Writer , Evangelist, Pastor and Famous Tamil Christian Poet Rev. George Vedanayagam and his Illustrious Children and Families . . Part A .

Introduction   : Outstanding  Evangelist, powerful Christian Minister  and Author of some immortal Christian literary works namely "Sarguru Sathaham", 'Nenjuru Kadkam","Mather kummi",  "Adavar kummi"," Amalaguru Sathaham", "Paralokarachiya Paamalai", "Nithiyanantha Kaathal" etc, and some inspiring popular Tamil Christian  lyrics namely "Arasanaikkaanaamal Iruppupoma", "Iya Vumathu Sitham Aakidava Vaanum" etc, was a great man of God and  his contribution for the cause of school education, Christian Tamil literature, social justice and spiritual edification of the people deserves our recognition  appreciation and admiration. Definitely the manifold contributions made by his family members and him, cover and  decorate some important and crucial Chapters of the educational, social  and religious  history of Tamil Nadu and India. .

Rev. George Vedanayagm's Parents and his  Birth   : Many decades ago there lived a smart man by name Mr Solaimalai at  an enchanting  hilly village called Natham Patti near Madurai town,  with his modest wife Ms Karuppayi Solaimalai  and to this blessed couple  a male child was born in the year 1868 and the parents named their child ," Nagaiya". During that period of time Christian  Missionary Rev. George Thomas Washburn [ Madura American Mission and he was the first Principal of  "Madurai American College" } and his wife Ms Eliza Washburn were doing Christian Missionary work in Pasumali, and its surrounding villages  including Natham Patti.   During those days  the young  boy Nagaiya's father  Mr. Solaimalai died due to a poisonous snake bite. In this situation the young Nagaiya was brought up under the custody of   Rev . G.T Washburn and his wife Ms Eliza.  Through Rev George Washburn , Mr. Nagaiah came to know  about Jesus Christ and when Nagaiah was doing his 12th year  he accepted Jesus  Christ as his God and saviour and changed  his name as George Vedanayagam. { Probably name  George in memory of Rev. George Washburn ] 

Rev. George Vedanayagam's  Academic and Religious Education  :Young George Vedanayagam was a brilliant student since his elementary school days and  Rev G.T. Washburn  encouraged and guided Mr George Vedanayagam  in his school studies  And studious George Vedanayagam passed his Matriculation examination meritoriously and then he pursued his three year Theological course and passed his theological course colourfully . After having passed his Theological course Mr. George Vedanayagam became a pastor in the Madura Mission and later he shifted to Madras  and worked  as a  Pastor  at the St Andrew's Church at Choolaimedu , Madras  and consequently this Church  used to be called as Vedanayam Iyer [ Priest ] Church .  

Rev. George Vedanayagam's Marriage and his  Children:   Rev. George Vedanayagam  was married to Ms Asirvathamal [ adopted daughter of Rev Chandler of Madura Mission ] at Vathalagundu  [ Batlagundu ] on the 8th January 1889 .   Rev. George Vedanayagam and Ms Asirvathamal George Vedanayagam couple gave birth  to the  following Children namely :-[1] Mr.  G.V.Job, [2] Ms. G.V. Elizabeth Charlotte Rungaswamy  , [3] Mr. G.V. Jeremiah , [4] Mr .G.V . Isaiah, [5] Mr G.V. Ezekiel, [6] Mr . G.V. Azariah, [7] Mr. G.V. Amos, [8] Ms. G.V Susannal .In this context I would like to deal only with two children of  Rev. George Vedanayagam namely :[1] Mr. George Vedanayam Job, M.A , L.T,  and [2] Mrs Elizabeth Chorlotte Rungaswamy, in this Article   

[A]Rev George Vedanayagam's Son Mr. George Vedanayagam Job, M.A, L.T and Family    :   Mr.. George Vedanayagam Job, M.A, L.T, married Ms Esther Job  and this couple gave birth to the following children namely : [1]  Ms. Jemmi Job Rajamanickam , [2] Ms. Leela Job, [3] Ms. Kirubavathi Job , [4] Mr. Samuel Vethanayagam Job , [5]  Commodre Dr. Chandran Job, M.B.B.S ,. Dr. Chandran Job married  Ms Abranam the eldest daughter of the famous Advocate Mr. Devadhas, B.A, B.L of  Thirukurungudi and Mrs.Abranam's mother Ms. Anna Muthu Devadhas  was a  native of Nagercoil , [6] Ms Sarojini Asirvatham and [7] Mr. Basil Gunaseelan . Sri. George Vedanayagam Job, M.A, L.T  was a great educationist and administrator  and he worked as the Principal of the Columbus High School at Chengalpattu  Mr. G.V. Job was a classmate of  India's second President Dr. S. Rdhakrishnan at the famous Madras Christain College, Thambaram and  the inspiring and thought provoking debates held on Christianity and Religion between Dr. S Radharakrishnan and Mr G.V Job attracted the attention of the many intellectuals of those days .  Mr G.V. Job was the first Indian General Secretary of the newly formed Church of South India  . 

                                                           Mr. George Vedanayagam Job

[B] Rev. George Vedanayagam's daughter Mrs. G.V.Elizabeth Charlotte Rungaswamy and Family   :  Rev. John Runguswamy and Rev George Vedanaygam were contemporaries  and were working as Christian missionaries in and around  Madras [ Chennai]  and  both of them were great friends .   Rev. John Rungaswamy  and Mrs Rebecca Gnanamuthu Rungaswamy couple gave birth to their eldest son namely Rev. Jesudasaen Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy on the 31st July 1888. Like his father Rev. Jesudasaen Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy  also became a Methodist Pastor and worked   as a  Methodist Minister at the Wesley Church Royapettah, All saints Church Triplicanae, Saint Luke's Church Mylapore etc.  He also had the privilege to work as a Chaplain in the  British Indian Army  for some years. Ms G.V Elizabeth Charlotte, daughter of Rev George Vedanayagam married Rev. Jesudasaen Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy. Rev. Jesudasaen Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy and Ms. G.V. Elizabeath Charlotte Rungaswamy couple gave birth to the following children namely : [1]  Mr. John Rungaswamy, [2] Ms. Gurnsey Isaiah , [3] Ms. Annie Arumainayagam [[4] Ms. Mercy Job, [5] Ms. Maida Charles , [6] Ms Elsie David  and [7] Mr George Vedanayagam ,[8] Mrs. Amy Jean Chandraleela Samuel, and [9] Mrs. Susanna Vasantha Chitha 

Conclusion    :  Christian poet and Pastor  Rev. George Vedanayagam and his Illustrious children and families were/are blessed with many spiritual and worldly gifts and talents . The life stories of Rev G.Vedanayagam and his illustrious children and families  deserve an enviable and eminent place in the Church and educational  history of  Chennai, Tamil Nadu and India . God has blessed their descendants  in a  conspicuous and constructive way and probably each one of  them  deserves a separate Write up about them . Christian Poet Rev George Vedanayagam even today is  remembered during our church services, when we sing his devotional Tamil songs and when we see the altars where upon he stood and preached his soul winning  sermons, spontaneously his memories fill our minds. . The Christian Literature Society, Chennai  { C.L.S } should come forward  to write and publish the  biographies of Rev. George Vedanayagam, his illustrious children and his eminent  son in law Rev. Jesudasaen Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy . I salute the great Tamil Christian Poet, Evangelist and Pastor late Rev G. Vedanayagam  with great gratitude, respect and joy  and I end this Article with a short sentence ,  " indeed late Rev.G. Vedanayagam was a great Man of God" 

END. 

Next Part will follow soon. 

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