Y. Gnanachandra Johnson
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: யோ. ஞான சந்திர ஜாண்சன்
Y. Gnana Chandra Johnson (born August 11, 1957) (Yo. Gnana Chandra Johnson) a Tamil scholar and professor. He is noted for his research on Tamil Christian literature. His scholarly works on contributors to Tamil Christian literature, Tamil Christian hymns, and Tamil Christian epics are regarded as significant contributions to the field.
Birth, Education
Y. Gnana Chandra Johnson was born on 11 August 1957 in Mayiladi, in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. His father was Gna. Yovan and his mother was Yo. Paramayi. He has two younger brothers and one younger sister.
He received his primary education at the Government Primary School in Keezhavalavu. He subsequently studied at government schools in Mayiladi, Thiruvattar, Marthandam, Manavalakurichi, and Nagercoil. From the ninth through the eleventh standards, he attended the Government Higher Secondary School at Aralvaimozhi.
Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Arignar Anna College, Aralvaimozhi. He later obtained a Master's degree in Tamil Literature, an M.Phil., and a Ph.D. from S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil. He also received a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from the Government College of Education, Pudukkottai.
He completed his doctoral dissertation on 'Characterization in the Novels of Neela Padmanabhan'.
Personal Life
Yo. Gnana Chandra Johnson is married to Sheeba Nesakumari. They have a daughter, Keerthana Caleb, and a son, Immanuel Johnson.
Academic Career
Yo. Gnana Chandra Johnson served as Associate Professor in the Department of Tamil at Madras Christian College, Chennai, and retired as Head of the Department in May 2016. Under his academic supervision, 25 scholars were awarded Ph.D. degrees and 32 students obtained M.Phil. degrees. He also edited and published a volume titled Aayvu Suvadugal ('Research Footprints'), which compiles the research work of his students.
Research Career
Yo. Gnana Chandra Johnson is known as a scholar and researcher of Tamil Christian literature. He was a student of Professor A.Ka. Perumal.
Johnson has made significant contributions to Christian literature through research monographs, edited volumes, and critical editions. His work Christian Hymn Poets (Kirithava Keerthanai Kavignargal) was published by Keerthana Publications in 2003. An expanded edition was released in 2009, followed by further expanded editions in 2017 and 2024.
His notable works include studies on prominent figures in Tamil Christian literary and religious history, such as H. A. Krishna Pillai, German Missionary Ringeltaube, Rev. Robert Caldwell, and Vedhanayagam Sastriar. He has also written biographical and scholarly works on eminent personalities, including M. P. Sivagnanam's Biographical Literature, Miller: A Great Humanitarian, and Dr. William Miller.
Johnson served as the editor of the commemorative volume published on the occasion of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Mayiladi Church, regarded as the earliest Protestant church in Kanyakumari district. His books H. A. Krishna Pillai (2008) and Vedhanayagam Sastriar (2021) were published by the Sahitya Akademi.
He was the editor of the two-volume work Encyclopaedia of Christian Tamil Studies (Kirithava Tamizhiyal Aayvukovai), published through the Department of Tamil, Madras Christian College. He also edited Christian Tamil Hymns: A Research Edition (Kirithava Tamil Keerthanaihal - Oru Aayvu Pathippu), published by the Institute of Asian Studies, Chennai, in three volumes comprising 2,244 pages. The work contains 2,221 traditional Christian hymns in Tamil.
His book Christian Hymn Poets is a comprehensive compilation containing information about 91 Christian poets who contributed to Tamil Christian literary traditions.
Awards
Yo. Gnana Chandra Johnson has received the following awards:
- The World Christian Tamil Forum conferred on him the "Tamil Mamani" Award.
- He was awarded the 2026 Tamil Wiki - Thooran Award
Literary Contribution
Yo. Gnana Chandra Johnson is regarded as one of the significant scholars and researchers of the Tamil Christian literary tradition. For more than three decades, he has been engaged in the research, collection, preservation, and publication of Christian epics and Christian hymns that were at risk of disappearing.
He has also contributed extensively by documenting detailed biographical accounts of pioneers and major figures who shaped Tamil Christian literature.
Bibliography
Research Works In Tamil
- Christian Hymn Poets (2003, 2009, 2017, 2024 - Keerthana Publications)
- H. A. Krishnapillai (2008, 2021 - Sahitya Akademi Publication)
- M. P. Sivagnanam's Biographical Literary Works (2009 - International Institute of Tamil Studies)
- Nambi Agapporul Vilakkam (2010 - Pari Nilayam)
- The German Missionary Ringel Taube (2016, 2023 - Keerthana Publications)
- Rev. Robert Caldwell (2019 - Moria Ministries)
- Vedhanayaga Sasthiriyar (2020, 2021 - Sahitya Akademi Publication)
- Christian Epics (2024 - New Century Book House)
- Four Hundred Years of Christian Literature (2026 - New Century Book House)
Works in English
- Dr. William Miller (2023) - Editor (Keerthana Publications)
- Reflections from a Christian College (2024) - Editor (MCC College Publication)
Translations in to Tamil
- The Great Man Called Miller (2012 - MCC College Publication)
- The Life and Cultural Heritage of Madras Christian College (2016 - Keerthana Publications)
- Peace Education (2017 - MCC College Publication)
Edited Volumes in Tamil
- Christian Tamil Literature: An Introduction (2008 - Institute of Asian Studies)
- Christayanam (2008, 2020 - Institute of Asian Studies)
- Research Compendium on Christian Tamil Studies (Two volumes, 2008 - Department of Tamil, Madras Christian College)
- The Richness of Christian Literature (2009 - Mullai Nilayam)
- The Excellence of Christian Literature (2013 - Keerthana Publications)
- Anthology of Christian Minor Literary Works (2015 - Institute of Asian Studies)
- Christian Bhajan Songs (2015 - Keerthana Publications)
- Research Traces (2019 - Keerthana Publications)
- The Epic of Vethamanickam Maharasan, the Morning Star (2020 - Institute of Asian Studies)
- Christian Tamil Hymns: A Research Edition (2021, three volumes; Editor - Institute of Asian Studies)
References
- Chriththuva kappiyangal - Dr Y. Gnana Chandra Johnson - tamildigitallibrary
- Chrithuva Isai padalasiriyargal - Jeyamohan blog
- Y. Gnana Chandra Johnson website
- Mylaudy CSI Church Website
- Christhuva Ilakkiya Thirattu e library
- Christhuva Tamil Ilakkiyam: An Introduction e-Library
✅Finalised Page
First published on: 21-Jul-2026, 19:22:57 IST
