Lily Renjitha Joy Gnanadasan

Mrs. Joy Gnanadason was the founder Principal of the Women’s Christian College, Nagercoil of the Kanyakumari Diocese of the Church of South India and the wife of the late most Rev. I.R.H. Gnanadason who was the moderator of the Church of South India. Having been an educationalist for over 30 years, it had been given to her to build up women’s education in this District with new diamensions. Nagercoil, the head Quarters of the Kanyakumari District had been chosen by the missionaries to be the centre for education. The thickly populated District of Kanyakumari was a rural area economically backward, the education of women in new ways, relating to jobs and economic stability is a priority. The women of the village were to be trained in hygiene, economy, nutrition and family planning. The Women’s Christian College, the only Protestant Christian College for women in this district, realizes the responsibility it has towards the thousands of village women in whose hand the welfare of this District lies. The college needs to make new thrusts in training village women in theology, hygiene, food production through kitchen and utility gardening and food preservation- tinning, canning, fruit juice and jam making and Nutrition. No other social activities in Kanyakumari District can be compared with the activities of Joy Gnanadason in any respect. She is the first liberated women of the Kanyakumari District. She led simple life and was very kind to the down trodden people. She struggled hard for the uplift of the down trodden particularly women in the society.

Joy Gnanadason was born on 15th January 1920 on the Thai Pongal day, as the sixth child of her parents. Her parents were J.V. John of Peyodu (Santhapuram) and Yovannal of Thittuvilai. They were well educated for their time. They named her Lily Ranchitha Joy but she was affectionately called ‘Joy Papa” by her brothers and relatives. She had three elder brothers and one sister.

The Bishop Gnanadasen emphasised the starting of a Women’s College. The executive Committee accepted the suggestions and discussed the step to be taken to start the Women’s College in 1972.

The opening of the Women’s Christian College is a land mark in the history of the Kanyakumari Diocese. The opening of the Women’s Christian College on 13th June 1973, marks the realization of the ideals and dreams of a community that has enjoyed the blessings of education for nearly two centuries.

The founder Principal Dr. Joy Gnanadason endeavoured to establish a Women’s College in Nagercoil, It was not with a view of starting yet another institution. It was indeed a passion to uphold the cause of women that spurred her and the passing years have proved that her dream has not been in-vain. The Executive Committee of the Women’s College had proposed unanimously as the Principal of the New Women’s College. Because she was the senior most woman of the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, and worked a lot for the establishment of the College. On 24th March 1973 Joy Gnanadason was appointed as the Principal of Women’s Christian College, Kanyakumari Diocese C.S.I. Nagercoil. Rev. I.R.H. Gnanadason gave his full support to Mrs. Joy Gnanadason to take the leadership.

A long cherished dream of the people of Kanyakumari District came true under the Principalship of Joy Gnanadason. On the whole the college had a relaxed calm sailing. Hard work was done and faith and courage developed.

Joy Gnanadason’s contribution to Women’s emancipation and education and her zeal for social and missionary service, nurtured in her by her husband right from the time of his entry into the Lord’s ministry as Evangelist, rising to the level of pastor, Bishop and moderator and her own performances which followed have all made her a great and deserving person to be conferred the honour of Doctor of Divinity by the Bishop’s college, Calcutta in 1995 and Doctorate by the Ecumenical Academy of India in 1994. Joy Gnanadason was the appropriate women who can be called the women enlightener. She passed away at the age of 84 on 10th February 2004.

CONCLUSION Mrs. Joy Gnanadason has been immortalized not only by her self-less service but also by her writing. She wrote two books and many articles. Her book the “Forgotten History” reveals the origin and development of Christian Church in South Travancore, slavery, uplift of the suppressed, spread of education by Christian Missionaries and the transformation of the society. It is very popular and so it was translated into Tamil and Malayalam. It has historic value. Another book named “Mangalavadi Kathaigal” reveals the socio – economic life of the Mangalavadi area in Nagercoil such as festivals, religious ceremonies, marriage customs, women’s education etc. Mrs. Joy Gnanadason earned high reputation because of her ability, performance and devotion.