Mr. Kanthapperumal Kathirkamathamby Odayar.
Born: 17th February, 1859Died: 13th December, 1917
Mr. Kanthepperumal Kathirkamathamby Odayar, a leading philanthropist of the Eastern shore, was a self made man bron on 17th February, 1859 at Kallady-Uppoadi.
He was a prominent leader in the commercial and agricultural community of Batticaloa and was a pioneer planter with ingenuity and foresight. By his industry by his industry and perseverance he built up a business – Messrs. K. C. V. K Odayar and Sons of Colombo Bankshall Street and the Tuticorin Cargo Boat Service which bore ample testimony to his ability. He discharged his duties as Odayar without fear or favour. As he was eminent for piety, charity and virtue he was respected and loved by his superiors in public life and by his own people in domestic and social life.
As a true son of the soil, he took a keen interest in educational and charitable work. He unobtrusively founded such institutions as he thought would benefit his community. To him goes the credit of ushering into Batticaloa the Ramakrishna Mission subsequent to the visit of Swami Vivekananda to Ceylon. Perhaps it was by divine plan that he was in Colombo when the Saint set foot on this fair isle. This inspired Kathikamathmby Odayar founded the present Girls’ School and maintained it on his own until it was handed over to Swami Vipulananda in 1929.
It was also hes dream to start a Boys’ Hindu English school and reserved the finances of Rs. 5,000/- for this purpose.
It is worthy to record that his charitable disposition prompted him to begin in 1909 the annual alms hiving practice at Mandur village during the temple festival and to ensure its efficiency and self sufficiency, he gifted adequate paddy lands. Thanks to his progeny who are following in the foot steps of this illustrious son.
It is our fervent wish that this community may produce more people of this caliber. His life reminds us of Long fellow’s lines,
He was a prominent leader in the commercial and agricultural community of Batticaloa and was a pioneer planter with ingenuity and foresight. By his industry by his industry and perseverance he built up a business – Messrs. K. C. V. K Odayar and Sons of Colombo Bankshall Street and the Tuticorin Cargo Boat Service which bore ample testimony to his ability. He discharged his duties as Odayar without fear or favour. As he was eminent for piety, charity and virtue he was respected and loved by his superiors in public life and by his own people in domestic and social life.
As a true son of the soil, he took a keen interest in educational and charitable work. He unobtrusively founded such institutions as he thought would benefit his community. To him goes the credit of ushering into Batticaloa the Ramakrishna Mission subsequent to the visit of Swami Vivekananda to Ceylon. Perhaps it was by divine plan that he was in Colombo when the Saint set foot on this fair isle. This inspired Kathikamathmby Odayar founded the present Girls’ School and maintained it on his own until it was handed over to Swami Vipulananda in 1929.
It was also hes dream to start a Boys’ Hindu English school and reserved the finances of Rs. 5,000/- for this purpose.
It is worthy to record that his charitable disposition prompted him to begin in 1909 the annual alms hiving practice at Mandur village during the temple festival and to ensure its efficiency and self sufficiency, he gifted adequate paddy lands. Thanks to his progeny who are following in the foot steps of this illustrious son.
It is our fervent wish that this community may produce more people of this caliber. His life reminds us of Long fellow’s lines,
“And departing leave behind us
Foot – prints on the sands of time’’
Foot – prints on the sands of time’’
Mr. Kathirkamathamby Odayar Velupillai.
Born: 1881 Died: 1954
“If you can dream- and not make dreams your master,
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumphs and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same
Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my Son.’’
(Rudyard Kipling)
“If you can dream- and not make dreams your master,
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumphs and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same
Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my Son.’’
(Rudyard Kipling)
Rudyard Kipling in these lines is expounding a profound philosophy – a philosophy that would make men of the people of this earth.
K. O. Velupillai, son of Mr. Kanthapperumal Kathirkamathamby Odayar was no less a philanthropist than his illustrious father. He truly imbibed all that was noble and great in his father and worked relentlessly towards the fulfillment of his father’s dreams.
He was god – fearing, chaste, unostentatious and a devoted son of the soil. Having had his education at Hindu College, Jaffna, he was influenced greatly by the awakening of Hinduism and Tamil Culture by Sri Arumuha Navalar. His desire to inculcate the Hindu ideals of life, spurred him on to sacrifice his wealth in the correct manner by building temples and founding schools.
While in an endeavor to translate his father’s dream into concrete action he contemplated founding a Hindu Boys, English school to stem the rising he contemplated founding a Hindu Boys, English school to stem the rising tide of the Roman Catholic Missionary activities in Batticaloa, Swami Vipulananda, a scholar and Saint, appeared on the scene with the same end in view. Mr. K. O. Velupillai was quick to respond to the call of the Swamiji and promptly offered 21 acres of his private lands ideally suited to start the Hindu Boys’ English school in 1928. It was a happy day when on 6-11-1925 the foundation stone was laid for this great institution Shivananda Vidyalaya.
Mr. K. O. velupillai was ably assisted in realizing his dream of building an English school by his resourceful brother – in – law Notary K. Nallathamby. Following the completion of the school block came the question of adequate funds to maintain the institution. The undaunted benefactors jointly embarked on a financial drive from Pottuvil to Verugal and offered Swami Vipulananda an adequate sum of money for this purpose. Mr. K. O. Vilupillai went further and built another Hindu school at Morkkoddanchenai to serve the needs to uplift the rural folks in that village and entrusted to the Ramakrishna Mission.
It is on exaggeration to say that, but for the fervent prayers foresight and generosity of the patrons, the Hindu Boys’ English School (Present Shivananda Vidyalaya) would have been sited far from the present precincts. Their diligence and devotion have chiefly been responsible for the steady growth and rapid progress of the institution.
Besides Mr. D. O. Velupillai’s services in the sphere of Education; as Manager of the Pillayar Temple opposite Shivananda Vidyalaya, his contribution towards the spiritual development of the village was worthy of note. The imposing ‘gopuram’ of the temple against the azure sky and the portals of our dear Alma Mater bear ample testimony to his good life and work and will ever be a silent monument to remind us of his materials contribution towards the progress and well-being of humanity.
K. O. Velupillai, son of Mr. Kanthapperumal Kathirkamathamby Odayar was no less a philanthropist than his illustrious father. He truly imbibed all that was noble and great in his father and worked relentlessly towards the fulfillment of his father’s dreams.
He was god – fearing, chaste, unostentatious and a devoted son of the soil. Having had his education at Hindu College, Jaffna, he was influenced greatly by the awakening of Hinduism and Tamil Culture by Sri Arumuha Navalar. His desire to inculcate the Hindu ideals of life, spurred him on to sacrifice his wealth in the correct manner by building temples and founding schools.
While in an endeavor to translate his father’s dream into concrete action he contemplated founding a Hindu Boys, English school to stem the rising he contemplated founding a Hindu Boys, English school to stem the rising tide of the Roman Catholic Missionary activities in Batticaloa, Swami Vipulananda, a scholar and Saint, appeared on the scene with the same end in view. Mr. K. O. Velupillai was quick to respond to the call of the Swamiji and promptly offered 21 acres of his private lands ideally suited to start the Hindu Boys’ English school in 1928. It was a happy day when on 6-11-1925 the foundation stone was laid for this great institution Shivananda Vidyalaya.
Mr. K. O. velupillai was ably assisted in realizing his dream of building an English school by his resourceful brother – in – law Notary K. Nallathamby. Following the completion of the school block came the question of adequate funds to maintain the institution. The undaunted benefactors jointly embarked on a financial drive from Pottuvil to Verugal and offered Swami Vipulananda an adequate sum of money for this purpose. Mr. K. O. Vilupillai went further and built another Hindu school at Morkkoddanchenai to serve the needs to uplift the rural folks in that village and entrusted to the Ramakrishna Mission.
It is on exaggeration to say that, but for the fervent prayers foresight and generosity of the patrons, the Hindu Boys’ English School (Present Shivananda Vidyalaya) would have been sited far from the present precincts. Their diligence and devotion have chiefly been responsible for the steady growth and rapid progress of the institution.
Besides Mr. D. O. Velupillai’s services in the sphere of Education; as Manager of the Pillayar Temple opposite Shivananda Vidyalaya, his contribution towards the spiritual development of the village was worthy of note. The imposing ‘gopuram’ of the temple against the azure sky and the portals of our dear Alma Mater bear ample testimony to his good life and work and will ever be a silent monument to remind us of his materials contribution towards the progress and well-being of humanity.
Mr. Kumaravel Sabapathipillai Odayar.
Mr. Kumaravel Sabapathipillai Odayar ranks as one of the benefactors of this illustrious institution, Shivananda Vidyalaya. As a true patriot he lived a selfless life. Although this institution was not built during his life time the finances he left behind for the maintenance of the present R. K. M. Girls School at Kallady Uppodai was handed over to Swami Vipulananda by his son Mr. S. O. Ratnasingham for building Shivananda Vidyalaya. His good work was continued by his son Mr. S. O. Retnasingham and wife Mrs. Thangammah Sabapalhipillai who were equally devoted to the cause of education and well-being of the village.
He built the Pillayar Temple at Mantivu for the inmates of the asylum; and it stands even today as a symbol of hope and comfort to its ailing Hindu population.
He built the Pillayar Temple at Mantivu for the inmates of the asylum; and it stands even today as a symbol of hope and comfort to its ailing Hindu population.
