Project Facilitator: Nadeem Ghazi |
Care for those who once cared for us Project Report submited by: Interviewer: Interview of: Reason for Selection: Date: Hours Spent: After being seated in a comfortable environment, I proceeded with the interview. I started with his birth and early life. Mr. Waheed_ud_Din Ahmad was born on 26th January’ 1926 in a well-off family. He attained his early education till metric in India. Then went on to an engineering college. I asked whether he had always been interested in engineering as a profession. He answered with a smile, ”I hated engineering. I was more interested in literature and poetry. But it was what my father wanted, so I became an engineer.” He said that he waited till he got retired, then went back to his old love, which is poetry. I was surprised to find out about some verses which he began in writing in 1946, he had finished them recently in 2004. As his father was a railway engineer, Mr. Waheed spent much of his childhood and youth moving from one city to another, which he admits was quite fun. He told me about his wife, to whom he got engaged to when he was just 4 years old! His wife of 54 years is more than just a wife; she is his companion and only true friend in the world. Mr. Ahmad has two children, a son and a daughter, both of them happily married and living away from their parents. When I asked him how his family life was like, he smiled thinking of then fond memories. He said that his relations with family were good, infact he considers his family life as an ideal one. His children are more attached to him and he is proud to admit that he never slapped any of his children. He believes that one should make the children realize difference between good and evil by teaching them, not beating them. One should give them love, be friendly with them and try to keep a watch on them. He is of the opinion that you have to bend the rules with time. When I asked him the key to a happy life, he replied, ”Sincerity.” His aims in life were to live a simple life, no vices and high thinking. His hobbies include photography, poetry and hunting. When I asked him his achievements in life, he said, “Being happily married and to fulfill everything you desire.” To some extent, Mr. Waheed admits that he has achieved what he wanted. Mr. Waheed-ud-Din considers himself a self-made man. When he and his family moved to Pakistan as a result of partition, they were literally empty handed. They had left everything that they owned in India. But he had vast wealth of faith and the ability to work hard, and soon he got settled here by the grace of God. Mr. Waheed said that success in life does not mean wealth. He is of the opinion that having all the essential things and comfort in old age is called success. So he calls himself a successful man. When I asked him, how can one attain success in life, he said, “U only need to have faith in destiny and never aspire for anything beyond your needs then surely success will be yours.” I asked him his opinion about the youth of today. After a long pause, he said, ”Very enterprising, capable of succeeding, provided they stick to their goal.” In the end I asked him to give a message to the youth of today, he just said, “Trust in God and never lie.” At the end he showed me some of his poetry, and we took a couple of pictures. I thanked him for letting me into his home and taking out some time for me. Learning Experience:
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