Kumari Thanthai [ Father of Kanyakumari Dist] Marshal A. Nesamony,B.A, B.L, Ex. M. P., Part III

 Rev Charles Mead , Neyyoor District  [LMS] and Marshall A. Nesmony :

Rev Charles Mead's move to Neyyoor was really a milestone in the political, social and church history of Travancore.   Charles Mead wanted to extend and expand  the missionary work of the LMS to the western part of South Travancore  and in tune with his plan in January 1828 Charles Mead received a suitable land near Thiruvithancode[Ancient Capital of Travancore Kingdom] ,  from  Mr. Ramen Thumby  for a nominal price. After having completed all the requirement Charles Mead shifted his official residence  to Neyyoor from Nagercoil . Within a short span of time the Neyyoor Division of the Travancore LMS Misssion ,  was intensively and extensively spread and established. Neyyoor LMS Division under the leadership of Charles Mead changed the social, religious and political map of the then Travancore Kingdom.

In the same way Neyyoor District of the LMS[CSI]  played  vital historical role under the leadership of Marhsal A, Nesamony to change the social and political map of South Travancore after nearly one hundred years. This was a historical coincidence .Since childhood days Mr. A. Nesamony  took an active interest both in the secular and religious activities with keen interest and concern.. He was  not only a great political leader but also he was a great Church leader .At the age of just 44 Marshal A. Nesamony  was elected as the Secretary of the LMS Neyyoor District.     Incidently Mr. A Nesamony's  social movement for social liberation of his people and other oppressed people , started from Neyyoor only[Travancore Tamilnadu Congress was started as a social movement  at the Edwin Memorial Building  at Neyyoor, in1945] like Charles Mead's Liberation movement  .This was a historical coincidence of great importance.

Marsal Nesamony and South Travancore Church Council  In 1874 the South Travancore Church Council was formed . When the Congregational and Presbyterian Missions united in 1908 it became a part of the South India United Church with a new name South Travancore Diocese..And as a result of his dynamic qualities, efficiency and commitment in Church activities in the year 1933 Mr A. Nesamony was elevated to the Travancore Mision Council

The  South Travancore Church Council was founded in 1874..Mr A. Nesamony,  in 1933  was elevated to the Travancore Mission Council and the Travancore Mission Council elected him as its Secretary when the question of union was on its agenda. In 1908, the Congregational and Presbyterian missions united under a new Name South Travancore Diocese. In1939 Nesamony became the Vice President of the South Travancore Diocese. In 1939 Mr Nesamony wrote the Constitution and Rules of the Travancore Church Council .

Marshal A. Nesamony and Kanyakumari CSI Diocese ;.The Church Union Movement in South India was responsible for  the birth of  the Church of South India on 27th September , 1947..After 28 years of relentless joint consultation,  the negotiating churches entered into an organic Union called Church of South India.

The South Travancore Church Council of SIUC  joined the Church of South India [CSI] at the time of its inauguration on the 27th September 1947. South Travancore became a Diocese of CSI..  Trivandrum was the H.Q of the South Travancore Diocese and it extended from Quilon in the North to Kanyakumari in the South .

Following the merger of Kanyakumari district with Tamil Nadu [Madras state] on linguistic basis ,  South Travancore Diocese was bifurcated into South Kerala CSI Diocese and Kanyakumari  CSI Diocese, in June 1959 and Nagercoil became the Head Quarters of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese..Marshal A. Nesamony was elected unanimously as the Vice President of the newly formed Kanyakumari CSI Diocese   With great dynamism, dedication and vision he  discharged his official duty as the Vice President of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese  till his death. Mr. A. Nesamony also  served as the Chairman of the Properties Board of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese  and  took remarkable and  sincere  efforts  to expand the coconut plantation

at North  Thamarakulam CSI Mission Paddy Fields &Coconut Topes.  Advocate Mr .D Packiaraj, B.A, B.L , succeeded Mr .A Nesamony as the Chairman of the Properties Board of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese.[ Mr. D. Packiaraj's  son  Mr, Rodney Daniel, B.Sc[Agri] has  married  Marshal Nesamony's second daughter Mrs. N. Daisy W Jacob's  daughter Mrs Annie Daniel..  A Post will be written later about Mr.D.Packiaraj and his  historical family .].

P. BABU MANOHARAN. [ This  Post will be modified , altered if needed later. Your valuable comments are welcome.. Part  Final follow soon. ][Rights reserved]