NED NOSTALGIA (1978-83)

Part-1: Pre-NED

My first son would become Doctor and second one an Engineer; father used to utter this phrase every now and then in front of my mother while strolling from one end to the other of our living cum bed room measuring 20 by 24 feet, and especially when we used to be around there. He had been a Patwari in Revenue Department, Govt of Sindh but forcedly retired in early Z.A. Bhutto era. Therefore, he had a fair idea of the power, authority and wealth earned through serving as an Engineer in the Irrigation Department. Similarly he also had a good idea about importance of becoming a Doctor. To achieve this goal he allocated some money for our tuition expenses in order for us to improve on our studies for getting high marks in the exams. We all wished including our mother who prayed that his dream comes true. It was in 1975 when I joined Govt Degree College, Larkana for doing two years Intermediate studies in pre-engineering. Better standing in the exams would send me in Mehran Engineering University, and bad score would dump me in Sindh University. Whatever the case, I was destined to land in windy Jamshoro, a university town with three universities; engineering, pure sciences & social sciences, and medicines. My elder brother was a year ahead in college doing Intermediate in pre-medical and according to our father he was all set to join Chandka Medical College, Larkana in late 1977.

Our education from class - 1 to 10 in Sindhi medium (including all science subjects in Sindhi too) had been a comparatively smooth sailing. Getting a second division in matriculation exam was considered a respectable score in mid 1970s. I managed to get first division with 63% marks only but still it was a matter of celebration at home, and with classmates and friends. Parents expected to repeat the same feat in intermediate exam too. However, English medium from class -11 onwards was altogether a daunting task.

Our pre-engineering class (only one in the entire Larkana district) had exactly 100 students, with almost half of them commuting from outskirts and nearby villages and towns on daily basis. Students belonging to Hindu and Shaikh families always dominated in terms of intelligence and hard working (as well as cramming) respectively. Don’t remember exactly their combined strength in the class but must not be less than 15-20 numbers. They were the source of excellent exam notes because of their relations with senior students from the same community. The syllabus, especially science subjects, was hardly covered 50% in the class in both first and second year respectively. All had to rely on tuitions and exam notes prepared by classmates and obtained from senior students. The guess papers and guidebooks were not readily available during that era.

The results of my first-year exam and my elder brother’s second-year exam were not a surprise for us; our marks stood in top second-class category i.e. less than 60%. Parents were indeed petrified from shock on our unsatisfactory standing. Brother opted to take another shot at the exams by repeating all first and second year subjects together next year. I took my brother’s unsatisfactory score as an inspiration to put in extra efforts and time in the second year exam. Doing so, I cut on my time spent on going to cinemas for watching Pakistani and Hollywood “action” movies by opting out of former movies only. Similarly weekends’ time spent on playing cricket couldn’t be compromised either and I continued enjoyed wasting time on playing cricket. Meanwhile I kept taking Mathematics tuition in the second year as I did in the first year.

Our results of second year exam came in mid 1978. We ran early morning to the Railway Station to buy a copy of Sindhi newspaper from the train that brought our results from Hyderabad. Luckily, we, both brothers, stood in first divisions with nearly identical score of 62% marks. Only 3, including me, out of 100 students from the whole Larkana district achieved this feat i.e. securing first division in pre-engineering exam. My parents were extremely happy with our achievements. They could now visualize their dreams coming true.

After having crossed the mammoth hurdle of intermediate exams, the way forward looked an easy ride. Soon after, I submitted the application for admission in Civil Engineering Department of Mehran Engineering University, Jamshoro and waited anxiously for an interview call. The wait was not long though. In July 1978, we received calls to appear for interview at Jamshoro Campus. While getting ready for the day, I came across a senior student of Mehran University who informed me that since I had obtained good score in the intermediate exam therefore I stood a chance of transfer to NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi. For that matter he advised me to submit an application for transfer to NED during the interview. I followed his advice and submitted a hand written application that I wanted to go to NED for studies.

A fortnight later, a telegram arrived at my home address that read: REPORT FOR ADMISSION AT NED. This five worded short sentence danced before my eyes. I don’t remember how many times I read this small piece of paper strip. While I was undergoing euphoria of going to Karachi for studies and having merry moments with family, my classmate Ashok Kumar knocked on the door panting and brimming with ecstasy, carrying similar telegram.

Now, the funny side; some wise senior friends interpreted the telegram as: REPORT (To Mehran Univ) FOR ADMISSION AT NED, and therefore advised us accordingly i.e. go to Mehran University Jamshoro for onward admission in NED. Later in the evening, we followed the free and precious advisory service, boarded the night passenger train and arrived at the administrative block of Mehran University early morning next day before they could open the office. We met the Registrar upon his arrival in office and showed him our telegrams. He just threw a mocking smile at us and ordered: Go and join NED. Continued….