AN OPEN LETTER TO Dr. GEORGE SELVAKUMAR FROM Prof. D.S.L.

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The following letter was sent by Prof. D.S.Lawrence to Dr. George Selvakumar by registered post. The latter had declined to receive it. Hence I present it here to you all.............. sam george



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An open letter to Dr.George Selvakumar,
The American College, Madurai.


Dear Dr. George Selvakumar,

I write this letter to you in the hope that you would read it with an open mind. I take the liberty to do this, because I know you not only as a student but also as a colleague and friend. I am deeply pained and saddened by what has been happening in the American College for the past 6 months and I sincerely feel that I should express my thoughts to you on this problem.

I have known you as a friendly person who would never involve himself in any controversy. But, strangely enough, by allowing yourself to be manipulated by forces inimical to the college, led by the present Bishop of the CSI Madurai-Ramnad Diocese, you have become a controversial person. Even now, I am not able to understand how you agreed to be the acting Principal, as per the Bishop’s wish, when you knew very well that Dr.Chinnaraj Joseph had already cancelled his leave and was very much on the campus. Instead of being true to your conscience and saying a firm ‘no’ to the Bishop at the initial stage itself, you preferred to ditch Dr.Chinnaraj (whom you had praised to the skies for his leadership qualities and administrative acumen on several occasions) and thus the college, your ‘alma mater’.

I am sorry to say that this action on your part, which could be termed an act of treachery, was the starting point for all the problems the college has been facing for the past 6 months. Having been blessed with an opportunity to study in the college and also to serve it for several years, and having known its rich traditions and the values it stands for, its constitution and the limited powers of the Bishop, you should have resisted the pressure to betray the college. Does not your knowledge of this 127 year old college, founded by the selfless missionaries, make you feel obliged to be grateful to it and defend it at any cost?

But, unfortunately, the story of your ‘most unkindest cut’ to the college, started on that black day when you decided to occupy the Principal’s chair based on the Bishop’s order, has been continuing even today. The convening of illegal Governing Council meetings, the failure of several peace-talks, filing of a number of cases, harassing not only Dr.Chinnaraj but also his supporters in various ways, the Bishop’s open declaration that the American College is a CSI institution (which is not true), the use of money-power and muscle power to achieve his purpose and many such anti-college and anti-Christian activities have obviously had the stamp of approval from you.

To ‘crown it all’ was that tragic incident on August 29, 2008, when the Bishop made a forceful entry into the campus and ‘anointed’ you as Principal. This farce was enacted soon after lathi charge by the police on the students, faculty and non teaching staff brave enough to resist it. Thus, you – already under suspension duly approved by the JDCE – became principal on that ‘auspicious day’. The presence of police all these days is a standing testimony to your ‘control’ over the situation on the campus.

So, the college, known for its academic achievements and innovations, close staff- student relationship and for its inclusive character is in a shambles.

Dear George, my intention is not to accuse you but to appeal to your good senses. The American College has been a great institution. Let not our actions contribute, directly or indirectly to its decline and fall. Let not desire for power, position, money etc stand in the way of doing good. Let us not forget that we are accountable to God for all our thoughts, words and deeds.

May God guide you in His path of truth and justice.

May God bless the college.

Thank you,

Yours sincerely,
D.SAMUEL LAWRENCE.



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