Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist, A Man of Letters, Ex Executive at the Christian Media Centre Chennai, Chief Adviser to the Life Insurance Corporation of India Chennai, Sri Jeyakumar Sundaram , B,Sc, M,Sc, B.C.S, B.Ed. ,P.G.D.C.S, I.C.W.A [Inter] . Part Final

Sri Jeyakumar's  Wedding    :  Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram married Ms Sutha  , daughter of Mr. T.M. Mathew and Ms Susanna Mathew from Thirusur, Kerala  ,on the 22nd January 1988 at the Calvary Lutheran Church Nagercoil . The marriage ceremony was  graced by the then Director of Christian Media Centre Chennai [ Vanmalar }  Dr Suviseshamuthu and P.R.O. Rev. Vicent  and many others from the  Christian Media Centre.   It would be useful to note one point here that Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram joined Christian Arts and Communication Service [  VANAMUTHAM ] Chennai in the year 1982 as an  Accounts Assistant  and Ms Sudha joined the Christian Media Centre as the Editor of the Malayalam magazine called , Swarga Sutha run by the Christian Media Centre Chennai.  It would be interesting to note here that Mr Jeyakumar's marriage with Ms Sutha was a love marriage, 

                                              

                                                     Mr. Jeyakumar Sundaram  

Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram's Children  ; Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram and Ms Sutha Jeyakumar Sundaram couple is blessed with the following children namely :-[1] Ms . Preethi Suja, B.Tech , M.B.A and she is working in a famous company as Software Engineer and [2] Ms Roshni Subha is doing her Charted Accountancy [C.A] and Cost and Management Accountancy.

Mr, Jeyakumar Sundaram's Professional Track   : Mr . Jeyakumar Sundaram joined the  Christian Arts and Communication  Service [ VANAMUTHAM ] as an Accounts Assistant in the year 1982 , Then he was promoted and worked as the General Organiser for Varmalar Clubs and Cassette Ministry [ 1984-- 2004] .   . In 2000 he joined  the New India Assurance Company and in  2013 Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram joined the  Star Health and Allied  Insurance Co.Ltd .and worked  as Sales Manager  Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram joined the L,I.C in 1993 and  was working as a part time employee in the Life Insurance Corporation of India  from 1993 to 2004 and since 2004 he has been working as full time employee of LIC. and currently he is working as Chief Adviser to the Life Insurance Corporation of India , Chennai. with great dedication and distinction 

Mr Jeyakumar's  Literary Career    :  Even while Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram was working in the "Vanmalar" he wrote  nearly 25 Tamil Christian lyrics  and all those lyrics  had been composed and  recorded in  audio C,Ds and the songs are  being enjoyed and sung   by the  Tamil Christian community all over the world.. He had translated the English Book," Rough Road " authored by Dr. Rajamarthandan. into Tamil. Mr Jeyakumar  has  authored  the following Tamil Historical Novels namely,[1] " Kathalum Veeramum ",[ it is historical novel about king Mahasathrapathy who ruled the Sathrapathy kingdom between AD 130- 150].;  and [2] Veerakoorchavarman [ It is a well researched historical story  about the first Pallava King Veerakoorchavarman ,  ] .. He has also written a Tamil novel called Entum En Nenjil  [ Amazon Kindle edition , pages 142,. It is a college life based love story ]. In addition he has written the following novellas  namely : [1] Chinnathan [  Amazon  Kindle Edition, eBook , pages 49,  ] , [2] Ennai Maranthan, [3]  Ezham Nangaiyudan Orunaal, [4] Manangalin Manangal , {5[ Chothukku Chonthakaran , [6]  Azhiyathu Kaathal . Mr Jeyakumar has also also written some short stories namely :_ [1] Paramanantham, [2] Kannai Nambaatha [ Amazon Kindle edition , pages 16,.  In a short story competition  conducted ,this novella  received a special prize from the judges ].  He is prolific writer and Poet and has written more than 200  poems in Tamil and has bagged many prizes and certificates .

Conclusion      : Sri Jeyakumar Sundaram is an intelligent man and  is blessed with  great grasping power and creative spark .  His thirst for knowledge is really appreciable , and the degrees and academic letters he has added after his name prove that Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram is a Man of Letters'  The historical novels he has written  like Veerakoorchavarman etc, will definitely  earn him an indelible place among the great historical  Tamil novelists like Kalki, Jegachirpiyan , Chandilyan and others.  I have no doubt that he deserves greater recognition in the literary world and I sincerely believe and wish  that he will be honoured in the days to follow with great literary awards like Sahitya Academy Award etc,. Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram is a scholar, writer, poet, hard worker, and is  honest, unassuming and above all he is a good human being .. His smart wife and intelligent daughters are really a blessing  to him  Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram has surmounted the challenges that he faced with great grit  and determination  and his reach in life deserves great appreciation.and admiration 

END

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

Poet, Short Story Writer, Author of Historical Novels, Scholar, University Rank Holder , Ex Executive at the Christian Media Centre Chennai, Chief Adviser to the Life Insurance Corporation of India Chennai, Sri Jeyakumar Sundaram , B.Sc,[ Maths] M.Sc[ Econometrics]. B.C.S , I.C.W.A [ Inter ] . Part .. A

Introduction   :  Sri Jeyakumar Sundaram, B.Sc, M,Sc, B.C.S, I.C.W.A [Inter]  is a colourful and multifaceted personality. He is a promising Poet in Tamil, impressive short story Writer, Author of some astonishing  Historical Novels, and so on  and like this he touches and makes his indelible imprints in many fields. A perusal and review of his life story will definitely enrich the minds of the readers with new hope, insight , vision and inspiration  he is indeed a colourful milestone in the social and  literary history of  Kanyakumari District and Tamil Nadu 

                                                              Mr. Jeyakumar  Sundaram 

Mr. Jeyakumar's Parents and Birth    :   Some  decades ago there lived a lovely couple in Nanjil Nadu namely  Mr Sundaram and Ms. Packiam Sundaram  and to this couple  a male child was born on the 13th November 1957 at an idyllic village called Arassankuzhi near Boothapandy [ Native  Village of the famous Communist Leader JEE VAA ] and this couple christened that male child , Jeyakumar.  Mr Sundaram was serving as a Police Constable 

Jeyakumar's Siblings   : Mr Sundaram and Ms Packiam Sundaram couple gave birth to the  following children namely :-  [1] Ms Anantha Bai, [2] Mr. Isaac Philip Dhas, [3] Ms, Mano Ranjitham, [4] Ms Navaratna Vasantha . [5] Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram and [6] Mr Arul Jothi. 

Mr .Jeyakumar Sundaram's Educational Trajectory    . Since the beginning of his educational journey Mr Jeyakumar had/has been shining as a brilliant pupil  Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram did his Primary School Education at the famous S.L.B Primary School , Nagercoil  and at the Government  Primary school at Kadiapattinam near Manavalakurichi in Kanyakumari  District..  . He did his High school at the Govt High School at Kurathiariai [ Kurathiarai  is considered and claimed as the Birth of place of the great Tamil Poet Thruvalluvar by some prominent  researchers and historians] and Sir C.P Ramaswamy High School at Boothapandy [ 1970--1974] and he passed his S.S.L.C in 1974..   He did his PUC during 1974- 75 at Pioneer Kumaraswamy College , and after having passed his PUC  he did his B.Sc [ Mathematics] in the same college during 1975- 78    and passed his B,Sc[ Mathematics ] in the year 1978 with flying colours.  Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram pursued his M.Sc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at the Madurai Kamaraj University Palkalai Nagar, Madurai  [ 1980-  1982 ] and he secured 4th  Rank in M,Sc in the University. Mr Jeyakumar is always interested to learn new and more subjects  and accordingly he has passed his B.C.S [ Bachelor of Christian Studies, Serambur University] and also he had passed his prestigious I.C.W.A [Intermediate] examination. Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram  passed  his Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science [ PGDCS ]in 1986.  In 1987 he  meritoriously passed his Bachelor of Education examination [ B.Ed ] . Thus Mr Jeyakumar Sundaram  qualified himself to be called as a Man of Letters 

Part Final will follow soon 

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

Courageous, Honest and Efficacious R.B.I Officer , Winner of the Gold Medal from the Governor of the R. B. I for Exemplary Service, Officer Who Represented India in the Central Bank Officers' Seminar Held in U.S, and currently Deputy General Manager of the R.B.I Ms Sheela Baiju, B.Sc. C.A.I.I.B, M.B.A.,. Part Final

Ms Sheela's Higher Educational  Trajectory    : Ms Sheela after having started her professional career in the  RBI  as a clerical staff ,  she passed her J;A.I.I.B,and  C.A.I.I.B  examinations and qualified for further  official  promotions; In tune with her thirst for knowledge she  passed her MBA[ Banking and Finance ]  degree examination , J.N.O.U. .  In addition she has also passed the following Courses namely "[1] Certificate Course on  K Y C  / A M L, [2] Certificate Course on Micro Finance and [3] Certificate Course on Prevention of Cyber Crimes and Fraud Management.

                         

                                 Ms Sheela Baiju, A.G.M of R.B.I 

Her Professional Career Trajectory    : In the year 2002  Ms Sheela was promoted as Assistant Manager and transferred to RBI office in Bangalore . In 2008 she was transferred to RBI  in Mumbai and  was  promoted as Manager in 2009 . Ms Sheila  was promoted as Assistant General Manager  in 2016 and transferred to Chennai. In the year 2017 she was transferred to the RBI  in Bangalore .Recently in the year 2023 Ms Sheela Baiju  was promoted as  a Deputy General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India and currently she is working as D.G.M at the Reserve Bank of India in Bangalore  with great distinction and efficacy. 

Ms Sheela Received  Gold Medal  from the RBI Governor in 2013   "    In 2013 Ms Sheela received a Gold Medal  from the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of India  Sri. Subba Rao in recognition and appreciation of her exceptional and exemplary service to the RBI . While presenting the Award  the following announcement was made " "  Courage, diligence and uprightness are words that have been transferred into action by this officer. She carried out several challenging scrutiny  and inspections . In recognition of her total involvement and deep commitment to work and taking up tasks beyond the call of duty the Committee thought it fit to award her "

Ms Sheela represented RBI in the Seminar hosted by Controller of Currency ,Washington, US :   In the year 2016,  one week Seminar was conducted in Washington, US by the Controller of currency , Washington  and representatives of Central Banks from 15 nations participated in the seminar . Ms Sheila Baiju represented India in the Seminar .  Ms Sheela Baiju attended the Training conducted by the Federal Reserve,  USA on "Anti money laundering examinations "

Conclusions   . :  Ms Sheela Baiju is a courageous, honest, diligent and exemplary bank officer  ..She is a remarkable personality and she has visited the following  continents and  countries namely-[1] Europe, [2] USA. [3] Dubai, [4] Thailand, [5] Singapore, [6] Malaysia, [7] Cambodia, [8] Bali, [9] Maldives  [10] Langhawi.etc . She is unassuming but very bold, kind, efficacious and she is a good administrator. Ms Sheela Baiju  is a lover of books and music. . Ms Sheela Baiju is an outstanding woman  blessed with many valuable traits and  she will definitely reach still greater and enviable  heights  in her  professional career . I will conclude this Article with this sentence, , " Ms Sheela Baiju is an audacious woman,  an outstanding and honest Bank officer and a good human being "

END

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

Courageous, Honest and Efficacious RBI Officer and Winner of Gold Medal from the Reserve Bank Governor for exemplary service and Currently Deputy General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India Ms Sheela Baiju, B.Sc, C.A.I.I.B. M.B.A. Part A

Introduction   :  Courageous, honest and efficacious Deputy General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India Ms Sheela Baiju , B.Sc. C.A.I.I.B, M.B.A is one of the outstanding RBI officers in India and  a review of her colourful profile  will enlighten the minds of the readers with new positive thought flows, grit  and inspiration . Her exemplary  banking service was duly recognised and she was awarded  gold medal and citation by the then Reserve Bank Governor Mr Subba Rao in  2013.. Definitely her accomplishment  is a  glowing milestone in the social, banking, educational and  women empowerment  history of India 

                                                    Mrs. Sheela Baiju.   A.G.M. of RBI.

Ms Sheela's Parents and Birth   :  There lived a smart man by name Mr Sunderswamy in Nanjil Nadu and he was blessed with the following children namely -{1] Mr. Mohan Raj, [2] Mr Srinivasan, B.E, [3] Ms Rani Krishnan  and a few others  . Mr Mohan Raj married Ms Jaya  and  Mr Mohan Raj and Ms.Jaya Mohan Raj couple moved to Chennai from Kanyakumari district as Mr Mohan Raj got a job in the Indian Railways  and to this couple Ms. Sheela was born in the year 1966 in Chennai. 

Ms Sheela's Sibling ;   Ms Sheela Baiju's parents Mr Mohan Raj  and Ms Jaya Mohan Raj couple gave birth  to a son also by name Mr Ananda Raj, B.Com , and he is currently working as a Manager at the Indian Bank . Mr Anantha Raj married his paternal aunt Ms Ranis Krishnan's daughter Ms Akila and this couple is blessed with a son by name Mr Kenny Jaya Raj, M.S.W. It will be useful to the readers to note one more point in this context that Ms Rani Krishnan's son Dr. C.K. Senthil  Kumar, B.P.T, M.Sc[P.T], M.B.A, Ph.D, is serving as Director Medical Education &Registrar[ Additional  Charge ]., North  East Christian University, Nagaland.

Her education Phase 1  : Ms Sheela did her School education at the Tarapore Higher Secondary School for Girls  in Ayanavaram Chennai and then she pursued her B.Sc [ Physics ] at the prestigious Presidency College, Chennai and passed her B.Sc [Physics]  degree in the year 1986 in First Class 

She Started her Professional Career as a Clerk in the RBI   ; After having passed her B,Sc,  Ms. Sheela  wrote the RBI Clerical Cadre Examination and she was selected to work as a clerk in the RBI  Ms Sheila joined the Reserve Bank of India in Chennai as a Clerical staff  in the year 1989.and began her professional career with grit and hope 

Her married Life  :  Ms Sheela married  an Engineer and whose educational qualification was B.E, M.E, M.C.A ,. Ms Sheela's husband  started his professional career as Assistant Engineer and was employed in Tamil Nadu State government. Later he joined a private company and served as Vice president . And this couple is blessed with a son and he is a qualified engineer 

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

A Forgotten Legend, Humanitarian, Founder of the I E L C School for the Blind at Bargur and Deaf School at Ambur Etc, Honorary Doctorate Degree Awardee for Community Services , Nonagenerian Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius . Part Final

Esther Admitted her Children in Boarding Schools at different Places    :  Even in a helpless and terrific situation  Ms Esther obeyed to the inner call of God  and took a firm determination to serve the cause of the visual impaired and other physically challenged children  and people.  none could distract  Ms Dr. Esther from her firm decision . Naturally  she was aware of her responsibility towards the education of her 9 children and as Ms Esther had  connections with some other Christian missions, apart from I.E.L.C, within no time Esther admitted her children in different Christian Boarding Schools in Tamil Nadu and mentally prepared herself for full time social service 

                                                              Ms . Dr. Esther Cornelius 

The Institutions founded by Ms Esther for the cause of the Physically Challenged     After making necessary arrangement  for the education of her children , Ms Esther resigned her Govt  High School Teacher job  and underwent formal Training session to teach the visual impaired; in Victory School and Training Centre for the Blind in Chennai and founded the IELC School for the Blind in Bargur in 1972  with the support  of IELC missionary Rev Manns, amidst hard opposition from the local people of Bargur.  She assumed  charge as the first Head Mistress of the School for the Blind at Bargur and  Esther wanted to extend her area and field of  social service  and so  on the advice of Mr Stein of the Christoffel Blinden Mission , underwent an additional  Training in  Bensheim Germany. Christoffel Blinden Mission came forward to build a School and Home for the Blind [81]at Bargur and now it is one of the biggest schools for the Blind in India  . 

In tune with her vision Ms Esther Cornelius founded the following Service Institutions :- [1] IELC School for the Deaf in Ambur , [2] Oli Illam at the Bargur Blind School , [3] IELC School for the Mentally Retarded at Pernambut. [4] Hostel for the Polio - Physically Challenged at Krishnagiri..[5] Lutheran School - Home for the Deaf and Deaf & Blind at Vellore ,[6]  The Happy Home at KGF, etc,  In addition to starting Schools , Homes and Hostels for the physically and mentally challenged children  Ms Esther Cornelius  introduced and availed the help and support of  Donors  namely [1] Christoffel Blinder Mission, [2]KNH, [3] Compassion International , [4]CASA, [5]World Vision , Etc,.

Ms Esther Cornelius was Honored with a Honorary Doctorate Degree :  Ms Esther Cornelius was honored with a honorary Doctorate  degree for her " Community Service and Development of the less fortunate  in India "  by the authority of  POWER OF FAITH PENTECOSTAL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL in association with DR. STERLING  THEOLOGICAL [UNIVERSITY ] SEMINARIES CANADA ,  on the 13th  day of November 2010.

Ms.Dr, Esther  Cornelius and  The Mission to the Blind,  India     :  It was Ms Esther who galvanized late Mr Sam R. Thanaseelan to start the Mission to the Blind, India and the Mission to the Blind came into being in June 1992, . Ms Jeya Dhanaseelan the National Executive Director of the Mission to the blind India says , "Gradually Esther Akka  became a part of our ministry .She was President of the Board for three years until she had to go to the United States in order to be with her Children"  Moreover Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius gave her daughter late Ms Benedicta's house at Madhavaram in Chennai  to the Mission to the Blind to start a Home for the Young Blind Women and this Home for the Young Blind Women was named after Dr, Esther's demised daughter Ms Jovanna  as per Ms Esther's wish as  "The  Jovanna Home for the Young Blind Women. " Now Mission to the Blind India  is doing spectacular service for the cause of the visual impaired people 

Conclusion    Ms Dr. Esther Cornelius Akka  is a legendary and unassuming woman  living with us . In the institutions founded by Dr. Esther  Cornelius, the underprivileged  children became the privileged ones to be nurtured in Christian Values and faith . Dr Esther Cornelius  Akka stands apart in the world  because she conquered all the obstacles that  boggled and blocked  her way by her firm faith in God  .Dr. Rodney  R. Rynearson , Counselor for .Blind and Deaf Ministries with the Synod [LCMS} for mission services says that . " She [Esther ] is very tenacious, very creative in terms of looking for resources and she is very determined. She will not give up ,you cannot talk Esther out of something she wants to do "   The testimonies given with gratitude by Ms. Dr Esther's former physically challenged students namely Ms Elizabeth, Mr Moses, Mr P.S. Srinivasan, Mr. Mahalingam , Mr. Ravichandran and many others speak and portray, the scale, magnitude and magnanimity of Esther Akka's self less social service for the cause of the physically challenged people . It is not at all possible to cover all aspects of Ms Dr, Esther Cornelius' glowing and fruitful life  in this Article . . Ms. Dr. Esther Cornelius  really deserves  greater honor and recognition from the public and Government  and  the Government of India should  come forward  to honor Ms Dr. Esther Cornealius with  Padma Sri  Award . I salute the living Mother Theresa of IELC .

END

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

A Forgotten Legend, True Missionary, Humanitarian, Founder and First Head Mistress of the I E L C School for the Blind at Bargur , Nonagenerian Ms .Dr. Esther Cornelius. Part ..B..

Ms . Esther's Marriage  with Rev John Cornelius   :   No doubt marriages are made in heaven, and likewise in accordance with the  heavenly scheme Ms Esther  Julia of Madurai was married to an I.E.L,C Pastor namely Rev. John  Cornelius from Ambur  on  May 14 , 1954 at the IELC  Lutheran Church at Ambur,  Definitely it will be useful to the readers and historians to read  some lines about the family of Rev John Cornelius.  Rev Cornelius' forefathers were Christians for 9 generations. His father Noah John was a descendant  of a Spanish Moor . and his mother was Ms Gnanadeepam and  his grandmother [ mother of Gnanadeepam ] was a grand daughter  of a Brahmin Priest .As per Indian  Hindu social custom a Brahmin was not  permitted to marry anyone from any other caste and if they do so he or she will be banned from the community . In spite of knowing this punishment Rev Cornelius' grandparents rising above all barriers boldly married and became husband and wife.[Ref , " LED BY THE CLOUDS ".]  After her marriage, Ms Esther Julia was called as Mrs Esther Cornelius and in tune with the general custom and practice  of the Tamil people , Ms Esther moved to Ambur town to live with her husband Rev. N.J.Cornelius.

                                                              Ms. Dr. Esther Cornelius 

Rev. N.J.Cornelius' Siblings       Rev Cornelius hailed from one of the illustrious Christian families in Tirupattur  district, Tamil Nadu.  Rev Cornelius' parents gave birth to the following Children namely ;- [1] Rev. N. J.  Ezekiel  and he had the privilege to serve as the President of the IELC [ India Evangelical Lutheran Church] and his children are blessed and all of them are living in US., [2]  Mr N.J.Manaseh [3] Ms Mercy, [4] Ms Salomi , [5]   Rev .N.J.Cornelius and he was married to  the heroine of this Article Ms Esther.,[6] Rev.N.J. Benjamin and [7] Mr.  N.J.Victor and he worked as teacher. :

 

                                                Rev. John Cornelius with his wife Ms Esther 

Ms Esther Cornelius and Rev Cornelius Couple's Children  : God blessed  the conjugal life Ms Esther and Rev Cornelius  and this couple gave birth to  five boys and four girls namely ;- [1]  Mr Shiloh and he was working as a Hotel Manager and was living in USA and he passed away in 2018., [2] Ms Beulla worked as a teacher and now retired and lives in  Berlin in Germany, and she is blessed with three  noteworthy children including the world famous Pianist, Musician and Music Producer  Ms Hannah V, [3] Ms. Benedicta and she works as a Nurse in US , [4] Mr Leslie [he was named in memory of Bhishop Lesslie Benigin ]and he worked as a Medical Tech and now he is retired and lives in California ,US, and his wife  Dr Elizabeth  is working as CNO for Kaiser  and this couple's only son is pursuing his Medical Study  and wants to be a Missionary Doctor.[5] Ms Angelin and she worked as a Manager in a firm in Canada and lives in Canada , [6] Mr Godfrey  and he was a Mechanical Engineer  and he passed away  in 2014, [7] Mr Godwin and he works as Nurse in USA, [8 ] Ms Viswasam [ Vish] , C.P.A, and he is working as Chief Finance officer [CFO] in a famous Company in USA and he lives in US with his wife and  two children, Mr .Viswasam is a multifaceted personality ; he is  a great Tamil writer, debater, and so on , and lastly  [9] Ms.Jovanah  and she passed away in 1979. Out of the nine children of  Rev Cornelius and Ms Esther Cornelius  couple ,only six are alive today. 

The Demise of Rev Cornelius and the Decision taken by Ms Esther    : After her marriage Ms Esther  moved to Ambur to live with   her husband Rev N.J Cornelius who was working as an IELC Pastor and Teacher at the IELC Teachers' Training School at Ambur    Ms Esther started to work as a Government High School Science Teacher in the then undivided North Arcot district and it was told that Ms Esther was the first lady High School teacher in the whole of the North Arcot District. . Even though Ms. Esther was working as an efficacious High school Teacher, her inner mind was with the visual impaired and physically challenged children and people who lived around her..  Ms Esther used to travel  during  the early nocturnal hours  to visit the houses of the physically challenged children who lived around Ambur, through any available local bus  And Ms Esther  used to ask the parents of the physically challenged children to admit their children in Boarding Schools  , Many parents wanted to get rid of such children and so they used to send their physically challenged children with Esther. and such Children were given temporary Shelter in her home first and  afterwards she sent them to the Government School for the Blind at Poonamalee , Madras that cared for the physically challenged children. . This attitude of Ms Esther was not liked by her husband and  created some displeasure between them.  However  due to Esther's  initiative   a School for the Deaf  was started in Ambur in 1960,  with a couple of deaf children in the Missionary Bungalow [P62] .Ms Esther continued her compassionate social service with great devotion  In this situation when Ms Esther  teacher was doing her forty plus unexpectedly her husband Rev Cornelius died on December 31st 1971 ;  leaving behind 9 young children under  the custody of Ms Esther Cornelius.  . Though Ms Esther was broken she did not leave her hope and faith in God and at the funeral service of Rev Cornelius, with great grit she reconfirmed her decision to serve the cause of the physically challenged children  .

Part Final will follow  soon 

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

A Forgotten Legend, True Missionary, Humanitarian, Founder and First Head Mistress of the I.E.L.C School for the Blind at Bargur, Nonagenarian Dr Esther Cornelius . Part A

Introduction   :  Living  Nonagenarian Ms Dr Esther Cornelius  is really an unassuming legendary figure. She is  an embodiment of compassion and loving kindness, her indelible selfless service for the cause of the visual impaired people and other physically challenged people  would earn her an  unique  place in history. Her life has become an eye opener to many of the so called religious  people ,who are spiritually blind to the sufferings of the fellow human beings.   We can say she was born to serve and she never expected others to serve her  and there lies her magnificence and uniqueness . Of course human-beings are quick to forget the help done by others and very adamant to remember the wrongs done to them  and naturally Dr. Esther has also become an forgotten Legend .. Dr Esther Cornelius  is 94 years old and  she is living with her children in USA. A perusal of the Founder of the I.E.L.C School for the Blind at Bargur. Ms Esther's   sacrificial life will surely open the inner eyes of the readers  towards the cause of the visual  impaired , and other physically challenged and under privileged people who are living around us

                                                          Mrs. Dr. ESTHER CORNELIUS 

Dr Esther's  Parents and Birth.    Many decades ago in the famous temple city Madurai, in Tamil Nadu  there lived a God fearing man namely Rev. V. Nallathambi [ Madurai American Mission Pastor] with his pious and modest wife  Ms, Paripuranam  Nallathambi and  this  couple, nine decades and four years ago  gave birth to  Dr. Esther the heroine of this Article,  in Madurai.   Rev Nallathambi was a colleague and friend of the famous theologian, missiologist,  writer and Bishop of Madurai CSI Diocese Rt. Rev. Dr. Lesslie Newbigin . It is apt to  infer and remember that since her childhood Dr Esthar's family was well known to  Bishop Lesslie Newbigin  and they were mutual family friends. . Since child hood Esther's parents imbibed good Christian virtues and values like compassion and social service in their daughter Esther's mind. 

Dr. Esther's Siblings  ;  Rev Nallathambi and Ms Paripuranam Nallathambi couple gave birth to the following children namely :- [1] Ms Esther, [2] Ms. Rejina and she worked and retired as Principal of OCPM  Higher Secondary School Madurai, [3]   Ms. Padma  and she worked and retired as Principal of T.E.L.C,  High School at Kumuthi , [4] Ms . Bessie and she worked and retired as Principal of a High School in Bangalore, and [5] Ms Vanaja and she also worked as  teacher and now she is settled in USA.

Ms Esther;s Education    :  Ms Esther was  a brilliant student since her primary school days.. After having successfully completed her School studies she did her collegiate  bachelor degree course in Science at the prestigious American college  in Madurai and passed  her Bachelor Degree meritoriously And subsequently she  qualified herself  to be a  High School Science Teacher   

Dr. Esther's Social and Humanitarian Service started even when she was a College Student  :  Dr  Esther was born  by the will of God to serve the cause of the poor, .physically challenged, last and lost .  Even while  Ms Esther was doing her degree course at the famous American College in Madurai  she started her social and humanitarian service in 1947 at a beggar Home near the Church she attended and   it will be really useful and inspiring  to read a testimony given by late C.S.I  Bishop Dr Lesslie Newbigin    Bishop Rt Rev Lesslie  Newbigin testified as follows, "   I am happy to say that I have known Ms Esther Cornelius since 1947, when she was a student in the American College in Madurai. and I was the Bishop of that city . I first came into contact with her because she was even as a student deeply engaged in care for visual impaired and other helpless people in  the municipal home for beggars near her house . From that time until now she has devoted herself with engaging devotion , courage, faith to serving the needs of those who are forgotten by society ... "   

Next part will follow soon 

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