IPAC members in the Collectorate, Madurai gearing up to submit a memorandum to Collector on 2nd June 2008 morning around 10.30 am. -----peakayA wait for R.D.O.'s ORDERS
On instruction of the High Court at Madurai, the R.D.O. of Madurai had to visit our college campus everyday twice, in the morning and evening, for the past month. He was asked to find under whose possession the college was and report it to the court.
Days were passing by with this prolonged agony of not knowing what the report was going to be. Though everything – conduct of examinations, publication of results, issuance of applications for admission, processing and publication of the first list of student selection and disbursement of staff salaries - was going on without any hitch, we were all anxiously waiting for the report. With all the political pressure on the district administration mounted from the other side we were wondering whether the report will be truthful and supporting our side.
Due to these uncertainties, IPAC (INITIATIVE FOR PROTECTING AMERICAN COLLEGE.) decided that the retired faculty should meet the Collector of Madurai and request him to come out with the report at the earliest so that day-to-day functioning of the college goes on smoothly. A memorandum to this effect was prepared and word was sent around to the retired faculty in the city to come to the Collector’s Office.
The following retired faculty, including three former Principals, assembled at 10.30 on 2 June:
1. Prof. P.T.CHELLAPPA
2. Prof. B.GUNRAJ
3. Prof. Dr.PERTER JEYAPANDIYAN
4. Prof SOLOMON PAPPIAH
5. Prof A.WINFRED
6. Prof J.VASANTHAN
7. Prof R.PADMANABHAN NAIR
8. Prof D.SAMUEL LAWRENCE
9. Prof R.NEDUMARAN
10. Prof Dr.SAMINATHAN
11. Prof Dr.R.D. MICHAEL
12. Prof A.KUMARESAN
13. Prof T.S.SUBRAMANIAN
14. Prof V.SRINIVASAN
15. Prof Dr.G.BALASUBRAMANIAM
16. Prof BALDWIN JAWAHARSINGH
17. Prof J.E.M.ARPUTHAMOORTHI
18. Prof JOHNSON SUNDARARAJ
19. Prof MESTON FENN
20. Prof G.SAM GEORGE
And
21. Mr. CHRISTOPHER
Though we had obtained prior permission for the audience with the Collector, on that morning we were informed after long wait, that we would not be able to meet him but only the R.D.O. At R.D.O.‘s office, Dr. D.P.J. made a fervent plea to expedite the action of the Collector and R.D.O.. Prof. P.T.C. who was indisposed recollected the role of Bishops at our college Governing Council Meetings and also how our college has been totally free from interference from any quarter including the Diocese. Prof Pappiah briefly mentioned the traditions the college has set for itself in all these years. A few more of the faculty also expressed their views briefly to which the R.D.O. gave a patient hearing.
Before leaving the Collectorate it was decided to have the meeting of IPAC on the same evening at 6.30 at Peoples Watch Office building.
In the evening the meeting was well attended by many of the alumni and well wishers. The need for some quick action was realized since there was apprehension on everybody’s mind. So it was planned to meet Chief Minister immediately to appeal to him to help the college. It was also thought that some corpus fund had to be generated to meet the expenses in case of a long drawn struggle. In addition, it was also suggested that telegrams and letters from the faculty, the alumni, the students and the public should be sent to R.D.O. and Collector to expedite the matter.
After the meeting was over some of us were organizing to send the telegrams and letters. Around 9 p.m. we got information that the orders of the R.D.O. is going to be served. So we rushed to the Principal’s bungalow on our campus. Pappiah and Prof. Winfred joined us. Another tense hour of waiting …!
Around 10 p.m. police personnel issued a copy of the orders to Principal.
Due to these uncertainties, IPAC (INITIATIVE FOR PROTECTING AMERICAN COLLEGE.) decided that the retired faculty should meet the Collector of Madurai and request him to come out with the report at the earliest so that day-to-day functioning of the college goes on smoothly. A memorandum to this effect was prepared and word was sent around to the retired faculty in the city to come to the Collector’s Office.
The following retired faculty, including three former Principals, assembled at 10.30 on 2 June:
1. Prof. P.T.CHELLAPPA
2. Prof. B.GUNRAJ
3. Prof. Dr.PERTER JEYAPANDIYAN
4. Prof SOLOMON PAPPIAH
5. Prof A.WINFRED
6. Prof J.VASANTHAN
7. Prof R.PADMANABHAN NAIR
8. Prof D.SAMUEL LAWRENCE
9. Prof R.NEDUMARAN
10. Prof Dr.SAMINATHAN
11. Prof Dr.R.D. MICHAEL
12. Prof A.KUMARESAN
13. Prof T.S.SUBRAMANIAN
14. Prof V.SRINIVASAN
15. Prof Dr.G.BALASUBRAMANIAM
16. Prof BALDWIN JAWAHARSINGH
17. Prof J.E.M.ARPUTHAMOORTHI
18. Prof JOHNSON SUNDARARAJ
19. Prof MESTON FENN
20. Prof G.SAM GEORGE
And
21. Mr. CHRISTOPHER
Though we had obtained prior permission for the audience with the Collector, on that morning we were informed after long wait, that we would not be able to meet him but only the R.D.O. At R.D.O.‘s office, Dr. D.P.J. made a fervent plea to expedite the action of the Collector and R.D.O.. Prof. P.T.C. who was indisposed recollected the role of Bishops at our college Governing Council Meetings and also how our college has been totally free from interference from any quarter including the Diocese. Prof Pappiah briefly mentioned the traditions the college has set for itself in all these years. A few more of the faculty also expressed their views briefly to which the R.D.O. gave a patient hearing.
Before leaving the Collectorate it was decided to have the meeting of IPAC on the same evening at 6.30 at Peoples Watch Office building.
In the evening the meeting was well attended by many of the alumni and well wishers. The need for some quick action was realized since there was apprehension on everybody’s mind. So it was planned to meet Chief Minister immediately to appeal to him to help the college. It was also thought that some corpus fund had to be generated to meet the expenses in case of a long drawn struggle. In addition, it was also suggested that telegrams and letters from the faculty, the alumni, the students and the public should be sent to R.D.O. and Collector to expedite the matter.
After the meeting was over some of us were organizing to send the telegrams and letters. Around 9 p.m. we got information that the orders of the R.D.O. is going to be served. So we rushed to the Principal’s bungalow on our campus. Pappiah and Prof. Winfred joined us. Another tense hour of waiting …!
Around 10 p.m. police personnel issued a copy of the orders to Principal.
Our earlier apprehension had been if the status of the Dr. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar as the Principal and Secretary was questioned by the Orders the college would slip into unimaginable anarchy. But the courageous pronouncement of the government has only saved the turf on which we stand together and continue our struggle.
No comments:
Post a Comment