History
Mitha Ram Hostel shares a historical connection with D. J. Sindh Government Science College, which was established through the efforts of Indian lawyer, Dayaram Gidumal, in the late 1880s. [4] Gidumal campaigned for the college's construction, as many Karachi students could not afford to travel to Bombay for education. [4] Funded by both the Bombay and Karachi governments and private contributions, the college was completed in 1887 and named after Diaram Jethmal, whose family made a significant donation. [4]
The subsequent influx of students to Karachi necessitated the construction of a hostel. [4] Gidumal's brother, Mitha Ram, contributed financially to the project, leading to the hostel's completion in 1901. [4] [2] Notably, the Mitha Ram Hostel played a role in the 1940s independence movement, hosting meetings for activists such as Sobho Gianchandani and Hashu Kevalramani. [4]
In the 1990s, Syed Abdullah Shah, a former chief minister, intended to transform the building into a museum, but this plan never materialized. [4]
In 1992, the hostel was occupied by the Pakistan Rangers and later received the approval by the Chief Minister of Sindh, legitimizing a practice that had occurred without formal agreement for decades. [4] Initially, the Rangers were stationed at the hostel to maintain order and address escalating incidents of targeted killings and kidnappings in Karachi. [4]
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