Islamia College (Peshawar)
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Islamia College is an educational institution located in the city of Peshawar of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. It was opened on October 1st 1913 as a constituent college of University of Peshawar by Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayum Khan and Sir George Roos-Keppel. Though its names suggests it to be some kind of a religious institution, it is not. In fact, inline with other government colleges, it primarily educates its students in arts, humanities and sciences.
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[edit] History
When the new province of NWFP was formed in 1901 after its separation from Punjab, there were three types of schools in the province. Those maintained by endowments and gifts, those established and run privately, but aided by the Government, and those maintained by the Government through local boards.
By the year 1909, the idea of a college in the province was taking its rough shape in the minds of Sahibzada Sir Abdul Qayyum Khan and Sir George Roos-Keppel, which was further strengthened by their visit to the Aligarh Muslim University the same year, where the muslim students gave Sahibzada their humble donation for the purpose of a student hostel, hall or any better project. Sahibzada Sahib arranged a meeting of like minded people on April 12, 1911 at the residence of Abdul Karim, contractor at Peshawar City, which was attended by K.S. Ghulam Haider Khan, Habibullah Khan, Khushal Khan, Sethi Karim Bakhsh, Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum and others. Sahibzada Sahib moved the motion for collection of contributions, which was instantly responsed to by a cash donation of Rs 10,000/- by Abdul Karim Khan. The second was Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan with his instance contribution of Rs 1,000/- While Sethi Karim Bakhsh gave Rs 50,000/-. The Nawab of Dir promised 1.25 lakh (125,000) rupees, beside four hundred trees. Subscriptions were also given by the Afridi Chiefs and leading religious elders. An example was set by Bibigul, widow of Khairullah Khan of Prang, who gave her ornaments on Jun 6, 1911 as her subscription towards college fund.
The land chosen for the college building were the property of Khalils of Tehkal, out of which a total of nine hundred and sixteen kanals and seventeen marlas was brought in 1911 at the rate of Rs 30/- per Kanal. The college authorities appointed their own armed chowkidars, consisting of one Head Constable and four foot constables, appointed in 1911.
Haji Sahib of Turangzai, who had come one day earlier for the foundation laying ceremony, had spent the night in 'Pokh' Mosque of Tehkal. As Roos Keppel and other Britishers were also there for the occasion, Haji Sahib hid his face in his sheet (Chadar) and was led by Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim to the place where he was to lay the foundation stone.
After laying the stone Haji Sahib went to Tehkal. The construction work, which was started in the second half of the year 1912, showed remarkable progress in completion. The programme of construction included an Arts college, a Dar-ul-Uloom, and hostel, a high school and three hostels, a mosque, and residences for the principal and Headmaster. High School (Islamia Collegiate School) which consisted of 26 rooms and one school hostel, were ready before the spring of 1913; and the building before the 1st of October of that year.
The college was opened on October 1st 1913 and students were admitted for the first year and third year classes only. The first student to get enrolled in the college was Sahibzada Khurshid, who later became the Governor of NWFP in 1949. At the close of the year, the number of enrollment had reached 33. Initially, the college had ten members of teaching staff, one clerk, one accountant, and two hostels, i.e., Qaiyum Manzil and Hardinge Hostel. Mr. L. Tipping was the first Principal. Allama Mashriqi was the vice principal and the professor of mathematics, and Maulana Qutb Shah as the Dean of Theology. Besides the physical beauty of the college, Sahibzada Sahib was very particular about its academic standard and was very careful in appointing any new professor or teacher. For this purpose, he was always in search of learned and well educated people. After the sad demise of Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayum in 1937, the college was left more or less as an orphan in the hands of others.
However, the college survived the ups and downs of the coming year, facing the opposition of those who were so, even during the life time of Sahibzada Sahib, with the only difference that he was no longer there to bear the brunt.
[edit] Other Islamia Colleges
Several colleges in Pakistan also go by this same name including Islamia College in Lahore which is affiliated with University of Punjab, and Islamia College in Gujranwala.
The college played an important role during the independence movement of Pakistan. So much so that the founder of the nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah bequeathed one third of his property to the college.
[edit] Nearby Localities
Jinnah College for Women peshawar, University of Peshawar, Danish Abad, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, University Public School, University Model School, Khyber Medical College.
