Six months after he lost him to road accident, Gujarat vada pav seller receives gold medal on son’s behalf

Imtiyaz, who sells vada pav for a living, lost his only son, Shaikh Nakeebraza, to a road accident on September 15, 2024. Nakeebraza was riding a two-wheeler to his home when a bus crushed him in Valsad. He was 23 at the time.

Imtiyaz’s pain left the Governor, who was the chief guest at the convocation, moved.

“He expressed his condolences… he was also sorrowful,” says Imtiyaz, in his 50s.

Nakeebraza had secured the gold medal by topping the university with a CGPA of 9.04 out of 10. He was barely a few months into his Masters in Physics at M S University, Vadodara, when he lost his life.

“He wanted to pursue a Ph D in Physics,” says Imtiyaz, who lives in Parnera village in Valsad. He has two daughters who are married. Nakeebraza was the only person in the entire family to have made it to college.

“Nakeebraza had been a brilliant student since childhood. He passed Class 10 with 85% score and Class 12 with 73%. He graduated from BKM College in Valsad last year. He had topped the university,” says Imtiyaz.

Sources at VNSGU said that medals and degrees were handed out to 10,415 students of 79 courses in 12 disciplines at the convocation ceremony organised at the convention hall of the university. Besides, 44 Ph Ds and an M Phil degree were awarded at the ceremony that saw State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, State Education Minister Praful Pansheriya and VNSGU Vice Chancellor Dr K N Chavda, among others, in attendance.

Imtiyaz says he is immensely proud to be known as Nakeebraza’s father. “Until now, I was a humble man selling vada pav on a handcart. But now, the whole village knows me as his father. People have started giving me respect. They tell their children to be like my son, Nakeebraza. I am extremely proud of him,” he adds.