The year 1887 is a memorable one for Hong Kong for in that year was founded the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, the precursor of the medical faculty of the University whose jubilee we now begin to celebrate. The same year of 1887 should be memorable in India too, for in that year was born a man destined to become one of its leading educationalists. Educated in Madras, he received his baccalaureate degree in 1914, a doctorate of medicine in 1922, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1930 and of the American College of Surgeons ten years later. For eight years he was Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Madras Medical College, for the last three of them combining the duties with those of Principal of the College. He has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras for almost twenty years.
Throughout his life he has evinced a broad-based and active passion to further the aims of youth and education; a position of honour as Commissioner of the Madras Boy Scout's Association supplements his growing list of memberships of committees in education and research. He has been a member of the Madras Legislative Council, a member of the Indian delegation to the World Health Organization and sometime Chairman of the Executive of that body, and more recently a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO. These demonstrate the breadth of endeavour to which his experience and wisdom are applied.
In recognition of his shining qualities, many honours have come his way: from the Universities of Ceylon in 1942, of Glasgow in 1951, of Andhra, Patna, Lucknow, and Utkal between 1943 and 1950, and of Oxford in 1948. He was created Knight Bachelor by His Majesty King George the Sixth in 1945.
Citation written and delivered by Dr the Hon A M Rodrigues, Chairman of the Jubilee Committee.
