Ever wondered how you would look back at your time in University and contemplate. Here is my go at it. One day in the not so distant future, I would be relating to my grandchildren* the adventures of my university life. After intriguing them with an awe inspiring story of how their grandfather was finally able to understand the application of Taylor’s theory, I may get a question from my grandchild sitting on my lap about the most fun time I had during my undergraduate years. The reply which I may give then scares me right now. I hope this is not the case, I wish world ends before I mutter these words, but chances are my answer may go something like this: “Kid, the best time of my University life was in…IBA”.
Wait! Before you (NUSTIANs) start building a time machine to pounce me in front my grandchildren let me give you an explanation. Recently I went to an IBA** event named “The Coronation”. Now, don’t start asking me what this event was all about because, seriously, I am also at a lost to decipher the mystery myself. All I know is that we, for three fun filled days, danced a lot and along the way listened to addresses by Farooq sattar (MQM senator), a former MNA whose name eludes me and Pervez Musharraf (over satellite). For social events there was a play, “The Call” band concert and a beach party. Interestingly enough there wasn’t even a single IBA teacher I came across during the whole 3 days. Not a single teacher who was there to stop us from going crazy. Not a single teacher to fine every 240 participants for wearing freaken jeans. Everything was managed by students. It was as if the admin of the university constituted of students with teachers only there to teach. The kind of freedom given to students would have surely made the faculty of PNEC gasp in shear horror and disgust. Then, is it any wonder that the students were able to pull it off flawlessly? I don’t think so.
The thing is that unless universities don’t give their students some space to grow; the student’s intellectual development turns out to be negligible. One may argue that events like these would actually be expected from institutions like IBA, since they primarily teach business administration. But my argument has nothing to do with the type of event. The case in point is GIKI. GIKI organizes these mega engineering events with sponsors and marketing and what not. And from what I have seen, the show is run by students alone. Whereas we in military institutions, we are too busy minding our shoes and our clothes and the “decorum” of our class. It’s a sad affair.
My seniors are building a formula SAE car to participate in the student version of F1 race. From what it appears, they are having a hard time finding sponsors. One wonders why a sponsor would not want its name on the body of a car that would be show cased on the world stage. The IBA guys were able to raise 1.3 million rupees in sponsorships for the event. And they all accomplished this in 3 months. So what do we lack that those students at IBA have? We lack that charisma which studying in an open and free environment develops in you. Those who know students studying in LUMS are aware of what I am talking about. Universities are meant to give students the freedom to decide and the support to stand by their decisions.
But all is not lost. Recently I was reading NUST news magazine and was amazed by the prestige of events being organized in various NUST schools and collages (mostly located in H-12). I saw our Prime Minister in one of the pictures; saw a student jumping off a hill with a glider in another. I was intrigued to see a NUST stall in an educational expo in Philippines. But was truly taken aback by the fact that there was only a single news and a corresponding picture of PNEC and that was of our convocation. I believe military collages are not meant to teach civilians. All they do is drill into their students the sole tendency of following orders without reasoning. That may be the right thing to do for the officers considering that their thinking is often bounded by “the chain of command” but for civilian, such an environment and influences are disastrous. So my advice to NUST would be to take away the choice to opt for military collages from civilian students or else to build a rehab for the purpose of reintegrating graduates back into the society.
*If Darwin is correct than my “grandchildren” will always remain fragments of my imagination.
**IBA = Institute of Business Administration.
Congratulations Sarim! you have successfully managed to become GEO TV. As much as I agree with bits of what you have written regarding administrative freedom, I fail to understand how you can have such bitter comments about PNEC. Looking for change and trying to work for it is different. Where as nagging is completely different.
I will tell what the difference between a students from PNEC and IBA is. It is ownership and pride.
Yes, we have not been able to organize an events at such a large scale due to various reasons but things are not as grim as you perceive and you as a blogger are telling NUST. However, we will make sure that we highlight our events. That is what we must do!
Lucky me on becoming the most successful T.V. news channel in Pakistan…:) But on a serious note Rida, I didn’t write this article for controversies, I just wrote what I felt like.Trust me, I am doing my part in making PNEC a better place for students. But still I am not the kind of person who would confuse apples with bananas, if you know what I mean…
Second Rida on that one. I keep telling the complaining lot that you just need to get involved. We at MACS never run out of parties. The awesome screening of Thursday was my best experience ever! We danced. We drum rolled. We yelled. We did so much more! Things at PNEC have changed my friend…
Alright, I take my words back, PNEC is the best, the coolest, the most hip institution of NUST…Now Hamza just be honest; are you able to digest what I just said? I don’t think so…
Welcome back to the nagging lot, we missed you last semester.
i cant believe the comments! do u guys go to the same institution???
@Rida
‘ ownership and pride’, hmmm…let me think……srry cant feel proud of being a student of pnec at all.
my only wish right now is to just get out of pnec. i can only hope that i complete my masters at a much better institution after wasting 4 years of my life or get a decent job (seems very unlikely).
@Hamza
things in IME block might have changed may be thats why u guys r so optimistic. there is a reason why sarim is writing this now. after 2 years of accumulating frustration, he decided to get over it and do something about it. but now i think he is back to reality after experiencing what we are missing.
@sarim
couldn’t have expressed my feelings better
‘The most fun time i had during my undergrad years’. Well, i’d dread that question too! Cause i have so much to choose from already! The two scavenger hunts, the karaoke night, and the super-awesome match-screening! And to mention its only my first year here still!
Well, all i have to say is, what makes a uni boring or fun to be in, are its students. And well, with people such as you, i must say PNEC has been a touch unlucky!
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d;
Qamber I admire your spirit but just stay away from H-12, IBA or any other institutions…it will do you good.
well, dude. frankly, i dont get all that bs.
but i know all that goes on at IBA, cause i have a 3 dozen friends there, and i frequently visit them. n that doesnt change my opinion. not. one. bit.
SyedAliQamber, aapki baaton se lagta he ke shayad abhi tak aapka pala nahi parha he kisi officer se, toh aap bohot khush hein pnec mein. Maza aaega ga us din jab captains division ke dauran sab ke saamne aap ki pant utaarein gaye commandant, jab aap ke polished juute pe eik white dhabba hoga. Inception se jaago, aur such ko chupaane ke bajae us ka saamna karo.
Rida, aapke IME cafe mein chicken-cheese samosa aur fries milte hein, toh aap bohot chauri ho rahi hein? Aap log A/C enjoy karte hein jab baqi sub garmi mein jalte sartay hein. Fblock mein aake bethein paanch minute, aap aisa bhagein gi IME block ki taraf jaisay muftay mein Xclusive ke ready-made suits bat rahe hon conference room mein.
Hamza jee, aap bhi Dr. Waqar ho gaye! Unko apna naya kamra mila toh woh attitude, aapko society mili toh…. Aisa karein MACS ka naam badal ke SACS rakh dein.
Iqbal Pirzada (SEM VIII EL)
Now I know 1 ME ka muster kiun on hua he
@Hussaini : very true, they had to be told what they are into ….hhaahahah
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@ MR QAMBER: i hope by the years passing by(when the bruise to ur personality will ,beyond any doubt, will leave it to mere shambles ) a time will come when a nod would be as good as a wink to u for the harsh and atrocious reality.
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@iqbal: sir calm down.ab tou aap wese he jaanay walay hain, try to grab as many good memories as u can which is definitely a bit difficult.
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@ Sarim the HAQ : some people , like one u being grumpy with or Hamza Shams , are the people for them the level of enjoyment and fun is as just a mere smile. [The match screening i myself saw for few minutes, couldnt tolerate it n made my way back home.]
Woah, people! I’m not a Nustian, well yeah I’m not…get over it!
, but I can imagine fairly what you’re saying and if there is a slightest relation, it’s quite a fancy point to ponder on! I stand by you, Sarim in this as this is about shaping the richest cream of the society and one must not risk that!
@sarim …ap bilkul haq par hn…….nust k millitary colleges ko nust ka part nhi samjha jata ……..hum CAE walon ka ab ja kar net laga hy….(april 2012)……just imagine all those years we were denied this very basic facility ……….
we at amc don’t have net in hostels imagine that
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