Breif History of The OSA

The history of the Old Students’ Association, Govt. Mohindra College, Patiala can be traced back to 1910 when the  first ever attempt to form such an Association was made during the tenure of  Mr E. Candler as Principal of the College. A meeting of old Mohindrians was held. In 1953, the body was brought in to being with Justice Kesho Ram Passey as its President, Prof. R. G. Verma as Vice-President and Prof. Janak Singh as its Secretary. However, it did not move any further. Then Principal, Dr Bhagat Singh, who later on became D.P.I. (Colleges), Punjab and then Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, took keen interest in its formation. Prof. N. S. Sodhi assisted him as Secretary. The Association held its meetings on 13th Dec., 1970; 18th April, 1971 and on 19th March, 1972. All these efforts notwithstanding, the formation of a permanent body failed to see the light of the day. Nevertheless, the efforts to establish it on permanent basis continued.  Then Principal Gursewak Singh and Principal Umrao Singh, both alumni of the College, also made similar attempts during their respective tenures to organize such an association. Prof. M. S. Salh, served as Organizing Secretary of the OSA in 1976-77.
Finally it was during the tenure of Principal Dr joginder Singh, also an alumnus, that an association in the name of Old Students ‘Association could see the light of the day. He took keen interest and played a stellar role in organizing this Association. Dr. Joginder Singh with the cooperation of about forty members of the college faculty, who happened to be its alumni, initiated a number of steps in this direction. On 24th April, 1985, a five-member committee comprising Prof M. S. Salh (Convener), Prof. G. C. Sharma, Prof. Hardev Singh, Prof. R. C. Verma & Prof. J. S. Grewal as members was constituted to draft the constitution of the Association. A drive was launched to enroll members and mobilize finances.
On 13th Feb., 1985 the Staff Unit of the Old Students’ Association was formed and a three member Secretariat consisting of  Dr. joginder Singh Principal (Patron), Prof. M. S. Salh (Secretary) and Prof. S. R. Sahni (Treasurer) was constituted. The Secretariat was to be assisted by a seven-member Organizing Committee to organize Old Students’ Association. The Organizing Committee comprised Prof. G. C. Sharma; Prof. S. C. Sharma; Prof. (Mrs.) Ranjit Kaur ; Prof. P. S. Sidhu; Prof. Hardev Singh; Prof. R. C. Verma and Prof. Surjit Singh Khaira.
28th April of 1985 could be called a historic day in the history of the OSA as it was on this day that a General Body Meeting of more than 200 old Mohindrians was held in the College Sabha Bhawan. Brig. (Retd.) Sukhdev Singh presided over the meeting. The General Body, after minor amendments, adopted the Draft Constitution of the Old Students’ Association. The General body also honoured S. Ganga Singh aged 91, the oldest Mohindrian present at the meeting. Among the Mohindrians Giani Lal Singh, Former Chairman, PPSC, S. Zora Singh Brar, Former Chairman, PSEB,      Prof. Gursewak Singh, Former DPI (Colleges), Punjab,  Dr. Bhagat Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, Prof. Joginder Kaushal, Mrs. Surinder Kaur Grewal, a social Worker and  Dr. Partap Singh  and  S. Devinder Singh Chahal, the two octogenarians, shared their views about Mohindra College-Then and Now. The most distinguished among those who graced the meeting with their presence were Prof. Harbakhsh Singh, Chairman, PSEB, Sh. Sant Ram Singla, MLA (Samana), Sh . Gurbux Singh, SDM, Samana, Brig.  Fateh Singh, Sh. Charanjit Singh Walia and many others.
The First General-Body Meeting of enrolled members of the OSA was held on 31st May, 1986. The General Body unanimously elected Brig. (Retd.) Sukhdev Singh, as its President. Sh. Ram Lall Kad, Prof. M. S. Salh, Prof. S. R. Sahni, and Prof. S. C. Sharma, were elected as Vice-President, Secretary, Finance secretary and Joint secretary of the OSA respectively.
Thus for the first time a properly organized association of the Old Students of Govt. Mohindra College, Patiala with elected Office-Bearers and Executive Members as per the provisions of its written Constitution, was formed. It started functioning from its Secretariat located in the College premises.
The O.S.A. was registered under The Societies Registration Act (Act XXI of 1860) on 28th Feb., 2001.
Presently the Executive Committee of the OSA consists of Sh. J. Roy Mangla (President), Prof. M.S. Salh (General Secretary) and other Office-Bearers and Members of the Executive.
Dr. Sukhbir Singh Thind, Principal of the College and also an alumnus, is its ex-officio Patron.