap, Gown, Orange Hood and Yellow Skies
Stepping Into The Future
An Illinois Graduate
Rectangle And The Sphere
Class of '96

Our First Child

We became proud parents of Alyina Ishan Hossain on December 27th, 1996. No words can truly articulate how our feelings towards the world have changed ever since. We feel that Allah has showered us with His divine blessings by giving us this most precious gift in life. I wish that all our future prayers are nothing but gratefulness expressed to the Almighty.

Dr Melinda A Dabrowski and Twila Blume (R.N.) helped deliver Alyina at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign, Illinois.

Guess what!! Both Alyina and her mother are born on the same day of the year.

Here are some pictures of our daughter and us:

Alyina's Close-up
Alyina and her mother
Alyina and her mother
Alyina and her mother
Alyina and her father
Alyina's Flowers

Our Second Child

Allah blessed us with a second child, this time a boy, Areeb Ih'san Hossain, on April 22, 1998. He is a cute little man with a lot of fear for his now "little big" sister. Areeb is a quite a person with a lot of curiosity for the disney-babies circling over his head on the crib.

Dr Rhona Magaril and Patricia Cattle (R.N.) helped deliver Areeb at the Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey.

Yes, it is true that Areeb has divided attention unlike the first months of his sister's arrival. But, his birth has established a firm belief in my mind. I always thought before that it was not possible to love one person like another in this world. After Areeb Ih'san's bith, I feel that I love my daughter and son exactly the same.

Pictures of Areeb are soon to come.

Travel Experience

I have traveled reasonably to different parts of the world which I have found to be very exciting. I have had extensive stay in Phillipines, USA and short trips to Nepal, India, Oman, Bahrain, UAE, England, Germany, South Korea, Canada and Thailand. I have long cherished to travel to Alaska, Netherlands and other European destinations like Venice and Paris.

Pastimes

I read poetry, short stories and novels. Most of my readings are in Bengali. I am an avid reader of Rabindranath Tagore's poetries and short stories. Among others, I am very much fond of Kazi Nazrul Islam. I have also admired the works of Shukanta Bhattacharya, Shamsur Rahman, Jibananda Das, Achintya Shengupta and Abu Zafar Obaidullah. Satyajit Ray's Feluda series and some of his classic movies hold a very strong and secure place in my heart. At the same time, I feel that some of his film-portrayals of Tagore's characters have been utter failures, for example, the character of Ratan (from the short story "Postmaster") in his film "Tin-konnya".

I listen to and enjoy Tagore's and Nazrul's songs and other contemporary Bengali/English music. I particularly like songs by Sumon Bhattacharya, Bhupen Hazarika, Rizwana Chowdhury and Don Williams, Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle. Few of the top musics in my list that I am currently listening to are found here.

I collect stamps and coins form different countries of the world. There are times when I try playing self-composed melodies on a bamboo-flute and also attempt to combine some of Tagore's poems/portions of short stories with background electronic music.

In general, I am a sports enthusiast. My favorite sports are soccer, cricket and basketball. I am an ardent supporter of the Chicago Bulls. I also enjoy analyzing interesting chess games. Among all the games that I have tried so far, I felt comfortable only in badminton and table-tennis.