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Forman Christian College

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Forman Christian College is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded in 1864 and is administered by the Presbyterian Church. The university follows an American-style curriculum.[1][2]

Forman Christian College
Other name
FC College, FCC, FCCU
Former names
FC College
MottoBy love serve one another
TypePrivate nonprofit university
Established1864 (1864)
ChancellorGovernor of Punjab
RectorJonathan Addleton
Academic staff
220
Students9,000
Address
Ferozepur Road
,
Lahore-54600
,
Punjab
,
Pakistan
CampusResidential college, 108 acres (44 ha)
Colors   
Websitewww.fccollege.edu.pk

Founded in 1864 by American Presbyterian 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 Minister I. K. Gujral, world badminton champion Sarwan Khan, former Pakistani Presidents Farooq Leghari and Pervez Musharraf, diplomat Jamsheed Marker, journalist Kuldip Nayar, scholar Wilfred Cantwell Smith, 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

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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]

Native to Lahore, Surendra Kumar Datta was a professor of history and biology from 1909 to 1914 and served as the principal of Forman Christian College from 1932 to 1942, later becoming the president of the All India Conference of Indian Christians and representing the Christian community of colonial India in the Round Table Conferences.[16][17]

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

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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.

 
Hope Tower (Female Hostels) Ground Breaking Ceremony

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.[18]

International linkage

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Global Liberal Arts Alliance

The Council of Independent Colleges - USA

Association of American International Colleges and Universities[19]

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)[15]

Notable alumni

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Politicians

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Bureaucrats and diplomats

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Judiciary

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Educators and scholars

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Sakhawat Ali - A Formanite received Best Green-Tech Award at 1st Climate Action Conference at Ministry of Planning from Chief SDGs Unit Mr. Ali Kemal

Industry

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Journalism

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  • Mushtaq Minhas, Provincial Minister for Information and Communication AJK Assembly, anchor of Bolta Pakistan on Geo TV
  • Kuldip Nayar, Indian author and journalist

Literature and arts

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Armed forces

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Sports

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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]

References

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  1. ^ "address of FC College University". Google Maps. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. ^ "FC College University: Best students feted ahead of convocation – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  3. ^ "History of FCC".[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "About FCC". Forman Christian College. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "The man who founded FC College ‹ The Friday Times". thefridaytimes.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  6. ^ "FC College: an amazing transformation – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Forman Christian (F.C.) College's Political Clout : ALL THINGS PAKISTAN". Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  8. ^ Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (27 October 2009). "Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - News & Announcements - The old college try". pcusa.org. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  9. ^ "E051819 – Forman Christian College Advance Fund, Lahore, Pakistan". Presbyterian Mission Agency. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Category Wise". hec.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  11. ^ "FCC Rankings".
  12. ^ Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (10 November 2016). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 905. ISBN 978-1-4422-4432-0. 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.
  13. ^ Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History Volume 16 North America, South-East Asia, China, Japan, and Australasia (1800-1914). BRILL. 29 June 2020. ISBN 978-90-04-42990-1.
  14. ^ Ahmed, Haseeb. "About FCC". Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d "About Forman Christian College". friendsofforman.org. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  16. ^ a b "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.
  17. ^ a b 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. ISBN 978-1-78093-607-9.
  18. ^ our.correspondent (6 March 2015). "Messages from the past: Time capsule buried for Formanites 50 years on". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 7 May 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ "Instagram". instagram.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  20. ^ Piracha, Aslam (30 September 2010). "Rao Sikandar Iqbal dies". Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  21. ^ a b Malik Ram (1977). Zia Fatehabadi – Shakhs Aur Shair (in Urdu). Delhi: Ilmi Majlis. pp. 116–117. Zia Fatehabadi and Chander studied together at Forman
  22. ^ Dharkan Summer 2009[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ Munir, Haroon Christy. "Sports Office". FCCU University. Retrieved 5 November 2023.

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