FIRST AND SECOND Ph D IN THE FAMILY

The family of Jacob, the patriarch and founder of Nanchankulam village, Nellai Dist is full of teachers. The early converts to Christianity from oppressed communities were ostracized by the dominant Hindu castes by denying work in the fields, by forcing social and economic boycott. Some times, even the Laws were amended that any convert to Christianity (alien religion) would be ineligible to inherit the ancestral property and even spouses were also separated.

In such hostile conditions, the Missionaries had to provide solace and succor to the newly converted oppressed communities. Thus, the wheat and Milk powder flowed in as food for the new converts. That has become a sign of derision "wheat Christians" and "milk powder Christians", without knowing the socio and economic background of such an act of kind.

Janu daughter of Mahadevan, son of Mary Swaminathan, daughter of David grand son of Jacob, the patriarch and founder of Nanchankulam village, Nellai Dist, is conferred with a Ph D in Chemistry from Central Leather Research Institute - (SIR, Delhi) Adayar, Chennai recently. She is the first Ph D holder in the family of Naanchai Jacobsons Nanchankulam, Nellai Dist


Closely follows Catherine Nirmala Mary (a) Twinkle daughter of Joseph Jawahar son of son of Mary Swaminathan, daughter of David grand son of Jacob, the patriarch and founder of Nanchankulam village, Nellai Dist, has submitted her Ph D dissertation in Bio Technology in the Dept of Biotech, University of Melbourne, Australia and awaiting for the final viva . She is the second Ph D holder in the family of Naanchai Jacobsons Nanchankulam, Nellai Dist

The extended families of Naanchai Jacobsons Nanchankulam, Nellai Dist congratulates and wishes manyu more laurels to Janu and Twinkle (a) C atherine Nirmala Mary.

LIFE AND SERVICES OF TMT SWAMIDAYAL RAJENDRAM, MANAMADURAI

ANOTHER DEATH IN THE FAMILY OF JACOBSONS OF NANCHANKULAM

Thirumathi Swamiadyal wife of Thiru Thaaveethu Rajendram, son of Thaaveethu and great grand son of Jacob, founder of the village Nanchankulam, Tirunelveli Dist and the patriarch of the family passed away on the 29th Dec at Manamadurai after a brief illness.
Born in Paambur, near Mudukulathur, Ramanathapuram Dist was a teacher by training and she married to Rajendram who was also a teacher by training. Both of them have five sons and two daughters. viz David Udayakumar, Premkumar, Rajkumar, Rathnakumar, Tamil selvi, Vijayakumar ,Kalaiselvi . The couple had cherished a common dream – to educate the poor and the downtrodden. With the lofty aim in mind, they accepted their posting in the difficult mountain terrain – Megamalai Mission School – they spruced the school in dilapidated condition and took over while other teachers were scarred to go the mountains because of lack of basic facilities over the mountains. Those days in the mountain areas the life was very difficult. These places on those days were God forsaken places where even the basic needs cannot be met. No piped water; no frequent transport facility, no electricity, no heating, no health units, no doctors, no shelters, no security to lives of the adults and children from the wild animals. Such precarious conditions did not deter them to toil for years together to raise the educational level of the children in mountain areas. Their name and fame is still live in the minds of the Megamalai people and students who have immensely benefited by them.

Later they moved to many places and finally arrived at Manamadurai where Thiru D Isaac the elder brother of Thiru Rajendram and Tmt Mary Swaminathan, elder sister of Isaac and Rajendram lived. They continued to live in the CSI Compound (Deaf and Dumb School), Manamadurai until both of them died.
Swamiadyal has two brothers and two sisters. Their descendants had come for the funeral on 30th Dec 2009.
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The family lineage is as follows
1. Jacob – founder of Nanchankulam
2. Samuel – son of Jacob the patriarch of the family
3. Thaaveethu – son of Samuel
4. David Rajendran , son of Thaaveethu marries Swamiadiyal of Paambur near Mudukulthur, Ramanathapuram Dist
FIFTH GENERATION
Ø First son David Udayakumar (Pastor) married to Jayamani Stella and father of Timothy Arul Kumar Serene Yoneko Joyson Vasanth Kumar
Ø Second son Premkumar married to Agnes Kalavathy and father of Frederick Judson kumar
Ø Third son Rajkumar married to Arputha Mary and father of Livingston Joshua
Ø Fourth son Rathnakumar married to Valarmathi Selvarani and father of Raveena Enos
Ø Tamil selvi spinster daughter
Ø Fifth son Vijayakumar married to Shantha and father of Praveena
Ø Kalaiselvi daughter married to Vanaraj and mother of Jeberson and Rakshanya

We would like to thank the Lord Jesus for the life and services of Tmt Swamiadyal and having gifted to the glorious family of Jacobsons of Nanchankulam, Tirunelveli Dist
May the souls of Thiru Rajendram and Tmt Swamiadyal, and also all the departed souls in the extended family of Jacob, rest in peace

DESCENDANTS OF THAVITHU - DAVID

GENELOGY FROM THE SIXTH GENERATION POINT OF VIEW

TITLE: DECENDANTS OF NAANJAI JACOB (FOUNDER OF NANCHANKULAM VILLAGE, TIRUNELVELI DIST)

SUB TITLE : DAVID - THAVITHU DESCENDANTS

6. Raja Swaminathan Timothy Arul Kumar Sherene David Rosario

5. Mahadevan Rev Udayakumar Francis Xavier Rosary

4. Mary swamidoss Rajendran Isaac Dorairaj
1914 - 1918- 2005 1916-1998 1929 - 2009
3. 1. MARIYAL, 2. SOLOMON, 3. ABRAHAM, 4. JACOB, 5. PACKIAM, 6. KOILPILLAI, 7. DAVID(1894-1929) & 8. JESUDASAN SAMUEL.

2. Samuel CE / AD 1822 - 1902

1. Jacob CE / AD 1810 - 1912
dates are reconstructed as told

DEATH AS UNIFYING EVENT

Death as unifying event

The studies in the life and culture of the subaltern people are lacking in the country. More and more the country’s youth are attracted to the materialistic world aping the west. No youth can trace her/his genealogy beyond three generations yet they are conversant with the world events.
When my father died, I had the opportunity to observe the wonderful spirit of unity and togetherness among the community in the village.

On the day of burial/cremation, the son or grand son in case no sons to the deceased, must go to the common well of village along with his brothers-in-law and cousins from mother’s and father’s side as the case may be. The cousins and brothers in law would fetch water from the common well and bath the son/grand son of the deceased. Without drying, the son must walk through the streets to the place where the dead is kept for community respects. The water pots are once again filled in and brought to the house to bath the dead. This is to ensure that whatever disharmony exists among the cousins and brothers in law must end with the ritual.
Thereafter, the dead is bathed and kept ready to be taken to the church in case of Christians and to the burial ground in case of Hindus. Throughout the ceremony, the wet clothes worn by the son must not be removed.

On reaching the burial ground, the usual ceremony of breaking the pot is conducted. The pot one or more maximum three would be kept on the shoulders of the son who goes around the dead body thrice. Each time he crosses the body, the pot is poked once by the man who conducts the ceremony.
The near ones and blood relatives are asked to sprinkle the milk that is carried from home. Then the burial takes place. Later, the wet clothes of the son are removed and fresh clothes are given to the son by the man who conducts the ceremony.
The elder come around the son and consult the dates for the memorial service to be conducted on the 10th or 16th or 30th day. The moi ( a small amount of money) normally as low as possible is paid by each household to meet the funeral expenses. Thereafter, each one washes their face, hands and feet in the water available in the burial ground. The mourners walk back to the house to wash their feet once again enter the house to pay respect to the lamp that is lit alongside the photograph of the deceased. A simple food is arranged for the mourners. The crowd disperses after partaking in the food.
In the evening, after the sun set once again the mourners gather around in the house with small portions of cookies, eatables etc. These are collected in a small basket made of the palm leaves. A small prayer /invocation to the god is made. Thereafter, the cookies are distributed to the mourners. They then disperse without telling any one
Two things are clearly noticed in the ceremonies. One is the reconnecting and rejuvenating the bond among the cousins and brothers in law. A bond that lasts forever generations to come
The second one is that the spirit of unity expressed by the community to the bereaved family. To ensure that the bereaved family is not fully engulfed in the sorrow, the community gathers around to show their support and succor.

SOME MEMORABLE PICTURES OF DAVID DORAIRAJ

Here Mr David Dorai raj , AWM/ELE/FBW/EWS/AJJ, receiving the retirement benefits from his boss Chief Electrical Engineer, on 01/07/1987. it is customary in the Railways that the super annuation settlement benefits - the leave salary equivalent cash, the Group Insurance Scheme , the PF balance and the Death Cum Retirement Gratuity cheques on the next day of the settlement by the Principal Head of the Dept.

Here Mr David Dorairaj and his spouse and maternal cousin J D Savariammal who predeceased him in January 2000, receiving the blessing from Rev A M Chinnappa SDB then Parish Priest at Lourdes Shrine Parish, Perambur Chennai 11 now Arch Bishop of Madras - Mylapore on his completion of 60 years at the sacristy of the shrine. The Arch Bishop was very close the the family and on hearing the death of Mr David Dorairaj, on 13th May 2009, he came rushing down to the Railway Hospital Ayanavaram Chennai 23

Here Mr David Dorairaj is seen shaking hands with Rev A M Chinnappa SDB then Parish Priest at Lourdes Shrine Parish, Perambur Chennai 11 now Arch Bishop of Madras - Mylapore, as the Zonal President of St Anthony's Zone, Chinna Chembarambakkam, Ayanavaram, Chennai 23

Here Mr David Dorairaj is seen along side Mr Gnanaprakasam, retired Special Grade A Driver Southern Railway, brother of Chinna Rani teacher, husband of Leela, father of Jecintha, Rex, Sheila and John, now a resident of Jagan nathan colony off Foxen St, Perambur Chennai 11, displaying the flags of their respective zones.

Here Mr David Dorairaj and his spouse and maternal cousin J D Savariammal who predeceased him in January 2000, is seen at Taj Mahal, Agra during a visit to his second daughter Philo Jawahar who passed away in a freak road accident in February 1997, married to V S Jawahar Sargeant at the Indian Air Force, father of Fatima and Magdalene Ph D scholar at Melbourne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, at Hindan Air Station near New Delhi India

This is a very rare photograph (may be 76 years old photograph) of the siblings of David Dorairaj.

(L to R ) sitting: D Isacc (D.1998) Packiam (D. 1967), Mary Swaminathan,

(L to R ) standing: D Dorairaj(D. 2009), D Rajendran(D. 2005)

das vidanya

Some of the photgraphs of David Dorairaj are published. The above photographs were taken in the village graveyard where all his forefathers are laid to eternal rest except his father S David who went to Malaya as a teacher in the Pinang Free School and died and buried there, his mother Packiam died at Megamalai Estate near Dindigul. He was adamant not to leave the village under the constant fear that his daughters at Chennai would some how find him a grave in Chennai city itself and may not spend to bring him back to his native village. Though he left the village along with his sister Mary at a very young age, the native village always beckoned him. We saw to it that his last and everlating wish to be buried along with his ancestors was fulfilled as said in the Holy Bible "thereafter he was buried along side his forefathers". May God be Praised!

THIRTIETH DAY REMEMBRANCE OF DAVID DORAIRAJ (06/06/1929 TO 13/05/2009)

The thirtieth day remembrance of our father D Dorai Raj was held on Saturday 13th June in our native village Nanchankulam, Tirunelveli dist with the visit to the graves of our parents Mrs. JD Savairammal (3rd Dec 1926 to 7th Jan 2000) and Mr. D Dorairaj(6th June 1929 to 13th May 2009).
The new grave integrated both of them in to a large one similar to our grand fathers and great grand fathers. The epitaph consisted the dates of birth and death beside the photograph of our parents carved in the black granite. It is customary to offer sweet pongal to all at the graves as a mark of respect and prayers were offered for the eternal rest of the departed souls. Then the garlands were offered to the graves of our parents, grand parents ( Mrs. Maria Packiam and M Jebamalai) and great grand parents ( Balavesam alias Belevendran and his spouse).

The thirtieth day remembrance of our father D Dorai Raj was held on Saturday 13th june in our native village Nanchankulam, Tirunelveli dist at 11.30 am in the St Gnanapragasiar (Aloysius) church. Fr Amalan former Parish Priest of Sankar Nagar parish presently in Thembavani Illam, Pastoral Centre was with us to celebrate the holy Eucharist.

The following relatives and friends were present. Mr Sahadevan, Hon Flying Officer IAF retired, Mr V Manicam Asst Commercial Manager – retired Central Railway, Jabalpur; Prof S Muthiah former HOD Dept of Economics, Presidency College, Chennai; Jesudasan Samuel retired Dy Planning Engineer BHEL Trichy; Mr Moses Manohar and Sheila Moses – Pondicherry; RFH Gnanaprakasam JSO retired Inspection Wing of Directorate General of Inspection and Supply- CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai; Joseph Jawahar Sergeant- IAF retired presently at CLRI Adayar, Chennai; Vijayakumar son of Rajendran brother of Dorai raj; Majeed Electrical Dept Southern Railway Nagerkoil and host of relatives were present at the church.

Fr Amalan who had long association with Dorai raj was all in praise for the deceased. He said that he was very closely associated with Most Rev Jude Paulraj Bishop In Palayamkottai the first and earlier bishop Most Rev S Irudhayaraj, Most Rev Dr A M Chinnappa SDB Ph D Archbishop Of Madras-Mylapore and a host of priests, nuns and religious. He was very liberal in supporting the church matters. He donated large sums of money for orphanages, poor and needy. He had sponsored many priests education at Sacred Heart Seminary Poonamallee, Chennai. Therefore it is fitting that a kind hearted soul must be remembered not only on the 30th day but every day.
After the Eucharistic celebration was over, lunch was served in honour of David Durairaj at his residence. Relatives from the village and form outside partook the lunch.

On completion of lunch the traditional ritual of offering new clothes by the brothers in law to the son and daughter in law of the diseased. On that account Mr Arumugam, husband of Mary sister of Gnanaraj the only son of the diseased offered the first new clothes followed by Mr Jesudasan Samuel, BHEL Trichy, Mr V S Jawahar, Mr Vijayakumar, relatives from Grace Gnanaraj offered the new clothes. It was a ritual to end the divisions in the family by promoting the unity among the immediate relatives of the diseased.