221. Bhai Ram Kishan Gurmat High School, Shahpur City. (Govt. Elementary School)

My quest for old historic schools continued, and after visiting the O’Brien Islamia High School in Shahpur Saddar on March 25, 2026, I visited the Bhai Ram Kishan Gurmat High School in Shahpur City on the same day. This school is only four kilometers away from the aforementioned school.

I have already touched upon the efforts of different communities in early twentieth-century Punjab during the British Raj, and the role of different organizations like Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam, Arya Samaj, and Singh Sabha etc. These movements worked for social reforms and the propagation of education in the province.

Location of the School:

This historic school is located on the eastern edge of Shahpur at 32°17’3.82″N, 72°26’17.58″E, on the main Khushab–Sargodha Road, approximately 30 km from Sargodha in the southeast and less than 10 kilometers from Khushab in the northwest. It is a bustling town with a population of about 27,000, according to the 2023 census. The River Jhelum flows just a little over two kilometers to the west of the town.

Demographics in 1921:

In 1921, when the school was under construction, this area was a multi-religious society. All three main communities of Punjab—Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs—lived here, though Muslims formed an overwhelming majority, as the table given below shows. But Hindus and Sikhs also lived in substantial numbers.

Sikhs were just five thousand in numbers, even then, they came together and established this school for their community. This shows their progressive views and sense of cooperation among themselves. No doubt this spirit benefitted other communities also.

Don’t miss my article on O’Brien Islamia High School for the history of this region.

The layout and the architecture:

At a glance, the building looks like an old-style mansion from the outside. But the plan of the interior follows the traditional plan of the same era, which I have seen in many old schools: a big hall in the centre and two corridors emanating from the hall on the right and left, each passing through a row of two rooms on each side.

The building itself is constructed on a raised platform, perhaps as a cautionary measure against floods. The veranda roof is supported with arches, which gives it an elegant look. The masonry is of bricks, with thick walls and high roofs to cope with the high temperatures of this region. Each room has two windows and two ventilators to keep the rooms airy and light.

Besides this main central building, there is a big wing on the left side and some more rooms at the back side, which were probably a later addition. There is a large playground at the back side of the school and a beautiful lawn at the front. The total area currently occupied by the school is more than three acres.

History of the School:

The history of the school is literally written in stone. I found fifteen plaques in different parts of the school, which provide detailed information about it, including its name, the names of its founders, the donors, and even the different stages of its construction. These plaques are a treasure trove of information and provide a complete timeline of the school’s development, helping to establish its authentic history.

The name of this school was Bhai Ram Kishan Gurmat High School. Gurmat means “the teachings or religion of the Guru.” Usually, the word Khalsa is used by the Sikhs to show their affiliation with an institute; however, in this school, I found the term Gurmat instead. I could not find any details about Bhai Ram Kishan, the person after whom this school was named. However, the second plaque tells that the land, measuring an area of 15 bighas (7.5 acres), was donated by his son, Bhagat Ram Narain. According to this plaque, installed at the entrance of the hall, the foundation of this school was laid on 4th October 1919, by a Mahant (a priest or custodian) of a gurdwara in Shahpur, Shriman Bhai Hira Singh ji.

The next six plaques tell us about the donations made for the construction of certain rooms. These six plaques are dated 1921, it tells that the major construction work was done during this year. Subsequently some other persons also made big contributions. It is worth mentioning that seven of the donors were doctors. One of them , Doctor Harbel Singh made a donation for the flooring of this shool in 1929. It indicates the construction work lasted for several year. One major donation was made in 1935 by Lala Thakar Dass in 1935, in memory of his father. He donated an amount of Rs 2,700/-, a large amount in those days. At that time the price of 1 gram of gold was approximately 3.5 rupees. In this comparison the amount of 2,700 rupees today will make nearly 30 million Pak Rupees. According to the Shahpur Gazetteer 1917, Lala Thakar Das was an appointed member of Shahpur City Notified Area Committee. The stream of donations continued even after this, with substantial contributions still being made in 1937. I could not read the year given on the last plaque, but probably it was Samvat 452 (1921 AD).

My visit to this historic school proved to be very interesting and rewarding. I made many discoveries about the multi-religious society of Shahpur and its efforts to promote education. Please do visit the Categories tab and explore similar stories about historical schools built during the British Raj.

I am very thankful to Mr Muhammad Usman for allowing me to visit the school and for accompanying me on this tour. His interest in the history of this school and in the importance of preserving it was also worthy of appreciation.

Tariq Amir

April 30, 2026.
Islamabad