My Principals of Government College, Sargodha 1961-65 26 March 2014 We have come a long way since 1961. Sargodha was a big ‘village’ of about one hundred thousand modest people riding on bicycle and tongas in the city which was limited in area. Newly emerged phenomena of: 1) parking; 2) security; 3) environmental pollution and 4) beleaguered national economy virtually did not exist. From its roads, walkways, building, public cleanliness and general outlook Sargodha looked like a traditional city of a 200-years slave colony overburdened with the local and Mohajir population. The only organized and good looking feature of its infrastructure was railway line, railway station and the trains. Bedford trucks and buses plying on undivided single pebble-paved roads were fairly common. Crown Bus Service and United Bus Service charged Rs. 4 and one Anna for four and a half hour journey to Lahore via Chiniot and Sheikhupura. A large fleet of Muslim Bus Service served western bound passengers. Till 1961, cars and autobicks were rare. In July 1961, bicycling a long distance and somewhat anxious too I entered the premises of the Government College Sargodha in the company of my brother in law Abdus Salam, a former graduate of that college. The magnificent building of my ‘would be’ institution, the lush green land scrape and the ‘quality’ of people roaming around impressed me. With the admission form duly filled-in; I entered the office of the Principal, interfacing a Principal for the first time in my life. Professor Abdul Ali Khan MA (Oxen), a fair complexioned majestic stately officer was sitting on an elevated chair on the other side of the green-cloth-covered big office table looking inquisitively on me with his bright shiny eyes, captivating me for responding to his questions. With a respectful gesture, I submitted my form to the Principal. While looking at the form he asked my name and continued looking at the form. I was nervously prepared to respond to the question on my low-obtained marks. He did not ask any questions but asked for my confirmation that I had chosen the subjects cautiously. I nodded my head in affirmative. He signed the form in the lower end and passed that on to me. Perspiring all over my face, quietly I walked out of his office to tell my folks that I have been admitted to the 11th class in the college. My heart was beating faster than normal when we were standing in the queue for making payment of college dues. We approximately Rs. 150 and I was assigned roll number 159 for the coming two years. Jamshaid Alam Qureshi photographed at Dilshad Studio, Goal Chowk, Sargodha in December 1961 for college identity card. Everything about my admission went very well except a little fuss, later on, about the selection of my subjects. I had selected Geography, Political Science and History which was questioned by many family members without any rationale. One of my brothers in law who had been a student of Aligarh University in 3rd year (his subjects were Geology and Chemistry) when the sub continent was divided insisted that I should opt for Geology but that did not ‘exist’ at that time. The controversy ended when my father put his foot down allowing me my free choice. Now when I look back, I realize the lady luck was smiling on me for I was destined to receive masters’ degrees one after another in these three subjects of my choice from 1967 to 69. We were cautioned of a number of disciplinary matters. There was no compromise on the college uniform in summer as well as in winter but a choice of local or western style was available. Class and roll number had to be written on the back of bicycle mudguard and that the cycle, in all circumstances, had to be parked in the cycle-stand and only at a designated place. A college cooperative store located adjacent to the college canteen was responsible for providing necessary items of college uniform including the red and green stripes ties, college crests and allied badges. During my stay in the college, the name of the institution was changed three times. In 1961, it was Demontmorency (de Montmorency) College, in 1962 it was changed to Government Demontmorency College and finally it changed to Government College Sargodha. Sir Jeoffery de Montmorency was an ICS officer and twice Governor of Punjab between 1928 -1933. He died in Cambridge in 1955 when the present building of Government College Sargodha was inaugurated. We were more familiar with the de Montmorency iron bridge on river Jhelum at Khushab. Sir Geoffrey de Montgomery was Private Secretary to Viceroy of India in 1922, in 1928 he succeeded Sir William Malcolm Hailey of Shahpur as Governor of Punjab, and once again he was Governor of Punjab in 1932 succeeding Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan. I remember Sir de Montmorency for the dastardly attack on him when his party was leaving the University Hall of the University of the Punjab on the Mall after delivering the convocation; a youth fired six shots in rapid succession from a revolver before he was overpowered. Two bullets struck the Governor, one in the back above the left hip, and the other in the left arm. Luckily he survived the attack. The tall and well built Principal Ali Khan was a learned man who used to speak Pashto, Urdu and English facilitating the audience. His appearance was that of a traditional Pathan and his style was British to the core. During his speech or conversation very frequently he used to refer to Oxford and narrate some story or make some remarks adding to our lust to see that seat of academic excellence. He wanted his students to be ‘cultured’ and disciplined and he did humanly best efforts to achieve that objective. Everyday, he used to take a walking round of the academic block and the college estate very often wearing his Peshawari Chapples with back strap open. His physical presence was ‘felt’ in the college. My stars were somewhat diffused one day, in the afternoon last to leave the class room I opened the door and stepped in the main corridor on the ground floor to discover the Principal just in front of me – a complete shock. I knew that the third button of my white dress shirt was open which was a “cognizable” offence per the discipline of our college (keeping the third button open is psychological with some persons particularly the youngsters. Some elders used to regard it as a gesture of ‘Badmaashi’ (scoundrelism’). Faced with this shocking situation, my hand mechanically reached my chest to tie the third button. Looking at me ferociously, the Principal stopped me by the gesture of his hand, got closer to me and tied the third button with his hands – shattering my nerves in this exercise. “You will not do it again – Khu-rus-ku”. (we were told by some one that Khurusku is a Pashto expression used for ‘lost sheep’ or ‘untamed sheep’ and it goes without saying that sheep is an intellect-less innocent being.) In an attempt to inculcate good taste for English dramas/movies and provide some meaningful entertainment to the students, the Principal arranged to show us Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth in the college hall. The following day, the entire lot of students was severely chastised, and educated, for a group of some students were laughing loudly when the most tragic scene was on. (The reason was that a group of students had been overly amazed with the attire of a character on the scene). Principal Ali Khan had elite public-relationing that added color to his person and the institution. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Sargodha were amongst the regular guests of the College. In convocation of 1960 Nawab Amir Mohammad Khan of Kalabagh Governor West Pakistan was the chief guest, Begum Viqarun Nisa Noon Chairperson Red Cross Society of Pakistan had come to inaugurate the college dispensary, Mr. Envar Adil Secretary Education had come for prize distribution. I had noted that Principal Ali Khan’s circle of friends and ‘choice’ was senior bureaucrat community NOT the rich businessmen. One of my class-mate Anwar who came from rural background was a unique being in many respects. He was pole-vault champion of our college and excelled in extracurricular activities. He ‘fell in love’ with a dog that was owned by a high ranking police officer. Somehow, Anwar got hold of that dog. How? Where? No one could tell. Signals of caution were raised when police started patrolling outside the college-estate based on their thesis of investigation that the lost-dog had some relevance with the college. Our friend was completely bamboozled holding on to the secret to himself only. Third day, the Principal announced in the assembly about the criticality of disappearance of that dog and warned about the dignity of the college name. Sina-gazette had it that Anwar had the exceptional courage to confess before the Principal, requesting forgiveness, weeping and begging for keeping that dog with him. In 1962, shortly after my admission Principal Ali Khan was transferred and elevated to the most prestigious position of Principal Atichison College Lahore. As the luck will have it, I met him in December 1967 in the Principal’s office of Atichison College after climbing spiral stairs of the well-preserved old building. His welcoming remark, “Khurusku you are here!” gave me pious pleasure. I had had my masters’ degree in Geography from University of the Punjab and I had a feel that Atichison College was an honorable place to commence my practical life from. I presented my papers and expressed my desire for a job without knowing of any vacancy. He encouraged me without ever hinting of hiring me. Next day (20 Dec 1967) I received a telegram for interview on Thursday 21st December 1967. (This telegram has been a souvenir document in my treasury of achieve ever since) I was interviewed by a senior British Mr. Clerk Headmaster of the School for about sixty minutes. It was a unique interview almost divided into three segments. The first part about my education went very well. In the second section, he asked me countless questions about my ancestry. I was comfortable to respond to all his questions about my father, regarding my grandfather my knowledge was shallow for may father had lost his father at an early age and such he was raised by his grandfather. Therefore we had heard more about our great-grandfather unlike others. Mr. Dike was fascinated to know of my knowledge about my great-grandfather and I felt complacent too. But the questions were still coming about father of great-grandfather and his father – where I was relatively blank. The final part of the interview, pertaining to my ability in ‘games’, was arduous and somewhat embarrassing too. He was happy to know that I was a Badminton player and color-holder of my college. “Do you know swimming?” he asked. “Yes’, I replied gleefully. “What is your style?” I did not know that for I was only a hard-knock swimmer in the lakes of freezing cool water and had the recognized ability to slaughter a bird while swimming in deep water. I vacillated on this question for my mind was completely bank. Judging it fast, Mr. Dike came to my help and suggested many style but that did not help me. Concluding the interview he told me that all (our) teachers come in the evening for the games and we will assign you some duties for the games too. Very arduous for me – I thought! In 1996, I was grieved to read in the newspaper of the sad demise of Professor Khan Abdul Ali Khan who had been, inter alia, Secretary Education and Vice Chancellor of Peshawar University. Not knowing anybody else, I wrote a condolence letter to the politician Khan Abdul Wali Khan but I had a desire to conduct a reference in Government College Sargodha hall in the audience of some of his students and staff. May his soul rest in peace – Ameen. Professor MIAN SHAFI SARWAR took over the leadership of Government College Sargodha in 1962 after the transfer of Principal Abdul Ali Khan. Plumpish built, short heighted academician was senior professor of Botany and was gifted with a calm and complacent temper, shiny piercing eyes and an administrative grandeur in his personality. He spoke at a comfortable pitch with rather heavy voice from the bass. His tone was polite but firm and his behavior with the students was patronizing and affectionate sometimes with a mild smile. Mian Shafi Sarwar, Senior Professor of Botany Principal Government College Sargodha 1962-66 It is interesting to note that the impressions and point of view of the students and the teaching staff generally vary about any Principal of an institution and this difference should be acceptable with respect to the conduct and behavior in inter-personal relations but on framing of policies and procedures and their implementation a consensus should be fairly acceptable. In my humble judgment, Professor Shafi managed the student community, their affairs, the academic staff, the workers and the college estate alike. On regular basis, he kept the students busy, collectively, in various activities beneficial to their future and experience. In the aftermath of 1962 constitution, a National Assembly was functioning under a presidential form of government as opposed to the 1956 parliamentary form. To apprise the students a ‘model’ (dummy) national assembly was constituted in the college with the speaker, deputy speakers, ministers, parliamentary secretary, federal secretaries and sergeants at arms. Regular sessions were held to encourage students learn from its debates and working procedures. Professor Shafi belonged to a very learned family of high educationists. As he arrived, “the Sina-gazatte” (unascertained information) of the students turned in action and unleashed the information which has a natural tendency to exaggerate facts suitable to the occasion for enjoying gossip for the time being irrespective of any consideration that some serious damage could be done sometime in chitchat. One of Professor Shafi’s sisters was said to be a principal of a degree college and one of his brothers Naeen Sarwar was principal of the renowned Hailey College of Commerce Lahore. As opposed to Professor Ali Khan who was scion of a political family, Professor Shafi was a constituent of an academician family. While public relationing of Professor Ali khan was in upper echelons of bureaucrats, Professor Shafi was beneficially popular in the industrial/business class of Sargodha. Mian Anwar an industrialist of Sargodha donated an open-air auditorium to the college in the memory of his father Mian Maula Bukhsh – a land mark in the annuls of the college attributed to the connections and wisdom of Professor Shafi. When work commenced on this project, the students at large were unhappy on two accounts: a) its location that had blocked the beautiful landscaped view of the front lawn of the college and it hindered in the panoramic view of the “Jinnah Block” the main builing, and b) the proposed name of the auditorium that sounded ‘primitive’ and too localized. In 1964, the college convocation was held in this auditorium and it was so well decorated that we felt our concerns could be compromised. Professor Butt Director of Education Rawalpindi delivered the convocation and he read his printed address with such a magnificent accent and pronunciation that I envoy that even today. Mian Shamim Gulzar, owner of a cotton factory in the factory area, was another industrial friend of the Principal who visited college quite often. Students knew of Mian Sahib’s presence from his black Morris-Minor 1000 car that used be parked in front of “Jinnah Block” at the corner. In those days you could see the road in front of the college building from one end to the other for no car or cycle was parked there. Mian Shamim Gulzar who was a donor of college activities had a younger brother who was my batch-mate. The Principal had cordial relations with other industrialist such as Sultan Textile Mill (Later Sargodha Textile Mill), New Punjab Soap Factory and Insaaf Soap Factory. The college debates and forum discussions were so many and so good that they echo in my memory even after 50 years. In that era, the common mode of transportation for students and staff was bicycle and the traffic of bicycles on the road was meticulously regulated by the police according the traffic-laws. One of the requirements of the law was that two persons together (doubling) cannot ride on a bicycle. While ‘Doubling’ was a misdemeanor punishable by fine, the circumstances marked by courtesy, convenience and expediency compelled the students for taking that chance under the false confidence that they will not be caught committing that crime. The most difficult spot was on the college road at the intersection of the Canal Rest House/ Sargodha Club where lurking policeman was generally present. Therefore the routine of the students was that they will get down from the bicycle before that crossing and resume ride before the Deputy Commissioner’s House. Helpless with this undesirable activity of the students, the Sargodha Police decided to discipline the astray-lot by educating them. The Principal was apprised and convinced by the police on this ‘law and order’ situation and requested for help. In 1963, a discussion forum was held between the students versus police and the parents on the critical preposition that “doubling on bicycle endangers life”. Student speakers included: Nazer Hussain Bhatti (later president of the Union), Minhajuddin Tabassaum (later president of the Union) Mubassar Aulad Hussain (later secretary general of the Union) and many others. Concluding the discussion, the Principal who had a mixed expression of anxiety and smile on his face remarked that ‘you may not know that but doubling endangers your life which is very significant for all of us’. The crowed shouted vehemently, ‘no’. The argument of yes and no went on for some time before the house was asked to vote on the preposition. Smelling the mood of the house, the Principal prorogued the vote. I have all time fresh memory of a hockey match that was played with Gordon College Rawalpindi in the hockey ground that was adjacent to Sargodha Stadium. The entire student community was present with zeal and zest and our center-forward chubby captain Mansoor Qureshi played an exhibitioner game. Time was extended for no party could hit a goal. Mudassar Aulad Hussain was our dynamic goal-keeper who had magical control on the Dee area. The match was, again, held the next day for reaching a decision. Though we lost the game but our players let us see a wonderful game that is still stuck to my memory. The Principal delivered a short speech on the theme of ‘sportsman spirit’. There are many incidents of my ‘encounters’ with the worthy principal. At times, blinded in passions I wanted to dash my head against the wall in opposition to the decision made by the principal thinking that I was a ‘looser’. Now I look back differently, each time I was the winner some times by loosing and some times by winning. (In my thoughts, I beg his pardon for my misdemeanors). I would always remember and pray for Professor Mian Shafi Sarwar with profound respect and honor. I have numerous memories associated to his good name and his era in Government College Sargodha. I had always admired and adored his tranquility and complacency that I could not successfully apply in my life – my fault. In Lahore, I live in Model Town which is about 100 years old autonomous cooperative society having its own civic facilities including a library. About 20 years back, I was searching for a book in the library and I came across, “Professor Shafi Sarwar” cabinet. The books donated to the library by the Professor or his descendents were stamped with his good name. No one in the library could give me any clue to contact my Principal. I owe my gratitude to him. I was too happy to receive my result in July 1965 and my sizzling pleasure continued for a few months till priority of matters of Ino-pak war overtook the events. I was student at University of the Punjab when I was called upon for the convocation in November 1965 – just after the war. Principal Shafi Sarwar clad in a dark suit and a silky black gown articulated beautiful words at random about the graduates who were in-waiting to receive their degrees. Syed Hasham Reza CSP Commissioner Sargodha Division was the chief guest. That day was the beginning of an end to my contiguous relationship with my alma-mater. I apologies for any mistake of ‘facts’, if any and request your comments.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:39:08 +0000
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