BY all accounts, Major Geoffrey Douglas Langlands led a remarkable life, spent (at the risk of boastfulness) in a remarkable land, in remarkable times. Having arrived in the subcontinent as a British officer prior to the departure of the Raj, the Major — as he was affectionately known — chose to stay in and serve Pakistan upon its Independence. This inseparable bond is manifest in the homage being paid to him now, for the unparalleled service of this giant of a man was, in itself, a tribute extended to the people of this country, who reciprocated his warmth with an open, generous embrace of their own. As he departs from this world at the age of 101, the question that is inevitably going to be asked is: Do we have it in us today to deserve another like him?

The story of Geoffrey Langlands is one of human perseverance and dedication. He must have been blessed with a golden heart to have travelled the distance that he did, mind rooted in the finest traditions of his age, to influence countless lives along the way. The revered Major nurtured generations of Aitchison College students, many of them destined to lead in their own right. After leaving the proud and tranquil school in Lahore, he still had enough left in him to take an assignment at Razmak Cadet College in North Waziristan. He then rounded it off with a long, deeply meaningful stint at a public school in Chitral, which was later named — fittingly — after him. His was a breathtaking journey that brought him in contact with students — and, through them, with their communities — from various, even contrasting, backgrounds. He had lessons for all, including those who had the pluck and gumption to kidnap him and hold him hostage for a few days. He reportedly taught them how best to negotiate the steep climb while walking through the mountains. The Major was an incorrigible guide, who truly earned his rise and his salutes.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019