PESHAWAR, Feb 3: Historical Edwardes College of Peshawar is the best example of interfaith harmony and peaceful co-existence as people of different faiths have been teaching and studying there for over a century.

This was the crux of the speeches at a function organised by Edwardes College Teachers Welfare Association (ECTWA) Thursday night for some senior Edwardes college teachers on their retirement.

The ceremony was attended by Bishop of Diocese, Peshawar, Humphrey Peter, ECOSA office-bearers, college teachers and current and former students.

Bishop Peter said Edwardes College established in 1900 was the oldest college in the province and one of the most prestigious ones in the country.

He recalled his days spent in the college as a student and his experience with some senior teachers and said the college's importance could be judged by the fact that you would find an Edwardian wherever you go in the country and the world as well.

The bishop said in a recent international conference on interfaith, he mentioned Edwardes College as the best place with interfaith harmony and co-existence of different faiths.

He said it was all due to senior teachers, who had given them this environment. He expressed the hope that young teachers and students would carry ahead the college's glorious traditions.

Acting principal of the college Professor Kaleemullah said Edwardes College had a glorious history of over a century. He hailed the services of outgoing professors, including Mohammad Tariq, Donald Joseph, Allah Buksh Sajid and Mohammad Zaki, and said ECTWA had done a great job by organising the ceremony in their honour.

ECTWA president Gulzar Jalal said the retiring professors had rendered unmatched services of making Edwardes College one of the leading educational institutions in the country and that the traditions set by them would be kept alive.

Other speakers said the college was visited by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah thrice and by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru once.

The retiring professors were awarded commendation shields at the end of the ceremony.

ECOSA president Colonel Mazhar, who was awarded a shield for being the oldest Edwardian, said he had a 72 years old association with the college since his admission to it in 1939 and that he had been ECOSA office-bearer for the last 28 years.

He requested the college's board of governors to restore the association's quota in admissions in the college.

Almost all teachers and former students shared their experiences and narrated several anecdotes related to the teachers and their stay in the college.

Bureau Report