Former Medical Superintendent of Christian Mission Hospital Madurai Late Dr. E.S.Chellappa , MBBS, FRCS [Ed-UK] and Ms Mercy Sonabai Chellappa

Introduction; Former Medical Superintendent of Christian Mission Hospital , Madurai Dr. Ebenezer Sunderraj Chellappa , M.B.B.S ,F.R.C.S[Ed-UK] was really an outstanding and service minded  medical doctor, patriot and   compassionate human-being.  He hailed from an illustrious family from Tanjore region .. His profile will be an inspiration to his fellow medical doctors  of the present day to serve the sick and ailing people with love, dedication  and spirit of service .He was a remarkable, colorful and multifaceted  personalty and  his service oriented life has become an indelible milestone in the social religious and medical history of Tamil Nadu and India


 
             
                                                                   
Dr.Ebenezer S. Chellppa and his Wife Ms. Mercy Sonabai

Parents and Birth of Dr. Ebenezer S. Chellappa: Dr.Ebenezer.Sunderraj Chellappa was a scion of an illustrious christian family from Chola Vazha Nadu. Many decades ago there lived  an influential and wealthy man by name Sri Malayaperuman in Tanjore district  and he was led to Christ by the great Missionary Rev. Christian Schwartz Frederic. Sri Malayaperuman's  great grandson Mr David Pillai  worked as a Munsiff  under East India Company initially and subsequently he became a Tutor to the King Serffoji second of Tanjore kingdom and later got the  privilege  to serve as Legal Advisor to the Maharaja Serffoji  IInd of Tanjore Kingdom. Sri David Pillai's daughter Ms Elizabeth was married to Advocate Mr Daniel Chellappa  who later became a Justice in the Madras High Court.This blessed couple Mr. Justice Daniel Chellappa and Ms Elizabeth Daniel Chellappa gave birth to Dr. Ebenezer Sunderaraj Chellappa on 16th September 1908.

Dr. E.S Chellappa's Siblings:  Justice Daniel Chellappa and Ms Elizabeth Daniel Chellappa gave birth to the following children_;[1] Ms.Pappa ,[2]Dr. David Chellappa , [3] Dr.Ebenezer Sunderraj Chellappa ,[4]Ms Grace  [5] Mr.Jeya ,[6] Mr. Theophelus,[7] Dr. George Chellappa,and [8] Ms.Chandra Leena .  Mr.David Chellappa pursued theological education and  became the first Indian Bishop of Madras CSI Diocese in1955.. Mr Ebenezer Sunderraj  Chellappa [he is the hero of this Article] And Mr George Chellappa did his PhD in agriculture and became a famous agriculture Scientist.

Dr. ES Chellappa's marriage :  Long time ago in Nagercoil there lived a God fearing smart man by name Mr Joseph Munshi and he married Ms Marthal Fanny a  daughter of the first deacon of the Home Church Nagercoil Mr. Daniel Paramanandam. . Ms Marthal Fanny .Mr Joseph Munshi couple were blessed with nine children including Mr.A.J. Schaffter the father-in-law of Dr. Ebenezer Sunderraj Chellappa . Mr A.J.Schaffter married  Zachariah writer's daughter Ms Arulammal .Mr Schaffter's brother J.T. Ambrose married Ms Arulamma's sister Ms Lois . Mr Schaffter and Ms Arulamma Schaffter couple gave birth to Ms Mercy Sonabai .on 14th July 1911.  Ms Mercy Sonabai was the only child of Mr AJ Schaffter and Ms Arulamma Schaffter, In line with the saying that  marriages are determined in heaven, Dr Ebenezer Sunderraj Chellappa married Ms Mercy Sonabai.and God blessed this couple with all the conjugal bliss. 

Ms Mercy Sonabai Chellappa : Ms Mercy Sonabai Chellappa, BA,BT was a cute and smart  lady. She hailed from an illustrious and great musical christian family in Nagercoil. The great Pianist Padma Shri Handel Manuel and world famous Classical Pianist and Classical  Piano Professor Ms Sheila Arnald  are closely related to Ms Mercy Sonabai .  She was a great teacher educationist, administrator , and she had  a colorful family and public life. Ms Sonabai Chellappa  had the privilege to serve as a First Class Magistrate in the Indian Railways. She efficaciously worked as Correspondent of the famous CSI Capron Hall Girls  High School , Madurai. She had the distinction of serving as Correspondent of Manamadurai CSI Deaf and Dump School She stood with her husband as a supporter in all seasons and she was a good homemaker and she took special interest to provide best education to their children and she played a colorful role in the church activities also. Mercy Sonabai Chellappa  died on 16 October 1977.  

Dr. Chellappa's education ; In tune with his cherished educational goal Dr. Chellappa did his MBBS  then pursued his higher education in England and got his prestigious FRCS degree from Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.UK.

Dr. E.S.Chellappa's  Children : Dr. Ebenezer S Chellappa and Ms Mercy Sonabai Chellappa couple gave birth to the following children :-[1].Mrs.Dr.Grace Sathiavathy,M.B.B.S,D.G.O,F.R.C.S[Ed-UK][2] Dr Christanad Arul Bharathi Chellappa [ The Composer and Singer of the popular christian songs like  Athikalaiyil Balanai Thadi, etc], [3]   Dr. Yesu Mithran,Chellappa,M.B.B.S [4]  Er Paul Chithran Chellapa and [5] Ms Esther Punithavathy. Currently majority of Dr, Chellappa and Sonabai Chellappa couple's children are living in US. with their families and all of them are doing very well in life

Dr. E.S. Chellppa's Professional Career: Dr.Ebenezer Sunderraj Chellappa had a colorful and meaningful professional medical career. He worked as Chief Medical Officer in Manamadurai CSI Mission  Leprosy Hospital, Dhayapuram  with great distinction for many years.He also worked as Chief Medical Superintendent at the Christian Mission Hospital , Madurai for 33 years[ 1934 --1967 ]. . In 1967 Dr. ES Chellappa was transferred to CSI Mission Hospital at Ramanad ,so  he resigned his job in 1967. And thus his long career link  with the CSi Mission hospital, Madurai  came to an end. in the year 1967, As a medical doctor he rendered his medical service to the sick and ailing people with great love, care and concern and won the hearts of the people..

Dr. Ebenezer Chellappa had the privilege of attending many national  and international medical conferences to cite few, he attended the international medical conference held at Sanfransisco, Venice, Tokyo, Singapore, Zambia and so on. He was an efficacious surgeon . While he was in Zambia a local doctor was seriously injured and Dr. Chellappa operated him successfully and this news was published in Zambian Mail with great praise.While he was in Tokyo , a local Minister was attacked by sudden heart attack and his heart stopped , Dr. Ebenezer Sunderraj Chellappa pumped the heart of the local Japanese Minister and saved him.  thus by his timely medical service he had saved many valuable human lives 

Conclusion : Even after his retirement he got many invitations from some foreign countries , but he chose Zambia among the countries and went there and worked for a few years among the poor people of Zambia without any money motive as a good christian doctor. during his old age after his retirement  he went to US and stayed with his son Dr. Anand Chellappa for some months and then he returned to Madurai and spent his old age in Madurai and died on.29-5-1982. and was buried inside the CSI cemetery , Pasumalai, Madurai by the side of his wife Ms. mercy Sonabai's tomb. He was really a great medical doctor, christian and man

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