In the land of myths and history, drenched in the full summer sun, I think it was the month of June. She was walking from Barry block towards the gate and I was under the big huge Jamun tree which if I am correct was laden with ripe fruit. She stopped and said hello, can I help you I told her I was looking for the principal’s office she laughed and I was perplexed why what’s the joke – well she told me I was standing right next to the building. Wished me best of luck and of she went towards the car park. That was the introduction she never asked who I was and did not tell me who she was. But I knew that I had seen her somewhere, and down the memory lane I remembered many years before Salman Rasheed had taken me to her house in the morning to introduce me to one of the founders of LACAS. It was the same gracious lady who had served us coffee in her dining room and talked about the education , I told her I wanted to come back to Pakistan, she encouraged me to do so there was dearth of educators in Pakistan. It was a beginning of a long association. I found that she was a teacher and taught world history. A dynamic teacher-not someone who is caught up in a time warp dwelling in 19th century but a woman who has walked with the times . Her students love her and she loved them committed to them. Passionate about everything from teaching history to life it self- like tree of life where there are many colors and hues which don’t contradict each other but blend well with each other. Her classes were interesting since I sat in a few of them and thought to myself maybe I should take up the course myself. Her clarity on the subject was brilliant, she would lecture the students to analyze and understand the cause and effects of the events. If the discourse was not finished in class it would be carried to her drawing room where it would continue till the students understood the reason, concept, deception and results of that particular period in human history. She is the daughter of Professor G.D Sondhi, the first Indian principal of Government College, Lahore. She was President of the Debating Society of Pakistan and is a pioneer of parliamentary style debate in Pakistan. Mrs. Rahman has been honored for her contribution to academia by having a debating competition named after her; The Sonnu Rahman All Pakistan Under 17 Debates Championship. She teaches World History at A Level institutions in Lahore. If anyone deserves a Tamgah Imtiaz it is Mrs.Rehman, she has worked for the country and students tirelessly. She has made the difference and is a voice for all children. I have met few people like her who leave their mark on a generation and she has contributed to the Micro and Macro level of the society. She has generous heart which has touched a lot of lives. She continues to strive for the children of Pakistan and represents the global perspective where her students should be. She has taught History, tolerance and taught us Great are only great because we are on our knees so let us rise.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 09:30:58 +0000
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