Sis Sarah Navaroji (சாராள் நவரோஜி 1939-2014), was born as the youngest child to her parents, Sarah learned Carnatic music from her father Solomon Asirvadham, who himself was a violinist and Carnatic music exponent. Identifying her love for music at a young age, her father gave her a surname ‘Navaroji’ instead of his own name. Navaroj is a raga in Carnatic music. In 1960, She was barely 21 when she was chosen for mission work in Ceylon as it was then known. She was to set sail from Dhanushkodi. To reach the coastal town, Sarah had to take a train from Egmore. After boarding the train, she eagerly waited for her mother to arrive (her father had passed on when she was 10) to see her off. But minutes ticked by and there was no sign of her. The poignant occasion inspired her to compose the beautiful Tamil song while inside the train: ‘Ennai Maravaa Yesu Naathaa,' (என்னை மறவா இயேசுநாதா) which spotlights the Lord's unfailing love even though a mother might forget her child.
A pioneer in Tamil Christian devotional music, she is the next big name after the composers of the late 19th century who wrote Carnatic raga-based Christhava Keerthanais. A prolific composer, Sister Sarah Navaroji as she is known, has written, set to tune, sung and recorded 356 songs over the past five decades. Several of her songs are hits and are sung by other artists as well as played in Tamil Christian churches and homes all over the globe. All-time favourites such as ‘Thothiram Paadiyae'(தோத்திரம்பாடியே), ‘Thirupatham Nambi Vandaen'(திருப்பாதம் நம்பிவந்தேன்) and ‘Unnathamanavarin' (உன்னதமானவரின்) are often heard on various occasions but many may not know that these are Sarah's works - they are among her many evergreen hits.
எப்போழுதும் மறக்க முடியாத தேவ கிருபா பாத்திரம் அம்மா சாராள் நவரோஜி....
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