A Sunday well spent : Students find their inner talents the non-conventional way

Samad Zaidi and student group Volatiles hold Philanthropic Young Leaders Conference.

KARACHI: Students from all parts of the city spent their day with public speakers, entrepreneurs and mentors at the Bahria auditorium to learn about their strengths and use them for humanity at a Philanthropic Young Leaders Conference, themed ‘Ehsaas’.

Public speaker Samad Zaidi in collaboration with a student group ‘Volatiles’, organised the conference on Sunday, featuring presentations of the speakers, interactive sessions, music, videos and slideshows depicting the achievements of legendary people in Pakistan and the rest of the world. The presenter involved the participants in small indoor activities, including recalling good things in their lives, breathing exercise and extending their gratitude to God for His blessings.

Fashion designer and photographer, Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, talked about the powers given to humans because of which they are known as ‘Ashraful Makhluqat’ (best of all creations). To understand how humans were made Ashraful Makhluqat, they need coordination between their mind and heart and this coordination comes with awareness, he said.

Students performed a humourous skit (top) at the conference held on Sunday. Fashion designer and photographer Yousuf Bashir Qureshi (bottom), entrepreneur and public speaker Maddi Murtaza and public speaker Samad Zaidi were among those who spoke to the students. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS

“Every person is born like a king — his or her birth is acknowledged and announced, and every person also goes away from this world like a king — the body is given a bath, wrapped in a clean cloth and everyone lends their shoulder to carry the coffin.” He told them that in the midst of birth and death, humans move away from the kingship and their wished and desired reduce them to become a beggar, saying, “Pursue your wishes but only if they are your own.”

He advised young boys and girls to realise their strength and use them for the betterment of humanity and also told them not to run away from their emotions. “Cry as much as you can and never run away from your emotions.”

Young entrepreneur and public speaker, Maddi Murtaza, enlightened the conference with exuberantly witty remarks, gestures and interactive style while involving the participants throughout his speech. He conducted a birthing exercise with the participants asking them to put a hand on their belly and breath. “If your belly is not rising up with breathing then you’re doing it wrong as the belly should rise up during inhaling air,” said Murtaza. He also asked the participants to stop thinking for a while and listen to the sound of soul by avoiding the noise made by the mind.

Public speaker Samad Zaidi in his presentation spoke about the lives and achievements of people like Mahathir Mohammad, Iranian scientist Mustafa Chamran, American peace activist Rachel Corrie and Indian writer Krishnamurti. “Legacy and fragrance are the only two things you leave behind in this world for which you will be remembered,” he said, while narrating stories from the lives of Sufis and stories from Iranian revolution in his presentation. He also played a video about a school in Lyari which gave insight into the condition of education in the government schools in the area.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Zaidi said that it took two months to organise the conference which aimed to give a chance to the students to meet entrepreneurs and discover their hidden strengths.

Kumail Hashim, a young singer, sang a teaser of his song ‘Maula’ for the participants which will be released in January.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.