Personal:

Name: C.S. MOHANAVELU [ The first initial "C" stands for "Chengalpattu" the place of origin of our family and "S" stands for the first letter of my father's name "Sundaramoorthy"]

Date of birth : 05, JAN., 1945.

Postal address : 6, Bharadhi Dasan Street, Irumbuliyur, Tambaram West, Chennai 600 045, Tamilnadu, India.

E-mail address : gertamvelu@gmail.com

Marital Status : Married since 1971

Personal website: www.germantamilology.com

Education:

2007 – 2010: Post – doctoral research. Major Research Project:

“ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR TAMIL STUDIES CONDUCTED BY GERMANS IN TAMILNADU DURING 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES: A VIRTUAL DIGITAL ARCHIVES PROJECT” Published by Stanford University in 2012.

1990: Ph.D. (History), Madras University. Topic: “Early German Contributions to Tamil Studies: 1706-1945” [published in 1993 through grants from Indian Council of Historical Research, N.Delhi].

1979: “Deutsch als Fremdsprache” German language course, conducted by Max Mueller Bhavan, Madras – passed in December, 1979.

1977: M.A. (History), Madras University, 1977

1969: “Mittelstufe II” German language course, conducted by Max Mueller Bhavan, Madras – passed in 1969

1967: “Grundstufe II” German language course, conducted by Max Mueller Bhavan, Madras – passed in 1967

1967 – 1969 & 1979: Nine semesters’ course in German language, conducted by Max Mueller Bhavan, Madras

1966: B.Sc. (Science), Madras University, 1966

Professional Experience:

1993 to 2003: Reader (= Professor) in History [taught history to the graduate and post graduate level students of Madras University colleges and guided M.Phil. and Ph.D. students]

1980 to 1993: Assistant Professor of History [taught history to the graduate and post-graduate level students of Madras University colleges]

1967 to 1980: Physics Demonstrator in Madras Medical College, Madras-3 [taught basic physics experiments to first year medical science students]

Grants and honours:

2018: Resource person for the German Book prescribed for Higher Secondary class, published by T.N. Government (SCERT) from the academic year 2018-2019

2017 a:Chennai–Berlin–Chennai air travel grant offered by the German Research Council through Berlin Society for Mission History to present my research paper at the international conference held in Berlin, 12-14 October, 2017

2017 b: Presented a research paper “A few rare source materials for German Tamil Studies” at the National Conference on Reformation 500 Years (1517 – 2017): Its Impact on Church, Mission and Society, jointly organized by Madras Christian College, India & The Liverpool Hope University, UK during 12 – 13 January, 2017 (Abstract published in the Souvenir)

2010 a: Chaired a Session at the international conference on “Mission History as History of the Globalisation of Knowledge” organized by the Berlin Society for Mission History in Berlin, 16-18 September, 2010

2010 b: Chennai–Berlin–Chennai air travel grant offered by the German Research Council through Berlin Society for Mission History to present my research paper at the international conference held in Berlin, 16-18 September, 2010.

2008: Visited Cecil H. Green Library of Stanford University for research data collection October, 2008

2007 a: Presented a research paper: “A few German diary reports about Siddha medicine in the Halle Mission Archives” at the National Conference on “Siddha Medicine: Historical, Social and Medical perspectives” conducted at the French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry, 23 – 24 August, 2007

2007 b: “Compilation of Annotated Bibliography for indigenous Scientific and Cultural Studies by Germans in Tamilnadu during 18th and 19th Centuries – A Digital Archives Project” – three years’ (2007 - 2010) Major Research Project, funded by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi.

2006 a: Chaired a Session on “Language, Literature and Philosophy” for the “Cultural Encounters in South India” –An International Conference organized by Goethe institute, Chennai, in cooperation with Madras Musings, Satya Nilayam, German Returnees Association and South Asia Institute, Ruprecht –Karls – University, Heidelberg. 18.August, 2006.

2006 b: Presented a research paper: “Ziegenbalg’s Observations of Certain Indigenous Religio-Cultural Aspects” at the International Conference organized by Goethe-Institute, Chennai, in cooperation with Madras Musings, Satya Nilayam, German Returnees Association and South Asia Institute – Ruprecht – Karls –University, Heidelberg. 17 August, 2006. Published in: Dr. Gabriele M. Landwehr, (Ed.) Cultural Encounters in South India, Chennai, 2007, pp.63-70

2005: Doctoral Committee Member to conduct Comprehensive Viva-voce Examination for Ph.D. research scholars of the department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600 036 on 17 October, 2005

2004: “Early German-Telugu Interactions”: Special lecture at the Symposium organized by the Andhra Pradesh History Congress, Vijayawada, 4th January, 2004

2003 a: “Madras in olden times: Three German eye-witness reports” Aaron Memorial Lecture, delivered at Gurukul Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, on 15th September, 2003

2003 b: Chennai–Berlin–Chennai air travel grant offered by the German Research Council through Berlin Society for Mission History to present my research paper at the international conference held in Berlin, 6-8 March, 2003.

2001: “Tamilo-German interactions during the 18th century: A few aspects”: Resource Person lecture at the Academic Staff College, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi on 27th September, 2001

1999 a: “German Contributions to Tamil Studies: A few Aspects”: Special lecture, delivered at the international conference organized by Max Mueller Bhavan, Calcutta, 10-11December, 1999

1999 b: Chennai–Berlin–Chennai air travel grant offered by the German Research Council through Berlin Society for Mission History to present my research paper at the international conference held in Berlin, 18-20 February, 1999.

1998 a: “German Contributions to Tamil Grammar: Some References” Lecture delivered at Max Mueller Bhavan, Chennai on 17th March, 1998

1998 b: “German observations of the native Tamil Society, 300 years ago”: Lecture delivered at Max Mueller Bhavan, Chennai on 11th March, 1998

1994 a: “The Interaction between the Germans and the Tamils in 18th century”: Guest Lecture at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany on 21st October, 1994

1994 b: Madras-Berlin-Madras air travel grant offered by the German Research Council through the Centre for Modern Oriental Studies in Berlin to present my research paper at the international conference held in Berlin 17-20 October, 1994

1993 a: Publication subsidy grant of Indian Council of Historical Research, N. Delhi to publish my doctoral dissertation

1993 b: “German Contributions to Tamil Language and Culture”: Lecture delivered at the Fulbright Alumni Association, Madras, on 18th Feb., 1993

1992: “German Tamilology”: Lecture delivered at the Humboldt Club, I.I.T., Madras, on 22nd Sept., 1992

1990: “German interest in Siddha medicine, 300years ago”: Lecture delivered under the auspices of Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Madras, on 17 Nov., 1990

1988: “German contributions to Indian Studies in the 18th and 19th centuries”: Lecture delivered at the Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, I.I.T., Chennai on 09/02/ 1988

1988-89: Conducted doctoral research at the Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences in Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.), Chennai-600 036

1987-89: Pay-protected fellowship granted by Indian Council of Historical Research, N. Delhi, to do full-time doctoral research

1986: DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship to visit Heidelberg University and Franckens archives in Germany for doctoral research data collection

Publication:

(about forty articles, concerning my research on German Tamil Studies, published in Tamil and English newspapers and journals are not included in this site)

a) Books:

2012: Major Research Project, funded by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi has been published by Stanford University. (538 p) in January, 2012 Title:

“ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR TAMIL STUDIES CONDUCTED BY GERMANS IN TAMILNADU DURING 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES: A VIRTUAL DIGITAL ARCHIVES PROJECT”

1993:“German Tamilology : German contributions to Tamil language, literature and culture during the period 1706 - 1945”, Saiva Siddhantha publishers, Madras, 1993, xiv+221+25p.

My book had been reviewed in “THE HINDU” newspaper, Chennai Edn., dt. June 4, 1996, p. 28 and also in International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics. [M.E. Manickavasagom, IJDL., Vol. XXVII, Number 1, January, 1998, pp. 133 – 138. Also, A.G. Menon, IJDL, Vol. XXVIII, Number 1, January, 1999, pp. 125 – 128]

Conference Papers and Research Articles:

2022:
a) Delivered a Resource Person Talk: “German Missionaries’ contributions to Tamilology with special reference to Siddha Medicine” on December 18, 2022 under the aegis of CSIR – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on the theme “Health and Society – Classical and contemporary approaches” through the G-meet platform
b) Presented a research paper (with power point device): “PASSION OVERPOWERED THE MISSION: GERMAN PASSION FOR THE INDIGENOUS TAMIL SOCIETY AND CULTURE OVERPOWERED THEIR MISSION. A FEW CASES” at the 81st Session of the Indian History Congress held at Madras Christian College, East Tambaram, Chennai, during 27 – 29 December, 2022

2017: Presented a research paper “GERMAN MISSIONARY H.W. SCHOMERUS: A TREND SETTER OR A SALT BETRAYER" at the international conference organized by the Berlin Society for Mission History, 12 – 14 October, 2017 in Berlin

2010: Presented a research paper: “German Missionaries and Rabies Hydrophobia: Mission History as History of Globalization of Indigenous Tamil Medical knowledge of 18th Century” at the international conference organized by the Berlin Society for Mission History, 16-18 Sept., 2010 in Berlin. Published in: Ulrich van der Heyden & Andreas Feldtkeller, (ed.) Missionsgeschichte als Geschichte der Globalisierung von Wissen, Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart,Germany, 2012, pp. 213 - 223

2007: Presented a research paper: “A few German diary reports about Siddha medicine in the Halle Mission Archives” at the National Conference on “Siddha Medicine: Historical, Social and Medical perspectives” conducted at the French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry, 23 – 24 August, 2007

2006: Presented a research paper: “Ziegenbalg’s Observations of Certain Indigenous Religio-Cultural Aspects” at the International Conference organized by, Goethe-Institute, Chennai, in cooperation with Madras Musings, Satya Nilayam, German Returnees Association and South Asia Institute – Ruprecht – Karls – Universität, Heidelberg. 17 August, 2006. Published in: Dr. Gabriele M. Landwehr, (Ed.) Cultural Encounters in South India, Chennai, 2007, pp. 63-70

2003: “German Missionary Rottler’s interactions with the colonial British Power in Madras during 1817-1818: A few aspects” :Research Paper presented at the International Scientific Conference organized by the Berlin Society for Mission History in Berlin during 6-8 March, 2003.Published in: Ulrich van der Heyden& Holger Stoecker,(Ed.) Mission und Macht im Wandel politischer Orientierungen, München, 2005, pp. 119 – 126

2001: “German Indology – From Roth to Rothermund as I observed it”: in: Georg Berkemer, Tilman Frasch, Hermann Kulke and Jürgen Lütt, (Ed). Explorations in the History of South Asia, Festschrift in honour of Dietmar Rothermund, New Delhi, 2001, pp.1-8

2000: “Some Aspects of the Educational system in Tamil Nadu, 300 years ago, as observed by the Germans.”: Research paper presented at the 36th Annual conference of the Institute of Historical Studies, held in Bombay, 22 – 24 October, 2000

1999: “Karl Graul’s efforts to promote Evangelic Lutheran Mission in Tamil Nadu, 1844- 1864”: Research paper presented at the international conference organized by Berlin Society for Mission History in Berlin, 18-20 February,1999 (Published in: Ulrich van der Heyden u. Jürgen Becher, Mission und Gewalt, Stuttgart, 2000, pp. 413-420)

1997: “Graul’s Contributions to Tamil Grammar”: research paper presented at the Silver Jubilee of the Dravidian Linguistic Association on 20th June, 1997.

1994: “Mission Sources as Objects of Inter-disciplinary Research - Linguistics, Medicine and other Natural Sciences”: Research paper presented at the international conference organized by the Centre for Modern Oriental Studies in Berlin, 17-20 October,1994 (Published in: Ulrich van der Heyden, Heike Liebau, Missionsgeschichte, Kirchengeschichte und Weltgeschichte, Stuttgart, 1996, pp. 149-159)

1991: “Standard of Education of the native Tamil people, 300 years ago, as observed and reported by the Germans”, in: Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Universität Halle, vol. XXXX, Nr. 1, Halle, 1991, pp.81-86

1990: “The First Indian Scholar in Germany”: research paper presented at the 51st Session of Indian History Congress, Calcutta, 1990 (Abstract published)

1988: “A Brief Account of Francken’s Foundations Archives, Halle/Saale, G.D.R.,” in: Indian Church History Review, Vol. XXII, Nr. 1, Bangalore, June 1988, pp. 50-76

Research supervision:

2010: “Germans Then and Now: A Comparative Study of certain German observations of the language and lifestyles of the indigenous Tamil people” – doctoral research supervision – Ph.D. degree awarded in January, 2010

2005: Professor Dietmar Rothermund: His life and treatment of Modern Indian History. Doctoral research supervision. Ph.D. degree awarded in January 2005

2002: History of Tindivanam Municipality. M.Phil. research supervision. Degree awarded in August 2002

2002: Early German Observations on the Nature and Culture in Tamil nadu, during the 18th and 19th centuries. Doctoral research supervision. Ph.D. degree awarded in 2002

2001: German Missionary Rottler’s contributions to Tamil Studies. M.Phil. research supervision. Degree awarded in 2001

2000: Professor Dietmar Rothermund: A Profile. M.Phil. research supervision. Degree awarded in 2000

1997: Mass Rapid Transit System for Chennai: A Study. M.Phil. research supervision. Degree awarded in October 1997

1995: A Short biographical sketch of German missionary K.T.E. Rhenius (1790 – 1838). M.Phil. research supervision. Degree awarded in October 1995

Professional Affiliation:

Indian History Congress, Dravidian Linguistics Association (Life Member), Berlin Society for Mission History (Founder Member), ACADEMIA.EDU (premium member)

Research Interest:

To bring out in full, the interactions and contributions of Germans to various branches of Tamil Studies such as tropical medicine, ornithology, insect-study etc. during the past 300 years, based on their hundreds of diary reports, grant notices, private letters, travel accounts etc.

To bring out a rare indigenous medical formula found copied in a German diary and to patent the formula, prepare, test and administer this medicine which will cure chronic and dying rabies / hydrophobia patients at nominal or even free of cost – especially in developing and under developed countries across the world.