Adil Najam
At the new Prime Minister’s oath-taking recently, the body language of Gen. Pervez Musharraf as well as Yousuf Raza Gillani made it obvious that neither was comfortable being with the other. Each has deep reasons to distrust the motives of the other. One doubts, therefore, if they took any time t reminiscence about their college days. Both, after all, went to college at Lahore’s famed Forman Christian (F.C.) College; although at different times.
Had they done so, they would have found that they are a part of a fast growing fraternity of FC Colege (and, now, University) who are now making it to the top offices in Pakistan politics.
Former President Sardar Farooq Leghari was the first one in this new crop of powerful Formanites, but recently there has been an absolute flurry. Gen. Pervez Musharraf as President and Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani as Prime Minister are, of course, Formanites too. But so have been Pakistan Prime Ministers Chaudhry Shujaat and Mohamedmian Soomro, Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi.
None of them seem to flaunt their college colors too hard – except Gen. Musharraf in his memories. Those mentions included, none of them seem to share with the public any lasting memories of their educational exploits at FC College and their is little indication that any of them had made deep marks for scholarship there. That notwithstanding, there is clearly a rise in the number of Formanites in power.
It used to be that Government College (and Aitchison College) were the power schools in Lahore. FC College would give them a run for their money in cricket, but not always in power corridors. That, it seems, has changed. Beware Ravians!
Correction: An earlier version of this post had listed Zafarullah Khan Jamali as an FC College Alumni. We checked after it was pointed out by a reader and, in fact, he was not (he went to Government College it seems). Proof, yet again, that not everything on the internet, especially on Wikipedia, ought to be believed. Our apologies.
sorry to go on about it
The FC boys can u list the research produced by ur college, how many international publications originating from FC, ur ranking in world (or pakistan). Stop contributing to green house gases by the hot air please!
FC College has contributed greatly to Pakistan and is now doing more. It is one of the great colleges in Pakistan.
All institutions in Pakistan should be equally treated.. I have heard that some get more funding because the sons and daughters of landlords and choudharies go there..
and most of these landlords and choudharies are those whose ancestors got the land as ‘perk’ from the Britishers for opposing the cause of Pakistan during the pre-partition era ..
Guys dont get me wrong, but thats a sign of corrupt society and a backward nation that the kids, grandkids, and the great grand kids of those traitors are still ruling the country called ‘Pakistan’..
Institutions that impart learning must be honored.
Thanks for the post.
Well we have that the most illustrious past attendees of FC have indeed stood poor “third”.
Lets ask the readers whether they themselves or anybody else they know has done their college proud. This includes acts to improve the cause of Pakistan or Pakistani people? (no offence intended)
I do not think that Musharaf and Gillani took time off to reminiscence about their college days as this was not the platform for it nor was the environment congenial.I am surprised however that Shujat and Pervaiz Elahi also went to this college, these guys don`t even know how to speak properly.I wonder what the criteria is to get into this college ?
Perhaps you just need to be a feudal.
All the guys mentioned by you above did get to the top but did little.
FC is a great college – and is more respected after its privatization. If you visit it today – you would find it much much better than before – new educational blocks are being build and the foreign trust is putting much money into it.
well i may be biased as i’m a Formanite but most of the things aer true about its rich history. There was an era when jamiat polluted its enviornment by strikes and their usual stuff but then there was an operation cleanup in (i believe) 1999 Summer Holidays – conducted by Shahbaz Sharif and from that day onwards college is on the move towrads higher rankings…
Clearly I have managed to upset a number of readers. I stand corrected on the metric / matric issue. I cannot seem to find this word on the Oxford Dictionary.
I must admit it was a while since my matriculation (correct spellings and full word). Pilot secondary School Whadat Road Lahore (just around the corner from FC); 710/850 marks (all my own, no cheating)
I stand by my point about FC. In 1986 at least it was the third choice in Lahore. This is no reflection of college or students but draw your own conclusions.