Teacher, Catechist, Unsung Achiever , Creative Thinker, Staunch and Devoted Lutheran Christian, Honorary Magistrate , Tamil Christian Poet Sri. P.N. John Sundaram,.

Introduction    : Late Tamil Christian Poet Sri. P.N. John Sundaram Desikar  was a born Poet, creative Thinker, devoted Lutheran Christian and an Unsung Achiever.. He was a native of Govindapuram, Vaniyampadi in Vellore District .  The Tamil Christian Lyrics  written by him about Dr. Martin Luther's  Reforming and Protesting thoughts deserve our appreciation and respect..Tamil Christian lyrics written and composed by Sri. P.N. John Sundaram  are being sung throughout the world  in Tamil  Protestant Churches specially in Tamil Lutheran Church Services in Reformation Sunday. The last Sunday in October is celebrated as Reformation Sunday . Now-a-days Christians sing many wonderful Christian songs but without knowing the names of the Authors of such beautiful and meaningful lyrics or songs. . A review of Poet Mr. John Sundaram's  Songs and  profile will galvanise the readers and the Christian believers  to thank God for such great Christian Lyric Writers and Composers. This concise Article  on Poet P.N..John Sundaram will help the Tamil Lutheran Christians and other Tamil Protestant Christians  to remember  him and the lyrical contribution by him to Church worship service .

                                             

                                    Tamil Christian Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram 

Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram's Birth    :  Govindapuram near Vaniyambadi in Vellore district is a beautiful Village and in this Govindapuram Village there lived a blessed Couple and this couple gave birth to the Tamil Christian Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram Desikar in the year  1887 . The expansion of the letters .P.and N. which stand before his name is not known now and the expansion details of the Initials will be provided later .

                       L to  R :[1] Mrs. Esther John Sundaram and [2] Mr. P.N. John Sundarm 

Mr. P. N. John Sundaram'a Wife    :  Mr. P. N. John Sundaram married Ms . Esther and this couple was blessed by God with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to a cute female child by name Ms Mary Renjitham. Ms Mary Renjitham was the only child of Mr P..N. John Sundaram and Ms  Esther John Sundaram .

Ms Mary Ranjitham marriage and her Children and Grandchildren   :    : : Mr. P. N. John Sundaram and Mrs. Esther John Sundaram couple's beloved  daughter Ms Mary Renjitham married  Mr. Solomon Jesudhas . God blessed  Ms. Mary Renjitham and Mr. Solomon Jesudhas couple  with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children namely ;- [1] Mrs. Salma and she married Mr Sundaram  and Mr Sundaram worked in the Indian Air force;[2]  Mrs. Grace and she married Mr. Swaminathan and Mr Swaminaathan worked as a Teacher and retired as Head Master , and this couple's son Rev. P.G.S. Rajkumar is serving as an IELC Pastor in IELC Ambur Synod; [3] Mr. Martin Ebenezer and he married Ms Esther  and this couple's third child Rev. Solomon Sidharthan is serving as an IELC Pastor in Ambur synod: [4] Ms. Kemp Catherine and she served as a Tamil Teacher  in  Government Hr Secondary Schools and now retired . Ms kemp' Catherine married Mr Loganathan and he worked as P. T. Teacher and now retired and demised ,[5]  Rev. J. John Sundaram  and he was also  a great  writer like his maternal grandfather Poet . Mr. P.N. John Sundaram and formerly he worked as the India Coordinator of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Mr. J. John Sundaram  married Ms kasthuri and she worked as a Primary school Teacher and  retied and this couple gave birth  to the following children namely :- [a] Mr. Cherubin and now he  serves  as the India Coordinator of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, Bangalore  and [b] Rev. Meeha Maraivanan and he serves as an IELC Pastor and he married Rev. Dr. Nelavala Gnana Prasuna , B.D, M.Th, D.Th, and she serves as a Theology Professor at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai and she also serves as Regional Expression Officer for Communion in Asia of the Lutheran World Federation  and Secretary for  the Association of the Theologically Trained Women in India [ ATTWI];  and this couple gave birth to Rev Dravid Desikar and he serves as a Pastor in South Andra Evangelical Lutheran Church ,and  [6] Mr J. Dravid Paravasam and he married Ms. Vasantha and this couple worked and retired as School H.Ms and this couple's son  Mr Babu Ezhilvarman is working as Head Master in the IELC School for the Blind, at  Bargur.. .

Poet P.N. John Sundaram was a born  Poet     :  Tamil Christian Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram was a born Poet . He served as a Primary School Teacher at Vaniyambadi and he underwent one year Theological Training at the Concordia Theological Seminary, Nagercoil  and served as a  MELIM Lutheran Catechist  in Vaniyambadi area.  He also served as  School Warden at Ambur .  He loved Dr. Martin Luther and the Theological enlightenment brought out by Dr. Martin Luther. He imbibed the salient features  enshrined in the 95 Theses written and nailed by Dr Marin Luther on the door of Wittenburg Church on the 31 October 1517 . Poet P.N. John Sundaram imparts the  central message of Dr. Luthers 95 theses through his simple Tamil Christian Lyrics.  Tamil Christian Poet Mr. P. N. John Sundaram Desikar wrote the following Tamil Chriristian Lyrics  :-[1] METHINIYIL VETHA VITHI ....,[2] CHAKCHONI NAATTAN SASTHTHIRI MARTIN...[3] PAARULAHA MEETHINIL PERIYAVANAI...,[4] SION MAMALAIYIL VAAZHUM ISRAEL... [5] NITHTHIYA THUTHYA  SUTHTHAPPARANAAR... [6] SATHYAMAANTH THEZHIVILA... [6] THIRUCHCHABAI SEERTHIRUTHAM CHAITHA NAAZHITHUVA.. ,[7] THUTHI THUTHI SABAIYA YESU ATHIPATHI NAMAIYA .. AND  [ 8] VIRIYULAHAMA JANITHA VATHIYANA MARTIN LUTHUR,[ Hymnal, India Evangelical Lutheran Church, , IELC Publication, 2008, pages. 383 to 387].. And all these meaningful and melodious lyrics are being in Tamil Lutheran Churches in the services held in Reformation Sunday every year. . A  genuine perusal of these lyrics will reveal the Poet's hold on  Dr. Martin Luther's theses and Theology[ What is generally called as Lutheran Theology]. His Lyrics vividly and cogently reveal that by good deeds man can not  be saved and justified in the presence of God  but man will be saved by the grace of God through man's Faith in Jesus Christ. . . 

Conclusion    : Creativity is a rare gift given to man by God , Even though our Poet P.N. John Sundaram was not very highly educated in Theology but his grasp over the Word of God and Theses of Dr. Martin Luther was really  marvellous, mind blowing  and astonishing .  He was a  balanced and impartial Thinker and Man. Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram  used to give impartial and wise  judgements and solutions to solve the  petty  quarrels, disputes and petitions brought to his attention by the Village people  in  Village Panchayat  meetings. So  the Government  noticed his judging capacity and integrity and appointed Mr. P.N. John Sundaram as a Honorary Magistrate to serve as Honorary Magistrate for 18 villages located around Vaniyambadi. Mr. P.N. John Sundariam served as a Hononorary Magistrate with great distinction, and integrity.  Now he is no more with us. but he lives in our memories. because of his noble deeds and remarkable  accomplishments    He was a great Social Thinker  and a great Egalitarian and he wanted equality and fraternity among fellow citizens and he played a pivotal role to conduct a district level social Conference at Vaniyambadi in December 1928, for the cause of social justice.. His lyrics and songs are very simple but beautiful and thought provoking and it will be gratifying to remember one fact here that the Former General Secretary of C.LS, late Dr. Dayanandan Francis had written an Article about Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram in his Tamil book Christhava Arutkavinjarhal, " and it is not possible to accommodate all of his accomplishments and aspects  of his real life story within the  space of this single Article  We need a detailed Biography about late Tamil Christian Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram and hope one of his great grandchildren  will accomplish that noble duty. I will  end this Article with the following sentence, " Dear Poet Mr. P.N. John Sundaram , we thank God for you, and we are proud of you " 

END

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

Medical College Professor [ DNB ], Head of General Surgery Department and Deputy Director of 280- Bed C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital in Mysore Dr. J. Reuben Prakash, M.B.B.S. , M.S, U.K.{Trained]

Introduction    :   The current Deputy Director of  280- Bed, C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital,  Mysore  Dr. J. Reuben Prakash,  M.B.B.S, M.S,  hails from an illustrious Christian family from South India and he is an  unassuming gentleman, intelligent and compassionate medical doctor, relentless hard worker, humanitarian, service minded Christian . His father late Rev. Dr. Jackayya  worked as a Theology Professor in the Nagercoil  Concordia Theological Seminary for more than two decades [ 1956--1979 ]  and retired as its first Indian Principal. Dr. J. Reuben Prakash's illustrious and service minded  medical career in the C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore [ CSI Mission Hospital, Mysore ] for more than two decades without any Private Practising,  automatically deserves our love and respect . Dr. J. Reuben Prakash's  dignified life and service minded medical career will definitely galvanise the readers, youth,his fellow citizens and fellow  Church going Christians  to lead a meaningful life. 

                                                    Dr. J. Reuben Prakash, M.B.B.S, M.S,.

Dr. J. Reuben Praksh's Parents and His Birth     :  As. Dr. Reuben Prakash's  father late Rev.Dr. B.H Jackayya was working  as a Theology Professor at  Nagercoil Concordia Theological Seminary for nearly 23 years since 1956 till 1979, Dr. B.H. Jackayya and his beloved wife Ms Grace Kamalam Jackayya were living inside the Nagercoil Concordia Theolgical Seminary Compound . God blessed Rev.Dr. Jackayya and Ms Grace Kamalam Jackayya with all the conjugal blessings  and this couple gave birth to Dr. Reuben Prakash on the 14th September 1962 at Nagercoil.

Dr. J. Reuben Prakash's Siblings   : God blessed Rev. Dr. B.H. Jackayya and Ms Grace kamalam Jackayya with all the connubial blessings and they gave birth to the following children namely :- [1]  Ms. Emeline karunavathy , B.A, and she married Dr..Jeya Chandra Masilamani , B.E, M.S [U..S], Ph.D [US] from Nagercoil [ Son of Former Head Master  of Nagercoil Concordia High School ]and Dr. Jeya Chandra Masilamani retired as Professor of Industrial Engineering , Pennsylvania University, USA ; and this couple is blessed with one son and a daughter namely;-[a] Mr. Er J. Naveen, B.E, MBA, [US] and [b]  Ms J. Jean , B.S, M.B.A[ US] ;[2]  Rev. Adiss Arnold, M.A, B.D, M.Th, and he married Ms J.P. Saulina , M.A[ Social Work] and this couple is blessed with the following children namely :-[a]Dr. A.P. Jonathan Arnold, M.B.B.S, M.D, [b] Mr. Er. Anupam Issachar  Arnold, B.E,{Electronics and Communication Engineering]. Rev. Adiss Arnold worked as  a former Professor at the famous  Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai ;[3] Ms Eunice kalavathy , M.Sc, B.Ed and she married Rev. Gideon Devanesan of Arcot Lutheran Church[ ALC] and he retired as Bishop of A.L.C. God blessed this couple with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to the  following children namely :_[a] Mr. Prasanna David , M.C.A, and he is working as a Lecturer in an Engineering College and he married Ms. Sowmya [daughter of Rev Joy of Nagercoil Concordia Theological Seminary], and [b] Ms Hannah, M.Sc, Ph.D, and formerly she worked at the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine , U.S, as a  Staff and Researcher and now she is in India living with her Parents in Thiruvannamalai, and [4 ] Dr.J. Reuben Prakash, M.B.B.S, M.S[ General Surgery] and he is the Hero of this Article .

Dr. Reuben Prakash's  Educational Track     :  Dr. J. Reuben Prakash did his Primary School [classes 1 to 5th classes] at the Lutheran Primary School, Nagercoil and pursued his Middle School and High School at the famous Carmel High School, Nagercoil, .and passed his S.S.L.C,[ 10th Std] in the year 1978 with good marks.  Dr. J. Reuben Prakash did his Plus One at the Scott Christian High School, Nagercoil and did his Plus Two at the famous Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School, Chennai . After having passed his Plus Two examination he pursued his B.Sc[ Zoology] at the famous Madras Christian College,Thambaram and while he was doing his Third year B.Sc he got admission for his M.B.B.S. medical course at the famous St John'f medical College in Bangalore .a So he joined St. John's Medical College for his Fist year M.B.B.S,in the year 1982  and passed his M.B.B.S, in the year 1987. After having passed his M.B.B.S.  in 1987 Dr. Reuben Prakash  did his medical Rural Service  in a Hospital run by the Holy Cross sisters at  Prakashpuram Village at Male Mahadeshwara Hills [Betta], Hanur taluk  , Southern  Karnataka for nearly two years and six months [ 1987 July to December 1990 ] with great enthusiasm and dedication . In 1990 Dr. Reuben Prakash pursued his M.S,{General Surgery] at the famous St John's Medical College Bangalore and passed his M.S {General Surgery] in the year 1994 meritoriously .

Dr. Reuben Prakash's Wedding and His Wife and her Siblings   : Dr. J. Reuben Prakash married Ms Esther Suguna Bai, M.Sc, B.Ed , daughter of  C.S.I. Pastor Rev. Yesupatham [ Vellore CSI Diocese ] from Valaiyathur village , Arcot Taluka , Vellore District  on 25th June 1993 at the I.E.L.C. Bethel Lutheran church at Kollegala .. It would be appropriate to write  a few lines about  Ms. Esther Suguna Bai Reuben's siblings here . Ms Esther Suguna Bai is blessed with three brothers and one sister namely :-[a] Mr. Nelson Bakthavachalam, B.E [ Chemical engineer] worked in a private chemical Company ,[b]  Mr. Joel l [ Lab Technician,]., [c] Mr. Asir [ Male Nurse ] , [d] Ms Kiruba and she worked as a Middle School Teacher in the famous Bishop Cotton High School, Bangalore .

Dr.  J. Reuben Prakash's Children      : God blessed Dr.J. Reuben  Praksh and his beloved wife Ms  Esther Suguna Bai with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to the  following children namely :_ [a]   Mr. Noel Reuben , B.E [ Mechanical ] M.S [ U,S,A] and he married Ms Lissiua Maria , M.Sc[ Psychology] and she is working as a Psychologist in Bangalore.  Mr. Noel Reuben loves Music and he is a great musician  [b] Mr.Noah Reuben  and he is a  talented and creative Musician  We can hear these brothers songs in You Tube , "Reuben Brothers "

Dr.J. Reuben Prakash's Professional Track ,{ First Phase } ; After having passed his M.S[ General Surgery]  Dr. Reuben Prakash joined C.M.C. Vellore and worked as a General Surgeon in the General Surgery department  with Dr.S.R. Banerjee Jesudason for two years [ 1994-- 1996 ]. . In 1996 he moved to Mysore and  joined the famous C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital in Mysore as a General Surgeon and Laproscopic Surgeon  and started to work with great devotion  and Dr. J. Reuben Prakash  was promoted as the Head of the General Surgery Department in the year 2002.

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Dr. Reuebn Prakash's Sabbatical leave and Higher Surgical Training in UK   : In December 2002 the CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital Administration gave Dr. J. Reuben Prakash a sabbatical leave to pursue Higher Surgical Training in U.K[ NHS].   From January 2003 till June 2006 Dr. Reuben Prakash  underwent Higher Surgical Training in Hepato-biliary and Colorectum and Breast surgeries and after having completed his Higher Surgical Training in N.H.S, U.K,  Dr. Reuben Prakash returned to India and rejoined as the Head of the General Surgery department in the same C.S.I .Holdsworth Memorial Hospital in Mysore in June 2006.  Dr. Reuben Prakash  started to serve the sick people with new vigour, competence and dedication  

                           Dr. J.Ruebemn Praksh ,in Surgeon's  Green  Uniform 

Dr. Reuben Prakash  Served as Acting Director of C.S.I . Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore  Dr.J. Reuben Prakash got the privilege to  serve as the Acting Director of  C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital Mysore for two years [ 2008---2010 ] and he did full justice to his new august assignment and responsibility. . 

Dr. Reuben Prakash was promoted as Deputy Director of CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore  : In recognition of his devoted and efficacious  service to the patients  through CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore Dr. J. Reuben Prakash, M.B.B.S, M.S, was promoted as Deputy Director of the CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore in  2016 and simultaneously he worked  as the Head of the General Surgery Department of this CSI Mission Hospital. Mysore  with great competence,, care , concern and  compassion . 

Dr. J.Reuben Prakash works as  a P.G Teacher for DNB Course   :  The Government of India recognised The CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital in Mysore as a recognised  Teaching Medical Institution to conduct  Diplomate National Board [DNB ]  courses in General Surgery, General Medicine, Paediatrics, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology  in 2008. and  Dr. Reuben Prakash has been  teaching the D.N.B.Course PG students since 2008  with great efficacy and the DNB  pass percentage has been very high  consistently since the commencement of the DNB PG Courses in this hospital  Dr. reuben prakash also serves as Examiner for the DNB  course.  

Conclusion      : Dr. Reuben Prakash, M.B.B.S, M.S, after having served the CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital , Mysore for more than  two decades with great distinction, devotion, he retired from his regular Medical Service in the year 2020. While serving in this CSI Mission Hospital Mysore he won the hearts of the  Doctors, Office staff and specially the hearts of the patients and the  common and poor  people  who come to the Hospital for medical treatments . The CSI  Diocese of  Southern Karnataka sincerely wanted the medical service of Dr. Reuben Prakash  in the CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore even after his retirement  and so the CSI Diocese of Southern karnataka requested  the Higher Administration of the CSI Mission Hospital Mysore to give superannuation  to Dr. Reuben Prakash  to  continue his medical service and their request was granted by the competent authority. So currently Dr.J.Reuben Prakash serves in the prestigious CSI Holdsworth Memorial  Hospital in Mysore as its Deputy Director, Head of General Surgery Department, Surgeon [ general surgery] and Laparoscopic Surgeon . In this context it would be useful to the readers to remember the origin  of  this famous CSI Mission Hospital, Mysore. Around 1900 Methodist Missionaries by name Mrs.Mary Calvert Holdsworth and Mr . Holdsworth  began their  medical service with great compassion among the poor and plague affected  people who lived in Viranageri area  in Mysore  and took initial step to build a Mission Hospital  to serve the medical cause of the poor people who were without proper medical care in the poor outskirts. However while  the Mission Hospital Construction Work was In- Progress Mrs Mary Calvert died . Through the efforts taken by Rev G.W. Sawday the Missionary Hospital construction was completed  and this Mission  Hospital  was opened by the then Maharaja of Mysore in 1906,  and it was consecrated to the service of God in the Ministry of Healing and to the memory of Ms Mary Calvert Holdsworth.  Since September 1947 this Mission Hospital is being called as C.S.I.Holdsworth Mission Hospital, Mysore.   Dr Reuben Prakash loves his family, School Friends, fellow human beings and toy cars . He also loves Trekking with his friends. He loves to visit and see foreign countries and  accordingly he has visited , U.K, U.S.A, Australia, Malaysia, France, Italy, Bahrain and Nepal.   He has inherited social service trait  from his beloved father late Rev Dr. B.H. Jackayya . It is not possible  to accommodate all  the accomplishments and aspects of Dr. Reuben Prakash's real life story  within the space of this Article and so I will end this Article with the following sentence ," Dr. Reuben Prakash Jackayya is an efficacious Surgeon, talented Professor , Honest, Unassuming ,Companion of the  poor  and above all  indeed he is  a Good Human Being and we thank God Him and proud of him ".  

END. 

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

  :

                                                               

A Forgotten Pioneer Tanjore Mission Missionary, Adopted son of the Revd Fr. C.F.Schwartz , A Pastor Who Baptised Maharasan Vethamanickam of Mylaudy, A Missionary who was Really Responsible for the Spread of Protestant Christianity in South Travancore The Revd. John Caspar Kohlhoff of Tanjore .

                                               

Introduction   :  Late Revd John Caspar Kohlhoff of Tanjore Mission was a remarkable Man of God and forgotten Missionary. The Protestant Christians of South Travancore are bound to remember the great historical part played by late Rev John Caspar  Kohlhoff of Tanjore Mission with great gratitude and indelible memories for what he had done for the  spread of Christianity in South Travancore by baptising Mylaudy Maharasan  in 1799 at Tanjore  [ C.M. Agur, B.A, Church History of Travancore, page 441 ]. On one Sunday  while preaching at the garden Church at Schwartz garden , Thanjavur, [ now it is called   CSI St Peters Church Tanjore], Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff  saw the Travancore Pilgrim Mylaudy Maharasan, who later became the real Founder of the Protestant Church in Travancore [Rev.I.H. Hacker , A Hundred Years In Travancoe, 1908,p.20]  and his brother's son  Sivagurunathan in yellow dress inside the small Church located inside Schwatrz Garden, Maharnonbu Chavadi, [later it was named as St. Peter's Church ] instantly he recognised the importance of Maharasan and after the service  Rev. J.C. Kohlhoff approached Mylaudy Maharasan and won his heart by conveying the  love and concern of Christ for all human-beings.  Subsequently after having taught about the basics of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and by the grace of God, to Mr Mylaudy. Maharasan and his nephew Mr Sivagurunathan.,Rev. John Caspar kohlhoff baptised Maharasan with a new name Vedamanickam and Mr Sivagurunathan as Masillamani . It would be appropriate to know the concise history of C.S.I.St. Peter's Church in Thanjavur . Originally this Church was a small and unnamed Church; it was founded by the Rev. Fr. Schwartz in Schwartz Garden presented to him by Tulja Maharaj of Thanjavur, located in Maharnonbu Chavadi in Thnjavur. The Rev. C.F. Schwartz was the first Pastor of this small church and served in this Church from 1770 till 1793[ Rev. C.F. Schwartz  died on 13th February, 1798]; and he was succeeded by his adopted son Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff . In 1827 a Missionary by name Rev. Peter made some needed changes in the Church structure so as to encompass  the graves of Rev. C.F. Schwartz and his adopted son and successor Rev.John Caspar kohlhoff .   But Rev. Peter died before the completion of the construction of this Church. However this Church was consecrated on 31st January 1845 by Bishop Spencer Paul and this Church was named "St Peter's Church" after Rev Peter . As the number of believers increased  Rev. William Herbert Blake of SPG, Tanjore built a new Church near the original Church in the same compound and the new Church was consecrated on 18th October 1900.  St. Peter's Church, Thanjavur was amalgamated with the Church of South India on 27th September 1947 , and since then  this Church is being called as C.S.I. St. Peter's Church, Thanjavur. God used the baptised Mylaudy Maharasan  Vedamanicakm as a powerful tool to sow the words of  Jesus Christ in South Travancore and to win souls for Christ . A perusal of the Protestant Church History will reveal that in many ways Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff helped, guided and galvanised Mylaudy Maharasan Vedamanaicakm to be a powerful, purposeful and soul winning pioneer native  Evangelist  in South Travancoere .

                                              

                                        Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff of Tanjore Mission 

                                       

The Rev.J.C.Kohlhoff's Family    : Rev. John Caspar kohlhoff was a scion of an illustrious Lutheran Christian and literary family and his parents hailed from Neuwarp, Pommerania, Europe and  it would be really useful to know some more information about the famous Kohlhoff family.. A Forefather of Kohlhoff family one Mr Caspar Kohlhoff [ Senior]  was the Burgomaster [ Master of the citizens -- Chairman of the Executive council or Cabinet]  of Neuwarp in the bay of Stetin  and he married Ms Regina Hesse the daughter of  Elias Hesse and granddaughter of the the great  German Latin Poet Eobanus Hesse [ Helius Eobanus Hessus] a great  follower of Dr. Marin Luther..   Eobanus Hesse was a great German Latin Poet of his time . Eobanus Hesse  was a student of Mr Ludwig Stippius,  a great Confidant of Dr. Marin Luther.  Helius Eobanius Hessus was appointed as Professor of Latin at an University and he took  active part in the contemporary religious, political and literary conversations and issues of his time. Mr.Helius Eobanius Hesse gave his full support for Dr. Martin Luther and the Reformation till his death in October 1540. Mr Caspar Kohlhoff [Senior]and his wife Miss Regina Hesse gave birth to 4 daughters and 3 sons and this couple's third child and eldest son Rev John Balthasar kohlhoff was born in November 1711 at Neuwarp. . Mr John Balthasar Kohlhoff studied at the Rostock Academy and Halle University till 19th September 1736, and was ordained at Copenhagen on 7th October 1736.

 

                                                  Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff of Tanjore 

Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff Reached Tranquebar,  in  1737   : In December 1736, Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff along with his brother Missionaries Rev.Obuch and Rev Wiedebrock  reached London Town and stayed in London for sometime with Rev. F M. Ziegenbagen , the then Chaplain to His Majesty King George 11[ Second], till March 1737, and embarked to India with his brother missionaries  and  landed at  Madras on the 4th of July 1737. Rev. John Balthasar kohlhoff  continued his travel and arrived at Tranquebar on 19th August 1737; and he mastered Tamil quickly and preached his historical Firt Sermon in Tamil on 23rd December, 1737 and afterwards there was no turning back in his ministerial career.. [ C.M. Agur, p.p. 437 & 438].

Rev John Balthasar Kohlhoff's Children    : Rev . John Balthasar  Kohlhoff married twice , first he married Ms Margeretha Wilhelmina Vosges and by her he had two daughters ; and then he married Ms Petronella Thorsen [ called in Tranquebar History as Pernile Thors]  and by Ms Peronella J. Balthasar kohlhoff,  Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff had 3 sons and one daughter namely -[1] Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff [ The Hero of this Article] , born in 1762,[2] Mr. Elias Eobanus kohlhoff, born in 1764, [3] Mr. Daniel Frederick kohlhoff , born in 1766, and [4] Ms Dorothea Elizabeth Borgen, born in 1768. 

                                                   Rev. C.F. Schwartz of Tanjore Mission 

Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff was adopted and Ordained by Rev.Fr. Schwartz of Tanjore    : Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff and Rev. Fr. Schwartz were great Missionaries and great friends and were working as Missionaries in Tranquebar and in its surroundings..Rev. J. Caspar Kohlhoff son of Rev. J. Balthasar Kohlhoff was born at Tranquebar on 23rd May ,1762 [ baptised 29, May 1762.]  As per the oral agreement made between Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff and Rev. Schwartz , Rev. Schwartz adopted  Rev, John Balthasar's first born  male child Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff and brought up him . Rev.Schwartz  ordained Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff on 23rd January 1787 at Tranquebar [J. FERD. FENGER, History of the Tranquebar Mission , Tranquebar, 1863, p.318]

The Marriage of Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff and his Children  ;  Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff married Ms Christina Magdalena Horst on the 1st July 1811 , daughter of Rev. Horst and sister of Mrs Charles Mead and Mrs William Miller . [ C.M. Agur, p. 438 ]. Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff and Ms Christina Magdalena Horst Kohlhoff were blessed by God with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave  birth to the following children namely : [1]  Mr. John Schwartz Adolphus Arthur Kohlhoof  on  November 5th, 1813, and   Mr John. S. A. A. Kohlhoff  entered  the Cochin Government Service as Conservator of Forests, [2] Mr. Christian Samuel Kohlhoff  and he was born on May 14, 1815 at Tanjore, [3] Ms . Sophhia Eliza Harley and she was born on may 27, 1820, ,[4] Ms Charlotte Caroline Schmitz and she was born on November 15, 1821, [5] Ms Mary Ann Elizabeth Heyne and she was born on June 11, 1823 at Tanjore . [ Mr. .Harley, Mr. Schmitz and Mr Heyne were Christain Missionaries.]. 

 

Rev. John Caspar Kohlhff  served as Pastor of St Peter,s Church, Tanjore   : The famous Danish Missionary Rev. Fr. Frederick Christian Schwartz  worked as the Pastor of the St. Peter's Chruch, Thanjavur from 1770 to 1793 . . Rev, C.F. Swartz ordained his adopted son Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff  on 23rd January 1787 . Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff worked as the Pastor of the St. Peter's Church at Thanjavur for a many years from 1787  till his death in 1844, with great distinction, compassion and concern for human souls . .While serving as the Pastor of this old Protestant Church  St. Peter's Church, Thanjavur , Rev. John Caspar  Kohlhoff  met Mylaudy Maharasan Vedamanickam and subsequently baptised Maharasan with new Christian name Vedamanickam ., as told in the first paragraph of this Article. 

Kohlhoff's Family's Link With South Travancore      :  Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff  gave birth to Mr. Daniel Frederick Kohlhoff [ Brother of Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff of Thanjavur Mission, the Hero of this Article ], and  Mr. Daniel Frederick Kohlhoff gave birth to Mr Christian Frederick Kohlhoff [ 1810] , and Mr Christian Frederick gave birth to  Mr Charles Cornelius Kohlhoff [birth 1858  death 1909] and Mr Charles Cornelius Kohlhoff married Ms Celestina Florence Mead, a daughter  of Rev. Charles Mead and  Ms Lois Biddulph Mead[ a Daughter of great Tamil Christian Poet Mr Devaram Biddulph or Devaram Munshi and sister of Mrs. Joanna Carlotta Mead Agur ] from South Travancore[P. Babu Manoharan, Mr. C.M.AGUR, B.A and MANY OTHER MILESTONES p. 365 ] .Thus in many ways the famous Kohlhoff family of Tanjore mission  had a link with South Travancore. 

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Conclusion    :  Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff and Ms Elizabeth Pernile Thorsen Kohlhoff couple gave birth to Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff in Tranquebar on 23rd May, 1762 and after having served as Pastor of the St. Peter's Church,Thanjavur for 57 years with great dedication Rev. John Caspar kohlhoff died on 27th March 1844 and his mortal body was buried at St. Peter's Church Compound  in Thanjavur. Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff rendered valuable and timely help and guidance to his Co-Brother Rev. Charles Mead to spread Protestant Christianity in South T.ravancore. It would be appropriate to remember one important historical fact here that Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff  sent Maharasan Vethamanickam with an introduction letter to meet Rev. Dr. John at Poreiyar and Maharasan Vedamanickam received some sound instructions and Tracts  from Dr. John [ C.M. Agur, p. 443] . Later during the second trip of m\Maharasan Vedamanicakm to Thanjavur to find a Foreign Christian missionary Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff  made arrangement for Maharasan Vethamanickam to meet the just arrived Foreign Missionaray Rev. Ringel Taube in Tranquebar [ Ibid, p. 451]. And we know these historical meetings of Maharasan Vedamanickam with Rev Dr. John and  Rev. Ringel Taube laid  the foundation of the Protestant Church in  South Travancore. Rev. John Caspar kohlhoff was a remarkable Man of God , he was a great Visionary, Social thinker, he worked till his death in 1844 for the  cause of the the Cross of Jesus Christ, he loved and respected the poor and the rich in the same way without any partiality . It is not possible to accommodate all the services  and intellectual and spiritual accomplishments of Rev. John Caspar kohlhoff within the space of this Article . I will end this Article with the following sentence, " Dear and respected Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff, we love you and thank God for your meaningful life and we are proud of you ".. 

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

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