Archdeacon K. Koshy

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Koshy Koshy also spelled as Koshi Koshi (1825–1899) was an Indian Anglican priest and Malayalam novelist.


K. Koshy
Archdeacon of Mavelikkara
DioceseAnglican diocese of Travancore & Cochin
In office1885–1899
Orders
Ordination1856 (deacon)
1859 (priest)
Personal details
Born
Koshy Koshy

1825 (1825)
Died1899 (1900)
NationalityTravancorean
DenominationMalankara Church (1825–1836)
Anglican Church (1836–1899)
Alma materPazhaya Seminary, Kottayam

Early life

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K. Koshy was born in the Kingdom of Travancore, to a Nazrani family, part of the Malankara Syrian Church. However, when he was 11 years old (1836), his family converted to Anglicanism, under the influence of the Church Mission Society.[1]

Priesthood

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Koshy desired to enter his Church's ministry and studied at the Pazhaya Seminary, Kottayam.[2] By 1844, he was a scholar in Sanskrit, Latin and English languages.[2] In 1856, he was received into the diaconate. In 1859, he was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church.[3] In the nineteenth century, the highest office attained by Indians within the Anglican Church was that of an archdeacon.[4] In 1885, Rev. K. Koshy became the first Indian to be raised to the rank of an archdeacon.[3]

Literary pursuits

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Adn. K. Koshy was one of the original Malayalam litterateurs. He wrote over 10 books, including Pulleli Kunju, Bhasmakuri and Thiruvavatharamahatmyam.[2][5] Pulleli Kunju (1882) is regarded as the first novellike original work on a local theme, in Malayalam.[6] He also translated John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (Paradesi Mokshayathra, 1845) and The Holy War (Thirupporattam), to Malayalam.[5][6]

Adn. Koshy was the editor of Njananikshepam (published since 1840), the first Malayalam periodical.[7][5] His most important religious contribution was with respect to the revision of the Malayalam Bible (1872–1898). The Archbishop of Canterbury Edward White Benson conferred on Koshy, a Lambeth Doctorate, for his pre-eminent role in that.[8][2]

See also

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Saint Thomas Anglicans

References

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  1. ^ Jeffrey 1976, pp. 17–18, 338.
  2. ^ a b c d George 1972, p. 69.
  3. ^ a b Jeffrey 1976, p. 338.
  4. ^ Mooken 1983, p. 102.
  5. ^ a b c Devi 1978, p. 13.
  6. ^ a b George 1972, pp. 69–70.
  7. ^ Chaitanya 1971, p. 174.
  8. ^ Stock 1899, pp. 460, 465.

Bibliography

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  • Jeffrey, Robin (1976). The Decline of Nayar Dominance: Society and Politics in Travancore, 1847-1908. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-7069-0486-4.
  • Mooken, Mar Aprem (1983). Indian Christian who is who. Bombay Parish Church of the East.
  • Rev. C. Y. Thomas. "History of the CSI Central Kerala Diocese, Chapters 1, 2 & 3". www.csimichigan.org.
  • Stock, Eugene (1899). The History of the Church Missionary Society: Its Environment, Its Men and Its Work. Vol. 4. Church Missionary Society.
  • Devi, R. Leela (1978). Influence of English on Malayalam Novels. College Book House.
  • George, K. M. (1972). Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0413-3.
  • Chaitanya, Krishna (1971). A History of Malayalam Literature. Orient Longman. ISBN 978-0-8046-8805-5.