HB,GB,NBH,JA,SA.... These abbreviations do not represent any country or form some scientific terminology but different categories of religion that constituted one of the important details of the Panjab University candidates,once they cleared a course. Mentioned right next to the subjects opted by the candidate and the division obtained,were the religion details in the official gazette of the Panjab University. The candidates obtaining a degree were not identified by their parents names or the marks obtained but by their religion,in the pre-partition era. Explaining the abbreviations at the back of the official gazette of the Panjab University were religions like Hindu Brahmin,Gaur Brahmin,Hindu Brahmin Agriculturist,Non-Brahmin Hindu,Jaat Agriculturist,Sikh Agriculturist,Sikh Saini Agriculturist,Sikh Abhir Agriculturist,Mohammaden,Jain and Christian. The religion was considered to be so important,even in education institutes,that it was carried forward with the candidate till his education,and many a times even till his profession. Earlier,even if a candidate would fail,it was never mentioned in the gazette. Fail would have no place as the names of candidates not succeeding were missing from the official records, said a senior officials of the Certificate Branch at the Panjab University. Similarly,the degrees have undergone a massive change from size,format,display to even the colour. The degrees awarded to the candidates now are even less than half the size of what would be a pride for the awardees. The condition of degrees awarded at the time of East Panjab University,in 1940s speaks of the paper quality used seven decades back. Even the University watermark,also replaced with a computerised University logo,used for its authenticity,is so well evident at one of the corners of the degree. Taking a look at the Panjab Universitys official record book of the year 1906 published at Lahore,still in its best condition,it was evident that the institute in which a candidate studied would reflect his religion. For instance,in a sikh or a missionary college,majority of the candidates represented these religions. Reflecting the change in the society over all these years,the University records,at present includes fathers and mothers name replacing the religion. Earlier,division scored by a candidate was another major information to be recorded,which now finds no place in the records. Even the divisions have undergone a change as earlier second division would start from 45 per cent that has been increased to 50 per cent. Without any additional care or precautionary measures taken for the maintenance,the degrees as old as seventy years are in their best form. These are stored in the ordinary cupboards in the Certificate branch in all the weather conditions, said the Registrar Prof A K Bhandari.
