B. E. Devaraj

Last updated

B. E. Devaraj
Education [1] M. A., L.Th.
Church Church of South India, (Diocese of Nandyal)
Ordained1948 [2]
WritingsSee Section
Offices held

TitleReverend

B. E. Devaraj was a translator who pioneered the Lambadi version of the New Testament. He was Acting Commissary and Vicar General of the Archdeaconry of Nandyal from 1950 [2] to 1951. [3]

Contents

Devaraj also taught in the Andhra Christian Theological College, [4] Rajahmundry {affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University) - a university within the meaning of Section 2 (f) [5] of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 [6] (as modified up to 20 December 1985)}.

Ravela Joseph who compiled a bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu with the assistance of B. Suneel Bhanu under the aegis of the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College included books by B. E. Devaraj entitled A Commentary on First Corinthians (మొదటి కొరింథీ పత్రిక వ్యాఖ్యానము), [7] Good Friday (మoఛి శుక్రవారము), [8] and Love's Servant (ప్రెమదాసు). [9]

The Bible Society of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary released the New Testament in Lambadi on 25 October 1999 [10] in the presence [11] of G. Babu Rao, then Auxiliary Secretary, G. D. V. Prasad, Director - Translations of the Bible Society of India, Central Office, Bengaluru and B. K. Pramanik, its General Secretary. Lazarus Lalsingh [12] of Badao Banjara Phojer [11] who put in efforts for bringing the New Testament in Lambadi recalled the earlier efforts of B. E. Devaraj in translating texts into Lambadi at the release in 1999. [11]

Contribution

History and studies

Devaraj attended the local S.P.G. School in Nandyal and then graduated from the Noble College in Machilipatnam in 1920 where he took a B.A. [2] He also studied for an M.A. at the Madras University in 1929, eventually became principal of a Training School in Nandyal. [2]

During 1946–1947, Devaraj attended a special course [21] at the United Theological College, Bengaluru and was ordained as an Anglican Priest in 1948. [2]

Reminisce

Talathoti Punnaiah who studied a 3-year theology course leading to Bachelor of Theology at the Andhra Christian Theological College, both at Rajahmundry and at Hyderabad from 1970 to 1973 recalls his association with B. E. Devaraj:

Devaraj was Bursar of the College and a senior most among the faculty hailing from an Anglican background, very active and healthy. He was very good in Telugu and composed the Hymn 484 appearing in the Christian Hymnal in Telugu. He was very particular in grammar pronunciation. As I studied in Madras and had Tamil slang, I was afraid to read the Telugu book in the class. Later on, I understood the importance of Telugu language through his Telugu class and I improved my Telugu vocabulary, expression and accent. [22]

Professional and academic associations
Preceded by
-
 Translator Bible Society of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary Succeeded by
-
Academic offices
Preceded by
-
 Lecturer
Andhra Christian Theological College, Rajahmundry
1964 -		Succeeded by
Religious titles
Preceded by
 Vicar
Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (Diocese of Calcutta, Archdeaconry of Nandyal) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
E. J. Wyld [2]
Commissary
1948 - 1950
 Acting Commissary and Vicar General [2]
Archdeaconry of Nandyal
Diocese of Calcutta
Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon
1950 - 1951		Succeeded by
William Arthur Patridge [2]
Commissary
1951 - 1963

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andhra Christian Theological College</span> Seminary in Telangana, India

Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC) is a seminary in Telangana which was founded in 1964. It is affiliated with India's first university, the Senate of Serampore College (University), and has degree-granting authority under a Danish charter ratified by the government of West Bengal. ACTC is on the Hussain Sagar canal (north) in Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the Secunderabad Junction railway station.

M. Victor Paul was a biblical scholar who served as President of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1993 to 1997.

K. Devasahayam was President of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1965 to 1969.

Ryder Devapriam was systematic theologian who taught during the 1960s and the 1970s at the Andhra Christian Theological College, a Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad, affiliated to the nation's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

G. T. Abraham was Bishop - in - Diocese of Nandyal of the Church of South India. He also taught Christian Ministry at the Andhra Christian Theological College. Hyderabad

Acharya A. B. Masilamani or Abel Boanerges Masilamani (1914–1990) was a Golden Jubilee Baptist pastor and evangelist on whom parallels had been drawn comparing his ecclesiastical ministry with that of Saint Paul. The Mar Thoma Syrian Church, one of the Saint Thomas Christian Churches founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century which holds the annual Maramon Conventions used to have Masilamani preach at its conventions since the 1970s. During one such Maramon Convention held in 1983 at Maramon, Masilamani was one of the main speaker who spoke on Christology in the presence of the two patriarchs of the Mar Thoma Church, Alexander Mar Thoma and Thomas Mar Athanius.

E. Prakasam, a Lutheran, was the first Indian President of the Protestant Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society whose ministry was primarily based in the Guntur District and also in East Godavari District, West Godavari District, Krishna District, and Visakhapatnam District. Being one of the established Indian Pastors, Prakasam was elected as president and served from 1944 to 1950 after which he resumed his Pastoral duties as a Lutheran Pastor.

B. Suneel Bhanu is President Emeritus of the Protestant Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society who served a term from 2009 through 2013. At present, Suneel Bhanu teaches at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravela Joseph</span> Indian priest

Ravela Joseph was a Sapphire jubilee-Priest involved in Spiritual formation from the mid-1960s into the early 2000s in the Telugu states. He taught Systematic theology in Major Seminaries affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University), the nation's first modern University {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956} with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. Solomon Raj</span>

P. Solomon Raj(21 February 1921 - 28 December 2019) was a pastor of Protestant Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society headquartered in Guntur with major contribution to theological research and arts. Old Testament scholar Victor Premasagar wrote about Raj as a pastor, professor of communications, creative artist, sculptor, poet and a theological writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suppogu Joseph</span>

Suppogu Joseph is a Golden jubilee Pastor of the Protestant Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches with major contribution to New Testament scholarship with reference to Lukan literature. In a study on Luke in 2010 by Justin Alexandru undertaken at the University of Durham, Joseph's work has been cited by the researcher in the context of Authorship of Luke–Acts where Justin authoritatively attests the work of Joseph.

Rayi Ratna Sundara Rao was a prolific writer, theologian and comparative religion scholar who once was the principal of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai, affiliated to India's first university, the Senate of Serampore College (University).

T. Gnananandam was a Pastor of the Protestant Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars and was Principal of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada during 1968-1969, the shortest ever in the history of the seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muthyala Theophilus</span> Indian Protestant priest

M. Theophilus was a Baptist Patriarch and Spiritual Formator of the Protestant Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars, a major congregation along the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh, India that extends from Srikakulam District in the northern tip through Guntur District in the middle. Theophilus taught at the Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada during the period 1926–1946 and was also Senator of India's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) during 1942–1946 taking forward not only the theological concerns of the university but also the concerns of Serampore College, which as a dual University affiliated entity, had the arts, science and commerce faculties affiliated to the University of Calcutta. In matters of Church union, Theophilus actively cooperated with the National Council of Churches in India that not only incorporated the Protestant and the Oriental Orthodox Churches but also reached out to the Catholics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaddala Solomon</span>

G. Solomon was an Old Testament Scholar and a Baptist Patriarch hailing from the Protestant Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches Society (an affiliate member of the Baptist World Alliance and the National Council of Churches in India) and led it as its President during the years 1978-1982 overseeing the spiritual affairs of the Church Society whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction comprises the three states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with 873 Churches comprising nearly a million members per present statistics.

Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College (MBCBC), founded in 1920, is a Mennonite Bible College in Shamshabad and is affiliated with the Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches in India and the nation's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University)with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

Bishop Bunyan Joseph was the first and only elected Bishop - in - Anantapur-Kurnool Diocese who was consecrated on 27 September 1947 and was among the 15 inaugural Bishops when the Church of South India was inaugurated at the CSI-St. George's Cathedral, Chennai. He was presented for consecration by The Venerable F. F. Gladstone and Canon T. Sithers. to the Presiding Bishop Cherakarottu Korula Jacob, who as the first Moderator, consecrated Bunyan Joseph.

M. S. G. Lalitha Kumari a.k.a. Lalitha Krupa Rao was the eighth Principal of Eva Rose York Bible Training and Technical School for Women, Tuni. She held the term from 1993 through 2011. Lalitha was a theologically trained woman who also used to pastor a Church. With her ordination in 1992, she became the first Woman priest in the Protestant Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars.

Nalla Thomas was an Asian Christian and a spiritual personality, who served the Church in Assam and undivided Andhra Pradesh for nearly four decades, spanning the 1970s to the early 2000s. He was known for composing hymns to enhance spiritual direction and devotion. Thomas also served as an Ecclesiastical administrator of the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches Society.

Perupogu Joseph was a military chaplain in the Indian Army Corps of EME and a counselor who taught students in Serampore College, Serampore and Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ South Indian Teacher, Volumes 22-23, South India Teachers' Union, 1949. p. 82.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Constance M. Millington, An Ecumenical Venture: The History of Nandyal Diocese in Andhra Pradesh, 1947-1990, Issue 214 of ATC publication, Asian Trading Corporation, Bengaluru, 1993. pp. 22, 82 and 217.
  3. ↑ K. M. George, Church of South India: Life in Union, 1947-1997, Jointly published by Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi and Christava Sahitya Samithi, Tiruvalla, 1999.
  4. ↑ Andhra Christian Theological College Prospectus 1969. Printed by A. Nageswara Rao at Saraswathi Power Press, Rajahmundry.
  5. ↑ Under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956, University means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recoginsed by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act. The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since The Serampore College Act, 1918 was passed by the Government of West Bengal. "UGC and Senate of Serampore College (University)". Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. ↑ The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 Archived 29 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. 1 2 B. E. Devaraju, A Commentary on First Corinthians, Telugu Theological Literature Board for Andhra Pradesh Christian Council, Hyderabad, 1973. Cited by Ravela Joseph, Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bengaluru, 1993. p. 7
  8. 1 2 B. E. Devaraju, Good Friday, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 1956. Cited by Ravela Joseph, Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bengaluru, 1993. p. 30
  9. 1 2 B. E. Devaraju, Love's Servant, Christian Literature Service, Chennai, 1967. Cited by Ravela Joseph, Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bengaluru, 1993. p. 44
  10. ↑ New Testament in Lambadi, Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1999
  11. 1 2 3 Sowing Circle, A Bulletin of the Bible Society of India, Volume 15, Number 1, January–April 2000 (For Private Circulation), Bengaluru. pp.24-25.
  12. ↑ Tony E. Samuel Hilton, Lazarus Lalsingh, Banjara: a people in India, People series, People India Research & Training Institute, 1999.
  13. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, Religious Lessons. Cited by Frank C. Laubach in India Shall Be Literate, Printed by F. E. Livengood at the Mission Press, Jabalpur, 1940. p. 99. Reprinted by Read Books in 2007.
  14. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, M. J. Prakasam, Sarah Anstey, Gospel of St. Mark in simplified Telugu, Bible Society of India and Ceylon (1956-1966), Bengaluru, 1960.
  15. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, History of the Church in India, Telugu Theological Literature Board, 1969.
  16. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel, Gospel According to St. Mark, Bible Society of India and Ceylon, Bengaluru, 1963.
  17. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel, Gospel According to St. Luke, Bible Society of India, 1966.
  18. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel Way of Hope, The Gospel According to St. Mark, Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1974.
  19. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel, Way of Peace, The Gospel according to St. Luke, Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1975.
  20. ↑ B. E. Devaraj, Way of life, The Gospel According to St. John, The Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1976.
  21. ↑ The United Theological College, Directory 1910-1997, Bengaluru, 1997. p.90.
  22. ↑ Talathoti Punnaiah, My Memoir, Ministry and Message: (60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010), Kakinada, 2010, pp.18-19.
Further reading
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.