Nidhiry Mani Kathanar
Encyclopedia
Nidhiry Mani Kathanar alias Fr. Emmanuel Nidhiri (1842–1904) was a colossus in the history of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani
church in Kerala. He led the community against a fearless fight against the European hegemony over the Nasrani Christians. He was the undisputed leader acceptable to the factions in Kerala church.He was an eminent educationalist, orator, organizer and a champion of ecumenism. He was the first Vicar General of Syro Malabar Catholic Church.
This Christian priest was the founder of the Nazranee Deepika, which was the forerunner of today's Deepika
, and was instrumental in the founding of yet another newspaper, the Malayala Manorama
, in the company of Keralavarma Valiakoi Thampuran, a polyglot who was at ease in 18 languages and was the moving spirit behind the Malayalee Memorial — one of the first steps in the social transformation of Kerala — and a key figure in the opening up of his community to English education.
, Emmanuel entered spiritual service at the age of 19 as a deacon.
He continued as deacon for 14 years before he was ordained priest in 1876.
The account of Nidheerickal Mani Kathanar, as he is generally known, given by one of his contemporaries, P.R. Sankara Pillai, illustrates the multifaceted personality in its true colours:
Fr. Nidhiry died on June 20, 1904 due to unknown reasons.
Syrian Malabar Nasrani
The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people, also known as Saint Thomas Christians, "'Nasrani Mappila'" and Nasranis, are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India, adhering to the various churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition...
church in Kerala. He led the community against a fearless fight against the European hegemony over the Nasrani Christians. He was the undisputed leader acceptable to the factions in Kerala church.He was an eminent educationalist, orator, organizer and a champion of ecumenism. He was the first Vicar General of Syro Malabar Catholic Church.
This Christian priest was the founder of the Nazranee Deepika, which was the forerunner of today's Deepika
Deepika
Deepika, a Malayalam language newspaper, is one of the oldest newspapers published in India. Started in 1887, it is the oldest Malayalam newspaper now in circulation. Deepika publishes editions from Kottayam, Kochi, Kannur, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. It was controlled by the Syro...
, and was instrumental in the founding of yet another newspaper, the Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama
Malayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
, in the company of Keralavarma Valiakoi Thampuran, a polyglot who was at ease in 18 languages and was the moving spirit behind the Malayalee Memorial — one of the first steps in the social transformation of Kerala — and a key figure in the opening up of his community to English education.
Life
Born into a rich agrarian family on May 27, 1842 at KuravilangadKuravilangad
Kuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...
, Emmanuel entered spiritual service at the age of 19 as a deacon.
He continued as deacon for 14 years before he was ordained priest in 1876.
The account of Nidheerickal Mani Kathanar, as he is generally known, given by one of his contemporaries, P.R. Sankara Pillai, illustrates the multifaceted personality in its true colours:
Fr. Nidhiry died on June 20, 1904 due to unknown reasons.
Contributions
- Education : Mani Kathanar was one of the key figure in the opening up English education in KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He played an instramental role in opening English education to the Syrian Catholics Community. He advised Catholic parishes to sell their crucifixes made of gold and silver and to invest the amount in starting schools. As Priest and Vicar of the Martha Mariam KuravilangadKuravilangadKuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...
church, he started the St.Mary's English school for boys in 1894. Former president of India, K. R. NarayananK. R. NarayananKocheril Raman Narayanan , also known as K. R. Narayanan, was the tenth President of India. He was the first Dalit, and the first Malayali, to have been President....
matriculated from this school.
- Media : Nidhiry was the founder and first editor of the first Malayalam daily Deepika. He was instrumental in the founding of yet another newspaper, the Malayala ManoramaMalayala ManoramaMalayala Manorama is a daily news paper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 16 million . The Malayalam word "manorama" roughly translates to "entertainer"...
.
- Social Reforms : He was the moving spirit behind the Malayalee Memorial-one of the first steps in the social transformation of Kerala in 1891. Following the formation of the Travancore Legislative Council in 1888, the Malayali Memorial, a memorandum bearing the signatures of over 10,000 people, including a sprinkling of Ezhavas, Christians, and Muslims was submitted to the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal. This was as a result of the emergence of a Tamil Brahmin monopoly of policy positions in government and the subsequent decline of the caste groups from within Kerala.
- Poet and Writer : Mani Kathanar was a polyglot who was at ease in 18 languages. He has written number of poems and is the author of three Malayalam books.
- Ecumenicalism : The ecumenical association, Nazrani Jathiaikya Sangham organized by Nidhiry Mani Kathanar and Mar Dionysius, the Jacobite Syrian Christian ChurchJacobite Syrian Christian ChurchThe Jacobite Syrian Christian Church is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, located in Kerala, India. It recognizes the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, currently Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, as its supreme head. It functions as a largely autonomous archdiocese within the church, under the authority...
Metropolitan was one of the important happenings in Syrian ChristiansSyrian ChristiansSyrian Christians may refer to*the Christian minority in Syria*in older publications, the Syriac Christians*in a South Asian context, the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala....
history. They acquired property at KottayamKottayamKottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
for building a college in ca 1875. They planned for opening jointly colleges, schools, orphanages, library, bank etc. The project got aborted by the diplomatic approach of Carmelite apostolic delegate Aiuti who was afraid of unity among the Syrian ChristiansSyrian ChristiansSyrian Christians may refer to*the Christian minority in Syria*in older publications, the Syriac Christians*in a South Asian context, the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala....
. It was the leadership of Nidhiry that fostered a unity among Syrian Catholics with in and with Jacobites.
- Apologist of faith : He led the community against a fearless fight against the European hegemony over the Nasrani Christians. It was with the fight of Syrian Catholics under the leadership of Nidhiry that freed them from PadroadoPadroadoThe Padroado , was an arrangement between the Holy See and the kingdom of Portugal, affirmed by a series of treaties, by which the Vatican delegated to the kings of Spain and Portugal the administration of the local Churches...
jurisdiction paving the way for indigenous Bishops.
- Historian :He has also authored number of church history books and was in the forefront in upholding the Chaldean patrimony of the Syro Malabar Church.