Introduction : Prof. D. Arthur Davis was one of the famous Principals and English Lecturers in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. . As an English Professor he was very popular among students and as a Principal he was a great administrator, he was a disciplined NCC officer , a very powerful and eloquent orator in English, an outstanding Rotarian and a popular Deacon in the Home Church Nagercoil. in short he was a remarkable person.
His Birth and Parents: Prof.Arthur Davis was born on 20th July, 1927, to Mr Devadanam and Mrs. Paripooranam of Punnarkulam [Located near Mylaudy] in Agasteeswaram taluk Kanyakumari district,. as a relative of great Mylaudy Maharasan Vethamonickam. Originally Artur Davis' family belonged to LMS Church. Mrs Paripooranam was a native of Punnarkulam and was very beautiful , As Mr Devadanam lost his first wife he married the beautiful Miss Paripooranam as his second wife ; and Mr Devadanam and Mrs Paripooranam Devadanam, were blessed with one son .Mr. Devadanam &.Mrs Paripooranam Devadanam christened their son as Arthur Davis.. As Mr. Devadanam died unexpectedly at an early age, Mr Arthur Davis was brought by his mother Paripooranam amidst great difficulty and impecunious conditions... So Prof. D. Arthur Davis loved his mother deeply and emotionally , and when his mother died he wept and cried uncontrollably like a child.
His Education : After having completed his High School education in a successful manner Arthur Davis joined the Indian Air Force and after having served in the Indian Air Force for 5 years he returned to Nagercoil and joined and continued his collegiate education in the famous Scott christian college and passed his B.Sc,[ Botany] degree with flying colors and joined his MA [English] in the famous and prestigious Madras Christian College , Tambaram , Chennai. and passed his MA[English ] degree with flying colors.
Mr. D.Arthur Davis joined as a Lecturer in the Scott Christian College , Nagercoil : After having passed his MA [English] with flying colors Mr Arthur Davis joined as a Lecturer in the English Department, the Scott Christian College , Nagercoil.. His tall , handsome and appealing appearance, his impeccable English accent and tone and teaching style attracted the students very much and he became a famous English Lecturer within a short span of time. The general public used to admire him as a silver tongue orator because of his fluency and command over English language . While he was working as a lecturer in the English department at the Scott Christian college, the English department was having the best English lecturers of the time . To cite a few I can cite Prof .Franklin, Mr. Lysander, Mr. Fenn George, Mrs Joy Gnandasan , Mrs. Angel Johnson and a few other stalwarts were working in the English Department..Mr. Arthur Davis was also working as N.C.C[R] officer ,in the Scott Christian College.for many
years in an efficient manner
Rev. Prof .V. Santiago[Moderator of S.I.U.C, 1919] was the Paternal Grandfather of Mrs. Dorothy Arthur Davis: Mrs. Dorothy Arthur Davis was born in one of the most famous and illustrious Christian families of Tamil Nadu and South India. Prof. Arthur Davis married Miss Dorothy Santiago, a granddaughter of the great Christian Leader and Poet Mr. V. Santiago of Vaththalagundu,[Madurai District] . In this connection it is better to have some idea about Mr. V. Santiago. Santiago's father Mr. Vethamuthu was a Catholic Christian and he became a Protestant Christian and Mr. V Vethamuthu was blessed with four sons and two lovely daughters. Out these four sons of Mr. Vethamithu , three were great Christian Poets. Mr. V. Santaigo's brother Mr. V Masillamani [Author of the Christian Hymn, "Thanthaanai Thuthippome, Thiruchchabaiyare Kavi Paadi ] and Mr. V. Benjamin were great Christian Poets.. Mr V. Santiago was also a great Tamil Christian poet . Mr V, Santiago had written the following famous Tamil Christian Hymns:[1] Varavanum Paaveeye , [2] Antha Naal Packianaal, [3]Vinthai Kiristhesu Raja, [4] Thevana Naan Vumathandial , [5] En Vullam kavarum, [6]Yesu Naan Nirkkum Kanmalaiye, ,[7] Thanthan Ennai Yesuve, [8] En Siluvai Ediththu En Yesuva, [9] Nitham Muyal Maname Parisutha Seeviyaththil ,[10] Thsasara Ihththrainiai Annbaai Yesuvukku Sonthamaakuvom, and some more lovey Tamil Christian songs. After having completed his School and collegiate education Mr Santiago worked as a teacher at Pasumalai High school for 14 years since 1891. ThenMr Santiago worked as Professor of Mathematics at the famous American College, Madurai for some years. But Mr.V. Santiago was having a natural flair for theological education and evangelical work Amid his busy activities Prof V. Sangtiago finished his theological education and was ordained as a Priest and worked as an ordained Pastor at Vaththalagundu and Pasumalai churches affiliated with the Madurai American Mission . He was a God fearing man , creative thinker and great Christian leader. In 1917 Mr. V Santiago was elected as the President of the South IndiaUnitedChurch[SIUC], in 1919 he was elected as the Moderator of the South India United Church. Mr. V. Santiago was a remarkable and multifaceted personality, he was a Poet, Preacher, Pastor, Professor, Social Thinker .and great Christian Leader. Mrs Dorothy was Rev . Prof. V Santiago's son's daughter . Mrs Dorothy Arthur Davis worked as a PG teacher at the prestigious Duthie Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil and retired as Assistant Head Mistress.
Prof. D. Arthur Davis joined at the Pioneer Kumarasamy college, Nagercoil as its Vice Principal: While he was working at the Scott Christian College as a senior English Lecturer, he was invited to work as the Vice Principal and Head of the Department of English in the Pioneer kumarasamy College, Nagercoil . With great enthusiasm Prof Arthur Davis assumed the charge as the Vice Principal of PKCollege and discharged his duties with great distinction.
He was promoted as the Principal Of Pioneer Kumarasamy College, Nagercoil; The management of PKC quickly recognised the efficiency of Professor Arthur Davis and appointed him as the Principal of Pioneer kumarasamy College, Nagercoil . While Prof, D. Arthur Davis was the Principal of P.K. College, this college stood first in the University and many students used to get M.B.B.S selection on merit.He served as the Principal of this college approximately for 7 years .As a Principal he proved himself as an efficient administrator and he was liked both by the staff and students.
Prof. D.Arthur Davis worked as Principal at Muslim Arts College , Thiruvithancode: After his retirement from PKC, Professor D. Arthur Davis was appointed as the Principal at the Muslim Arts College, at Tririvithancode. And he served as Principal of Muslim Arts College in an enviable and constructive manner for nearly 3 years.
In NI Engineering College::Moreover in the initial and formative years of N.I.Engineering College, Kumaracoil, KK District, Prof. D. Arthur Davis worked as English Professor for nearly 2 - 3 years
Prof.D. Arthur Davis was an outstanding Rotarian: Prof. Arthur Davis was really an outstanding Rotarian in all sense of the word.. He served as the President of the Rotary Club of Nagercoil during the Rotary year 1971-1972. in a remarkable way. Rotary Club members and the general public showed much eagerness and spontaneous interest to hear the eloquent speeches of Rtn .Arthur Davis in English, while he was alive. . In 1980 the then Rotary Governor for the RI District 321, Rtn PV Jambukasan sent Prof. D. Arthur Davis as the Team Leader of the Group Study Exchange Program to the United States. He also served as the Editor of the official Bulletin of his Rotary Club for some years. While he was working as the Principal at PKCollege, he started the first Rotract Club in the RI district 321, in P.K.College, Nagercoil..
Prof D. Arthur Davis served as a Deacon of the Home Church Nagercoil until his death: Prof Arthur Davis took active interest in the Church related activities. He was one the longest served Deacons of the Home Church, Nagercoil , . For nearly three decades he had been serving as a Deacon of the famous Home Church, Nageracoil with distinction , until his unexpected death in 1995. Now his mortal remains had been interred in the Home Church cemetery , Nagercoil .
Conclusion : Prof Arthur Davis was a remarkable personality. He is no more with us .He met his death on 8th January, 1995..At his death the English lovers lost a great companion and lover of English Literature.. The Rotary movement had lost a dynamic Rotarian ..I had the privilege to be his student at Scott Christian College , Nagercoil during the years 1964 -1966. I still remember the striking way he read the immortal lines of Milton's Paradise Lost He was a great orator ; the sound of this silver tongue orator is not heard now So long as the English language is there , in some corners of the world some people will be remembering our Silver tongue Orator Prof.. D. Arthur Davis..
BY. P. BABU MANOHARAN, M.A,. [Rights reserved , Comments are welcome . This Article will be altered, modified if needed corrected later].
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