Current Bishop of Madras CSI Diocese, President of National Missionary Society [NMS] and Executive Committee Member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches [ WCRC] Rt. Rev. A. Paul Francis Ravichandran, M.A. B.D ,...Part...A;.

Introduction: The current Bishop of Madras CSI Diocese Rt. Rev. A. Paul Francis Ravichandran, M.A, B.D, is a Man of God, and friend of the lost and the last, we can call him" People's Bishop". He is a multifaceted personality, blessed with many talents. he is an Eloquent Orator, Convention Speaker, and Pulpit Preacher, prolific Writer, a companion of the Companionless and a Voice for the Voiceless within the Church and outside the Church. He spontaneously identifies himself with the voiceless marginalised people crossing all domestic barriers of caste, colour and creed.  Bishop Rt. Rev A. Paul Francis Ravichandran also serves as the President of the National Missionary Society, Executive Committee Member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches [WCRC] and President of Christian Literature Society [CLS, Chennai], with distinction. The Blood Donation camps conducted in the rural areas of Madras, by Rt. Rev. Paul Francis Ravichandran while he was serving as a Presbyter of a Congregation in Madras Diocese, reached the kind attention of the then Governor of Tamil Nadu His Excellency Sri. Surjit Singh Barnala, and he was appreciated and honoured by the then Governor. A perusal of Bishop Rt Rev..A..Paul Francis Ravichandran's meaningful profile will galvanise the readers to live a meaningful and compassionate life in line with the true Christian values.

                                                                                                                                        Bishop of CSI Madras Diocese Rt. Rev. A. Paul Francis Ravichandran.

Rt. Rev. A. Paul Francis Ravichandran's Parents and Birth:  Rt. Rev. Paul Francis Ravichandran's beloved father Mr Augustine Ponraj worked in the Postal Department, Government of India and his dear mother Mrs Leela Augustine Ponraj worked as a School Teacher and retired as a Head Mistress. God blessed Mr. Augustine Ponraj and his modest wife Mrs Leela Augustine with all the conjugal and other blessings and this couple gave birth to Rt. Rev. Paul Francis Ravichandran on the 18th of March,1965. Mr. Augustine Ponraj hailed from Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu.  Rt. Rev. Paul Francis Ravichandran's Christian parents brought up him with good Christian values and virtues, as responsible parents.  

                                          St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Chengalpattu.

                                     MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, TAMBARAM

Rev. Paul Francis Ravichandran's Secular Educational Track:   Young Paul Francis Ravichandran pursued his high and higher secondary school education at the famous St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School at Chengalpattu. After having passed his Plus Two examination he pursued his B.A. English Language and Literature [1982 to 1985] and M.A. English language and Literature [ 1985--1987] at the prestigious Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai. [1985--1987]. He had the privilege to study English language Literature under Prof. G. Jeyaraman, Prof. G.K. Mathew, Prof. Vishnu Bhat and Rev. Prof. Dr. Francis Sounderaraj.  Prof, Dr. Francis Soundararaj taught English Phonetics to Rt. Rev Paul Francis Ravichandran at Madras Christian College.  Prof. Dr. Francis Soundararaj, was considered as one of Asia's best Phonetics Professor.  He passed his M.A.[English] in 1987, meritoriously. 

                          UNITED THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, BANGALORE               

His Theological Education:   After having passed his M.A. English, Rt. Rev. Paul Francis Ravichandran in line with his cherished desire, pursued his Bachelor of Divinity [B.D] Course at the prestigious United Theological College in Bamngalore [ 1988- 1992] and it is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College [ University]. During his student days at UTC, the globally acclaimed Old Testament Scholar Rev. Dr. E.C. John, was working as the Principal of UTC., Bangalore.  As a brilliant student, Rt. Rev Paul Francis Ravichandran studied his theological subjects with great concentration and enthusiasm and passed his B.D. meritoriously.

                                                  Bishop late Rt. Rev. Masilamani Azariah.

He was ordained as a Presbyter by Rt. Rev Dr. M. Azariah:  After having passed his B.D. final examination, Mr. A.Paul Francis Ravichandran was ordained as a CSI. deacon in 1993. In 1994 Rev. A.Paul Francis Ravicandran was ordained as a CSI Presbyter at the CSI St George's Cathedral Chennai by the then Bishop of Madras CSI Diocese and trailblazer Christian theologian Rt. Rev. Dr. M. Azariah.

Next Part will follow soon. 

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

Writer, Reader, Social Thinker, Micro Historian, A Scion Of the illustrious family of Mharasan Vethamanickam and Former Financial Manager at UTG Foreign Exchange Kuwait, Mr. M. Swarnadas... Part Final

                                                       

                                                                 Mr. M. Swarnadas

Mr. Swarnadas Profeessional tract in TN Govt as a regular Govt Servant: Mr. Swarnadas cleared the MPSC examination successfully and was appointed as a Junior Assistant at the office of the Assistant Director of Industries and Commerce at Kadalur and he began his official duty as a Junior Assistant at the office of the A D of Industries and Commerce at Kadalur on May 1963. There he was appointed as a Special Revenue Inspector for Kadalur, Chidambaram, Vizhupuram, kallakurichi, Thirukoyilur, Dindivanam, Virithachalam, Chenchi districts.  He started to work as Special Revenue Inspector with great enthusiasm and gained valuable work experience. His duty was to peruse the Loan Application and to visit the house of the of Loan Applicants and to recommend loan for them. He did that job very well. These loans were issued to encourage the small-scale industrialists and entrepreneurs. In1964 he was transferred to the office of the Coir Manufacturing Training School at Ethamozhi in kanyakumari District.  and there he served as an efficient Junior Assistant and then he was promoted as Upper Division Clerk and transferred to the office of the AD of Industries and Commerce at Nagercoil While he was working in this office, he was transferred to the General-Purpose Engineering Workshop at Karur and there he worked as Accountant for one year. with great efficacy. Then in 1968 he was transferred to the Central Coir Marketing Society at Vadasery Nagercoil and he served as Secretary of this marketing society for one year. In 1969 he was transferred to the Coir manufacturing Training Centre at Ethamozhi and there he worked as Accountant with great enthusiasm and efficacy. till April 1971. In 1971 he was transferred to the Office of Deputy Director of Industries and Commerce in Tirunelveli and worked there as Accountant for one year with great distinction.  In 1972 he was transferred to the Temple Car Training Centre at Konam Nagercoil. While serving in this Office he applied for leave and got his leave approved by the competent authority and left for Kuwait in 1973.

    REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE, TIRUNELVELI

                                         Mr Swarnadas [right] with his wife Mary Nallammal 

 

                                                 Mr. Masil Navroj with his Wife and Son

                                         

                                                    Mr. Iyappillai and his Wife 

                            Mrs Starlet Gnanacy is flanked by her Husband and daughter
                                                    

Mr. M Swarnadas's Wife and children;  Mr. M. Swarnadas married Ms, Mary Nallammal a daughter of Senior Major Nathaniel, on 23rd April 1969 at karaiyankuzhi village, in Agastheeswaram taluk and God blessed this couple with the following children namely Mr. Masil Navaroj, D.C.E [ Diploma in Communications and Electronics] and formerly he worked as Customer Care Manager Sales at Maruti Suzuki, and Accounts Executive at Jesus Calls. He married Ms Mahibans Jesslin Devi M.Sc, B.Ed , daughter of Mr Iyapillai from Therekalputhur and Mr Iyapillai worked as Physical Education Teacher at the famous SLB Hr Secondary School for more than 20 years. and he played a pioneer, primary and crucial role to establish an IELC Church at Therakalputhur. Mr. Masil Navaroj and Mrs Mahibans Jesslin Devi couple is blessed with a son by name Mr Jonathan Samuel and [2] Ms Gnancy Starlet M.Sc [ Nursing ] and she is working as Secretary of Board of Nurses League of the Christian Medical Association of India [ South India Branch]. Ms Gnancy Starlet married Mr. M. Wesley, B.Sc [ Mathematics] son of Mr. Money and Mrs kamalam Money and this Gnancy Starlet Wesley couple gave birth to a lovely daughter by name Ms. Melinda Ruth kamly and she is doing her Doctor of Pharmacy [ Pharm.D] Mr. Wisely is working as Senior Manager in the Indian Bank in Bangalore.     

                       UNITED TRADING GROUP __FOREIGN EXCHANGE  OFFICE KUWAIT

Mr Swarnadaas in Kuwait: Mr Swarnadas's wife Mrs Mary went to Kuwait on the invitation of her brother Mr Christhudas who was working in Kuwait and she got a Staff Nurse job at the Government Hospital in Kuwait.  So Mr. Swarnadas resigned his govt job and went to Kuwait in 1973.  In Kuwait Mr Swarnadas got a job in a famous Fishing Company called United Fisheries of Kuwait. This fishing Company was having 100 fishing Boats and three Fishing Ships and in each Boat 15 persons worked to catch fish. This fishing Company was exporting fish to USA. Mr Swarnadas was in charge of the safety of the engines fixed in the boats and he worked in this Fishing Company for a few months with great concern and efficiency. However, he quit his job and joined another famous company in Kuwait as its employee.

Mr. Swarnadas worked as Financial Manager in a famous Company called UTG in Kuwait:  As an intelligent person he applied for the post of an Accountant at the famous United Trading Group [ Foreign exchange] company, and he was selected for the post of an Accountant. With great enthusiasm and hope he started to work as an Accountant at the prestigious UTG.. Foreign Exchange Company   in Kuwait.  The famous UTG [ Foreign exchange] Company was founded by Shiek Mubarack Fahd Al Saleem Alsaba with paid up capital of Kuwait Dinnar 3,000,000=. Mr Swanadas's hard work and efficacy was recognised by the management and within a short span of time he was promoted as Financial Manager of this prestigious Foreign Exchange Company. This UTG --Foreign Exchange Company's main business was to buy foreign currencies and sell them at favourable time at a higher price and this company was making notable profit. Mr Swarnadas was very well treated in the company and was paid a high Monthly salary .and he was provided with many facilities including annual leave with free air tickets. He was working in the company with great commitment and efficacy as a financial wizard .and he was enjoying his job well. 

Conclusion: Mr. Swarnadas wisely invested his earnings from Kuwait, in India. He bought worthy properties in Kanyakumari district. While he was working in the company UTG--FE, with good interest and distinction. the war between Iran and Iraq reached its full stormy and devastating heights in 1983 - 1984. During this time Mr Swarnadas was foretold in a dream that this war will soon spread to Kuwait. Mr Swarnadas instantly and wisely decided to build a comfortable house in Kottaram near his native village Krishnanputhur in Kanyakuamri District, although already he had 5 houses at Thalavaipuram village and 2 houses at Ganesapuram in Nagercoil. And as these house in Thalavaipuram and Ganesapuram were not up-to the standard for a comfortable living he wanted to build a new convenient house at Kottaram Mission Compound. Under the supervision of his Co-brother Mr Jenarthanam he built a beautiful, spacious and splendid house at the Mission Compound at Kottaram. The newly built House was blessed and opened by Commissioner Suganantham. As he feared, the War spread into Kuwait and the Owners of the UTG-Foreign Exchange Company closed the business operation of their company. Mr Swarnadas lost his lucrative job in kuwait due the spread of war in Kuwait. He accepted the situation boldly and planned to return to his home in India. On account of war, the air travel between Kuwait and India was stopped, but there was Air Travel between Jordan and India. So Mr. Swarnadas went to Bagdad to buy air ticket to Jordan. After having purchased the Air ticket to Jordan he returned to Kuwait by hiring a Tempo with some other Indian friends. Bu the Tembo driver stopped the Tembo in the middle of the desert and said they have to get down there and so Mr Swarnadas and the other fellow travellers started to walk through the desert in the night towards Kuwait. But they were blocked by an Iraq Military van and Mr. Swarnadas and others were questioned by the Iraq soldiers. But as the soldiers found out that Swarnadas and his fellow travellers were Indians the soldiers let them free and arranged another van for Mr Swarnadas and others to travel towards the Kuwait border. At last, Mr Swarnadasreached his home at Kuwait. Again, Mr Swarnadas reached Jordarn via Bagdad to buy air-tickets to fly to India. While travelling from Bagdad towards Jordan, Mr Swarnadas was blessed to see Lebanon, Cyprus, and Israel and also to see the Euphrates, Tigris, Jordan river and Babylon city from the sky. He reached Jordan and bought the ticket for India and finally reached his home at Kottaram, in Kanyakumari District safely. Now Mr Swarnadas lives in his beautiful house at Mission Compound Kottaram with his son and family .and his son and daughter in law are looking after him very well.  His wife Mrs Mary Nallammal, had already passed away. Mr Swarnadas is a wise Thinker, honest man, he is a creative Writer, and he has published his Poems and Articles in a Tamil private monthly called 'Santhippu".  He is doing his 87th year and due old age he is unable to read properly but was a voracious reader previously.  He is good and engaging conversationalist. God had blessed him with all the blessings said in Psalm 128. He believes in social equality of all human-beings, he is very kind towards the needy and helpless people. It is not possible to accommodate all the important chapters and aspects of his blessed life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence. " We thank God for the meaningful life of Mr Swarnadas, he is an intellectual, and we are proud of him" 

END.

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