Chapter VI
Growth of Education under the Protestants in
Vilavancode Taluk
6.1 Traditional System of Education
The traditional educational system of Vilavancode was based on the
earlier system of education that prevailed in Travancore. The
Vedapadasalas and the Kudipallikudams provided the then needed
education to the people.1 During those days, the villagers did not segregate
boys and girls. They were taught together.2 Classes were conducted in the
temple buildings, private houses or at shady places. Usually classes began
early in the morning and continued till late in the evening. There was no
regular periods. Normally the children joined the classes at the age of five
and left them at the age of fifteen.3
Initially students were taught the Vedas. The Mutts and the
Vedapadasalas imparted the needed education to the pupils who were
admitted in them. These institutions very often received support from the
1 Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, 1984, p. 7.
2 Travancore Archeological Series, 1937-1938, p. 185.
3 Revenue Consultations, 10 March 1826, Vol. 24, p. 854.
182
Rajas in the form of land grants and gifts.4 In these schools, the Asans
taught the pupils the three Rs.5 Normally the Asans taught the people to
write on the sandy ground prepared for this purpose. Then they were taught
to write on the specially prepared palm leaves with iron style. In the
Brahmin dominated villages like Kuzhithurai, Kollemcode and
Parthivapuram the Brahmins gave importance to the teaching of the Vedas
and the puranas.6
In the non-Brahmin remote areas like Marthandam,
Thengapattanam, there were kudipallikudams. These kudipallikudams had
their origin, when Buddhism and Jainism were prevalent in Travancore.
Normally these schools were conducted in verandahs of buildings, public
places, under the shades of trees. Sometimes schools were conducted in the
house of the Asans. These schools were only self supporting. They did not
receive any grant from the government. They received emoluments in kind,
besides special gifts on auspicious days and at harvest times from the
parents of the students. In very rare cases there were boarding facilities that
was supported by the local landlords.7 There were many Mutts attached
with temples and these Mutts were supported from the lands and grants
4 Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, 1989, p. 7.
5 The three Rs are reading, writing and arithmetic.
6 Revenue Consultations, 30 September 1825, Vol. 374, p. 850.
7 Centre for Development Studies, pp. 8-9.
183
given by the Maharajas. There was a vedic college at Parthivapuram
temple where 90 scholars studied during those days. There were vedic
schools in other Sivalayas of Vilavancode Taluk.8
During the medieval period physical education formed a part of
education. The pupils were trained in Kalaris. They taught the students the
art of self defence and offence. Those who attended Kalari training paid
regular fee to the masters.9 Besides these there were Gurukulas in which
the Acharyas taught them. Thunchattu Ezhuthachan, the father of Modern
Malayalam literature was one such famous Gurus. Later on there was a
stagnation in the purpose of education, which gradually became
stereotyped. The educational scenario was dominated by the Hindus. At
this juncture the Europeans came for trade.10
Following them the Protestant
missionaries who came to India understood the educational backwardness
of the people and hence they started educational work.11
The educational development at Vilavancode owes its development
to the Christian community. During the early phase of the 19th
century, the
Protestant Missionaries were responsible for the introduction of English
8 Travancore Archaeological Series, Vol. VI, p. 27.
9 Progress of Education in Kerala, Trivandrum, 1961, p. 1.
10 Progress of Education in Kerala, p. 2.
11 Gladston, J.W., Protestant Christianity and Peoples Movement in Kerala,
1850-1986, Seminary Publications, 1984, p. 70.
184
education in South Travancore. The people who went to these schools
were thoroughly changed. Understanding the causes for the popularity of
Protestantism the Catholics also adapted the same principles. The people in
general looked upon the traditional system of education that was prevalent
not only in South Travancore but also in other parts of Travancore.
Learning in those days was considered to be an imperishable wealth.
But there were no regular schools for the children. As the pioneers of
modern education in India the Christian Missionaries worked untiringly for
the eradication of superstition and poverty. The Gurukula system of
education continued till the arrival of Christian Missionaries. It was
abolished in later period due to the arrival of Christian missionaries. But
the Western education brought about salutary changes in the society.12
6.2 Efforts of Christian Missionaries
Before the arrival of Christian missionaries the people of
Vilavancode Taluk were illiterates. This was the main reason for their
backwardness. The important Christian missionaries who came to various
parts of Vilaancode Taluk were St. Francis Xavier,13
Fr. James Toumbuer,14
12 Keay, P., A History of Education in India and Pakistan, London, 1964, p. 197.
13 St. Francis Xavier was born on April 7, 1506 at the kingdom of Navarre in
Spain. He was noble by birth. At the age of 18 he went to Parish for high
education. He studied philosophy at St. Barbe. His parents inculcated in him
the importance of Christianity. After completing his education he became a
185
Rev. William Thobias Ringletaube,15
Rev. Charles Mead,16
Robert
Sinclair,17
James Emlyn18
and a host of other Protestant missionaries visited
professor in De Beavasis College, where he met Ignatius Lyola in 1524, who
came to Parish for his studies. Ignatius started the Society of Jesus. In 1925
he joined “Society of Jesus”. He started his journey on 15th
March 1540 and
he reached India on 6th
May 1542, and settled at Cape Comorin
(Kanyakumari) and established Cape Comorin Mission. From there he visited
Kottar and spread Christianity. He is known as the second apostle of India.
He worked assiduously for many years among the poor people in Kottar of
Nagercoil town. In 1592 he went to Japan. Due to his hard work people who
settled in coastal area followed Christianity.
14 Rev. Fr. James Toumbuer was a missionary hailed from Belgium. He
worked in Vilavancode Taluk in Kanyakumari District. He was born in
Brushes in Belgium on 29th
August 1924, into a rich and well connected
family. His father was Mr. Toumbuer Franz and mother was Mrs. Marie. He
studied Bible College at Louviean and completed his studies in 1949. In 1950
he reached India. In 1952 he was appointed as the parish priest at Parakunnu
through Kottar diocese. He learned Tamil with a view to mingle freely with
the local population. He started industries like Palmyrah Workers
Development Society, brush making centre, potters sangam and boat making
centre. He spent his time and energy for the welfare of the poor people.
15 William Thobias Ringletaube, the Apostle of South Travbancore established
London Missionary Society in Travancore. He was born on 89th
August 1770
at Schiedelwitz in Germany. His father was Gottieb Ringletaube.
Ringletaube dedicated himself to go the places where Christianity had not
reached. During the period of 1799 the London Missionary Society wanted to
send missionaries to India. Tingletaube was found suitable. Hence his name
was considered for the missionary, and they sent him to work in South India.
He came to India with five missionaries by Danish ship named ‘Kings
Packet’. He reached Tranquebar in the south-east cost of India on 5th
December 1804. He learnt Tamil under the guidance of Rev. Kohlholf at
Tranguebar. Vethamanickam invited him to Travancore. As this invitation he
reached Mylaudy on 25th
April 1806. He preached Christianity to the
common people. He started school at Mylaudy. The history of Tranquebar
Mission states that Rintlegaube was killed on a journey in to Central Africa in
1920. He was ordained in 1796 and sent as a missionary to Calcutta. Before
coming to Mylaudy he served as missionary to Calcutta, Tranquebar and
Tirunelveli.
16 Rev. Charles Mead who succeeded Ringletaube was a man of capacity and
courage. He was born on 8th
August 1770 at Sheedas Uites in Germany. He
came to Mylaudy at the end of 1817 and took over the work left out by
Ringletaube. The Travancore government appointed him as a judge at
186
Vilavancode and contributed their might for the welfare of the people more,
especially for education. The respect of starting English education at
Marthandam which was at the centre of Vilavancode Taluk goes to Rev.
Mead. He was followed by Rev. Sinclair Emlyn and Abbs.
Nagercoil Court. Rev. Mead worked in Nagercoil in 1818. He took first
systematic steps to the development of education of both men and women in
Travancore. He spread Christianity about 60 villages like Puthoor, Kanodoo,
Shenanvilai, Neyyoor, Palliyady and Marthandam.
17 Robert Sinclaire was the second resident missionary of Marthandam. He was
born on 15th
November 1882 at Scotland. He was ordained as a minister in
Scotland on 3rd
March 1909. He came to Nagercoil in 1910 as a LMS
Missionary. He had no time to celebrate his wedding in Scotland. So Miss.
Elizabeth Smith Bessie came to Nagercoil, after a few months and they were
married at the Nagercoil Home Church in December 1910. In the beginning
he served as a pastor. He succeeded Rev. I.H. Hacker in 1919 and came to
Marthandam and resided here from 1920 onwards. The first task of Sinclair in
Marthandam was the completion of the Mission Bungalow. He dedicated the
girls vernacular middle school on 15th
June 1922 and the Girls Boarding
Home on May 1923. Sinclaie built the marvelous stone church at
Marthandam. The foundation stone was laid on 26.07.1924 by Rev. C.G.
Marshal. The church was dedicated on 13th
May 1933. During this period
Marthandam embroidery industry became famous. The cloths were exported
to London. In 1946, Sinclair left for Scotland due to the illness of his wife
Elizabeth Smith Bessie. Robert Sinclair died on 12.09.1946.
18 James Emlyn, a Missionary of the London Missionary Society was appointed
to the Parassala Mission in 1869, after the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Newport.
In 1978 he diverted his attention towards Marthandam. At that time it was a
very backward and remote area. Mrs. Emlyn took much pains to establish a
girls school at Marthandam. Unfortunately she died in 1880. However Emlyn
opened there schools in thatched buildings. After the death of his wife James
Emlyn shouldered the responsibility of developing these schools for the next
ten years and retired from the service of the London Missionary Society in
1892.
187
The missionaries selected the remote rural areas in Vilavancode
Taluk for their field work.19
They worked only among the backward
communities.20
The schools started by the Christian missionaries provided
education to all the children in and around Vilavancode Taluk irrespective
of caste and creed.21
The Christian missionaries eradicated illiteracy among
the common people.22
The Christian Missionaries were the pioneers of English education in
the erstwhile Travancore state. However, their educational involvement
was a deep-rooted affair particularly in South Travancore as well in
Vilavancode Taluk. The Portuguese and the Dutch who came to the
Travancore state and they were engulfed in expansion. The Roman
Catholics who came even prior to the Dutch and the Portuguese were
involved in conversion. They concentrated on converting the people of the
coastal areas. But their contribution to education was not encouraging.
The respect of introducing Western education goes to the Protestant
Missionaries.
19 Martin Daniel Dhas, A Missionary Medical World in Travancore,
Marthandam, 1981, p. 1.
20 Joy Gnanadason, The Forgotten History, Madras, 1984, p. 46.
21 Gopala Krishnan, M., op.cit., p. 833.
22 Anlet Sobitha Bai, W., History of India, Marthandam, 2002, p. 94.
188
Ringletaube, the first Protestant Missionary laid the foundation for
the Western education at Mylaudy Mission Centre in 1806.23
Following the
welfare works at Mylaudy, new mission stations sprang up in Nagercoil,
Neyyoor and Parassala. Where ever they established churches in South
Travancore the Missionaries established schools also.
In 1834 Charles Mead purchased a plot at Martandam and in that site
Rev. Abbs put up a shed for mission work and conducted prayer.24
The
missionaries established village schools along with the churches in the
Martandam area. The Parassala Mission report for the year 1861 gives the
information that there existed two village schools in Nalloor and
Thoduvetty.25
In these schools, Scripture, History, Geography, Tamil
Grammar and Human Physiology were taught. Rev. Emlyn started an
English school at Kuzhithurai for Brahmins. In this school children were
admitted from 1871.26
As Mead could not supervise the work he entrusted the work to
Parassala Mission which was established in 1845 to Mr. and Mrs. Newport.
23 Nagam Aiya, V., Travancore State Manual, Vol. II, Trivandrum, 1906, p.
453. 24
Agur, C.M., op.cit., p. 728.
25 Nesaiyah, Loc.cit., p. 28
26 Parassala Mission Reports, 1861, p. 20.
189
Rev. and Mrs. James Emlyn, after the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Newport,27
supervised the Boarding School and education of women and girls.28
After
their return from their furlough in 1878 James Emlyn and Mrs. James
Emlyn diverted their attention towards Marthandam which was a very
backward area.29
Mrs. Emlyn took much pains to establish a girl’s school
at Marthandam. Unfortunately she died in 1880. However, Rev. Emlyn
opened three schools in thatched buildings. Of them two schools were
meant for boys, one of them being a middle school in which English,
Malayalam and Tamil were taught.30
The third one was an elementary
school in which all the three languages were taught. After the death of Mrs.
James Emlyn, Rev. James Emlyn shouldered the responsibility of
developing these schools for the next ten years and retired from the service
of the L.M.S. in 1892.31
These schools later became the L.M.S. Girls, the
L.M.S. Boys and the Government Schools respectively.
27 Annual Report of the L.M.S., 1869, p. 75.
28 Martin Daniel Dhas, op.cit., p26.
29 Mrs. Joshua, K., The History of our School – Marthandam, L.M.S. Girls
Higher Secondary School Centenary Souvenir, 1882-1982, p. 5. And Annual
Report of the Ninety-eighth Report of L.M.S., London, 1892, p. 152.
30 Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., p. 5.
31 Ibid., p. 153.
190
6.3 Women’s Education
The missionaries understood the backwardness of the women. They
could understand the women were most backward than other Taluks. So
Mrs. Emlyn established girls schools. In 1892, the girl’s school at
Marthandam had 264 pupils on the rolls. More than half of them were
Hindus. In 1892 Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Knowles (1892-1900) took over the
management of the schools started by Rev. James Emlyn.32
In 1895, in
accordance with the requirements of the government, efforts were made to
get sufficiently qualified teachers.33
In 1899 five girls were sent for the
Madras Lower Secondary Examination. All the five girls came out with
flying colours.34
Because of the constant work of Mrs. Knowles the
percentage of passes in the school was the highest in the state.35
In 1896,
Mrs. Knowles converted the school into an English School.36
She increased
the number of staff and encouraged the students by giving them
scholarship.37
The best students were supported by the Mission.38
After
32 Report of the T.D.C. for 1893, Report of Parassala Mission District, South
Travancore, p. 7.
33 Yesudhas, R.N., A History of Women’s Education in Kerala, p. 29.
34 Report of the T.D.C. for 1900, Report of Parassala Mission District, p. 30.
35 Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., 1882-1982, p. 5.
36 Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicles, May 1897, p. 106.
37 Report of the T.D.C. for 1900, Report of the Parassala Mission District, p. 8.
191
the retirement of Mr. and Mrs. Knowles in 1899 Mrs. A.T. Foster continued
the work at Marthandam.39
Mrs. Foster added two rooms to the existing
building. In every school Bible study was made a compulsory subject.40
In 1905, Rev. I.H. Hacker was appointed as a full time supervisor of
the schools.41
Hence Mr. and Mrs. Hacker moved from Neyyoor to
Marthandam. Mrs. Winnifred Hacker worked hard for the promotion of
primary education.42
In the Girls Primary School Mrs. Saral
Sebagnanam was appointed as a teacher.43
Mrs. Winnifred Hacker started
an Embroidery Industry and encouraged the school children to learn needle
work.44
She also taught them English in the Boarding Home. As a result
four girls of the school were awarded medals on the occasion of the
coronation of George V.45
Devavaram a qualified headmaster of the School
employed his own students as teachers.46
In 1919, the local Boys Middle
38 Annual Report of the One Hundred and Third Report of the L.M.S., London,
1898, p. 136 and Report of the T.D.C. for 1900, Report of the Parassala
Mission District, p. 29.
39 Report of the T.D.C. for 1907, Report of the Parassala Mission District, p. 5.
40 Ibid.
41 Annual Report of the One Hundred and Twelfth Report of the L.M.S.,
London, 1907, p. 128.
42 Annual Report of the 113
th Report of the L.M.S., London, 1908, p. 105.
43 Ibid., 119
th Report of the L.M.S., London, 1914, p. 98.
44 Ibid., 115
th Report of the L.M.S., London, 1910, p. 98.
45 Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., p.2.
46 Ibid., p. 2.
192
School was handed over to the Government.47
Mr. and Mrs. Hacker retired
from their active service in 1919.48
After Mrs. Hacker the work of promoting female education at
Marthandam was taken up by Mrs. Bessie Sinclair.49
One of the earliest
achievements of Mrs. Sinclair was the construction of a building in 1921,
for the Girls School which was dedicated on 5.6.1922 by I.H. Hacker.50
On
that occasion Hodgson, the Director of Public Instruction offered
felicitations.51
Assisted by Miss G.M. Harris, Mrs. Sinclair and A.T.
Foster, Rev. Sinclair drew up a plan for a Boarding Home.52
At the end of
1923 the work of the Boarding Home was completed at a cost of Rs.
11,500/-.53
Towards this good cause a gift of Rs. 260/- was received from
47 Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., p. 2.
48 Annual Report of the 125
th Report of the L.M.S., London, 1920, p. 33.
49 Bessie Graham Smith married Robert Sinclair on 25
th December 1910 at the
Home Church, Nagercoil. In 1910 this missionary couple took charge of the
Nagercoil Mission District. They stayed with Mrs. Cave. Mrs. Sinclair
participated in the street meeting and preached the love of God. She met the
women, on the previous day and invited them to the street meetings at
Nagercoil. On the retirement of Hacker and Winnifred Hacker in 1919 Mr.
and Mrs. Sinclair made Marthandam his headquarters. 45th
Report of the
Nagercoil Home Church, 1910, p. 10. 50
Minutes of the Travancore Mission Council, February 1922, p. 47. 51
Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., p. 1. 52
The Boarding Home is now used as the chemistry laboratory and department
of Marthandam Christian College. Minutes of the Travancore District
Conference, 192, p. 287. 53
The influence of the Institution is one of the healthiest in the District and the
contact that it establishes with the girls constitute one of the most satisfactory
aspects of our work.” Sinclair, R., “Girls Boarding Home.” L.M.S., Ten
Years of Church and Mission in Travancore 1921-1930, p. 57.
193
the L.M.S. In 1922 there were 72 children in the Boarding Home and the
School had a strength of 321 children.54
Among the boarders twenty girls
were freely admitted and the rest paid only Rs. 315/- as against the actual
expenses of Rs. 2,770/-.55
Mrs. Bessie Sinclair undertook supervision of Women’s education
and the teaching of lace making. In 1924 a new scheme to help the poor
day-scholars was inaugurated.56
The poor pupils were provided with noon
canjee free of cost.57
This scheme paved the way for considerable increase
in the strength of the school.58
The year 1928 was an important year in the
history of Marthandam Boarding Home. The Boarders were taught
gardening and poultry59
with a view to increase their contribution to the
Home Missionary Society.60
Out of the income earned by the boarders a
54 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work, Industries and Properties under the
supervision of the Mission Council, 1922, p. 31.
55 Ibid., 1923, p. 40.
56 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work, Industries and Properties under the
supervision of the Mission Council, 1924, p. 30 and Annual Report of the One
Hundred and Thirty First Report of the L.M.S., London, 1926, p. 53.
57 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work, Industries and Properties under the
supervision of the Mission Council, 1922, p. 53.
58 Ibid., 1924, p. 34.
59 Ibid., 1928, p. 26.
60 The Home Missionary Society was founded by Travancore Church Council in
1895 with the object of spreading the Gospel in areas not reached by the
Mission so far. It was managed by native funds under native direction.
(Hacker, I.H., Hundred Years in Travancore, pp. 60-62).
194
new bell for one of the Churches was purchased and donated by the
H.M.S.61
In 1928, cholera broke out in South Travancore and it affected the
villages with all its severity.62
Naturally the girls in the Boarding Home
were sacred. But Mrs. Sinclair took special care of the children and so
none of the boarders was affected except the one who had gone to her
village during Christmas vacation.63
Though the government took steps to
help the afflicted it could not do much in the remote villages. But Mr. and
Mrs. Sinclair visited the poverty stricken villages by walking two to three
miles along with Dr. Somervell and distributed medicine to the sick and if
necessary, shifted the patients to the hospital at Neyyoor.64
In 1929, there were 193 mission schools in the southern districts of
the Mission, viz., Nagercoil, Neyyoor and Parassala. But the trained
teachers in the schools constituted only 22% of the total number of teachers
as against the 100% in schools of the Madras Presidency.65
Hence Mr. and
61 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work and Properties under the Supervision of
the Mission Council, 1928, p. 27.
62 Ibid., p. 27, and Russel Raj, N., Sinclair, R., “The Builder of the Marthandam
Church.” Desopakari, 125th
Malar, p. 47.
63 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work, Industries and Properties under the
supervision of the Mission Council, p. 27.
64 Minutes of Travancore Mission Council, August 1929, pp. 49-50.
65 Annual Report of the One Hundred and Thirty Fifth report of the L.M.S.,
London, 1930, p. 70.
195
Mrs. Sinclair appealed to the council to start a Training School at
Marthandam.66
The Mission Council conceded the request and authorized
Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair to go ahead with the project. Accordingly
applications were sent to the Director of Public Instruction for permission.
The Director appreciated the efforts of the Missionaries and approved the
proposal for starting a Tamil Training School.67
In May 1932, the Tamil
Higher Secondary Training School was started with 24 students.68
This
training school was accommodated in the Girls Middle School building
which had been built at a cost of Rs. 12,000/-.69
By 1936, the strength in
the Training School had increased to 35.70
The students took active part in
evangelical work, itinerary and the activities of the H.M.S.71
In the girl’s school Mrs. Bessie Sinclair trained the children in
knitting, stitching, embroidery and lace making. This enabled the girls to
earn their bread in the future.72
As the knowledge of the Malayalam
language was necessary for securing a job in the government. Mr. and Mrs.
66 Travancore Mission Council Minutes, February 1932, p. 12.
67 Ibid.
68 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work and Properties under the supervision of
the Mission Council, 1932, p. 227.
69 Minutes of Travancore Council, February 1936, p. 127.
70 Ibid.
71 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work and Properties under the supervision of
the Mission Council, 1936, p. 25.
72 Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., p.2.
196
Sinclair obtained permission from the Mission Council to start a Malayalam
medium section in the school at Marthandam.73
Under the guidance and directions of Mrs. Sinclair an Old Students
Association was formed.74
The object of the Association was to help the
former students both professionally and spiritually and to maintain closer
contact with them.75
Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair were able to build the girls’
school and the Boarding Home at the cost of Rs. 25,000/-.76
They also built
a new church with the income earned by the lace industry.77
In order to
recoup her health Mrs. Bessie Sinclair went on furlough in 1937.78
But she
could not return due to the Second World War. Sinclair passed away on
13.12.1977 in England.79
After the retirement of Robert Sinclair in 1939,80
G.D. Trowell and
Mrs. Vera Rilham Trowell assumed charge of the educational work at
73 Minutes of the Travancore Mission Council, February 1935, p. 38.
74 L.M.S. Report of the Industrial Work, 1936, p. 13.
75 Ibid., p. 127.
76 Ibid.
77 Sinclair, R., “Girls Boarding Home – Marthandam.” L.M.S., Ten Years of
Church and Mission in Travancore, 1921-1930, p. 57.
78 Travancore Mission Council Minutes, August 1937, pp. 6-8.
79 George, D.H. and R. Sinclair, L.M.S. Girls Higher Secondary School
Centenary Souvenir, 1882-1982, p. 11.
80 Mrs. Joshua, K., “The History of our School.” L.M.S. Girls Higher Secondary
School, Marthandam, 1882-1982, p. 3.
197
Marthandam in 1941.81
Under Mrs. Vera Trowell the Vernacular Middle
School was abolished and a new type of Middle School was introduced,
which required a graduate to be the headmistress. Mrs. Joshua was the first
Indian lady to be appointed as the headmistress.82
In 1949 the girls’ school
was upgraded as a High School.83
In 1952, Mr. and Mrs. Trowell were
transferred to Trivandrum. Then D. Fletcher, a native of Marthandam took
over the management of the mission schools at Marthandam.84
In 1947, the Vernacular school was about to vanish and a new type
of Middle School was introduced in Travancore. Trowell, the Manager of
the Marthandam Mission Schools amalgamated the Boys and Girls Middle
School into new Middle School. After completing the Middle School
education the pupils had to go to Nagercoil or Neyyoor for higher studies.
It became very difficult to the poor students of the Marthandam region to
pursue their higher studies. Understanding the sorry plight of these
students, Mrs. Kanagam Joshua, the then Headmistress of the school took
necessary steps to upgrade it into High School and obtained the required
81 Minutes of the Travancore Mission Council, February 1943, p. 9.
82 Ibid., January 1944, p. 18.
83 Mrs. Joshua, K., “The History of our School.” L.M.S. Girls Higher Secondary
School, 1882-1982, p. 3.
84 Ibid., p. 4.
198
permission from the Department. Pupils were admitted in this School for
the first form in 1948, Third form in 1949 and Fourth form in 1950.85
At first the High School functioned as the co-educational institution.
In 1955, Madras State Education Department issued an ordinance
disallowing to function any school as co-education institution. So
Marthandam Mission High School had to be split into two. It paved the
way for the emergence of two new schools, the L.M.S. Girls High School
and another L.M.S. Boys Middle School on 6 June 1955.86
In June 1955, L.M.S. Girls High School began to function as a
separate entity. Mrs. Kanagam Joshua was the first Headmistress of the
Girls High School. She saw some poor students attending the afternoon
class without taking food. So she arranged noon meals for the poor
students.
Mr. Gloria Titus succeeded Mrs. Joshua in 1964. She worked here
for nine years.87
Mrs. Lilly became the Headmistress in 1973 till 1978.88
In 1978, the Government of Tamil Nadu changed the education
pattern into 10, +2 in the school level. According to the new system of
85 Rev. Joshua Knowles, Parassala Mission Report, 1898, p. 2.
86 Ibid., p. 3.
87 Ibid., p. 3.
88 Ibid.
199
education existing P.U.C. was abolished and plus two pattern for two years
was introduced. So the L.M.S. Girls School was upgraded into a Higher
Secondary School in Vilavancode Taluk. During the period of Padma
Justus the first batch of English medium section sat for their S.S.L.C.
Examination in 1982.89
Thus, as years passed by, the L.M.S. Girls Higher
Secondary School is progressing.
The involvement of Christian missionaries for their educational
system was a deep rooted affair particularly in South Travancore. The
Portuguese and the Dutch who came to the erstwhile Travancore state even
prior to the British were the Roman Catholics. They did not do much
towards the cause of education because they were interested in the
propagation of their faith. But the Protestant missionaries who arrived later
were the first to introduce English education in Vilavancode Taluk.90
James Emlyn wanted to teach English language to the children. So
he started an Anglo-Vernacular School in Marthandam on 15 April 1882.91
The Anglo-Vernacular school marked a new era in the educational history
of Vilavancode Taluk. It was a middle school for boys in which English,
Malayalam and Tamil were taught. Hitherto there was no scope for female
89 Rev. Knowles, Parassala Mission Report, 1898, p. 3.
90 Nagam Aiya, V., Travancore State Manual, Vol. II, Trivandrum, 1906,
p. 453.
91 James Emlyn, Annual Report of Parassala Mission, 1871, p. 7.
200
education. So Emlyn started Girls’ elementary school in 1882.92
In that
school, Tamil, Malayalam and English were taught.
Mr. Timothy Daniel was in charge of the middle school. Mr. Paul
was in charge of Vernacular school and Rev. Emlyn employed a Nair
woman for the Girls School.93
In 1894 Martandam became one of the main
centres of education in the Parassala Mission district. At first in 1895 five
girls were sent for Lower Secondary Examination held at Madras.94
It was
very difficult to the girls to attend school regularly due to poverty and other
difficulties in their houses. Transportation facility was practically nil. So
Mrs. Knowels transferred the Girls Boarding School to Martandam which
was formerly located at Parassala in 1886.95
The Marthandam English Lower Secondary School had about 250
students in 1898.96
Marthandam English Girls Lower Secondary School
had 80 students. J. Knowls succeeded in obtaining grant-in-aid from
Travaancore Government for both schools in 1899. Year by year the
92 James Emlyn, Annual Report of Parassala Mission, 1871, p. 19.
93 Joshua, K., “History of the School,” Centenary Souvenir, L.M.S. Girls Higher
Secondary School, Martandam, 1982, p. 1.
94 Ibid.
95 Rev. Knowles, Parassala Mission Report, 1898, p. 11.
96 Ibid.
201
students’ strength of the school increased. In 1901, twenty-seven teachers
worked in the schools and all of them were Christians.
Rev. Sinclair came to Marthandam and assumed charge as Manager
of the two schools in 1919.97
He found that the existing Girls’ School
building was in a dilapidated condition. The leakage of rain water inside
the class room was a hindrance to the students and to their studies. He
constructed a new building and I.H. Hacker dedicated the school on 5 June
1922.98
Now it is called L.M.S. Boys’ Higher Secondary School.
Sinclair saw the Boys’ Middle School and Girls’ Middle School
were functioning opposite to each other. Therefore he wanted to keep the
two schools away from each other. In view of that he built another school
building for girls at a distance of 300 metres away from the boys school in
1929.99
It is the present L.M.S. Girls’ Higher Secondary School. Sinclair
started a Tamil Teacher Training School in May 1932 in the old girls
school building.100
The Training School functioned upto 1945 only. Thus
under the missionaries the schools were functioning well.
97 Rev. Knowles, Parassala Mission Report, 1898, p. 11.
98 Ibid., 1919, p. 13.
99 Ibid., p. 2.
100 Ibid.
202
6.4 Education under Travancore Kings
Seeing the efforts of missionaries, the kings invited them to start
schools at Trivandrum and other places. First English schools were
opened. When the policy of the government underwent changes
Malayalam and Tamil Schools came to be established in three grades,
namely primary schools, middle schools and high schools. Primary schools
taught upto class V, the course of instruction being confined mainly to
reading, writing, elementary arithmetic and simple lessons in History and
Geography.
The educational system of Travancore consisted of three important
branches, namely, the Malayalam and Tamil schools, the English schools
and the colleges.101
Primary education was free throughout the state.102
Co-education
was adopted as the departmental policy for all primary schools. The
general rule in the state was that school education should be imparted only
to children who have completed 5 years and consequently schools were not
allowed to admit pupils below the age of five.103
101 Anlet Sobitha Bai, op.cit., pp. 94-95.
102 Travancore Archeological Report, 1944-45, p. 143.
103 Travancore-Cochin Administrative Report, 1950-51, p. 87.
203
Even though the government encouraged primary education there
was poor response from the public. In order to eradicate illiteracy the
government appointed a committee to enquire into the defects of the
educational system. The Statham Committee of 1933 recommended
against the immediate introduction of compulsory primary education
because of its prohibitive cost. But the Papworth Committee of 1945
considered the matter and recommended that universal compulsory
education should be introduced in the state area by area.104
When Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer was the Dewan of the State he
evolved a scheme for nationalizing primary education with the principal
object of bringing all primary education under the direct control of the
state.105
But it was stoutly opposed by the Catholics. The government
recognized the importance of primary education and took steps to make it
compulsory and universal. The Travancore Primary Education Act was
promulgated by His Highness the Maharaja.106
The Protestants meekly
surrendered some of the schools including the primary school at
Kuzhithurai and one of the three schools at Marthandam and now they are
104 A Review of Education in India (1947-1961), New Delhi, 1961, p. 326.
105 Narchison, J.R., et al., Called to Serve, A profile of the Kottar Diocese,
Nagercoil, 1983, pp. 65-66.
106 Proceedings of the Travancore Cochin Lesiglative Assembly, Second
Session, 1951, Vol. BI, Trivandrum, 1953, p. 2276.
204
called Govt. Girls’ Higher Secondary and Govt. Higher Secondary School
at Marthandam.
6.5 After Independence
During the year 1948, Sri Gabriel Nadar and Sri A.
Chidambaranatha Nadar who were MLAs of Travancore requested Sri
Panampilli Govinda Menon, the Chief Minister to promote primary
education in Tamil in Vilavancode Taluk instead of Malayalam where the
majority of the people spoke Tamil.107
On par with the other parts of Travancore the school education at
Vilavancode Taluk underwent a major change. The Malayalam, Tamil and
Sanskrit middle schools were converted into new type of Middle Schools.
This conversion was given effect from 1947-1948 when the preparatory
class was abolished and Form I was opened against class VI. People with
S.S.L.C. and T.T.C. qualifications were posted for teaching English.108
The Malayalam and Tamil School Leaving Certificates were issued
to candidates who passed Class VII. Those who possessed such
qualifications were eligible to seek appointments in the subordinate ranks
of the public service. Similarly, the English School Leaving Certificates
107 The Travancore Legislative Assembly Proceedings, First Assembly, 1948,
Trivandrum, 1949, p. 751.
108 Assembly Proceedings 1952, First Session, Trivandrum, 1952, p. 115.
205
gave eligibility for admission to university courses of study and to the
public service.109
From the year 1947-48 compulsory education was brought into
effect in Travancore. Since Vilavancode is a part of Travancore, also
accepted the order of the government and continued its works. The teacher
pupil ratio in 1948 was about 1 : 50, later it was improved to 1 : 40. The
cost of primary education per pupil was about Rs. 25 per annum.110
Due to the depression after 1929 the government encouraged private
agencies to start schools. Many private managements were also willingly
came forward to start new schools. The Government recognized the service
rendered by private agencies for the development of education.111
There
were institutions of various grades from the lowest primary standard to the
highest college course run by private agencies. These agencies shared with
the government the task of public instruction and received substantial grant-
in-aid from the Government.112
Schools were accordingly opened in many parts of Vilavancode
Taluk also. The system of awarding grants to educational institutions
109 Travancore Archeological Report, 1944-45, p. 143.
110 Travancore-Cochin Administration Report, 1951-52, p. 126.
111 Travancore-Cochin News, March 1951, Vol. II, p. 5.
112 Travancore Archeological Report, 1944-45, p. 144.
206
fostered the rapid growth of education.113
During the year 1955 there were
six Middle Schools in Vilavancode Taluk which were under the
management of the Diocese of Kottar.114
During the year 1948 the Private school teachers were not regarded
as government servants as they were not recruited according to the Public
Service Recruitment Rules and were also not governed by the rules of the
Travancore Service Regulations. The responsibility to pay the teachers
vested entirely with the managements who have employed them.115
The growth of the schools has increased the number of teachers in
profession, and the number of families dependent on the profession also
increased considerably. Their problem became the problem of a major
section of the population. The government examined the question from the
various sides and prepared a scheme in consultation with all those
interested in the matter.116
113 Sivaraman Nair, U., op.cit., p. xii.
114 The six Middle Schools in Vilavancode which were under the Diocese of
Kottar were St. Barnadette’s, Mangalakunnu, St. Francis, Vavarai, St.
Joseph’s Trituapuram, R.C. Enputhanthurai, St. Mary’s, Melpalai, St.
Aloysius, Velliavilai. Fr. Narchison et al., Called to Serve, Nagercoil, 1983,
p. 64.
115 Travancore Information Listener, Vol. III, February 1948, No.6, p. 6.
116 The Travancore-Cochin News, 1
st March, 1951, Vol. I, p. 11.
207
The scheme required private managements to remit 80 percent of the
fee collection of their schools into the Treasury for meeting the salary of
teachers. The remaining 20 percent was left with the managements for
contingent expenses.117
The teachers were given a satisfactory scale of pay
uniformly in all the institutions and a teacher was to receive his or her pay
from the managements, who in their turn, have to draw the same from the
Treasury by means of bills countersigned by the Inspectors under whom the
schools functioned. The money required to pay the teachers over and above
the 80 percent of the fee collection was met by the government.118
Private
school teachers have also been given security of tenure under the Private
Secondary School Scheme introduced in 1950.119
Another scheme for the introduction of basic system of education
was taken by the government.120
Preliminary work regarding introduction
of basic education in the primary schools were done in consultation with
the Director of Public Instruction, Trivandrum.121
Construction of
buildings for the conversion of primary schools at Kuzhithurai along with
five other schools in the state into basic schools was taken up by the
117 The Travancore-Cochin News, 1
st March, 1951, Vol. I, p. 11.
118 Narchison, J.R., et al., op.cit., p. 66.
119 A Review of Education in India (1947-1961), New Delhi, 1961, p. 238.
120 Travancore-Cochin News, 1
st March 1951, Vol. I, p. 12.
121 Administrative Report, 1952-53, p. 248.
208
government.122
Thus the government attempted to improve education
following the footsteps of the L.M.S. Missionaries.
6.6 L.M.S. Boys Higher Secondary School
Originally it was established in 1882 by Rev. Emlyn. It grew faster.
The L.M.S. Boys Higher Secondary School was started on 6 June 1955 as
Middle School for boys. Before that the school was developed as a Model
School by the efforts of Headmasters like Henry Nayakam, A.S.Jasper, R.
Daniel Raja, D. Dennison and N. David Solomon. There was no high
school for boys at Marthandam. In order to provide higher education to the
boys Ninth standard was added to this school in 1960.123
The school was
upgraded as a High School in 1962. J.B. Thankaraj was appointed as the
Headmaster of the School in 1968.124
M.B. Sam, the Manager of the school
saw that the existing school building is insufficient for the increasing
pupils. He built two class rooms at the cost of Rs. 50,000/-.
In the academic year 1979-1980 the school celebrated its Silver
Jubilee. D.T. Raja became its Headmaster. He wanted to upgrade the
School into a Higher Secondary School. By his efforts the school became
122 Administrative Report Travancore-Cochin, 1953-54, Trivandrum, 1955,
p. 187.
123 Joshua, op.cit., p. 3.
124 Francis, G., Centenary Souvenir, L.M.S. Boys Higher Secondary School,
Marthandam, 1979-1980, p. 97.
209
Higher Secondary in the academic year 1980-1981.125
In this year
Mr. D. David Solomon took charge as the first Headmaster of the L.M.S.
Boys Higher Secondary School. He got the government sanction to start
the groups consisting of Mathematics, Commerce and Science with English
as medium of instruction in the Higher Secondary level.126
In 1985, C. Jeya Singh Paul became the Headmaster of the School.
During his period lot of works were done for the welfare of the School. He
constructed 4 class rooms at the cost of 5 lakhs rupees.127
He also
constructed a cycle shed, one store room for mid-day meals, separate
bathrooms for the pupils and teachers at a cost of Rs. 2 lakhs.128
In 1992, G. Francis became the Headmaster. He constructed the
compound wall and installed a gate on the eastern side at the cost of
Rs. 10,000.129
From 1997 to the present day D. Isaac Paul Raj is the
Headmaster, and the school has the staff strength of 35 consisting of 28
teachers and 27 non-teaching staff.130
The School emerged as one of the
important institutions in the Vilavancode Taluk.
125 Francis, G., Centenary Souvenir, L.M.S. Boys Higher Secondary School,
Marthandam, 1979-1980, p. 97. 126
Ibid. 127
L.M.S. Boys School Annual Report, 1990. 128
Ibid. 129
Foundation Stone, 1922. 130
L.M.S. Boys School Annual Report, 2000-2001.
210
6.7 Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School
Joshua Knowles knew that the elementary education alone could not
improve the living condition of the female children. He wanted to give
higher education to them. Accordingly he started Anglo-Vernacular
Middle School for women. At first in 1895 five girls sat for Madras Lower
Secondary Examination held at Nagercoil. To make the pupils enthusiastic,
scholarship was awarded to the needy girl students. Marthandam English
Girls Lower Secondary School had 80 students.131
In August 1963, it
became a High School.132
After that it was upgraded into Higher
Secondary in 1980. In 2000-2001 the Headmistress was Jesolight Selvy.
Total teachers are 26, and non-teaching staff 9. The Government Girls
Higher Secondary School has 403 students and 17 sections.133
The present Government Boys school was started by Rev. Emlyn in
1892.134
Then it came under the fostering care of the Knowles between
1892 and 1900.135
In 1899 education came under the Foster family.136
In
131 L.M.S. Boys School Annual Report, 2000-2001.
132 Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School Report, 2000.
133 Ibid.
134 Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., p. 5.
135 Report of the Parassala Mission District, 1982, p. 7.
136 Ibid., 1907, pp. 5-6.
211
1905, Mrs. Hacker supervised the educational programme.137
Winnifred
Hacker worked hard for the development of education.138
In 1919, the local
Boys Middle School was handed over to the Government.139
Then onwards
this school came to be called as Govt. Boys High School. Present
Headmaster is Mr. M. Gangadharan. The school has a strength of 760
students with 48 sections.140
Sixty teaching and thirteen non-teaching staff
are working in the school.
In an attempt to increase the standard of education the government
introduced Primary, Middle and High School education. When the district
was formed and merged with the Madras State in November 1, 1956, the
Government of Madras changed the education policy. It permitted the
private managements to start schools. Most famous private schools were
started and running successfully. Some of them are Christhuraja
Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Good Shepherd Matriculation
Higher Secondary School and Hindu Vidyalaya Higher Secondary School.
In addition to these schools at Marthandam, many Matriculation High
Schools are there. White Memorial Matriculation School, Seventh Day
137 Annual Report of the L.M.S., 1907, p. 128.
138 Ibid., 1908, p. 105.
139 Mrs. Joshua, K., op.cit., p. 2.
140 Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School Report, 2000.
212
Adventist Matriculation School, Vidya Jothi Matriculation School are
important and are very helpful to the people of Marthandam area.141
Besides the academic or general courses, Vocational courses are also
taught at the Higher Secondary School level, so as to enable those students
to seek jobs on the strength of their vocational education or to choose self-
employment for which the course may be useful. For further studies in
specific subjects the courses serve as the stepping stone. In the
Government Higher Secondary School at Marthandam computer
programming, Office Secretaryship courses were introduced.142
In the L.M.S. Higher Secondary School at Marthandam, Medical
Lab Assistant Course was introduced.143
In the same school Nursing and
Lab Technician courses were also started as vocational course.144
6.8 Collegiate Education
6.8.1 Nesamony Memorial Christian College
Before 1962 there was no college at Vilavancode Taluk. Most of the
people of the Taluk were economically backward. They did not care to
send their children for higher education to any place beyond their native
141 Thiyagaswamy, Personal Interview, Marthandam, 11.12.2000.
142 Annual Report, Christuraja English Medium School, 1980.
143 Ibid., L.M.S. Boys Higher Secondary School, Martandam, 2001.
144 Ibid., Good Shepherd Higher Secondary School, Martandam, 2003.
213
village. Further transportation facilities were very limited and that too only
the rich and well to do could afford to send their wards. Thus a college at
Vilavancode was the crying need of the people and finally a college was
established at Martandam by the Kanyakumari Diocese.145
Though Vilavancode Taluk was forging ahead there was no college
to cater the needs of the people of Vilavancode and adjacent Kalkulam
Taluks. In the meantime, the C.S.I. Kanyakumari Diocese was formed in
June 1959 with Vilavancode, Kalkulam, Thovalai and Agastheeswaram
Taluks.146
The people who lived at Thovalai and Agastheeswaram Taluks
enjoyed the benefit of Scott Christian College and Hindu College at
Nagercoil. But there was no college at Vilavancode and Kalkulam Taluks.
So the general public had to send their children to Nagercoil for college
education. It was expensive too. Many parents could not afford to meet the
expenses. A college at Marthandam was the crying needs of the people of
Vilavancode. Taking into account of the crying needs of the people, the
Kanyakumari Diocese decided to open a college at Marthandam. 147
145 At present there are four colleges functioning in Vilavancode Taluk. They
are Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Martandam, Devikumari
College, Kuzhithurai, St. Judes College, Thoothoor and Annai Velankanni
College, Tholayavattam.
146 Hector, S.S., Marthandam Pastorate Centenary Souvenir, N.M.C.C.M.,
p. 101.
147 Petition of Mr. William, M.L.A. to the Bishop, Kanyakumari Diocese, 1958.
214
The Diocesan Executive Committee established an adhoc committee
consisting of N. Dennis (Convener), G.A. Ambrose, J. Nesamony, P.S.
Wilson, and S. Amose, pastor, on 4 January 1964.148
The Diocese provided
20 acres of land for this purpose with some buildings as well as some
financial assistance. The marthandam Church donated Rs. 500/- for the
construction of building.149
The public in and around Marthandam, the
parents, students and members of teaching and non-teaching staff have
taken keen interest in the growth of the college. They contributed very
good amounts and donated timber for the construction of the college
buildings at different times for its development.
With the permission of the Madras University the Pre-University
class was started on 6 August 1964 with 171 students.150
Dr. J.D.K. Sunder
Singh became the first Principal of the college. In 1965 the college was
upgraded into a first grade college with Mathematics, History and
Economics asmajor subjects. The strength of P.U.C. classes increased to
five batches. Dr. J.D.K. Sunder Singh constructed the present Economic
Block, History, English and Tamil medium blocks and English Literature
148 Report from the Principal, N.M.C. College, Marthandam, 1987.
149 Ibid.
150 Ibid.
215
block. From the academic year 1966-67 this college was affiliated to the
Madurai Kamaraj University with effect from July 1978.151
In 1966, J.M. Arthur came as the Principal of the college. During
this period the college emerged as a full-fledged institution of higher
learning. It flourished with eight pre-university batches and B.A., B.Sc.
degree courses. In 1968, B.Sc. Chemistry was introduced. During the year
1971-72, B.Sc. Botany and B.A. English Literature were introduced.
In 1971, V.J.I. Grant came as the principal of the college. There was
no library building for the college. Knowing the need of the library he laid
the foundation stone for the library building. During this period the
University granted affiliation to start M.Sc. Physics and M.Sc.
Mathematics.152
After his retirement Prof. C. Devadhas became the
principal.
In 1982, Commerce degree (B.Com.) was also introduced. In 1983,
M.A. History was introduced.153
In 1984 this college was renamed as
Nesamony Memorial Christian College after the name of Nesamony who
has rendered yeoman service for the growth and development of the
151 Report from the Principal, N.M.C. College, Marthandam, 1987.
152 Arthur J. Harris, N.M.C.C., Marthandam.
153 Annual Report of the N.M.C.C., Marthandam, 1994.
216
college.154
During the year 1986-1987, M.Phil. course in History was
added to the existing courses. In the year 1988-1989, B.Sc. Computer
Science was introduced. In 1992-1993, M.Sc. Zoology and M.Com.
courses were introduced. Moreover he constructed the first floor upon the
western portion of the Library hall at the cost of Rs. 15 Lakhs.155
In 1994,
the Principal made all arrangements for the promotion of the History
Department of this college as a full-fledged Research Centre.
In 1994, P. Jeyasingh became the Principal of the college. During
the period M.C.A. course was started and inaugurated on 26 September
1994.156
As there was no space for M.C.A. course, he built a Science
block. He collected Rs. 12 lakhs through Parent-Teacher Association of the
College.157
During the year 1997-1998, number of students in the rolls was
increased considerably. In 1997, the History Department became a
research centre. Number of teachers working in the college are 113 and
non-teaching staff strength was 63. In 1998 Dr. Johnson V. Joel Singh
became the Principal of the college. In the year 1999-2000, Master of
154 Annual Report of the N.M.C.C., Marthandam, 1994.
155 Ibid.
156 Ibid., 1995-1996.
157 Ibid.
217
Business Administration was introduced158
and successfully running today.
This college remains to be one of the leading institutions of the state.
The Protestants were the pioneers in establishing educational
institutions not only in Vilavancode Taluk but the whole of South
Travancore. The educational institutions that they started have grown up
and produced great scholars and social reformers. The educational
endeavours of the Protestant missionaries gave a fillip to the Catholics to
enter into educational ventures.
158 Annual Report of the N.M.C.C., Marthandam, 1999-2000.