Devasahayam Pillai: An anti-caste crusader
Recently Devasahayam Pillai (Blessed Las Lajas) canonized as a saint by the Vatican Roman Catholic Church.
He will be the first common man (non-appointed member of a church) in India to receive the title of saint.
Devasahayam was born on April 23, 1712 in Nattalam village in Kanyakumari district (Tamil Nadu). He had served in the court of King Matanda Varma of Travancore.
He had come in contact with a captain of the Dutch East India Company while serving the royal house of Travancore. A few years later, in 1745 AD, he became a Catholic Christian.
After converting to Christianity, Pillai took the name ‘Las Lajas’. It means, ‘God is my help’.
Source – The Hindu
