... l \.." • . I' . I - . / 1 23 156 .dM85 .1 l :--- 1 .." =· ~ THE FERGUSSON COLLEGE ' 1884•1945 -v-- ..;_• - H• Hict.•- Sri TaraNi Malaaraj. S..ior lllalou.ai Sal.e..... Receat ol tJ.e C...cil ol .U.w.t.atia.. Ee~U,., ( P,.id•t ol tM D. E. Sec:MtJ) Sir James Fergu.-oo PREFACE The inception and the birth of the Deccan Education Society and the Fergusson College synchronise with the birth of the Indian National Congress, and of the spirit of national awakening and self-respect which that association embodies; and the various stages in the progress of the Society are coeval with the various stages in the advancement of our nation on the path of . social and political progress. Founded by stalwarts, that included the great Tilak-the father of Indian unrest; nursed by Gokhale, the suave and persua­ sive politician, the apostle of sweetness and light, who played his part in the national struggle and added to the stature of the Indian in Britain and abroad by his powerful and reasoned advocacy of India's cause before progressive and freedom-loving groups; and sustained and raised to the heights of glory by Paranjpye, the Senior Wrangler at Cambridge whose achievements in the intellectual field were emulated and in a sense surpassed by his pupil, Principal Dr. MahaJani, the b':' wrangler and Smith's prizeman,-the Society and the Fergusson College have come to occupy a premier position in the social, political and intellectual life of Mabarashtra. If Gokhale was associated with thl! Morley-Minto reforms and Principal Paranjpye became the first popular minister of Education with the advent of the Montague-Chelmsford reforms, the Golden Jubilee year of the College (1935) sqw the end of the non-coopera· tion phase and the installation in power of popular ministries under the Irwin pact, while the Diamond Jubilee year 1945 saw the end of the war and the Simla Conference where the seeds of the Interim· Government at the centre were sown. It is also significant that in the Diamond Jubilee year of the Fergusson College the Government should announce their intention to take the necessary steps to found the Poona University for Maharashtra which according to the generally accepted view is now overdue. In the pages of this little brochure, a forthright report of the speeches delivered and the messages and donations received on the occasion is given. The main function took place in the evening of the 17th November 1945, while on the 18th morning, the past students of the College, who were present by the hundred, witnessed the planting of the Jubilee tree at the hands of the grand old man of Poona, the revered guru Dr. D. K. Karve. Group photo• graphs of all those present on the occasion were taken in three batches, after which the past students were addressed by Mr. N.C. Kelkar, who presided at the meeting, followed by Mr. V. M. Potdar and Mr. G. S. Sardesai, the famous historian, who belong to the 1st batch of Fergussonians, while the idea of a Past Students' Association, its aims and objects was explained to the meeting by Rao Sahib N. D. Abhyankar after which the association was formally inaugurated by the President, himself an" Old Boy" of the College. I. 11 The Jubilee was celebrated in a suitable manner by past students in Delhi and other places, and an account of some of these meetings is also given here. The tributes of great personalities are more illuminating than whole volumes of exposition. On behalf of the Society, I convey our sincere thanks to all the great men of light and leading for the very kind messages they sent on the occasion and express the hope that it shall ever be the endeavour of every member of the Society to deserve the high praise in the fullest measure. We feel very happy to have received from General Sir Charles Fergusson and Brigadier Bernard F~rgusson, the son and grandson respectively of Sir James Fergusson after whom the College is named, such heartening messages of good-will on the occasion. To our donors we owe a debt of gratitude for the spontaneous manner in which they responded to our appeals, and I have pleasure, on behalf of the Society, to make grateful acknowledg­ ments to them. C.R.DEVADHAR The Alma Mate; Adorable shrine, Fergusson, thy name Immortal lives; glories garner'd in fight Lead thy earnest vot'ries their flames to light At fire divine; raptur'd they play the game, Each in skill excelling, in joy the same; Forget they their self; beautiful and bright Their memories shine-fountain of delight ; Service, pure unselfish, their only fame ; Buildings, grounds, libraries, museums, Majestic, vast, brought up to date are seen; They are but raiment rich and radiant The queenly Alma Mater wears; she hums The song of service to them that have been Her sons, daughters gladly obedient. R. K. KHANDEKAR Dr. Sir Raghunath P. Paranjpye P.rincipal of Principals, let me pay My. h~m~g~ kind, tribute of admiration ; Greatness superb in life, worth.verieration, Is your triumph, splendid like sunny day; Success supreme i~ maths' did yo·u attain, Exalting self: college, country-their name, Pervading the world with fragrance of fame, "Prodigy ofnumbers," renown maintain; Picturesque in person, tall, fair, impressive, Thundering good in class, in words expressive; Principal gl~rious,: Minister great Ambas~ador, in lands foreign, of state, Guardian A~gel of College : are roles · You play .with ho~our reaching farthest .poles. R. K. KHANDEKAR H. H. The Rajaeaheb of Saagli with Sir Tej Babadur Sapru Dr. D. lt. Jean.. plaatia& the Jubilee Tree H. H. Sir Cbintamalll'llo Dbundiraj alias Appasaheb Patwardhaa, K. c. J. E., K. C, s. I. 1 Raja of Sasgli, {Seniol' Vice-President D, E. S.) APPENDIX A MESSAGES Her Highness the Maharani Sahiba Prime Minister's Office, No. Con. T.-38-45 Kolhapur Prime Minister's Office, Kolhapur, 6th Nov. 1945. To The Secretary, Diamond Jubilee Cammittee, Deccan Education Society, Poona. De_ar Sir, I am desired by Her Highness the Maharani Sahiba Regent to express to you her regret at her inability to attend the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Deccan Education Society and the Fergusson College, Poona, on the 7th November 1945. On behalf of the Darbar, however, I am to send congratula­ tions to the Society on its long history of successful and devoted work and to wish them continued success in the years to come. Yours sincerely, A. N. MITCHELL Prime Minister, Kolhapur State. The Viceroy of India The Vi.ceroy's House. New Delhi. October 23, B45. It is with great pleasure that I send my heartiest congratulations to Fergusso~ College and the Deccan Education Society on the occasion of the joint cdebration of their Diamond Jubilee. They have a long record of valuable work and achievement and I wish them and all connected with them continued success and good fortune in the future. WAVELL F. M. The Governor of Bombay Government House, Ganeshkhind 16th October 1945. It is a plt!asure to me to send my greetings to the Decc:m Education Society and the Fergusson College on the occasion of the joint celebration of their Diamond Jubilee. With my greetings I send my warm congratulations 5 ' to the Society and College on the sixty years of eminent service to education in Western India which they have accomplished, and my good wishes for the future upholding of the fine traditions which they have established. I was particularly interested to learn of the bond of affection which still exists between the College and the family of my distinguished predecessor, and fellow-countryman after whom the College is named, and that messages of goodwill have been received from General Sir Charles Fergusson, his son, and Colonel Bernard Fergusson, his grandson. both of whom I have the plea­ sure of knowing. I was interested to learn that Colonel Fergusson visited the College in 1942 during his service in India. May such unseen ties of esteem between Great Britain and India long be cherished. I wish long life and prosperity to the Society and the College. ]OHN COLVILLE Governor of Bombay. Mahatma Gandhi ~~. a;T1ff,T 'i~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ l. omit it ~ ~~ 'i \~'\if ~~ tiT ~ ~ eyrun l ~ arr-00 f.li ~ill ~~ ~ ~~-' . ~. ;r). ~. 'lhft Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Wardha, 25th March 1935 Dear Friend, \Vho can fail to be enthused over the noble record of the service render­ ed by the D. E. Society and the Fergusson Colleee to the cause of education? I wish the forthcoming function every success. This is all I have the time to send you. Yours sincerely • M. K. GANDHI Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Anand Bha wan, Allahabad, October 16, 1945. Dear Mr. Mahajani, I gladly send you my good wishes on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee 'elebration of the De"an Education Society and the Fergusson College. <letleral Sir Charlea Fuguaaoa (aoa of Jamee Ferga~ after whom the Collelle ia ...... ' Th• aDoestral bonae of the Fersusso~l at Mafbole, Airshire; Sc:otlaD&I The Society and the College have, in their unobtrusive way, probably heiped to mould the India of today far more than most people realise. With their ideal of selfless service they have sent out famous men and many others not famous but none the less good workers for India's freedom and progress. So on this occasion of your celebrating your Diamond Jubilee I join with in­ numerable other persons to wish you ever larger opportunities· of training the youth of India and of preparing true citizens of a fref! India, Yours sincerely, ]AWAHARLAL NEHRU.