WHEN DREAMS LEAD TO DISILLUSIONMENT—-(19)
FROM THE FAILED REVOLUTION OF FIELD MARSHAL AYUB KHAN
TO THE PROMISE TODAY OF THE EMERGENCE OF NEW PAKISTAN
FROM THE DASHED EXPECTATIONS OF OVER FIVE DECADES.
TO THE SURGE OF NEW HOPES TAKING BIRTH TODAY.
THIS IS MY STORY.
MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE ERA OF AYUB KHAN TO THE TIMES OF IMRAN KHAN.
READ FROM TUESDAY THE 13TH OF NOVEMBER 2018 IN INSTALMENTS.
MEANWHILE THE ECHOES OF THE HEART WILL CONTINUE FROM THE PAST.
GHULAM AKBAR
19—“I Will Remember You As The Pride Of This School”
I remember an interesting episode that had occurred before my journey from Shikarpur to Hyderabad.
After my Board examinations I had got so busy with cricket and other-extracurricular activities that I had not heeded to a call from the school administration to comeand collect the prizes I had been given for my ‘outstanding’ feats.
When I finally had to go there to get the required school-leaving certificate for admission in the college, I had to face the cold anger of Hafiz Sahib the Headmaster.
“You are not going to get the school-leaving certificate and marks-sheet so easily Ghulam Akbar. You have insulted this school’s decorum and dignity by refusing to come to receive the prizes that we intended to award you,” said Hafiz Sahib furiously.
“I am so sorry sir, “ I replied dejectedly.” “I was not well.”
“You were not famous for lying my boy. I was so angry with you I intended to punish you for showing this disgusting unconcern for your school, but seeing repentance on your face I can’t help recalling your excellent record here. Never insult your teachers this way again.”
“Sir I am proud of having been taught by you” I instantly replied. He looked at me grimly; then stood up and patted me affectionately on the back.” You are forgiven. I will remember you as the pride of this school. Go and collect your certificate and prize money from the office, and don’t forgot to meet each of your teachers to express your gratitude towards them.”
“Sir I will do it; I said.
I did follow his advice, and met every teacher before I bid goodbye to Government High School Shikarpur where I had passed my formative years.
It was there that in 1954 while I was attending a class, a school orderly had appeared to tell the teacher that a man called Nasim Hijazi was waiting on the roadside to meet his nephew Ghulam Akbar.
I have vivid memories of what had followed. The whole school had virtually thronged around Uncle’s car. I was wonderstruck to witness with my own eyes the popularity of the man who was my mother’s younger brother. He was driving from Rohjan (Balochistan) to Rohri with Mir Murad Khan Jamali, and on his way had come to see his sister. On learning that I was in the school he had come to see me.
Needless to say he had harboured great affection and love for me from my very childhood.
“Remember Akbar Shah, you have not to be the second best in life. You have to be my real successor, “I remember these words of his when he had come out of the car to embrace me. Akbar Shah was the name he had given me from my very early days, and I was to remain his Akbar Shah till the very end.
