N. SAMUEL OF TRANQUEBAR (A FAMOUS TAMIL CHRISTIAN POET)

N. SAMUEL OF TRANQUEBAR (A FAMOUS TAMIL CHRISTIAN POET)

Rev. N. Samuel (18 September 1850 - 20 May 1927), Professor in Divinity, Pastor, Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (T.E.L.C.). He was a famous poet and author of many books. He was also the first member of the Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mission (L.E.L.M.) Council.

AS A POET OF TAMIL LYRICS

Best known among his lyrics are,

En Meetpar Vuyirodirukayilay (என் மீட்பர் உயிரோடிருக்கயிலே)

Senaigalin Kartharey (சேனைகளின் கர்த்தரே)

Seerthiru Yegavasthey(சீர்திரி எகவச்தே நமோ நமோ) and

Gunapadu Paavi (குணப்படு பாவி)

He composed the college song Arulaar Putkarathil Thangi and designed the monogram for the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College. Incidentally, Vedanayagam Sastriar of Tanjore, Krishnapillai of Palyamkottai, and N. Samuel of Tranquebar were known as the triumvirate of Tamil Christian poets. One of his earliest compositions was about a journey to Tanjore called Thanjai Payan Padham. Another was Kallu Kummi, The Toddy Kummi, where the strong drink talks about her glories, which made the drunkard blush in shame. His book Gospel Lyrics contains 200 songs composed over a period of 60 years.

HIS TRANSLATION WORKS FROM GERMAN TO TAMIL

He has also put the following German hymns into Tamil:

Gott sei Dank in aller Welt, Kartharukku Sthothiram (கர்த்தருக்கு ஸ்தோத்திரம்)

O Haupt Voll Blut und Wunden, Erathangaayam Kuth-thum (இரத்தம் காயம் குத்தும் )

Nun freut euch, Gottes kinder all, Magizh Karthaavin Manthayae (மகிழ் கர்த்தாவின் மந்தையே)

Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend Aa Yesuvae, Neer Yengalai (ஆ ஏசுவே , நீர் எங்களை)

Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende Naal Pome, Yen Saavu Velai (எந்த நாள் போம் , ஏன் சாவு வேளை)

Laudamus te Ummai Thuthikirome (உம்மை துதிகிரோமே )

Du, o schones Weltgebaude Veghuperuku-inbamaana (வெகுபெருக்கு இன்பமான )
He has written lots of books on various topics , was a profound pastor at his time and was a great theologian.