Subramaniyam Ambalavanar
Not many people know that the first astronomer in Asia to be awarded the title of Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS) in the early twentieth century (1910) was a Tamil from Tamileelam. His name is Subramaniyam Ambalavanar.
Thomas Kelley, credited to astronomer Isaac Newton, discovered a comet in 1704 and announced its reappearance in 1758. But Thomas Kelly was no longer alive when it reappeared. So they named the comet after him.
When no one could find out when the comet would appear again, Ambalavanar, who was a teacher at the Jaffna College, caused a stir in the world by predicting that it would appear again in 1910.
For this he was honored by the UK government with the title of FRAS and a certificate. It says that this certificate is still available in the Jaffna College Library. The fact that he was the first Asian scientist to receive this award in 1921 is now hidden from history.
Subramaniyam Ambalavanar was born in the year 1865 at Karainagar – Payirikkoodal. He was born to Kanthappar Subramaniyam and Parvathi. In 1876, Ambalavanar lived with his father´s brother Kanthappar Saravanamuthu, after both his parents died due to an epidemic of dysentery. Since there were no schools at that time, Mrs. Sethi Nagamuthu teached Ambalavanar.
He learned Tamil and literature systematically from Karthikesu. In 1881, after getting admission in Thellipalai Teacher’s College, he completed his education and converted to Christianity and became Alan Ambalavanar. Later, he joined Jaffna College and was trained as a teacher by Vetiknayagam. During this period, many scholars were surprised to see his scientific knowledge. In 1891, he was appointed as a professor of Tamil in Jaffna College.
While working as a professor, he cleared the Senior Local Examination in 1886 and the Chennai Metriculation Examination in 1889. In 1893, he self-examined himself for the F.A. and B.A. examinations at Calcutta University. Later he was appointed as a tutor to students studying astronomy at the Jaffna College. Later he married Mootachi. He had two sons, Kanakasuntharam and Arulaiya, and a daughter named Achimuthu. His scientific and astronomical articles were published in Uthayatharakai and Royal Astronomical Society journals. He continued to study the astronomi from Karainagar.
On 19.05.1910, he created a sensation all over the world by predicting that Kelley’s comet would appear in the sky between 9.00 – 10.00 hours. Exactly as he had said, when Kelley’s comet appeared in the sky, the whole world started searching for Ambalavanar. The British Astronomical Survey soon honored him with the title of Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. This is an award that a normal teacher cannot get.
Ambalavanar not only excelled in astronomy, music, Tamil literature, agriculture, and social work, he also composed and writes eight Christian Tamil hymns, which was used for the worship of the Jaffna Church in South India. At the same time, he also sang Shaiva hymns in temples. Once when Mr. Pon Ramanathan was invited to Karainagar and when the time for his arrival had passed, people was to lost their patience Ambalavanar sang Shaiva hymns to calm them. People was in shock by his hymns and talent.
Going to the field every day is one of his habits. He stopped from Jaffna College in 1914. It is said that the reason for his release from the college was that the jealousy and smoking of the so-called intellectuals affected him psychologically. Doing business for 30 years; In June 1922, he went to the hospital for treatment of a leg ulcer and did not return. He died of natural causes on 01.07.1922.
He correctly predicted the shape of Kelley’s comet in 1910, and has been largely ignored by comet research in the West today. But his name and the title given by England will live forever. This month marks his 101st birthday. We, the Tamils of Tamileelam, will spread his fame all over the world.
(Thanks from Eelanadu, Voice of Global Tamil Right)
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