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Faculty In Focus
Through Faculty in Focus, we shed light on our accomplished and dedicated teachers who have spent years in service to Aitchison.
Mr. Dhani Ram Kapila
Dhani Ram Kapila holds a distinguished place in Aitchison College’s history as its first Indian Principal, serving from January 1947 to June 1947. His association with the College, however, spans over three remarkable decades. Joining Aitchison in 1913 as a teacher, Mr. Kapila went on to become Headmaster of the Senior School and a trusted colleague of Principal Mr. Barry, contributing immensely to the academic and pastoral development of generations of Aitchisonians.
A man of many talents, Mr. Kapila was also a passionate sportsman and an ardent football enthusiast. He served as President of the Punjab Football Association, promoting the game across the region with vision and dedication.
After leaving Aitchison, Mr. Kapila was invited to become the first Principal of Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, further strengthening the historic educational ties between the two institutions. Towards the end of his life, Mr. Kapila suffered from paralysis. He passed away from a heart attack in 1950, leaving behind mourners from all across the region. His enduring legacy at Aitchison remains one of commitment, leadership, and a lifelong devotion to education.
Sardar Gajindar Singh
Sardar Gajindar Singh (also spelled as Gajindra), a figure whose twenty-eight-year legacy remains woven into the pre-partition history of Aitchison College. Joining the College’s faculty in 1914, Sardar Gajindar Singh was a man of versatile intellect and tireless dedication, serving the institution with distinction until 1942. Throughout nearly three decades of service, he became an integral part of the College, primarily as an expert in Geography but also through his leadership as the Housemaster, Godley House, and his meticulous oversight as the Superintendent of the Shop.
From his earliest days on campus, his impact was immediate and widely recognized. In the Annual Report of 1915-16, a mere year after his arrival, the College noted with great optimism:
“....Mr. Gajindra Singh, are to be congratulated on the improvements which they have effected in a short time, and their interest in the subject gives promise of steady advance.”
His tenure was marked by a profound commitment to the holistic development of his students, whether in the classroom charting the world’s geography, leading young athletes as the President of the tennis club, or within the walls of the boarding house, fostering the character of young Aitchisonians. As we celebrate our 140 years of heritage, we remember Sardar Gajindar Singh for the "steady advance" he championed, ensuring his place among the great masters who built the foundations of this institution.
Maulvi Karamatullah
The history of Aitchison College is defined by the dedication of its long-serving faculty, none more prominent than Maulvi Karamatullah. Occupying a central role in the College's development from 1915 through 1939, his twenty-four years of service saw the transition of leadership across the iconic principalships of F.A. Leslie Jones, James Kelly, and C.H. Barry. Born in 1890 into a prominent landowning family of District Montgomery, he descended from a line of scholars and educators, including his grandfather, who served as an Ataliq in the Bahawalpur State. After completing his BA from Government College Lahore in 1912, he sought an appointment at Aitchison College under Principal Leslie Jones, beginning a career that would leave an indelible mark on the educational landscape of the Punjab.
His dedication to academic excellence was matched by his own personal drive, as evidenced by his completion of the Munshi Fazil examination from the Punjab University in 1924. Starting as an Assistant Tutor, he eventually rose to become the Housemaster of Boarding House No. 1, later renamed Kelly House. He taught Urdu, Islamiyat, and History, but his role extended far beyond the classroom. He was a mentor, guardian, and confidant to his students. He also served as the shop superintendent during his tenure at the College.
The list of his pupils reads like a directory of 20th-century leadership. He tutored a generation of nobility, from the Nawab of Bahawalpur and his sons to the Maharajas of Patiala and Mandi. His roster of students also featured the Nawabzadas of Pataudi and heirs from the Shah Jewna, Shergarh, Kalabagh, Tiwana, and Noon families. Because many of his students were wards of the court, he acted as their legal guardian at the College, becoming so deeply integrated into their lives that he was often consulted on private family matters and professional decisions long after his students had entered public life.
The high regard in which he was held is reflected in the lasting tributes paid to him by his former pupils. On the orders of the Nawab of Bahawalpur, the village of Chak No. 9/SP was officially renamed "Moulvi Wala" in the revenue records, a name it retains to this day. Similarly, during the tenure of the Nawab of Kalabagh as Governor of West Pakistan, the Railway Department was directed to name the railway station nearest to his landholdings as the "Maulvi Wala Railway Station" as a token of respect. Such gestures stand as a testament to the profound impact he had on those he groomed for leadership.
Beyond Aitchison, Karamatullah lived a life of significant public service and social connection. He was active in the Khilafat Movement and later served as the Honorary Secretary of the Gulab Devi Trust, where he donated a hospital ward in memory of his wife, Husan Ara Begum. After retiring from Aitchison in 1939, he served the Bahawalpur State for nearly two decades as a Minister, overseeing household affairs and state administration. Throughout his life, he interacted with global figures ranging from the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal to international royalty and British Viceroys, personifying the grace, discipline, and intellectual rigour of a true Aitchisonian educator.
We are deeply grateful to his descendant, Kaivan Mir (Old Boy), for sharing insights into Maulvi Karmatullah’s life beyond Aitchison.