Social and Political Education

It was in 1949 in Lahore that my uncle Mr Zulfiqar Ali Shah suggested that we both attend a social work course to be held in Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), Lahore, Pakistan. Soon we registered for it and started attending it the same year.

We had some good teachers both local and foreign. One of the teachers invited for the course – Mrs Gore, Vice Principal of Delhi School of Social Work, India even encouraged me to apply for an MA Degree course in her school. Anyhow when we successfully completed the course of about two and a half months with good marks we got our certificates from the YMCA for which we were very happy. At least in me a hope kindled that I would make social work my career in future. I remembered a famous writer Thomas Carlyle having said ‘Happy is the man who has found his work’. I felt the same fully.

Later on I also attended a short course in Clinical Psychology in Ewing Hall of Forman Christian (F.C) College, Lahore, Pakistan under a famous psychologist Dr I. Latif. After completing my Bachelors Degree course from FC College I started doing job as a welfare officer in The Children’s Aid Society, Lahore. There I worked to help children and families with their social problems and promote their education and recreation activities.

In 1954 as The United Nations started a department of social work in The University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan I joined their diploma course first and then an MA Degree course later. I presented my research thesis on ‘Catholic Social Work in Lahore’.

In 1957 I became a Medical Social Officer in Mayo Hospital, Lahore where I helped many patients and their families to solve their social, economic, psychological and other related problems. I stayed in the hospital for about a year. During the service I was selected as a Fulbright Scholar and studied at Syracuse and Boston Universities in The United States. In the Syracuse University I attended an orientation course and then completed a year of social work training as a Fulbright Scholar from Boston University in 1958-59. During the course I was placed in Metropolitan State Hospital for experience.

I was invited to give talks on Pakistan and Islam as a large number of people in Boston were interested in the subjects. I gave several talks on the subjects in various colleges, churches and even homes. The audience asked many interesting questions as they were at that time not very familiar with these subjects. On their demand I practically showed them as to how the Muslims prayed individually and collectively and how much Zakat (charity compulsory in Islam) Muslims have to pay yearly. I also explained how Muslims all over the world gathered in Saudi Arabia for performance of Hajj (pilgrimage). I mentioned that these pillars of Islam have a direct connection with social work as they helped people in various aspects.

After return to Pakistan in 1959 on the basis of my training and experience I was posted as a Medical Social Officer in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. There I helped patients and their families to solve their social and related problems. Later on I was transferred to Government Institute for the Blind as Principal for a year. I was returned to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital as Medical Social Officer where I helped to promote activities of a newly established Patients’ Welfare Association. In 1962 I was transferred to Central Government Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan where again I helped patients and families with their social and related problems also promoting working of the Patients’ Welfare Association.

In 1965 I was promoted as a Research Officer in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The research was mostly devoted to political, economic, social and international affairs.

In the later years till my retirement I worked in different departments viz. Press Information Department and Chief Martial Law Administrator’s Secretariat, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Then I was posted in different departments in Islamabad, Pakistan. These included District Censor Office, Directorate of Intelligence Bureau, Department of Films and Publications, External Publicity Wing, and Pakistan National Center from where I retired on March 10, 1990 as a member of the Central Superior Service of Pakistan. Throughout my career I realized how much social work had helped me in research, publicity, and a variety of other activities.

Since retirement I am still involved in various social work activities in my personal capacity. I have also remained in contact with old colleagues.  Here in Islamabad, Pakistan still in our get-togethers we discuss our past and present social work and research experiences. We share and enjoy good old memories and plan for some new social work activities.