A Man of God, Tamil Scholar, lexicographer and First Translator of the New Testament and some Books in the Old Testament into Tamil Rev. Bartholomaus[ bartholomew] Ziegenbalg

Introduction:    Rev. Bartholomaus[ Bartholomew] Ziegenbalg of Danish Halle Mission translated the New Testament and some Books up to the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament into Tamil for the first time and thereby had secured a predominant place in the history of translation in India. Rev. Ziegenbalg began the translation work of the Bible into Tamil by the end of 1708 and completed the translation of the New Testament in 1711. And then he began the translation of the Old Testament and on account of his death in 1719 he could not translate beyond the book of Ruth in Old Testament. Rev B. Schultze a successor of Ziegenbalg completed the translation of the remaining books of the Old Testament and the Apocrypha in 1725 [ [i] G. Samuel Iyer, corrected by his son Rev.S. Gnanamonickam, History of the Tranquebar Mission in Tamil, A.D. 1706- 1955. The Tranquebar Printing & Publishing House, Vepery, Madras, 1955, pp. 205 & 206. [ii]. J. Ferd Fenger, History of the Tranquebr Mission, Tranquebar, Evangelical Lutheran Mission Press, 1863, pp 132 -133 ]. A concise study about the translation history of the First Tamil Bible and the Translator will be really useful to the readers, Church historians and present-day Christians.

Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg 

Rev. B. Ziegenbalg's Parents and His Birth:   Long time ago there lived a gentleman in Pulsnitz, Saxony State, Federal Republic of Germany, by name Mr. Batholomaus Ziegenbalg Sr [ 1640--1694] with his wife Mrs Maria nee Bruckha [ 1646--1692] and this couple gave birth to Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg on 24th July, 1683 at Pulsnitz. Both of his parents had intellectual family heritage. Mrs Maria guided her son Rev. B. Ziegenbalg to understand that the Bible is the best treasure in the world. 

Rev. B. Ziegenbalg's Educational Track:    Following the death of his mother and father, young B. Ziegenbalg was left under the care of his eldest sister who kept him with kind concern and sent him to School regularly and guided him to read the bible ardently [ J.Fred Fenger, op. cit.  p. 16]]. In 1698 he attended a School in Gorlitz.  In April 1702 Ziegenbalg attended F. Werder High school in Berlin under Rev, Joachim Lange and learned Hebrew Greek and Latin and returned to his native place Pulsnitz in June 1702 with stomach ailment. In 1703 he visited Leipzig, Wittenburg, and Jena.  In the year 1704 he pursued his higher education at the University of Halle under pietist August Herman Franke. He was sent to tutor first at Merseburg and then at Erfurt. In October 1705 he finished his interim pastoral work in Berlin.  [ [i] 2019 Concordia historical Institute. THE MELIM ONLINE PROJECT. Faces of Lutheran Missions in India, [ii] J. Ferd Fenger, op. cit. p 20].

                                                         Danish Fort at Tranquebar 

Ziegenbalg Reached Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu as a Danish Halle Missionary:   Due to sickness Ziegenbalg wanted to abandon Theology but his academic teacher [ probably Francke] advised and convinced Ziegenbalg not to abandon the study of Theology. Ziegenbalg also decided not to give up Theology, but he was soon obliged to leave Halle on account of his sickness and occupied himself in teaching first at Merseburg and then at Erfurt for a short time. Then he spent a year in Pulsnitz with his sister and then went to Berlin ,[J. Ferd Fenger, p. 20]]. However, during 1704- 1705 Ziegenbalg had the privilege to give sermons in the Churches in the absence of regular Pastors. [ G. Samuel Iyer, corrected by his son Rev. Sa. Gnanamonickam, Op. cit. pp.7-8] While he was in Berlin he came across Lutken's letter asking for Missionaries to be employed by the King of Denmark Frederick IV. This Call was proposed to him and after some initial hesitation Rev. Ziegenbalg accepted the Call. It was a great pleasure to Ziegenbalg that his School and University friend Heinrich Plutschau decided to go with him. In October 1705 Rev. Ziegenbalg and Rev. Heinrich went from Berlin to Copenhagen and were kindly received by the king and Dr. Lutkens and were ordained by Dr. Bornemann, Bishop of Zealand.  [J.  Fred Fenger, Op. cit. PP. 20&21].. On the 29th of November 1705 Heinrich Plutschau and Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg under the good Providence of God and upon the gracious command of His Royal Majesty of Denmark and Norway King Frederick IV. left Copenhagen for the East Indies [ India] as the first Protestant Christian missionaries to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the Non-Christians on the Coromandel Coast.  It would be useful to the readers and Church historians to read the Royal declaration and instructions given by Frederick IV to the First Missionary B. Ziegenbalg " We Frederick IV etc., do hereby made known to all concerned that we in Our Royal favour have engaged and appointed, and do herewith engage and appoint Mr Bartholomew Ziegenbalg, to go as Missionary from here to eastern India, and there to apply himself with all diligence to instruct the heathens who dwell within Our territory and on the borers thereof, in the holy doctrine, as set forth in God's Word and professed in the Symbolic Books of this realm agreeing to the Augsburg Confession, and to bring them to the knowledge of salvation , according to the further terms of the Instructions. which We in Our Royal favour shall for that purpose communicate to him. Out Greetings etc. Dated Copenhagen, 17, Nov, 1705'.   A Royal letter worded like this was written for Mr. henry Plutschau on the same day. Rev. Ziegenbalg and Rev Heinrich arrived at Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu on the 9th of July 1706.  [J. Ferd Fenger, Op.cit. pp.221&22 and p. 309]. 

Rev Ziegenbalg Worked hard to learn Tamil:   Rev. Ziegenbalg understood the importance of having a fluency in Tamil language to communicate and attract the Non-Christian Tamils into Christian fold. Rev Ziegenbalg and his colleague found practical difficulty to find a suitable person to teach them Tamil. After some months they found a Malabar [Tamil ] School Master and requested and invited that 70year old Hindu Teacher into their residence with his little School The missionaries were very anxious to know how the children were taught in his School and so they become students of this Hindu teacher. Rev. Ziegenbalg and Rev Heinrich sat amidst the young students on the sand and learned to write and pronounce the Tamil Alphabets and words. But the aged teacher was unable to translate the words into Portuguese.  Hence the missionaries searched and found out another Indian translator by name  Aleppa who was a Tamil man and was proficient in Portuguese, Danish, German and Dutch.  Ziegenbalg learned Tamil from Aleppa and mastered Tamil with great effort and relentless hard work within a remarkably shot time of 8 months. Aleppa could not teach Tamil language in line with grammatic rules but he explained words and helped these two Danish Missionaries to understand the Tamil Books. Slowly Ziegenbalg and Heinrich gained an insight into the difficult Tamil grammar. [ Dr. S. Nagarajan Professor & Head, Department of Tamil Studies in Foreign Countries, Tamil University, TAMILS ABROAD: NON-ASIAN COUNTRIES, Tamil University, Thanjavur 1995, pp. 426 & 427 ]..After having learned Tamil and read some classic Tamil Books Rev Ziegenbalg said about Tamil " They possess authors on almost all sciences and are expert in many trades and handicrafts. and Ziegenbalg also said that Most Christians in Europe, suppose the Malabarians to be a very barbarous people but this arises from the Europeans who have been amongst them not understanding their language, so that they have not been able to read their books but have drawn their conclusion from outward appearances / [Fred Fenger, Op. cit. P.25] .These sentences of Ziegenbalg speaks about his correct and high opinion about the Tamil language, books and Tamil authors.  

Rev. Ziegenbalg began to Translate the New Testament into Tamil:  In line with his visionary goal and determination Rev. B. Ziegenbalg began to translate the 'New Testament" into Tamil language on the 17thOctober 1708. Though his enthusiastic translation work was blocked by his unjust imprisonment, he continued his translation work as soon as he was released from the prison and completed the translation of all the books in the New Testamen on the 21st of March 1711.  Rev. Ziegenbalg translated it from Greek, Latin, German, Danish and Portuguese; more over he referred many   Bible commentary books.  As soon as he completed the translation of the New Testament into Tamil, he said " All the books of the New Testament are now translated, this is a treasure in India, which surpasses all other Indian treasures. Like his mother Rev. Ziegenbalg also called the New Testament as a Treasure. [ [i] G. Samuel Iyer, Op.cit, p. 205. [ii] J. Ferd Fenger , Op.cit. pp 80 &81].  As soon as the translation of the New Testament was completed by Rev. B Ziegenbalg, the Rev. William Stevenson, Chaplain of the Fort St. George spontaneously appreciated Rev. B. Ziegenbalg in the following words, " We congratulate you, most worthy gentleman, on Account of the Translation of the New Testament into the Damulian Tonge, designed for the use of the Heathen World ".[ Propagation of the Gospel in the EAST. Being the Collection of LETTERS from the Protestant Missionaries, and other worthy Persons in the EAST- Indies, & Co. Part.  III. London, 1718. p.116].  When the Translation of the New Testament had been carefully revised, a Printing Press with Tamil letters received in Tranquebar, they proceeded to print the New Testament in Two parts.  The First part covered the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles and was printed at the Mission- press in Tranquebar and the printing work was completed on 25th September 1714.  The Second Part embraced the remaining books of the New Testament and was printed in small letters on account of want of papers and its Printing work was completed on 18th July 1715. [ [i]J.Ferd. Fenger, Op.cit. p 82 and [ii] G. Samuel Iyer, Op.cit, p. 206].

                                  Front Page of  Ziegenbalg's Tamil New Testament 

Rev. B. Zigenbalg's Wife and Children ;   In Halle, in 1715, Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg married Ms Maria Dorothea Salzmann who was his pupil at Merseburg, where her father was a government secretary. [ J. Ferd . Fenger, op.cit .p 99] Rev. Ziegenbalg and Mrs. Maria Dorothea Ziegenbalg couple gave birth to three children and out of this 2 died early. The eldest was afterwards served as Professor of Mathematics in Copenhagen and then for a time worked as Director of the Danish factory of Frederiksnagar [Ibid. p 312]. 

Rev. B. Ziegenbalg Began to Translate the Old Testament into Tamil:  As soon as Rev. Ziegenbalg had completed the translation of the New Testament into Tamil language. He began the translation of the books of the Old Testament one by one .and systematically. In 1714 even during his journey to Europe he continued his translation work assiduously.  As soon as he returned from Europe to Tranquebar he continued his translation work of the Old Testament.  But his translation work was interrupted by his demise in 1719.  Until the time of his death he had translated the first five books of Moses and books up to the book of Ruth. They printed 400 copies of the Tamil New Testament translated by Rev. Ziegenbalg in Tranquebar, in 1720 [ Ibid, p. 83, [ii] G. Samuel Iyer, Op. cit, P.206]

 

                                      Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg' Grave in Tranquebar 

Conclusion:     Rev Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg lived in this world for a short span of 36 years only [ 1683- 1719] but by his exemplary life and extraordinary accomplishment he lives in our minds.in his books. and in the institutions that he built.   Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg died at Tranquebar on 23, February 1719 and was buried next day in New Jerusalem Church, at Tranquebar. He was blessed with the gift of learning foreign languages very easily. Even though he lost both of his parents at an early age he did not lose hope and grit to face challenges in life. He mastered Tamil language within a very short span of time. He had not only translated New Testament and some books of Old Testament into Tamil but also had authored some praiseworthy and useful books. Ziegenbalg ardently studied Tamil words and their meaning during a short span of two years. He collected 20000 Tamil words and to collect these words Rev Ziegenbalg read books on Theology, History, Philosophy, Medicine and Phi logy. and complied his famous Malabar Dictionary {Tamil-- German Dictionary] after 4 years this lexicon had grown to 40000 words and expressions. This Malabar Dictionary was arranged according to Tamil alphabet. Rev. Ziegenbalg complied a poetical Dictionary of 17000 words out of all kinds of poetical writings, under the guidance of some experienced Tamil poets. Ziegenbalg considered his Dictionaries as great treasures and hoped that with God's blessings they would become invaluable [ [J. Fred. Fenger, op.cit, p 34. [ii]  Dr. S. Nagarajan, op.cit. p 428]. Rev Ziegenbalg correctly understood the power of Music in Worship Services and Rev Ziegenbalg's one of the notable contributions was the compilation of a Tamil Christian Hymn Book. This Hymn book contained the translations of classic Lutheran Hymns and original compositions that reflect the theological and cultural context of the Tamil Christians. Rev. Ziegenbalg was a great educationist, actually he opened Charity Schools/ Free Schools in Tranquebar and laid the foundation for Free Education policy of the present-day Governments. Boldly, delightfully and gratefully we can say that Rev. Bartholomaus[ Bartholomew] Ziegenbalg was the Founder of the Protestant Christianity in India. It is not possible to accommodate all the important and glowing chapters of his sacrificial life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence. " Dear and respected Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg I thank and praise God for you, and proud of you ".  

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

An Efficacious I.T. Engineer and Assistant Vice President at Bank of America, Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E, M.B.A[ I.T],. .

Introduction    :  An Assistant Vice President at Bank of America Mr. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E,, M.B.A,[I.T] is a remarkable IT Engineer and as an Assistant Vice President at the Bank of America, Mumbai he looks after the India Infrastructure for the F.I.C.C. Market Assets.  His educational and professional journey deserves our perusal and admiration. Definitely his promising and admirable profile will guide and galvanise the youth of this nation to strive for a successful life and live a meaningful life. 

 
                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E, M.B.A, [I.T] 

Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas' Parents and Birth:    Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas' father Mr. J. Dhas hails from a good Christian family in Kanyakumari District and God blessed Mr. J. Dhas and his wife Mrs. Gunaseeli Dhas with all the connubial blessings and this blissful couple gave birth to Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas on the 12th, April 1979 in Nagercoil. It would be apt and useful to the readers to read some more lines about Mr. J. Dhas.  Mr. J. Dhas is really an enterprising person, and on completion of his academic studies he went to Mumbai in search of a job and worked in some Companies and gained wok experience and in tune with his vision he became a Publisher and Editor of a Bi Monthly English  magazine called " Safety Equipment Review " .With great grit he started this Bi Monthly magazine and initially he published 2000 copies and by his hard work he raised the circulation of this magazine to 10000 copies. This Bimonthly magazine became very popular in the industrial and business circle in Mumbai. How ever on account of his age and tight business competition he closed down the publication of this Bimonthly and returned to his native place in Kanyakumari district. Mr. J. Dhas deserves our appreciation for his innovative thinking and his accomplishment in the field of industrial journalism.  

Er. Joseph's Siblings: God blessed Mr. J. Dhas and Mrs. Gunaseeli Dhas with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children namely: [1] Mr. Joseph Allwin Dhas, B.E, MBA, [ He is the hero of this Article], [2] Ms. Esther Karoline, M.Com, and she is married to Mr A. Sathu, M.Sc, M.Phil . Ms Esther Karoline worked in a Charted Accountant's Firm as Deputy Manager for some years and now she has left her job and works as a Homemaker. Mr. A. Sathu is working in a Pharmaceutical Company as a Marketing Specialist for more than fifteen years. This couple is blessed with two daughters namely; [ i] Ms Arpitha  Sathu and she is doing her B.A and [ii] Ms Vedha Sathu and she is doing her 3rd Std; [3]  Mr. Martin Ebenezer Dhas, B.A, B.Ed, and he is working as a Senior Teacher in an acclaimed international School in Mumbai and formerly he worked as a Lecturer in two reputed Colleges in Mumbai namely " D.G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce and S.I.E.S. College of Arts, Science and Commerce. Mr. Martin Ebenezer is married to Ms. Jessica, B.A, B. Ed, and this couple is blessed with a son.

Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas' Educational track:  Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas did his Primary School, High  School in the South Indian Education Society High School, Mumbai, and Plus two in the South Indian Education Society Higher Secondary School in Mumbai. He passed his SSLC in the year 1995 and Plus Two in 1997. Then he pursued his B.E, [ Electronics and Tele-communication] in the S.S Jhondhale College of Engineering in Thane and passed his B.E. in 2002. Later he pursued his MBA [I.T] in the Sikkim Manipal University [distance education] and passed his MBA [IT] in the year 2014.

Er Joseph Allwin 's Wife and Child:.       Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas married Ms Sophia Jenifer,  M.Sc, M.Phil, daughter of Mr. Martin Chandra and Mrs. Daisy Chandra on 20th May 2009 in Nagercoil, and this couple is blessed with a son by name Rogan.

Er. Joseph Allwin Chandra's Professional Track:   Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas started his career with a leading  I.T. solution Company called the P.C.S in Mumbai, and  as an  I.T. Engineer and worked in this company for one and half year and then left this company and joined another Company called The Clearing Corporation of India in Mumbai as an Executive officer and worked in this company with great devotion and he was promoted as Team leader and Deputy Manager.  He worked in the Clearing Corporation of India for 15 years with distinction and in 2022 he left the Clearing Corporation of India Company and joined the Bank of America as an Assistant Vice President [ Application Control Specialist] and he looks after the India Infrastructure for F.I.C.C. Market, Assets, Fixed income Currency and Commodities, with great professional efficacy

Conclusion:   Er. Joseph Allwin Dhas is a hard worker and an innovative I.T. Engineer and definitely his relentless will to come up in life through relentless hard work will take him to greater heights in his professional career. While he was studying in High School and Higher Secondary School, he was a good Cricket and Football Player and even today he is great Cricket and Football fan.  He helped his father's Publication business as Technical Editor, from 2002 till 2010.  He is honest, unassuming, intelligent, and he loves his wife, son and parents so much. Currently he has been working as an Assistant Vice President at the Bank of America, Mumbai with great dedication, professional commitment, efficacy and enthusiasm. It is not possible to cover all the important events and chapters of his life story within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence," Dear Mr. Joseph Allwin Dhas we thank God for you and proud of you and God Bless you ".

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

An Unsung Weightlifting Young Lady Athlete and Champion, Hard Worker and Winner of First Prizes in many District and State Level Weightlifting Competitions Ms. G. Soniya, B.Sc. Viscom,.

Introduction    : Ms. G. Soniya is an actuator and living version of great Tamil Poet Bharathi's New Modern Woman.{ Puthumai Penn ]. Now a days girls and women are competing with males not only intellectually, educationally but also physically.. Ms.G. Soniya is really an inspiring example of Bharathi's New Era Woman.  She had boldly crossed the line of gender distinctions and limitations and had proved that Girls can also lift heavy weights  like  strong males. . Weightlifting equips a person not only to lift more heavier weight than one's body weight but also to overcome heavy challenges in real life. . She is not only a Weightlifter but also a holder of Visual Communication Degree.  Girls  rarely choose Weightlifting sport as their favourite sport, but Ms. G.  Sonia has boldly entered into this rare sport field and had proved  her mental concentration and physical power. Now a days definitely ladies need to equip themselves with necessary mental courage and physical strength to protect themselves from antisocial human beings. Weightlifting Sport definitely moulds and converts a weak person as a strong person, mentally and physically. Ms. G. Sonia even though is a first generation graduate she has boldly selected weightlifting as her favourite sport and proved herself as a  Weightlifting  Champion in state level.  Definitely a perusal of her life story will encourage many young girls and women to acquire new hope and mental grit to achieve and reach their goals and live a meaningful life

 

                                                            Ms. G. Soniya, B.Sc. Viscom 

Ms. G. Soniyas's Parents and Birth    ;         Mr. Gnanaraj [Durai] is a promising and upcoming entrepreneur [  Real estate business] in Kanyakumari District, and he lives with his beloved wife Mrs. Mary Stella happily and God blessed Mr. Gnanaraj and his wife Ms. \Mary Stella with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to Ms Soniya on the 25th November 2000.

Ms G. Soniya's  Siblings  ; God Blessed Mr. Gnanaraj and his wife Ms Stella Bai and this couple gave birth to the following children namely :-[1] Mr. G. Weslin, M.B.A  and [2] Ms G. Soniya [ the heroine of this Article]. 

Ms. G. Soniya's Educational Track  ;  Ms. G. Soniya did her Primary School education at the Lutheran Primary School , Vadasery, Nagercoil and then she pursued her 6th Std to 12th Std at the Government Higher Secondary School , Vadasery.  After having passed her Plus Two  she pursued her B.Sc Viscom at the famous  Noorl Islam College of Arts and Science , Kumarakovil [ 2018--2021] and passed her B.sc . Viscom in 2021  in First Class.

Ms. G. Soniya won the First Prize 
. 

Ms. G. Soniya's Weightlifting Accomplishments ;  Ms. G. Soniya ardently enthusiastically participated in the District Level and State Level Weightlifting competitions conducted by the competent sport authorities and associations and won many prizes. Ms. G. Soniya bagged the District First Prize in the monthly weightlifting competitions conducted on 24-08-2016 and   28-10- 2016 . She won the Third Prize in the Tamil Nadu State Weightlifting Championship competition held on 23-10- 2016 and 6-11-2016.  Ms G. Soniya bagged First Prize in the weightlifting competition conducted by Kanyakumari District Power Lifting Association on 18-09- 2016... She became District Second in the Kanyakumari District Weightlifting Championship competition held on 10-11-2018.. She bagged Third Prize in the Tamil Nadu State Weightlifting Championship Competition held on 18-11-2018.. She won Second Prize in the Weightlifting Competition conducted by the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli in the year 2018. She won Third Prize in the District Level Chief Minister Trophy Weightlifting Competition held on 28- 01- 2019. Ms G. Soniya relentlessly continued her weightlifting exercises. She bagged the prestigious First Prize [ State First ] in the State level Weightlifting Competitions conducted by the Tamil Nadu Strength Building Association on 15th May 2022 and 4th June, 2023. 

Conclusion   :  By winning many prestigious Awards and Prizes in the Weight-lifting Championship Competitions held at the district and State level, Ms G, Sonya has brought laurels to his parents, family and to Kanyakumari District.  She is not only a Weightlifting Champion but also is a brilliant student. she passed her B.Sc Viscom in first Class and after fer BSc.[Viccom] she did three months Internship in Adwants [ Advertising Agency] in Chennai she had also worked as a Freelancer Graphic Designer in TOP Consultants for 2 years. She is a hard worker, God fearing and unassuming young woman. She not only loves her parents but also lends a helping hand to her father in his business enterprise. She is blessed with creative talents and aesthetic taste.  I am quite sure that in the near future Tamil Nadu Govt will recognise her achievements in the field of Weightlifting and help her to get a suitable job in accordance with her educational qualification. It is not possible to accommodate all the chapters of her life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Article with the following sentence. "Dear Ms G. Soniya we are proud of you and wish you a blessed future ".

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

                    

                                                           

A Former Charge Nurse at ARAMCO, Book Lover, Ardent Reader, Lover of Bible, Photographer and a Scion of an Illustrious Christian family in Kanyakumari Dist late Mr G. Selvados, R.N. and His family.

Introduction  : A Former Charge Nurse at ARAMCO late Mr G. Selvados was a colourful  personality, he was a lover of Books and was a member of " Book of the Month Club", ardent Reader, talented Photographer, Cricket and Tennis fan, and a great Christian believer. He was one of the pioneer male Nurses, who studied Nursing Diploma Course in the CBH, Nagercoil, and was privileged to work as a Registered Nurse in the famous ARAMCO. He met many ups and downs in his life but he surmounted all his challenges by his firm faith in God.  God blessed his family. Definitely a perusal of his life story will galvanise the readers to lead a meaningful and hopeful life.

Mr. G. SELVADOS 

Mr. G. Selvados' Parents and Birth:  During the 20th century there lived a Christian gentleman in Agasteeswaram taluk in Kanyakumari district, by name Mr Gnanamuthu with his beloved and beautiful wife by name Mrs Annammal Gnanamuthu and God blessed this couple with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to Mr. G. Selvados  on  24 th July 1925. Mr. Selvados's father Mr.  Gnanamuthu's paternal grandfather late Mr Gnanamuthu Deacon hailed from a pioneer L.M.S.  Christian family in South Travancore and I was told that Mr. Gnanmuthu Deacon's forefathers came from Tanjore area and settled in the  historical Osaravilai village in Agastheeswaram taluk, kanyakumari District.

Mr. G. Selvados' Siblings:  God blessed Mr Gnanamuthu and Mrs Annammal Gnanamuthu and this couple gave birth to the following children namely :-[1] Mr. G. Selvados [ the Hero of this Article], [2] Mrs. Paranjothi and Mr. G. Subanantha Raj and he worked as a Primary School Teacher in Government Schools in Tamil Nadu and retired.  

Mr. G. Selvados' Educational Track: Mr. G. Selvados did his School and High School Education at the Scott Christian High School Nagercoil and Carmel High School in Nagercoil. Then he pursued his Diploma Course in Nursing at the famous Catherine Booth Hospital in Nagercoil .and passed his Nursing Diploma Course 

                                  Groom Mr. G. SELVADOS and Bride  Mrs  SAROJINI BAI 

Mr. G. Selvados's  wife     Mr G Selvados married Ms Sarojini Bai on 15 th December 1950 [ D/O Dr. K. S. Muthiah and Mrs Annal Muthiah]. It will be interesting to note here that his wife Mrs Sarojini Bai, was his mother's brother's  daughter. 

                                Mr. G. Selvados with his Wife Sarojini Selvados and Children 

Mr. G. Selvados'  Children   : God blessed the connubial life of Mr G. Selvados and Mrs Sarojini Selvados with all the conjugal blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children namely :-

[1] Mrs Ann Vanitha, B.Sc, B.Ed, M.Div, and she worked as a BT Assistant and retired. She married Mr. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A, M.Div, [ He is an Author of Four Books in English and a  short Novel in Tamil and he is a Blogger ] and this couple gave birth to the following children namely ;-[a] Ms. Dr. Sangeetha Neeraja, B.Sc, M.S.W, M.Sc [U K] Ph.D [U.K],  She did her PhD at the Centre  for Ageing Research [C4AR],Lancaster University, UK, and she married Mr Sanjit Daniel and he works as a Lead Software Engineer in Balfour Beatty PLC , a UK based international  infrastructure company,  [b] Mr. Praveen Reuben Babu , B.Sc [ Nursing ]and he is working in NHS, UK as Nurse Practitioner and he lives in UK with his wife Ms Heroline Reena Reuben, B.Sc [ Nursing--NHS],  and two cute daughters namely Ms Michelle Reuben and Ms Rachel Reuben , and [c] Ms Anuraga , B.Pharm, MRPharmS.  She after having done her B.Pharm in India  did a PG Diploma Course in Pharmacy in Robert Gordon University, UK.   She is a registered Pharmacist and a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. [ MRPharmS] and currently she is working in UK as a registered Pharmacist in BOOTS, UK  Ms Anuraga is married to Mr Vimal, BPT { Senior Physiotherapist , NHS, ] and this couple is blessed with a cute daughter, by name Ms. Varsha  Vimal.  Mrs Anuraga is living with her husband and daughter in UK,

 [2] Mr George Manoharan [ expired],;  

[3] Mrs. Nancy Nimala and she is married to Dr. D. Manoharan, MBBS, DA, MD . Dr. D Manoharan  retired as a District Medical Superintendent, Govt of Tamil Nadu. and he is a winner of the State Award from the Govt of Tamil Nadu in recognition of his life long service to the cause of the sick people. In-spite of his personal disability the State Award for Best Employee- Locomotor Disability was presented to Dr. D. Manoharan by the Govt of Tamil Nadu, in 2011.Ms  Nancy and Dr..Manoharan couple gave birth to the following children namely ;[a] Ms. Dr. Ramya , BDS [expired], and [b] Er. Vijay Gideon, B.E, MBA and he married Ms Rebecca, BSc and this couple is blessed with three cute daughters namely[i] Ms Ramya Gideon, [ii]Ms Rachel Gideon and [iii] Ms Riya Vijay  Gideon 

[4 Dr. Gibson Selvadoas, MBBS and he married Ms Sujata , B.Com, DBM,  from Malad Mumbai, [ a daughter of entrepreneur late Mr. Samuel of Malad, Mumbai ]   After having passed his MBBS, Dr. Gibson Selvados worked in the famous Greek Cypriot Multinational Company called JOANNOU & PARAKEVAI OVERSEAS LTD, in Saudi Arabia and its HQ is based in UK from 23rd May 1990 to February 2018 with great dedication and great efficacy, In 2019 Dr Gibson resigned his job and returned to India with his family. Now he resides in Bangalore with his smart wife Sujata and cute daughter Ms Ruth Sanchia, B.A,.

[5] Mr. Dixon Selvados   . Mr Dixon Selvados is one of the highly talented and famous Photographers in Kanyakumari District and he is married to Ms Chandra Lekha from Kerala . Ms Chandra Lekha is  a close relative of the current Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat President Adv. Suresh Kumar, BA, LLB . Mr Dixon  is a  member of Tamilnadu Video and Photographers Association . and recently he received the Life Long Service Award  from the Tamilnadu Video Photography Association , for his tireless and continuous service for the cause of Photography ..

[6] Mrs Irene   :   Ms Irene was an outstanding Basket Ball Player. She was a district Player, University Player and Junior State Player. She played for the state of Tamil Nadu as a Junior State Basketball Team Member [below 18 years]  continuously from 1981 to 1984 . Ms Irene was a great Cyclist also and she won first Prize at the district level Competition conducted by the Rotary Club.. Ms  Irene married Footballer C Andrew , B.A, B.P.Ed,  and this couple gave birth to the following daughters namely ;[a] Ms Dhanya Sharon B.Sc [Nursing] and she married Mr Praveen Kumar, B.Sc, [ Nursing] and this couple is blessed with two children namely ;-[i]Mr. Ryan Samuel Praveen Kumar and [ii] Ms Giana Praveen Kumar, [b] Ms. Magdaline Diyana Andrew, M.A, M.Phil, and she is working as an Assistant Professor of English, Bishop Heber College, Trichy and she is married to Mr Stev Loney, MA, M.Phil and this couple gave birth to a cute son by name Mr. S. Shane Leroy. 

      Ms Inrene Selvados receives the First Prize[ a BiCycle]  in Cycle Race conducted by Rotary.

[6] Mr Nixon Selvados [expired]. .

Mr. G. Selvados' Professional Track   :   After having passed his Nursing Diploma Course Mr G Selvados got the privilege to start his Nursing career as a Male Staff Nurse in the famous ARAMCO Hospital in Saudi Arabia. After some years he was promoted as a Charge Nurse. and he served in the ARAMCO Hospital in Alkhobar with great dedication and efficacy for more than fifteen years.  Then he took an early retirement and returned to India and again he went to Saudi Arabia and worked in the Saudi Rail Road Hospital at Dammam Port as Nursing Supervisor for many years with great distinction. And after having served in the Saudi Rail Road Hospital, Dammam, on retirement he returned to India. and lived happily with his family in Nagercoil till his death in the year 1997.

Conclusion   : Late Mr. G. Selvados was an inspiring and multitalented man and he was very smart and the dressing code he followed deserves our appreciation.  He was very outspoken, enthusiastic, imaginative and at times very emotional, .He was a lover of useful and knowledgeable facts and figures  and he did not confine himself with the subject of Nursing but also he longed to read books on Indian History, World History, World Religions, Philosophy, Sport, etc and so he spent money to buy books on these subjects. He was a good Athelete during his School days and he was a great fan of Tennis and Cricket games.  As he crossed the age of fifty he started to read the Holy Bible systematically and Bible Commentaries. assiduously. and subsequently he became an expert to talk and discuss about the Second Coming of Lord Jesus Christ and Final Judgement. His command over English language was laudable. He did his best to give the best education to his children and tried to make two or three medical doctors out of his children but only his son Dr. Gibson actuated his father's expectation.  Mr G. Selvados  was after biblical truth and he was never after money. By the grace of God he was blessed with all the blessings mentioned in the famous Psalm 128..  He was a committed Nurse throughout his life.  It is not possible to cover all important chapters of his life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence, " Dear  Mr. G. Selvados we thank God for you and proud of you "

END,

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

A Scion of an illustrious and Pioneer Christian Family in Tamil Nadu and currently Business Analyst in NTT DATA Inc, Bangalore Mr. Er. Clement Daniels, B.Sc, M.C.A,.

 

Introduction       : Mr. .Clement Daniels , B.Sc, M.C.A, is a scion of an illustrious and pioneer Christian Family in Tamil Nadu and currently he has been working since 2016 as a Business Analyst in the famous multinational Company, NTT  DATA Inc in Bangalore with great dedication and efficacy He is a colourful personality and also a talented Musician.   He has a good command over English Language and a perusal of his life story will inspire the readers and the youth of this great nation to think about great goals and to live a purposeful and meaningful life.

                                                       Mr. Clement Daniels , B.Sc, M.C.A,.

Mr. Clement Daniels' Parents and His Birth   Many Decades ago there lived a Christian gentleman by name Mr Devavaram Raj Daniel with his beloved wife Mrs. Marthal Packiam Daniel [ a Daughter of Mrs. Jeevartnam Caleb].  Mr. Devavaram Raj Daniel went to Malaysia with his wife and worked as a Manager of an Estate in Johor Province. Malaysia. and to this couple Mr Paules Gerald Daniels was born on 11th January 1936 [ father of Mr. Clement Daniels]. Because of the Second World War Mr Devavaram Raj Daniel returned to Nagercoil with his family.  Mr Paules Gerald Daniels, did his B.Com at St Hindu College Nagercoil. and passed his B.Com,. Mr. P.G. Daniels   married Ms P. Jessie Lydia, M.A, M.Ed, on the 20th August 1969  and this blessed couple gave birth to Mr. Clement Daniels on 19th October 1973 .  In this context it would be useful to the readers and micro historians to know some more details about Mr Clement Daniels' parents and their historical roots.  Mr. Paules Gerald Daniels did his B.Com at the famous S.T Hindu College at Nagercoil and after having passed his B.Com he joined the Tamil Nadu Govt service.  and after a long service he retired as an Industrial Cooperative Officer on 31st January 1994... Mr Paules Gerald Daniels hailed from an illustrious pioneer Christian family in Kanyakumari district..Mr..Paules  Gerald Daniels' mother late Mrs Marthal Packiam's mother Mrs Jeevaretnam Cleb's father Mr.P. Vethamonickam[ Junior] was the son of Mrs. Packiyayi Packianathan of Mylaudy and Mrs, Pakiyayi Packianathan was a daughter of Mylaudy Maharasan Vethamonickam., the real Founder of Protestant Christianity in South Travancore [ A Hundred Years in Travancore , 1806-1906, compiled by Rev. I.H. Hacker, , London Missionary Society, LONDON , 1908. P.20 .]  Mr. Cement Daniels' mother late Mrs. P. Lydia Jessie , M.A, M.Ed, was a daughter of [MELIM / IELC ] Lutheran Minister Rev. Packianathan and Mrs. Deivayee Packianathan . Mrs P. Lydia Jessie was born on the 15th, January , 1940.  After having passed her M.A[ Lit]and M.Ed she joined Tamil Nadu Government Educational Service and worked in the education department with great distinction and retired as a  Chief Educational Officer in January 1998.  Mrs Lydia Jessie Daniels was a strong supporter and contributor towards various Christian outreach programmes of some Christian organisations like FMPB, Visha Wani . IMS, Tamil Village Gospel Mission, Anaikkum Karangal , etc.  Mrs. Lydia Jessie  Daniels passed away on the 5th February 2017.

     

L to R : [ Top Row] [1]  Mrs Mary John Ebenezer , [2] Mr John Ebenezer [3] Ms Beulah Shanthini [ D/O Mr .T.R. Daniel] 

L to R [ Bottom Row {1] Mr. P.G. Daniels , [2] Mrs. P.  Lydia Jessie, [3] Ms. Stella Daniels, [4] Mr. D.R. Daniel, [5] Mrs. Rani Sarojani Bai Daniel [ She is a daughter of  late Mrs Jeevaretnam Caleb's son Mr. John Sahayam  and she married a son of  her paternal aunt  Mrs. Marthal Packiam,  [6] Master John Raj Kumar, Daniel [S/o Mr T.R. Daniel] and [7] Mr. T.R. Daniel  

  L to R  ;-[1] Mr. Clement Daniels, [2] Mr. P.G. Daniels, [3] Mrs P. Lydia Jessie and [4] Ms. Stella Daniels.

Mr. Clement Daniels' Siblings :      Mr. Paules Gerald Daniels married Ms P. Lydia Jessie , a daughter of a Lutheran Minister Rev. Packianathan and Mrs. Deivayee . on 20th August 1969 . God blessed this couple with all the conjugal and other blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children namely : [1]  Ms. Stella Packia Priya, M.Sc[ Physics],M.Ed, and she married Computer Engineer Mr Elil Arulraj, B.E, and he is working in I.T. sector in USA . The following are some of the important posts that Mr. Elil  held and holds  in USA:-[1]  From August 2017  till Feb 2021 he served as the Executive Director, Cybersecurity / Global head of Network Security [ HSBC] , Greater  New York City area, [2] He served as Senior Director, Global Head of Cybersecurity Engineering , Aon- Full Time, from June 2021 to Oct 2024  [3  yrs 5 Months], [3]  Currently he serves as Director , Cyber Security Engineering and Operations. The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation [DTCC}, from Feb 2025 till date with great distinction and efficacy.. This couple is blessed with two cute daughters namely ;-[1] Ms. Jennifer Elil, M.P.H[ Masters in Public Health], University of Pittsburgh, USA and [2] Ms. Jessica Elil, B.A. {psychology], Temple University, Philadelphia. Ms Stella Elil. M.Sc, M.Ed,.  is currently working as a Kindergarten Teacher in New Jersey, U.S A and [2] Mr. Clement Daniels , B.Sc.M.C.A, [ he is the hero of this Article ]

Mr. Clement Daniels' Educational Track    :    Young Clement Daniels did his Primary school studies at the famous E.D. Willmott English School at Nagercoil and then he studied till his 9th standard at the Pari Vallal Matriculation School, Singampunari . The he pursued his 10th Std  to 12 Std at the SLB Govt Higher Secondary School at Nagercoil and passed his SSLC in the year 1989. and his Plus Two in the year 1991. It would be appropriate to mention one news that Mr Clement Daniles stood School Second in the SSLC Government exam held in 1989.  After having scored very high marks Mr Clement pursued his B.Sc [ Physics] in the Scott Christian College [ 1991- 1994]   and he served as the Secretary of the UG Physics Association of the Scott Christian College [1993-- 1994].. He was also a Part of the Scott Christian College Four Part Choir, directed by Mr. Duleep Daniels, between 1992-93 and 93-94, singing Tenor. This was believed to be the first time that Scott College had a Choir Team of her own.. . While he was doing his B.Sc [ Physics] he topped the Third Semester English Paper and he was awarded a Certificate during the Centenary Celebrations of the College in 1993. After having passed his B.Sc[ Physics] in High Second Class in 1994. he pursued his MCA at the famous Voorhees College Vellore [1994-1997]. and passed his M.C.A . in 1997.. 

                             Mr. CLEMENT DANIELS  and  HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN 

Mr. Clement Daniels Wife and Children  :  Mr. Clement Daniels , BSc, MCA married Ms. Krithika Adrene ,  daughter of Mr. A.J. Allan, B.Sc, and Mrs Ponmalar Allan on 24th May, 2002 at the CSI Home Church Nagercoil.  It would be interesting to remember one important fact that Mr Clement Daniles' paternal grandmother Mrs Martha Packiam and Mrs krithika Clement Daniels' maternal grandmother Mrs Davamani were sisters.  Mr Clement Daniels and his wife Krithika Clement  are the great grandchildren of late Mrs Jeevaratnam Caleb and Mrs Jeevaratnam was a great granddaughter of Mylaudy Maharasan Vethamonicakam.. God blessed Mr. Clement Daniels and Mrs Krithika Adrene Clement with all the connubial blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children namely ;-[1] Mr. Timothy Daniels and he is completing his B.Com at St. Joseph's Bangalore., [2]Ms. Joanna and she is doing her I I nd  , PUC at Jyothi Nivas  P.U. College, Bangalore.. 

Mr. Clement Daniels' Professional Track  : After having passed his M.C.A , Mr Clement Daniels joined as a Marketing Executive at Veeras Market in T Nagar, Chennai in 1997  and in 1998 he shifted to Bangalore to join in Core I.T. Industry. He joined in the Configuration Management Department at DELL  in November 2003 and worked with great devotion till Mid 2016.. Then he moved to DELL in November 2016 as a Business Analyst in the I.T. Service Management domain and works with great professional efficacy. 

                                                     Mr. Clement Daniels with his Guitar 

Conclusion    :  Mr. Clement Daniels, B.Sc, M.C.A, is really a colourful and multitalented personality.. He loves Music and he is a talented Musician [ Vocal and Instrumental] and  he had represented the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil at the University Competitions.  While he was studying at the Scott Christiaan College, Nagercoil  he had represented the College and participated at the ART Cine Lude Competition held at Kovilpatti and won the First Prize. He is a convincing Communicator and fluent Conversationalist and he has a commendable command over English. He has a natural taste and love for family history and local Church History.  He loves his wife and children, family members, music and reading so much.  He is unassuming and honest. He is not only very intelligent but also a Hard Worker and definitely he will reach great and enviable places and heights in his professional career.  He hails from a historic and historical Christian family from Tamil Nadu. It is not possible to accommodate all the important chapters of his real life within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Article with the following sentence, "Dear Mr. Clement Daniels , we thank God for you and proud of you".

END.

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

A Blessed Mother of two Eminent sons Including an I.A.S. Officer , Former Associate Professor and Head of Chemistry Department at Rani Anna Govt College for Women, , Tirunelveli Mrs. Asso Professor Esther Chellam, M.Sc, M.Phil,

Introduction   :     Former  Associate Professor and Head of Chemistry department at Rani Anna College for Women Tirunelveli  Ms. Esther Chellam, M.Sc, M.Phil, is a remarkable women  educationist, with good virtues, values,  and appreciable traits She was an ideal and excellent Teacher who was/ is loved and respected by her students, colleagues and the family members very much. She was a brilliant student and efficacious Teacher  and had produced many brilliant students. She is a blessed mother of two eminent and intelligent sons including one IAS Officer, She is a an inspiring  educationist and unassuming honest human-being and her enviable profile will definitely galvanise the readers and fellow citizens to live a meaningful life 

                               Rtd. Associate Professor of Chemistry  Mrs. Esther  Chellam , M.Sc, M.Phil,.

Asso. Prof. Mrs. Esther Chellams' Parents and her Birth   :  Former  Asso. Prof Esther Chellam's  native village Oduppurai, Kandanvillai  is a tiny village but it has produced a few great  Government servants like  former Additional Chief Secretary to the Govt of kerala Mr. Michael Vethasironmoni, IAS and this unsung, unknown poetic village lies on the eastern side of  Eraniel town , the former capital of Travancore Kingdom  .The father of Associate Professor Esther Chellam , Mr D. P  Mony was a native of this village God blessed Mr. D. P Mony and his  affectionate and prayerful wife Mrs Paulammal mony  and this  blessed couple gave birth to Mrs. Esther Chellam the heroine of this Article,  on the 8th November 1950. 

Ms Esther Chellam's Siblings  : Mr. D.P. Mony  Mrs Paulammal Mony couple was blessed with all the connubial blessings and this blessed couple gave birth to the following children namely ;- [1] Mrs. Esther Chellam , M.Sc, M.Phil. , the heroine of this blogpost. , [2] Mr. P. Michael Vethasironmony, M.Sc, IAS and he retired as an additional Chief Secretary to the Govt of Kerala and [3]  Mr. P. Charles  D Mony, Director , Geological Survey of India [Rtd], 

Asso. Professor Esther Chellam's  Educational Track   : Since her  Primary School days Mrs . Esther Chellam had been a brilliant student .  As her dear father Mr. D.P.. Mony was working in the Indian Army he was transferred frequently to various places in India and as a corollary Ms. Esther Chellam pursued  her education in various places in India.  Ms Esther Chellam did her Primary school education  at St Mary's School , Alahabad in U,P,. She did her VI th Class  at  the SMRV High School , at Vadasery, Nagercoil,. Then she pursued her VII to XI classes at the Holy Family High School, Trimulgherry, Secondrabad in Andrapradesh. . After having passed her SSLC with very high marks she did her P.U.C and  B.Sc at the famous Holy Cross College , Nagercoil and passed her BSc meritoriously. After having passed her B.Sc with flying colours she pursued her M.Sc at the prestigious American College, Madurai  and she passed her MSc with University rank.  In line with her relentless thirst  for knowledge she pursued her M.Phil at the M.S University Tirunelveli and passed her  M.Phil, meritoriously. 

Her Teaching career   ;  Ms. Esther Chellam,  joined as a Chemistry Lecturer at the famous Holy Cross College, Nagercoil,  and worked in the Holy Cross College  during the period 1972- 73. From 1973 she worked as  lecturer at the famous Sri Meenakshi Govt College for Women , Madurai 2. From June 1975 till October  1983 she worked as a Chemistry Assistant Professor   at the NKR Govt College for Women, Namakkal . Then she was transferred and from Nov !983 till May 2007 she worked as an Associate Professor and Head  of Chemistry Department  at the famous  Rani Anna Govt College for Women Tirunelveli ,with great distinction and efficacy and she retired on May 2007. . 

          Asso, Professor Esther Chellam and Rtd Asist Director of Statistics Mr. Thanapaul, M.A,. 

Her husband and children:  Ms. Esther Rani Chellam married Mr. N. Thanapaul. M.A, son of Mr Nallathambi from Vadakkankulam  and Mr N. Thanapaul worked in the Govt of Tamil Nadu and retired as Assist. Director of Statistics.  Mr. N. Thanapaul and Mrs Esther Chellam Thanapaul couple gave birth to the following children namely; [1] Mr. T. Arvinth, B.E , M.B.A, and he is working in Virginia, USA and he married Ms Ethel  Arvinth , B.E, and she is also working in Virginia , USA and [2]  Mr. T. Anand , I.A.S,  and he formerly worked as Collector of Tiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu and  also had decorated many important Offices in the Govt of Tamil Nadu with distinction and  currently he is working as Commissioner of Adhi Dravidar Welfare Department , Govt of Tamil Nadu and he married, Ms .Asha Anand B.E. M.B.A.

Conclusion :  After her retirement Former Associate Professor and HOD of Chemistry at Rani Anna   Govt College for Women Tirunelveli now   resides with her husband at Santhi nagar, Palayamcottai, Tirunelveli .2.  happily. She is an ideal daughter, ideal sister, ideal wife and ideal mother and a valuable citizen of India.  She is noted not only for her excellent educational accomplishment but also known for her exemplary way of living.  She very simple and un asuming. Her Husband and Children praise her with great adoration and love  in line with the 31st chapter of Book of Proverbs, Old Testament.   It is not possible to accommodate all the important chapters of former Asso Prof   Mrs. Esther Chellam within the space of this Blogpost and so I will end this Article with the following sentence, " Dear Prof. Esther Chellam, I thank God for you, and I am proud of you ". 

END.

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

A Forgotten great Foreign Tamil Scholar, A Lexicographer of Tamil -English Dictionary ,A Pioneer Translator of the Bible into Tamil [ Arumuga Navalar version] , A Former Principal of Jaffna Central College and the First Registrar of the University of Madras Rev. Peter Percival

Introduction         ;  Late Rev. Peter Percival was a remarkable and multifaceted personality and Christian Missionary and his contribution to the Tamil language and for the cause of education in Sri Lanka and  Tamil Nadu  deserves our  attention admiration and adoration. According to Rev. G.G. Findlay and Rev.W.W. Holdsworth,  the authors of the famous book , " The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society'[p.34] Rev.P. Percival was a scholar of marked distinction-- the greatest Tamil Scholar methodism has ever had ". He learned Tamil and its literatures assiduously and became a great Tamil Scholar and became a lexicographer of a Tamil - English Dictionary. He preferred to tell the Gospel to the local people through schools rather than doing direct evangelisation with the people.  A perusal of his real-life story will help the readers to understand his contribution to the cause of Bible translation. Tamil Language, Linguistics and education will inspire the people to love our mother tongue Tamil and to live a meaningful life.

                                                                   Rev. Peter Percival 

Rev. Peter Percivals' Parents and Birth   : Rev. Peter Percival was born in  a beautiful town called Prestwitch in England which lies three miles north of the magnificent Manchester city in England on 20th June 1803 to Mr. Peter and Ms Jane   It will be useful to the readers to learn  an interesting truth about the Prestwitch town. Prestwitch is   consistently named as one of the best places in UK to live  happily and safely. 

Rev Peter was sent to Sri Lanka as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary in  1826  : After having completed his education Mr Peter Percival wanted to become a Wesleyan Methodist missionary and after due consideration and training, Mr Peter Percival was ordained as a Wesleyan Methodist missionary and was sent to Sri Lanka as a Wesleyan Methodist in 1826. And he started his missionary work among the Tamil People in Sri Lanka and as he had already learned the rudiments of the Tamil in England from a gentleman who had spent many years in South India and North Ceylon, he easily moved with the people and learned the modes of thought and expressions of the Tamil People. As a corollary he developed a desire to study and use Tamil Proverbs in his speeches and writings. 

Rev Peter Percival was moved to Bengal in 1830:  From 1826 till 1829, Rev P. Percival worked in North Ceylon  with great enthusiasm and in 1830 Rev Percival was moved to Bengal in India . While Rev Percival was in Bengal he got the acquaintance with  another Clergyman who had natural interest for the collection of proverbs and had collected numerous Bengali proverbs. And that clergyman  published those  Bengali proverbs collected by him as a Book  with an English translation .[ Rev, P, Percival, : TAMIL PROVERS with the ENGLISH TRANSLATION , Madras , 1874, preface to the second edition ,  p. v] This book influenced and impacted Rev. P. Percival so much and galvanised him to become a committed   Collector of Tamil proverbs.. After a few years  his connection with the Mission in Bengal was withdrawn and so Rev Percival returned to Ceylon and continued his missionary and educational work with the Tamil people in North Ceylon 

Rev. P. Percival Started Educational Institutions in Ceylon ; Rev. P Percival gave pre-eminence to education as a means of reaching the people.  His convictions were mainly in favour of educational work and in 1834 he reorganised and renamed the English school started by Rev James Lynch  in Jaffna as Jaffna Central School.  After wards this school was raised to the status of a College   This Jaffna Central School   has produced many eminent lecturers, professors, doctors, engineers, politicians, legislators, businessmen, etc.  Following the Jaffna Central school, a Girls Boarding School was started by Rev. Percival and this School was placed under the management of Mrs. Percival [ G.G. Finlay and W.W. Holdsworth, op.cit p.p.38& 39].. In 1938 Rev Percival started an English school in Point Pedro and that Scholl was called as Point Pedro Wesleyan Mission Central School. This School also progressed well due to the consistent effort taken by Rev. Percival . The central  Wesleyan Methodist Mission Committee in London was satisfied with the progress of this School and paid 400= British Pounds to Rev P. Percival which he had incurred as expense. This Point Pedro Wesleyan Methodist Mission Central School is now called as Hartley College   The following were some of the famous old Students of this Hartley College. namely Prof. Christie Jeyaratnam Eliiezer [ world renowned Mathematician and Scientist ] , Mr. Ganesalingam [ Former Jaffna Mayor ]., Mr. Ratnasri Wickremanayakea [ Former Prime Minister of Ceylon], etc,. 

Rev. P. Percival and the Tentative Version of the Bible or Jaffna Version of the Bible       : Even though some Translated Tamil versions of the Bible had been made, none of the versions were completely satisfactory and so a new venture was taken in Jaffna to bring out a new better  version of Bible in Tamil. In this connection a translating Committee was constituted and it was called in short as Jaffna Committee. The Jaffna Version of the Bible had one advantage over all previous Tamil Versions of the Bible . All the previous Tamil Bible versions like Ziegenbalg, Fabricius, Rhenius etc were produced by individual translators.  The Jaffna version was the first that was produced by a Committee. And this Committee was called Jaffna Committee and this Committee was consisting of the  following members namely [1] Rev. Peter Percival [ Chairman and The Chief translator] , [2]  Rev. Levi Spaulding , [3] Rev. H.R. Hoisington, [4] Rev. Samuel Hutchings, [5] Rev. Daniel Poor , [6] Rev. Miron Winslow, Great Tamil Scholar Navalar Arumugam was the Chief Assistant to the Bible Translating Jaffna Committee. At the very outset, a resolution by the Madras Auxiliary Bible society  made in 1841 almost, tied the Jaffna Committee by laying down that the new translation should stick to the English Authorised version of 1611, otherwise known as King James Version. The Jaffna committee made some agitation against the resolution of the Madras Committee. However the Madras Committee, on the proposal of  Rev. Miron Winslow, modified its earlier resolution as follows : " that the translation be made from Greek and Hebrew originals and that as to the meaning of any particular passage , the English Version be made the standard of reference of highest authority and that in no case should be  a deviation from the English version be allowed, unless  approved of by two thirds of the Committee". .After some negotiation and discussion  , the version of Rhenius was made the basis for the  new translation by the Jaffna Committee, with the  approval of both the Madras and Parent Society in London.[ Vol. VII. No.3. , July ,1958,   Tamil Culture,  Journal of the Academy of the Tamils . Sabapathy Kulandran, , THE TENTATIVE VERSION OF THE BIBLE  or " THE  NAVALAR VERSION ". ]

From the end of 1845 Rev Percival relinquished all other works and involved himself entirely to the work of translation of the Bible. He devoted six hours every day to the regular work of translation , with his Native Assistants. . There was a weekly meeting of the Revision Committee . As each book of the Bible finished copies were struck and sent out for comment and criticism. The Jaffna version was translated by a six- member Committee presided by Rev, Peter Percival, [the then principal of Jaffna central School and Chairman of the North Ceylon District of the Methodist Church]. . Along with this  six-members of Jaffna Bible Translation Committee, there were two  Tamil Pundits namely Arumuga Navalar and Elijah Hoole, enlisted by Rev. Percival to help with the style while Missionary Scholars took Final responsibilities for the accuracy of the version [    Dr. Charles Hoole, Principal Baldaes Theological College, February 2003, Arumuga Navalar. } The Jaffna version was produced in 1850 by the Jaffna Auxiliary of the Bible Society. This Jaffna Version also received both appreciation and criticism, but the intent, interest and effort taken by Rev. P. Percival deserve our sincere appreciation and admiration 

Rev. Pecival Returned to England         In 1851,after having completed the Bible translation work ,  Rev Percival returned to England and he was expected to return to Ceylon to continue his missionary work but during his furlough a serious disagreement rose between him and the Wesleyan Methodist Mission Secretary in London [ Findlay and Holdsworth, op.cit p. 39] :   So Rev. Peter Percival resigned from the Wesleyan  Methodist Mission and joined the Anglican Church and he was ordained as an Anglican Deacon in 1852,  Following his ordination for next two years he served as a lecturer at  the St. Augustinr College in Cantubury City and was teaching  a course about India and its religions. He served as a Teacher at the Canterbury and then went to  Madras in the year 1854. 

Conclusion: Rev. P. Percival Served as the First Registrar of the University of Madras  On his return to South India, Rev. Peter Percival got the privilege to work as  the first Registrar of the University of Madras in  1857, The University of Madras was  established  when Lord Harris was the Governor of Madras in 1857 and Lord Harrison served as the first Chancellor of the University of Madras . Rev. P. Percival got the opportunity to serve as  a Professor of vernacular literature at the famous presidency College in Madras, Rev. P. Percival died at Yarcaud , Salem district,  in Tamil Nadu, British India, on 11th July 1882, "TAMIL PROVERBS with their ENGLISH TRANSLATION [ contained of six thousand proverbs] by the Rev. P. Percival,  Madras, Dinavarthini Press Mylapore , 1874] is  a lasting intellectual, cultural and scholarly  contribution by Rev, P, Percival to Tamil .It is not possible to accommodate all his accomplishments within the space of this article and so I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence, "  Rev.  P. Percival was a Great iconic Tamil Scholar, Educationist and Educational Institution builders and I am proud of him "

END . 

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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