Always On My Mind !

The End of Third year !

May 1997. Multan. It was going to be an eventful month. 3rd year would end in the middle of May with Osteology stage in forensic the final act for our batch.The medicine ward test would conclude our 1st clinical year as well. But before all that we had a final pharmacology test. CNS was the test. I recall reading in Khalid Hassan ‘s Qasim Hall room again with Lippincotts and Firdaus. I found that Firdaus still withme all these years still. I was alone in the room which had an Air Conditioning running. I found it much better for my own CNS that way .

It was the first time I came across Anti psychotics and Anti depressants. Little did I know that in years to come after Nishtar it would become “bread and butter” stuff to deal with. In times of test, I always felt better in a much cooler temperature room. It felt the heat was so much on the 4th floor of Iqbal Hall that you hardly could focus on whats written in front of you in a book. It wasn’t an era of mobile phones, laptops or desktops that videos on Youtube, of notes were available to understand written stuff on Lange series books.Katzung in Pharmacology was one such book but Lippincotts was much easier to digest.

Back in the Canteen, there was lots happening. More registrations for the upcoming reunion meant Kaneez, Wasif, Aslam, Saif, Waseem, Jareer and Shakeel all are headed to Multan this November.The “Waila” group and Malika Jee both celebrated their one year on the Canteen this year. Saif ‘s vlog was also released which received a lot of praise. This one year in the canteen evidenced why through consistency and engagement, we were able to maintain a group of N44 despite a lot of differences and challenges. It is still a group of its kind. There are many watchers and non posting participants but it is a platform nonetheless which has encapsulated N44 together the most.I had the opportunity of listening to and hearing some new voices unheard in 26 years as the recordings of the vlogs continue as well.

There were times when I thought already Multan is close to 50 degrees that classes should be off in this weather.The building in Nishtar is such that it will allow for Crush hall to host very harsh weather tests as well. In 1st year , we had “Muscle” test there in May before Eid break.In 1997, we had Pharma CNS test also in the same hall In late May 1998, we had a community send up exam as well. Iqbal Hall’s temperatures were always rising in the heat of May. I recall waking up to sweat on the sheets in each of those years in this month.Personally, I was glad we were in prep leave, not having to endure June in Nishtar for a third year in a row. Though at some point we would need to bear the extreme heat.

Of course any test in any subject in Nishtar minus Pak studies 1st prof paper would induce anxiety. After finishing Pharmacology test which went pretty much to plan, there be the medicine ward test as well. Siraj Munir Tareen was an excellent teacher who would conduct all of our 3rd year clinical teachings throughout. He had a gentle style but was commanded an authority over his students. I was glad we made it and let the honours be shared with Tahir Mian and Mohammad Shafiu who were top guns in this batch.

April 5, 2025 Forensic Lecture Theatre

With such soaring temps, there wasn’t a need felt to eat breakfast even. Who would eat a “bhurjee” or egg. Only water would suffice. Of course, we would use the college canteen for more of the cold soft drinks than any of the samosas on offer. We had one last batch party in third year. We didn’t know at the time that it was the last time we were going to have clinical co batches. From 4th year onwards, we were segregated. In the last batch party, I do recall a question from the girls in our batch which had Fatima,Ambreen, Mehnaaz and Saima Talib . It was to us “boys that why were the guys so much into “grouping“ ? This was denied by Ali Malik, Yasir Arafat and Anser Mehmood at the time. I feel a reciprocal question could be asked to the girls as well in any era.

May 1997 was slightly different as El Nino also caused some rainfall early which was big surprise. It was unreal. We had heard about a strange weather pattern to be unleashed globally but it was strange. It dried up soon .After the pharmacology test and medicine ward test, all that was left was a forensic stage. We were in the second week of May now and Independence Cup had started knowing that the 50th year was being celebrated. This was being held in India with the Pakistan team touring without Wasim and Waqar facing a daunting challenge in somewhat very hot conditions.It was an all floodlight tourney. The Doordarshan India channel on dish was showing it live alongside PTV for all us Qasim Hall common room fans. We were a bit upset when Nathan Astle dashed our starts in the opening game.

Nathan Astle

The night would not be any better than the days in Multan but due to the awful day time heat and longer days there was just some respite. Thankfully there was no fever of any type as we wound up the last stages of this colourful third year. The girls wore yellow on class birthday and were appeared much better dressed in this class function as compared to second year, even though the quality of the performances wasn’t as good as 1995. Holiday Inn was a better venue though with its air conditioned wide hall.I recall Adnan Ajmal coming to my room around 5 pm ready to go stating how shalwar kameez would be ideal for such a meet up for such a warm Multan evening. Many would pitch up and yet there would be many missing still in this annual event.

With the forensic stage over on May 15, as I walked on the quadrangle from the forensic department towards the Canteen, I felt relaxed. Lahore was waiting. I had conquered May in Multan finally !

Holiday Inn Gang . May 1997 3rd year class function

I leave you with the opening reunion roll call thanks to the lovely N44 colleagues who have registered till the end of April.

This blog is dedicated to our late classfellow , Nasir Iqbal.

1st ever Reunion Roll Call reel of N44 in its history : The Early Birds Reel!

If they can do it , so can you !

To register for the Reunion : Submit your google forms using the above given link !

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