152nd birthday of GCU today

LAHORE

Government College (GC) University, the oldest seat of learning in Pakistan, will turn 152 on Friday (today). According to a press release, started in the Haveli of Dhian Singh in the Walled City on Jan 1, 1864, with just nine students and three teachers, the Government College (now GCU) has about 11,000 students and offering graduate and postgraduate programmes in more than 40 disciplines. The present gothic-style majestic building of the university was completed in 1877 on 3,700 square feet in the north of then called ‘Soldiers Garden’ with a cost of Rs320,000.

From first principal Dr G.W Lietner to fourth Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah, 30 heads have served this great institution. In the first year, the fee of the college was Rs2 annually, which was deducted from the scholarships of the students.

Talking to media, Vice-Chancellor Prof Hassan Amir Shah said GCU had been citadel of higher learning where ideals of tolerance and coexistence had flourished with commitment. He proudly said GCU in its 152-year academic travel produced hundreds of eminent literary figures, politicians, two Nobel Laureates, five prime ministers, jurists, sportsmen and scientists. 

In her message, eminent novelist and Old Ravian Bano Qudsia said that GC (University) had nurtured the holistic self of the Ravians more than the typical business of teaching. May Almighty Allah be the protector of its milieu.     

In his message on GCU’s birthday, noted nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand highlighting one of the biggest contributions of GCU to the history of Pakistan, said out of 140 experts who carried out nuclear explosions in 1998, 60 were old Ravians and their team leaders who pressed the button for explosions were also the former students of the Government College, Lahore.

Vice Chancellor also paid tributes to the efforts of Dr Leitner, the first principal of Government College. He said they would maintain wonderful traditions of academic excellence, research, promotion of new ideas and above all, respect for others’ belief and views.