Reclaiming its glorious past

“In the past,it wasn’t perceived as a minority institution. It was known as an institution propagating scientific temperament and women’s empowerment,” he says,citing the example of the Vernacular Society that was set up here in 1832 and translated scientific treatises and classics into Urdu. “Teachers like Master Ramchandra and Maulavi Zakaullah translated 60 treatises on physics and mathematics into Urdu,” he says.

The building where this history was created and that housed the college till the late 80s is a red stone heritage structure outside the Ajmeri Gate with Mughal arches,dalans and lofty ceilings. Old timers still refer to it as the Delhi College and it continues to function as a hostel and school associated with the college.

In the closing years of the 17th century,the madrasa was founded by Ghaziuddin Khan,one of the commanders of Aurangzeb and the father of the first king of Asaf Jahi dynasty of Hyderabad. The building is located close to the dargah of the 13th century Sufi,Hazrat Hafiz Sadullah. Besides a mosque and sprawling garden,the complex also has the tomb of its founder. The weakening of the Mughal empire and lack of funds led to its closer in the 1790s,but soon,it was reopened as an oriental college for literature,science and art. An endowment in 1829 by the wazir of Awadh further strengthened it. By then it was already recognised by the British East India Company government as the Anglo Arabic College. Dr Sprenger,then principal,started the college press and also the first college periodical in 1845. However,after the Revolt of 1857,when the college was located for sometime inside Dara Shikoh’s library at Kashmere Gate,the British authorities temporarily closed it down suspecting the loyalties of its teachers and students.

“ In 1845,of the 460 students,245 were learning the English language,” says Prof Parvaiz,who himself was a student of the Anglo-Arabic School and Delhi College,besides being part of the faculty for 25 years.

Between 1864 and 1871,intermediate,BA and MA classes were started. The college was famous for the quality of education it imparted,so much so that it was mentioned in the two-volume ‘The Travels of a Hindoo to various parts of Bengal and Upper India’ by Bholanath Chunder published from London in 1869.

The Partition saw the college being attacked with staff members risking their lives to save the library. “The building was declared an evacuee property and Dr Zakir Husain was instrumental in the college getting it back. To commemorate his contribution,it was renamed Zakir Husain College in 1975. However,for those of us associated with the college the change of name was like being robbed of an identity,” says Dr Parvaiz who has been instrumental in convincing the Delhi University and Union Human Resource Development Ministry in renaming the institution. The other major step taken to safeguard its past has been establishing an archive within the college in 2008 with thousands of documents and visuals — a first in the university.

The faculty has boasted of names such as Bhisham Sahni and Safdar Hashmi. The long alumni list has Sir Syed Ahmed Khan,Liaqat Ali Khan,Ali Sardar Jafri,Gopi Chand Narang,Sikandar Bakht,J N Dixit,Dr P K Dave and many others.

For those associated with the college,its history is part of a cherished memory. A retired teacher who taught Bengali here for 41 years recalls that during the Republic Day parade in 1962 when the armed forces were posted on the India-China border,the Delhi University contingent was led by Delhi College Principal Mirza Mahmood Begg.

“Renaming the college is thus just another step to revisit its glorious past and build an equally bright future,” says Dr Parvaiz.