It happened exactly 256 years ago Devasahayam Pillai was an 18th century convert from Hinduism to Christianity in the southern part of India. Born in Travancore, he was an official in the court of the king, Maharaja Marthanda Varma,during which time he came under the Christian influence of a former Dutch naval commander, Captain Eustachius De Lannoy.
In 2004, the Roman Catholic Church in India recommended Devasahayam Pillai for the beatification.
Devasahayam Pillai (Neelakanta Pillai at birth) was born into a high caste Nair family at Nattalam on the 23rd of April, 1712. His father hailed from Kayankulam, in Kerala and his mother from Thiruvattar town in Kanyakumari.
Devasahayam’s family had much influence in the royal palace and Devasahayam went into the service of the royal palace as a young man. His capabilities and enthusiasm did not go unnoticed in the palace, as he was soon put in charge of state affairs under the Dewan of Travancore.
In 1741, Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, a Dutch naval commander, was sent on command of a Dutch naval expedition by the Dutch East India Company to capture Colachel, a port under the control of Travancore, and establish a trading post there. In the battle (Battle of Colachel) that followed between the Travancore forces and De Lannoy’s men, the Dutchmen were vanquished. Many Dutchmen, including De Lannoy and his assistant Donadi, were taken as prisoners.
De Lannoy was later pardoned by the king, on condition that they serve in the Travancore army. De Lannoy later earned the trust of the king and went on to become the commander of the Travancore armed forces.It was during their influential roles under the King of Travancore that Devasahayam Pillai and De Lannoy became well acquainted. De Lannoy’s Christian faith interested Devasahayam and De Lannoy enlightened him on the faith, leading to his conversion in 1745.[1]
On Devasahayam’s acceptance of the Christian faith, he was baptised at the church at Vadakkankulam village (in the present Tirunelveli District of Tamilnadu), where the Jesuits had a mission. Devasahayam’s conversion to Christianity did not go down well with his larger family or with the officials in the palace of Marthanda Varma. Pillai was married by this time.
Accusations and Charges of Treason
Though there was a certain degree of religious tolerance in Travancore in the 18th century, the high caste Nair community strictly adhered to its caste codes, traditions and Hindu beliefs. Thus, it is highly possible that any deviation was not tolerated. Roman Catholic sources allege that the Brahmin chief priest of the kingdom and members of the royal household and the Nair community brought false charges on Devasahayam to the Dewan, Ramayyan Dalawa, and that Devasahayam was divested of his portfolio in the administration and was later accused of treason and of divulging state secrets to rivals and Europeans. He was ordered to be taken to the then state border at Aralvaimozhy, where he was to be banished.
Devasahayam was marched all the way to Aralvaimozhy by soldiers, over the period of a few days. As was customary in those days for very cruel criminals, his body was painted with red and black spots, and he was intentionally marched through populated areas.
Death
In 1752, the original order of the King and his Dewan was to deport him from Travancore, into the Pandya country, at Aralvaimozhy. He was let off in the forested hills near Aralvaimozhy. There, he is believed to have begun deep meditations, and the people from the adjacent villages began visiting the holy man. Christian sources allege that at this time, high caste Hindus plotted to do away with Devasahayam.
Locals still believe that the soldiers went up the forested hills and tried to shoot Devasahayam, but were unable to fire; after which he took the gun in his hands, blessed it and gave it back to the soldiers to shoot him to death, if they wished to. The soldiers took the gun back and fired at him five times.
It was at Kattadimali in Kanyakumari district that Devasahayam Pillai was killed on 14 January 1752.
In 2004, the Roman Catholic Church in India recommended Devasahayam Pillai for the beatification.
Devasahayam Pillai (Neelakanta Pillai at birth) was born into a high caste Nair family at Nattalam on the 23rd of April, 1712. His father hailed from Kayankulam, in Kerala and his mother from Thiruvattar town in Kanyakumari.
Devasahayam’s family had much influence in the royal palace and Devasahayam went into the service of the royal palace as a young man. His capabilities and enthusiasm did not go unnoticed in the palace, as he was soon put in charge of state affairs under the Dewan of Travancore.
In 1741, Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, a Dutch naval commander, was sent on command of a Dutch naval expedition by the Dutch East India Company to capture Colachel, a port under the control of Travancore, and establish a trading post there. In the battle (Battle of Colachel) that followed between the Travancore forces and De Lannoy’s men, the Dutchmen were vanquished. Many Dutchmen, including De Lannoy and his assistant Donadi, were taken as prisoners.
De Lannoy was later pardoned by the king, on condition that they serve in the Travancore army. De Lannoy later earned the trust of the king and went on to become the commander of the Travancore armed forces.It was during their influential roles under the King of Travancore that Devasahayam Pillai and De Lannoy became well acquainted. De Lannoy’s Christian faith interested Devasahayam and De Lannoy enlightened him on the faith, leading to his conversion in 1745.[1]
On Devasahayam’s acceptance of the Christian faith, he was baptised at the church at Vadakkankulam village (in the present Tirunelveli District of Tamilnadu), where the Jesuits had a mission. Devasahayam’s conversion to Christianity did not go down well with his larger family or with the officials in the palace of Marthanda Varma. Pillai was married by this time.
Accusations and Charges of Treason
Though there was a certain degree of religious tolerance in Travancore in the 18th century, the high caste Nair community strictly adhered to its caste codes, traditions and Hindu beliefs. Thus, it is highly possible that any deviation was not tolerated. Roman Catholic sources allege that the Brahmin chief priest of the kingdom and members of the royal household and the Nair community brought false charges on Devasahayam to the Dewan, Ramayyan Dalawa, and that Devasahayam was divested of his portfolio in the administration and was later accused of treason and of divulging state secrets to rivals and Europeans. He was ordered to be taken to the then state border at Aralvaimozhy, where he was to be banished.
Devasahayam was marched all the way to Aralvaimozhy by soldiers, over the period of a few days. As was customary in those days for very cruel criminals, his body was painted with red and black spots, and he was intentionally marched through populated areas.
Death
In 1752, the original order of the King and his Dewan was to deport him from Travancore, into the Pandya country, at Aralvaimozhy. He was let off in the forested hills near Aralvaimozhy. There, he is believed to have begun deep meditations, and the people from the adjacent villages began visiting the holy man. Christian sources allege that at this time, high caste Hindus plotted to do away with Devasahayam.
Locals still believe that the soldiers went up the forested hills and tried to shoot Devasahayam, but were unable to fire; after which he took the gun in his hands, blessed it and gave it back to the soldiers to shoot him to death, if they wished to. The soldiers took the gun back and fired at him five times.
It was at Kattadimali in Kanyakumari district that Devasahayam Pillai was killed on 14 January 1752.
