A man of letters, Prof Ibad Rashdi has devoted his life to teaching. These days he is the director of Centre for Rural Development Communications (CRDC) at the University of Sindh, the only institute of its kind in Pakistan. Tracing his career here, he talks about the changes that he has seen over the years in students, faculty and society at large. Q. Tell us something about your early life and education.

A. I was born at our ancestral village Pir Jhando in District Matiari in Sindh, and had my early schooling there whereas for matriculation I attended the renowned D.C. High School in Nawabshah. Later, I went to Cantonment College in Hyderabad.

Eventually, I got admission at the Sindh University, where I earned my Bachelors in English Literature followed by a Masters in journalism.

Q. How did you first become interested in journalism?

A. At the university, our group was not comfortable with the student politics going around. Therefore, we founded a social organisation called the Youth Organisation of University [YOU]. We used to publish a quarterly newspaper The Floret using that platform along with holding several socio-cultural activities.

I received much appreciation and encouragement as the editor of The Floret from my peers and faculty. It prompted me to opt for graduation in journalism, which was also the beginning of my lifelong relationship with the subject.

Q. Tell us about the CRDC.

A. The study and practice of development communication is extremely essential for sustainable development. Accordingly, many developing countries including Philippines, India and even Nepal have established centres which have been quite instrumental in facilitating rural development by undertaking research and training programmes in the field of development communication.

It had, therefore, been a cherished desire of the academic and professional in Pakistan that a similar institute be established in our country. However, the University of Sindh took a lead by establishing the very first centre in Pakistan in 2002.

Q. What are the main objectives of the centre and do you think that meets its goals?

A. The CRDC, primarily, serves as a clearing house of information on communication-related problems and issues of the rural areas. It is in this context that the centre undertakes research and training programmes to facilitate the proponents of rural development —

government, donors, NGOs and media — in their effort for the wellbeing of the rural poor. Nevertheless, its main objectives are:

• Research on rural development communication and related problems and issues.

• Training and capacity-building workshops/seminars/conferences on communication for the development organisations.

• Extending institutional development expertise/services to rural organisations.

• Creating linkages between public and civil society organisations, policy makers, donors and programme managers of rural development.

• Developing effective messages, IEC materials, and communication modules ensuring vital participation of stake-holders.

The CRDC has planned and organised many training and research activities in collaboration with the local, national and international-level organisations and donor agencies. One of its significant achievements is the commencement of a one-semester professional Diploma in Rural Development Communication [DRDC]. It enables the participants to work as communication managers and media specialists in public or civil society organisations.

Q. You were trying to organise the conference co-sponsored by OURMedia Network. Can you describe the organisation and its role in media and development?

A. The OURMediaNetwork (OM) is a global network of researchers, scholars, activists, artists, and media practitioners from over 50 countries. Its purpose is to facilitate dialogue in the field of communication and media to sustain and support independent, community-based media projects, defend media diversity and communication rights on a global scale. Since its founding in 2001, the OM has held eight international conferences, respectively, in the US, Spain, Brazil, India, Australia, Ghana, and Colombia.

The OM was coming for the very first time to Pakistan for its 9th International Conference to be hosted by the CRDC. It would have provided an excellent opportunity to our academics, scholars, professionals and students to interact with the internationally acclaimed academics, scholars, experts, and professionals, and benefit from the scholarly/academic presentations, media activism initiatives, policy workshop, roundtable debates, new media labs, research-led forums; which is the hallmark of the OM conferences.

But, unfortunately, the event has been postponed due to the devastating flood situation in our country. However, the most regrettable aspect for delay of the event was the apathy of academia, intelligentsia and the media organisations in Pakistan.

Q. Tell us about your experiences as an educator. How do you engage with students and get them motivated?

A. Teaching is an obsession with me. I feel gratified when the students are responsive and work hard but it is very disappointing when they don’t take an interest in their studies. Though I am always available to help them, be it in academic, social and even financial matters, I am also extremely frugal in awarding marks.

Actually, I don’t feel contented with their earning top grades/marks for the sake of finding good jobs. I’d rather take pride with the magnitude of compassion, knowledge, wisdom and professionalism in their attitude. I’m sure that this behaviour motivates them to work harder, for I keep warning them about there being no alternative to hard work.

Q. What changes have you noticed in your students during your long career?

A. I have found that the students are getting smarter, more sophisticated and diligent with time. Perhaps they have realised the importance of the notion, ‘no pain, no gain’.

Q. What practical steps can you suggest to improve the standard of teaching and research at university level?

A. My contention is that the university life is altogether a different experience. You cannot be its part unless you are a keen learner as you don’t come here just to study but to be civilised, gain knowledge, improve wisdom and have fun, too. Once admitted into a university, you are a scholar, not a student. Here you must indulge yourself with academic erudition and research, and be prepared for meaningful dialogue with professors and peers. And this could be possible only by judiciously dividing your time between your studies, friends and fun.

A conducive campus atmosphere with state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, libraries, social clubs and sports facilities is extremely essential to meet the above ideals. Above all, there ought to be a very close and positive rapport between the scholars, academics and the administration in order to meet the teaching and research standards here.