Pakistan Postage Stamps - 1989 ~ My Philatelic World

Government College Lahore [Photo Courtesy Irfan Anwar/Flcikr]

Lahore is an important educational centre of Pakistan, known as the City of Colleges with a large number of educational institutions. The famous and influential seat of high learning in Asia, Government College, Lahore is situated in the heart of city. Not only it is the oldest college in Pakistan, it is also one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the Muslim world. It was founded in 1864 as an affiliated college of Calcutta University under Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, a professor at King's College London. In 1882, it was affiliated with the University of the Punjab. The graduates of the college are known as Ravians -after the River Ravi which flows at the outskirts of Lahore.

A Ravian of 1930s standing in front of the main entrance of the college

The torch, as the crest of the college emblem, represents the light of knowledge. The motto "Courage to Know" represents the guiding principle of the student community. In 1996, the college received autonomous status and on 9 September 2002, it became a university and si since known as GCU rather than GC as previously.

Some of the prominent students of Government College Lahore include Maulana Mohammad Hussain Azad (Taught 1872-84), Dr Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal (Studied 1893-99, Taught 1900-05, 1910-11), Dr Hargobind Khurana, Nobel Laureate (Studied 1941-45), Dr Abdus Salam, Nobel Laureate (Studied 1942-46, Taught 1951-54).

On 27th December 1989 on the eve of 125 years of the Government College, Pakistan post published a Rs.6 denomination stamp showing the massive structure of the college building.

The other stamps issued during the year are as under:

23 January: Pioneers of Freedom Series- Maulana Hasrat Mohani

18 February: Communications Congress "Adasia '89"

4 April: The 10th Anniversary of the Death of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

1. June: The 25th Anniversary of Pakistan Navy Submarine Operations - The submarines shown include the Daphne, Fleet Snorkel & Agusta

24. June: The 200th Anniversary of French Revolution - featuring the Oath of Tennis Court

28. June: Archaeological Heritage of Pakistan Series - Terracotta Discoveries

1. July: The 10th Anniversary of Asia Pacific Telecommunity or APT

5. August: First Integrated Container Terminal Port Qasim

14. August: Definitive Stamps Series - The 42nd Anniversary of Independence - Muhammad Ali Jinnah

16. September: The 300th Anniversary of the Birth of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, 1689-1752

The Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus, previously known as Selenarctos thibetanus), also known as the moon bear and the white-chested bear, is a medium-sized bear species native to Asia and largely adapted to arboreal life. It lives in the Himalayas, and besides many countries is also found in the northern parts of Pakistan. Its conspicuous white V shaped chest mark can make himself distinguished as the Asian black bear.

Asiatic black bears are similar in general appearance to brown bears, but are more lightly built and are more slender limbed. It is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), mostly because of deforestation and hunting for its body parts.

On 7. October, Pakistan Post in its series of publications on the Wildlife Series and Wildlife Protection published four stamps that featured the Asian Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus). Pakistan Post also issue a commemorative sheet on the occasion aas can be seen below: