Ceylon Tamil teacher
Nevins Selvadurai (Tamil: நெவின்ஸ் செல்வதுரை; 15 October 1863 – 28 April 1938) was a Ceylon Tamil teacher, principal of Jaffna Hindu College and a member of the State Council of Ceylon.
Early life and family
Selvadurai was born on 15 October 1863.[1] He was the son of William Nevins Sithamaparapillai, headmaster of Jaffna Wesleyan Central School (present day Jaffna Central College).[1] He was educated at Vaddukoddai Primary School and Jaffna Wesleyan Central School.[1] Aged 15 he joined Presidency College in Madras, from where graduated in science with honours.[1]
Selvadurai married Margaret Annie Papapammah, daughter of Muutusamy Watson, in 1889.[1] They had several children.[1]
Career
After graduating Selvadurai became a teacher at Jaffna Wesleyan Central School.[1] In 1892 he became principal of Jaffna Hindu College, a position he held until at 1926.[1] He was also principal of Trinity College, Kandy for a brief period.[1] In the 1923 Birthday Honours he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to education.[2]
Later life
Selvadurai became a member of several organisations after retirement including the Board of Education and University College Council.[1] He was president of the Jaffna Association chairman of the Rural Education Committee.[1]
Selvadurai contested the 1934 State Council by-election as a candidate in Kayts and was elected to the State Council.[1][3][4] He contested the 1936 election as a candidate in Jaffna but was defeated by incumbent Arunachalam Mahadeva.[1]
Selvadurai died on 8 April 1938 after a heart attack.[1]
References
