Udhagamandalam: A little over six months after commemorating his birth anniversary with the garlanding of a bronze bust of him installed at Kannerimukku near Kotagiri, the John Sullivan Memorial Committee is getting ready to observe his death anniversary which falls on January 16.

At a meeting held in December with the Collector of the Nilgiris and President of the Committee Dr P Sankar in the chair, arrangements for the commemoration were put in place. It was decided to observe the occasion in a solemn and dignified manner befitting the stature of John Sullivan, popularly referred to as the Founder of Ooty and Architect of Modern Nilgiris. The decision was also in keeping with the sentiments of the residents of Kannerimukku who along with other Badagas are celebrating their main festival, the annual Hethai Habba.

The Sullivan Memorial Park planned on a 9.34-acre site was expected to be completed by the summer of 2016 but due to administrative and other reasons its progress has been tardy. Now work is expected to gather speed as Rs. 5 lakh has been set aside for its development by Coonoor MLA A Ramu and the Kotagiri Town Panchayat sending a proposal for Rs. 10 lakh to the government.

Speaking to Covai Post, Kakki Shanmugam, a social activist from Kannerimukku, said that by the summer of 2017 the park was likely to be fully completed.

About two centuries ago, John Sullivan, as Collector of Coimbatore of which the Nilgiris was then part, had sown the seeds for the development of the district. He was responsible for putting Ooty and the surrounding towns and villages on the road to progress. His contributions have been well-documented and the impact he left on the area can still be felt.

Most significant of Sullivan’s contributions were the introduction of revolutionary changes in farm practices, promotion of tea and a variety of cereals apart from fruits and vegetables. He was also responsible for the Ooty Lake coming into being.