A witness to Christ the Saviour. Praise the Lord for His marvelous blessings.

In 1945 I was transferred from Pollachi Sub Collector’s division to be Sub Divisional Magistrate and District Munsiff at Kollegal, a place 112 miles from Coimbatore and 35 miles from Mysore.

Before leaving for Kollegal, I met with the District Collector Mr Muir, ICS, a British Officer, to take leave of him. Seeing me, he set aside his usual reserve and in a concerned feeling, catalogued the odds with which I would be confronted at the new place. He said, the people at Kollegal are Kannadigas, the Court language is Kannada, the main work is that of a District Munsiff, i.e, trying Civil Cases and administering the Civil Law, with which you are not conversant. The entire division is a thick forest area, hill over hills, a habitat of wild animals of India – Elephants and Tigers are in plethora: there will be no roads beyond ten miles from Kollegal town. You have to go on horseback to reach the forest villages. Finally, concluding his narration, he said, “so, I will advise you not to join at Kollegal but apply for leave, which I will recommend strongly”. He then stopped short and exclaimed, “What, I am telling you all this and you are keeping quiet?”. In reply, I raised my hand up and said “The LORD will guide me”.

With disappointment, Mr Muir said, Oh, that way, go, go”.

I joined and served in Kollegal  division for a year and a half and realized that every word spoken by Mr Muir was true to facts. However, I worked hard, with courage within and God overhead. I learnt the Kannada language. Though it was smattering,  I could record evidence of witnesses in English from the Kannada language. Twice, during my tenure, High Court judges inspected my district Munsiff s Court and left appreciative remarks “the judgements of this Munsiff ‘s Court are quite sound”.

By the unlimited grace of God Almighty, I developed a mind to work hard and with determination to succeed; and I succeeded. Praise be to Him.

In the year 1945, a stark famine threatened the lives of the people. A few succumbed to starvation. People started to live by eating tender aloe fences. Emergent measures were taken to arrest this miserable condition. Urgent S.O.S. messages were sent by me to the District Headquarters, asking for an immediate supply of foodstuffs. The then Collector, Mr Morris, could lay hands only on horse-gram which was available in the goods wagons at the Coimbatore Station Yard. With surprising speed, we received several lorry loads of horse-gram. They were immediately distributed and the famine was firmly brought under control.

Frequently, it was risky to tread our way through the narrow path.  Sometimes, we would be confronted by a wild rogue Elephant, a loner, which would standstill across the pathway. It won’t move from there even for a whole day. At such times, I would shoot in the air with my gun, of course, from a respectable distance. The elephant would then slowly move away. The tigers, however, would quietly pass by at a distance, seeing a collection of people. How true it is that the Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear HIM.

My judgements on appeal, on Workmen’s Compensation Cases, were fully upheld by the High Court. The Judges appreciated them, added creditable remarks and the papers were ready to be published. This publicity did not fail to attract the attention of a Gentleman Lawyer, who was then, the President of the IN.T.U.C at Madras. He was an Editor of a  monthly publication, The Labour Law

Journal, which was mainly devoted to labour and Industries. At his request, I supplied him, with two copies of my Judgements on Workmen’s Compensation every month, for about three years. These were regularly published in his journal.

I am proud to mention, that as years rolled by, this same Gentleman Lawyer, shot as, a meteor and became, the much-honoured President of India!

Marvelous indeed!

The past has gone, the future has not arrived, and we will never have any time but the present to act, with our heart, soul and strength.

HENRY D. PETER.

Penned in 9.6-1994.