Cricket, Compassion, and Character: Adnan Tariq’s Timeless Impact
Mr. Adnan Tariq
By: Muhammad Adnan Gujjar
Some people cannot be captured in words. They reflect God on earth. Their presence enlightens many, and their absence leaves a void in the heart. They are indeed the hustle and bustle of life. As Keats rightly said, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Romeo, Mr. Adnan Tariq, was described by his mentor Usman Ali, the renowned English dramatist of Pakistan, in much the same way. Mr. Romeo is blessed with unique qualities and can truly be described as “a persona full of light and delight for his surroundings”, a man who adores compassion, worships humanity, values honesty, respects emotions, lauds criticism, and possesses a deep understanding of humanity and rationality.
I met him in 2014, and he was even more impressive than the anecdotes his teacher had shared during class. Since 2000, he had been a student of M.A. English Literature at Government College Mandi Bahauddin. He was an exceptional talent, known for his intellectualism and punctuality. His intellect was remarkable, and his performance in Hamlet by William Shakespeare was flawless. The drama was staged at Government College Mandi Bahauddin, and Usman Ali, the renowned dramatist of Pakistan, introduced this raw talent on stage.
The enactment of Hamlet showcases Usman Ali’s unique approach, earning him a new identity after the performance in the remote area of Mandi Bahauddin. Critics and experts from across the country applauded the production, and Usman Ali emerged as a great teacher and radical dramatist who excels in reading, reciting, acting, enacting, and directing the art of drama and dramaturgy. This performance of Hamlet ignited a new perspective on Usman Ali in academia, establishing him as an exceptional teacher. Indeed, he is one of a kind, and history will never see another Usman Ali.
Another marvellous performance took place in the heart of Mandi Bahauddin, at Government Post Graduate College. This time, it was Romeo and Juliet by Master William Shakespeare—a play with a remarkable history of performances. Once again, the spotlight was on Adnan Tariq, who skilfully and passionately portrayed the role of Romeo, captivating the audience with his enactment. Even now, literary enthusiasts recall the sounds of swords echoing through the ancient domes of Mandi Bahauddin. The unique aspect of the play was that it was managed by the students. It is said that female students sold their gold to fund the enactment of the play.
The event was graced by Sarmad Khosat, the famous Pakistani film producer, who encouraged the actors and director, a fellow of his at Punjab University Lahore. Time bears witness, and every student of Usman Ali remembers the timeless character of Romeo.
Later, Mr. Romeo joined Bank Al Habib in Mandi Bahauddin. Sometimes, I was surprised that such a unique teacher did not remain in the education department. Although he taught at the Government College of Technology Rasool, now known as the University of Technology Rasool, for a few years, he eventually left due to the flawed education system. He was disturbed and disheartened by the monopolies within the system.
Another prominent aspect of his character is his athleticism and love for sports. He was known as a thrilling and formidable fast bowler in his hometown, Chillianwala, and its surroundings. Cricket seemed to be in his blood—he lived and loved the game. As a cricket enthusiast, he possessed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport. His grasp of Ashes history, the legendary rivalry between Australia and England, was extraordinary. He could recall every Cricket World Cup from 1975 to 2023 and the individual performances of all-time greats with ease. His favorite discussions were comparative analyses of the greatest players in batting and bowling.
His mastery in cricket analysis could also be seen in his predictions. Most of his predictions about great players were as clear as a stream of water. Once, he predicted the rise of Virat Kohli, now one of the all-time favorite cricketers in the world. He would often say that Kohli was a big-match player, and Kohli always lived up to his predictions. In a recent Indian win, Kohli’s exceptional performance against South Africa in the World Cup final stood as a testament to his greatness. Post-COVID 2020, there was much debate about the comparison between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. However, Mr. Romeo never engaged in this debate, as he considered Babar as the “goat” (apologies) and Kohli as the lion of the cricket arena. I am truly amazed by his passion for cricket, which I captured in a poem titled “I Have a Dream.”
I have a dream
I could sit in the gallery of Lord’s,
Holding your hand in mine,
Cherishing the intense moment between Eng and Aus!
And enchant “Hurrah!” with your “Hurrah!”
Display “Alas!” with your “Alas!”
I have a dream to sit with you at the MCG,
Watching a sizzling tussle between Pak and Aus!
I could capture your bubbling emotions,
Enjoy your criticality and emotionality,
As you often burst and rehearse,
With lively responses!
What a ball!
What a short!
Ball of the century,
Short of the day!
I often dream
To be with you in a realm
Where air rustles,
Drizzle tussles,
Joy hustles,
And language puzzles!
I have a dream to see your verbosity with Chopra,
Bhogle could wrestle with you,
Shastri and Ramiz could tweet to you,
Nasir could laud your opinion,
Vaughn could celebrate your union,
And Holding could applaud your joviality.
I have a dream
To shoulder you at Vankhede,
Bridging Indo-Pak,
And that lovely Sunday
Could make our fun day.
I have a dream!
I have a dream!
On the other side of the coin, Mr. Romeo’s compassion stands tall. He is a leader—captain of the ship. I observed his vision and mission when he was the manager of Bank Al Habib in Mandi Bahauddin. He led his team with an artistic touch. Blessed to have been in his company, I noticed his compassionate approach as I closely observed him. As a living embodiment of Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong, he undoubtedly fulfills the criteria of a compassionate being. I have learned a great deal from his loyalty and purity. As a wordsmith, I dedicated a poem to him titled To My Romio. Although his flawless and unique character does not depend on my words and verses, I am making a humble effort to capture his essence in poetry and prose. My poem reflects what he holds in my heart. The poem is “Portrait of Elegance”
I met a visage,
The visage was not an image.
You know it is vibrant,
I sense energy in his gaze,
The beautiful lashes,
Talking through eyes,
The visage deeply lies,
Sprawling heat to
Beat.
You know her white pearl
And smooth curl
Were whispering to the prison
Of the Earl.
Keats clicks in
As he sparkles.
Oh visage,
Delightful image!
You know,
And yet don’t know,
You are
A thing of beauty.
Duty
Is joy forever.
MUHAMMAD ADNAN GUJJAR
The writer is a full-time lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature at the
University of Chenab, Gujrat, and is currently working on the third edition of the literary
magazine The Wordsmith E-Magazine.
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