Great Head-Masters of Kanyakumari

Great Head-Masters of kanyakumari :  Part  I

Mr.Paul Daniel , M.A, L.T,  :   Mr. Paul Daniel , was one of the most  remarkable  Head Masters of Kanyakumari district and India.  He was a genius and multifaceted personality  . He was a former Head Master of the famous Scott Christian High School , Nagercoil, from 1906 to 1927 and also served as the Principal of Scott Christian College for some period of time.   He was responsible for producing some remarkable personalities who reached enviable heights in their respective fields .   He has planted some striking milestones in the educational , social, and religious history of Kanyakumari   district and India.

Birth  and family of  Paul Daniel:   He was born at Santhapuram , near Nagercoil in  a good Christian family.  His father Mr. Paul was a catechist in LMS  and his mother was from a traditional Christian  family from Ikkiyapuram otherwise called as Ikkiyanam, near Chungagkadai and Nagercoil    ,Kanyakumari District.  The famous Paul Apollos Deacon of the Home Church was his brother and the  remarkable .D.C. Joseph ,the editor of "Travancore Times", was his son-in-law.

His Education : Paul Daniel was a brilliant student . Even while he was a student in the LMS  Seminary , his brilliance in education was observed by Rev Duthie and  he encouraged  Paul Daniel very much . As sson as he passed the Matriculation Examination , Rev. Duthie sent Paul Daniel to  Trivandrum for collegiate education. He  passed  the  B.A. examination  of the University with flying colours ,  and  got the Unversity Gold Medal  for his outstanding performance in English and also received  a  Webster dictionary from the Maharaja of Travancore  for his accomplishment  .  Mr. Paul Daniel passed his M.A. degree examination with distinction from H.H. the Maharaja's College, Trivandrum  and he was the first  South Travancore Christian to get M.A. Degree.  

Paul   Daniel  and Scott Christian High School, Nagercoil :  Paul Daniel joined as a teacher in the Scott Chriatian School in 1896 and served as the Head Master of the prestigious Scott Christian High School, Nagercoil with great distinction from 1906 to 1926. As a dynamic Headmaster he had the privilege to shape the  educational and professional destinies of thousands of young people  of Kanyakumari district.

Paul Daniel and Scott Christian College. :  During those   days there  existed  a friendly understanding and relation between  Scott Christian High School and  Scott Christian College  ,  So Mr. Paul Daniel the then H.M  taught physiology   to  the students of Scott Christian College.  He  enjoyed the good patronage of. Revd. Duthie and Mr. Parker, who were in the  helm of affairs  of the Scott Christan High School , during that period.  He  also  had the honour of serving as the Principal of Scott Christian college for a short  span of time.

Public life  : His  versatility    and  command over the English language lifted  him to greater heights in public life. He also   had the privilege to serve as the Deputy Chairman of the Nagercoil Municipality from 1911to 1920. His name and  fame reached  far and wide  and consequently he   was  nominated to the Travancore Legislative Assembly by the Maharaja of Travancore and served,   as a  popular and eloquent  Legislator from 1926 to 1928 in distinctive style.

Church activities :As a son of  a Christian Catechist,    Paul Daniel  took active interest in Church activities. He was elected as a Deacon to the Home Church Nagercoil in 1895. and continued  as a Deacon till 1931, for about 36 long years. He played a spectacular and contributing  part   in the formation of the Church of South India.  He was a great Church leader.

Conclusion : He was really a towering personality.  He served   within the Church and outside the Church with great distinction  and landmarks. He was a convincing orator , fluid writer and great administrator . He was very kind with the poor people.  In short he was an epoch , and he passed away on 23rd July ,1931. In honour of Mr. Paul Daniel ," Paul Daniel Block" was constructed  in the School, and it was opened by the then  honourable  Chief Minister of Madras State  Sri.. K. Kamaraj  on 22nd April 1961.
By.P. BABU MANOHARAN, M.A, [Rights reserved. This article will be enlarged modified and corrected later , if needed].

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J.M.Joseph, B.A.,LT, [1886-1951] :  Mr. J.M. Joseph was one of the remarkable Head Masters  of Kanyakumari district and India, in any sense.   As the Head Master of Scott Christian  High School , Nagercoil ,  he installed a lasting milestone in the educational map of  Kanyakumari district and India.

Birth , Education  and Family :  J.M. Joseph  was the son of  Mr.  Alexander Masillamani Joseph  of Chennai, who served as a Deacon in the Nagercoil  Home Church  for 24 years from 1875 and her mother belonged Anamalai, Pollachi .  He was born  at Nagercoil , on 23rd November , 1886.  He continued  his school education at Nagercoil and collegiate education in Trivandrum.  As a clever student he successfully completed his formal education and got  B.A., L.T.  letters  to his credit . Mr.J.M. Joseph's son  Mr. J.C. Alexander, BA., B.E.{Hons .], C.E.[Hons.], B.S.Arch [USA], M I E. ,   worked as Chief Architect  in the Government of Kerala   State.

As Head master  of Scott Christian High School:    He succeeded Mr. Paul Daniel as the Head master of Scott Christian High School, Nagercoil , in 1931  and proved himself as one the best Head Masters we can ever have. He functioned as the Head Master of Scott Christian High School at Nagercoil  for 13 years and made some indelible  prints   in the educational history of Kanyakumari district and India.  Mr. J. M Joseph retired  in 1944 and he was succeeded by Mr. D. Joshua.  From 1943 to 1951  Mr. J. M. Joseph  had the rare privilege to work as the first Indian  Manger of Scott Christian High School.

Public life and Church activity :   He  took active interest in  Church  activities and served as a deacon in the Nagercoil  Home  Church  from 1930 to 1945  with real interest and involvement.   When Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer was serving as the Devan of  Travancore  , Mr.  J.M. Joseph was nominated to the Travancore Legislative Assembly  by the Government of Travancore.  It is said that whenever J.M.Joseph delivered his eloquent speech in English in  the Assembly , the Assembly used to be fully packed and thronged to hear his mesmerizing and enchanting English.  He was loved and respected by  his students, fellow christians and the general public, for his intellectual  calibre  , egalitarian attitude, and  integrity.  He passed away on 19th February, 1951.

By. P.BABU MANOHARAN. M.A,{Rights reserved This Article will be  enlarged, modified and corrected later , if needed ]..






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