Sunday, August 25, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Disabled Genius
by Fatima Zaidi
“Sympathy is an art”, says Ali Hasan, a
student of B.A Hons. enrolled in the evening program of Department of Mass
Communication, University of Karachi. Physically disabled by birth due to polio
virus, Ali has made a brilliant example out of himself for not only the likes
of him but also for those who do not have to face such challenges. Sitting on his
wheelchair under a tree with his table, all set for selling phone cards and
some stationery items from morning to noon, at some distance from the
University’s main entrance, Ali is etched in the minds of students and visitors
who pass by him every day. What makes him visible is not the ideal spot which
he has chosen for himself but his marvellous strength and energy.
Children with disabilities remain one of
the main groups being widely excluded from quality education. Disability is
recognised as one of the least visible yet most potent factor in educational
marginalisation. The attitudinal problems towards disabled people were
previously limited to families and communities outside of educational
institutions as such children stayed out of institutes either due to the
degrading attitude of the people around them or because of religious and
cultural norms. Thanks to rapid urbanization that we saw a number of countries
realizing the importance of raising public awareness towards senior citizens as
well as mentally and physically challenged persons. In our society though a
change in the attitude, be it in the family, community or society as a whole,
is still pending.
Where the role of University of Karachi
should be lauded for opening its doors for physically impaired students, it has
by and large failed to provide adequate amount of structural accommodation for
them. “I have to wait for someone to bring my wheelchair
after which I’m carried inside the department, things would get much easier if
ramps be made a necessary part of the initial design plan of a department”,
says Ali. “The society does not know how to react when they see a physically
disabled person, although they in no way mean any harm but they sympathize very
awkwardly, and this can all be done away with if a proper policy regarding
physically disabled people is ensured by the state. I want them to understand
that it is not easy for me to ask people to carry me up the stairs day in and
day out, it hurts my self-respect”, he further adds. He, however, said that he
has spoken to the department Chairperson and happily added that his feedback
was very positive, although no development has yet been done.
Another problem which adds to the vows of
physically disabled students is the absence of ramps in the bus service
provided by the university. “Had it not been for my vehicle which I got
customized according to my needs, I would not have been able to get out of my
house let alone go to university”, says Ali, while talking about lack of proper
transportation facilities. “There should not only be ramps at the entrance of
points but also special seats for physically disabled students”, he adds.
Despite repeated visits to the
Administration block of the university no “concerned personnel” were available
to talk about the matter. However, no policies or facilities for disabled
students are listed under the Facilities for the Students column in the hand
book provided by the university.
“He is an encyclopaedia in himself”. He is
not only a good student but his general knowledge amazes me, I can easily say
that he is far more learned than any other student in this department”, says
Ali Raza, classmate and a close friend of Ali. His friend was of the opinion
that instead of strengthening him and appreciating him for carrying on with his
studies and looking his challenges in the eye, Ali is time and again reminded
that it’s a new struggle for him every day.
It is indeed unfortunate to see that a
student like Ali cannot visit the seminar library as well as the audio/visual
and computer lab, as all of them are situated on the first floor of the
department. He may not be the only physically challenged student studying in
the University of Karachi, but he definitely is one of the very few who took
pride in his disability and made it a point to achieve his ambitions. However,
the question which arises is not if Ali should or shouldn’t have gone against
the odds but whether the system facilitated him in overcoming his physical
shortcomings.
Fatima
is a student of Mass Communication Undergraduate Program in Karachi University,
and is part of the Organizing Committee of National Students Federation,
Pakistan (@NsfPak)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Mere Humdam Na Ghbrana - In memory of Great Hasan Nasir (Shaheed)
Khurram @AliMantiq, NSF Pakistan
Faza mei jab ramaq na ho
Gulon mei jab mehak na ho
Har ek boota ho jab bojhal
Sitaron mei chamak na ho
Mere humdam na ghabrana
Hasan ban k tum chaa jana
Andheray hon, udasi ho
Nigah e haq jab pyasi ho
Sawaira roz lut ta ho
Jahan main badhwasi ho
Mere humdam na ghabrana
Hasan ban k tum chaa jana
Ager ho talkh sannata
chubhai jab dard ka kanta
Khuda ban jai jab hakim
Hon sab bhokai na ho ata
Mere humdam na ghabrana
Hasan ban k tum chaa jana
Amamay jab kafan baichain
Qaba main rakh kai bam baichain
Lagain jab zeest pai fatwai
Laho baichain watan baichain
Mere humdam na ghabrana
Hasan ban k tum chaa jana
Andhairoon main ujala hai
Paharon main jwala hai
Na bholo in ameeron ko
Ghareebon nai hi pala hai
Mere humdam na ghabrana
Hasan ban k tum chaa jana
Na ab zalim sai ghabrao
Utho tum haq pai dat jao
Ho himmat tum main nasir se
Gawaira ban kai cha jao
Mere humdam na ghabrana
Hasan ban k tum chaa jana
Dukhoon ko khatm tum kerna
Sitamger per sitam kerna
Ho tum hochi, bhagat tum ho
Laho sai yai raqam kerna
Mere humdam na ghabrana
Hasan ban k tum chaa jana
A tribute to the Legend
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
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