Oh! What a change ..6

 Oh! What a change ..6

Talking of Madurai none can ignore the chain of education hubs be it at School or at Collegiate level; later came into being the Madurai University subsequently renamed as Madurai Kamaraj university which made a mark for academic excellence in select domains –most important were Biological sciences, Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Chronobiology. As early as 1970s the University began its efforts of global presence and reckoning.Indeed the affiliates to MKU had made rapid strides in the domains listed above and it was an education stream far ahead in content as against of other centres in adjoining territories affiliated to other universities. The present state of affairs in the university are none too happy with the old guards having retired and have attained heavenly abode after a vibrant service as teacher/ research guides. What remains of the University is just its physical infrastructure and prcious little is known of any major strides in research. Once there were just 3 Colleges of reckoning .The American, The Madura and Thiagarajar Arts college for men; 3 women’s colleges were Fatima college, Lady Doak college and Government Meenakshi College for Women. Subsequently several institutions devoted for Women / men sprang up though all colleges had to forego their Pre-University stream; Still several colleges  were catering to B.Sc level  while the premier ones offered PG Programmes.

As for schools imparting quality instructions a large number can be identified. Major ones were OCPM, TVS LAKSHMI, RAILWAY MIXED SHOOL and each College administration had its own school stream. Till well past 1980, Colleges were in high esteem among the students and the general public owing to dedicated performance. Slowly the status of these institutions have dropped several fathoms with no semblance of quality among the teachers and the taught.

The Chithrai festival of Madurai has always been a magnetic event attracting devotees from all neighbourhood. Being held in April- May, a natural gaiety  gripped the city with students and parents freed from the clutches of X /XII examinations. Temple procession along the Masi streets was yet another toll-free entertainment in those days.

Madurai has always had the benefit of excellent health care systems largely under the private sector including those for Ophthalmic care , while the GH / Rajaji hospital/ the former Erskine hospital is under Government care and has had a reputation for providing  decent medical care to poorer sections of the society. 

Weaving has been a well known activity in Madurai with several mills in the region. Most of them have left the trade like- Meenakshi mills or have shrunk their activity to minimum like Madura Coats, Thiagaraja mills and the defunct  AlaguSundaram chettiar’s mills and so on.

The city is witnessing change in social composition with Marwaris and Gujaratis handling several trades like textile products electrical goods etc; still the place is good enough to live in.

Prof. K.Raman