The reason I switched my major and the reason for taking Pol 100 was solely based on my infatuation with a political science instructor I took a course with last semester. Unfortunately and fortunately she left and Sir Nausherwan Hafeez(NH) was given this section.
As this course comes to an end I would like to repeat, if I have not often done this enough, that this truly was a blessing in disguise. NH is a teacher who brings new methods of teaching to the classroom, unique and new perspectives to light and a very humbling and active class experience. Taking this course with him made me realize that political science is a very diverse, encompassing and rich subject which needs to be studied for itself and not because of influence from a single personality.
Moreover, I have noticed that this class and weekly blog submissions helped me question, challenge and reevaluate the indoctrinated principles I have been taught and force-fed by family, friends and media. For instance, I had always been taught and consequently had the image of Pakistani army soldiers in the 1970 war between West and East Pakistan as brave, determined, just and patriotic. The literature and stories of the systematic genocide and organised rape had never crossed me before and it is baffling and saddening to come to terms with myriad war crimes. The martyrs and war soldiers were decorated with titles, rewards and honors with no accountability of humanitarian crimes they committed. This is a classic case of preaching nationalism.
All in all I am glad I had this opportunity. I just feel bad for the freshmen who had an amazing teacher in their first year and who unfortunately is here for only a semester; they will be hoping for a similar experience but that might just be impossible.
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