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Book on history of TN universities released

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI March 10. A compilation recording the history and growth of 16 universities, eight deemed universities and institutes of national importance in Tamil Nadu, was released here today by the Governor-Chancellor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao.

At a function held at the Raj Bhavan, the Governor handed over the first copy of History of universities in Tamil Nadu, penned by the Alagappa University, Vice-Chancellor, A. Ramasamy, to the Editor, The Hindu, N. Ravi.

Commending Dr. Ramasamy, the Governor said the publication would be a useful background material for researchers as well as for policy makers to understand the emergence and growth of higher education in this part of the country. He lauded R. Lakshmipathy, publisher and R. Krishnamurthy, editor, Dinamalar, Tamil Daily, which sponsored the project.

The Governor wanted the author to include in the book a note on the Presidency College (Chennai), which was started before 1857, the year in which the Madras University was founded.

He also wanted the author to include, as an appendix, recordings made by Lord John Elphistone and Lord Macaulay, so that policy makers would understand the history of higher education in Chennai.

Dr. Ramasamy said higher education in India grew phenomenally in the past 50 years, from about 20 universities and 591 colleges in 1947 to about 265 universities and 13,062 colleges in 2002.

The book recorded the birth of higher education since Wood's despatch of 1854 impressing the Government on the need to create universities in Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.

Mr.Lakshmipathy said the Dinamalar publication sponsored the project as a continuation of the legacy left by his father, T.V. Ramasubbaiyer, who, besides starting newspapers, founded schools to spread education in rural areas.

Mr.Ravi said newspapers provided mountains of information; most of them were short-lived, but some of them politically and historically important.

People were thirsting for relevant information and seeking to improve their knowledge of events worldwide through the media.

The book would be useful for filling the gap between these two and also be a valuable source for researchers and students.

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