KARACHI: It was a culturally vibrant week for Karachiites, beginning with a delightful musical performance by the German duo of vocalist Claus Ocker and pianist Julius Severin. They were in Karachi at the invitation of the Pak-German Forum where on March 14, 1968 they entertained music lovers gathered at the Intercontinental Hotel with some high quality compositions. Ocker, a renowned baritone, sang a number of German songs while Severin played music of famous classical European composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Schumann on the piano. The musicians were on a concert tour around the world and were also scheduled to give recitals in Dacca, Lahore and Islamabad.

From music to the world of drama: the day after some people enjoyed European classical music, a play, in Urdu, attracted the attention of theatre-goers in which the superficially emancipated life of social climbers was presented as its theme. Sonay Ki Deevareen, a drama staged by the National Bank of Pakistan Arts Club, was a satire on the ultra-modern life of Begum Saif, a socialite of dubious character, living it up as a party-giver and social worker. The impetus in the play was provided by the young sister of Begum Saif, who comes on a visit and revolts against the emptiness of her elder sister’s life. The play had a narrator-actor, who addresses the audience and also participated in the play. He’s the commentator who dispensed his quips at suitable moments. According to a drama critic, as a satirist, writer and director Ali Ahmad found so much in the play to poke fun at. He, however, overdid it sometimes. Nevertheless, Ahmed got good performances from his cast. Rehana Siddiqui outshone others in her role of the younger sister. Latif Kapadia as the commentator — the hero — was impressive. The three other female roles were enacted by Lily Davidson, Khurshid Jabeen and Shamsa Nazili.

Another reason that this week would be remembered for was the degrees that on March 16 were conferred at the Karachi University Convocation on 6,500 students who the previous year passed their annual examinations. The students were presented with the degrees before the vice chancellor, who presided over the convocation, by the principals of the various colleges and deans of the university’s faculties. About 1,300 students — half of them girls — passed MA and MSc final exams in 1967 in 30 subjects. Eighteen students were awarded gold medals. Some of them were: Anwer Ahsan Siddiqui (MA Urdu), Razia Bondray (MA Journalism), Nayyar Mahmood (MBA) and Dr S. Iftikhar Salahuddin (MBBS). These names sound familiar. Of course, because they went on to serve Pakistani society in their respective fields.

The increase in the number of successful students was noteworthy because 6,500 students were deemed eligible to attend the convocation which, compared to 3,875 in 1967, showed an increase of almost 50 per cent. Also noticeable was the sizeable number of girls who had been awarded postgraduate degrees, reflecting their 50 per cent strength in university classes.

On the topic of education, here’s something interesting: on March 13 the Government Intermediate Bengali College, Nazimabad, the only Bengali-medium college in West Pakistan, received provisional recognition from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education for the ongoing academic session. The recognition was given on the “specific assurance” of the director of education, Karachi region, “to look into the shortcomings” of the college and to rectify them. The board also advised the college to have its own buildings. A few days ago, the director of education, Karachi, had assured the students of the college that their institution would be recognised within a week.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2018