Eldest Son of GNANAI the Second Daughter of SALOME the Second Daughter of REV.J.JOSHUA

Joshua      Salome      Gnanai Samuel Johnson     321 Samuel Johnson 3211 Vijula Gnana Bai   322 Joshua Dennison 3221 Yesudian Premkumar     3222 Caroline Pramila   323 David Charleson 3231 Alexander Retnaraj Yesudian     3232 Augustine Vivekananda     3233 Salome Retnavathy     3234 Gnanai Suhasini     3235 Mercy Elizabeth Damayanthy   324 Cecil Wilson 3241 Rajan Devas Yesudian   325 Joycelin Mercy 3251 Nirmala Nesakumari     3252 Yesudian Samuel     3253 Charles Manohar Gupta   326 Joseph Robinson 3261 Anne Ramola Inbakumari     3262 Samuel David Rabindra Y.     3263 P.Renjula Gnanakumari     3264 Joshua E.E.Rubakaran	Sam Johnson was the eldest son of Dr.S.Yesudian and Gnanai Yesudian.  Dr.Yesudian was the son of Mr.Samuel of Agasteeswaram.  Gnanai Yesudian was the grand daughter of Rev.J.Joshua through daughter Salome.               While my father Johnson was doing his medical course atMadras Medical College, his father died.  Studying medicine in Madras Medical college, in 1930’s was like studying in USA or UK now a days.  My grand mother Gnanai Yesudian was determined to see all her children well educated.  My father  Dr. Sam Johnson thus completed his MBBS.   Dr.Johnson married Dr.Hilkaiah’s eldest daughter Ida in 1936.  Dr.Hilkaiah was a very well known doctor in Travancore.  He was a brilliant doctor and the whole of South Travancore knew him.  He was also a founder member of Nadar Mahajana Sangam in 1943 and its President in 1945.   As the only daughter of Dr.Johnson I thank god for all the great qualities of my dear father.  My mother had a set back in her health even at the beginning of their married life.  But my father took care of her as a child for 50 years till she died in 1989.  He used to tell me and my husband that he wanted to look after his wife personally as long as she lived and he was praying to god that he must live till my mother received God’s call.  And God granted his request.  My father died on Feb. 1, 1989 just three weeks after my mother died on 10th January, 1989.   He never had any interest for money or wealth.  Medical profession was sacred to him.  Till his death he read the latest Medical journals and books from USIS and British Council libraries and maintained handwritten notes. He had great concern for the needy.  One of his two Clinics was exclusively for the poor. He loved his brothers and sister and all his cousins.  He loved his nieces and nephews just as he loved me.  His house was always open and was a meeting place for all our relatives and friends at Madras, and those who passed through Madras.  He was ‘Raj annan’ to all his cousins and relatives and loved them all.  Whenever some one in the family achieved some distinction, Dr.Johnson was the first to appreciate and congratulate.   He was a great bridge player which kept him mentally active till his death.  He was a great Philosopher and a veracious reader.  He read English poetry just like we read novels.  I am sure he could have been a successful guide for any Ph.D.Student in English Literature.  Such was his English knowledge.  Blessed with a booming voice he was Doctor, Philosopher, friend and guide to almost all our people in Madras.   His love and affection for his native place - NAGERCOIL - was boundless.  He collected pictures of Kanyakumari District and NAGERCOIL in particular.   He found a son in his son-in-law Jabez Nargunam and was very satisfied and happy about our family.  My husband and I wanted to take him to Coimbatore where we are now settled; but he refused to come - saying ‘Do not try to transplant an old Palmairah tree’.  So we made his stay as comfortable as possible in Madras.  Till his last breath, he maintained his great sense of humour and his multifaceted personality.   At his funeral service one of his friends held my hand and said “Every bit of the bread Johnson threw on the waters will come back to you manifold”.  Yes - it is happening.  Thank you Jesus for the life of my father Johnson and mother.   By Vijula Nargunam