Major General Ishrat Husain

Major General Ishrat Husain was born on 25 December 1928 in Gwalior, India and graduated in medicine from the King Edward Medical College, Punjab University in 1951. He entered the Armed Forces of Pakistan in 1952 and in 1957 specialised in Psychiatry.

He gained the DPM (Lon) in 1965 and became a Founder Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1971 and was elected to the Fellowship in 1984.

He was a major force in developing psychiatry in Pakistan and an eminent and leading psychiatrist in the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Pakistan Armed Forces recognised him as a true veteran by awarding him the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) in 1978 and Hilal-e-Imtiaz (the highest award for meritorious services) in 1984. He was the Commandant, Armed Forces Medical College Rawalpindi, Pakistan from 1982-1986. As Commandant he arranged the first regional meeting outside the UK of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Rawalpindi. He was also the Adviser in Psychiatry to the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

His influence in education was enormous, eventually becoming Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Quad-e-Azam University, Islamabad and Chairman of the Board of Studies for the MHSc (Medical Administration) in 1985. He took an active part in teaching psychiatry to medical students, junior doctors and postgraduate students. He was an inspiration and a role model to a number of his students who are now practising as consultants in psychiatry. Some of the key appointments he held were Chief Instructor in Psychiatry at Armed Forces Medical College, Professor in Psychiatry and Honorary Consultant at Agha Khan University.

His key research was into the psychological factors in military aviation and the use of psychotherapy. He was involved in the rehabilitation and psychological well-being of prisoners of war in 1971 on their return to Pakistan. He was instrumental in ensuring that the prisoners of war were allowed to continue their armed forces careers and, in addition, he conducted a study of their psychological and mental state.

In recent years he had been involved in developing Pakistan Institute of Learning and Living, an institution created with the object of promoting the state of mental well being with special emphasis on people with low income. This work reflects Ishrat Husain's qualities as a person and his passionate, enthusiastic approach. He was a deeply religious person who found great solace and wisdom in all religions.

On a personal level, he was noted for his gentle demeanour and his soft-spoken manner. He was a guide, a mentor and a great physical and emotional support to his children and grandchildren.