Article

Islamia College Peshawar: A historic alma-mater mobilized KP’s denizens during Pakistan Movement

Published

4 years ago

March 25, 2021

Editor

PESHAWAR, (APP):Pakistan Movement’s history cannot complete without mentioning the historic role of the students of Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) who mobilized denizens of Khyber Pakthunkhwa to complete the Quaid-i-Azam’s mission for Pakistan.

Holding aloft torch of education in KP for 108 years, Islamia College Peshawar (ICP), which saw the Independence Movement, had provided a unique platform to KP’s people to compete with others communities in education, civil service, economy and politics during colonial era besides mobilized them for a separate homeland for the Muslims of Subcontinent.

Established in 1913, a visitor travelling through historic Jamrud Road can’t remain unimpressed while passing under shadows of its tall beautiful domes, lush-green lawns and majestic architecture. It reminds visitors of glorious role of its students during Pakistan Movement under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who created Pakistan in a short period of seven years on August 14, 1947 after adaptation historical Pakistan Resolution in Lahore on March 23, 1940.

Being a beautiful combination of Aligarh Movement of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Deoband School of Thoughts, ICP is a mere testimony to the greatness of its Founder, Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan.“The idea to establish a college clicked in the minds of Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan, leader of Muslim League, and Sir George Roos-Keppel, the then Chief Commissioner of NWFP (now KP) in early 1909 when they met the Pathan students during their visit to the Muslim University Aligarh,” writes ex-principal ICP, Prof G.D. Khilji in his memoirs.

The students requested them either to construct Frontier hostel at Aligarh or a college may be built for them in then NWFP (now KP). As a token, the students raised around sixty rupees and gave them to Roos Keppel to form a Frontier Hostel fund or any other project. “Later, Keppel passed the money on to Nawab Sahib. It was April 12, 1911 when philanthropists Ghulam Haider Khan, Habibullah Khan, Khushal Khan, Sethi Karim Bakhsh and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum gathered at residence of Abdul Karim Khan Indrabai in Peshawar. Haji Karim Bakhsh Sethi offered to build a mosque, Rahim Shah Kakakhel promised to construct a hostel known as Rahim Shah ward and Abdul Karim Khan donated Rs 10,000, Sethi Karim Bakhsh Rs.50,000 and Nawab of Dir promised Rs100,000 for the college fund.”

Later, a 10-member ad-hoc college committee under the chairmanship of Col Muhammad Aslam Khan was setup on May 29, 1911 to table proposals for establishment of the college. Leading Khans and Ulema were invited and seven resolutions including one to title to college as ‘Darul-Ulum-i-Islamia Suba-i-Sarhad’ were unanimously passed. A committee was constituted to select suitable site for the college. The proposal of college at Wazir Bagh was rejected by Ross Keppel as he wanted to spare the place of recreation. Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum in consultation with Ross Keppel had selected the existing place for ICP.

The land chosen for the college was property of Khalil tribe of Tehkal and 916 kanal and seventeen marlas were bought at Rs 30 per kanal. On October 1, 1913, ICP was opened with 26 students on roll and Sahibzada Khurshid was the first student who got admission and later become the Governor of then NWFP and Tipping (1913-17) was its first Principal.

“Like students of Aligarh movement whom were in the vanguard of the independence movement in India, so were the students of Islamia College, Peshawar for creation of Pakistan,” said Muhammad Younas Khan, Chairman, Department of Pakistan Studies, ICP while talking to APP. “The history of Pakistan Movement would remain incomplete without role of ICP’s students,” he added.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had an immense love for people of KP, ICP and visited this college in 1936, 1945 and 1948 as first Governor General of Pakistan. The love of Quaid-i-Azam, who became an honorary member of Khyber Union debating society of the college set up in 1936, can be judged from his `Will written on May 30, 1939 in Bombay in which he declared ICP, Muslim University Aligarh and Sindh Madrassatul islam, Karachi as among the inheritor of his property, Younas said.

Later, Quaid Trust paid Rs10,811,600 in different installments to ICP and was spent on construction of Quaid-i-Azam College of Commerce, University of Peshawar, construction of Jinnah residential quarters for employees, Jinnah College for Women and newly constructed Takbeer block at ICP.

In 1945, Mr Jinnah had received a rousing welcome at ICP where students and Muslim Students Federation (MSF) presented him Rs 8,000 as fund for Pakistan Movement. They assured him to present 8,000 committed educated workers when he came again to this great alma-mater. “KP people had showed an immense love for Quaid-i-Azam and that is why Muslim League secured maximum seats in 1946 election and after that historic victory nobody could stop independence movement from this province,” said Younas.

“In July 1947 Referendum, Muslim League clinched landslide victory in KP by securing over 200,000 votes and its people announced to become part of Pakistan,” he said. “The spirit and enthusiasm of people was historic when Mr Jinnah came to Peshawar as first governor general of Pakistan on April 12, 1948. Peshawarities had decorated their houses, markets, vehicles and bazaars with national flags looking festive look,” he said.

The great Quaid presented glowing tributes to services of its students towards making Pakistan in these words. “I am indeed very happy to be present here today and to have the privilege of addressing students of this great Darul Uloom, who are the future builders of Pakistan.” He reminded the students, “we have achieved the national goal of Pakistan and now it is our collective responsibility to work hard in our respective professions with a high-level of dedication, commitment and sincerity to make it one of the greatest countries of the world.”

He advised students to develop a sound sense of discipline, character, solid academic background and devote themselves towards studies. “Remember your government is like your own garden. Your garden flourishes by the way you look after it and the efforts that you put towards its improvement. Similarly, your government can only flourish by your patriotic, honest and constructive efforts to improve it,” he told students.

Following a gap of one year, the Government had established University of Peshawar near ICP in 1949 in line with the Quaid’s vision and later two more universities UET and Agriculture University were formed besides Pakistan Forest Institute.

Quaid also addressed a Grand Tribal Jira at Governor House, Peshawar on April 17, 1948 and highly praised strong commitment, patriotism and support of tribesmen for Pakistan. He laid great emphasis on education and social economic development of tribesmen and considered quality education especially technical education, science and technology as prerequisite for attaining goals of development and economic prosperity.

The college’s clock tower, which now becomes the pride symbol of Peshawar, has for long figured on the back of Rs 1000 Currency note. ICP has now attained a status of a public sector university where students from kindergarten to PhD level are quenching thirst of education.

Article

53 Years Since the Fall of Dhaka: A Dark Chapter in Pakistan’s History

Published

24 hours ago

December 16, 2024

EDITOR

Today marks 53 years since the tragic fall of Dhaka on December 16, 1971 — a day etched in history as a time of great sorrow when East Pakistan separated to become Bangladesh. This somber event is remembered as one of the most significant and painful moments in Pakistan’s journey, a day of reflection on the consequences of division and lost unity.

The events of December 16, 1971, were not merely the outcome of the Pakistan-India war but a culmination of years of political discontent, mismanagement, and external conspiracies. Adversaries capitalized on Pakistan’s internal challenges, driving a wedge between East and West Pakistan, ultimately resulting in the disintegration of the nation.

Underlying Causes of Division

The separation of East Pakistan was rooted in a complex web of political and social inequalities, compounded by the lack of foresight and an unwillingness to compromise among key leaders. The rigid struggle for power further deepened the cracks between the two wings of Pakistan, laying the groundwork for a tragic separation.

The 1970 general elections revealed deep political divisions when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League secured a sweeping majority. However, the transfer of power to the Awami League, which held democratic legitimacy, was stalled. This deadlock fueled resentment in East Pakistan, providing India with the perfect opportunity to exploit the political instability.

India’s Role in the Separation

India actively fanned the flames of division through “Operation Jackpot,” an orchestrated effort to support insurgents in East Pakistan. The Indian army collaborated with the Mukti Bahini, a militant group, to destabilize the region. This coordination resulted in widespread bloodshed, as streets in East Pakistan were consumed by violence and chaos.

Despite being embroiled in a domestic crisis, Pakistan looked to its allies for support. The arrival of the U.S. Sixth Fleet was anticipated as a lifeline, but help never came. The silence of friendly nations during this critical time left Pakistan isolated in its struggle to preserve its unity.

The Birth of Bangladesh

As the conflict unfolded, Pakistan’s options dwindled. On December 16, 1971, East Pakistan officially separated to become Bangladesh, marking a heartbreaking moment in Pakistan’s history. The day was a stark reminder of the cost of internal divisions and the impact of external interference.

Lessons from the Past

The Fall of Dhaka is more than just a historical event; it is a lesson for future generations about the importance of unity, inclusive governance, and addressing grievances before they escalate into crises. It also underscores the need for vigilance against external conspiracies that seek to exploit internal vulnerabilities.

Today, as the nation reflects on the events of December 16, 1971, it is a time for Pakistan to learn from its past and renew its commitment to national unity, equity, and justice. Only by addressing these core issues can Pakistan move forward as a stronger and more cohesive nation.

Article

“AIK QAUM” DECLARATION OF CONCEPTION

Published

2 weeks ago

December 5, 2024

EDITOR

Our Initiative

The fabric of the Pakistani nation has something unique in its knit, something signature and so sanguine that could keep on energizing its very fibers irrespective of the floods of considerably tough challenges posed against it since its inception. There is also a belief that Pakistan has been blessed with such a golden glitter that couldn’t be ignored by any sensible system of reason and knowledge among the league of free, upright and kind nations. The credit goes to the amazing people of Pakistan. It is more exciting to find that the people of Pakistan, be it the businessmen, doctors, parents, soldiers, students, teachers, judges, labourers or lawyers etc, have assumed the duty bestowed upon them by the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah decades ago. Quaid once said “If you will work in cooperation, forgetting the past, burying the hatchet, you are bound to succeed.” At another occasion, Quaid summed this message up in just three words: Unity, Faith and Discipline. AIKQAUM.COM is an initiative built upon the idea of translating this vision of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah into a fruitful action.
There is no power on earth that could restrict us from finding those beautiful commonalities among the people of this beautiful nation. It contends to promote the psyche morale of the Pakistani nation by addressing the issues instead of dodging them. We have a team of thorough professionals fully equipped to create unique platforms, forums and projects which will bring people closer on all sensitive issues related to our national identity and progress. We also have a strong support network for successful execution of all our campaigns in order to induce greater cohesion and the spirit of coexistence across the length and breadth of Pakistan. Coincidentally, we are living through an age of increased morphing of warfare in a world that’s once again moving from unipolar to a multipolar turf. The social, political, economic and technological factors shaping the evolution of warfare are being constantly experimented and employed in our own region. In a time of increased friction between regional powers and a heightened threat on the eastern border, Pakistan faces multiple challenges posed at its internal, external and economic security.
All these factors, blended with our archrival’s constant image building campaigns, a heavily funded lobbying in the West, the new Indo-US strategic alliance, as well as India’s ambition to start a space race, puts our nation on caution and throws immense burden of responsibility on our shoulders. We are witnessing a rise of sub conventional warfare fought with guns and bombs, but won on keyboards and drawing boards. AIKQAUM.COM aspires to be a strong force of defense against the subversive forces that are trying to malign Pakistan and hurt our interests in the region. We are fully trained and equipped to meet the challenges on the social and digital front.
www.aikqaum.com, info@aikqaum.com

Our Philosophy

VISION:

To create a social awareness about the values which join our nation together while countering anti-Pakistan narratives with logical and practical rationale.

MISSION:

To infuse a sense urgency for cohesion among all ethnic, political and religious schools of thought.

VALUES:

We keep integrity closest to our heart and patriotism on top of our mind. Our work ethics and commitment to our people shall empower us to achieve success in all our pursuits.

Article

Hiran Minar: A Timeless Mughal Architectural Marvel

Published

2 weeks ago

December 1, 2024

EDITOR

symbol of Mughal architecture and artistic legacy. This historical structure, built in the early 17th century, is not only a testament to the grandeur of the Mughal Empire but also a unique expression of their love for animals, nature, and sophisticated design.

Historical Significance

Hiran Minar was constructed during the reign of Emperor Jahangir (1605–1627) to honor his beloved antelope named Mansraj, a rare gesture of devotion. The minar, or tower, is believed to have been erected at the site where Mansraj once roamed, reflecting the emperor’s compassion and affection for animals. This architectural masterpiece served as a hunting retreat and leisure spot for the royal family.

Architectural Features

Hiran Minar is an exemplary blend of function and aesthetics. It comprises the following key features:

The Tower: The centerpiece of the site, the tower stands 100 feet tall, decorated with intricate stone carvings. Circular in shape, it symbolizes the emperor’s tribute to his cherished pet.
The Water Tank: Surrounding the tower is a large rectangular water tank, approximately 750 feet long and 890 feet wide. This massive reservoir not only added to the scenic beauty of the site but also served as a water source for animals and birds in the area.
The Causeway and Pavilion: A stone causeway connects the tower to a beautifully designed baradari (pavilion) in the middle of the water tank. This pavilion, supported by pillars, served as a royal resting area and added an ethereal charm to the site.
Hunting Grounds: The area around Hiran Minar was developed as a royal hunting park or game reserve, known as Shikargah, highlighting the Mughals’ love for nature and wildlife.

Cultural and Tourist Importance

Today, Hiran Minar attracts history enthusiasts, architects, and tourists from across the world. It is recognized as one of the finest examples of Mughal engineering, blending utility with artistic grandeur. Visitors are drawn to its serene ambiance, the reflection of the tower in the water, and the lush green surroundings that offer a glimpse into the past.

UNESCO World Heritage Potential

Hiran Minar is on Pakistan’s tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its unique historical narrative, architectural design, and ecological significance make it a strong contender for international recognition. Preservation efforts are ongoing to maintain its structural integrity and historical charm.

A Legacy of Compassion and Grandeur

Hiran Minar is more than a historical structure; it is a symbol of the Mughal emperor’s love for nature and animals, combined with their architectural ingenuity. For Pakistan, it remains a priceless cultural treasure, linking the present with its rich past.

Whether you’re a history lover or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, Hiran Minar offers a journey back in time, reminding us of an era when nature, art, and humanity thrived in harmony.