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Kachari Road be renamed as Leitner Road: Old Ravians

Leitner RoadLahore: The Kachari Road, Lahore must be renamed as Leitner Road to honour the man who founded the Government College, Lahore, the Punjab University, Lahore, and the Oriental College, Lahore (all of them located on Kachari Road), said eminent Old Ravians while addressing a seminar on the “cultural landscape of 150-year-old Government College (University), Lahore which was chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman. Eminent Indian writer Pran Nevile, the author of Lahore – A Sentimental Journey, was the chief guest at the seminar which was also addressed by Old Ravians; Punjab Secretary Higher Education Abdullah Khan Sumbel, Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Prof. Mahmood Shaukat, eminent historian Majid Shiekh, educationist Prof Sabir Lodhi, noted actress/director Madiha Gohar and Chief Librarian Abdul Waheed.

Addressing the seminar, Vice Chancellor Prof Rahman agreed with the points raised by Mr. Majid Shiekh and that Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, M.A., Ph.D., L.L.D., D.O.L. (1840–1899), the first principal of Government College Lahore, was also the great scholar of the Islam and oriental languages, and had even memorised many parts of Holy Quran to understand Islam. “Dr Leitner also established in England famous Woking Mosque and Islamic,” he added.

The Vice Chancellor also announced that the main building of GCU Kala Shah Kaku would also be named after the first principal of Government College, Lahore.

Speaking on the occasion, Majid Shiekh said that Dr Leitner was one of the greatest linguists that ever lived, certainly the greatest educationalist to work for Lahore and the Punjab, and definitely an outstanding researcher of the Orient. “Our government colleges and our central model schools all flowed from the foundations De Leitner laid” he added.

Pran Neville, who came all the way from India to attend 150th year celebrations of GCU, revealed that two former Indian Air Marshals and two army chiefs were also students of Government College, Lahore. “GC is still almost same, but just the ratio of girls on the campus have increased,” he added.  He also read his Punjabi poem “420” and enthralled the audience.

Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal, the former Capitan of GCU cricket team and editor The Ravi 1992, said rigorous academic work and literary and curricular activities of GC University, Lahore prepared a Ravain to pass any examination of the world. He shared his memories of studying at GC with the audience, saying that everybody must have courage to know and a will to something for his country.

Talking on the topic of the seminar, AIMC Principal Prof Dr Mehmood Shaukat said, “Ravian community has specific culture and GCU represents common people of the society.” He said that GCU gave the brilliant students a chance to groom their personality and polish their abilities. He told students a difference between knowledge and education. He called on universities to pay more attention on education which was about grooming the personality of a student and making him a good human being. While, he said, knowledge was only about acquiring a specific skill.

Prof Sabir Lodhi, who taught at the Government College, Lahore for 33 years, also shared his golden memories with the audience and congratulated the GCU Library Society on holding the seminar.

 

 

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