Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology ISSN No : 1006-7930

THE SALVATION ARMY AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO

EDUCATION IN DISTRICT

T. S. Sasikala, Research Scholar, Dept. of History and Research Centre, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundernar University, Dr. N. Austin John Manoher, M. A., M. Phil., Ph. D, Dept. of History and Research Centre, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam

Abstract : The Salvation Army in has led the downtrodden people

from the darkness into light both educationally and socially. Army’s educational service had its

origin in this territory. Origin of its educational work is accidental in nature. In the beginning

the Army’s missionaries collected the children from the street and taught them to read and write.

They conducted teaching in the form of a Varandah school. In 1900, one hundred village schools

were started and Gnanadesigar, a teacher from Attakulam became the school inspector. Tamil

school in 1906 and English Medium School in 1914 were started at . The Army

rendered school education for the socio-economic development of ‘the lowest of the low’ class

people.

Kanyakumari District in the state of is situated at the southernmost end of .

The boundaries of the district are Arabian Sea on the west and Western Ghats on the east.1 On

the north is the district of Tirunelveli and on the south is the Indian Ocean. The northern part of

the shares the mountainous landscape of and the southern part is traditionally called, the

Nanjilnad.,2 compressing more plain lands, resembling the neighbouring Tirunelveli district. The

territory of the district is 1684 square kilometers or 1,67,184 hectares.3 It has four taluks, two

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revenue divisions and ninety four revenue villages in 2010.4 The density of the population is 945

per sq. km. Among the total population, women are 7,96,510, and men are 8,03,839. Religion

wise, are 8,55,941, which is 53 per cent. Christians are 6,77,676, which is 42. 34 per

cent, and Muslims are 66, 449 which is 4.15 per cent. There are also a small number of others, of

which Jains are 24, Sikhs are 3, people of other religious persuasion 19, and those who do not

state their religion are 237.5

The Salvation Army, one of the Christian sects, was introduced in in 1889.6

Since it associated itself with the basic necessities of life, equality of men and women and the

dignity of the Scheduled castes, large number of people from the villages, especially from

Thovalai and Agesteeswaram taluks were attracted towards it and became Christians. The

officers at the Salvation Army established schools for the education of the new entrants. In 1894,

the Salvation Army established itself in areas such as and , in

Kanyakumari District.7

The contribution of The Salvation Army to Kanyakumari District is substantial, though,

primarily in the field of Salvationism, but also in other spheres such as health, social work,

education, etc. Among the Army missionaries in Travancore Captain Gnanadesigar played a

vital role for the educational development in 1893.8 Gnanadesigar belonged to Kadicherry

village working as Army officer and missionary. He collected the children from the streets and

taught them in his house varanda. From this inception the Army continued the tradition of both

the evangelization and social services, along with Corp (Church) ministry and educational

apostolate, to the poor and the needy, especially Sambavar community.9 Though founded for the

service of God, the Army has not neglected to concentrate on the problems, which affected the

society. Even as evangelization was the end of their mission, basic education and health to the

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poor and the neglected were the main means to achieve the desired end. First, the Army created

educational awareness and motivated primary education, secondly established health awareness

and health institutions and finally opened educational structures.

One can identify a progressive movement in the very perception of evangelization and

social service. Four inter-connected phases of growth in the perspective of education are

recognized as educational awareness creation, school education, skill education and technical

education. The Army carried out them in close collaboration with local government.

Role of the Army in Creating Educational Awareness, and Primary Schools

Between 1900 and 1930 many more Army missionaries came to Travancore, which was a

flourishing with primary schools. As basic education was an urgent need for the growth and

development of the oppressed community, the Divisions under the direction of the Indian South-

Eastern Territorial animated the children and youth through education. All the corps were in the

interior area mission centres, where primary schools were started and the children of the

downtrodden were given basic education. The Army placed a few of the schools under the local

management. The plan of action for basic education proposed by the Army was to be

implemented in the District.

As the Army had set plus two as basic education and higher education as target in 1977,

the Army expected the corps to implement the following.10 1. To take a corps level list of the

school dropouts and illiterate and help them to pursue school education. 2. To create a fund for

the needy students; to donate notebooks, writing materials, and uniform dress to them; to

motivate the people to give generously for the Education Fund on occasions like celebrations. 3.

Evening classes under corps supervision for weaker students. 4. To encourage dropouts to appear

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for X, XII examinations through tuition centres. 5. Guidance to students with regard to higher

education. 6. To sponsor the studies of at least two poor, but gifted students at the corps level.

And 7. To set up motivation courses on basic and higher education.

The Army conducted seminars for its members and teachers and they in turn put their

efforts to strengthen the Education Commission in each corps and started to encourage the

students to pursue higher education. In 2005-2010, the Army paid much attention to provide

guidance for higher education and so it motivated 500 young people. The programmes were

organized in the Salvation Army Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil.11

The awareness creation for education has opened the door to continuing education and to

new life opportunities to so many low-caste people in Kanyakumari District areas. Consultancy,

collaboration, facilitation, and easy exchange of materials and evolution and promotion of

standards in awareness creation are some of these added responsibilities, besides actually

motivating this programme, so that the new structure can take the ground and experience them an

ideological tower. Low caste community experienced hardships in the last centuries receive

improvements in their life.

During 1900 - 1910, about a hundred village schools were started in south Travancore.

For the development of the schools, Ganadesigar was made the Inspector of Schools, gradually

he became prominence throughout the territory. In 1898, the Army started its boarding school at

Vadasery, Nagercoil. Ninety pupils attended the school, of them fifty were boys and forty girls.

Captain Yudha Veeran was entrusted with the responsibility of supervising the schools. In 1900,

the Vadesery school was shifted to Nagercoil. Mrs. Commissioner, Muthiah was authorized the

supervise the Nagercoil school. Another boarding school was also started in 1904, at

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Madavapuram, in Madras, and excess children from Nagercoil boarding school were sent to the

Madavapuram boarding school. In 1906, when one more boarding school was started at

Nagercoil, the boys from the Madhavapuram boarding school were transferred back to Nagercoil

boarding school.

In 1906, a Tamil school was started in Nagercoil, and in 1914, an English medium

school was started by Lieutenant Claracase Nurani. The English medium school was converted

into Tamil medium, and served as a middle school until 1967. Later it was upgraded to a High

school. In 1977, the school was upgraded to a Higher Secondary School. Schools were also

started in different places. The Tamil medium schools started in 1908 were surrendered to the

government later in 1957. The government didn’t give any rent to the Salvation Army for using

the Army’s building at . Colonel N.J. Smuel fought with the government and vacated

the government school and started an English medium school in 1978. Later on school has been

promoted into a Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Mr. A. Monickadhas became the

first Headmaster of the school.12

Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Vettoornimadam

Universal access to education was introduced in 1978 and in 1980, the Army said that

Army leaders had eradicated illiteracy. The Salvation Army Matriculation Higher Secondary

School was started at Vettoornimadam, Nagercoil in 1978.13 The school was established by

Colonel N. J. Samuel. As he took special interest to open an English medium school at

Nagercoil, he got permission from the department of education, and made necessary

arrangements to provide all facilities. In the beginning L.K.G. and U.K.G. classes were started.

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During the academic year, 1979-’80, first standard was started. Subsequently, other

standards were introduced. The first batch of students appeared for their 10th standard public

examination in March 1989. Excellent coaching classes both in the morning and evening were

conducted. The school produced very good results for several years. There are twenty two

teaching staff, and seven non-teaching staff are working in school. The total strength of the

school during the academic year 2005-2006, was two hundred and sixty three.14

The Salvation Army Higher Secondary School, Vettornimadam

In 1914, to lead the downtrodden people of this part of India, from darkness, into light,

both educationally and socially, this institution was started by Lt. Commissioner Clara, and also

with the missionary zeal of Brigadier Larson, a devoted and unselfish pioneer missionary.15

They both are responsible for the commencement of this school. Mr. Thirumal was appointed as

the headmaster. In 1967, Commissioner Joseph Daya Dhas, served as the manager of this

school, took special interest in fulfilling the long cherished wishes of the Salvationists, and the

well wishers of this area, by upgrading the school into a high school. The overseas Salvationists

and international leaders gave financial assistance whole heartedly.

Several graduate teachers were appointed for different subjects. More accommodations

and facilities were given to the students. They showed keen interest in their studies. Teachers

also worked hard, and produced very good results and the strength of the school increased. In the

year, 1977, the school was upgraded into a Higher Secondary School, by the introduction of

standard twelve. The groups introduced were, Maths, Science and History, under the general

stream. Accountancy and auditing along with nursing were also introduced under the vocational

stream, Efficient post-graduate teachers were appointed for subjects like English, Tamil,

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Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and Commerce. The teachers showed special interest for

the welfare of the children.

Colonel N.J. Samuel was the manager of this school for several years, and he showed

personal interest for the progress of the school in every field. International leaders and overseas

comrades helped financially. So, during his period, he could complete a great building project, at

a cost aof about Rs. 31.5 lakhs. With the completion of this building, the school had two well

equipped laboratory rooms, and each for the Headmasters, the male teachers, the clerical staff,

the physical education teachers and for the library.

Apart from such pioneering contribution in providing medical service to the people of the

lower castes, the Salvation Army had also opened up orphanages and boarding schools for the

education of the people in the areas of and Agestheeswaram taluks. In short, the advent

of the Salvation Army in Kanyakumari District created an awakening and social mobility among

the scheduled castes.

Endnotes

1. Maria David, V., Beyond Boundaries, Hindu –Christian Relationship and Basic Christian

Communities, Delhi, 2009, p.1.

2. Samuel Mateer, Native Life in Travancore, New Delhi, 1991, pp. 19 – 20.

3. Sathianesan, V., Social Change in Kanyakumari District 1900 – 1975, A.D.,Tiruchy,

1988, p. 8.

4. Census of India 1981, Tamil Nadu, 1982, p. 72.

5. Census of India 1991, Taml Nadu, pp. 84 – 85.

6. What is the Salvation Army, Leaflet, 2018, p. 1.

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7. Ibid.

8. The Salvation Army Marthandam Division Souvenir, 1941 – 2009, p. 10.

9. Ibid., 20.

10. Year Book 2017, India South Eastern Territory p. 133.

11. Ibid.

12. Ibid. p. 134.

13. Annual Report of Matriculation Higher Secondary School Vettoornimadam, 2010 - 2011.

14. Year Book 2017, op. cit., p. 135.

15. Annual Report of The Salvation Army Higher Secondary School, Vetoornimadam, 2010

- 2011.

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