Thursday, October 20, 2016

AN OBITUARY NOTE ON KSR FROM A FRIEND











*


A  LETTER  FROM  POOVAN MURUGESAN, San Diego, CA 


*


                                     KOLA SANTOSH RAJKUMAR 1945-2016

                        It was in 1957 that I met Raj at the American College High School. We were both in 9th grade, in Mr. Johnson’s class. Raj in those days wore baggy pants, a half-sleeve shirt with a big pocket that carried several pens and pencils and a pen-length screw driver. Raj was a gifted handyman even in those days. Another unique thing about Raj was that he drove a motorcycle to school. Motorized two-wheelers were rare back then and then a 14-year-old driving a motorcycle was rarer.  Our paths diverged briefly, but we became classmates once again in PUC at the American College. After B.Sc. at different institutions, we again found ourselves as classmates in M.Sc. physics. Our friendship had enough time to blossom. We became good friends. Generous to a fault, he offered an unconditional friendship. I spent a lot of time during weekends at his family home on North Masi Street. I got to know the family.
                        Raj had a workshop in his house even in his student days, where he repaired electronic instruments, constructed radios and did other repairs. He enjoyed every minute of it.
                        Till the end, he exhibited an enormous stamina and a willingness for hard work. At his age, he carried a full load of work at Aravind Hospital and carried on an extensive personal and official international travel. During my last visit to India, I casually mentioned to him that it would be nice if we got together with our M.Sc. classmates. He somehow dug up the phone numbers of some of them and arranged a get-together. Some of us got to see each other after a gap of nearly 50 years!

                        He was a quintessential family man. He was proud of his son (at Google) and daughter ( a doctor in London), but without exhibiting negative ego. He remained simple in his habits and loyal to his friends. Whenever I visited India, I could count on seeing Raj in his baggy pants, a half-sleeve shirt and on a motor cycle. His sudden death has been a rude shock to me. I have lost my best friend.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

A TRIBUTE TO KSR






*

A  LETTER  FROM  Prof.  V. SRINIVASAN


*

Bi-Cycles were the vehicles of the lecturers and demonstrators of the American College for many years in the good old days. A few were proud of their imported bi-cycles from Singapore, Malaysia or Ceylon with some extra fittings and very bright shining handle bars.Then mechanized two wheelers started making their appearance one by one. When Enfiled India Motor cycle manufacturing factory, near Melur,  came into existence a good number of  "bikes" became affordable vehicles that replaced bicycles. A few  Vespa/Bajaj scooters that was possible with dollar payment also invaded the campus along with one or more lambretta scooters that were wedding gifts for some. The result was an informal association known as TWA (Two wheelers association) was formed. Though the bicycles also had only two wheels that fact was coolly forgotten. With faster and quicker mobility the TWA started planning short trips  and picnics on holidays and weekends. Friends of "bikers" joined in such trips and thus an informal PRA (Pillion rider association) also came into being. There were several short trips with few friends now and then, Vasanthan, Sam George and a few others taking the lead.

It was once decided that TWA should go on a long one day trip. The destination choses chosen was Bathlagundu where there was a promise of a host receiving us with food and refreshment. There were about 15 two wheelers and a few cars (George Berlin, Dr. Riesz + Haris and some friends)  It turned out to be a memorable trip for all and an important trip for the College also. The first discussion on College autonomy happened there in the mango grove. The editorial on the subject in the local news paper about that time initiated the discussion. There were nearly 35 to 40 faculty members in that trip.

The second long trip was to Periar and the third to Courtalam with over night stay. All of them were grand successes. An unforgettable incidence in one trip was a PWA member was left out on the high way during a break and this was noticed only after the convoy had gone a good distance. He was later picked up and joined with the troupe by one who was a fast rider. The culprit was me and the victim was Dr P M Sundaram!

On these trips not all vehicles had smooth ride for the entire length of the trip. Tube puncture, leakage of air from the tires and fixing them and manually pumping air on the main road was probably simplest break down  events and on one occasion a large scale repair had to be undertaken lasting for a few hours. Why I recall this now one may wonder.

There is a reason. In all these trips most of the vehicle owners especially the ones with secondhand vehicles were comfortable on these trips mainly because Mr. K S Rajkumar. He was a master servicemen who understood major and minor ailments  of the vehicles voluntarily. Riding majestically on his second world war model motor cycle at a steady speed behind all the other vehicles he was a guardian angel for all. He is now no more with us. I write this on behalf of TWA and PRA of American college to convey our gratitude for his willing assistance. God Bless KSR.

I hope the college Faculty members as his friends, the Department of Applied Sciences and PG and UG Physics Departments in the College where he had served undertake some action and create a memorial to perpetuate his memory. He has one more connection with the College. His father was the auditor for the accounts of the College for many years.

Monday, October 17, 2016

சார்லி எனும் தேவதூதன்





There was an article on Charlie in Tamil Hindu daily yesterday – 16.10.16 – written by one of our alumni, Mr. SOMASUNDARAM, who did his P.G. in English Lit during 1989 -1991 in our college. It was so touching, personal and quite emotive.
SOMASUNDARAM
COMMANDANT
INDIAN COAST GUARD

Since I found the author’s name in the article I contacted him to get his permission to post it in our blog. He was good enough to send the English version of the article also. Since he did not have the softcopy of the Tamil article he sent his manuscript of it. I have already posted the English version and now in this post I have given his own Tamil manuscript and also the scanned copy of the Tamil version from the daily.

***


















***


தினசரியில் வந்த கட்டுரை









“மறுபிறப்பு என்று ஒன்றிருந்தால் 
நாம் மறுபடியும் சந்திப்போம். 
அப்போது ஒரு வேளை 
உங்களது பேச்சை 
நான் கேட்கக்கூடும்.”

                                                                                                ....சோமசுந்தரம்



***

CHARLIE, MY ANGEL





*
CHARLIE  MY  ANGEL


BY

N.  SOMASUNDARAM
an alumnus

***





It was year 1989 and I had enrolled in MA (English) program at the American College, Madurai. Though I graduated in Chemistry, I joined the PG program in English as I was preparing to join the defence forces. Initially the course was tough for the beginner and I was struggling to learn the basics of English grammar. My spoken English was a disaster. Dr. Charles Ryerson visited our college, as he used to do every year. Through Prof. RP Nair, our HOD, I came to know about Charlie prior to his visit. He said that Charlie had written a dissertation on the Renaissance in Tamil Society due to the Dravidian Movement. I availed a copy for myself from the library and I finished reading the book before his visit. 

Dr. Charles Ryerson gave an inspiring speech on the Civil Rights Movement in the US and likened that to the struggle of the downtrodden in Tamil society. He had narrated his experience as a christian missionary during the 1950s in the districts of Madurai and Ramanathapuram. I was so engrossed in his speech that I took notes for asking questions after his speech. Also, I did not agree with him on certain notes in his book. After his speech, when the audience was asked if there was any question, as usual, the audience was silent. I was not confident of my spoken English, but had the urge to seek clarifications from him. I got up and asked him questions, to which he patiently replied. He addressed me as ''Chinna Payyan" (little boy) much to the amusement of the audience. I got more comfortable by his friendly banter and gingerly submitted to him that there were many factual errors. He was humility personified and accepted that there might be some. One major factual error was that he had mentioned the great Tamil poet Kamban, who wrote Ramayana in Tamil as Kamba Ramayanam, was a brahmin. I told him that it was a blatant factual error. He asked me how I was so sure of this since the period of Kamban was in the 11th century AD. I replied to him that I myself was the evidence as Kamban was an ancestor from my mother's side. He could not believe. Therefore, I asked him if he could visit my place for showing the proof, which he did. I took him to our temple where the family deity was being worshipped and showed him as many proof as possible to establish the fact. He got convinced and said that he would publish a corrigendum to his book.

Our relationship that of a student-mentor grew strongly during his subsequent visits. We used to engage in meaningful conversations about religion, language, caste system and discrimination based on colour, caste, and creed. He always encouraged me to speak my mind. Though there was several arguments, he always respected my line of thoughts and arguments. I realised later that though I was wrong on many occasions, Charlie ensured that my confidence was not eroded by countering me during our conversations.

About Tamil language, he had great respect and said that the first moment when he came to realise the greatness of it was when he was passing by a street in Madurai, he heard of a song sung so melodiously from a temple. Though he could not understand the meaning, the song was so moving that he entered the temple with folded hands with tears rolling down. Later he learned that the song was from a hymn sung in praise of Lord Shiva, Thiruvasagam, by Maanikka vaasagar. He acknowledged that true to the adage that 'those who are not moved by Thiruvasagam will not be moved by any song'', he was so moved by Thiruvasagam that he started learning Tamil language.

During my college days, I was a staunch atheist. Charlie was worried about me and he advised me to read religious scriptures as there are so many in Tamil, not only for the religious purpose but also for the rich language used in them. Particularly he was not happy about my ambition to join the defence forces. He said that if i joined, it would be a loss to the academic community as he considered my self-thinking as precious and rare.

After completing the PG, I joined the Indian Coast Guard inAfter completing the PG, I joined the Indian Coast Guard in Jan 1992. Our relationship still continued by means of correspondence by mail. When I was in the training phase, I used to anxiously look for his mail whenever the ship returned to the base port. Our communication still grew stronger even after the invent of e-mail. He had opened a separate folder for me, the way I had opened in my email account and maintained our correspondence. Even when he was either busy or his physical condition did not permit him to write an email, I always received his messages through others.






SOMASUNDARAM
COMMANDANT
INDIAN COAST GUARD






When I was a cadet onboard a training ship, I encountered a cyclone at sea. I should say that it was a spiritual revelation for me wherein I came to realise that the humans were nothing but a mere objects in front of nature. I wrote a long letter to Charlie about my experience in which I had written that I realised that 'if there was a design, there could be a designer'. Robert Frost's poem 'Design' came to my mind as I was experiencing the first cyclone as a mariner. Charlie preserved the letter and was planning to publish in a journal at Princeton Theological Seminary. Unfortunately, he lost the letter in a fire accident at his apartment in Rhode Island. He apologized and requested me to write the article again. I had written the article in 1992, and when he asked me to write it again it was year 2002. It was almost after a decade. Whatever i could remember, I wrote it for him as I did not have a copy of it. On receipt of the article, Charlie wrote that he liked the article very much and would publish it in the journal. I am sure he must have done it. I did not check with him. 

Dr. Paul.L.Love, the founder of Study Centre for Indian Literature in English and Translation at Madurai, used to say that whenever he visited the US, Charlie enquired about me. He closely followed me and was inquisitive about my family and career. He was still not happy about my decision to join the defence forces. I think I disobeyed him on that count. Sorry Charlie. But it was more a necessity to take up the first available job in India than your true inclination. 

May be in next birth we will meet again,and probably I will obey you.


Till then Rest In Peace, Charlie. 



NOTE: I am serving as a Commandant in the Indian Coast Guard and this is my 25th year of service. This is written in memory and honour of Dr. Charles R Ryerson III. 



HOMAGE TO Prof. K.S.R.



***







***

Saturday, October 15, 2016

AN OBITUARY





*


Our friend Rajkumar of Physics Dept.  has passed away very suddenly. Heart attack says Dr. Mala. It is sad he was picking up fast in Aravind too and was making a good impact there also. He had already visited two countries (Antigua and Kenya) and had run courses there. He will be missed and it is very hard to find a replacement.


Prof. V. Srinivasan

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Dr. DEVADOSS PANDIAN ON Dr. CHARLES RYERSON ....






*


It was more than fifty years ago during my student days in American College (1960-1963) that I came to know of Charles Ryerson. My association with him grew after I joined the faculty of American College as a Tutor in Mathematics in 1965 but it was through late prof. J.C.B. Abraham, a dear friend of mine, the relationship blossomed into deep friendship. 

A gregarious and an outgoing person, Charles Ryerson, affectionately called Charlie, had a love affair with the College. A member of The American College Endowment Fund since 1974 and its vice-president and president for several years, Charlie was very influential yet deferential to the local administrative arm of the College. With a natural gift for engaging conversation, he enjoyed interaction with College faculty, staff and students. 

An “Honorary Tamil,” Charlie had a deep understanding of and great appreciation for Tamil society, religion, and culture. Not surprisingly, Charlie relished visiting Tamilnadu, especially Madurai, and whenever he visited the College, he lit the campus with the warmth of his smile and boundless energy. 

In his death, the College has lost a true friend and a great champion. His family’s request that any gifts to his memory be made to The American College Endowment Fund is an extraordinary testimony to his love for the College. 

I will miss him dearly. 

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Dr. RAJENDRA PANDIAN ON Dr.. CHARLES RYERSON





*

I feel bad that I took this much time to write a note on Dr. Ryerson.

I apologize—to myself.  

I can’t claim that Dr. Ryerson and I were friends. I can’t even say we knew each other very well. But, I can say I first met with him in the early 90’s at Prof. EJ’s residence when EJ was the Warden of Washburn Hall and I a Superintendent. I found Dr. Ryerson as a person indeed very friendly, informal but cultivated, and  with an ability to be very humorous and very serious at once.  I had interacted with him a few times thereafter.

Then, I, as a Faculty Representative on the Governing Council, wrote to him in October 2007 voicing apprehensions over the proposed ‘constitutional amendments’ that the then management was working on. As I tried to draw his attention to the “open ended character” of certain clauses in the draft proposal  “with strong manipulative potential”, Dr.Ryerson sounded concerned—as I understood—but was apparently  slow  to articulate  his views on that.

 He pointed out that the Trustees no longer had their representative on our Governing Council. And, after answering my query about the so-called memorandum between Dr. Thangaraj and the Trustees regarding a similar clause—sorry if I sound cryptic—he added that the Trustees could not micromanage the affairs of the college that was continents away from their place.

Think Dr. Ryerson  was ailing even then; but he knew everything was not too well in Madurai.

2008 started with ominous signs around and the American College problem erupted on April 12—interestingly the same date as the American Civil War broke out.

I’m unable to add anything new to the well written obituary from Prof.V.Srinivasan.  I can only recall with reverence and gratitude how deeply Dr.Ryerson loved the college and how committed and consistent he was in protecting its interests. I have read several times the letters written by Dr. Ryerson, Dr. Reisz, and Dr. Carl Jacabson respectively as those writings always inspire and urge us in such a way that we rededicate ourselves to the task of defending this great institution.


We will miss Dr. Charles Ryerson.


May his soul rest in peace.




                                                                                       

PROFESSOR CHARLES RYERSON III






*



Website: http://planetprinceton.com/category/news/

Princeton Theological Seminary Professor Charles Ryerson III Dies at 83









BY 
KRYSTAL KNAPP

Charles Ryerson IIICharles Anthony Ryerson III, who expanded the thinking of a generation of prospective Christian pastors and countless others in his teachings about the religions of South Asia, died peacefully surrounded by former students and friends on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. He was 83.

The son of Ada Littlefield and Charles Ryerson of Middletown, Rhode Island, he earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in 1955 from Oberlin College, a master’s of divinity degree in 1961 from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and a master’s of philosophy and doctorate degree from Columbia University.

While at Union, he was selected as an international fellow, part of an inter-disciplinary group of scholars drawn from the institutions associated with Columbia University. His doctoral dissertation “The Cultural Renaissance in Tamil, India” received a “distinction,” the highest dissertation honor that Columbia bestows.

In the years between his degree programs, Dr. Ryerson, known to his friends and students as “Charlie” spent time studying and teaching in India. From 1955 to 1958, he took part in a teaching fellow program sponsored by Oberlin College. In the 1960s, he was an overseas fellow as part of an Episcopal Church program. He also participated in student protest activities related to the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. From 1970 to 1972, he conducted doctoral research at Madurai University and was an associate lecturer at the Tamil Nadu Theological College in Madurai, India. In 1972 and 1973, he was instructor of oriental studies at Columbia University, and in 1973 he became a lecturer of religion at Hunter College, the City University of New York. He then went to Wichita State University in Kansas, where he was assistant professor of Religion for the 1976-77 academic year before returning to Hunter as an assistant professor.

In 1979, Dr. Ryerson joined the Princeton Theological Seminary faculty as assistant professor of the history of religions, and was promoted to associate professor in 1986. During these years, he regularly taught a course titled, “Religion and Society in India” for Princeton University’s religion department. In 1994, he was inaugurated as the Elmer K. and Ethel R. Timby Professor of the History of Religions at Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of divinity by the Academy of Ecumenical Indian Theology in Madras, India, in recognition of his services to the Indian church and Indian higher education. In June of 1999, he retired from Princeton Theological Seminary and became a professor emeritus. He lived in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood of Princeton until his death.

He wrote two books on the religious experience of South India, “Encounter in South India,” and “Regionalism and Religion: The Tamil Renaissance and Popular Hinduism,” an autobiographical account “India Reflections, 1955-2003,” and numerous articles.

He also developed a summer internship program in which Princeton seminary students traveled to India to experience the culture and the religious phenomena that they had read about in class. This trip, part of the seminary’s cross-cultural program, became a formative experience for dozens of future ministers and educators, and Dr. Ryerson saw it as an “arduous and exhilarating adventure to guide theological students into voyages of discovery, pilgrimages into new worlds of meaning, explorations of other understandings of the universe.” The historian of religions, he said, was “always trying to understand the un-understandable, and to experience what others experience.”

With Dr. Charles West, Dr. Ryerson initiated the Missions, Ecumenics, and History of Religions doctoral program at Princeton Seminary. For many years, he also served as a trustee of The American College Foundation in Madurai, and was president of the board for several years.

He is survived by his sister, Ruth Bouliew of Saginaw, Michigan, nephews Kenneth Bell and Charles Bell; grand-nephews and nieces Andrew Bell, Anthony Bell, Melissa Bell Petzold, Melonie Bell Brown, Ashley Bell Jordan, Jack Cohoon, and Casey Cohoon of South Carolina; and many great grand-nephews and nieces.


A funeral service will be held at on Saturday, October 1 at 1:30 p.m., at the Berkeley Memorial Chapel of St. Columbia’s Chapel, 55 Vaucluse Avenue, in Middletown, Rhode Island. A memorial service will be planned for a date and time to be determined at Princeton Theological Seminary. Gifts in Dr. Charles Ryerson’s memory may be made to the “The Trustees of the Endowment Fund of the American College, Madurai, India,” 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1020, New York, NY 10115.



SEPTEMBER 29, 2016, 12:56 PM 


*

Friday, September 30, 2016

RECALLING AN OLD LETTER OF Dr. CHARLES RYERSON ... STILL A VERY VALID ONE





*


பேராசிரியர் சார்ல்ஸ் ரயர்சனின் கடிதம் உங்கள் பார்வைக்கு

This letter of Prof. Charles A. Ryerson Former President, The American College Endowment Fund (Trust) warns Bishop's move to bring the college under diocese control 
April 23, 2008

The Rt. Rev. A. Christopher Asir, M.A., B.D.
The Bishop of the Madurai Ramnad Diocese—CSI
Diocesan Office
Ratchanyapuram, K. Purdur
Madurai 625 007, India


Rt. Rev. and Dear Sir:
I last wrote to you in August and October of 2006. At that time, I was President of the American College Endowment Fund (Trust). I have served for more than thirty years as a Trustee and, for more than fifteen years I was its President. Last year I resigned my post in favor of Dr. Richard Reisz, who had taught Physics at the College for thirty years. I still am a Trustee, however, and as President Emeritus I am writing to ybu. I do know that Dr. Reisz has also been in communication with you about this matter.

I began my association with the College in 1955 as an Associate Lecturer of English with the (then) Oberlin program and have had a close relationship with the College ever since—including the years that I taught at TTS. Until my retirement from Princeton in 1999, I made almost annual trips to Madurai and have known all of the principals of the College and all the Bishops-of the Madurai-Ramnad Diocese. I was especially close to Madurai's first Bishop, Lesslie Newbigin, and to Bishop Pothirajulu, one of my former students.

It has come to my attention that you, as president of the Governing Council, may wish to place the College under Diocesian control. This would violate the provisions of 1934, when the College became independent of the Mission, and also under the agreements of 1947, when the College decided to stay independent of the newly-formed Church of South India—seeking to serve the Church but to be separate from it.

I find it difficult to believe that the Diocese would change the relationship, especially since the College has served the Church so well. Any change could force the Trustees to reevaluate their financial and moral support of the College. This would cause all of us much pain since I am certain you share our high opinion of the College and its service to the Church, the nation, and even internationally. I doubt that any change can be made unilaterally.

I would appreciate your communicating the real situation of theCollege since the reports we have received are so unbelievable. I also trust that you are enjoying your tenure in Madurai—one of my favorite cities.


With my best wishes to you and the Diocese,

Yours in Christ,
Charles A. Ryerson
President Emeritus,
The American College Endowment Fund


***

There are FEW MORE letters / articles sounding the same info in some of our earlier posts.
Who wish to see them can click this link: http://saveamericancollege.blogspot.in/2008_04_30_archive.html



***

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Dr. CHARLES RYERSON .. AN OBITUARY




*



Prof. Dr. Charles Ryerson or "Charlie" as he is known in friends circle came first to The American College as an Oberlin Rep during the very early days of the program. If I remember correct he is the fourth rep after Joe Elder, Dav Gallup and Dav Lockwood. Those days the Oberlin Building did not exist and the reps used Coe Lodge as their residence along with a few faculty members of the College. I had finished my graduation by that time and I had left Madurai. So I did not have any interaction with him when he was a Oberlin rep. He was probably used as a tutor in the English Department like Gallup and others were.

However Charlie had developed a love for people of Madurai and their religion. These interests brought him back to Madurai many times after his first visit and I had ample opportunities to know him. He knew more about the Meenakshi temple and other smaller and rural temples in and around Madurai than many in Madurai. He could talk on Chitra festival giving lot of background about the practices of people of villages participating in it. Bicycle was his favorite vehicle in those days and one could see him anywhere in Madurai riding on his bicycle.

He had many other interests and had motivated a few in USA to go over to India for studies and research. One such person associated with Charlie that I know of had spent lot of time on research about the Nadar community particularly their "uravin murai" practices that had helped the development of the community.

His another interest was Politics. At one time he was an authority on the DMK movement. He had such a good contact with DMK hierarchy that he could walk into Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi's office. Sometimes his visits coincided with general elections in the country probably because of his interest in political trends of our country.

He was Professor of Theology in Princeton. Though I had not been to his office some of my friends have told me that he had a picture of Meenakshi temple that I had given him was fixed on the wall in his office. The picture, a rare one, shot from helicopter flying over the temple taken by a great photographer of Madurai, Mr. Christopher.

He is one of my friends from USA who had visited my home a few times and enjoyed the hospitality of my mother. On one Chitra Pournami day we had a moon light supper in my home Charlie and another Oberlin Rep Dennis Hudson and one or more friends were there we enjoyed the evening looking at the fire works of the Alagar festival at a distance from the open terrace of my house. A meeting I can never forget.

May his soul rest in peace.

******
P.S.
Dear Dharumi,
News is in hand that Prof. Dr. Charles Ryerson is no more. Suriakumar drew my attention to the news. After I got the news Prof. Samuel Lawrence called me over phone and asked me whether I could write a note on Charlie for the website you are maintaining. There are many who could do a better job. Yet I have decided to respond to our Lawrence. You may include it in the save American college website if you think it will be of any use there.     V.SRINIVASAN
Tthank you, V.S. ji.   .... தருமி


Friday, June 17, 2016

LET US ALL REMEMBER THEM ............





*

Dear Prof.V.S.,

I appreciate your vast memory of our campus

I appreciate for bringing out so many important names of our campus.

I very much appreciate for bringing the history of our college through this article.

It reminds me that so many who served / worked / studied in this campus loved the college so much dearly and passionately in its long run. 

Long live the college.(though it has lost its glamour now, that's what i personally feel.)

.with lovely memories of my life in the campus.........Dharumi

*


Many buildings in American College have names named after persons associated with the College. Washburn Hall, Wallace Hall, Zumbro Hall are named after first three Principals of the College. Binghamton Hall named after the parish that contributed money to build that building in memory of Principal Zumbro . James Hall named after the donor Ellen M James. Only building named after a lady as on date. Dudley Hall, Stoffer Hall, Daniel Poor Memorial Library, Jubilee Chapel, Flint House. Oberlin Shansi building are other buildings that carry their respective name each with a special reason.

Recently the Principal of the College has given the name Paul Love Hall to the new building behind Oberlin Shansi building and Richard P Riesz Hall for the hostel of Jeevana Jyothi program. This obscure building not easily visible to many visitors of the College is located behind James Hall..

Why not use this occasion to name the other nameless buildings in the College?.

Professor James M Hess a missionary of the mission that founded the college was a Professor of English for many years, a great teacher. It seems he and his wife used to appear in costumes and enact the different scenes of Shakespeare's plays as he was teaching the plays. He retired in 1952. His name will be very appropriate for the building now known as centenary hall that houses the P G English Department at present.

Professor Lockwood a Professor of Mathematics had served the College died in Madurai. One of his sons was an Oberlin rep for a few years and another  son was associated with the College as a member of the Governing Council for many years. The building that now houses Mathematics department could be given his name. His portrait used to exist in that department for several years.

Rev Telfer Mook was associated with the parent mission was responsible for the transfer of some funds off the College from USA to India using which the shops and offices in front of the College were built. His name could be appropriate for that building that is a constant source of income for the College. The Indian Bank building could be named after another missionary Rev Paul R Dettman, a Bursar of the College for many years.

Miss A J Moses was the only lady lecturer/professor in the College for several years. In the early days of her service that was a requirement of the University that there should be at least one lady staff when there were lady students. She was also the warden of the women's' hostel of the College for many years. That building could be appropriately named A J Moses Hall

The College auditorium has an interesting history. It was a building built with a government grant with the agreement that part of the labor for construction to be from voluntary labor of Staff and Students of the College. The building was achieved amidst some discomfort. When the building was completed the them famous actor Sivaji Ganesan was invited to open that building. He did it and promised a lump some grant towards the construction. That however did not happen. The Auditorium that was to be named after him remained auditorium only. Our Professor Vasanthan well known dramatist had staged many plays in the Auditorium. He is a great teacher of Shakespeare as well. Will not Vasanthan's name be appropriate for Auditorium?

There is abuilding known as NRSC (Non resident Student Center) that houses Tamil department. Prof. Karmega Konar was a legendary professor of Tamil of the College for many years. Will not his name appropriate for that building?

The Humanities Hall has a history. It was built immediately after the second World War. Cement and Steel were scarce commodities. Yet the building was successfully built with Professor Ranjitham's contacts in Madras Government of those days and some donations raised locally and acknowledged with tablets in each room. There were a few attempts made to name the Hall after Ranjitham. But it was not acceptable due to some politics of those days. Ranjitham was a great nationalist. He supported the students of American College joning the freedom movement in the pre independence days. Can we not honor that building by naming it Ranjithaam Hall as a tribute to the great leader (congress man) of those days?

The indoor games building also could have a name. I would suggest the name of the first Physical Director of the College who retired as Professor of Physical Education -  . John Santiago Edward.

I will be happiest man is the PG Physica Annex is named after Dr. R P Riesz. 

Thanks a lot for your patience. 

Srinivasan 




*

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

IS IT ENOUGH ?





*


Is it enough?

- I think it isn’t. Please read the following document and respond.


The administration of The American College, Madurai has recently given a name to a building that has been in existence for a few years. That building will from now on be known as Richard P Riesz Hall. It was built in the space between the James Hall and the southern compound wall of the college as hostel for the residents of a program called Jeevan Jyothi . The building will not be easily visible to anyone who walks through the campus unless one enters the central corridor of James Hall. The JJ program was created by Dr. Riesz through his efforts and financial aid from an external Church related agency to give persons with disabilities computer education and training to make them employable. No doubt it is an honor to Prof. R P Riesz the building is given his name. Probably this is the first time in the history of the College a building has been named after a living person. There rise a question. Does this honor Dr R P Riesz’s work in the College adequately? A related question does this program exist at present? Is the building used at present? I was there on 30th April this year and there was no visible indication that it was in use.


Dr. Riesz had served the College as the Professor and Head of the Post Graduate Physics Department for nearly three decades. He was responsible for creating the department and for all the improvements made in Physics Education in the College, in the Madurai Kamaraj University and the impact made in other parts of the country as well. If the intention of the College is to honor Dr. Riesz t it should be more for his work for betterment of Physics Education and the College should have given his name to the P G Physics annex of James Hall. One should also remember the pioneering work he had done as Dean of Academic Affairs of the College during the early years of College Autonomy.


Let us look back into the history of P G Physics Annex. For a long time post graduate education in Sciences was confined to larger cities like Chennai. During the second five year plan period the Government of India had decided to extend post graduate education to smaller cities like Madurai and offered liberal grants. The College took advantage of this and got the PG Chemistry and PG Zoology program and the building now known as Stoffer Hall was built.


 When the College was ready to start PG Physics the second five year plan period was over and the country had entered the third five year plan period. During this period the grant for buildings was reduced and the College had to economize on the building. So instead of an independent PG Physics building it was decided to build an annex for the James sharing the stair way of James Hall and connecting the two buildings in the first floor through what is known as the Japanese bridge, a new idea at that time so that the college could start PG Physics with the reduced grants. Cutting out the usual verandah spaces found in all the other buildings in the college also helped. Dr. Riesz came as a missionary supported by the parent mission in USA that had founded the College. The annex was expanded to include workshops and research spaces with a different government grant..


I think the PG Physics annex with all the additions made to that building should be called Richard P Riesz Hall. Where to write the new name could be raised by some persons. On the Japanese bridge of course will be my answer. The name of Applied Science is written there at present. Removing that name and writing the new name in that place will not be objected by any one. The DAS also has ceased to exist.

If you feel I am correct please forward this letter to the Principal of the college with a strong recommendation that Dr. Riesz’s name should be associated with PG Physics annex also. Also please send the mail to all P G Physics students and friends of the college you may know and request them also to do the same. Thanks.

V. Srinivasan, Student of the college 1951-55, Lecturer in Physics 1959-74, Head of UG Physics Department 1974-88, Head PG Physics Department 1988-94, remaining as a friend of the college after retirement now settled in Thane, Maharashtra


14/52 Vijay Vilas, G B Road, Thane West 400615,
  srinivasan1936@dataone.in  Mobile 9819595097. 

Mail address of American College americancollege@eth.net 
 Phone 0452 2530070.


*

Sunday, May 22, 2016

THANK YOU, MY BOYS





*




 1985-88 ஆண்டு மாணவர்கள் இன்று (22.06.2016) கல்லூரியில் ஒன்று கூடுகிறார்கள்ஆசிரியர்களுக்கும் அழைப்பு உண்டுஆனால் என்னை அழைத்த போது கல்லூரிக்குள் நான் நுழைய தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது என்பதைக் கூறினேன். (தடைக்கான காரணம் -- இங்கே. )



 


இருந்தும் நேரில் பார்க்க விரும்பினார்கள் இருவர் வீட்டு முகவரி கேட்டு இரு நாட்களுக்கு முன்பே வந்தனர்கையில் அழைப்பிதழோடு வந்தார்கள்நீங்கள் கல்லூரிக்கு வர முடியாவிட்டால்நாங்கள் உங்கள் வீட்டுக்கு அனைவரும் வந்து விடுகிறோம் என்றார்கள்அனைவருக்கும் எதற்கு அலைச்சல்வேண்டுமென்றால் நான் கல்லூரிக்கு வெளியில் வந்து விடுகிறேனே என்றேன். ‘அது மரியாதையில்லைநாங்களே வந்து விடுகிறோம்’ என்றார்கள்.








மாலை மூன்று மணிக்கு மேல் வருகிறோம் என்றார்கள்அதன்படி வந்தார்கள்சின்ன வீடு … அட்ஜஸ்ட் செய்து உட்கார வைத்தேன்சின்னப் பசங்களாகப் பார்த்ததுகால் நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு மேல் ஆகிவிட்டதே…. எல்லோரும் எங்கெங்கு என்னவாக இருக்கிறார்கள் என்று சொன்னார்கள்நான் அதிகமாக மாறவில்லை என்றார்கள் – தொப்பையைத் தவிர. (ஆக அப்போதேஅவர்கள் மாணவர்களாக இருந்த போதே நான் ஒரு ‘வங்கிழடாக’ இருந்திருப்பேன் போலும்! )





 ஒரு ”பையன்” .. அப்போது நான் வைத்திருந்த ஜாவா பைக் பற்றிக் கேட்டான்(ர்). இன்னொரு “பையன்” என் ஜோல்னா பைகயிற்றில் தொங்கும் மூக்குக் கண்ணாடி,ஜிப்பா என்று தொடர்ந்தான்(ர்). இன்னொரு ”பையனுக்கு” இன்னொரு  ஆசைஎன்னை ஜீன்ஸில் அன்று பார்த்தது போல் இன்றும் பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்றான்(ர்). ’நான் கிராமத்திலிருந்து வந்தவன்உங்களை அப்போது ஜீன்ஸில் பார்த்தது போல் பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்றான்(ர்). உடை மாற்றிக் கொண்டேன்ஒரு மாணவன், “எல்லா தேர்வுகளிலும் நான் பிட் அடிப்பேன்உங்கள் supervisionல் மட்டும் நான் பிட் அடிக்கவில்லை” என்று  சோகமாகச் சொன்னான்(ர்).








 நான் இவர்களுக்கு முதலாண்டும்மூன்றாமாண்டும் வகுப்பு எடுத்திருக்கிறேன்என் வழக்கம் முதல் ஆண்டில் கொஞ்சம் ‘உதார்’ காண்பித்தும்மூன்றாமாண்டு  இறுதி செமஸ்டரில் அதிகத் தோழமையுடன் இருப்பது வழக்கம்ஆனால் முதலாண்டில் என் உதாரில் கொஞ்சம் பயந்து போய் ஒரு பட்டப் பெயர் வைத்தார்களாம்பெயரையும் சொன்னார்கள் – அதுவும் என் துணைவியாரிடம்வைத்த பெயர் – சிங்கம். (ஓரளவு இந்தப் பெயரை வைத்து இரண்டு மூன்று நாளைக்கு வீட்டில் ‘உதார்’ காண்பித்துக் கொள்ளலாம்!)

ஒரு cameraman வேற வந்திருந்தார்என்னோடும்துணைவியாருடனும் படங்கள் எடுத்தோம்.  சில மணித்துளிகள் என்றாலும் அன்பால் நிறைந்திருந்த நேரம் அது.


அழகான கைக்கெடிகாரம் அன்பளிப்பாகக் கொடுத்தார்கள்கைக்கெடிகாரத்தில் 85 ZOO என்று போட்டிருந்ததுகைத்தொலை பேசி வந்த பிறகு கைக்கெடிகாரம் அணிவது ஏறத்தாழ இல்லாமல் போயிற்றுஇருந்தாலும் இன்று காலை போட்டோ எடுக்கக் கையில் கட்டினேன்அதன் பின் இப்போது வரை கழட்ட மனமில்லை
அதோடு 85 ZOO என்று போட்டு விட்டார்களேஅதன் மதிப்பே மாறி விட்டதுஇப்போதே அந்தக் கைகெடிகாரத்திற்கு 31 ஆண்டு வயதாகி விட்டதே
The watch has got a great antique value now itself!


அவர்கள் பேசிய ஒவ்வொரு வார்த்தைகளும் எனக்குப் பெருமை சேர்த்தனஎன்னைத் தேடி என் வீட்டிற்கே அனைவரும் வந்தது மிகுந்த நெகிழ்ச்சியைக் கொடுத்ததுபூரிப்படைய வைத்தது.


வாத்தியார்களுக்குத் தான் தெரியும் … பழைய மாணவர்கள் அவர்களைச் சந்திக்க வந்து, பழைய பக்கங்களைப் புரட்டும் போது ஏற்படும் பெருமிதம் எவ்வளவு என்பது!






*