We were the last batch before the Independence (1947) to join B.E. in Madras University. It was May-June 1947. It was then Madras Presidency with 26 districts from Tirunelveli in the south to Vizag-Gajam (Andhra) in the north, also including north Malabar and South Canara on the west coast and Coorg.
There were only four engineering colleges (all government) besides Annamalai University (Private). Admission to the government colleges were made jointly. There was then a communal G.O. Of the about 350 seats in the four colleges at Guindy, (GCT) Coimbatore, Anantpur and Kakinada, each district was allotted a fixed number of seats, based on its population. The applicant had to produce nativity certificate from the Tahsildar concerned. Thus Tirunelveli district where I came from was allotted a total of 14 seats.
Along with the nativity certificate from the Tahsildhar, the applicant must specify his community in the application form. While enclosing the Intermediate (plus two) exams certificate, the total marks obtained in maths, physics and chemistry were the criteria for admission.
Unless one is a topper (or second) among his caste candidates of the district, he would not be able to get admission at all! Admission cards were sent based on selection on these criteria without any formal interview! Here again, the students were distributed among the four colleges anywhere. Each of these colleges had a mixed bag of Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam and Kannada students.
In my case, I was one of the toppers from my district and I got admission to GCT at Coimbatore (then called Hope College). On arrival, I was taken to the Principal, who verified my certificates and then asked me to pay the fees for the college and hostel.
After three years, the college was shifted from Peelamedu to its present site at R.S. Puram. Our batch came out in April 1951 after four years of study there at Coimbatore.
For all my four years of study and hostel stay, my total expense including my clothes and college tours was only Rs. 4000. Unbelievable !!
The writer served as Chief Engineer, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Neyveli.
