Mr. H.A. Michin's Siblings: God blessed Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin and Mrs Julia Katherine [Hills] Minchin with all the connubial blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children: [1] Mr. Humphrey Alexander Minchin, [2] Lily Minchin Lushington, [3] Violet Minchin Martin, [4] Rose Minchin, [5] Ivy Minchin Arbuthnot [6] Aurea Daisy Minchin, and [7] Primrose Agnes Minchin Lushington
Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchn
Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin's Education: Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin pursued his collegiate education at the famous Dulwich College, London in England between January 1883 and December 1884, he qualified as a Civil Engineer. After having successfully completed his education in Dulwich college, England, he returned to India and began his professional career as a Civil Engineer.
DULWICH COLLEGE, LONDON, ENGLAND
Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin and Freemasonry: Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin inherited a natural passion for freemasonry from his father Mr. John William Minchin. Mr H.A. Minchin joined the "Lodge Pandyan", Madurai, on the 1st October 1892.At the age of 26 Er H.A. Minchin became a Master Mason at the "Lodge Pandyan" in Madura in 1894. Humprey Alexander Minchin was a member of the Freemason lodge called 'Lodge Faith, Hope and Charity" in Ootacamund. In 1897 seven Master Masons led by Worshipful brother Humphrey Alexaander Minchin who then worked as the Chief engineer of the Travancore State PWD and the Chief Architect of the Pechipparai dam, in South Travancore decided to form a Lodge at Trivandrum by name Lodge Minchin, to avoid the inconvenience of attending meetings at far off places and applied for a warrant. They were virtually given a provisional warrant on the 20th of October 1897 and Lodge Minchin met for the first time on the 6th of November 1897.The first initiative of the Lodge Minchin in December 1897 was His Royal Highness Prince Marthanda Varma, Prince of Travancore was symbolically initiated into the Lodge. By having patronage of the Royal family the Lodge received from the Travancore Government, 1.5 acre of land as gift and the Lodge constructed a Freemason Temple there. It is at this site that the present Directorate of Public Instruction {DPI} office is functioning in Trivandrum. On 6th November 1897 Humphrey Alexander Minchin became the First Worshiping Master of the new Lodge and received the Master Collar. The original Office bearers of the Lodge Minchin was a blend of Europeans, Moslems, Hindus and Sikhs. As Worshipful Master Er Humphrey Alexander Minchin was supported by two English Men and Five Indians. All these Freemasons blended harmoniously in the work of the Lodge, and it was a great accomplishment. Humprey Found fulfilment in the healing, rather than the divisive activities of the imperial enterprise. He imbued all the core values of Freemasonry and implemented those values like equality, and service to the community.
PECHIPPARAI DAM
Pechipparai Dam and Mr. H.A. Minchin: Before the construction of the Pechiparai Dam across Kodaiyar on the foothills of Western ghats near Pechiparai, it seems there was no proper big dam or reservoir in Kanyakumari. During this period of time Sri Moolam Thirynal Rama Varma was in power [ 1885--1924] and as Maharaja of Travancore State he was the first in India to implement the concept of public participation in Government through the formation of the Travancore Legislative Council. Sri Moolam Thirunal Maharaja was a progressive Ruler, Reformer and benevolent Monarch and so when the proposal and Plan outlay for the construction of Pechipparai dam was given to him by Er. H.A. Minchin, in his capacity as the Chief engineer of PWD of Travancore State, Sri Muoolam Thirunal agreed readily and gave his consent to construct a Dam across Kodaiyar. Sri Moolam Thirunal Maharaja gave all types of support to Er. H.H Minchin to construct the Pechiparai dam. The construction of the Mullai Periyar Dam across the Mullai River and Periyar river by Col. John Pennyqcuick might have galvanised the minds of the rulers of Travancore and the then Chief Engineer of the PWD in Travncore State to build a big dam across Kodaiyar to store the surplus rainwater and to use it for the irrigation of paddy fields. in South Travancore. The Government of Travancore gave the responsibility of constructing a dam across Kodaiyar at Pechappari to the then Chief Engineer of PWD, Tranavcore state Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin. As true Freemason he always liked to serve the cause of the people. Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin whole heartedly ventured to build the dam The Construction of the Pechipparai dam was started in 1897.
PECHIPPARAI DAM.
Some Vital Details about the Pechipparai Dam; The Pechipparai dam's Plan outlay included its construction, maintenance, and the management of the water resources. Er. H.A. Minchin very wisely selected the place for the Construction of the dam in Pechipparai. The pechipparai dam was built across the Kodaiyar river at Pechipparai.at about a mile below the confluence of the Tributaries called Kallar, Sittar, and Kuttiyar. Pechipparai lies 11 KM north of Kulasekaram and 45 miles from Nagercoil The cost of the original construction of the Pechipparai Dam was Rs. 20.1 lakh. In those days it was a huge amount. The construction of the Dam was completed in 1906. Originally the Pechipparai Dams's height was 42 feet in in 1969. after the independence of India in 1947, South Travancore was renamed as kanyakuamri dist and kanyakumari district was merged with the Tamilnadu on linguistic basis. In 1969, Mr C.N. Annadurai was the Chief minister of Tamil Nadu and then the Govt of Tamil Nadu decided to increase the height of the Peacjoparia dam to 48 feet. Pechipparai dam's catchment area is 207.19 square Kilometers and this dam is surrounded by the lofty lovely Western Ghats. The Dam's water is used for irrigation of the paddy fields and drinking purposes benefitting more than 35000 acres of crops and it meets the demand of drinking water of more than 50 villages. The dam is managed by Tamil Nadu Irrigation and Power Development Corporation
The engineering Brilliance of Er. Humphrey Alaxander Minchin:: Even after one century and two decades the Pechipparai Dam stands strong and looks stately and does the functions of a dam so marvellously. The strength and magnificence of this Dam spontaneously speak about the creative and visionary and engineering brilliance of the Chief Architect of the Dam Er Humphrey Alaxander Minchin. Pechipparai dam is a Gravity dam and the main resting force in a Gravity dam, is the weight of the Dam itself, which helps to hold back water and prevent it from overflowing. The dam was constructed by using Stone Blocks or stone bricks which are often used in Gravity Dams, to create a solid and stable foundation. Er Humphrey Alexander Minchin designed the construction of the Dam in such a way and style to withstand the weight of the water it holds. Pechipparai Dam is a masonry gravity dam. While masonry is the method of construction that provided the necessary strength and stability of the construction. The stone blocks had been laid in such a meticulous and scientific way one above one and this construction has stood the test of time for the last 120 years. Whenever we look at this arresting and magnificent Dam, the memory of Er. H.A. Minchin flashes, in our inward eyes and our hearts start to brim with tears of gratitude and joy.
Er. H.A. Michin's Wife: Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin married Ms Agnes Pattison Steele, daughter of Mr Robert Steele on the 28th of June 1906., in Madras. This couple had no children.
His Death: As a Freemason Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin loved the people, and he sincerely worked and completed the construction work of Pechipparai Dam in 1906. But unfortunately, he passed away from this world at the age of 45. in 1913. As a fitting and grateful memory to him his mortal remans had been interred by the side of the dam that he built, ' Pechipparai Dam"
Conclusion: No doubt Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin was one of the greatest Englishman who ever visited Kanyakumari district and worked for the core cause of the people. The people who live around Perchipparia always remember him specially on his birthday and visit his sepulchre and pay their floral tribute to his memory. Er. Humphrey Alexander Minchin's contribution for the cause of paddy cultivation, storage of surplus rainwater, tourism, regulated irrigation and drinking water deserves our grateaul appreciation and adoration. It is not possible to accommodate all of his contribution and important chapters of his real-life story within the space of this Blogpost. Hence, I will end this Blogspot with the following sentence. "Dear and respected Er. Humphrey Alexander, you will ever live in our thoughts and we notice and enjoy your silent and invisible wafting above the slowly, stately and gently, dancing waves of Pechipparai Dam, and over its water carrying canals, .and channels, we thank God for you and we love you".
ReF;[1] Genealogy.com, Humphrey Alexander Minchin and J.W. Minchin
[2] Wikipedia, Pechipparai Reservoir.
[3] dgl2026.com. About Lodge Minchin. No.2710.E.C.
[4] dglofmadras.org. The Lodge Minchin No: 2710,[ Trivandrum].
[5] WikiTree. Humphrey Alexander Minchin.C.E[1868--1913] WikiTree Free Family..
[6] Powerful Web Hosting. History of Lodge Minchin.
END.
By. P. BABU MANOHARAN, M.A. [ All rights are reserved. This Blogpost will be modified, enlarged or corrected later if needed].
No comments:
Post a Comment