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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

NDTV reports.......



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Madurai Bishop faces flak for 'usurping' college
Sam Daniel
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, (Madurai)It is being seen as a coup of sorts by a bishop. The administration of the 128-year-old American College in Madurai has allegedly been taken over illegally by the bishop.

The college was founded by American missionaries but was being run by an independent governing council with the bishop as a nominal head. But recently the bishop suspended the principal, reportedly in an illegally convened governing council, stormed the college and made his chosen man the principal incharge.

Principal Dr T Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar defends that actions, saying: "It's a Christian college and as early as 1934 the founding fathers wanted the college to be independent of the church. And the faculty, students and all would like me cherish it and protect." (Watch)

The state government has not accepted the bishop's action. The Madras High Court has restrained the principal from carrying out his work. Now there is fear and unrest on the campus. The bishop says the college is an integral part of the church.

"It's dichotomised as internal administration by the principal and the controlling authority by the bishop. But this part is normally concealed," says Christopher Asir, Bishop in Madurai, CSI.

Caught in the tussle for power are students.

"For the past then days we had no classes. Some classes are held under trees. We want the government to step in," complains one.

Christian colleges are increasingly seen as power centres and the church is attempting to takeover at least five such renowned Christian colleges in Tamil Nadu.

But these colleges say that will be downfall of their standards and want the bishops just to look after their spiritual work.
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1 comment:

Nivedan said...

The media has given an impartial view at last. After reading reports from Dinamalar, I was very much worried that the media is partial or taking stands at some situation. Now NDTV has exposed it in a really nice way. We are certainly thankful to them.

I was trying to contact Tehelka through the people I know. But I did not get a response since it is not considered as a socio-political issue affecting a section of the people. But after deep analysis one would come to the conclusion that it is.