Urdu Works of Dr Charles W Forman
By Prof Tahir Masood Forman Christian College, now a chartered university, is celebrating the 150th year of its establishment. At a time when the institution is gathering its best alumni and remembering yesteryears, it would be unfair to forget the work done by Dr Charles W Forman (1821-1894), the founder of Rang Mahal Mission School and The Mission College later named Forman Christian College, Lahore. The college was named after Dr Forman, who was a great educationist and linguist. Since 1849, when the British annexed Punjab, he spent a large part of his time in educational work. He was associated with the work of the Education Department from the time of its formation in 1856 and served on many educational committees, besides being a member of the Senate of the Punjab University College (1870) and Punjab University (1882) until his death in 1894. He was greatly distinguished as the “Most Experienced Teacher in Punjab”. In the beginning of January 1848, Dr Forman arrived in Calcutta. After a stay of a few months there and he went to Agra, where he developed an interest in native languages. His next destination was the newly-annexed territory of Punjab. He reached Lahore on 21 November 1849 accompanied by Rev John Newton (who afterwards became his father-in-law). They established a small Mission School on 19 December 1849, which was located outside Bhatti Gate, Lahore. Although it was an English-medium school, yet Dr Forman did not ignore the importance of Eastern languages and learning. He learnt numerous languages like Arabic, Sanskrit, Persian, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu and was a great admirer of Urdu language and literature. Maulvi Noor Ahmad Chishti, an eminent historian, was known as an expert in the teaching of Persian, Punjabi and Urdu languages to civil and military officers and the ruling elite who came to India in those days. He charged Rs 20 per month as tuition fee and devoted one hour daily to each student. About 2,000 foreigners learnt different native languages from him until his death in 1867. Dr Forman was also a student of Maulvi Noor Ahmad Chishti. Given his command and experience of Urdu, the Punjab Government appointed Dr Forman a senior member of the Textbook Committee on Urdu Books in 1873. Dr Forman wrote a large number of books in Urdu, a clear proof of his love for and devotion to the Urdu language. During my MPhil research in various libraries and archives, I came across a large number of published writings of Dr Forman, written during his 45-year stay in Punjab. Most of his published Urdu writings are on social and religious subjects. His writings...
We Never Looked Back!
by Dr Mary-Linda Armacost In June, 2002 Peter was offered and accepted the position of Principal of Forman Christian College. After two subsequent visits in 2002, he felt strongly that we needed to move to Lahore in order to prove to the government that we were serious about having the college denationalized. The Governor at the time was facing political difficulty in denationalizing a number of colleges all at once. We moved lock, stock and barrel, as they say, on January 11, 2003 and we never looked back. We could not have received a warmer welcome from the business community, the university community, the alumni and the Christian community. We were invited into people’s home for dinner and made to feel instantly welcome. There were forces, however, that clearly did not want the college to be denationalized. They were fearful that jobs would be lost and that the tuition would be raised. The government promised that all the faculty that did not stay at Forman would have jobs elsewhere. There still was a good deal of unrest, however. Groups visited our home several times, making threats and breaking a few things. A coffin was made with Peter’s name on it and taken around the Parliament Building. There was graffiti saying “Go back, Peter, Go Back!” However, it soon became clear that we could not be “frightened” and that we had no intention of leaving. The Government denationalized Forman Christian College on March 19, 2003 – a glorious day in the life of the college and in our lives. The next months were filled with activity – selecting new faculty and deciding on the staffing. Faculty and staff – Muslims and Christians – men and women – all worked together for the good of the College. It was determined very early on that one of the keys to success would be to become a university and to grant our own degrees. With the help of President Musharraf, this was granted in 2004! Looking back on that first year, my memories are of overwhelming gratitude to all within the college, the alumni, the Christians and the broader community who were so welcoming, so encouraging and so grateful to Peter for all he was doing. I was also incredibly proud of my husband – of the way he systematically worked with all constituencies of the college to achieve success and to do so under, at times, great pressure. Our ten years were a true gift to us – one we will never forget and never cease to be grateful for. This gratitude is for the Muslim and Christian communities – faculty, staff, alumni,...
FCC 150th Anniversary Supplement in Dawn
On 3 March 2014, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) recognized Founder’s Day in its sesquicentennial year by bringing out a 4-page 150th Anniversary nationwide supplement. It contains messages from the Rector Dr James Tebbe, FCC Patron and Governor Punjab Mr Mohammad Sarwar. former Rector Dr Peter Armacost, President Formanites Alumni Association Chaudhry Ahmad Saeed and distinguished Formanites Mr Yusuf Shirazi and Dr Joseph Wilson. It also contains a brief timeline of important events during the last 150 years and an article on the developments in FCC over the last decade. FCC is grateful Servis Industries Ltd, Atlas Honda, HBL, UBL and Engro Foods Ltd for helping sponsor the...
Remembering the 100th Anniversary
by Manzur Sangam Gill In 1964 I was an MSc student of Physics of FCC, lived in Ewing Hall, but with classes in the old campus of Punjab University, near Anarkali. Living in Ewing Hall was wonderful: the classes were within ten minutes walking distance; in the evening, watching the pretty girls dressed in beautiful evening clothes in Anarkali Bazar was only three minutes walking distance. The President of Pakistan, Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan, was going to be the chief guest at the main event of the centennial celebrations, and I was not going to miss the event for anything. Several of us from Ewing Hall came in the college bus well in advance. Come rain or shine the college bus was always on time. These were simpler times – the President of the country was going to attend the function, the students and guests were roaming around the campus, no guns or rifles or obtrusive security people were visible, there were no searches made as we entered the campus. It was a pleasant sunny midmorning, the grassy grounds and the hedges were all meticulously presentable as usual. The event was held in the main ground. Arriving at the scene were the President – most handsome and presentable specimen of a Pathan; accompanied by serious faced, awe-inspiring Malik Amir Muhammad Khan, Nawab of Kalabagh and Governor of West Pakistan, in his usual turban with a stiff turla pointing towards the sky; and the relatively small-framed, gentle and dignified Principal Dr E J Sinclair. The audience faced towards what is now Sinclair Hall, unlike these days when the audience face away from Sinclair Hall during the annual alumni reunion main event. I was so impressed by his photogenic face that when I left Pakistan for higher studies, I took a photograph of President Ayub to show off our president to the people abroad. The Principal gave the welcome address in his usual clear voice and professor-like tone, followed by the speech by the Chief Guest. The whole event was flawless and I was proud to be a Formanite. All photos from The Folio, Centenary Issue, Forman Christian College, Lahore, November 1964....
President’s Speech at FCC Centenary
The following speech was given by President Ayub Khan on the occasion of the Centenary Ceremony at F C College on 28 November 1964. Mr Governor, Mr Principal, Ladies and Gentlemen: It gives me special pleasure to be associated with the centenary celebrations of the Forman Christian College, Lahore. In the case of the students and staff of this college, joy must be mixed with pride and satisfaction at the completion of a hundred years of very useful service to the cause of education. May I extend to you all my sincerest congratulations on this happy occasion. I am very much impressed by the fact that the Forman Christian College, through its hundred years of beneficent existence, has set a very worthy example of the good that can be accomplished by a noble band of dedicated men imbued with a highly developed sense of public service. It is gratifying to know that the high ideals of the Founder continue to animate his successors – past and present. It is no doubt due to those lofty ideals that your college has acquired a worthy reputation for itself. The achievements of this college, your constant endeavour to add to those achievements, and your high traditions will no doubt inspire the present and coming generations for still greater effort. The educational institutions of this sub-Continent should no longer be content with turning out literate persons fit only to seek jobs. With the coming of Independence, they must equip the young men and women of this rising nation to meet the challenge of the needs of socio-economic development. We have arrived late on the scene of international competition. We have, therefore, got much leeway to make up. It requires special effort on the part of the youth of the nation and its tutors. Hard work, devotion to studies and noble ideals must be inculcated and practised if we are to hold our own in this highly competitive world. The rising generation also needs faith and courage to enter the struggle of life for the sake of its own future and that of its country. Faith and courage require a moral and spiritual base in the human mind and character. Fortunately our own spiritual and cultural heritage, if properly inculcated into the new generations, can well equip them for the vicissitudes of life. Before I conclude, I would like to refer to the proposal to put up a Centenary Hall to commemorate this occasion. I think it is an excellent idea. I have the clearance from the Government to offer Rupees one lakh. But I think this is not enough; so I will persuade...
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