FAISALABAD, Dec 11: Iqbal Singh Chabra, a retired Indian Air Marshal, his wife Dishi, brother Dr Avtar Singh Chabra and sister Dipi Singh visited their birthplaces here on Saturday.

They also visited the Government College University, formerly Government College, from where Iqbal Singh Chabra did his graduation before partition. The visitors also went to see Government College for Women, Karkhana Bazaar, which was the educational institution of Dishi Chabra.

So happy were the visitors that they spent hours together with the students and staff of both the educational institutions. After taking a round of the city bazaar, they visited their house in a thickly-populated Digluspura locality, outside Jhang Bazaar. The house is now in possession of a local trader who spends most of his time in other cities.

Iqbal Singh Chabra and his other family members were surprised to see the development and modernization of Lyallpur (Faisalabad).

The visitors also attended a luncheon hosted in their honour by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (City).

Born in Lyallpur, the retired Indian Air Marshal used to live in Digulaspura locality. He joined the Government College in 1943 and did his BSc in 1947. He was also a member of the college hockey team. Besides, he was also awarded college colours in tennis.

His wife Dishi Chabra, also belonged to Faisalabad, was a student of Government College for Women, Karkhana Bazaar, in 1945-47. She graduated in Home Economics.

Now a dietitian in America, Dipi Singh also belonged to Faisalabad on whose motivation the family visited their birthplace.

Dr Avtar Singh, brother of Iqbal Singh Chabra, was born in 1927 in Faisalabad where he completed his high school education. Later, he went to Punjab Engineering College Mughalpura, Lahore. However, he completed his BSc in civil engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Rooki, after partition.

He worked on the Bhaktra Dam and built power house as an executive engineer. Later, he did MSc from Colorado University and PhD in geographical engineering from University of California, Barkley.

His wife Teji Singh was a graduate of Kinnaird College, Lahore. She died seven years ago. In her memory, he has donated an amount to Kinnaird College for the completion of a laboratory.