Monday, April 9, 2018

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,