Friendship of Boys & Girls of 1940-2009

Friendship of Boys & Girls - written by Sheikh Sarwar

1940’s

All children: boys and girls all together used to come out and play at sunset for an hour or two. Parents were watching children and exchanging greetings and discussing matters of mutual interest of residents.

"My boy friend" "My girl friend" were not phrased by then. It is now common in children and grown ups; married or unmarried.

1960’s

This concept of boy friend and girl friend crept in when communities were mixed up in the new environment by migrating after creation of Pakistan. A poet writing his work in Punjabi language – Ustad Daman – was often invited by colleges and in other gathering of poets. He was invited in a college. He expressed his observation of this friendship in his work as follows:

“Aithay har munday naal ik kuri hai; jenwein aljebray naal geometry hai”
(Here every girl has a boy with her and every boy has a girl with him”

1980-2009

This concept got a big pat and tame worldwide and encouraged to “play safe”. Safety products made available without restriction of gender and age. Now the affair stays between the two. Positive results are taken care of by some institutions. Although matters are cleared but the gilt stays there. Parents know or don’t step into the personal affairs of children. Because both sides have become choosey, they can switch partners before and after marriage very frankly and open-mindedly. Children and adults don’t mind mixing up with others irrespective of different nationalities. This has given birth to divorces and remarriages.

Things now look at their height. Let us hope they will step down to an honorable place again for the future generations!

You are encouraged to correct me wherever you feel I need it. Thanks.

sheikhmsarwar@gmail.com