The History of Madrasat ul Banat

 

 

Madrasat-Ul-Banat is one of the oldest educational institutions of the Indo-Pak subcontinent. It was founded on welfare basis by Maulana Abdul Haq Abbas, a zealous educationist and prominent personality of the undivided Punjab. It was a humble beginning and the Madrasa began its missionary work in Basti Danishmand, near Jullander, India, in 1907. Its establishment was formally institutionalized in 1917 under Anjuman Madrasat-Ul-Banat. Ever since, the institution has undergone steady improvements and, preserving its fundamentals, grown with the spirit of times. During its early days, women and children from the neighboring villages attended lectures based on Islamic teachings and Arabic language. The primary aim was to educate women on Islamic lines and spread awareness about the basic teachings of Islam. This was in fact a response to the proliferation of the Hindu culture and its invasion of the Muslim homes and family system.

 

The Hindu cultural menace was serious because the Muslims, especially their women, lacked the basic knowledge and understanding of their own religion. The cause of female education suffered greatly because the extremely orthodox, rigid and conservative Muslim society had denied this basic right to their girls and Women.

 

MTB made a valuable and enduring contribution towards this objective. It moved to Jullander city in the twenties and the foundation stone of its main building was laid in November 1926.  MTB flourished in the city despite great opposition from all social quarters. The conservative Muslim society staunchly opposed the very idea of female education, but the founder stood like a rock and made untiring efforts to achieve his enlightened objective of female education among the Muslims.

 

The second beginning was greatly helped by its wide fame and historical services in the field of education. It was in Jullander that the School had the honour of a visit by the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The Great Leader was deeply impressed by the unique character of the institution and hoped that it would become a women’s university in the near future.

 

After the Partition, MTB  had to move to Lahore in September 1947,leaving behind a large, well-developed campus worth millions and spreading over many acres. The school resumed its educational work at Lake Road on 5th October 1947.

 

After 1947, the Lake Road campus was bestowed with the honour of visits by a large number of national and foreign dignitaries, including Khatoon-i-Pakistan, Miss Fatima Jinnah, the late prime minister of Pakistan, Ch. Mohammad Ali, education ministers of Morocco and Pakistan, H.E. Mohammad el-Fasi and Moulvi Fazal-ul-Haq respectively. All of them were equally impressed by the ethos of the institution and re-affirmed the wish of the late Quaid-i-Azam. H.E. Mohammad el-Fasi and Moulvi Fazal-ul-Haq respectively. All of them were equally impressed by the ethos of the institution and re-affirmed the wish of the late Quaid-i-Azam.

 

Sir Sikandar Hayyat Khan, Governor of Punjab, inaugurating the institution in 1939