I was a germ of an idea – floating
around in some minds, till one of them talked about me to another.
And lo!
I took shape.
At the same time..I was also a dream,
a longing in many a girl's heart.
In the early 1900s, after the 6th
form of those days.. where does a girl go?
Only teacher training was the option,
as they were not allowed to study along with men!
One such brave girl wrote about her
longing- as an essay.
This essay won a prize and she was
asked to read it out to the visiting dignitary from the Madras
legislature. She did. But he laughed at her idea- "What a
college for women? How many of you will join if such a one was indeed
opened?"
He was most surprised to see the whole
class putting up their hands!
So wheels started moving, and soon Sir
Sivaswamy Iyer put up a note for discussion in the Madras assembly. A
finance member objected to the cost. But Lord Pentland the Governor
supported it.
The rest is history.
So I was born on 14th July,
1914- and named " The Madras College for Women".
Ms.Dorothy de la Hey lovingly nurtured
me from the first day.
(The girl who dared to dream was
Nallamuthu, sister of Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy.
She was studying in Presidency and
Training School when she wrote the essay.
Soon she joined the re named college-
Queen Mary's College.
She later became the first Indian
Principal to head that institution.)
She was one of my fine daughters..who
later held many important positions including that of a member of
Parliament in Independent India.
I have many noble daughters. One of
whom fought for this country: the late Captain Lakshmi Sahgal- INA.
I am proud of my
girls- who have served and continue to reach out to the most
deserving sections of our society- Some of my senior and
unforgettable daughters are:
Ms.Kamala Devi
(Chatopadyaya) founder of Crafts Council of India
Lady Dhanvanti
Handoo a leader in social service
Mary Roy – who
filed the first PIL asking for equal property rights for women.
And many more- all
illustrious trail blazers in many professional fields-
many of my
daughters were the First women in their chosen field:
the first chartered
accountant, first veterinary doctor, first Doctorate in Home
Science,Vice Chancellors of Womens Universities,renowned musicians
,musicologists,economists, mathamatecians, medical researchers (she
would have done intermediate in my arms)!
The list of
illustrious Queen Marians is long.
It continues to
grow.
They are scattered
all over the world now.
I call on them
with love-to join me on my birth Centenary!
Join my
celebrations. Come to your mothers' house, your Alma Mater.
There are many
matters here that need attention!
(Visit qmc100.com)
Nice sketch and lovely narrative!
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