Bound by duty

Meet an 85-year-old retired British Army major who runs a school in a secluded valley in Pakistan


In Chitral, Pakistan, there is one man who stands as tall, as straight, as strong as the Hindu Kush mountains that define the valley: Geoffrey Douglas Langlands. The 85-year-old headmaster and senior mathematics teacher of the English-medium Sayurj Public School/College. A retired British Army major who has lived in Pakistan for the entire 56 years since independence. A bachelor wholly committed to teaching the children of Chitral the values of honesty, punctuality and simplicity.

"I'm 100 per cent British. Before, I used to go home once in 10 years (he has a sister and a twin brother in England). Since 1990, different people have paid for me to have a holiday in England, so I've gone back three times...," he said.

"I think it is good to be British. I'm very particular about time. If I say I will meet you at four o'clock, then I WILL meet you at four o'clock. Another thing I believe in is absolute, complete honesty. I also believe in simple living. And I'm against all the excesses in the name of religion that cause so much trouble around the world. One of my boys has written a book about Islam and pointed out it is a religion of peace and tolerance. That is what needs to be highlighted."

Invited by old pupils who hoped they'd be able to raise funds for his school (see box), Langlands was in Dubai for a short visit recently. Dressed formally in a dark suit, his snow-white hair brushed smartly, he sat comfortably in the executive lounge of a five-star hotel. He was not impressed by the luxury around him -he barely drank his coffee. He did not even seem to notice it.

Instead, he spoke crisply and firmly of his school(s), his bright eyes crinkling in laughter as he remembered special moments and students - political leaders including former President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari ("my most outstanding student") and present Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali; generals, academics and sportsmen, including ace cricketer Imran Khan. Even members of the Malaysian royal family.

He seemed to think it entirely natural that a man from England should spend his life teaching in Pakistan.

"I will continue to teach here as long as I'm active physically and mentally. Every January I go down and stay with the principal of Aitcheson College. This time I had a thorough medical check-up. I wanted to know would I be able to carry on for another three years. They said you can carry on for another 10 years," he said, smiling.

Looking at him, at his clear eyes and steady hands, I could easily believe the doctors.