John Balmer - Lyricist

John Balmer, the famous Christian Lyricist was born in 1812 November 15th in the village Myladi which is 10 Kms away from Nagercoil, the capital of Kanyakumari District. Myladi is the place in the then South Travancore state where Gospel was first preached by the German Missionary William Ringal Thoube.

The first convert of the Kanyakumari District Maharasan Vethamanickam belonged to this village as well as it is were the first Protestant church of the South Travancore state was

established during the year 1809. Four talented poets lived in the South Travancore State during 19th Century Viz. John Balmer, Rev.Masilamani, Devaram Munshiar and A.Vethakan. Among them the first three belonged to Myladi.

John Balmer's father Gnana Prakasam was a staunch Hindu and close relative of Maharasan Vetha Manickam. After accepting Jesus Christ as the true God he changed his name to Balmer and named his son as John Balmer. John Balmer had his theological education at the college established by Rev.Meet and Rev.Malt at Nagercoil. Then went to Madras and Jaffna for higher education in theology. After coming back to India he became the secretary to Rev.Malt and looked after his printing press at Nagercoil. In 1830 he got married to Perinbam Ammal. His wife passed away during 1859 and John Balmer passed away on 1883 April 2nd when he was 71. All the lyrics written by John Balmer is not available with us now. We have got a list of 53 Lyrics written by him.

The ever green songs written by John Balmer are:

For Christmas:
"Bethalayil Piranthavarai Potri Thuthi maname"

For Palm Sunday:
"Osanna Paaduvom Yesuvin Thasare"

For Easter:
"Innalil Yesu nather uyirthar"

Regarding Salvation:
"Untran suyamathiye Neri Yenru uganthu Saayathe- athil nee Mahizhlnthu Maayathe"

Regarding travails:
"Vaaravinai vanthalum soraathe maname valla Chrithunaku nalla thaarakame"

Regarding Jesus Christ:
"Oru Maruntharum Guru Marunthu"
"Vaarum Naam Ellorum Koodi mahzhil Kondaaduvom"
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14 comments:

  1. Was John Balmer also known as John Palmer?

    In my father's autobiography, he writes:
    "...Father Baruch was related to John Palmer, whose Christian lyrical compositions ...."

    Are any of his relatives known?

    Rabi Doraisamy

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  2. anna can i get karoke of en meetpar songs

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  3. Can i get more details of his life history
    Jeba

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  4. i am john from muscat i am also want en meetpar yuirodu irrukiele song pls give tht only one song for me or pls give john balamer song download link pls send link or song this mail id johnsutha@live.com

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  5. John Palmer and John Balmer are the same..
    I did my BD thesis on a comparison between John Palmer's songs with Fr. John Berchmans' and was thrilled to discover some interesting facts about John Palmer's life and composition.
    Would be happy to share if anybody is interested to know more about him and his wonderful works.

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    Replies
    1. Hi! John Palmer was my great-great-great-great-grand father and I would love to read your thesis. If it may please you, kindly email me at miriamsamuel9416@gmail.com. Thanks!

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  6. Hi Samuel,

    Would appreciate more information about John Palmer.

    Thanks,

    Rabi Doraisamy
    \

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  7. im Ajithkumar Milshane from Sri Lanka. i listen your all songs its very nice and your voice also very nice. ill pray for your journey.

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  8. im Jency Bathlad Anita from Sri Lanka i heard all your songs. all those songs are very nice. My heartil wishes for you.

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  9. im Jency Bathlad Anita from sri lank. i heard all your songs. all those songs are very nice. my heartil wishes for you.

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  10. Greetings from Malaysia.
    Andrew Manohar Palmer.

    Dear Rabi Doraisamy,
    I have been tracing years through webiste regarding about John Palmer(John Balmer)and his generation and finally break-thru. I want to thank and grateful whoever publish this article of his biography.I am please to announced we have Palmer generation in Malaysia. Therefore I need more information about him and his generation and his family.We have his black and white photograph of him.Please email to me : Man0har@streamyx.com. I will write in details about Palmer generations in Malaysia soon.

    Thanks
    Andew M Palmer
    (Arranger & Composer)

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  11. Hi. . I am Jemima from chennai. I am happy to see my great great grand father's article here. My grand father Mr. Arthur John Palmer is great great grand son of John Palmer. He composed more than hundreds of songs. Happy to be in his family tree.

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  12. Good. However the Poet's name was Mr. John Palmer . not Balmer

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