Videos from Danish TV - See under "Last News & Info / Videos".

(2003-03.27)
The following is from the world wide web:

Within a few years of its establishment, however, SPCK's founding members broadened their horizons beyond America. In 1709 a printing press and trained printer were sent out to Tranquebar in East India to assist in the production of the first translation of the Bible into Tamil by Danish Lutheran missionaries. For its time this was a remarkably far-sighted example of ecumenical co-operation, and SPCK has continued to work closely with churches of many different denominations, whilst retaining a special relationship to churches within the Anglican Communion. As the British Empire grew in the nineteenth century, so SPCK developed an important role in supporting the planting of new churches around the world. Funds were provided for church buildings, for schools, for theological training colleges, and to provide chaplains for the ships taking emigrants to their new homes.

The first Tamil Bible
(2003-03.27)
During our stay in Tranquebar in the month of February a handwritten report about buildings, parking ground, cleaning of the city etc. was made and given to the collector.
Now the response has come from the Town Panchayat, Tranquebar:

Regarding your reports I would like to give the following details:
1. Bus-Parking - ground
In our Panchayat board January meeting, I've passed a resolution about the necessity of constructing a bus shelter in the Karaikal-Mayiladuthurai road.
I've send a copy of the resolution to our Member of Parliament and requested him to grand amount for the construction. Expecting a favorable reply from our M.P.
2. Toilet - building at the bus-parking ground.
Proper place has been finalized construction work will start soon.
3. Leveling the whole village- entrance area.
I will take care for the leveling  and cleaning work near the entrance area. Tree plantation work involve many tasks such as regular water supply and fencing. I hope you know, that Tranquebar is a dry land. I am not able to supply good drinking water to my people. When the people are feeling thirsty, we cannot expect their support for beautification. I'11 request our Collector to help us to solve our peoples water problem first.
4. Two Campaigns.
Tranquebar people are ready to keep their city, village and environment neat and clean provided a dust-bin in road side. If Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation & Archaeology Dept of Tamil Nadu can construct Dust-bins of larger sizes at least near the important places such as The Fort, and the like. It will be easy for the workers to keep it clean.
Beggars are the real curse to our society. People's mentality should be changed. No rules can help us in this regard. But any how I'll try to avoid their numbers.
5. Protection of historically important buildings.
All other suggestions should be discussed and finalized only by Tamil Nadu Govt. and Archaeology and Tourism department.
As I am the people's representative I will write to the concerned departments to do the needful for the improvement of Tranquebar city.
I can very well understand your feelings for the preservation of the historically valuable monuments. They are the Nations assets.
I am ready to cooperate with you in this regard.
I will let you know about the completion of works if any, from time to time.

Yours Sincerely,
Saraswathi
Chairman
(2003-03.26)
A culture project Denmark - Tranquebar is on its way to be realized.
The Danish frigate "Havgassen" will be sailed to Tranquebar. (Read more about the frigate here. In Danish)
The Danish Radio and TV together with newspapers will follow the trip
The project is at the beginning and more will be told.
(2003-03.25)
A "new ruin" - made of bricks - has appeared on the beach at Fort Dansborg in the beginning of the month of February.
A report with photos is made and a quotation says:
Nobody in this area had ever seen it, and nobody had ever heart about it, but now it was there after a blowing night, where the breakers and the currents in the Bay of Bengal had arranged that the construction became visible – well helped by the new rock groyne together with the stone wall from 1999.
.....and another:
Absolutely static the construction is incredible steady to great pressures both vertical and horizontal because it is constructed in such a way that all vertical weight on the vaults is absorbed partly in the bottom brickwork for the construction and partly in the plane A.

It could be a base for a more than 350 years old landing stage - perhaps never used.
The report is sent to relevant persons and museums etc. in Tamil Nadu and in Denmark.
You can order a report by paying an amount of 7 US-Dollar for copying and postal service. Mail.
(2003-03.08)
Some new articles are added to this website.
(2003-03.07)
Well back in Denmark again with lots of new information it is time to summarize.
The meeting in Chennai was fine and a later meeting in Tranquebar was arranged. At this meeting on February 14th - in fort Dansborg - we were given the permission to establish and renew the museum (the middle part of the fort), to furnish the original Governors Residence in the southern part of the fort and to arrange the history of Tranquebar etc. in the northern part of the fort.
Dept. of Archaeology, State of Tamil Nadu, will do all the restoration work at the whole building and the walls.
Our work with establishing has started. Furniture are seen and some bought. Documents are photographed and / or copied and old Danish built houses are viewed etc.
The local people have been very interested and thanks to them for all their very kind helpfulness.
(2003-01.26)
A meeting between the new Commissioner of Archaeology mr. Ashok Vardhan Shetty, I.A.S., and mr. Poul P. and mr. Viggo K. is arranged in Chennai on February 5th.
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All the promoters will be back in India and Tranquebar in the month of February. Also committee members will be there in a visit.
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The Collector Sudeep Jain, Nagapattinam, is well informed by the Tranquebar Association. We do hope some of the ideas will be accepted and realized.
(30/11)
The video from TV2Fyn can be downloaded. The language is Danish.
(13/11)
The promoters have had a great deal of mail-correspondence with Indian officials about the restoration work going on. Read an article of Nov. 10th from the Hindu.
(04/10)
The broadcast about the inauguration of the restoration work of Fort Dansborg in Tranquebar in DR1-TV will be on Sunday October 27th 2002 at 19.00 in the program named 19-Direct Special.
(16/09)
The conflict between DR and The Journalists Union has ended and the work has started.
(20/08)
The DR-TV broadcast about the inauguration is postponed until a strike among journalists is over.
(07/08)
Via mail from USA we know about 4 descendants of Admiral Ove Gjedde, who was the very first governor of Tranquebar.
One of them lives in Washington, USA and the second lives in Michigan, USA. The third lives in Skotland and the last one lives in Spain.
(24/07)
The inauguration has passed and we are back in Denmark again. It was a very good and fine day on July 14th 2002. Some new articles are on this site and new photos will be available as soon as possible.
Other Danish guests were 6 people living and working in Chennai. 
We thanks the Indian authorities and the people of Tranquebar city for the very good work and the very fine inauguration.
(01/07)
Totally 9 Danish people will go to India in week 27/02. One of them is a journalist from DR-TV to make a broadcast from the inauguration and Tranquebar too.
(25/06)
2 funds have donated for the restoration work.
(04/06)
From Dr. R. Kannan is received  an inspection note for Fort Dansborg, Tranquebar. You can read the note under Latest News & Info / Notes & Documents.
03/06
From our adviser mr. M.G. Chella Pillai we have received new photos from the restoration work. See them under pictures - (4).
(26/5)
From our adviser mr. M.G. Chella Pillai we have received new photos from the restoration work. See them under pictures - (3).
(18/5)
From Dr. R. Kannan - Commissioner of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. Museum in Chennai we just have received new pictures of the restoration work. Look under pictures - (2).
(16/5)
From Dr. R. Kannan - Commissioner of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. Museum in Chennai we have received some unique drawings and photos of the flying of flags at Fort Dansborg.  
Look under history.

(4/5)
NEWS  FROM  THE RESTORATION WORK!
From Karen Stigsen, Grace Tours, who just have returned from India, we have received the first pictures of the restoration work. Look under pictures - (1).

On April 30th 2002 Dr. R. Kannan, Commissioner of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. Museum, Chennai has answered the questions from the promoters.

The answers are:
1.: It will be pleasantly with an inauguration for the Land Gate and the first part of the restoration work of Dansborg. It is allowed to use the Danish flag Dannebrog side by side with the Indian flag on the fort Dansborg.
2.: It is allowed to sell post cards on the fort. (Webmaster: The Tourist Dept. of Tamil Nadu has the copyright).
3.: An exhibition  about the history of Tranquebar is allowed in the new restored rooms.

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