(Hafeez Khan)
December 8th afternoon the National Anthem begins and all rise in the Punjab University Faisal Auditorium. The hall is full without a seat to spare, in fact guests fill the aisles, the stage, and seats arranged outside. It is the launch of Punjab University Alumni Association. An event to reaffirm our pledge to the Alma mater. Watching the gathering from my seat I am drawn as if tugged by the memory lane. Over 47 years ago I sat on the same location while taking oath for the Students Union. So much water has gone under the bridge, my God how the time has flown. It felt right to remember and recognize a debt of gratitude to great memories of friends who are no more with us but their memories live on.
I am reminded of Jahangir Badr, my political foe but a lifelong friend no longer amongst us, his broad smile and utterance “Jigar fair sai” resounded in my ears. As a solace I had his son Ali Badr seated behind me. But what brought tears to my eyes was the memory of Rashid Butt my Vice President taking oath with me. He left us so early and in the words of Hafeez Ullah Niazi, so unnecessarily! His sharp mind and wit disguised by a casual demeanor, he was a source of strength throughout the time we had together since 71. Presence of his son Shoaib Rashid gave me comfort, but I am such a sore loser when it comes to close friends.
In the auditorium there were the able organizers headed by Director Alumni Dr. Fauzia Hadi, who impressed me with skills of a Sergeant at Arms at Kakul’s Military Academy, ably and discreetly guided and monitored by Dr. Khalid Khan, Registrar PU. However memories continued to hound me. I fell back to the fond memories of our Proctors in that period who are no longer amongst us.
Foremost amongst them Yusuf Shinwari lovingly called “digloo” for his height who made me look up to him despite all 6 feet of my existence! Our forays of bathing in the canal where midstream flow could drown us mortals yet it barely went above his waist. In the words of Hassan Nisar within years of leaving University and joining Shell he was here today and next day he was no more.
Speaking of discipline brings to mind Shehryar Rashid, son of one of Urdu literature’s icon Noon Meem Rashid. After graduating from US and armed with a black belt in martial arts, Shehryar (lovingly called Sheri) joined Punjab University. He formed the 1st martial arts school in PU. As an undergrad wanting to toughen up,
I signed up like a fool. In his accented Urdu, Sheri would drill and train us like a Marine’s boot camp. He went onto join Foreign Service, marry his University belle and leave us in an untimely manner. His disciple Ahmad Javed, ”Gata” proudly carries his banner still.
Oh the stripes on my back were aching with a gush of sense of loss. Lurking on my memory’s landscape in the shadows of Auditorium, a favorite haunt for the humming birds in our times, it is Masood Abbas, better known as “dharu” with a cigarette dangling between his fingers, an innocent face with a devilish look in his eyes. This bohemian led life on his terms and departed also on his terms. Dharu the lyrics “Tum bhulai nag gaye” still keep me awake many a night, uniquely and beautifully rendered by you on moonlit nights sitting on the canal bank.
I could rattle on and on but reverting to the present, to the event that stirred all these memories was the 1st Alumni Association launch in Punjab University’s 136 years history. Being based overseas, on my visits to Lahore a number of loving friends would host get togethers. It became a regular feature and a highlight for me personally over years. About 2 years ago our nearly 70 years old teenager, G A Sabri raised a question. Why don’t we organize an Alumni Association? He retired as a Federal Secretary, still is full of dynamism, an enthusiast who has built multiple institutions. Everyone agreed.
In April 2017 G A Sabri organized an event on the Manga Campus of Aligarh Trust. It had a huge turnout and everyone agreed to work together towards forming an Alumni Association. Zahid Gardezi gave me an “Ijarak” as a gift and everyone honored me to lead this effort. It was easier said than done, but G A Sabri would not take no for an answer. Working through 4 PU Vice Chancellors who were changing rapidly, and walking through a labyrinth of legal hiccups and formalities, numerous meetings, guided by many well wishers our efforts continued. Finally Dr. Niaz Ahmed came on the scene as Vice Chancellor. In One thing led to another culminating in the launch of Alumni Association on December 8th 2018. There is so much more to share so I will conclude this piece by saying this launch has also set course for me on a nostalgic journey spanning 50 years! I will continue in the next piece with a wish that we recognize the importance of unity in diversity.
