Sunday 29 August 2021

Astronomer, Former HOD of Mathematics Department at MCC, Chennai, Director of Ecumenical Relation [Madras CSI Diocese], Secretary of the CSI Ewart Womens Christian College and CSI Bishop Newbigin College of Education [ Madras CSI Diocese], Former Treasurer of Madras CSI Diocese Prof. Dr, Samuel Cornelius, M.Sc, M.Phil, BCS, PGDCA, Ph.D, .Part Final.

Dr. Samuel Cornelius' Teaching Trajectory  in M.C.C and his love for Astronomy  :   Dr. Samuel Cornelius started his prolific teaching career as a Tutor in the famous Madras Christian College ,at Tambaram in Chennai in 1971 and he served the Mathematics department of the Madras Christian College Chennai  for 37 years in various capacities with distinction and retired as the H.O.D of the Mathematics Department of the M.C.C in 2008.. Dr. Samuel Cornelius loved the subject Astronomy and naturally he taught Astronomy to his students in M.C.C , with great efficacy and enthusiasm. for 35 years.. He had the privilege to serve as the President of the Astronomical Society of M.C.C with rare devotion and distinction. . 


Dr. Samuel Cornelius,  M.Sc, M.Phil, P.G.D.C.A, B.C.S,  Ph.D,.

Dr. Samuel Cornelius' life is inseparably linked with the C.S.I : Dr S. Cornelius's father late Mr J. Jesudason  was a devoted   member of the Vyasarpadi  C.S.I. Pastorate.. Mr Jesudason not only played a crucial part in the church affairs of the Vyasarpadi C.S.I. Pastorate.but also in the educational, social  and economic development of the members of the Vyasarpadi C.S.I Pastorate.  Mr J. Jesudason served as the first secretary of the Vyasarpadi Pastorate .while Bishop Rt Rev Dr. Newbigin was serving as the Bishop of the  Madras C.S.I Diocese . Mr J.Jesudason was an authorised Lay Preacher of the Madras C.S.I Diocese and had the privilege to serve as the Member of the Madras C.S.I Diocesan Council . Dr. Samuel Cornelius also took active interest in the Church related activities since his childhood like his Dad Mr. J.Jesudason. . Dr. Samuel Cornelius started his church leadership role as the Youth Secretary of the Vyasarpadi C.S.I Pastorate, and afterwards was privileged to serve as  Secretary and Treasurer of the Vyasarpadi C.S.I  Pastorate, Chennai.  Dr. Samuel Cornelius always gave the first place to Church and God . Dr. Samuel Cornelius was privileged to  serve as an authorised Lay Preacher of the Madras C.S.I Diocese  from 1977 till now.  In order to  serve as an effective Lay Preacher he passed his B.C.S, degree  [ Serampur University ].   Dr. Samuel Cornelius  conducted the  Bishop's election to elect a Panel of four members and out of which CSI Synod has selected Rev. Dr. J. George  Stephen and consecrated him as the Bishop of Madras CSI Diocese .   Since his childhood days Dr. Samuel Cornelius life is intimately and inseparably linked and connected with the Vyasarpadi C.S.I Pastorate, C.S.I Diocese. and C.S.I Synod . It would be better to mention some of the  important roles played by Dr. Samuel Cornelius in the C.S.I Madras Diocese and C.S.I Synod. Since 1988 he has been serving  as the Diocesan Statistical Officer till date with great distinction.  He also had the privilege to serve as the C.S.I  Synod Statistical officer for 4 years  and he also had the privilege to serve as the Convener of the C.S.I Synod Statistical Committee. . Dr Samuel Cornelius served as the Diocesan  Executive Committee member , Diocesan Finance Committee member and Education Committee member of the Madras C.S.I Diocese. . Dr. Samuel Cornelius had the privilege to serve as the Treasurer of the C.S.I Madras Diocese till very recently [2008--2018]..  Currently he has been serving as the Secretary of the C.S.I Ewart Women's Christian College, and CSI Bishop Newbigin College of Education  [ Madras CSI Diocese] with enviable devotion and efficacy 


                                                Sri. J. Jesudason, F/o Dr . Samuel Cornelius 

Dr. Samuel Cornelius Presented a Research Paper at the International Congress of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine in 2008.  :   Dr. Samuel Cornelius had the privilege to present a Paper at the International Congress on Science and Technology held at Mexico in 2001.In this context it would apt to say a few lines about his Research mentor Dr. George Abraham  .  .Acclaimed Astronomer and former HOD of Mathematics Department at the Madras Christian College , Chennai , Dr George Abraham motivated and  galvanised Dr Samuel Cornelius to do research work and so even after his retirement in 2008, Dr Samuel. Cornelius's continued his research interest in Astronomy 

                                           

                                   Prof. Dr.George Abraham [L] and Prof. Dr. Samuel Cornelius 
Dr Samuel Cornelius continued his Research on Astronomy even after his retirement and that research spirit  gave Dr Samuel  Cornelius  a privilege to present a Research Paper on  the topic, " Mean Motions in Indian Astronomy" under the section , "Pre Modern Astronomy and Cosmology "   at the XXIV  International Congress of the History of Science , Technology and Medicine " , at the University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K held during 21st ---25th , July, 2013 .   Totally Dr Samuel Cornelius had the privilege to present Research Papers in three International Science conferences  in person and one  in absentia 

Dr. Samuel Cornelius had the privilege to visit the IONA community in Scotland:
It will be appropriate to say a few lines in this context about Rev. Murdoch Mackenzie. Rev. M. Mackenzie  ministered in the C.S.I  Vyasarpadi pastorate and St Andrew's Kirk , Madras.[ CSI Madras Diocese] as a Christian Missionary. Actually Rev Murdoch Mackenzie was the one who motivated and galvanised Dr. Samuel Cornelius to become a committed Social worker, Social thinker  and Sympathiser  of  labourers. It is also apt to remember the fact that Mrs. Annie Mackenzie served as the Medical Superintendent of the CSI Rainy Hospital in Chennai. After his departure from Chennai Rev Murdoch Mackenzie served as  the Secretary of the famous IONA Community Committee in Scotland for some years and during that period  Dr. Samuel Cornelius got the opportunity to attend IONA community Programme held in the IONA island in Scotland on the 27th July 2020. along with  Rev Murdoch Mackenzie.

                                 Dr. Samuel Cornelius[L] with Rev. Murdoch Mackenzie[ R]

Conclusion         :  Dr. Samuel Cornelius is a remarkable and multifaceted person.  Dr. Samuel Cornelius began his educational travel as a student at the little known  kannikaapuram Primary School at Vyasarpadi and  entered the prestigious premises of the Madras Christian College as a Teaching Staff and retired as the HOD of the Mathematics department ,M,C.C, Chennai and really he deserves our appreciation and applause.. Most probably Dr. Samuel Cornelius is one among the very  few in Madrasa C.S.I Diocese who have so widely and frequently travelled across the world.  In 1986 , twelve \youth of Madras C.S.I Diocese were sent to Cartisle Diocese in U,K under the International Youth Year Exchange programme and Dr. Samuel Cornelius was one among them. Later as  Director Ecumenical Relation of the Madras C.S.I Diocese he  got many opportunities  to visit many foreign countries,  But I admire him more than anything else for his down to earth attitude and his spontaneous compassion for the lowliest, last and lost . Dr. Samuel Cornelius is a blessed man and happily lives in Chennai with his beloved and blessed family in Chennai .His life is deeply rooted in the Christian Church .  Prof. Dr. Samuel Cornelius is definitely a guiding, inspiring and hopeful milestone for the poor and helpless people and specially to the  students from poor families  I salute Dr, Samuel Cornelius for he achieved greatness surmounting  many obstacles and barriers,.

END
By. P. Babu Manoharam, M.A,[ All Rights are reserved. This article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed ]. 



No comments:

Post a Comment