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MEMORIES OF A PIONEER
Every period in the history of man is exciting, challenging and
thrilling. I passed through one such period in the formative years of my
life when I was an "F.Sc." student at the Islamia College Peshawar in
1950-52. The University of Peshawar was founded while I was there. In fact,
the last exams held under the auspices of the Punjab University were held in
1950. The thrill and exuberation that the Frontier had to have its own
University were ours to experience.
Then came the establishment of the Engineing College. I vividly
remember the Honorable Khan Abdul Qayum Khan, the Prime Minister of the
NWFP, laying the foundation stone of the College because I was there. Few
people realize that the Pukhtoon Nation owes a tremendous debt to this great
Pukhtoon whose efforts had culminated in the establishment of these
institutions, the dreams of the younger generations. The earlier benefactor
of the Pukhtoons was of the same name, Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayum Khan whose
efforts resulted in the establishment of the Islamia College Peshawar in
1913. Imagine the uncountable number of people like us who benefited from
their efforts!
Those who were appearing in the F.Sc. and B.Sc. (so-called
non-medical group) had few choices. If Engineering was the goal, then the
Engineering College in Lahore was practically the only choice. There the
hurdle was not only the applicant's grades but also the limited number of
seats set aside for applicants from other provinces. I was planning to go
into engineering and the prospect of going to the new engineering college in
Peshawar was exciting. I had no money to afford a stay in Lahore, though I
stood first in my F.Sc. exam throughout the Province and could have easily
gained admission there.
There were 20 students to be chosen for the opening (Pioneer) class
of the new Engineering College. The selection was on an open competition
basis. Graduates all levels (M.Sc., B.Sc., and F.Sc.) applied from
throughout the Province. We were interviewed by a committe comprizing
members from the PWD and the Electricity Department of the Province (later
they became part of WAPDA).
The names of the twenty successful candidates were posted on the Peshawar
University Notice Board. I was on the top of the List!
Because of a late start in construction there were only three rooms
ready at the start of classes which was delayed to November 1952. Those
rooms were the office of the principal, adjoining room for the clerk, both
to the left of the main entrance, and one lcture room. to the right of the
entrance. There was construction everywhere, gravel, cenet, scaffolding,
workers, etc. The University Hostel Number I was also under construction.
We got lodging there. Those were the days when we could occupy several rooms
for ourselves! We happened to be the only residents of the hostel. I had a
room on the upper floor and one on the lower floor.
We were perhaps the most fortunate students in the history of the engineering college. We considered ourselves to be truly history makers. We were also blessed with teachers who really believed in the engineering college as a historical event. Profs. Arbab Abdul Wahid and Anwar Beg were delegated from the Physics and Chemistry Departments of the Islamia College respectively. I must say that because of their conviction and pride they worked tremendously hard to prepare their lectures in engineering areas, previously totally alien to their expertise. They were always there to guide us. They both were close to retirement but in their being they became as young as their students. I am not exaggerating if I state that they considered us as their own children and did their utmost for us to learn and succeed well.
Then there were two Fulbright Scholars from the USA, one Dr. Chester R. Lodge, a 30 year old electrical engineering PhD, who not only taught classes but also assumed the responsibility of the College Principal. The other was Dr. Carl Leiden, a 30 year old who taught international law to night classes, political science at the Islamia, and Engineering Mathematics to us First year students. Pakistan was only five years old, people believed in its future and respected its integrity. These two gentlemen really took their teaching seriously and among the four of the professors, we got solid and strong foundation. I will always be grateful to them for their contributions to my life.
There were no laboratories ready for us. Therefore at the end of the academic year we went to the Lahore Engineering College (Mclegan College) for our laboratory work. We spent one month there every year and did nothing else but lab experiments from morning till evening. The faculty and staff of the Lahore college helped in this venture. Thus, even though we had no labs of our own, the Peshawar University administration made sure that the pioneer group did not suffer from this deficiency.
The curriculum of the Mclegan College (Engineering College Lahore) was adopted for our group to start the college. Students admitted after us had to follow the curriculum of the new college which was somewhat different from ours. We had only two choices, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Some students (I don't remember how many) fell though the cracks, but most of us made it to graduation. Many of you will remember Mian Amanullah amd Iqbal Hussain Shah who were in the pioneer group. There was a great comeraderie and friendship among all of us. It was great to belong to that bunch.
I remember student excursions to various engineering projects and institutions. I remember parties and food events. If an exciting movie arrived in Peshawar, we all went together, sometime renting a whole bus. You have to imagine that at that time there was absolutely no bulding, house or any structure between Peshawar Cantt and the University. The distance of about 7 miles was practically a desert. The University town did not exist. In fact, with the exception of the Islamia College buldings and only three or so University buildings ther was NOTHING west of the Military barraks of the Cantt. If you missed the evening bus to the college from the City, you had little hope of reaching the university that evening. Only the Jackals roamed the land.
It is appaling to see how much building and construction has expanded during the past 45 years. Now Peshawar extends to Jamrud and beyond! Those days there was so much free land that you were completely alone and to yourself if you ventured two mile in either direction of the Islamia College library or the "College Coffee Shop" (we did not know coffee then, but we had a coffee shop). Population growth is so enormous that one has to "swim" through the dense crowds in the bazars of Peshawar.
During the final months of our engineering studentship work was started on the Warsak Dam Project. The Canadians were the main engineerins and contractors. A few of us found emplyment at the project and some went to the Electricity department. I started at the Warsak Project immediately after the Final exam. When the result was declared, I had the highest grades among the pioneers. In fact, I had the highest grades every year from F.Sc. onwards and all years of the engineering finals.
The College was promoted to the University status a few years after our graduation. I remember having given a speech at the Engineering Society meeting which was attended by the Faculty and students. I was a starry eyed young aspiring engineer, and the future was tremendously rosy. There was a great patriotism among the people, and we had great expectations for the country and the Engineering College. Pakistanis did not mind exaggerating things (The biggest sugar factory in Asia was in Mardan, the largest this or that was in Pakistan, etc.).
In that speech I said about the College, "One day this institution will be the best and biggest in Asia in the fields of engineering research and innovation". Time has shown that I also had exaggerated. But time has also made us more sober. Somehow people have lost faith in the country because of the short-sighted and corrupt leadership that the country was accursed with. Unfortunately we could not even get the distinction of being first in the negative sense; listening to the BBC a few months ago I heard that Pakistan was the secong corrupt nation in the world!
Let us hope that the coming generation has the courage and vision to rid the country of corruption and bring our Engineering College-University of Engineering and Technology to the highest position of prominence in the best sense.
Within a year of graduation I went to Germany on a fellowship and got my doctorate in electrical engineering. It was because of this college that I became the First Pukhtoon in the history of the Pukhtoon Nation to acquire the highest academeic qualification and degree in engineering. I humbly salute that institution, today known as University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar.
It is imperative that all who benefited give something to UET. My suggestion of the golden Jubilee, if implementd, will generate not only interest in the UET but also bring it at the forefront and put it on the map of institutions of learning. There are now thousands of alumni of the UET scattered all over the world, some in highly prominent and fiscally comfortable positions. They should all be invited. Scholarship funds and research lab funds can be established. Imagine the alumni donating upto Rs. 10,000.00 per person, and you can appreciate that things can be done. There will be seminars and games and music and parties and just being happy to celebrate. How often will we have such opportunities in our lives!
Five years for the preparation of celebrating the golden jubilee is not much. The foot-work to be done before it becomes a reality is tremendous. I urge those interested to voice their opinions. I am the youngest at heart among you (64 years). I am recovering from an open-heart surgery of three months ago which has resulted in coronary multiple bypass operation. But I am prepared to help in any shape and form in making the celebtation a reality. Please form a committee, contact the Peshawar side of the people and let us start moving.
Thank you.
God bless you all.
Sincerely,
Dr.-Ing. Abdul Haq Qureshi, Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH 44115.
© 1997 All rights reserved by UET Peshawar.