The Reverend John Thiagarajah Arulanantham (13 May 1897 – 21 June 1964) was a Ceylonese priest and teacher. He was the principal of St. John's College, Jaffna from 1940 to 1957.
J. T. Arulanantham | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 May 1897 |
| Died | 21 June 1964 (aged 67) |
| Alma mater | St. John's College, Jaffna University College, Colombo Ridley Hall, Cambridge King's College London |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Early life
editArulanantham was born on 13 May 1897.[1] He was son of two teachers from Nayanmarkaddu near Nallur in northern Ceylon. He was educated at St. John's College, Jaffna.[1] He then went to University College, Colombo from where he passed the University of London Inter Science Examination.[1]
Arulanantham was selected by the Church Missionary Society and sent to Ridley Hall, Cambridge to study theology.[1] He was ordained at St Paul's Cathedral in 1933.[1] He then went to King's College London from where he graduated with an honours degree in psychology.[1]
Arulanantham married Pushpam Asirvatham. They had three sons (Dr Pararasan, Vijayan and Dr Karunyan) and one daughter (Kirupa).[1]
Career
editAfter graduation Arulanantham returned to Ceylon and took up a position as principal of a school in Peradeniya.[1] In 1936 he was appointed vice principal of St. John's College, Jaffna.[1][2] He was appointed principal in 1940, a position he held until his retirement in 1957.[1][2] Arulanantham was the first native Ceylonese to be appointed principal of St. John's College.[1]
Retirement
editAfter retirement Arulanantham joined the church, serving as vicar of the Christ Church, Galle Face, Colombo.[1] Later he served as priest-in-charge of the St. John's Church, Chundikuli, Jaffna.[1] Arulanantham died on 21 June 1964 aged 67.[1]