A Forgotten Legend, Humanitarian, Founder of the I E L C School for the Blind at Bargur and Deaf School at Ambur Etc, Honorary Doctorate Degree Awardee for Community Services , Nonagenerian Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius . Part Final

Esther Admitted her Children in Boarding Schools at different Places    :  Even in a helpless and terrific situation  Ms Esther obeyed to the inner call of God  and took a firm determination to serve the cause of the visual impaired and other physically challenged children  and people.  none could distract  Ms Dr. Esther from her firm decision . Naturally  she was aware of her responsibility towards the education of her 9 children and as Ms Esther had  connections with some other Christian missions, apart from I.E.L.C, within no time Esther admitted her children in different Christian Boarding Schools in Tamil Nadu and mentally prepared herself for full time social service 

                                                              Ms . Dr. Esther Cornelius 

The Institutions founded by Ms Esther for the cause of the Physically Challenged     After making necessary arrangement  for the education of her children , Ms Esther resigned her Govt  High School Teacher job  and underwent formal Training session to teach the visual impaired; in Victory School and Training Centre for the Blind in Chennai and founded the IELC School for the Blind in Bargur in 1972  with the support  of IELC missionary Rev Manns, amidst hard opposition from the local people of Bargur.  She assumed  charge as the first Head Mistress of the School for the Blind at Bargur and  Esther wanted to extend her area and field of  social service  and so  on the advice of Mr Stein of the Christoffel Blinden Mission , underwent an additional  Training in  Bensheim Germany. Christoffel Blinden Mission came forward to build a School and Home for the Blind [81]at Bargur and now it is one of the biggest schools for the Blind in India  . 

In tune with her vision Ms Esther Cornelius founded the following Service Institutions :- [1] IELC School for the Deaf in Ambur , [2] Oli Illam at the Bargur Blind School , [3] IELC School for the Mentally Retarded at Pernambut. [4] Hostel for the Polio - Physically Challenged at Krishnagiri..[5] Lutheran School - Home for the Deaf and Deaf & Blind at Vellore ,[6]  The Happy Home at KGF, etc,  In addition to starting Schools , Homes and Hostels for the physically and mentally challenged children  Ms Esther Cornelius  introduced and availed the help and support of  Donors  namely [1] Christoffel Blinder Mission, [2]KNH, [3] Compassion International , [4]CASA, [5]World Vision , Etc,.

Ms Esther Cornelius was Honored with a Honorary Doctorate Degree :  Ms Esther Cornelius was honored with a honorary Doctorate  degree for her " Community Service and Development of the less fortunate  in India "  by the authority of  POWER OF FAITH PENTECOSTAL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL in association with DR. STERLING  THEOLOGICAL [UNIVERSITY ] SEMINARIES CANADA ,  on the 13th  day of November 2010.

Ms.Dr, Esther  Cornelius and  The Mission to the Blind,  India     :  It was Ms Esther who galvanized late Mr Sam R. Thanaseelan to start the Mission to the Blind, India and the Mission to the Blind came into being in June 1992, . Ms Jeya Dhanaseelan the National Executive Director of the Mission to the blind India says , "Gradually Esther Akka  became a part of our ministry .She was President of the Board for three years until she had to go to the United States in order to be with her Children"  Moreover Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius gave her daughter late Ms Benedicta's house at Madhavaram in Chennai  to the Mission to the Blind to start a Home for the Young Blind Women and this Home for the Young Blind Women was named after Dr, Esther's demised daughter Ms Jovanna  as per Ms Esther's wish as  "The  Jovanna Home for the Young Blind Women. " Now Mission to the Blind India  is doing spectacular service for the cause of the visual impaired people 

Conclusion    Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius Akka  is a legendary and unassuming woman  living with us . In the institutions founded by Dr. Esther  Cornelius, the underprivileged  children became the privileged ones to be nurtured in Christian Values and faith . Dr Esther Cornelius  Akka stands apart in the world  because she conquered all the obstacles that  boggled and blocked  her way by her firm faith in God  .Dr. Rodney  R. Rynearson , Counselor for .Blind and Deaf Ministries with the Synod [LCMS} for mission services says that . " She [Esther ] is very tenacious, very creative in terms of looking for resources and she is very determined. She will not give up ,you cannot talk Esther out of something she wants to do "   The testimonies given with gratitude by Ms. Dr Esther's former physically challenged students namely Ms Elizabeth, Mr Moses, Mr P.S. Srinivasan, Mr. Mahalingam , Mr. Ravichandran and many others speak and portray, the scale, magnitude and magnanimity of Esther Akka's self less social service for the cause of the physically challenged people . It is not at all possible to cover all aspects of Ms Dr, Esther Cornelius' glowing and fruitful life  in this Article . . Ms. Dr. Esther Cornelius  really deserves  greater honor and recognition from the public and Government  and  the Government of India should  come forward  to honor Ms Dr. Esther Cornealius with  Padma Sri  Award . I salute the living Mother Theresa of IELC .

END

By. P. Babu Manoharan , M.A [ All rights are reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed ].   

A Forgotten Legend, True Missionary, Humanitarian, Founder and First Head Mistress of the I E L C School for the Blind at Bargur , Nonagenerian Ms .Dr. Esther Cornelius. Part ..B..

Ms . Esther's Marriage  with Rev John Cornelius   :   No doubt marriages are made in heaven, and likewise in accordance with the  heavenly scheme Ms Esther  Julia of Madurai was married to an I.E.L,C Pastor namely Rev. John  Cornelius from Ambur  on  May 14 , 1954 at the IELC  Lutheran Church at Ambur,  Definitely it will be useful to the readers and historians to read  some lines about the family of Rev John Cornelius.  Rev Cornelius' forefathers were Christians for 9 generations. His father Noah John was a descendant  of a Spanish Moor . and his mother was Ms Gnanadeepam and  his grandmother [ mother of Gnanadeepam ] was a grand daughter  of a Brahmin Priest .As per Indian  Hindu social custom a Brahmin was not  permitted to marry anyone from any other caste and if they do so he or she will be banned from the community . In spite of knowing this punishment Rev Cornelius' grandparents rising above all barriers boldly married and became husband and wife.[Ref , " LED BY THE CLOUDS ".]  After her marriage, Ms Esther Julia was called as Mrs Esther Cornelius and in tune with the general custom and practice  of the Tamil people , Ms Esther moved to Ambur town to live with her husband Rev. N.J.Cornelius.

                                                              Ms. Dr. Esther Cornelius 

Rev. N.J.Cornelius' Siblings       Rev Cornelius hailed from one of the illustrious Christian families in Tirupattur  district, Tamil Nadu.  Rev Cornelius' parents gave birth to the following Children namely ;- [1] Rev. N. J.  Ezekiel  and he had the privilege to serve as the President of the IELC [ India Evangelical Lutheran Church] and his children are blessed and all of them are living in US., [2]  Mr N.J.Manaseh [3] Ms Mercy, [4] Ms Salomi , [5]   Rev .N.J.Cornelius and he was married to  the heroine of this Article Ms Esther.,[6] Rev.N.J. Benjamin and [7] Mr.  N.J.Victor and he worked as teacher. :

 

                                                Rev. John Cornelius with his wife Ms Esther 

Ms Esther Cornelius and Rev Cornelius Couple's Children  : God blessed  the conjugal life Ms Esther and Rev Cornelius  and this couple gave birth to  five boys and four girls namely ;- [1]  Mr Shiloh and he was working as a Hotel Manager and was living in USA and he passed away in 2018., [2] Ms Beulla worked as a teacher and now retired and lives in  Berlin in Germany, and she is blessed with three  noteworthy children including the world famous Pianist, Musician and Music Producer  Ms Hannah V, [3] Ms. Benedicta and she works as a Nurse in US , [4] Mr Leslie [he was named in memory of Bhishop Lesslie Benigin ]and he worked as a Medical Tech and now he is retired and lives in California ,US, and his wife  Dr Elizabeth  is working as CNO for Kaiser  and this couple's only son is pursuing his Medical Study  and wants to be a Missionary Doctor.[5] Ms Angelin and she worked as a Manager in a firm in Canada and lives in Canada , [6] Mr Godfrey  and he was a Mechanical Engineer  and he passed away  in 2014, [7] Mr Godwin and he works as Nurse in USA, [8 ] Ms Viswasam [ Vish] , C.P.A, and he is working as Chief Finance officer [CFO] in a famous Company in USA and he lives in US with his wife and  two children, Mr .Viswasam is a multifaceted personality ; he is  a great Tamil writer, debater, and so on , and lastly  [9] Ms.Jovanah  and she passed away in 1979. Out of the nine children of  Rev Cornelius and Ms Esther Cornelius  couple ,only six are alive today. 

The Demise of Rev Cornelius and the Decision taken by Ms Esther    : After her marriage Ms Esther  moved to Ambur to live with   her husband Rev N.J Cornelius who was working as an IELC Pastor and Teacher at the IELC Teachers' Training School at Ambur    Ms Esther started to work as a Government High School Science Teacher in the then undivided North Arcot district and it was told that Ms Esther was the first lady High School teacher in the whole of the North Arcot District. . Even though Ms. Esther was working as an efficacious High school Teacher, her inner mind was with the visual impaired and physically challenged children and people who lived around her..  Ms Esther used to travel  during  the early nocturnal hours  to visit the houses of the physically challenged children who lived around Ambur, through any available local bus  And Ms Esther  used to ask the parents of the physically challenged children to admit their children in Boarding Schools  , Many parents wanted to get rid of such children and so they used to send their physically challenged children with Esther. and such Children were given temporary Shelter in her home first and  afterwards she sent them to the Government School for the Blind at Poonamalee , Madras that cared for the physically challenged children. . This attitude of Ms Esther was not liked by her husband and  created some displeasure between them.  However  due to Esther's  initiative   a School for the Deaf  was started in Ambur in 1960,  with a couple of deaf children in the Missionary Bungalow [P62] .Ms Esther continued her compassionate social service with great devotion  In this situation when Ms Esther  teacher was doing her forty plus unexpectedly her husband Rev Cornelius died on December 31st 1971 ;  leaving behind 9 young children under  the custody of Ms Esther Cornelius.  . Though Ms Esther was broken she did not leave her hope and faith in God and at the funeral service of Rev Cornelius, with great grit she reconfirmed her decision to serve the cause of the physically challenged children  .

Part Final will follow  soon 

 By. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A,   { All rights are reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed]. . . 

A Forgotten Legend, True Missionary, Humanitarian, Founder and First Head Mistress of the I.E.L.C School for the Blind at Bargur, Nonagenarian Dr Esther Cornelius . Part A

Introduction   :  Living  Nonagenarian Ms Dr Esther Cornelius  is really an unassuming legendary figure. She is  an embodiment of compassion and loving kindness, her indelible selfless service for the cause of the visual impaired people and other physically challenged people  would earn her an  unique  place in history. Her life has become an eye opener to many of the so called religious  people ,who are spiritually blind to the sufferings of the fellow human beings.   We can say she was born to serve and she never expected others to serve her  and there lies her magnificence and uniqueness . Of course human-beings are quick to forget the help done by others and very adamant to remember the wrongs done to them  and naturally Dr. Esther has also become an forgotten Legend .. Dr Esther Cornelius  is 94 years old and  she is living with her children in USA. A perusal of the Founder of the I.E.L.C School for the Blind at Bargur. Ms Esther's   sacrificial life will surely open the inner eyes of the readers  towards the cause of the visual  impaired , and other physically challenged and under privileged people who are living around us

                                                          Mrs. Dr. ESTHER CORNELIUS 

Dr Esther's  Parents and Birth.    Many decades ago in the famous temple city Madurai, in Tamil Nadu  there lived a God fearing man namely Rev. V. Nallathambi [ Madurai American Mission Pastor] with his pious and modest wife  Ms, Paripuranam  Nallathambi and  this  couple, nine decades and four years ago  gave birth to  Dr. Esther the heroine of this Article,  in Madurai.   Rev Nallathambi was a colleague and friend of the famous theologian, missiologist,  writer and Bishop of Madurai CSI Diocese Rt. Rev. Dr. Lesslie Newbigin . It is apt to  infer and remember that since her childhood Dr Esthar's family was well known to  Bishop Lesslie Newbigin  and they were mutual family friends. . Since child hood Esther's parents imbibed good Christian virtues and values like compassion and social service in their daughter Esther's mind. 

Dr. Esther's Siblings  ;  Rev Nallathambi and Ms Paripuranam Nallathambi couple gave birth to the following children namely :- [1] Ms Esther, [2] Ms. Rejina and she worked and retired as Principal of OCPM  Higher Secondary School Madurai, [3]   Ms. Padma  and she worked and retired as Principal of T.E.L.C,  High School at Kumuthi , [4] Ms . Bessie and she worked and retired as Principal of a High School in Bangalore, and [5] Ms Vanaja and she also worked as  teacher and now she is settled in USA.

Ms Esther;s Education    :  Ms Esther was  a brilliant student since her primary school days.. After having successfully completed her School studies she did her collegiate  bachelor degree course in Science at the prestigious American college  in Madurai and passed  her Bachelor Degree meritoriously And subsequently she  qualified herself  to be a  High School Science Teacher   

Dr. Esther's Social and Humanitarian Service started even when she was a College Student  :  Dr  Esther was born  by the will of God to serve the cause of the poor, .physically challenged, last and lost .  Even while  Ms Esther was doing her degree course at the famous American College in Madurai  she started her social and humanitarian service in 1947 at a beggar Home near the Church she attended and   it will be really useful and inspiring  to read a testimony given by late C.S.I  Bishop Dr Lesslie Newbigin    Bishop Rt Rev Lesslie  Newbigin testified as follows, "   I am happy to say that I have known Ms Esther Cornelius since 1947, when she was a student in the American College in Madurai. and I was the Bishop of that city . I first came into contact with her because she was even as a student deeply engaged in care for visual impaired and other helpless people in  the municipal home for beggars near her house . From that time until now she has devoted herself with engaging devotion , courage, faith to serving the needs of those who are forgotten by society ... "   

Next part will follow soon 

By. P. Babu Manoharan, M. A. { All rights are reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed ]