Alma mater matters, so back after 60 years

LUDHIANA:It was an emotional homecoming for NN Vohra, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, as he visited Satish Chander Dhawan Government College after more than 60 years on Sunday — this time as chief guest at the annual convocation of the institution where he had joined as a student way back in 1955.

SCD Government College principal Dharam Singh Sandhu (left) conferring the Lifetime Achievement Award on Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra in Ludhiana on Sunday. Himanshu Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 27

It was an emotional homecoming for NN Vohra, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, as he visited Satish Chander Dhawan Government College after more than 60 years on Sunday — this time as chief guest at the annual convocation of the institution where he had joined as a student way back in 1955.

Walking down memory lane, he fondly remembered Santa Singh, who used to run the canteen on the college campus.

He was full of praise for the late Lala Sunder Das, the owner of Lyall Book Depot, who would lend him books. “Whenever I visited Lyall Book Depot located at Chaura Bazaar, I would take a look at the books and keep them back. They were too costly for me. When the owner, Lala Sunder Das, asked me why I was not buying the books, I remained quiet. He would give me the books and tell me to return those books after reading them.” The college librarian would also allow him to take the books home on the condition of returning them before the library opened.

For Governor Vohra, meeting his old friends over a cup of tea was an experience that brought alive cherished memories. He stood first in Panjab University in post-graduation in English and served here as a lecturer for a year before getting selected for the Indian Administrative Service. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.

The Governor recalled how he used to earn Rs 265 a month, but “am happy that today teachers are paid well”. When he joined as a student, Dr Ishwar Chandar was the principal.

“Top positions in the IAS, police, Army and sports were achieved by half the class during that time and it was all due to good and hardworking teachers and strict discipline maintained in the college,” he recalled.

He urged the students never to compromise on their integrity and ethical values. After awarding the degrees, he said one phase of their life was coming to an end but the next phase entailed more responsibilities.

The college conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award on the Governor.