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 

*