John Palmer, Mylaudy

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Great Christian Poets of Mylaudy: Mr. John Palmer [1812-1883] :

The great Christian lyric poet Mr. John Palmer was born at Mylaudy , near Nagercoil , Kanyakumari district on the 15th, November, 1812 , in the family Maharasan Vethamonickam of Mylaudy village . He is considered as one the greatest Christian lyric poets next only to Vetha Nayagam Sasthiriyar of Thanjavur.

His birth and family geneoly ; John Palmer was privileged to born in the family of Maharasan Vethemanickam, of Mylaudy ,the man who was responsible for bringing the London Missionary Society's legendary missionary Mr. Ringetaube to Kanyakumari District [South Travancore] in1806. Johan Palmer was generally and shortly called as "JaPa " in Tamil . JaPa was born on the 15th of November , 1812, at Mylaudy , as the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs.Gnanapragasam Thesikar of Mylaudy, a cousin of Maharasan Vethamonickam. Mylaudy is a lovely idyllic village surrounded by lotus ponds , coconut and mango tree gardens and verdant fertile paddy fields , located at a distance of 7 miles from Nagercoil ,near the famous Marunthuvalmalai, [Medicine Hill].

Geneology: Mr.Gnanapragasam begot John Palmer, John Palmer begot Abel Palmer [Abel Palmer's brother Solomon Palmer's daughter, Mrs, Manonmani was the wife of Mr Gnanamuthu Jesudasan , the first ordained Indian Pastor of M.E.L.I.M--I.E.L.C.], Abel Palmer begot Retnam Palmer, Retnam Palmer begot Muthuraj Palmer , Muthuraj Palmer begot Herbert Palmer , Herbert Palmer begot Moses Palmer and Mr Moses Palmer is living with us today [ Mr. Moses Palmer is working with World Vision].

Education: The legendary L.M.S. missionary Mr. Charles Mead , shifted the Head Quarters of Mylaudy LMS Mission field , from Mylaudy to Nagercoil in 1818 and established a Seminary at Nagercoil with the help of the fellow missionary Mr. Charles Mault in 1819. Along with the other Mylaudy lads like Devaram Biddulph, Christian, Moses and three others , John Palmer also had the privilege to continue his education at the Seminary at Nagercoil with help of Mr. Mead and Mr, Mault. Tamil , English, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Greek, etc were taught as subjects at the Seminary. JaPa successfully completed his education at the Seminary. In recognition of his educational accomplishment, John Palmer was sent to a famous Seminary , in Ceylon for higher education by Mr. Charles Mead , Mr. Charles Mault and Mr. Knill .

John Palmer and Mr.Charles Mault : On his return from Ceylon , Mr John Palmer was appointed as the Native Assistant to Mr Charles Mault, at Nagercoil and also as an Assistant at the London Missionary Printing Press , Nagercoil . John Palmer was a born writer and poet and his job at the Printing Press helped him immensely to improve his writing skill.

Family Life : John Palmer married Perinbamammal on the 5th of July, 1830. He led a happy conjugal life with his loving wife and they were blessed with many children . Mr. Charles Mault , Mrs. Mault and Mrs. Eliza Caldwell [ The legendary wife of Dr. Robert Caldwell , the Author of the monumental book , The Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages, London, 1875 ] were highly helpful to Mr. John Palmer's family in many ways..

The great Christian lyrical poet Mr John Palmer. Mr. Mault and Mr. Mead identified the literary talents of John Palmer and spontaneously encouraged him in his literary endeavors and travel. John Palmer wrote many beautiful and meaningful Christian Lyrics in beautiful Tamil in melodious ragas [tunes]. All his melodious lyrics became instant success and were with great reception, included in the Christian Hymn and Lyric Books of the day , of the Established Christian denominations of Protestant Christianity and were sung in the worship services with great enthusiasm and inspiration because of the tunes and the meanings of his Tamil lyrics . Even today his lyrics are being sung in all the Protestant Tamil Churches like C.S.I , Lutheran Churches and such others , throughout the globe including India , Sri Lanka , Malaysia, Singapore , U.k. U.S.A etc . The following are some of Ja Pa's very popular lyrics: "Suya Athihara ", "Bethalaiyil Piranthavarai ", "Osanna Paduvom " , "Innalil Yesunathar Vuyirthar ", "Aridathil Yehuvom " , "Yesuvava Kirubasanapathiyae" , Thevathi theva Thirumarai aruzhiya, karunakara Theva..,Charanam, Charanam, Charanam..,Aa Varum Nam Ellorum Koodi , Athi Anthamillatha Thevathi Thevan , Ventha thuyar neekiya.., Masilla Yesu vallalai Valththuvoma , Chuthihariyayo Thurkunam Neenga, Parana Vunai Nambinan Vuramudan Thangiyah, Theeyan Ayienan Iya Ezhiyan , Iaiya Nan Voru Jenmi Aananna , Gunam Ingitha Vadivai Vuyar kova Yesu Theva and so many others.

John Palmer's other literary accomplishments : John Palmer was a prolific writer, and some of his well known Tamil books are listed below : 1.Gnanapatha Keerthanam[Christian Lyrics], 2. Christhayanam [Life of Christ], 3.Messiah Vilasam [The Life of Christ in lyrics] 4. Sathyavetha Charithra Keerthanai [ bible History in lyrics] and 5.Pramanthakummi [ The heavenly delight]. Among his Tamil creative works , "Christhiyanam ", is his masterpiece. This book has been written in the form of the Hindu Tamil Epics "Ramayana ", 'Naidatham" and Beschi's "Thempavani ". It is divided into four parts:

Part I [Balakandam--Birth] deals with the birth of Christ , Part II [ Kirya Kandam- Ministry] deals with the ministry of Christ, Part III [Avastha Kandam-Passion] deals with the Passion of Christ and Part IV [Arohannakandam -Ascension] deals with the resurrection and ascension of Christ. This monumental book consists of 842 stanzas. It is the moral responsibility of all the Tamil Christians and scholars to introduce this great masterpiece of the great Christian Lyrical Poet Mr. John Palmer , to the Tamil speaking world, in a proper , suitable and befitting manner.

Conclusion : Mr. John Palmer [Ja Pa] is no more with us but he lives in his Christian lyrical poems and also in his other Great Tamil books penned by him . After the retirement of Mr. Mault from the Mission owing to the unkind treatment received from members of the Chuch and Mission , Mr. John Palmer left the L.M.S. Mission and entered Revd. Mead's service at Trivandrum. Mr.Mead employed him in the Chaplaincy School,Government Press, and in some other offices. Mr. Palmer's beloved wife Perinbam Ammal died on the 9th , February, 1859. Mr. John Palmer died on the 2nd April 1883 at the old age of 71, and his mortal body was interred at the Christ Church Cemetery, Trivandrum. The unoffical ' Poet Laureate ' of Tamil Christan Lyrics is silently sleeping in the Cemetery of Christ Church , Trivandrum C.M. Agur, B.A., the great Church Historian and Author of the Landmark book," The Church History of Travancore"[1903], writes about Mr. John Palmer , "Mr.Palmer's style is plain. He confines himself to Scriptural thoughts and uses appropriate epithets suited to the language and habit of thought of Tamil Christians who are delighted with his simple and elegant Lyrics. Mr. Balm has remarked that what Dr.Watts , who aimed to sing for children by the very simplicity and beauty of his style was in England so Mr. Palmer was in the South Indian Church " .

P.BABU MANOHARAN, M.A, [Rights reserved This Article will be enlarged , modified and corrected later , if needed]