Wednesday, December 16, 2015

A "VIS - A - VIS" - Prof V.SRINIVASAN & Prof. Dr. AR. VENKITARAMAN






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In the year 1963 I and K. Srinivasan, a lecturer in Chemistry of the College were at NCC OTS (Officers Training School, Kamptee, near Nagpur) undergoing our pre-commission training to become NCC officers of our College. A fellow trainee from a College in North India who got to know us well during those three months was curious about how the two of us (Hindu - Brahmins) could be working in a Christian College. I had to tell him that The American College is much different from many Christian Colleges in India. Besides its location in a predominantly Muslim area - Gorippalayam - with majority of students and faculty were Hindus. I told him that we were both students of the College. A special feature in the College is the dome of the College chapel shaped almost like (in shape and size) the dome of the mosque in Goripalayam the cross replacing the crescent as the only difference. 

In the year 1952 when I was in the second year in the College many of the Heads of the Departments were non-Christians - Prof. V. Subramaniam (English), Prof. Karnega Konar (Tamil), Prof. T. Natarajan (Mathematics), Prof. N.R. Krisshnamurthy Iyer (Physics), Prof. P.S. Lakshinarayanan (Chemistry). Mr. C. R. Narayanaan (Botany), Mr. P. Vanchinathan (Hindi), Mr. Gopala Pillai (Malayalam) were the senior most or the only members of their department. 

The Vice-Principal and Professor of Logic & Psychology Prof. Devaraj G Paul, the Head of the Departments of Economics and History Prof. C I Philip and the Librarian Mr. Solomon Physical Director Mr. John S Edward were the only Christians. 

This situation changed gradually and when I retired from the College in the year 1994 I and Prof. P S Srinivasan were the only two non-Christian Heads of the Department of PG and UG Physics in the College.. 

A small digression: Prof. Karmegha Konar used to ride to the College in his chauffer driven bullock cart that used to be parked near the Faculty room. Another interesting feature about him is three generations in his family, he, his son Prof. Krishnan and grandson Prof. K..Elango had served the college in the same department. 

The PG Chemistry Department is unique in its own way: Prof. M. Lakshmanan was the first Head of the Department. After his contract period was over Prof. P S Laksshminarayan was holding fort for a short time as the Cpllege tried three others (one from overseas, two from Kerala) as Heads of Department but they all lasted for short periods. I am sorry I don't now remember their names. The position was given to Dr. Mohamed Sheriff. who held the fort as Additional Professor-in-charge of the Department till Dr. A R Venkitaraman returned from overseas. When Dr. Venkitaraman retired Prof. C B Jawhar Singh was the Head of the Department. He was followed by Dr. P M Sundaram and Prof. Narayanan. 

The Department was thus ruled by Hindus and a Muslim for more number of years than Christians! 

Why I recall these is the secular nature of the College should not be forgotten. 

 V.Srinivasan.


A small addition: In para 2 after the name of Prof. P>S>Lakshminarayanan please add: Prof. S.R. Mallikarjunan(Commerce). 

Thanks 

 VS 

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 Dear VS, 

I enjoyed reading what your active mind has dug up now from American College's history to discover it to have been a Christian institution of secular virtues, secular here in a positive, not pejorative, sense. 

Since you and I joined American College in the same year (1951), we are both privy to facts of the College then and thereafter. So I hope that I can make some corrections in the facts as remembered by you: 

1) Prof. Karmega Konar had retired in 1951 and his son, Mr. K.A.Krishnan, had forthwith joined his father's Department as a Lecturer while Prof.Jothimuthu had taken over the Headship. 

2) Prof.Mallikarjunan was the Professor-in-charge of the Commerce Department. I don't find his name mentioned in your write-up. 

3) Was not Prof. K.J.Joseph the Head of Zoology when we joined in 1951? If so, his name has to be added in the second paragraph. 

4) Prof.P.S.Lakshminarayanan opted for voluntary retirement in 1959 and so was not with the College when Prof.Lakshmanan retired in 1965 or so (?). 

5) Prof.C.B.J.Singh was followed by Prof.Stanley Edward, Prof.Narayanan, Prof.A.S.Rajendran and Prof.Thomas Jeya Bose as P.G.Heads of Chemistry before Prof.P.M.Sundaram's turn came. But I understand the context for your omission of the names that I have resurrected. 


With kind regards and greetings of the season to you and Raji, 


 Venki

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

A FINAL JOURNEY .. TOGETHER

Dear Sam: 

Please include this news in American College web page you are maintaining. Thanks. Austin as a great friend of many in the College, a great sports man and an NCC officer though the news reporter describes him as a Professor. His wife Freda was the Physical Director in LDC. VS
  








ராமநாதபுரம்: 
ராமநாதபுரம் அருகே மனைவி இறந்த சோகத்தில் கணவரும் இறந்தார். ராமநாதபுரம் சிங்காரத்தோப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ஆஸ்டின் வேதமுத்து, 88. முதுகலை பட்டதாரி. மதுரை அமெரிக்கன் கல்லுாரியில் பேராசிரியராக பணியாற்றினார். 

பெங்களூரூவைச் சேர்ந்தவர் பிரிடா , 84. முதுகலை பட்டதாரி. மதுரை லேடி டோக் கல்லுாரியில் பேராசிரியையாக பணியாற்றினார். இருவரும் காதலித்து 1956 மே மாதம் ராமநாதபுரத்தில் பெற்றோர் சம்மதப்படி திருமணம் செய்து கொண்டனர். இதன்பின் பணியில் இருந்து விலகிய இருவரும் 1968ல் கனடா சென்றனர். அங்கு ஒரு பள்ளியில் இருவரும் உடற்கல்வி ஆசிரியர்களாக பணியாற்றி ஓய்வு பெற்றனர்.

2006 லிருந்து ராமநாதபுரம் அருகே பிரப்பன்வலசையில் அவரது தம்பி ஸ்டீபன் ஜெயசீலனுடன் ஆஸ்டின் தம்பதியினர் வசித்து வந்தனர். வயோதிகம் காரணமாக இருவருக்கும் உடல் நலக்குறைவு ஏற்பட்டது. இந்நிலையில் டிச., 12 இரவு 8.30 மணிக்கு பிரிடா ஆஸ்டின் இறந்தார். நேற்று காலை 8 மணிக்கு உடல் அடக்கம் செய்ய முடிவு செய்திருந்தனர்.

மனைவி இறந்த சோகத்தில் இருந்த ஆஸ்டின் வேதமுத்து டிச., 13 இரவு 8.30 மணிக்கு இறந்தார். இருவரின் உடல்களும் ராமநாதபுரத்தில் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டன.ஸ்டீபன் ஜெயசீலன் கூறுகையில்,“ காதல் திருமணம் செய்துகொண்ட தம்பதியினர் இருவரும் 59 ஆண்டுகள் இணைபிரியாமல் ஒற்றுமையாக இருந்தனர். இருவருக்கும் இடையே சிறு பிரச்னைகள் கூட வந்ததில்லை. குழந்தை இல்லாத குறை ஒன்றுதான். எங்கு சென்றாலும் சேர்ந்து சென்ற அவர்கள் இறப்பிலும் பிரியாமல் சென்று விட்டனர்,”

Friday, November 27, 2015

SSSSSSSSSS --- A NOSTALGIC JOURNEY - SSSSSSSSSS




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A COLUMN BY 
PROF. V. SRINIVASAN



Occasionally I get lost in my thoughts of the good old days and I feel like putting down my thoughts and sharing with friends. My recent thoughts were on the variouss (S's) at PG Physics department of America College. The write up could be of interest to many.

Letter (initial) S and P G Physics:


1. It was SJS (Principal Savarirayan) who was responsible for the ceration  of the PGP the first S

2. Dr. Riesz's arrival confirmed the starting of PGP. The South Indian tongue could not pronounce the soft z and so he was called Riess and he becomes the second S

3. Prof. E.S. Moses the Head of UG Physics at that time did not wish to associate with PGP decided to stay with UG and offer all help and support to PGP is the third S.

4. Prof. A J Harris  with strong S in his name becomes the fourth S 

5. My self known as VS became the fifth S

6. P. S. Srinivasan of UG Physics though he remained as the full back for a long time occupied the Chair as Head of PG Physics before his retirement and is the sixthS

7G. Srinivasan who joined the PG during the second year of PG Physics and later became an internationally well known astrophysicist is the seventh S 

8. When GS left for USA and he was replaced by S. Srinivasan also from Madurai College the eighth S

9. Along with SS came T S Subramamyan also from Madurai College. Though his work was mostly in UG he spent all his spare time in PG with his friend SS and worked on odd projects of Prof. RPR and is the ninth S 

10. There was a fresh recruitment after advertisement in news papers. Dr. K. Srinivasan from Annamalai University, a second Ph.D in the department next to Dr. Riesz. at the time if his recruitment became the tenth S

11. Prof. S L Dart of Claremont Colleges, Claremont, California was in Madurai on two occasions for about one year each as head of PGP when Dr Riesz was away on 
 leave/furlough. Though no one knew what his initial S meant he is the eleventh S

12. K. Santosh  Rajkuma, an old student was made an exclusive demonstrator in PGP and later served the Department of Applied Sciences becomes the twelfth S  

13. I left for USA a K.S. Srinivasan, our old student, was appointed and he became the thirteenth S

14. There was a n expansion in the department, M.Phil was introduced. J. Sethuraman who later became Dr. JS through a faculty improvement program (FIP) of UGC became the fourteenth 

15. R. Simon another old student of PGP who later became Dr. Simon through UGC FIP is the fifteenth S

16. Sudhavadani another old student joined the Department of Applied Sciences under the umbrella of PGP became the sixteenth S

17. A.S.K. Moses another old student of PGP, son of Prof. E S Moses is the seventeenth with initial in his name.

18. S. Sowmianarayanan, another old student UGP and of Madurai College was with DAS for a short time is the eighteenth S.

Looking at this one could take a bet that if one has the initial S he or she had a good chance of serving PGP in those days.

M A Samy was the only exception to this rule. It was his choice.

DPJ, CMD, JJP, GB, KSN, KVK (K V Krishnan), AN (Arulraj Navamani). JD (J.  Danrita) and few others I might  have missed are exception to the S rule. They are less than 50% of those in PGP who were covered by the S rile.


How is this study without any record in my hand? Is my memory good? With kind regards. If any name is left please forgive me.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

SAD DEMISE






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My friend, student, colleague 

DR. P. KUMRASAMY 

had passed away yesterday - 
12th Aug. after a hard struggle. 


My respects to him.
Share the grief with his family & friends.

OUR THANKS TO THE REGISTRAR OF MKU






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Dr.N.Rajasekar, Registrar of Madurai Kamaraj University did not attend the 135th Sports Day of the College today, as the Chief Guest. 

We have no information about the exact communication shared between him and Dr. Christober, the ‘Principal’ of the American College; but, the news is that the Sports Day went on with Mr. Jegadeesan from the Madurai Chamber of Commerce as the Chief Guest in the place of the Registrar who had excused himself from attending the event.


This blog considers Dr. Rajasekar’s move as objective and profoundly pro-active and we greatly appreciate his sensitivity to the issues and concerns that we had just raised. It gives us a ray of hope as till recently we had only seen the university officials being too obliging to Dr. Christober. 

We respect the Registrar’s sense of propriety on the issue and do thank him for the same.


[This post has been thankfully e-mailed to: mkuregistrar@rediffmail.com]



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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

A QUESTION TO REGISTRAR OF MKU







Dr.N.Rajasekar, Registrar of Madurai Kamaraj University is attending the 135th Sports Day of the College tomorrow, as the Chief Guest. Is he aware of the disputes and litigations over Dr. Davamani Christober’s educational qualifications and the fact that the honourable court has allowed him to continue in office only provisionally—subject to the final orders to be issued by Alagappa University, and Madurai Kamaraj University?

In this context, Dr. Christober may invite the Registrar, MKU for reasons known: obviously to please him and get his help on issues sub judice. But, how can the Registrar holding a responsible office accept such invitation? Does his sense of propriety approve of this at all? Unfortunate!




[The comment has been e-mailed to: mkuregistrar@rediffmail.com]

Thursday, July 30, 2015

வென்றே தீரும்






8







(ஒரு திறந்த மடல் ...
அமெரிக்கன்கல்லூரி 
'முதல்வருக்கு' )



இநத நேரத்தில் இக்கடிதம் தங்களுக்கு எதிர்பாராத ஒன்றாக  இருக்கலாம். இருப்பினும் சில கருத்துக்களைக் கூறவேண்டிய கடமை எங்களுக்கும் இருப்பதாக எண்ணுவதால் இதை எழுதுகிறோம். திறந்த மனதுடன் படியுங்கள் . மனசாட்சிக்கு மதிப்பளித்து முடிவெடுங்கள்.


 
A ROYAL PARADE...! 

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT !

பொன்னெழுத்தில் பொறிக்க வேண்டிய காட்சியல்லவா இது?
***



இவர்கள் நம் கல்லூரி மாணவர்களா
என்ற நெஞ்சையறுக்கும் கேள்விகளை எழுப்ப வைத்த
உங்கள் சாதனை இது தான்.

நீங்கள் வந்த வழி இது தான் என்பதை
மறந்திருக்க மாட்டீர்கள் என
நம்புகிறோம்.



காலம் சென்ற தங்களது மாமனார்- பேராயர். திரு. கிறிஸ்டோபர் ஆசிர் அவர்களின் ஆசியுடனும் உதவியுடனும் குறுக்கு வழிகளை மட்டுமே கடைப்பிடித்து, விதிமுறைகளை மீறி, பாரம்பரியங்களைத் தூக்கி எறிந்து, 135 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேலான வரலாற்று சிறப்பு மிக்க அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரியில் நீங்களும் முதல்வராக பதவியேற்று சில ஆண்டுகள் ஆகிவிட்டன. அமெரிக்க இறை அடியார்களின் தியாகம், தொண்டு, உழைப்பினால் உருவாகி, வளர்ந்து மதுரைக்கு பெருமை சேர்க்கும் வகையில் கல்விப்பணி புரிந்த இக்கல்லூரியில் இன்று முதல்வர் பதவியில் இருக்கும் தங்களுக்கு அதற்குரிய தகுதி, திறமை, அனுபவம் என்று ஏதேனும் இருக்கிறதா என்று சிறிது எண்ணிப் பாருங்கள். உண்மை-விளங்கும். 




பண பலம். ஆள் பலம், மற்றும் அரசியல் பலத்தோடுதிருச்சபை தலைவர்களின் பொய் பித்தலாட்டங்களின்  துணையுடன் பூட்டை உடைத்து 




இப்பதவியில் வந்து அமர்ந்து ஆட்சி செய்து கொண்டிருக்கிறீர்கள் என்று உங்களுக்கும் தெரியும்; உலகுக்கும்  தெரியும்.








'நானும் என் குடும்பமும் நன்றாக இருந்தால் போதும், எதற்கு வீண் வம்பு' என மௌன குருக்களாகவும், 'ராமன் ஆண்டால் என்ன, ராவணன் ஆண்டால் என்ன?” எனத் தத்துவ நிர்வாணிகளாகவும், பதவிக்காகத் துதிபாடுபவர்களாகவும் அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரி, பேராசிரியர்களை எண்ணிவிடாதீர்கள். அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரியில் அச்சத்தை எற்படுத்தி, அதன்முலம் எல்லாமே நன்றாக நடந்துகொண்டிருக்கிறது என்ற கதையை நீங்கள் வெளி உலகிற்கு இன்னும் வெகுகாலம் சொல்லமுடியாது என்பதுதான் உண்மை.

மதுரைக்கு மணி மகுடமாய் விளங்கிய அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரியின் சிறந்த பாரம்பரியங்கள் சிதைக்கப்பட்டு, தனித்தன்மைகள் புதைக்கப்பட்டு இன்று 
உடைந்து நொருங்கிக் கிடக்கும் 

கல்லூரியின் நற்பெயரும் பாரம்பரியமும்
அசுர வேகத்தில் அது ஒரு வணிக வளாகமாக மாறிக்கொண்டிருக்கும் நிலை கண்டு, 'ஏன் இப்படி? என்று அதிர்சியடையாத மாணவர்கள், ஆசிரியர்கள் , நண்பர்கள்- இருக்க முடியாது. அரசு நிர்ணயித்த கல்விக்கட்டணம் ரூ.1,500க்குப் பதிலாக  ரூ.8,500 நீங்கள் வசூலிப்பது குறித்து வேதனைக் குரல்கள் நாலா பக்கங்களிலும் ஒலித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன.

அதுபோக, இங்கு மாணவர் சேர்க்கையில் ஆயிரங்கள், ஆசிரியர் நியமனத்தில் இலட்சங்கள் என்று எப்படி எப்படியெல்லாம் சுருட்ட முடியுமோ அப்படியெல்லாம் சுருட்டுகிறீர்கள் என்று கேள்விப்படுகின்ற போது ' கல்விக்கோயிலாக திகழ்ந்த அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரிக்கு  ஏன் இந்த நிலை எனத் தோன்றுகிறது. இது கொடுமையிலும் கொடுமை. மேலும், தரம், தகுதி, திறமைக்கு மதிப்பளிக்காமல், 'வேண்டியவர்கள், உறவினர்கள், ஏரியாக்காரர், ஜாதிக்காரர் என்ற அடிப்படையில் முன்னுரிமையும் சலுகைகளும் கொடுக்கப்படுகின்றன என்றும் கேள்விப்படுகிறோம். இதனால் கல்லூரியின் கல்வித்தரம் அதல பாதாளத்தை நோக்கி சென்றுகொண்டிருக்கிறது.

ஒருபுறம் வருமானத்தை பெருக்கவேண்டுமென்ற வணிக நோக்குடன் வந்துள்ள எண்ணற்ற சுயநிதி பாடப்பிரிவுகள்; வகுப்புகளில் வரம்பு மீறிய மாணவர் எண்ணிக்கை; எகிறும்  விடுதி/தேர்வுக் கட்டணங்கள் என்று உள்ளதாகவும் மறுபுறம் இவற்றையெல்லாம் மாணவர்கள் தட்டிக்கேட்க முடியாதபடி ஒரு அச்சம் நிறைந்த அசாதாரண சூழல் இருப்பதாகவும் அறிகிறோம். பெற்றோர்களும், 'ஒரு காலத்தில் எப்படி இருந்த கல்லூரி இன்று இப்படி ஆகிவிட்டதே. நல்ல தரமிக்க கல்வி கிடைக்குமென்றுதான் இக்கல்லூரியில் சேர்த்தோம். ஆனால் இப்பொழுது வருந்துகிறோம்” என்று புலம்புவது கல்லூரியின் மீது அன்பு கொண்டவர்களை   வேதனையில் ஆழ்த்துகிறது; வெட்கித்தலை குனிய வைக்கிறது.

திரு. தவமணி அவர்களே, தங்களுடைய கல்வித் தகுதி பற்றிய கேள்விகளுக்கு இன்னும் சரியான பதில் கிடைக்கவில்லை. அதுகுறித்து வழக்குகள் இன்னும் நிலுவையில் இருக்கின்றன. அவற்றிற்காக நீங்கள் செலவுசெய்த கல்லூரிப் பணம் அரைக்கோடி இருக்குமா? வழக்குகள் முடிந்து விடாமல் தள்ளிக்கொடுத்தே, ‘நிபந்தனைகளுடன் கூடிய தற்காலிக ஒப்புதலுடன்’ முதல்வர் பதவியில் ஒட்டிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறீர்கள். நான்குவருடத்திற்குப் பின்னும் கல்வித்தகுதியை நிரூபிக்கமுடியாமலும், படிவம்-7 இல்லாமலும் நீங்கள் இன்னும் எத்தனை நாள் PRINCIPAL&SECRETARY என்று சொல்லிக்கொண்டிருப்பீர்கள்?  எல்லாவற்றிற்கும் மேலாக, உங்கள் PHD “போலியானது” என்றும் உங்கள் ரெக்கார்ட்டில் “முறைகேடாகத் திருத்தம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது” என்றும்  சம்பந்த்தப்பட்ட பல்கலைக்கழகம் எழுத்துப்பூர்வமாகக் கூறியபின்பும் எப்படி நீங்கள் சுதந்திரமாக வெளியே உலாவிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறீர்கள்? அதுவும் அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரி முதல்வர் என சொல்லிக்கொண்டு?

எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் ஏ.சி., புதிய புதிய சொகுசு கார்கள், பேருந்துகள் என கல்லூரிப் பணம் கண்டபடி வாரி இறைக்கப்படுகிறது.  ஆனால், போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த நிர்வாகப் பிரிவு ஆசிரியர் மற்றும் ஆசிரியரல்லாதோர்க்குக் கொடுக்கப்பட வேண்டிய பதினெட்டு மாத சம்பள நிலுவை தொகை இன்னும் வழங்கப்படவில்லை. ஊழியர் பலரின் குடும்பங்கள் நடுத்தெருவில் நிற்கின்றன. இது அநியாயத்திலும் அநியாயம். கொடுக்கவேண்டிய பணத்தை சீக்கிரம் கொடுக்கவேண்டியது உங்கள்’கடமையாகும்.


மனிதாபமில்லாமல், குற்ற உணர்வு சிறிதுமின்றி, கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதிகள் மீறப்படுகின்றன- ஆனால், கல்லூரி வளாகத்தில் பல இடங்களில் அன்பின் ஆண்டவர் இயேசுவின் வேத வசனங்கள் அலங்காரமாக வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. அதிகாலை வழிபாடு, ஜெபம் என்று உங்கள் அக்கிரமங்களை மறைக்க பக்தி வேஷம் போடுகிறீர்கள். கடவுளை கை/பைக்குள் போட்டுக்கொள்ளலாம் என்ற நினைப்பில் கபடமாடுகிறீர்கள்.

தயவுசெய்து ஆமோஸ் 5:21-24 படியுங்கள்:

"உங்கள் திருவிழாக்களை நான் வெறுத்து அருவருக்கிறேன். உங்கள் வழிபாட்டுக் கூட்டங்களில் எனக்கு விருப்பமே இல்லை. எரிபலிகளையும் தானியப் படையல்களையும் எனக்கு நீங்கள் செலுத்தினாலும் நான் ஏற்கமாட்டேன். என் முன்னிலையில் நீங்கள் இரைச்சலிட்டுப் பாடும் பாடல்களை நிறுத்துங்கள் .உங்கள் வீணைகளின் ஓசையை நான் கேட்க  மாட்டேன்.
மாறாக, நீதி வெள்ளமெனப் பொங்கி வருக!
நேர்மை, வற்றாத ஆறாகப் பாய்ந்து வருக!”


ஒன்றை நினைவூட்ட விரும்புகிறோம்: 

உண்மையும்  நேர்மையும் தோற்பது போலத்  தோற்றமளித்தாலும் இறுதியில் உறுதியாக வெல்லும் . அதற்காக பாடுபடுவோரின் முயற்சிகள் நிச்சயம் வீணாகப் போகாது.

அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரிக்கான இப்போராட்டம் வென்றே தீரும்.


அன்புடன்

தா. சாமுவேல் லாரன்ஸ்
கோ.வேத.சுவாமிநாதன்

அமெரிக்கன் கல்லூரி முன்னாள் துணை-முதல்வர்கள்







Saturday, May 2, 2015

Dr. A. R. VENKITARAMAN writes ..........







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Dear Sam,

Vasanthi and I are deeply saddened by the news of Prof.Paul L.Love's passing. He was a great professor who touched the life of every student who came to study under his direction. What a title that is for a teacher! He was also a very fine human being. American College is very fortunate to have had the services of such an illustrious man for 35 years. The College must foster the memory of Prof. Love by preserving and protecting the great monument that he has left behind at the College, namely SCILET, particularly in the way Prof.Love would have liked it to be preserved. 

May the beloved Professor's soul rest in peace. 

May the College where he served until his last breath be blessed.

A.R.Venkitaraman

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Dr. PAUL LOVE


R.P. NAIR, Editor, Kavyabharathi, poetry journal of SCILET: 


He was the teachers’ Teacher. Some teachers convey information, some communicate well but the greatest teacher is one who inspires. He is one of the finest teachers I have ever come across. He is an institution builder. SCILET is a living monument of his efforts. He had a dream and he had made it into a reality. He combines qualities of courage and compassion.




PRAMILA PAUL, retired professor of English, 


The American College: We feel the loss so much because of all that we have gained from him. It was a rewarding experience to be with him. It is very difficult to follow his ways. His ability to forgive people is beyond understanding. He will always look for some redeeming feature in a person who had offended him. His love never excluded anyone. His non-hierarchical approach to people is commendable.



PAUL   ANBU, an old student




It’s hard to digest, my teacher, mentor, god father and above all a good friend has fallen. Dr. Paul Love who was Paulji to me was everything to me and to my family. He is the god-father to my children as well. He taught me everything. He taught me to walk, talk, breathe and exist. Above all he taught me and my family to be true human beings. He showed through his life the value of a true human being. I am glad to see he has developed hundreds of human beings like me in his eighty nine years of existence in this world. I join thousands of his students in paying homage to the great man. Paulji, you have successfully completed your mission in this world…. You have touched thousands of hearts… you have changed the lives of thousands… you have mentored thousands of students… you have created thousands of people in your mould. Good bye my Paulji…. Goodbye my friend… Good bye…

PAUL ANBU writes a personal mail to me.Part of it is here .........

Premila Paul called me and told me that he keeps asking about me and asking her to read the article I wrote in the book “Love in Madurai”. She said the situation is not very good and I should talk. So I talked to him. I asked him what he had for lunch and he replied soup. I reminded him about me cooking soup for him in the late 1990s when I used to stay with him and promised him that I will cook soup the next time I come. He asked me when I will be coming for which I told him December. With a sigh he said he is taking only one day at a time and December is too far…. My heart cried for him…. That was the last I talked to the great man….


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LOVE IN MADURAI - SOMA BASU






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Dr.Paul Linder Love is the kind of person all his students want to be. He always makes people feel good about themselves. And that is something nobody ever forgets.

He is an inspiration, a source of spontaneity and kindness, a living embodiment of his name. This teacher of English literature of six decades has influenced generations of students from the North to the South in a way that is beyond imagination.

At 85, he is loved and respected as much or even more by all those whose lives he has touched as a teacher, faculty, mentor, guide, friend or guardian. Ask for his comment on this love in abundance and his eyes twinkle, smile radiates and the voice gently says, “I am a keen observer of people and am in love with India.” But he does not decry anything American either.

That is quintessentially ‘Paulji’ or ‘Proffy’ as his students from different batches over the years call him – unpretentious, just and always himself. It is because of this sheer goodness and truthfulness, they say, that he attracts people from all over who then remain in permanent awe of him.

A whole lot of these emotions have been beautifully wrapped in 300-odd pages by his students, fellow colleagues and friends. Titled “Love in Madurai”, it brings out the English teacher’s life well lived because he did not just teach his students inside classrooms. He made them think and taught them to dream and love their work.

The texture of life in academy has its own share of ups and downs. But it is the satisfactions, frustrations, routines and disappointments to which a teacher prepares the student for life -- that is the most powerful aspect of educational responsibility. Dr. Paul Love scores a perfect 10.

He did his Ph. D from Northwestern University, Illinois, to become an English professor. But it was while studying Theology for a year in Connecticut that an introductory course on India that included readings from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and R.K.Narayan’s The English Teacher, made him value India. At 25 in 1954, he embarked on a 38-day voyage by a cargo ship to reach Bombay from New York. He went to Allahabad, swam in the Ganges. He went to Batala, a small dusty town in the hinterlands of Punjab because he was interested in teaching English to people with no opportunity. Punjabis opened their homes and hearts and he instantly fell in love with them.

After teaching for three years he went back to the US only to return in 1965 when Baring Union Christian College became the first institution in Punjab to start a Post-Graduate course in English. “I wanted to be in a level playing field and the then principal, Dr.Ram Singh was a wonderful leader who treated me equally,” says Paul of his association with the college for the next 15 years.

It was after much negotiation that the then principal Dr.M.A. Thangaraj, succeeded in bringing Paul Love to The American College, Madurai, once plans were afoot to start the PG programme in 1980. Like a true friend, Dr.Ram Singh not only let him go but even accompanied Paul Love to Madurai to help him settle down in a totally different culture!

While his smattering of simple Hindi got him around in Punjab, at 52 Paul was not really attuned to learning Tamil. He says he got busy in setting up a different PG programme by dividing the genres of literature and introducing separate classes on fiction, prose, poetry, drama instead of period history as done in all literature courses. Given his passion for books, he also set up a library. Upon retirement in 1986, he got involved in establishing SCILET, which over the years with members from all over India has emerged as a rich resource centre for Indian literature in English and translations besides conducting periodic workshops and meet the author events.

But at the core of all his activities remained the interest of the students. His residence within the campus called the Barton House would always be open to them. He would never make the students feel that they were the ‘taught’ but go along with them in the desire to question and know more.

Paul Love would check every answer sheet with such care and commitment that most of the times his corrections and comments would far exceed the answer written by the student! At the beginning of every class, he would give his students the freedom to leave if they were not interested in attending his lecture. But none would because learning with him was always an adventure, an exploration of the new worlds and giving wings to the imagination.

Even today students find him in his corner in SCILET, reading books and always available for help. He loves to write letters, he says. “The tone loses its warmth if you type. I send back home hand written messages on Christmas or any other occasion,” he smiles.


Now with so many people having written about him because they feel they owe it to him, there can be no better tribute than the bouquet of lovely articles.



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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

A STUDENT'S TRIBUTE TO Dr. PAUL LOVE

 

 

 

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A student’s tribute to Dr. Paul L Love, 

‘The English Professor’ 

at The American College, 

who passed away on April 24

 

The otherwise tranquil Barton House, where Professor Dr. Paul Linder Love resided, bustled with laughter and giggle of students. During exams, we would visit him as a ritual and he would treat us to fluffy tea-cakes and a steaming cup of chai . Amidst all the fun, he would advice us not to venture out on any culinary exploration and rather eat at his home where food was available for anybody anytime. Such was his concern for his students. It is hard to believe that he left us last Friday.
Looking back, I can only say that our teacher, fondly called as Proffy, was a personification of kindness. He never spoke much but whenever he did, he touched hearts, inspired minds and encouraged talents. Whenever we needed him, he was there for us. But for him, we couldn’t have afforded the expensive Arden Shakespeare editions. He provided us all the books on subsidised rates and if many of us could boast of our own libraries at home, it is because of our teacher.

Beloved Proffy was not known to hurt anyone. I can never forget the day when we students devoured the Chicken Biryani feast meant for some other guests of his. Fearing admonishment, we turned up late the next day. Surprisingly, we found a note under a plate full of tea-cakes which said ‘Please do justice’. Seeing our teacher’s munificence, we were left moist-eyed.

He always saw and found good in others. Even on the answer sheets, he would write down short comments which were highly enlightening. It became our study material for subsequent examinations. Though a master of the language, he was never for bombastic words. “Don’t use 100-dollar word in place of 10-Dollar word,” he would proffer.

Many, who came from humble families, turned to Proffy, the ever-loving patriarch of the department. He was a pillar of support for all, both mentally and financially. Once lent, he never accepted the money back and would instead advice us to support someone else in need. He expanded the circle of generosity amongst us.

We used to look forward to the four-day annual excursions to Kodaikanal with Proffy. He broke all the established notions of student-teacher relationship. Though we had the reverence for our inimitable teacher, we also saw a friend in him. He was an ideal not just for professors but also for young people like us. In fact, he cherished being among students. Young at heart, Proffy used to walk along with us from Bryant’s park to Pillar rock.

He brought in litterateurs to the college, whom we had only seen on book covers. Professor Paul Love was meticulous in whatever he did. He would faithfully follow his to-do lists to the T and never leave a job undone or half-done. A perfectionist that he was, Proffy had even planned his last journey. From what biblical verses should be read to who should be reading it, he had decided everything beforehand.

Dr. Love was someone who lived by his name. As love is pervasive and endless, so is our professor. He may have left us but the example he set is there for everyone to emulate. As per his will, he was given a simple loving send off. His memorial service will be held at The American College Chapel on May 2 at 5.30 p.m.

T. SARAVANAN

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Monday, April 27, 2015

ANOTHER NOBLE SOUL OF OUR CAMPUS DEPARTS






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A CELEBRATION OF DR. PAUL LOVE'S LIFE 


AT THE JUBILEE MEMORIAL CHAPEL 

BY 5.30 ON MAY 2, 2015

AND A GATHERING FOR DINNER AT BARTON HOUSE,
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE, MADURAI






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Sunday, March 22, 2015

Dr. RAJENDRA PANDIAN WRITES TO THE TRUSTEES






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DHARUMI  AND  Prof. SAMUEL  LAWRENCE write .........




Now, what is more worrying is the way certain government agencies are letting down the college.

The Societies Registration Department seems to play a lead role in this nasty business of legalizing the illegal.  What they have been doing can be quickly summed up in three stages as follows:

i)                    When the Madurai District Registrar’s office was approached for certain documents relating to the college they said they had sent them to the Inspector General’s Office in Chennai to help the ongoing inquiry into the disputes regarding the Governing Council of the American College and would give the documents after the inquiry was over.
ii)                  While maintaining that the inquiry was not yet over they also stunned our friends by giving in writing that no document relating to the American College Governing Council was available either with the District Registrar’s Office, Madurai or the IG’s Office, Chennai.
iii)                As NO DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE with the Registration department of the government they say they are going to get copies from the Society / Governing Council [apparently the one convened by Dr. Davamani Christober] and RECONSTRUCT the files on the American College!!!

It’s dizzying to see the ease and impunity with which people say such strange things in response to queries under RTI and still pretend that everything is all right, or, even if something is wrong no one is responsible for it.

Besides the repeated petitions from our friends to the authorities of the Registration department, our advocate has also sent a notice [dt. November 27, 2014] to  both the District Registrar, Madurai and the IG, Chennai stating: “Missing of records related to an 131 year old reputed educational institution in Tamilnadu from the office of the District Registrar and IG, Registration is shocking and unacceptable—that too when the society is under cloud”. The notice also asks the authorities to keep in abeyance the Form-7 presented by Dr. Christober alongside the proposed “reconstruction” of the American College files till issues relating to the governing council are settled legally.

Prof. Suriya Kumar and Dr. Rajendra Pandian attended the ‘Governing Council’ meeting convened by Dr. Christober on December 20, 2014 and reportedly raised several issues starting with that regarding its legality.

Dr. Anbudurai’s writ petition before the Madras High Court [with a prayer to direct the IG, Registration to finalize his report on the management dispute of the American college] was disposed of on Jan 20, 2015 without expected relief. However, the order acknowledges that our representation [dt. October 10, 2013] made to the IG, Registration is still pending and we are at liberty to approach the authority [once again] in this regard.

Despite Dr. Davamani Christober’s delaying tactics and court manipulation, the cases filed against the Principal and his Council are expected to gather pace.

We learn that yesterday Dr. Christober left for the US on an official trip. 
He, who literally broke into this office with the help of rowdy elements led by his father-in-law [Late Bishop Asir]; unleashed unprecedented violence on the protestors and their properties on campus; did and is still doing serious tamperings, manipulations and other illegal things in order to distort truth and make the retrieval of the college impossible, believes after all that he has the legitimacy to represent The American College!!

Do our valuable associates abroad who will be his hosts these days share that belief?



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