AS the country recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of its existence, I remembered my parents’ generation who actually saw it come into being; who sacrificed so much for it, and who always took so much pride in what they eventually achieved.

My mother was studying law at Aligarh Muslim University, and they were given training in fighting tactics, including the use of sticks, till the local Hindus got wind of it and the training had to be abruptly stopped.

My father, Dr M.S.B. Chaghtai, had just finished his master’s in physics with a gold medal at Aligarh University in 1947, and had proceeded to Queen’s University in Belfast on scholarship. Once done with his PhD, one day he was present at the Pakistan high commissioner’s office in London when someone asked him what he intended to do in life.

He told that gentleman he had not decided yet. The gentleman suggested joining the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which he promptly did, and never looked back. He later became one of the three officers who established the PAF Aeronautical College at Korangi Creek in Karachi, and fought two wars for his country.

Even after retirement, despite many offers from the United Kingdom, he decided to stay in Pakistan to serve the country in whatever capacity possible.

Once asked why he joined the PAF when literally the whole world was open to him, his simple reply to the questioner was: “Mian, you would not understand the love and passion we had and still do for Pakistan.” That was the spirit of that generation.

Mrs Farhana Ansari (neé) Chaghtai
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2022