A VALIANT STRUGGLE

by Prof. D.Samuel Lawrence

The recent incidents of violence, on the American College campus, in which several students got injured, speak volumes about the way in which a religious leader tried to take over the administration of the college. It is but an audacious attempt to bring it under his control.
It is really tragic that the American College, an institution founded by selfless and scholarly missionaries, should come under such an onslaught. A careful study of the history of The American College would reveal that it is a church-related but not a church-controlled college. The founders, in their infinite wisdom and remarkable foresight, had made it a liberal Christian college with a secular outlook. It has been rendering yeoman service in the field of higher education all these years.
And, according to the constitution of the College Governing Council, the Bishop of CSI Madurai-Ramnad Diocese is an ex-officio member and its President. His duty is to preside over its meetings and conduct them. Nothing more; nothing less. All the previous CSI bishops discharged this duty faithfully and maintained cordial relationship with the college administration. They did not overstep their limits.
But now, the situation has completely changed. The present CSI bishop of the Madurai-Ramnad Diocese, is bent upon bringing it under his control somehow or other. In the process, truth has become the first casualty. He portrays himself as a savior of the college and proclaims that he is engaged in the 'sacred mission' of preventing it from falling into private hands. This campaign of falsehood has been let loose on the public, with the help of the pliant pastors. It is a pity that those whose duty it is to spread love and fight for truth and justice do exactly the opposite.
So, it is a life-and-death struggle for the college to preserve its identity and individuality as envisaged by the noble missionaries who established it through their sweat and sacrifice. It is a fight against evil forces, who in the name of religion, try to grab it and make their own property. In other words, the question whether The American College would continue to serve the society as it has served so far as a liberal Christian institution or would it be converted into a business enterprise is involved in this. It is time that everyone concerned about truth and justice and the cause of higher education in Madurai stood up and joined hands in this valiant struggle for this great institution-to protect and preserve its freedom and individuality. Otherwise, it would be nothing but a betrayal of the noble principles on which The American College was founded.