It is said that Ziengenbalg is the one who called for a printing press to be sent to Tamil Nadu for the publication of his Bible translation. Although he completed his work in 1711, with no existing printing press in the region he would get Indian scribes to copy his words onto palm-leaves with an iron stylus, the form used for the creation of numerous traditional Indian manuscripts. Ziengenbalg soon began learning Tamil and in 1708 started his work on translating the New Testament, with the help of Johann Ernst Gründler. The Hindus felt threatened by the incoming and possible imposition of Christianity and the Danish officials feared that new converts would stand to challenge the colonisers authority. Arriving in the Danish coastal town Trankebar (today known as Tharangambadi) in Tamil Nadu, neither Ziengenbalg nor Pluetshau got a very warm reception, Hindu natives and even fellow Europeans suspected their intentions, both for different reasons. Bartholomaus Ziengenbalg, who is said to be the first Protestant missionary to visit India, came to the country in 1706 with fellow countrymen, Heinrich Plutschau, upon request by the King of Denmark. As the first Biblical translation printed in an Indian language, needless to say it was something of a historic moment for Indian-Christian literature.

Over three hundred years ago on January 3, 1714, the first Indian Bible was translated by a German missionary to Tamil.

History of bible in tamil language