The Story of St.John's College, Agra: The Truth Shall Make You Free

By Agnes S Ipe and Ipe M Ipe

St. Johns College , Agra, one of the oldest institutions of higher education in India played a significant role in providing much needed manpower specially immediate post independent period.Its alumni include past Presidents, Governors, Civil Servants, Church leaders including many Bishops , eminent Educators, Journalists and community leaders. At the time of its centenary celebrations in 1959 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru our first Prime Minister complimented with the words I have come to pay tribute to this great temple of learning. The greatness of this institution needs to be recorded and understood . The primary purpose of this book is to pass on its history to future generations of students before it is lost in history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Nov 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482858440

Agnes S Ipe

Authors Ipe M.Ipe and Agnes Ipe have long and close association with St. John's College since the sixties and played significant role in the life of the college as Students, Research Scholars,Members of the teaching faculty as Wardens,as Games Organizers, Departmental Heads and as Principal. They held positions in the policy making bodies at various times like Staff Councils, Academic Councils and the Governing Body. The first author is a Life Member of the Governing Body and also member of St. John's College Society. Both authors were associated with the renowned research school, the School of Entomology as its head and supervised the research programs of candidates leading to the Doctoral Degree. They also authored a number of original publications including "Memoirs of School of Entomology".Their close association with all the past Principals since 1957 place them in an advantageous position to write this book

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THE STORY OF

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE,

AGRA

IPE M IPE & AGNES S IPE

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Copyright © 2015 by Ipe M Ipe & Agnes S Ipe.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Administrative Frame work

Anglican Church,-Church Missionary Society,-Church of North India (CNI)

Chapter 1 - Pre Independence Period

The Beginning:

Early Days:

The New Building: A Necessity for Expansion

At the New Campus

Commission on Christian Higher Education In India and Agra Conference

The College Buildings

Chapter 2

Canon William Edward Sladen Holland: Principal 1929-1933

Canon T. D Sully: Principal 1933-1948, 1954-1955

Youth and Leadership Training

Rural Development and Establishment of Gram Sudhar Sabhas

Social Service League

Some happenings of the period are worth mention.

Chapter 3

Mr. C. V. MAHAJAN, M.A (Oxon), - First Indian Principal: 1948-1954.

Canon Dr. P. T. Chandi: Principal 1955-1968

Distinguished Visitors

Seminars and Lectures (stress on academic excellence)

Research Activities

Research Projects-Pl-480 Project on Leaf-Miners, Manali Trip

Exhibitions

Convocations and Functions:

Sports and Games

AIACHE – All India Association of Christian Higher Education

Dr.P.I.Itteyerah : Principal 1968-1978

Dramatic Society, Other Clubs and Societies

Vivekananda Vichar Mandal

Creation of designated Endowments

Post Centenary Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving Service.

26th College Convocation 11th March 1978 and Address by Mother Teresa.

Dr. Satish Chandra Banwar: Principal 1978-79

Banwar Cup Matches

St. Paul’s Church College

Prof. G. M. Ram , M.A.(Howard): Principal 1979-1991

New Buildings: Staff Accommodation and Biosciences Block.

Gol-Ghar

International Course In School of Entomolgy: Ecotaxonomy and Diagnostics of Agricultural Pests.

National Workshop on Himalayan Ecology at Manali 26-30 September 1989

All Girls’ Trek to Rohtang (Kullu Valley) HP.: 1988

Dr. M.S.Renick, M. A., Ph. D. : Principal 1991-1996

New Commerce Block

Visit of Dr.Kurshid Alam Khan

Dr. Ipe M. Ipe, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.E.S., F.E.S.I: Principal- 1996- 1999

Student Exchange Programme

Chapter 4

The Chapel of Invitation: A True Nursery in Ecumenism

The New Chapel

The Nativity Tableau

Role in Leadership Training

Chapter 5

Student Alone Initiatives

Banwar Cup Matches

SFI Activism

Chapter 6

Corporate Life

Day Students Organisation

Chapter 7

School of Entomology

Chapter 8

Alumni

Chapter 9

The Essence of St. John’s College

Appendix I Chairmen of Governing bodies 1930-1999

Appendix II Vice Principals 1930-1999

Acknowledgements

The attempt to write the story of St. John’s from 1930 to 1999 was greatly influenced by one of our former Principals late Canon P. T. Chandi who has been a role model for many who came in contact with him. On two occasions, much after retirement, he brought up the topic and prompted to complete the story from where Rev. Haythornthwaite and Canon Sully left. At that time we felt daunted and totally ill-equipped to attempt anything like that. Dr. R. C. Sharma our former colleague and retired Prof. of History, Dr. Neville Smith an alumni and formerly Professor of English of R.B.S. College, Late Dr. David Livingstone our own alumni and staff who retired as Prof. of Bharatiar University Coimbatore (Tamilnadu) and Madras Christian College, Tambaram (Tamilnadu), late Mr. Neepesh Talukdar a distinguished alumni and formerly president of the Delhi Chapter of the St. John’s College Alumni were all keen to see a project like this come to fruition and had offered help, if needed.

The most challenging task we felt was how to capture in words the powerful, yet humble and sacrificial nature of personalities involved in the building up of its past. We were afraid that the silent contributions of generations of students and staff will go un-reflected because of our inability, as we felt totally ill-equipped for the job, our apologies for the same.

We were heavily dependent on the contributions in the College Magazines of each year as there was recorded source or history of the College available elsewhere. The ‘Principal’s notes’ of each year contain enormous amount of information and we are grateful to them for their silent contributions.

It is not possible for us to mention personally bands of student friends, from the play fields, class rooms, hostels, mountain treks, public life and also colleagues, senior, past and present, who enriched us with their friendship and fellowship. Their thoughts and counseling was with us all through the preparation of the manuscript. Many of them have completed their race and no more with us many are still at their race along with us, we are grateful to them, for their lives and friendships that enriched us and prompted us to complete this venture.

We are grateful to the current Chairman of the Governing Body of St. John’s College Rt. Rev. Dr. P. P. Habil for his interest shown in bringing out this publication and present Principal of the College Dr. P. E. Joseph for support and facilities.

This project has come into fruition with the combined moral and financial support of our sons Andrew, his wife Aaakshee ; Nikhil, his wife Juhi; and our two Grand- sons Joy and Vihaan. Juhi has been helpful in the computer readying the script and Joy in transferring portion from laptop to the desk top computer.

Mr. Sailesh Kumar spent long hours with us in putting the script into book form.

Preface

Blessings of God Almighty enabled us to be a part of this great Institution, St. John’s College, Agra, for more than half a century since 1956. During this long stay, initially as a students then as members of the staff, we got the opportunity to be closely associated with successive Principals, Canon Dr. P. T. Chandi, Dr. P. I. Itteyerah, Rev. Dr. S. C. Banwar, Prof. G. M. Ram, and Dr. M. S. Renick. The chance of being associated with a stream of distinguished students who are contributing their might fearlessly to the life of our nation outside the arena of College walls is the most cherished blessing we can recall. This book is dedicated to all, irrespective of religion, caste or creed, whose sacrificial lives and services enabled St. John’s College to be what it is at the end of the twentieth century.

The suggestion to record and update the history of the College from 1930 onwards was made by former Principal Canon P. T. Chandi on his last visit to the College in 1990. He also shared with us the fact that he has made this suggestion also to few others associated with the College. Two decades have passed since then, during which we lost many valued St. Johnians to history. Urgency was felt to record the events of the period as