Aitchison College
Aitchison College | |
---|---|
File:Aitchison-new-logo.jpg | |
Location | |
Information | |
Motto | "Perseverance commands success" |
Established | 3 November 1886 |
Principal | Fakir Syed Aijazuddin |
Area | 200-acre (0.81 km2) |
Website | http://www.aitchison.edu.pk/ |
Aitchison College, Lahore, is one of the most prestigious educational institutions of its kind in South Asia. Established in 1886, it has retained its character over the years, maintaining the public school tradition of providing an education that uses academics, sports and co-curricular activities as tools for character development. The school follows a curriculum designed to culminate in International GCE O, AS and A Level qualifications and is geared towards preparing the students for university education.
Aitchison College is the descendant of the Wards’ School at Ambala and the Chiefs’ Colleges.[1] The college is the second only school in Pakistan that is a part of the Headmasters' Conference.
Introduction
The foundation stone of the main building was laid by the Viceroy, the Earl of Dufferin and Ava on November 3, 1886. Aitchison College is the lineal descendant of the Wards School at Ambala and the Chiefs Colleges.
The College is named after the then Lt. Governor of the Punjab, Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison.
Addressing the boys in 1888, Sir Charles Aitchison said:
...much, very much, is expected of you. I trust you will use well the opportunities here afforded of you both for your education and for the formation of your character ... This is an institution from which you will banish everything in thought and word and act that is mean, dishonorable or impure, and in which you will cultivate everything that is virtuous, true, manly and gentlemanly
Aitchison College is known for its Alumni and many of its students have gone on to study at well-known universities across the world.
The building was designed and built by Sir Ganga Ram, one of the leading architects of that time.[2][3]
History
Wards School at Ambala
The history of Aitchison College goes back to the Ward's School at Ambala which was envisioned in 1864 by Captain Tighe, then D.C. of Ambala. Established in 1868, it was originally intended for the education of young Sikh Sirdars of the District but on the insistence of Sir Henry Davies, it widened its scope in 1874 to cater for the education of all government wards living in other parts of Punjab. The present constitution of Aitchison College is still based on the set of rules framed for the Wards' School.
Chiefs College
The growing interest in the college prompted efforts by Lt. Gen Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison, after whom the college is named, to expand the Government Wards School into a Chiefs College. North Mian Meer Road was initially selected as the new site for Chiefs College and collaboration between Bhai Ram Singh, Vice Principal of Mayo School of Arts and Col. S. S. Jacob, Executive Engineer at Jeypore came up with an architectural design for the college. Even at its beginning, the college was designed to have a science laboratory, library and museum besides classrooms and amenities for students. Under the auspices of the new staff, including the first Principal Mr. W. A. Robinson and the famous Urdu poet Altaf Hussain Hali, Chiefs College began educating a modest first batch of 12 boys, who were temporarily accommodated at Abbot Road while construction was underway. The college was formally inaugurated by the Viceroy, the Earl of Dufferin and Ava on 3 November 1886.
Aitchison College
Only a few days after the foundation stone of Chiefs College was laid down, it was renamed on 13 November 1886 as Aitchison College. A boundary wall around the entire campus was finished in 1950. Construction of the main building, now known as Old Building, began in 1887 and was finished in 1890, along with a gymnasium and a hospital. Soon after that, the main building became the center of academic life at Aitchison as previously the classes were being held in the boarding houses and some rented bungalows. Construction on other buildings continued as the school attracted more wards and visits from various princes. The Prize Distribution Day ceremony, now known as the Founders Day, held annually in May, was started in 1892. The Prize Distribution was later divided into two separate ceremonies: Founders Day Academics and Founders Day Sports.
Several efforts were made to provide facilities for physical education of the students. In 1896, a cricket pavilion was subscriped and work began on a polo ground. A year later, training in cricket, football, field hockey and tennis was started. Following Aitchison's win in local sports competition, Aitchison Challenge Cup was established to honour the best sportsmen each year. In 1905, ACOBA (Aitchison College Old Boys Association) was established to allow the alumni of the school to compete against the current students in an event that brought together the alumni each year. In 1907, Aitchison College started sending contingents of sports teams to compete with schools outside Lahore, and was allowed to host contingents from other schools. Swimming facilities were developed in 1923 and Rani of Mandi Cup was established to honour the best swimmer of the year. The sports system soon evolved as competitions between the houses themselves began in 1928. Hockey and tennis courts were established in 1938.
A mosque was constructed for religious education of Muslim students in 1900 and a Dharamsala was created in 1913. A separate Sikh mess was organised in 1907 and a separate kitchen for Halal food in 1938. A mandir was also constructed, which was later redesigned to hold the Principal's office after partition. Religious education was later made compulsory for Hindus and Sikhs. Until its abolishment in 1933, a rule existed that a separate boarding house should exist for Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Ch.Rehmat Ali, famous for coining the name of Pakistan started teaching at the school in 1918. In the first half of the 20th century, several extra-curricular activities took its roots in the school including and competitions for best essay writer and best debater became one of the most coveted honours. In 1906, one of the most famous medals, Rivaz medal for best all-round performance at Aitchison college was created. Some college publications were established: "Pioneer" in and "Aitchison" in 1936.
A separate building for Preparatory School, which now holds classes for Grades 6–8, was constructed in 1915 and the prefects system was established two years later. The school was affiliated with Cambridge University in 1933. In 1935, the policy of admission was broadened to include ordinary boys from surrounding areas. Following this policy, a separate house, Jubilee, was established for day boys. Classes for Grade 9–13 were shifted from main building to the new constructed Barry Block (Senior School) in 1948. Following the partition of the Indian Subcontinent, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was appointed Patron in Chief of the College in 1948. A separate building for Junior School, for Grades 1–5, was inaugurated in 1964. War between India and Pakistan in 1965 disrupted school activities for a while but normal school year resumed soon after cease fire. A number of modern buildings were constructed on the campus near the end of 20th century, including an amphitheater, a large library, computer and science laboratories, housing for staff members, a riding school, squash and basketball courts.
Organization and curriculum
Academic organisation
Aitchison College is divided into three schools:
- Junior School (Grades 1–5)
- Prep School (Grades 6–8)
- Senior School (Grades 9–13)
- O Level (Grades 9-11)
- AS/A Level (Grades 12–13)
Curriculum
The Senior School offers preparation for General Certificate of Education (GCE) from University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), following the British Cambridge Assessment (UCLES) system. The grades 9 through 11 are prepared for International GCE Ordinary Level or O Level (equivalent to national Secondary School Certificate or SSC) and grades 12 and 13 are prepared for International GCE Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level or AS/A Level (equivalent to national Higher Secondary School Certificate or HSC).
The national 'Matriculation' curriculum was also until 2002 available to students of grades 9 and 10 who did not wish to pursue the international board examinations. It was cancelled by Principal Shamim Khan for unknown reasons.
Student life
House system
Each school is subdivided into houses that have members from each grade of that school. Houses are designed to promote inter-house competitions and mentor ship opportunities, led by prefects and house masters. The main boarding houses are the Leslie Jones House, Godley House and Kelly House. Leslie house has now been disbanded but Godley and Kelly are still functional.
Junior School
|
Prep School
|
Senior School
|
School counselling
The Guidance and Career Counseling Office at the college is subdivided the university applications into three major areas; the US, UK and Canada. Aitchison currently has specialists who offer the senior students advice for the three countries. These include Asad(Pakistan) Mr. Fazal Qadir (Canada) and Mr. Tariq Yasin(Tyson) heading the office as Director.
Co-curricular
Junior School
|
Prep and Senior School
|
Physical education
Students have to opt for two sports at the beginning of each term, other than swimming which is compulsory. The choices include athletics, basketball, cricket, football, hockey, lawn tennis, water polo, riding, squash, badminton and table tennis.
Alumni
Statesmen
- Mir Rustam Khan Jamali (late)
- Nawabzada Khan Abdul Majid Khan Tarin, OBE, of Dheri and Talokar, in Hazara, NWFP
- Sir Nawab Muhammed Akbar Khan of Hoti , Nawab of Hoti, Mardan.
- Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan, Khattar, of Wah, Shaukat i Punjab.
- Sir Sardar Muhammad Nawaz Khan of Kot Fateh Khan, Nawab Kot.
- Nawab Ghulam Qutabuddin Khan, The Nawab Of Mamdot.
- Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V, Nawab of Bahawalpur.
- Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan, Nawab of Pataudi.
- His Highness Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala.
- Raja Bhalindra Singh (Prince Peter), of Patiala, Cambridge Blue in cricket
- His Highness Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala
- Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan, Jam of Lasbela.
- Kanwar Jasjit Singh of Kapurthala
- Sardar Bahadur General Muhammad Afzal Khan Qazilbash, C.I.E , O.B.E
- Mumtaz Hussain Ali Khan, Nawab of Pataudi
- Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan, Nawab of Pataudi
- Wing Commander Chaudhry Zia Ullah Khan
- Major General Sher Ali Khan Pataudi
- Lieutenant- General Ali Kuli Khan Khattak
- Nawab Akbar Bugti
- Nawab Raza Ahmad Kazalbash of nawabshah
- Dr Siddique Ahmad Kazalbash of Nawabshah s/o Nawab Raza Kazalbash
- Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Khan Mamdot, younger brother of Nawab of Mamdot
- Raizada Faqirullah Khan of Raikot Dist Ludhiana
- Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan of MalerKotla.
- Nawab Yusaf Ali Khan of MalerKotla.
- Nawab Zulfikar Ali Khan of MalerKotla.
- Nawab Khair Buksh Khan Marri, Chief of Marri Tribe
- Maharaja Sir Harindar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur Raja of Faridkot State.
- Sardar Balwant Singh. of Bir, Ludhiana
- Raja Baldev Inder Singh of Shiekhupura
- Raja Surendra Singh of Nalagarh Princely State
- Kanwar Prithvijit Singh, ruler of the princely state of Kapurthala
- Hon. Raja Sir Daljit Singh, ruler of the princely state of Kapurthala
- Sardar Ram Narain Singh of Shahabad, Ambala.
- Sardar Bachattar Singh of Shahabad, Ambala
- Sardar Shiv Narain Singh of Shahabad, Ambala
- Sardar Jagjindar Singh of Buria, Ludhiana
- Raja Prit Mohinder Singh Sidhu, IAS of Bhadour ( Patiala State)
- Nawab Ghulam Kasim Khan of Tank,D.I. Khan
- Nawab Muhammad Usman Khan *Faridpur Jagir Montcommory
- Mawab Sherbaz Kaz Khalfzai C.I.E. Kasur
- Sardar Autar Singh of Manauli, Ambala.
- Kanwar Jasjit Singh , ruler of the princely state of Kapurthala
- Shahzada Mirza, of Loharu [4]
- Major Syed Mubarak Ali Shah, of Shah Jeewna.
- Colonel Syed Abid Hussain Shah, of Shah Jeewna.
- Sahibzada Mirza Aitizazuddin Ahmed Khan, Nazim of Loharu [4]
- Capt. HH Nawab Mirza Amin ud-din Ahmad Khan, 7th Nawab of Loharu, Governor Himachal Pradesh, India [4]
- Major General Nawab Sir Malik Umar Hayat Khan
- Nawab Sir Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana
- Sultan Raja Rukan Zaman, Chief of Gakhar tribe.
- Sardar Sherbaz Mazari, a notable of the Mazari tribe, a veteran Politician.
- Raja Rampartap Singh Sidhu of Bhadour ( Patiala State)
- Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Khan (Rampur State)
Presidents
- Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari Chief of the Baluch Leghari tribe, President of Pakistan.
Prime ministers
- Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Balakh Sher Mazari, Chief of Mazaris, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
- Sir Malik Feroz Khan Noon, former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Governors
- Sadiq Hussain Qureshi
- Malik Amir Mohammad Khan of Kalabagh, Former Governor of West Pakistan
- Zulfiqar Ali Khosa,Chief of Khosa,a Baluch tribe in Punjab, Governor of Punjab.
- Zulfikar Ali Magsi, Chief of Magsi, a Baluch tribe and Governor of Balochistan
- Major General Khurshid Ali Khan, Governor of the North-West Frontier Province.
- Ramesh Bhandari, Ex-Foreign Secretary India Currently, Governor of Uttar Pardesh, India
- Taj Muhammad Jamali, former Governor of Baluchistan.
- Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal, former Governor of Baluchistan.
- Shahid Hamid, Former Governor of Punjab.
- Nawab Muhammad Abbas Abbasi, Amir of Bahawalpur, Former Governor of Punjab.
- Amin ud-din Ahmad Khan, Governor of Punjab.
- Muhammad Abbas Abbasi Nawab of Bahawalpur
- Khurshid Ali Khan Governor of the North-West Frontier Province.
Chief Ministers
- Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Chief of Bugtis, Former Governor and Chief Minister of Balochistan
- Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan twice Chief Minister of Balochistan
- Sadiq Hussain Qureshi, Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab
- Sardar Harcharan Singh Brar Governor of Orissa and Chief Minister
- Mian Muhammad Afzal Hayat Chief Minister of Punjab
- Dost Muhammad Khosa, Chief Minister of Punjab
- Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Chief Minister of Punjab
- Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister of the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa
- Jan Muhammad Jamali, Chief Minister of Balochistan
- Taj Muhammad Jamali, Chief Minister of Balochistan
Speakers
- Syed Fakhar Imam, Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan.
- Hamid Nasir Chattha, Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan.
Senators
- Syed Zulfiqar Bokhari, Senator.
- Dr Safdar Abbasi, Senator.
- Hamid Raza Gilani, Senator
- Sardar Muhammad Jamal Khan Leghari, Senator.
- Waqar Ahmed Khan
- Safdar Ali Abbasi
Ministers
- Syed Babar Ali,Former Finance Minister of Pakistan
- Mr Sikander Hyat Khan Junior, twice Punjab cabinet minister
- Mian Imran Masood, Former Minister for Education
- Khan Zada Shiraz Khan ruler of Indian congress
- Chaudry Muhammad Aamir Sultan Cheema, Minister of Irrigation
- Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan former Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Interior Minister of Pakistan ,(1988–1990) and Education
- Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat Former Interior Minister of Pakistan, Minister for Kashmir Affairs.
- Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan
- Awais Leghari, current Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Pakistan
- Ali Asjad Malhi, former State Minister for IT & Telecom and former State Minister for Railways
- Malik Naseem Ahmad Ahher (Interior Minister of Pakistan )
- Omar Ayub, former Minister of State for Finance, Govt of Pakistan
- Malik Amjad Ali Noon of Ali Pur Noon, High commissioner and first Nazim of Sargodha.
- Asfandyar Wali Khan, third and current President of the Awami National Party in Pakistan.
- Muhammed Umar Khalid Randhawa,Grand son of Haji Sharif Randhawa
- Qasim Zia, Current Opposition Leader Punjab Assembly
- Syed Afzaal Ali Shah Gillani Minister for Health and Communication & Works
- Syed Raza Ali Gillani Minister of Housing Punjab
- Chaudhary Hamid Nasir Chattha,Speaker Punjab Assembly And Several Ministerial Portfolios.
- Sardar Hamid Yar Hiraj,Former Minister of State for Commerce and Trade.
- Sardar Amed Yar Hiraj,District Nazim Khanewal for two consecutive terms.
- Sardar Muhammad Yar Hiraj,Member Provincial Assembly and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Punjab
- Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan,Former Senior Minister,and Minister for Communication,Petroleum,Water and Natural Resources,Science and Technology,and Agriculture.
- Hamid Raza Gilani, Federal Minister for Industries
- jan muhammad jamali,former minister for sports and services and general administration
- rustam jamali,minister for excise and taxation
Members National Assembly of Pakistan
- Malik Anwer Ali Noon of Ali Pur Noon
- Malik Amjad Ali Noon of Ali Pur Noon, High commissioner and first Nazim of Sargodha.
- Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb Crown Prince of Swat (princely state) Civil Engineer
- Rai Aziz Ullah Khan of Sahiwal, Punjab (Rais Of Raikot,LUDHIANA)
- Imran Khan of Mianwali, Punjab
- Hamid Raza Gilani
- Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari
- Noman Islamuddin Shaikh
- Asim Nazir Chaudhry
- Ch Bilal Virk
- Late Khan Fakhruz Zaman Khan of Oghi (ex Agror), Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (previously known as the North-West Frontier Province)
- Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan
and several others
Members Provincial Assembly
- Shahjahan Ahmad Bhatti, Nankana Sahib, Punjab
- Haroon Ahmed Sultan Bukhari, former minister Agriculture and livestock, punjab
- Lt. Col(R) Rafique Ahmad Khan Leghari , D G Khan, Punjab
- Sardar Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari , D G Khan, Punjab
- Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mehmood, Rahimyarkhan, Punjab
- Asif Farooki,Punjab
- Hamid Yar Hiraj
- Mr Wajeeh uz Zaman Khan, Advocate, Mansehra, NWFP/KP
Ambassadors
- Hamid Raza Gilani
- Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari
- Aminullah Raisani
- Sardar Mushtaq Leghari (U.A.E)
- Manzar Shafiq (Iraq)
Religious
- Baba Madhsudan Singh Bedi (1932–1940), Sikh Spiritual leader.
Performers and Media
- Basim Usmani – Lead singer The Kominas, a Punjabi taqwacore punk band from the suburbs of Boston, MA
- Yawar Hayat Khan, one of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV)'s founding directors/producers
- Taimur A. Bajwa, Gujranwala, Co-Director of Kasamh Se
- Sarmad Ali Sultan Khoosat
- Adnan Sami
- Salman Ahmad of Junoon
- Mubashir Luqman Media Anchor
Intellectuals/Writers
- GF Riaz, Poet
- Omer Salim Khan Tarin (Omer Tarin), Poet/scholar
- Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Legal expert and scholar
Sportsmen
- Imran Rashid, University of Alabama, Pakistan Rugby Team
- Majid Khan, Captain (1948–1958), Cambridge Blue, Pakistan cricket team
- Rameez Raja, Captain, Pakistan cricket team
- Javed Burki,Captain, Pakistan cricket team
- Imran Khan, Captain, Oxford Blue, Pakistan cricket team
- Qasim Zia,Olympian,Captain [Pakistan hockey team] Sitara-e-Imtiaz
- Sayed Muhammad Jafar, Member of the All India Field Hockey Team, Gold Medalist Los Angeles Olympics 1932 and Berlin Olympics 1936. The Jafar Memorial Hockey Pavilion in Aitchison College is named after him.
- Hassan Sardar,Olympian Gold Medalist, Captain, Pakistan Hockey Team
- Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, Captain, Oxford Blue, Indian Cricket team & Member, England Cricket team, one of the few cricketers who has played for two countries.
PRINCIPALS:
MR. F. A. LESLIE JONES 1904 TO 1917 MR. J. KELLY 1917 TO 1933
MR. C.H. BARRY 1933 TO 1946 MR. D.R. KAPILA 1947
MR. J.M. GWYN 1947 TO 1953 SAYYID ZULFIQAR ALI 1953 TO 1962
MR. ABDUL ALI KHAN 1962 TO 1970 DR. GHULAM RASUL CHAUDHRY 1970 TO 1978
COL. N. D. HASAN 1979 TO 1983 MR. A. REHMAN QURAISHI 1984 TO 1994
Mr. Shamim S Khan 1994 TO 2008
Industrialists
- Syed Babar Ali,Chairman of Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan Limited, Siemens Pakistan Engineering Company Limited, Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited and Director of Unilever Pakistan Limited and Mitchell’s Fruit Farms Limited
- Shahzada Alam Monnoo, Founder Monoo Group of Industries
- Asif Farooki,CEO WASTE BUSTERS and GreenForce
Science and technology
- Usman Mobin, Chief Technology Officer at the Government of Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority
- Osman Khalid Waheed, Chief Executive Officer at Ferozsons Laboratories and BF Biosciences Limited
- Mian Muhammad Zaka ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer at Schazoo Laboratories
Corporate
- Sahibzada Hussain Raza Khan Chemical Engineer and MBA LUMS.
- Imran Anwar, IMRAN.TV/EverTrac
- Mamur Mustapha Awan, Managing Director – Firefly Konsulting (Bangladesh, China, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar & UAE), CEO & Creative Director – Mediaverx LTD. (Pakistan & UK)
References
Further reading
- F. S. Aijazudin, Commanding Success: Aitchison College, Lahore: 1886-2011' ' , Lahore, 2011.
- F. S. Aijazuddin, Aitchison College Lahore : 1886–1986 : The First Hundred Years, Lahore, 1986.
- L.F Loveday Prior "Punjab Prelude", London: John Murray, 1952.
External links