Harcharan Singh Brar

Brar joined Aitchison College in 1937 and graduated after passing his Senior Cambridge in 1941 and the Higher School Certificate of Cambridge University in 1943.

“This classroom is dedicated to the loving memory of my friend Harcharan Singh Brar (1922-2009) of Srai Nanga, District Ferozepur,” reads the plaque that Ali wrote.

Brar took admission in Government College, Lahore in 1944 and graduated with a BA degree from Panjab University.

Brar took admission in Government College, Lahore in 1944 and graduated with a BA degree from Panjab University.

They were together at Aitchison for seven years and then later at Government College Lahore as well

After graduating from Aitchison, Brar joined Government College, Lahore, in 1944 and later earned a BA degree from Panjab University.

Ali arrived at the college in 1934. Brar joined three years later, in 1937

Brar joined Aitchison in 1937, excelling as a student, prefect and sportsman

Brar studied at Aitchison from 1936 to 1943

“He was an outstanding student, School Prefect and was awarded the Rivaz Gold Medal.

He was also the governor of two states before becoming the chief minister of Punjab in 1995.

He also served as governor of two states before becoming Punjab chief minister in 1995.

he became Governor of Odisha, later Governor of Haryana, and ultimately Chief Minister of Punjab in 1995

a pre-Partition student who later became CM of Punjab (1995-96

He later served as Punjab chief minister and governor of Haryana and Odisha

Brar boarded at Godley House, which housed Sikh and Hindu students

Brar had joined the Aitchison College in 1937 and was an outstanding student, school prefect and was awarded the Rivaz gold medal

Brar joined Aitchison College in 1937 and graduated after passing his Senior Cambridge in 1941 and the Higher School Certificate of Cambridge University in 1943.

Harcharan Singh Brar studied at Aitchison College from 1937 to 1943.

The two won sporting honours, and graduated together in 1943

Brar studied at Aitchison from 1936 to 1943

The two won sporting honours, and graduated together in 1943. Their friendship became so close that Ali’s mother began referring to Brar as her fourth son

Ali’s sisters called him Bhai Harcharan Singh,” Mir recalled. “Even today, members of the family refer to him as Mama Harcharan Singh

When Brar developed a liking for the niece of Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, the third CM of Punjab, Ali would be his wingman. He ensured they got married

Over the decades that followed, the two families maintained contact despite worsening relations between India and Pakistan. They attended one another’s weddings, visited each other’s homes, and watched their children grow up

The bond endured until Brar’s death in 2009. “He was with him when he went for his heart surgeries. When he passed away, the farewell address after his last rites was given by Babar Sahib in Chandigarh

Their friendship, forged in undivided Punjab, survived Partition, wars and decades of hostility until Brar's death in 2009

Brar joined Aitchison in 1937, excelling as a student, prefect and sportsman

Brar studied at Aitchison from 1936 to 1943 and shared a classroom with Babar Ali, who turns 100 later this month

The former Punjab chief minister, who died in 2009, had remained closely associated with his alma mater and his friend across the border