Whenever I have heard the name of Zia-ul-Haq, it was always followed by criticism; whether it was from Indians or Pakistanis I interact with. Let us take a break from it and explore the other side of him which might be unknown to many and about which I came to know from my professor at college.
Zia-ul-Haq was alum (1940-44) of St. Stephen’s College at Delhi University, one of the oldest and the top ranking colleges in India. My professor, alum of St. Stephen’s himself and a communist by principle and practice, was once giving a lecture in class against the consumption of soft drinks and how the producers of PEPSI and Coca Cola are actually looting the masses. He said that having a glass of banta (colloquial for Lemon Soda in New Delhi) is much better than the colas and Pepsi, at least this way you help the local seller than a Multi-national Company.
The reference made to the word ‘banta’ took the lecture and the lecturer down the memory lanes of Delhi University (DU), of course, the one who has studied at DU is always overwhelmed by its campus, streets, ambience, food stalls and obviously Banta, which is not less than a Trademark of DU, sold in every corner of the campus and consumed by every single student since forever. Giving galore to its popularity, my professor said that when he was a student at St. Stephen’s in 1986, Zia-ul-Haq had visited the college on its Centenary Celebration. The first thing he did when he reached there was that he personally visited a ‘banta’ vending ‘thela’ and had a glass of it, probably remembering his adolescent days. Somehow it reveals a nostalgic and emotional side of a ruler often termed as a Draconian dictator, which probably everyone has but is never revealed.
The website of the college reveals that Zia-ul-Haq’s novel method of ragging fresher’s was to parade them down the fields in the middle of the night. Incidentally, Zia ul-Haq misspelt his name in a leave application to the Principal as Zai ul- Haq!
Some Stephanians from Pakistan: Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, Dr I.H.Qureshi, S.Shahnawaz, Iqbal Butt, Birjis Hassan Khan-diplomats; Zahoor Azhar and Taimuri– bureaucrats; Ikramul Haq and Abdur Rahman Siddiqui -journalists; Qadeeruddin Ahmed-Chief Justice, Baluchistan and Sindh; Shuja-ud-Din -renowned test cricket umpire; and many others.
Photo Credits: ‘Banta’ photo is from flickr.com.
I think the article is very relevant as it describes a most important educational institution that played a central role in educating the future rulers of both India and Pakistan. To top it off, very few Pakistanis know of St. Stephens, while Indian alumni of the institution never fail to remind the Pakistanis they meet of Zia’s connection to their alma mater. The article was well done and well chosen.
Well, the post just goes to show that even monsters have their redeeming features, their saving graces…
Isn’t it true that after St. Stephens’, the monster enlisted in the army, and while fighting in Burma, he and his comrades had to escape by boat as the Japanese got the upper hand in that particular skirmish… the monster was the last to leave the beach, barely pulled into the boat at the very last second…
How sweet our lives would have been had he not managed to! I can just picture the Japanese administer some choice torture techniques on him before forcing him to commit harakiri… that would have been one little axis victory I wouldn’t have complained about…
2 comments left earlier actually prove what author wanted to express. If this article had involved Imran Khan or someone similar keeping everything else same, one wouldnt have seen such reaction.
Well done Soumya. I think you achieved what was to be the purpose of this article.
Well…I completely agree with Bushra. I did not feel like being mean early in the morning so I didn’t post a comment but now that Bushra has posted her comment, feel like I should atleast support her.
I do not see the point of this story and the lack of comments prove it. Not to take away anything from the author. You guys have been doing a great job….baas yaar…this story just does not fit your caliber.
Seems like you had nothing else to post today. Not sure what the point of this is. Sorry.