Tranquebar Mission
When the first Indian evangelical community came into being, it was an initiative separate from seafaring. The King of Denmark Frederick IV felt personally responsible for the welfare of the inhabitants of the Danish trading posts. He ignored all ecclesiastical, theological and legal concerns and recruited young German theologians from the Pietistic Movement to send them as “Royal Danish missionaries” to Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) on the Tamilnadu coast.
The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) can claim to go back directly to the beginnings of the evangelical mission in India. Its bishop bears the title "Bishop of Tranquebar" after the place where the two first evangelical missionaries Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plutschau started their work. Nevertheless, from the day they landed on July 9, 1706, the two had to overcome considerable political resistance in order to be able to work freely. However, they recognized the main obstacle to their effectiveness as the dubious lifestyle of the uncooperative Europeans in the settlement, who had “left their Christianity behind at the Cape of Good Hope.”
However, they managed to win respect and support for the Christian faith. At first, Ziegenbalg's intensive efforts to understand the local language, culture and religion made an impression. Through many oral and written contacts with Hindus and Muslims, he acquired a thorough knowledge of their world and ideas, like de Nobili who was in India before him. In a letter from Ziegenbalg dated 25th September, 1706, the addressee of which is unfortunately not known, he writes “My old tutor often spends the whole day with me in discussion, through which I have already obtained quite an insight into their gods and idol worship” ( quoted from the book “It Began at Tranquebar” by Arno Lehmann p.11).
The memorial in the middle of the seashore of Tranquebar is a reminder to the visitors to this tourist spot to the history which began in this spot. Either the Indian Church history or the history of the expansion of Christian faith cannot forget the date July 9th 1706 or the names of Ziegenbalg and Plütschau. But it is to be noted that there were Protestant Christians from Danish, English and Dutch origins early in the 17th century, and they even brought their Chaplains with them. But these people never tried to share the good news to the indigenous people but were serving only their own. On the contrary these two young people showed lot of interest in learning the language of the people Tamil.
Learning Tamil
In spite of the heat, the lack of comfort, the different diet and lot of work and health issues they carried on their language studies. Though it was very difficult to learn the language Ziegenbalg decided not to be a short term missionary but to make mission work his life task.
In the beginning they decided to learn Portuguese.
But Ziegenbalg showed lot of interest in learning Tamil so that he could work in India longer or even permanently. Already on September 3rd, 1706 they appointed an Indian to run a school. These two theologians sat on the floor along with the pupils wrote Tamil on sand and learnt to read and write.
Unfortunately Plütschau learned Portuguese and returned to Germany but Ziegenbalg became a “Tamilian” and stayed in Tranquebar till his end.
First Printing
His reports on the work and of his language competence and the study of the local religion through the Halle News (Halleschen Nachrichten) in Germany and in Europe had a great impact on his work. The first fruit of such an impact was the printing of the New Testament in Tamil in 1714 and that too in Tranquebar itself.
. This translation of New Testament he began in 1708 and finally finished in 1711. This was a cooperative effort of different confessions. The financial support came from the Anglican “Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge” (SPCK) in England, the organisational and leadership support from Kopenhagen, Denmark, and the personnel and spiritual guidance from Halle, Germany need to be appreciated.
This cooperation became more important as the “Tranquebar Mission” spread over the course of the century beyond Danish territory to English and Dutch settlements along the coast and inland.
The First Church for the Locals
Planning to build a new church for the Indians had its difficulties. Finally they found a place and a foundation stone was laid for the New Jerusalem Church on 14th June, 1701, but the church was later washed away in floods. The New Jerusalem Church in Tranquebar which was later built by him and dedicated on 11th October 1718.
The church in which Ziegenbalg is buried has important place in the history of the modern church history. Besides the regular services conducted, many important services have taken place in this church, Ordinations, commissioning of Deaconesses, Synods, youth meetings, conferences for women and the consecrations of the Bishop of Tranquebar.
. The church historical important meeting called as “Tranquebar Conference” took place here on 1st May, 1919 which was the first step for the formation of the Church of South India (CSI)
First of many
Ziegenbalg faced lot of difficulties both financial and from the local administration, this was apart from his failing health conditions. There was sorrow in his heart. He wrote shortly before his death, that the letters he received in 1717 and 1718 from Europe did not contribute much but only depressed his spirits, and said that he was not able to carry on his responsibilities with the same joy he had earlier.
The first Lutheran missionaries were pioneers in many aspects. Ziegenbalg´s initiative in printing the New Testament in Tamil is one of his best achievements. Starting a school for the local children in which they sat with the children to learn Tamil is the first effort to bring formal education in Tamilnadu. They never intended to do the work all by themselves, rather from the beginning of their work the involved Indian co-workers, trained them to be writers, teachers, evangelists and catechists.
Already in 1734 apart from the nine missionaries they also had one pastor, and twenty-five catechists and teachers to help them. Already in 1716 a Seminary was started in Tranquebar in which teachers, catechists and future pastors were trained. It is to be noted that other Missions that worked in India in the 19th Century took 50 to 60 years to take this step.
A bold step in this was taken and in a letter dt. 17th January, 1728 the missionaries recommended to ordain the first pastor Aaron. Copenhagen gave them permission in October 1729. They had three Catechists in the list, tested them and after series of selection process Aaron was ordained as first Tamil pastor on 20th December 1733 in New Jerusalem Church.
Another important work of the first missionaries was the translation of Small Catechism and the Holy Bible and printing of the Tamil Hymn Book. They emphasised the use of the mother tongue of the people.
The Tranquebar Mission is the exemplary example of ecumenical cooperation. It is not only the European countries Denmark, Germany which initiated later on the cooperation from Holland, England, Sweden, Italy and also from Petersberg. Later missionaries like Gruendler held contact with the missionaries from different countries working in India and also with the officials. The cooperation of SPCK from England is marvellous.
Halle sent proposal to send Medical Missionaries to India and this was accepted and five mission doctors were sent toTranquebar. They reported about the diseases and the medicine that existed in India at that time.
Starting of schools by the first missionaries need to be mentioned. The first Tamil school for the girls was started already on December 28th,1707. This is the first school for Indian girls in South India. Apart from this, the wives of the missionaries served the women and girl children in many ways. This is the first women empowerment in South india.
Compiled by: Rev. Dr P. Manoharan, Pastor TELC (Rtd)
