Spectrum
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SPECTRUM NEWS
Head Boy Aitchison College
Interview With Muhammad Nausherwan Pattal
1. Please introduce yourself.
Assalam-u-Alaikum. It is my pleasure to be interviewed for this revered
college publication. I am Muhammad Nausherwan Pattal, the current
Head Boy of Aitchison College. I belong to the region of South Punjab,
with familial roots in the small town of Kot Addu - a 30 minutes drive
from the major city of Multan. My primary education has been a mixture
of flavours. | initially studied at my local village school for a couple of
years and then moved out of the country with my family and stayed in
Dubai for 5 years. At the age of 12, I took the pivotal step of becoming an
international boarder at Aitchison College. This marked the beginning
of a new chapter for me, where I embraced the culture of the institution
and its commitment to holistic education. I believe that this vast variety
of experiences and interactions has allowed me to explore new passions
and interests and grow as a person.
2. People often say boarding is like a family, is this true and if so, to what
extent.
As boarders, we often refer to our residential houses as a home away
from home. Most attending students travel hundreds of miles from
across Pakistan, all leaving behind their own families to come to
Aitchison College, only to discover that a new family awaits them. |
personally went through a similar transition phase when I| initially
entered boarding. Coming in as a young international boarder in M1, the
walk of life I was accustomed to was very different to what I had to
adjust to at Aitchison. The most obvious change was the shift of scenery,
as all of the skyscrapers of Dubai seemed to have been flattened down as I
landed in Lahore. As I entered this magnificent 200-acre campus with
my family, I was left speechless - a high school community in the heart of
Lahore, nestled between century old trees and massive sports grounds,
Aitchison was everything a young boy like me could wish for.
I can still recall my first day at the Prep School boarding house, Saigol.
Setting up my cupboard with my family to bidding them farewell, I felt
my initial excitement changed to anxiety as I was left all alone among a
community of strangers to manage everything for myself. Gradually, as I
opened up to my peers, I realised that every one of them was extremely
supportive and compassionate, with many of them being eager to show
me around the campus. I even discovered my passion for track and field
while casually running the cross country track with my friends. The
boarding staff such as our housemaster, who went to sleep after seeing us
off to our dorms and woke us up before breakfast, helped fill in the void
that we faced in the absence of our parents.
The transition from Prep School to senior boarding was another great
experience. Competing in the inter—-house matches and cheering for my
housemates gave me a sense of belonging as I became a part of a strong
brotherhood. Wearing the sky blue and white shirt of Godley while
stepping into the sports field allowed me to play for more than just
myself. Just like a family, each of us contributed to the one common goal
of improving our boarding community. I have gone from sharing a room
with a native of the beautiful Chitral region (and finding joy in
familiarising myself with his native tongue Khowar), to hearing the tales
of a senior who had been forced to abandon his home in
North-Waziristan due to terrorism and the subsequent military
operations by the Pakistan army. Living among such a resilient group of
boys, all of whom brought with themselves stories of their unique
cultures and traditions, I have learned to craft a family out of complete
strangers.
3. Throughout your time in Aitchison, who have you looked up to as
role models?
Since my Aitchison experience has been very diverse and consisted of
countless interactions, I have come to learn from many individuals
during my time in the college. From the start of my boarding journey, I
have been under the guidance of three different housemasters, all of
whom have supported and helped me immensely. I have seen them
working selflessly day and night to ensure that all of the boys were
growing not only as students, but also as young adults who understood
their responsibilities and could uphold the traditional Aitchisonian
values. From the extra rounds by Sir Sajid in the night to usher all of my
batchmates into beds, the morning runs with Sir Ahmed Ozaif and
racing each other on the cross-country route to the long but very
touching moral lessons learned in Sir Zubair’s office, all of us were able
to find individuals that filled in the space of our parents and went out of
their way to helps us thrive. I will forever be indebted to my
housemasters and look up to them as my role models, who were able to
perfectly execute the role of being a guiding light for young boys. Were it
not for them, I could never have been the person I am today.
4. Would you define yourself as a reader and if so, what genre do you
typically read?
[I have a keen interest in mythology, so I believe my tastes will fall under
the “Mythic Fiction Genre”. For example, in Stephen Fry’s “Troy”, the
mythic Trojan War comes to life through a narrative that fuses history
with drama. The legendary figures, such as Achilles, stand as complex
characters wrestling with their destinies. Achilles, a formidable leader,
embodies both strength and vulnerability. His internal conflicts,
particularly his struggle with pride and mortality, add layers to his
character.
The Mythic Fiction genre, as portrayed in "Troy," transcends mere
storytelling; it becomes a reflection on the enduring aspects of the
human condition - for me - immortalised through the lens of mythology.
Fry's interpretation breathes new life into the ancient story, making it a
captivating journey for readers drawn to the intersection of history and
myth.
5. This is your last year in Aitchison - what have been some of your
fondest memories?
Honestly, I don’t know where to start. Whether it was the bus ride to
Ghorra Gali for an unexpected experience that is now embedded in my
heart or running in the ACOBA field before Fajr prayers, all my
memories are incomplete without my peers who have always