LAHORE: Former Indian civil servant, historian, Old Ravian and author Pran Nevile passed away in New Delhi at the age of 95 on Thursday.
Best known for his tribute to his hometown, “Lahore: A Sentimental Journey”, Nevile was born in Lahore in the year 1922 and studied at Government College Lahore for six years before partition. He was the oldest-living Old Ravian in India and had great love for Lahore as well as his alma mater.
According to a statement issued here, Government College University (GCU) Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah and faculty members of GCU have expressed their condolences on the demise of the distinguished Old Ravian and said that Nevile was a quintessential Lahori who had been immersed in the finest traditions of old Lahore.
“Being one of the brightest alumni of Government College Lahore, he always emphasised on the Ravian ethos. His endless curiosity for knowledge and love for culture, peace and humanity made him loveable across Pakistan and India,” the vice chancellor said.
Sharing his interaction with the writer, Dr Shah said that Nevile never engaged himself with themes that could have evoked enmity among the two nations, instead, he always celebrated their common heritage of music, poetry and architecture.
“His books on history, culture, music and dance were highly celebrated by the connoisseurs of intellectual and literary works. GCU Lahore shall always place Pran Nevile at the highest pedestal among its luminaries,” he concluded.
In a separate statement, the Old Ravians Union (ORU) also expressed heartfelt sympathies with Nevile’s family and said that his death was a great loss for both Pakistan and India.
ORU Honorary Secretary Prof Khalid Manzoor Butt said that Nevile’s writings were greatly influenced by his stay at Government College Lahore, where he experienced a cosmopolitan society with students coexisting harmoniously; unfettered by considerations of religion, region or caste.
