ICP: A Distinctive Education Icon Of Pakistan

Peshawar: Witnessing the historic independence movement of Pakistan, the Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) has carried the torch of education for the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for the past 110 years.

ICP is a distinctive educational institution in KP where students from kindergarten through doctoral level receive quality education and contribute to Pakistan’s prosperity.

Founded in 1913 at the foothills of Koh-e-Sufaid, it serves as a reminder to visitors of the outstanding contribution Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s students made during the Pakistan Movement.

Upon passing by the soaring domes, rich green lawns, and imposing buildings of its stunning architecture on the old Jamrud Road, one can’t help but be moved.

ICP Pakistan Studies Department Chairperson Younas Khan stated that it would be impossible to discuss the history of the Pakistan Movement without acknowledging the contribution of ICP students.

Quaid’s Role In ICP

Younas Khan told that the legendary Quaid paid visits to ICP in 1936, 1945, and 1948 to recognise the excellent contribution of the school’s pupils to the accomplishment of his goal for Pakistan.

In his capacity as Pakistan’s first Governor General, Quaid-e-Azam paid a visit to ICP on April 12, 1948, and during his time there, he lavishly praised its students for their contributions to the creation of Pakistan.

Quaid paid visits to ICP in 1936, 1945, and 1948 to recognise the excellent contribution of the school’s pupils to the accomplishment of his goal for Pakistan: Younas Khan

“I am truly delighted to be here today and to have the honour of speaking to the students of this illustrious Darul Uloom, who will be Pakistan’s future architects. Keep in mind that your own garden is like your government. Your garden thrives as a result of the care you give it and the work you put into making it better. In the same vein, your attempts to strengthen your government must be honourable, sincere, and patriotic,” Quaid remarked.

The government quickly honoured his ambition by founding the University of Peshawar in 1949, fulfilling his desire to build a university close to ICP.

In 1936, Jinnah joined the college’s debate group, Khyber Union, as an honorary member. His affection for the college can be inferred from his will, written on May 30, 1939, in Mumbay, in which he declared ICP, the Muslim University Aligarh, and Sindh Madrassatul Islam Karachi as among the inheritors of his property.

“The Quaid Trust later gave the college Rs. 10,811,600 in several instalments. The funds were used to develop the Quaid-e-Azam College of Commerce, the University of Peshawar, the Jinnah Residential Quarters for College Employees, Jinnah College for Women, the newly built Takbeer block, and other projects,” Chairperson Khan said.

History of Commitment

The college, which beautifully combines the ideas of the Aligarh and Deoband schools of thought, is a mere testimony to the greatness of its founder, Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan, along with a beautiful history of tenacity and dedication.

“When the Pathan students were met during their tour to the Muslim University Aligarh, early in 1909, Nawab Sahib and Sir George Roos-Keppel, the then Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)–now KP–had the inspiration to create a college,” stated ICP Former Principal Prof. G.D. Khilji in his memoirs.

The students requested that they either build a college for them in a frontier province or a frontier hostel in Aligarh. They collected roughly sixty rupees as a sign of goodwill and handed them to Roos Keppel to start a Frontier Hostel Fund or any other project. Afterwards, Keppel transferred the cash to Nawab Sahib, who in turn gave it to his personal butler, Habibullah.

The college, which beautifully combines the ideas of the Aligarh and Deoband schools of thought, is a mere testimony to the greatness of its founder, Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan

On April 12, 1911, a social gathering took place at the Peshawar home of Abdul Karim Khan Indrabai between philanthropists Ghulam Haider Khan, Habibullah Khan, Khushal Khan, Sethi Karim Bakhsh, and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum. Habibullah, who was also there, reminded his master of the sixty-odd rupees, and Nawab Sahib broached the proposal to construct a college in Peshawar. Karim Bakhsh Sethi volunteered to build a mosque, while Rahim Shah Kakakhel committed to creating a hostel called Rahim Shah Ward. Abdul Karim donated Rs. 10,000, Sethi Karim Bakhsh donated Rs. 50,000, and the Nawab of Dir promised Rs. 100,000.

BibiGul, the widow of Khairullah Khan of Prang, set an example by contributing her jewellery to the college fund on June 6, 1911.

On May 29, 1911, a 10-member ad hoc college committee was established to present ideas for the college’s creation under the chairmanship of Col. Muhammad Aslam Khan. Prominent Khans and Ulema were invited, and seven resolutions, including naming the proposed college Darul-Ulum-i-Islamia Suba-i-Sarhad, were overwhelmingly approved.

A committee was also constituted to select a suitable site for the college. Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, in consultation with Ross Keppel, selected the existing site for the college. The land chosen for the college was the property of the Khalil tribe of Tehkal. A total of 916 kanals and seventeen marlas were bought at Rs. 30 per kanal.

A Dream Came into Existence

To foil the negative propaganda against the establishment of the college, renowned religious scholar and freedom fighter Haji Sahib of Turangzai was requested to lay the foundation stone of the college mosque and attached Collegiate School in 1911.

Sir Spenser Harcourt Butler, an education member of the Viceroy’s Council, performed the opening ceremony of Islamia Collegiate School on April 5, 1913. Later, the Islamia College was opened on October 1, 1913, with 26 students on roll. Sahibzada Khurshid was the first admitted student and, in 1949, became the Governor of the then NWFP. Initially, the college had only 10 teaching staff. L. Tipping (1913–17) was its first principal.

Henry Martin served on the principal post for a period of 12 years, nine months, and 15 days, while Prof. Taj Muhammad Khattak served only for three months and seven days. Arbab Sikandar Hayat had the distinction of serving the college as its principal on three occasions.

Occasionally, the college remained closed. Due to the second Afghan War, it was first shut down for roughly three weeks in 1919, and students were relocated to Shahi Mehman Khana in Peshawar. In 1920, the non-cooperation movement caused it to be shut down for a short period of time once more.

To foil the negative propaganda against the establishment of the college, renowned religious scholar and freedom fighter Haji Sahib of Turangzai was requested to lay the foundation stone of the college mosque and attached Collegiate School in 1911.

The history of the college would be incomplete without mentioning the inauguration of the Khyber Union in 1921. Besides many stalwarts, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt of the USA, the first Governor of the NWFP, Sir Ralph Griffith, renowned writer Turkiye Khalida Adeeb Khanum, leader of the All Indian Muslim League, Sir Muhammad Shafi, Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Governor of the NWFP, George Cunningham, and Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar are among its honorary members.

The Board of Trustees (BoT) informed the college that it owns 395 shops and apartments in Khyber Bazaar Peshawar and Charsadda, as well as approximately 544.5 acres of cultivable land in Charsadda.

The clock tower of the college has become the pride symbol of Peshawar, and it has long been featured on the back of the Rs. 1000 currency note. Last year, ICP was ranked in the 795th position as the World’s Most Sustainable University by the Green Metric World University Rankings. APP

Additional input and edited by Wraa Noor