The Outstanding Mrs. Johanna Horst Mead and Kanyakumari District.- Part I

Introduction: Definitely Mrs . Johanna Celestina Horst Mead, the beloved wife of the great Rev Charles Mead was one of the outstanding European women who ever came to Nagercoil from Europe. Johanna Horst married Rev Charles Mead on 13th January, 1819 at Tanjore  and immediately after the marriage  she came to Kanyakumari district and worked with her illustrious husband Rev. Charles Mead, tirelessly and devotedly for nearly 30 years, for the cause of women's education, social uplift and women's liberation; as a contemporary of Mrs, Martha Mault and had become a glowing milestone in the social and educational history of Kanyakumari district [ South Travancore]. 

                                                      Mrs. Johanna Celestina Horst Mead 

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Johanna Horst 's  date of birth and place of Birth: Mrs. Johanna Celestina Hortst was born  at Tanjore on 27 December , 1802 to Rev. Christopher Henry Horst  and Mrs. Maria Magadalena Vincent  Horst , at   Tanjore .

Johanna's Parents and Background : Rev Christopher Henry Horst [Father of Mrs Johanna Celestina Horst Mead ] of  Tanjore, was at first a Military Surgeon and came to Madras with his regiment in 1787. He was a native of Schwerin,  the city of seven lakes, and spent his childhood in Witteburg in Germany . He studied medicine at Gottingom,' He arrived India at the end of May , 1787. He  was ordained on 30 November 1806 at Tanjore and he worked with John Casper Kohlhoof until his death in 1810.Mr. Christopher Horst was the translator of Father Beschi's "Kodum Tamil Grammar" from the original Latin . Rev.Christopher Henry Horst's book was used as the Text book for the early Madras Civilians for a long time. Unfortunately Rev. Christopher died at Tanjore in 1810.   

Johanna Mead's siblings: Rev. Christopher Henry Horst and Mrs Christopher Horst were blessed 7 lovely and smart children, namely [1]Anna Sophia Horst, [2] Christina Magadeline Horst , and she married Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff ,Tanjore], [3] Beta Theodre Horst and she married Rev. William Greenwood , [4] Sophia Eusebia Horst and she married Rev . William Miller ,[5]  Johanna Celestina Horst and she married Rev Charles Mead  LMS , missionary , [6] Hedwig Dorothea Horst  , [7] Christian Daniel Horst. 

Johanna Celestina's marriage ;  It is really pertinent here to say a few words about  Rev Charles Mead. and his first marriage with Mrs Ann Hunt Mead . Rev. Charles Mead was born at Bristol,Gloucestershire in England on the 1st October,1792.. He was ordained as a Pastor on the 6th March,1816 at the chapel at Chichester.  After becoming an ordained Pastor Mr. Mead married his cousin Ann Hunt,daugher of Rev Hunt and the wedding took place at Islington., England.   As  already planned , Mr Charles Mead started his voyage to India to serve as an LMS missionary with his newly wedded wife Mrs. Ann Hunt Mead; from England  to India and arrived Madras, India , on the 28th of august 1816 . At Madras, Mrs.Ann Hunt Mead became very sick   However  Mr Charles Mead started his travel to Tavancore in Septemser ,1817 with his family and reached Pnang. And at Penang Mrs Ann Hunt Mead died on the 26th October ,1817, leaving their young boy child [John Hunt Mead ] in the hands of Rev Mead., After this intolerable tragedy Mr . Charles Mead with his boy child reached Mylaudy via Colachel in 1818 and started his evangelical, educational ,social and missionary work in South Travancore with the help of Maharasan Vethamnickam of Mylaudy near Nagercoil..

As Mr. Charles Mead needed of a Life Partner to support him in his missionary and worldly life , Rev Charles Mead, married Ms Johanna Celestina Horst ,the daughter of Rev. Christopher Henry Horst of Tanjore at Tanjore.[ Johanna Celestine Horst was the sister-in-law of the famous  Christian missionary  J.C. Kohlhoff  of Tanjore ]. on the 13th of January , 1819.  And Johanna Celestina Horst's married life with Rev Charles Mead lasted for 30 long  with happiness, blessings and  epoch making accomplishments. Mrs Johanna Celestina Horst Mead had privilege to work as the First Missionary lady in South Travancore with great dedication ,devotion and distinction.[January1819 to February 1848].

Johanna Celestine Horst Mead's family Life and Children : The conjugal life of .Mr. Charles Mead and and Mrs. Johanna Celestina Mead lasted for 30  long years till her demise in 1848,  from  January 1819 to February 1848 And this lovely missionary couple was blessed with  16 lovely children, and out the 16 children, 3 children died at Coombaconam and some others died  immediately after their birth so only the available names of the children are given here:  [1]Rachel Mead [ born in 1820 and died 15th,1821,buried at LMS Cemetery , Nagercoil], [2] Ann Mead[ b.1821 d -], [3] Dr. Christopher Cornelius Mead [,b.1822, d..1862,; he was a general Military Doctor in Bombay and Professor in the Government Medical College, Bombay,. Though he was a Govt servant he was more than a missionary in Bombay and he was a great comfort and help to his father Rev. Charles Mead; but owing to a disease he died at the age of 41 when he was doing  the post- mortem examination of two bodies, Dr. C.C.Mead's death was a severe blow to Rev Charles Mead at his old age., [4]Nathaniel Mead  ,.[5]Eusebus Mead [b.1828  d.1863;  he was a Planter at Cochin, died at Trichoor, kerala], [6]Theodre Mead born in 1829 died July 16th aged 11 months, buried LMS Cemetry at Neyyoor[7]  Joseph Mead,died July 30th 1831 ,buried LMS Cemetery at Neyyoor], [8] James Mead ;[ b.1830 d. 1855;  he died at Brixton, England].[9] Charles Caemmeror Mead, died march 1844 aged 3 years and 3 months ,  buried at the LMS Cemetery at Neyyoor.

By . P. BABU MANOHARAN, [ Rights reserved]. [This  Article will be altered , modified if needed later. Your Comments are welcome.]
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Mrs Martha Mault, The Mother of Female education and liberation in South India[1794-1870]

Introduction: No doubt the educational, intellectual, political and social history of Kanyakumari District had been  emotionally and historically connected with some great English men  and women  who came and lived in Kanyakumari district.,to a great extent.  Rev. Charles Mault  and his beloved wife Mrs Martha Mault were two of the outstanding English citizens, who came and lived in Kanyakumari district. Mrs Martha Charles Mault  had done great, outstanding and  indelible service to the cause of education, female education, social justice , and women's liberation in South Travancore [Kanyakumari Dist]. during the early part of the 19th century. 

                                                                Mrs. Martha Mault 

Birth and place of Birth  Of Mrs. Martha Mault :Ms. Martha nee Mead [ this was her full name , and she was not related ev, Charles Mead] was born in St. Neots  in Huntingdonshire , England in 1794.  St, Neots is a beautiful town in the non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire , within the historic county of Huntingdonshire , in England ,and also it was the birthplace of the outstanding  Oliver Cromwell of England. 

Mrs Martha Mault was a direct Descendant the famous Oliver Cromwell :    It is pertinent  to say something about the famous  Oliver Cromwell of England , here, to understand the crucial significance of the family background of Mrs. Martha Mault.  . Mr Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdonshire in England on 25th April, 1599 and died on 3rd September, 1658.  Oliver Cromwell is considered as the father of British Democracy and deemed as one of the most controversial and powerful figures  in British history. Mr. Oliver Cromwell was made the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of Britain,  under the terms of the instrument of Government of  Britain and in that capacity he ruled England, Ireland and Scotland.  According to the BBC opinion poll conducted in 2002  , Oliver Cromwell was selected as one of the most famous 10 British men ever lived. Mrs Martha was reputed to be descendant of one of the four daughters of Oliver Cromwel

                                                                   Rev, Charles Mault, 

Mrs . Martha's marriage with Rev Charles Mault and  their travel to India: In the year 1818,  at the age of 24,  the charming Martha  married Rev .Charles Mault of Shropshire . Charles Mault had been trained for Priesthood at the Missionary Academy, Gosport  near Portsmouth, England under the auspices of the London Missionary Society and also had been ordained as a LMS Pastor, before a week of  their marriage . The review of the East India Company's Charter of 1813 had fully opened the closed door for missionary work India .After their happy marriage,as decided before Mrs, Mault along with her missionary husband Rev, Charles Mault, sailed towards the shore of India for missionary work in South Travancore , India

Mrs Martha Mault's family Life and Children : Mrs Martha and Rev. Charles Mault reached Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district  [South Travancore ] in December , 1819. Mrs. Martha Mault  with great tolerance and missionary magnanimity and mentality adjusted herself to the  new Indian climate and temperature and started to like the flora , fauna and the people of South Travancore and India  with great missionary zeal and motherly love. Mrs Martha Mault and Rev. Charles Mault were blessed with three smart  sons and two lovely daughters. Out of the three sons, two became qualified Medical Doctors in England and third son became a talented Artist. Mr and Mrs. Mault's younger daughter Sarah Mault,  married J.O.Whitehouse in 1849, and the eldest daughter Eliza Mault married the famous Missionary, Linguist , Tamil Scholar, Writer, Historian and Bishop Dr. Robert. Caldwell. in 1844, at the Home Church, Nagercoil.

                                             Ms. Eliza Mault [ W /o  Dr. Robert Caldwell ]

Mrs Mault and women's education and women's liberation : Mrs. Matha Mault  was really a remarkable missionary lady with the unquenchable spark of service to the cause of female education and female liberation. As wise and shrewd lady she understood the pathetic plight of female population in south Travancore and  aptly decided to empower and strengthen the  long neglected women by  giving education ,training and courage. So with the financial help from her friends from England , Mrs Martha Mault established the first Girls' Boarding School at Nagercoil in 1820, that was the first Girl's Boarding School in the whole of South India. [ This  Girls School progressed stage by stage and now it is called as the Duthie Girls Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil ]. Out of the Girls admitted in the Girls' Boarding School  many were poor, orphan and slave girls. Mrs Mault  took great pity and sympathy towards the long  neglected poor girls of  South Travancore. In  her Girls' Boarding School the teachers mainly taught Reading and Writing plus some basic Arithmetic  and Geography . Mrs Mault   firmly believed, Education will empower and equip women  to fight for their own emancipation, enlightenment and liberation in course of time. Yes in course of time, education has liberated the women of South Trvancore.

Mrs. Martha Extended female education to other parts of Kanyakumaari district [South Travancore}: Mrs Martha Mault was a real  born educationist . Female education and their welfare and liberation were her primary concern.  She not only taught the lace making to the students of Girls Boarding at Nagercoil , but also to other interested  and needy women of the District. So even during her active service period , lace making had become a major cottage industry in South Travancore and improved the financial status of hundreds of poor women of the District.   More over with help of her husband Rev. Charles Mault, Mrs Martha Mault  established  26 Village Schools for Girls in  Kanyakumari District for the cause of spreading education both among the Christian women and non-Christian women of the District.  As her daughters  Eliza Mault and Sarah Maul were very good in local colloquial Tamil , she used their services also for the cause of female education in South Travancore[Kanyakumari district].

Mrs Matha Mault empowered and equipped the Girls to make money through lace making:  Mrs Mault understood the deplorable dependence of  the girls on the male members of the family and society.So she decided to give financial  independence to the girls. So she decided  teach lace making technique to the the poor girls at appropriate time in the School with the help of the equipment and the special thread needed for lace making that she brought from her motherland England for lace making .She selected poor and slave girls and taught them lace making and equipped them to make money by making lace. Many slave girls used their saving made through lace making to purchase their liberty . Hundreds of slave girls liberated themselves by making enough money through lace making. Later through education, such liberated girls attained good positions and status in life and  the credit should go to Mrs.Martha Mault.  More over when the girls started to earn money through their lace making skill, the family and society started to respect those girls. 

Mrs. Mault returned to England: Rev Charles Mault and Mrs Martha Mault had been working in Kanyakumari district [the erstwhile South Travancore ] nearly for 35 long years. After these 35 fruitful years Rev  Charles Mault  retired from the LMS Missionary service and  Mrs. Martha Mault also retired from South Travancore LMS Missionary Service and went back to their home country, England  and settled in Stoke, Coventry, England.. Rev . Charles Mault, died in England in 1858 and Mrs. Martha Mault died in London in 1870.  Mrs , Martha  will be remembered in the Indian history as one of the Pioneers for the causes of female education ,liberation ,dignity and equality.. She was born great and achieved greatness.. Mrs Martha was really a remarkable milestone in Female Educational history of Kanyakumari district and India.  I salute her for her remarkable and relentless service for the cause of Female Education and Liberation  and stop my ink flow here.
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BY. P. BABU MANOHARAN..{Rights reserved] {This article will be changed, altered and modified later if needed. Comments are welcome].

Kumari Thanthai[Father of Kanyakumari Dist]Marshal. A. Nesamony, B.A, B.L, Ex.M.P,...Part Final.

Marshal. A. Nesamony's  Restless Life Came to a Rest:   As a relentless fighter Marshal. A. Nesamony fought many social and political battles and won many battles and lost some battles but he won his war. During his life time he was privileged to see  the merger of Kanyakumari District with the then Madras State [Tamil Nadu] in 1956. But because of his christian background and some other political reasons like political jealousy, he was  not rewarded with deserving ministerial berth either in the Tamilnadu Government or in the Indian Government. .Due to tireless and restless work, age and also due to some family  related worries  he became very tired and exhausted and as a corollary Marshal.A. Nesamony died on the 1st June 1968 , while he was sitting Lok Sabha member.

                                        

Nesamony's death and Mr K Kamaraj   political recovery: : Following the untimely death of Marshal. A Nesamony, a  By-election was held in the Nagercoil Parliament Constituency, to fill the vacancy. And  in the by-election Mr. K. Kamaraj contested as a Congress  candidate and won the election with a remarkable margin by defeating his powerful  political opponent Dr.M. Mathias who contested in the election as a Swatantra Party candidate. . Even by his death Marshal. A Nesamony helped his  Congress Party  colleague and friend  Mr. k. Kamaraj to recoup and recover  his lost political glory , grip, and place in the Indian politics.

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Memorials For Marshal  Nesamony:

Marshal Nesamony Manimandapam:   Marshal A Nesamony did not get the deserving recognition from the Congress party due to many sharp political reasons. But the Dravidian Parties availed the opportunity to respect and recognize Marshal Nesamony.. In 2011 DMK  Minister Mr. Parithi Ellamvazuthi laid the foundation for the construction of the Nesamony Manimandapam[Memorial ]at Nagercoil.  And the Nesamony Manimandpm was declared open, by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Miss Jeyalalitha in February, 2014.

Nesamony Memorial Christian College ;  The Kanyakumaari CSI Dicese , in recognition of Marshal Nesamony's  outstanding and remarkable service to the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese, renamed the Christian College , at Marthandam as Nesamony Memorial Christian College in June 1984..

Conclusion; Marshal Nesamony was a man of the masses or the people, so the people called and calling him as Appachi or Father  with love and respect. . He is today called as Kumari Thanthai or the Father of Kanyakumari District. The Central Government in 1995, published  commemorative Postal Envelopes in recognition of the Centenary of Marshal Nesamony's  birth[ born in 1895]. Marshal. A Nesamony was so closely  and emotionally connected with the people and land of Kanyakumari district. Marshal Nesamony liberated  his  people  from the clutches  and dominance of the dominant caste of people of erstwhile Travancore kingdom.   Even though there are so many memorials  in  Kanyakumri  District , the existence of Kanyakumari  District as a part of Tamil Nadu is the best memorial for Marshal. A. Nesamony   Really he was a towering personality and man of great vision and mission.

P.BABU MANOHARAN. [Rights reserved].  [This Post will be modified or altered if needed later . Your comments are welcome].

Kumari Thanthai [Father of Kanyakumari Dist] Marshal .A. Nesamony, B.A, B.L, Ex. M.P, .--Part IV

Mr.A. Nesamony was nominated to Travancore [Thirumoolam ] Assembly:[1945-1947]                As President  of the Nagercoil Bar Association and Chairman of Nagercoil Municipality, Mr. A. Nesamony earned great name and fame and  as a corollary ,he was nominated  as a Member to the Travancore {Thirumoolam ] Assembly and also nominated to the prestigious Senate of Travancore University.

                                 

Mr. A. Nesamony and Travancore Legislative Assembly Election[1948]:     The Reforms Committee

headed by Pattam Thanu Pillai submitted its report to the Travancore Government on 20th November 1947; and on the basis of the Reform  Committee's Report , General Election was conducted, to elect Legislators to the Travancore Legislative Assembly in 1948. In this historical and landmark Election, the Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress[TTNC],  under the leadership of Marshal A. Nesamony contested the Assembly Election, against the Travancore State Congress. The Reform Committee recommended 120 Assembly seats on the basis of one seat for  every 50000 voters. [Open category  80 seats and Reserved category 40 seats] In the legislative Assembly  Election   Mr. A. Nesamony, fielded 18  Candidates including himself  on TTNC tickets.. Marshal Nesamony went village to village and propagated for the TTNC and TTNC won  14 seats out of the 18 seats it contested. This historical victory of the TTNC made great political impact in the political scenario of Travancre and Tamil Nadu. Moreover the  landslide victory of the TTNC in the Election, made Marshal A. Nesamony as the undisputed Leader of the TTNC and Tamils of South Travancore.

The State Reorganization Committe and  Travancore Tamils:  In tune with announcement made by the then Prme Minister Mr. Jewaharlal  Nehru in the Indian Parliament , on 29th December ,1953, the Govt of India formed the State Reorganization Commission consisting of 3 eminent persons and one among them was Sardar.K.M. Panickar from Kerala, and he was very particular to safeguard the interests of Kerala. But unfortunately there was no  Tamil Member in this Commission to voice for the cause of Tamils of Travancore State. That made the task very difficult for Marshal.A. Nesamony.

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Mr.A.Nesamony was imprisoned : Mr. A. Nesamony's indomitable will  power to fight for the cause  of the  Tamil people of Travancore ,  made him a Marshal  or People's Leader. . In  July ,1954 Mr. Nesamony protested and agitated in Devikulam and Moonaar areas  against the oppression of Tamils by  Travancore Government.and Mr. A.. Nesamony  was arrested and imprisoned on 6-7-1954 in Trivandrum Central jail. but  he was released on account of the intensity of the political agitation  and demonstration by the  TTNC for the immediate release of  Mr.A. Nesamony and others . Again on 11th August , 1954, the TTNC celebrated the Independence Day  in Travancore  and as a corollary of this celebration by the TTNC, Tamils lived in Travancore  State were seriously  attacked by the Travancore Government.   Many died due to bullet attacks of the Travancore Police and  also many false charges were filed  against the TTNC memebers and leaders. In this  grave situation Marshal Nesamony stood with affected people and  TNC  as pillar  and Lion.  Mr. A. Nesamony even went to the Supreme Court of India and fought   for the cause of affected Tamil people and their families and did justice to the affected people and TTNC.  On 7th march, 1955 Mr.A Nesamony, was elected unanimously as the President of the Travancore Tamilnadu Congress[TTNC]

Merger of Kanyakumari Dist with Madras State: Due to consistent and relentless sacrifices and struggles and agitations  , the four Southernn Districts of Travancore  State, namely Vilavancode, Kalkulam Agasteeswaram and Thovali taluks were merged with the then Madras State on !st November 1956. Unfortunately the demand for the merger of Devikulam and Peermedu  districts  by Marsal A. Nesamony were  not  considered, due to some political influence of some tall Political Thinkers and  Statesman from Kerala, who wielded great influence on the then Indian Prime Minister  Mr Jewaharlal Nehru.   Following the historical merger of Kanyakumari district with  the then Madras State, the Travancore Tamilndu Congress[TTNC] was  also merged with the All India National Congress.

 Mr. Nesamony was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly :  In the general Election held in 1957 for the Madras Legislative Assembly , Marshal A.  Nesamony contested in  All India National Congress ticket  from Killiyoor Constituency , Kanyakumari and easily  won the election with notable majority and entered the prestigious precinct of the Madras Legislative assembly. However due to some political moves and calculation Marshal A. Nesamony was not  made a Minister in the the Government of Madras State.

Marshal A. Nesamony was elected to the Indian Parliament in 1962 & 1967:  As a great  shrewd political Thinker Marshal A. Nesamony understood the political  tricks of the Tamil Nadu and Indian Politics. In this context the Indian Parliamentary Lok Sabha Election was announced in 1962, but Neasamony wanted to stay away from the Congress Party and Politics for some time for some reasons. But Mr. K. Kamaraj contacted Marshal Nesamony, for his own political reasons and requested Marshal A. Nesamony to contest in the MP election in Congress Party Ticket, from Nagercoil  Parliamentary Constituency.  . Mr. A. Nesamony accordingly contested in the election as a Congress candidate,  but he did not do any political canvassing for his victory but when the Election results were declared,  out of the  three people who contested against Marshal A. Nesamony  except Mr P. Vivekanandan, the other two lost their deposits and Mr.A Nesamony won the MP election in a outstanding  way as usual.  In the 1967 Indian  Parliamentary Election also Marshal A Nesamony contested the MP election  in Indian National Congress ticket and won the Election with thumping majority. Marshal A.Nesamony served as a great Parliamentarian   and able Congress MP  in the Indian Parliament, but due to cut throat political competition and inner party rivalry the ruling Congress leaders, failed  to give Marshal. A. Nesamony, at least a Minister of State post  in the Central Government.

P. BABU MANOHARAN. [ This Post will be modified or altered if needed later. Part Final will follow soon. Your Comments are welcome ]

Kumari Thanthai [ Father of Kanyakumari Dist] Marshal A. Nesamony,B.A, B.L, Ex. M. P., Part III

 Rev Charles Mead , Neyyoor District  [LMS] and Marshall A. Nesmony :

Rev Charles Mead's move to Neyyoor was really a milestone in the political, social and church history of Travancore.   Charles Mead wanted to extend and expand  the missionary work of the LMS to the western part of South Travancore  and in tune with his plan in January 1828 Charles Mead received a suitable land near Thiruvithancode[Ancient Capital of Travancore Kingdom] ,  from  Mr. Ramen Thumby  for a nominal price. After having completed all the requirement Charles Mead shifted his official residence  to Neyyoor from Nagercoil . Within a short span of time the Neyyoor Division of the Travancore LMS Misssion ,  was intensively and extensively spread and established. Neyyoor LMS Division under the leadership of Charles Mead changed the social, religious and political map of the then Travancore Kingdom.

                                        

In the same way Neyyoor District of the LMS[CSI]  played  vital historical role under the leadership of Marhsal A, Nesamony to change the social and political map of South Travancore after nearly one hundred years. This was a historical coincidence .Since childhood days Mr. A. Nesamony  took an active interest both in the secular and religious activities with keen interest and concern.. He was  not only a great political leader but also he was a great Church leader .At the age of just 44 Marshal A. Nesamony  was elected as the Secretary of the LMS Neyyoor District.     Incidently Mr. A Nesamony's  social movement for social liberation of his people and other oppressed people , started from Neyyoor only[Travancore Tamilnadu Congress was started as a social movement  at the Edwin Memorial Building  at Neyyoor, in1945] like Charles Mead's Liberation movement  .This was a historical coincidence of great importance.

Marsal Nesamony and South Travancore Church Council  In 1874 the South Travancore Church Council was formed . When the Congregational and Presbyterian Missions united in 1908 it became a part of the South India United Church with a new name South Travancore Diocese..And as a result of his dynamic qualities, efficiency and commitment in Church activities in the year 1933 Mr A. Nesamony was elevated to the Travancore Mision Council

The  South Travancore Church Council was founded in 1874..Mr A. Nesamony,  in 1933  was elevated to the Travancore Mission Council and the Travancore Mission Council elected him as its Secretary when the question of union was on its agenda. In 1908, the Congregational and Presbyterian missions united under a new Name South Travancore Diocese. In1939 Nesamony became the Vice President of the South Travancore Diocese. In 1939 Mr Nesamony wrote the Constitution and Rules of the Travancore Church Council .

Marshal A. Nesamony and Kanyakumari CSI Diocese ;.The Church Union Movement in South India was responsible for  the birth of  the Church of South India on 27th September , 1947..After 28 years of relentless joint consultation,  the negotiating churches entered into an organic Union called Church of South India.

The South Travancore Church Council of SIUC  joined the Church of South India [CSI] at the time of its inauguration on the 27th September 1947. South Travancore became a Diocese of CSI..  Trivandrum was the H.Q of the South Travancore Diocese and it extended from Quilon in the North to Kanyakumari in the South .

Following the merger of Kanyakumari district with Tamil Nadu [Madras state] on linguistic basis ,  South Travancore Diocese was bifurcated into South Kerala CSI Diocese and Kanyakumari  CSI Diocese, in June 1959 and Nagercoil became the Head Quarters of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese..Marshal A. Nesamony was elected unanimously as the Vice President of the newly formed Kanyakumari CSI Diocese   With great dynamism, dedication and vision he  discharged his official duty as the Vice President of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese  till his death. Mr. A. Nesamony also  served as the Chairman of the Properties Board of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese  and  took remarkable and  sincere  efforts  to expand the coconut plantation

at North  Thamarakulam CSI Mission Paddy Fields &Coconut Topes.  Advocate Mr .D Packiaraj, B.A, B.L , succeeded Mr .A Nesamony as the Chairman of the Properties Board of the Kanyakumari CSI Diocese.[ Mr. D. Packiaraj's  son  Mr, Rodney Daniel, B.Sc[Agri] has  married  Marshal Nesamony's second daughter Mrs. N. Daisy W Jacob's  daughter Mrs Annie Daniel..  A Post will be written later about Mr.D.Packiaraj and his  historical family .].

P. BABU MANOHARAN. [ This  Post will be modified , altered if needed later. Your valuable comments are welcome.. Part  Final follow soon. ][Rights reserved]

Kumari thanthai[ Father Of KanyakumariDist]Marshal A.Nesamony,B.A, B.L, Ex M.P., Part II

Part II:-

The Civil Disobedience Movement of TTNC was  led by Marshal  A. Nesamony :The political situation of Travancore also changed in line with the political changes and tides of All India Politics. In tune with the recommendations of the Dhar Commission, Cochin State was merged with Travancore State  for  the sake administrative convenience,under the control of  Travancore Maharaja as Raj Pramukh on 1st July 1949.   Against the formation of united Travancore Cochin State, the Travancore Tamilnadu Congress  started a historical Civil Disobedience Movement   and this historical agitation was ably led by Marshal A Nesamony. And the agitation led my Marshal A. Nesamony reached such a crucial stage and  invited the attention of the national leaders . In this crucial situation the then Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabai Patel interfered andpromised that  the four Tamil speaking  southern Taluks of  South Trvancore, will be considered for merging  with the Madras State during reorganization the states on the linguistic basis.  

                                         

Marshal A Nesamony  attended the Boundary Conference convened  by MaPoSi :: Shri. Ma Po Sivagnanam conducted a historical "Boundary Conference" on 5th November 1949 in Madras[Chenni], to stop the encroachment and merger of Tamil speaking areas with Telugu speaking Andra Pradesh and Marshal  A. Nesamony attended the meeting ,on the special invitation of Ma Po Sivagnanam.    It was decided in that meeting that a Tamil Province need to be formed and for the proposed Tamil Province, the historical  Venkadam   [Thiruppathi] should  be the Northern  boundary  and KanyaKumari must  be the Southern boundary.

Marshal A.Nesamony and the  Boundary Conference  held at Kanyakumri [1950]:  A historical Boundary Conference was held at Kanyakumari  on 6th January ,1950 and Marshal Nesamony was elected as the President of the reception Committee of this conference. A member of the Constituent Assembly .Mr. Krishnasamy Bharati presided the conference and Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai  delivered the inaugural address. In this meeting Marshal Nesamony condemned the Dhar Commission Report and its political implications.  This conference was conducted to voice for the cause of  merging the Tamil speaking Taluks of Travancore with Madras State[ Tamil Nadu].

Marshal A, Nesamony  won the  first Parliamentary  Election : Marshal A Nesamony was not a simple letter head Leader he was a mass leader . India became a republic on 26th January  1950. The first Parliamentary Election was held during January 1952. In this election Marshal A. Nesamony contested as TTNC candidate in Pot Chinnam[Symbol] and Mr Sam Nathaniel,  Mr. Thanulingam Nadar,  and Mr. SivaThanu Pillai,  contested  for the M.P seat against Mr. A. Nesamony . In this  landmark and historical MP election  Mr. A. Nesamony won the election with a thumping and resonant  majority  and proved himself as the unquestionable leader of the people of Kanyakumari district.

Marshal A. Nesamony, M.P., was  a Political Visionary : Mr .A. Nesamony voiced for the cause of Tamils   in the Parliament as a political visionary . On 14 December 1955, States Reorganization Commission's Report was placed in the Indian Lok Sabha . Mr A. Nesamony , M.P, [Member of the Nagercoil Parliamentary Constituency}  with great determination and vision argued in the Lok Sabha for the merger of Neyyatinkara, Peermade, Devikulam and Chitturr with Madras State[Later called Tamil Nadu]; by citing necessary historical  evidences and political  proofs  in support of his arguments..Mr.A. Nesamony said in his powerful convincing speech in the Parliament {Lokh Sabha] that  the Estates in Peermade and Devakulam  Taluks were the fruits of the hard works of the Tamil people and specially of Tamil Estate workers , but unfortunately  the sitting Tamil M.Ps from Madras State, did not support  Mr.Nesamony in this regard, for the merger of Devikilam and Peermade Area with madras State.. Had the MPs from Madras State stood  firmly with Mr. Nesamony  to voice for the merger of Devikulam and Peermadea taluks  with Madras State [Tamil Nadu]  automatically the controversial Mullaperiyar dam would have become a part and parcel of Tamil Nadu . And we could have avoided the present deplorable situation wherein every day Tamil Nadu is struggling and pleading  to get  water from the Mullaperiyar dam,  from Kerala State Government, for the irrigation of paddy fields in Theni District , Dindigul District , Madurai District, Ramanathapuram District,etc.,.. Definitely  we can say that with great vision Marshal A. Nesamony,  agitated and  worked  not only  for the cause of the Tamil  people of Kanyakumari but also for the future of the whole Tamil Nadu and its people..

P. BABU MANOHARAN.  [ This Post will be altered and modified later if needed . Readers' comments are welcome.  Part III  will follow soon.] [Rights reserved ]

Kumari Thanthai[Father of Kanyakumari Dist] Marshal A. Nesamony, B.A, B.L, Ex. M.P.-Part 1.

Introduction: No doubt Marshal A. Nesamony was one of the tallest and illustrious sons of Tamil Nadu and Kanyakumai District. Mr. Nesamony played a pivotal  and relentless role for the creation and merger of Kanyakumari District with Tamil Nadu . He was a great fighter and crusader for the cause of the Tamils of South Travancre in  the erstwhile Travancore  Cochin State .  He is considered and called as the father of Kanyakumari District and the people of Kanyamuari district used to call him as Appachi [  Father]. He was  really a glowing and glorious  milestone  in the annals of history of Kanyakumari District , and Tamil Nadu. He was an outstanding Parliamentarian, a visionary politician . administrator. and people's leader 

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Mr. A. Nesamony's  birth, Parents :  Mr.  A. Nesamony was born on 12 June , 1895 at a beautiful remote village called Marangkonam, Kalkulam taluk , Kanyakumari district ,  as the second son  to Mr.  .K Appavu Nadar of Palliyadi  [ Apollos .] and Mrs.Gnanammal of Marangkonam. Mr. Appavu Nadar{Apollos] and Mrs. Gnanammal Apollos were blessed with  sons and daughters

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Mr. A Nesamony's Siblings : Mr Apollos& Mrs Gnanammal Applos begot the following sons and daughters namely   Mr.A.:Devasahayam [ also known as Gandhi], Mr.A. Nadan[Original name is not known], , Mr.A. Devakadacham, Mr.A. Sironmani; and the following daughters namely: A. Sundari, A. Lily , A.Sornabai and one more who died at a very young age.

His wife and children  and family: Thiru A. Nesamony married Mrs. Caroline Nesamony on September , 1914. Mr.A.  Nesamony and Mrs. Caroline  Nesamony were blessed with  the following children namely[1] Mrs.N. Willsy Dennison [2] Mrs.N. Daisy  W. Jacob[She married Mr. Wilfred  Jacob who worked as Group Manager of  Samraj Group of Tea Estates.[ Mr. Wilfred Jacob was the paternal uncle of  Dr.Winston Jacob,M,B.E - Member of the Order of the  British Empire ], [3] Ms. Felcy[Died at the age of 19], [4]Mrs. N.Lily Dhaya Singh[ Mr Dhaya Singh was the brother of late Dr. John. D.K. Sundersingh, M.A, Ph,D .], [5]Mr .N Wilson Appolos, B.A, B.L, Ex M.L.C,[6] Mrs.Rajammal Jesudahsan,[7] Mrs. N.Mercy Dennis [ Mrs. Mercy married the famous veteran Congress  leader Mr.N. Dennis , M.A, B.L, Ex.M.P].

Education : Mr.A. Nesamony  did his School education at the famous Scott Christian High School and Intermediate course at the CMS College [St. John's College , Palayam Kottai] in Tirunelveli . During his collegiate days at Tirunelveli  Mr. A. Nesamony was elected as the student leader of the college and in that capacity he was privileged to attend the All India Conference held at Calcutta. And as he was attracted by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi , he shifted his dress to Khadi and he continued his Khadi costume till his death.  Mr Nesamony did his BA at the prestigious Maharaja's College at Trivandrum and did his BL at the famous Trivandrum Law College.

His career as Lawyer at Nagercoil Sessions Court: ; In 1921 Mr. A. Nesamony registered  himself as a Lawyer at the District Sessions Court ,Nagercoil and started his law practice and within a short span of time by his natural  extraordinary brilliance, presence of mind  and  legal prudence , he became one of the famous lawyers in South India. In 1943 , Mr. Nesamony was elected as the President of the Nagercoil Lawyer's Association  and  his name and fame started to waft  towards all directions,

Mr. A. Nesamony's  Public life:   By his  enviable qualities, social and political activities  he became so popular among all sections of  the people of Nagercoil  within a short span of time and as result he was elected as the Chairman of Nagercoil Municipal Council in 1943 and he served as an accomplished Chairman of Nagercoil Municipality  from 1943 to 1947.  During his remarkable tenure as the Chairman of Nagercoil Municipality,  he took some innovative efforts and increased the annual income of the Nagearcoil Municipalty to Rs 400000/ and on the basis of the annual income , Nagercoil  Municipality was upgraded as first Grade Municipality. And as Chairman of Nagercoil Municipality. Mr. Nesamony introduced many useful schemes like the introduction of  electric street lights  , purified water supply to the residents of Nagercoil, and also he extended the boundaries of Nagercoil Municipality and so on.  During his tenure as Chairman , the  Nagercoil Municipality underwent obvious and colorful  all side development.

Formation of Travancore Tamilnadu Congress and Mr. A. Nesamony : Mr. A Nesamony's political life is inseparably connected with the  Travancore  Tamilnadu Congress. . The way the  Tamil people living   in Travancore State were treated  by  the Trvancore Government  and also by the politically influential Malayalee caste people like Nairs, Brahmins and others , during the  pre -independence  period, highly affected the sensitive mind of Marshal Nesamony to a great extent.  In 1945 Mr A. Nesamony conducted a historical  meeting at the Edwin Memorial Building at Neyyur near Eraniel, in that historical meeting under the initiative of Mr.A, Nesamony , the Travancore Tamilnadu Congres  was formed as a social Movement, for the cause of the Tamils of  Travancore State.  On 8th September 1947, a historical meeting was held at the historical Allan Hall locatead near the monumental Home Church, Nagercoil ,in the presence of some tall leaders of Kayakumari district in the presence of  Adv.Mr P.Chidamparam Pillai, Mr. M. Sivathanu Pillai , MLA[Srimoolam Assembly]and the meeting was presided by Marshal A. Nesamony   and  the meeting  was attended by Mr. Sam Nathaniel, Mr. P.S. Mani., Muslim League Leader MR A.A Rasalk. and others

As per the decision taken in the meeting  the Ahila Travancore Congress  which was functioning under the leadership of Mr.Sam Nathaniel merged with  the Travancore Tamilnadu Congress .Since  that day the Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress  assumed a new political role and started to function as a  full fledged Political Party,  under the dynamic leadership of Mr.A. Nesamony, for the liberation of Tamil speaking areas from the erstwhile Travancore State .

P. BABU MANOHARAN.[  This post will be modified and altered if needed later. Part  Two will follow soon. Your comments are welcome.] Rights reserved.  .

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