SamuelVictor

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T. SAMUEL VICTOR

HIS EARLY DAYS IN MUNNAR

Samuel Victor or Victor in short was born as the eldest son to M A Thangasamy Nadar couple on 16-4-1943 at Dohnavur. He had his primary education in Munnar followed by higher studies in Setupati High School & American College in Madurai. Since his father was a big businessman in Munnar, he was grown up in a wealthy atmosphere. He was owning an imported bicycle having latest extra fittings. He was riding motor cycle at the time motor cycles were rarely seen. Also he was one of the pioneers in using transistor radio in Munnar. His marriage was held in the year 1967 in the isolated CSI church at Thenmallay Estate, after the death of his father in the year 1961. He married Ms. Jebakkani, the eldest daughter of Mr. Ponnappan, a native of Nazareth, Tuticorin Dt. of Tamilnadu, who was working as Asst. Field Officer in Thenmallay Estate. His wife Mrs. Ponnammal was working as a teacher in the govt. aided primary school in the same estate by that time. The DOB of Jebakkani is 25-8-1946. Victor lived with his family in the quarters of the Main Bazaar after the marriage, and looking after all his father’s establishments from there, and later moved to Munnar and stayed with his mother Mrs. Paul NesamThangasamy. While he was in Thenmallay Estate he was an active member of the staff club and took part in all activities. He was a very good badminton player, who used to play in the centre position.

HIS LIFE STYLE IN UDUMALPET

After disposing the shops in Munnar and Thenmallay, he migrated to Udumalpet inTamilnadu in the year 1973 and joined in a Kerala based chit fund company as a staff. Later he became the manager of the branch and his wife also worked in the same company for a short period. Victor was a well-known personality in Udumalpet through his cordial behaviour with all walks of people, irrespective of their religion, community, religion, language etc. He has the noble character of his father, Thangasamy Nadar in helping others monetarily, even when he was unaffordable to do so. He was being identified by the locals by the bible verses stickers pasted all over his scooter and his car. Victor was very affectionate towards his brothers and sister. He had sacrificed a lot for their well being earlier. He loved his wife very much. He was respecting and treating her parents with affection and respect. He used to take his wife’s sisters to his home for their deliveries as there was a lady doctor Dr. Shantha, their family friend was in Udumalpet to attend the deliveries. Also, Jemy, the daughter of his wife’s brother Manoharan was studying in Udumalpet by staying in his home. He and his wife treated her as their own daughter and showered affection on her. She too loved them so much and used to call them as Dad and Mom! Now, she is living in London with her husband and children. Likewise, Mrs. Jebakkani loved her husband’s brothers and sister and relatives. She was maintaining a very good relationship with his relatives of his native village. Victor was maintaining a good relationship with his aunt Koilammal and her family, and also with his cousin Prema and his family, who were living in Udumalpet.

DEVOTIONAL AND MAGNANIMOUS LIFE OF THE VICTOR COUPLE

Victor and his wife Jebakkani, who was affectionately called as 'Jeba' by him were leading a good devotional life and dedicated their life to spread gospel in and around Udumalpet. They were the active members of the CSI church. Victor is an honorary representative of FMPB (friends Missionary Prayer Band) of the region for many years, and in addition, is doing the village ministry around Udumalpet. They used to accommodate the gospel workers in their house whenever they visited Udumalpet. They treated them with great affection and respect and provided them with 'rich' food, even when they were living with a very meagre income!

Victor, once a great fan of cine actor Shivaji Ganesan, turned as a great fan of Lord Jesus Christ after the marriage! They remained as a model of a true Christian couple and the total credit goes to Mrs. Jebakkani only! Mr. N. Samuel, author of the gospel magazine 'Deva Ekkaalam' of Kothagiri is one among them. Rev. Jesudhas R. Chandran, CSI pastor and his wife from Kerala was another such family.

SISTER & BROTHERS OF VICTOR

1) Leela Sahayaraj & her husband Sahayaraj. She worked in Customs & Central Excise Department, Madurai as Dy. Office Supdt. and retired. Her husband Sahayaraj was an ex Indian Air force Officer (later worked in Customs & Central Excise Dept.) He expired in Jan.1976.

2) King Calvin & his wife Parimala.

He worked as field officer in Tata Tea Ltd. at Munnar and retired. His wife Parimala is a homemaker.

3) Jeyasingh David & his wife Daisy.

He is working as an accountant in a private company at Delhi. His wife Daisy is working as a clerk in The Faith Academy school at Delhi.

4) Job Anbalagan & his wife Alvina.

Anbalagan worked as DGM (Vigilance) in Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. at Delhi, and retired. His wife is working as a teacher in St.Thomas Girls Higher Secondary School, at Delhi,

The Victor couple have a daughter named Rani and a son named Barnabas and their details are given below:-

RANI alias ELIZABETH GOLD MATILDA

She was born in Thenmallay Estate on 8-10-1968. Since her original name is lengthy she is being called by her pet name Rani by all. Her husband Solomon, who is a native of Palayamkottai, Tirunelvely Dt., is working in The Hindustan Photo Films, Ooty, a Govt. of India Enterprise. His father Rev.Ambrose was an independent pastor doing gospel work as honorary in the Tenkasi area, in the yester years. His mother was a teacher. Solomon is very much affectionate towards his and his wife's relatives, besides his own family. He used to take part in almost all family functions of the relatives and hence, all of them like him very much! Rani works as a teacher in a Hr. Sec. School in Udumalpet. She is well-known for her hospitality and affection towards all the relatives, like her mother. She prepares different varieties of tasty food items and very smart as an excellent homemaker! She is being called affectionately as 'Ranimaa' by her parents and relatives. She and her daughter Priscilla & Lydia are living in Udumalpet under the direct care of the father Victor.

ERNEST GOLD BARNABAS

Barnabas was born in Thenmallay Estate on 14-10-1971. His marriage was held on 11-10-1993 in Tanjore. He is a green card holder, lives in USA with family. He and his wife Jacinth MaliniPriya are working for software companies. They have 2 sons namely Shaun Isaac & John Immanuel, studying in USA. Malini is the daughter of Mr. Gnanadurai, a native of Alwartirunagri of Tirunelvely Dt. He is a retired production manager in NLC, Neyveli, and his wife Jeya was a teacher there. Barnabas, before migrating to USA, worked in Premier Mills near Udumalpet, after completing post graduation in computer science in Bishop Heber College, Trichy. His wife Malini also is an ex-student of the same college! Barnabas was brought up in a spiritual background from his childhood. He has the magnanimous quality of his grandfather Thangasamy Nadar and his father Victor, to render monetary help to the poor and also to the poor gospel workers. While he was studying, he donated a bicycle to a poor gospel worker by the savings he made from his pocket money! His helping trend continues till now, by contributing abundantly to the God's ministries for building churches, helping poor children for their education etc. without publicity! Hence, God blessed him and his family abundantly!

LAST DAYS OF Mrs. JEBAKANI VICTOR

Mrs. Jebakani Victor left for her heavenly abode on 8-10- 2007 after a prolonged illness of cancer in Sri Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Hospital in Coimbatore! Her husband, children, family members & relatives looked after her with utmost patience and affection till her last moment. Her son met all the expenses for treating his beloved mother. Mr. Inbaraj Johnson, evangelist, a relative and a best family friend of Victor's family, was looking after her with his wife in the last days in the hospital. They gave her a loving care upto her end. She breathed her last and taken to His Kingdom in the lap of Mrs. Johnson, in the presence of her beloved husband and Mr. Inbaraj Johnson. He helped Victor to arrange transporting and accompanying her body to her hometown, Udumalpet where she was laid to rest. Her death was a greatest loss that created a very big vacuum in the family and relatives which is not filled till this moment!

She lived in this world as a model to the others to follow.

She lived a life as a BEST daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother, friend, neighbor, praying woman and so on, and set an example. Of course, she and her mother-in-law developed a 'bitterness' towards each other due to some misunderstandings while living in Munnar, which was prevailing in her mind for a long time! But it disappeared, once she became a true 'daughter' of Lord Jesus Christ!. Though she is no more, she lives as a guiding light in the hearts of the family members and relatives!

The details of her siblings' families are listed below:-

HER BROTHERS

1) P.K.Manoharan & wife Packiavathy

He is ex- Regional manager of Co-optex.

2) Moses John & wife Kamala

He was PA to Supdt. of Police, Madurai District, in Madurai.

3) Paul Jeyasingh & wife Vasantha.

He is working as a manager for Canara Bank.

HER SISTERS

1) Jeyaseely & husband Rajendran.

She worked as a teacher in Ervadi and her husband was also a teacher in Palayamkottai..

2) Mary & husband Ponraj. She and her husband are holding senior positions in Santhosh Vidyalaya of Dohnavur,

3) Selvarathy & husband John Selvaraj.

Both are working as lecturers in Pope's College, Sawyerpuram,

THE CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS OF VICTOR COUPLE

1) Mr. Fredrick Solomon & his wife Dr.Shantha.

Fredrick, a native of Sivakasi, worked in Railways as Station Master in Udumalpetand retired. Now he is no more. Dr.Shantha, a natve of Veppankadu in Tirunelvely Dt., had worked in Karunya in Coimbatore and later opened a clinic in Udumalpet. She is the daughter of Mr. G.I. Manickavasagam, ex-HM of CMS High School of Srivilliputhur&Pasumalai High School, Madurai. Sri.Patturajan, ex-Mayor of Madurai is her brother. She is also no more now.

2) Dr. Kulasekararaj & his wife AnnaselviMallika.

Kulasekararaj, is a native of Prakasapuram, Nazareth, and ex-Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Dept. in TN Govt. His wife AnnaselviMallika was a teacher. They are living in Udumalpet.

3) Mr. J. Stanley & his wife. He was a close family friend from his school days. He was from Nagercoil and his father was ex- head clerk in KDHP Co. in Munnar. Now, Stanley is no more!

4) Mr. A.Sven Peter & his wife. Sven Peter is the famous christian devotional musician in Tamilnadu.

5) Mr. C.X.Varghese and his wife Saramma. Both of them worked in KDHP Co. in Munnar and later went to a gulf country and settled there. C.X. Varghese was a neighbour of Victor in Munnar in his childhood days.

6) Mr. K.C.Mathai and his wife Annamma. Both of them worked in Thenmallay Estate and after their retirement, settled in their hometown in Kerala.

7) Mr. L.J.Pinheiro known as Sonno – Pinheiro was working as an Asst factory officer in Thenmallay Estate. He and his mother were very much affectionate towards him. He resigned his job and settled down in his hometown in Kerala. Now, he is no more.

8) Sri. Mahalingam known as 'Mikeset' Mahalingam. He was running a sound service called, 'Murugan Sound Service' that was once very popular in Munnar Town. Only he was deputed to play mikeset in his domestic functions. He married very late, who is no more now!

The author of this biography gives his testimony of his experience as follows, in regard to the popularity'of Samuel Victor in Udumalpet, by quoting some interesting incidents! This is written in direct speech:

About 25 years back, I went to visit my brother Victor's home in Udumalpet. On my arrival at the bus stand, I wanted to purchase some eatables for his children and stepped into a shop near the bus stand with my luggage, to buy some bakery items. The shop keeper looked at me up and down and asked me,' Are you going to Victor's house?’ I replied, 'Yes' with a surprise! 'How do you know?' I asked. He told me that my facial features resemble that of my brother! After the purchase I reached home.

The next day, when I came out I took the bicycle of my brother, which is famous in Udumalpet for its modern extra fittings, decorations with fancy items and bible verses stickers pasted in it etc. On the way, I parked the bicycle in front of a petty shop in the Dhalli Road, to purchase some minor items for my use. The petty shop owner stared at me and the bicycle two three times and then asked in Tamil, 'Neenga Victoroda thambingalaa? (Are you the brother of Victor?), for which I told 'Yes' with a shocking surprise as this is the second such incident in 2 days! Before I started to ask how he came to know, he continued that it was Victor's bicycle and I was looking like his brother! When I was back home, I shared the incident with my brother and his wife. They told me that it was not the first such incident, and narrated the bitter experiences of the people who borrowed the bicycle for a pleasure 'ride'! If anybody was seen riding this bicycle, the locals would stop it on the road and enquire how the cycle was in their possession as it belonged to Victor! Sometimes it resulted in an embarrassing situation for the riders that they detain the rider and the bicycle! Hence nobody had the courage to borrow it and ride afterwards! These incidents reflect how much popularity and affection he earned from the people of Udumalpet through his behavior and dealings!!

(Written by T King Calvin and assisted by T. Job Anbalagan during 2013)