Chaudhry Receives Alumni Medallion
Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry, secretary to Government of the Punjab Agriculture Department,
Lahore, Pakistan, received the 1991 Alumni Medallion.
The Medallion, the most prestigious of Alumni Association honors, provides recognition
for achievements of K-State alumni. Nominees are selected for humanitarian service
to society significant contributions to community, state or nation, and outstanding
work in their chosen field.
Chaudhry, a 1968 economics graduate and a 1970 agriculture economics graduate, has
made significant contributions to enhance the welfare of this fellow man.
"It is indeed an exciting experience for me to receive the coveted award of Alumni
Medallion from my great alma mater, Kansas State University. It is the highest honor
I could ever dream of," Chaudhry said at spring commencement.
Chaudhry is a staunch advocate of accessible education for people of all ages. He
has always spoken out for the underprivileged people of Pakistan's rural people.
"Most of my service career was spent either in education or in agriculture where I
had ample opportunities of serving them (the poor and oppressed)." Chaudhry said.
"But I derive maximum satisfaction in serving the educational institutions. Days spent
in these institutions are now an inexhaustible treasure of sweet memories. What a
spiritual delight it is to spread the light of knowledge!"
As a result of Chaudhry's encouragement, a number of his students have gone abroad
for undergraduate and advanced degrees, and have brought back knowledge and training
to be used by Pakistan in its fight against poverty.
"It is difficult to describe the way Dr. Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry pleads the cause of
the rural sector and peasants in national forums," said Ch. Muhammad Iqbal, minister
for agriculture, Government of Punjab. "His services to the agriculture and farming
community shall always be remembered. He combines excellence in academics, in practice
and social behavior.
"In fact, Dr. Chaudhry is a model for all our scientists to follow. He is a man of
strong conviction, dedication and service to humanity. He is very popular among his
students, colleagues and his teachers in Pakistan," Iqbal said.
Prior to attending K-State, Chaudhry earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture and
a master's degree in agricultural economics from Punjab University (Pakistan). On
his return to Pakistan, he as appointed chairman of the Department of Economics at
the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (formerly Lyallpur). Within six months he
was appointed principal of Aitchison College, Lahore. He held that position until
1978, when he was chosen as vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture, the
oldest agricultural research and teaching institution in South Asia.
In 1982 he became managing director of Punjab Agricultural Development and Supplies
Corp. He was appointed secretary to the Government of Punjab, Livestock and Dairy
Development Department in 1988, and subsequently was appointed secretary to the government,
Agriculture Department, in 1989.
Since his return to Pakistan, Chaudhry, has traveled back to K-State several times,
visiting professors on campus. Each time he leaves with a stack of K-State admissions
forms to be given to his own students as he encourages them to attend the University
for post-graduate work.