I am doing a book on the Corporation of Chennai and while working on it, I have leaned heavily on the writings of a few people including John Chartres Molony, ICS. Now that the book is reaching the stage when pictures have to be put in, I am sorely missing a photo of this man. To me, the book will be incomplete without him.
JC Molony for the record, was born on 27th February 1877 at Ennis (county Clare), Ireland to James Barry Molony and Ellen (nee Greene). He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with a BA. He married Sarah Frances Adams at Killersherdony, county Cavan on 6th July 1904. Molony passed the ICS in 1899 and came to Madras in 1900. He was appointed Assistant Collector an District Magistrate, Trichinopoly and from there moved on to become District Collector. In 1908 he became Assistant Political Agent to the Banganapalle Estate. In 1911, he was appointed Census Commissioner, Madras Presidency.
Molony took over as the President of the Madras Corporation in 1914 and served in that capacity till 1919 when that post was redesignated as that of Commissioner. During this time he appears to have clashed repeatedly with Sir CP Ramaswami Aiyar though that did not in any way dampen the regard he had for the latter. In 1920 he was transferred to the Secretariat. He retired in 1925 and returned to Ireland where he wrote several books, some of which are
A Book of South India (1926)
The riddle of the Irish (1927)
Anthony Vanroy (1931)
Ireland’s Tragic Comedians (1934)
Ireland (1936)
Molony died on 5th September 1948. In his first book, he comes across as a man with a warm sense of humour. In 1947, he was to write about a chance encounter with Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi while he (Molony) was camping in Tiruvannamalai during service. It was a meeting that was enshrined in his heart forever. That way Molony was blessed.
Can I hope for a photo of Molony from someone?
Sriram,
Hope someone does find a picture of his. I tried my hand at finding one by googling, but couldn’t. However, I found a lot of interesting stuff that I’m keen on seeing his picture–preferably in your book which I look forward to reading.
Molony visited Ramana maharshi,in 1947, was going to write about his unforgettable experience but couldn’t, because he died the very next year. RamanAshram archives might have a picture of that encounter.
I chanced upon pages of his ‘A Book on South India’ and find it to be very interesting. I like his style of writing. Along with local history, this bit(e?) of trivia made me happy. The old varieties of mangoes, nIlam, banganapalli, and pIthar are names well remembered by us. PIthar made no sense at all, and now it does! It was Peter’s pasand originally. Someone called Peter in Indian Civil Service(?) loved this mango!
You must have read all his books and relished his tales…
Hi Sriram
John Chartres Molony is my great grandfather (I have his two names as my middle names) and I have a painting of him hanging over the fireplace in my office. I appreciate that your post was a few years ago but if you are still looking I will happily photograph and send to you.
Regards
Simon Awdry
Hi Simon
Could you please send the pic to srirambts@gmail.com? Thanks and much appreciate this.
How do you do Simon? I have chanced upon this chain of communications only now. I also would like a copy of your grandfather’s painting. I have collected numerous of his writings along my journey to discover how this line of Molonys intersects with my own and I would very much like to put a face to his words. Would you be willing to email me a photo of the painting?
May I ask where in the world you live? (I am in Australia).
Best regards
Chris Moloney
Oh, and despite the date of my post i promise that this is NOT an April Fool’s