Poykayil Yohannan (17 February 1879, in Eraviperoor – 1939), known as Poykayil Appachan or Poykayil Kumara Guru Devan, was a dalit activist, poet and the founder of the socio-religious movement Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha ("God's Society of Obvious Salvation").[1] His father was Kandan and mother Lachi. His original name was Kumaran.
Yohannan joined the Marthoma church, a reformist sect among the Syrian Christians, but realised the church treated Dalits as an inferior class, and so left it. He then joined a new sect called the Brethren Mission where he faced similar instances of caste based discrimination. Johannan concluded that Indian Christian communities continued to discriminate based on caste, and felt this defied the basic tenets of Christianity.[2]
In 1909, Yohannan left Christianity and started his own religious protest movement named Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha. He was known as Poikayil Appachan or Kumara Gurudevan afterwards.[citation needed] Johannan advocated spiritual liberation, and sought to empower and consolidate the Dalits, promoting a creed in which the "dalit castes" would be free of discrimination.[3]
He was the first person to start an English medium school for the dalit community. [4]
Unknown Subjects: Songs of Poykayil Appachan. Translated from Malayalam by A.S. Sekher
Vadyakhoshangal Nadathunnavarum and Ente Vamshathepatti were featured in the Dalit Poem Collection named Kathal — published by DC Books
Media representations
Mannikkale Maanikkyam - Drama by V. V. Santhakumar features Yohannan
References
^A. T. Philip The Mar Thoma Church and Kerala society 1991 "One of the outcome was the booklet entitled Poikayil Yohannanum Veda vaipareethyavum (Poikayil Yohannan and antitheology). Yohannan is addressed as ' Appachan' by his followers."
^J. W. Gladstone (1984). Protestant Christianity and people's movements in Kerala: a study of Christian mass movements in relation to neo-Hindu socio-religious movements in Kerala, 1850-1936. Seminary Publications. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
^Dr. Alex Thomas; I.S.P.C.K. (Organization) (1 August 2007). A history of the first cross-cultural mission of the Mar Thoma Church, 1910-2000. ISPCK. ISBN978-81-7214-969-7. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
Further reading
Mohan, P. Sanal (2013). "Religion, Social Space, and Identity: The Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha and the Making of Cultural Boundaries in Twentieth Century Kerala". In Channa, Subhadra Mitra; Mencher, Joan P. (eds.). Life as a Dalit: Views from the Bottom on Caste in India. SAGE Publications India. ISBN978-8-13211-777-3.
V. V. Swamy and E. V. Anil, "Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha - Orma, Pattu, Charithrarekhakal", Adiyardeepam Publications, 2010
'Vyavastayude Nadapathakal', Society of PRDS Studies, Unseen letters, Slate Publications, 2017
April 28, 2023
poykayil, yohannan, february, 1879, eraviperoor, 1939, known, poykayil, appachan, poykayil, kumara, guru, devan, dalit, activist, poet, founder, socio, religious, movement, prathyaksha, raksha, daiva, sabha, society, obvious, salvation, father, kandan, mother,. Poykayil Yohannan 17 February 1879 in Eraviperoor 1939 known as Poykayil Appachan or Poykayil Kumara Guru Devan was a dalit activist poet and the founder of the socio religious movement Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha God s Society of Obvious Salvation 1 His father was Kandan and mother Lachi His original name was Kumaran Poykayil Sreekumara GurudevanBornYohannan 1879 02 17 February 17 1879Eraviperoor Travancore present day Pathanamthitta district Kerala IndiaDiedJune 29 1939 1939 06 29 aged 60 OccupationDalit leader poetNationalityIndianGenrePoetry theologySpouseJanamma Contents 1 Religious work 2 Work as a legislator 3 Publications 4 Media representations 5 References 6 Further readingReligious work EditYohannan joined the Marthoma church a reformist sect among the Syrian Christians but realised the church treated Dalits as an inferior class and so left it He then joined a new sect called the Brethren Mission where he faced similar instances of caste based discrimination Johannan concluded that Indian Christian communities continued to discriminate based on caste and felt this defied the basic tenets of Christianity 2 In 1909 Yohannan left Christianity and started his own religious protest movement named Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha He was known as Poikayil Appachan or Kumara Gurudevan afterwards citation needed Johannan advocated spiritual liberation and sought to empower and consolidate the Dalits promoting a creed in which the dalit castes would be free of discrimination 3 He was the first person to start an English medium school for the dalit community 4 Work as a legislator EditYohannan was also a member of the Dalit advocacy group Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham which was founded in 1907 by another dalit leader of Kerala Ayyankali Yohannan was also twice nominated in 1921 and 1931 to the Sree Moolam Praja Sabha the legislative council of the princely state of Travancore 5 Publications EditUnknown Subjects Songs of Poykayil Appachan Translated from Malayalam by A S Sekher Vadyakhoshangal Nadathunnavarum and Ente Vamshathepatti were featured in the Dalit Poem Collection named Kathal published by DC BooksMedia representations EditMannikkale Maanikkyam Drama by V V Santhakumar features YohannanReferences Edit A T Philip The Mar Thoma Church and Kerala society 1991 One of the outcome was the booklet entitled Poikayil Yohannanum Veda vaipareethyavum Poikayil Yohannan and antitheology Yohannan is addressed as Appachan by his followers J W Gladstone 1984 Protestant Christianity and people s movements in Kerala a study of Christian mass movements in relation to neo Hindu socio religious movements in Kerala 1850 1936 Seminary Publications Retrieved 30 March 2012 Poikayil Johannan Archived 1 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Poikayil Yohannan Dr Alex Thomas I S P C K Organization 1 August 2007 A history of the first cross cultural mission of the Mar Thoma Church 1910 2000 ISPCK ISBN 978 81 7214 969 7 Retrieved 30 March 2012 Further reading EditMohan P Sanal 2013 Religion Social Space and Identity The Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha and the Making of Cultural Boundaries in Twentieth Century Kerala In Channa Subhadra Mitra Mencher Joan P eds Life as a Dalit Views from the Bottom on Caste in India SAGE Publications India ISBN 978 8 13211 777 3 V V Swamy and E V Anil Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha Orma Pattu Charithrarekhakal Adiyardeepam Publications 2010 Vyavastayude Nadapathakal Society of PRDS Studies Unseen letters Slate Publications 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Poykayil Yohannan amp oldid 1141116579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
