Founded in 1864 by AmericanPresbyterian missionary Charles William Forman, the college was initially named Mission College, and changed its name in 1894 to Forman Christian College, in honor of its 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.[3][4]
The college was initially based in the Rang Mahal in the Walled City of Lahore, which was leased by Charles with the support from foreign missions.[5] In 1889, it was shifted to Napier Road and was inaugurated by 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.[5] The college remained financially autonomous until 1960 when the Pakistani government began annual grants for the college for its nursing program.[5] The college was nationalized in 1972 and remained nationalized until 2003 when control was returned to the Presbyterian Church.[6]
Forman is also known for its noted alumni and staff, including former Indian Prime MinisterI. K. Gujral, world badminton champion Sarwan Khan, former Pakistani Presidents Farooq Leghari and Pervez Musharraf, diplomat Jamsheed Marker, journalist Kuldip Nayar, and activist Eqbal Ahmad.[7] As of 2020, Forman was home to 8,435 students including 3,173 Intermediate students, 4,712 Baccalaureate students and 550 graduate students. It also has 220 full-time faculty members (more than 100 of whom have PhDs) as well as an alumni population of well over 21,000. Christians make up nearly 15% of the student body while the college runs a $1 million fund to finance scholarships for its students.[8][9] As of 2016, the college has been ranked ninth highest in Pakistan among medium-sized universities and is the only institution in Pakistan which is a member of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance.[10][11] Jonathan S. Addleton was inaugurated as the new Rector on 31 October 2020, following the retirement of his predecessor James A. Tebbe, who was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan; James A. Tebbe was in turn was preceded by Peter H. Armacost who had previously served as president of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.
History
Forman Christian College in 1930
Forman Christian College was founded in Lahore, British India by Presbyterian Christian missionary Charles William Forman as Rang Mahal School, a Christian mission school.[12] Forman arrived in Calcutta in what was then colonial India in 1847 and, two years later, settled in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan).[13] 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.[14]
In 1972, the government in Pakistan took over all private schools, including the one linked to Forman. In 2003, the school was given back to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Nowadays, a group of Pakistani Christian leaders oversees the college. In 2004, FCCU became a chartered university. This means they can create their own lessons, hold exams, and give out degrees. As of the fall of 2022, over 9,000 students are enrolled at the university.[15]
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, Sir S. S. Bhatnagar and Bashir Ahmad, laid the foundation for scientific and industrial research in both parts of South Asia by establishing ICSIR and PCSIR respectively.[citation needed]
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[clarification needed] (1908), appointing Deans of the Faculties introducing co-educational system (1902), and establishing an alumni Association (1896).[citation needed] Besides this FCCU also started Software engineering, CS, and IT in 2006.
Campus
Forman Christian College University has a 108-acre vast campus. As student enrollment continues to rise, ongoing efforts are directed toward improving the facilities. This includes renovations and expansions in administrative and academic buildings, as well as faculty and staff housing.
Notable additions on the campus following denationalization include the Armacost Science Building, Hope Tower, Mercy Health Care facility, the Light of Hope Elementary School, and the Media Center. All of these structures signify the institution's commitment to modern education and research.
In addition, the men's hostels, originally built in the 1940s, have undergone complete renovations, now offering modern amenities and comfortable living spaces. The institution overall has four hostels for intermediate students, two for graduate and undergraduate male students and one for female students, the Hope Tower built in 2014.
Recently, the institution has constructed a 177,000-square-foot Campus Center. This multipurpose facility features an auditorium, Forman Business Incubation Centre, a dining hall, meeting rooms, and offices.[15]
Achievements
Achievements of other Formanites, as the graduates are called, include:
Its Principal 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.[citation needed]
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 C. H. Rice and a faculty member, Khairat M. Ibne Rasa, became Vice Chancellors of the Punjab University.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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 U.S., and is seeking accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Commemorative stamp
A Postage Stamp for Forman Christian College
Forman Christian College has received a commemorative postage stamp in the celebration of completing the successful 150 years. Issued by Pakistan Post, The stamp highlights a Sinclair Hall which was built to mark the centenary of FC College and was named after a devoted Principal Dr EJ Sinclair who served FCC for many years as a faculty member and Principal.
Tradition
Time capsule, created in 2014
Forman Christian College University alumni and faculty buried a time capsule in 2014 during their 11th Alumni Association Reunion, marking the university's 150th year. The capsule, containing items like publications, mugs, and personal notes, was sealed in a glass cube and buried in a lined pit next to Sinclair Hall's fountain. It will be opened in fifty years, providing future generations a unique glimpse into the university's history.[18]
Ishtiaq Ahmed, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Stockholm University and Honorary Senior Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore
FCCU offers a variety of intramural sports clubs, including basketball, cricket, football, hockey, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, and wrestling. Both men and women actively take part in these sports on campus.
The sports facilities at FCCU are impressive, with an 8-lane standard 400m grass track for running, a 25-meter swimming pool for shorter races, six tennis courts, basketball courts, badminton courts, and dedicated grounds for cricket, football, hockey, and handball. There's also a table tennis hall for enthusiasts to enjoy their games.[15][23]
Related Research Articles
Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was a Pakistani politician and jurist who served as the ninth president of Pakistan from January 1998 until his resignation in June 2001, and prior to that as a senator from Punjab in 1997. Before entering politics, Tarar served as senior justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1991 to 1994 and as the 28th Chief Justice of Lahore High Court from 1989 to 1991.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is a senior Pakistani politician who previously served as 16th prime minister of Pakistan. Hussain is the party president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) since 2003 .
The Government College University is a public research university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. GCU is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in Pakistan. Founded as Government College, Lahore, in 1864 under British administration, it became a university in year 2002.
Alvin Robert Cornelius, H.Pk was a Pakistani jurist, legal philosopher and judge, serving as the 4th Chief Justice of Pakistan from 1960 until 1968. In addition, he served as Law Minister in the cabinet of Yahya Khan, 1969 – 16 December 1971.
The University of the Punjab, also referred to as Punjab University, is a public research university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the oldest and largest public sector university in Pakistan.
Sahiwal, formerly known as Montgomery, is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the 21st largest city of Pakistan by population and the administrative capital of both Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and 100 km from Faisalabad and lies between Lahore and Multan. Sahiwal is approximately 152 meters above the sea level.
Christianity is the third largest religion in Pakistan, making up about 1.27% of the population according to the 2017 Census. Of these, approximately half are Catholic and half Protestant. A small number of Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Oriental Orthodox Christians also live in Pakistan.
Rawalpindi Division, also locally known as Pothohar or North Punjab region, is an administrative division of Punjab Province, Pakistan. Rawalpindi city is the capital of the division. According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the total population of division was 10 million. Divisions are the third tier of government below the federal and provincial levels.
Government Gordon College, Rawalpindi is a government college in Rawalpindi, Pakistan that was established as a church school in 1893. The college is named after Andrew Gordon.
Protestants are in a minority of less than 1.5% of the population of Pakistan. It is the largest Christian denomination in the country, followed by the Catholics. Most of the Protestant population resides in urban areas of the Punjab province.
Charles William Forman (1821–1894) was an American Presbyterian minister, missionary and the founder of Forman Christian College, a private university in then Lahore, colonial India.
St. Anthony's High School is a Catholic school system for boys & girls located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. In spite of its name as a high school, the school delivers a pre-school, primary, high school and college education across three campuses in Lahore. Established in 1892 by the Capuchin Friars from Belgium, the school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore. The school's main campus is situated at Lahore's historical road, The Mall, adjacent to the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Christianity is the second largest religion in Punjab Province of Pakistan comprising 2.3% of its population. Most Christians (81%) of Pakistan live in Punjab province. There are 2,068,233 Christians in Punjab province as of 2017, up from 1,699,843 in 1998.
Khan Bahadur Muhammad Yusuf Syed-Al-Hashmi was an educator, mentor, and reformer who achieved high distinction in English studies in British India, and taught many generations of students and scholars how Western and Oriental languages could be pursued to great educational advantage, skill development and cultural enrichment. He had a role in improving particularly the educational opportunities of the Europeans in British India and of the Muslims in the South Asia. He also contributed to the Pakistan Movement through advocacy, advice and character building.
Surendra Kumar Datta (1878–1942), also spelt as Surendra Kumar Dutta or S. K. Dutta, was the president of the All India Conference of Indian Christians and thus the Indian Christian delegate to the Second Round Table Conference in London, as well as a prominent YMCA leader, and a member of Central Legislative Assembly – also called Imperial Legislative Assembly before Indian independence – a lower house of a bicameral parliament synonymous to the current Lok Sabha after Indian independence.
The Department of Law, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, formerly University College of Law, is a faculty in the University of Calcutta, founded in 1909, colloquially referred to as Hazra Law College, which offers undergraduate, postgraduate, doctorate and post doctorate courses. The Faculty oversees fifteen affiliated Law schools of the University.
Arfa Sayeda Zehra is a Pakistani expert. She is currently serving as the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for Education and National Harmony Affairs. She studied first at Lahore College for Women University, then Government College University, with further degrees from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Zehra is a professor emeritus of history at Forman Christian College and is a former principal of the Lahore College for Women University. She was a chairperson on the National Commission on the Status of Women. Zehra is a former caretaker provincial minister of Punjab. She is recognized for her knowledge on the Urdu language and literature and is specialized in intellectual history and South Asian social issues; outside of the university sphere, she speaks at language conferences and televised forums.
Punjab University Law College (PULC) is a Public Sector Law College of University of the Punjab, Canal Road (Quaid e Azam) Campus, Lahore. It is the oldest law institute in Pakistan which was established in 1868 (14 years before Punjab University itself). It was the first institute offering legal education to be established in a Muslim majority area of the Subcontinent. Since then, it has produced some of the most prominent lawyers, activists, statesmen, judges, bureaucrats and politicians. Today, the institute is known for its rich history, high quality education and renowned Alumni.
↑ Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (10 November 2016). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. p.905. ISBN978-1-4422-4432-0. Forman decided at the outset to use English as the medium of instruction so that Western knowledge would be available to his students, making Rang Mahal the first English-language school in north India. In 1864 Forman added a college department, later renamed Forman Christian College after its founder.
↑ Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History Volume 16 North America, South-East Asia, China, Japan, and Australasia (1800-1914). BRILL. 29 June 2020. ISBN978-90-04-42990-1.
↑ Ahmed, Haseeb. "About FCC". Retrieved 24 March 2013.
1 2 "Datta, Surendra Kumar". mundus.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2012. Surendra Kumar Datta was born in 1878. He was lecturer in history and biology 1909-1914, and Principal 1932-1942 at Forman Christian College.
1 2 Black, Brian; Hyman, Gavin; Smith, Graham M. (2014). Confronting Secularism in Europe and India: Legitimacy and Disenchantment in Contemporary Times. A&C Black. pp.88–91. ISBN978-1-78093-607-9.
1 2 Malik Ram (1977). Zia Fatehabadi – Shakhs Aur Shair (in Urdu). Delhi: Ilmi Majlis. pp.116–117. Zia Fatehabadi and Chander studied together at Forman
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
