John Varghese, former professor at Hyderabad's English and Foreign Languages University, today took charge as the 13th principal of prestigious St Stephen's college here.
Marking end to an eight-year-long tenure of Valson Thampu which was marred by controversies. Thampu yesterday demitted office.
Addressing the students at Thampu's farewell function, the new principal had adviced them to run away from "temptation of popularity" and keep working irrespective of any controversies.
The Supreme Council of the college which includes members of Church of North India (CNI) and Thampu himself, had announced Varghese's selection for the post on February 11.
Thampu, himself had introduced Varghese to the students in the morning assembly, a day later.
Varghese, who taught English at St Stephen's College for a brief period in the 1990s, was selected from among three applicants including Karen Gabriel, at present a member of the English department and Susan Varghese of St John's College, Agra.
The newly appointed principal, an alumni of Chennai's Loyola College was a professor in the Communication department of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies in EFLU, before being appointed to the crucial post.
