A Man of God, Tamil Scholar, lexicographer and First Translator of the New Testament and some Books in the Old Testament into Tamil Rev. Bartholomaus[ bartholomew] Ziegenbalg

Introduction:    Rev. Bartholomaus[ Bartholomew] Ziegenbalg of Danish Halle Mission translated the New Testament and some Books up to the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament into Tamil for the first time and thereby had secured a predominant place in the history of translation in India. Rev. Ziegenbalg began the translation work of the Bible into Tamil by the end of 1708 and completed the translation of the New Testament in 1711. And then he began the translation of the Old Testament and on account of his death in 1719 he could not translate beyond the book of Ruth in Old Testament. Rev B. Schultze a successor of Ziegenbalg completed the translation of the remaining books of the Old Testament and the Apocrypha in 1725 [ [i] G. Samuel Iyer, corrected by his son Rev.S. Gnanamonickam, History of the Tranquebar Mission in Tamil, A.D. 1706- 1955. The Tranquebar Printing & Publishing House, Vepery, Madras, 1955, pp. 205 & 206. [ii]. J. Ferd Fenger, History of the Tranquebr Mission, Tranquebar, Evangelical Lutheran Mission Press, 1863, pp 132 -133 ]. A concise study about the translation history of the First Tamil Bible and the Translator will be really useful to the readers, Church historians and present-day Christians.

Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg 

Rev. B. Ziegenbalg's Parents and His Birth:   Long time ago there lived a gentleman in Pulsnitz, Saxony State, Federal Republic of Germany, by name Mr. Batholomaus Ziegenbalg Sr [ 1640--1694] with his wife Mrs Maria nee Bruckha [ 1646--1692] and this couple gave birth to Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg on 24th July, 1683 at Pulsnitz. Both of his parents had intellectual family heritage. Mrs Maria guided her son Rev. B. Ziegenbalg to understand that the Bible is the best treasure in the world. 

Rev. B. Ziegenbalg's Educational Track:    Following the death of his mother and father, young B. Ziegenbalg was left under the care of his eldest sister who kept him with kind concern and sent him to School regularly and guided him to read the bible ardently [ J.Fred Fenger, op. cit.  p. 16]]. In 1698 he attended a School in Gorlitz.  In April 1702 Ziegenbalg attended F. Werder High school in Berlin under Rev, Joachim Lange and learned Hebrew Greek and Latin and returned to his native place Pulsnitz in June 1702 with stomach ailment. In 1703 he visited Leipzig, Wittenburg, and Jena.  In the year 1704 he pursued his higher education at the University of Halle under pietist August Herman Franke. He was sent to tutor first at Merseburg and then at Erfurt. In October 1705 he finished his interim pastoral work in Berlin.  [ [i] 2019 Concordia historical Institute. THE MELIM ONLINE PROJECT. Faces of Lutheran Missions in India, [ii] J. Ferd Fenger, op. cit. p 20].

                                                         Danish Fort at Tranquebar 

Ziegenbalg Reached Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu as a Danish Halle Missionary:   Due to sickness Ziegenbalg wanted to abandon Theology but his academic teacher [ probably Francke] advised and convinced Ziegenbalg not to abandon the study of Theology. Ziegenbalg also decided not to give up Theology, but he was soon obliged to leave Halle on account of his sickness and occupied himself in teaching first at Merseburg and then at Erfurt for a short time. Then he spent a year in Pulsnitz with his sister and then went to Berlin ,[J. Ferd Fenger, p. 20]]. However, during 1704- 1705 Ziegenbalg had the privilege to give sermons in the Churches in the absence of regular Pastors. [ G. Samuel Iyer, corrected by his son Rev. Sa. Gnanamonickam, Op. cit. pp.7-8] While he was in Berlin he came across Lutken's letter asking for Missionaries to be employed by the King of Denmark Frederick IV. This Call was proposed to him and after some initial hesitation Rev. Ziegenbalg accepted the Call. It was a great pleasure to Ziegenbalg that his School and University friend Heinrich Plutschau decided to go with him. In October 1705 Rev. Ziegenbalg and Rev. Heinrich went from Berlin to Copenhagen and were kindly received by the king and Dr. Lutkens and were ordained by Dr. Bornemann, Bishop of Zealand.  [J.  Fred Fenger, Op. cit. PP. 20&21].. On the 29th of November 1705 Heinrich Plutschau and Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg under the good Providence of God and upon the gracious command of His Royal Majesty of Denmark and Norway King Frederick IV. left Copenhagen for the East Indies [ India] as the first Protestant Christian missionaries to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the Non-Christians on the Coromandel Coast.  It would be useful to the readers and Church historians to read the Royal declaration and instructions given by Frederick IV to the First Missionary B. Ziegenbalg " We Frederick IV etc., do hereby made known to all concerned that we in Our Royal favour have engaged and appointed, and do herewith engage and appoint Mr Bartholomew Ziegenbalg, to go as Missionary from here to eastern India, and there to apply himself with all diligence to instruct the heathens who dwell within Our territory and on the borers thereof, in the holy doctrine, as set forth in God's Word and professed in the Symbolic Books of this realm agreeing to the Augsburg Confession, and to bring them to the knowledge of salvation , according to the further terms of the Instructions. which We in Our Royal favour shall for that purpose communicate to him. Out Greetings etc. Dated Copenhagen, 17, Nov, 1705'.   A Royal letter worded like this was written for Mr. henry Plutschau on the same day. Rev. Ziegenbalg and Rev Heinrich arrived at Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu on the 9th of July 1706.  [J. Ferd Fenger, Op.cit. pp.221&22 and p. 309]. 

Rev Ziegenbalg Worked hard to learn Tamil:   Rev. Ziegenbalg understood the importance of having a fluency in Tamil language to communicate and attract the Non-Christian Tamils into Christian fold. Rev Ziegenbalg and his colleague found practical difficulty to find a suitable person to teach them Tamil. After some months they found a Malabar [Tamil ] School Master and requested and invited that 70year old Hindu Teacher into their residence with his little School The missionaries were very anxious to know how the children were taught in his School and so they become students of this Hindu teacher. Rev. Ziegenbalg and Rev Heinrich sat amidst the young students on the sand and learned to write and pronounce the Tamil Alphabets and words. But the aged teacher was unable to translate the words into Portuguese.  Hence the missionaries searched and found out another Indian translator by name  Aleppa who was a Tamil man and was proficient in Portuguese, Danish, German and Dutch.  Ziegenbalg learned Tamil from Aleppa and mastered Tamil with great effort and relentless hard work within a remarkably shot time of 8 months. Aleppa could not teach Tamil language in line with grammatic rules but he explained words and helped these two Danish Missionaries to understand the Tamil Books. Slowly Ziegenbalg and Heinrich gained an insight into the difficult Tamil grammar. [ Dr. S. Nagarajan Professor & Head, Department of Tamil Studies in Foreign Countries, Tamil University, TAMILS ABROAD: NON-ASIAN COUNTRIES, Tamil University, Thanjavur 1995, pp. 426 & 427 ]..After having learned Tamil and read some classic Tamil Books Rev Ziegenbalg said about Tamil " They possess authors on almost all sciences and are expert in many trades and handicrafts. and Ziegenbalg also said that Most Christians in Europe, suppose the Malabarians to be a very barbarous people but this arises from the Europeans who have been amongst them not understanding their language, so that they have not been able to read their books but have drawn their conclusion from outward appearances / [Fred Fenger, Op. cit. P.25] .These sentences of Ziegenbalg speaks about his correct and high opinion about the Tamil language, books and Tamil authors.  

Rev. Ziegenbalg began to Translate the New Testament into Tamil:  In line with his visionary goal and determination Rev. B. Ziegenbalg began to translate the 'New Testament" into Tamil language on the 17thOctober 1708. Though his enthusiastic translation work was blocked by his unjust imprisonment, he continued his translation work as soon as he was released from the prison and completed the translation of all the books in the New Testamen on the 21st of March 1711.  Rev. Ziegenbalg translated it from Greek, Latin, German, Danish and Portuguese; more over he referred many   Bible commentary books.  As soon as he completed the translation of the New Testament into Tamil, he said " All the books of the New Testament are now translated, this is a treasure in India, which surpasses all other Indian treasures. Like his mother Rev. Ziegenbalg also called the New Testament as a Treasure. [ [i] G. Samuel Iyer, Op.cit, p. 205. [ii] J. Ferd Fenger , Op.cit. pp 80 &81].  As soon as the translation of the New Testament was completed by Rev. B Ziegenbalg, the Rev. William Stevenson, Chaplain of the Fort St. George spontaneously appreciated Rev. B. Ziegenbalg in the following words, " We congratulate you, most worthy gentleman, on Account of the Translation of the New Testament into the Damulian Tonge, designed for the use of the Heathen World ".[ Propagation of the Gospel in the EAST. Being the Collection of LETTERS from the Protestant Missionaries, and other worthy Persons in the EAST- Indies, & Co. Part.  III. London, 1718. p.116].  When the Translation of the New Testament had been carefully revised, a Printing Press with Tamil letters received in Tranquebar, they proceeded to print the New Testament in Two parts.  The First part covered the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles and was printed at the Mission- press in Tranquebar and the printing work was completed on 25th September 1714.  The Second Part embraced the remaining books of the New Testament and was printed in small letters on account of want of papers and its Printing work was completed on 18th July 1715. [ [i]J.Ferd. Fenger, Op.cit. p 82 and [ii] G. Samuel Iyer, Op.cit, p. 206].

                                  Front Page of  Ziegenbalg's Tamil New Testament 

Rev. B. Zigenbalg's Wife and Children ;   In Halle, in 1715, Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg married Ms Maria Dorothea Salzmann who was his pupil at Merseburg, where her father was a government secretary. [ J. Ferd . Fenger, op.cit .p 99] Rev. Ziegenbalg and Mrs. Maria Dorothea Ziegenbalg couple gave birth to three children and out of this 2 died early. The eldest was afterwards served as Professor of Mathematics in Copenhagen and then for a time worked as Director of the Danish factory of Frederiksnagar [Ibid. p 312]. 

Rev. B. Ziegenbalg Began to Translate the Old Testament into Tamil:  As soon as Rev. Ziegenbalg had completed the translation of the New Testament into Tamil language. He began the translation of the books of the Old Testament one by one .and systematically. In 1714 even during his journey to Europe he continued his translation work assiduously.  As soon as he returned from Europe to Tranquebar he continued his translation work of the Old Testament.  But his translation work was interrupted by his demise in 1719.  Until the time of his death he had translated the first five books of Moses and books up to the book of Ruth. They printed 400 copies of the Tamil New Testament translated by Rev. Ziegenbalg in Tranquebar, in 1720 [ Ibid, p. 83, [ii] G. Samuel Iyer, Op. cit, P.206]

 

                                      Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg' Grave in Tranquebar 

Conclusion:     Rev Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg lived in this world for a short span of 36 years only [ 1683- 1719] but by his exemplary life and extraordinary accomplishment he lives in our minds.in his books. and in the institutions that he built.   Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg died at Tranquebar on 23, February 1719 and was buried next day in New Jerusalem Church, at Tranquebar. He was blessed with the gift of learning foreign languages very easily. Even though he lost both of his parents at an early age he did not lose hope and grit to face challenges in life. He mastered Tamil language within a very short span of time. He had not only translated New Testament and some books of Old Testament into Tamil but also had authored some praiseworthy and useful books. Ziegenbalg ardently studied Tamil words and their meaning during a short span of two years. He collected 20000 Tamil words and to collect these words Rev Ziegenbalg read books on Theology, History, Philosophy, Medicine and Phi logy. and complied his famous Malabar Dictionary {Tamil-- German Dictionary] after 4 years this lexicon had grown to 40000 words and expressions. This Malabar Dictionary was arranged according to Tamil alphabet. Rev. Ziegenbalg complied a poetical Dictionary of 17000 words out of all kinds of poetical writings, under the guidance of some experienced Tamil poets. Ziegenbalg considered his Dictionaries as great treasures and hoped that with God's blessings they would become invaluable [ [J. Fred. Fenger, op.cit, p 34. [ii]  Dr. S. Nagarajan, op.cit. p 428]. Rev Ziegenbalg correctly understood the power of Music in Worship Services and Rev Ziegenbalg's one of the notable contributions was the compilation of a Tamil Christian Hymn Book. This Hymn book contained the translations of classic Lutheran Hymns and original compositions that reflect the theological and cultural context of the Tamil Christians. Rev. Ziegenbalg was a great educationist, actually he opened Charity Schools/ Free Schools in Tranquebar and laid the foundation for Free Education policy of the present-day Governments. Boldly, delightfully and gratefully we can say that Rev. Bartholomaus[ Bartholomew] Ziegenbalg was the Founder of the Protestant Christianity in India. It is not possible to accommodate all the important and glowing chapters of his sacrificial life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence. " Dear and respected Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg I thank and praise God for you, and proud of you ".  

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

An Efficacious I.T. Engineer and Assistant Vice President at Bank of America, Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E, M.B.A[ I.T],. .

Introduction    :  An Assistant Vice President at Bank of America Mr. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E,, M.B.A,[I.T] is a remarkable IT Engineer and as an Assistant Vice President at the Bank of America, Mumbai he looks after the India Infrastructure for the F.I.C.C. Market Assets.  His educational and professional journey deserves our perusal and admiration. Definitely his promising and admirable profile will guide and galvanise the youth of this nation to strive for a successful life and live a meaningful life. 

 
                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E, M.B.A, [I.T] 

Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas' Parents and Birth:    Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas' father Mr. J. Dhas hails from a good Christian family in Kanyakumari District and God blessed Mr. J. Dhas and his wife Mrs. Gunaseeli Dhas with all the connubial blessings and this blissful couple gave birth to Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas on the 12th, April 1979 in Nagercoil. It would be apt and useful to the readers to read some more lines about Mr. J. Dhas.  Mr. J. Dhas is really an enterprising person, and on completion of his academic studies he went to Mumbai in search of a job and worked in some Companies and gained wok experience and in tune with his vision he became a Publisher and Editor of a Bi Monthly English  magazine called " Safety Equipment Review " .With great grit he started this Bi Monthly magazine and initially he published 2000 copies and by his hard work he raised the circulation of this magazine to 10000 copies. This Bimonthly magazine became very popular in the industrial and business circle in Mumbai. How ever on account of his age and tight business competition he closed down the publication of this Bimonthly and returned to his native place in Kanyakumari district. Mr. J. Dhas deserves our appreciation for his innovative thinking and his accomplishment in the field of industrial journalism.  

Er. Joseph's Siblings: God blessed Mr. J. Dhas and Mrs. Gunaseeli Dhas with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children namely: [1] Mr. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E, MBA, [ He is the hero of this Article], [2] Ms. Esther Karoline, M.Com, and she is married to Mr A. Sathu, M.Sc, M.Phil . Ms Esther Karoline worked in a Charted Accountant's Firm as Deputy Manager for some years and now she has left her job and works as a Homemaker. Mr. A. Sathu is working in a Pharmaceutical Company as a Marketing Specialist for more than fifteen years. This couple is blessed with two daughters namely; [ i] Ms Arpitha  Sathu and she is doing her B.A and [ii] Ms Vedha Sathu and she is doing her 3rd Std; [3]  Mr. Martin Ebenezer Dhas, B.A, B.Ed, and he is working as a Senior Teacher in an acclaimed international School in Mumbai and formerly he worked as a Lecturer in two reputed Colleges in Mumbai namely " D.G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce and S.I.E.S. College of Arts, Science and Commerce. Mr. Martin Ebenezer is married to Ms. Jessica, B.A, B. Ed, and this couple is blessed with a son.

Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas' Educational track:  Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas did his Primary School, High  School in the South Indian Education Society High School, Mumbai, and Plus two in the South Indian Education Society Higher Secondary School in Mumbai. He passed his SSLC in the year 1995 and Plus Two in 1997. Then he pursued his B.E, [ Electronics and Tele-communication] in the S.S Jhondhale College of Engineering in Thane and passed his B.E. in 2002. Later he pursued his MBA [I.T] in the Sikkim Manipal University [distance education] and passed his MBA [IT] in the year 2014.

Er Joseph Allwin 's Wife and Child:.       Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas married Ms Sophia Jenifer,  M.Sc, M.Phil, daughter of Mr. Martin Chandra and Mrs. Daisy Chandra on 20th May 2009 in Nagercoil, and this couple is blessed with a son by name Rogan.

Er. Joseph Allwin Chandra's Professional Track:   Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas started his career with a leading  I.T. solution Company called the P.C.S in Mumbai, and  as an  I.T. Engineer and worked in this company for one and half year and then left this company and joined another Company called The Clearing Corporation of India in Mumbai as an Executive officer and worked in this company with great devotion and he was promoted as Team leader and Deputy Manager.  He worked in the Clearing Corporation of India for 15 years with distinction and in 2022 he left the Clearing Corporation of India Company and joined the Bank of America as an Assistant Vice President [ Application Control Specialist] and he looks after the India Infrastructure for F.I.C.C. Market, Assets, Fixed income Currency and Commodities, with great professional efficacy

Conclusion:   Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas is a hard worker and an innovative I.T. Engineer and definitely his relentless will to come up in life through relentless hard work will take him to greater heights in his professional career. While he was studying in High School and Higher Secondary School, he was a good Cricket and Football Player and even today he is great Cricket and Football fan.  He helped his father's Publication business as Technical Editor, from 2002 till 2010.  He is honest, unassuming, intelligent, and he loves his wife, son and parents so much. Currently he has been working as an Assistant Vice President at the Bank of America, Mumbai with great dedication, professional commitment, efficacy and enthusiasm. It is not possible to cover all the important events and chapters of his life story within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence," Dear Mr. Joseph Allwin Dhas we thank God for you and proud of you and God Bless you ".

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

An Unsung Weightlifting Young Lady Athlete and Champion, Hard Worker and Winner of First Prizes in many District and State Level Weightlifting Competitions Ms. G. Soniya, B.Sc. Viscom,.

Introduction    : Ms. G. Soniya is an actuator and living version of great Tamil Poet Bharathi's New Modern Woman.{ Puthumai Penn ]. Now a days girls and women are competing with males not only intellectually, educationally but also physically.. Ms.G. Soniya is really an inspiring example of Bharathi's New Era Woman.  She had boldly crossed the line of gender distinctions and limitations and had proved that Girls can also lift heavy weights  like  strong males. . Weightlifting equips a person not only to lift more heavier weight than one's body weight but also to overcome heavy challenges in real life. . She is not only a Weightlifter but also a holder of Visual Communication Degree.  Girls  rarely choose Weightlifting sport as their favourite sport, but Ms. G.  Sonia has boldly entered into this rare sport field and had proved  her mental concentration and physical power. Now a days definitely ladies need to equip themselves with necessary mental courage and physical strength to protect themselves from antisocial human beings. Weightlifting Sport definitely moulds and converts a weak person as a strong person, mentally and physically. Ms. G. Sonia even though is a first generation graduate she has boldly selected weightlifting as her favourite sport and proved herself as a  Weightlifting  Champion in state level.  Definitely a perusal of her life story will encourage many young girls and women to acquire new hope and mental grit to achieve and reach their goals and live a meaningful life

 

                                                            Ms. G. Soniya, B.Sc. Viscom 

Ms. G. Soniyas's Parents and Birth    ;         Mr. Gnanaraj [Durai] is a promising and upcoming entrepreneur [  Real estate business] in Kanyakumari District, and he lives with his beloved wife Mrs. Mary Stella happily and God blessed Mr. Gnanaraj and his wife Ms. \Mary Stella with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to Ms Soniya on the 25th November 2000.

Ms G. Soniya's  Siblings  ; God Blessed Mr. Gnanaraj and his wife Ms Stella Bai and this couple gave birth to the following children namely :-[1] Mr. G. Weslin, M.B.A  and [2] Ms G. Soniya [ the heroine of this Article]. 

Ms. G. Soniya's Educational Track  ;  Ms. G. Soniya did her Primary School education at the Lutheran Primary School , Vadasery, Nagercoil and then she pursued her 6th Std to 12th Std at the Government Higher Secondary School , Vadasery.  After having passed her Plus Two  she pursued her B.Sc Viscom at the famous  Noorl Islam College of Arts and Science , Kumarakovil [ 2018--2021] and passed her B.sc . Viscom in 2021  in First Class.

Ms. G. Soniya won the First Prize 
. 

Ms. G. Soniya's Weightlifting Accomplishments ;  Ms. G. Soniya ardently enthusiastically participated in the District Level and State Level Weightlifting competitions conducted by the competent sport authorities and associations and won many prizes. Ms. G. Soniya bagged the District First Prize in the monthly weightlifting competitions conducted on 24-08-2016 and   28-10- 2016 . She won the Third Prize in the Tamil Nadu State Weightlifting Championship competition held on 23-10- 2016 and 6-11-2016.  Ms G. Soniya bagged First Prize in the weightlifting competition conducted by Kanyakumari District Power Lifting Association on 18-09- 2016... She became District Second in the Kanyakumari District Weightlifting Championship competition held on 10-11-2018.. She bagged Third Prize in the Tamil Nadu State Weightlifting Championship Competition held on 18-11-2018.. She won Second Prize in the Weightlifting Competition conducted by the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli in the year 2018. She won Third Prize in the District Level Chief Minister Trophy Weightlifting Competition held on 28- 01- 2019. Ms G. Soniya relentlessly continued her weightlifting exercises. She bagged the prestigious First Prize [ State First ] in the State level Weightlifting Competitions conducted by the Tamil Nadu Strength Building Association on 15th May 2022 and 4th June, 2023. 

Conclusion   :  By winning many prestigious Awards and Prizes in the Weight-lifting Championship Competitions held at the district and State level, Ms G, Sonya has brought laurels to his parents, family and to Kanyakumari District.  She is not only a Weightlifting Champion but also is a brilliant student. she passed her B.Sc Viscom in first Class and after fer BSc.[Viccom] she did three months Internship in Adwants [ Advertising Agency] in Chennai she had also worked as a Freelancer Graphic Designer in TOP Consultants for 2 years. She is a hard worker, God fearing and unassuming young woman. She not only loves her parents but also lends a helping hand to her father in his business enterprise. She is blessed with creative talents and aesthetic taste.  I am quite sure that in the near future Tamil Nadu Govt will recognise her achievements in the field of Weightlifting and help her to get a suitable job in accordance with her educational qualification. It is not possible to accommodate all the chapters of her life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Article with the following sentence. "Dear Ms G. Soniya we are proud of you and wish you a blessed future ".

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

                    

                                                           

A Former Charge Nurse at ARAMCO, Book Lover, Ardent Reader, Lover of Bible, Photographer and a Scion of an Illustrious Christian family in Kanyakumari Dist late Mr G. Selvados, R.N. and His family.

Introduction  : A Former Charge Nurse at ARAMCO late Mr G. Selvados was a colourful  personality, he was a lover of Books and was a member of " Book of the Month Club", ardent Reader, talented Photographer, Cricket and Tennis fan, and a great Christian believer. He was one of the pioneer male Nurses, who studied Nursing Diploma Course in the CBH, Nagercoil, and was privileged to work as a Registered Nurse in the famous ARAMCO. He met many ups and downs in his life but he surmounted all his challenges by his firm faith in God.  God blessed his family. Definitely a perusal of his life story will galvanise the readers to lead a meaningful and hopeful life.

Mr. G. SELVADOS 

Mr. G. Selvados' Parents and Birth:  During the 20th century there lived a Christian gentleman in Agasteeswaram taluk in Kanyakumari district, by name Mr Gnanamuthu with his beloved and beautiful wife by name Mrs Annammal Gnanamuthu and God blessed this couple with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to Mr. G. Selvados  on  24 th July 1925. Mr. Selvados's father Mr.  Gnanamuthu's paternal grandfather late Mr Gnanamuthu Deacon hailed from a pioneer L.M.S.  Christian family in South Travancore and I was told that Mr. Gnanmuthu Deacon's forefathers came from Tanjore area and settled in the  historical Osaravilai village in Agastheeswaram taluk, kanyakumari District.

Mr. G. Selvados' Siblings:  God blessed Mr Gnanamuthu and Mrs Annammal Gnanamuthu and this couple gave birth to the following children namely :-[1] Mr. G. Selvados [ the Hero of this Article], [2] Mrs. Paranjothi and Mr. G. Subanantha Raj and he worked as a Primary School Teacher in Government Schools in Tamil Nadu and retired.  

Mr. G. Selvados' Educational Track: Mr. G. Selvados did his School and High School Education at the Scott Christian High School Nagercoil and Carmel High School in Nagercoil. Then he pursued his Diploma Course in Nursing at the famous Catherine Booth Hospital in Nagercoil .and passed his Nursing Diploma Course 

                                  Groom Mr. G. SELVADOS and Bride  Mrs  SAROJINI BAI 

Mr. G. Selvados's  wife     Mr G Selvados married Ms Sarojini Bai on 15 th December 1950 [ D/O Dr. K. S. Muthiah and Mrs Annal Muthiah]. It will be interesting to note here that his wife Mrs Sarojini Bai, was his mother's brother's  daughter. 

                                Mr. G. Selvados with his Wife Sarojini Selvados and Children 

Mr. G. Selvados'  Children   : God blessed the connubial life of Mr G. Selvados and Mrs Sarojini Selvados with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children namely :-

[1] Mrs Ann Vanitha, B.Sc, B.Ed, M.Div, and she worked as a BT Assistant and retired. She married Mr. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A, M.Div, [ He is an Author of Four Books in English and a  short Novel in Tamil and he is a Blogger ] and this couple gave birth to the following children namely ;-[a] Ms. Dr. Sangeetha Neeraja, B.Sc, M.S.W, M.Sc [U K] Ph.D [U.K],  She did her PhD at the Centre  for Ageing Research [C4AR],Lancaster University, UK, and she married Mr Sanjit Daniel and he works as a Lead Software Engineer in Balfour Beatty PLC , a UK based international  infrastructure company,  [b] Mr. Praveen Reuben Babu , B.Sc [ Nursing ]and he is working in NHS, UK as Nurse Practitioner and he lives in UK with his wife Ms Heroline Reena Reuben, B.Sc [ Nursing--NHS],  and two cute daughters namely Ms Michelle Reuben and Ms Rachel Reuben , and [c] Ms Anuraga , B.Pharm, MRPharmS.  She after having done her B.Pharm in India  did a PG Diploma Course in Pharmacy in Robert Gordon University, UK.   She is a registered Pharmacist and a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. [ MRPharmS] and currently she is working in UK as a registered Pharmacist in BOOTS, UK  Ms Anuraga is married to Mr Vimal, BPT { Senior Physiotherapist , NHS, ] and this couple is blessed with a cute daughter, by name Ms. Varsha  Vimal.  Mrs Anuraga is living with her husband and daughter in UK,

 [2] Mr George Manoharan [ expired],;  

[3] Mrs. Nancy Nimala and she is married to Dr. D. Manoharan, MBBS, DA, MD . Dr. D Manoharan  retired as a District Medical Superintendent, Govt of Tamil Nadu. and he is a winner of the State Award from the Govt of Tamil Nadu in recognition of his life long service to the cause of the sick people. In-spite of his personal disability the State Award for Best Employee- Locomotor Disability was presented to Dr. D. Manoharan by the Govt of Tamil Nadu, in 2011.Ms  Nancy and Dr..Manoharan couple gave birth to the following children namely ;[a] Ms. Dr. Ramya , BDS [expired], and [b] Er. Vijay Gideon, B.E, MBA and he married Ms Rebecca, BSc and this couple is blessed with three cute daughters namely[i] Ms Ramya Gideon, [ii]Ms Rachel Gideon and [iii] Ms Riya Vijay  Gideon 

[4 Dr. Gibson Selvadoas, MBBS and he married Ms Sujata , B.Com, DBM,  from Malad Mumbai, [ a daughter of entrepreneur late Mr. Samuel of Malad, Mumbai ]   After having passed his MBBS, Dr. Gibson Selvados worked in the famous Greek Cypriot Multinational Company called JOANNOU & PARAKEVAI OVERSEAS LTD, in Saudi Arabia and its HQ is based in UK from 23rd May 1990 to February 2018 with great dedication and great efficacy, In 2019 Dr Gibson resigned his job and returned to India with his family. Now he resides in Bangalore with his smart wife Sujata and cute daughter Ms Ruth Sanchia, B.A,.

[5] Mr. Dixon Selvados   . Mr Dixon Selvados is one of the highly talented and famous Photographers in Kanyakumari District and he is married to Ms Chandra Lekha from Kerala . Ms Chandra Lekha is  a close relative of the current Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat President Adv. Suresh Kumar, BA, LLB . Mr Dixon  is a  member of Tamilnadu Video and Photographers Association . and recently he received the Life Long Service Award  from the Tamilnadu Video Photography Association , for his tireless and continuous service for the cause of Photography ..

[6] Mrs Irene   :   Ms Irene was an outstanding Basket Ball Player. She was a district Player, University Player and Junior State Player. She played for the state of Tamil Nadu as a Junior State Basketball Team Member [below 18 years]  continuously from 1981 to 1984 . Ms Irene was a great Cyclist also and she won first Prize at the district level Competition conducted by the Rotary Club.. Ms  Irene married Footballer C Andrew , B.A, B.P.Ed,  and this couple gave birth to the following daughters namely ;[a] Ms Dhanya Sharon B.Sc [Nursing] and she married Mr Praveen Kumar, B.Sc, [ Nursing] and this couple is blessed with two children namely ;-[i]Mr. Ryan Samuel Praveen Kumar and [ii] Ms Giana Praveen Kumar, [b] Ms. Magdaline Diyana Andrew, M.A, M.Phil, and she is working as an Assistant Professor of English, Bishop Heber College, Trichy and she is married to Mr Stev Loney, MA, M.Phil and this couple gave birth to a cute son by name Mr. S. Shane Leroy. 

      Ms Inrene Selvados receives the First Prize[ a BiCycle]  in Cycle Race conducted by Rotary.

[6] Mr Nixon Selvados [expired]. .

Mr. G. Selvados' Professional Track   :   After having passed his Nursing Diploma Course Mr G Selvados got the privilege to start his Nursing career as a Male Staff Nurse in the famous ARAMCO Hospital in Saudi Arabia. After some years he was promoted as a Charge Nurse. and he served in the ARAMCO Hospital in Alkhobar with great dedication and efficacy for more than fifteen years.  Then he took an early retirement and returned to India and again he went to Saudi Arabia and worked in the Saudi Rail Road Hospital at Dammam Port as Nursing Supervisor for many years with great distinction. And after having served in the Saudi Rail Road Hospital, Dammam, on retirement he returned to India. and lived happily with his family in Nagercoil till his death in the year 1997.

Conclusion   : Late Mr. G. Selvados was an inspiring and multitalented man and he was very smart and the dressing code he followed deserves our appreciation.  He was very outspoken, enthusiastic, imaginative and at times very emotional, .He was a lover of useful and knowledgeable facts and figures  and he did not confine himself with the subject of Nursing but also he longed to read books on Indian History, World History, World Religions, Philosophy, Sport, etc and so he spent money to buy books on these subjects. He was a good Athelete during his School days and he was a great fan of Tennis and Cricket games.  As he crossed the age of fifty he started to read the Holy Bible systematically and Bible Commentaries. assiduously. and subsequently he became an expert to talk and discuss about the Second Coming of Lord Jesus Christ and Final Judgement. His command over English language was laudable. He did his best to give the best education to his children and tried to make two or three medical doctors out of his children but only his son Dr. Gibson actuated his father's expectation.  Mr G. Selvados  was after biblical truth and he was never after money. By the grace of God he was blessed with all the blessings mentioned in the famous Psalm 128..  He was a committed Nurse throughout his life.  It is not possible to cover all important chapters of his life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence, " Dear  Mr. G. Selvados we thank God for you and proud of you "

END,

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