Q. With reference to the Devasahayam Pillai, consider the following statements:
1.He is considered as the first Indian to be converted to Christianity.
2.He served in the court of Travancore’s Maharaja Marthanda Verma.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Devsahayam Pillai, an 18th-century Hindu convert to Christianity would be made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican. He became the first Indian layman to be declared a saint by the Vatican.
Statement 2 is correct: He grew up in an upper caste family of temple priests and was known as Nilakanda Pillai.
He went on to serve in the court of Travancore’s Maharaja Marthanda Verma. It was here that he met a Dutch naval commander, who taught him about the Catholic faith.
He then converted to Christianity in 1745. He took the Christian name Lazarus, but later came to be known as Devasahayam (God’s help).
Source: Indian Express
