Interview and Analysis

Oral History

The following is an interview with an Archaeologist.

Abdul Badi, 1954: Assumed Name

Interview

Q1:      Tell us how did you get interest in Archaeology?

In my childhood days, on holidays, my father used to tell us stories about the ancient times. I had my younger sister, and both of us were very keen to know about the past stories. Even though they were not real stories, but we used to listen them with a great interest. This was the time when I got interested in the field.

Q2:      From those stories to real interest, how did you develop that?

Inspired by the interesting myths our parents used to tell us about the past, whenever I used to go play with my friends, I used to discuss what my father used to tell. This was very interesting. Then when I grew up more, I started collecting the books about the history. My favorite subject in school was history only, and I used to top it. Then furthermore I did graduation about the same. 

Q3:      What challenges did you face in your life?

Since my family support was always there, particularly I did not feel any challenging stuff in my life. It had been smooth all the way. The only problem was the war of 1973, that time of 1965-75, was a tough time. I wanted to go to UK for high school studies, but had to wait for 1 year or so and I could not move on.

Q4:      How was the experience of your alma mater in UK, tell us about it?

It was speechless experience. I studied form the UCL institute of Archaeology, one of the prominent institutes. I learnt about the world, as well as about UAE on my own.

Q5:      what you did after your study got over?

I started a part time job there, in one of the museums when I was studying. I did it with very interest, and after study got over I did the job on full time basis. Soon, I started as a lecturer there in UK.

Q6:      When was the time you came back to UAE?

I was offered to assist the 6 member panel, as one of the member with a responsibility of initiating Al Ain National Museum. This was the time I realized to get myself back here.

Q7:      How was your experience here?

It was very difficult first to gather about the information we needed. It was perhaps most challenging situation in my professional career. But, when we completed, and the Museum inaugurated in 1971, it was the perfect win like situation.

Q8:      In today’s date, children have little interests about the one you had. Can you explain?

Today, it is the modern age having technology as interest. The interest in stories is long gone. Children are interested more in computers, phones, play stations, etc. These fast evolutions had attracted children more.

Q9:      What is your opinion about it?

This definitely is very wrong. It is like living in a virtual world with only one positive aspect of connectivity. Children spend time on internet always and miss their golden time of childhood. Instead, they should get interested into the real things.

Q10:    What remedies do you suggest?

Childhood is the age when individual is introduced to the society. The parents should look upon the lifestyle of their children and should give them time. Involve them much more in the other activities like sports, arts, history as well can be the topic of interest. The society and the government shall also take care upon the fact, children can be made to have interests which older generation had, but the way should be the use of technology.

Analysis

Earlier generation, had the leisure of doing everything they want. Arts and history were the topics, in which children had interests. That time was not narrowed with only the technology, the way it is today. The interest which we acquire in our childhood can lead us a good and satisfied life. As of today’s date, children need to be guided by the society to have their approach in the right direction. The technology is a good invention but it should only be used as the tool to access the information and have the connectivity, which the earlier generation did not have. The parents, society, and the government should bring new ideas to develop the young generation’s talent, by guiding them and have let their lives as real as the earlier generation had. Because, according to the experience, the present generation has been living in the virtual world, which is a matter of concern as it has cons against the development of the personality, until and unless it is not utilized in fruitful manner.