PART-4: NED NOSTALGIA (1978-83)

Section C

Don’t remember how many of us were in Section C but I do remember from the daily class attendance that Muhammad Ali and Sharafat had starting roll numbers of 131 and 132 (or 133) respectively. Likewise, last roll number ran into 190s but I can still reminisce roll #186, belonging to Fiaz Shah. He had a peculiar voice of uttering 186 during class attendance that everyone would throw a smile or grin about it. Sharafat, the devil, would eagerly wait for such an uttering and burst into laughter while pressing his palm against his wide opened mouth.

Section C was a place of assorted group of students. It was truly an AWAMI class. Some Karachiites whose merit stood at last numbers but still making into NED, some on Sindh quota (came from Mehran Engg Univ), two on Karachi rural seats namely Ali Sher and Ghulam Muhammad, two on NED Founders quota (Jamsheed Mehta and perhaps, Adil Irani), Balochistan quota, Army parental quota (Husnain Baqar), some seats on BSc basis, others came through topping in 3-year Diplomas, and two students namely Abbas and Ghulam Hussain from Iran. It’s worth mentioning that in late 1970-80s foreign students from many countries used to come to Pakistan for higher studies, like: Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Africa, Thailand, Nepal, and Malaysia, etc.

Two main student political parties named Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) and Progressive Students Federation (PSF) greeted us in the campus. IJT was a conservative organization with a signature slogan: Asia Sabz Hae (Asia is green) while PSF with three slogans: Asia Surkh Hae (Asia is red), NED for NEDians and Build a Better NED. While National Students Federation (NSF) was around for its namesake and All Pakistan Muhajir Students Association (APMSO) was in a nuptial stage. Office bearers/ workers of both mainstream parties i.e. IJT and PSF helped us in getting copies of handout-notes, previous class-notes, lists of books and syllabus and most importantly gave us an unambiguous declaration and assurance that our degree would be awarded on the basis of final year examination (last two semesters i.e. 7^th & 8^th) only. Intrinsically it meant that we could waste our time on extracurricular activities for three consecutive years and dig our face in academic books in the final year only. I partly blame them for ruining my precious three years literally.

Both IJT and PSF threw welcome parties for us. One fine evening IJT arranged it at NED old (city) campus. During the party the IJT organizers announced a contest called: Who’s the most handsome boy in the entire batch (Section C, perhaps). Some were shortlisted but Ubaid won the contest with clear margin. Ubaid was a real handsome boy; tall, white, hairy (balding too), friendly and well mannered person. Only disadvantage that broke my heart about him; he was Jamaitiya (belong to IJT)). He was wealthy Masha’Allah but never appeared or behaved like rich and snob people. Hasnain Baqar was the second smartest and handsome guy of our class after Ubaid. Once I took a short ride in Ubaid’s Mercedes air-conditioned car on campus. It was simply fabulous. Another rich, wealthy and dancing friend was Sarwat. He could fractionally speak Sindhi as well because he lived in Hyderabad and owned agriculture lands in the interior of Sindh. Nevertheless, when it comes to real good informal friends from Karachi, Babar and Ahmad Salam spearheaded my list and became instant friends.

I happen to have a keen eye at observing people and things. It still works sharply, even with fading eyesight now. I would observe every person i.e. their apparel, how they walked, spoke/ conversed, played cricket, spent time at canteen, and sat on steps in aisle in front of girls’ common room. Similarly, who wore dirty shoes, beamed about their biceps, unkempt books, wore un-pressed clothes (not jeans), would hardly brush their teeth and even stunk when breathed near you.

It confused me a lot during early days of NED as to why all of the nominees from Balochistan were not in one Section. Some influential and wealthy hailing from Quetta city were in Section A while poor coming from rural Balochistan were our classmates in Section C.

A few words about late Abdullah Rajar:

During my first week in NED as I was strolling around canteen Abdullah shouted at me:

Aray Aijaz, are you busy?

No, I said.

Have you been to Karachi University? He again asked.

No. Never.

Then let’s go there, you’ll enjoy the trip. He said.

While in his Mark-II car, he said; you seem to be a handsome boy, any girlfriends?

I shrank in the front seat and shyly uttered; no.

Have you had drinks ever? He kept asking difficult questions.

No., Never even seen in life. I again disappointed him.

Koi cigarette, soota shoota, Kuchh tu kya hoga? He started showing restlessness and annoyance.

Ji, nothing like that. I replied embarrassingly.

Yaar, your life is absolutely dull and devoid of any excitement and adventure. Do something about it, you’ll have ample opportunity here.

We went to the Arts Faculty, had soft drinks, watched and stalked girls around, chatted on boring topics and returned. That was my first and last one-to-one interaction ever with Abdullah.

Later, I learned that he hailed from a wealthy wadera family. He was a bit fat but sturdy and assertive young man. Besides, he was an interesting speaker with rich knowledge of politics, culture, religion, rural n urban lifestyles, and of course, girls. The only field where I found myself superior to him was academic studies.

Our first year Class Representative (CR) was Nasir who won on a PSF seat but later joined Mechanical Department. In second year, Abdullah contested CR election of Section C. He was popular in class due to his extracurricular activities, though he attended the class infrequently. Nevertheless, he managed to win it with a narrow margin predominantly with Sindhi vote bank and became CR.

Much later, after NED times, our common friends informed me that he had had troubled last years of his life and he would often speak of his death lurking around anytime. Eventually, he met a tragic death in June 1999 (Rest in Jannah).

Section C Continues ….