A Conversation With Abdullah Hussein (Part One)

Rehan,

``Its naeem who despairs of the life that he leads as a militant, and i dont know why reading that reminded me of a despair that I have always associated with Bose...``

Used to associate despair with Bhagat Singh and his voluntary surrender

...but then do we have role models now either?

``sb, what are those regional languages and writers you are referring to?``

I am sorry, should have added this to my earlier mail. Was thinking in particular about a Telugu novel called `athadu-aame` (he-she) - he and she, the protaganists take turns in narrating their story in first person. Loved it also for its language. Uppala Laxmi Narasimha Rao wrote it, based on a well-educated couple, he a barrister at law from UK and she a post-grad lecturer, set in Chennai/Madras, pre `47. While he is an oppurtunist, she turns from being a non-political person to a serious Gandhian and a Congressite. He learns to compromise before her resolve. Their adopted daughter leans towards socialsim, and their daughter becomes a communist. I remember that the gradual metamorphosis of the characters with the changing political background and the daughters` growing years was a treat to read.

A couple of Bengali plays (a Ritwik Ghatak movie?) with the theme you alluded to. There was a Tamil movie, based on a novel, I think.

I am so out of touch with the books now...it took a while to remember Uppala`s name...dont have the names...

Reply #: 46 Asim Hayat wrote``

``Or more importantly, is that what a KGS education inculcate in its brilliant students. A partisan lesson in history, much like the govt of Pakistan as lamented by Prof Hoodhboy sicne time immemorial.``


Can anyone let us know where Prof Hoodbhoy went to school?

Ras

Could someone enlighten me as to why Karachi Grammar School is bad?

No kidding URSTRULY....you have shown your ``class`` . ...your mind and mouth is like gutter filled with rotten swearage...I feel sorry for you..BYE

mass-mak

Mehrbaani sarkar, tusi wi khush rahwo.

GOOD QUESTION...SCOUT...Look at the last 10 years List of admittance to MIT,YALE,HOWARD,STANFORD,PRINCETON ,BROWN & see how many of them got there..and their subsequent performance...Those kids dont know the difference between MOHAJIR,PUNJABI,etc...Numeir(Chowkwalla & Scilicon Valley)..Shazia Makhhdoomi...a geinues physicst, both from MIT, & SAMIA BURNEY (daugther of late I.H.BURNEY)from Howard Law School are pride Of PAKISTAN & KARACHI GRAMMMAR SCHOOL,& From South East Asia ..to name the few only..I am trying to locate an article in New York on KARACHI GRAMMAR SCHOOL recently published in NEW YORK TIMES which will be forwarded for CHOWK readrs..

Re: Mian mass_mak`s exclamation ``Look at the last 10 years List of admittance to MIT,YALE,HOWARD,STANFORD,PRINCETON ,BROWN & see how many of them got there..``

Compared to what???? the govt schools??

Well Duh????

How do you think Benazir Bhutto ended up at Harvard? Surely, it`s not through her own intelligence. The late Mr Bhutto, ``procured`` that admission for her, through his ``contacts``. The wards of the powerful, and ruling segment of third world countries are always welcome at institutioins such as Harvard, and Oxford;regardless of their intellectual ability. For later on, as these young wards move into the true echelons of power in their respective third world countries, their loyalties to US would be guaranteed. Take for e.g, Rajiv Gandhi. He went to Cambridge of Oxford, i recollect. Besides acting the rich spilt playboy, and netting ``Sonia``, he does not have a tangible asset, like a degree from there to his claim.

That is not to say, that the people on your list are not upright, honest, and god fearing people.But what amuses me is that you are using their successes to attribute something back to your beloved KGS. My dear fellow, the individual is more important than the school. An individual with the right ``stuff``, would flourish anywhere. Take your UET`s or the KU. People from not so rich families do go there too, and indeed some of the most intelligent and sharpest minds from these so called ``govt universities from Pakistan``, do make it to your MIT`S, Stanfords, and whatnots. Does that means that UET and KU provide a level of education commensurate to say MIT or HLS? does that mean that the education system is at its zenith in Pakistan in these centres of higher learning and need no further improvement because a handfulk of truly brilliant people did awfully well in US top notch schools. I hope you see the error in your reasoning.

Regarding the hulabalooover KGS and pillocks, Have you conceded that it could have been my teriible misfortune at not having known any truly ``great or humanitarian`` Grammarians. I never said all of them were pillocks; just that a big majority of losers i know happen to know hail from there, and are truly full of themselves. These elitist pakistanis are much like the englishman who went to Eaton or Harrow, much to the annoyance of everybody around them. See the point!Life does notb revolve about what ``what i did at KGS``

BTW, Howard Law School?

Yek kounsa Ameriki school, hai bhaiji..?

Kaheen aap Harvard law school, ki baat to nahin kar rahey!

mass_mack #54,

If Karachi Grammar School is producing geniuses, that`s wonderful. But the question to ask is (I think this is Asim Hayat`s point), What are these graduates from Karachi Grammar School and subsequently Ivy League universities doing for Pakistan? If the concept behind Karachi Grammar School is to gain recognition and success in the West only, I would criticise it as well.

And you should not forget that hundreds of geniuses coming out of Urdu medium schools as well. It depends on a student`s motivation to learn and make a difference, not on the school they learn from.

I personally know students (mostly females) who topped national rankings in Pakistan and did not come from any Grammar school or any other elite institutions. In contrast, I also know many females and other spoiled, materialistic brats who have studied in English medium (so called elite) schools in Karachi, and are currently busy painting their nails or totalling their dad`s Mercedes.

Getting a Harvard law degree is great if used correctly and for Pakistanis, used to benefit the sorry state of our country.

By the way, who would you want to be stuck with on a deserted island? An academically smart person or a street smart one?

Sorry Folks for spl mistakes...late night struggling with computer at this age gets better of me at time..but no excuse..never intende to undermine any institution..In last three years..I kid from Hasanabdal,One from Sadiqabad School And One from Multan got into MIT..highly commendable..No disrespect to any institution..more latter

Here is a military joke (and this I am told on good authority actually happened): During the 1965 war, the brigade commanders were briefed on a planned counterattack to relieve pressure on Sialkot. At the end of the briefing, the general asked if there were any questions. One brigadier got up and said pompously: ``General, I have only one thing to say - when I get moving, dont stop me!`` The general deflated the brigadier by saying with a smile : ``It all depends which way you are moving.``

....

Another joke - a para-military one (this one is just a joke): A Kashmiri decides to pretend he is dead in order not to have to fight anymore. An Indian soldier comes and jabs him with his rifle to see if he is really dead. The Kashmiri gets up furious: ``Oy nalaika! tooN aye naiN janana kai shahidaN nooN tang nai karday naiN?`` (Translation for those challenged by the Panjabi language: ``You idiot! Dont you know that one does not disrespect the body of a martyr?``)