Tamil Nadu   

Rich tributes to a missionary

The Joseph Eye Hospital in Tiruchi paid rich tributes to the German Protestant missionary Ziengenbalg, who landed here exactly three centuries ago by naming its new Institute of Printing Technology, which was commissioned recently, after him.

Residents of Tiruchi were surprised at the name given to the new Printing Institute.

However it was the Bishop of Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC), T. Aruldoss, who commissioned the new institute, who elaborated the yeoman services rendered by Ziegenbalg.

Rt. Rev. Aruldoss said that Ziegenbalg was the first protestant missionary to land in India. He reached Tranquebar on July 9, 1706.

He introduced the printing press in South India.

The New Testament was printed in Tamil just because of his efforts.

Besides printing the first calendar in 1712, he was the first missionary to construct a Protestant Church in Tamil Nadu.

Rev. Aruldoss commended the management of the Joseph Eye Hospital for naming the new printing Institute after Ziegenbalg.

The TELC has proposed to celebrate the 300th year of his landing in Tranquebar next year, he added.

in Tiruchi

Syed Muthahar Saqaf in Tiruchi

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