English dept ignored in the past: Shaista Sonu

Lahore (Press Release) Punjab University Department of English Language & Literature’s former chairperson Prof Dr Shaista Sonu Sirajuddin has said that the Department of English Language and Literature was ignored and deprived of due attention in the past because of the influence of a political party but now the situation has improved manifold. She was addressing fourth ceremony of compiling oral history of Punjab University at Al-Raazi Hall here on Thursday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Dean Faculty of Life Sciences Prof Dr Javed Iqbal Qazi, Prof Dr Massarrat Abid, Secretary ASA Dr Mahboob Hussain, Dr Naumana Amjad, Chief Librarian Haseeb Ahmed Paracha, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Sharing her memories, Prof Shaista said that our society had not accepted English language and we could not compete the world without learning the language. She said that the department was established in 1962 in old campus and had produced a large number of renowned bureaucrats, judges, police officials, teachers, journalists etc. She said that when the department was shifted from the Old Campus to New Campus, there was only one bathroom at that time.

She said that when there were only 2 teachers when M Phil program was started in 1993 who used to teach M Phil classes. She said the PhD classes were started in 2004 because of which many scholars were doing their PhDs from the department. She said that English Language Teaching program was started for the first time in 1989 and a large number of English language teachers benefited from the program. She said that she was proud of being associated with the university and appreciated Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran for compiling oral history of Punjab University.