LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF ....

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History Repeats Itself

Till about the middle of last century University of Madras was a monolith spread over the entire states of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry. It was cracked for the first time through the efforts of two influential members of the Syndicate of the University Prof. S. J. Savarirayan and Prof. T. Totadri Iyengar from Madurai and the University of Madras Extension center was born.  Post graduation education was made possible in colleges in the south Tamilnadu. The American College readily offered space in first floor of James Hall for the office of the center. Professors of University Extension Center were provided offices in the College. Very soon the library of the extension center was created and housed in our Flint House. Madurai University which for a short time was known as Kamaraj University and later called Madurai Kamaraj University was born. The initiative and efforts of Principal Savarirayan towards the establishment of a University in Madurai was such that at one time he was tipped to be the first Vice Chancellor of the University. The language agitation (known as Anti-Hindi agitation) came in and Prof. Savarirayan who was very firm in protecting his students from police action during the agitation days was branded as an anti-Hindi man and his chances of becoming the first Vice Chancellor was lost. There are many in Madurai who will remember all these. Following this model, Universities in Coimbatore (Bahrathir)and in Tiruchirappalli (Bharathi Dasan) universities were born much later with the creation of University of Madras extension centers in those cities.

Why recall this history now one may wonder. Principal American College has a Midas touch. The news papers carry news of the initiative taken by one of the successors of Principal Savarirayan in the establishment of the INO (Indian Neutrino Observatory) near Madurai. That is remarkable. It is certain that he will succeed. This will probably open up a new chapter in the establishment of INO and many such central research centers in this part of the great country. As the great historian Trevelyn has remarked“History repeats itself”

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