A Great American Educational Missionary, Fellow of the Madras University, Student of the great Theologian Rev. Dr. Edwards Park, Great Theologian, Progressive Thinker, A Modernist, Friend of the Orphans, former Principal of the Theological Seminary at Pasumalai, The Founder and The First Principal of American College, Madura, Rev Dr. George Thomas Washburn, D.D. PART A.

Introduction:  Rev. Dr. George Thomas Washburn was one of the greatest Christian educational missionaries who ever came to India from western countries   He was a multifaceted personality; he was a great Theologian, Companion of the poor, friend of the Orphans, Architect and Builder of Institutions, Great letter writer, Administrator, Visionary, a Man of God. great Teacher, Intellectual, Lover of books, Disciplinarian, Punctual Master and Progressive Thinker.   He was the founder of Lenox Printing Press, High School, Trade School and the College at Pasumalai.  He was a model Teacher, and he loved his students like a father. We cannot write the educational and social history of Madurai district and Tamil Nadu without mentioning Rev Dr, Washburn.  He has become a lasting and illustrious Milestone, in the educational, social, spiritual and intellectual development history of Madurai and Tamil Nadu. 

                                                             Rev. Dr. WASHBURN. D.D.

Parents of Rev. Dr. G.T. Washburn: and His Birth:  A branch of the famous Washburn family emigrated to the Plymouth Colony in United States, from England in 1628 and a scion of Washburn family bought a palisaded Farmstead in South Duxbury, about six miles north of Plymouth and this family went and settled at Duxbury. Due to some political situations Rev G.T Washburn's forefathers were moving from one place to another place and finally settled in Lenox, Massachusetts, US. [ Rev. A. J. Saunders, Ph.D, "Dr. Washburn of Madura", American Mission Lenox Press, Pasumalai, 1928, p. 8]. The town of Lenox in Massachusetts is located in Berkshire County, and Lenox town is a popular retreat spot and in every season thousands of people visit Lenox town and Berkshire County to enjoy its scenic beauty, art, and other appealing activities like the "Annual Tanglewood Music festival" conducted by the "Boston Symphony Orchestra".  In this scenic Lenox town Rev. G.T. Washburn was born to Mr Miles Washburn and Mrs Emily Hatch Washburn on the 5th of September 1832. The 5th of September, instantly brings a memory to my mind about a great Indian Educationist and former President of India Dr. S. Radhakrishnan for he was also born on the 5th of September. 

                                      CHURCH AT THE TOP OF THE HILL IN LENOX 

Rev. G.T. Washburn's Siblings:  Mr. Miles Washburn and Mrs Emily Hatch Washburn couple gave birth to the following children:[1] Mr. G.T Washburn and [2] Mr Edwin M. Washburn 

Re. G.T. Washburn's Educational Track: Without any aim young G.T. Washburn started his school education, and he worked on the farm of his father and went to school aimlessly and irregularly. He joined the famous Lenox Academy and pursued his School education He attended for the first time the summer term of the Lenox Academy in 1847 and received his first instruction in Latin from the famous prince among classical Teachers and the then Head -Master of the Lenox academy Mr. John Hotchkins. Mr G.T. Washburn graduated from the Lenox Academy. After having successfully completed his school education, he wanted to do his college education at the Williams College, Williams town. He passed his college entrance examination and joined the famous Willams College, Williams Town. In the College he enjoyed the instruction of the then, Principal Dr. Mark Hopkins. he became a member of Mills Theological Society. in the college.  Mr. G.T. Washburn worked hard and passed his collegiate study course, and Commencement Ceremony followed in about four weeks. He was given a place on the Commencement stage. He delivered a Commencement Address entitled "American Literature-Its Characteristics and their causes'. Mr. GT. Washburn graduated from Williams College in 1855. 

He began His Theology Study at the Andover Seminary [1855- 1858]:   By reading the Missionary Herald and the Sailors'. magazine, Mr. G.T. Washburn came to know about the missionaries who were working in the Nearer East and in the Hawiian islands and the Pacific. In addition, his great uncle Dr. Elisah Yale, whenever he visited Mr. G.T. Washburn's house, instilled a strong missionary spirit in the mind of Mr GT Washburn. One Mr. Chandler who was a brother of the famous Madura American Mission missionary Rev. John E. Chandler, was his collegemate and chum and both of them along with a few others decided to go as missionary to foreign countries.  After graduating from Williams College, he joined the world-famous Andover Theological Seminary at Andover in September 1855.  During those academic years the internationally renowned Theologian Dr.Edwards  Park was serving as Theology teacher in Andover Theological Seminary and Mr. G.T. Washburn enjoyed Dr. Park's, thought-provoking lectures with great attention and admiration [Rev. A.J. Saunder, Ph.D, Dr. Washburn of Madura, An Appreciation, American Lenox Pess, Pasumalai 1928, p.p. 23&24].  It will be useful to the readers and Church Historians to read the remark made by Dr. John Henry Barrows, Chairman of the Parliament of Religions Sessions held in Chicago in 1891, wherein the great Indian sage Vivekananda participated.  Dr. John Henry Barrows says that there is no book in his library with whose contents he is more familiar than with Professor Park's "Discourse", expresses his gratitude to Providence that America has produced, a great Theologian, and pulpit Orator, who is also a Man of Letters.  [ Professor Park and his Pupils: a biographical sketch ... Introduction by Rev. R.S. Storrs, Boston, 1879, p 133]. Dr. Park's lectures and theological thoughts galvanised Rev. G.T. Washburn to bloom as a sound theologian. In the Seminary Mr. Washburn became acquainted with Mr William Capron of the Senior Class and he was already under appointment to the Madura Mission. Mr William Capron urged Rev. G.T. Washburn to join the Indian delegation and Washbun also decided to do so and so he requested Dr. Anderson, Secretary of the American Board and his application was very cordially accepted by Dr. Anderson. He joined the Brothern Society in the seminary. He passed his Theology stud in 1858.

Mr. G.T Washburn was ordained as a Pastor:   After having passed his Theology study in the Andover Seminary he served as Pastor of a Church [1858- 1859] in East Gulliford, Windham County, Vermont, U.S.  On the 24th of March 1859, Mr. G.T. Washburn was ordained as a Pastor in Lenox, but he was not ready to go to India [ Madura] immediately on graduation for he was unmarried.

                                                             Mrs. Eliza Case Washburn 

Rev. G.T. Washburn Married Miss Eliza Case:  Rev. George Thomas Washburn married a teacher by profession from Gloversville, by name Miss Eliza Case in September 1859 and on 1st of January 1860, Rev. G.T. Washburn and Mrs Eliza Case Washburn sailed from Boston in the ship 'Goddess' bound for India in company with Dr. and Mrs. Chamberlain [ Rev. A.J. Saunders, Ph. D, Op.cit. pp. 25& 26]

Next Part will follow

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

An Anglo Indian SPG Missionary, Tamil Scholar, Principal Tamil Examiner of Madras University, Prolific Writer, And Par Excellence Translator of Bible into Easy- to -Understand Tamil [Power version] Rev. Dr. Henry Bower, D.D.. Part Final

Madras Bible Society appointed Rev. Henry Bower as the Chief translator of the Bible:  Bible translation work had/has been a continuous process of revisions.   Rev. B. Zieganbalg's translation became  obsolete and there were minor defects in the translations of Rev Fabricius and Rev Rhenius and as a remedial measure, the Jaffna Translation was brought out in 1850; but this version also failed to get general acceptance of the people and so the Madras Bible Society formed a Revision Committe and appointed Rev Heny Bower in 1857, as the Chief Translator. of the Revision Committe...The Madras Bible Society also appointed a Seven Member Committee, from other denominations serving in South India, to assist Rev Henry Bower to bring out a new translation of the Bible, acceptable to all Tamil Protestant churches.  This Seven Member Revision Committe was consisting of the following members:[1] Rev Dr. Robert Caldwell,[SPG], Author of the iconic book, " A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South Indian Family of Languages, [2] Rt Rev.Dr. Edward Sargent,D.D, of CMS,  3] Rev..Lewis of the LMS, [4] Rev. Kohlhoff of SPG, [5] Rev Henry Scudder of American Tamil Mission, [6] Rev. William Tracy of Madura American Mission and [7] Name not known [ John S. Chandler, "A History of the Mission in South India" published by the American Madura Mission, p.264]    Rev Henry Bower and the Seven Member Committee started their translating work with full vigour and enthusiasm

The revision of the New Testament was actively pushed from 1858 and in May 1858, the Revision Committee members met at Kodaikanal for its final revision. The next May [1859] they passed the Following: " Resolved that we rejoice in the completion of the revision of the Tamil New Testament, and that we earnestly desire that the Bible Society proceed to make a similar arrangement for the revision of the Old Testament".[ Ibid] .The New Testament [Power Version or United Version] translated by Rev Henry Bower and his team was published in 1863 and the Old Testament [Power Version] translated by Rev Henry Bower and team was published in 1868.  The Bible translated into Tamil by the Revision Committee headed by Rev Henry Bower is called as Power Version or United Version, and this Tamil Bible is generally carried by the Church going Tamil Christians whenever they attend Church services and Christian Convention meetings.  

                                                              Rev.Dr. Henry Bower, D.D.
                                                           

Other Literary Works of Rev Henry Bower:   Rev. Henry Bower was a Linguist, he was proficient in English, Tamil, Greek Latin, Sanscrit and Hindustani.  Rev Henry Bower was a Par Excellence Translator, and he was appointed as a Member of the Church of England's Translation Committee to translate the "Book of Common Prayer" of the Church of England into Tamil, this translation work took two years. Rev Henry Bower translated Bhagavat Gita and the Tamil Grammar book "Nannool" into English.  He translated Sastri Iyer's Treatise on Jain Philosophy into English, and this book was published in the year 1868 by the SPCK press at Vepery, Madras.  He also produced the Naamagal Lambakam of Seevagachinthamani with Narchinarkiniyar's Commentary with a Preface in English and this book was prescribed as a Lesson for the B.A, Class, the University of Madras.  As Rev Henry Bower served for nearly ten years in Thanjavur area, he developed a cordial friendship with the great Tamil Christian Poet Vethanayagam Sasthiriar and he wrote a biography of Vethanayagam Sasthiriar.  Rev Henry Bower's compilation works include a Vedic Dictionary of Terms on Religion and Philosophy and a Book of his Discourses. Rev Henry Bower was a prolific Writer, and he had written thought provoking Articles on Religion, Logic, and Linguistics.  It is said that he introduced Tamil literature to Dr Robert Caldwell.  In 1851 he published a book of Essays in English on Hindu Castes. In 1877 he published a book titled' Interpretation of the Law'.  Rev. Henry Bower translated the following books into Tamil:[1] Mr. Tom Butler's Anthology, [2] He translated the iconic Theological masterpiece titled, "Exposition of the Creed" authored by the great Theologian Lord Bishop of Chestor, Rev. Pearson John, [3] A Biblical and Theological Dictionary, [4] Lectures on the Moral Law, and [5] History of Christianity in India and some other works.   Rev Henry Bower was a great Admirer of the famous Tamil Grammar book,"Nannool' and Thirukural and he said," Thiruvalluvar's Thirukural is the first-class literature in Tamil. He had also written the books titled "Viswamana Vilakkam", "Sambhandha Vilakkam", between Hinduism and Papu Religion and Dharmasastra Saaram..

                                   .

Rev. Henry Bower Died:  From Madras he was moved to Kumbakonam and he served in Kumbakonam from 1875 to 1878 He did the last phase of his active ministerial service in Madras from 1878 to 1884, and he retired from his ministerial service in 1884. He was receiving his person. He became very weak and ill and to recover health he went and stayed at Courtalam for some time, but he 

died in 1885 at the age of 73, at Palayamkottai

Power version of Sathiya Vetham in Tamil.

Conclusion: Rev. Dr. Henry Bower was one of the greatest missionaries served in South India and was an intellectual, social Thinker, Theologian, Tamil scholar and a great Evangelist.  He had the prestigious privilege to be In Charge of the Madras Mission [ Vepery Mission] from 1874 to 1883[The Rev. A. Westcott, M.A, " A Our Oldest Indian Mission" Madras, 1897] He served as the Principal Examiner of Tamil at the University of Madras with great distinction.  He had the opportunities to rub shoulders with great foreign missionaries cum Tamil Scholars such as Dr. G.U Pope and Dr. Robert Caldwell. The Archbishop of Canterbury, England conferred on Rev Henry Power the honorary Doctorate degree " Doctor of Divinity" in recognition of his manyfold service and accomplishments. It is not possible to accommodate all the chapters Rev. Henry Bower's historic and brilliant biography within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence," Dear Rev Dr. Henry Bower, D.D, we thank God for you, we thank you for the Power Version of the Tamil Bible, we are proud of you, and we love you".

END .

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

An Anglo Indian SPG Missionary, A Great Tamil Scholar, Principal Tamil Examiner of Madras University, Soul Winning Evangelist, Bible Teacher, Prolific Writer, and a Par excellent Translator of the Bible into Tamil [ Power Version} Rev. Dr. Henry Bower, D.D. PART A..

Introduction:    A great man of God who translated the Holy Bible into the common man's Tamil, [ Power version] Rev. Dr. Henry Bower, D.D, was a great Missionary and a remarkable man of God.  He was a multi-faceted personality; he was a great Tamil Scholar, prolific Author, Linguist, soul winning Evangelist, par excellence Translator and a Man of Prayer.  By translating the Bible into the common's easy to understand Tamil he facilitated the Bible to reach every protestant Tamil Christian home living in India and abroad.  Generally, Christians love. Bower version [Power version] of the Tamil Bible, but they do not have adequate knowledge about the profile of Rev Henry Bower who played the pivotal role to translate the Bible into Tamil. Definitely Rev Henry Bower was a remarkable milestone in the field of Translation, evangelisation, literature and linguistics. 

                                                           Rev. Dr. Henry Bower, D.D.

Rev. Henry Bower's Parents and Birth:    Rev. Henry Bower's father Mr Francis Bouvie [ 1780- 1824] was a French soldier, and he was a prisoner of war in India, and he married an Indian woman by name Ms Justina[1782-1872] and according to the records of the St Marys Church, St George Fort , Madras, this couple gave birth to Rev. Henry Bower on the 17th of January 1813, at a house located near the Zion Church [ Present CSI Zion Church] at Chintadripet, Madras. But Power's family celebrates his birthday on 18th December 1812.  It is said that American missionary Dr. John Scudder built a small church by name Zion Church, in Chintadripet . But there is another account that the then Governor of Madras at St George Fort Mr George Mortin Pitt founded  Chintadripet [ Chinna Thari Pettah] in 1734 with the settlement of 230 families of weavers to produce cotton for export and built the original Zion church in 1734 at  Chintadripet. 

Mr. Henry Bower's Education:    Rev. Henry Bower's Alma Mater the Madras Military Male Orphan Asylum was opened in 1789 under the superintendence of Dr. Andrew Bell. It was housed in a converted Military building called Egmore Redoubt.  As the son of a European Prisoner of War young Henry Bower got the privilege to study at the Madras Military Male Orphan Asylum at Egmore, Madras. After having passed his school education young Henry Bower wanted to become a Missionary. One Colonel John Corle who was serving as the Colonel Secretary to the then Governor of Madras at St George Port liked young Henry Bower so much and did many favourable things to Mr. Henry Bower. Colonel John Corbe took young Henry Bower to England with him in 1832. Mr. Henry Bower joined the Missionary Academy, England, run by the London Missionary Society in 1833. Mr Henry Bower studied Theology with great enthusiasm and devotion and passed his Theology course meritoriously and he returned to Madras in 1837. Rev Henry Bower studied Tamil grammar and Literature. with consuming interest from a Jain Poet by name Sastram Iyer. 

Mrs Emma Bower

Birth

1818

Death

24 Jan 1844 (aged 25–26)

Burial

St. Peter's Tanjore-Thanjavur

Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Memorial ID

 · View Source

Rev. Henry Bower's Marriages and Children:    Rev Henry Bower married Ms Emma Taylor on 9th of May 1839, and God blessed the conjugal life Rev Henry Bower, and this couple gave birth to the following children namely: [1]Ana Power [1839- 1857] and [2] John Power. While Rev Henry Bower was working in Thanjavur, Mrs. Emma Bower died on the 24tth of January 1844, and her body was buried in St. Peter's Church cemetery in Thanjavur. After three years since the death of his first wife Rev Henry Bower married Ms Jessie Plucker on the 10th of May 1847 and this couple gave birth to the following children:[1] Mr. Henry Francis Power, [2] Mr William Lone Power ,[3] Mr. Frederick Gordon Power, [4] Mr Alexander George Power, [5] Ms Emma Eliza Power and [6] Mr Robert Stephen Power.

                              Serial No: 6;  Rev Henry Bower, and Serial No; 7: Rev G.U. Pope. 

Rev. Henry Bower's Missionary Work Track:   After successfully completing his theological training Rev Henry Bower was employed as Catechist by the Wesleyan Missionary Society. He began his missionary work at a Dalit majority village called Thirupachur, near Ikkadu, in Thiruvallur District  In 1838 he moved to Purasawalkam, Madras from Thirupachur. He joined the Society for the Promotion of the Gospel [SPG} in 1842.  He worked as an Assistant Missionary in the Madras Mission [ Vepery Mission} As an Assistant Missionary he discharged his duties with devotion and enthusiasm. In the year 1845 he was ordained as a Priest and in the year 1848 he was appointed as a Deacon.   Then he was transferred to Thanjvur in the year 1844 and he served in Thanjavur area[ Thanjavur & Vediapuram] from 1844 to 1856.  As a great Evangelist with great vision and mission Rev Henry Bower started an Institute in the suburb of Thanjavur for the training of the catechists who will carry the gospel message everywhere including the rural villages and named it as "Vediapuram". Rev. Henry Bower was a great Church founder and in the year 1853 Rev. John Guest and Rev Bower together bought one acre and 82 cents of land on behalf of SPG for Rs 8500, where the St Paul's CSI Church, Vepery, stands today. Even though already the St Mathas Church was there in Vepery, the service was conducted in English, so there was a pressing need for a Tamil Church in that area.  To meet this necessity, the then Governor of Madras Mr. George Harris [The Founder of the University of Madras] laid the foundation stone of the new Church for the Vepery native congregation, at the place bought by the SPG, on the 9th February 1855, in the presence of a large representative gathering [The Rev. A. Westcott, M.A, Our Oldest Indian Mission, Madras, 1897, Chapter VIII]. The new church was named as 'St Paul's Church' and was consecrated by bishop Rt.Rev Dealtry on the 18th of November 1858.  Rev. Henry Bower served as the Pastor in charge of St Peter's Church Thanjavur from 1850 to 1856. and during that period the famous Tamil scholar and translator of Thirukural into English, Rev G.U. Pope, worked as his Colleague at St Peter's Church.  In 1858 Rev Henry Bower left, Vediapuram and fully devoted himself to Bible translation work. In 1864 he was ordained as a Pastor at the St Paul's Chruch at Vepery [ Choolai] Madras.  He served in Madras from 1857 to 1875 [First Phase] with a short break. In 1872, he was sent to Trichy and from there to Tirunelveli and was posted back to Vepery St Paul's Church.

Part Final will follow soon 

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

5.

Bible Translator. Great Author , Tamil Scholar, The First CMS Missionary To Arrive in India, and the Apostle of the Undivided Tiruunelveli District Rev. .C.T.E. Rhenius . PART.. FINAL.

Rev. Rhenius Took the Initiative to build a Church at Black Toon:   At the close of the year 1817, an attempt was made by Rev Rhenius to build a Church in Black Town. But this effort was prevented by the Governor  Mr. Elliot, who granted the request of some inimical people. After many endeavours  taken by the friends of the Church Missionary society for permission to build the Church, the Governor allowed the CMS to build the Church .in Black Town. . Rev Rhenius and his friends decided to lay the foundation stone to build the Church in the Mission garden, on the 30th of June 1819  .A  celebration meeting was conducted to celebrate the occasion . In the afternoon on 30th of  June 1819,  the native congregation members, a large number of heathens, several European ladies and gentlemen. and  many friends of the CMS assembled in the Mission garden. Mr. Thompson prayed in English, for the  Lord's blessing on this church, congregation, Madras city and country.. Then Rev Rhenius addressed the natives in Tamil on the  words of the Lord Jesus, " I will build my church, and the gates of the hell shall not prevail against it. Then they proceeded to the selected place and the foundation stone was laid. publicly.  Then Rev Rhenius addressed the gathering again, the congregation then sang a Tamil Song, a doxology to the Holy Trinity. Then prayer in Tamil and blessing in Tamil and English were pronounced by Rev Thompson and Rev Rhenius . The whole day was celebrated with joy and gratitude for God had overruled all things for good, nay, turned the evil into good.. 

             

                                                      

                                                             Rev. C.T.E. RHENIUS                .                   

Rev C.T.E. Rhenius was Asked to go to Palayamkottai by CMS in 1820:  In 1816 the historian the Rev James Hough who was the Chaplain  to the English garrison in Palaymkottai fort and cantonment wrote to the CMS, Madras, asking for a Missionary to serve in Palayamkottai By this time there developed a misunderstanding between CMS and Rev Rhenius. Rev Rhenius came to the decision of resigning his job and to return to this native country But CMS did not like to lose the service of a an able missionary like Rev Rhenius and  so they asked  him to go to Palaymkottai, and he  accepted the suggestion made by the CMS Committee .Rev Rhenius left all the Mission affairs in the hands of Mr. Barenbruck and started his journey towards Palayamkottai. on the 2nd of June 1820. Rev. Rhenius and his family reached at Palayamcottah on the 7th of July 1820. On arrival at Palayamcottai Rev. Rhenius and family proceeded to a house in the Fort at Palamkottai which had been secured for them by Rev James  Hough, the  English Chaplain in Palayamkottai Fort.. Next day Rev. Rhenius felt loneliness for he missed Madras so much and he wrote that he was like tree torn out of its own soil and put into a strange one. But without delay Rev Rhenius entered upon his missionary work. The schools and the heathens, the revision or rather translation of the Scripture into Tamil and the compilation of a pamphlet entitled "The Essence of true Vedam" immediately occupied his time. CMS  wisely sent his friend Rev Bernard Schmid to Palayamkotai to work with Rev Rheneius  His friend Rev. Bernard Schmid's arrival at Palayamkottah on the 20th of October 1820, as his missionary colleague filled Rev Rhenius' mind with new joy and encouragement.. 

Rev. Rhenius started a Seminary and tried to eradicate caste based discrimination among the students;    As SPCK  was already working inside the Fort , Rev. Rhenius wanted to shift his residence and headquarters from the Fort and so wanted to go out from the fort. He was is search of a suitable place to purchase . In this situation Rev. Hough came forward to sell his garden  with the buildings in it to CMS at a low price. Rev Rhenius happily bought that land from Hough with the approval of CMS committee..  In the newly purchased garden there was a big bungalow and two school buildings. Rev. Rhenius started a Seminary in one school building to train catechists for Lord's ministry . The next building was used as a School where English was taught to the students and so it was called a English school. Rev Rhenius modified these two school buildings and used it. He allotted a portion of his house as Boarding for the Seminary students. and used a portion of the Seminary as a Chapel. Mr. Rhenius wanted to admit 20 students every year in the seminary.. But he started the Seminary with 7 students in the year 1820 . In 1821, The CMS Committee allowed to raise the strength of the students to 20,   so in 1821, 20 students were admitted in the seminary. Out of these 20 students 7 students were from upper caste students, 10 students were Nadar students, 3 students were from Adi-dravidar community. These 7 upper caste students protested and deemed it an insult to them to take food with the other 13 students  This matter was brought into the notice of Rev Rhenius. Rev Rhenius was against caste discrimination  He wanted all the students to live friendly and eat food together, but as no accord was agreed Rev. Rhenius closed the Seminary in 1821. and reported the matter to CMS Committe and the CMS  stood with Rev Rhenius. As some parents requested Rev. Rhenius to reopen the Seminary he re-opened the Seminary on the confirmation and condition  that caste discrimination will not be followed by the students. In the month of May 1822,  Rev Rhenius reopened the Seminary with 20 students. The seminary students were not only taught theology but also they were given  singing practice, to sing translated hymns and many other needed trainings 

Rev Rhenius Started a Seminary For Girls:       In the year 1823-24 the strength of the Seminary students increased to 31 . So Mr. Rhenius wanted to start a Seminary for the girls and for this cause some military officials happily and collectively  donated Rs 238 and  on hearing this news the CMS also  came forward to help Rhenius financially to build a seminary for girls. Rhenius completed the construction work of the Seminary for Girls before the end of January 1823. Without delay Girls seminary was started by Rhenius with 19 girl students. On completion of  Hostel building again 20 more girls were admitted in this school. A Widow Christian was appointed as Warden to supervise these 39 girl students But before the end of that year 16 girls stopped their study and went out  Only 23 girls continued heir studies and out of these 23 students, one was from Vellala community, 4 from Nadar and the remaining 18 girl students were from Adi-Dravidar community.  Mrs. Ann Van Sameren Rhenius also taught the students in this Seminary for girls. From this we can understand about Rev Rhenius' consuming concern for the education of girls   

Rev Rhenius Visited the educational Institutions :  Rev Rhenius took active interest in the education of the  students. He regularly visited the village schools, the Central School in Palayamkottai, Boys Seminary,  Girls seminary and 13 more schools, under his control . He appointed  an intelligent and pious Christian by name Mr. David to report about the educational progress of the students, who were studying in CMS schools. 

The Congregations Established By Rev Rhenius :  Rev Rhenius was really a great Apostle of Christ He established 406 congregation in total in South Inida.  In Madras and its surrounding areas he established 35 CMS congregations. Operating from Palayamkottai  he  covered many villages in the undivided Tirunelveli district which included the present Thoothukudi district and Ramanathapuram district. He established  the first CMS congregation in Palayamkottai on 10th of March, 1822 and it is now called as Holy Trinity Cathedral, Palaymkottai. Rev.CTE.Rhenius established 371 congregations in the then Tirunelveli District, within 15 years of his ministerial service. 

Rev Rhenius Began to Translate the Bible into Tamil: The Bible translation work done by Rev Rhenius  continued even after his arrival in Palayamkottai from Madras..  The Bible Society at Madras resolved that Rev.Rhenius should go on in the revision of the Tamil Bible. and also they have allowed a sum of money to pay copyists, etc, . Moreover the Bible Society in Madras had allowed him first to finish the New Testament. He continued his translation work.. Rev Rhenius wrote a book on the Principles of Translation and he translated the bible portions from the original Hebrew and Greek versions. He completed the New testament first and the Old testament partly from  genesis till the book of Daniel. The New Testament translated by him was published by the Madras Auxiliary Bible Society in 1936. Rev. Rhenius was the first to avoid the practice of compounding words in Tami and separating individual words with space, His translation was simple and beautiful. Rev. Rhenius used to quate Dr, Martin Luther, saying it was not necessary to translate the Bible word by word and accordingly he translated the Bible, up-to Daniel into Tamil in the language of the common people. 

Rev. Rhenius was a  Great Tamil scholar and Great Author:     Rev. Rhenius  remained as a Student of Tamil till his death; he learnt Tamil Grammar from Mugavai Ramanuja kavirayar,  using grammar books like "Nanool.".In Tirunelveli he studied Tamil Grammar and Literature under Thiruparkadalnathan kavirayar  for 14 years. and became a great  Tamil scholar.. He wrote the following  Prose books;-[1]  Bhooomi Sastra Nool, [2] Palavakai Tirutatam, [3]  Thamizh Ilakanam, [4] Vedha Utharana Thirattu, [5] Uruvaga Vanakkam, [6] Manukula Varalatu Surukam, [7] Samaya Saram, [8] Protestant- Catholic Uraiyadal, [9] Suvishesha Saramsam, [10] Christhu Marga Nichayathuvam and [11] Theiveega Saramsam. He also wrote the following Text books ;-[1] Poologam,[2] Sarithiram, [3] Iyarkai, [4] Vana Sasthiram, [5] Manukula Varalaru, [6]Surya Manadalam, [7] French Ilakanam, [8] Kala Nul, and [9] Thargam [ Logistics]. 

Conclusion: No doubt Rev. C.T.E. Rhenius  was one of the greatest Evangelists who ever lived on Earth.  It is said that Rev. Rhenius had visited almost all the villages in the undivided Tirunelveli district.  He cared for the physical, intellectual and spiritual development of his congregation members. With great zeal and consuming concern he preached the gospel to  the people . He was an intellectual and great author.. He was a pioneer in the filed of Inter Religious Dialogue.. He established many Adaikalapuram villages to give shelter to the prosecuted poor Christians.. He paved the way for harmony among various Christain denominations. He published a famous pamphlet, " Union of Christians", an address to all Christians especially to all the ministers of the Gospel. He sincerely attempted to bring harmony among missionaries of different backgrounds, for example he kept cordial relationship with the Rev Charles Mead and Rev Charles Mault of LMS, who were then working in South Travancore  On account of some difference with Committee of the  CMS, he was  removed from the CMS, in spite of that  he continued his Church Planting ministry with relentless enthusiasm. and burning ambition and formed a separate Christian Mission in Tirunelveli District.  He died on the 5th of June 1838 at the age of 48, and his body was buried at Adaikalapuram , Palayamkottai. The congregations founded by CTE. Rhenius, had become under the control of CSI dioceses of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.  Rev Rhenius' missionary work was recognised in 1978 by the then Bishop of CSI Titunelveli Diocese, Rt. Rev. Daniel Abraham. Rev. Rhenius' missionary work was given official recognition by the Anglican Communion during the Bicentenary Celebration of the Titrunelveli CSI  Diocese in 1978.  It is not possible to cover all the aspects of his meaningful life within the space of this Blogpost, and so I will end this Blogpost with one sentence, "Dear and respected Rev CTE Rhenius, we thank God for your meaningful life, we love you and proud of you "

END  . 

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

A Great Author , Tamil Scholar, The First CMS Missionary to Arrive in India, and Apostle of Undivided Tirunelveli District Rev. CTE. Rhenius . PART B..

Rev CTE  Rhenius was removed from Tranquebar to Madras:      At Madras Rev. Rhenius and his colleague stayed only a fortnight, and on the 20th of July 1814, they left Madras and on arrival at Tranquebar both of them were kindly received by the Rev. August Friederich Caemmerer and Rev. Schreivogel.  During the months that Mr Rhenius resided at Tranquebar, he was occupied chiefly in learning the Tamil language and acquired good command and hold over  Tamil within a short span of five months.. Rev Rhenius was asked to comeback to Madras by Church Missionary Society, because it wanted  to engage Rev Rhenius in their own mission called Mission in Madras. As he was asked to move back to Madras by CMS, on 2nd of January 1815, forenoon, Rev Rhenius began to pack up his books in order to proceed to Madras,.and it shows that he was a great lover and reader of book.. On the 9th of January 1815, he prayed and began his journey towards Madras from Tranquebar. We are unable to infer the exact reason for the removal of Rev Rhenius from Tranquebar to Madras. Madras was the oldest branch of the Danish Mission at Tranquebar and was commenced by the Rev Benjamin Schultze in the year 1726. On his arrival in Madras Rev Rhenius was kindly accommodated in Rev.. Mr. Thompson's house until necessary arrangements were made for his settlement and also  until the sanction of the Government was received for the establishment another mission in Madras .

                                                   Rev. Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius 

Rev. Rhenius Got the Permission of the Governor of Madras to start his Missionary work: On arrival at Madras from Tranquebar, Rev Rhenius understood the need for the permission form the Governor of Madras to start his missionary work in Madras, Mr. Rhenius called on the Governor Mr. Hugh Elliot, accompanied by Mr. Thompson and they were received by the Governor. in a friendly manner. Governor Mr Elliot discussed many important issues with them in a friendly manner. Mr Elliot opined that Christianity will not spread over India so quickly as the people in England supposed.. However finally the Governor Mr. Hugh Elliot gave his consent to the missionaries for their establishment  in Madras and repeatedly promised Mr Rhenius and Mr Thompson that he would give all the support to them, in his power. Mr Elliot spoke with these missionaries in German and the wife of the Governor also entered the room and talked with the missionaries  in German. The visit was very satisfactory and encouraging to the missionaries and both of them left  the Governor's residence with gratitude. 

                                            Governor of Maras Mr. Hugh Elliot, [1814-1820]

Rev. C.T.E..Rhenius Moved to Black Town:       On 2nd of February 1815, Mr Rhenius left the house of Mr Thompson and proceeded to his rented  residence in Black Town, North Madras.. While staying at his house in Black town Rev. Rhenius had many opportunities to meet variety of native people. He liked to converse with the local people in Tamil, whenever he talked with the native people, they understood him but he could not fully understand them, on account of their rapid and broken pronunciations. In the month of April 1815, Rev Rhenius for the first time conducted the religious service in Tamil publicly. No Church or Chapel had been built. On 12th of April, 1815 he conducted the first religious meeting in his house at Black town and about fifteen persons were present in the meeting.

Rev. Rhenius Started a School in Blacktown :  As an Educationist,  to instruct and enlighten the young minds, in line with the provisions of the Charter of 1813 Act, Rev Rhenius started a School at Blacktown, Madras, and in ten days the strength of the students increased to forty-six. Rev. Rhenius' plan was not to admit any distinction of caste among the students. In this School, admissions were given to all those who were willing to be instructed, without any caste or other discriminations. His other aim was to make those who were able pay to pay ; and to admit gratis those who are quite poor. and payment was collected from students  according to circumstances. He also resolved to have an examination of the boys every week on Wednesday, in Tamil; on Saturday in English and religious teachings were also taught in this school.  On 28th of May 1815, for the first time Rev Rhenius conducted Worship service in Tamil in the school in Blacktown. He started to conduct the divine service in the school room for the benefit of the school children, for the congregation of Dr. Rotler and to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the Christian worship service, irrespective of religious and denominational affiliation. 

Rev. Rhenius Started some More Schools around Madras: Rev. Rhenius, started some more schools in Madras including the one in Black Town. He also started a School at Kanchipuram at the invitation of the Hindus. One Mr Sandappan of Vadadillei had been converted as a Christian by Rev Fabrcius  Mr Sandappan also became a friend of Rev Rhenius and Mr. Sandappan was a clever man. .Mr Sanadappan requested Rev Rhenius to started some schools in some villages around Madras . Accordingly Rev Rhenius started Schools at Azhaharadipattai, Vadadillei, kanniputhu, Vengadamangalam, Chegelpattu, Coovam, Thiruvallur, Triplicane. . Rev Rhenius visited these schools and conversed with the students about their physical, educational  and spiritual issues.. Rev Rhenius believed that education would liberate the young minds from ignorance, superstition and spiritual darkness.. 

Rev. Rhenius started a Seminary to Train Teachers: . As there was scarcity for suitable trained teachers to work as Teachers in the Schools started by Rev. Rhenius, he started a Seminary on the 11th of March 1817. Then the Teacher's training Institute was called a Seminary. Rev. Rhenius's plan was not only to give teacher training to the students to serve as teachers and but to produce Catechists through this Seminary.. 

Bible Society at Calcutta Requested Rev Rhenius to Revise Fabricius Version of the Tamil Bible: The Bible society in Calcutta in the year 1815 decided to revise the Johann Philipp Fabricius version of the Tamil Bible. and it asked  Rev CTE Rhenius to revise old version of Fabricius at the earliest.  In this connection Rev Rhenius had a meeting with Dr Rottler at the residence of Mr Thompson in Madras. They decided to begin the translation work immediately  On 15th of November 1815 Rev Rhenius began the translation work of the Bible into Tamil, and he was assisted by a Tamil Munshi.  Rev. Rhenius laid down some guide lines for the translation of the Bible and then started to translate the New Testament into Tamil, with great enthusiasm, eagerness and efficacy.. The concise history of Bible Translation by Rev. CTE. Rhenius, will be dealt in detail later in some other paragraphs. 

Rev. Rhenius Married Ms Anne:  Rev. CTE Rhenius married Ms Anne Wilhelmina Van Someren on the 7th of March 1816, in Madras, and the marriage was solemnised by Rev. Mr. Vanghan. This couple's son the Rev. C.J. Rhenius, Chaplain, Honourable East India Company Service [HEICS}, wrote the life history of his father Rev. CTE Rhenius.  Rev. CTE. Rhenius' daughter Miss... Rhenius married her father's Assistant missionary in Palayamkottai, Rev. John James Muller. [ Rev. Frank Penny, The Church In Madras, Vol.  II, London 1912, pp. 391 & 394].

Next part will continue soon 

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

The First CMS Missionary to Arrive in India, Author, The Apostle of the Undivided Tirunelveli District, Tamil Scholar, Author and Translator of Bible into Tamil Rev. C.T.E. Rhenius . PART....A..

Introduction:   The great global Jewish Christian missionary Dr. Joseph Wolf, D.D, regarded Rev.  Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius as the greatest missionary who had appeared since St Paul.  Rev. CTE. Rhenius was the first Christain Missionary Society's [CMS] Missionary to arrive in India. He was a remarkable and multifaceted personality. He was a Linguist, Lexicographer, Tamil scholar, Social Thinker, Educationist, Bible Translator, Church Planter. and devoted Evangelist.  A perusal of his life story and his accomplishments in the fields of education, social justice and evangelisation will galvanise the readers and the present-day Christians with new enthusiasm to achieve great things in life and to live a meaningful and fruit-bearing life.

.                                                  Rev. Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius.

Rev. C.T.E.Rhenius' Parents and Birth: The historical Fortress  Graudenz is located on the right bank of river Vistula in Poland [ previously called West Prussia], His parents Mr Otho Rhenius and Mrs Otho Rhenius gave birth to a male child on the 5th of November 1790, at the fortress Graudenz and this couple christened their boy child, as Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius.  Mr Otho Rhenius served as an Officer in the infantry of the Prussian Army.

 

                                       Graudenz  town  and the Vistula River & the Bridge.

C.T.E. Rhenius' Siblings:   Mr Otho Rhenius and Mrs Otho Rhenius couple gave birth to the following children: [1] A son, [ Name not known],[2] Mr. Rev. Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius ,[3] A son [ Name known and [4] a female Child [ name not known]. Mr. Otho Rhenius died when his son   C.T.E. Rhenius was six years old and so the care of all the four children fell upon their mother, and she most enthusiastically did her duty and affectionately watched over the welfare of her children 

Rev. Rhenius' Childhood:  Young CTE Rhenius studied at the famous Cathedral School of Marienwerder . After having completed his school studies he was employed at Balga near Kunigaberg in the office of an uncle who held a Civil post under the government, for three years, but in the spring of the year 1807, Rhenius was removed to the neighbourhood of Memel in compliance with the invitation from another uncle Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius who was in his declining age.

His Stay with his uncle Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius:    Young CTE Rhenius went and stayed with his childless dear uncle Mr Wilhelm A. Rhenius and Mrs Wilhelm Rhenius and this couple liked young CTE Rhenius so much. His Uncle's house served as parade ground for young Rhenius' spiritual growth  At  Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius' house, he got the privilege to do the perusal of Missionary publications, especially those of the Moravian, or United Brethren. Young CTE Rhenius gradually and systematically imbibed the spirit of those publications. As he found his uncle as a ready and real counsellor and friend, young Rhenius revealed his future missionary plans to him...  On the 5th of March 1811, his uncle informed his wife about the intended departure plan of young Rhenius, and she became very angry and said to young Rhenius that if she were his mother she would never permit his intended departure.  But as C.T.E. Rhenius was seriously considering the importance preaching the word of cross among the heathens, he sought the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the discouragements He prayed earnestly, and he received courage and strength to accept the call, remembering the words of the Apostle, "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me". Mr C.T.E. Rhenius surmounted all the principal impediments, and no time was lost in preparing to enter upon the field. [ J.R, MEMOIR of the REV. C. THEOPHILUS EWALD RHENIUS, Edinburgh, Jan, 4, 1841, pp..5-7]

Mr CTE. Rhenius Joined a Seminary in Berlin: In order to fulfil his inner goals Rev. CTE. Rhenius, in the year 1810 applied for and obtained permission to enter the newly started Missionary Seminary in Berlin for preparing the young persons for the missionary work, which was under the supervision of its founder Rev. John Janicke. This Missionary school [ Seminary] founded in Berlin, in 1800, later became the Berlin Missionary Society in 1823]. Mr. CTE Rhenius kept his intention to go abroad as a Missionary as a secret as possible, his uncle Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius excepted. To join the Seminary in Berlin, Mr CTE Rhenius, left his uncle's house at Bachmann and passed through Marienwerder. On his way to Berlin, Mr CTE Rhenius, met his mother and siblings and told them that he was going to study Theology, it satisfied his siblings, but his mother was suspicious about his real plan. and she requested her son Mr. CTE Rhenius, not to go over the sea. But CTE Rhenius answered his mother that that he cannot act against the will of God and left for Berlin.  Mr. CTE Rhenius, reached Berlin on the 6th of May 1811. On the day of his arrival in Berlin he wrote that "I thank the Lord for preserving me on the road and helping me through difficulties. I devote myself, both body and soul, to him; and beseech him to fit and prepare me for the great work of an evangelist" [ Ibid , p. p.7&8]. With great enthusiasm and devotion Mr. CTE Rheius, studied his Seminary lessons and passed his Theology study.

He was Ordained and sent to England:  Rev, CTE. Rhenius was ordained on the 7th of August 1812, at Berlin as a Minister of the established Church of Prussia [commonly denominated the Lutheran Church"] to be a missionary to the heathens. A fortnight after his ordination, as Rev.. Schnarre and Rev CTE Rhenius agreed to go to foreign countries as CMS Missionaries, both of them proceeded to England. and in England they stayed under the roof of the Rev Thomas Scott, and were placed there by the Church Missionary Society, together with some other young men, who were to go abroad as Missionaries. The young missionaries Rev. C.T.E. Rhenius and Rev..Schnarre were held up for many months in England, for want of Government permission to go as Missionaries to India.

The Charter Act of 1813 was Passed and Rev C.T.E. Rhenius and Rev Schnarre were sent to India::   As British East India Company was not in favour of sending missionaries to India, there were some obstacles to send missionaries to India and that delayed the departure of Rev Rhenius and Rev Schnarre to India. I think it is better to have some basic idea about Church Missionary Society [ CMS, UK], and it was founded in London on 12th of April,1799. by Mr. William Wilberforce [ A Leading English Abolitionist and A Member of British Parliament], Mr. John Venn and Mr John Newton [ Author of Amazing Grace] These people founded the CMS with purpose of sending missionaries to Africa and the East. But the British East India Company was not in favour of sending missionaries to Inia.  There was a great unrest in the British Parliament in the year 1813 when the issue of permission to start Missionary work in India was debated. Finally Missionary Class was attached to the Charter Act 1813 and was passed in the British Parliament.  Charter Act of 1813 authorised Christian missionaries to enter British India and spread education and religious beliefs. This provision was included following the intense lobbying by evangelical groups in Britain and it marked the start of Missionary activities in India.  At the close of October 1813, the Committee of the Church Missionary society obtained permission from the Court of Directors of the British East India Company to send Rev Rhenius and Rev,Schnarre to India. On the 7th of January 1814, about 2000 people were assembled at the Free-Mason's Tavern and its President Lord Gambier was also present, Mr. Pratt read the instructions to the missionaries and Professor Dealtry read an address written by Dr. Buchanan who was prevented to attend by illness The meeting lasted for three hours. On the 4th of February 1814, Rev, Rhenius and Rev Schnarre left London for Portsmouth where they were bound to be taken on board the Marquis of Huntly, bound for Madras. After a long voyage the Marquis of Huntly anchored before Madras on the 4th of July 1814. The missionaries were received by the Chaplain of the East India Company Rev. Marmaduke Thompson. The first news that they received was about the death of Dr. John of Tranquebar..

Next part will Follow 

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

 

A Great Tamil Man and Former Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Mr Moses Veerasamy Nagamoottto. Part FINAL

Ms.Sita Mary Moses V.Nagamootoo, T.C.C,B,Ed, Dip.ED  and her Education and Teaching Career: Mr. Moses V. Nagamootoo married his beloved pretty pet chick of his Alma Mater Aucklyne Scots School, Ms. Sita Mary, [daughter of Mr. Basil Kamal and Ms. Ramdai Kamal ] on 23rd may, 1971. Mrs Sita Mary did all her higher studies only after her marriage [1971]. Ms Sita Mary successfully did her Teacher Training Certificate Course at the Lilian Dewar College of Education,[ University of Guyana, Georgetown] majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Languages. and she graduated in 1977.

                                                      

                                                          

                                                  Mr. MOSES  VEERASAMY  NAGAMOOTOO

Ms Sita Mary like her husband attended the Auchlyne Church of Scotland School.  She graduated from Lilian Dewar College of education for Secondary School Teachers, with a major in Mathematics and minor in language. She also passed her B.Ed degree in Education, the University of Guyana in 1985.  She started her teaching career as a School Teacher at the age of 16, and as a Teacher, School Principal [Alleyne High School] and College Lecturer [Cyril Potter College of Education -CPCE] she had worked nearly forty years in the field of education. Indeed, she is a remarkable and dedicated teacher.

Mrs Sita Mary Moses Nagamootoo is a great Social Worker and has natural passion for the differently able children. After her retirement now she works as Secretary to the Ralph Joseph Charitable Foundation that works for the less fortunate children, widows, single parents in need and help.  Above all she stands as a supporting Pillar of all weathers to her politician husband Mr Moses V Nagamootoo.  She is not only a life partner of Moses Nagamootoo but also his intellectual and political partner. Ms Sita Mary Nagamootoo is a powerful voice for the cause of women's rights. She is a proud Recipient of the 2016 Woman of the Mission International Award and Citation. She is a proud mother of four children and a loving grandmother of five grandchildren She hails from a pious Roman Catholic Christian family, and she took act part in the Church activities and even served as an active Sunday School Teacher.  

Mr.Moses V. Nagamootoo's Children:  Mr Moses V. Nagamootoo and his wife Ms Sita Mary Nagamootoo are blessed with three pretty daughters and one smart son namely:[1] Ms Angela Vashmini [she married Mr Tony Joseph, and she has migrated to Canada with her family], [2] Ms. Maria,[she married Dr. Dustaff Persaudand  and she is a teacher for children's special needs], [3] Ms. Adela [she married Mr Anthony Persaud and Adela is a Law Graduate and now she resides in Canada], and [4] Mr. Ernesto [ Who had just returned from US is working in his father's Law Chamber in George Town].

Mr. Moses V Nagamootoo's outstanding Journalistic Career:  Mr Moses V. Nagamootoo is a born creative writer, and he used Newspapers to record and disseminate his spontaneous and multifaceted thought flows to the people. He is a born writer and journalist, and Patriot and so he naturally longed to liberate Guyana from foreign rule and dreamed to live in independent Guyana. He joined the Peoples Progressive Party of Guyana to fight for the freedom of Guiana from British political suzerainty and chose Journalism as the Battle weapon to fight for the freedom of the British Guiana.  He started his brilliant journalistic career with Mirror Magazine.  At the time Mrs Janet Jagan [later she became the first Women President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana] was working as the Editor of the famous Mirror News Paper. Mr Moses Nagamootoo joined Mirror Newspaper in 1970, as a journalist and continued to work with the Mirror, till he was appointed as Minister of Information, Guyana in 1992. Mr Moses used to write the headlines for Mirror Newspaper, and he was working as Mrs Janet Jagan's Editorial Assistant. Mr. Moses Nagamootoo served as a fearless Journalist. and wrote fearless and sharp Articles on local and international politics, and many a time his Newspaper Articles picked great controversy and national debate. Mr. Moses V Nagamootoo was one of the pioneer Members of the Union of Guyanese Journalists [UGJ].

Mr. Moses Nagamootoo's Articles and stories earned him thousands of admirers throughout the world. Because of his thought-provoking Stories and Articles in News Papers, [Mirror, Thunder, etc,] he was readily recognized as a leading Activist and Champion for the cause of Press Freedom, Human Rights and freedom of Guyana. In recognition of his enviable and exceptional journalistic acumen and literary talent, Moses Nagamootoo was sponsored by the United States' Information Service to work as a Visiting Journalist, at the prestigious Allen White School of Journalism, University of Kansas, in the United States of America. While Moses Nagamootoo was there in U.S, as a Visiting Journalist he got innumerable opportunities to work with so many outstanding Press personalities and also to write in famous international News Papers and magazines on many burning international topics of the day [Eg: Watergate Scandal ]  He loved journalism and loved to write and he was a successful Journalist and so was honoured with many Awards, to cite a few;[1] the International Organization of Journalism Scroll of Honor for journalism from Vietnam, [2] the Press Association of Jamaica'  Press Week Award.[3]  Harvard University Guest Author, [4 Allen White University Fellow [U.S.A}. Because of his excellent writing skill and sharp grasp on national and international politics, Moses Nagamootoo was privileged to serve as the Chief speech Writer for 11 years for four Presidents of the Cooperative republic of Guyana. He had the honour of working as Vice-President of the International Organization of Journalists.

He has authored many books and booklets: Mr Moses Nagamootoo is not only a great Journalist but also is a talented creative Author. He has authored the following books:[1] Hendree Cure, published by Peepal Tree Press, U.K, 2001, This Book was nominated for Guyana's Literature Prize for first novel, [2] Fragments From Memory,[He narrates  the sweet and strong memories of his life in very beautiful style in English [2015 ]., [3] He has edited, Anthology of Revolutionary Poems, "For the Fighting Front". He has written many booklets on many burning issues of the day

Mr. Moses V Nagamootoo and the beginning of his political career: The British Guyana got independence only on May 26, 1966; until then it was under the control of the British Government; for about 150 years .As indentured labour scheme was stopped by the British Government, majority of the Indo-Guyanese Indentured Labourers and their descendants, stayed back and settled in the British Guyana. In line with the contemporary development of international political scenario in Guyana, the freedom movement took a new shape and speed.  Moses V Nagamootoo played his own active part in the freedom Movement of Guyana.

Mr Moses Nagamootoo and People's Progressive Party, Guyana: The People's Progressive Party which played a major role in the freedom Movement of British Guyana was founded on the 1st of January,1950, by merging the Political Affairs Committee led by Mr. Cheddi Jagan [a descendant of an Indian indentured Labourer] and the British Guiana Labor Party led by Mr. Forbes Burnham. Mr. Moses Nagamootoo entered Politics at the teen age of 14 in 1961.  Moses Nagamootoo became a regular Member of the People's Progressive Party [PPP ] in 1964 and took a leading part in the Anti-Colonial freedom struggle for the cause of Guyana's independence; and he continued as a leading Member of the P.P.P till 2011. During the period from 1964 to 1976 he served as an active Member of the youth wing of the Progressive Youth Organization, in various capacities. He was one of the founders of the National Union of Students in 1966 and served as its first Organizing Secretary in an outstanding way.  Within a short span of time Moses Nagamootoo became one of the frontline leaders in People's Progressive Party. [PPP] and served as its Central Committee Member for nearly 35 years [1976-2011] and also functioned as an Executive Member of the People's Progressive Party, for nearly 27 years [1978- 2005].

Mr. Moses V. Nagamotoo as a Parliamentarian: Mr Moses V. Nagamooto is a powerful and convincing orator, writer, journalist and political thinker and popular leader.  He contested the Parliamentary Elections held in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011, as official candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party, Guyana and he won all the elections with good majority. In short, we can say that he served as a great Parliamentarian from 1991 to 2011 and also served as Senior Minister of Information, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development and Minister in Charge of Armerindians, etc, in the Government of Guyana; under four Presidents namely: Mr. Cheddi Jagan, Mr Samuel Hinds, Mrs Janet Jagan and Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

Mr. Moses V. Nagamootoo Resigned from the People's Progressive Party and joined A.F.C:  As a Politician he has his own political goals, ambitions and plans. In October ,2011 surprisingly Moses Nagamootoo resigned from Peoples Progressive Party after having a long 50 years association with it. With great risk but with great vision and confidence he moved his political pawns in the political game and joined the Alliance for Change [AFC} in October 2011.  But Mr. Moses Nagamootoo was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in November 2011 on the AFC's slate. Mr. Moses V. Nagamootoo became the Vice President of the A.F.C in November ,2011. As we know the goal of a Politician is to capture power to rule his nation and having got the power to rule as a ruler, the Politician should sincerely work for the progress of his country and countrymen. Even though many politicians criticized Moses Nagamootoo on his resignation from PPP, he was very firm, and he moved forward to achieve his political goals in a calculated and competent style. 

Electoral Alliance  signed  between A.F.C and A.P.N.U: Vice President of the A.F.C   Mr. Moses Nagamootoo and the Chairman of the A.P.N.U. Mr David Graner, signed a historical political agreement called Cunningburg Accord [ Valentine Day Accord] on 14th of February,2015, before the 2015 Parliament Election, on behalf of their respective parties with unyielding dedication to change the political scenario of Guyana with an alternative Coalition Government.

Mr. Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo was sworn as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Guyana: Due to some political developments in Guyana, the then President of the Republic of Guyana, Mr Donald Ramotar dismissed the National Assembly of Guyana and called for an early Parliamentary Election along with the Regional Elections, and accordingly the Parliamentary Election was held in Guyana in November 2015. The APNU and AFC Alliance fielded their candidates against the People's Progressive Party candidates. and fought with great vigour and tenacity and won the Election by a single seat majority. The APNU and AFC Alliance bagged 33 Parliamentary seats as against 32 seats secured by People's Progressive Party. On the basis of the Election result the leader of the A.P.N.U, Mr David a. Granger was sworn in as President of the  Republic of Guyana and Mr Moses V. Nagamootoo of the A.F.C was administered the oath of office as the Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Republic of Guyana on 16th, May 2015. Since then, Mr Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo had been functioning as Prime Minister of Guyana from May 2015 to August 2020, in an outstanding manner with great dedication, distinction, efficacy and commitment.  

Conclusion: Long ago, during 19th century, some hundreds of Tamil  indentured labourers were taken in a Coolie Ship from Madras Port to Guyana  to work in the Sugar Plantations of Guyana as contract labourers and the Coolie Ship arrived  Guyana with the Tamil Coolie labourers in 1847 and those Laborers began to work in the Sugar Plantations like Bath Estate and  in such other Sugar Estates in Guyana. Mr Moses V. Nagamootoo is a descendant of one of those Tamil Indentured labourers. My fingers are really privileged to trace the root of his origin and the route of his successful life and write about his accomplishment and success story in this Article. Really Mr Moses V. Nagamootoo is an extraordinary, unique and a multi-faceted person, and by becoming the Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana he had given a sense of pride and happiness to all the Tamil Speaking people.  In this context I remember one of the famous Thirukural written by Thivalluvar that says that a mother gets great joy when she gives birth to a son, but she gets greater joy when she hears the news about her son's integrity and enviable achievements. We are proud of Mr Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo and his life has really become an inspiration to thousands of less privileged poor people, throughout the world. I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence, "Dear and respected Mr Moses Veerasamy Nagamootto,  we thank God for you, and we are proud of you"

END
By. P. BABU MANOHARAN, M.A, [All rights reserved. This Blogpost will be enlarged, modified or corrected later, if needed].

A Great Tamil Man and Former Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Mr. Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo. PART. A.

Introduction:  All the Indians and specially all the Tamil people living throughout the world are proud of the former Honourable Prime Minster of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Mr. Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo.  Honourable Mr..Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo, son of Mr. Ramasamy Nagamootoo [Indo-Guyanese of Tamil ethnicity] was elected as the Honourable Prime Minster of Guyana on 20th May 2015, and he reached this august political Post and power by his hard work, creative thinking, vision, statesmanship and extraordinary political intelligence and he decorated this Post till August 2020. with great distinction.  Mr.Moses V Nagamootoo was one of the very few Tamils to occupy and decorate the office of   Prime Minister of a Nation, in the whole world 

                                                      Mr. Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo.

Historical background  of the Indian Indentured labourers who settled in Guyana: Following the abolition of slavery  in 1834 and termination of apprenticeship system in 1838, there arose a compelling demand for low paid laborers in British and other European colonies  like Trinidad, Jamaica , Guyana, Figi, Ceylon,South Africa,  Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, Malaysia , etc, to work in the rubber and sugar plantations and in tea and  coffee estates.and mines of those colony countries, as contract laborers for a period of five years for very low wage. During the period between 1838 and 1917 , India was one of the main suppliers of indentured laborers to these colonies and India for the first time sent 396 indentured labourers to British Guyana from Calcutta Port on the initiative taken by Mr. John Gladstone [F/o of British Statesman Mr William Gladstone] with the permission of the East India Company. The Steamships Whitby and Heperus, started their sea voyage in 1838, carrying the first batch of Indian Indentured labourers. and reached Guyana after nearly three months. From Calcutta and Madras Ports Indian indentured labourers along with some women labourers were sent to Guyana in Coolie Ships during the first few decades starting from 1838.  In order to escape from starvation and social suppression and caste-based exploitation, and also to improve their social and economic status, the poor Indian labourers agreed to go and work as indentured labourers in foreign colony countries. From 1834 to the end of the Second World War in 1917, Britain had transported about 2 million Indian indentured workers from India to 19 colony countries. 

The Indian Presence in Guyana today [ Indo-Guyanese]: The indentured labourers recruited from Bhojpuri speaking area in India [ now U.P] were embarked at emigration depot at Calcutta and the Tamil Indentured labourers recruited from the then Madras Presidency were embarked at Emigration depot at Madras Port. The descendants of the immigrants from Madras province are called as Madrasis in Guyana. Majority of the indentured labourers brought from India to Guyana came from the so called low and backward castes and all of them were very poor and powerless. The descendants of the indentured labourers brought from India to Guyana in Coolie Steamships, to work in the Plantations in Guyana, today by their hard work and natural competent intelligence have become a social, economic, cultural, educational and political power in Guyana.  Now the Indo-Guyanese people constitute the majority in the population of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. All the Descendants of the Indian indentured labourers who have become the Citizens of Guyana are called as Indo-Guyanese. Indo-Guyanese people worked very hard with tolerance and perseverance for their survival.  It is really heartening to learn that the former Prime Minster of the Cooperative Republic of the Guyana, Mr Moses V Nagamootoo was one of the descendants of a Madrasis Tamil indentured labourer brought from Madras Presidency long back.  Now I will precisely deal with the biographical   sketch, family life, journalistic and political career of Mr. Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo. 

Mr Moses V Nagamootoo and his Birth and Parents: An Indo-Guyanese, belonging to Tamil ethnicity by name Mr. Nagamootoo Ramasamy and his beloved and beautiful wife Mrs Gangama Ramasamy were living at the idyllic and fertile coastal village Whim, in the eastern county of Berbice, Guyana. Mrs Gangama. Nagamootoo was born to a couple who lived in Bath Estate.  Mrs Gangama's father Mr Badriveeran was a descendant of an Indentured labourer from South India who was brought to Guyana in 1847. Ms Gangama worked in the Bath Sugar Plantation Estate as Weeder. and her husband Ramasamy Nagamootoo was working as a labourer. Then due to some political and social reasons they moved to Whim and settled there. And to this blessed couple a boy child was born on 30th November,1947, at Whim, Berbice, Guyana. Mr Nagamootoo Ramasamy and his wife Mrs. Gangama Ramasamy Nagamootoo christened their cute son as, Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo. Mr. Nagamootoo Ramasamy bought some fishing boats and began his own fishing business; and did his best to give the best possible education to his beloved smart son Mr Moses V Nagamootoo.

Mr Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo and His Education:  Mr. Moses V. Nagamootoo had the natural inclination towards education and learning. and thirst for knowledge and flair for reading and writing. Mr.  Moses V Nagamootoo did his Primary School Education at Auchlyne Scot School, situated at Corentine, Berbice, Guyana.  It is quite interesting and inspiring to learn that Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo, even while he was studying at the Auchlyne Scot Primary School, he happened to meet his future life-partner Ms Mary. and at that time Mr. Moses Nagamootoo was only 11 years old and the beautiful Mary was only 9 years old.  Even at the very first sight Moses Nagamootto was impressed and instantly infatuated by the extreme and compelling elegance of young Mary. That meeting made a lasting impression in the young mind of Moses Nagamootoo, After Moses Veerasamy Nagamootoo, left the Auchylyne Scot School and joined the Rose hall & Corentyne Comprehensive High School for his high School education; he was unable to see to Mary's face for some years. It is pertinent to mention here that the world famous, Cricket Player Isaac Alvin Kalicharran was also an old student of this Corentyne Comprehensive High School. Mr Moses V Nagamootoo, was a constant and continuous up-grader of knowledge, so after his High School education, he pursued his upgrading education and training in the following educational institutions:
[1] Accabre College of Social Sciences [George Town, Guyana]
[2] Venezuelan Spanish Language Institute.
[3] Allen White School of Journalism, University of Kansas, USA [He worked there as a Visiting Journalist, and it was sponsored by U.S. Information Service]
[4] The University of Guyana [To read for his LL.B degree, graduated in 2002].
[5] The University of West Indies [Hugh Wooding Law School, for Legal Education Certificate} 
Next Part will Follow soon.
By. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A, [ Rights reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later, if needed]