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(ARCHIVE) Vol. XXI No. 3, May 16-31, 2011
Our Readers Write

Once portals of prestige

Some time ago, I visited my Alma Mater, Queen Mary’s College. With me were my son, my daughter-in-law and grandchildren. I wanted to show them the prestigious institution in which I had studied once upon a time.

We entered the portals and I was appalled at the condition of the buildings. Pentland, Jeypore, Stone and the central block housing the Principal’s domain were unkempt and wild – no broom has moved over them for some time. It was an appalling sight – the buildings hadn’t seen paint for years and were covered with patches of moss. The front garden was covered with shrubs and was unkempt.

I didn’t explore the rest of the premises, but the swimming pool (imagine a college in the early 1900s with a swimming pool!) was a garbage dump!

We then left to have a look at Presidency College, where I had studied, my husband had studied, and which produced stalwarts like Sir C.V. Raman and Chandrasekhar, many outstanding doctors, parliamentarians and politicians.

We drove in before being stopped at the gate.

The dear old Fyson clock had patches of moss. The red brick outer structure was dull. Each of the windows and doors was painted in a different colour – some white, some blue, some green. Really grotesque were the window shades – most of them dilapidated.

My children were taking photographs of the broken window shades.

Two watchmen came running – they had been out drinking tea.

“Sir...Sir, Are you from the media. Please don’t report about us!”

I told them I had once upon a time studied there.

His reply was “Andha kalam ellam poche,” and added, “We then had more than fifty to hundred people for maintenance – now we are just ten.”

I asked him why the place had not been painted.

Apparently, tenders are called, but nothing happens.

Lady Willingdon Teachers’ Training College is hardly even visible.

These institutions were once a remarkable sight on the Marina ... now they are an eyesore.

In contrast, look at Women’s Christian College started almost the same time. How well it is maintained, though they have to raise money for it!

Down came Capper House ... Soon there will come the rest of the great Rani Mary Kalloori.

We had a ditty, “Queen Marians never die, never die, they only fade away!” But we are fading away. Soon there will be nothing to say that there was such an institution.

Anna Varki
1D Rosemere, 18 Harrington Road
Chennai 600 031

Neglected Presidency

This is prompted by reading your article on the sad state of Presidency College (MM, April 16th). I too got a shock when I visited my old school, Madras Christian College School in Chetpet. The decay and general neglect were appalling. I spent six happy years there from 1955-61.

Kuruvilla Jacob was our Headmaster and the buildings and grounds were maintained in immaculate condition. He would personally walk round the campus daily, cane in hand.

I also went to my old primary school, Good Shepherd Convent in Nungambakkam. The same sad story of utter neglect and degradation! A nun rudely questioned me as if I was a potential thief! What was there to steal in that heap of decay?

Dr. D. Raman
Calle Risco de la coruja 29 Lajares 35650
Las Palmas
Islas Canarias

* * *

‘The shame that's Presi- dency’ (MM, April 16th) made very sad reading. This institution, older than the Madras University itself, is an institution of immense repute. This may be the only institution in the whole of India that can boast of two Nobel Laureates (Sir C.V. Raman and Dr. Chandrasekar) as its alumni and that too in the same subject, Physics. A large number of economists, administrators, polticians and journalists have studied in the college.

Two such very important persons are P. Chidambaram, the Home Minister, and N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu. Significantly, they were classmates.

On the faculty side, the doyen of Tamil literature, Dr. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer, served as Professor here. His statue graces the campus. An eminent scientist Dr. Govindachari, who got the Shanthi Swarup Bhatnagar award and also the M.N. Saha award, was Professor of Chemistry in the College.

It is regrettable that such an eminent institution is in such a deplorable state.The Principal, the staff (through the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association if possible) and the Old Boys’ Association must take some interest and bring the problems to the attention of higher authorities, and also lend a hand themselves.

The writer herself has posed a question. “Can't we old students get together and ensure regular cleaning?” Yes, that can be done. Can’t P. Chidambaram and N. Ram lead in this effort?

R. Rajagopalan
Professor of Physics (retd.)
C1, Vaishnavi Flats
22, Muthy Mohammed Street Puzhuthivakkam
Madippakkam
Chennai 600 091

* * *

I was not shocked to read your article ‘The shame that’s Presidency” (MM, April 16th). I worked there for a few years just before my retirement in 2002. It was even then in shambles.

I think it is the principle of the Government not to appoint principals for Government Arts Colleges in the State. If sweepers and gardeners retire, nobody is appointed. Principals-in-charge will be in charge of dust and dirt only.

Two more magnificient buildings needing attention are Pachaiyappa's Hr. Sec. School, NSC Bose Road, and Government Arts College, Ooty.

Dr. S.S. Kumar
vanmuhill@gmail.com

* * *

I am an old ‘boy’ of that nonpareil college, Presidency (MM, April 16th). If the old ‘girl’ who wrote the letter passes the hat around, I am ready to contribute my mite.

The corpus can then be forwarded with a request to the Exnora man to lead a delegation of sweepers and swabbers to Presidency during the summer vacation and spring clean the premises.

Godliness fled Presidency long ago, at least let there be cleanliness.

C.G. Prasad
9, C.S. Mudali Street
Kondithope
Chennai 600 079

Harvey connection

It was interesting to read the article ‘A tale of two brothers’ (MM, April 1st) by K. Raman, and the subsequent contribution on the subject by T.M. Raghunathan (April 16th).

My late father-in-law and his older brother were nephews of the Harvey brothers and were with Harvey’s from about 1908, remaining with the firm until their respective retirements in the early 1930s. These brothers were the contemporaries of Andrew Harvey’s sons, and worked very closely with them.

My late wife was born in Madurai. I was a planter in South India during the 1950s and two of my sons were born there.

Despite efforts in recent years to discover some details about the lives of the Harveys of A & F Harvey, these efforts have always failed and it is only very recently that the interesting information came to light. I should be most grateful to learn of any person with further information about the Harveys.

Andrew D. Barr
Egremont, Helensburgh G84 7HA, U.K.
andrew.barr69@yahoo.co.uk


 

In this issue

A coast without any regulation
A fruitful stay in Madras
'We cherish our history, neglect our heritage'
He made clonal tea blossom
The Tawker legacy in Ayanavaram
Other stories

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a-Musing
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