Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
In search of documentation
S. MUTHIAH
Next year, the University of Madras begins celebrating the 150th year of its existence. Already it has teamed with the other two universities that opened their doors in 1857, Bombay and Calcutta, and plans have been drawn up for joint efforts on the academic front. These three are the mother universities of a large number of universities in India — and will no doubt remember that fact when each holds its individual celebration. Each of those celebrations will also no doubt take an individual format — but I envisage a rather belated documenting being encouraged at the time.
The University of Madras, I know, plans a major documentation exercise and is looking for records, theses, souvenirs, photographs, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia, which will provide glimpses into its 150-year history. It is also hoping to be able to find a place for such material in an archives and museum it hopes it will be able to develop in the basement of Senate House, now under restoration and which will be the focal point of the Madras celebrations. Anyone who would like to contribute to this archival collection may send such memorabilia to Dr. P. R. Subramanian, Director (Publications), Convener, Documentation Committee, University of Madras, University Buildings, Chepauk, Chennai-600005.
One book which should find a place in this collection, if a copy could be found, is Memories of Rugby and India published by T. Fisher Unwin, London, in 1910. The book, brought out posthumously, is an autobiography of Sir Alexander J. Arbuthnot, a civilian who played a major role in Madras from 1842 to 1872 and in Calcutta and Simla from 1875 to 1897. Perhaps his most significant role in Madras was as founding secretary of the Department of Education and the first Director of Public Instruction, appointed to the newly created posts in 1855. Of his appointment he writes, "I had previously been connected with Indian education, having been... Secretary to a Board styled the `University Board', which was engaged in starting some of the initiatory measures for promoting the study of the English language throughout our Presidency. I had also compiled an exhausting account of matters relating to public instruction in Madras from 1822 to 1853, which was published in 1855."
He goes on to say, "During the time I was organising the Department of Education I was instrumental in founding the University of Madras, of which I was one of the original Fellows, and was later, in 1871-72 appointed Vice-Chancellor." During this period he also officiated as Governor for a short time. In 1858, he delivered the first Convocation address and, in 1868, when he was a Member of the Council, he again addressed the graduating class. When he delivered the 1858 address, the East India Company's form of governance was being abolished and the Raj was taking over, but still finding its feet. And so, in his address ten years later, he said, "It was under these circumstances that the University of Madras held its first Convocation for conferring of degrees, and, as might be expected, the character of the ceremonial was in keeping with the feelings of doubt and incertitude which prevailed... We met on that occasion in a small and unpretending building, ill-adapted and inconvenient for a public gathering. The ceremonial, if such it may be called, was of the most informal and unimpressive description. The attendance was scanty. During the ten years which have elapsed a great change has taken place... The University is no longer an experiment. It is an accomplished and admitted success."
Two things strike me. I wonder what and where that "small and unpretending building" was. And secondly, what he would make of the oak the acorn he had planted has grown into. Documentation of that success — and the occasional failures — is what the University is now seeking. I wonder how many readers can help.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
