THE IMMORTAL HEADMASTER RALLIA RAM – MISSION SCHOOL LAHORE AND HIS CHARISMA

THE IMMORTAL HEADMASTER RALLIA RAM
MISSION SCHOOL LAHORE AND HIS CHARISMA

In memory of Lahori boys all the time

Dr Forman
Dr Forman
Lala Chandulal 1
Lala Chandulal 1

Reverend Forman came to Lahore. Most people say that he founded the Rang Mahal Mission High School, Lahore. Others say that it was Chandu Lall. Lala Chandu Lall had been involved with the St. Stephen’s School which later became the prominent St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University. Family sources say that Lala Chandu Lall joined the Government Education Department in Lahore and there was involved with the starting of the Rang Mahal School which later became the renowned Forman Christian College. He was an educationist and a disciplinarian even though he was a loving father to his children and all his children did exceedingly well for themselves. Our object here is not to refer to DR Forman or Chandu Lall, but to the man, who ran the School for decades as Head Master, and who became synonymous with the school in all ways. Ask any other old student of the school, and he would swoon with the memory of Rallia Ram.

Master Rallia Ram
Master Rallia Ram
Rallia Ram and piano
Rallia Ram and piano

No cars, no bungalows, an average man obsessed with education as well as other things. He loved to ride his bicycle everywhere. History was his passion and he wrote a text book on Punjab, which is there in our archives. He was also fond of music and loved to play the piano. He had many students in the field of music too, and Muhammed Afzal Khan, son in law, of Dr Yar Muhammed, was his pupil too.

Rang Mahal Mission High School
Rang Mahal Mission High School

Very near to the Mission School, was the Mohalla Chabuk Sawaran, Lahore. In fact this area was part of the old Rang Mahal, palace of Mian Lutufullah Khan son of Mian Saadullah Khan, Prime Minister of Emperor Shah Jahan. In that mohalla lived, M.A. Rahman Chughtai, and as he became famous, so Rallia Ram was attached to the new artist of Lahore. The success of the book, Murraqqa e Chughtai, was a pleasant surprise for Master Rallia Ram, and he wrote a letter of congratulations to the artist, which we attach here as an image. A lot of children of the Chughtai family went to the Mission High School, Lahore, and my cousins recall Master Rallia Ram, with great fondness.

Rallia Rams letter
Rallia Rams letter

22 thoughts on “THE IMMORTAL HEADMASTER RALLIA RAM – MISSION SCHOOL LAHORE AND HIS CHARISMA”

  1. I really like your posts.

    Azhar
    I went to Rand Mahal Mission School as well to FC College for my education in Lahore.

      1. A letter from his wife proves that by May 1946 she was a widow and she was supporting Quaid e Azam Jinnah in politics as a Christian member. Death before that.

  2. I am a chughtai and my forefather were lived in Rang Mahal and my senior cousion also study at Rang Mahal Mission High school.
    My house is still there, which is with my family since last 200 years and in the same shape and not converted into market so far, where as many people has converted their houses in shops or reconstructed.
    I am looking the son / daughter of A R Chughtai, as described he live in Rang Mahal Lahore, then how can we not known to each other.
    If any one know, then let me know the grand father’s name of A R Chughtai and old address also, just to locate.

    Regards

    1. I am the son of M.A. Rahman Chughtai and our ancestral house was in Chabuk Sawaran. There were four portions. Three fell down, one is reconstructed. Two are with the Mosque of Mullah Muhammed Ghaus. The artist moved out of the house in 1938. Dr Abdullah Chaghatai continued living at the house till he moved to 15 F Gulberg. All brothers dead now. If you like to communicate use our email chughtaimuseumlahore@hotmail.com. Welcome to our world!

  3. i was student of mission high school in 1985 it was great time and i have many wounded memories in my mind my teachers and my friends i can’t forget them my school was really a great school i love my school.

  4. I was student of mission high school from1952 to 1962 it was great time and i have many remarkable memories in my mind of my friends and teachers i can’t forget them my school was really a great school and it was honor for the students and their parents

  5. KINDLY CONTACT ME.I AM ALSO ONE OF OLD STUDENT OF
    RANG MAHAL MISSION HIGH SCHOOL LAHORE 1944 – 1955,
    AND F C COLLEGE,LAHORE 1955 -1959.
    I SHALL BE HIGHLY OBLIGED TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH
    YOU.
    KIND REGARDS
    MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHAN

  6. Rulia Ram brothers are those unique and great Christian leaders who struggled for subcontinent’s freedom and then worked for the Pakistan movement along with the founding fathers of Pakistan. He is one of the most powerful character of my book Shanakhat Nama, The Identity.
    Thanks Dr sahib for writing this masterpiece. These great photos will be asset for MMSAEPP’s ideological movement in the future.

  7. So much beautiful to see all this about Ranag Mahal Mission High School, I am lost in old memories of School time, it was awesome time, I studied in Ranag Mahal Mission High School from 1984 to 1992, my brothers also studied there. we lived near Moti bazaar at that time, golden time of our life. Whatever we are today we are because of the Teachers of Ranag Mahal Mission High School, I remember all female teachers of our primary section and all male teachers of higher classes. Thank you for sharing all these pictures and memories of the old city, I still remember every single street of the old city.

  8. Sandy Ahmad (Dr Mubashar Ahmad) is searching for information about Master Khurshid Alam Khan teacher at Rang Mahal School, being his maternal grandfather. Anybody knowing same please help him. Give information here or send to us.

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