Tags:
Journalism of Courage
LUDHIANA, Jan 24: The boys have grown old and grey, it is more than 50 years they last walked in their college, yet the ties remain strong. That is why they were all there, some coming from as far as across the border along with their families to visit their alma mater.
The invitations sent by the Old Boys Association of Government College for Boys, Ludhiana for a get-together provided many septuagenarian and retired civil servant, military officers, leading businessman, from both sides of the border to come and share the memories. On January 23, about 50 old boys including nine from Pakistan visited their college, the then one of the premier educational institute of the country.
The itinerary also included sight seeing, walking to the college premises through the 8220;Lovers8217; Lane8221; entertainment and of course, group lunches and dinners. The old boys thoroughly enjoyed the cultural programme and musical evening organised on the occasion. The chief guest of the get-together was Pakistan Army8217;s retired Major General Shabbir Hassan Shah, who in his address, recalled his student days. Visiting the college after 52 years, he said, 8220;As I stand here, I feel a gush of memories.8221; His memories included his encounters with another famous college mate, Sahir Ludhianvi, who had to leave the college after he was spotted talking to a Sikh girl.
When Sita, a young gutsy girl from an orthodox Sikh family and the only girl in her mathematics class, wanted to marry her senior Majid the parents objected. The two went in for a civil marriage and after Pakistan was formed she migrated along with her husband. Both of them had come for the get-together. For Sita Majid, now in her 60s, it was a visit to her maika where she met 8220;brothers8221; like Inder Mohan Singh Grewal, the force behind this year8217;s get-together. Mohammad Ali Khan Choudhary, a retired civil servant from Pakistan, who also served as inspector general in three provinces besides heading the federal investigating agency, had last visited the country in 1990 as part of a police delegation while in service.
Choudhary also expressed dismay over the threats issued to cricketers. The Indian govt should discourage such acts, he added sports offer good break in tension ridden atmosphere8221;.
