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The friends we once had

Remember your best friend in grade 8? I remember mine. We used to talk on the phone for 8 hours straight till my mom would come out of her room at 6AM and glare at me with hints of disbelief and quite prominent traces of anger in her eyes. It would take a lot of scolding and many threats of being ‘phone-grounded’ from my mom to make me stop talking to my best friend. 7 years later, I don’t even know how she’s doing.

It’s the summer of 2019 and I’m about to enter into my junior year which quite honestly I’m still having a hard time believing. But having one of those early 20s crises most of us are pretty familiar with at this point, I’m wondering where it all went wrong. We all have had friends we used to be close to in junior school or college but are not anymore. Some have fought their way into distance and some have ‘drifted apart’ from people they could hardly imagine their lives without. But somewhere in our heads, when we see photographs of our school plays or when Facebook and Snapchat memories rub it in our noses, we stop and think about what genuinely went wrong. Like an epiphany it hits me: being in my early 20’s means I’m about to graduate and it technically also means that these friends I’ve made in my entire life, they are the ones who will know about all the phases I will never want my work friends to know about, They will know about the crazy haircuts, the emo diary entries, the dramatic junior school break ups and all the shameful playlists and posters we had. They will also be the people who have seen our families struggle and make it to where they are, who have seen us fall in love for the first time, they have encouraged us to follow our dream and apply for that English degree everyone else thinks is useless. They are a part of who we are at this point in our lives and we may find many more friends and acquaintances in life but will they will really only know one half of who we are.

I’m afraid this sounds more dramatic than I intended, but it hits me like a slap in the face and I reach out to all the old friends, afraid of not being able to connect like we did in the past yet taking the risk because if not now, then when? We come out of school, looking forward to college and leave college thrilled about going to a university; amidst all these huge changes what we fail to realize is that somewhere between the transition from uniforms to casual kurtis, we forget about the priceless feeling we got when we made that first best friend in grade 6 and promised it was forever.

PS: It’s not too late to text the friend you haven’t seen in years, the friend you terribly miss when you see a packet of cocomo or a cold drink poured in a plastic bag-‘Kal ho na ho’, my friend (shameless Bollywood reference because it can truly never be irrelevant).

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Mental Health – a sad state of affairs

 

Cloaked in a black hood, I crept into the darkness searching for a spot that would allow me to drain out the valve of despair seeping the life out my soul. The orchestra of chaos bursting inside my head could no longer silenced by the semblance of normalcy my words expressed.

Until that point, my cheeks had never felt tears stream with sheer intensity. Struggling socially and academically, I had hit rock bottom 7 months into my LUMS journey.

Suddenly, I sensed movement in the corner adjacent to mine. At first, my heart pounded—have I been exposed in a state of extreme vulnerability?

However, a few moments later, a deeper concern struck me: How many other people drowned in the abyss of despair at 3am on a Tuesday?

I clearly wasn’t alone seeking refuge in the dark corners of this prestigious institution.

Adjusting to life in an alien environment can be difficult and the environment at LUMS is far from perfect. A simple visit to the page Help@LUMS will acquaint you with the quantitative severity of mental issues we as a community face.

Apart from the heightened academic competition, a simmering pressure to fit in dominates the social scene. Sitting at the Khokha or having a meal all by yourself can be intimidating. Add social anxiety to the equation and you’ll have trouble finding decent company.

When your bedroom and classroom coexist in the same vicinity, the personal gets entangled with other aspects of your life. Your academic performance might suffer, causing irrevocable damage. Substance abuse is another wormhole you might become susceptible to. This paves the way for mental instability that might linger beyond the duration of your degree.

Despite hailing to be among the most progressive institutions in Pakistan, LUMS fails to prioritize the mental health of its student body.

A mere number of two psychologists cater to the needs of thousands of students. To make matters worse, the repute of these psychologists is embroiled in controversy; several students have complained a breach of confidentiality.

The administration itself is infamous for fostering an apathetic attitude towards the students, viewing individual concerns with a glare of cynicism. This issue was particularly highlighted in the inquiry report drafted after the tragic suicide of a former student.

The report stated, “The Committee repeatedly heard from students how OSA staff, whom students approached during a crisis, treated them without the empathy that the situation called for. The Committee heard examples of students berated after the death of a parent, students being threatened with removal of financial aid, or students chastised for their physical appearances or put down for their class background. While it was beyond the Committee’s ability to triangulate each of these claims, these accounts do fit a pattern of behavior between students and OSA staff that has long been noted by both students and faculty.”

But the aspect that pierces my heart deeply is the veil of stigma shrouding mental health as a serious issue in the minds of the collective majority. During a Psychology at LUMS event, my efforts at raising mental health awareness at the Khokha were met with chuckles of ignorance and derision.

A mountain of change stands in the way of mental health becoming a priority. However, until we begin the arduous process of incorporating long-term solutions into the administrative framework, I believe an impact can be made informally.

Amid the ensuing bleakness, I believe the onus falls on us— ones who have preserved through the turbulence of the early LUMS experience—to help the young freshman and sophomores or anyone still treading in the darkness.

Our help might not be enough or a long-term solution, but I cannot remain passive knowing my fellow colleagues wrestle the same anguish as I did.

So, I urge you to proactively try to make your colleagues feel more inclusive.

I urge you to give advice to that young, shy freshman regarding their aspirations in your society.

Help them correct their technique at the gym.

Strike up a conversation when you spot them at the Khokha.

Sit with them at PDC if they don’t mind company.

Ask them why they have trouble speaking up in class (assuming you are the TA).

 

This obviously doesn’t solve the deeper problem. In the meanwhile, this should not deplete your will to look towards a better future. You would be surprised how often the little things go a long way in making someone feel home.

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Ubaidullah Inquiry Committee Report: Resistance, Reformation and Repentance

(Submitted by Rabia Najm)

I remember the exact moment the Ubaidullah Inquiry Committee Report was released because it has had a lasting impact on the way I view and experience my time at LUMS. I was walking back to my dorm from the sports complex when I got the email. I started reading it as I walked. I wasn’t fully aware of the events leading up to Ubaidullah’s passing so I skimmed down to the Timeline Section and started reading from there. Not more than a couple of paragraphs into it, I had to stop. I had to stop because in that moment I felt incredibly overwhelmed and could feel tears stinging my eyes.

While I can never claim to understand or make sense of Ubaidullah’s individual experience at LUMS, I can say that it hit closer to home than I expected it to. Our circumstances were dissimilar, but the feelings of hopelessness and being lost were a commonality, a commonality that isn’t just restricted to the two of us, but to so many students who pass through university in general.

Going to university is a very destabilizing experience. In most circumstances you have to live away from home, or learn to be independent. You have to settle into a new environment and adapt to completely different social settings. Academic stress can be crippling especially when it is accompanied by other problems such as financial or family issues. Getting used to all of this is incredibly hard, and even more so when there is no support from the institutions that should be offering it.

As a first year student, I was going through the debilitating process of learning to handle all of these problems, and in that situation to read the Inquiry Committee Report and realize that I would be getting no help or support from the institution that was supposed to be my ‘home’ for the next four years, was terribly scary. Looking at what Ubaidullah went through at LUMS made me realize that this could be me, this could be my friends, this could be anyone at LUMS and there would be no mechanism in place to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

In desperation I scrolled through the Summary of Recommendations in the report, searching for anything that would give me some sort of hope that my peers and I weren’t alone in this anymore. And it seemed as if my hopes weren’t unfounded; there was an acceptance of institutional failings on part of the committee, a commitment to reforming how certain bodies like the Disciplinary Committee operated and a positive change in how student welfare and autonomy were perceived.

However, despite the fact that the recommendations in the report were received positively by the student body and many members of the faculty, they came to nothing because the report itself was rejected by certain higher ups in the administrative body. As it is with things like these, despite the best efforts of the people involved in the establishment of the Inquiry Committee and the report, the outrage around this tragic incident fizzled out, and Ubaidullah’s batch mates along with other concerned seniors graduated.

Towards the end of Spring 2017-18, the semester in which the report was released, a small group of students made another effort to address some of the issues highlighted in the report by writing a letter to the VC. While no official response was given to this letter, it did garner a lot of support from the LUMS student body in the form of ‘likes on LDF’ and ‘dropping down of roll numbers’, something Luminites are particularly talented at. In the following academic year, Fall 2018-2019, all attempts to reignite conversation on the ‘Letter to the VC’, and the Ubaidullah Committee Report were met with a lukewarm to non-existent response, except the usual LDF activism.

The lack of support and commitment from the student body to the implementation of the proposed reforms is rather puzzling, keeping in mind the sort of events that have unfolded on campus this year. Case in point is how the culture of surveillance and authoritarianism on campus has intensified this past academic year; from the way the M2 issue was handled to how guards with flashlights were stationed in the free parking lot. It is not to say that there hasn’t been any resistance to these policies; however the problem remains that often this resistance is sporadic, reactionary and non-constructive. It does not target the root cause of the problem which may be something like the amount of power a certain individual or office has in the administration, rather it will only target the administrative response in that particular event. While in that moment the huge backlash from the student body may payoff through a revoking of the policy, it has no impact on changing the administrative structure and mindsets behind it, and sooner or later in a similar situation, the same sort of policy is enforced again.

It is great that there was a big enough outcry against the free parking policy for it to be amended, are we going to talk about the fact that this policy is an off-shoot of the increased surveillance culture on campus? This increased surveillance has manifested itself in innocent students being harassed by guards for, smoking in certain places, being warned that they are being ‘observed’ and having their privacy breached by having their rooms broken into or entered without permission. The point here is simple, for there to be constructive long term change in administrative attitudes, our resistance needs to be well thought out and better organized. It cannot be a one- off event in which the students get angry, protest and hope for a response from the powers that be. We need to mobilize the student body to pressure the administration into accepting reforms  aimed at structural changes such as the ones proposed in the Letter to the VC and Inquiry Committee Report.

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for positive changes like these to be adopted into the administrative structure at LUMS. The type of hostile and unsafe environment that increased campus surveillance has created is terrible for the mental and emotional wellbeing of students especially for those who live on campus, and have no choice but to see it as their home. The insensitivity and callousness with which OSA handles student concerns also has the same impact on student welfare and can lead to increased alienation and feelings of helplessness in students who are already struggling. In a university setting where things like cut throat competition, academic challenges already take a huge toll on student welfare, it is imperative that the structures that should provide support be properly reformed and equipped to carry out their duties.

Events leading up to Ubaidullah’s untimely passing are a painful reminder that LUMS failed as an institution to help a student who desperately needed some show of empathy. The Ubaidullah Inquiry Committee Report has had a defining impact on my time at LUMS because it made me realize that there are other students in LUMS who struggled like me, and some of them were not lucky enough to find the type of informal support networks that I did. No one deserves to feel so lost and directionless that everyday functioning becomes hard, and life becomes a bit less livable to the point that it leads to a spiral that is impossible to pull up from. Our failure as a community played a role in the mental anguish that Ubaidullah Lodhi went through; we owe it to him to make sure it doesn’t happen again to any other student.

 

 

 

 

 

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What is it about Khoka Chillings?

“This is a satire piece, learn to laugh, you will definitely live longer”

What makes LUMS, LUMS at the end of the day?

When I pause to ponder over this question, my mind reverts back to Oweek’17. I had the privilege of being coached by someone who till this very day abides strongly with what he said on Day 1.

Agar LUMS mei kabhi chill krna ho toh friends kay sath Khoka(y) pr beth jao

In fact, that is how I first picked up on the term Khoka chillings. No matter what part of the semester is, the green benches adjacent to the drive lane, right outside the Khoka Shop are the way out. Be it flunking a quiz to expressing your valuable take on the PDA issue, Khoka is the place that allows you to illustrate on your LUMS (and life) experience(s).

But what is all the hype about?

This spring semester provided me with the opportunity to explore the university (and myself) in a very non-conventional and nuanced way. Simply put, quite different from what & how your Oweek coaches would describe. Thankfully to my cause, I had a friend alongside who was ready to contribute her input into the matter.

The other day both of us sat down to grab a cup of chai. From what was initially a normal friends conversation went on a tangent of dissecting the place in front of us: the Khoka!

We were not surprised to see the place crowded with people because that is usually how Friday afternoons appear to be. Although you would expect some of them to return back home.

Making full use of the spare time we had, the two of us embarked on a mission to understand Khoka. What is it about the place? Who are these people you get to see every day? And finally (and most importantly), Is the Khoka hype really worth it?

Dissecting Khoka

You are mistaken if you thought Khoka was a term that originated in LUMS. Sure, the word is used more frequently than it would possibly be used outside the vicinity of the institution. But Yes, there are Khokas outside LUMS as well

In the literal sense of the word, Khoka is primarily a shop on the corner of a street where people would sit down, have a tea coupled with some ‘gup-shup’.

Well, in one way or the other, the literal meaning does relate to what actually happens at LUMS. Yet, there are some particularities which I have observed and found worth mentioning here.

It’s about the same type of people you get to witness on a daily basis, and possibly wearing the same type of outfit over and over again. Mind you I mean the guys in jogger pants with an Adidas jacket and Nike shoes (without socks) above all to complement the combination.

Let’s dissect the Khoka starting from the drive lane.

You exit your car at this location possibly because you want to mingle in with the Khoka chillers. The first thing you notice? There are people everywhere, literally everywhere. Finding a spare bench might be impossible at this point so all you have to do now is find anyone you know and try fixing in. That anyone could be someone from your Oweek group, society or an individual you asked notes from and they were nice enough to share them with you.  Which in a way explains how LUMS freshies actually begin their friendships. 

All you need to do is force yourself in with a group that wouldn’t possibly mind your presence. They probably do but unfortunately, are too shallow to exhibit their concerns out front. 

If you manage to look around, each bench has a group although appearing to be the same but doing somewhat a different activity. The conversation centres around LUMS life, quizzes, gossips etc. Not that, you, as an individual find the conversation(s) meaningful, but there is no other choice.  You have to fix yourself in because you need validation from the group members.

But what about the time when all the conversations seem meaningless and no one has any contribution to make? In that case, start playing Rung! There is no reason why you should even get up from that bench.

Manage to look closely at the Poondi Benches!  You come across a bunch of seniors, not in any way appearing to be worried about their future prospects. At that point, all that matters: a cigarette and some Tame Impala music to make most of the situation.

If you ever have to sit at a Khoka Bench, the one adjacent to the shop window is a straightforward NO! Mainly for two reasons: a) Ijaz bhai has an exhaust installed at that location which essentially means you expose yourself to unbearably hot air. b) There is always some society thing happening on that bench.

Not going to point out which society, in particular, occupies the bench the most, but you know who you are.

Perhaps the environment of the Khoka wasn’t lit enough for these society people and the only way to overcome that is to make everyone listen to Faded by Alan Walker in the loudest possible volume. If people disapprove of the song (which normally should be the case) then you have some NFAK qawalis as a viable alternative.

Not going to mention the windows, they are always reserved for certain kinds of people.

Move a bit ahead to land yourself in the extended part of the Khoka. LUMS literally had to make an extension to accommodate more Chillers.

The story is a bit different here. You possibly won’t come across people playing rung or listening to EDM rather the benches have supposedly a different purpose altogether. If you don’t run into some faculty members, then mind you there will be some birthday celebration happening. Long story short, the Extended Khoka, on a comparative, happens to be much more peaceful and calmer. Although who knows, it probably won’t be long before the Chillers take over this part as well

Conclusion?

There is no conclusion. Try being a little nerd and experience the tranquillity of the LUMS library.

 

Why miss out on Khoka Chillings when you can keep office hours at the Khoka!

 

 

 

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Sonder and Mokita: In conversation with Haider Ilahi

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge”- Stephen Hawking

There is something to be said about a person who draws knowledge from the world, the people and the events surrounding him, the good and the bad; and turning it into a symphony of words that speaks to the soul. Like a tree with its roots firmly in the ground with the world spinning quickly by, as years turning into aeons; people into a kaleidoscope of colours whirling into a spectacular illustration; time burdening it with its age-old secret and the dawning truth ageing it further every day.

There is nothing more radical than to learn, unlearn and relearn oneself from the knowledge that one is provided with and it was by chance that I stumbled upon somebody quite similar to that. From the batch of 2019, Mr Haider Ilahi tells us about what he learnt so far from his experience as a member of the LUMS community and how it shaped him as a person.

Sleepless due to reading Songs of Blood and Sword the whole night, downing a cup of coffee and making our way towards Khoka in the chilly November morning, I and my two friends went to meet Mr.Ilahi as he greeted us with a polite smile.

We started off by asking him about his routine.

Q: How do you usually spend your day?

 A: Previously, I would sleep and wake up very late. I wanted to adjust my routine since it was messing my day up. Directing my biological clock to wake up at 6 am, I started rising to a clean, empty and quiet campus giving me a clear head to think. I have my breakfast and then do my readings outside with the music always playing in the background. Then my friends begin to wake up and I start wasting time (smiles!). By the end of the day, I go to bed early usually around 10 or 11 pm and even though it’s really hard, I still try to maintain this routine.

Q: What kind of literature do you like?

A: I used to read a lot of fiction but I am lucky in the respect that I really like the courses that I take. So, primarily, having just started my senior year, this is the first semester that I am really involved with my course packs. Usually, it would be me opening my books only during a mid or a final, but now it’s constant. So, whenever I am free and have to read something, I’ll do a reading of the course that legitimately interests me like philosophy or sociology. When I do have the time, I try to find novels and books suggested by friends. But I hardly have the time right now, so it seems to be just course packs.

Q: What about your childhood book-preferences?

A: It would be novels, crime stories, and detective stories. Even now, some of the favourite books that I go back to are fiction; which I used to read when I was really young. So, uh, it wouldn’t be surprising that I go back to those Famous Five books (we all laugh) that usually send me back to my childhood. But other than that, philosophy would be my preferred genre.

Q: What made you decide upon your current major?

A: I had an understanding that I would do Political Sciences but my father wanted me to have an open mind about choosing another major if it appealed to me. He personally wanted me to take Economics but, ultimately, he left the choice on me saying that I should analyze my penchant as well as my strengths and weaknesses. When I came as a freshman, I took a month or two to contemplate and then decided on doing Pol Sci and stuck with it. Despite that, even though I am a Pol major and its requirements aren’t very stringent, I promised myself that I’ll take up courses from other disciplines as well except for SDSB, which I had to take eventually as an out-group (the word ‘unfortunately’ was left unsaid). This really broadened my perspective as a whole.

Q: Apart from studying, what hobbies do you indulge in like sports etc?

A: I used to play a lot of football before I came to LUMS. For some personal reasons, I gave that up. It was hard because at that point football was the only thing I was really passionate about. So when I gave it up, I had to sort of find a replacement for it; something to keep me active in a way. Then by the end of my sophomore year and the beginning of my junior year, I found that spark in a specific branch of academics. Met with a couple of teachers who really inspired me to align my goals and ambitions. So if I had to choose now in retrospect, I’ll always choose this over football as it is something much more fulfilling and gratifying.

Since he mentioned music previously,

Q: What about your taste in music and did it develop over time?

A: Yeah, it did develop over time. If I had to go and pick one genre, it would be Blues. I have discovered some of the most incredible blues artists from the 60s and even early 30s. Other than that, since it’s in my blood probably, I have recently started to get really deep into Sufi qawwalis since almost all qawwalis do use spiritual and Sufi takes. As my Punjabi isn’t really good, I have sort of become a student of that. So, 50% it’s qawwali and 50% it’s blues.

Q: What are your thoughts on Iqbal since you mentioned that you respect his philosophy?

A: Well, I can’t talk about Iqbal without talking about society because even my own opinion is formed partly due to society. So when I was growing up, I understood Iqbal as how he was taught: “Qoumi Shayar hain” and “Unko Pakistan ka khwaab aya tha”; that’s all very nice and cute but in my junior year I heard about a course being offered called ‘Philosophy and Poetry of Iqbal’. This course was being taught by the only person I call my teacher, Sir Koshul. Since it required the consent of the instructor, the professor took my interview. I remember when he asked me why I wanted to take this course up, my reply was that one of the things my father used to talk about was my generation; that the most unfortunate aspect of our generation is that we haven’t studied Iqbal well and even if we have, we didn’t try to understand him. That really stuck with me. At that time I was trying to study Kant and Nietzsche on my own and, although it was fun, there was a thirst and a void inside me as if I was missing something. So, ultimately, I stumbled upon Iqbal and truth be told, that course changed my life. It was primarily the philosophy of Iqbal but the poetry of it cannot be separated as they complement each other.

Q: Why did Iqbal impact you so?

A: This course and Iqbal’s ‘Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam’, it struck me really deeply and my whole life was turned upside down.  Those questions that plagued my mind, Iqbal answered them.  Culturally specific and contextual, Iqbal is not just for Muslims only. He is beyond that; he is universal. Iqbal understood the fact that the need of the current day and age, and I hate using this word since it has an extensive debate behind it, is for us to reconcile things ‘rationally’. For instance, and I speak personally, growing up in a Sunni Muslim not-so-extremist family I would have questions about my religion and somewhat related aspects.  When I would look for the answers, religion would always say this is where you take a leap of faith.  Kind of like religious schooling in subtext. Whilst from my school to my university, the exact opposite coaching’s been done: to perceive everything rationally and build reasonable, sound arguments so it could all make sense. So you can imagine the conflict inside me and I notice this about a lot of people in my generation as well. The disparity has expanded so much that both of our domains do not even see eye to eye most of the time. It has thus created a perception-gap throughout because we have failed to understand the needs of our time. And Iqbal talks about this in the preface that the need of the time requires a method that is physiologically sound and mentally adequate or something along these lines. That is why Iqbal is so exceptional and made so much sense to me. Where religion told me to take a leap of faith and I couldn’t uncover any empirical or sort of logical reason for that, Iqbal resolved my conflict through his philosophy and I started seeing patterns in things as my observational sense got acute. I feel like he is truly misunderstood whenever I have this conversation, even with my friends. I apologize if this is getting lengthy (we didn’t mind at all), but Iqbal is a teacher of mine and I think everyone could learn from Iqbal regardless of what their personal inclinations are towards everything. Religion, faith, science, whatever belief you hold; I think if you respect the text and go to it as a student, you’ll take a lot from it in the end.

Q: How did these texts change your perception?

A: For that, I’ll talk about the point where I started to understand things or rather, I thought I started to understand things and that came from the fact that if I had a text in front of me, whether it be of Allama’s or any other’s, I had to treat it with respect. More than knowledge, it is the self-discipline that is necessary to understand something. My favourite movie of all time ‘Good Will Hunting’ has this powerful scene between Will and his therapist Sean where the therapist says: “You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you?” So whatever surface idea you garner, that’s probably the worst interpretation you can attain from a text. The text Sir Koshal is teaching us, he is still working on it and even now he goes back to his very beginnings. And it’s only due to self-discipline that you start forming your own conclusions which are very sound, probably by not endorsing anyone else’s opinion. When we come to the Quran, the stipulation in which the country is right now is most likely because people have reduced the text. They have reduced God. Had they grappled with the text, had they had the self-discipline; this country wouldn’t be suffering from the current repercussions. Not saying that I have that sort of self-discipline and this is perhaps the reason I haven’t picked up Quran’s translation till now. The other end of the spectrum is that you start understanding it and you begin discovering things that are fascinatingly tangible for your inner world. Then yes, your life changes, your company changes, your friends change and your relationship with the world changes. It’s because your understanding of the world has changed and if it is worth something, you will definitely change.

Q: You talked about having some questions growing up. What were those?

A: There were a lot of questions that plagued me. I’ll talk about three of the most primary ones here. One of them was the biggest contradiction that I and most people find in religion: predestination and free will. If everything is pre-decided by God then where is this supposed free will? It bothered me a lot not being able to comprehend why I can’t understand my religious conviction. The second thing that troubled me was the nature of time. There are a lot of ways to understand time but how I perceived it was through observation. The earliest memory I have is of my mother picking me up as she prepared breakfast for me and my siblings when I was very little. Now, it’s the same mother and it’s the same Haider but when I am climbing stairs with my mum, she asks for my hand to help her ascend. This is how I understand time: seeing parents age, seeing myself grow and watching myself as I change. Thirdly, I started questioning death. I have seen death very closely and well everyone is subject to it; this developed a curiosity inside me to discern the nature of death in its truest form. So, these were the queries that I had growing up and the most intriguing thing is that many philosophers have presented these questions with answers of their own but none of them really stuck with me. That’s where Sir Basit Koshul came into the picture; he taught me about 150-200 pages of Iqbal thoroughly and that sort of lead to a mental progression for myself.

Q: The way you perceive different aspects of your life probably vary from that of your peers. Did you ever feel the need to make them understand your point of view?

A: The beauty of life is that every person lives his life in a unique way. Again Allama when he talks about human ego, call it a soul, a spirit or whatever, he says that every individual is a unique ego and everybody is looking at life with a different intellect. Doesn’t mean that somebody’s way of perceiving it is better than any other’s or only one way is the True way. These are just general rules for surviving on this Earth; a necessity if you may. It’s essential even to look at things in your own way and be respectful of how others are looking at them and then exchange ideas among yourselves. So when I am with my friends, this is the only sort of conversation that I have. Better to understand another than to gossip about someone else. Be respectful, be kind and you will start to realize that even though you might be looking at things through a different lens, you will be able to see the beauty in it. It’s really exciting if you and your friend perceive the same thing completely differently. And nothing is more beautiful than when this difference allows you to achieve the essence of that very thing.

Q: Did it change your perception of the institute that we study in?

A: I don’t want to scare you guys but I am sure that you all must have heard a lot when you first started studying here like there is freedom of inquiry, free objectivity and well the very best of education you could get in the entire country. After three and a half years, I would say it’s been probably the exact opposite. Because if LUMS is claiming this, then there sure are some conflicts within this claim. And for that, I will have to talk about rationality, something I am very cautious to talk about since we have understood it in a very restricted way. Weber gives four modes of rationality: theoretical (computative and analytical), formal (cause and benefits), practical (actions and reactions) and value (judgment mostly). What the university does and what science and each of its discipline do is endorse only formal rationality. This is the only form of rationality that they accentuate and consider to be ‘true’. According to them, the other three modes never existed. This approach is nothing but similar to a donkey whose eyes are blindfolded and is told to tread the path (this cracked me up since it was primarily apt).

“Never reduce your texts, your approach or your vision.”

And make no mistake about it; religion does the exact same thing with value rationality. So you need to reconcile the conflicts within by broadening your spectrum as these assertions make you question your courses, your chosen discipline, your degree and even the very claims that lead you to spend giant amounts of money in these four years. It is my right as well as my duty to question what this has given me in the long run. The point is that there is always more to a picture than someone would tell you. The university is, in my opinion, swindling you. That is why you need to be critical in your approach and question things. But they never address these issues because if they did, they are most likely screwed.

Q: How can we overcome such dishonest ways in your opinion?

A: Primarily by starting talking about it as it can’t go on forever. This has to change. So, talk about it and hopefully, someone with courage will stand up against it. This is all about progression. You play your part and hope that the next person plays their part for there will always be a next person. There shouldn’t be any despondency regarding this. Just keep playing your part and imparting something from it onto someone else so they can make their own choice by looking at the evidence and thus furthering the process. The change is sure to transpire. One thing I would say is that there is too much deception in this world; a lot of mirrors around creating an illusion of reality. So travel, it cleanses your mind. Take some time to yourself; take a step back to sort of escape that tornado of life. Breathe. Think. Analyze what is happening around you and to you. This is very necessary and I am kind of becoming an extremist in this (chuckles). This is how I start and end my day and I wouldn’t want it any other way since it is innately very enjoyable. If it’s chaotic inside, it will be chaotic outside and if it’s peaceful inside then it will be peaceful outside. Write if you need to. Because writing has given me a channel to express my inner-self through words and resolve the inner workings of my mind which, to be honest, has been a lot of help in bettering my life.

Quoting one of his favourite verses of Iqbal;

نوا پیرا ہو اے بُلبل کہ ہو تیرے ترنّم سے
کبوتر کے تنِ نازک میں شاہیں کا جگر پیدا

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Discovering Istanbul

This summer my family and I planned a trip to Istanbul, the historical, cultural city of Turkey that sits in the middle of Europe and Asia divided by the Bosporus Strait. The city has been a popular holiday destination for a lot of people this year and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.

Istanbul, is a cultural hub that has a lot of appeal from people of all nationalities. The reason why it’s such a popular choice for a holiday destination for us Pakistanis is the fact that it is only a direct flight away for most people, boasts the features of both a European destination holiday and the perks of being an Islamic country (halal food, yay). Istanbul offers a diverse tourist experience as it has a deep history of serving as a capital for three empires; Eastern Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. From scenic sights, to historical palaces and museums, incredible cuisine to religious sites, Istanbul seems to have it all, which gives all the more reason to make it your next holiday destination. Since I fell in love with Istanbul this summer, I feel compelled to share with you my experiences of the beautiful city and some of the must-visit places and experiences I would recommend.

  1. Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
The domes and minarets from the mosque courtyard

One of the most famous historical sites of Istanbul, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque is a prime example of classical Ottoman architecture. It sits in the Fatih district in its architectural glory with six minarets towering from it’s five main domes. The grandeur of its exterior is complimented by the lavish interior of the mosque which is still functional as visitors visit to offer prayers on the red carpeted floor under the chandelier lit domes.

 

 

 

  1. Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya in Turkish) is a magnificent building that has a very interesting history behind it.

Hagia Sophia as viewed from outside the Blue Mosque

Located opposite to the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Hagia Sophia is visited by many. Built initially as the largest church by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul, it has been constructed three times in the same location as it underwent many destructions on the hands of fires, riots, demolitions or other natural disasters. With the fall of Constantinople, this Greek Orthodox Church and cathedral then turned into an imperial mosque under the Ottoman Empire. It was then under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk that it was converted into the museum which functions till this day.

 

 

  1. Golden Horn

The Golden Horn is an inlet of the Bosphorus that separates the old and new parts of Istanbul. Easily accessible by the metro, the Golden

Horn offers a unique experience for tourists. Evenings at the Golden Horn are beautiful as people come out towards the shores to fish, enjoy the sun setting and the beautiful views of the mosques, buildings including the Galata Tower. The restaurants under the bridges offer a wide variety of fresh seafood while there are many small snack bars and stalls around that area selling corn, sweet potatoes and fresh juices.

 

 

 

  1. Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace, that once housed the Ottoman royals in the fifteenth century is now a museum home to many historical artifacts. It is infact one of the largest and oldest palace in the world that has survived to this day. The Palace also offers a beautiful view of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.

  1. Dolmabahce Palace

The Dolmabace is a slighter more modern palace which has a European charm to it. It is located on the European coast of the Bosphorus. The palace is a grand sight, from the intricate detailing in the interior with its furniture, tapestries and paintings to the magnificent exterior. This palace is a must visit for all art and history enthusiasts.

  1. Grand Bazaar

One of the oldest and largest covered markets of the world, a trip to Istanbul would be incomplete without shopping at the great Grand

Bazaar. The place is so historical that upon entering, one cannot help imagining the glory of it back in the 15th century when it was

    built. The marketplace is still functional to this day and is a hub for trade and consumers, businessmen and tourists alike flock to buy jewellery, lamps, clothes and shoes for reasonable prices.

7. The Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar or the Egyptian Bazaar is similar to the Grand Bazaar but is famous for its Egyptian history links. The Bazaar is located in Eminonu, Fatih and is famous for selling spices, tea, Turkish delight, jewellery, souvenirs and lamps.

Although these are just a few of the highlights of Istanbul, there are countless more experiences that one can enjoy in their stay in this beautiful city.

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A Satire by Adil Ashraf

Lahore University of Management Sciences.

You hear a lot about the infamous LUMS, but of course it’s a completely different thing to actually experience it. Let’s explore it a bit.

First of all the students. LUMS students thrive on knowledge. Every evening, in fact any time they can find they sit down and exchange information. From how much they loathe the uninvited company of flies with them to how much they fancy that one boy or girl to how fat Aisha is getting. They believe that every bit of information is important and deserves their due attention. What a fine set of intellectuals we are.

If we’re going to talk about the students here we also need to look at how people from different schools differ. If you flip your arm around a little, chances are that you’ll hit someone from HSS. This phenomenon is due to two reasons: one is that HSS has like 3/5ths of the students enrolled here, second is that only HSS kids are veila enough to always be moving around at arms distance. But, I don’t mean to take anything away from these HSS kids. Good chaps, most of them. Their main complaint is that they have too much to read. That’s fine, but as many readings they get, the number of laments they have exponentially increases.  But enough about them, let’s talk about our scientists at SSE. SSE kids’ lives revolve around the SSE building and their bedrooms. They, sadly, don’t have the luxury of being as veila as the HSS kids. The nice reward of a STEM career keeps them motivated. Which is admirable, I must say. Plus they get to tag each other in highly complex science memes which are beyond me,so I guess the scales even out.

SDSB is an interesting case. If foxes were human, they’d probably go to SDSB. Not because they look especially dashing, but because foxes are chalaak, which I use because the word cunning doesn’t have the same effect. You need to always be alert in case it’s time to get some sweet sweet CP, or in case there’s an announcement for an exam, quiz, presentation, project or whatever other hell LUMS likes to drag us through. SDSB also has vendi machines which I add here because I just wanted to say that I finally have a vendi card and am now part of an elite class that can access these futuristic snack machines. The 5 rupees you pay extra for the nimko here makes the nimko all the more nimkoer too.

Now you Law students. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you guys. If LUMS’s schools were its children. SAHSOL would be the middle child. A tad bit neglected, and in the corner at every family meeting (In fact it’s always to the side, the building can’t move). SAHSOL has the smallest batch size. But what they lack in numbers, they make up for in length. Length of time, to be specific. They have the honour to eventually evolve into a being beyond what the other students can hope to be. LUMS has a lot of super stuff, there’s the super store and the super crisps at the super store, but SAHSOL specifically has super seniors. Who can shoot laser beams from their eyes, lift incredibly heavy objects, and also extend their stay here to 5 years (two of the previous facts were wrong, figure out which ones these were).

Well, I had wanted to talk about more than just the bachei here. But, alas, being from SDSB my CP is due and I shall be chalaak here and leave some stuff to write about later. Huehuehue.

Adil Ashraf

Class of 2021