SiddySays - Pakistan's Leading Fashion & Lifestyle Blog
  • HOME
    • Giveaways
    • Press
  • STYLE
    • Personal Style
    • Siddy Styles
    • Trends
    • Style Star
    • Fashion Features
    • The Edit
  • BEAUTY
    • Beauty Minute
    • Wellness
    • Hair
    • Make up
    • Skin
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Interior Design
    • Wanderlust
    • Food Safari
    • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Five Favourites
  • CULTURE
    • Cinema
    • Design
    • Art & Artists
    • Playlist
  • STORIES
    • Musings
    • Heart To Heart
    • Careers
    • Bucket List
  • SIDDY TV
    • Youtube Channel
May 31, 2011by Sadaf ZarrarNo CommentsWanderlust

CHITRAL DIARIES : MAJOR LANGLANDS

Having heard of his achievements by the locals almost as soon as I landed in Chitral, it was an absolute pleasure and honor when Mr. Siraj ul Mulk the owner of Hindukush Heights surprised us with a dinner meeting with the Wonderful Major Langlands.



While various accounts of his life are scattered all over the internet, I will try to Summarize it here hopefully doing justice to the service this man has done to Pakistan. Having been there to witness the birth of Pakistan, Major Geoffery Langlands has spent over 50 years dedicated to the upliftment of education in the most backward areas of Pakistan. He started his teaching career in Pakistan at Aitchison College and is responsible for the education of a number of personalities now featured prominently in the Arts, Sports and Political Scenes of Pakistan. These include Aitezaz Ahsan the lawyer attributed to leading the Justice Movement in Pakistan, Ijaz ul Hasan one of the most respected Artists in the country and Imran Khan former Pakistan Cricketer turned Philanthropist and Politician.


In 1979, Major Langlands headed towards the dreaded North Waziristan (now often featured in the news for the War against terror) to open a brand new school in this backward area. It is here that the Major was also ‘kidnapped’ for Ransom… there was such a huge outcry amongst the locals at this incident that the kidnappers were forced to release their beloved Major and return him to safety. At the dinner in Chitral, when I asked him what he learnt from his kidnapping experience he heartily laughed and said ‘Always wear comfortable shoes, you never know where you’ll end up at’.

At the dinner in Chitral, when I asked him what he learnt from his kidnapping experience he heartily laughed and said ‘Always wear comfortable shoes, you never know where you’ll end up at’ .

In 1989, on request of the Chitral Authorities, Major Langland landed in Chitral to start what is now one of the most prestigious schools in the valley, the Langland School and College. One of the most loved people in Chitral today, his teachers were once quoted in the Telegraph saying “Major Langlands is venerated by Chitralis, He is in no danger here. It was an insult to give him a guard. The teachers and boys would always protect him.”



The Major reciprocates this love for locals and has been quoted saying ‘I f the people of Pakistan are facing danger, I should face it with them. I have been here for 55 years. I am not going to run away now’.

‘I f the people of Pakistan are facing danger, I should face it with them. I have been here for 55 years. I am not going to run away now’.

A retirement home is waiting for the Major at Aitchison College, but the mountain school of 900 pupils isn’t yet fully sustainable and Major Langlands wants to make sure he has found a successor before he leaves. ‘I shall carry on as long as I am physically and mentally alert’, he says.



If you have the means to support Major Langlands School in any way, do reach out to him. I believe he is looking for ‘sustainable’ donors to ensure that the school continues with the same standards always. I am trying to find a contact address for him and will share it as soon as I have it.

Share:
Written by Sadaf Zarrar
Founding Partner

Related Posts

CHITRAL DIARIES : MOGH LIMITED

May 6, 2011

QATAR O' QATAR

June 8, 2017

HOW TO PACK LIKE A PRO

January 30, 2018

Leave a Comment

Cancel Reply




For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

If you agree to these terms, please click here.

« Previous post
NOTE TO SELF : EPISODE 1
Next post »
CESME TURKEY

Search

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Popular Posts

GIVEAWAY: LALA

GIVEAWAY: LALA

February 6, 2017
GIVEAWAY: CHAAL

GIVEAWAY: CHAAL

November 28, 2016
GIVEAWAY: CABARĒT

GIVEAWAY: CABARĒT

February 20, 2017

Archive

Tweets by siddysays


We exist to inspire. We're not journalists, so we don’t bother accompanying images with articles – but rather our opinions and commentary on the subject. We feature anything and everything that catches our fancy be it fashion, people, interiors, food or places. The only qualifier is that it has to be gorgeous. Well we should think so anyway. Stay tuned to SiddySays.com and enjoy a scrapbook full of all things fabulous. We may be new here, but we have big plans and they start with you joining our journey. Follow us on instagram, pinterest, facebook & twitter and get ready to stay inspired.
© 2021 copyright. All rights reserved
  • HOME
    ▼
    • Giveaways
    • Press
  • STYLE
    ▼
    • Personal Style
    • Siddy Styles
    • Trends
    • Style Star
    • Fashion Features
    • The Edit
  • BEAUTY
    ▼
    • Beauty Minute
    • Wellness
    • Hair
    • Make up
    • Skin
  • LIFESTYLE
    ▼
    • Interior Design
    • Wanderlust
    • Food Safari
    • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Five Favourites
  • CULTURE
    ▼
    • Cinema
    • Design
    • Art & Artists
    • Playlist
  • STORIES
    ▼
    • Musings
    • Heart To Heart
    • Careers
    • Bucket List
  • SIDDY TV
    ▼
    • Youtube Channel