Esther Leela Sahayaraj

Samuel Victor * King Calvin *Jeyasingh David *Job Anbalagan

Esther Leela Sahayaraj

HER EARLY DAYS IN MUNNAR

She was born in Munnar on 31-7-1944 to Mr. M A Thangasamy Nadar & Nesammal couple. Thangasamy Nadar was one of the big businessmen in Munnar area. Being the only girl child, her father had extraordinary affection on her and she also loved him very much. Her father provided her with anything she wanted. After completing her primary education in Munnar, she was sent for higher studies in OCPM followed by Lady Doak College, Madurai where she graduated. She had great affection on her brothers especially after her father's death. She had the character of sacrificing her needs for the sake of her brothers and mother, and behaved as a guardian to them. She is much interested in cooking, and prepares different varieties of delicious, tasty food items. She learnt making traditional food items from her mother. She wore costly dresses purchased by her father, even before she requested for it.

HER LIFE AFTER MARRIAGE

After the death of her beloved father in 1961, her marriage was held in Munnar CSI Church on 25-5-1966 and the reception in The High Range Merchants Association Hall there. Her husband Mr. Noah Daniel Sahayaraj (DOB 6-1-1938) was the son of her relative Mr. Rajiah's sister Pushpam. Mr. Rajiah, an ex-teacher of Kanakkapillaivalasai of Tenkasi Tauk, was the husband of Saantham, step-sister of Leela's mother Nesammal Thangasamy. Mr. Sahayaraj's father was Mr. VDC Durai, who worked as a Post Master in Burma (Now, Myanmar) returned to India with family during the II World War & settled in Palayamkottai. Sahayaraj studied in St. John's High School and did intermediate in St. Xavier's College in Palayamkottai, before joining in the IAF. He was a very good hockey player and represented the district in tournaments. After the marriage, he took her with him to Bangalore, where he was working in the Head Quarters Training Command of Indian Air force, and lived there for 4 years. Their first son was born there in the year 1969. From there, he was transferred to Bihar in the end of 1969. At that time Leela and the new born son stayed with her in-laws in a rented house in Kulavanigarpuram in Palayamkottai. Since the house was congested and she was also not happy with her in-laws, her husband took her and their son with him to Bihar and lived there for about 1 year, till he retired in 1971 after 15 years of service. Then they returned to Palayamkottai, and he joined in the Customs & Central Excise Department, and was posted in Tuticorin. Later, he was transferred to Tirunelveli followed by Madurai in the year 1975. He was very honest and 'clean'. He was a very honest and 'clean' staff in the department. He never took bribe or indulged in corrupt practices for personal benefit, even when his family was badly in need of money. He had a very good command over English language and scripted his letters in English with much ease. He guided Job Anbalagan, the younger brother of Leela in his career at every stage.

While N. D. Sahayaraj was working in Madurai, and the family was living in Pudur, he expired on 3-1-1976 due to cardiac arrest. When he died, his elder son Sudhakar was in Munnar as he accompanied Job Anbalagan to Munnar when the latter visited Madurai/Munnar from Delhi on holidays. At the time of his home call, Sudhakar was 6 year old and their younger son Jeyakar 3 year old. The death was a great shock to Leela, as he left her with the two children who were studying in primary schools. He had neither any asset nor any source of income to his dependents. Her brother Jeyasingh, who worked in St. Andrews Bus Service in Palayamkottai, also moved and stayed with them in Madurai. Hence, he was a great help for her family and shouldered her burden to a large extent and the children found solace in him.

HER LIFE AFTER HUSBAND'S DEATH

After the death of her husband, Leela moved to Narimedu area of Madurai with her 2 sons, with great mental agony! However, the govt. offered her a clerk job in the department where her husband worked, on compassionate grounds! Hence, she was relieved from the financial stress to an extent. Her new house in Narimedu was close to the AG Church and the pastor Rev. S.S.Stephen and his family was helping her out to the maximum extent. Her neighbor was Mr. Christopher Edward working in the CSI Diocesan office in Madurai. His wife Hephzibah and their 4 daughters were very much affectionate to her and became guardian to her and children. In due course she became the member of the AG Church through them and made herself involve in the church activities! In the meantime, her brother Jeyasingh David, who was helping her in domestic matters, and also in rearing her young children, was with her until he was called by her younger brother Anbalagan and got employed in a private concern in Delhi. While he was with her, he made them happy by his humoristic talks and jokes, and the children never felt the absence of their father. By the time he was leaving, Leela got the confidence of managing family with the support of her more than relative families of the church! Her enduring relationship with the pastor's family and the neighbor’s family and their support continued even after the death of the pastor and the neighbor. Since she was very honest and hard working in the work, she was promoted to the position of DOS (deputy office superintendent), and retired on superannuation in the year 2004.

HER DEVOTIONAL LIFE

Leela became a prayer warrior and lead her children also to live a good Christian life from their childhood days. She is a strong member of the AG Church and involves in various ministries of the church such as village ministry, hospital ministry etc. She is also involving in Jesus Calls, ministry and doing counseling from their Prayer Tower for the depressed souls. She has passion for bringing as much as souls to the Kingdom of Lord Jesus Christ, and works actively towards this objective, and undertakes extensive travels even up to Delhi and beyond, for this purpose, even without rest! She guided a high ranking young married Brahmin girl of her department to the kingdom of Jesus Christ! Once a secret Christian, she became a prayer warrior now! She is working and living in Delhi, but their fellowship continues, in spite of the objection from her family members! Since Leela has devoted herself for the God's work, God has blessed her and her family in worldly and spiritual life. Though she is in her late sixties now, she is active and doing the God's work without any setback! She continues her fellowship with the Stephen pastor's sons, Pr. Peniel & Pr. Edwin who are in charge of the AG Churches of Anna Nagar & Kalai Nagar, respectively, in Madurai, after his death. Both of them have married the daughters of Mr. Christopher Edward, Leela's neibour, who also expired due to cardiac arrest before his daughters' marriages. She is actively involved in Jesus' Calls ministry as a prayer warrior and as an evangelist. Leela has 2 sons namely Ebenezer Thangadurai Sudhakar and Alan Daniel Jeyakar, and their details are given below:-

EBENEZER SUDHAKAR

He was born in Bangalore on 26-08-1969, while his parents were there, and his father was working in HQ Training Command of IAF in Hebbal. Sudhakar studied in YWCA High School till class 10 and then moved to A.C. Hr. Secondary School for classes 11 and 12, followed by American College, Madurai, where he post graduated in M.Sc (Maths). He is being called affectionately as 'Sudha' by his mother and relatives. He is also very much affectionate towards his relatives and the pastor's family. He married Selvi (Lydia) D/o Late Mr. Leslie George & Mrs. Jane in Madurai on 16.6.1995. Her date of birth is 12-7-1974. Mr. Leslie's father was ex- head clerk in the KDHP Head Quarters Office, Munnar, Kerala. Leslie's family was living in Madurai at the time of the marriage. Since Sudhakar was growing in good Christian spiritual background under the care of his mother and the pastor's family, he wanted to dedicate himself for the God's work. Hence he joined in the gospel team of the AG Church, as a junior pastor in Chennai. He was given charge of the Nesapakkam AG Church in KK Nagar which had only a few believers! Since he had a great passion to earn souls for His kingdom, he worked very hard with prayers towards this objective. He was very humble and sincere as a model God's servant. His wife Selvi joined her husband in the gospel work and acted as a backbone of the church. In due course, in recognition of his tireless service and prayer, God blessed him by sending many souls to his church, and the Service is being conducted in a better spacious place now. He was also promoted as a senior pastor. He is blessed with a daughter named Evangeline Salome (DOB 18-10-1996) and a son named Daniel Jonathan (DOB 22-1-1998) and both of them are living with their parents. They actively take part in the church activities such as singing, playing music etc.

On 25th July 2019, to our great shock, God called home Sudhakar through a tragic bike accident in Chennai. He was buried in Chennai on 26th July 2019.

Marriage of Evangeline Shalomi with Joshua

The marriage of Shalomi, daughter of Sudhakar took place on 30th June 2021 in New Life A.G. Church. She is married to Joshua. Photo is given below. The marriage video is also posted below.:

ALAN DANIEL JEYAKAR

Jeyakar, as commonly known among the relatives and friends, was born on 30-12-1972 in Palayamkottai. He had his primary education in YWCA School in Narimedu, followed by high school in American College Higher secondary school, Madurai and higher secondary education in Thiagarajar Model School, near Teppakulam, in Madurai. He graduated from the American College, Madurai, and post graduated in M.A. (French) from Madurai Kamarajar University. He worked in Mahatma Gandhi School, Madurai, Christian College, Kodaikanal, PSG College, Coimbatore and American College, Madurai for some time. He married Nisha, D/o Mr. Bernard & Mrs. Mary in Chennai on 27-12-1996. Late Mr. Bernard was employed in a private company. He was the elder brother of Pastor D. Mohan, the founder of the New Life AG Church. Chinnamalai, Chennai. Nisha's date of birth is 8-6-1974. After birth of their first son, Jeyakar's family migrated to Kuwait, and he is working as a French teacher there. Jeyakar couple has two sons, namely Kevin Nathaniel (DOB 14-4-2003), and Kenneth Alan (DOB 25-7-2005) and they are living with their parents.

DETAILS OF LEELA'S SIBLINGS

1) SAMUEL VICTOR & HIS WIFE JEBAKKANI

Victor is her elder brother, living in Udumalpet, with his daughter's family. His wife Jebakkani is no more. He is the FMPB representative of that region.

2) KING CALVIN & HIS WIFE PARIMALA

Calvin is her immediate younger brother lives in Chennai with his wife, and his younger son's family. He was an ex-field officer in Tata Tea Ltd. & his wife is a homemaker.

3) JEYASINGH DAVID & HIS WIFE DAISY

Jeyasingh is the next younger brother, working in a private company as accountant, in Delhi. His wife is working in Faith Academy in Delhi.

4) JOB ANBALAGAN & HIS WIFE ALVINA

Anbalagan is the youngest brother, an ex-DGM (Vigilance) in Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., Delhi. His wife Alvina is working as a teacher in a girl’s higher Sec. School in Delhi. Both are living in Delhi.

SIBLINGS OF HER HUSBAND

1) Nancy & her husband Gunaseelan of Puducherry. Nancy was the eldest sister in the family. Her husband was an ex-staff in All India Radio. Both of them are no more.

2) Sakkubai & her husband Rajasingh Simon. Sakkubai is the next elder sister. Her husband was an ex-staff in Southern Railways.

3) Sironmoney Solomon & his wife Thangam. Both of them were ex-employees of The Employment Exchange in Palayamkottai. Sironmoney was the only younger brother of him. Solomon also expired after some years.

4) Chrysolite Thelma & her husband Joseph Narayanan. She is the first younger sister to him. Chrysolite was a friend of Jebakkani, wife of Samuel Victor. She is no more.

5) Eben & her husband Williams. Both of them were working in The Telephone Exchange. Eben is the youngest in the family. Williams is no more.

HER FRIENDS

1) Rani D/o Mr. DTG Dhas, proprietor of DTG Dhas & Co. Munnar. They are maintaining the contact even now.

2) Felicia D/o Mr.James Samuel of DMS & Sons, Munnar. She is living in Katpadi with family, and their friendship still continues.

3) Ameliya, a relative of MAT's nephew AS Samuel's wife Joyce. She is one of the best friends from her school days.

HER HUSBAND'S FRIENDS

1) Mr. Alfred Immanuel. His close friend from his school days in Palayamkottai. He later joined in Southern Railways in Madras.

2) Mr. Augustine, who was also another best friend while studying in St. John's School, Palayamkottai. He also worked in the Railways in Madras.

3) Mr. Naldu, his colleague while working in Bangalore. He hailed from Andhra and even Leela was not aware of his full name, Sahayaraj used to call him affectionately as 'Naidu', and he used to call him affectionately as 'Danny'. Sahayaraj's full name is Noah 'Daniel' Sahayaraj, and hence he called him in short as 'Danny' for Daniel. He expired in his late thirties, and Sahayaraj could not forget his late, beloved friend for years.

HER LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT

Since God has given her peace of mind and have more time for God's work after retirement, she dedicated herself for full time ministry and continues her journey, without break! She stands as a model for a true Christian woman, who overcame her worldly sufferings by the grace of God. She is actively engaged in every facet of Jesus' Calls ministry and visits the National Prayer Tower in Delhi for intercessory prayers for the nation every year. She does a deliverance ministry in Bethesda of Jesus' Calls in Siruvani, Coimbatore.

(Written by T. King Calvin in 2013 and edited by Job Anbalagan)