Whither Literature

Of the myriad of problems, issues and headaches plaguing our nation, there is one that is often overshadowed and overlooked. It is mutually concurred to be a problem by many but is seriously pondered upon by very few.

Our literature, our reading habits and hence our desire to advance intellectually has declined, greatly usurped by WhatsApp, Candy Crush and Bollywood, and all that is today’s version of what to Churchill was the ‘odious apparatus of Nazi rule’.  Not to say that modern social networks, video games and everything else that the average child is up to his neck in are a complete and utter menace to society, but the scales being tipped far too heavily to one side has negative consequences.

Television star Groucho Marx once stated, “I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” He might be turning over in his grave knowing that unfortunately, so many Pakistanis, young and old, man and woman, have served to follow his golden principle the other way around. Appreciation of Urdu literature seems to have evaporated as well. Poems composed by greats such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz seem to have been restricted to rote learning in schools, then shoved aside and forgotten, their true meaning never fully comprehended. Not to mention that the audience for Mushairas and Qawwalis also seem to have slowly faded away. 

You may have heard all this before, but the sheer magnanimity of the situation begs repetition.

Has it not been said and proved that the best way of shaking those cobwebs out of the little grey cells is through a good book? And that the muscles of the brain can hardly find a better stimulant than good literature? Would it not be criminal to deny that exposing oneself to more and more words inevitably causes them to be weaved into ones’ vocabulary?  It is more than obvious of course, what that can do for you: Being able to speak with articulation gives you a confidence like no other. Whatever knowledge a book is able to impart may leave you better equipped to deal with challenges, and is something that can never be taken away from you.

The dearth of reading coupled with a local education system that has utterly massive room for improvement in the creativity sector, has lead to a dearth of creativity and critical thinking skills. Literature has the power to introduce to you ideas and worlds and characters beyond your wildest imaginations. Processing and comprehending these flexes those brain muscles more than you may know and this boost to your creative power is something that can benefit you in any situation. Having opinions on the workings of a plot, understanding and analyzing the various aspects of a story, something that can happen automatically without you forcing yourself to, lends itself to building creative analytical skills, also something that will serve you well in life.

With ‘whither literature?’ I also have the burning questions, ‘whither tolerance?’ and ‘whither empathy’?  Qualities such as these that make up the very foundations of any society seem to be in short supply here.  And that is where literary fiction comes in.

Readers, especially those who tend to be totally immersed in a novel, find themselves establishing an emotional connection with characters, effectively empathizing with them in times of tragedy and trying to understand the way they think.  And when readily acquainted with new ideas and cultures, one gains a natural tendency to understand and tolerate a belief or concept that was hitherto unknown.

This malady of course does not plague only those of the middle and upper classes. The lives of the tad less privileged of our society are also devoid of reading and literature, largely due to the lack of resources and education provided to them. Literature and intellectual advancement rarely occurs to those who find it difficult just to make ends meet.  But when a reading culture is created in society and its importance is established in the minds of people, especially teachers and parents, and schools at every level begin to actively nurture the reading and literature in its students, the benefits shall be far-reaching.  

One has enough material to go on and on when it comes to the necessity of literature in our lives but I shall refrain from doing so. Simply, whenever next you feel stressed out or have some free time on your hands, pick up a book, whatever language it may be.  Make it a habit. Start reading every day. You may find a world you never realised could be created. You may learn things you never knew or may embark on a journey you never felt you could take. One thing you will not do is regret it. 

By Imaad Hasan

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AAO's Valima Organized by NLX

As soon as I entered, the ambiance was characterized by light music playing in the background, and lights gleaming down upon the beautifully decorated stage and seating area.

The volunteers rushed to set everything up, some carrying bottles of water, some checking the arrangements for food, and all of them ensuring that the setup was just perfect. They wanted to make this day the most memorable day for someone. They wanted to bring smiles to little faces, it was evident this day was to be special.

Very soon kids from the orphanage came pouring in, happy to see their friends from Nixor. The kids had a certain smile on their face, of uncertainty tinged with delight. They hadn’t been to a lot of such events before, and so their expressions were understandable, and a little while after settling in, their faces said it all. They were enjoying themselves to the fullest, some even running around. For some catching up with their pals from the AAO brought them unparalleled joy.

NLX put their hearts and souls in to this event and it showed in every aspect of it. The seating area and the stage reflected their efforts. They were so well placed and well decorated that it didn’t even seem as if the event was taking place at a school.

There was a performance by the students for the attendees, which everybody loved. A couple of songs were sung which are a trademark of these kinds of events. Then the food was served, the volunteers put up plates and food at every table, trying to make sure everybody had ample to eat. They carried filled dishes of rice and handi to each table as the attendants patiently waited. Meanwhile, up on the stage the typical ‘Rasams’ took place. There was also a blue and white cake according to the theme which was cut right before the Rukhsati. The bride and groom both looked cheerful and content.

When asked about the favorite part of the event, an AAO volunteer Rahul said, “As we were arranging the kids for their departure to SUJ. A 5 year old girl came running towards me, hugged me and said thank you! This was the favorite part of the valima for me” It was the dedication of the volunteers that was able to stir up such deep emotions and make such an elaborate event a success.

The amount of hard work that went in to making this Valima happen was tremendous but it paid off. It was happiness, it was the smiles on the faces of all the kids, it was the joy in the eyes of the bride and groom and most importantly it was the emotions that it spread around that made the sweat and blood worth it. It was a message of love for others around us, it was a message to spread happiness and fill many hearts with joy with the expectation of nothing in return except internal satisfaction.

It was all thanks to this event that I was able to make a couple of friends from the SiratUl Jannah for myself. I know that whenever I see them I will recall this valima and be reminded of how something that we work towards can help so many people and bring a smile to so many faces.

By Shaheer Ullah Saeed

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The AAO Wedding

The AAO Shaadi organized by Nixor Log-X took place on Sunday 4^th of October. Walking inside into an entirely transformed basketball court, the whole place was strung with fairy lights and it was easy to forget that I was standing in Nixor. Gone were the sweaty guys playing ball with the sun shining upon them in all its glory. Instead a striking stage for the bride and groom was set up, along with seating arrangements for the rest of the guests over a finely carpeted floor. A rickshaw photobooth was seen beside the stage and a mehendi stall was also set up, much to the excitement of the girls. Flowers and twinkling lights completed the arrangement, and one could immediately see the hard work that must certainly have gone on behind the scenes.

The event kicked off with the arrival of the kids from Sirat ul Jannah. Dressed in their best clothes, smiles upon their faces evident as they flocked around the cotton candy machine and posed for selfies, these kids were without doubt the center of everyone’s attention. Upon their arrival it seemed as if all the volunteers forgot their worries, instead, each one seemed eager to keep the kids as happy as they seemed.

The arrival of the groom was greeted with drums and firework candles and thanks to the competent management of NLX, the event proceeded efficiently with the Nikkah and the bringing of the bride to the stage. The guests were kept entertained by the spontaneous as well as prepared dances of the AAO volunteers and dinner was later served followed by the Rukhsati. A very exhausted but extremely pleased Aarass Nadeem rejoiced seeing the function play itself out, it being her very first event as CEO of NLX, and believed that if one puts their mind to it, nothing is impossible.

Despite the groom arriving late and throwing the planned schedule a little off track, one could not help but admire the smooth running of the things throughout the evening. NLX members, who had been on campus all day, displayed never ending energy, as they ran about making sure everything was on track and not hesitating to complete whatever task was put on hand. Any small glitches were immediately straightened out. I observed NLX working as a unit, doing everything from mopping floors upon an accidental leakage of water, to making small wedding favours to hand out. As Arsalan Bachani, CEO of NLX, pointed out, team work is a key part of an event management society, because one person’s negligence would reflect on the whole team’s, hence everyone has to learn to work together and cover up for each other. On behalf of AAO, Zobia Akhtar the CEO, felt NLX did an amazing job they have high hopes for working alongside them to execute further events. It seems mind blowing that a group of 17 to 19 year old students could organize and execute an event of this magnitude, but as the CCO of NLX Fatima Baber put it, ‘That’s what Nixor is all about.”

At the end of the day, the most important thing was the happiness that this small group of Nixor Sharks was able to bring to the beautiful couple and the young orphans. The sentiments and work of AAO when combined with the logistic skills of NLX, made the function a unforgettable one for every person in attendance. The Nixor Community wishes the newly-weds a joyous and prosperous life ahead.

By Roha Sitwat

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