Forman Christian College is a independent research liberal arts university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan founded in 1864. The university is administered by the Presbyterian Church and follows an American-style curriculum.
Founded in 1864 by American Presbyterian missionary Dr. Charles William Forman initially named as Mission College the name was changed to Forman Christian College in 1894 in honor of the founder. Forman served as an associated college of the University of Calcutta until 1947 when it became affiliated with the University of Punjab. In 2004, the government granted it university charter hence providing it with degree awarding authority.
The college was initially based in the Rang Mahal in Walled City of Lahore, which was leased by Dr. Charles from the grand wazir of Emperor Shah Jahan with the support from foreign missions. In 1889 it was shifted to Napier Road and was inaugurated by the Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne. Again, in 1940, the college was moved to its present campus on the banks of the Lahore Canal in 1940. The college remained financial autonomous until 1960 when Pakistani government began annual grants to the college for its nursing program. The college was nationalised in 1972 until 2003 when the control was returned to the Presbyterian Church.
Forman is also known for its noted alumni and staff, including Nobel laureate Arthur Compton, former Indian Prime Minister I. K. Gujral, former Pakistani Presidents Farooq Leghari and Pervez Musharraf, and activist Eqbal Ahmad. As of 2016, Forman is home to 6,347 students, 220 full-time faculty members with over 100 possessing PhDs, and 21,700 strong alumni. Christians make up nearly 15% of the student body while the college runs a $1 million fund to finance scholarships for its students. As of 2016, the college has been ranked 9th highest in Pakistan among medium sized universities and is the only institute in Pakistan which is a member of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance.
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History
The university was founded by Dr. Charles W. Forman who arrived to South Asia in 1847 and, two years later, settled in Lahore (now in Pakistan). He was the founder of the Rang Mahal School, Lahore, which was the first Anglo-vernacular school in Punjab. The school added a college department in 1865 which later became a university in 2005 known as Forman Christian College University. It started offering an American style world class education in Pakistan. FCCU started new postgraduate courses along with MBA in 2007.
One of Forman's faculty members, Prof. Arthur Compton, conducted the bulk of his research on cosmic rays at FCC University for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1927. One of Professor Compton's former students Professor Piara Singh Gill taught at the college as Lecturer in Physics between 1940 and 1947. Two alumni, Dr. Sir S. S. Bhatnagar and Dr. Bashir Ahmad, laid the foundation for scientific and industrial research in both parts of South Asia by establishing ICSIR and PCSIR respectively.
The first two Science graduates of FC College University were also the first Science graduates of the University of the Punjab (1900-1902). In this way FCCU was the first to establish, in this part of the sub-continent, Departments of Biology (1898), Greek, Latin and Hebrew Languages (1895-96), Industrial Chemistry (1917), Geography (1924), setting up the Experimental Psychology Laboratory, introducing the tutorial system (1908), appointing Deans of the Faculties introducing co-educational system (1902), and establishing an alumni Association (1896). Besides this FCCU also starts Software engg, CS, and IT in 2006.
Forman Christian College University Video
Achievements
Achievements of other Formanites, as the graduates are called, include:
- Its Principal Dr. Sir J. C. R. Ewing was knighted for his services to humanity and education. He served as Vice Chancellor of the Punjab University for seven years.
- Formanite--alumnus and teacher of the college--Muhammad Yusuf Hashmi became the first Indian Principal of Madrasa 'Aliya in Calcutta, was recognized as an educator of distinction in British India and was titled Khan Bahadur by the British Crown. Later he was recognized in Pakistan also for his contributions to education and the Pakistan Movement.
- Principal Dr. C. H. Rice and a faculty member, Dr. Khairat M. Ibne Rasa, became Vice Chancellors of the Punjab University.
- Justice Sir Mian Abdur Rashid, who was a Formanite and also the first Chief Justice of Pakistan, administered the oath of office to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as the first Governor General.
- The English poet and scholar Alamgir Hashmi served as Lecturer in English at Forman Christian College (early 1970s) and as faculty advisor to Folio.
Accreditation
The university has designed its four-year bachelor's degree program in accordance with the standards for accreditation in the USA, and is seeking accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. has been set up
Relationship with universities abroad
FCCU has signed a cooperative agreement with the University of Kentucky (USA) through which cooperation will be developed in:
- Joint research activities,
- Exchange of academic materials and academic publications,
- Exchanges of faculty and students.
Faculty member exchanges will be for research, lectures and discussions, and student exchanges will be for study and research.
Notable alumni
Politicians
- Yousaf Raza Gillani, the 16th Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Shaukat Tarin, Former Finance Minister of Pakistan
- Inder Kumar Gujral, the 12th Prime Minister of India
- Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister of Indian Punjab several times and elected again in 2012.
- Mohammad Mian Soomro, former Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, former caretaker Prime Minister & President of Pakistan.
- Pervez Musharraf, former President of Pakistan, and former Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army
- Malik Barkat Ali, former Punjabi Muslim League politician
- Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan and now, the Vice Chairman of PTI
- Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and current President of PML-Q
- Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, former Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan)
- Rao Sikandar Iqbal (1943-2010), former Defence Minister of Pakistan
- Farooq Leghari, former President of Pakistan.
- Syed Afzal Haider, former Pakistani law minister
- Balram Jakhar (1923-2016), an Indian politician, parliamentarian, and former Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
- Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana, Governor of Punjab.
Bureaucrats and Diplomats
- Tariq Aziz, former principal secretary of Pervez Musharraf.
- Jamsheed Marker, United Nations Under-secretary General, Ambassador at Large of Pakistan (honorary doctorate)
Judiciary
- Justice (retired) Wajihuddin Ahmed, Former Candidate for Presidential Election against Pervaiz Musharraf, Former Supreme Court Judge
- Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, Former Chief Justice Peshawar High Court, Supreme Court of Pakistan Judge
- Sir Abdul Rasheed, First Chief Justice of Pakistan
- Justice (retired) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Former Chief Justice of Pakistan
Educationalists
- Anwar Nasim, nuclear scientist and molecular biologist
- Kauser Abdulla Malik, secretary of the National Commission on Biotechnology.
- Eqbal Ahmad, post-colonialist scholar and writer
- Ishtiaq Ahmed, PhD Stockholm University, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Stockholm University and Honorary Senior Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore
- Cecil Chaudhry, a decorated war hero, serving as the Principal of St. Anthony's College (Lahore)
- Rama Tirtha, Indian teacher of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta
- Khan Bahadur Muhammad Yusuf Syed-Al-Hashmi, educator, mentor, reformer, All India Muslim League and Pakistan Movement Leader
- Bipan Chandra, Eminent historian
Industry
- Chaudry Ahmed Saeed, CEO of Servis Industries
- Lord Paul, Swaraj Paul, founder and CEO of Caparo Group
- Azmat Tarin, Co-founder & President of Silkbank Limited Pakistan.
- Sir Mohammad Pervaiz Anwer, Co-founder & Chairman, United Bank Limited.
Journalism
- Mushtaq Minhas, anchor of Bolta Pakistan on Geo TV
Literature and Arts
- Anwar Kamal Pasha, pioneer Pakistani film director and producer.
- Krishan Chander, short story writer
- Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi, Urdu poet
- Yawar Hayat Khan, senior producer/director of PTV
- Balwant Gargi, Punjabi playwright and author
- Dr. Harcharan Singh, Punjabi playwright and dramatist
Armed Forces
- Noel Israel Khokhar, General Officer Commanding 23rd Division and Major General of Pakistan Army
- Pervez Musharraf, former President of Pakistan, and former Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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