The initiative will mark 100 years of the college’s existence

One of the oldest colleges in the country, Queen Mary’s College, plans to go solar soon, to commemorate the 100 year of its existence.

Hemamalini Rajagopal, head, physics department, said the college will begin with installing 15 solar streetlights inside the campus, and then work towards making the administrative buildings completely solar.

“Companies like Mahindra have come forward to help us. We have approached some companies for solar panels for the main building first,” she said.

Ms. Rajagopal said the project will take shape in phases over the next two years.

To mark the centenary year of the college, students, volunteers and staff members will start landscaping of the college campus soon to make it look greener and cleaner, said Maria Preethi Srinivasan of the English department.

As part of the celebrations, alumni and students of the college will bring out a coffee table book that will have details about the history of the college, interviews of alumni and old pictures.

“The college has seen much, from two world wars to several social struggles. The effort is to capture its transition from an institution built for the elite to one that serves the poorest of the poor,” said Prof. Srinivasan.

Among the highlights is a multi-lingual choir to be performed by students of the college. “Our focus has been on celebrating the multiculturalism on campus. Even recently, the guests at a seminar were greeted in six different languages,” she said.

Celebrations for the centenary year began last year with a sing-along event by the alumni. “We are also coming out with memoirs that can be sponsored or afforded by everyone. The event is a clarion call for every QMCian to chip in,” said Nithya Balaji, a committee member of the college’s Old Student’s Association.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Vasudha Venugopal / Chennai – February 21st, 2014