PROFILE OF PACHAIYAPPA'S COLLEGE, CHENNAI-600
030
Pachaiyappa's College,
Chennai is the offspring of a superlative act of private
philanthropy of its progenitor,Pachaiyappa Mudaliar who had made
himself a master financier and merchant prince when he was just 22
years old. Around this age many of us are in the threshold of our
collegiate educational career. I strongly feel that the young
graduates of this celebrated College must be inspired and motivated
by the preciousness and large-heartedness of the benevolent
founder.
This College had its
genesis in the famous Will of Pachaiyappa Mudaliar. Pachaiyappa was
born, posthumously in 1754, of poor parents. He grew up in poverty
and rose by his own force of character to be the most opulent man of
his time but who finally bequeathed all his wealth for the service
of God and humanity. It was at Kumbakonam on March 22, 1794, having
a premonition of his premature demise, that he drew up his renowned
Will "dedicating, with full knowledge and hearty resignation, all
his wealth, in the absence of any male issue, to the sacred service
of Siva and Vishnu and to certain charities at various temples and
places of pilgrimage, to the erection of religious edifies, to
bounties to the poor, to seminaries of Sanskrit learning and to
other objects of general
benevolence".
In those days
Wills were rare and obscure and their legitimacy, importance and
significance were not correctly comprehended and appreciated.
Exploiting this apathetic situation, successive executors of
Pachaiyappa's Will flouted the provisions of the Will and embezzled
large sums of money covered by the Will. On being apprised of this
delinquent and reprehensible conduct, Sir Herbert Crompton, the then
Advocate-General moved the Supreme Court of Madras which passed a
decree upholding the validity of the Will and directing the person
liable for performance of the charities to ensure religious services
and also render and account of the funds with accumulated interest,
amounting to many lakhs of Rupees. However, the execution of this
decree posed stupendous problems since the person against whom the
decree was passed was a squander maniac and could remit only a small
fraction of his enormous dues. Fortunately at his juncture, Mr.
George Norton succeeded Sir Herbert Crompton as Advocate-General.
This proved to be a shot in the arm for the ardent votaries of
Pachaiyappa's benefactions. Norton, evincing extraordinary prudence
and personal interest, transcending the requirements of his official
designation, succeeded in salvaging a huge quantity of jewels and
thereby realizing in respect of the claim a total sum of about 8
lakhs of Rupees. On an application by Norton, the Supreme Court of
Madras passed another decree in 1841, directing that the surplus
money left after fulfillment of religious bequests for which one
lakh of Pagodas or four and a half lakhs of Rupees was earmarked,
ought to be utilized for establishing educational institutions in
various parts of the Presidency, especially in the city of Madras.
The general management of the charities, according to the Scheme of
the Supreme Court, as directed by the Board of Revenue, became
vested in a body of 9 Hindu Trustees, to translate into reality the
benevolent services envisioned by the munificent philanthropist.
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