Trekking part-2 (base camp)

On arrival to base camp Raison about half way from Kullu & manali, it was a dream come true.

Beautiful camp sat on the noisy bank of beas river, neat & tidy surrounded by green peaks.

we have been alotted tents & guidelines to stay there.

I got a tent with my 5 trekker friends & we settled down before go out to get fresh.

In those days, we were habitual of asian w/c & what we found in the toilet was Europian!!

First time, was a bad time...an indian goes europian way & things were messed up with agreat degree of dissatisfaction.

we decided not to go that direction again!

myself, qyam & muzaffar decided to have a bath & we walked in the mangroves @ 500m away from our camp to take bath in beas.

Roaring sound of water with a good speed challenged us to conquer.

except Qyamuddin we both were not swimmer & for him there was no room to swim as the water was shallow at the banks & we tried to settle for few rocks.

Finally we kept our soap on one side & took our mug to take water for bath.

It was cold & the first pour on our body made us felt that, it was very cold.

@ 8-10 degree.

we controlled our shiver & pur few more mugs in order to use soap.

Using soap was our biggest mistake!!!!!!!

we kept on pouring water on our temporarily paralysed skin to wash away soap & it didt happened.

Then we realised, it was comparitively hard water.

Once become unbearable, we given off & used our towels to take the sticky stuff off from body.

The first lesson learned: dont use soap if you are bathing out side the designated bathroom.

Soon, body starts coming back to normal & we dont know how we were walking.......The foot was not landing at the place where it intend to.

This continues till we reach near to base camp.

We share our experience with others & given tips HOW TO TAKE BATH.

taking bath directly from the river or from water fall throughout the trek becomes the status symbol of "Daring" as other group doing trekking with us was from Gujrat.

We never saw Any Gujrati taking bath....they used to soak their towel in water, squeezed it & then taking towel bath.

The food at camp was pure vegetarian & good in taste like any camp in such scenario.

After dinner we have been called for camp fire, the main attraction of base camp & throughout the the trekking program.

The base camp was a place where 70-100 people are present all the times, from different part of india.

We went there sat quietly to see the proceedings....The anchor, the person & groups performing were not found very attractive to us & the whole group decided to challenge them next eve.

Jamiaets pushed me to take charge to play anchor & as pre planned, we rock the camp fire.

The sweetness of urdu, culture of jamia, activeness & dscipline of NCC brought the good results in our favor & Jamia gang become the hot favorite over night.

Three night stay at raison base & performance of all jamiaets inlcuding me, zia haider, kamil hasan, talib, musarrat bhai & many more did magic to make camp fire as ever lasting experience.

Jamia NCC-Trekking program (chandrakhani pass)

In last posting I was mentioning about trekking program, so lets pick it from there & continue.
We were about 20 students,10 each from junior & senior division & Mr.Afaque was our team leader, an employee of JMI NCC office.
BAM, QMD,Kamil hasan, Parvez Akhtar were prominent in our group.
When Bus Started from ISBT,we were full of energy but soon after traveling 100km, our energy level went down & we felt exhausted.
We have to travel whole night & it was expected to reach Kullu between 10-11AM.
Trying to sleep but there was no angle that we can sleep due to bumpy road & bus was far away from comfort zone!
Tried different positions
Head resting back on iron bar, too risky & can’t sleep.
Head on bar at front seat, no sleep.
Leaning either side! Forget about it.
Finally we rested past our leg on the top of front seat bar while half body on the seat in a way that our head should touch & move freely to the seat we were occupying.
This posture given all of us a tough sleep till driver applies brakes signaled that we reached Ambala (Punjab).
Went down, had our dinner & a cup of tea before disembark again.
It was last hours of night when we felt some cold, cant see outside as there was no light & no moon.
Only black tarmac visible through bus head lights but we can felt bus is gaining altitude as engine was too noisy.
Few hours later we feel company out side while covering ourselves in shawls.
To our surprise, the bus was penetrating through Himalayas.
It was my first time that I have been face to face with the youngest mountain of the world.
The brown/grey giants fully covered with greenery.
Conductor told us that we left shimla behind through bye pass road.
Unlimited peaks surround us with a kind we feel that, yes we are above the world!
National highway looks merely a line in comparison with Himalayas however it was strong enough to challenge its greatness by penetrating through.
Left side huge wall of mountains towering hundreds of meters while right side deep gorge descending straight 100 of meters.
Beautiful but frightening, a single mistake of driver can plunge the bus deep down.
The expert driver of himachal roadways was driving it fast towards destination & now we can feel cool breeze on our faces & deep down blinking Sound of Beas River.
Altogether, it was wonderful looking all around & we forget our breakfast.
Kullu came, bus stopped to drop few passenger & starts again towards Manali.
It was after kullu that we came near to Beas River as far as altitude was concern & easily hear roaring sound of flowing river.
After 20-25km bus stopped almost few hundred meters away from river on a plane & we all disembarked.
It was our base camp set on the bank of Beas river.
A very beautiful place can hardly be described in words.
The whole trekking program was organized by YHA (Youth hostel association) & we have been welcomed by officials upon arrival.
Soon after registration, we have been allotted with tent & 8 people gets one tent.
Our tent was situated very near to the banks of beas & its roaring sound was very prominent.
We have been briefed about our trekking program & its essentials to be kept in rucksack with many do’s & don’ts.
We also informed by our instructor to get ready next day for a 10km acclimatization walk which eventually will help us to get ready for the main program.
Other training highlights were rock climbing & river crossing by rope.

Trekking program in 1986

"Abe NCC ka tour ja raha he"(NCC is organising a tour) said one of my colleague!

I asked where?

Replied "Himachal Pradesh"!!!

It was in 1985-86 & i was in Xth standard, fully involve & active cadet of Jamia NCC.

Summer vacation were approaching & NCC office announced a tour for its cadets in Himachal Pradesh to do tracking in Himalyas.

It came to me like a dream comes true!

NCC was bearing @ half the cost & half to be arranged by us.

I went to NCC office along with QMD & BAM to register ourselves.

It was one month before i must make the payment.

The question remians, how to pay?

I dont wanna trouble my parents for this.

Also, the tution i was offering was not enough to bear the required expenses.

Trying to figure out, i came across a contractor backfilling Yamuna for ploting at batla house.

He offerred me to supervise backfilling operation for 20days & offered me a good amount in return.

Finally i got the amount needed to finance tracking tour.

Finished with the formalities, NCC office divided us in three groups & i was named in group-3.

My self, QMD & BAM decided to go shopping & went to Sunday market/Chor bazar behind red fort.

We purchased Gum boot, ruksack,knives & specially foam filled shirts at shoulders for our tour along with few small items.

Finally the day came & we departed in a DTC bus for ISBT (inter state bus terminal).

Few of our seniors like Musarrat Ali/Afaque bhai joined us there.

Boarded on Himachal pradesh state transport corporation bus finally departed for Kullu (HP).

One more personality passed away.....

Dear All,

Death of Meenai saheb came to me as a shock.
I met him only once or twice in JMI, however my father was very close to him as Meenai saheb was close associate of Professor Mujeeb (EX VC JMI).
I know Zubair Meenai his son, personally as we both active cadets of JMI NCC.
I express my deep condolence to Zubair Bhai & Family at demise of Professor Meenai.
Following is an obituary written by Ghizal mehdi, Close friend of Zubair Meenai.

Zamana bade shauq se sun raha tha
Hum hi so gaye dasstaN kehte kehte

OBITUARY

Mohammed Naziruddin Menai, retired Professor in the Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, passed away peacefully in his sleep on 28th September 2008 at the ripe age of 81 years. Professor Menai joined the Jamia Millia Islamia in 1957, quitting a well-paid `gazetted' job with the Government of Rajasthan for the Jamia mission. Professor Menai, a contemporary of late Vice chancellor Prof M Mujeeb and his close friend, was part of the initial building up of the institution, setting up many offices and systems in the university. He was the founder and former Head of the Political Science Department of the Jamia. Professor Menai was one of the last breeds of committed Jamaiees who passionately believed in the principals of secularism and nationalism. His commitment towards his students was legendary. He was the Secretary and President of the Jamia Teachers Association and played an important role in the teacher politics in the university.

Professor Menai closely worked with Mrs Subhadra Joshi in 'Citizens for Democracy for Communal Harmony'. He was a towering personality on the campus and was a regular theatre activist, being part of the Naya Theatre launched by renowned theater personality, Habib Tanvir and was in the original cast of several of his plays. He along with his close friend, late Professor Iqbal Mahdi, was also a founder of Progressive Writers' Association in Jamia. Professor Menai was a popular and much loved figure on the campus by all sections of the university including the teachers, administrative staff and karamcharis. He was a gentle and considerate humanitarian and impressed one and all with his demeanor. He is survived by his wife and four children – Mrs Ghazala Meenai, Mrs Tasneem Meenai, Mrs Sheeba Meenai and Professor Zubair Meenai.

Chronology:
Date of Birth: 01 January 1928
Lecturer Political Science at the Jamia Rural Institute: 24.10.1957
Reader, Political Science: 08.08.1970
Professor, Political Science: January 1983
Offg Registrar: 5.10.1985 to 5.7.1987
Retired on 31.12.1987
Expired: 28.09.2008

Jamia senior secondary school-Razi Ahmed Farooqui

After final examination in 12th standard engineering entrance was standing like a monster.

No guidance, nothing predefined other than a small guide costing IRs.40 was the only way to understand pattern of engineering entrance.

Agreed with Shareef & Razi Ahmed Farooqui to do joint preparation, we figure out Razi's house in noor nagar was a perfect place to sit & concentrate on entrance.

His house was empty as parents were off on summer vacation & there fore it was a fantastic place without any hitch.

morning session don't have any problem as music, tea & preparation for exam always go smoothly but problem comes when lunch time arrive!

Some time from hotel in noor nagar but Shareef was very fond of DOSA.

Whenever we try to discuss & finalize what to eat then without any delay Shareef propose DOSA.

Not, always but some times we do agree with him to try dosa at community centre.

It was IRs.4 per masala dosa those days.

Razi used to open his drawer to take his share where he had around 100 rupees change before we go & enjoy dosa.
One time, two time......why should we spend money on dosa?
There after we keep on enjoying Dosa till one day Razi discover about our mischiefs when his money fully disappeared from drawer!
He went little mad but took it lightly & we all agreed to compensate him by exempting to pool any money for next week.
Actually, it never happened & he keep paying as usual.
Our presence in his house widely spread & we got companions from neighbour hood.
Those were Asjad majeed & BAM.
Asjad has chosen to take admission in BUMS rather going for engineering while BAM continue to prepare for entrance.
Razi was little fat as compare to me, asjad, shareef with almost equal height.
One day he we saw him wearing a nice light pink shirt!
It was a nice shirt & i asked him to give me for one day. he out rightly rejected my request & told to go & buy as he like that & cant share with any one.
He left on his bicycle & i took recourse to have that shirt at any cost!
Tried in community centre but didn't get the right one.
Returned dejected on my bicycle, with desire, i went towards noor nagar to meet razi but he wasn't at home!
Since summer was on peak therefore i decide to go inside to have some chilled water.
Infact, we all were aware where razi used to keep his house keys, so i took it & went inside.
While drinking water i saw the same pink shirt hanging inside room.......A lightning idea flashed in my mind & took his shirt & went straight to my house.
With a pre planned scheme, i sat on sewing machine & stitched the shirt according to my size & cut the additional portion to curb any doubt later!
Did ironing & it was ready for my use.
After noon we met againg & razi, shareef, Asjad & BAM were delighted to see my shirt.
Razi exclaimed & said this exactly look like my shirt!
I was smiling from inside.
Suddenly he took time out & went inside his house, came back with multicolor face.
He said in anguish that his shirt is missing!
He pointed out at me & said you have taken my shirt & i refused his claim.
He then asked me to take it off for checking.
We went inside & i took off my shirt.
He examined & returned back the shirt with uncomfort & doubt.
He was not convinced but cant do any thing because it was not of his fitting.
After few weeks in a good mood after listening many complaints from Razi that his shirt disappeared since i bough new shirt.
Decided to end the suspense, i revealed him that his shirt although disappeared, however, it still exist, he asked where?
I told him that the one i wear was actually his shirt.
While i was making the statement, razi's mouth was wide open with a disbelief.
He said, he was always doubtful that i took his shirt but there was a logic for not believing that.
I asked him the logic.
He said, Morning time shirt was with him & afternoon time it wasn't, infact the one which i weared was smaller in size & it was beyond imagination as all the tailor shops closed during noon time & no one can do repair in such a short time!!!!
Then i told him that he is absolutely right but some time things can be solved with a simplicity without complications.
He put the right logic but i did the job of a tailor.
Although little angry with the act, finally he salute the art & offered me the shirt as gift.
Since that time, he never forget the episode & iam sure if he read this he will be delighted to share this with his wife & kids.
It is not very important to mention that we always finished sweets without his permission that he used to hide in the cupboard which was sent by his relatives quiet oftenly from Lucknow.
I met razi last time few years back on Batla house chowk.....he was in Delhi that time but i heard recently about his presence in KSA.
Trying to find out his contacts.

Crazy friend Akbar......Jamia senior secondary school

Mohammed Akbar

Few years back i was in Delhi during my terminal leave & relaxing after short escape from Dubai.
One day,
Akbar called me & asked what iam doing in evening?
I said nothing much!
He offered me a dinner old Delhi.
I agreed.
Out of context & previous experience, i asked him how many people & how to reach there?

Without hesitation, he stated to take master ji (mohammed shareef) & take rickshaw to reach okhla railway station.
From railway station, pick local to reach old Delhi railway station.
From old Delhi railway station, hire Tonga to reach near by place & then leave Tonga in near vicinity to cover remaining distance by walking.
I told him, Are you crazy?
Why don't we take auto rickshaw & reach the place?
He remain adamant to go there only the way he has planned & shareef ( The Dosa King),was part of it.
I refused & said, iam not in college life now & please you also come out.
I know you & shareef are jamia employee but don't you think its too harsh for me & nihari to spend these efforts & time in commuting?
I know even i refused, both of them might have went there as per their wish & plan.
This was AKBAR, my sarcastic, crazy friend.

If i talk about honesty, i will find akbar on top of the list.
He is so nice, humble, honest, lovable & most of time intolerable friend of mine.

You will be surprised to know that he used Halliday & Resnik books when we were trying to understand the contents of NCERT physics book.
Moreover, he was the only guy expert in collecting & referring to foreign writers during our school times.
He was hard working person, very responsible & ready to do any thing for friends & friendship.
For example, if he has money to deposit school fee & he found one of us wants to eat kebab then without thinking twice, he will pay kebab bill rather retaining the same to pay school fee.
Never mind if he gets punished for late fee later on.
He is the one who sacrificed his whole career just to understand few fundas of physics in XII standard.
I learned few things from him & the most imortant was NOT TO GIVE UP.
When the going gets tough then the tough gets going.
He used to work as a porter at Delhi air port at night to sustain his education expenses & day time, he was the first to arrive in school!
Smiling, full of energy all the times.
Many people among my friends used Akbar for their benefits & despite knowing the facts, he never yelled & complain.
He is source of inspiration & energy for many, but unfortunately his education career came to an abrupt halt during 1987.
Our friendship didnt stopped there & Akbar was part of my life since then.
He joined JMI later on as an employee & recently looks & behave like a government employee.
But, there is person inside Akbar, looking for freedom from busy life schedule.
I saw a darkness in his eyes, like a boy become adult in childhood.
I saw many of his dreams trying to come out but he is holding them tight just to fulfill his obligation & responsibilities to his family.
Last time when i went india for 7 days in 2005, i didnt get time to meet him.
This time i will try........
One more thing about akbar.
B.A.M( one of Akbar's friend) asked him few years back to make passport, so that we can call him Dubai.
Since he is governmnet employee therefore it can be easy for him to get long leave like others.
Akbar said, he doesnt have money, so BAM given him that money.
As usual we used to eat out at night & these times akbar was very happy to pay all the bills.
Suddenly, one day BAM asked him, did he submitted passport form?
He smiled & told that all the money he spend by paying food bills.
I know BAM is one of those friend of Akbar, who never used him.
Akbar, he is simply great like great mughal emperor Akbar.
He is king by heart.
I pray to ALLAH to make his life easy & give him a life partner to experience family life.

Next time i will post some thing about Shareef (The dosa King), Internal student, topper & now Reader in Jamia Engineering college.

Math paper leak in 1989

It was engineering second year & final exams were near.
People like me went underground as to cover up lost time invested in college canteen to avoid a shameful result.
It was a trend to go back to studies at least 40-50 days before exams & we did the same.
Although we got rid of Physics but mathematics was again there in second year & it was an uphill task.
I was doing preparation with other guys while came to know that Math paper is out!
To avoid labour, we also went in Que to break the code & get the paper before.
Tried many contacts but no result!
One day left!
Preparation were nothing except two sample paper (model paper).
Then one of my colleague broke the silent with a good news that he knows the person who has the paper.
We decided & contribute whatever in pockets to buy maths paper.
There was a condition!
Only one person is allowed & he will get the paper to have a look on spot write every thing on note book with a warning of not revealing it to any one!
It was an easy thing for us, we got the question paper & asked one of the brilliant engineering student to come & solve it.
One of our friend Ejaz Ahmed, refused to look into it & went along with his preparations.
Any how, Brilliant student came, solve the question paper & we got every thing in our mind.
It was party time, Nihari roti in Batla house was not less than a feast that night.
We talked about so many things & slept without exam tension.
Next morning i left for examination center, i found many of my friends but no body was interested in talking to each other as we used to do before any paper.
Actually i was also not interested in talking to any one as the whole questionnaire was in my mind & i was in hurry to solve those questions.
Finally the moment arrived & invigilator distributed the math paper.
I took it from his hands, opened the fold quickly & suddenly it seems that some punched me on my face.
I went blank!
It was a shock & i asked invigilator to check whether this is the one for us?
Is it not for people appearing for compartment?
He smiled & said, there is no mistake at all & this is mathematics question paper for BSc.Engineering II year.
It was just like that some one punctured the inflated balloon with only difference that no body has heard the blast!!!!
I looked around & found majority of students in the same state as of mine.
With lot & lot of difficulty i attempted 04 questions out of 5 compulsory with an uncertainty to have 03 correct to get me green pass.
Not more than 90 minutes & i was out of the examination hall.
I found most of them outside, now talking, abusing & cursing.
I joined the group.
I saw Ejaz Ahmed coming out smiling.
He took us to muzaffar bhai ki canteen for console.
There was nothing to say, the man ran away who sold the paper & there was no paper leaked that year.
It was simply a trap made for the purpose to earn money.
At least 85% students got compartment in second year mathematics, fortunately i was among those 15% lucky students who got the green pass without compartment.
Quite often Ejaz Ahmed used to smile on us whenever we talk about that particular instance & happening.
Some time over smartness give negative results & short cut cause only PAIN.

Mimmi baji passed away

(Reply to Zoya Ajmali on Jamia alumni directory yahoo group on 31.05.08)

I do agree with Zoya, I don’t know but zoya name looks familiar to me, may be you were my nursery mate during 1973-75!
This immense & irreparable loss not only shocked me but Jamiaets much elder & younger to me.
She was famous as Mimmi baji for us & Mimmi aapa for people elder than me although her name was “Jamal Fatima”.
I already tried to sum up few moments on my blog last year.
It is almost impossible to describe your first teacher.
I was so young (about 3year old) when admitted to Jamia nursery.
Not clear with each & every aspect of happenings other than few faces & impression of first activities on the canvas of my innocent mind.
The very prominent were two.
Mimmi baji & Abdullah Bhai.
A lady or a second Mother to us is wearing a saree, & a prominent looking big spectacle & a lovely voice.
Story telling, various academic & sports activities with love & affection was so attractive that very few wants to leave nursery at 12.
There might be millions of happenings in ones life, thousands of people you come across meeting & hundreds of teacher you might experienced but there are very few you remember throughout your life.
You may remember those, who played a significant role to guide your life on the way to success.
Although Nursery students were not able to think about future, experience, career & all those difficult things waits for them on threshold, however, it was life taking shape under control guidance & careful hands of Mimmi baji & those associated little later.
Mimmi baji taught us to share our lunch box with others.
It may sound little important but Sharing lunch box lead to tolerance & cohesiveness among each other in many ways!
The first lesson learnt always mean too much for many & for me too.
Mimmi baji initiated with a right script on the canvas of our mind.
I do remember to receive invitation from Jamia nursery to attend annual function even after 12 years after leaving.
How much it touches you when you see mimmi baji remembering your name after 10-15-20 years?
It matter a lot to me.
I don’t remember complete name of my engineering mates from 1991 in 2008!
But she (mimmi baji) remembered all her students.

“Kullu nafsin zayeqatul maut”

Death is certain, life is uncertain.
Despite knowing the fact we all care, run & live for the uncertain thing.
Also we do care to retain few of them forever which we know is not possible.
She was one of the certain personalities in my uncertain life that will remain certain till shadow of uncertainty took over me.
Future become reality in present that passed quickly to dump it in past & within no time we lost in never ending black hole of the cruel past.

I dedicate this article to Mimmi baji & Pray ALLAH to shower blessings on her & rest her soul in peace.

Note: Did any one have photograph of Mimmi baji?

----- Original Message ----From: Zoya Ajmali To: jamia_millia_alumni_directory@yahoogroups.comSent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 10:25:14 AMSubject: Re: [jamia_millia_alumni_directory] Mimmi Baji, Jamia nursery passed away on 26.05.08.

Today I go back through the memory lanes of those days when as a kid I used to go to jamia nursery.The only source of attraction for me in that school happened to be a frail short but sweeter than sweets lady called MIMMI BAJI.......Yes! I'm proud very very proud to say that she was my first & foremost teacher.She proved to be a Florence Nightingale in those days and also thereafter.Even though I left Jamia after nursery itself but she always remembered me and always showered her blessings in the little get togethers of jamia through which we met.A few years back I had the privilege of meeting her again and I very proudly showed my children MY VERY FIRST GUIDE OF LIFE.She again blessed me and my children too. I can still remember her warm smile of recognition as well as feel the warmth of her embrace. I pray to Allah For her Maghfirath.

Mimmi Baji also left...

Dear ALL,

I got an email from Aziz Akhtar bhai, giving a sad news.

"Mimmi baji expired this morning (26.05.08)".

What to say!!!!
She was like a mother not only for me but many of us.
Thinking about Jamia nursery during our times & much before cant be possible without mimmi baji.
May ALLAH rest her soul in peace & Place in Heaven.

HazaroN saal Nargis apni benoori pe roti hai
baRi mushkil se hota hai chaman meiN deedawar paida.

Farooq Saheb

Dear All,
Today morning (27.04.2008) Haroon called me & said FAROOQ SAHEB, our beloved teacher in Jamia middle school passed away.
He was more than a teacher for us.
May ALLAH rest his soul in peace.
Slowly, The certainity of death putting a full stop to the uncertain life of many......Our turn will also come.
We will soon be the part of PAST.

Kal aur aaiyeN ge naghmoN ki khilti kaliyaN chun ne wale
Mujhse behtar kehne wale, tum se behtar sun ne wale............

Dear Sir (Farooq Saheb),
You will remain in our memories for ever.

Jamia NCC

It is not possible to for me to leave sweet memories pertaining to JAMIA NCC.
Actually, I was collecting all other happening before key down episode related to NCC, NSS & BAL Bhawan outlet in Jamia middle school.
I don’t know exactly when I become interested in NCC but thing that fascinates me like other kids was foundation day parade in middle school campus.
Earlier we used to take small flags in our hand to gather near intersection of parks dividing middle from higher secondary school.
Later during 6th standard onwards, we used to escape & look at the heart throbbing march past (drill) from different angle.
It was fabulous to see cadets from all grades marching towards the centre stage to give SALAMI to VC.
Military drum, the scintillating beat (sare jahan se achcha, Hindustan humara), Army fit out with color full red & navy blue scarf, followed by senior division boys, girls, junior division boys & girls file.
With one beat of drum & a clear sound of (TUCK) from heels of the cadets.
29th October never comes in summer there fore it was always a nice weather to stand there in school lawns for hours to see people performs.
Once Cadet Company reached to destination, they ordered to stand in at ease.
Mean time, there were four pilots, wearing the NCC dress appears on bullets as VC’s escort.Approaching slowly like President of India goes for 26th January at raj path......continue

Library- Jamia middle school

It was 1978-79, when I came to know about Library in Jamia Middle School.
During recess timing I went to library with one of my friend.
It was situated below Iqbal Manzil.
For the first time I saw Habib sahib, sitting behind the table with spectacles & topi on head.
I asked him to allow me to go inside & search for a story book.
He asked, is it your first time?
I said yes.
He said go to your class teacher & bring a signed application for the membership.
I tried & found Hashmet sahib on leave, went again to Habib sahib & briefed him.
He provided with an alternative to take signature of any teacher.
Eventually I got it signed by Aisha Madam.
Habib sahib opened & activated my account.
I was allowed to go inside where racks & racks of books were stored.
Fascinating, I grabbed one small storey book.
As rule one should return the book with 7days/ 3days of issue, depending upon the demand or else pay late return fine.
Days become too long after the school for those small storey books.
By the time I reach to 5th standard, I was finished with all storey books of my taste kept in library.
Taste developed at that time was fantasy, adventure & magic.
Mazhar ul haque alvi was one of the favorites.
Apart from storey books, library was full of other books as well.
Daily news paper of Urdu, Hindi & English that can be read in recess.
Table full of Khilona, payame taleem, champak, lot pot were amongst the favorite of the pupil.
Some times you find them fighting for magazines.
It was habib sahebs tool to tackle students in such situation.
He used to send every body out from the library in such situations.
There fore fight scenes were negligible.
Apart from issuing the story book directly from library, we used to circulate them among friends by squeezing our reading time otherwise; it was difficult to get the same once some one return.
Habib sahib although strict but have soft corner for those who return the books in time, keep them neat & tidy, never tear or fold the pages & of course class mate of his daughter Ruqaiyya.
I don’t have much of memories of middle school library except that I used to run before school ends to ensure a story book for self.
It was a rare incident that I sit inside reading room to enjoy any digest & news paper.
Library can be found in any school, any where in the world.
Habib sahib was a thorough gentleman & a respected person.
I know many years back that he is no more in this world.
I really enjoyed my library association along with my friends.
It was also mandatory to take clearance before issuing the hall ticket of Class VIII.
I pray to ALLAH to rest Habib sahib soul in peace & bless him with a place in Jannat.
His contribution was unique in making our future; at least, I got the habit of reading just because of Library of Jamia middle school.

Assorted Fun in Jamia School

During 80's

As an assorted entertainment during school days there were many inclusions to our basket.
Although seasonal, but important part of student life, beside curriculum.
Many types of trees were part of our school campus, Gul Mohar, Shehtoot, Bel paththar & jungle Jalebi (I don’t know their botanical or English names).
It was our favorite activity to enjoy flower of gul mohar.
We used to pelt stone to take those buds out from the tree to eat,
they were simply delicious due to their tangy taste.
I don’t remember a year without eating flowers during my stay in school.
It was a real beauty to see flourished colorful Gul Mohar tree of green branches with red flowers on them.
Those trees were all over but densely situated on the peripheral way to fine arts department.

Jungle jalebi
I don’t have its English name but those who know it by this name might have their mouth full of water!
Scorching & sizzling summer never be a hurdle for those who likes to enjoy this unique fruit.
Back side of baghbani in middle school & next to Bhopal ground was the location to find jungle jalebi.
Since the branches have thorns, it was damn difficult to climb & pluck the fruit.
Ghulail or good aimers were always having an advantage to get more in less time.
I still remember to collect jungle jalebi along with Kamil Hasan, Mohammed Talib, Shakeel, Muqeed etc in Bhopal ground.

Bel Paththar

These trees were under secured mode & guarded properly due to its fruit & healing benefits.
Few of them situated in Baghbani of middle school, Baghbani of faujdar sahib (in between school field & jamia nursery).
In baghbani, it was Baba din who made it very difficult for us to steal this fruit & it was next to impossible with Faujdar.
A group of four to five people were always ideal to execute this mission.
I think I have mentioned in one of my post earlier of falling bel paththar on one of my friend.
Once ditching baba din & getting at least two pieces of fruit, it used to be a party time.
It was equally dangerous to climb on tree due to all the fruits bearing branches were weak & it was always a risk of fall.

Kammu ka khet

On the way to Jamia College from store, just after Maktaba Jamia, where MCRC is situated now, it was a big piece of land, very fertile & always green with seasonal vegetables & fruit trees.
Barricaded by wired fence & Kammu’s vigilant plus violent approach, it was very difficult to sneak through & try something that violates kammu’s commercial interests.
But, as usual we always broke through his fence to steal Amrood (guava) mainly & some time Gaanth gobhi.
By the time he travel 20-25 meters almost running, we were through with few guava on road.
The calculation proves sometime wrong & few get caught & few get the taste of his batten instead of guava.
Impact of hitting with stick, although bad & painful but controllable while trapped with kammu was very bad as finally one has to bail out on parents request or known person means a lot of humiliation & firing.
Never mind, Kammu’s Amrood were really good so as Gaanth Gobi, Gajar & mooli.
Kammu used to sell fresh vegetables & fruit to Jamia employees & to local market on reasonable rates.

Faujdar Saheb ki Baghbani

It was very difficult of get an access to his farmland for the purpose to steal.
All four sides were properly protected wig barbed wired fence along with branches of babool/keekar.
The only way possible to try was from playground.
Mooli (radish), gaanth gobhi, Gajar (carrot), Amrood (guava), Jamun were big attraction of his orchid & they were very tasty indeed.
Another problem that made our mission more difficult was his two son Gulzar & mukhtar.
In fact Mukhtar was with me & in his presence all the times made it very difficult to avail any fruit.
I have never given up in my life & so my friends were also hungry for those tasty fruits & tried all means to fine a pass hole.
Finally during hockey practice session we found one, properly inspected for operation & then left covered with tree branches for tomorrow.
Next day I sneak inside with kamil to steal Radish, we succeeded too but at the time of returning, Faujdar sb.noticed our unauthorized presence.
He shouted & starts running towards us & we did the same.
He recognized both of us & while escaping through barbed wires, I got my school shirt stuck & finally torn.

I enjoyed mooli with my friends but worried about shirt as what to say at home.
My eyes blinks & I thought of an excuse without knowing that Faujdar Sb already conveyed our activity to our parents.
My mother asked me the reason & I lied to her, knowing the facts, I got some nice imprints on my body & face.

I promised never to steal anything from any where in near future.
It was a promise based temporary on emotions to find an escape route.
I must admit that stealing amrood, mooli, gajar, gaanth gobhi were really a fun & I never get the same taste since after leaving the school.

I don’t know whether Faujdar sb’s. Plantation still exist but kammu’s khet were part of our memories during our school days to give way to MCRC.

As small shehtoot were in abundance in jamia, there fore we found it easy to eat wherever & whenever required, however the bigger version was available only at limited places.
While looking back, I wonder how people become very busy now days!!

We used to have plenty of time after school timings & used to sit in school for multiple activities.
May be those days were more secured & parents have faith in school.

Iam sure many of you reading this have similar past when it comes to sweetness of an AMROOD.

Time out in campus-2 (1987-91)

Being an internal student, entering to engineering faculty was not more than a curse for many of us.
Ready to take the challenges of life & many dreams to become an engineer were first to evaporate after attending few classes.
It was not because of course contents & any difficulty to understand them but, due to very bad behavior & biased attitude of many faculty lecturers hails from a particular institution.
They were anonymously against all internals due to the reasons unknown with the exception of a handful lecturers.
This was the time when I experienced a totally new jamia although I was from third batch after commencement of Bsc.Engineering in 1984-85 by Prof.Ali Ashraf, VC at that time.


It was a common practice of many lecturers to demoralize internals in classroom followed by an expulsion from the period with an exception of Mr.Waqar/Mr.Masood Alam (chemistry), Prof.Rafat (physics), Mr.Afaq (English), Mr.Idrees Qureshi (math’s) who were really good to act like a lecturer without any prejudice during my first year in 1987.


But one good factor that prevails during those days was Prof.Mubeen , who was indeed a fair person to judge people & understands their problem.


That’s the reason why he was considered a good Dean of faculty of engineering.


Whether it was Mr.Mehtab Alam, Mr.Shakeel, Mr.Gohar mehmood or any body, they were openly found discussing & disgracing JMI & students coming from Jamia School.


It was very difficult situation to live & cop with.


We were targeted & labeled as bad students, political bugs, miscreants & disturbing elements by them without even a single justification to their accusations.


The day starts with taunting & ends in disgrace.


The whole first year we spend was in real misery & the same attitude was thoroughly reflected in the sessional marks given by them.


It was the second years when we start to sustain their accusations although we never faced this kind of problems with external students, as we were just colleagues & part of engineering faculty.
Mechanical, civil & electrical respectively were the only trades available during our times with priority to mechanical, civil & then electrical.


Initially I was allotted with Mechanical & changed my discipline to civil & registered as the first student rolled back to civil from mechanical.


There were many who has opted a policy to degrade internals in class room as their hidden agenda but, it was Mehtab Alam who came openly against including Mr.Shakeel (hydraulics).


I still remember when he literally abused one of my colleagues & he felt dejected.
It can be understood easily that how bad he would have felt because I couldn't’t resist the pain & voiced against Mehtab Alam.
He was surprised because it was the first time when he was opposed by some one.
I stopped him & told clearly that he has no right to abuse & go personal.
He then emphasized on to hold all of us for another six years in engineering & I took his challenge & told him to go for it.


He targeted most of internals & to me in sessional marks & finally long awaited results came out!
While taking mark sheet/Grade sheet from the office, he caught me along with his colleagues.
Satirically asked me about my results & I bluntly told him that I got passed & he failed.
Didn’t understand & I elaborated further, Mr.Mehtab, you have tried with your associates to hold me in second year by giving very bad grades in sessional, but it is Allah’s grace that I performed well & exams grades are far better than of yours.
There fore never try to abuse anybody with or without reason.
You will loose the respect of a teacher.
Despite of all kind of abuse pondered by those people, there were few, who always acted like a teacher & one of them was Mr.Rasheed Ahmed (environment).
In fresher’s party arranged by second year students, he was the only one openly spoken few words in favor of jamia internal students.
He mentioned & I remember “Please do not degrade internal in any specific way, they are no way inferior to any of external in any regards. If we extend our trust on them, then we will find them performing better than any body else in the college, not only in education but in other fields too”.
This statement took all others by surprise( the one belongs to a particular institution & formed a sort of mafia in JMI), except for Mr.Khalid Moin, Mr.Nusrat ullah khan, Dr.Rafar, Mr.Waqar, Mr.Masood Alam, Dr.Idrees Qureshi & Dr.Mubin who indeed were very fair in their treatment to all students.
Mr.Rasheed’s statement was a cold breeze in the midst of a desert & we have felt a sigh of relief & committed our self to perform better.
It was one of the reason that Engineering final year’s results faded the faces of Mafia indulged in abusing internals.
Topper of Civil & electrical in 1991 were from Jamia senior secondary school.

It might be possible that all those names I aforementioned becomes big bosses & transformed themselves in unbiased entities now, but they should not forget that JMI is the only institution which enabled them to attain high position in academics & in society.
They must feel sorry for their behavior like a person & as a teacher.

There are many other episodes related to college days has to come!

Memory lane...JMI, Ansari Health Centre

Ansari health center is of course very established & advance now days but it was small with limited people during our days.
The main people at dispensary were Jafer bhai (late), sadaqat bhai & Dr.Asma.
The worse part of dispensary was Dr.Asma & the best Jafar bhai & sadaqat bhai.
Looking at the perspective of just a student with no great reference will put more light to my comment about Dr.Asma.
She never considered herself lesser than Indira Gandhi, PM of India.
Whenever you go to her, for cough, fever, cold or pain, she always keeps you waiting for a long time.
She gives preference to top grade people of JMI, like professor, readers & then teachers.
No matter how long the queue is, they always get instant entry upon arrival.
Some time, even other employee of jamia gets frustrated by this,
but what to do?
She was the only doctor available, There fore live or leave, it is all up to you.

During checkup, she seldom put stethoscope & rarely touches you to examine any thing.
Your check up is over without even looking at you & your prescription always remains self explanatory of the discrimination in AHC by Dr.Asma.

You always end up in diluted syrup from one gallon bottle with loose tablets of vitamin C, yellow color B complex, aspirin or paracetamol & some time phenyl butazone.

In contrary, any professor & top grade employee or even acquaintance of Dr.Asma goes with fresh packed bottle & strips of tablets.

Those were the issues, really annoyed many of us during those days, that’s how, I never get well even a single time by her prescription.
May be, due to my mental blog about her.

However, if you go to dressing lab, the whole dispensary looks totally different.

Jafer Bhai: he was an old man with black & white moustaches & old fashion spectacles.
His smile was very bad & students always afraid to go to him.
He always has either red or blue lotion for your injury & belladonna tape for boils.
The problem was not with lotion or tape, the actual problem of his talking & handling your injury.
The way he talks made you half finished & balance after you come out of lab.
Despite all, no body hated him ever; yet, we don’t like him but always respected him because he knows parents of every one.
He is no more in this world now, but whenever I think of dispensary, I cant forget his eyes & smile.
Sadaqat Bhai: Unlike jafer bhai, Sadaqat bhai was hot favorite.
He was young compare to jafer bhai & was very quiet & calm person. Always listen & try to understand your problem.
He also uses the same medicine but with a difference.
People gets little pain while handled by him rather than jafer bhai.
His practical jokes of jamia staff was also liked by many.

Once after facing a lot of frustration by Dr.Asma, I have decided to write my own prescription on card.
I did it & pharmacist caught me & referred to Dr.Asma.
It was the time when another Fellow has joined AHC, Dr.Khalid.
She summoned me & as usual threatened me of reporting the matter to school principal & consequences of getting expelled from the school.
I was little afraid by this because, it was for sure that I did a big mistake & it will be difficult to get rid of this lady.
Dr.Khalid asked me why you did this.
I told him that, it was a long queue & I was getting late to class.
She was attending to those not in line & also, I wanted to avail good medicines as we all are paying equal fee whether student of professor.
She became defiant after listening to this & I had remained with no alternate to throw a “SORRY”.
Dr.Khalid came to my rescue & advised me to leave after saying sorry.
I felt relaxed while coming out from dispensary & promised my self to never repeat mistake & never consult Dr.Asma.
That was my last encounter with her & I never visited her due to available alternative.
Stories keep coming to me during college days that she remained unchanged.

Jamia Middle School...Art Teacher (hafizuddin Sahib)

• Ek, Do, Teen (One, two, three), Khamosh!! (Quiet),
  This was a normal hearing during art class conducted by Hafeezuddin sahib to keep the students quiet during Art period in jamia middle school.
  Very tall, thin & slightly dark complexion man with conical shape beard, white topi & wasket of khadi gram uddyog.
  With this attire & a different attitude, Hafiz sahib was al together carry a different persona in school.
  I don’t remember exactly, but in nutshell he tried his level best to teach us art & many of us turned to be a big zero in arts including myself.
  The funniest thing we learned was his style to make the class quiet.
  Ek, Do, Teen was always an alarm to sealed the lips.
  As a steroid, he used to keep one stick always with him.
  In first attempt no body cares to listens Ek, Do Teen, until he repeat it three to four times before punishing the rest with the stick.
  Once he succeeds in keeping the pupil of first rows he moves to last rows allowing the first rows to starts chatting again.
  There fore, stick was always an effective & last resort.
  Keep your drawing note book, HB, HB1, B1 pencil, eraser, sharpener, water paints on the desk!
  None of students ever has all the accessories available with them.
  After all these repeated frustrating non cooperation from students, Hafizuddin sahib used to remain determined towards his teaching.
  He then used to move on black board with chalk & a duster in hands.
  I never witnessed that he ever progressed more than three to four themes during my entire art classes.
  Every grade we move, he updates the same models & asked us to generate the same with a clear cut understanding that we will never going to make up.
  He was right.
  I never generated more than three themes.
  1)Two cubes
  2) Two cubes with a utensil
  3) Human face out line
  4) Scenery.
  Now the last option always comes when he left the choice on students with a topic to draw “Man pasand” (your choice).
  It was the best options for many of us; we never hesitate to draw a mountain, setting sun, a river coming down having a hut on the bank of it, a boat, and lot of grass, a palm tree & outline of many birds returning home.
  
  May be 100 times we drew it.
  
  Hafizuddin sahib was patient enough to check all those repeated drawings with his remarks.
  During teaching & practicing, he taught us to adjudge the things in real & transform them on paper proportionately.
  Unfortunately, I never understood this funda despite of his grave efforts.
  Some times he beats the arrogant & dumb art students like me with duster, which in fact was painful.
  Girls were little sensible in their approach.
  Although they all were not very good in arts but their works were neat, tidy & clean all the times that fetched them high marks.
  Hafiz sahib was having a nick name given by Unknown but inherited to us by our seniors.
  "Chuggi balla"
  I never understand the full meaning of it; however it was really funny at that age to repeat this nick among friends.
  May be due to his height & type of beard some one has given this name.
  Although I know this is bad to give nicks to teachers but during school days, it was a normal practice & the one among few entertainments.
  If I regret at this age of that kind of attitude, then I will be denying a full student life, however, it can always be forgiven on the basis of childhood.
  Hafiz sahib was the most wanted & busiest person during one day’s school & talimi mela later.
  All the artworks, cutouts were under his supervision & students took benefits by working under his guidance.
  But there were few who slipped to his camp during those days just to grab a token in favor of Canteen to grab tea & samosas.
  According to Hafiz sahib every thing was an art & there fore few consider cheating him for the sake of samosa & tea as an ART!!!.
  I was among those who believe in Samosa & tea at that time back in 1980’s.
  

Past tense....Jamia Senior secondary (half yearly exams)

One of my school friend came to see Dubai recently.
He called me on my mobile from a familiar number; I replied & heard his voice.
Was happy to hear & know that he will be here for few days, further elaboration, I heard many voices from background & understood that he was with many people around.
Suddenly he skip on subject “Friendship” & reminded me of something happened during 1986-87.
He claimed his generosity of being my friend despite I complained about him to examination branch 20 years back!
I yelled & reminded him that, it is not his generosity; it is my truth fullness that I accept openly to what I did & pointed to think about those cheaters, who was with me to make a complaint & immediately switched over like today’s politicians & told him the same under my name!
I called them cheaters & they are still pretended his well-wishers.
Any how, our telecon concluded in a healthy atmosphere.
What actually happened 20 years back was really interesting to key down.
Actually, our friend “X” father was in examination branch, holding responsible position.
After half yearly results, we came to know about his position in the class, which on actual academic grounds he never deserves.
All knew that X is not very intelligent or laborious to get such high marks, then how comes he secured such marks was indeed the question to every body.
BAM, HZS & I sat together & reach to a conclusion that X can’t do this without help of his father.
Jinn of honesty enveloped our mind.
We decided to protest against injustice & brought to the notice of controller of Exams.
Finally, agreed & we sat together in Noor Nagar to write a complaint.
They asked me to write down matter on paper after composing the whole matter.
Upon finishing, we sealed it in envelope, stick postage & dropped in one of Red post box.
As normal, one of the fellow double crossed & immediately went o X & told that Zubair has written a complaint about you about securing good marks & accusing you of getting help from your father.
Days, weeks, months gone by, nothing has happened.
We remain together as friends with growing discomfort.
Finally X revealed the secret after two years during one of heated discussion.
I was shocked at first instance not because of news but due to accusation that I was made sole responsible for that epic.
I made him very clear that yes I was the one who wrote the letter, but there were more behind the whole scenario.
The one was BAM, who once again shifted his loyalty.
Never mind, he has repeated many things years after & may be who knows, he has matured with the same frame of mind.
The core reason when he taunted at me about that particular happening of 1986-87 in 2007, I replied to him,
More dangerous is the one who has cheated you, not the one who did & accepted.
He did his BUMS instead of engineering & now a successful doctor.
He was in Dubai for a week, enjoyed a lot & we went many times in past to dig out things & events.
This time while going back to India, he understand many things for the first time in his life because his new friends bypassed & ignored him once again & he remained limited with me, bel paththar & Gheyas.
I will try to key down many other events with X in coming days.

Past tense....Jamia Middle School (Picnic)

Picnic was always a long awaited event in middle school & specifically in primary section.
Once decided, students informed accordingly well in advance.
Picnic was a magic word, full of excitement & joy ahead.
Mind starts working for the event & parents get jammed by the repeated request & demand by their wards.
It was difficult to have a proper sleep before two days & very difficult just a night before.
The whole night mind bubbles with jamia ki lorry, different locations & a colorful day.
Finally morning starts with a bang!
Nice breakfast & Tiffin packed with some thing special by Ammi (mother).
Few rupees to spend & a water bottle to carry was a sign that excitement has begun.
It was mode of HURRY that attracts every single student to school on the day & class room is full of chatting with smell of different food.
I remember, we used to wait & look out side from the window to see arrival of Jamia ki lorry “Chevrolet bus” always driven by “Zaman bhai”.
It was two color bus, green & white with inscription of jamia millia islamia and logo.
I think suleman already mentioned about lorry in his memoirs.
Around 9-9.30 we used to get permission to board.
Once seated in the bus with desired partner, we discuss about what food other has brought.
Lorry starts moving & big shouting by all “Jamia ki lorry zindabad” and Zaman Bhai zindabad.
The first destination used to be Shankar’s doll museum or Rail museum followed by tughlaq fort or humayun tomb.
I personally like rail museum as i never had any interest for dolls.
Rail museum of India constitute of brief history of rail in India right from first steam engine to latest electric engine including diesel locomotive.
The steam locomotive that took tourist now to Darjeeling actually was stationed at rail museum in our times.
There was also a locomotive with mono rail; I always wonder how it runs?
Other than macho displays, there was one toy train & it was the last activity in rail museum to enjoy the ride & ends the visit.
After this, lodhi garden or Nehru Park was the next destination to play & have lunch.
All the teachers & students sit together & open their Tiffin boxes to share among them.
There were separate arrangements’ for hostlers from MATBAKH.
Once properly sits, food distributed among all & enjoyed.
The only hiccup after opening was some one’s screamed or cry, stating that his/her Tiffin found empty!
Most of the times victims were girls as boys were more vigilant about their Tiffin/belongings.
Boys used to target & steal the food from Tiffin in transition & enjoy it way before the lunch time.
There fore when such girl or girls see nothing balance, they start with a cry & then after intervention of teachers & students, settle down in sharing with some one.
The best part was that, food always remains surplus & every body gets chance to enjoy the variety.
Hostlers were the front runner because they always missed the home food.

After food & zuhr prayers, starts the field activities like, tug-o-war, ping pong etc where staff & students took part & enjoy every bit of it.
Few elder students used to walk through the park to see other attraction at those times.
Afterwards lorry heads for tin murti, Nehru planetarium, BAL bhawan etc.
Visiting Planetarium & bal bhawan was always informative & attractive.
By the time clock hits 5 or 6, every one of us looks extremely tired & that was the time when Zaman bhai put jamia ki lorry on the way back to school.
Very few students chatting, looking at each other fully satisfied & few students sitting at back, calculating their mischief.
The moment Lorry enters on Mohammed ali johar marg & after holy family hospital, students recollect their energy & starts again with “Jamia Ki lorry Zindabad” & Zaman bhai zindabad till we reach the D of Jamia middle school.
Many parents were waiting there for their wards & students like me used to walk home from there to conclude one of the best days in school but out, on a picnic.

In higher classes picnic remains but way of enjoyment transformed from one form to another with a difference.
I will try to key down few other picnic & tour in coming days.