Dr Abdul Fowad Chaudhary was a charismatic presence. He was quiet, always a smile on his face, never appeared flustered, emotional or loud, considerate and polite. A friend and colleague whom you could rely on, from arranging international and national conferences to travelling a hundred miles because you had asked him to get some fresh Pakistani kebabs from East London. He was involved in all local political and social activates of the British Pakistani community in East London; he was a quiet leader of people. He was an executive member, social secretary and then Secretary of the British Pakistani Psychiatrists Association, the national representative body of diaspora psychiatrists, for over 12 years. He was almost the Chairman in a closely contested election where he did win in the first round. He was generous to a fault. Spending his own money on social and professional projects. He would spend thousands on arranging BPPA conferences if there weren’t enough funds in the treasury.
Born 25 January 1957 In Hyderabad, Pakistan, he studied at the elite Bonnaventure School completing his MBBS from Liaqat medical College. In 1987, he got married to his wonderful wife Saira, and moved to UK the same year. The couple had three beautiful daughters and one son, Nazish, Hasaan, Aleena & Zayna.
He was a dedicated and indefatigable NHS doctor. He was conscientious and devoted to his profession. He had that quiet and understated resolve with which he would stick to his principles and not bend, without making the other feel contested and challenged. He would disarm by his soft and calm demeanour. No one could get angry at him. He always appeared calm. Over the years, he worked his way to become consultant at NHS, and started to enjoy his work more once he took early retirement and continued to work.
He looked like a person who loved a good pratha and omelette, especially for breakfast on a Sundays (aka every day). He was never one to refuse the oft resurging impulse to eat out and eat well. And he would never say no to a cup of cha. Recently, he extended his house, so he could have large parties and musical recitals, something that he loved. He enjoyed gardening even when he had a smaller garden after the extension. Fowad, as he was known to his friends and Chaudhary sahib, to his close friends, was a man of few words. But, when he spoke, people listened. He was genuinely respected by everyone he met.
When he called someone ‘bhai-jaan’, it meant that he was making a serious point; this he also said in heated debates. He was known to tell his children off for sleeping late on the weekends and would then fall asleep on the sofa watching TV. He always denied that he ever snored.
The whole street knew when he was coming down the road because of blaring LBC radio at full volume in the car. Fowad did not take much time to depart. He was mildly unwell with COVID19 for two days at home, three days in the hospital; improving and telephoning everyone until 3pm, and a few hours later, he was ascending the steps of heavens. He leaves a bereaved, deeply beloved family, and many grieving friends who miss him
