after general studies leading to graduation at the university of madras, madras, kambar manickam entered the ministry of the church as a ministerial candidate of the tamil evangelical lutheran church (telc), the direct successor of the first protestant mission founded by bartholomäus ziegenbalg and underwent spiritual formation at one of the affiliated seminaries of the senate of serampore college (university), founded by the baptist missions led by joshua marshman, william carey and william ward, and was ordained by the tamil evangelical lutheran church (telc) and served as a priest.