BIRTH CENTENARY OF A TAMIL SCHOLAR AND PRIEST
- by REV. T. S. Premarajah
The Reverend Daniel Rajaratnam Ampalavanar M.A., B.D.
The Rev Daniel R. Ampalavanar, born on the 5th August 1924 in Ellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, to the Rev Joseph Ponnambalam and Anna Annamma (nee Somasundaram) Ampalavanar of Pungudutivu, while his parents served as missionaries of the Indian Inland Mission over many years in India chiefly based in “Ellore.” They had five children, of whom four were boys, and one a girl. Their names were Daniel, David, Stephen, Johnson, and Grace Athisayam. The Ampalavanar family returned to their home in Pungudutivu in Ceylon, due to the Great Depression in the 1930’s and the father Rev Ampalavanar served as pastor of Pungudutivu church till he was transferred to Vaddukoddai in 1941 as an Assistant there. While being at Vaddukoddai, he succumbed to some illness and passed away in 1942. Thereafter, his wife had to shoulder the responsibility of her young children, who were fortunate to be supported at that time by the Mission, which also offered scholarships for the children for their studies. His mother had to shoulder the responsibilities of her young children, in which Daniel the eldest and still a student contributed his mite.
Daniel was educated first at St John’s College, Jaffna, and later moved to Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai. He excelled in studies, offered to do ministry, hence proceeded to United Theological College, Bangalore, and at the end he obtained a BD degree of the Senate of Serampore (University) College. Thereafter he and joined the ranks of ministers of the Church of South India, Jaffna Diocese in the year 1950.
MARRIAGE
Daniel was married to Miss Evelyn Rajamalar Arumairatnam of Tellippalai in 1953. They were blessed with two sons- Rajamohan and Rajanimalan.
PARISH MINISTRY
His commenced ministry, first as an assistant at Uduvil, covering the Inuvil Parish (1950-51), and moved on to parishes in Alavaddy (1951-53), Earlalai South, Earlalai North and Moolai (1953-55), Delft (1955-59), Vaddukoddai (1959-1963), Navaly-Anaicottai (1963-65). After a brief period of being an Editor, “Ooliyar Tholan” Bangalore, India (1965-68), he returned to Parish ministry, this time, to Colombo (1968-74) serving two terms of eight years, living in the Parsonage (with Chapel) at 39 Fussel’s Lane, Wellawatta, and the Colombo congregation worshipping at the Wellawatta Dutch Reformed Church, where he was a popular preacher in Tamil.
SEMINARY TEACHING
The family moved to Tamilnadu Theological Seminary (TTS), Arasaradi, Madurai, to be on the teaching staff of the newly established regional seminary, almost serving five years from 1974 till 1979.
RETURN TO PARISH MINISTRY
The family moved to Tellippalai, the hometown of Pothakar amma. It was then a Church in demand for more input, and his ministry covered the Tellippalai circuit- which included Kankesanthurai, Earlalai North and South churches (1979-83). Then he was transferred to Manipay, where served from1983 till1987. He also taught theological students of the newly established ‘Institute for Evangelists and Lay Training’ (IELT), which later became ‘Christian Theological Seminary of Sri Lanka,’ located at Asia House, Maruthanamadam in Chunnakam.
SEMINARY TEACHING
In 1987 May, Rev Ampalavanar was released to the new Seminary as a full-time resident theological teacher with a responsibility, as Dean of Students of CTS. It was the year the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) landed soon after the Indo-Lanka Accord signed. The Ashram and the Seminary were attacked during the October month offensive, and all inmates survived the onslaught.
Special mention must be made that the Seminary could not function at its original site, since the 1995 Jaffna Exodus, and operated its affairs until 2004 at Vaddukoddai. As the site was occupied by the Sri Lankan armed forces since then, renovations were done to the damaged buildings and the Staff and students returned to the original site. During this uncertain period, Rev Ampalavanar sustained the work of the Seminary during major displacement.
RETIREMENT MINISTRY
Rev. Ampalavanar, though officially retired at the age of 65 in the year 1989, he continued to reside and offered his services to the incoming theological students.
LOSS OF MRS AMPALAVANAR
Mrs. Evelyn Rajamalar, an ever faithful and supporting wife and a teacher by profession, died in April 2002 while living in the Seminary premises. Her loss was deeply felt by the Seminary community and the Church at large. The funeral service was conducted by the bishop, Rt Rev Dr S Jebanesan at the Uduvil Church, and buried at Uduvil Church gravesite. Her contribution to clergy home visitations, women’s fellowships in churches, and her friendship with people both Christians and people of other faiths stand out among many. Upon her death, Pothakar had to move to the Ashram temporarily to continue his translation work, and supported the work of Uduvil YMCA, programmes of the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (in the absence of Sam Annan who died in 2000!), helped in the routine Ashram life.
HIS WRITINGS
It can be summarized as follows:
Christian Tamil Magazines:
· Paalar Nesan (for young people)
· Ooliyar Tholan (Companion of the Worker)
Christian News Paper
· The Morning Star / “Uthayatharakai”
Christian Biographies
· Sevak Subramaniam Samuel Selvaratnam
· Sevak Samuel Thevaratnam Alfred
Seminary Theological Journal
· Iraiyiyal Kalangiam
Diocesan Bulletin (Tamil Pages)
FINAL YEARS- (1989-2008)
Pothakar moved out of the Ashram as he needed more care and support, to live in the ancestral home of the Mills family in Manipay and lived until his death in 2008. The meals were supplied by a family living in the same premises. He met his death on the 23Rd March after a very brief stay at the Green Hospital Manipay. After a Prayer service at home, his remains were taken to the Cathedral at Vaddukoddai for the funeral service on the 30th March 2008, conducted by the then bishop, Rt Rev Dr D S Thiagarajah, and buried at Uduvil.
GREAT PREACHER
Rev Ampalavanar attracted believers everywhere through his gift of preaching, because of the command of Tamil language and his personal commitment to Christ. His preaching themes revolved around ‘comforting messages’ from the Scriptures and people do remember his favourite verses! He was sought after to preach at revival meetings, to lead retreats at the Ashram, to speak at youth camps and Diocesan children rallies and Women’s Fellowships. He was a great Bible Study leader and edited Diocesan Song Book (Lyric section) in 1956, 1965, 1972 editions.
GREAT WRITER
Rev Ampalavanar excelled in writing news items, articles, Bible Study notes, tributes about people in the Church and community. His Tamil editorials and that of late Mr C E Rajasingham’s English editorials to the Morning Star were well read by all. He wrote biographies of outstanding personalities like Periannan Sevak Selvaratnam, Sinnanan Seva I T Yesusakayam, Sam Annan Seva Sam T Alfred, K P Muttaiah (“Vidi Velli”), and translated a few of what Bishop Kulandran wrote on several others. He was called upon to translate basic theological textbooks, written by Boyd.
GOOD PASTOR
Rev Ampalavanar, along with Pothakar amma, were faithful visiting clergy couple, like that of his contemporaries. His Pastoral prayers were sought after by people, sometimes with the anointing of blessed oil upon those seeking special needs. Regular Cottage Prayer Meetings were held at various homes and believers gathered with great expectations! His Pastoral ministry was high in demand and spend more time in this area of ministry, so much so that he did not spend sufficient time towards his family. He discharged his ministry faithfully in all stations of work, whether Pastoral-Priestly, and teaching in Seminaries and Churches. We honour God for placing his life amidst the Tamil community more than latter half of the twentieth century Sri Lanka and India.