of weird complexes and social standings

I can never boast of havin a high class heirarchy. Both my parents come from very humble backgrounds. My nana put all his money, whatever little he had on his childrens' education, paying Rs. 5 for a private school when it cost a mere ana a month for a government school. My father started from a "tat" school to make his way through college in Lahore and on to Karachi and then America. I envy my parents for the experiences that they have been through, without being ungrateful. I envy the sense of satisfaction that they must wake up with every morning, at having come all the way to having been able to provide their kids a pretty decent education with a pretty comfortable living standard an probably that's exactly the reason why I find "self-made" people so impressive. And more than that, status with education makes that humility all the more appealing.

Last week, at the college annual dinner and convocation, I particularly noticed this dhoti clad babaji, walking with all the confidence in the world at having just attended the commencemnet ceremony of his son. It was such a cute and at the same time ponderous spectre. No father in a proper three piece suit walking out of a civic, with a nokia cellphone in his hand could fathom the pride of that dad, or could match the spring in his stride, or the smile on his face. And when I mentioned that to afriend, she responded with a mocking smile on her face. My insides still reek of thta feeling of disgust and it just reminded me of those numerous occassions when she, in particular has reacted this way whenever I talk of issues like these. I remember the time we were watching this song "meray log" and I commented on how and why I liked that song with particular referance to its video and her instant reaction was , "yeh kya ganday log...". MAN , I could have slapped her right there. Or when, that too last week when my sister and I were going all gaga over this cute little kid blabbing on to his father about the "decoration" pices IST has put on display in the acdemic block, she had a constant sneer on her face. C'mon kids are kids. They are cute, be they in rags or silks or nothing at all for that matter. Just because that kid wasn't "dressed up", probably understood punjabi better than urdu, one can't be affectionate towards him. I mean, have our complexes reached such proportions that a baby's innocence finds it hard to melt our hearts? And it's not just about her, it's the general attitude that a particular segment of society within us has. That's why "education" is so impotant with the status thing.

Our society has always been very status concious but without seeming very haughty about the A levels part, I can say with all honesty that hardly did I come across such attitudes in school and as much as I want not to attribute this to OPF and BeaconHouse schools in particular, which always get a bad mention with regards to social issues as in the "out" mahol, I can't help drawing the conclusion that this so-called "high society" of ours is breeding youngsters sensitive to the real issues and not to the superficial boundaries of social standing. And that is probably why I felt so much more at ease at the covocation when there were these two friends od mine with me, coincidentally or otherwise Beaconites. At least, we all exclaimed in unison at seeing the dhoti walay babji again or talked in amazement about this PhD teacher of ours, my friend heard a mention of in her village somewhere near Islamabad. And yeah, not to mention this senior of ours who was my senior in Beaconhouse too, who once said that travcelling in public transport is a very "humbling" experience. In the complexes mired society of ours, dont be surprised if I say I adore her for this remark of hers.

I hope I end up saying the same thing if I ever get to go through the experience of travelling in those "toyotas". It's the security issue, fortunately and not status conciousness that makes my parents forbid me from riding in any. I'd love the experience, though.