Thursday, December 31, 2015

Goodbye 2015 - You leave us very sad


The year 2015 dawned with all 55 PMA back home from barracks - leaving behind Khalid Pervez and Abid Qadri still playing their innings. All three stars who had been left on the pitch in 2014, also took off their gloves and started the year 2015 comfortably perched in the civvies.
We all looked towards the 2015 get together at Nathiagali in April and enjoyed the two days stay at Hotel Greens, courtesy and relentless efforts of Asif - the course secretary. The major agenda at Nathiagali was the holding of 2016 get together - and it was the unanimous and forceful resolve of both Zahir and Javed Baloch to win Lahore as the 2016 course get together venue. 

Down the timeline, we saw Ismail for the first time appearing in the photos along with Ramli, who had been hosting all coursemates visiting Malaysia since long. 
Agha Umer Farooq left for his ambassadorial assignment to Nigeria in May this year and has since been very actively seen on Facebook posting about his activities in Nigeria. While Zahir is only seen in get togethers and weddings, Salim Nawaz actively participates on WhatsApp discussions, generally prompted by Durrani.
As for the cowboy Tariq Khan, he is often seen on Facebook at his farms or at his house with his family or his piece of mind is also gets transferred into reminisces of his operations and concerns for the future.

Elections home and abroad (Canada to be specific) had two of us contesting - while Raja Hasan Akhtar Kiyani won the vice chairman slot of UC Lehri in the local government elections, our friend Vincent Samuel lost his bid to be in the Canadian parliament.
 
Shaking hands with the chief is indeed an honour. We saw Arjumand and Shoaib proudly display their handshake with the COAS General Raheel Sharif.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Chapter is as active as always and Jamil is doing a fine job keeping everyone together. We have had seen many such functions. The one above is the last one of 2015 held on Dec 14, 2015 on the eve of Annual Get Together of PAFAC (Pakistan Armed Forces Association of Canada) Jamil and Naveed Akbar with a friend (Lt col Farooq, Arty)
Altaf is in USA well settled with his family and is also actively seen on Facebook, contributing his family photographs and interacting with the coursemates intimately.
As for our two Malaysian coursemates, Ramli and Ismail, 2015 was the year when we finally saw Islamil joining the course group on WhatsApp and saw his photo with Ramli after passing out from PMA.
Ramli is all out to host any of our coursemates visiting Malaysia - that started with Solehria visit to Malaysia some years back.

The year went along happily till the bombshell of our dearest Javed Baloch's sudden death exploded on 1 December 2015 - something that no one was expecting. Javed was seen hale and hearty (photos below) on his daughter's marriage on 8 August 2015, held just a few months before his eternal departure. Who knew he has almost ran out of his days here with us.
A lot of coursemates rushed to Javed's ancestral village near Sargodha to pay homage to one of our dearest.
The last photo of 2015: Zahir at Javed's grave - really heart wrenching

And just today, on 31 December 2015, the last day of the year ended with the Chehlum of Javed Baloch, as shared by Zahir Khan on WhatsApp. One can feel the sadness on Zahir's face as he sits beside the grave of our dearest friend and comrade.

The photos are adding up on our blog header much to my agony as I add more. Tomorrow starts a new year and I pray no more add ups this coming year, oh dear God. But we all know the bitter truth of life, sadly!!

8 comments:

Jamil said...

Jalal thanks very much for sharing diary of 2015. You have always been brilliant.
True the year has been challenging n sad. Javed Baliachs sudden demise was a big blow to the course. What a sweet soul he was, a thorough Gentleman n a great friend.
Please continue this beautiful blog, you are doing a great creative piece of work No one can match. Hope 2016 brings success, happiness n good health for All friends n Pakistan.

Jamil said...

Jalal thanks very much for sharing diary of 2015. You have always been brilliant.
True the year has been challenging n sad. Javed Baliachs sudden demise was a big blow to the course. What a sweet soul he was, a thorough Gentleman n a great friend.
Please continue this beautiful blog, you are doing a great creative piece of work No one can match. Hope 2016 brings success, happiness n good health for All friends n Pakistan.

aghafarooq said...

a great round up comprising sweet, sour, saltish or spicy observations about and on all of us. A hawk eye is maintaining a very intimate over watch and that is the best display of commitment, comradeship, companionship and affection. well done and keep it up. You always excel in your devotion.

Zahir Khan said...

Thanks Jalal for reflecting through the year in 'fast forward' mode. Following the nature's way, the year has been a mix of transition for all of us. While you recounted some of the major ones, we all have some gains and losses individualy as well. We find great strength from the lasting comradeship during our momeents of weakness or gloom. Also we enjoy sharing the happy and proud moments in the form of achievements of our next generation. We love this bondage and look forward to fostering this relationship through frequent physical or virtual activities. We acknowledge the efforts of JHB and the Course Secretary particularly keeping all of us close to each other. God bless you all for the coming year.

Unknown said...

When ever I glance at the thumb size photos of our brothers, who have left us in advance party of 55 PMA, the first thing which comes to my mind is about my own turn. Next thing which strikes my mind is, ' are you ready for it'. The answer is yes because the death is inevitable. So what ever life is left, must be spent according to laid down tenants of Islam. My endeavor is to get 33% pass marks on the day of judgement, otherwise the very purpose of coming in this World will get jeopardized. I badly need prayers of all my brothers.

Unknown said...

We must thank Jalal for rounding up years event in respect of 55th. We all have crossed the average age of Pakistani, therefore must make endeavour to prepaire our self

Jalal HB said...

I am grateful to all those who took time to leave their imprints on this post. I am not doing anything extraordinary - we owe this to each other. No one knows when the clock stops ticking but this effort should go on till the last of us is till on parade.

TARIQ said...

I share the warmth of sentiments and the resolve echoed by all brothers to sustain and strengthen our cherished comradeship of over four decades. Perhaps now onwards is the time we need each other more than ever before.
I thank brother Jalal Hameed Bhatti from the bottom of my heart for devoting his time and energy in creating this wonderful platform to enjoy the pleasure of each other's company.