How the cure of the Dutch governor's wife launched the Ondaatjes

Ondaatchiis (Ondaatje) were, originally, from Tanjore South India. Michael Jurie (Jurgen) Ondaatchi was physician to the King of Tanjore. He was summoned by the Dutch Governor Adrian Van der Meyden, in 1659, to treat his sick wife. He treated her with a bath of water in which 23 jungle herbs were boiled.

The Dutch Governor's wife recovered. Ondaatchi was converted to Christianity in 1660, married a Portuguese wife, Magdalene de Cruz (1640-1688), and adopted the name "Michael Jurgen Ondaatch". He died in 1714. His son Rev William Jurgan Ondaatchi married Hermina Quint of Holland.

Their son was Peter Philip Juriaan Ondaatchi (1758-1814) He had his entire education in Holland. He was a distinguished academic, and poet, publishing books on physics, philosophy and history.Michael Jurie Ondache (Ondaatje), a celebrated physician of the Palace of Tanjore was invited by the first Dutch Governor of Ceylon, Van de Meyden, to cure his lady of a serious ailment. Michael Jurie Ondaatje arrived in Ceylon on June 9, 1659 from Tanjore in India.

His success in curing the lady made the Governor his friend. In appreciation of his services and performance he was appointed the First Doctor of the Town of Colombo. He became a convert to Christianity and was the founder of the family that bears his name. He died in 1714.

Dr. Peter Philip Juriaan Quint Ondaatje was born in Colombo and served as a physician to the first Dutch Governor. He was educated in Holland and after a distinguished scholastic career obtained a Ph.D and J.U.D. from Leyden and Ultrecht. While at Ultrecht he had the honour of becoming the first Asian to figure prominently in modern European politics and history.

In 1811, Napoleon I nominated him to the Imperial Council of Prizes and in 1814 he was named a High Court Justice of The Netherlands. He died in 1818 on his way to take up a civil service appointment in Batavia. He is also credited with many works on physics, political philosophy, and history.

There is a tombstone in St Thomas Church Gintupitiya which reads "Natalia Aserappa wife of Philip Jurgen Ondaatchi 1787-1812 d age 25" (Running in the Family, Michael Ondaatchi p66) Dr William Charles Ondaatchi was the first Ceylonese Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya. He introduced the olive to Ceylon. Rev. Jurgen Ondaatchi was translator and Chaplain.

His son Simon was the last Tamil Colonial Chaplain of Ceylon. Philip Mervyn Ondaatje 1906-1955 Mervyn Ondaatje b:1906 in Kegalle, Ceylon (Rock Hill House), served as a Major in the CLI during World war 2, and later was a planter, was sent to University in England by his parents and left Ceylon by ship and arrived at Southampton.

Took his entrance examination for Cambridge but didnt puruse an educational career at the University. Was once engaged to Kaye Roseleap, a close friend of his sister Stephy. d:1955, married Doris Gratiaen, b:1905 (d/o Willy Gratiaen en Lalla Keyt & brother of Noel Gratien), m:11-Apr-1932. Lived in Kegalle, Ceylon most of his life.

Michael Ondaatje 1943 - Emory University English Department article

Michael Ondaatje was born on September 12, 1943 in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The son of Mervyn Ondaatje and Doris Gratiaen, prominent members among the inhabitants of what once comprised Ceylon's colonial society. Mervyn Ondaatje was a tea and rubber-plantation superintendent who was afflicted with alcoholism. Doris Gratiaen performed part-time as a radical dancer, inspired by Isadora Duncan. As a result of his father's alcoholism, Ondaatje's parents eventually separated in 1954 and he moved to England with his mother.

Ondaatje was educated initially at St. Thomas College in Colombo, Ceylon. After moving with his mother to England, he continued his education at Dulwich College in London. Between 1962-64, Ondaatje attended Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec. He then went on to obtain his B.A. at the University of Toronto in 1965, and his M.A. at Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario, in 1967.

Ondaatje began his teaching career at the University of Western Ontario, London between 1967-71. Today he is a member of the Department of English at Glendon College, York University in Toronto, Ontario, a position he has held since 1971.

Ondaatje currently resides in Toronto with his wife, novelist/editor Linda Spalding, where they edit Literary Magazine. During his career Ondaatje has received numerous awards and honours. He was awarded the Ralph Gustafson Award, 1965; the Epstein Award, 1966; and the President's Medal from the University of Ontario in 1967. In addition, Ondaatje was the recipient of the Canadian Governor-General's Award for Literature in 1971 and again in 1980.

Also in 1980 he was awarded the Canada-Australia price and in 1992 he was presented with the Booker McConnell Prize for his novel The English Patient. Michael Ondaatje the renowned author and Booker prize winner, descendant from this Ondaatje line as is his brother Sir Christopher. There is reference to the Ondaatje family in Christopher Ondaatje's book "The man eater of Punanai 1992.