The Hindu : Cheerful students back in classrooms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Cheerful students back in classrooms

By Shonali Muthalaly

CHENNAI APRIL 10 . Just as the long uncomfortable wait under the trees started becoming routine for the Queen Mary's College students, the Madras High Court today ordered college authorities to unlock all buildings.

After six long days, the QMC entrances were functional again when the gates were finally flung open and the police removed their barricades.

While the morning of Day Seven of the impasse began, as usual, with the students seated on the ground revising for their fast approaching examinations, in the afternoon the arrival of an official-looking white Ambassador car caused a ripple of excitement.

In 10 minutes most of the students had abandoned their books and gathered in front of Pentland House, in which the principal's office is situated.

The crowd of anxious faces broke into a series of ear-splitting shrieks and cheers when the QMC union members finally arrived from the court to tell them they could all go back to class. For the next half an hour there was total chaos.

The thrilled students rushed into Pentland House and clattered up its old wooden staircase to return to their classrooms.

Then, half of them came running back because they were still locked and they didn't have the keys.

Finally, lecturers were instructed to go to the principal's office and pick up the keys and attendance registers, and then start their classes by 2.15 p.m. at the latest as per the court order.

Just outside the principal's office celebration was quieter but equally charged with excitement.

As students and professors hugged each other and gleefully lifted their department keys out of the office cabinet, student union members went from class to class ensuring that every department, laboratory, library and hall was opened.

"Our lawyer has told us told to make sure that everything is opened and then inform the court," said the vice-president, N. Hemavathi. Archana Kanthan, student president, said: "We are thrilled. The case is not over but now we are hoping for the best. We don't have to be afraid anymore."

Not all the students are that ecstatic, though. One student reminded her cheering friends that the battle is not yet over. "The classes may have started, but it is not the classes we were fighting for. It is to prevent demolition of the college."

After about half an hour of class, the day scholars went home with some peace of mind while the hostelites stormed the canteen and toasted each other with glasses of lukewarm soft drinks.

P.T. Rajalakshmi, Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Planning and Development, who is acting principal, said the college in now officially "open".

"We had closed the college because we suspected some tension, but now that the situation has stabilised and we see no threat to the girls, we are opening again."

Sheila Samuel, Controller of Examinations, said the examinations would be held on schedule and should not be a problem as "the staff were supposed to have completed all classes before April 7."

However, revision's going to be difficult, especially with the upcoming government holiday scheduled between April 12 and 15.

According to one of the professors, the university examinations would begin on April 16 and would be taken by 120 students.

"Everything is so undecided now. We are hoping there won't be a change of venue."

The students meanwhile are, perhaps for the first time in their lives, celebrating the end of their holidays.

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