I’m sorry CJM I have failed you I am a graduate of the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Lahore, a sprawling campus situated off Mall Road. Every day at 8 am sharp, we were made to stand at arm’s length from each other in lines as straight as could be. We would first make these rows outside the intimidating assembly hall, and then one by one we would march in, making sure our backs were straight and shoulders pushed back. If anyone dared to whisper or fidget, a vigilant nun would drag that girl out and make her stand in a separate line of her own at the back. Many of my class-mates were Christians but I only realized this during Religious Studies class when a bespectacled, white haired short woman who wore wedge heels would come into our classroom to teach us and an entire group of girls would silently file out into another room to study Bible Studies under a nun. With names like Fatima, Kiran and Hina, my Christian class fellows sounded and looked no different than their Muslim counterparts. They came to my birthday, I went to theirs. We did science projects together, and teased each other about hair styles gone wrong or a crush on a movie star. On Christmas we looked forward to carol renditions (it was a matter of pride for Muslim girls to be chosen to sing in choirs) and on Eid they enjoyed making cards with us during art and crafts. The prayers we were made to recite before the school day began, at the end of the last period, on special occasions, and sometimes even during recess always included declarations of love and peace for our country. Today, I am sorry Convent of Jesus and Mary that I have failed you. Along with the so many hundreds and thousands of women you educated and instructed, I have failed to live up to your expectations. I, along with the dozens of Head Girls and Captains you had such high hopes from, have failed you. We have returned your messages of love and compassion with hatred. We have responded to your preachings of tolerance with intolerance. And today, we have murdered your kin when you did everything in your power to protect us whilst we remained in your care. I am sorry CJM for today I have failed you.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 05:57:32 +0000
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