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Centenary celebrations begin
Ex-cricketer Syed Kirmani opens cricket tournament
Acentury back Shia PG College started as a school. Since then the institution has achieved several milestones. Celebrating 100 years of its existence, the college has rolled out series of activities. A Quran recitation event was held on Saturday evening followed by a cricket match on Sunday. As a part of celebrations, several other activities will be held till February next years.
An inter-college cricket tournament Khateeb-e-Akbar Moulana Mirza Mohammad Athar Inter Collegiate Cricket Tournament was organized which was inaugurated by the former Indian wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani. Fondly known as ‘Kiri’ he was the part of Indian cricket team that won 1983 world cup. The prize distribution will be held on December 18.
Kirmani met and addressed the players as well as gathering before the beginning of the match and exhorted players to uphold the spirit of the game. He said the healthy competition is important and the school, colleges are breeding ground for future cricketers.
Earlier, on Saturday evening, Shia PG College began its centenary celebrations by holding a ‘Husn-e-qir’at (recitation of Holy book Quran) competition’ which is an important event in the series of centenary celebrations of the college. Other than this, College will organise ‘Expression’ Youth Festival and Mushaira in January.
The college has recently added a feather to its cap by acquiring first position among all the colleges affiliated to Lucknow University in the ‘Padhe Lucknow, badhe Lucknow’ initiative taken by the governor Anandiben Patel, an official said.
In his address, Moulana Yasoob Abbas, secretary Majlise Ulema, Shia PG College said it is extremely satisfying thing for him to witness that the college is celebrating its centenary year in a grand way. “The college has attained numerous milestones in this period of 100 years is a testimony to its rich legacy of academic excellence,” he said.
Shia College started as a school in 1919 and classes were held at Bada Imambara. Later in 1922, it was upgraded as an intermediate college. In the same year, the foundation stone of the college campus on Sitapur Road was also held.
A year later, classes were shifted to the new campus. At the time of independence, Shia PG inter college was among three colleges where the science subject was part of the syllabus. The college started graduation course in 1960 and PG course 35 years later.