Travelogue

Shillong was a small village until 1864, when it became the new civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia hills. It remained the summer capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam for many years. In 1972, Shillong became the capital of the newly formed state of Meghalaya. Christianity is the main religion of Shillong and Meghalaya. A small number of Muslims also reside in Shillong. The people here are hard-working and simple. The Umshyrpi College success story is a living example of this. Muslims here are doing great work. Meeting C.Z. Ghafoor was an inspiring experience. I was reminded of an old classic Hollywood movie called, “An Officer and a Gentleman” which was a saga of courage. I found this title just apt for him as I penned my “Shillong Memories”, watching the sun, set over the hills.

The Umshyrpi College, a minority institution in Shillong has emerged as a major educational destination in Meghalaya catering to the needs of the students of North-East India, irrespective of caste or creed.


“The world around you is a reflection… a mirror. Show your best face to the mirror and you will be happy with the face looking back at you”


It all started with a vision of few like-minded people, a vision borne out of their sense of concern, care and love. Their vision was to make the world of the young and growing generation a promising one. Umshyrpi College, Laban, Shillong stands as an institution and a seat where the seed of hope, self worth and opportunity is sown in the hearts of the young students.


Has the vision been realised? The answer lies within the pages of “The Mirror” which reflects the hopes, aspirations and creativity of the students and teachers of this college. Every page unravels a reflective picture of it’s own. “The annual report provides us with an insight into the progress and achievements of the college as a whole. We see a growth measured not so much by the position the college has reached, but the obstacles which it has overcome while trying to grow. “The Mirror” mirrors every heart’s emotion in its best form and what we get is a reflection of the young minds and matured hearts that finds its way through expressive prose and poetry”, says Kerpa. M. Lyngdoh, Editor of “The Mirror”.


Umshyrpi College, a seed, that was sown in 1994, on the banks of the rivulet, Umshyrpi in Laban, Shillong, is all set to develop into a centre of excellence in higher education. It is the only minority college in the whole of the North-East. The sponsoring body is the Shillong Muslim Union which has leased out the land to the college.


The reputation of any educational institution is earned by its academic excellence with integrity, discipline and service to the students especially the deprived ones along with other relevant achievements. “With regard to the academic standard, the Umshyrpi stands by the principle that its students deserve the best teaching and they get it. We have a band of highly qualified, committed and dedicated teachers who maintain a high standard of teaching and education, with discipline and integrity. The results are the best reflection of this. What about other achievements? It is not a mean achievement that in about 12 years, 32 students grew into more than 1600 with corresponding rise in the number of lecturers and disciplines along with infrastructural improvement in terms of accommodation, library and extra-curricular activities. Starting only with a Pass course in Arts and then gradually to Honours, we have now 47 highly qualified teachers for 12 disciplines and 9 major subjects including Commerce,” says Dr. K.K Bhattacherjee, Rector, Secretary, Governing Body, Umshyrpi College.


Umshyrpi College has emerged as a major educational destination in Meghalaya catering to the needs of the students of North-East India irrespective of caste, creed and sex and also bridging the divide between the urban and the rural, the haves and the have-nots.


In the initial years, the focus was on the expansion of the college, today, the same has shifted to consolidation and innovation. But there are hurdles in the path of innovation and improvement especially on the part of a private college without any grant or financial support from the government of Meghalaya, University Grants Commission or any other agency.


It is not a mean achievement that during this short period of its existence, the performance of the students has brought the Umshyrpi College within the select list of merit position thrice in the MBOSE Examinations of 2001, 2003 and 2004. The results of the students in Degree final over the years has been highly encouraging


Umshyrpi has shown that rejected and less fortunate students with poor results are as good as others. The college stands by the principle that its students deserve the best teaching and they get it.


Considering the age of the college and its inadequate infrastructure in terms of accommodation, manpower and resources, it is gratifying that Umshyrpi has been conducting very smoothly the class XII final examinations.


The Principal of the college who is also the Officer- in- Charge of the Exam Cell, has very efficiently conducted the final exam of the Board as well as of the University, managing a huge number of students, with the additional burden of more than 100 students belonging to the science stream of Laban Bengalee Boys Higher Secondary School, class XII Arts students of Laban Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Degree Arts students of Christian Academy and Goodwill College of Shillong.


The college has its NSS unit under the leadership of Prof. Nasreen Nongrum, the Programme Officer of the college. It goes to the credit of the President, Governing Body, that he has been taking keen interest in organising seminars and debates which has enhanced the reputation of the college and evoked positive response from the teachers and students alike.

(The writer can be reached at awskhan@gmail.com)

Ghafoor’s aim is to make education available to all sections of the society and not just the rich and elite.


Disciplined to the core, C.Z. Ghafoor has imbibed the values of sportsmanship and sensitivity. Born on June 30th June 1930, this retired IPS officer and Ex-Inspector General-BSF is a popular figure in Shillong and Meghalaya. As present chairman of the Wakf Board and president of Umshyrpi College in Laban, Shillong, Ghafoor believes in positive thinking and it is no wonder that under his leadership, the Wakf Board is reaping profits after he took over as its chairman.


His father, Mohd Abdul Ghafoor was in the business of transport and grandfather was a hafiz who migrated from Punjab and settled down in Shillong. Ghafoor graduated from St Anthonys College in 1954 with B.Sc Honours. He discontinued chartered accountancy after a year, to prepare for the IPS exams. He passed the IPS in 1957. In 1958, he joined the service in the M.P Cadre. He also served in Nagaland, Mizoram and Kolkata. Ghafoor retired as IG-police in 1988.


Imbibed with the sportive spirit, Ghafoor was the Golf captain for six years. With concern for the minorities and the community, he set up the Umshyrpi College in 1994 with 32 students, on the banks of the Umshyrpi river in Laban, Shillong. His main aim is to make education available to all sections of the society and not just the rich and the elite. Ghafoor has been the president of the Shillong Muslim Union which is a 100 years old organisation. Apart from many landmark contributions he has made to the college, one is that he has insured Janata LIC for the entire staff and students against accidents. His dynamism has rubbed off on the other members of the Shillong Muslim Union. From the Wakf Board funds, he has plans to allot scholarships to deserving students.


The Umshyrpi college hosts students from all communities and infact Muslims form only 20 per cent of the total student strength. Ghafoor believes in imparting the best education not just to his three children- two daughters and a son, but to the generation of youngsters in the North-East who look upon him as their guide and mentor.

(C.Z. Ghafoor, 14, Cantonment, Laban, Shillong-793001)