Women's Christian College
Cathedral P.O.
Madras 6.Feb. 19th, 1950.
Dearest Miss Turner,
This, alas, will not reach you in time for your birthday on Tuesday. I am so sorry. It has been on my mind for days, but there simply hasnt [sic] been a moment to write[.]
I loved getting your letter of Jan. 3rd, in your own hand. Dear dear Miss Turner - I can see you still being a physiologist in your limitations now. I remember your writing to me once when I was sick, about getting the most out of it as a physiologist, how interesting it was. It has been good to feel assured that you have such a good companion with you. Alma Stokey is now the corresponding secretary for our college so we hear from her fairly often and she always gives news of you.
This is the time of year when a Principal's life is full of problems and decisions. When I was appointed Principal it was decided that the Vice-Principalship should in the future be a rotating one, for two years at a time, so as to give the senior Indian members of Staff administrative experience. My first Vice-Principal Miss Gnanadickam had to take on the Bursar's job in addition to the V.P.ship during her second year, & she has done a grand job. Now it is time to appoint another Vice-Principal, & it's a delicate business. In India there is a terrible tradition of going by seniority. In all government institutions when the Principal leaves the most senior member of staff goes up. It's a silly system, which disregards individual abilities & temperaments but at least it is impartial. Here we don't believe in that - it's the best person for the job. My next best person of the Indians is not the most senior and one of the two who are senior to her, who is in England now, is, I fear, likely to be hurt at being passed over. But I have weighed & considered & consulted my older colleagues here - & am going to recommend the more junior one, Anna Zachariah, who has just got her Ph.D. in Botany. Alma will be glad to hear that because she taught Anna.
Besides this big decision there are other matters of staffing & residence that are a headache & will continue to be until college is in swing again in July! But life is interesting, & we seem to get on not too badly. It is a lovely college.
My dear Research student, Ratnabai Arulanandam, who resented her thesis to the University in Jan. 1949 was kept waiting 8 months for the result. Three American examiners were appointed to assess it, Dr. Stan, Dr. Bessey & R. R. Williams! I've been quite thrilled to read their comments - the last 2 critically helpful, & good. Dr. S. didn't say much of anything but praise. She got the degree M.Sc. She's grand stuff for research. She has applied for a scholarship from the International Institute of Education in New York through the U.S. Cultural Relations Dept. here in India, & has asked for Yale. Drs. Krehl & Cowghill [sic] there are doing work on problems of inter-relations of vitamins & she had already corresponded with Dr. Krehl. We'll not know until May whether she gets one or not - & then she'll be worried about finances. I want her to do her Ph.D. - choosing a problem that will give her a good opportunity in methods & pathological techniques & interpretation as well as contact with first class minds. Dr. Krehl sounds good but I don't know him. I wish there were any wires to pull for more scholarship help for her!
It's more than bed time. One after another has been in to my room since I began to write this - staff or students, on some business or other.
Very much love, always, dear Miss Turner,
from Eleanor.