Announcements

Principal’s Message

Dear Students and Viewers!

Welcome to the newly developed website of the college. It provides you a valuable information regarding curricular as well as co-curricular activities going on here. It is student friendly website as it gives them knowledge of their course outlines, study material and up to date information of examinations, time tables, admissions and more. The alumni could submit their membership form given in ALUMNI button on the homepage and extend their support and suggestions for the betterment of their Alma Mater.

On behalf of the staff of Govt. Murray Graduate College Sialkot, I am pleased to welcome you for selecting this college for academic pursuits. You will find outstanding academic programs and a learning environment that is positioned far above the rest of the colleges in this region and renowned institutions of the Punjab. At GMGCS, students establish the foundation for effective learning, achievement of personal objectives and goals. The College is known as mini University for having Fourteen Postgraduate disciplines in the subjects of Botany, Chemistry, English, Islamic Studies, Information Technology, Economics, Mathematics, Management Science, Statistics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Urdu and Zoology. We started BS-4 year Program in affiliations with the University ofGujrat. Our BS classes are going on smoothly and successfully. Our educational programmes are coupled with experienced, highly qualified teaching staff, majestic building and grounds provide the opportunity for academic achievement and expression of veiled potential. I invite you to discover what makes GMGCS an exclusive symbol of learning. GMGCS is renowned for its high level of education and extra-curricular achievements. The students who have passed their examination in different disciplines are holding very high positions in different walks of life giving an honor to the college. Good traditions take years to establish. May Allah bless you and your heart with the light of knowledge so you may be able to play your role in the development of society and prosperity of Pakistan as a true Patriot and a responsible citizen.

Welcome to Govt. Murray Graduate College Sialkot
Professor Dr. Muhammad Nawaz
Principal

Vice Principal’s Message

I sincerely hope that with the spirited support and committed cooperation, we shall be able to make this college an exemplary institute in the region as well as among others across the world. The uphill task of maintaining cordial and congenial academic atmosphere is the pre-requisite for the dissemination of education and learning to the blooming youth.

The Proctorial Board in particular and the honourable members of the staff in general have played a pivotal role in making this institution peaceful for academic and co-curricular pursuits. The role of the Vigilance Committee configured to cope with any untoward incident is appreciable.

We are committed to make this seat of learning a peaceful citadel and a second home to all who are engaged to it; we are committed to raise the banner of fraternity, brotherhood and peaceful co-existence; we are committed to cleanse our ranks of hatred, campaigns of vilification, hooliganism and gangsterism; we are committed to ensure a strong sense of belonging and security on the campus. The clouds of panic and harassment, if any, will be shattered from the college campus. Discipline is the top most priority here and we shall never show any leniency in this regard. An uncompromising, intolerable and indisciplinary behaviour shall be brought to book.

Cleanliness is next to godliness. We have made utmost efforts to turn the campus green by tree plantation. The blooming flowers all around add up to the scenic beauty of the college. The grassy lawns are kept neat and clean, trimmed and mowed and looked after round the clock. The students are directed to keep the college premises neat and clean, not to trespass flower beds and not to pluck the dewy fragrant hues.

We have a dream to see the future nation builders building a powerful, scientifically advanced, economically vibrant, politically stable, religiously tolerant and socially well knit society that is free of any bias, prejudice and bigotry. We are bound to inculcate the lessons of patriotism, humanity and forbearance to the futurity.

Professor Naseer Ghazi
Vice Principal

Government Murray College Sialkot was established as Scotch Mission College by Scottish missionaries belonging to the Church of Scotland Mission in 1889. The Church of Scotland came to Sialkot (then Part of British India) in January 1857 when the first Scottish missionary, Reverend Thomas Hunter, came to live with his wife, Jane Scott, and baby son near the Brigade Parade Ground, facing the Trinity Church (whose first stone was laid on 1 March 1852). The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Madras on 30 January 1857. Sialkot at that time was in the diocese of Calcutta in British India. Thomas Hunter, his wife and baby son were murdered in Sialkot during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

The Scottish missionaries who established Scotch Mission College was born and lived in the comparative comfort of Scotland, deeply moral and ordained to the Christian ministry, each one of them educated in one of the five ancient universities of their country. They worked largely without recompense to educate people of a town very different from theirs.

In 1972, the government of Pakistan dismissed the Scottish missionaries and nationalized the institution.

It was initially started in 1868 as Scotch Mission High School, situated in Kanak Mandi, Sialkot, but was in 1889 up-graded to the status of an Intermediate College at the request of Punjab Govt.

What is now called Govt. Murray College, Sialkot and takes pride in being the alma mater of the great poet-philosopher of the East, had a very modest beginning. It was initially started in 1868 as Scotch Mission High School, situated in Kanak Mandi, Sialkot, but was in 1889 up-graded to the status of an Intermediate College at the request of Punjab government.

Dr. Muhammad Iqbal joined the school in 1883. He was enrolled as an Intermediate student on 5 May 1893. The early history of Murray College is both interesting and singular. The Foreign Committee of the Ch`urch of Scotland was requested in 1883 to open a college in Lahore. It turned down not only the request of the Punjab Govt.; but even an attractive offer of pounds: 250,000,00 as financial aid by one Sardar Sarwat Singh for the said purpose. The said Foreign Committee, at that stage, perhaps could not even dream that destiny had turned the scale in favour of the people of Sialkot.

In 1889, the Punjab Government again approached the said Foreign Committee to open a college at Sialkot. The Lt. Governor of the Punjab even earmarked a financial grant for the purpose. Consequently, in 1889, the Intermediate section of the college was started in school itself. For 20 years, classes were met in the same building and by almost the same four members, incidentally representing all the major communities of the undivided India, Maulvi Mir Hassan Sahib, Mr. Narinjin Das and Sardar Harnam Singh. They jointly taught seven subjects: English, Philosophy, Arabic, Persion, Maths, Chemistry and Physics.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal attended the school from 1893 to 1895.
Dr. Iqbal’s teacher and mentor, Maulvi Mir Hassan served the school and the college for a record period of sixty long years. In 1890, the total number of students on the college rolls did not go beyond 17. When the college moved to its present premises in 1909, the total numbers of students was 41 only. With the shifting of the college to its present site, its name was changed to Murray College. It was necessitated by a legacy left by Captain Jhon Murray for the college.

The college was formally inaugurated by Sir Louis Dane on 27 Oct 1909. At that time, Rev. Jhon Waugh (1909–1914) was the Principal of the college. His successor Rev. Dr. William Scott (1914–1923) was an untiring dedicated worker. He was followed by the greatest ever builder and disciplinarian Principal, Rev. Jhon Garret (1923–1914). He along with Dr. H. Garrett and brother-in-law Rev. Dr. William Lillie (famous scholar teacher of Philosophy) gave the college the dignity, prestige and academic standard it had not enjoyed so far in the sub-continent.

With the passage of time, the total number of students and teachers multiplied. In 1923, the total number of students was 180, a number that rose to 424 in 1929. With the joining of the Professor R.C. Thomas and in the sub-continent. Prof. C.W. Tressler; a great teacher of History and a stern disciplinarian in 1929, Biology was also offered as an elective subject at Intermediate level. B.A. Honours teaching in English Literature and Maths were started in 1921 followed by M.A. Philosophy and English in 1942, whereas B.Sc., Physics and Chemistry were started in 1944 and 1946 respectively.

After Independence Rev. D. Leslie Scott (1947–1956) who was born in Daska, Sialkot, like his father Rev. D. William had to pull the college through really difficult times, within a couple of years, however, the college was once again on its way to make a humble contribution in almost all the Prestigious fields of national life.

In 1956, the college was given nationalistic touch and Prof. R.C. Thomas a reputed teacher of Biology with 27 years of service to his credit, was appointed as the first national Principal. He retired in 1964. His successor Dr. F.S. Khairullah with almost the same length of meritorious service as Prof. Thomas was an all-time popular teacher of poetry and drama. He was a gifted orator, editor, writer, satirist and humorist. He retired in 1972 at the time of nationalisation of educational institutions of Government. After the retirement of Dr. F.S. Khair Ullah, Dr. Vincent A. Das took over the principal ship of the college in 1972. His approach to all the administrative and academic problems of the college was based on his rich knowledge of Psychology and human relationship. Prof. Dr. Vincent A. Das remained the Principal of the college from 1972 to 1986.

Now in 2010 the college is offering BS(HONS) in 14 Departments. Degree affiliate from university of gujrat.

Professor Ahmed Raza Siddiqui was the first Muslim Principal of Murray College from 1986 to 1992. He is a prolific physicist who studied from notable Nobel laureates during his tenure in England. He holds two master’s degree in physics, one from Punjab University and second one from London. He was first science Principal and the college bloomed during his excellent tenure. He has been praised for his honesty and dedication as a teacher.[1]

There is a beautiful Church in the premises of this college and on the footsteps of this church there is a small cemetery which belongs and reserved for the Khan family of Mori-gate Sialkot. It is said that the land of the college once belonged to this khan family which was donated to build this college. However, the family reserved a piece of land to bury the family members till today. The notable from this khan family is Shahzaad Paan House mori gate & M.I. Khan Lodhi (LLM) advocate.

The Motto of Govt. Murray Graduate College is the very first verse revealed on Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWS from Surah Alaq

                                                                                             (O Prophet) Read, in the name of your Loard Who Created(All Creations)

This shows the importance of Education, surah Alaq gives the lesson that every human being should seek knowledge and does not remain oppressed by others and does not become oppressed himself.

As the Slogan of GMC is FIRST THINGS FIRST means doing the most important things in life. It means being clear about your priorities and acting on them. To become a master of your time, you need to first be aware of your priorities in the larger context of your life.

Govt. Murray Graduate College, Sialkot is committed to provide an environment which is highly conducive for learning. The legacy of this institute is to provide opportunities and polish the personalities of its students. Talents and abilities are molded by our skillful craftsmen in such a way that the outcome of the college becomes productive for the society and nation. In order to turn this mission into reality, our faculty is determined:

• To provide quality education
• To ensure the students’ access to the arenas of research and scholarships
• To cater the academic needs of students of modern era
• To foster integrity, tolerance and human values
• To promote religious and moral values in the society
• To promote patriotic passion
• To groom and train the students on healthy lines
• To infuse Islamic spirit in the budding youth
• To inculcate Dr. Allama Iqbal’s real message of ‘Self’ into the apprentices.

Murray College short of classrooms

SIALKOT: The 127-year-old Govt Murray College — the alma mater of poets Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmad Faiz — has been facing an acute shortage of classrooms due to which students and teachers are finding it difficult to continue education.

Principal Prof Javaid Akhtar Billah told Dawn there was a dire need to establish 56 classrooms in the college to cater to the growing number of students. He said the college had been constructed on three acres in 1889 with only 500 students, while now the number of students had reached 6,000. The college had been established as the Scotch Mission College by Scottish missionaries.

Prof Billah further said the college management had urged the Punjab government to provide suitable land to extend the college and establish a new campus on the outskirts of the city. This was requested keeping in view the increasing number of students here.

The principal claimed the Punjab government was making sincere efforts to make the college a “centre of excellence”, adding it would soon be granted degree awarding status.

He said 200 acres of state land were lying unattended along the Sialkot-Eimanabad road and 500 more acres existed near Sambrial out of which the provincial government could easily allocate some portion to the college for extension.

He further said Provincial High Education Secretary Irfan Ali had recently visited the college and listened to their problems. The secretary had assured the management of making all-out efforts to provide the required land to ensure early extension of the college. He also pledged to make the college a “centre of excellence” besides ensuring easy access of quality higher education to locals.

Published in Dawn October 11th, 2016