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Tamil Nadu
Ziegenbalg’s monument needs protection
K. Subramanian
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It was erected by the Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran in 1906
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The monument withstood the onslaught of the December 2004 tsunami
CRYING FOR ATTENTION: The Ziegenbalg monument on the shores of Tarangampadi in Nagapattinam district.
NAGAPATTINAM: The century-old monument erected on the shores of Tarangampadi (erstwhile Tranquebar) in Nagapattinam district by the Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran in 1906 to mark the landing of Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plutschau, the first Lutheran Missionaries to India, three centuries ago on July 9, 1706, now needs attention and protection. The monument, erected near the Danish Fort, withstood the onslaught of the December 2004 tsunami.
People of the district have appealed to the State Government to take steps to build a memorial (Mani mandapam) for Ziegenbalg who rendered religious and social service in Tarangampadi.
The two Protestant missionaries arrived at Tranquebar on the orders of King Frederick IV of Denmark. Ziegenbalg had special affinity for Tamil language and showed keen interest in learning and developing the language. He spent two years till 1708 AD and mastered the language. He had collected many rare Tamil palm leaf manuscripts and did research on them.
Ziegenbalg translated the Tamil book ‘Ulaga Needhi’ (Universal Justice) into German in which he had mentioned in the preface that he was helped by a Tamil scholar and a few learned Brahmins at Tranquebar to master the Tamil language. ‘An account of Malabarians’ was another piece of work published in 1718 AD. His book on the people of Tamil Nadu became a source for research.
He set up the first printing press in India at Tranquebar and even produced printing paper in 1712 A.D. He brought a refreshing change to Tamil scripts by suggesting reforms and printed the first Tamil version of the New Testament in 1715 A.D. He was the first person in the history of Tranquebar to preach in Tamil in the New Jerusalem Church built by him during 1718 AD. He died on February 23, 1719 at Tranquebar.
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