The International Story has so far categorised students by their birth country as defined by modern day borders – you’ll have realised that already from the numerous records you have read! Therefore, when we started looking at our earliest students from Pakistan, while aware that Pakistan as an independent nation was only formed in 1947, we found that our first students born in Lahore came in the early 1900s when Lahore, in Pakistan territory, was part of India. Our International Editor, Saira Naheem, found out about the story of a family who straddled those ‘modern-day historic’ borders.
Amar Nath matriculation 1911-12
These early students to blur the modern day borders were the Nath brothers. Amar Nath, who enrolled at the University in 1911, was born in Gurdaspur, in the state of Punjab, India, while his brothers Kedar and Prem, who enrolled at the University in 1909 and 1911 respectively, were born in Lahore, India and modern day Pakistan. They resided with their father Lala Ganpat Rai in Lahore, although he was a judge in government service for the district of Punjab. It was in Punjab where the brothers were educated and passed their entrance exams for the University prior to coming to Glasgow to study.
Prem Nath, MB ChB 1915
Amar Nath graduated with a BSc in Engineering on the 21st of April 1913, and was recognised for his work with a first class certificate in Pure and Applied Electricity, for the class of 1911/1912. Following his graduation, Amar returned home and worked as an engineer in the Chunian District of Lahore, and capital of Chunian Tehsil of Punjab.
Kedar Nath, 1909-10
If you know more about the Nath brothers or have any information about other modern day Pakistan-born students of the University, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!
By Saira Naheem, MA History and Politics
The University of Glasgow's International Story Blog 