By Madhurima Ghosh –
Devasahayam Pillai was approved sainthood by the Vatican in February 2020. Devasahayam was a Hindu man from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu who converted his religion to Christianity and took the name Lazarus in 1745. But his decision of this conversion had adverse effects back then and he had to face harsh persecution, imprisonment followed by his killing in 1752. Thus Vatican declared him eligible for sainthood “for enduring increasing hardship” in the path of taking upChristianity.
1712 April 23, Pillai was born in the village of Nattalam, Tamil Nadu. He served in the court of Maharaja Marthanda Vermawhere he met a Dutch Naval Commander who introduced him to Catholic faith. In 1745 he got converted and assumed the name of Lazarus but soon after this he had to face the wrath of his native religion. He preached equality of people in spite of caste differences and this was not acceptable by them. He was put under false charges of treason, espionage and imprisoned where he had to undergo harsh persecution.
1752, January 14th he was shot dead at Aralvaimozhy forest. Since then he was considered a martyr in Catholic community and his body is preserved in Saint Francis Xaviers Cathedral in the diocese of Kottar. In 2004 diocese of Kottar along with Tamil Nadu Bishops Council (TNBC) and the conference of Catholic Bishops of India recommended Devasahayam for beatification. In February last year he was declared eligible for sainthood. According to a note from the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI described Devasahayam as a “faithful layman”.
In 2017 two former IAS officer wrote to the head of Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato to drop Devasahayam’s last name Pillai as it was Caste title. Their request was turned down by the Vatican. However in 2020 when Vatican cleared him for Sainthood, they dropped his last name and gave him the title of “Blessed Devasahayam”. He was approved for sainthood in February 2020 for “enduring increasing hardships” after he decided to embrace Christianity, according to the Vatican, May 15, 2022 is announced as the date for the ceremony.