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
SuccessorOommen Mammen
Orders
Ordination1856 (deacon)
1859 (priest)
Personal details
BornKoshy Koshy
1825 (1825)
Died1899 (1900)
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. His parents were Koshy Mullamangalam and Annamma.[1] When he was 11 years old (1836), his family converted to Anglicanism, under the influence of the Church Mission Society.[1][2]

Priesthood

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Koshy desired to enter his Church's ministry and studied at the Pazhaya Seminary, Kottayam.[3] By 1844, he was a scholar in Sanskrit, Latin and English languages.[3] In 1856, he was received into the diaconate. In 1859, he was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church.[4] In the nineteenth century, the highest office attained by Indians within the Anglican Church was that of an archdeacon.[5] In 1885, Rev. K. Koshy became the first Indian to be raised to the rank of an archdeacon.[4]

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.[3][6] Pulleli Kunju (1882) is regarded as the first novellike original work on a local theme, in Malayalam.[7] He also translated John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (Paradesi Mokshayathra, 1845) and The Holy War (Thirupporattam), to Malayalam.[6][7]

Adn. Koshy was the editor of Njananikshepam (published since 1840), the first Malayalam periodical.[8][6] 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.[9][3]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Idiculla 2012, p. 65.
  2. Jeffrey 1976, pp. 17–18, 338.
  3. 1 2 3 4 George 1972, p. 69.
  4. 1 2 Jeffrey 1976, p. 338.
  5. Mooken 1983, p. 102.
  6. 1 2 3 Devi 1978, p. 13.
  7. 1 2 George 1972, pp. 69–70.
  8. Chaitanya 1971, p. 174.
  9. Stock 1899, pp. 460, 465.

Bibliography

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