Murry College in Years
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 May 5, 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.
Dr. Iqbal’s teacher and mentor, served the school and the college for a record period of sixty long years. We salute the great scholar-teacher Maulvi Mir Hassan. 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 Oct. 27, 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 nationalization of educational institutions of Government. Now in 2010 the college is offering BS(HONS) in 14 Departments. Degree affiliate from university of gujrat.
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