LAHORE: Prof Manzoor Ahmed, renowned educationist and founder principal of Shah Husain College, Lahore, passed away on Wednesday night. He was 94.

Born on Oct 6, 1926, Prof Ahmed studied at the Central Model School and the University of the Punjab.

He was a popular teacher among many generations of students in Lahore and a close associate of iconic left-wing intellectuals of their times such as Prof Eric Cyprian and Prof Amin Mughal. The three of them joined forces in setting up the Shah Husain College, which sought to stir up a revolution on its own from its modest base in a street off Lawrence Road here.

Dr Ahmed’s move from Islamia College Civil Lines to the new ideological centre in the city for the Left during the heady 1970s seemed all but natural. By that time, the tall and imposing professor had already built quite a reputation for himself as a left-wing mentor of a very pleasant and willing disposition with a large circle of friends.

He is survived by three sons Sirmed Manzoor, Shahid Manzoor and Rashid Manzoor.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2020