GCU alumni turn back the clocks

Lahore: The alumni of Government College University, Lahore have turned back the clocks with their grand reunion in the majestic Oval Ground of their alma mater where they met their teachers and class-fellows after many decades.

Eminent Old Ravian Justice (r) Dr Javed Iqbal, the son of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, was the chief guest at the reunion hosted by university’s official alumni body, Old Ravians Union, under the patronage of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, its President Kamran Lashari and Honorary Secretary Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt.

Eminent Singer Shafqat Amant Ali performed at the reunion which also attended by a seven-member delegation of Indian Old Ravians which included retired Indian Air Wing Commander Iqbal Singh, retired Maj-Gen Ramesh Chandra and retired Brig Harcharan Ghumn as “Guest of Honours”.

Addressing the Old Ravians, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman said it took tremendous effort and endless time to set up reputed academic institutions like GCU, adding that numerous teachers and students really worked hard over the last 150 years to establish the glorious traditions of academic leadership.

He said that in this age of research and technology, GCU was in a dire need of financial resources to keep up pace of development and producing world best scientists, engineers and literati. He called on the Old Ravians that GCU needed their support to expand its functions in different domains, besides strengthening the existing facilities.

However, he also highlighted that despite acute challenges of space in the campus, the GC University had continued its sacred mission of imparting quality education as per international standards.

Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, in his address, recalled his days he spent at the Government College, Lahore. He remembered that he used to come to the college on bicycle that was one of the most prestigious institutions of Sub-continent at that time. He urged the young generation to follow the Allama Iqbal’s message of Ijtihad and leave the way of leading life by imitating others. “There is an atmosphere of war between Ijtihad and Taqlid in today’s universities and tolerance is vanishing, so this is the most crucial time when the educational institutions like GCU have to play a leading role to guide youths in right direction,” he added.

ORU President Kamaran Lashari regretted that despite having sixth largest army and seventh nuclear power in the world, Pakistan had a lowest literacy rate in South Asia. Pointing out the erudite star-studded event, he hoped that Pakistan would soon emerge as the most literate country in the world.

Wing Commander (r) Iqbal Singh, Coordinator of ORU Delhi Chapter, said, “We all Old Ravians have brought greetings from India on this historic event.” He said that GC had also produced legends for India including Air Chief Marshal O.P. Mehra and Air Marshal Arjand Singh. He suggested that the children of Indian Old Ravians should be given associate membership of ORU so that they could play their vital role in improving relationships between India and Pakistan. He also revealed that they had also formed an Old Ravians Union in India and Ashwain Kumar was its President.

Sajjad Rizvi, the great grandson of eminent writer Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad, said his four generation had studied from Government College, Lahore.

Speaking on the occasion, ORU Honorary Secretary Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt said Old Ravians remembered their alma mater not because of their degrees but due to the values, morals and confidence that the Government College taught them. Old Ravians also prayed for the early recovery of Hamid Mir, one of the eminent alumni of GCU. Lahore High Court Bar Secretary Mian Muhammad Ahmed Cachharr also addressed the reunion gala.

Later, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman along with Justice (r) Dr Javed Iqbal presented souvenirs to the Indian Old Ravians.