Learning in Boston

Learning in Boston

Learning in Boston

I was fortunate to visit Boston, Mass, USA in 1958 as a Fulbright Scholar at Boston University School of Social Work. Boston University commonly known as BU is situated on the Charles River where it has many of its schools and departments. School of theology is distinct by its elegance and design and architecture as a whole.

Boston is the cultural center of the USA. It is famous for its symphony orchestra, universities and colleges especially Harvard and various colleges. Mass Institute of Technology is also of world fame. There are several other institutions like hospitals which are also very famous.

As a student of psychiatric social work I was placed for my field work in Metropolitan State Hospital in greater Boston. It may be mentioned that mental sickness in the USA is widespread and so are institutions for its treatment.

I had an opportunity to see how old people lived. I did baby sitting in my spare time. I also got an opportunity to visit Churches, Universities and homes to talk about Pakistan and Islam- subjects in which people were very interested in. Some of the talks were even printed. In the Boston International Center where students gathered from various countries of the world, I mixed up with them to learn about various countries and cultures.

Boston is also the HQ of Christian Science Organization which I studied by visits and reading their books. I was a regular subscriber to their standard daily news paper Christian Science Monitor'.

In addition to social work I had the opportunity to study mysticism. I took a course in the Nature and development of Islamic thought in the School of Theology. The course included study of Koran and Muslim mystics like Rumi, Al-Ghazali etc. the course offered several other interesting topics too. Outside I attended lectures on mysticism by Swami Akhilananda. The course by the Swami included comparative study of mysticism and meditation.

I may add that I had the opportunity to say my Zuhr (afternoon) prayers in the meditation Chapel of the School of Theology. In this way God provided me with peace of mind and solution of several problems. For Friday prayers(Special prayers offered by Muslims on Fridays) I was encouraged to use Peabody Hall in Harvard University across the river. I must mention that I had an occasion to see the original house of the famous poet Longfellow whose items of household use were carefully kept there. I was particularly interested in his books kept in the house. I am also fond of another American poet Robert Frost whose poem North of Boston' is superb.

Back in downtown Boston there is a trail of liberty showing how the campaign for freedom from UK took place starting from the famous Boston Tea Party with the loud slogan of no taxation without representation'. A guide can take you to every step of the trail and explain its significance.

I remember the calm and clean Marlboro Street where I lived though considerably homesick.

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