An Outstanding , Unsung Indian Lady and Social Worker and Co-Founder of Anbagam [ A Home For Mentally Retarded Children ], Madurai, late Mrs. Mary Thangaraj, M.Sc[ Nursing, Toronto, Canada].

Introduction: The present day Indians hardly remember the Great Unsung Achiever  and remarkable  Social Worker and thinker Mrs.Mary Thangaraj; wife of the  renowned Physicist and former Principal of the American college, Madurai. Dr.Manuel Amirthavasagam Thangaraj and Co-Founder of Anbagam,  Madurai.Unfortunately  she had become one of the  unsung female Achievers  of India.  In this context, I remember the famous lines of the great Dramatist and Poet William Shakespeare, 'The great is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar "[ William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar  ] .So I do not like to forget the valuable services rendered by Mrs Mary Thangaraj, go  unnoticed and interred deep inside  the earth.  She  was really a remarkable lady and her life and service will definitely  inspire many people to do service for the cause of Mentally handicapped and  Challenged people .

Mrs. Mary Thangaraj and  Her Birth and Parents: Ms Mary's father Mr.Dominic and her mother Ms. Magdalene Coelho were native of Mangalore, Karnataka State  and  Mary  was born to her parents in Mangalore. Mary's Parents christened her as  Mary Monica Coelho , but generally she was called as Mary only.. Ms. Mary Monica's mother Ms Magdalene Coelho hailed from an illustrious Catholic Christian family from  Mangalore, karnataka State .

Ms Mary Monica's Education: : Ms. Mary Monica Coelho moved to Madras [ Chennai ]along with her parents in 1938. After her School education Ms Mary Dominic studied Nursing and started to work as a qualified Staff Nurse at the General Hospital Madras. She was very brilliant in her studies and very smart in her work . She wanted to do her higher education in Nursing in a foreign Country , so she applied for  an Educational Scholarship, and Ms.Mary Monica  won  the Prestigious Rockfeller Foundation Scholarship and joined at the famous Vaderbilt University in USA to pursue her graduate study in Nursing and she passed her B.Sc [Nursing ] meritoriously . In line with her higher life goals she wanted to do  her Post Graduate Course in Nursing and accordingly  Ms. Mary Monica pursued her M.Sc [ Nursing ],  at the famous  University of Toronto, Canada during 1946-1948.  and passed her M.Sc [Nursing] meritoriously.

 

Ms Mary Monica met Dr. M.A. Thangaraj at the Toronto University in Canada :  Ms. Mary Monica Coelho pursued her M.Sc[ Nursing] at the famous University of Toronto during the period from 1946 to 1948. But in line with  the pre-determined plan of Almighty God Ms Mary Monica's future husband Mr. Manuel Amirthavasagam Thangaraj was pursuing his Ph.D[ Physics] in the same university during the same period . [1945--1948]. M.A .Thangaraj met his future wife Ms Mary Monica Coelho at Toronto University.. As a doctoral student Mr. M.A. Thangaraj was required to give some talk to the students of the Toronto University occasionally.. The smart and intelligent   Ms Mary  Monica ardently attended the lectures of M..A. Thangaraj and used to ask so many questions to M.A Thangaraj. on his lectures. . Her questions  first disturbed  his head and finally it disturbed his heart  and gave him sleepless nights and this acquaintance united them  in  Matrimony .

Ms Mary Monica married Dr. M.A Thnagaraj   :   The marriage of Dr. Manuel A .Thangaraj,S/o Mr Manuel Amirhtavasagam of Erode and Mrs Navaneetham Amirthavasagam with  Ms. Mary Monica Coelho, D/o Mr.Dominic and Mrs Magdalene Coelho Dominic  was solemnised at the historical Santhom  Cathedral in Madras on 29th December, 1948. This lovely couple gave birth to two sons namely ;[1] Mr. Arun Thangaraj  [ U.S.A.]   , and [2]Suresh Bernard Thangaraj . But their second son was born as a mentally retarded  child   and his challenging birth ,changed the goal and course of Thnangaraj couple's life.

Ms Mary Monica Thangaraj moved to Madurai   :

Dr M.A. Thangaraj  moved to Madurai  from Madras Christian College, Tambaram to take charge as Principal of the American college. Dr. M.A Thangaraj assumed  charge as Principal of the famous American College Madurai in 1967 and so Ms Mary Thangaraj also moved to the Historical city Madurai along with their sons. Dr. M.A. Thangaraj  served as a  visionary and innovative Principal of Madurai American College  till his retirement in 1979. and Mrs Mary Thangaraj took active interest in Church related activities and  Social Service. 

Ms Mary Thangaraj co-founded of Anbagam in Madurai         :Dr.M.A.Thangaraj and his wife Mrs Mary Thangaraj founded Anbagam [ A Home For Mentally T Retarded Children ], in Madurai . The mental and physical condition of Thangraj Couple's  second son Suresh  Bernard Thangaraj deeply and adversely affected and impacted  Dr. Thangaraj and his beloved wife Ms Mary Thangaraj to a great  and irrecoverable level  .As good compassionate Parents they empathised with all the mentally retarded Children. They both spontaneously thought to do some  ameliorating  service for the cause of mentally retarded Children, including their own beloved son Suresh Thangaraj. So as soon as they moved  to Madurai from Madras they planned to start an Institution to serve the mentally Handicapped children  and accordingly Mrs Mary Monica Thangaraj and Dr. M.A. Thangaraj started "Anbagam" to serve the cause of the mentally and physically challenged children  and to protect the Rights of mentally and physically challenged persons and to create equal opportunities for the mentally handicapped persons.. Ms Mary Thangaraj and Dr, M.A. Thangaaraj  founded Anbagam[ Home of Love] for the cause of the mentally retarded children in 1970 with 7 retarded children .Since then there was no turning back, Dr Thangaraj assumed charge as the First Director of Anbagam . Thangaraj couple's soul and mind were soulfully involved in the affairs of ANBAGAM.  Dr Thangaraj and his beloved wife Mary, with the support of their  friends and well wishers built their own Building for Anbagam .As a highly qualified and foreign educated Post Graduate Nurse Mrs Mary Thangaraj served as a Guiding Force for the proper planning,  administration and development of Anbagam and its inmates. ..  Every year the number of  children accommodated in Anbagam had been  increasing . Anbagam needed more suitably qualified teachers to teach the mentally retarded children and so "Suresh Bernard Thangaraj Teachers Training College [SBTTC]"  was started in 1991 by Mrs. Mary Thangaraj and  Dr Thangaraj  to impart special training to selected candidates to teach mentally retarded Children .  And this Special Training College was affiliated with the Madurai Kamaraj University and now this college offers B.Ed  degree course of special education to the students of this B.Ed college. In the smiles of the mentally handicapped persons, Ms Mary Monica Thangaraj found the presence of God .

Conclusion   :   Currently Anbagam and the SBTTC  are functioning in Madurai  in line  with the visionary objectives and goals envisaged by the Founders Ms. Mary Monica Thangaraj, and Dr. M.A. Thangaraj . Ms. Mary Monica Thangaraj and Dr. M.A Thangaraj  are not living today in this World to physically witness the day today affairs of Anbagam and to see the activities and progress of the the Physically handicapped persons of their brain child "ANBAGAM.".Today Anbagam serves nearly 275 affected children  with great concern and loving kindness. The Sisters of St. Anne's of Tiruchinopoly are managing Anbagam since 1987. Anbagam is governed by an Inter-Faith Governing Council with representation from several  communities . Anbagam and SBT College and their Founders have won many Awards and had received  national and international recognition for their noble efforts and service.  Anbagam Children have also won many medals at the State Level in the Special Olympics for the Disabled.  Of course it would be appropriate to remember  the understanding  of the Founding Fathers of Anbagam, that God has created all of us in His own image and Likeness . Thus all human beings are equal , including differently able children and so the disabled  persons must be treated with respect and  dignity.  It is not possible to cover all the chapters of Ms Mary Monica Thangaraj within the space of this Article and  so I will end this Article with the following sentence  " Dear Akka  Ms Mary Thangaraj, we thank God for your compassionate mind and  service for the cause of the mentally retarded people . We are proud of You "

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