From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cruz Fernandez
Cruz Fernandez
Cruz Fernandez was chairman of Tuticorin Municipali- quality was attracted by Mr. Selviger, who was then the
ty[1] in Tamil Nadu, India. chief manager of Walcot Company in Tuticorin. In those
During his tenure he successfully completed the pro- days this company was very popular. He recommended
ject of bringing water from the Thambirabarani River to the young Cruz Fernandez to the company. The company
Tuticorin Town. His statue is in heart of the town to- also recognized his services and appointed Cruz Fernan-
day.[2] dez as a clerk in the company. He was very much pleased
Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernandez was a social thinker and by his sincere and entire work. He did his work up to the
a reformer. As a philanthropist he did many services to mark of the directors of the company. Mr. Selviger, very
the Thoothukudi Municipality. Cruz Fernandez, The Mu- much appreciated the hard work and sincerity of Cruz
nicipal Chairman of Thoothukudi town was responsible Fernandez and later he made him as his personal secre-
for bringing water from vallanad to Tuticorin. The man tary. His tired less work earned the good will of the com-
who inspired the present generation to do something pany. When he worked in the Walcot Company he faced
worth mentioning for the welfare of the society was Rao with many troubles. But he set aside all the problems
Bahadur Cruz Fernandez. Mr. John Santa Cruz Fernan- with an iron heart. His efficiency was attracted by the
dez’s second son Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernandez was born Ralieh Company, which was run by the English. They ap-
on 15 November 1869. He married his sister-in-law Mrs. pointed him as an accountant. His sincerity, honesty and
Thopias Mary and had four sons, three daughters. He hard work earned good name and fame for him. These
named his eldest son as John. Except his firth girl child, three were the watch ward of his life. He never liked any
he lost all his children. She was Mrs. Lilly Cruz Fernan- kind of recommendations. He was a man of justice. He
dez. He brought up his only daughter with lots of love had a strong belief in him. The company then made his as
and care. She was brought up with good care, good edu- a broker. He brought many shareholders to this compa-
cation and good manners, and she was a God fearing child ny. After some years later he was given the rank of a sub
too. He along with his daughter lived with his broth- agent for the company. When he was working as a bro-
er’s family until she attained puberty. After that, he built ker in the Ralieh Cotton Office Traders used to send cot-
an own house for himself under the counseling of Mr. ton bundles as sample to fix price.Though he belonged
Gnanathickam, a civil engineer, after removing the cow- to a rich family, his heart was attracting always towards
shed, horse stable and servant quarters and named it as the poor. His humanitarian outlook made him popular
‘LILY LODGE’ in remembrance of his only living daughter among the poor and the poverty stricken people. Where
and started living there since 1917. His home, Lily Lodge, ever he went he was gathered by the people. He loved
is in the Periyakadai Street. Even now this house speaks the people of the town as his own children. The love and
about the name and fame of Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernan- affection showed towards the people of the town made
dez. It is a living monument even today. Cruz Fernan- his as the chairman of the Tuticorin Municipality for the
dez gave his only daughter Lily in marriage to Mr. A.P. first time in 1909. The labourers admired his personality
Vaz. Their son Mr. Elstin Vaz was a B.A. graduate worked and was always in the midst of workers. In the year 1876
in Harvy Mills. Presently he is in Chennai. Cruz Fernan- Maniyatchi and Tuticorin were connected by rail and the
dez’s hard work raised his position high. He belonged to first passenger train was launches out. In 1899, the rail-
the staunch Catholic family. He was an old student of St. road project was further developed. By the time the Tu-
Xavier Hr. Sec. School run by the Jesuit missionaries. It ticorin Municipality worked very hard to develop itself.
is one of the best schools in Tuticorin. The school pro- The year was very important in the sense that Cruz Fer-
vided him with good education, good discipline and man- nandez was elected as the chairman of Tuticorin Munici-
ners. As a good disciplinarian, he always promoted good pality for the first time. He had a good leadership quality.
deeds among his supporters. The teachers of the school His leadership was accepted by all irrespective of caste
were his role models. Mr. Cruz Fernandez was a man of and creed. He was a man of ideas. His ideas transferred
principles and a kind hearted man and had a leadership the village Tuticorin in to a big and prosperous town. As
quality. So from the early days itself he had a quality a chairman he worked a lot and brought about many wel-
of managing others with love and affection. But at the fare schemes both individually and collectively. The peo-
same time he himself worked along with other workers. ple of the town liked the young and energetic hero. And
He was noted for his hard work and a lover of his du- they showed their gratitude by electing him as chair-
ty. Cruz Fernandez started his early life as a clerk in the man of Tuticorin Municipality for another four times. To-
Walcot Company in Tuticorin. His young and energetic tally he was the chairman of Tuticorin Municipality for
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cruz Fernandez
FIVE TIMES. God and the people of Tuticorin Municipali- government several times for such a plan. He made a
ty showered blessings on him. He too respected the feel- memorandum of understanding with Tirunelveli and
Palayamkottai municipalities. That water will be pumped
ings of the people and worked till his life for the develop-
ment and betterment of the town. The hero Cruz Fernan- from the river Tamiraparani and Vallanadu and will be
dez is ever remembered in the history of Tuticorin Mu- supplied after purifying through Pipes. This plan in those
nicipality. The son of the soil Mr. Cruz Fernandez served days itself cost Rs. 18.50 Lakhs. The Tirunelveli and
the people of Tuticorin in so many ways irrespective of Palayamkottai Municipalities withdrew their support un-
caste, creed and colour. That is why even after many able to bear the expenses after a few months. But Mr.
Cruz Fernandez was steady in his plan. The Tuticorin Mu-
decades he is affectionately called as “The Father of Tuti-
corin”. Cruz Fernandez and the Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) nicipality under his leadership took the entire responsi-
Municipality Mr. Cruz Fernandez is one of the architects bility. In 1873 an open channel of 6.4 km length was ex-
of Tuticorin Municipality. His services to the Tuticorin cavated by the Public Works Department at cost of Rs.
Municipality were ever lasting one. His love and affec- 4,000/- for diverting the water of the Korampallam irri-
tion to the municipality was a memorable which earned gation tank to a reservoir in the outskirts of the town.
him the good will of the people. People of the Tuticorin From this reservoir water was distributed to several wells
town trusted him. The people admired him and wanted in the town by means of conduits and earthenware pipes
to show their gratitude. The result was the people of the laid by the Municipal council at a cost of Rs. 9380/- in
town elected him as the Chairman of Tuticorin Munici- 1896 a comprehensive water supply scheme was recom-
pality. Their heart was filled with joy when they elect- mended by the Sanitary Board. It consisted of two por-
ed Cruz Fernandez as the seventh Chairman of the Tuti- tions and the execution of the first portion took place in
corin Municipality in 1909. They saw so many qualities 1906 at a cost of Rs. 1,17,780/- and the second in April
in him. And the town was proud of him and they elected 1908. Later, it was found that the improvement of the Ko-
Cruz Fernandez as chairman for another four times. Al- rampallam tank interfered with the irrigation interests
together he was the chairman for 5 times. Cruz Fernan- of the riots. But due to contamination in the drinking wa-
dez as Chairman 1. 21.12.1909 to 22.07.1910 2. 06.09.1910 ter Cholera and other water borne diseases occurred fre-
to 05.09.1912 3. 12.11.1912 to 11.11.1914 4. 27.05.1919 toquently and affected hundreds of people. In order to con-
17.11.1921 5. 02.11.1925 to 01.11.1926 When he was the trol these epidemic diseases, Cruz Fernandez who was
chairman he worked along with the councilors, who gave the Chairman of the Municipality during 1909, 1910, 1912,
their full-fledged support to him to carry on his welfare 1919 and 1925 introduced a novel scheme. It was a joint
schemes. water supply scheme for the three towns namely Tuti-
corin, Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai from the Tamira-
He got the support of all councillors. It was very dif-
ficult to work among the men of different caste and re- parani river near Vallanadu which is 38 km from Tuti-
ligion. But for Cruz Fernandez is was an easy job and he corin at a cost of Rs. 18,23,275/- in 1932. Both these Mu-
earned the wholehearted support of his councillors. It nicipalities and the public works departments plunged
was because of his love and affection towards others. He in action during 1914 to 1915. but the break of World
treated every one as his own people. This character made War I affected its further progress and the work was
him to work among different people in a smooth way. As kept in abeyance. In 1925 and 1926 the expenses of the
a chairman he did a lot of useful schemes, and are worth project was escalated to Rs. 27,83,765/-. Cruz Fernandez
mentioning. Some of his welfare schemes are: got this amount as grant and as loan and completed the
scheme in 1938 and enabled the people of Tuticorin, to
1. Drinking Water Scheme get good drinking water. Before the completion of this
2. The Saturday Market scheme when there was scarcity of water, Cruz Fernan-
3. Municipal Buildings dez arranged bringing of water to this town by train
4. Health and Hygiene from Kadambur and by THONIS (Country Boats) FROM
5. Municipal Hospital SRI LANKA. Water tax was also levied on the people.
6. Educational Trust for Poor Students Though initially it was criticized by the people, the suc-
cess of the programme changed their mind to accept
Drinking Water Scheme: Cruz Fernandez was a social it without opposition. Later on seeing the achievement
thinker and a reformer. But for his foresightedness and of Cruz Fernandez, he was affectionately called as “THE
awareness Tuticorin would not have tasted the delicious FATHER OF PEARL CITY” by the people of the Tuticorin.
drinking water of Tamiraparani. But for him this would The third line of the Tuticorin Municipal water supply
not have materialized. He started to analyse the reason scheme from Vallanadu to Tuticorin was sanctioned by
for the massive death toll in epidemics. He also noticed the Government in 1991 at a cost of Rs. 1770.96 Lakhs is a
that there was shortage of drinking water because of milestone in the history of Tuticorin Municipal. The work
the increase of population. He was determined to bring is in progress and is executed by the Tamil Nadu Water
safe drinking water to the public. He consulted the state Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD). The head work is
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cruz Fernandez
at Vallanad and the reservoirs are at Millerpuram, comes from this V.O.C. Market. Indeed Cruz Fernandez
Levingipuram, Subbiah Park and Cruzpuram with a ca- is a prophet. Municipal Building Cruz Fernandez Statue
pacity of 15 Lakh, 15 Lakh, 20 Lakh and 10 Lakh litres re- at Thoothukudi Municipality The present site of the Mu-
spectively. At present drinking water is supplied to the nicipal Building is the countless efforts of Mr. Cruz Fer-
town from the Tamiraparani riverbed in between Val- nandez, so late Mr. J.L.P. Roche Victoria, when he was
lanadu and Murappanadu which is 42 km, away from the the chairman of the Municipality. As a gratitude for the
town. The water is drawn through infilteration canals works done by Cruz Fernandez to the people and town,
and pumped to the four reservoirs situated at Rajaji Park, named the new building as “Roa Bahadur Cruz Fernandez
V.V.D. Park ground level reservoir, Bolnaikenpettai and Buildings”. Mr. Rajagopalachariar the former Chief Min-
South Cotton Road with a capacity of 17 Lakh litres, 11.25 ister of Madras Presidency has an idea of naming the
Lakh litres (20 Lakh Litres), 15.75 Lakh Litres and 14.85 Thoothukudi Municipality as Cruz Fernandez Building. In
Lakh litres respectively. In this town drinking water is 1943 Raja Sir Muthiah Chettiar opened the Cruz Fernan-
distributed through 117.579 km length polymer pipes. It dez Building in the municipality. Ash Memorial at Tuti-
is also decided to remove the iron-rusted pipes and re- corin In honour of the selfless services rendered by Cruz
place them with polymer pipes in all the areas of the Fernandez his statue was installed in front of the Munic-
town. The town is divided into four zones and water is ipal Building. He maintained cordial relations with the
supplied in alternative days. At present, the daily water British. Especially with Mr. Ash, this then Sub- Collector
supply in the town is 160 Lakh litres supplied at the rate of Tirunelveli District. With his support Cruz Fernandez
of 7 Litres of water per family. There are 24995 domestic carried out many social reforms. To show his gratitude
service connections, 1077 commercial service connec- Cruz Fernandez built the Ash Memorial building east of
tions and 5 industrial service connections in the munic- Thoothukudi Municipality (Opposite to Old Port – Beach
ipality. Apart from these there are 659 public fountains. Road). Health and Hygiene Health and hygiene is the ba-
Minimum of Rs. 36/- for domestic connection, Rs. 75/- sic criteria for a happy life of the man. Cruz Fernandez
for Commercial connection and Rs. 110/- for industrial realized this watchward and did many works in the so-
connection are collected as water charges in the munic- ciety. Every day at 9 A.M. Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernandez
ipality. In the water scarcity area, water is distributed used to visit every street by a horse drawn coach. He
through water lorries. Today Tuticorin is blessed with scolded traders who sold foodstuffs in the open places.
drinking water when so many towns and villages are de- This affected the health of the people. He warned the
nied the same. Today Tuticorin public are utilizing 24 traders to sell their commodities in closed containers. So
Lakh gallons of water supplied through 458 street taps that the people were get rid of the diseases. Every year
and hours taps for 3 hours from the plan that Cruz Fer- during October, November and December cholera spread
nandez drafted for long time use almost fifty years ago. in the town and took in the life of the people in large
The man who created the nucleus was beyond caste and number. This was because of the use of contaminated
creed. The Saturday Market The present Peirya Market drinking water from Korampallam. He ordered people to
(Near St. Antony’s Church) is the brainchild of Mr. Cruz boil water before use. He also arranged to bring water
Fernandez. He was driven by the noble motive that the by rail tankers from Kadambur and Colombo by Coun-
general public should get all food and essential commodi- try Boats. But this water was sufficient for 26,000 pop-
ties in a single place. So he decided to change the thorny ulations. So he thought of a plan to bring safe drinking
area into a market area and erected building for housing water. His thought was materialized by bringing the wa-
various shops. In the year 1920, he leveled the barren ter from Tamiraparani and saved the citizen of Tuticorin
land in the middle of Tuticorin and started a marked from the Epidemics. Municipal Hospital When he was the
named in Saturday Market. The same market is contribu- chairman of the Thoothukudi municipality the Munici-
tion a minimum of Rs. 2 ½ Lakhs to the Municipality as pal Hospital was at West Great Cotton Road. This hospital
Tax. There were a lot of difficulties in the first phase of helped the poor and the sick. During his time the Munic-
the work. But he had overcome the difficulties with an ipal hospital was managed by Dr. Annamalai, Dr. Hopper
iron hand. Very limited shops were opened in the early and Dr. Packiam Fernando. Mrs. Arockia Samy worked as
days, cattle and poultry came from the nearby villages. a nurse when Cruz Fernandez was the chairman. He used
Very slowly vegetables, eggs and mutton started arriv- to visit the hospital regularly at 11 O’ clock. He enquired
ing the market. There was a dilemma whether this mar- the patients about their health, and the treatment giv-
ket would exist or not. But for his sudden surprise this en to them. He instructed the medical staff, who worked
market was run in a good way. Later the buildings of here to take good care about the patients. Education-
market were extended by Mr. J.L.P. Roche Victoria. Mr. al Trust for poor students Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernandez
Subbarayan, Commissioner of the Municipality has en- thought out a plan to finance poor students to pay school
graved on the base stone about the market. The con- fees and to bring books. Then he was working as a bro-
struction of the market is a blessing for the Tuticorin ker in Ralieh Bros Cotton office he talked over to Mr. Kan-
Municipality. Today chunk revenue to the municipality nayiram Pillai, broker of Fort Cotton office, Mr. Selvaraj
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cruz Fernandez
of Walcot cotton office, Mr. Joseph Fernando of Bombay dered by this unique man will be cherished and remem-
Company and Mr. M.N.N. Roche Victoria of Japan Com- bered for a very long time. He was not just a human but
pany and agreed to sell cotton collectively and samples entirely “Humane”. His contributions to the Thoothuku-
collected were sold and the money was donated to Rao di municipality are of unquestionable. In honour of the
Bahadur Cruz Fernandez for educational trust. President restless services rendered by this great man his statues
of the Trust The Big Mosque in Tuticorin has a trust to are installed in front of the Municipal Building and also
oversee its assets and Expenditures. Cruz Fernandez was in the midst of the Town Tuticorin. Also a Memorial pillar
president of the trust and won over the hearts of Mus- of Mr. Cruz Fernandez was opened in front of Tuticorin
lim Brothers. The Municipal records even today show Municipality by Chairman-in Charge Mr. R. Manoj Kumar
that the lands on which the Mosque is built was donated Corera for Bring Drinking water to Tuticorin. Cruz Fer-
by Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernandez. Co-Operative Bank Cruz nandez Memorial Pillar Cruz Fernandez was a noble man.
Fernandez was the Chairman and Founder of Thoothuku- He played a remarkable role as the Chairman of
di Co-Operative Bank started to help the poor. Cruz Pu- Thoothukudi Municipality.
ram residents could get house-building loan on install-
ment basis. Cruzpuram Cruz Fernandez Park at Cruzpu-
ram Cruzpuram is a fisherman locality constituting the
References
eighth ward of Tuticorin Municipality in Thoothukudi [1] Civacuppiramaṇiyan̲, A. (1986). Āṣ kolaiyum Intiyap
district. It extends over 6 km2 consisting of 1227 families puraṭci iyakkamum. Makkaḷ Veḷiyīṭu. pp. 136.
with 24,951 populations. It lies 1 km from railway station http://books.google.com/books?id=T9E-
and 1 km from the heart of the city. It is well connected AAAAIAAJ&pgis=1.
by town bus and is provided with post and telegram fa- [2] "Arms seized, three held". The Hindu. 2004-08-19.
cilities. It is electrified, houses here are brick built, ce- http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/19/stories/
mented and tiled. Thatched roof also found in large num- 2004081910600300.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
ber. This locality consist of people of varied castes and re- Persondata
ligion. They live in harmony. Without distinctions. This Name Fernandez, Cruz
locality is called after “Mr. Cruz Fernandez” the former
chairperson of Thoothukudi Municipality, who gave gen- Alternative The Father of Pearl City
erous donations to the schools. Another humanitarian names
act of Mr. Cruz Fernandez was the building of “Baby Short de- Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernandez was a social
Home” for childbirth and providing a congenial environ- scription thinker and a reformer. As a philan-
ment for the blissful growth of the children. He was ho- thropist he did many services to the
noured by the British Raj with the title of “Rao Sahab”. Thoothukudi Municipality, which are
More than that, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli citizens of all worth mentioning. Cruz Fernandez, The
castes and creeds confirmed his acceptance as a regional Minicipal Chairman of Thoothukudi
leader by electing him to the Madras Legislative Assem- town was responsible for bringing water
bly in 1924. He was the first to bring a car to Pearl Har- from vallanad to Tuticorin. He did many
bour for the wedding ride of his only daughter. other things for the development of
Thoothukudi people saw a car for the first time then. He Thoothukudi. His services to the town
is the man who guided the people of this town safely and are visible.
securely towards prosperity. Equally humanitarian was He was affectionately called the father of
the pain he took for the formation of huge GRAVEYARD Pearl City, Thoothukudi. He was a man
(Opposite to V.O.C. College) at the entrance of the town beyond caste, creed and colour. His self-
for burying the dead of almost twelve different castes. less services rendered to the society
This is living monuments that speak volumes about this must inspire the men of our town to
philanthropist and social reformer. It is our duty to pay spend themselves for the good of
due homage and respect to this great man. The famous mankind. His exemplary life inspires the
Cruz Fernandez was sick with Asthma and breathed his present generation to do something
lost on 29.03.1930. He was buried in the graveyard that worth mentioning for the welfare of the
he built for all irrespective of caste or religion. His 50th society.
death anniversary and the 50th year of drinking water Date of 15th November 1869
supply in Thoothukudi was celebrated on 29.03.1980. birth
Cruz Fernandez was a man of the Masses. He dedicated
Place of Toothukudi
himself to the cause of the public. He accepted all the
birth
people as his own. This marvelous man was the main ar-
chitect of changing a small town Tuticorin in to a very Date of 29th March 1930
big multifaceted city of today. The selfless service ren- death
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cruz Fernandez
Place of Toothukudi
death
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Categories:
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• People from Thoothukudi
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