Interview - Mr Mohammad Amin.
Dharitri Bhattacharya (DB), II History;
Pallavi Mansingh (PM), M.A. (P) History;
Swajit Rath (SR), II Economics; with
Dr.Rohit Wanchoo (RW), Department of History

Mr. Mohammad Amin, better known to generations of students as Amin Saheb (AS) joined St. Stephen's College in 1949 and retired in 1993. During 1990-93 he was Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Hamdard (University). He also worked as a history expert to the Government of Uzbekistan. He was a keen sportsman and served as President of Games in College for several years. He was also the first Chairman of Delhi University Sports Council. His association with St. Stephen's College can be judged by the fact that he has attended both the first and the fiftieth Sports Dinners in College. He has seen St. Stephen's College grow and evolve over the years and he has offered us a rare chance to record his memories and reflections. This is an account of an interview the Stephanian editorial team had with Amin Saheb at his residence on 5th March 2000.
Mr. Mohammed Amin first gave us an account of the quirk of destiny that brought him to St. Stephen's College:
Soon after my MA examination Professor Mohammad Habib called me and told me that St. Stephen's needed a lecturer. "Go immediately," he said, giving me a letter for the Principal. When I arrived in College, I found it totally deserted. A solitary chowkidar told me that this was because everybody was away watching the cricket finals between St. Stephen's and Hindu College. I was interviewed in the Cricket pavilion during the tea interval. I still believe that I was selected because the College was in a winning position at that time.
PM: Sir, what did you feel when you joined St. Stephen's College?
AS: It was a case of love at first sight. Let me tell you about the letter I wrote to my wife on the third day after joining College. In fact she still has that letter. I told my wife that I liked the College so much that I was going to stay there for the rest of my life. Life in those days was less competitive and so my attitude was not so unusual. Besides, in those days, the lives of both the students and the teachers revolved around College. Nowadays, for most people, a large part of life is spent outside College. This was not so during the 1950s and 1960s. College was the focal point of our lives in those days. An old Stephanian once complained to me that 
he was horrified to see his son home by lunchtime. In his time the father would cook up stories of extra classes in College so he could justify his going back home late in the evening.
DB: What was College life like in the early years?
AS: Well, for sure, life used to be more Spartan and physically strenuous. There were no fans in Residence and no water coolers in the College. The transport facilities were limited and students often had to get off from the bus near the Old Secretariat and walk to College across the Ridge. Frequently, we used to walk to the College playground outside Kashmiri Gate even if there was no match to be played. In fact sometime back old boys were reluctant to donate money for a bus, which could ferry the players to the sports ground. They thought walking upto Kashmiri Gate was ideal for the players to warm up. In fact there were some students who used to come to College from outside Delhi on bicycles.
RW: You mean they cycled to College everyday and back?
AS: Oh yes. One student even came on foot to College from Mehrauli for his interview for admission. Naturally, he became a good cross-country runner. Ironically, currently he is a big boss in an Airways.Although people think of St. Stephen's College as a bastion of the elite and of snobbish rich people, this is not quite true. We had students from all kinds of social backgrounds.
RW: Sir, do you support the idea of a sports quota?
AS: In our time we never used the obnoxious term 'quota.' In my opinion a sportsman is a reasonably good student who also plays games. Now it has become like the reservation system for SCs and STs. As President of Games, once I prepared a list of top sportsmen in College and discovered that nearly 30 percent of them had secured first division. There were three toppers in the University who won College colours. Ashok Gandotra played for College, for Delhi University, Delhi State, Combined Universities and for India against Australia and yet secured a first division in Economics Honours.
RW: When you look back in what ways do you think the College has changed?How has the relation between students and teachers changed over the years?
AS: It has changed more or less in the same proportion and to the same extent that the relationship between parents and children has changed. I will tell you about the kind of relationship we used to have with our students by narrating a true story.One day a boy came to me and complained that he did not like the person his father was going to marry. He wanted a place in Residence because he could not bear living at home with his stepmother. I asked the young man whether he would allow his father the right to take the final decision about his bride when he decided to get married in a few years time. The young man protested strongly, "Of course not. It is my life. Who is he to decide?" After hearing him out I reasoned that surely his father too had a right to decide about whom he should marry. It would be very unusual and unfair if a son were to choose the wife of his father. After a while the boy relented and decided to give his stepmother a fair chance. Later, I learnt that he adjusted to the changed situation. These are the sorts of things students would come and confide in us. They looked upon their teachers as friends.
PM: As you grew older and senior did your relationship with the students change? Did a communication gap develop?
AS: Not really. During my last few years in College I even taught the grandchildren of some of my former students. Now if you know everybody in the family how can you have a communication gap? If you treat students as people and help them to achieve something during their formative years in College there can be no communication gap.One of the best compliments I got was from a group of five girls who sent me a card after they had settled down well in life. The card had a picture of a sapling growing into a tree. Inside they had written, "Thank you, Sir, for helping us to grow."
DB: We hear that you persuaded some reluctant students to join the administrative services. How did you do it?
Well, at least half a dozen students who adamantly refused to appear for the IAS/IFS examinations in my time were eventually persuaded to do so. The parents insisted on their children taking the competitive examinations and the children were equally adamant against it. I would suggest that they should have some regard for their parents' feelings and the parents should respect the values held dear by the children. So they should take the examination to please their parents, and, after they get in, not join the services to honour their principles. Once they got in the services they invariably joined. It is often said in a critical sense that St. Stephen's was known for producing IAS officers. It is often forgotten that the largest number of persons who resigned from the IAS were also Stephanians. Some of them even became teachers, such as Professor Panchapakesan of the Physics Department of Delhi University.
PM: In what way do you think College life of the 1950s has changed over time?
AS: There was greater emphasis on protocol and formal attire. Well until the 1960s you had to wear a gown to have dinner at the High Table. On the other hand in the Mess or Dining Hall students would come with ghee ki katori (bowl of clarified butter) and chili or pickle jars. So it used to be quite a contrast.
DB: Why was it discontinued?
AS: It was simply a question of convenience. The British and the Mughals, before them, had elaborate dress codes, partly to impress the 'natives' or their subjects, but gradually these attitudes were given up.Even the practice of saying grace before dinner was discontinued. I remember a particular Head of the table, who while saying the grace, sometimes used to mutter, "God forgive me for being rude, but I pray that I be spared this lousy food!"
PM: Do you recall any interesting people during your early years in College?
AS: Bose Saheb and Nag Saheb were legendary figures. I will talk about some not so well known. One such person was the Chaplain, Reverend William Jarvis who was known as Bill. He was a curious character who mixed with the Indian people at all kinds of levels and his friends were all kinds of funny people. He believed that although the British had left they continued to enjoy a special status in the eyes of the common man. He used to get his shave and haircut by pavement barbers at the Ghantaghar Clock Tower and nearby areas. The Reverend Jarvis claimed that ordinary people treated the British with greater respect because while the others sat on the pavement the barber gave him a brick to sit on! He was Staff Adviser to the Shakespeare Society and really built it up. He was a good director. 
SR: Is there anything else you recall about him?
AS: The Vice-Principal and Dean in those days was C. Eyre Walker. One day Jarvis arrived late for dinner straight after the dress rehearsal of the Shakespeare Society play in the College Hall. Walker Saheb would not tolerate a breach of the dress code even under such exceptional circumstances. He remarked, "Bill, I say, you are not properly dressed." Jarvis explained that he had to go back for the dress rehearsal after dinner, but Walker would have none of it. Without looking up from his soup he merely repeated, "Bill, you are not properly dressed." Finally, Bill went back to his room, changed his clothes and put on his gown and sat down for dinner with us at the High Table. Walker Saheb looked at him and remarked, "Bill, I say, now you are properly dressed." And the whole situation looked quite amusing to the rest of us.
SR: What about the rules or code for students in those days?
AS: In those days students were not allowed to pluck a flower or cut across the lawns. One day a college student- Madhusudan- decided to embark on an adventure- by stepping on and cutting across the front lawn. At that time P.K. Ghosh was the President of the Union Society. All the students assembled in the teaching block and in the two wings on the side. Madhusudan ostentatiously announced, "See, I am going to cross the lawns - one, two, three." But suddenly a loud voice announced, "Madhusudan - - - About turn, left, right, left, right!" And Walker Saheb made him parade round the College lawn ten times. Much later in life Madhusudan became a Director General of Police!
PM: Is there anything else you recall about Walker Saheb?
AS: Well, Walker Saheb who looked after the plantation of trees in College, was widely known as the Saheb jo pedon ki boli samajhte hain.He took keen interest in tree plantation and was primarily responsible for the trees planted in College.He would go on a round of the college and if he found that a tree had not been watered properly he would engage in an imaginary conversation with the tree. "Hey, the mali claims that he has given you water," Mr. Walker would enquire from the tree. Then, sounding shocked, he would say, "Kya? Nahin diya?" Turning to the gardener he would admonish him by saying that he would realize what it was to go without water for two days only if he himself were not given water like the trees. It is such 'conversation' with trees that gave him a reputation as the Saheb who understood the language of trees. 
DB: Is it true that he was very strict in enforcing discipline as the Dean?
AS: Not exactly. He had a British sense of humour. On one of his rounds Mr. Walker discovered stains from the juice of the Chinese oranges in Rudra Court on the windowpanes of one student's room. He called the student and fined him five rupees. The boy protested that the fine was unfair since other students were throwing the oranges at his window and he was the victim. Having heard his explanation Walker Saheb remarked, "Then I increase your fine from five to ten rupees for being unpopular in the block."
DB: Do you remember anybody else from the early years in College?
AS:There was Bade Maulvi Saheb and also Pandit Lachhmi Dhar. I would like to emphasize this point here that the British treated the teachers who taught Hindi, Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit at par with the 'Big Masters.' From the very beginning in St. Stephen's College these teachers enjoyed the highest respect. One reason for this was that at least in the area of Indian languages, classical and vernacular, the Indian teachers knew much more than the British teachers. The British professors acknowledged that unlike in subjects like Physics and Mathematics they had to learn from these Indian language scholars.Bade Maulvi Saheb was a legend even when I entered College, which was long after he left. Mangat Ram, ICS has written in his memoirs that he once went to Maulvi Saheb's room and said, "I want to see you!" Maulvi Saheb stood up grandly and replied, "At your service. Please see me." (Amin Saheb even enacted this scene for us.)
PM: You have taught history for so long, Amin Saheb. Can you tell us which historian fascinated you the most?
AS: My favourites are Alberuni and Ibn Khaldun. Among all the people who visited India, Alberuni has written the best account of India in terms of both objectivity and critical judgement. Alberuni was aware that India is a large country and it is not easy to generalize about it. Alberuni observed that while at one level there were people who worshipped snakes and stones there were others who had the most perfect abstract concept of monotheism or belief in a single God.Alberuni found it difficult to understand the idea of "pollution" which he calls 'chhut'. Hindus of the upper caste would not accept fire from a lower caste Hindu to Alberuni's surprise. He also could not understand this co-existence of the ridiculous with the sublime: that the very people who can measure the circumference of the earth with near 100 percent accuracy should also believe that the earth is resting on the horns of a cow, which is standing on a fish.Alberuni was a scholar who wrote nearly 90 books. I found a copy of one of Alberuni's books in a dargah near Ahmedabad and presented it to the President of Uzbekistan. This book records Alberuni's experiments near Multan in India for measuring the circumference, diameter and radius of the earth. Amazingly, his calculation is correct up 0.1 percent.
DB: Do you have any favourite rulers or poets?
AS: Undoubtedly, my favourite ruler is Akbar. Let us take the case of Din-i-Ilahi. This so called 'religion' was actually called Tauheed-i-Ilahi (divine monotheism) and not Din-i-Ilahi and was not based on taking the good points of different religions. This is a negation of Akbar's conception of Tauheed-i-Ilahi. If Din-i-Ilahi were regarded as a religion then it would become superior to all other religions. Akbar's conception was that there is nothing like a superior or inferior religion or form of worship. Akbar believed that every individual had his own outlook and attitude and chose his own path or form of worship or religion on the basis of his outlook. In fact the abolition of the pilgrimage tax on Hindus was also influenced by this attitude. Akbar says, "If something gives satisfaction to my people, who am I to interfere?" It is this attitude of mind, which makes Akbar such a great ruler.
DB: Most of us have heard about the College trip to Pakistan and the hospitality of General Zia-ul-Haq. Tell us something about Zia-ul-Haq.
AS: Zia-ul-Haq was madly in love with St. Stephen's College. It is hard to fathom why, since he was here only for a short while. His class-fellows did not have much to say about him and no one remembered him till he became the President of Pakistan. However, Zia's fondness for College can be judged by the fact that whenever he used to overfly India the Pakistan Embassy was instructed to send 24 red roses to the College.
PM: What kind of reception did you get in Pakistan?
AS: We received royal treatment in Pakistan. The visiting faculty from St. Stephen's College would be addressed respectfully: Sadar saheb ke College ke ustad log hain. 
DB: Did President Zia talk about his College days?
AS: Zia Saheb remarked jokingly that he never kept a beard though his upper lip was always occupied. We had carried with us a photograph in which he did not have a moustache. When it was presented to him, he recalled that it was taken when he had joined the intermediate class in College at the age of 14 and thanked us for the photograph because he could not afford to buy it at that time as it cost eight annas then. Interestingly, when shown another photograph he immediately recognized it and exclaimed that it was that of Sukhiya. It was remarkable that after all these years he remembered him.President Zia told Kapadia Saheb that in one tutorial assignment Kapadia Saheb had given him just 4 out of 10 marks. At that time he felt he was not marked fairly. But now he knew why he received such a poor grade: because the tutorial was on constitutional history. "It is my weak spot even today," the General remarked jokingly. It was remarkable that Gen. Zia would give the place of honour to Kapadia Saheb when seating the guests, because he had been his teacher - ustad- in St.Stephen's College. 
SR: You were also posted in Uzbekistan as a historical expert between 1994 and 1996. What was it like being there after the break-up of the Soviet Union?
AS: I will always cherish the few years that I spent in Uzbekistan. I was welcomed by all and sundry because of my knowledge of Babur. Although Babur is now the 'national hero' of an independent Uzbekistan, not many people know much about him, because the Soviet Union did not encourage such 'nationalist' sentiments. The Uzbeks have become more conscious of their national past and culture and so many people wanted to talk to me, because I had read Babur and knew a lot about him. People would introduce me as Babur-shinas-alim,the "scholar who knew Babur" and ask their grandmothers to read from the Quran since only the elderly could really understand it in the original. Having broken away from a large and powerful Soviet Union the need to discover their past and take pride in it is very strong. Uzbekistan has been a cradle of civilization and has produced ancestors of famous kings and scholars. It was the home not only of Babur but also of the ancestors of Mirza Ghalib and Amir Khusrau. DB: Do the people of Uzbekistan still remember their links with India?
AS: The poetry of Aurangzeb's daughter Zaibun Nisa is still recited in the streets of Tashkent. There is a road Koocha Mirza Ghalib and a colony Mirza Ghalib Mohalla in Tashkent. It is interesting to note that currently the newly liberated Central Asian Republics are looking for inspiration to India and seeking their national heroes from India, e.g., Babur in Uzbekistan, Mirza Haider Daughlat (a cousin of Babur who ruled for some time in Kashmir and is buried there) in Kazakistan, Bairam Khan, the <MI>ataliq<D> (tutor) and regent of Akbar, in Turkmanistan.
PM: What do you think is the purpose of education?
AS: I think education is not only about acquiring knowledge and information or about acquiring pedagogic tools and techniques, but also the ability to think and act wisely in order to make the world a better place to live in.Often people discuss the purpose of education in terms of two apparently contradictory objectives. It is often debated whether the purpose of education is to make students better professionals and produce workers or to make them better citizens of the country and the world. The real purpose of education, in my view, is to fulfill both these functions.
SR: Do you think St. Stephen's College fulfils these objectives?
AS: Certainly, St. Stephen's meets these objectives of higher education. We must remember that there is a basic difference between St. Stephen's College and other missionary colleges. After all, it was set up by the Cambridge Mission and had a strong moral as well as educational foundation. Initially, St. Stephen's College had aimed to provide modern education to people living in Delhi and adjoining rural areas. It attracted many students whose parents did not want to send their sons to Lahore. Not only was Lahore more distant, it was also more fashionable and there was a risk that impressionable young men could go astray.In its early years College was not a very fashionable or trendy place. It was also less 'elitist' and played a positive role in encouraging education among people from a rural background. The legendary Sir Chotu Ram, in this sense, was also a true representative of St. Stephen's.
DB: In what ways do you think the college has changed over the years?
AS: In its early years St. Stephen's College would search for students to come and study here. Nowadays, there is a certain smugness in turning down more than 90 percent of the applications that are received in any year. Chotu Ram used to persuade boys from rural backgrounds to come and study in College. The way College was run in those days was different. Principal Rudra was revered. This may also have something to do with the culture of those days. St. Stephen's College was built on strong moral foundations and this continued even in my time more than 25 years after his death. I recall a meritorious student who used to feel drowsy in class. I could not understand the reason for this as he was a dedicated student and did not belong to the type that would have late nights. I was surprised when I came to know that he worked during the night to pay for his education in College. So some work for him in the College library was arranged. He was able to complete his graduation and did very well in life. St. Stephen's should take credit for its contribution to such boys.
PM: In what ways do your think the students of today are different from those you taught in your early years?
AS: I believe that on an average the students of those days were better than the average student in College today. But the brighter students today are far better than the brightest of the students then. Today it is far easier for a student to get books, journals and articles than it was for students in earlier years. With comparatively less effort it is possible to get good results. In earlier times - in the 1950s and 1960s- the process of collecting reading material was far more demanding in terms of both time and energy. Today there are books, photocopying machines and computers to make life much easier for the students.
SR: Do you think the position of St. Stephen's College has improved steadily over time or has it remained uniformly high?
AS: The answer to that is yes and no. In some respects high cut-off points have made college admissions more prestigious now. But earlier College was one of the constituent colleges of Delhi University. The standing of St. Stephen's College has always remained very high. How important the college was can be understood by the fact that the college used to participate in the Republic Day parade during the first few years. I recall in the first Republic Day parade St. Stephen's College put up a tableaux depicting Akbar's Ibadat Khana.
SR: Professor Amin, what do you think you as an individual have got out of College?
AS: If you work with love and dedication any work can give you satisfaction. I have immensely enjoyed my years spent teaching in College. I was quite happy living in College and teaching there. There are no simple or precise reasons for being happy. A man can be happy with what he has or be unhappy about what he does not have. Sometimes, if you look happy for no particular reason, judged in purely worldly terms, people become curious and even jealous. They begin to wonder why is this man happy? Happiness, therefore, is closely related to one's attitude and values.I feel the attitude of individuals is very important. Even those who have studied in St. Stephen's College for five years may fail to imbibe the values of College. On the other hand there may be people who have been attached to the College for a short period of time and yet have the spirit of College in them.
PM: Can you tell us a little about your personal achievements?
AS: I was very fortunate that from the day I joined College I got actively associated with various activities. At one time or the other I was staff adviser of almost all the games and later I had the honor to succeed Bose Saheb as President of Games. Equally important, I started the Informal Discussion Group in College and was the Staff Adviser for the Students Union Society for more than two decades. I was also associated with the drafting of its present constitution. I remember at that time we came to an impasse. The students wanted the word "Union" instead of the existing term "Society." On the other hand the College was allergic to the word. A compromise was found. And that explains the name St. Stephen's College "Students Union Society." During my service I was entrusted with a lot of responsibilities. At one time or the other I was Recording Secretary of the College Governing Body, Chairman, Library Committee, Member, Finance Committee and a host of other bodies. In the University, apart from being the first chairman of the Sports Council, I was also the founder secretary, University Archives and Museum. Outside the University I was a member of the I.C.H.R., founding member, Maulana Azad Institute of Asian Studies and presently, I am the Visitor's nominee to the E.C. of the Jamia Millia, Chancellor's nominee to Jamia Hamdard, E.C. and member, Aligarh University Court. Recently, I was entrusted as General Editor, the exciting task of publishing 62 volumes on various aspects of Delhi in a series called  Delhi, that was: Delhi that is. Unfortunately, only one volume could get published. Currently, in keeping with the new trend, which marks a shift from theorizing to narrative, my interest having moved from history to historical fiction, I am engaged as Chief Adviser in the production of a mega historical T.V. serial Noorjahan.And yet it is the time spent in College and the love, affection and regard shown by the students that remain the most treasured moments in my life.
SR: Tell us something about your hobbies too?
AS: I love sports and have enjoyed my association with games. I was active in sports administration as well and was the first chairman of the Delhi University Sports Council. I also acted in several College plays. Among the people I acted with was Shiv Shankar Sharma who later became the Director General of Doordarshan.
DB: Are you into any kind of writing?
AS: No, writing is something I find rather difficult. Writing requires not merely thinking but the discipline of sitting down at a table and putting it on paper. Friends even suggested that they would take down notes on any topic I wished to speak on, but that did not work out. Even the talks I gave on radio and television I managed without a proper written script. Somehow, I did not have the discipline or patience to produce written texts.
PM: Do you recall the names of some of the prominent sportsmen of College?
AS: First of all let me refer to M.N.Masud who was the Vice-Captain of the Indian hockey team to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. That was, of course, before my time. Dr Karni Singh and Randhir Singh constituted the entire Indian contingent in shooting at the Mexico Games in 1968. But the most outstanding athlete that I have known happens to be W.N. Usmani. We all know of the four gold medals won by Carl Lewis in the I984 Olympic games. Usmani's performance, though at a different level, was no less impressive. In 1961 he won the All India Inter-University Athletic Meet virtually single-handed. Believe it or not, he won 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, broad jump, triple jump and anchored to victory 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays. As if it was not enough, next year he won high jump in the inter-college meet. Others who come to mind are Sanjit 'Bunker' Roy (College colours in tennis, swimming, squash and probably cricket as well), Ashok Malik and Deepak Wadhera who won National Championships in squash, golf and table tennis while students in College. And who could forget Avinder Singh Brar, 100m Breast Stroke National Champion who died a martyr at a very young age. Cricketers who played for India are too many to be enumerated.
DB: Can you recall any incident or any sportsperson who left a deep impression on you?
AS: Yes, I distinctly recall the case of Sukhdevsinhji, an excellent cricketer. He received an offer to play for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy when he was only in first year in College. Incidentally, his father Gen. Rajendrasinhji was then the Chief of the Army Staff and President of BCCI. Sukhdev was not very happy and thought that his selection was possibly influenced by the position of his father. He said so and asked for Bose Saheb's advice. Bose Saheb said, "Young man, you will come across many such situations in life. No one can advise, you have to take the decision yourself." Sukhdev wrote back politely, declining the offer, saying that it was premature and that there were better players than him who deserved selection.Let me relate another very interesting incident that would reveal the sense of honour and fairness of judgement of our students. One year there were two contestants for the post of captain of aquatic sports- Kulbir Singh and another swimmer. Kulbir Singh was an outstanding swimmer and had represented India. The other guy was an average swimmer, but was very rich and had been giving cafe' hogs to all the electors. (The colour holders elected the captain.)On the eve of the election he came to me and asked me if there were a tie how it would be resolved. I told him that the question was hypothetical and that we would decide the issue if the need arose. He insisted that he was 100 percent certain that there would be a tie. Anyway, the polling over, he awaited the result. And the result was that Kulbir got 20 votes (the total vote were 20) and he got zero. Those who proposed and seconded his name also did not vote for him. To cap it all, someone told him that the College tradition was that the contestant voted for the opponent. So his own vote also went to Kulbir.
PM: What is your view about girl students being admitted to St. Stephen's College?
AS:Let me tell you quite frankly that the decision not to allow women students to study in St. Stephen's College, between 1948 and 1975, was unfortunate. Many able girl students were denied the opportunity to study in such a fine institution. And the only reason why girls were denied admission in St. Stephen's College was the setting up of Miranda House, supposedly named after the daughter of Sir Maurice Gwyer, as a college exclusively for girls.
DB: Can you tell us about the women students in College before 1948?
AS: Well! I had the privilege of teaching the last girl Prabha Sapru who did M.A. in History in 1950. She married Rabindra Hoon, another History student, and their son later joined College to do History Honours. The women students were as illustrious as the men. Everyone knows that Mrs. Sucheta Kriplani was the first woman to become the Chief Minister of a state in India. The girls who passed out in the late forties were very active in College life. They won fame and recognition in their fields of activity. Joy Michael and Rati Bartholomew nee Batra were, and still are, known personalities in the theatre world. Krishna Sharma happened to be the first woman President of the College Students Union Society. She taught History in Miranda House and was later Principal, Gargi College. Sheila Uttam Singh, extremely soft spoken and loveable, retired as Principal, Indraprastha College. (Postscript: These old ladies, young at heart, as active as ever in College life, are expected to join the 'Stephanians' Nostalgia' at Jaipur.)
DB: Do you think male students have accepted women students in College?
AS: There were some teething problems, but on the whole, with the background our students came from, the adjustment was quick and very smooth. On a few occasions the boys' idea of fun crossed the limits of decency, but the boys quickly realized their mistake. You may have heard of the 'chick chart' incident. The media raised a lot of fuss. But the outsiders failed to appreciate the courage of students involved, who voluntarily admitted the fault when appealed to do so, and took their punishment. I wonder whether we can find such an example elsewhere.
PM: How do you rate the performance of the girl students?
AS: I do not believe in making a distinction between boy students and girl students. The girl students have given as good an account as the boys and have contributed immensely to enrich College life. I am happy that after a long time, thanks to Dr. Wilson, Residence has been provided to girls. Now they can play a far more active role in College life. It may interest you to know that the first woman Rhodes Scholar was Amrita Cheema from St. Stephen's College.
DB: Would you like to say something to the younger generation of Stephanians, male and female?
AS: I would like to wish them luck in their examinations and success in later life. Without being sentimental, I can say that students as well as teachers should preserve the ethos of St. Stephen's in the years to come. The moral and academic foundations of St. Stephen's College are strong, but they must be preserved by the younger generation of Stephanians. St. Stephen's was founded as a home of 'faith, fellowship and fruitful study' and I am sure it will continue to be so, now and forever more.

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