Dr.Abideen B. Peter, Ph.D.; Dr. A.J. Anandan.I.P.S, D.G.P[Rtd], Pianist Sheila Arnold [Germany]:Part I:

Introduction :  

Many of Mr. Daniel Paramanandam's descendants ,   have become  impressive and important milestones in their respective fields. True to this great tradition,Dr. Abideen Bobujee Peter , M.V.Sc, Ph.D, and his paternal cousin  Dr. A.J. Anandan, I.P.S, D.G.P,[Rtd], and Dr. Anandan's sister Beatrice Amaladasan's graddaughter ,the renowned Pianist Sheila Arnold[Germany], have brought  lasting laurels and fragrances to Rachel Fanny Peter's family [ Rachel Fanny was the eldest daughter of Mr. Daniel Paramanadam , the first Deacon of Nagercoil  Home Church.  Mr. Peter [Sr] married Rachel fanny , the eldest daughter of  Mr. Daniel Paramanandam and Mrs. Paramaye Fanny. Mr. Peter and Rachel  Fanny Peter were blessed with many lovely children including Mr.Chinnathambi Peter.

Mr. Chinnathambi Peter and his family : Because ,Mr. Chinna Thambi ,worked as  Postmaster , he was generally known as Cinnathambi Post Master or Peter Postmaster. Mr. Chinna Thambi Post Master married a beautiful   Iranian Muslim girl  by name Razia ; and this loving couple was blessed with three smart sons and one lovely daughter namely:[1] Mr. Agur Samuel Peter[Baba], [2] Mrs. Beatrice Amaladasan [Baby], [3] L. M. Peter[Gedgi]  and Mr.P.N. Peter [Mogu].

Mr. Agur Samuel  Peter [Baba or A.S. Peter] and his family :  Mr. Chinnathambi Peter, christened his eldest son  as Agur Samuel Peter, in honour and remembrance of his remarkable  first cousin C. M. Agur, B.A, the author of the monumental book called, "The Church history of Travancore" [  Pages 1183,   Madras, 1903. in English]. Mr. A. S. Peter worked as a Senior  Clerk ,under an American missionary called Mr. Edward Kraft  who was then working as manager of the [MELIM] Lutheran schools, Nagercoil Synod.. Mr. A.S. Peter married Annie Dorothy, the elegant eldest daughter of Mr. John Subbiah in 1947 and this couple's  only son was born on 19-03-1948. Mrs . Annie Dorothy Peter was working as a secondary grade teacher at the Concordia High School, Nagercoil,  till her retirement.  Mr A.S .Peter , christened his male child as  Abideen Bobujee Peter , in remembrance and honor of his maternal uncle Mr.Abideen; Bobujee for Gandhiji and Peter  was  their  family name. But Abideen Bobujee Peter is generally called as Bobujee.

Pioneer Picture Palace and Peter's family;  Mr. A.S .Peter  was living at his ancestral house  along with his wife Dorothy and son Abideen Bobujee Peter ;which was located just behind the well known Pioneer Picture Palace, The entire land of that area including Pioneer Picture Palace, near  the landmark structure  "Tower Junction" at Nagercoil ; was the ancestral property of Peter Post Master's  family[ the fore- fathers of Dr Abideen Bobujee Peter] of Nagercoil .The land of the Picture Palace  Cinema theater  was leased out to Pioneers for a meagre amount by Mr.Chinnathambi Peter.[Dr. Abideen Bobujee Peter's grand-father], But later the Pioneers built  Pioneer Picture Palace on that spot ,  the Pioneer Picture Palace  was later destroyed by fire accident.

Baba's family moved to their new House :Mr. A.S. Peter's family built a new nice house at Simon Nagar Road, Nesamony Nagar, opposite of Concordia High School, Nagercoil ; Mr Baba and his family   moved to the lovely new house  in 1974 and they were living in the new house  happily for many years.

Dr. Abideen Bobujee Peter , B.V.Sc, M.V.Sc, Ph.D:    Dr. Abideen  Bobujee Peter did his high school studies at Concordia High School , Nagercoil and passed the S.S.L.C in 1963, then he did his P.U.C at Scott Christian College , Nagercoil[1963-64] and passed  with flying colors.  In the year 1965 he joined B.V.Sc degree course in the famous Madras Veterinary College and meritoriously passed out  in 1971.  In November 1971 , Dr. Abideen Bobujee Peter, joined as Veterinary Asst. Surgeon[VAS]in Animal Husbandary Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, in Ramanad Dist. Later he was transferred to Kanyakumari Dist  and he worked as V.A.S at Thiruvattar, Chemmangala, Mondaymarket and Aravaimozhi.

Dr. Bobujee's marriage and higher education :Dr. Bobujee, married  Dr.Pearl Grace Sugirtha ,B.V.Sc, daughter of Mrs. Devanesam Appadurai and Mr. Appadurai, in 1978  and grand daughter of Col. Subanandaraj of Pandarathoppu,near Nagercoil [Dr. Pearl Grace Sugirtha  and  Dr. Banerjee Jesudasan , M.S, F.R.C.S, former H.O.D of General Surgery , C.M.C, Vellore,  are  maternal first cousins]. Dr.Pearl Grace Sugirtha Bobujee ,started her professional career at the Institute of  Veterinary Medicine [I.V.P.M], Ranipet. So Dr. Bobujee also got transfer to IVPM, Ranipet  and both of them had been working at Ranipet , IVPM from 1980 to 2000.during these years  Dr. Bobujee did his M.V.Sc and Ph.D  and Dr. Sugirtha Bobujee did her M.V.Sc. In 2000 Dr. Bobujee was transferred to Central Referral Laboratory , Saidapet , Chennai  as the Head of the  State Lab and soon Dr. Sugirtha  Bobujee also got transfer to the same Lab at Saidapet After a long and dedicated  service Dr. Bobujee retired from active service  on 31-03-2006.

Recognition to Dr. Abideen Bobujee Peter :  The dedicated service and  specialized skill of Dr. Bobujee were well respected and appreciated by all the I.A.S officers who served as Secretaries and Directors in the Animal Husbandry Department , Govt of Tamil Nadu.  So the Govt of Tamil Nadu appointed Dr .Bobujee as Consultant  to the department of Anaimal Husbandry, Govt of Tamil Nadu after his retirement. This was really a rare honor and privilege  given to Dr.Abideen Bobujee Peter,  by the Govt of Tamil Nadu. As Consultant he worked at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Chennai for two years with great distinction .

Conclusion:       However  the work  as Consultant was so heavy and demanding Dr. Bobujee resigned his Post of Consultant to the Government of Tamil Nadu [ Dept of Animal Husbandry] and worked for a private Poultry Company at Namakkal for 1 year and in the meantime his wife Dr Sugirtha Bobujee went on voluntary retirement and built her own house in Madhavaram in the plot given by her mother Devenesam Appadurai . Now Dr Abideen Bobujee Peter and his beloved wife Dr. Pearl Grace Sugirtha are happily living in their new and neat  house at Madhavaram , Chennai .  Dr. Abideen Bobujee Peter has visited many foreign countries including , U.K, U.S.A , Germany  etc.  During one of his visits , Dr. Bobujee along with wife Dr Sugirtha Bobujee happened to  meet his  paternal aunt Mrs. Beatrice Amaladasan's  granddaughter the world famous classical Pianist   Mrs. Sheila Arnold at Cologne,Germany and Dr. Bobujee and his wife ,still cherish that landmark and lovely meeting .  More  over the famous multifaceted musician Noel James , a close and  long time friend and manger of the world famous  Music Director and Composer  A.R. Rahman, is Dr. Bobujee's maternal first cousin .  Dr. Abideen Bobujee Peter  is very calm , well educated, composed  and well liked by his friends and family members and his helping mentality really deserves mention here. 

[ In Part II, I will deal with  the world famous classical Pianist Mrs. Sheila Arnold  and Dr. A.J .Anandan ,IPS, DGP[, [.Rtd, karnataka].

P. BABU  MANOHARAN.  [Rights Reserved]

GENIUS AND MAESTRO OF WESTERN MUSIC PADMA SHRI HANDEL MANUEL : PART FINAL :

Some Peaks he touched and some important events of his musical journey:   Handel Manuel was given the distinctive  privilege to compose music for the  United Nations  Hymn  written in  English by Shree C. Rajagopalachari , former Governor General of India , and the Hymn was sung by the  world renowned singer M.S. Subbalakshmi at the U.N. Head Quarters , New York ;  after training by Handel Manuel .

Mr . Handel Manuel was given the rare privilege to do the harmonization of the Indian National Anthem and he accomplished the job in an excellent and enviable manner .The British press reported :" The Westminister Choir was led in a very fine performance of the Indian national Anthem by Handel Manuel" .

Handel Manuel was really a remarkable man ,he was at his ease in the company of the elite and was equally with humbler common people. He kept himself in constant touch with the Consul Generals of Germany ,  the USA. The USSR, the British Dy. High Commissioner , and with Heads of Cultural Centres  like Max Muller Bhavan, USIS, House of Soviet Culture, British Council, Alliance Francaise etc.

Handel Manuel  was the only Indian to be invited as Guest of honour to the TCHIAKOVSKY INTERNATIONAL  MUSIC COMPETITION  AT MOSCOW.

The renowned American composer  ALAN HOVHANESS has dedicated his  "Arjuna Symphony" and "An Organ Sonata "  to Handel Manuel . In another occasion Handel Manuel was  invited from the audience by the renowned Gospel singer , MAHALIA JACKSON  to the stage to play at her concert in Chennai[Madras]; she has also dedicated one of her songs to Handel Manuel.

In 1978 , the wife of a former Chancellor of West Germany  visited Madras and as she wanted to visit places of interest and importance  in Madras, the German Consulate decided  to take her to  St. Andrew's Kirk as well ; so  the Consulate telephoned the Church in this regard . When she visited the St. Andrew's Church , Handel Manuel  happened to be there in the Church   and Mr. S.W. Chandra Dhas who was  in charge in respect of her visit to the Church,  introduced Handel Manuel to the former first lady of the West Germany. During his conversation Handel asked her if she would like to hear some organ music , she said yes and requested Handel to play something sad . S.W. Chandra  Dhas writes ,"Handel chose a Bach piece and the Honourable  Lady sat on a chair listening . I noticed tears rolling down her cheeks; Handel had touched her emotions, I was sure. When the music was over she thanked Handel profusely ; and as she was leaving , she extended an invitation to him saying ,'when you come to Germany next, do not hesitate to call on me' ",[ KIRKSPIRE, January 1995]. And like this he was privileged to meet  ever so many important events  and personalities ,in  his life time.

After his retirement  as Dy. Chief Producer , for Western Music ,All India Radio ,  Handel Manuel  was appointed  Producer Emeritus , AIR and Doordarshan  Kendra for Western Music.  In 1982, Sangeet Nataka Akademy assigned him, the task of Investigation  and Development of Music in Nagaland ; for reporting to Govt of India.  More over Admiral Stanley Dawson  invited Handel Manuel to Delhi  to train and give  polish to the Band of the Indian Navy ;which was declared the best of  the three Bands of the Indian Defense Services , that year.  Mr Handel Manuel was  also invited by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu , Dr. J. Jeyalalitha , who was once Handel's student in the Church Park Convent School; to give polish to the Madras Police Band.

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Awards and Honours :[1] In January 1983 the Government of India ,awarded Handel   Manuel ,the prestigious" Padma Shri" Award for the remarkable services he did  for the cause of Western Music in India. [2] He had the distinction  to compose music for  the , "March India 1973" song  for the Independence day celebration .[3] He was the one who composed the "Variations of All India Radio Signature Tune",[4] He was the Music Composer for , "The Golden Wand , A Dance Drama".[5]  He composed Music for a Children's  Ballet [6] He composed music for , "The Trumpet  Tune". [7] Handel loved children and his , Uncle Handel's Children's Programme" over the  AIR  used to be an ardently awaited programme.

Handel Manuel and St. Andrew's Church :   Handel Manuel's musical life  was so intimately interlinked and connected with  St. Andrew's Church, Madras,.  Handel Manuel  took over as Organist and Choirmaster of St Andrew's Kirk , Madras , in 1941. He served as the Organist and Choirmaster of St. Andrew's Church[Kirk] for 53 years till his death on 22nd October 1994.  The holy worship service at St. Andrew's kirk ,Madras[Chennai]  used to commence at  9 o' clock in Sundays, and Handel Manuel was one of  the earliest Church goers, and used to  arrive in the Church. even before the commencement of the Service.  He used to check the supply of electricity and the working conditions of the musical instruments especially the Pipe Organ.   Besides usual  eight pieces of  Organ  Music by Handel Manuel , it was really musical treat to listen to Handel with the Choir . Handel  led the congregational singing of the Hymns to the correct tempo;and almost every Suday  ,Handel  Manuel ,presented a  melodious  and  beautiful  anthem in the St Andrew's Kirk  till his death..  He is no more with us , his absence is conspicuously  being  felt during the worship Services at St. Andrew's  Church [Kirk], Madras[Chennai].  Mr. Fred Alberts , during Handel Manul's  funeral service said , "Mr . Handel  Manuel will remain part of the history of St. Andrew's church, Madras " . Yes that is true.

Handel Manuel's last journey : The great Maestro and Genius  of Western Music  Mr. Handel Manuel passed away on  22 nd October , 1994. His funeral  took place on Sunday 23rd October, 1994, morning at 11 am.  And the the memorial service was held on 30th October , 1994.  Many paid fitting tributes to the departed  Maestro of Western Music  Mr. Handel Manuel . Let me conclude this Post by citing a condolence message received by Mrs. Alice Handel Manuel from  Dr. Gudrun Vogel  [ The Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Madras], " Over decades we had a very close , harmonious and successful partnership with Mr. Handel Manuel, whose knowledge of western classical music  we all admired and whose concerts--as a very able conductor or as organist and pianist -we greatly enjoyed....I sincerely wish that you and your family will find some consolation when remembering the achievements of Mr.Handel Manuel by which I mean not only the recognition among others by the 'Who's who in Music" or being awarded the Padmashree but the fact he could until the last live and work for the great love of his life-western classical music"..

Handel Manuel was taller than  the awards he received .He was really a Genius and Maestro of Western Music in India.

P. BABU MANOHARAN. M.A., [Rights reserved. This Article will be altered , modified and corrected later, if needed ]]

GENIUS AND MAESTRO OF WESTERN MUSIC PADMA SHRI HANDEL MANUEL: PART I:

Musical  Genius Mr. Handel Manuel [ 1918-1995] :  Mr. Handel Manuel was one of the greatest and rarest musical  geniuses  of western music that this world has ever produced . He was a  globally acclaimed Pianist and musical  celebrity of  the twentieth century. Mr. Handel Manuel's  mother Mrs. Daya Manuel was  a  great-granddaughter of the legendary Daniel Paramanadam, the first Indian Deacon of the Nagercoil Home Church.  By his  extraordinary musical accomplishment Mr . Handel Manuel had become a  legendary  personality in the filed of western music .

His Birth and Parents : Mr . Handel Manuel was born as a male child to Dr. Manuel and Mrs. Daya Manuel , on 27 April , 1918.  Mrs. Daya Manuel was an offshoot of a great illustrious christian family of Nagercoil.  Mrs. Daya Manuel's great grandfather Mr. Daniel Paramanadam was the first ordained Indian Deacon  of the  Home Church , Nagercoil . Mr. Daniel Paramanadam and Mrs. Paramayee Paramanadam begot Marthal Fanny;  and Mrs. Marthal Fanny and Joseph Munshi begot  Mr. Ambrose ; and Mr. Ambrose and Mrs. Luis Ambrose begot Mrs Daya Manuel and Daya Manuel was the mother of our legendary Music Maestro  Mr. Handel Manuel.

His family and his education :   Dr. Manuel and Mrs . Manuel were blessed with  four children [two sons and two daughters ] namely:[1] Mr. Handel  Manuel ,[2] Sunder and  [3] Rajeswari and [4]Lister.  Music was the great love of Dr. Manuel  senior and his children also inherited this great quality from their father Dr Manuel. Sunder is an adept at the clarionet and cello and an accomplished soloist on the flute. Lister  is an accomplished pianist , organist and conductor of church choir and Rajeswari is a singer and pianist . But Handel  Manuel was a genius and surpassed all of his siblings in western music. Handel Manuel's son Viji Manuel and his grandson Sajjid are also great  musicians Handel Manuel did his school Education  in Tuticorin and collegiate education at the famous Madras Christian College , Tambaram , Chennai.

The back ground of Handel Manuel's name:  On the eve  of Handel Manuel's birth , his father Dr . Manuel   with great musical flair attended  a musical performance of the  iconic Oratorio Composer George Frederic Handel's  [ 23 February1685-14 April  1759],masterpiece Oratorio, "Messiah" at the famous St. Andrew's Church, Chennai [The Kirk ]. Dr Manuel was  highly impressed and infatuated by the  musical performance , so  he decided to christen his  boy child as Handel after the great German born  British music composer  George  Frederic Handel. True to his name Handel Manuel  touched and reached great heights in his musical career.

Handel Manuel was multifaceted Musical Genius: Handel Manuel  was born in the family of music lovers and musicians .  He was a self taught musician . As born musical prodigy Handel very easily picked up mind and soul the  music, naturally and easily. Handel began his musical  travel and training with violin and very quickly he became an excellent expert to play keyboard.  He became a world class Organist , Pianist.and in short became fluent in any type music; including  classical or light.

Some unique places of his musical  journey: The Madras Musical Association was  founded  in 1893 by European Expatriates in Madras[Chennai]  with the then Governor of Madras Presidency as it's Patron ; to propagate  and perform western music in the city of Madras in particular and India  as a whole.    He became  the first Indian Conductor of Madras Musical Association at the tender age of 23.  Mr. Handel Manuel was the Founder Director of the Madras Philharmonic and Choral society.   He served  as the Organist  for more than  fifty years  at the St.Andrew's Church, Chennai [The Kirk ].Day by day his musical fame was reaching far and wide.

Handel Manuel's  Musical  Performances in Foreign Countries :  Handel Manuel's remarkable musical talent was recognized throughout the world. In 1964 at the invitation of the British Council he went to UK and gave performances in West Minister Abbey , London and in Edinburgh Cathedral, UK and his recitals  were recorded by BBC[British Broadcasting Corporation ] and also recorded by French Radio and broadcast in UK and France ; and also televised  in Germany. Thus  the musical talent and fame of Handel Manuel ,wafted  above these countries in the air and brought indelible fame to Handel Manuel in European countries also.

In 1984 Handel Manuel was privileged to visit  the  United Kingdom and Europe  again  and gave outstanding musical performances  at several celebrated Centres and Cathedrals and impressed the British and other European audiences overwhelmed by the reception and encouragements  Handel Manuel extended his musical tour to USA, and gave mind blowing  musical performances and recital in many important cities like Minneapolis , Philadelphia, San Francisco etc. At San Francisco  Mr . Handel Manuel,  in a fantastic manner played on a new huge Six-Manual Organ  commissioned just one month before.  In 1993, musical genius Handel Manuel  revisited UK and Europe and gave mesmerizing western musical  recitals..

Handel Manuel was  a peerless  Accompanist :  Handel  Manuel was a world class Pianist and Organist and he was sought after by foreign and Indian artistes like Melli Metha , the father of the world  famous musician Zubin Metha  ,American violinist Jack Gladzer, Argentinian violinist Alberto Lysy [Protege of the great violinist Yehudi Menuhin]; Australian violinist Michael Grube ,the Dutch Cellist Francois  Vetter and some other outstanding instrumentalists.  Handel had also accompanied many great vocalists from  UK, the USA , Japan and some other countries. After rearing  a recital  of Handel Manuel in Madras , Michael  Grube  paid Handel Manuel a public tribute and said, "I have played with many Pianists in the world , but none like Handel Manuel "

Mr. Handel Manuel  as a Guest Pianist had appeared many a time with  number of internationally acclaimed Jazz Groups  such as Barrel House Jazz Group from Germany;  Bob Barnard's Jazz Group from Australia , Clark Terry and his Jolly Giants from USA etc.

Handel Manuel as a  Conductor:  Handel Manuel  was an extraordinary Orchestra Conductor .He was the first Indian to decorate the post of Music Director of the Madras Musical Association [MMA].and he held the post  with great distinction and acclaim for 36 long years. He had the honour of conducting many mind blowing world class  Orchestral and Choral Concerts. Once he  got the rare distinction  of  performing as the Guest Conductor of the Berlin Chamber Orchestra .He had the  privilege of directing the music part of several stage productions of most of Sullivan and Gilbert operas and musical  plays like Fiddler on the Roof, The King and  I, Hans Christian Anderson , Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor  Dream Coat, Papp's version the Pirates of Penzance  etc.

Handel Manuel rubbed shoulders with great international musicians :  Handel Manuel had the distinction and opportunity to participate at  the International Congress of Organist at Cambridge. After his returning  from this International Congress of Organist , he had exchanged notes with tall  names such as Westminister  Abbey's Simon Preston, Frederick Swann of the  Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles , William Mathias [ who was commissioned to write Prince Charles' wedding anthem] Frederick  Jackson and Carey Blyton. Handel Manuel in fact commissioned Blyton to write a piece for his own choir , the Madras Philharmonic and Choral Society.

Handel Manuel and the Madras Musical Association : The one man Institution of western music Handel Manuel  joined the Madras Musical Association [MMA] in 1939 as a chorister under Lady Papworth.  In1945  the Conductor of MMA , Mr. Long walked out during the rehearsal of  Mendelssohn's , "Hymn of Praises"  in a fit of anger , in that context Handel Manuel was requested to step into  Long's place and  Handel Manuel accepted the position as  the Conductor  of the MMA . He  worked tirelessly and enthusiastically and gave good practice to the MMA choir; and the "Hymn of Praise " was performed  as scheduled on March 20, 1945.  in  remarkable  and impressive style. Since then there was no turning back for Handel . The Madras Musical Association [MMA] was consistently flourishing for forty years under the leadership and guidance of  Mr. Handel Manuel , the first Indian Conductor of the MMA ; receiving  laurels from outstanding musical personalities like Sir. Malcolm Sargent for it's musical productions like the Gilbert and Sullivan  favourites.  Another outstanding landmark in the annals of the MMA was  when the acclaimed American Composer  Alan Hovanhes dedicated his ," Arjuna Symphony " to  Mr. Handel Manuel [ KIRKSPIRE , January  1995  ] .

[Part  II will follow shortly ]
P.  BABU  MANOHARAN. M.A, [Rights reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later, if needed ]
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