Aiyadurai Jesudasen Appasamy Appasamy became an important character in Indian Christian theology in the early 20th century. He originated from a Christian household in Palayamkottai, a well-known Protestant Christian center in the southern Indian district of Tirunelveli. Acknowledged as a brilliant thinker, he studied theology overseas in 1915, spending time in Hartford, Connecticut, Oxford, and Marburg. After returning to India in 1923, he worked as a researcher and writer for the Christian Literature Society in Madras, where he produced important works, including "What is Moksha?" (1931) and "Christianity in Bhakti Marga" (1927). Subsequently, in 1932, Appasamy began teaching at Bishop's College in Calcutta. In 1936, he returned to his homeland to take up the job of archdeacon, actively participating in theological education and planning church events. An enthusiastic supporter of church unification in South India, Appasamy's views on the subject are summarized in his 1930 publication "Church Union: An Indian View." After the Church of South India was founded in 1950, he was made a bishop at Coimbatore, where he served until, he retired in 1959. All of Appasamy's life, he was dedicated to communicating Christianity in a way that resonated with Indian culture and spirituality. His strategy was to establish ties between the bhakti tradition and Christianity, focusing especially on Ramanuja's teachings. According to Appasamy, the core of the Christian life was a deep, passionate commitment to God in Christ; he preferred a faith union marked by a close, loving relationship above a philosophical immersion into the divine. He disapproved of the idea that God and Christ are metaphysically united, choosing instead to believe in an everlasting alignment of wills and a relationship based on Love. This diverged from typical Chalcedonian viewpoints. Early LifeAiyadurai was born on September 3, 1891, to Christian parents in Tamil Nadu. Prior to becoming a Christian at the young age of 24, his father was a Shaivite. A. J. Appasamy frequently discussed how his father and family influenced him in his writing. His father studied Hinduism and Christianity after he converted to Christianity. He developed a burning desire to see God in his 67th year of life, studied meditation with a Hindu master, started doing yoga on a daily basis, experienced mystical encounters, and highlighted the importance of the dhyana (contemplation) prayer as a means of seeing the truth. A.J. Appasamy, his son, was persuaded that his father's yoga practice had had a significant, good impact on his life. He was conscious of some risks as well as "the immense value" of this approach of prayer. A. J. Appasamy studied philosophy and religion at Harvard University in the United States in 1915. He later attended Oxford University in Britain, where he earned a PhD in philosophy. Appasamy saw that "well-educated men, familiar with Indian literature, are essential if Christians living in the country are to have any influence on national life, regardless of the fact they may not practice Hinduism." He drew this conclusion by drawing parallels with the position of Christians in classical Rome. He concluded that "There was much valuable knowledge to gain from the lives and experiences of the bhakti writers in India." as a result of the influence of "many great scholars and inspiring teachers," including Friedrich von Hügel, William Temple, J. N. Farquhar, B. H. Streeter, Friedrich Heiler, and Rudolf Otto. During this time, the influence of Sadhu Sundar Singh, who arrived at Oxford in 1920, began to emerge. Having been close to Sundar Singh, Appasamy worked with B.H. Streeter wrote a book on him titled The Sadhu (1921). Upon returning to India, Appasamy became an editor at the Christian Literature Society in 1922. This made it possible for him to carry on with his studies, using Sanskrit texts in addition to Tamil, which he studied with Sanskrit pandits. "How Ramanuja formed a theological framework based on his profound personal encounter with God." piqued his interest in particular. Religious ServiceAppasamy taught at Calcutta's Bishop's College (Kolkata) from 1932 to 1936. There, he conducted additional research on Indian neo-Hindu movements, including the Ramakrishna Mission and the Brahmo Samaj.  He spent several years working at an adult night school in a small town of seven hundred residents after 1936. He was also involved in the 1938 Tambaram International Missionary Conference (IMC). He was a member of the Rethinking Christianity Group," which was led by V. Chakkarai and Pandippedi Chenchiah. He was made an archdeacon in 1946. He served as bishop of the newly established Church of South India in the Coimbatore diocese of Tamil Nadu from 1951 until he retired in 1959. Appasamy uses a variety of persons in his writings; some are used as examples, some as disagreements, and yet others as lessons to be learned. He holds the following individuals in high regard: Kabir, Luther, Tukaram, George Fox, John Wesley, John Henry Newman, H.A. Krishna Pillai, Pandaramabai, M.K. Gandhi, C.F. Andrews, Albert Schweitzer, Sadhu Sundar Singh, etc. He frequently disagrees with Shankara, Eckhart, Suso, and Chaitanya, to name a few. Appasamy, by spearheading interfaith communication and collaboration, left a lasting influence on theologians such as Paul D. Devanandan and M.M. Thomas. He was friends with numerous Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus. In 1975, he passed away. Publications
ConclusionAppasamy, a prominent figure in Indian Christian theology during the early 20th century, has left a lasting legacy at the crossroads of Christianity and Indian culture. Born in Palayamkottai in 1891, he embarked on a multifaceted journey that led him to become a theologian, editor, bishop, and champion of interfaith dialogue. Appasamy's intellectual pursuits took him abroad for theological studies, and upon his return to India in 1923, he engaged in extensive research and writing with the Christian Literature Society. His significant works, including "What is Moksha?" and "Christianity in Bhakti Marga," reflect his dedication to expressing Christian faith in harmony with Indian spiritual traditions. Central to Appasamy's theological approach was his effort to connect Christianity with the bhakti tradition, with a particular emphasis on the teachings of Ramanuja. He advocated for a profound, personal commitment to God in Christ, deviating from conventional Chalcedonian perspectives, and argued for a faith union grounded in Love rather than a metaphysical unity. His contributions extended beyond academia as he actively participated in church activities and theological education and played a pivotal role in the church union movement in South India. Appasamy's impact reverberated through his teachings at Bishop's College in Calcutta and his service as the bishop of the Coimbatore diocese following the formation of the Church of South India in 1950. Appasamy's legacy continued through his influence on theologians such as Paul D. Devanandan and M.M. Thomas, illustrating his pioneering efforts in fostering interfaith communication. His life journey, encompassing diverse experiences and engagements, exemplifies a lifelong commitment to harmonizing Christian principles with the rich tapestry of Indian spirituality. In his numerous publications, Appasamy explored mysticism, Indian perspectives on church unification, and the Johannine notion of Love. He underscored the importance of well-educated individuals familiar with Indian literature for Christians to exert influence in national life. Appasamy's life, from his early years to academic pursuits, religious service, and literary contributions, portrays a dynamic and influential figure who shaped the discourse on Christianity in India. His impact extended beyond theological circles, leaving an enduring imprint on the cultural and religious landscape of the nation. With his passing in 1975, Appasamy's legacy lives on through his writings, teachings, and the ongoing relevance of his ideas in the ongoing dialogue between Christianity and Indian spirituality. Next TopicAjay kumar kabaddi |
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