Mian Gul School, Shamshatoo

The Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar, being part of FATA, had no school facilities till 1947. Its people, therefore, greatly lagged behind their brothers in settled areas . In early 1950's it used to be an uphill task to find some one in FATA area to read a simple letter in Urdu what to talk of English. FR Peshawar, though situated close by on the southern side of Peshawar, was no exception.

Mian Gul of Mandai village, FR Peshawar, having travelled far and wide in the Sub Continent, had come back a few years before creation of Pakistan. He knew well the importance of education. Encouraged by the new Government policies, he made efforts to get a primary school sanctioned in Mandai village of F.R Peshawar. As his own sons and that of his sister’s, who were many, had reached the school going age, he intensified his efforts and was ultimately succeeded in getting a Primary School sanctioned despite strong opposition. The political administration of the new government was in favour of education in tribal areas but the tribesmen, unfortunately, could not fully comprehend the change that had taken place around them.

Construction of the school building started sometimes in 1952 amidst high tension and strong lobbing for and against the school. Young boys  would come and see the construction of ‘their’ school and dream of the days when they would study and play in it with their friends. But unfortunately it was not to be as one day the tribal jirga of the elders stopped the construction by telling the political Tehsildar that the education of ‘ferangi’(the English ) would spoil their children. It was a sad day for children of school going age of the area and, of course, Mian Gul whose long struggle failed to bear fruit.

Greatly disappointed with the inability of the people to feel the winds of change, Mian Gul continued his efforts for another school in the area. Five years later, in 1957, he succeeded in sanctioning another primary school just inside the settled area on the border of FR Peshawar. This pioneering education institution not only helped in producing high calibre doctors, engineers, teachers, army officers and businessmen but also opened flood gates for other such institutions in the entire area. The School was upgraded as Government High School in due course and is still imparting education to the boys of the area.

Mian Gul Public School for girls is being constructed just across the road to this pioneering institution and is dedicated to the memory of late Mian Gul by one who suffered due to non completion of 1952 project and another who benefited subsequently from successful conclusion of the school project in 1957.