Of Jesus Christ and Holy Cross

By Sidrah Roghay

At the far end of the staff colony, where you generally see manicured lawns of well-taken-care-of houses, G-Block is situated. It is a cluttered area where small blocks of houses are situated right in front of each other, and separated by miniature streams of sewage water that have sprung from under the cemented floor. Here the sweepers of the university reside. While we take care to cross, trying to prevent our dupattas and feet from getting dirty, the residents walk through it unaffected, often barefoot.

Our interest in this remote and largely ignored area was the presence of a church built in 1991.

I was expecting a medium sized stone building with a dome or minaret, but here I was standing in dirty water, trying to ignore the stench coming from it so as to not offend my subjects ( the people I was talking to).

By now a group of children had gathered around us. When we told a man that we wanted to visit the church he procured a bunch of keys from somewhere and led us to one of the doors right at our back. The door was no different from others in the area. But difference became evident as soon as we stepped in.
We were standing in the middle of a spotless white room. At the far end was the altar, with a cross on it. Elizabeth, a vibrant young girl, with heavy bangs on her head told me that they come here every Sunday.
“Do you have fun?” I asked all the kids.

“Yes, a lot.” they answered in unison.

Once inside, the children started sitting on the white floor in neat rows. Boys on one side girls on the other.

The girls told me that they clean the church everyday with their mothers. On special occasions the children get together and decorate the church with charts and ribbons.

Quite contrary to Muslim children, going to church for them was an enjoyable experience.

Here, the father was not an alien being who intimidated youngsters, and beat them up with wooden sticks, but some one they could look up to.

Maybe its time we make learning fun for our children too.

Ramshackled hostel and poor hygiene

By Aden Dahir

 The Federal Boys’ hostel at University of Karachi hosts around 60 foreign students of different nationalities, Somalian, Sudanese, Yemenis, Nepalese, and Kenyans are the notable foreign communities who presently reside at the campus hostel. This number is remarkable comparing to other universities in Pakistan which have less foreign nationals. Students here share facilities of two small  building that have 40 rooms, one kitchen and around 15 functioning bathrooms.

From the time of one's applying to live in the boys' hostel, till making one's clearance when finishing the degree, students pass through various stages. The facilities provided by the administration are decent, but lack of advocacy for foreigners about their needs sometimes makes the hostel life difficult.

What’s more, poor sanitation system, lack of basic necessary materials of life such as cooling system, washing machines, water heater sometimes make life unbearable. The hostel doesn't even have a fence which protects them from intruders. Besides the lack of these basic facilities the hostel building is ramshackled and it has never been renovated since it was built.

All these adversities can be easily overlooked because of the excellent cooperation of the all walks of University of Karachi, such as administration , lecturers, departmental workers and even cleaners show them moderate, frank and tireless help.

On the other hand whilst foreigners at the boys' hostel have different beliefs but there is mutual respect among them. Majority of hostel residents are Muslims and every individual is free and fearless to perform his daily religious rituals. The students themselves are collaborative, and the need for interaction is boosted by  the conditions of the hostel.

Despite the ramshackled hostel and poor hygiene facing every one who lives in the federal boys’ hostel, there is no other place better to go at the end of the day, to unwind and relax in the company of friends.

Jabbar Bhai ki treat

By Maimoona Ejaz

Jabbar Bhai, the canteen man at PG is a character unique in his own way. Perhaps the following incident will help elaborate why.

 Jabbar Bhai beamed on seeing a group of new students approaching him:

“Ayyey ayyey. Is university mai aap ko kuch pasand aye ya na aye; meri canteen ki cheezain  pasanad na aye yeh baat tou na mumkin hai bilkul.”

Student 1: "Acha? Kia khaas baat hai aapki canteen mai uncle?"

Jabbar Bhai laughs out loud and responds, “yeh poocho kia khaas baat nahi hai. Lagti hamari dukaan choti hai lekin hum ager mamooli si mamooli cheez ko special ker kai na dikha dain tou hamara naam Jabbar Bhai nahi!

Poochna chaho tou yeh (he flamboyantly points towards me as I get instantaneously embarrassed for listening to their conversation with such fervor) Maimoona se pooch lo. Kiyun beta?"

I: "Jabbar Bhai, sab chorain bus apni special chaat khila dain."

Jabbar Bhai glows with pride upon listening to my request :" Aray haan haan beta, kiun nahi? Tum tou aik din bhi nahi reh sekti meri special chaat ke baghair. Haina? Zara in bachon ko bhi batao kia khasyat hai meri is choti see canteen kee."

I realize I have to be an active part of this conversation and there’s no chance that I skip it. So I begin: "Aray yaar, mujhse poocho tou Jabbar bhai ke haath mai jo jadu hai na wo achon achon ke hathon mai nahi hota!"

Jabbar Bhai: "Yehi tou khaas baat hai bachon. Jitna bus mera huq hai us se aik paisa bhi zaada lena meray liye karz ho jata hai.

(Here I failed to agree with the ultimate generosity Jabbar Bhai showed towards his vanity).

But I decided to carry on for the sake of fun : "Array nahi bhai, Jabbar Bhai tou bus jesay apnai hee hain. Pesay kam to choro kabhi kabhi yeh muft ke garam garam French fries bhi khilatay hain. Jabbar bhai, zara in logon ke saamnai muzaahira tou ho jaye." (I laughed inside and was somehow successful in not showing it)

A sudden change in Jabbar Bhai’s facial expressions was laudable. He hesitated for a moment and then came a convenient lie :"Oh..woh..french fries tou khatam ho gaye…werna mai zaroor khilata!"

I had done my part so I decided to move on with the chaat in my hand. While leaving I heard one of the students speak : "Jabbar Bhai aap fries banayen, hum abhi class le ker aatay hain. Aaj tou muft ke fries khain gai.'

I glanced back towards the canteen, finding Jabbar Bhai looking towards me. I am sure I don’t need to explain what kind of expressions he had.

1 Jan: The Beginning

By Saman Hashmi

Karachi of University is considered a well-known academic institute of Pakistan, being the aspiration of many college students to enroll themselves in it. But, frankly speaking, getting enrolled in KU was not my preference. The fact was that the subject of my choice, Mass Communication,  was only offered in few institutes. I was left with not much of  a choice, hence, decided to join KU.

I have mixed feelings about my first day at the university. Stepping inside was not scary at first, but later on I realized how monstrous it was. When my car pulled over in front of the well built building of Mass Communication department, my first thought was, "Wow! This is not what I thought about government university departments".

So, that was how it all began. I was anxious, not knowing where to go and what to ask for. I entered the department with an amazed expression and eyed everything suspiciously, as not to become a victim of any prank. I managed to make my way to the office safely. But, to my disappointment the office was overcrowded, so I had to step back before my brand new shoes transformed into  second hand pieces.

Having nothing else to do, I tried to find anyone from my school or college. Facing disappointment for the second time, I tried not to push my luck any further and sat silently.

Then I found two girls, Maimoona and Zehra, who were enrolled in the same class as I was. They were sweet and communicative, unlike other girls whom I had talked to earlier. I asked them when the orientation would begin and and their expressions were answers enough- they didn’t know either. Anyway, I was not disappointed this time because I had found someone to complain about situation I was facing. Last but not the least, after sometime, someone told us that orientation class would be held on  the fifth.

Naturally as the events continued to add up to my disappointment, my first day's excitement and ecstasy died gradually. I collected the department's enrollment form from the office when I finally found a way to. With a sigh of despair I headed towards the Arts Faculty on foot to get some snacks from PG. When I finally reached my destination after a tiring walk, I saw someone familiar and that was my best friend from school. Relieved,  both of us took some snacks from cafeteria and sat on the stairs of the main library and gossiped our heart out.

As the day passed I realized it was not that bad for a first day. May be, I had kept my hopes up too high. As the reality dawned on me I started seeing things from different perspective. There was still a lot more to discover and look forward to, like my to-be classmates and lecturers.

Accepting the fact that I am now a university student and I should behave like one and stop blaming the University for what it looks like because others have achieved their degrees from the same place and with less resources. Things will remain the same so its better to adjust yourself to the prevailant lifestyle here in KU.

Love of food...

By Shumaila Rais

Karachi University is one of the leading universities in Pakistan, where many students successfully find their life partners and darlings. So, for them, there must be a place where these sweet couples can decide to meet (pyar kiya tou darna kya).

Hence, we have Prem Gali-in short, PG. I go there a lot,no not for dating, but for eating, since the place is actually a collection of shops of food items, at very reasonable prices.

To be honest, I never found any decent date or a couple there. Despite the 'loving' name, PG is a bad place to date because you are bound to find someone from your class having a glass of fresh juice or a bun-kebab. Old college friends, or any cousin who were also studying in the university will destroy all the fun by asking their pathetic, stupid and idiotic questions.

"Who is he? Only friend ya phir...? Cousin tou nahi lagra yar!"

For the lovers there are plenty of other places likeValika ground, the front of Pharmacy department, but for food lovers in KU, PG is their only solace.