The Forman Christian College building stands tall and formidable in the heart of Gulberg. It’s a red-brick haven between sweeping green lawns. Tucked away, up two flights of campus stairs, is the unassuming registrar’s office, with its two adjacent desks, piles of neatly arranged files, framed photographs of events on the wall and a few straight-backed chairs — just what one would expect an administrative cubicle to be.

What lightens up this workspace is the man who occupies it — the college’s deputy registrar, Sir Cassian Rozario.

Most individuals are lucky to pursue one career in their lifetime. Sir Cassian could not be more different. The first profession he tapped into was that of banking: he served as a cashier at Grindlays (Bank) in 1977, then rose to become a vice president for JS Bank and, later, a senior vice president for the Bank of Punjab, a position he held till 2018.

Most people would be content with this kind of linear advancement, but not him. A humble man, he opted for the position of deputy registrar at FC College, circa 2021.

Currently, he is also serving as a board member at Kinnaird College for Women University. Besides, he likes to explore AI and cyber security. TNS met with this multi-hyphenate who’s done his community proud by being a trailblazer. Excerpts from the interview follow.

he News on Sunday: You had an impressive career in banking. Did you always want to pursue one?

Sir Cassian Rozario: In all honesty, my going into banking was a matter of luck. I had many friends who were working in the [banking] sector. I was always impressed by how eloquent and well-dressed they were. In the 1980s, when consumer banking was rare, it was a profession for the most reliable people in the society — those with expansive knowledge and a good reputation.

Back then, it was a highly selective field. To enter it, most people required references, as no firm would advertise their bank. My mother happened to know a lady whose son, Julian Singha, was a part of Grindlays Bank. He mentored me, and thus I got my first job as a cashier. This was in 1977. I hadn’t completed my education yet.

Since work experience was valued more, I began to study at the Institute of Bankers, and juggled studies with my job. I’d work from morning till evening and later take classes. It was tough, but I felt rewarded when I was promoted to the position of assistant manager [at Grindlays].

My time at HSBC was cut short, as the bank shut operations in 2000 after Pakistan had its atomic bomb test. But it had helped me become tech-savvy. I then served as a manager at Oman International Bank.

“We have presence in the hospitality sector, education sector and in the armed forces. I firmly believe that if you have talent, no amount of prejudice or injustice can put you down.”

On the side, I was developing my import/ export business.

TNS: What made you to take up the job of deputy registrar at the FCC? You are also a member of the KC board. Would you say you have a special association with the field of education?

SCR: The biggest issue plaguing the education sector in Pakistan is the government apathy. They don’t seem to care about the brain drain, which has left us lacking especially in the IT sector, which is the foundation for the new world. Our thinkers are leaving the country; the good students, the elite, who could have brought about a new world, have been bought over by the West. We have a dearth of qualified individuals. Even the plumbers and electricians you’re left with are mediocre, to say it like it is.

While I agree that remittances make a huge chunk of our foreign exchange inflows, we still need to develop ourselves and foster our nation’s youth. This idea propelled me to take up the job at the FCC.

TNS: Growing up, were you aware of the difficulties you might have to face because of religious intolerance in the country?

SCR: Prejudice and intolerance are to be found everywhere, in one form or the other —whether it’s racism in the United States, or Islamophobia in India. Considering how the Partition sowed the seeds of hostility amongst the suffering Muslims, it was imminent and very much expected that we as a minority would fall victim to the majority’s frustrations.

Pakistan’s flag is held up by a white strip — that represents us, the minorities. We have presence in the hospitality sector, education sector and in the armed forces. I firmly believe that if you have talent, no amount of prejudice or injustice can put you down. It’s like a rubber ball — if you press it down, it’ll bounce back up. To give you an example, Maj-Gen Noel Israel was Pakistan’s ambassador to Ukraine during the war.

The lack of initiative taken by the people belonging to the Christian community is a huge factor in the declining standards of their lives. Only those who truly work hard will achieve great things.

Of course, there were instances when one faced discrimination. For instance, as a child, because we lived in a mixed locality, if I went to the barber’s, I’d be refused a haircut. Similarly, if a vendor spotted the cross I’d be wearing, they wouldn’t serve me lassi. When I grew older, often my Muslim colleagues wouldn’t want to eat with me. I was never perturbed by such treatment. I believe that you should preach your religion through your conduct, and not your construct.

TNS: As a senior officer in leading banks of the country, did you still face discrimination?

SCR: Well, some of my colleagues would use religion as a reason to steamroll me and get me out of the way.

Perhaps, the most important instance, which also triggered my retirement, was when I introduced the Corona Banking Software to the Bank of Punjab. They had an outdated system, and I was the one initiating an update. But when they formed a team to launch the new system, I was snubbed and kept out. That’s when I chose to retire.

I have an unblemished career spanning 42 years, in an otherwise notorious sector. I’m glad I was able to act according to the gospel and make my community proud.

TNS: What’s been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

SCR: I do not have just one career; I have had three. I regret having stayed in the banking industry for a little longer than I should have. Being a part of the education sector has been the most gratifying, I’d say. Here, you feel as if you are a part of the change that is coming around you. And the FCC is an instrument of this change. We have initiated a pharmacy council in the vicinity and launched biotechnology research. Besides, recently, we became a diploma awarding institute.

TNS: You are also a family man. Have you witnessed your children face discrimination? What would you like to do for them?

SCR: Well, they all know they are exposed to such dangers. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach them how to protect themselves. They are told to keep a low profile and stay away from political causes. It is best if they focus on the academics.

TNS: Do you believe that the Christian citizens belonging to the lower strata of society face greater discrimination and are frequently victims of violence? What institutional changes would you suggest to fix these issues?

SCR: My answer might surprise you, but I think if Muslims were to follow, learn, and practice the scripture, then intolerance would cease to exist. Islam provides a code of conduct. I have always made sure I am well-versed in not only the bible but also other venerable books of faiths around me.

Amn Zain-ul-Abidin is a student