CALLING YOU ALL TO VOTE ...........

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Hi folks,

Our struggle for the college has not resulted any big and

visible changes. But still, people say, the fight goes on and still there is some lingering hope to pull out the college from the retched way it has been 'ruled' now.

This post is entirely for another purpose. It is about a good news about one of our alumnus and professor, Prof. V. SRINIVASAN who has been so strongly behind our struggle throughout.

After his retirement from "OUR" college, he joined in Aravind Hospital, Madurai to look after the equipment there. With his usual penchant he took himself to another step - training people to care, maintain and repair eye hospital instruments. The course became so popular he was invited to various parts of the world. The picture given here shows his areas of training and number

of technicians benefited.

For this yeoman service the Government of India has  accepted a nomination for the awards of Padma Sri to him. The award will be confirmed after seeing the support it gets from others in the country. If his  students, colleagues and friends write an appropriate note in  the Padma award support site and file their nomination it would amount to confirming his chances.

Please do.

Their mail id: supportpadma-mha@nic.in. If he get the awards that would be the first such award for any one  with American College connection.

Sam's post script: Those who write a supporting letter to supportpadma-mha@nic.in may also send a note to Prof. V.S. himself. His mail id: v_srinivasan36@yahoo.co.uk

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A LETTER FROM PROF. V. SRINIVASAN

Dear friend of the  P G Physics Department of the College.

There could be some overlap. Please excuse me if you have got a similar mail already. Please act. Thanks VS 

Some History: During the second five year plan period in the development of our Country the Government of India proposed to extend Post Graduate Education in Science subjects in Colleges in cities out side state head quarters with 100% grant. The Ameican College took advantage of that and established M.Sc courses in Chemistry and Zoology. The Stoffer Hall came into existence in the College with furniture, equipment and faculty support with 100% government grants.

When the college was ready to start the M.Sc program in Physics and was fortunate to get a Professor from USA (Prof. R P Riesz) supported by the American Mission Board that had founded the College, the second five year plan period was over and the third five year plan came into existence. The policies of the Government were changed and grants for colleges got reduced 50%. Yet the College went ahead to create the Physics Department with the 50% support of the Government of India and the balance from the management decided to go ahead.  This involved cutting the budget at every level. The independent building like Stoffer Hall had to be given up and the James Hall got the Annex. The P G Physics building without its own stair way and no verandas came into existence. (Thanks to a visiting friend architect from Oberlin (Dr Arnold, I think) that cut the building cost by 50%.The building came into existence as P G Physics Annex of James Hall of Science. (It was much later by subsequent grants under IV and V five year plan grants of UGC the workshop and research areas were added. 

The building has existed as P G Physics Annex for 50 years and more with that name sending into the world several students distinguished in different areas of Physics working in different parts of the world.

Prof. R P Riesz will be 90 years of age on 26th April. It is proposed to celebrate this in a memorable way. As a part of the celebrations in Madurai it is proposed to request the Principal of the College to christen the  P G Physics Annex as RICHARD P RIESZ HALL OF PHYSICS and convey this to Dr Riesz as a mark our respect and recognition of the great work he had done to Physics through the College. 

This mail is being sent to all the friends and admirers of Prof. Riesz. Please forward this to the Prnicipal American College, Madurai  acmdu1811@gmail.com through internet or by regular mail : Principal, The Ameican College Madurai 626002 by regular surface mail. Thanks over your name/signature if you have not sent one already. Thanks.

V. Srinivasan (Retired Head P G  Physics) American College,

14/52 Vijay Vilas G B Road, Thane West 400615. Mobile 91 9819595097