I remember visibly writing a letter to the editor of Pak Observer mentioning him about the class discrimination that I witnessed at the opening of one of the few huge super markets of Karachi, Metro Store. I still recall how stunned I was to see the sad faces of people returning to the exit gate as they did not fall to the criteria of the super store.
Few days back I was standing at international relations department, getting the handouts Photostatted where my sight caught a glimpse of a notice saying ‘interdepartmental sports’.
The two-sentence line caught my attention so bad that I could not think of anything but to read the whole page over and over again. The moment was not less than a moment of amusement, amazement and astonishment. For the first time of my life at Karachi University, the word ‘sports’ came across; something in which I had lost all of my hopes from the day I stepped in. All I did that time was jump, yell and run around to show my emotions.
The word ‘bias’ sounded so phony back in my mind for all those who brain washed me when I made it to Karachi University. That time all I thought was how to thank the people of my esteemed institution who proved all the talking mouths to be false and came up with such an exceptional activity where GIRLS can be a part of it too. Yes! ‘Girls’ is the word I am talking about.
I just could not wait for my class mates to get over with their ‘most scoring subject’ class sociology; where numbers are distributed on personal requests, demands or favors.
Running breathless to the girls and disclosing such information was not more than a surprise package! And I, the most hyper and excited amongst all, started up with writing the names of those interested in taking part.
Next day I walked up proudly with a never ending grin on my face, holding the paper close to my heart as if it was a graduation certificate and I am the next big thing of this institution. Eventually the lady holding the responsibility of the up-coming event looked at me with a fine-looking smile and said ‘beyta, yeh morning students key liyeh hain aur evening ki list dey rahi hain. Hahahaha’. I ignored everything. Everything. Even that witty and heart throbbing ‘hahaha’ of hers and realized, how discriminating is this?! Are we not the part of this institution? Don’t we have rights to take part in co-curricular activities? Aren’t we paying to the institution (although students studying in evening department are the ones paying the most,huh!)?
That was the moment when I understood the true meaning of discrimination and biasness. I felt mortified for publicizing the image of the store where they did not entertain the people who did not come up to their standards, when I myself is studying in such institution where the discrimination is done amongst the students by giving superiority onto one another. It was such an imprudent thing of me to look outside the box when the content is within!
