Good old days of fellow feeling

Wandering is not bad for goodwill gesture. You call it roving or promenading, but moving up and down some streets of Rawalpindi and Islamabad adds to one’s awareness of the problems and thoughts of common people.
One of Rawal Town’s octogenarians Mohammad Gulzar hails from Pind Dhoke Sharaf, which was included once upon a time in Chak Shahzad. As a small general store keeper, he braves a barrage of questions undisturbed by customers.
With a smile like that of an innocent child he says: “Sikhs and Khatris were among my class-mates of the primary school of the village, and we all were good friends. The senior teacher in charge of the school who, with bulging eyes and a wand in one of his hands, used to stop us from playing marbles and, also, admonished boys to refrain from abusing one another. His first concern was to promote truth and discipline among the schoolchildren so that when they leave the school and seek knowledge from any higher institution they become good citizens.”
Nazir Butt Amratsari, who participated in the struggle for Pakistan and saw Liaquat Ali Khan being shot dead at Company Bagh of Rawalpindi, still speaks about good old days of fellow feeling and prays for success of democracy in people’s interest. Retired public servant Nazar Mohammad Khan subscribes to the former’s views. He had opted for Pakistan when serving the then government in New Delhi. He says he witnessed brotherly love in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
Good old man Gulzar answers questions with an understandable laughter: “Most of our neighbouring village dwellers were Khatris who would never mind to share the moments of joys and sorrows. We and they all lived as human beings, respecting each other’s rights. Our leaders should learn a lesson from the past; gap between the rich and the poor seems widening; human values must not vanish from our society; the amount of money you have in your pockets shouldn’t be the yardstick of your respect.”
Most of old men are not in favour of so-called modern lifestyle and getting everything ready-made at high price. While talking about vegetable price hike they advocate growing vegetables, including onion, carrot, radish, and salads in kitchen gardens. “That will help contain food price hike, and keep citizens healthy.”
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