A new Tamil book titled Kovaiyin Punithavathigal, authored by Dr. Nicodemus, was released at a grand event held at CSI Immanuel Church campus on Saturday. The function witnessed the presence of eminent church leaders, historians, and members of the Christian community.
Rev. Prince Calvin, Presbyter-Chairman and Secretary of the Coimbatore Diocese, released the book, and the first copy was received by Rev. Philip K. Mulley, Senior Reverend and renowned Church Historian. The event was marked by warm felicitations and reflections on the rich legacy of women missionaries in Coimbatore.
Among those present were Dr. Grace Ida Rajan, Pastor of the Global Methodist Church, Publisher Jebakumar, Church Secretary Dr. Chandran, and Heroline Manjula, who commended the author’s efforts in documenting an often-overlooked chapter of missionary history.
The book, Kovaiyin Punithavathigal, sheds light on the remarkable contributions of 44 women missionaries sent by the London Missionary Society between 1830 and 1983. These women played a pioneering role in the fields of education, social reform, and women’s empowerment in Coimbatore and surrounding regions.
The author highlights Susanna Emelia, the first woman teacher in the girls’ school established in 1832 by her husband, Rev. William Bawn Addis. Her successors went on to found more schools, hostels, and social welfare initiatives aimed at uplifting women from rural and underprivileged backgrounds.
The narrative concludes with Dora Smith, the last missionary, who established the Secretarial Training Centre in 1983 to provide vocational education for young women, thus ensuring economic independence and social dignity.
Rich with archival materials and historical references, the book presents the educational and socio-economic impact of these missionaries’ work, offering readers a rare glimpse into the women who helped shape Coimbatore’s educational and cultural identity over a span of 150 years.
