Chandka’s Environment and Hope

Once I met a doctor at the Aga Khan University Hospital as an attendant with a patient who was my relative. When I introduced myself to him as a Chandkian, his first question was, ” How is the environment of Chandka now? ” Similarly, when I happen to meet old graduates of Chandka somewhere, they utter the same question. Perhaps they ask about the environment because they happened to witness comrade culture and bad politics on the campus and at hostels, safe havens for local bad buddies. Even police carried out raids many times on hostels and there were many shootouts between bad comrades and police in the past.

Chandka’s environment stepped towards betterment at the hands of few others as well but the role played by Principal Prof. Sikandar Ali Shaikh in revolutionizing Chandka’s environment up to the current scenario is really marvelous. April 12, 2005 clash between two student groups and subsequent rustication of nine guilty students was a turning point for Chandka’s environment. Prior to that, assuming unlawful powers, having big shares from various funds, gaining useless influence over weak colleagues, bullying, fighting innocent colleagues, looting rich students, etc were norm on the campus and at hostels.

One man’s courage and valour proved to be decisive in creating a totally changed environment. Influence of the bad politics on Chandka’s environment plummeted sharply past April 2005 incident. The students who remained sticked to their purpose of study heaved a sigh of relief. Since 2005 no such major event has been witnessed. Each individual must think whether his or her contribution to this institution is good or bad. We must stand for bringing something good to our mother institution.

By now, I think there is significant progress academically as well as on extracurricular side. The establishment of the Information Technology section, construction of the digital library and CMC website, renovation of Lecture Halls, the Central and Reference libraries, etc. have been much facilatatory for the institute and students to bring about further betterment in the educational trends.

Talent Shows, Cultural festivals, musical nights, Annual Magazine SAMBARA, etc all are self-speaking examples of much development on the extracurricular front. Sport weeks stir Chandka’s environment to its full swing and colour campus with all that of a rainbow. There is, however, need to improve much lagging behind bedside at college attached hospital.

It is fact that new coming batches are more competitive, enthusiastic and zealous about learning. I have seen many of 3rd year and 4rth year students so much curious when it comes to learning academic as well as on bedside. Moreover, they are so co-operative with each other; it seems that the years old barricades of isolation are going to break in coming years. We must think broad. At least we must raise ourselves to the standard of other such institutes in our country.

Last but not least, I have heard many of my colleagues as saying that the environment is mind-congestive and depressing; and majority of Chandkian friends are not sincere.
They are of the view that friendship at Chandka is in name only. Friends are greedy, embarrassing, selfish, and opportunistic. Yet there are many others who are contented with their buddies. In my view, it depends from person to person. Our thinking way, perception, attitude, likes and dislikes, and sincerity for others do play important role in gathering friends in our friends’ circle. So every individual should be a positive thinker then things will start setting right soon around.

A change has come to Chandka’s environment. Anyone who has not visited Chandka for last five years will witness a day and night difference, Chandkians claim. Let us hope that every new administration and junior student fellows will continue these developmental trends so that by the time when Chandka Medical College becomes an established ‘Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University’ it must be one of the most excellent medical institutes of Pakistan.