Introduction : Definitely late Dr Manuel Amirthavasagam Thangaraj, MA, Ph.D,[Canada ] , of Erode , was one of the tallest ,colorful and intellectual Indians .He was one of the tallest Physicists and Educationists of India. Erode has produced some iconic and historical personalities like the great rationalist and social Reformer Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, world renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujam, FRS and others . It is highly pertinent to state that in Erode only Mr Robert Amritraj, the father of the outstanding International Tennis Players Amritraj brothers, was born. Dr.M.A..Thangarj was also privileged to born in such a historical town Erode in Tamil Nadu : Dr. Manuel A Thangaraj bought laurels to his home town by his manifold accomplishments. definitely Erode in Tamil Nadu can also be proud of the great Scientist, Educationist,Sports-lover, Author and Founder of Anbagam in Madurai, Dr Manuel A Thangaraj.
Ar. M.A Thangaraj's Place of Birth and Parents. Among the towns in Tamil Nadu and India the fertile and flourishing business town Erode occupies one of the unique places and it lies on the beautiful bank of the historical River Kaveri . Dr.Mauel A Thangaraj was born at this historical town Erode to a pious Christian parents namely Mr.Amirthavasagam and Mrs. Navaneetham Amirthavasagam on 11th July , 1918.
Educational track of Mr.M.A Thangaraj: Mr. Manuel A. Thangaraj was a product of the famous Annamalai University. Mr. Manuel .A .Thangaraj passed his B.Sc,with honors in Physics [ Annamalai University ] and passed his M.A, in Physics with distinction [Annamalai University, Chidambaram ]
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Mr Manuel A. Thangaraj joined as a Physics Lecturer at M.C.C, Tambaram , Chennai : After having passed his MA degree examination in Physics with distinction , Mr.M.A. Thangaraj joined as Physics Lecturer at the prestigious Madras Christian College, Tambaram , Madras[ Chennai] in 1939. He taught Physics very convincingly and efficaciously and won the hearts of his students.
M.A. Thangaraj Won The Prestigious Scholarships for higher education: While M.A. Thangaraj [ M.A.T} was working as a Physics Lecturer at the Madras Christian College , his thirst for Knowledge urged him to pursue his doctoral studies in a foreign University and accordingly he applied for the famous Vincent Magassey Scholarship. and he got the enviable Vincent Massey Scholarship for pursuing a Doctorate[ Ph.D] degree at the famous Toronto University , Canada. However he could not reach the Toronto University until the end of the Second World war in 1945.. In the meantime he also got the prestigious and coveted Rhodes Scholarship at the famous Oxford University, UK in 1945.
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M.A .Thangaraj met his future wife Ms Mary Monica Coelho at Toronto University: Mr.M.A Thangaraj was doing his Ph.D in Physics ,at the Toronto University, Canada [1945 - 1948].During the same period Ms Mary Monica of Madras, as a Rockfeller Foundation Scholar was doing her higher studies in Nursing in Toronto University . As a doctoral student Mr. M.A. Thangaraj was required to give some talk to the students of the Toronto University occasionally.. The smart and sweet Ms Mary Monica ardently attended the lectures of M..A. Thangaraj and used to ask so many questions to M.A Thangaraj. on his lectures. . Her questions first disturbed his head and finally it disturbed his heart and gave him sleepless nights and this acquaintance ended in their Matrimony in Madras at Santhome Church,.on 29th , December, 1948. It is appropriate to note here that even though Dr M.A. Thangaraj was a Protestant Christian he willingly married Ms Mary Monica , who was a Catholic christian . This marriage between Dr M.A Thangaraj [Protestant Christian] and Ms Mary Monica Coelho[ Catholic Christain ] affected his professional progress in Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Madras, to some extent .
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Dr. M.A. Thangaraj joined at the M.C.C, Tambaram ,Madras [Chennai]as H.O.D and Professor of Physics in 1948: As a very brilliant and creative research student, Mr M.A. Thangaraj successfully completed his Ph.D, research program at the famous Toronto Research University, Canada, and he was awarded the prestigious and enviable Ph.D degree in 1948. With great gladness, and satisfaction and vision he returned from Canada and reached Madras in 1948 and joined as Head of the Physics Department at the prestigious Madras Christian College in 1948. Dr. M.A Thangaraj, as the Head of the Physics department , MCC, Tambaram , taught "Quantum Mechanics" to the Students candidly and efficaciously Dr. M.A. Thangaraj also taught Wireless and Electronics candidl. It would be highly interesting to the readers to know a fact here during 1956-1957 , the Physics Syllabus was changed and the Syllabus was very difficult and none of the Physics staff were able to teach the new Physics syllabus in an efficient way, but during this period Mr. Seshan [ Who later became an IAS Officer and after long service and retired as the Chief Election Commissioner of India] was working as a Physics Tutor at the M.C.C, Tambaram , as prudent Head of Physics Department Dr. M.A Thangaraj correctly rcognized the calibre and capability of the the Young Tutor Mr Seshan and asked to him to teach the New Syllabus to the students and accordingly Mr Seshan taught the new Syllabus Lessons to the Students in an excellent and enviable way. Dr. M.a. Thangaraj was a great researcher lso. he had a Research project on Cosmic rays . Prof. Dr. M.A. Thangaraj used to send Nuclear Emulsion Baloons into the sky and received them after a while . In the year 1958 it was announced that Sir C.V. Raman[ Winner of Nobel Prize for Physics ] was going to deliver a Lecture at the famous Presidency College, Madras and Dr. M. A. Thangaraj asked all the Physics students to attend the Lecture of Sir C,V, Raman in 1956. Dr. M.A. Thangaraj's simple and short sentenced Lectures on Physics specially to the Intermediate Physics Class students galvanised the students to understand the Scientific outlook of the events recorded in the Bible especially the morals recorded in the Old and New Testament .
Educational track of Mr.M.A Thangaraj: Mr. Manuel A. Thangaraj was a product of the famous Annamalai University. Mr. Manuel .A .Thangaraj passed his B.Sc,with honors in Physics [ Annamalai University ] and passed his M.A, in Physics with distinction [Annamalai University, Chidambaram ]
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Mr Manuel A. Thangaraj joined as a Physics Lecturer at M.C.C, Tambaram , Chennai : After having passed his MA degree examination in Physics with distinction , Mr.M.A. Thangaraj joined as Physics Lecturer at the prestigious Madras Christian College, Tambaram , Madras[ Chennai] in 1939. He taught Physics very convincingly and efficaciously and won the hearts of his students.
M.A. Thangaraj Won The Prestigious Scholarships for higher education: While M.A. Thangaraj [ M.A.T} was working as a Physics Lecturer at the Madras Christian College , his thirst for Knowledge urged him to pursue his doctoral studies in a foreign University and accordingly he applied for the famous Vincent Magassey Scholarship. and he got the enviable Vincent Massey Scholarship for pursuing a Doctorate[ Ph.D] degree at the famous Toronto University , Canada. However he could not reach the Toronto University until the end of the Second World war in 1945.. In the meantime he also got the prestigious and coveted Rhodes Scholarship at the famous Oxford University, UK in 1945.
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M.A .Thangaraj met his future wife Ms Mary Monica Coelho at Toronto University: Mr.M.A Thangaraj was doing his Ph.D in Physics ,at the Toronto University, Canada [1945 - 1948].During the same period Ms Mary Monica of Madras, as a Rockfeller Foundation Scholar was doing her higher studies in Nursing in Toronto University . As a doctoral student Mr. M.A. Thangaraj was required to give some talk to the students of the Toronto University occasionally.. The smart and sweet Ms Mary Monica ardently attended the lectures of M..A. Thangaraj and used to ask so many questions to M.A Thangaraj. on his lectures. . Her questions first disturbed his head and finally it disturbed his heart and gave him sleepless nights and this acquaintance ended in their Matrimony in Madras at Santhome Church,.on 29th , December, 1948. It is appropriate to note here that even though Dr M.A. Thangaraj was a Protestant Christian he willingly married Ms Mary Monica , who was a Catholic christian . This marriage between Dr M.A Thangaraj [Protestant Christian] and Ms Mary Monica Coelho[ Catholic Christain ] affected his professional progress in Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Madras, to some extent .
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Dr. M.A. Thangaraj joined at the M.C.C, Tambaram ,Madras [Chennai]as H.O.D and Professor of Physics in 1948: As a very brilliant and creative research student, Mr M.A. Thangaraj successfully completed his Ph.D, research program at the famous Toronto Research University, Canada, and he was awarded the prestigious and enviable Ph.D degree in 1948. With great gladness, and satisfaction and vision he returned from Canada and reached Madras in 1948 and joined as Head of the Physics Department at the prestigious Madras Christian College in 1948. Dr. M.A Thangaraj, as the Head of the Physics department , MCC, Tambaram , taught "Quantum Mechanics" to the Students candidly and efficaciously Dr. M.A. Thangaraj also taught Wireless and Electronics candidl. It would be highly interesting to the readers to know a fact here during 1956-1957 , the Physics Syllabus was changed and the Syllabus was very difficult and none of the Physics staff were able to teach the new Physics syllabus in an efficient way, but during this period Mr. Seshan [ Who later became an IAS Officer and after long service and retired as the Chief Election Commissioner of India] was working as a Physics Tutor at the M.C.C, Tambaram , as prudent Head of Physics Department Dr. M.A Thangaraj correctly rcognized the calibre and capability of the the Young Tutor Mr Seshan and asked to him to teach the New Syllabus to the students and accordingly Mr Seshan taught the new Syllabus Lessons to the Students in an excellent and enviable way. Dr. M.a. Thangaraj was a great researcher lso. he had a Research project on Cosmic rays . Prof. Dr. M.A. Thangaraj used to send Nuclear Emulsion Baloons into the sky and received them after a while . In the year 1958 it was announced that Sir C.V. Raman[ Winner of Nobel Prize for Physics ] was going to deliver a Lecture at the famous Presidency College, Madras and Dr. M. A. Thangaraj asked all the Physics students to attend the Lecture of Sir C,V, Raman in 1956. Dr. M.A. Thangaraj's simple and short sentenced Lectures on Physics specially to the Intermediate Physics Class students galvanised the students to understand the Scientific outlook of the events recorded in the Bible especially the morals recorded in the Old and New Testament .
Dr. M.A. Thangaraj Worked as the warden of the St. Thomas Hall , MCC, Tambaram: Dr. M.A. Thangaraj took charge as the Warden of the famous St. Thomas Hall , Hostel , MCC, Tambaram At Madras Christian College Tambaram there were three Hostels namely :-[a] St.Thomas Hall, [b] Bishop Heber Hall, and [c] Selaiyur Hall and among the three St. Thomas Hall Hostel was considered as the best and students loved to stay at the St Thomas Hall Hostel. . Dr. M.A. Thabgaraj served an excellent and caring Warden of the students and won won the love and respect of the inmates of the St Thomas hall Hostel
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Dr. M.A. Thangaraj was appointed as the Principal of the American College Madurai :
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Dr. MA. Thangaraj worked as the H.O.D of the Physics department with great dedication , devotion and efficacy till he left Madras Christian College in 1967 to join as Principal of American College, Madurai.
[Dr.M.A. Thangaraj and his family, accomplishments challenges etc will be dealt in the succeeding Article ]
By. P. BABU MANOHARAN, M.A,[ Rights reserved. This Article will be enlarged , modified and corrected later, if needed].
[Dr.M.A. Thangaraj and his family, accomplishments challenges etc will be dealt in the succeeding Article ]
By. P. BABU MANOHARAN, M.A,[ Rights reserved. This Article will be enlarged , modified and corrected later, if needed].
Its a very good article about Dr Thangaraj. One small factual error.
ReplyDelete"Principal Dr. Manual A.Thangaraj (1967-79) courageously and confidently transformed The American College into an autonomous college, one of the first eight such colleges in the country" This is a part of my draft write-up to be etched on to an ornamental Plaque being made in the American College. I worked under the great and inspiring Dr Thangaraj and I was the Bursar and the Head of Zoology and Microbiology of the college.
Thanks. Glad to learn that you worked as HOD of Zoology and Microbiology Depts American College Madurai.I will be glad to know your good name. All the best From Blogger
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