7. My Hobby

7. My Hobby

            In this age of materialism, worries and anxieties, man remains busy from dawn to dusk. After his day's rat race, he wants to relax and restore himself and soothe his taut nerves. If he does not relax, his life becomes dull and gloomy and he himself becomes peevish.

William Davies mourns such a way of man's life in this way:-

"What is this life if, full of care

We have no time to stand and stare."

                Ordinary remedies prescribed for the avoidance from worry and mental overstrain fall into two broad categories -----gaiety and retreat. The object of both is to strengthen the tired parts of the mind by giving them rest. The first group contributes to the end by active process of recreation; the second by the passive method of repose. Outside the scope of both, there is a third method of achieving the same objective. It is done by using the remaining parts of the mind ----- those other than the tired ones. This method of restoration comes to be known as hobby. A hobby is a work which we do in our spare time not for money but solely for recreation and relaxation. It is an alternative occupation for the brain worker to restore his psychic equilibrium. Sir Winston Churchill defines hobby as "alternative mental activities."

                   Different people pursue different hobbies according to their tastes and inclinations. Hobbies such as fishing, boating, small games and hunting can be classed as being exclusive for men. Hobbies like knitting, needlework, interior decoration or home management are generally taken up by women. Hobbies like stamp collecting, singing, dancing, gossiping, photography, painting, wood carving, picture collecting, coin collecting and reading books can be pursued both by men and women. Hobby, being a personal pursuit, undertaken more in isolation than in company, may vary from person to person in accordance with individual taste, temperament, nature of occupation and resources. Sir Winston Churchill pursued painting as his hobby. Lord Salisbury's hobby lay in chemical laboratory; Einstein's hobby was to play upon the Violin; while Bernard Shaw was immensely delighted in growing vegetables.

                I pursue stamp collecting as my hobby. I started it is in my late childhood. Once, when I was ten years old, I happened to see an album of stamps with my elder brother's bosom friend. An urge prompted me and I also started collecting stamps. But I didn't know how to classify and categorise them. I talked to my father who guided me how to arrange them systematically. Since then, I have been devoting my spare time to it.

                 Some people consider it a very costly hobby as according to them, much of money is spent to buy stamps. But to your great surprise, I have never spent a single penny on purchasing a stamp. My father works in Embassy. He sends me stamps of different countries issued on different occasions. One of my uncles lives in Great Britain. He also keeps sending me stamps of different countries. Once, he presented me an album of stamps on my birth day. Since then, I have added to them three times more. I have friendly terms with the postman of our colony. Whenever a new and rare stamp is issued, he provides it to me whatever he may have to do. So, now, my albums contain two thousand stamps of different countries and of different times. I have fixed ten pages for each country. I have arranged the stamps country wise, year wise, month wise and date wise. After returning from college, I spend an hour in arranging the stamps to get ever new enthusiasm. All tiredness of the day's work vanishes and I feel refreshed and recharged, delighted and elated when I am in the company of my stamps.

            I have pen friends all over the world with whom I exchange stamps. I ask them curious questions about their countries which has increased my knowledge greatly. I have come to know of the the cultures, customs, manners, traditions and habits of the nations of the world. I have learnt the history and geography of many countries.

                My stamps open before me a vast world of information and knowledge. They tell me the history of old people, old nations and old traditions. They tell me the stories of old times, old empires, old things and old places. I can see the rise and fall of nations of the world. I can visualize the emergence of Pakistan on the map of the world. I can discern the sacrifices made by our ancestors for Pakistan.

            In short, stamp collecting is a very cheap still royal hobby. It is an informative, recreative, educative, instructive, stimulating as well as instigating hobby. I always remain in touch with the whole world. I can enjoy the company of great writers, poets, authors, playwrights, dramatists and story writers. I get information, recreation, education and instructions remaining at home without stirring from my chair. I forget all the cares and worries of life when I am in the company of stamps.

6. A Roadside Accident

6. A Roadside Accident

            Roadside accidents have become very common occurrences of the present day life. The newspapers daily carry tragic news of fatal accidents. These are, no doubt, the gift of the modern advanced civilization. The modern age has given us fast modes of transport which have not only made the journey fast and easy but has also increased the ratio of horrible accidents. These accidents occur due to the careless and reckless driving of the unlettered and untrained drivers, bad condition of roads, narrow and risky turnings, violation of traffic rules and corruption in the traffic police. They take a heavy toll of lives rendering many others crippled for life and cause huge loss to property. I also happened to be an unfortunate witness to such a fatal accident.

            Last month, I had to head for Multan. Reaching the coach terminal, I got into a long queue awaiting tickets. Luckily, I got air-conditioned automobile with comfortable seat as the biggest advantage. The coach was full to its capacity. All the passengers were in gay mood and were chatting happily. The driver did not seem veteran of the Pakistani highways. His overtaking seemed hesitant and his moves a bit reckless. However being passengers, none of us deemed it proper to give him any sort of instruction. When we were only ten miles from the city, we met an unexpected horrible accident.

                A car overtook our bus and vanished in a flash. It raised clouds of dust. The bus driver was in a carefree mood. A truck was coming from the opposite direction. The bus and the truck driver could see nothing in the thick clouds of dust. The next moment, there was head on collision. After colliding against the truck, the bus struck against a cart standing on the roadside. Then it crushed a cyclist and turned turtle into a ditch.

            The accident was very horrible and fatal in its nature. Most of the screens of the bus were broken. Most of the passengers received severe injuries and were bleeding. It was a tragic scene. There was a great hue and cry. The pick-pockets availed themselves of the opportunity and robbed most of the passengers of their money and valuables. Every passenger was in a hurry to get out of the bus. In this rush, a few women and children were crushed to death. I also got skin injuries. But I did not care for my injuries and began to help the people.

            The cart driver and cyclist were crushed to death. Bot of them belonged to the neighboring village. Many people in the vicinities reached there for our rescue. They also began to pull the dead and the injured out of the bus. That was great  moaning and crying, sobbing and sighing with very few to console. The bus driver had joined the majority on the spot. The conductor and the helper succeeded in escaping leaving the injured at the mercy of Allah. Someone contacted the rescue 1122 on the mobile. A police party with a doctor reached there in five minutes. The doctor began to give first aid to the injured. Most of the injured were advised to shift to the hospital.

            The tragic sight of a woman passenger filled me with pity and horror. She was widow with only one son of five years who had joined the majority. His lifeless pure, innocent body lay on the ground bathed in the pool of blood. The woman was raising loud screams and calling to her son with his nickname. She was beseeching her son to talk to her once and only once in life. But he was past all these cries and sympathies. It was a heart-rending sight. The poor widow lost her senses. She was put in the ambulance and taken to the hospital. The cries of the woman still echo in my ears.

            I saw the police recording the statements of the eye-witnesses of the fatal accident. I postponed my programme of heading for Multan, boarded another bus and returned home sadder than ever before. I shall never be able to forget what I had witnessed especially the poor widow with her dead son. The terrible incident has left a dreadfully awful influence on my mind which will haunt me for long.

5. Technical Education

 5. Technical Education

        Modern civilization is dominated by science and technology. As a result, specialization in certain branches and industrialization have become an essential aspect of scientific education. That is why; technical education has been in demand these days. In the earlier days, education was meant for spiritual cultivation and disciplining of emotions and thinking. With the passage of time, education became broader in its embrace and more significant in organizing the society. But now-a-days, education is becoming more and more job-oriented. That is why; technical education is assuming greater significance.

It is the education about machines and their repair. It is practical application of the general principles and methods of scientific studies to some practical and manual work. It includes training in trade, industry, commerce, promotion of product and sale, agriculture, manual labour and inventions of science.

Someone has rightly said that there are only three ways of earning one’s livelihood: “Working, Begging and Stealing”. If a man fails to earn by working, he would naturally earn by begging or stealing. Therefore, if a youth fails to seek a job and earn by working, he must inevitably turn out to be either a beggar or a thief. The question is: Who is responsible for producing these beggars and thieves? The answer is “The want of technical education in our schools and colleges.” Hence, if we do not want to produce beggars and thieves, but honest, upright gentlemen who earn their living by the sweat of their brows, we will have to impart them technical education so that at the end of their educational career, they may earn their livelihood through honest means.

4. My Hero in History

 4. My Hero in History

        When the deterioration and decline of a nation reach their extreme, and nothing but supplications are left to resort to, Allah produces in it such men as, with their God-gifted talent, extraordinary potential and untiring efforts change the destiny of that down-trodden nation. Such people in history are called great men. That’s; love for great men is quite natural to man because history is determined by them. The man who does not admire great men has no right to claim greatness for himself. Great men are not born daily. Humanity has to wait for centuries. Such men change the course of events and provide new channels to history. Their lives inspire us to great deeds. A poet has rightly said:

“The lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime”

A hero is a man of great character. He has great courage and control and the guts to lead others. He has a strong decisive power in him. His spirits are always high.

There are many heroes in human history. They were called heroes because they had all the sterling qualities of head and heart which make one a hero. All of them had ideal characters. They devoted their lives to noble deeds. It is a fact the heroes of the Muslims outshine all of them. Out of the heroes of the Muslim world. I am charmed by the towering personality of Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He was on of the greatest and most respected literary figures of the 20^th century. He played a vital role in the political history of the pre-partitioned India.

He was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He had got a sound religious background because his father, Sheikh Noor Muhammad, a mystic, was a religious-minded person. He learnt Arabic and Persian from a great scholar of his time called Mir Hasan. He did his F.A. from Murray College Sialkot. Then he sought admission to Government College Lahore where he was greatly impressed by Professor Arnold who infused in him the quest for philosophy. He detected his hidden potential and advised him to develop his poetic talent. Iqbal followed his advice and started writing poetry.

He did his M.A.in philosophy from Government College Lahore in 1899 and joined the teaching staff of the college immediately afterwards. Then he proceeded to England and Germany for higher education. There he obtained the degree of Law and degree of Doctorate in Philosophy, came back to Lahore in 1908 and started practice as a Lawyer. But he was not satisfied with this profession although he was a noble representative of the Muslims of the Punjab. He left it and began to devote his energies to poetry.

 

3. My Aim in Life

3. My Aim in Life

        Life is not a bed of rose. It is a bed of thorns. It is full of hardships. We have to face calamities and catastrophes at every step. It is often said that life is a challenge and struggle. So, in order to make our lives great and comfortable, we should make strenuous efforts. If we want to lead a successful life, we must have a clear aim in view because no human being can live without ambitions and desires.

Aim is very important in life. It provides direction to our energies. It strengthens and emboldens us. It gives us stimulus to work and act. It is the main source of inspiration. Robert Browning says, "The aim if reached or not makes great the life." The aim is a motivating force. It determines the course of action of one's life. It is a guiding principle. It urges man to head towards his goal of life. Without aim life is like a desert where no flower blooms.

There are as many aims as men. Some people want to be civil and military officers; others wish to be engineers and doctors; many aspire to be lawyers and politicians. Some people like to be world-renowned poets and novelists; some others want to be artists and architects. Somme noble-minded persons like to be teachers.

Aims differ according to the tastes, choices and inclinations of the people. So man should choose his aim that suits his taste and inclination; otherwise he will be an utter failure. My ambition in life is not wealth, nor power or nor high social status. I am too modest a young man to aim at any of these things. My ambitions very simple enough to become a Lecturer.

There are many reasons for my choice. The best people are those who teach others, who guide others, who enlighten others' abilities, who launch a crusade against ignorance and who determine the destiny of the nation because the destiny of the nation rests upon their shoulders. It is the Lecturer who can perform all these tasks. A Lecturer is like a lamp that spreads light every where. He is like a ladder that remains at its place but helps others go higher and higher. He  is like a guiding star that leads people to the right direction. He brings people out of ignorance and takes them to the heights of glory. He is the maker of a nation. He is a silent revolutionary. Other people work on the bodies of men but he works on the minds and souls of men and leads them to Allah. He prepares the young men for practical life. He instils in them the moral virtues of truthfulness, honesty and sincerity of purpose. He makes them useful and responsible citizens who may shoulder the responsibilities of life.

He is an honorable and respectable member of a society. He is the model for his nation. He is highly qualified. He draws handsome salary. He belongs to the intelligentsia of the nation. His character is always flawless. He is free of any kind of lucrative thinking. That is why; I am charmed by the life of a Lecturer.

A doctor, no doubt, serves the suffering humanity and alleviates their miseries but his own life is in no way enviable. He is all the time surrounded by crying and signing people. A police officers, no doubt, enjoys a life of glory and authority. But just imagine the environments in which he has to live. He has to deal with criminals and  culprits like pickpockets, thieves, robbers, scoundrels, rogues and decoits. What a sharp contrast with a teacher's gay life! He is always surrounded by active, cheerful faces with high hopes of life. He remains ever young, ever active, ever energetic and ever smart and  never grows old though age may creep on him.

I am interested in Urdu. The very verses of Urdu haunt me. Besides this, it is my national language. I am a true patriot and therefore, I aspire to devote myself to the development and progress of Urdu as it is a very pleasant and vast language. I shall be able to express my innerself in Urdu and serve my nation. That is why; I yearn to become a Lecturer in Urdu.

I know lofty aims require hard struggle. Bacon says "The mould of man's fortune is in his own hand." I shall put in my best efforts to make my fortune. I intend to do my M.A. in Urdu with distinction from the University of the Punjab and become a Lecturer. Then, I shall lead a hard and active life. I shall work day and night for my nation and try my best to eradicate illiteracy from Pakistan. I shall be contented to think that I am making real contribution to the national cause.

2. My Last Day at College

 2. My Last Day at College

        Parting is always associated with gloom and grief. The place on loves to stay at cannot be easily forgotten. Thus it haunts the mind in the years to come. The good past days come to mind and their remembrance makes us sometimes sad and many times delighted. Hence, in the store-house of my college memories, enriched with many pearls and pebbles, collected over the last two years, the last day at the college occupies a very conspicuous position. It has mixed feelings of sadness and bliss. During my two years' stay at the college, I did never feel that I had developed so strong and deep association with the college. Hence, the very idea of last day at college makes me sad and gloomy.

On my last day at college, I got ready early in the morning and reached college at about 8;00 am to spend the whole day at the college campus. It was a chilly but sunny day. The students of First Year had arranged a farewell party in honour of the out-going students. It was to be held in the big Hall of the college. The farewell function started at 10;00 am. All the students sat very peacefully with the worthy Principal and the Professors. First of all, a student from the first year rose to speak. He appreciated our behaviour and dealings with them. He enumerated the good events and good days spent with us and hen bade us farewell. Then, I, on behalf of my class ,was asked to speak a few words. I thanked the first year students for arranging so  grand a party. I also thanked the teachers and office staff for their guidance and cooperation during our stay at the college and hoped that they would guide us in future as well.

My feelings at that time were a mixture of gaiety and sadness. I was gay at the thought that the first phase of my college career had been successfully completed. I could not help feeling sad also because I was going to leave behind the institution where I had passed two gleeful years of my life. I was so overwhelmed with passions that I moved to tears and a wave of sadness ran across the whole atmosphere. Even nature seemed shedding tears with us. Then the Principal rose to speak. He told us various valuable precautionary measures and practical tips beneficial for the examination. He guided us how to attempt the paper, finish it well in time and revise it. He reminded us of our duties as students and citizens of the state. He stimulated us to fight against evils like bribery, corruption, nepotism, jobbery, adulteration, smuggling and black marketing etc. and make Pakistan an ideal state. He advised us to remain staunch Muslims and true Pakistanis wherever we go and whatever we do. He quoted my precedences from the pious life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and our national heroes to lead a successful practical life. He urged us to work hard and bring good name to our Alma Mater, our parents and the country so that a positive image bout Pakistan may emerge in the comity of nations. At the end of the academic reference, an elaborate dinner was show. The students sang songs, performed skits and other fun-fair items. Then we were bade farewell formally. But I could not move off without having a last glimpse of the college.

I went to the Union Office ands at there for a few moments. I recalled the last election of the College Union. I remembered how we formed a new organization to beat the old organizations. Hundreds of students moved about enthusiastically day in day out to secure votes for their candidates. What a period of bliss, delight, fervour and enthusiasm! Then I moved to the library. I remembered how I had access to the rare and valuable books. I walked along the rows of almirahs and shelves of books and looked at the countless books wistfully. Afterwards, I went to the laboratory. I recalled the happy instructive hours spent there. Now, the memories of the classroom were stirred u. How often did I feel bored? How often did I dislike some of the professors for being too much serious about their lectures? How much did many of us hate a professor or two for their strictness about percentage of attendance and laboratory work? How often did we speak ill of the Principal for his strict discipline and turning down some of our requests. But on that day ,all of those feelings had transformed into love, respect and regards. I was so lost in the memories and thoughts that I did not realize the late afternoon. In the meantime ,Mr. Hamza stroked at my shoulder and we started to the gate. My mind was crowded with the thoughts of friends, kind, affectionate professors and the fatherly Principal.

1. My First Day at College

 1. My First Day at College

        My first day at college is a memorable experience of my life. It is marked with excitement, nervousness and fears. So, it will haunt me forever in the years to come. As soon as I appeared in the Matriculation Examination, I began to dream of a free, independent and interesting life of the college. My cousin would often say tome, "Life in a college is more a fun than a serious effort to get education. Moreover, college is a place for making friends and chalking out programmes to go to the pictures or picnics."

At last, the result of the Matriculation Examination was declared and I came out with flying colours. I decided to seek admission to Government college, the biggest college in the town. So, I submitted the admission forms. After ten days, I was informed that I had been granted admission. I went to the college to deposit dues. I was nervous and afraid. But surprisingly enough, many of students' organizations were welcoming the new comers and guiding them very kindly and compassionately. I was very happy and satisfied. Our classes were to start on 7th September. I was feeling proud of being collegiate.

On September 7, I got up early in the morning, established prayers, took a heavy bath and got ready for the college. Meanwhile, my mother prepared breakfast. I took breakfast hurriedly and came to the bus station where many other class fellows had also gathered. We formed and started to the college because we wanted to defend ourselves against first year foolery. When we reached the main gate of the college, a group of senior students was waiting for us. Firstly, they greeted us and then raised the slogan "First Year Fools',' Zindabad'." We got suddenly nervous. They had chalked out their own plans to make the new-comers indulge in some vulgar type of activities. However, we decided to act together to avoid their practical jokes. Some of the senior students in a much larger group approached us with an air of superiority and made us subdue instantly. They made us stand in a queue and march. They ordered us to sing ridiculous songs and do monkey pranks. My ego did not allow me to act according to their wishes but being helpless before such a host of ruffians, I had to obey.

After getting rid of them, I moved to the notice board to note the time-table. Our first period was that of English. It was to be held in room number twelve. I did not know where the room was. Catching sight of an innocent, gentle looking senior student standing in the corridors, I approached him and requested him to guide me about the room. He encouraged me and escorted me to a room. No sooner did I enter the room than there was a roar of cheers and laughter. It was girls' room. I rushed out with the feelings of shame and insult and began to fight with him in anger. A man of short stature tried to separate us but I had got so furious that I slapped on his face. All the boys dispersed in no time. Only two of us were there on the scene. Many professors reached there in an instant. I was seized and taken to the office of the Principal and was charged with being rude, insolent and disobedient. The fellow whom I had slapped was also occupying a chair. It came out that he was not a student. He was the Chief Proctor of the college. I felt ashamed of my mistake and apologized to him fearing of my rustication from the college. He took pity on me as the first year and pardoned me.

Now, all the first year students were asked to assemble in the hall where the Principal delivered a moral lecture and advised us not to take part in party politics rather to pay full attention to studies to achieve our goals. Afterwards, a professor guided us about the time-table and we went to the classrooms.

When the professor came, all the boys stood up to greet him. Firstly, he introduced himself to us and then began to take the roll-call. Different boys answered the roll-call in different ridiculous manners. Some were saying "Yes Please." Many others were crying, "Lubback." A few were answering "Hazir Janaab." But the professor did not mind it. He was very kind, polite and courteous. He did not teach us but only advised us about our future life. He stressed us that we should not misuse the liberty but we should make full use of the opportunity to develop our personalities and also to achieve our goals. In this way, all the professors spoke on the importance of education and discipline. They highlighted the value of the subjects they were to teach. They talked to us in  a friendly manner quite differently from the school teachers. We were much impressed by their attitude and behavior.

When all the classes were over, we started back to our homes. We were again encountered by the seniors who were ready to pounce upon us as their legitimate prey. They caught us and stamped us as "420" "Beat me if you can," "First Year Fool, please hit me!" and what not else. They boxed, pinched and kicked us. They sprinkled liquid of different colours on us. They tore our clothes, snatched our pens and note books and teased us as much as they could. We bore all this patiently because we knew that every black cloud has a silver lining and because it is a common practice followed in every college. Thus, my first day at college came to an end with new rays of hope for the next day.