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My correspondent’s caption clearly stated, “first row standing, third from left”, which was the only information he found when he got the picture, apart from it being stated that it was the “Department of Philosophy, Madras Christian College, 1905” and that “Radhakrishnan” was in it. He now feels it should be “first row, standing, third from right”. But I’m not convinced. I would rather bet on fifth from right, standing behind Miller.

Enlarging the picture only blurs the faces, so we’ll just have to go by guesswork, unless someone turns up with a more authoritative answer.

Meanwhile, I’ve found that both William Skinner and Alfred Hogg, who were both in that picture, went on to become Principals of the College. Skinner joined the College in 1884, when he was only 24 years old, and found himself not only the youngest member of the Staff but also the youngest Professor and Head of a Department. From 1905, he spent much time on administration, with Miller having to cope with ill-health as well as numerous other commitments. Eventually, Skinner became Principal in 1909 and served actively till 1919, when he took all his accumulated leave before retiring in 1921. Skinner, whose whole life was the College, served during those years of ferment when Congress was founded and was trying to make up its mind whether it was ‘Moderate’ or ‘Nationalist’, and he was Principal when Annie Besant launched her Home Rule Movement and was appealing to the young to join hands with her. When the Governor, Lord Pentland, urged Principals to prohibit students from attending political meetings, Skinner was practicality personified. He said, “We are trying to maintain efficiency in an institution in which those undergoing training may acquire not only intellectual equipment but those habits, convictions and attitudes toward life which will enable them to play a honourable part as citizens of India.” Apart from Radhakrishnan, Skinner’s students included (Sir) Mohammed Usman, C.R(amalinga) Reddy and Neelakanta Sastri.

Hogg, who arrived in 1903 to succeed Skinner as Professor in the Department of Philosophy, acted as Principal from 1928 and became Principal in 1930. When he retired in 1938, he had been the last Principal in the George Town campus and the first in Tambaram. European Philosophy as well as Christian Theology were his specialities. His critique of the Theory of Karma and his revised Law of Karma based on the Christian doctrine of Redemption were much debated, but he was ever ready for the debate.

Of the College, Hogg once said, “The name of Madras College shall be a synonym for unsullied honour, scrupulous honesty of thought and word, and high unselfish endeavour.” Dr. Radhakrishnan, paying tribute to Hogg after his death in 1954, wrote, “He was undoubtedly one of the greatest Christian teachers of his generation. His books are known for their philosophical penetration and religious sensitivity. He left a permanent mark on the minds of those who came under his influence.” But to many, Hogg’s greatest achievement was the way he supervised the transfer from George Town to Tambaram, a move he had not only strongly advocated but on which he also spent three or four years planning every step.

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