As promised, visuals of the reception accorded to the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo at Chennai on 25th May 2012 are furnished below
By A.X Alexander
Rarely do we come across COMMISSIONED OFFICERS in the Indian Armed Forces from amongst US, though we have scarcely countable Junior commissioned officers, and non commissioned officers, and a few Navy men, Airmen army men.
Getting into the Indian Armed Forces as a Commissioned officer is a tough task indeed, with grueling and exacting Physical examinations, Psychological tests, Written examinations and Group discussions to be undergone and cleared.
To go up in the steep and pyramidal ladder of ranks after joining the commissioned ranks is still more difficult and an achievement by itself as it is acutely competed, with an imposition of a stiff demand of high physical fitness, and absolute necessity to maintain an impressive personal dossier.
Getting into good slots of postings is indeed is a blessing as many stations of postings are in the borders, with extreme climates and removed far far away from facilities for interaction with , families and friends.
But GROUP CAPTAIN G.U. DHANARAJ forty years ago, with no military ancestory, but only with his experience of an Under officer-ship in NATIONAL CADET CORPS in ST, XAVIERS COLLEGE PALAYANCOTTAI where he was a student in B.Sc, and later as an officer in the National cadet corps while he served in Loyola college as a demonstrator in Zoology, made it into the INDIAN AIRFORCE, as a pilot officer, and rose up to the rank of GROUP CAPTAIN.
He rose up by six positions. Pilot officer, Flying officer, Flight lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, Group Captain.
He was commissioned into the Administrative branch, in 1964, and was posted in some of the important air stations. His first posting was in LEH in the Air traffic control where as a solitary air controller he managed the air traffic at a very young age. Leh, incidentally is a high altitude spot—11000 feet above MSL– and is known for its cold.
He has served in the two wars with Pakistan, and had been in the thick of action both in Western as well as in the Eastern sectors. Later in life he was posted in DELHI in the air head quarters from 1980 to 1987-and was popular with all the air chiefs. His final posting was at Bangalore and he retired from service in September, 1993.
Recognising his distinguished service of exceptional order, the President of India awarded the Vishist Seva Medal on 26<sup>th</sup> January 1985.
On his retirement, he ran one of the largest petrol stations of BPCL very successfully in the outskirts of Chennai, and got busy in the fledgling Parish of Nesapakkam – ST.ANNE. He was the President of the Parish committee and participated in the Synod conducted by the Arch bishop of Chennai. He was responsible for many developmental activities in the church.
He was very much concerned about the youth in his home town– PETTAI –PALAYANCOTTAI. He co founded SHINE –SHARING HEARTS TO IGNITE NATIVE EXCELLENCE on 13 th June 2004 –on the feast day of St. Antony , with the objective of providing tuition facilities, subsidised education ,etc.
He was an ardent devotee of Mother Mary and was mainly responsible for the Grotto at St. Anne at NESAPAKKAM. He passed into eternity on the day the grotto was blessed – 26th may 2012.
I got to know Group captain DHANARAJ in the year 1987, when I was posted in New Delhi, in the Cabinet Secretariat,. On the day of my arrival at Palam air port, though he had not known me before, he was kind enough to personally come to the airport and receive me, and put me at ease in Tamilnadu House.
The Delhi climate was harsh on me with its excessive heat and I suffered very bad bleeding nose in my early days and I remember very well he took me to the Airforce doctor to look after me.
He and his wife invariably picked me up for the Sunday mass and thereafter to his quarters for a relaxing gossip, a sumptuous breakfast lunch and rest. Both Group Captain Dhanaraj and Mrs. Dhanaraj allayed my home sickness. Many evenings he had taken me to the DSOI and his usual banter then, seeing many youngsters from elsewhere in the country enjoying the facilities afforded by the club , would be centered on “ why our youngsters are not moving out and see the world.’’ He used to express his anguish to me why our youngsters are not aspiring to get into higher services in the government and in the Army, Airforce, and Navy and develop themselves.
He made it a point to invite me to all the air force functions as long as I was in NewDelhi and was very proud of me. I distinctly remember the airforce show he took me, my wife and young son then when a mirage crashed as it was doing its maneuver.
GROUP CAPTAIN DHANARAJ was a gentleman to the core and had innumerable friends, and many of them among from clergy. His two sons and daughter are doing well.
GROUP CAPTAIN DHANARAJ’S memorial service at ST. ANNE, Nesapakkam Chennai was well attended—THE CHURCH WAS FULL, AND THE CHOIR WAS EXCELLENT AND THE SERVICE WAS BEAUTIFUL signifying the good and amiable manner he lived his life.
Starting at Pettai and reaching where he reached in service, the Air Headquarters, NEW DELHI, is a rare achievement and one wishes many of our youngsters take him as a model and join services.
Knowing him as I do, I am sure he will be very happy then.
(The biographic materials were given by his sons, Mr.Merwin and Mr.Christopher Vinodh)
by A.X.Alexander
A few who had gone through the two articles on the receptions that were accorded to the Arch-bishop of Colombo Lionel Fidelis Emmanuel Fernando in Chennai and in Tuticorin on 22nd and 28th May respectively, bemoaned that the articles were not supported by sufficient number of visuals, which definitely would have added to the lusture.
We are fully in agreement with this sentiment. We made earnest search for the many photographers, who were busy shooting the function. But they were hard to come by.
At last Mr. Sornarajan Victoria, who never fails my expectations on such occasions came up with seventy-five photographs taken at Vembar reception, out of which 32 have been chosen and displayed here.
I am yet to get the visuals of Chennai and Tuticorin. Mr. Sornam has promised to get at them soon. As soon as they are obtained, they would definitely be shared with all of you, readers.
Mr. Sornam reports that at Vembar the Bishop was given a rousing and warm reception by people of Vembar with musicians and Elephant in attendance. And he was escorted into Vembar by a motor-cycle cavalcade of 21 . The bishop was taken in a horse-pulled chariot around the streets of Vembar.
THE REST OF THE PROCEEDINGS at Vembar, YOU SEE FOR YOURSELVES!
கீழக்கரையை பிதாவின் இருப்பிடமாகவும் வேம்பாரை மாதாவின் பிறப்பிடமாகவும் கொண்ட புலவர்களின் முழுநாமம், “செ.மு. சவியேர் இந்நாசி முத்தையா ரொத்ரிகோ” என்பதாகும். நம் குலமக்கள், அவர்களை மரியாதையாக “செ.மு.” என்று அழைப்பர். இவருடைய குடும்பத்திற்கு “ அழகு பாண்டித் தேவர் “ என்ற அடைவிருது , இன்றும் வழக்கிலுள்ளது.
மதுரை நான்காம் தமிழ்ச் சங்கத்தின் அங்கத்தினராய், அச்சங்கத்திற்கு அழகு சேர்ந்த பெரும்புலவர்களில், இவரும் ஒருவராவார். இராமநாதபுரம் சேதுபதியின் அரசவைக் கவிஞராகவும் இருந்திருக்கின்றார். சேதுபதி மன்னர் மீது , பல நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் கவிபாடி பரிசில் பல பெற்றுள்ளார். சேதுபதியவர்களிடம் தாமிரப் பட்டயமும், பல கிராமங்களை இனாமாகவும் பெற்றுள்ளதாக, வரலாற்றுப் பரம்பரைச் செய்திகள் இன்றும் பறை சாற்றுகின்றன.
இவர் இலங்கையில் சிலாபம் என்னும் நகரில் வணிகம் செய்து செல்வச் செழிப்புடன் வாழ்ந்தவர். மதுரை தமிழ்ச் சங்கக் கூட்டங்களில் கலந்து கொள்ள இவர் தொடக்கக் காலங்களில் இலங்கையிலிருந்து அடிக்கடி இந்தியா வந்து போயிருந்தலும், தம் வாழ்க்கையின் பிற்பாதியில் அதிகமாய் மதுரையிலேயே வாழ்ந்தார். எனினும் அவரை வேம்பார்வாசி யென்றே, ஏனைய வித்வான்கள் அறிவர். புலவர்களின் மனையாள் பனையூர் ஜமீன் வம்ச வாரிசைச் சேர்ந்தவர்.
மதுரை நான்காம் தமிழ்ச் சங்கத்து நிர்வாகிகளாகிய சேதுபதி மன்னர், கானாடுகாத்தான் பெருநிலக் கிழார் பெத்தாச்சி செட்டியார், D. சுவாமிக்கண்ணுப் பிள்ளை, சீநிவாச அய்யங்கார், சிவசாமி அய்யர் ஆகிய சான்றோர்களுடன், புலவரிவர் நெருங்கிய தொடர்பு கொண்டிருந்தார்.
புலவரிவர் பிறந்த வேம்பார் என அழைக்கப்படும் நிம்ப நகரின் திருக்கோயிலில் எழுந்தருளியிருக்கும் தூய ஆவியானவர் மீதும், அவ்வூர் பாதுகாவலரான புனித செபஸ்தியார் மீதும் , மற்றும் புனிதர் பலர் மீதும் பல தேனினுமினிய பாடல்கள் பாடியுள்ளார். கிறிஸ்து பிறப்புப் பவனிப் பாடல்கள் , விருத்த வெண்பாக்கள், திருமண கேளிக்கை , கோலாட்டம் போன்ற நிகழ்ச்சிகளுக்கான இன்னிசைப் பாடல்கள் பலவும் இசைத்துள்ளார்.
புலவரவர்களின் தனிச் சிறப்பு சித்திரக் கவி தீட்டுவது. இராமநாதபுரம் ராஜா பாஸ்கர சேதுபதியவர்கள், திருநெல்வேலியில் கூடிய தமிழ்ச் சங்கக் கூட்டத்தில் “500 வருடங்கட்குப் பின் தமிழ்நாடு காணும் சித்திரக்கவி” என்று புலவரவர்களுக்கு புகழாரம் சூட்டினார்கள்.
சதுரங்க பந்தக்கலித்துறை, சிலுவை பந்தவெண்பா, இரத பந்தவெண்பா, கமலபந்தவெண்பா, வினோத விசித்திர குதிரையடிச் சதுரங்க பந்த வெண்பா, உபய நாகபந்த வெண்பா, முரச பந்தவெண்பா என்று பல வகை சித்திரக்கவிகள் இவருடைய படைப்புகளாகும்.
புலவரவர்கள் தாம் இயற்றும் சித்திரக்கவிகளின் ஒவ்வொரு வகைக் கவியிலும் முதன் முதலாக தாம் வழிபடும் தெய்வத்திற்கும் புனிதர்களுக்கும் கவி இயற்றிய பின்னரே, ஏனையோர்க்கு அவ்வகைக் கவிகளை இயற்றுவார்கள்.
ஏறத்தாழ 65 வருடங்கள் வாழ்ந்த பின்னர், புலவரவர்கள் மதுரையில் 1919ம் ஆண்டு அக்டோபர் திங்கள் 29ந் தேதி மரணமானார்கள். தமிழ்ச் சங்க அங்கத்தினர்களும் மற்றும் மதுரைப் பிரமுகர்களும் சித்திரக் கவிஞரை சிறப்புடனே மதுரையில் அடக்கம் செய்தார்கள்.
_தி.சொர்ணராசன் விக்றோரியா M.Sc,C.A._
*பரிசுத்த ஆவிக்குப் புகழ்*
இருதயத்தில் வரந் தந்தாளும்
இஸ்பிரீத்துசாந் தேகனே நாளும்
சருவவுயிர்க்கும் தாயகமானவா
சாட்சாதி சதா நித்யமானவா
தானாய் நின்ற தற்சுயம்பானவா
தருணம் வந்தருள் தந்திடுமென் தேவா
திரித்துவத்தின் மூன்றாம் நாமதேயா
சிஷ்டோர் மனம் பற்றிய தூயா
சிநேகாக்கினி வீசும் நன்னேயா
தேவகாருண்ய மேவு சகாயா
மதிகுலத்தவர் துதி நிதம்செய்யும்
வல்லோய் நிம்ப மாநகர்மீதுய்யும்
மாந்தர் செழித்தோங்கத் தயை செய்யும்
வரப்பிரசாதத்தின் மழை மிகப்பெய்யும்
இப்புகழ்ப்பாடல், வேம்பார் பங்கு மக்களின் மரபுக்கீதம்(PARISH TRADITIONAL ANTHEM) ஆகும். பங்கின் சார்பில் நடைபெரும் எந்த விழாவிலும் இப்பாடல் தொடக்கத்தில் பாடப்படும். பங்கு மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும் இப்பாடல் மனப்பாடம். ஆகவே பங்கு மக்கள் எல்லாரும் சேர்ந்தே இப்பாடலைப் பாடுவர். இப்பாடலை இயற்றியவர் வேம்பாரைச் சேர்ந்த செந்தமிழ் சித்திரக்கவி வித்துவான் முத்தையா உரொத்ரீகு என்பவர் ஆவார்.
The reception to the Auxiliary bishop of Colombo, RT. REV. FIDELIS LIONEL EMMANUEL FERNANDO was a glittering affair got on at the open yard of the basilica of OUR LADY OF SNOWS on 28th May 2012. It was a huge gathering, of men, women and children from different parishes in Tuticorin and surroundings. Continue reading RECEPTION TO THE AUXILIARY BISHOP OF COLOMBO AT TUTICORIN – 28-MAY-2012
THAMBI AYYA FERNANDO of Vembar was honoured with PAPAL BENE MERENTI MEDAL.
Perhaps some of you would have known that we have referred to this medal in one of our earlier postings in this website. Yes, it was in the article on Capt. Michael Gomez that we referred to this Medal. Continue reading Thambi Ayya Fernando
CHENNAI — 22 -5 -2012
A very warm reception was accorded by Vembarians ,residing at Chennai, in the Divine Mercy church on 22nd May evening to very Rt. Rev. FIDELIS LIONEL EMMANUEL FERNANDO, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo a descendant of Vembar who was consecrated in Colombo on 11-2-2012. Continue reading RECEPTION TO THE AUXILIARY BISHOP OF COLOMBO
“Captain Michael Gomez, was an exemplary Catholic, whose love of God and love of neighbour were self-evident, in his generous help to the church, priests, nuns, schools and to the under-privileged at Dhanushkodi, Kilakarai and Ramnad”. This is the gist of the tribute paid to Captain Michael Gomez, by Brother Gaspar, in his various books on Fr. Leveil, in Tamil. Continue reading Captain M. Michael Gomez 1894-1955
Joachim Gomez was born in Kilakarai, on May 8th 1886, as the son of Mr. Arokiam Gomez, a sailor and Mrs. Amirthammal Poobalarayee.
Like his father, Mr. Joachim Gomez also became a sailor in the Merchant Navy, soon after school. He passed the exams conducted for Merchant Navy officers in Bombay and earned his Master’s ticket in 1934. He became the Captain of the dredger named ‘Tuticorin’ in the old Tuticorin Port. A dredger is a vessel used for Dredging, equipped with power shovels, to remove excess sand, soil and other material from a sea channel or river bed, to provide sufficient depth for sailing vessels, so that they do not run aground. At that time all ships could reach the shore in the old port, due to regular, efficient dredging.
Captain Joachim Gomez served almost continuously for many years, as a Board Member, in the Turicorin Port Trust, a signal honour, given in recognition of his outstanding service as the Captain of the Dredger. Once a big boat sank in the sea near the harbor, with the cargo. The owner of the boat sought the help of the Port Officer at Tuticorin, to salvage the boat. The port Officer, an Englishman, replied wryly, “If the Captain of the Dredger can do it, let him do it!” Captain Joachim Gomez took up the challenge and worked hard almost non-stop, at the arduous task, for three days and three nights and accomplished what seemed a Herculean labour. The Port Officer was impressed and even considered naming a channel in the new Tuticorin port, after the Captain, as the ‘Captain Joachim Gomez Channel’. But unfortunately, that officer was transferred back to his motherland, England, before he could carry out his intention. Captain Joachim Gomez also died soon after, in Service, after superannuation, and so this did not become a reality.
He had a helpful nature and enabled many individuals and families to advance in life, both by securing jobs for them and by extending monetary help to those in need. He was a benefactor to many, irrespective of caste and creed. He felt he had a special mission to help those who were in sea service. Many seamen, to whom he lent a helping hand professionally, rose up to be Captains. He was compassionate to the aged, the orphaned, the abandoned and the poor. When he saw an aged fruit vendor carrying a heavy basket of fruit in the hot sun, he would buy the whole basket and send him or her home happily. When he died, many street vendors of fruits and vegetables came with their baskets to pay their last respects to the ‘Mavarasan’ who cared for them. At least once a month, he would go to the orphanage and bring about 8 to 10 children home on a Sunday, give them a bath and treat them to a delicious non-vegetarian lunch. As it is said in the Book of Proverbs, 22:9, “Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.”
Captain Joachim Gomez had many talents. He could sing well, dance stylishly and also act well. He was a skilled swimmer, who could dive into the sea, from the sailing ship, keep under water for many minutes, holding his breath, and resurface again, a long distance away from the diving spot. He loved to do acrobatics in the water. One might say, he took to water like a fish.
He married Santhiyagumuthammal D’Almeida and they had nine children. He was an affectionate and responsible husband and father. He loved his children and also disciplined them. He woke up the children at 5 a.m. daily and insisted on daily mass. Among his children Captain Bernard Gomez followed his father’s footsteps and then handed over the baton to his son, Captain Lawrence Gomez. According to his children, Captain Joachim Gomez treated his wife like a queen. They were a devoted couple. Mrs. Gomez continued her husband’s tradition of hospitality. A niece, who lived in Tuticorin from 1953-1956, from age 6 to 9, remembers nostalgically the delicious Sunday lunch which she enjoyed with her mother, at the Gomez home in Kerecope street, once a month or so!
In February 1952, when Captain Joachim Gomez was in service after superannuation, he fell ill due to very high blood pressure. He availed one week’s casual leave, but passed away suddenly, probably due to a massive heart attack on February 11th 1952. The Tuticorin Port declared a holiday on his day of death and remained closed, as a mark of honour to him. The Port Officer, an Englishman, accompanied the cortege till the cemetery and was visibly moved. In his letter of Condolence to the Captain’s widow, the Port Officer wrote, “The world has lost a meritorious Captain par excellence, as great as Vasco-da-Gama and Magellan.” He sent many baskets of flowers as a floral tribute to the Captain.
Captain Joachim Gomez loved India and devoted his time, energy and knowledge for the betterment of the Tuticorin harbor, where his name is still a legend, because of his selfless and devoted service. He was a man of principles, who had good will towards all. He had many favourite sayings and loved to speak in metaphors. One of them was that Opportunity was a swift flying bird, which crossed one’s life rarely and so one should be quick to catch it, when it did. Echoing the poet Longfellow, he used to say, one should lead an outstanding life and leave one’s footprints on the sands of time. Captain A. Joachim Gomez did just that!
(This article is the joint effort of the Children of Captain Joachim Gomez – Miss Xavierammal Gomez, Mr. Thomas Gomez and Miss Mary Gomez, with help in compiling from his niece, Christine.)
THE RETAIL CHAIN GIANT
Raja Vaiz of Mumbai who reads this website regularly and interacts with me,made a request that I should write about the D’mels about whom I made a passing reference as successful businessmen in COLOMBO in my article on CRUZ FERNANDEZ OF TUTICORIN.
The only D’mel I remember was the one who was an engineer who prepared for the Indian Railway Service Engineer examination in 1967. I have lost touch with him thereafter and I do not know where he is now. Therefore writing on this D’mel is out of question.
When I was pondering over on how to comply with the request of Raja Vaiz , it flashed in to my mind my father once mentioning to us about one D’ mel of Vembar who was a very successful businessman in Colombo. I started searching for the material on this D’mel and I chanced on two references.One by THOMAS ROCHE in a translated form and the other in the book INDO SRILANKANS by MUTHAIAH, the well known historian of Chennai.
Santiago Anthony Ayya Tambi D’mel of Vembar was one of those who made it good in Ceylon in the last quarter of 19th and first quarter of twentieth century. Those were days when the Paravas really made a mark in Ceylon. The I.X.Pereira and his offspiring made a mark in politics and people like D’ mel made a mark in business in different parts of Ceylon.
Our connections with Ceylon is old –very old. The Earliest movement of Paravars from southern sea shores was in the 12th century to 15 th century when they were recruited by the Sinhala kings as their sailors and soldiers. The Second movement was when Paravars were settled by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century to which already there is a reference in this website in one of the articles. The subsequent settlement was when there was movement of thonis from our shores to Ceylon shores and the last was when there was cotton boom in Tuticorin hinterland when Paravars felt that they could make good in the island as businessmen clerks and traders.
It is one such migrant with very little school education –he studied in the elementary school of Vembar parish- who made it big in Ceylon is SANTIAGO ANTHONY AYYA TAMBI D’MEL. Nick named as KAYALAN PERAN, in Vembar, denoting his ancestory to PUNNAIKAIL, and known also as sena ana annachi in business circles in Colombo and Vembar , Santiago Antony Ayya Tambi D’mel became proficient in business skills and English in a very short period of arriving in Ceylon. He joined as an assistant clerk in a Nattukottai chettiar firm in 1879 for measly pay of rs 25 and within four years he left to join Abdulalli and Company =a company of exporters and importers.
At abdulali he worked very sincerely and won the approbation of his mudalali .The mudalai liked him so much that when he wanted to retire from the business he gladly handed over the business toD’mel and asked him to continue. He also saw to it that all his old customers did not switch over to any one else but continue with D’mel. With his blessings D’mel prospered.
As he was doing very well in the export and import business he saw a good chance opening before him for import of onion. So he commissioned his kith and kin to buy large tracts of land in the hinterland of Tuticorin and made them cultivate onion to be exported to Ceylon. He made very good money in this business and he made his relatives also benefit by this venture.
While he was busy importing onion and distributing all over Ceylon he chanced to see an advertisement asking for agents to distribute oil and petroleum products throughout Ceylon. The knowledge he gained in distributing onion would come to his help,he thought, and therefore in the company of Pandaram Sivan Pillai he applied for the agency and successfully got it.He formulated a company called Sivan and D’mel and distributed Kerosene in the island. Thereafter he exported Kerosene to Tuticorin and Orissa. Between July 26 th and 29th ,he recorded in his diary that he exported 2550, barells and 2750 barells respectively to Tuticorin and Orissa. . He named the kerosene THE RISING SUN.
The knowledge he gained in export of kerosene brought him further business. A company called SAMUEL and COMPANY allotted him in 1893, the agency for exporting Kerosene in ships and with this D”mel emerged as one of the big exporters of Colombo.
Luck favoured him further.The Asiatic Petrol Company which was started in 1902 appointed D’mel as a sub agent of their company and wanted him to distribute kerosene throughout Ceylon. The company commissioned D’mel to visit Madras to study the distribution system obtaining in Madras. He studied the system and on his recommendation, the Asiatic Petrol Company authorized him to set up distribution depots in different parts of the island and use bullock carts to deliver Kerosene at the door steps.He utilized his Sivan and D’Mel Company to do this distribution with 50 central distribution depots and bullock carts to carry kerosene to inner parts of the island.
Who constituted the Sivan and D’mel company? It is people from Vembar. The native affinity, the consanguinity of people who constituted the company, coupled with the benevolence and generosity of D’ mel to his staff made the distribution a grand success.
D”mel gave jobs to all those Paravas who came to him. He ordered that those who come to Colombo seeking jobs should be offered shelter and food by his company till they find their jobs. To ward off homesickness of those who had come to join his company he established a club called Immaculate Jubilee club for which he was president.
Back home at Vembar ,he was affectionate to one and all. Not a function or a ceremony at Vembar in any family passed off without his presence.His munificence to church was impressive. He contributed to church workers rs 15000/- and for the construction of the church according to Jesuit records he contributed rs 50,000/= a princely sum. In the entrance of the church there is a tablet praising his generosity in Latin and announcing that all that he needed back is a yearly mass for him from the church.
Though he was not formally schooled he mastered English and accountancy.maintained a diary.The details of barrels of kerosene sent had been culled out by his chroniclers. His contribution to Ceylon business, to say in modern business parlance is that he architected the RETAIL CHAIN. Should we not call him THE RETAIL CHAIN GIANT.
BY A.X. ALEXANDER