Introduction : Late Mrs Jeya Thanaseelan was a remarkable lady and she was the Co Founder of the Mission to the Blind, India and her beloved husband Mr. Sam Thanaseelan was the Founder of the Mission to the Blind. Ms Jeya Thanaseelan lived for the cause of the Blind people of this nation till her demise on 4th July 2023. She also served as the National Executive Director of the Mission to the Blind [ 1st June 2008 --1st June 2017 ] . We can say Compassion thy name is Ms..Jeya Thanaseelan .The disabilities experienced by the visually challenged people of our vast nation touched and moved her kind heart with empathy and sympathy, so together with her remarkable husband late Mr Sam Thanaseelan she co-founded the Mission to the Blind, India. Her real life story and her relentless compassion for the companion-less will definitely galvanise many to lit light in the lives of the people who walk in darkness without sight and insight .
Ms. Jeya Thanaseelan's Parents and Birth : Ms. Jeya Thanaseelan's father Mr. J.M. John and her mother Ms Gnanapoo John were natives of the famous Tuticorin city, Tamil Nadu. . Mr. J.M. John and Ms Gnanapoo John were blessed by God with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to Ms Jeya Thanaseelan on the 31st August 1948. During the last century many people from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu went to Srilanka to work and earn more money. Likewise Mr. J.M. John and his Wife Ms Gnanapoo John went to Srilanka to work and after having worked for a decade or so they returned to India . Mr.J.M. John served as a School Head Master and Ms Gnanapoo John worked as a School teacher.
Mr.J.M John and Ms Gnanapoo John Couple's Children : Mr. J.M.John and Ms Gnanapoo John couple were living a blissful and blessed family life and this couple gave birth to the following children namely :-[1] Ms. Victoria , [2] Ms. Isabel Leelavathy and [3] Ms Jeya Thanaseelan[ the heroine of this Article ]/
Ms Jeya Thanaseelan's Educational Track : As Ms. Jeya Thanaseelan's parents were working and living in Srilanka. Ms Jeya Thanaseelan pursued her School Education in Srilanka till her family's return to India..As she did her School education in Srilanka she had better privilege to acquire a good command over English language and her proficiency in English helped her a lot in many ways in her ministerial career .Later Ms Jeya Thanaseelan successfully studied her Diploma Nursing Course in a Nursing School in Neyveli town, in Tamil Nadu.
Death of Mr. J.M. John and the death of his pet dog Blacky : The untimely death of Jeya Thanaseeelan's beloved father Mr J.M. John affected the whole family very much in many ways beyond words. When Mr John died Ms Jeya Thanaseelan became so sad ,yet as a mentally strong young lady she rose up-to the occasion and stood by the side of her father's lifeless body boldly and arranged for the funeral of her beloved dad all alone. Her sister Ms. Isabel Leelavathy was due with her first child and she could not attend the funeral of her father. .Mr. J.M Johns' mortal body was buried in a Christian cemetery. In this connection it would be appropriate to say a few lines about the family's pet dog called Blacky , a Labrado . Blacky was really a member of Jeya's family and all in the family loved and treated Blacky as a member of the family . The Blacky followed the funeral procession of Mr.J.M John and reached the cemetery . After the burial every body left Mr J.M. John's grave but Mr. J.M..John's faithful and grateful friend Blacky remained by the side of his Master's grave without taking any food for some days and died there above the grave of his Master Mr.J.M. John .
Ms Jeya Thanaseelan and her Mother Moved to Chennai : After the demise of her beloved dad Mr J.M. John , Ms.Jeya moved along with her mother Ms Gnanapoo John to the house of her elder sister Ms Isabel Leelavathy in Chennai,. Ms. Jeya resided with her elder sister Ms Leelavatahy in Chennai till Jeya's marriage with Mr Sam Thanaseelan.
Ms Jeya Thanaseelan began her Professional Career : Ms. Jeya Thanaseelan worked as a Staff Nurse for some years before starting her career with Sarjam Metals Private Limited , Chennai and after having worked for some years in Sarjam Metals Private Ltd, in line with her internal thirst to serve the cause of the Cross of Christ, Mrs. Jeya Thanaseelan joined the Youth for Christ Asia Pacific.
Ms Jeya Thanaseelan was a born Evangelist and her Associations with some Christian Organisations : Ms Jeya Thanaseealn hailed from a good pious Christian family and since her childhood she loved her saviour Jesus Christ and wanted to serve Him . She involved herself with Child Evangelism Fellowship and Friends Missionary Prayer Band [FMPB ] and she was closely associated with the Founder of Friends Missionary Prayer Band and he moulded and inspired Ms Jeya Thanaseelan for Lord's Ministry .
Ms Jeya Thanaseelan Joined Youth For Christ Asia Pacific :; Director of the Youth For Christ Asia Pacific, late Dr. Victor Manogarom was a close relative of Ms Jeya Thanaseelan . Dr. Victor Manogarom gave a call to Ms Jeya Thanaseelan to join "Youth For Christ Asia Pacific" and to do full time Ministry. Ms Jeya Thanaseelan accepted the call and joined the Youth for Christ Asia Pacific to do full time ministry. Ms Jeya worked as the Secretary to the Director of Youth for Christ Asia Pacific Dr. Victor Manogarom . Ms Jeya served the Lord through Youth For Christ Asia Pacific with great enthusiasm and dedication till her marriage with Mr Sam Thanaseelan .Ms. Jeya's dedicated missionary work attracted the attention and appreciation of many contemporary Christian leaders and Missionaries in Chennai and around Chennai. It would be appropriate to remember one fact that Mr. Sam Thanaseelan worked in the Youth for Christ, India organisation for nearly 25 years and he had even worked as the National Director of Youth for Christ, India .
Ms Jeya's Marriage with Mr Sam Thanaseelan ; The death of Mr Sam Thanaseelan's first wife Ms.Christy in 1983 affected Mr Sam Thanaseelan so desperately. Mr Sam Thanaseelan spent his days in a melancholic manner and mood . And again after three months the death of his beloved mother also affected him beyond words. Mr Sam Thanaseelan's close friends and relatives advised Mr Sam Thanaseelan to find out a suitable life partner to come out of his deep sorrow and mental depression. Mr. Sam Thananeseealn agreed to their advice .His friends and relatives selected Ms Jeya John and Mr Sam Thanaseelan agreed to this marriage proposal and selection. Mr. Sam Thanaseelan's friends and relatives told Ms Jeya about their plan and wish , After due consideration and long sincere prayer Ms Jeya John agreed to the proposal . Ms. Jeya John married Mr Sam Thanaseelan , on the 22nd April, 1986.
Mr. Sam Thanaseelan and Ms Jeya Thanaseelan Founded the Mission to the Blind : The disadvantages and plight of the thousands of visually impaired people of our country touched and affected the minds of Mr Thanaseelan and Ms Jeya Thanaseelan consistently with empathy and sympathy and so they decided to start a Christian Organisation to serve the cause of the visually impaired people They rightly contacted Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius who was a pioneer and expert in this field; for her guidance and advice. In this context it would be appropriate to say a few lines about Ms Esther Cornelius the Founder of the School for the Blind Bargur[ IELC]. Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius encouraged Mr Sam Thanaseelan and Ms Jeya Thanaselan to start the Mission to the Blind. Ms. Jeya Thanaseelan [the Heroine of this Article ] writes, " Gradually Esther Akka became a part of our Ministry . She was President of the Board [ Mission to the Blind ] for three years until she had to go to the United States in order to be with her children " Moreover Esther Cornelius gave her daughter late Ms Benedicta's house at Madavaram in Chennai to the Mission to the Blind to start a Home for the Young Blind Woman and this Home for the Young Blind Woman was named after Dr. Esther's demised daughter Ms Jovanna in line with Dr.Esther's wish as . " Jovanna Home for the young Blind Women , " Mr Sam Thanaseelan and Ms Jeya Thanaseelan couple loved and respected Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius so much and so sincerely . Mr Sam Thanaseelan and his wife Ms Jeya Thanaseealn founded the Mission to the Blind in Chennai in June 1992. Mr Sam Thanaseelan served as the First National Executive Director of the Mission to the Blind, India from June 1992 to May 2008 and as a Consultant with great missionary vision and christian compassion till his untimely death on the 29 th September 2012.
Ms Jeya Thanaseelan served as the National Executive Director ; Following the death of her beloved husband Mr Sam Thanaseealn, Ms Jeya Thanaseelan served as the National Executive Director of the "Mission to the Blind" from June 2006 to May 2017 . Since June 2017 Mr Jaikumar is serving as the National Executive Director of the Mission to the Blind. .
Ms Jeya Thanaseelan was Good Writer : Ms Jeya Thanaseelan was a prolific writer in English. The Meditation Notes written by Ms Jeya Thanaseelan for "Daily Bread" 2023 [Pages.131-137] published by he Scripture Union, study notes in Braille for Epistles of Roman , 1 &2 Timothy , Mark and Luke's gospel, study notes for the Camps for the Blind People on Philippians , 1 John, 1 & 2 Peter, James, Colossians , Nehemiah, Ruth, Esther etc [ MISSION TO THE BLIND, 2023, P.3] had helped both the physically and the spiritually blind people of this great nation
Conclusion : We can call the "Mission to the Blind, India " organisation as the brain child of Mr Sam Thanaseelan and his wife Ms Jeya Thanaseelan. The founders of the Mission to the Blind are not alive today but their brain child is here with us serving the cause of the visually impaired people of India in line with vision envisioned by the Founders .The Mission to the Blind's functional operation has spread throughout India and as on date 126 persons consisting of both men and women from ten different languages are working as Staff in the M.T.B, including 30 visually impaired persons . The institutions started by the Founder and Co Founder of the Mission to the Blind namely Johnnie Training Centre and Joanna Home, etc, are functioning well for the holistic development of thousands of visually impaired people of our vast nation. Ms Jeya Thanaseelan passed away from this world on the 4th July 2023. She was an ordinary woman with extraordinary qualities and goals. She was simple , unassuming and her fluency in English is really laudable . She was a beautiful and eloquent Writer in English . She was a good Administrator,Strict Disciplinarian ,Hard Worker, Good Mentor, Intelligent Counsellor, Woman of Prayer, responsible Life Partner. Ms Jeya Thanaseelan was not only a good writer abut also a very eloquent speaker both in English and Tamil and above all she was a Good Soul and a Woman of God and she lived for the deplorable and sightless people . It is not possible to cover all the important aspects and accomplished chapters of Ms Jeya Thanaseelan's real sacrificial life story within in the space of this Article . I had the privilege to meet sister Ms. Jeya Jeyaseelan at Puthukudiiruppu CSI Church, Nagercoil along with my wife Ms.Vanitha. I will end this Article with the following sentence , "Dear sister Ms Jeya Thanaseelan, we thank God for your meaningful life , we are proud of you".
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By. Babu Manoharan, M.A, [ All Rights are reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified, or corrected later if needed ].
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very insightful
ReplyDeleteThanks for your meaningful comment.
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