GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING AT UNITED STATES ... (யார் வீட்டுப் பணம்?)

 

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PART II

MADURAI: Institutions supported by the Christian mission always stood for liberal higher education and the objective was to separate religion and education, and to provide good education to the deserving students, and of course Christian students get an opportunity for their studies.

To substantiate this noble goal, there is an example of American College in Madurai established in the year 1881 and was developed as an example taking a cue from its second Principal William Jumbroe who is cited as an example because he said more than 100 years back and much before India’s Independence that sermons are not important for students and that our students only need moral lessons and human values across religions.

“But, after the Independence of our country in 1947, the Church leadership became important and powerful because we have many institutions got minority status. But at the cost of that democracy. there is a calamity now in a few higher education institutions in India including our American College in Madurai. Our great colleges went away from the hands of educationists to the Churches. Our Christian colleges lost their freedom and one classic example is The American College in Madurai. Yes, I say today that my great American College where I worked as Principal and Secretary is an example of corruption and there are DVAC etc complaints against the present Principal. There is a commercial exploitation going on right now through its present Principal Dr.M.Davamani Christober, the SF departments and the high fees being collected from students by this great college. It is a moral corruption and I will tell all details,” Dr.T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, former Principal and Secretary of The American College in Madurai has said while speaking to ‘Lotus Times’ media website on November 9th 2024 and he asked the Church of South India (CSI) Madurai-Ramnad Diocese and Bishop to step in quickly and save the students from high fees in the name of SF courses, buildings etc and save the American College in Madurai.

யார் வீட்டுப் பணம்? 

IS OUR COLLEGE GOVERNING COUNCIL A "FAMILY CLUB"??!!

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American College Governing Council is just a ‘Family Club’ as students’ fees used for foreign trips: Ex-Principal wants annual audit report on college website, demands DVAC probe into ‘collective looting’ (Part-1)

By Shastry V Mallady

Nov 10, 2024, 11:59 am

 

PART I

 

Dr.T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, former Principal and Secretary of

The American College in Madurai, on November 9th 2024.

 

MADURAI: Making a scathing attack on the CSI Bishop and Church lobby for being silent despite knowing about the mismanagement in American College for the last 10 years, its former Principal and Secretary Dr.T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar had called the present Governing Council as a ‘family club’ that is using students’ fees for foreign trips and luxuries.

He accused that the entire governing council of American College is ‘complicit’ in the ongoing corruption and demanded that college should publish its annual audit report in its website as a matter of accountability and transparency.

“The CSI Madurai-Ramnad Diocese forcefully took over the American College administration into its hands and conflict of interest started in the year 2008 when this great college went into the hands of then Bishop Mr.Asir’s family. The manner in which the present Governing Council was constituted by bringing in wives as GC members shows the conflict of interest,” Dr.T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar has said speaking to ‘Lotus Times’ website in Madurai on November 9th 2024.

DVAC PROBE, COURT CASES AND CORRUPTION:

The former Principal and Secretary had posed a few questions to the present Governing Council members and to the Madurai-Ramnad Diocese CSI Bishop who is the governing council president. 

“The council is just a family club as every important member’s wife is made a member. What you call as conflict of interest is thrown to the wind. Foreign trips by GC members under one pretext or the other are unjust as the fees collected is used for luxuries. Even the Bishop’s wife who is not a member of the governing council is included in foreign trips. So, my question is why the present Governing Council of American College is not taking cognizance of the DVAC and DCE complaints? Are they not aware of the various complaints against the present Principal and Secretary Dr.M.Davamani Christober? Why the Church is allowing and what is the CSI Bishop doing? Where is your moral responsibility?,” Dr.T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar had asked. 

QUESTIONS TO THE BISHOP: 

Charging that the current Principal and Secretary Dr.M.Davamani Christober is greasing the palm of Church leaders, the former Principal had expressed concern that the administration of American College is becoming a prisoner of the Church power lobby which had appropriated the powers of the college Principal and Secretary. 

“There are four complaints against Dr.M.Davamani Christober who had completed more than 10 years in the Pirncipal’s chair. Complaints are made for disproportionate wealth, corruption in teacher appointments, corruption in admission and misappropriation of UGC building grant. 

“The CSI Bishop could have initiated an enquiry on the corruption charges against Dr.M.Davamani Christober. But the Bishop did not do that and even the Governing Council members did not ask anything. Dr.Davamani Christober has destroyed the tradition of liberal Christian higher education because there are no voices in the campus right now for ‘Save American College’ movement. So, I am today appealing to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to speed up its investigation and also probe the collective looting that is happening in such a reputed institution in the country like The American College. I also demand that all the Governing Council members should resign immediately,” Dr.T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar has raised his voice by giving more particulars. 

He reiterated his demand for annual audit report and full details of how much money was spent for foreign trips by the GC members. “The struggle goes this way…Save American College to ‘God Save American College’….I appeal to the State Government and all concerned authorities to swing into action and do a through audit of Self-Financing courses money also,” the former Principal and Secretary has said giving particulars on various points about corruption and commercialization of Christian higher education in this first part interview.

 

IMMIGRATION OFFICERS STOP PRINCIPAL BOARDING HIS FLIGHT TO US

 

College Principal from Madurai stopped 

at Chennai airport on October 28th 

by ED & IT 

from Europe tour flight?

By Shastry V Mallady

MADURAI: A college principal from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu was stopped at Chennai airport on October 28th 2024 from boarding the scheduled flight to Europe on October 28th 2024 by the Enforcement Directorate and airport authorities because of some questions raised about alleged disproportionate assets complaint against that particular person.

Sources told ‘Lotus Times’ media website here today that a team from that particular college in Madurai had planned for a trip to Spain, but one person in that team was questioned by the Chennai airport authorities on October 28th 2024 and that particular person from Madurai region had to return back while other members went ahead as per schedule. 

Official sources said today that the other members of that college went ahead with their Europe trip while the immigration officials took notice of one person and asked him to go back. 

“It was a designated tour planned by that particular college in Madurai region to take about 13 important members to Europe tour…. But, the immigration officers allowed others except the college Principal. We don’t know the full details, but one person was not allowed to board the flight at Chennai airport. We don’t know the full details of this case, but the person is from Madurai area,” sources told ‘Lotus Times’ media from Chennai on November 2nd 2024.

A SUNKEN SHIP…?

Following is the list of colleges and their ranking in all India level. List of colleges in TN are ranked here. Our College does not find a place here.

In the top 50 colleges, 5 colleges from Madurai find a place: 

Fatima College  ---         rank    16

Lady Doak College -                  34

Thirumalai Naicker college -    40

Yadava College                          44

Saraswathi Naryanan College - 49

Last December, the Chennai alumni association organized a big gala day in our college campus. A big carnival. A whatsapp was started then. Some two weeks back seeing this list one of our old students felt very bad about it and expressed his anguish. 

Since many of our alumni are in dark about the struggle that was going on against the present principal I sent a note to the whatsapp group. 

I sent the following note .....

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A SUNKEN SHIP…?

1970 – 2003.  A glorious period of my life. I worked in a “heaven”. Our American College staff, compared to so many other colleges, were a gifted lot. So many nice things we enjoyed unlike other college faculty. To quote one single example, in my early days we never have to sign any daily attendance register. When you have work, do it. That’s all. In all other colleges, most of the managements had this as a shackle to keep faculty under their duress.  Our college had to go for it only after the insistence of the government after giving direct salary payment.

Freedom was so much for both to the students and staff. We enjoyed it with our own set standards. Staff-student relationship was admirable. Especially the testimony of graduate students who go for other colleges for post graduation always tend to say what a great life they had in our college.

Then came a struggle in the college in the years after 2008. A long and bitter journey for people who loved this college. During this period thru this blog and by direct contact,  alumni who were in higher echelons were even approached. Unluckily people thought that it was just an internal politics. None realised the biggest danger the college would be facing if the unruly elements took the reins.

Had all the faculty come together or if the student community stood with the fighting faculty, things would have been different. Only the non-teaching staff who stood so strongly with the fighting people are to be always remembered with great gratitude.

Government rule says that the principalship is only for 5 to 10 years and principals should relieve the post for the next senior. Ha.. this rule is not for those who are so power mongering like the present principal. Who cares for government rules and regulations.  Powerful people have powerful tools!

Who cares for the all India ranking of colleges. Their only aim is to have the “college industry” to mint money. They days when our college worked so hard for such glories were all over.

So goes the story….

******

Like this blog, the whole lot of alumni in that group is in very deep silence !!!

 

A SUNKEN SHIP…?

 

1970 – 2003.  A glorious period of my life. I worked in a “heaven”. Our American College staff, compared to so many other colleges, were a gifted lot. So many nice things we enjoyed unlike other college faculty. To quote one single example, in my early days we never have to sign any daily attendance register. When you have work, do it. That’s all. In all other colleges, most of the managements had this as a shackle to keep faculty under their duress.  Our college had to go for it only after the insistence of the government after giving direct salary payment.

Freedom was so much for both to the students and staff. We enjoyed it with our own set standards. Staff-student relationship was admirable. Especially the testimony of graduate students who go for other colleges for post graduation always tend to say what a great life they had in our college.

Then came a struggle in the college in the years after 2008. A long and bitter journey for people who loved this college. During this period thru this blog and by direct contact,  alumni who were in higher echelons were even approached. Unluckily people thought that it was just an internal politics. None realised the biggest danger the college would be facing if the unruly elements took the reins.

Had all the faculty come together or if the student community stood with the fighting faculty, things would have been different. Only the non-teaching staff who stood so strongly with the fighting people are to be always remembered with great gratitude.

Government rule says that the principalship is only for 5 to 10 years and principals should relieve the post for the next senior. Ha.. this rule is not for those who are so power mongering like the present principal. Who cares for government rules and regulations.  Powerful people have powerful tools!

Who cares for the all India ranking of colleges. Their only aim is to have the “college industry” to mint money. More students ... more money! The days when our college worked so hard for such glories were all over.

So goes the story….

******

A MUST READ FOR THE ALUMNI: https://americancoll.blogspot.com/search/label/MUST%20READ

Rev. Dr. Sidney D.  Fowler 
First Congregational  United Church of Christ 
309 E Street,  NW 
Washington, DC  20001. 

Reverend Dr. Richard B. Griffis, United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor and 
former  national staff member, died in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday morning, December  6.  Through his long ministry, Richard served the church through a remarkable variety of settings – as a pastor of local churches, with both the  conference and national settings of the UCC, and through justice and  inter-religious activism. He was 77.  
Richard had standing in the Connecticut Conference  serving as senior 
minister of Immanuel Congregational UCC, Hartford, for  thirteen years. He also served as an interim minister at Round Hill  Church in Greenwich, at 
Congregational Church of Union, and as Interim  Minister of Stewardship and Mission Interpretation for the Connecticut  Conference. For the Capitol Region Conference of Churches, Richard was  co-director of Breakthrough to the Aging. He also served Plymouth  Congregational Church in Minneapolis, First Congregational UCC of Minnesota in  Minneapolis, and First Congregational UCC in Grand Marais MN. In 1965, while  serving First Congregational UCC of Minnesota, Richard marched with Martin  Luther King, Jr. at Selma, Alabama. Richard was the founder of the Connecticut Committee for Interreligious Understanding Along with his wife, Anne Hungerford Griffis, they  served with the American Friends Service Committee in Nigeria in assisting  with relief and reconstruction after the Biafra civil war.  From  1972-1977, Richard served on the 
staff of the former UCC Office for Church  Life and Leadership in New York City and as assistant to Robert Moss,  President of the UCC. 
Since 2002, Richard and Anne have been living in  Washington DC near their sons, Geoffrey and Roger, and their families  including 5 grandchildren.  In DC, Richard was an active member of First Congregational UCC – serving on the Church Council, Social Action and  Awareness Commission, and as a frequent preacher and worship leader.  He  was a Board member of the United Nations Association of the National Capital  Area, member of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, member  of the Steering Committee of the Unity Walk, and trustee of the Endowment Fund  of the American College in 
Madurai, India.

 
A memorial service will  celebrate Richard’s life and faith on Sunday, 
January 15, at 4:00 pm at First  Congregational UCC in Washington, DC. The service will be only the third  worship service in the new downtown building that Richard was instrumental in  supporting its construction.   
In lieu of flowers, the  family kindly suggests donations to the United 
Nations Association, National  Capitol Area (UNA 2000 P Street NW Suite 630, Washington DC 20036) and First  Congregational UCC (309 E Street NW, 
Washington DC,  20001).

பழைய மாணவர்களுக்கு ஒரு செய்தி. A BITTER INFO FOR THE ALUMNI

 

நேற்றைய செய்திக்கு ஒரு பின் குறிப்பு: முழு விவரத்தையும் தொலைபேசி வழியாகக்  கேட்ட பல மாணவ நண்பர்களுக்கு ஒரு விளக்கம்.

 

தவறான வழியில் முதல்வரான முனை.தவமணி, பத்தாண்டு மட்டுமே முதல்வர் பதவி என்ற தமிழ்நாடு அரசின் அறிவிப்புக்கு மரியாதை கொடுக்காது தொடர்ந்து முதல்வர் பதவியில் நீட்டித்துக் கொண்டிருப்பதால் வழக்கொன்று தொடுக்கப்பட்டது. நீதியரசர் ‘இது ஒரு அரசின் ஆணை. அதை அரசுதான் கட்டுப்படுத்த வேண்டும்; நீதிமன்றத்தால் இதைச் செய்ய முடியாதென’ இரு மாதங்களுக்கு முன் தீர்ப்பளித்தது. அரசு விரைவில் ஆவன செய்யும் என்று நம்புகிறோம்.

 

இப்போது தெரிகிறதா புது செயலர் வேக வேகமாக இந்தக் கூடுகைக்கும், பாராட்டுக்கும் ஏன் விரைகிறார் என்று!

 

Spread the word to your A.C. friends.