 |
Speeches of Alagappa Chettiar |
||
|
Speech of Dr. RM. Alagappa Chettiar,
- - - - - - Your Excellency, Distinguished friends, Members of the staff and the students of the Polytechnic and workers of the mills: My father, Dr. Alagappa Chettiar wishes me to convey to you his apologies for not being able to be present here in person. He had commissioned me to read this address on his behalf, and I have the honour now of reading his address: At the outset, I must tender my most humble thanks to the President, Prime minister, Vice President, Rajaji and Governors of States and many distinguished educationists and other well-wishers who have been kind enough to send me their messages of good-will on this most auspicious occasion. To justify the ways of God to man has ever been the effort of all thinking men through the ages. Despite my serious illness there were little patches of no pain and suffering and some happiness. I had programmed and God was merciful enough in enabling me to fulfil the programme to go to the Alagappa College Campus at Karaikudi for nearly a fortnight last month. I had similarly planned a week's stay at Alagappanagar to look around this new infant educational institute and my textile mills and simultaneously take great pride and happiness of participating in today's function, in making a welcome speech to our distinguished Chief Guest, the Governor of Kerala, Dr. B. Ramakrishna Rao and others. But God in his wisdom had planned otherwise and that plan has debarred me from coming over to Alagappanagar, and I am now pinned to my bed with anguish and suffering. Inscrutable are the ways of Providence. I am asking my young daughter Srimathi Unayal Ramanathan, to read on my behalf the small welcome address, which I have dictated to welcome our distinguished Chief Guest and the other guests and also to pay my tribute to Dr. B. Ramakrishna Rao. The people of Kerala are one of the most intelligent groups of people known for their skill, intellectual vigour, scholarship and cleanliness in daily life and yet unfortunately are bound up with problems of one kind or the other which have upset the harmony of society in Kerala. To my mind, it appears, large numbers of industrial undertakings and training technical personnel will to a certain extent solve the major problems of unrest. That is why I, with my experience of nearly two decades in Kerala, have made bold to start this Polytechnic early last year and that was inaugurated by Shri P.S. Rau, the then Adviser to the Rajpramukh of Travancore Cochin. Now, the second stage has started, in that we are not merely starting off the building operations, but what is more, thanks to Government of India and to the State Government and the Southern Regional Committee we are adding mechanical and electrical group of subjects to be taught in this Polytechnic from the next academic year. To have the Polytechnic with young earnest men, eager to learn and anxious to do the work with their hands, alongside of a textile mill engaging thousands of workers where the spindles keep turning round almost for 24 hours, is indeed a sight, which gladdens my heart and enthuses me immensely, I have already made provision for preference to the children of the mill workers in the matter of recruitment of students to the Polytechnic. I also look forward to the day when the bulk of the students of the polytechnic in Civil. Mechanical and Electrical and, in due course, Textiles as wells will be the sons of the workers. Everyone working in the mills or learning his work at the Polytechnic will be adding to the wealth of the country and greatly help to raise the standard of life of the mass of the people. Little did I dream last year that I will have the privilege of starting this institute, though I was brave enough to request the President of the Republic of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad to make the announcement in November 1955 at Karaikudi that a Polytechnic at Alagappanagar is intended to be opened. God has been most merciful and kind to me though not in the physical sector. I appeal both to the common man as well as to the leaders of society in every field to assist me in the growth of this new educational adventure, as some people call it, and co-operate with the Trust to build up one of this finest edifices of technical institutions in this part of Kerala. I do not wish to inflict a long speech on you nor to tire my young daughter who has gracefully agreed to read my speech. His Excellency Dr. B. Ramakrishna Rao, Governor of Kerala is a seasoned administrator in that he was the Chief Minister of Hyderabad.a State with many problems and he has done remarkable work and I am told by the Southern Regional Office that his work in the field of technical education has not been small. With his affection towards me and steadfastness in bringing equilibrium to Kerala with all its upheavals and loyalty to the Nation, is now the main task of our Governor. I wish him all God-speed in this great work and I sincerely tender my most genuine thanks for his having come over to lay the Foundation Tablet of the Alagappanagar Polytechnic alongside of my Alagappa Textiles (Cochin) Ltd., I pray to Providence that it be given to me before long to come over to Allagappanagar, see the workers whom I have known very intimately for a long period of years and cultivate the acquaintance of the students of the Polytechnic and play my part in guiding them aright. My God bless this infant institution is my prayer. I thank the Governor most sincerely once again. JAIHIND
|
|