Puroshottam Choudhary - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|Indian writer}}
	{{Unreliable sources\|date=July 2021}}		{{Unreliable sources\|date=July 2021}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=August 2014}}		{{EngvarB\|date=August 2014}}
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	By 1825, it appears, he was introduced to [[Christian literature]], when his brother Jagannadha Chowdhari procured him religious [[tract (literature)\|tracts]] written by probably by [[William Carey (missionary)\|William Carey]], one of the [[Serampore Trio]]. Influenced by the tracts, he obtained more tracts from neighbouring villages and decided to learn more about Christianity. He even went to [[Vizagapatnam]] (also known as [[Vizag]]) and met Roman Catholic priest and tried to meet Rev James Dawson of [[London Missionary Society]], already operating over there. Later he was influenced by Christian officers like Capt. Knott, General Adjutant Evalin, and Major Brett from [[East India Company]]—While working as a tutor in [[Paralakhemundi\|Parlakimedi]]. He was directed to Helen Knott, who gave [[Gospel of Luke]] and two tracts—In May 1833, he went to Vizagapatnam to meet missionaries, then-overseen by Major Brett. Here, he had written his own tract on [[Indian people\|Indian]] caste in Telugu, published later by Tract society of Madras—While, Brett had plans to send him to Madras by sea, Helen Knott having got positive message from Baptist Missionary Society from Cuttack, he was finally sent to Cuttack. Eventually, he was [[baptised]] on 6 October 1833 into Christian faith by Charles Lacey, an English [[General Baptist]] [[missionary]] to [[Cuttack]], Orissa; Charles Lacey came to Orissa in 1823 for [[evangelical]] activities, after [[William Bampton]] and [[James Peggs]] arrived Orissa in 1822.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/><ref>{{cite web \|url= http://www.erudit.org/revue/ttr/2005/v18/n2/015766ar.html \|title= Missionary Position: The Irony of Translational Activism in Colonial Orissa \|author= Debendra K. Dash, Dipti R. Pattanaik \|quote= on 12 February 1822, missionaries like Bampton and Peggs reached Orissa with the specific purpose of spreading Christianity among the Oriyas. As has already been hinted, by 1813 the British Parliament through legislation had allowed the missionaries ostensibly to undertake educational activity in company territory. Since then the company administration had been encouraging the appointment of bishops in Calcutta. The Missionary Societies formed in Britain sent their representatives to various parts of India. After Bampton and Peggs in 1822, Charles Lacey came to Orissa in 1823. Amos Sutton followed suit on 11 March 1825, and Nois and Phillips, in 1835. \|publisher= erudit.org \|accessdate= 29 May 2012 }}</ref>		By 1825, it appears, he was introduced to [[Christian literature]], when his brother Jagannadha Chowdhari procured him religious [[tract (literature)\|tracts]] written by probably by [[William Carey (missionary)\|William Carey]], one of the [[Serampore Trio]]. Influenced by the tracts, he obtained more tracts from neighbouring villages and decided to learn more about Christianity. He even went to [[Vizagapatnam]] (also known as [[Vizag]]) and met Roman Catholic priest and tried to meet Rev James Dawson of [[London Missionary Society]], already operating over there. Later he was influenced by Christian officers like Capt. Knott, General Adjutant Evalin, and Major Brett from [[East India Company]]—While working as a tutor in [[Paralakhemundi\|Parlakimedi]]. He was directed to Helen Knott, who gave [[Gospel of Luke]] and two tracts—In May 1833, he went to Vizagapatnam to meet missionaries, then-overseen by Major Brett. Here, he had written his own tract on [[Indian people\|Indian]] caste in Telugu, published later by Tract society of Madras—While, Brett had plans to send him to Madras by sea, Helen Knott having got positive message from Baptist Missionary Society from Cuttack, he was finally sent to Cuttack. Eventually, he was [[baptised]] on 6 October 1833 into Christian faith by Charles Lacey, an English [[General Baptist]] [[missionary]] to [[Cuttack]], Orissa; Charles Lacey came to Orissa in 1823 for [[evangelical]] activities, after [[William Bampton]] and [[James Peggs]] arrived Orissa in 1822.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/><ref>{{cite web \|url= http://www.erudit.org/revue/ttr/2005/v18/n2/015766ar.html \|title= Missionary Position: The Irony of Translational Activism in Colonial Orissa \|author= Debendra K. Dash, Dipti R. Pattanaik \|quote= on 12 February 1822, missionaries like Bampton and Peggs reached Orissa with the specific purpose of spreading Christianity among the Oriyas. As has already been hinted, by 1813 the British Parliament through legislation had allowed the missionaries ostensibly to undertake educational activity in company territory. Since then the company administration had been encouraging the appointment of bishops in Calcutta. The Missionary Societies formed in Britain sent their representatives to various parts of India. After Bampton and Peggs in 1822, Charles Lacey came to Orissa in 1823. Amos Sutton followed suit on 11 March 1825, and Nois and Phillips, in 1835. \|publisher= erudit.org \|accessdate= 29 May 2012 }}</ref>

	Initially in 1834, he worked as an assistant missionary under Major Brett of London Missionary Society at [[Madras]]; accordingly, he made numerous trips to Oriya speaking districts and Telugu speaking districts of then-[[Madras Presidency]], including regions of [[Andhra Pradesh\|Andhra]] and [[Bellary]] of present [[Karnataka]], to preach the "Word of God,"([[gospel]]) and to distribute Christian literature, including the evangelical literature written by him.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/> ~~His notable theme of preaching was:{{quote\|As a blind man cannot lead another blind man, so also the sinful deities cannot save sinners.<ref name="R1"/>}}~~		Initially in 1834, he worked as an assistant missionary under Major Brett of London Missionary Society at [[Madras]]; accordingly, he made numerous trips to Oriya speaking districts and Telugu speaking districts of then-[[Madras Presidency]], including regions of [[Andhra Pradesh\|Andhra]] and [[Bellary]] of present [[Karnataka]], to preach the "Word of God,"([[gospel]]) and to distribute Christian literature, including the evangelical literature written by him.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/>
	After he was baptised, while in Vizagapatnam, he preached gospel over there, and surrounding villages. About this time, he wrote his first [[lyrics\|lyric]] ''I sought the refuge of our Jesus Christ''. Though his relatives and villagers outcast him for renouncing his native faith, he kept on preaching gospel in Vizagapatnam, Chicacole, Madras, Bellary, including his native place near Parlakimedi and surrounding villages.<ref name="R3"/>		After he was baptised, while in Vizagapatnam, he preached gospel over there, and surrounding villages. About this time, he wrote his first [[lyrics\|lyric]] ''I sought the refuge of our Jesus Christ''. Though his relatives and villagers outcast him for renouncing his native faith, he kept on preaching gospel in Vizagapatnam, Chicacole, Madras, Bellary, including his native place near Parlakimedi and surrounding villages.<ref name="R3"/>

>TrangaBellam: Added {{Unreliable sources}} tag

2021-07-30T18:43:05Z

Added {{Unreliable sources}} tag

New page

{{Unreliable sources|date=July 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{infobox person
|name = Purushottama Choudhary
|birth_date = {{birth date|1803|9|5}}
|birth_place = Madanpur, Ganjam district, West Bengal
|death_date = {{death date and age|1890|8|24|1803|9|5}}
|parents = Kurmanatha, Subhadra
|occupation = Christian poet, preacher
}}
'''Puroshottam Choudhary''' (5 September 1803 – 24 August 1890<ref>Some sources list his date of birth as 1880. See {{harvnb|Mallampalli|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=44AiGyqFoMsC&pg=PA116 116]}}</ref>) also spelled '''Purushottama Chaudhary''' or '''Purushothama Choudhari''' was a great 19th century [[Telugu Christian]] poet. He was a Christian preacher, [[Evangelism|evangelist]], and pastor of the [[Berhampur]] Church, founded by Isaac Stubbins in 1838.<ref name="R1">{{cite web |url= http://www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/bulletin/2007/may.htm |title= Purushottam Chowdhari: India's Greatest Baptist Preacher |quote= On September 5, 1803, in a village called Madanpur in the Ganjam District of West Bengal a child was born to Kurmanatha and Subhadhra Chowdhari. They called their son Purushottam which means "good man."|publisher= centerforbaptiststudies.org |accessdate= 28 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name="R3">{{cite web |url= https://archive.org/stream/MN41713ucmf_9/MN41713ucmf_9_djvu.txt |title= Chowdhari Purushottam |quote= In 1832 he remembered that his brother had given him seven years previously a Christian tract. When he had read it carefully he determined to give up his ascetic life and learn more about the Christian religion. He obtained three more tracts in neighboring villages. In his search for more light he went on one occasion to Vizagapatam and was directed to a Roman Catholic Church, but seeing images there he turned away. A missionary of the London Missionary Society was living there then, but he was very ill and died soon after- wards. Later, while in Parlakimedi as a tutor, Mr. Purushottam sent a letter by a messenger to Berhampore addressing it to the "Padre" of that place. This fell into the hands of the Roman Catholics; so he deter- mined to go to' Madras. Meanwhile an opportunity arose for a visit to Chicacole. On inquiring about Christianity he was directed to a lady, Mrs. Helen Knott, who became deeply interested in him, and gave him a copy of the Gospel according to Luke and two tracts. Through reading the Gospel and conversing with Mrs. Knott he determined to become a Christian.|accessdate= 28 May 2012 }}</ref>

He was also a poet, [[pamphleteer]], and one of the first Christian vaggeyakaras—contributing immensely to "[[Bhakti]] tradition" in Telugu Christianity and to [[Christology]] in India.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R2">{{cite book |last=Taneti |first= James Elisha |title= History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography |publisher= Scarecrow Press |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=W1xAHHzUbNsC&q=Purushottam&pg=PA20|year= 2011
|pages= 11–89 |isbn= 9780810872431}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Rao|1983|pp=5–6}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Mallampalli|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=44AiGyqFoMsC&pg=PA117 117]}}</ref>

==Biography==
Choudhary was born on 5 September 1803 to Kurmanatha Chowdhari and Subhadhra in [[Madanpur, India|Madanpur]] — currently part of [[West Bengal]] state, previously part of [[Ganjam district]], Orissa — with predominant [[Oriya language|Oriya]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-speaking people and their neighbouring lands – Ganjam district is located on the border of Telugu-speaking districts of present [[Andhra Pradesh]]—namely, [[Chicacole]] (''present'' [[Srikakulam]]) and [[Vizagapatam]] (''present'' [[Visakhapatnam]]). While in Orissa, he was married and was blessed with two sons and three daughters.<ref name="R1"/>

Purushottam Choudhary comes from orthodox Bengal Brahmin family, whose ancestors migrated to present Andhra-Orissa (Odisha) region in the 1700s because of political unrest in Bengal state in those days.

By 1825, it appears, he was introduced to [[Christian literature]], when his brother Jagannadha Chowdhari procured him religious [[tract (literature)|tracts]] written by probably by [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]], one of the [[Serampore Trio]]. Influenced by the tracts, he obtained more tracts from neighbouring villages and decided to learn more about Christianity. He even went to [[Vizagapatnam]] (also known as [[Vizag]]) and met Roman Catholic priest and tried to meet Rev James Dawson of [[London Missionary Society]], already operating over there. Later he was influenced by Christian officers like Capt. Knott, General Adjutant Evalin, and Major Brett from [[East India Company]]—While working as a tutor in [[Paralakhemundi|Parlakimedi]]. He was directed to Helen Knott, who gave [[Gospel of Luke]] and two tracts—In May 1833, he went to Vizagapatnam to meet missionaries, then-overseen by Major Brett. Here, he had written his own tract on [[Indian people|Indian]] caste in Telugu, published later by Tract society of Madras—While, Brett had plans to send him to Madras by sea, Helen Knott having got positive message from Baptist Missionary Society from Cuttack, he was finally sent to Cuttack. Eventually, he was [[baptised]] on 6 October 1833 into Christian faith by Charles Lacey, an English [[General Baptist]] [[missionary]] to [[Cuttack]], Orissa; Charles Lacey came to Orissa in 1823 for [[evangelical]] activities, after [[William Bampton]] and [[James Peggs]] arrived Orissa in 1822.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.erudit.org/revue/ttr/2005/v18/n2/015766ar.html |title= Missionary Position: The Irony of Translational Activism in Colonial Orissa |author= Debendra K. Dash, Dipti R. Pattanaik |quote= on 12 February 1822, missionaries like Bampton and Peggs reached Orissa with the specific purpose of spreading Christianity among the Oriyas. As has already been hinted, by 1813 the British Parliament through legislation had allowed the missionaries ostensibly to undertake educational activity in company territory. Since then the company administration had been encouraging the appointment of bishops in Calcutta. The Missionary Societies formed in Britain sent their representatives to various parts of India. After Bampton and Peggs in 1822, Charles Lacey came to Orissa in 1823. Amos Sutton followed suit on 11 March 1825, and Nois and Phillips, in 1835. |publisher= erudit.org |accessdate= 29 May 2012 }}</ref>

Initially in 1834, he worked as an assistant missionary under Major Brett of London Missionary Society at [[Madras]]; accordingly, he made numerous trips to Oriya speaking districts and Telugu speaking districts of then-[[Madras Presidency]], including regions of [[Andhra Pradesh|Andhra]] and [[Bellary]] of present [[Karnataka]], to preach the "Word of God,"([[gospel]]) and to distribute Christian literature, including the evangelical literature written by him.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/> His notable theme of preaching was:{{quote|As a blind man cannot lead another blind man, so also the sinful deities cannot save sinners.<ref name="R1"/>}}
After he was baptised, while in Vizagapatnam, he preached gospel over there, and surrounding villages. About this time, he wrote his first [[lyrics|lyric]] ''I sought the refuge of our Jesus Christ''. Though his relatives and villagers outcast him for renouncing his native faith, he kept on preaching gospel in Vizagapatnam, Chicacole, Madras, Bellary, including his native place near Parlakimedi and surrounding villages.<ref name="R3"/>

Soon his wife joined him at Chicacole, and was [[ordained]] on 24 April 1835 by the [[Baptist]] missionaries at the Baptist conference in Cuttack under supervision of [[Amos Sutton]], impressed by his sincere work in the ministry; later, he was sent to work exclusively among [[Telugu people]] as an assistant to [[Samuel S. Day]], a Canadian-born American Baptist missionary to Telugus in Srikakulum, Visakhapatnam, Bellary, [[Nellore]], and most of Madras Presidency provinces; and founder of Telugu Baptist mission at Nellore. After he worked as an evangelist for a while, he was appointed as pastor at the Church in [[Berhampur]], also known as ''Silk City'', in Ganjam district.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/>

In 1836, he was invited by the judge at Chicacole to preach gospel there. He worked closely with Rev William Dawson of London Missionary Society( an accomplished hymn writer in Telugu). In 1838, he was invited to [[Brahmapur, Odisha|Berhampore]], where he spent seven years by preaching and touring all Ganjam district neighbourhoods. In 1844, he went to Chicacole station under London Missionary Society and preached gospel there for another six years till 1850. In 1851, after he lost his wife, he was transferred again to Vizagapatnam; over there, he helped the missionaries in Bible translation and continued his gospel preaching. In 1861, he toured several Telugu-speaking areas for gospel preaching, namely, [[Anakapalli]], Yellamanchili, [[Tuni]], [[Pithapuram|Pithapur]], [[Samalkot]], [[Peddapuram]], [[Cocanada]] (''present'' [[Kakinada]]), and several other Andhra regions. In 1862, he was recruited to preach evangelistic work at Chittivasala, near [[Bheemunipatnam|Bimlipatnam]], and on Sunday evenings to preach at [[Polepalli]]. During these course, several of his family members were baptised.

In 1868, having decided to retire from mission work, he went back to Cuttack where his children lived. After he returned to Cuttack, by 1870 he had warm friendship with Das Anthravady, a pastor. He and Anthravady baptised several people and preached the gospel visiting Chicacole, [[Vizianagaram]], and Chittivalasa. In 1872, Anthravady published a poetical work by Purushottam entitled ''The Gospel Trumpet''—one thousand copies were printed and distributed in Telugu speaking districts. In 1875, he was again offered his former pastor job by mission and finally made him in charge of the Church at Berhampore.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/><ref name="R2"/>

He was also a good poet and renowned hymn-writer; he composed one hundred and thirty hymns, authored books, seven Christian tracts, and published many [[pamphlets]] with teachings of [[Jesus Christ]]. Having lost vision of both eyes after fifty-four years of preaching with London Mission and English Baptist mission, he lived a remaining life on pension from Church. He died at an age of eighty-seven on 24 August 1890, and was buried in Cuttack.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R3"/><ref name="R2"/>

A biographical account of him entitled ''Rev. Purushottam Chowdhari'' was authored by John Chowdhari, his grandson. Another book entitled ''Bhakti Theology of Purushottam Choudari'' was authored by Joseph Ravela, professor of [[Andhra Christian Theological College]] (ACTC).<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R2"/><ref>{{cite book |last= Ravela |first= Bruce R. |author2=Joseph |title= Bhakti theology of Purushottam Chowdhari |publisher= Christian Literature Society |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ba_YAAAAMAAJ|year= 2004 |work= the University of Michigan}}</ref><ref name="bap">{{cite web |url= http://www.baptistheritage.com/resources/Bibliography/StarrVolume/StarrVol4/ChilversH_ChurchillJ.pdf |title= A Baptist Bibliography |year= 1954 |work= American Baptist Historical Society |publisher= baptistheritage.com |accessdate= 31 May 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Works==
* ''Nilachala Vilasamu'', a poem written while a {{linktext|heathen}}—not yet [[baptised]], 1828.
* ''Kulachara Pariksha'' (Examination of [[caste]]), a tract, 1833.
* ''Muktimarga Pradarsanam'' (The way of happiness), a tract, 1845.
* ''Yesu Kristu Prabhu Satakamu'' (Ode to the [[Lord Jesus]]), a poem, 1845.
* ''Jagannadha Pariksha'' (Testing of [[Jagannath]]), in Telugu, 1845.
* ''Muktimarga Pradarsanamu'' (The way of happiness), a tract, 1845.
* ''Rakshana Charitra'' (History of [[salvation]]), 1846.
* ''Nistara Ratnakaramu'' (Jewel mine of salvation), 1846.
* ''Vigraha nirmanamu'' (The creating of an [[Idolatry|Idol]]), 1847.
* ''Pancha Chamara Pannamulu'', 1847.
* ''Pancha Ratnamulu'' (Five jewels), poems about God, 1847.
* ''Brahma Jnanamu'' (on [[Pantheism]]), 1856.
* ''Andhakara Nasanamu'', in Telugu, 1861.
* ''Masuchi, Visuchi, Sankata bhranti nivritti'' (The destruction of the fear of disease), 1862.
* ''Manasse Mulam'' (The mind is everything), 1863.
* ''Kristava Niti Prakasamu'' (the [[gospel]] trumpet) written in 1851, a booklet in Telugu, published by Das Anthravedy in 1871.
* ''Satyaveda sara sangrahamu'' or ''Christ's paratatva'' ([[Christian philosophy]]), 1871.
* ''Devuni Viradrupa Varnanamu'' (Description of the grandeur of God), in Telugu, 1884.
* ''Life of Purushottam Chowdhari'', 1888.<ref name="bap"/>

===Works he assisted===
* In compilation of Telugu Baptist hymn book.
* Assisted W.Dawson (L.W. Society) on Telugu hymn book, containing about 80 of Purushottam's hymns, 1848.
* Assisted in compiling hymns about 130.
* Assisted J. Hay on Telugu scriptures.
* Index to the Telugu Bible, a laborious production of Purushottam.<ref name="bap"/>

==See also==
* [[Telugu Christian]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

*{{citation|last=Elisha|first=James|title=Canadian Baptist mission work among women in Andhra, India, 1874–1924|journal=Baptist History and Heritage|year=2006|volume=41|issue=1|pages=42–54|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-146344617/canadian-baptist-mission-work.html}}
*{{citation|last=Mallampalli|first=Chandra|publisher=Routledge|year=2004|title=Christians and public life in colonial South India, 1863–1937: contending with marginality|isbn=978-0-415-32321-5}}
*{{citation|title=The St. Thomas Christian encyclopaedia of India, Volume 1|last2=Hambye|first2=Edward René|last1=Menachery|first1=George|location=Trichur|oclc=1237836|year=1982}}
*{{citation|last=Rao|first=Sundara R. R.|year=1983|title=Bhakti Theology in the Telugu Hymnal|series=Confessing the faith in India|volume=16|publisher=Madras: Christian Literature Society on behalf of Bangalore: Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society|oclc=10453651}}

==Further reading==
*{{citation|title=Bhakti theology of Purushottam Chowdhari|last=Joseph|first=Ravela|publisher=Christian Literature Society|year=2004|oclc=65517210}}
*{{citation|url=http://www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/bulletin/2007/may.htm#Greatest|title=Purushottam Chowdhari: India's Greatest Baptist Preacher|journal=Baptist Studies Bulletin|publisher=Mercer University|date=May 2007|last=Sudheer|first=B. M.|volume=6|number=5}}
*Christopher K W(2015)'Negotiating the Spiritual:Purushottama Choudhary and 19th c Telugu Christian Literature',''Indian Literature''''(Sahitya Akademi)VolLVIII .1 No285Jan/Feb,2015
https://www.academia.edu/11720884/Purushottama_Choudhary_and_19th_c_Telugu_Christian_Literature
*Arudra (2004) Samagra Andhra Sahityam Vol. 3. Hyderabad: Telugu Akademi

==External links==
* [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-24306122_ITM Bengal missionary's birth anniversary to be held on Friday – The 200th birth anniversary of Purushottam Choudhary, known for his missionary work among Christians, will be celebrated on Sept. 5.]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Choudhary, Puroshottam}}
[[Category:1803 births]]
[[Category:1890 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Christians]]
[[Category:Bengali people]]
[[Category:People from Odisha]]
[[Category:Telugu-language writers]]
[[Category:Christian hymnwriters]]
[[Category:Converts to Protestantism from Hinduism]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Bengali male poets]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Indian Christian writers]]