There Might Not be a Tomorrow

I am delighted to read a article like this. It has rejuvenated my memories of QAU. Had not been given chance of studying in QAU but i had opportunity to live their for 10 years as a son of professor and very well know what that place meant to the alumni and current students of the QAU. I can bet it out that only Tasneem doesnt share those feeling, its also reverberates all those people who had or have been assosiated with this university. I am proud to be one of those having these feelings.

Imran Hafeez

Having the pleasure of knowing Tasneem Hussain it is not at all surprising to find the depth of feeling and intensity of expression in what she has to write. With over a quarter century of association with the Quaid-i-Azam University`s Department of Physics, I cannot but agree with her about its charms.

Reading her article makes me sad, because I have been there, ``with enough young enthusiasm as yet in our veins,`` thinking ``that given half a chance, we CAN yet turn this tide of apathy that sweeps across Pakistan,`` and have to caution Tasneem. It is depressing to have experienced the immense resistance there is. I agree that ``things could, so easily, with such little effort, be so different, so much better than they are.`` However efforts have to be acknowledged and responded to, proposals considered, plans and targets chalked out and implemented with persistence. It has rather been otherwise, the QAU of today cannot be recognized as the institution envisaged in 1967. All the plans were undone with time. People who made the effort were hardly acknowledged. To quote just one case, services of Professor Riazuddin, founder of what is now the Department of Physics were terminated unceremoniously in 1983 when he challenged beauracratic rules. It is simply not correct to say ``Having actually studied there for two years, I know the QAU inside out.`` There are a lot of doings and undoings that one is not aware of as a student. Unfortunately Tasneem, ``things that have to be learned can never be taught.``

Yet the article gladdens me, because I notice the fiery desire to change things, something which, I thought has been missing among the youth of Pakistan for sometime. Our generation, schooled in the latter half of the 60`s and early 70`s has completely failed the nation and the country. Whatever institutions are left in Pakistan probably need a complete restructuring. The immensity of the task at hand requires immense feeling, strength and hope. These are qualities that I find in abundance with Tasneem, and hopefully with `so many others` that she challenges to come forth. Hope should overcome despair.

I do want to draw attention at a couple of points of commission and omission in the article.

Probably much of the malaise with which all institutions in Pakistan suffer has to do with the unregulated `liberty to do what you want,` the possibility to `wheedle and cajole people into doing something different from the way it is ``supposed`` to be done.` And the fact that `You know the ``system``, and ways to beat it.` These very aspects can sometime lead to feel like as `alien` in one`s own country. Freedom does come with a lot more restriction and responsibility on individuals, than is realized.

Winding roads, flowing streams, overflowing huts at lunch, the inviting hills and the lake below all contribute to what captivates those who can see. Most of all, and this Tasneem does not state, are a few individuals who make the Department of Physics at QAU worth going back to. These brave souls give their `todays`for our `tomorrows`, and it will indeed be tragic if tomorrow does not come.