The grand architecture of the University of Cambridge, still exuding the past power and glamour of the Crown, is enough to intimidate any first-timer in Cambridge; a new student, or even a visitor. It was when I entered my College, and took in the well-manicured lawns and brilliant goldtone College building; I realized where exactly I was. It was then in that alien place, I craved for some ‘desi’ company – so I don’t forget how the home is like.
Unfortunately (quite fortunately as I now retrospect), the only person I could find was a boy from Rawalpindi, apparently with enough ‘A’ grades in his Advanced levels to make the examiners drool. Thanks to my otherwise sharp imagination, I was expecting to meet a pompous boy- vain, full of himself and somewhat unreceptive to others’ views. I thought this is precisely what success does to you. Ali Moeen Nawazish surprised me, on all counts. I went up to his room, and knocked with my heart in my adam’s apple: this guy would most probably be my only ‘Pakistani friend’ at Cambridge. The next hour was as confusing for me as it could ever be… I was forced to throw a huge chunk of my preconceived notions about highly successful individuals out of the window. He rather graciously helped me set my things up, instructed me on what to do in various situations, and led me around the campus to give me a feel of where to find what. It was then, and in the three years since then, that I observed a great deal of humility, modesty and a thirst for knowledge in Ali Mooen. The latter is usually expected in students who make it through Cambridge, and live to tell others the tale, but Ali Moeen was genuinely modest as well.
One incident that particularly struck me was his persistent insistence about not telling anyone at Cambridge, or anywhere else for that matter, that he had made a world record in his Advanced level examinations. He reasoned, he doesn’t want anyone to judge him by his past. I suspected it had more to do with his strong belief that knowledge was more important than fame. He seemed unwilling to quench his thirst for knowledge with a heady boost to his ego. Also, I sensed he did not want people to accept his views owing to his position, but on the merit of his views. And this is what truly impressed me about him.
I feel that it is a paramount for the Pakistani youth to learn from Ali Moeen. Our society and our youth probably more so, is extremely gullible. We are constantly in the search for ‘superheroes’, ideals or role models, that is, in the search of someone to follow. We accept people’s views, no matter how preposterous they might be at times, because of the authority they command on us. The student takes what the teacher tells them as the Final Word, the audience believes everything they come across on media, the mosque-goers hold their Imam’s views unquestionably correct, the youngsters accept age-old traditions (some of which definitely need to be shunned) without even an err, and the political workers follow their leader like flocks of sheep.
Interestingly, in a way, restraining oneself from questioning other people’s opinions and accepting them to be an absolute authority can be likened to idol worshipping. We all have found ourselves one or the idols with blood and flesh, to follow. This has led to a whole assortment of flaws our society harbors and promotes, most of the time. Belief without justification leads to evils, which would repulse any sane person. History is replete with numerous such samples… need I remind you of the heinous crimes committed by the Church in the name of eradicating witchcraft? Or the animalistic persecution and torture of Scientists by the Church? Or a more recent example like the supposedly ‘holy retribution’ dispensed by Mumtaz Qadri?
It is high time we understand that we are all equal- the best of the creation-human , and what sets us apart from other animals is our ability to think and ponder. We all might be wrong at times, and right at the others. The ability to follow others, or obey them without question, must not be inculcated in the young, but firmly discouraged. We do not need heroes we can follow blindly, in order to prosper as a society; however, this romantic and ancient view that only some individuals bring change while others are simply the spectators, is obsolete and deserves to be discarded.
We need brilliant ideas. And ideas can only come up in a society tolerant of criticism, and always open to debate. Nothing and no one can be granted immunity from criticism. We need to learn this from our Geo Youth Ambassador (Not without thinking over it, obviously), that reason matters, and not the source that says it. I am sure Ali Moeeen, as Geo’s youth ambassador, would like his followers, and the youth in general, to ‘Not’ follow him blindly or any other person for that matter, but respect their opinions on the basis of their merit, and keep questioning whenever there’s a room for it.
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