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| Former students and guests attend the sesquicentennial celebrations of Patna College on the institute premises on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh |
I have fond memories of Patna College, once called the Oxford of the East. I doubt, if many people would have the same at present.
The college has contributed in every big movement of India. From freedom struggle to Independence, its contribution is immense.
During the freedom struggle, then principal of the college, Armour, was the president of the debating society of Patna College. Late Balbhadra Prasad Singh (the former advocate-general of Bihar) was its secretary.
One day, Singh entered Armour’s chamber for his signature on the meeting proceedings logbook. Finding Singh sporting a Gandhi topi (cap) and Jawahar Bandi (then popular among freedom fighters), the principal asked him to remove them.
Armour’s diktat spread like wildfire. The matter was reported to then editor of Searchlight newspaper Murli Babu, who came down heavily on the principal through an editorial condemning his act.
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Soon after the editorial was published, a group of students loyal to Armour organised a meeting at Gymnasium Hall of Patna College to criticise the editorial. But most students came out of the hall condemning the principal’s act and hailing the editorial.
A resolution was passed against the principal. It was also published in Searchlight.
Two days later, Armour sent his resignation, citing that he had lost the students’ trust and had no right to continue in the post. The principal was replaced and posted as the director of education, Bihar.
Another incident I would cherish all my life is my stint at Jackson hostel.
My friends and I always made it a point to hoist the Tricolour against the wish of the superintendent and the warden of the hostel.
On the eve of hoisting the flag every year, I used to visit the residence of the hostel superintendent and seek “amnesty” with folded hands for whatever I would do the next day.
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