Rutgers-Camden Student Follows Grandfather's Footsteps from Pakistan Seeking Rutgers Education

One of the newest multi-generational Rutgers families belongs to Ammar Farooqi, a freshman biology major at Rutgers–Camden who is following his grandfather’s footsteps along a path cleared more than 50 years ago beginning in Pakistan.

“I applied to no other schools,” says the affable Farooqi, a Williamstown resident who beams with pride when talking about his grandfather and his university. “Rutgers–Camden was my only choice. I feel a connection to my grandfather now that I’m here. I feel like I’m continuing his legacy.”

Farooqi’s grandfather, Muhammad Adil Usmani, graduated from Rutgers–New Brunswick in 1959 with a master’s degree in library science.

Usmani, who passed away in 2009, received his bachelor’s degree from Allahabad University in India before earning a postgraduate diploma in library science from the University of Karachi in Pakistan.

Seeking to further his education, Usmani was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue his master’s degree in the United States and elected to attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick. He was awarded the scholarship after a national competition held by the U.S. Education Foundation on Pakistan.

“My grandfather spoke very highly of Rutgers because it gave him a tremendous opportunity,” says Farooqi, who has an electronic copy of his grandfather’s Rutgers diploma saved to his laptop computer.

“There are many people in Pakistan who know all about Rutgers,” he says. “We had a flag with the block R and people recognized it. It’s internationally known. I was determined to go to Rutgers, too.”

After graduating from Rutgers–New Brunswick in 1959, Usmani gained practical experience while working and researching in libraries in Indiana, Illinois, Washington, D.C., Oxford, and London.

He became a librarian at the University of Karachi, formed many library associations and organizations in Pakistan, and helped to establish libraries in Saudi Arabia.

A book about Usmani, Muhammad Adil Usmani: A Bio-bibliographical Study, published in Pakistan in 2004, further invigorated Farooqi’s interest in his grandfather’s life.

“It’s pretty amazing to read about him,” Farooqi says. “I’ve even found some blogs written about him after his death describing his achievements.”

Farooqi says he did not spend a lot of time talking to Usmani about his Rutgers experience, but became inspired to attend Rutgers–Camden because of the impact the university had on his grandfather.

Farooqi’s family moved from Pakistan to Houston in 2008, but quickly relocated to New Jersey so he could attend Rutgers–Camden.

“I asked my father if there was any way we could move to New Jersey so I could attend Rutgers,” Farooqi says. “He was able to find a job in Millville and I was able to come to Rutgers–Camden. It’s easy to see why my grandfather felt such a connection to Rutgers and why he was so proud of it.”

Farooqi says he plans to attend medical school after his undergraduate education at Rutgers–Camden, another tribute to his grandfather, who was always driven to seek out more learning opportunities.

“I’m proud of him,” Farooqi says. “It makes me want to strive to achieve as much as I can because of what he was able to accomplish. He was given his opportunity to shine and I’d like to do the same.”