Introduction :No doubt Mr Pakkianathan of Mylaudy [ son-in- law of Maharasan Vethamonickam of Mylaudy] was one of the outstanding personalities of Mylaudy and Kanyakumari District. and he was one of the first 30 thirty people baptized by Rev Ringel Taube in1807 at Myladudy. .His original name was Sivan and he was baptized with a new christian name Pakkianathen. However as the original or the early records about the early Christians of Mylady baptized by Mr Ringeltaube are beyond our reach and trace ; it seems to be very difficult to know the date birth and parental details of Mr Pakkianaathan and others. . He was really an extraordinary man of courage, conviction, negotiating skill, administration and piety. He remains as an unsung hero ; so this Article will try to unearth some salient qualities and accomplishments of Mr.Packianathan of Mylaudy.
Mr. Pakkianathan received the Royal Grant 2nd from the Dewan of Travancore on behalf of Mr Mead: Rev Charles Mead made an appeal to Her Highness Ranee Parvathy Bai ,through the Resident Col Munro in 1818 stating that the feeding of the destitute and the poor connected with the LMS Mission, were affected owing to insufficient produce in the grants-fields and requested the Maharani to reduce or relinquish the existing taxes. After consulting with the Resident , Maharani wanted to have some more clarification in this regard ;son the 21st of Vycausy 993,M.E[June 1818] relinquishing or making over to him [Misssion] for the anoobogam or en Mr Pakkianathan was invited to Quilon Cutchery as a Representative of Rev. Charles Mead ; to give some explanation in this respect .Accordingly Mr Pakkianathan went to Quilon and gave explanation to the satisfaction of the authorities; as a result Her Highness Ranee Parvathy Bhye issued a neet or ROYAL GRANT to Mr Mead on the 21st of vycausy ,993 M.E[ june 1818]relinquishing or making over to him for [the Mission ]anoobogam or enjoyment 99 1/10 cottahs and house tax and finally fixing the michavaram or Government due to a nominal tax of 1 cottah the same one cottah to be paid to the Sircar in two instalments of half cottah for each crop. This was really a great accomplishment on the part of Mr. Pakkianathan of Mylaudy..[ Agur, C.H.T, p.696].
C.M.Agur writes [CHT p 698] that the Native Assistant who was chiefly instrumental in making this successful representation to Government was Mr.Pakkianathan who rendered to Mr. Mead the same kind of assistance in this connection as Vethamonickam did to Mr. Ringeltaube in the matter of the First Grant[1813]. When Pakkianathan mooted the subject Mr. Mead was unwilling to write to the Ranee through the British Resident , for the reason that the Sircar[Govt] had already made great sacrifices for the LMS Mission and that it would not be reasonable to take undue advantage . Mr Mead said to Mr. Pakkainathan that he would consider the subject if Mr. Packainathan would bring a written statement showing the valid reasons for the reduction of tax on the Grants- fields.. Accordingly Mr. Packanathan proved the insufficiency of the produce for the maintenance of the poor Christian of the Mylaudy LMS Mission and Mr Mead was led to write on the Subject . The Grant was delivered by the Dewan into the hands of Mr Mead's Agent Mr Pakkianathan at Quilon. Definitely that was a historical incident, moment privilege and honor for Mr. Pakkianathan.
Mr Packianathan was made Manager of the secular affairs of the Mylaudy LMS Misssion:
Mr Pakkianathan was of immense help to his father-in-law Mr Maharasan Vethamonickam of Mylaudy and rendered very valuable service to the LMS Mission. So ,as Mr Palkianathan was a clever Accountant and efficient Manager, he was appointed as the Manager of the Secular affairs of the Mylaudy LMS Mission. By giving eminent and efficient support to his father-in-law Mr. Vethamonickam , he supported the LMS Mission . In fact Mr. Pakkianathan was the right hand to Mr Vethamonickam, though in religious matters sometimes there were some differences between them . But Mr Pakkianathan reformed his conduct and repented for his mistakes later. Mr Pakkianathan was not an Arm -Chair Manager or Superintendent of the Mission paddy fields [located near Thamarakulam, Vellamadam, Puthukiramam , inAgastheeswaram Taluk, K.K Dist and other places] , rather he directly supervised the cultivation of the paddy fields and increased the produce and profit of the Mission Paddy fields.
Mr. Pakkianathan received the Royal Grant 2nd from the Dewan of Travancore on behalf of Mr Mead: Rev Charles Mead made an appeal to Her Highness Ranee Parvathy Bai ,through the Resident Col Munro in 1818 stating that the feeding of the destitute and the poor connected with the LMS Mission, were affected owing to insufficient produce in the grants-fields and requested the Maharani to reduce or relinquish the existing taxes. After consulting with the Resident , Maharani wanted to have some more clarification in this regard ;son the 21st of Vycausy 993,M.E[June 1818] relinquishing or making over to him [Misssion] for the anoobogam or en Mr Pakkianathan was invited to Quilon Cutchery as a Representative of Rev. Charles Mead ; to give some explanation in this respect .Accordingly Mr Pakkianathan went to Quilon and gave explanation to the satisfaction of the authorities; as a result Her Highness Ranee Parvathy Bhye issued a neet or ROYAL GRANT to Mr Mead on the 21st of vycausy ,993 M.E[ june 1818]relinquishing or making over to him for [the Mission ]anoobogam or enjoyment 99 1/10 cottahs and house tax and finally fixing the michavaram or Government due to a nominal tax of 1 cottah the same one cottah to be paid to the Sircar in two instalments of half cottah for each crop. This was really a great accomplishment on the part of Mr. Pakkianathan of Mylaudy..[ Agur, C.H.T, p.696].
C.M.Agur writes [CHT p 698] that the Native Assistant who was chiefly instrumental in making this successful representation to Government was Mr.Pakkianathan who rendered to Mr. Mead the same kind of assistance in this connection as Vethamonickam did to Mr. Ringeltaube in the matter of the First Grant[1813]. When Pakkianathan mooted the subject Mr. Mead was unwilling to write to the Ranee through the British Resident , for the reason that the Sircar[Govt] had already made great sacrifices for the LMS Mission and that it would not be reasonable to take undue advantage . Mr Mead said to Mr. Pakkainathan that he would consider the subject if Mr. Packainathan would bring a written statement showing the valid reasons for the reduction of tax on the Grants- fields.. Accordingly Mr. Packanathan proved the insufficiency of the produce for the maintenance of the poor Christian of the Mylaudy LMS Mission and Mr Mead was led to write on the Subject . The Grant was delivered by the Dewan into the hands of Mr Mead's Agent Mr Pakkianathan at Quilon. Definitely that was a historical incident, moment privilege and honor for Mr. Pakkianathan.
Mr Packianathan was made Manager of the secular affairs of the Mylaudy LMS Misssion:
Mr Pakkianathan was of immense help to his father-in-law Mr Maharasan Vethamonickam of Mylaudy and rendered very valuable service to the LMS Mission. So ,as Mr Palkianathan was a clever Accountant and efficient Manager, he was appointed as the Manager of the Secular affairs of the Mylaudy LMS Mission. By giving eminent and efficient support to his father-in-law Mr. Vethamonickam , he supported the LMS Mission . In fact Mr. Pakkianathan was the right hand to Mr Vethamonickam, though in religious matters sometimes there were some differences between them . But Mr Pakkianathan reformed his conduct and repented for his mistakes later. Mr Pakkianathan was not an Arm -Chair Manager or Superintendent of the Mission paddy fields [located near Thamarakulam, Vellamadam, Puthukiramam , inAgastheeswaram Taluk, K.K Dist and other places] , rather he directly supervised the cultivation of the paddy fields and increased the produce and profit of the Mission Paddy fields.
Mr.Pakkianathan was appointed as the chief ministerial officer of the Nagercoil Court: The then Resident Col Munro appointed Mr Charles Mead as Judge in the Nageroil Court in 1818. On assuming charge as the Judge of the Nagercoil Court in 1818 Mr Charles Mead, took steps to appoint some Christians in his own Court, accordingly Mr Charles Mead appointed Maharasan Vethamonickam's.son-in-law Mr Pakkianathan , as the Head Gomestha or the chief ministerial Officer of the Nagearcoil Court in the official rank of a Thahsildar.
Mr Packianathan rode daily on Horseback and followed Mr Mead to the Court :Mr. Charles Mead daily went to the Court in his Palanquin and his chief ministerial Officer Mr. Packainathan followed him to the Court daily riding on a majestic horse back. Mr Mead was a champion of social justice and so he made this arrangement with the purpose of enhancing the image of the local converted Christians in the eyes of the non Christians.
Mr Packianathan rode daily on Horseback and followed Mr Mead to the Court :Mr. Charles Mead daily went to the Court in his Palanquin and his chief ministerial Officer Mr. Packainathan followed him to the Court daily riding on a majestic horse back. Mr Mead was a champion of social justice and so he made this arrangement with the purpose of enhancing the image of the local converted Christians in the eyes of the non Christians.
The splendor of Mr. Packianthan's march to the Court : In accordance with Mr Charles Mead's express order Mr Packianathan was asked to march and follow Mr Mead to the Court with all the paraphernalia of a Thahsildar ; a boy proceeded Mr Packianathan, ringing a small bell announcing his approach and arrival and two servants followed him holding a Chemboo [copper vessel] in tune with the customs of the day. The respectable and generous treatment Mr Mead accorded to the native Christian Community even at the very outset of his official career not only enhanced the social image of that particular individual but also the total social image of the entire local Christians. Mr CM.Agur writes, "This incident also shows how the good Missionary availed himself of every opportunity to raise the social position of his Christian converts.Mr. Pakkianthan's every day march to the court on a horse back with all the splendor invited the jealousy and envy of many people , and those enemies planned and tried to kill Mr. Pakkianathan but as they were afraid of Mr Charles Mead, they did not execute their plan to kill Mr.Pakkianathan.
Pakkianaathan resigned his Court Job : As Rev Charles Mead wanted to give more time to missionary work he resigned his Judge Post . But Mr Mead asked Mr. Pakkianathan to continue in his post but Mr Pakkianathan , on his own accord resigned his post of chief ministerial Officer of the Nagercoil Court.After his resignation Mr Pakkianathan re-assumed his previous post ,Superintendent of LMS Mission fields, South Travancore..
Mr. Pakkianathan's last days :.Mr. Pakkianathan spent his retired and old age life at Nagercoil . In his old age he became totally blind and it said whenever he groped in the streets of Nagercoil leading to the Court Complex, his enemies who were jealous of him used to collect around him and mocked him by asking ," where is you horse?" But he used to reply them in a very sharp manner and shut their mocking mouths. He reminded them that even kings had their reverses and told them that there was nothing to be surprised at the reversal of a poor man like him . In his old age he met his death like his forefathers with hope on eternity, [ His date of death and burial place are not known . Mr. Maharasan Vethamonickam had two daughters namely Pakkiayi and Anna ammal , and as Mr Maharasan Vethamonickam's the eldest son-in -law Mr. Pakkianahan should have married Miss Pakkiayi out of Maharasan Vethamonickam's two daughters.]
Conclusion: We can write volumes about the glory of Malady Vethamonickam's family members including his smart son-in-law Mr Pakkianathan Mr. Pakkianaathan was a remarkable person and definitely he was one among those early pioneers who laid the foundation for the establishment of Christianity and educational and social awakening in South Travancore . Definitely his biography fills some significant chapters in the social , educational , cultural and Church history of Travancore and India. Now Mr Pakkianathan lives in and above the fertile Mission paddy fields of the Kanyakumari C.S.I Diocese and in the pages of history.
By.P. BABU MANOHARAN. [ Rights reserved. This Article will be modified, corrected or altered later if needed].
By.P. BABU MANOHARAN. [ Rights reserved. This Article will be modified, corrected or altered later if needed].
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