Return to Main Page

Remembering Mr. Lal Badshah (Sir Lal Bacha)
By: Tanveer Khan, 2004/RH Mr. Lal Badshah was a well dressed, articulate and a magician of mathematics. He had a unique style of teaching. The moment he would enter the class, his two hands would be spread out in opposite direction to grab a book from a student and to pickup chalk from the blackboard. He would leave the class with hands full of chalk dust and occasionally some chalk dust could also be found on faces of cadets whose houses dared to defeat Iqbal House. Mr. Lal Badshah was my mathematics instructor for all five years. He typically asked questions from the top brass and only occasionally disturbed the fantasies of next long weekend of a student like me unless Rustam House beat Iqbal House in sports. Mr. Shafeeq Ahmed was our housemaster and while interviewing us before the 11th class board exam to assess our strengths and weaknesses, I confessed my struggle with chemistry and mathematics. Sir Shafeeq held tuition sessions for us after lights out. For mathematics he contacted Lal Bacha Shahib and made an arrangement for us to go to Iqbal House in the Ist prep for mathematics tuition. Myself, Zahid Dawar and I believe Iftikhar Chirat were the three stooges. Mr. Lal Bacha in a short period transferred the genius of integrals and differentials to us. In the board exam I scored 96/100, which not only surprised my own self but also Mr. Lal Bacha. However, this brought a dreadful next year for me as I got a name “Chianway wala” and frequently got cross examined in every class. Whenever, the integrals reached to a complex of numerators and denominators with ugly looking powers, a voice would be heard “Chianway wala khara ho jaay” I would stand with a sheepish face cursing my laurels of 96. However, it kept me very attentive since he could ask question any time. In 12th class board exam when the result came, I was the only student in Mr. Lal Bacha class who scored less then 80 with a score of 68/100. I was surprised and so were Mr. Lal Bacha and Mr. Shafeeq Ahmed. Although I secured admission in UET Peshawar, I couldn’t swallow a score of 68. I went to Lal Bacha Shahib and explained him that I had done much better in exam than getting 68. My case was discussed with the principal at length and finally they advised me to apply for a re-totaling of my answer booklet. Peshawar board approved my application and I was asked to appear in the board. When the officers re totaled the answer booklet, the score came to 86. A typo resulted in reversal of numbers. Mr. Lal Bacha was happier than me as he was the only teacher who had a 100% record of A grade in the board exam. I visualize him standing in the classroom with his signature smile, looking at me waiting for an answer to a question he posed. Than he will quickly move to the blackboard solve the question in a minute look at me again and ask so what was difficult in it? He never knew that there are very few who can excel him in mathematics. I don’t know if he was a brilliant student himself but I haven’t seen any one who can match his teaching skills in mathematics. We lost many teachers in recent years including Mr. Sherzada Khan, Mr. Qismat Khan and now Mr. Lal Badshah. May Allah bless their souls. They will always remain in our hearts and in our prayers.
"Cadet College Kohat lost one of its hardworking and honest teacher Professor Qismat Khan (Head of the English Department) on September 24, 2004" May his soul rest in peace, AMEEN Photo courtesy Mustafa Mohmund
"Teaching Staff - 2001" Photo credit Official CCK Site