Tragedy at LUMS: Hashir Munawer
April 24th, 2008The general mood at the Lahore University of Management Sciences has been that of shock
and sadness ever since the news of one of its final year student’s suicide went public. Hashir Munawer, a 4th year economics major hailing from DHA Karachi committed suicide on Tuesday (April 22) by hanging himself from the ceiling fan in his hostel room.
His friends and mentors described him as average in his studies but a good volley-ball player. He had recently been put on probation by the administration owing to his low CGPA. The deceased was found by his younger brother Aqib (a student himself at LUMS) and hostel warden who entered his room with the spare keys when they found it locked and no response came from inside.
It is still being argued as to whether the cause of this tragic incident was indeed because he came under immense stress after being put on probation and was facing pressure from his parents as well. However, a friend of his by the name of Sana recently posted on the naitazi website dismissing these media rumors as mere ‘misinformation’. Â
One of the Lahore Metroblogs author, lah_hareem has blamed the system for Hashir’s sad demise. Stating that there have been 4 (unconfirmed though) suicide attempts at LUMS, the post quotes:
Changing policies at the drop of a hat and then implementing them on graduating classes and not the next new intake, the insensitivities of a “perfect†world. Does this not happen everywhere? Students get kicked out of schools in their final years for O and A levels only because they are not performing “up to the mark� Who defines success? Who defines this mark? Have we lost our values and basic regard for humans around us in this vicious cycle? a fourth grader taking as many tuitions as there are subjects. Is “winning†everything and “living†does not measure up?
Read the full post here
Whatever the reasons may be, a life has been lost. Hashir Munawaer is no longer among us and the void he has left might never be filled. May Allah forgive him for his sins and grant him peace (Amen).
Hashir’s image courtesy of Lahore Metroblogs
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Depression is a very real disease that is too often brushed under the carpet in our society and suicide is unfortunately not uncommon in cut throat institutions. While it may be the first for this university, what needs to be done is proper introspection into the system that led to this boys situation going unnoticed. After all it took place on college campus. In such professional and competitive institutions, there need to be counselors available to assist with coping techniques for stress management, as well as in the immediate aftermath to help other mourning students in order to prevent this in the future. This isn’t mumbo jumbo psycho babble. For anyone who’s been to a low point in their life knows the importance of supportive surroundings in pulling you back out.
Hashir passed out through st. Patrick’s High O and A’levels…HIs old principal Mrs. Henderson remembers him and grieves this sad loss. It is now time for us educationists to put our heads together and try to find out why we refuse to let all our students flourish, without the PAss/fail threat hanging over them. The obsession with A grades, GPA/CGPAs must always be sustained for we fear without it educationn in Pakistan will fall even further….perhaps our fellow Japanese educationists could help us overcome this terrible impasse, so that we can all say that Hashir Munawer’s passing was not in vain! I didnt now Hashir, but he is like a brother….nevermore, nevermore, O God almighty, nevermore!
The pathetic system of education in our country is no hidden secret. But we are talking about universities that are at the top of the food chain. Universities that claim themselves to be welfare organizations, that want to promote “Peace and Development” through education. So important is their name, reputation and ranking to them that they can let a life be wasted. They are indeed blood-thirsty corporations that have no regards for human lives. If the aim of our institutions had been to Enlighten young minds, people like Hashir wouldn’t have fallen to this vicious system. Its about time we open our eyes to “true education” and shun the “straight-A”, “prestigious university” culture, before its too late to realize that we have more harm than good for our future generations.
May Allah give maghfirah to Hashir’s soul, Ameen