Munnathi : The Lead Plough

I am sure the Jesuits working in these two Provinces will be inspired by the vision and commitment of Fr. Trincal, who served the people of Tamil Nadu during a trying period, marked by opposition from local vested interests, internal strife within the church between Padroado and Propaganda, colonial rule, political unrest, widespread poverty and immense suffering caused by famines and plagues.

– Arturo Sosa SJ, Superior General, Rome.

This non-fiction novel is woven beautifully with all the facts gathered from the archives about Trincal, a person long forgotten by the Catholic Church. This novel brings to life, Trincal, the selfless missionary, who in his old age literally dug his own grave at V. Puthupatty, the place he cherished the most.

– Most Rev. Anlony Pappusamy, Archbishop of Madurai

Trincal arrived at Madras in 1844 and immediately started towards the Madurai Mission.

This novel portrays the growth of the New Madurai Mission, and the challenges faced by Trincal and the Society of Jesus in its background, while savouring the fire of revolution lit in history and the events that followed. All those who envisage social transformation must first know the history of that land. The author successfully etches in the hearts of the readers the historical events that unfolded at that time, through this novel.

– Danis Ponniah SJ, Dindigul.

Though, Munnathi – The Lead Plough, is a historical novel, its author Fr. Mark SJ, has interwoven the social, political cultural and ecological context, in such a manner that it takes us back in time to that very century. In an era when history is being destroyed and rewritten to one’s own convenience, Fr. Mark has recovered and restored the pages of history, giving it a story form so that even a commoner would relish its fruit.

Jebamalai Irudayaraj SJ, Chennai.

Apparently, the novel is centered on the life of Trincal. He lived in the 19th century in Tamil Nadu. But the author rewinds time and introduces some famous religious and lay personalities of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and puts before us certain socially significant events with their help. Thereby the biographical cum historical novel on Trincal reveals to us, the historical events of the then society and evolves into a socio-historical novel itself.

– A.Sivasubrananlan, Madurai