Appearance and reality

This is with reference to the letter from Col. Riaz Jafri (retd) (September 21).

As a young man, I used to hold views similar to the writer but over time, I learnt to distinguish between appearance and reality, and to weigh substance over form.

He has referred to Gen. Mirza Aslam Baig (retd) evading having to salute BB, but we also know that after Gen. Ziaul Haque’s death, Ghulam Ishaque Khan suggested to him that he take over Presidency, saying it was his right; but Gen. Aslam Baig declined. As against that, Gen. Ziaul Haque appeared to be just about the most obedient servant around and I understand even at parties, he would extinguish his cigarette on coming across a senior, but his outwardly meek and submissive disposition did not deter him from doing what he did.

As a young student in UK over forty years back, I used to get upset on seeing even lecturers coming to the class wearing shabby jeans and keeping long, unkempt hair. The students won’t stand up for them and would answer their questions while remaining seated. My real shock came when outside the class, a student called the lecturer by his first name and as he looked back, said “Want a fag?” and as the lecturer noded, he threw a cigarette at him which he skilfully caught in the air, lit it up and started smoking. I found the display most disrespectful and thoroughly disgusting. However, all these things did not diminish students’ respect for the lecturers, which was based on more solid foundations like depth of their knowledge of the subject-matter and their commitment, which was what really mattered.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.