Indian Link to the Titanic.- Annie Clemmer Funk.
By veejay19
@veejay19 (3589)
India
April 16, 2012 2:07am CST
Who would have ever imagined that one of the passengers who went down with the Titanic had come from India.Annie Clemmer Funk was a Mennonite missionary from America who came to the state of Punjab in India in 1906 and settled down in a small and remote village there.In 1908 she opened a small school in a one room tenement for poor children and had 17 students in the beginning.She lived there for six years and became very popular with the villagers.In 1912 she made her way to Bombay by railroad and caught a steamer to London enroute to America. She was to catch a ship, the SS Balfour which unfortunately could not proceed as there was a coal labour strike.She therefore took the Titanic which was on its maiden voyage and the rest is history.She was one of the 1500 passengers who went down with the ship. Her school finally closed down in 1964 and now only crumbling walls show that it stood there. A plaque was installed by the villagers as a mark of respect for Annie Funk.
3 people like this
9 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 Apr 12
It sounds like she was pretty cool. As a teacher, I ws wondering about her school and about her. Can you tell me more? She sounds very interesting.
Sounds like she would have been better off to stay in India.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 Apr 12
Too bad there isn't more known about her. She sounds very interesting. Thank you.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
17 Apr 12
Hello Veejay,
This is a new information for me and thanks for sharing it. I think it is her bad luck to travel with this ship.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
16 Apr 12
You know to be honest that somehow sounds a bit familiar. I swear that I have heard her name before but maybe not in connection with the Titanic. It is very intersting to hear about how history can go back and in how many places it can bounce. I live in the USA and my heritage and roots, as you know, stem from places all over the world.
@watergirl (567)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
I suppose a lot of distinguished men and women went down with the Titanic. That would include Annie Funk. Nevertheless, their deaths are not in vain. In every sinking catastrophe in history, lessons can be learned that will improve the future safety of sailing.
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr 12
Each step was a step of her ill fated destiny. Sure wish she had been able to get on the SS Balfour. Life does work in mysterious ways. Nice that the villagers installed the plaque. People should be remembered.
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
16 Apr 12
dear anna,
I just started a topic regarding Titanic's 100 anniversary.
I haven't read about this lady, but I am thankful for this info.
I will search for her story this can make a good article 
@shwetat195 (628)
• India
16 Apr 12
yes , i came to know about it sometimes back through some news channel. Even i was little curious and liked the fact of being linked to titanic in some way
