DMC Class of 1977 Get Together 1997.

Bees Saal Baad 
By Dr. Shahid Kamal 
Dowite 1977.

The class of 1977 get together was held, .7 – after a couple of postponements on Sunday March 16 1997 at JPMC. The last one was in April 1994, three years ago. Friends started to arrive by 4 P.M. and most were there by 5 P.M.. The final tally came to around 50 which I think is a pretty good number. Twenty years since our graduation and several years after out last get together, it was actually a pretty emotional occasion in a strange sort of way. One recognizes faces immediately, then there is a brief moment when one evaluates the other- weight, graying, attire and possibly also where the other has finally landed. The eyes meet and as soon as they brighten up with recognition, smiles break out and the sun begins to shine. Gone is the brief phase of comparison and one is simply overwhelmed by the sheer joy of friendship. After the clumsy exchanges of “how are you?” and “kya haal hein?” and ” kahan ho tum?’ and rapid queries of where others are, one settles down to more relaxed exchanges, jokes and old remembered anecdotes. As one talks, the eyes keep scanning others, trying to remember names and put faces in the right focus. Some have changed more physically than others, but the smiles are the same, the manner of talk, the vocabulary format, the body language are all pretty the same and that, my friend, is pretty reassuring- the past is alive and the way you remember it. With some one does notice changes. The mediocre personality may have grown in confidence and stature. Some have sobered up more than others.

Some have lost some humor and spark along the way, and that unsettles one a little bit. But I noticed that most of us had “arrived” – people had come to terms with what they are. Friends have now settles down into their respective fields and have emotionally accepted with whatever niche they have carved out for themselves in society and this was the change that I noticed compared to previous years. I guess in twenty years one is supposed to settle down.

Anyway, at 5.15 PM I called the friends to take their seats. The proceedings started with recitation from Holy Quran by Ibrahim. A short prayer was offered for our friend Afsar Aijaz who died of a familial cardiac problem in December 95 at Lahore. A brief prayer was also offered for our friends who are not keeping well. I then briefed friends that for the get together, Mohsina, Shaukat Malik and Hamid Zaki had helped with the contacting. Aslam Saeed had got company sponsorship for tea and snacks.

Friends were informed about a letter from Amin Karim proposing the formation of an Alumni Association and also to set up a free clinic in town. I and a couple of others like Mansoor and Mohsina thought it to be a nice idea but Salman Faridi and Hamid Zaki felt there are already many platforms available for medical and scientific works and ours should be basically be a social platform. Because the group is still pretty nascent it was decided to essentially keep it at a social level for the time being and see how things shape up. It was also decided to organize family activities and a family dinner at the lake side at Aga Khan University Hospital is tentatively planned for Sunday April 27 1997. All friends came to the mike and identified themselves and their area of work. Constant heckling and name calling continued from the back benches led by Qutub. New entrants in the city like Kaleem Siddique and Musheer were warmly welcomed with a big round of applause. Jokes and wise cracks continued all the time. I retaliated some from the rostrum and did a reasonable job of controlling the gang. It was also decided that a committee of coordinators be formed. Shaukat Malik as the chief coordinator; others included Irfan Daudi, Anwar Jalil, Aslam Rana, Razia Sheikh, Mohsina Bilgrami, Murad Moosa Khan and a few others.

A few cakes were also gifted out. Shakoor Memon got one for being the senior most wedded person. He got into wedlock in 1972 (second year MBBS!!). He came to the microphone and said early marriages are very good- no wonder, who doesn’t want to get married when the glands start to play up? Rahat got one for birthday on March- we took her word hoping in 20 years time she must have evolved enough not to lie for a small cake! and Ibrahim got a cake for wedding anniversary in the month. We had to trust him to – we had to – he is our Maulvi-in- Chief! I asked the company for a gift for the Bachelor of our class (the real M.B., B.S.!) Saad Jamal. They said they had only sympathies for him. I disagreed, called Saad over in a round of applause and declared him our hero and ideal!

Tea and snacks were done in a nice way from a good caterer. People lounged around till 7.30 and 8.00 abd gradually bade goodbys – hoping to meet soon.

Dr. Shahid Kamal Director, Atomic Energy Medical Center, Rafique Shaheed Road, Karachi, Pakistan.