Tag Archives: personality

“சென்னை-புன்னை” – Dr.P.M. ரெக்ஸ் M.D.

General, Paravar Personalities,

வரலாற்றுப் பெருமைமிக்க புன்னைக்காயலில் செவாலியர் T.R.பிஞ்ஞேயிர, திருமதி.ரொசாரியம்மாள் பர்னாந்து தம்பதியின் தலைமகனாகப் பிறந்தவர் Dr.P.M.ரெக்ஸ் பிஞ்ஞேயிர M.D.T.D.D., F.F.I.M., F.C.C.P., (USA) F.I.C.A (USA) பால பருவத்தில் இலங்கையில் வாழ்ந்தார். பின்னர் தூத்துக்குடி புனித சவேரியார் உயர்நிலைப் பள்ளியில் S.S.L.C வரை படித்து பின்னர் சென்னை லொயோலாக் கல்லூரியில் படிப்பைத் தொடர்ந்தார். அதன்பின் சென்னை ஸ்டான்லி மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில் பயின்று M.B.B.S பட்டம் பெற்றார். சிறப்பு மருத்துவப் பயிற்சிக்குப் பின்னர் T.D.D (Diploma in Tuberculosis) பட்டம் பெற்றார். மருத்துவப் படிப்பைத் தொடர்ந்து M.D. பட்டமும் பெற்றார்.

112சென்னை, ஸ்டான்லி மருத்துவ மனையிலே கெளரவ (Honorary) மருத்துவராக பணியாற்றினார். நெஞ்சுநோய்ப் பிரிவில் முதன்மை மருத்துவராக (Chief in Chest Department) ஆக 20 வருடமாக சிறப்புடன் பணியாற்றி, நெஞ்சுநோய், ஆஸ்த்துமா ஆகிய நோய்களுக்குச் சிகிச்சை அளிப்பதில் தனிமுத்திரை பதித்து, மக்களின் பாராட்டையும் நன்மதிப்பையும் பெற்றார்.

சிறப்பு : சென்னை ஸ்டான்லி மருத்துவ மனையிலே பணியாற்றிய போது “Allergy” – என்ற ஆங்கிலப் பதத்திற்கு, “ஒவ்வாமை” எனும் தமிழ்ச் சொல்லைத் தந்த பெருமை – Dr. P.M. ரெக்ஸ் அவர்களைச் சாரும்.

பல மருத்துவ நூல்களை தமிழில் இவர் படைத்துள்ளார்.
அவையாவன :-
1) ”மாரடைப்பு நோய் வராமல் தடுப்பது எப்படி?”
2) “உயிருக்கே உலைவைக்கும் போதைப் பழக்கம்” இந்த இரண்டு நூல்களும் தமிழ் வளர்ச்சிக் கழகத்தின் முதல் பரிசைப் பெற்றன.
3) “டாக்டர் பேசுகிறார்” – தஞ்சைத் தமிழ் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் முதல் பரிசைப் பெற்றது.
4) “மன உளைச்சலை விரட்டுவது எப்படி?” தமிழக அரசின் பரிசையும் பாராட்டுதலையும் பெற்றது.

இவர் 1) அமெரிக்க நெஞ்சு நோய்க்கல்லூரி 2) அனைத்துலகக் குருதி நுட்பக் கல்லூரி, 3) அனைத்திந்திய ஒவ்வாமை நோய்க்கல்லூரி ஆகியவற்றில் சிறப்பு உறுப்பினராக இருந்தார்.

இது தவிர
1. தமிழக அரசு சிறுபான்மை ஆணையத்தின் துணைத்தலைவராகவும்
2. தமிழ்நாடு மாசுகட்டுப்பாடு வாரிய உறுப்பினராகவும் இருந்ததோடு மட்டுமின்றி சமூக சேவையிலும் சமூகத் தொண்டிலும் ஈடுபாடு கொண்ட சமூக ஆர்வலராகவும் திகழ்ந்தார். சென்னை மாநகரின் Sheriff என்ற கெளரவ பதவியையும் இவர் வகித்தார். மருத்துவத்தில் மட்டுமன்றி தமிழ்க் கவிஞராகவும் மேடைப் பேச்சாளராகவும் இவர் விளங்கினார்.

சொர்ணம்

GROUP CAPTAIN DHANARAJ 1941-2012

General, Paravar Personalities,

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.

60To 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

RAO BAHADUR CRUZ FERNANDEZ (1869—1930)

General, Paravar Personalities,

The first half of the twentieth century threw up many stalwarts in our community. In these pages we have already referred to a few. The Pereiras and the D’Mells who did very well in business in Srilanka; the Mascarenhases who did well as Tamil poets; the Rodriguezes who were part of Madurai Tamil sangam and specialized in Chithira kavis; and the Moraises who championed the labourers; the innumerable priests and nuns who adorned the firmament of catholic church, the Lobos who excelled as teachers – all these have been alluded to in this site somewhere in some context. Continue reading RAO BAHADUR CRUZ FERNANDEZ (1869—1930) →

N.R. RAJARATNAM – From Kilakarai To Edinburgh

General, Paravar Personalities

Those of you who would have read the Novel KORKAI by JOE D’CRUZ would perhaps remember his graphic description of festivities associated with the PON–THER in one of the exclusive chapters. In this Chapter, he mentions the various dignitaries seated in the dais witnessing the movement of the PON–THER among whom there is a reference to one Prof. DR. RAJARATNAM. Who is this Dr. Rajaratnam ?. On this, a little later. Continue reading N.R. RAJARATNAM – From Kilakarai To Edinburgh →

Professor Mrs. Therese Lobo, M.A., L.T. (1914 – 2006)

General, Paravar Personalities, , ,

“She was a mother, not only to her daughter, Christine, but to every student who studied under her and every younger colleague who worked with her”. This was the gist of the tributes paid to Professor Mrs. Therese Lobo, by Dr. Miss Agnes Fernando, Dr. Mrs. Christina Rajkumar and Mrs. Regina Stephen, who spoke at the 30th day Requiem Mass. The first two had started their career under her Headship in the Department of English, Holy Cross College and the third had been her student. Continue reading Professor Mrs. Therese Lobo, M.A., L.T. (1914 – 2006) →

Professor S. Albert Lobo, M.A., B.L., L.T., (1913 – 2003)

General, Paravar Personalities, ,

“An illustrious era has come to an end”, were the words with which the news of Professor Albert Lobo’s death, at the age of 90, was greeted by those who had known him over the years. He was the last among his generation of great teachers, who had devoted their lives to the service of St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli. Continue reading Professor S. Albert Lobo, M.A., B.L., L.T., (1913 – 2003) →

Celestine Machado

General, Paravar Personalities, , , ,

When Dhanushkodi was swallowed by sea in 1964, and when the postal services and mails to Ceylon got disrupted and left the Postal administration confounded with no way to keep their service on to Ceylon, it was Celestine Machado who offered the ready solution. He unhesitatingly offered his as well as his relalatives’ boats as carriers of postal mails to Colombo till situation improved. The mails from India reached Colombo within eight hours. The grateful Indian postal department, for this act of National Service honoured him by issuing a First Day Cover in 2010. Continue reading Celestine Machado →

Fr.AUGUSTINE PEREIRA -The Founder of congregation of Immaculate Conception

General, Paravar Personalities, ,

Augustine Pereira, son of Ignatius Xavier Pereira and Maria Michelammal was born on 11th February 1854 at Tuticorin.

His mother , a very pious and devoted lady ,brought him up in deep faith in our Lord ; and sowed the seeds of love for people . Continue reading Fr.AUGUSTINE PEREIRA -The Founder of congregation of Immaculate Conception →

J.P. RODRIGUEZ – THE THOOTHUKUDI NETHAJI

General, Paravar Personalities, , ,

Among the many who fought for Independence in the erstwhile Tirunelveli district, a few like Veerapandiakattabomman, Pulithevan, Subramaniya Bharathi and V.O. Chidambaram Pillai have been extolled in history.

There were many others — nearly 400 of them — whose sacrifice of life, limb, health, livelihood, property has been left unrecorded for posterity and has been allowed to pass into oblivion without much notice by scholars or ordinary people. A few others were lucky to have occasional and miserly references in a few pages of history.

One such great warrior who merits a much larger space than what he gets in Thoothukudi district’s history is Joseph Pichaiya Rodriguez popularly known as J.P. Rodriguez.

Born in Thoothukudi on May 2nd, 1891 and educated at St. Xavier’s school in Thoothukudi, and later in St. Joseph’s college, Tiruchirappalli, he married Roselin Corera in 1917, and had thirteen children — one among them was the famous actor Chandra Babu whose name was Panimaya Dasan.

J.P. Rodriguez joined the freedom movement in 1921, following Gandhiji’s call during his visit to Tirunelveli. His close associate in the Freedom Movement was Masilamani Pillai, a well-known Catholic freedom fighter of Thoothukudi; another was Pe. Kandasamy also of Thoothukudi. These three were the ring leaders in the freedom movement in Thoothukudi.

J.P. Rodriguez had close contact with Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Kamaraj, Satyamoorthy, and Indira Gandhi. The rapport that J.P. Rodriguez had with Nehru was so good that Nehru who travelled with him on a ship from Ceylon, readily accepted his invitation to pay a visit to Thoothukudi.

During Nehru’s visit to Thoothukudi, Rodriguez arranged a grand and impressive reception for him. Responding to the call of Gandhi, he, as one of the Congress leaders of the district, led the masses of Thoothukudi in the agitation to boycott foreign cloth, and the agitations to picket toddy shops. In these agitations his wife Roselin also took an active part.

J.P. Rodriguez, started a journal Suthanthra Veeran in Tamil to conscientise and educate Tamil youth in the Freedom Movement. Worried by the fervent exhortations to Tamil youth to rebel, aired in the journal, and the tangible response they elicited, the British government unleashed a reign of terror on the journal and its founder, J.P. Rodriguez. His press was raided, the types were confiscated, cases for seditious activities were registered and the journal was banned and closed. Further, the British confiscated his properties worth Rs. 2.5 lakhs. Undeterred by all these suppressions J.P. continued his participation in the struggle for freedom.

J.P. Rodriguez assisted by one Valerian Fernando from Veerapandiapattinam formed The National Christian Army and recruited youth to fight against the British might. He even went to Ceylon to recruit youth from the island. In this he reminds one of Nethaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

During his sojourn in Ceylon he started another journal Yavana Barathan and wrote articles such as ‘Yeniin Pathai’ in Gnanathoothan.

He took part in the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and was arrested along with Masilamanipillai and Pe. Kandasamy and sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 200 or two months under the Salt Act.

J.P. Rodriguez in 1957 in Gnanathoothan recalled this arrest and the hardship he and his friends underwent. He said, “When Masilamani, Pe. Kandasamy and I were arrested in 1930 in Thoothukudi, there was a big agitation in the town. They arrested and kept us in the police station for a long time and locked us in separate cells in the Thoothukudi Sub–jail at 11 a.m.”

“The Police and administrative officers did not give us anything to drink or eat. The floors of the cells into which we were pushed into were uneven and uncomfortable either to sit or to spread oneself. There were no mats, no pillows, no blankets. The cells were dark and damp and there was no light — not even a night lamp! There were no windows — no air or breeze. The sepoy ordered us not to shout or cry out even if a scorpion or snake stung or a rat bit us. The sepoy further instructed us that in the event of any such calamity we might have to keep silence till the next day till the prison doctor might turn up.”

Despite all these taciturn threats and warnings J.P. Rodriguez and Masilamanipillai protested against prisoners removing the urine pots.

After some time, J.P. Rodriguez was removed to Vellore Central jail and Tiruchirapalli Central jail to undergo the sentence.

In 1939, J.P. Rodriguez was arrested again and imprisoned for his participation in the Freedom Struggle. After his release he was exiled to Ceylon where he started a weekly magazine Kalachakram.

1n 1941, he was again arrested for participating in individual satyagraha. His famous saying was “I will fight for the liberation of my motherland till the last drop of my blood in my body.”

After having spent some years in Colombo and Hatton where he had a shop, he returned to India and settled in Chennai in 1943 and joined Dinamani.
Though he was settled in Chennai, he visited Thoothukudi often and engaged himself in the freedom struggle till India attained independence.

M. Pitchai Savariammal Associate Professor, Department of History,St. Mary’s College, Thoothukudi