Prof. WINFRED THOMAS of Botany Dept, who was very much in the campus on the long night of 19-20th, reports this:
Greeeting from Madurai
I am writing this letter with great agony.
Today morning (19.04.'08) the Bishop of Madurai Ramnad convened illegally and unconstitutionally the American college Governing Counsel. It was attended by 6 of his members (total 7). In that meeting he has suspended Prof Chinnaraj Joseph from his office and made Prof. George as principal. We do not know who our secretary is now. He has made his son in law as Vice Principal and Prof. Arul Prakasam as Bursar and Prof. Alex as Controller of examination. He was not dare enough to conduct this meeting at our college campus but he had that in his Diocesan office. He lifted a bunch of students (20 to 30) from our college campus and also invited students from CSI Schools and colleges and also outsiders and had an investiture function at his office. They had dinner at Dental college Premises and then proceeded to our campus.
Though we had police protection to our college during the day time, some how they have made the police to move away from our main gate for a short time. During that pause they marched over to our campus with an intention of door crash. Christopher broke open the main gate lock and entered inside. It was about 7 pm and we had very few staff members around. We locked the door of our principal’s office and we formed a human chain. He used harsh and very impolite words with our staff and tried to open Principal's office. We stood firm. Mean time a battalion of students from both men’s and women’s hostel came to our rescue and they sat in the corridor and gave a tough resistance to Christopher and his team.
At this point he called the police and wanted to threaten us. Police and local Revenue officers tried their level best and they negotiated with our principal. They wanted our principal to handover the office keys to local revenue authority and wait for the court verdict. Our principal took a firm decision not to yield to pressure. The pressure given to college administration was so high, I am sure, that none other then Dr. Chinnaraj could have resisted and withstood such a tremendous pressures.
The police and revenue authorities left the principal chamber and they understood the principal’s assertiveness and also the tremendous support from students and commited and dedicated staff members.
While this drama was on, Prof. Christopher with the help of church supporters brought outsiders to the college and wanted to bring a commotion at our campus. It includes little children of elementary school from an orphanage attached to one of the Diocesan schools. Again we have to appreciate our student friends who were able to understand the situation and developed a strategy to identify outsiders and keep away from them. Now it is 3 30 am. Still boys and girls are like human chain protecting the principal’s office with the help of a handful of staff members support. We think that we may have to protect the office for 48 hours, only on Monday we expect to get a favorable court order so that we can chase these hooligans.
Pray for us that god gives energy and wisdom to protect the college from the power mongers.
With regards
Winfred
P.S: Now time is 8.30, Sunday. Winfred has told me that all these things came to an end at 5.30 a.m. - after a mediation from RDO sent byMadurai Collector to have a "peace" (?!) talk at the collectorate at 10 a.m. Five of us will be in that committee from our side.
We are keeping our fingers crossed.............sam
3 comments:
Posting a personal mail that came to Prof Winfred:
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It is so heartbreaking to read all the filth happening in a great Christian Institution and the great Christian leaders involved in all these crap.
Christianity if practised as a religion will definitely result in this kind of presudo religious fanatics who can only cause hurt to the society and to Christianity itself. But if practised as a way of life will amazingly reflect Christ and all the wonderful things attached with it.
After reading all the incidents that have been taking place in a campus which evolved as a hard work of the missionaries.....I dont have much to say. I have not been a student of this college, but have spent a small part of my life in this college working here for less than 2 years. But for me, these incidents involves lots of emotions. And thats why cant remain insensitive like the many around me.
Since there is not much that can be said regarding this right now, I have a few things to share with all the past and present students of this college and also those who are "genuine" well wishers of this college.
"The pressure given to college administration was so high, I am sure, that none other then Dr. Chinnaraj could have resisted and withstood such a tremendous pressures." It is true to the best of my knowledge. But as human beings we tend to fall weary and I would urge everyone to encourage our Principal and stand by him. This would be the highest amount of help that we can offer to him at this moment. Its not for an individual but for the college. It is a collective responsibility of those who have a sense of belonging to the wonderful red bricks which has nurtured and shaped many lives. "WE MUST NEVER GIVE UP" like the many who have done it.
Let us commit the college to HIM who is over all and all in all..... and "when the Lord remains on our side who can be against us" (Romans 8)
Thank you
With much regards and prayers,
An American College Well wisher
As an alumnus of the prestigious American College, I am very much pained to note all the ugly developments that are going on to "scar" the beautiful campus. In the greater interest of all the alumni & the students of the American College, I urge the authorities to take action against the selfish forces & to stop all the outrageous activities.
SAVE AMERICAN COLLEGE !!
There is pain in my heart and tears in my eyes to see such things happening to my alma mater.
I felt helpless when I heard this news. I thank all the students, staff and alumni who stood for the right cause.
I would encourage all the alumni to send messages of courage and support for this cause.
I am sure that we will win for the Good Lord is righteous.
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