"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
Dedication
This biography is lovingly dedicated to the man who shaped the foundation of my values—my father. Your life of quiet service, discipline, and integrity became my first textbook on what it truly means to serve. Every time I counsel a patient, walk into a community, or choose empathy over convenience, I remember your footsteps and follow them. You didn’t just guide me into the medical world—you handed me a lifelong purpose. This journey is your reflection.
To my mother, whose silent sacrifices and constant care were the unseen pillars of my strength. Your patience, warmth, and unwavering belief in me gave me the courage to dream even when life was uncertain. You taught me that love isn’t always loud—it often speaks through presence, endurance, and faith. Everything I am began with your unconditional support.
To my wife, Mrs. Ayesha Iqbal, for her enduring patience and unwavering support for my social work. Your quiet strength and belief in my mission have been my steady light. You stood by me through every late evening, every missed celebration, and every call to serve. Thank you for always understanding the bigger picture.
To my siblings, the ones who have stood beside me through each chapter—your companionship and belief have given me balance and belonging. As the eldest, I may have led by example, but your love has always been my strength. We have walked different paths, but our roots keep us united.
To the thousands of patients, families, and individuals I have had the honor to serve—this is for you. Your trust has been the greatest reward of my career. You gave meaning to every long day, every outreach effort, and every moment spent away from comfort. You are not just part of my story—you are the reason it exists.
To my team, who stood beside me during the most challenging hours—especially during the COVID-19 crisis. You chose service over safety, and compassion over fear. Together, we became a lifeline when the system faltered. I will always carry that chapter with pride and gratitude.
To the young minds entering healthcare, let this be a reminder that your degree is only the beginning. Let your heart guide your hands, and never forget that healing goes far beyond medicine. In every act of care, no matter how small, lies the power to transform a life.
And finally, to India—my country, my mission. I dedicate this work to your future. May we build a nation where wellness is a right, not a privilege. Where healthcare is not a luxury, but a promise fulfilled.
Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed
Phase 1 : A Spark Ignited in Childhood
Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed, was born in India and is the eldest son of four siblings. From the outset he bore the silent mantle of a role model. His father, an honest, service-motivated medical officer, and his mother, who was a caring homemaker, jointly established the milieu that cherished education, empathy, and purpose. The unbroken cadence not only of his father’s devotion to patients but also of his mother’s quiet fortitude inside the house would provide the soft background to his early years.
Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed distinguished himself in academics at a very tender age. His teachers discovered that he was attentive, curious, and very respectful. He is a pupil who didn’t merely cram lessons but would try to get the “why” of every idea. He was always a top performer up to class seven. His notebooks were organized and neat, and his questioning was thought-provoking, and ambition was already flowing gently in him. During these formative years, his family started to realize that Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed wasn’t merely bright—he was stubbornly determined; he would set goals that seemed absurdly confident at his age.
Still, somewhere around the seventh grade, some things appeared different. Not a decline, but a change. Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed found another love—cricket. The excitement of the sport, the discipline it took, and the belief in comradeship that flooded him led him into another world. Sports somewhere came at a price of studies to him. For Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed, however, it was the other way. The field made him sharper and more focused and taught him things only a classroom couldn’t give him: teamwork, resilience, pressure management, and leadership.
His cricket career soon proved amazing. He played at the school and district levels and came in for praise as the best bowler, best batsman, and, latterly, as a dependable all-rounder. The trophies on his shelf symbolized not only his athletic skill but also the kind of person he was turning into: driven, composed, and versatile.
The new responsibilities came with college. As elected as sports secretary, Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed was not only responsible for his own commitments but also for representing the interests of dozens of students. Adding the role matured him. He organized sports events, scheduled programs, and served as a link between students and faculty. Even in the midst of the pressure of competitive cricket and extracurricular activities, he never forgot his academic ones.
Phase 2 : From Dreams to Discipline
The journey from high school to college is a turning point in every student’s life, and for Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed, it was no different. With the dream of following a path in the medical field and the desire to make a meaningful impact on people’s health, he took a decisive step toward pursuing a degree in pharmacy. This choice wasn’t made lightly. It was a thoughtful blend of honoring his father’s aspirations and embracing his own strengths in science and health education.
He enrolled at Sudhakar Rao Naik Institute of Pharmacy, Pusad, in June 1992. It was a fresh chapter—new surroundings, tougher challenges, and the beginning of what would become a lifelong commitment to healthcare. The environment in pharmacy school was rigorous, demanding precision, dedication, and critical thinking. But these were traits Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed had already been cultivating for years. His sense of discipline, nurtured on both the cricket field and in academic settings, allowed him to thrive.
During his college years, Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed never allowed himself to drift away from his core values. While many students struggled to find balance, he continued to embody both dedication and service. His love for cricket still remained alive, but he now played for recreation and mentorship more than for personal accolades. His leadership skills had already been recognized when he served as Sports Secretary, but college gave him a new platform to refine them further in academic circles. He engaged in seminars, group projects, and student-led initiatives, always with a goal to contribute meaningfully.
Pharmacy, as he discovered, wasn’t just about medicines—it was about people. It was about understanding their needs, ensuring their safety, and helping them manage their health with dignity. This deeper realization gave him a sense of purpose. He immersed himself in learning not only the technicalities of pharmacology but also the ethical responsibilities of being a healthcare provider. By the time he graduated in June 1996, he wasn’t just a pharmacy graduate—he was a committed healthcare professional in the making.
Soon after completing his education, Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed found an opportunity that would shape the next decade of his life. In 1999, he joined the Ministry of Health under the Government of Saudi Arabia as a Hospital Pharmacist in Jazan. It was a prestigious appointment, but more importantly, it placed him in the middle of real-world healthcare systems, with real patients, real challenges, and real impact.
Phase 3 : A Vision Returns Home
Returning to India after 10 years of professional fame in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed came back not only as a practicing pharmacist, but also as a man who had been exposed to global practice of healthcare. This return was not a personal affair—it had a point. What he had previously learned in the foreign shores formed the platform of a wider goal and inspiration in the home country.
Arriving in Nanded, India, he started applying what he had learnt from the highly organised technologically integrated health sector of Saudi Arabia. But he quickly found out that context in India was a totally different matter. In this place, it was a challenge for people to get even the basic healthcare services. Poverty, misinformation, and mistrust about modern medicine were prevalent, particularly in poor regions. When Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed saw it, instead of getting discouraged, he saw an opportunity; this was a calling.
He returned to his city as a self-employed hospital and community pharmacist, however this time he added a new dimension of intent. His task no longer only included the distribution of medicines. This was hundreds of women and men teaching, leading, and inspiring. He started providing free patient counselling especially to those who could not afford private healthcare. In the course of time he established a strong patient base and now more than 500 people visit him for free medical advice every day.
To Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed people didn’t only come to be cured but to understand. Detailed advice on dosage, side effects, storage and drug interactions was given. He cautioned against misuse of over-the-counter drugs and sensitized families on methods of controlling chronic ailments.
His reputation spread fast, not by means of any self advertisement, but by word of mouth. People trust him. They were felt to be listened to, respected and empowered. His skill to describe complicated medical information in simplistic terms made him unique. In treating patients, he didn’t talk to, he talked with patients.
There then was a climactic moment that reflected both his loyalty and his courage, the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the world stopped, healthcare systems the world over were brought to their knees. In India hospitals overflowed, beds were scarce, and oxygen was in short supply. Disorder and terror prevailed everywhere. But rather than withdraw, Dr. Iqbal Maqbool Ahmed Syed advanced.