From morning assembly to observing the special occasions dear to old Stephanians, he did the right thing. By all accounts, he was a very good teacher and he blended discipline with an understanding of the aspirations of his young students. The students considered him to be approachable, fair and balanced. And that was his big plus in the running of the college. He initiated reforms. He took gender equality seriously and as the present principal, Dr Valson Thampu acknowledged in a recent tribute, he took the necessary steps that led, this year, to complete parity in residential seats between men and women students.

Anil ran a tight ship and he steered it confidently. He accepted that there was sometimes serious dissent, but his arguments were cogent and convincing. Where he could not achieve unanimity, he was graceful in accommodating the majority view. I came to appreciate these attributes as a member of the governing body where I served as the principal’s representative for four years. While the meetings were presided over by the chairman, the Bishop of Delhi, it was the principal who led from the front. It was in these meetings that we were all able to contribute to the various aspects of the running of the college and since I had the benefit of a ring side seat, I could observe closely the broad areas of college management and affairs.

He left the college to become pro-vice-chancellor of Himachal University for a year, to return in 1997, and remained principal thereafter for the next decade. In early 2007, he finally went back to Himachal University, this time as vice-chancellor — a fitting culmination for a student from Himachal who chose to pursue an academic career. He stepped down from the vice-chancellor’s post in April 2008.

... contd.