Great grandson’s efforts win stamp on C Aaron
Tags:
G. Aaron Thangaraj Samuel, a music teacher in Anita Methodist Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Vepery, is elated.
He is the eighth direct descendent of Rev Chokkanatha Aaron, the first non-European protestant priest in the world, and he is thrilled that the Philatelic Advisory Committee, Department of Posts, has decided to issue a commemorate stamp, honouring his great great grandfather.
“My 16-year-long efforts finally started bearing fruits as the postal department has published the agenda for releasing the commemorative stamp. I would be doubly happy if chief minister J. Jayalalithaa release the stamp,” Mr Samuel said.
Samuel’s dream for a postal stamp began in 1996, when he found that the Halle University in Germany had manuscripts of Aaron and it had honoured him by publishing his portrait in its annual calendar.
It was Dr Daniel Jeyaraj, professor of World Christianity, Liverpool University, who found the manuscripts and brought to light that Arumugam Pillai turned Aaron hailed from Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.
Taking the cue, Samuel launched his efforts in 1996 to get recognition for his great grandfather and his request for postal stamp was endorsed among others by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.
The postal department in its “achievement in brief” note, said Aaron was ordained in Tranquebar on December 28, 1733, as the first non-European protestant priest in the whole world. It hailed him for eliminating superstitious beliefs and equipping people to rationalise things.
It said Aaron was a close associate of Ziegenbalg, the first Royal Danish protestant missionary to Asia and described him as a skilled orator and peacemaker.
Post new comment