The centenary celebration of Washburn Hall in American College here witnessed some emotionally charged moments during a get-together of the hostel alumni on Saturday.
The celebration got under way with an interaction on the quadrangle of the stately hostel with the chief guest, artist Jeyaraj, reminiscing about his college days (1954-58). He attributed his artistic inspirations in the formative years of his career to the forest-like environs of American College. “Though I was a day-scholar, I used to bring my lunch and eat at Washburn. Many great leaders visited this college. But I still remember what former chief minister Annadurai said very eloquently and rightly about this institution – It’s a well-behaved college.”
“The very name, American College, stands me in good stead wherever I go,” the renowned artist, who has settled down in Chennai, said.
S.P. Kallanai (1961-64 batch) of the ‘Washburn family’ said, “Of all the good attributes like good and cheap food, what I value most is the absence of discrimination, which was prevalent in other campuses then.” The 74-year-old former District Educational Officer from Narasingampatti said the bond with American College was bond for life.
Other speakers said freedom of expression was one of the other hallmarks of this old institution, nurtured over the years by illustrious principals, wardens and bursars. B. Gunaraj, former Principal and Washburn warden (1960-63), and others spoke.
Earlier, while recollecting his hostel days at the Washburn Hall Warden’s office I. Irulappan (1950-54 batch) of Ilamanur said, “Nothing has changed in Washburn. The corridor where old photos have been placed for the celebration is where we had our canteen. One of my roommates was actor ‘Major’ Sundararajan, who came from Sholavandan.”
Those days Madras University was the only one in the State. I received my degree from the then Vice-Chancellor A. L. Mudaliar at Senate Hall, after hiring the ceremonial gown from a studio on Wallajah Road,” the 87-year-old man, who retired from TANSI, said. The college also has three other equally imposing hostels -Wallace Hall, Zumbro Hall and Dudley Hall.
