MISPLACED APPROVAL

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MISPLACED APPROVAL

Dr. Rajendra Pandian

Former Governing Council Member

It is heartwarming to note that all our American friends associated with the college— missionaries and others alike—without exception, have been lending their fullest support to the college in different ways and at different levels since the outbreak of the problem. Dr. Charles Ryerson, Emeritus President of the American College Endowment Fund wrote to the Bishop: “Any change [in the traditional management of the college] could force the trustees to re-evaluate their financial and moral support to the college” (saveamericancollege, April 23, 2008); Dr. Riesz, the President of the Trust has often repeated the idea: “Why does the CSI need to have control over this 129year old college?” (americancoll, May 24, 2012). 

Dr. Carl Jacobson, Executive Director of the Oberlin-Shansi Foundation also wrote (saveamericancollege, April 21, 2008) that such aggression on the institution (as orchestrated by the late Bishop Asir and his son-in law Dr. Davamani Christober, the then Bursar and the present Principal) might result in the “termination” of the “historic relationship” (April 21, 2008) between the Foundation and the college. Describing the violence on campus as a “total nightmare” (March 15, 2011) he urged everyone to act and “save the college’. His statements were timely, categorical, and honorable and perceived as the official stand of the Oberlin-Shansi Foundation on the American College issue. 

As the fight aggravated Oberlin-Shansi suspended the exchange program with the American college and subsequently we have seen no Oberlin Rep or Director on campus these years.  We will remember with gratitude and admiration the pro-college stand taken by our overseas associates such as the Board of Trustees and the Oberlin –Shansi Foundation; I even opined once that our governments and law courts should get to know the sentiments from these quarters which might help us consolidate the larger view in favor of the college. Even amid the unprecedented scale of thuggery and campus-violence unleashed by the very same ‘administration’ we remain resolute thanks to the empathy and support that our friends have extended to the college through fitting words and timely deeds.  

Against that backdrop, the visit of the Chair and the ED of the Oberlin Shansi foundation to our campus gains importance.  I knew it only as lecture in SCILET delivered by Dr. Anuradha Needham, a professor from Oberlin. And I learn that  it entailed all forms of courtesy: the guests sharing the dais with the Principal; visiting him in his office; partying in the evening with the ‘administrators’ and select Oberlin Fellows indicating signs of the possible revival of exchange. While welcoming the Shansi friends in our midst [and thanking them for the visit] we must also admit that we are surprised at the timing of their trip. This may accord enormous approval on the wrong people; strengthen their claim to legitimacy and thereby undermine the struggle to restore the college—I’m afraid!

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