When I look back; "even I haven't started my journey"

When I look back there was a child dull enough but passionately obedient. He had no worries. All that matters in his life was doing things that will make him happy. He enjoyed his life in his own way. He was proud and determined because there was a force behind him that always pushed him up. Though, certainly, he lacked in many fields-particular studies. Fortunately it was not a yardstick in the eyes of his beloved, giving him the satisfaction that he was on the right track.

Fortunately or unfortunately-we move on-no matter what we really want. The child became a lad. Now his surrounding was forcing him to change his way of thinking. He was competitive by nature-an inherited trait. They demanded from him a good score in exams-the reason-was to get an admission in the best institute. He obeyed just to be enrolled in that institute. After that he turned his attention to his own way of living-proudly and boldly deciding what he thinks was best for him. In those days, he took a decision that could be called as his First Rebellion-not to follow the set standards of society.

He can't deny that there were other factors, directly or indirectly, forcing him to opt for this rebellion. After few years he was unable to judge the accuracy of his decision. Still he stood by his decision, it was his determination that guided him in those years. He believed, even if his decision is not the right one, he will make it one. Days went by turning into years without any meaningful success. Consequently, critiques got voice loud enough to reach his ears. Doubting his credibility,  criticizing him for his boldness, abruptness and recklessness.  

Those who stood by his side in all those years were there to aid and help. They advised him to stand with righteousness; there determination always helped him. But he was not satisfied with himself-there was something missing. It was the desired result of his rebellion. He was told that his efforts matter at the end of the day-but somewhere in his heart he didn't believe in it.  

He is now on a juncture where he will not be called a lad but someone who is not fit in that category. He was told to be a man. It was a charming idea-to be on the helm of affairs. Now he can realize that the burden and pain attached with power was attracting him in the first place. The power, he defined it, in term of implicating and absolving pain on others. Now he has the power but also accountable to himself. He can make it worse but there is a force that hold his reigns. It is the morality.

How it will end up? It is yet to be seen. At the moment, he is an amalgamation of multiple school of thoughts. As other find him in a position where he hasn't started his journey. 

Why Nations Fail

To the one who is interested in history and want a have a glance on it, must read the book "Why Nations Fail". After reading this book, one will find himself in a position to have a minimum structure of geographical lays of the land in his mind. From the American continent to the Australian one, this book elaborated their history in a brief account. Though the book is not about the history or geographical patterns of the present world, it gives you a sound understanding of these approaches as well. 

The Book is aimed to elaborate a theory for a sound understanding of poverty and prosperity of the current nation-states. Why is it so, that Great Britan and United States of America are prosperous enough to give a standard living to those who are not well off? Here, it is pertinent to keep in mind that the theory followed the comparative developmental approach. So, those who are poor in Britan and USA are relatively richer to those in Sub-Saharan Africa poor masses. The theory also strengthen the argument that Political development leads to  economic development.

The terminologies that are mentioned in this book are as follow: extractive economic and political institutions, inclusive economic and political institutions, critical Junctures, Small differences, vicious circle, virtuous circle and iron law of oligarchy. By Extractive institutions they mean the institutions that extract the wealth and power from the majority and concentrate it in the hands of the few-elite. The inclusive institutions are the one that promote the values of pluralism and encourage the participation of the majority, both in economic and political field. The defining movements in the history of a nation are described in words "critical junctures", for example the Glories Revolution. The small differences are the one that were not important at that time but has a great impact upon the history of the nation; Like, Bostwana Chieftains movement against the Mighty Rhode's of South African Company. The Vicious and Virtuous circles are the feedback mechanism in different sets of institutions. Iron law of oligarchy implies that when colonizers left, the new class of elite worsen the lives of their fellow countrymen.   

The theory states that the prosperity and poverty of a nation depends upon the institutions of that nation. If their institutions-political and economic-are inclusive in nature, there will be prosperity. On the other hand, if their institutions are extractive in nature, the majority will live under poverty. If the political institution is extractive in nature and economic institution is inclusive then it will leads to the creative destruction. As more people will be well off economically, they will challenge the absolutism of political system. Hence, conflict will arose and it can leads to both the possibilities, either, inclusive institutions will prevail or the extractive one. Those countries that are developed today had faced the conflict and in their cases inclusivity prevailed-for example Great Britan.
          

Throughout reading this book, one will find the writers biased toward capitalism, liberalism and democracy. In spirit, I am not against any one of them. Still, I can't accept their approach which mean only these values guarantee prosperity. As the book concluded that China will end up as a disaster, if, it not changed the extractive political institution.   

The book, somehow, cleared my misconception regarding the Unions. As I was of the view that these Unions were the tools in the hands of few aiming to hinder the efficiency of an institutions. I believed so, because in majority of the cases of student unions were influenced by political parties. The political parties provided them funds, in return they became their subordinates. Though, if one can assure that they will be financially independent, nothing better can safeguard the interests of the community.    

Quaid-e-Azam University; A place that is close to the hearts of many

The mysterious force in human beings-curiosity-always force them to explore the unknown world. This spirit also led me to one of the prestigious university of Pakistan-Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad. The high seat of learning, inculcating ideals of tolerance and flourishing councils depicting the diversity of Pakistan, is what I knew about QAU, before entering to the world of Quadians. Though, there were many things about which I knew nothing.  

The day of my visit to QAU was 2nd May around 7 o'clock in the evening; and I returned back to my sweet home of hospitality on the night of 6th May. In these four days, I have been exposed to the following experiences, written underneath in this article.

The first place that I visited was the Quadian Hut-a beautiful place to be at-surrounded by the green bed of trees and the jungle point: couple point. While, my beloved cousin-Asif- was telling or guiding me about the vicinity, my mind was engaged in the gossips of few students sitting next to us; they were talking about the barriers being placed all around in the university and planning to counter the efforts of administration. They were the proponent of barrier free Quaid-e-Azam University. I inquired about it from Asif, and he shared their views; he tried to convince about the importance of barrier free QAU, as university was not meant-to be clinched in the jaws of administrations.

After an hour or two we went to the football ground but on our way, I observed the QAU night life with immense curiosity. It was the time for students night walk and on their way, they were clearing their misconceptions of all day long. Some of them were sitting on footpaths, along with their cars, as music was on high beats, setting a background music for them. They were enjoying the view, by smoking what was dear to their hearts. Either, trying to forget their memories, or seeking an escape from the reality. They did what they had to, and we did what was in our wider interest, by doing what was dear to our hearts.

What is the best part of QAU is the night life with freedom that is only available here, I guess. For me the most striking feature which is compelling me to become the student QAU, it is the availability of squash court all night long. This is blessing, I was desperate to have in my life.

Before the morning clock struck, we went straight to the Mphill hostel, to get some sleep; as we have to walk a long way to freedom in the morning. I am thankful to Zarbakht for his kind and generous offer for staying in his room, which I gladly accepted. We woke up in the afternoon, and went to the huts for a breakfast. In the huts a strange feeling came to my heart, either QAU was in Islamabad or somewhere in the northern hills of Pakistan, as I found myself sitting on traditional beds-charpai-and waiter offering me tea(chai), just like that of my trip to Baraghali.

The next thing, I wanted to do was to visit different places in QAU, obviously, my stamina was an obstacle in my path; as I found myself hiking on mountains in order to visit a particular department. I have no doubt, if one constantly visit all the departments of QAU, will find himself in a month underweight; as my new friend Taimoor was being labeled as smart or underweight by an another smart or underweight student.

Narrating day to day activities will become a burdensome scripture, cutting long story short, I will focus on important observations that touched my heart. The entertaining part of QAU was the environment of huts or cafeterias. There students were usually found sitting on benches and making gossips about things that were close to their hearts. There were also some desperate souls trying to catch the attentions of fellow students. Some were good enough to be successful, others were as bad as dejected, frustrated, and ferocious souls usually are. They were good for nothing but for harassment. There was also a deviation from the standard, set by GCU Lahore in my mind, was the behavior of male students toward their female colleagues. Usual chit chat among student follow the same traditional script but in QAU the Juggats (slang language) of Faisalabad was quite prominent in their discussions. May be I am wrong to assert that the prime focus of male students was to befriend female students but that is what I observed.

The female students of QAU were quite provident and prudent in their preferences. They were mature enough to calculate what was good for their future. They had a keen observatory skills; judging the words of the speaker and observing his preferences. The realist school of thought evidently penetrated their minds which is, indeed, a praiseworthy behavior. Though, unfortunately, male student lack all of the above qualities.

In my perception, The Black Hole, in QAU is the absence of platforms for social grooming. Multiple grooming societies have the potential to inculcate among students the spiritual values of virtue, dignity, discipline and decision making. The lack of such platforms will virtually lead QAU into the Black Hole-with no hope for change. The ranking of HEC depends upon the production of numbers of PhDs and publications of numbers of research articles which are quite in abundance in QAU, resultantly, ranked as the best university of Pakistan. The absence of these platforms will badly hurt the future of its students, as they will be incompetent to mark any proficient change in the social sector of society. One might say that there is a literary society in QAU, but, with an apology, it terribly fails to fulfill the criteria of any ordinary level society on university level. The administration need to support the multiple social grooming platforms, as the bright future of QAU is on stake.