Thursday, 3 March 2016

An Outstanding Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the West Malaysia Tan.Rt.Rev. Dr.John Gurubatham Savarimuthu. Part Final

Bishop John  Gurubatham Savarimuthu .Part Final
Mrs. Merlyn   Ravi and Family: Mrs Pushpam John's daughter Merlyn  married Mr Ravi, and this couple have settled in Australia.  

Mr. J.M.K. Sehar, M.A, M.Sc, I.R.S: Mrs Pushpam John's illustrious son late Mr J.M.K.Sekar was a brilliant student  .Mr.JMK Sehar did his B.A in the Hindu College , Tirunelveli and his M.A[ English Lit] in the prestigious St. Joseph's College , Trichy. After his Post graduation  Mr JMK Sehar wrote and  passed his I.R.S,  competitive Indian Civil Service examination and joined as an Assistant Collector of Customs in the Government of India . And he was sent to England for higher studies by the Government of India and  he did his M.Sc, in UK and returned to India successfully. He  had natural inclination for religious and spiritual   subjects and affairs so he did a Theology Course in Switzerland sponsored by World Christian Council.  He was very smart ,  earnest  and efficient in discharging  his official duties ,  He served in the Central Customs and Excise Department in various colorful capacities such as Commissioner of Customs and Excise, etc, and after a long fruitful and colorful  period of service, he  was elevated as the Member of Central Board of Excise and Customs and in 2010 , Sri Sehar I.R.S, retired from his Government Service. He was also a great social thinker and worker like his father Mr. John [Thasildar]; but unfortunately after his retirement  Mr J.M.K Sehar  did not live long.

Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev. John Gurubatham Savaaraimuthu  : Mr  Gurubatham and Mrs Koilpillai' couple's  illustrious son Mr John G .Savarimuthu  was a student of B.Sc Degree Course in the famous MDT Hindu College , Pettai, Tirunelveli and he  received his B.Sc Degree from the famous Madras University in 1947. He did a Theological Course at the Nazareth Seminary located near Kulesekarapatinam  South Tamil Nadu. and then he continued  his theological education and  passed his B.D, as a student of   Tamil Nadu Theological College in 1952.   Mr John G. Savaarimuthu went to Malaysia on the invitation and advice of Rev. Gnanasigamani .


                                        
                                                  KUALA LUMPUR.     MALAYSIA..


Rev John G Savarimuthu's Wife and Children :  Rev. John G Savarimuthu married Ms. Catherin Paun D/O  Rev T.Yesudian of Kulasekarapattinam [ Rev T.Yesudian pioneered the congregation of Church of the Holy Spirit in Buntong , Malaysia] and this blissful  Savarimuthu couple was blessed with  one son and one lovely daughter, namely :[1] Mr. Prof. Jonny Savarimuthu and [2] Ms. Mary Thangam Benjamin .Mr. Jonny Savarimuhu retired as a College Professor in Malaysia. Rev John G Savarimuthu's lovley daughter Ms. Mary Thangam married  her maternal Aunt Mrs. Pushpam John's son Dr. Benjamin, M.B.B.S, M.S [Ortho]  . Ms. Mary Thangam Benjamin and Dr. Benjamin couple has been blessed with three smart and intelligent daughters namely:[1] Ms. . Kiruba , [2] Ms. Karuna, and [3] Ms Karunya .  Ms kiruba, MBBS, is a qualified Medical Doctor , Ms Karuna is working in a Bank and [3] Ms karunya is doing her MBBS.

John Gurubatham Savarimuthu was ordained as a Anglican Priest :  John Gurubatham Savarimuthu went to Malaysia as advised by Rev Gnanasigamoni .. John Gurubatham Savarimuthu was ordained as Anglican Church Priest  in 1952. Since then there was no turning back . Really he was a caring Pastor to the congregation  and he led the members towards the love of Christ and green spiritual pastures with all devotion and sincerity In 1963 he was sent to England to pursue his higher studies in Theology and accordingly he  pursued his Diploma in Theology in the famous St. Augustine  Missionary College , Canterbury in England and passed his  Diploma examination in Distinction...

Some Sign Posts of the Priestly Career of Rev John G Savarimuthu : Rev. John Gurubatham Savarimuthu  was a good preacher, administrator, good Christian in the real sense of the word and so God was elevating him in his Missionary career year by year. Here I will l high light some sign posts of his missionary and sacerdotal career .He served as Archdeacon of Southern Archdeaconry, Diocese of West Malaysia in 1970.  He served as Archdeacon , Diocese of West Malaysia in 1972. He served as Vicar General of the Diocese of West Malaysia.[1972.], in the same year Rev John Gurubatham Savarimuthu was consecrated as  Anglican  Bishop of the Diocese of West Malaysia. Without any turning back with high spiritual and physical spirit and enthusiasm he served  a Dynamic and Peoples Bishop of the Anglican Church , Diocese of  West Malaysia from 1972 till his death in 1994. It is appropriate to mention here that he was the first and also the last  Indian origin Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of west Malaysia 

Some Sign Posts of Rev John G Savarimuthu's life travel : [1] Rev John G Savaarimuthu represented the Anglican Diocese of west Malaysia in the Council Of Churches [1979-1982] [2]  He was a Visiting Lecturer at St Peter's Hall, Trinity College , Singapore. [3]. Examining Chaplain to the Bishops of Singapore and Malaysia  [1964 -1970]. Rev John was having excellent command over English language .[5] He efficaciously served as National secretary of Church Union Negotiating Committee , Malaysia and Singapore [ 1973 ] [6]. He had the rare honor of serving as the National President of the Council Of Churches, Malaysia [1979-1983 ]. Rev John Gurubatham Savarimuthu also served as Provincial Secretary , Council of Churches of  East Asia [1979-1988 ]. He served as the Chairman of Theological Commission since 1987. He meritoriously and adorably served as a Member, Anglican Lutheran Internatinla Comission 

Conclusion : Rev John Gurubatham was a practicing Christian  he was a champion of communal harmony  and in recognition of his impartial service for the cause of social harmony, the Government of Malaysia appointed Anglican Bishop Rt Rev .John Gurubatham Savarimuthu  as a Member the  Unity Board,  Office of Prime Minister, Government of Malaysia . hBishop John G Savarimuthu  was a multi-faceted personality.  Moreover the Government of Malaysia honored Bishop Rt Rev.John G Savarimuthu by conferring the prestigious TAN Sri Award on him 'He had many privileged opportunities to attend many international religious and missionary conferences  in many foreign countries. In 1992  due to heart problem he underwent two heart operations.  As usual in 1992 Bishop John G.Savarimuthu visited his native place Kulasekarapattinam , Tamil Nadu to participate in the St John's annul festival on 24th June 1992. that was his last visit to his native place Kulasekarapattinam  Due to sickness in 1993 he could not attend the St John's festival . In spite of his severe  heart problem,  in line and obedience to a divine message he received he did not  go for a third heart surgery . After having served as  Anglican Bishop of the  Diocese of  West Malaysia for nearly 22 long years he breathed his last breath on 29th November , 1994. By his manifolded services and accomplishments  Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev John Gurubatham Savarimuthu  had become an indelible part of  social , education and Church history. of Malaysia , Tamil Nadu , Asia and world.   God has kindly blessed his children, grandchildren, siblings and other close relatives abundantly  and they are shining and simmering in  their respective fields and  walks of life
[ His sister  Mrs Pusham John shared  many interesting information with me some days back, emotionally and intelligently]

By P. BABU MANOHARAN, M.A, [Rights reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified and corrected later if needed].










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