December 14, 2006

Sindh Madressah is not just a traditional seat of learning, as one may think, it is also a seat of knowledge and awakening in its own right. Established in 1885, it was among those institutions which made valuable contributions to the Pakistan Movement.

The area where the building of Sindh Madressah stands today, served as a place of rest for traders from Iran, Afghanistan and different parts of India under the Raj. Later, the Karachi Municipality granted the plot to the school.

Initially, it had been established as a boarding school with four boarding houses; Talpur House (built in 1901), Hassanally House (built in 1909), Khairpur House (built in 1912) and Sardar House (built in 1919). It also had two mosques, one for Sunni students and the other for Shiite students.

The main building of Sindh Madressah was designed by James Strachan, the architect appointed by the Karachi municipality who designed the building free of charge. The foundation stone of the institution was laid down by Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy of India in 1887. Initially, classes were held in a rented building in Bolton Market.

Sindh Madressah was counted among the most outstanding institutions of Sindh and the adjoining regions in the past years, and had scions of elite families studying there. The institution also has the honour of being the alma mater of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The purpose of establishing an institution of this stature was not just to impart traditional education in English medium, but the main objective was to spread awareness about the indigenous culture and to strengthen the feelings of nationalism in the younger generation. The idea was to create a force fuelled with intellectual stimulation which would win independence for its homeland. The students of Sindh Madressah were at the forefront of the freedom movement.

In 1947, after partition, Sindh Madressah also offered accommodation to the people who had migrated from India. Boarding houses and classrooms were converted into residential rooms. Later, the institution played a very important role in the reconstruction of this country.

Even today, Sindh Madressah is considered an important educational institution of the country and continues to works with a missionary spirit.

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