HELPING HANDS Profile by Syed Ahmed Raza

            HELPING HANDS

Profile by Syed Ahmed Raza

"You have not lived today unless you have done something for someone who can never repay you." These are the words of an eminent English writer and social worker John Bunyan. Contrary to the idea quoted above, we are observed to live a selfish and self-serving life. People are so busy to keep up with the pace of this hectic world, that, at times, they even neglect their very close relatives, how come they may think of helping others?

Though, the cruel world gives us a hundred reasons to worry about, yet, there exist thousands of people who conceive a million ways to smile. Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilqees Edhi are the brightest stars of this sky. The nation would stay indebted to those who sacrificed their today for our better tomorrow!

Jabbar Ahmed is its valiant example. He is seventy two years old, yet an active man and a barber by profession who works 15 hours a day. Unlike other modern hairdressers, he does not own a shop, but, sits on the corner of a government school situated in one of the many Kachi abadis of Latifabad. There, he has witnessed more than fifty springs of his life.

Jabbar is famous as Joru Chacha, lost his family during the separation of 1947. He was merely six year old boy who fortunately escaped his life by lying still under the heap of dead bodies, massacred by (ballwaayi). In his professional life of fifty-two years, all he could earn himself a single-room, wooden- hut-shape house, where he lives like a true king.

Joru chacha did not marry, thus he treats the children like his own, and he does not charge from these school-going kids and often buy them pencils, notebooks and even course books when required! He is pretty professional yet very kind nature, that, he treats many (mast people) for free. On Mondays, when other barbers take leave, he dedicates his day for poverty-stricken people of his abadi.

Joru chacha is a simple and graceful character; besides these qualities he is also very patriotic. In the response of a question he stated that," It is not about money at all, it’s about what you can do for your country mates. When these children would grow up, they would serve for my homeland. In this way, I am actually serving my motherland, and I feel really good doing that."

Apart from this egocentric world, it is a sign of fortune that our society has not completely taken the colors of selfishness. We should feel proud that people like Mr Jabbar Ahmed duel among us, who has dedicated his life for others. This selfless man may not have earned a lot of money, but, he has earned people's love, he may not have a big house to live, but, he lives in the hearts of people!

2013

Syed Ahmed Raza Roll # 09 ,  BS part 3

Interview of Dr Javed Iqbal- By: Syed Ahmed Raza

Increasing redundancy repels youth from Urdu: Dr Javed

Interview: By: Syed Ahmed Raza

Un-edited

Introduction: Dr Javed Iqbal was born on March 23, 1964 in Latifabad. After his early education, he received Graduation and Masters Degree in Urdu Literature from Government Degree College in 1987. He has been associated with Urdu department since 1987. Quest of education propelled him completing his MPhil in 1995 and doctorate in 2002. Dr Javed was recently promoted as Dean of Arts Faculty which makes him the youngest Dean in UoS history.

Roshni:  Why did you choose teaching as a profession?

Dr Javed: I had always liked this field, when I was young; I enjoyed the company of literate personalities like, Professor Persian Language at UoS, Huzoor Ahmed Saleem, founder of Cosmopolitan School System, Professor Arshad Raza, Prof. Habeeb Arshad, Ateeq Ahmed Jilani, and advocate Mushtaq Ahemd. From there; I got the desire to become like them. 

Roshni:  What difficulties you faced during your career?

Dr Javed: As I belong to a lower class family, it was never easy to continue my study having an excessive burden to support family. I therefore worked as a part-time electrician. However, I always carried my books along with my tool box. I often studied hours at night to complete my Masters Degree. My patience was rewarded and I was appointed as lecturer at Urdu Department University of Sindh.

Roshni: Why did you prefer research field over creative work?

Dr Javed: Earlier in my career, I wrote many short poems, ghazliyat, essays and afsaney. But, soon I realized that this field expects a lot of time and attention, unfortunately I was too busy to keep the wheel of my domestic responsibilities moving. I therefore had no option but to switch my field of interest and research work on Urdu Literature was always my second interest after writing. Still, for my catharsis, I seldom write some poems or short stories.

Roshni: How do you compare both fields (writing & Research)?

Dr Javed: One cannot justify both fields by placing one over another. Each has its own importance, its own domain. Writing poetry or prose is an art to convert your feelings and ideas on paper. Research on Urdu literature tells us the quality of today’s and old Urdu Literature by their comparative study. 

Roshni: How many research papers have you written?

Dr Javed: I wrote my first monograph during masters, on “Personality and Work of Fazal Ahmed Kareem Fazli.” Further I have written research papers about research-work done earlier on “Ameer Minayi.” Further I have written articles on “Urdu Tabsara Nigari,” “Urdu Taqreer Nigari” and many other topics.

Roshni: How many M.Phil/PhD scholars have you supervised?

Dr Javed: Six PhD and two M.phil Scholars have completed their degree under my supeervision, while, twelve M.phil and PhD scholars are under process.

Roshni: Being a researcher of Urdu literature, how do you see excessive use of slang words in Urdu?

Dr Javed: Earlier, slangs were considered bad and therefore were not included in dictionaries. But, now many slang words are not only accepted but also included in Urdu dictionaries, considering their extensive use in spoken Urdu. However, one should use them before selective gatherings and listeners.

Roshni: What do you think of young generation Urdu poets?

Dr Jawed: I consider them disgrace to Urdu Poetry. This poetry has worse effects on our youth and influences their thoughts. This vulgarity would not last long. However, this generation also has poets like, Amjad Islam Amjad, Mohsin Naqwi, Iftikhar Arif and Jameel-ud-deen Aali.

Roshni: Why do you think is youth disinterested in Urdu Literature?

Dr Javed: Due to increasing redundancy, most of our youth propel towards English language instead, which creates many job opportunities in national and multi-national companies. Parents too, focus on science-subjects rather than their national language.

2013

Feature- Syed Ahmed Raza - Roll # MC-2k11/09, BS -III 
Practical work done under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi

Juma Bazar: Poor's paradise Syed Ahmed Raza

Juma Bazar: Poor's paradise

 Syed Ahmed Raza

Un-edited

Spiraling inflation of Pakistan has made it difficult for a common person to survive in this country. For an average middle class man, it is no longer financially feasible to keep up with pace of the rapidly growing prices of household goods. Thus, they are often compelled to shop at different bachat bazars.

For the convenience of lower and middle class people of Hyderabad, a juma bazar is been hosted at Khuda Hafiz board of Latifabad for last thirty years. Initially, it was a personal effort of few local scrap dealers, who on their wheel carts, kept electronic and other reconditioned items for sale. Clicked the idea.. And now, this bazar is a main source of livelihood for more than three hundred houses. Another interesting fact is that the whole bazar consists of wheel carts only. It is a kind of social mobile market, which is staged with the sunrise of every Friday and ends with sunset.

 Stretching from Khuda Hafiz Board to Raja Ki Kothi, this bazar lengthens over a half kilo meter area. A large variety of things including electronic and electrical items, pots and crockery, bad sheets and carpets, Jeans, T-shirts and shoes, wooden domestic and office furniture, tools and spare parts, bicycles and wheel chairs, stoves and ovens, wall clocks and wall paintings, wrist watches and many other reconditioned stuff is sold at reasonable prices.

 Apart from this, many Limca, Limu Pani and Gola-Ganda sellers are also an important part of this bazar who keeps the bazar alive with their interesting chants. Lower prices and fair quality, pulls in the crowd that even scorching beams of hot sunny day do not affect the continual bustle of this bazar. Throughout the day, people remain busy in getting a bargain and eventually return home with a gratifying smile on their faces.

Due to increasing complaints of traffic jam in 2006-07, this bazar was shifted to Kanch mil (glass factory), which not only became a cause of great suffer for these vendors, but also brought a deprivation for lower class buyers. As a result of continuous efforts of vendor's committee and with the permission of municipal officials, it returned to its original venue.

The revamped juma bazar welcomes people when many markets of the city have their shutters down. From a needle to used iron-made articles, you can get all that you need and a lot more in this market. Buyers can get their required articles from this bazar on low prices, generally of average quality. Beware! One who is new to the bazar has to observe the nature of the market first; a good quality product may only be picked by closer inspection. 

2013

Feature- Syed Ahmed Raza - Roll # MC-2k11/09, BS -III 
Practical work done under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi