B. E. Devaraj

B. E. Devaraj was a translator who pioneered the Lambadi version of the New Testament. He was Acting Commissary and Vicar General of the Archdeaconry of Nandyal from 1950[2] to 1951.[3]

B. E. Devaraj
Education[1] M. A., L.Th.
ChurchChurch of South India, (Diocese of Nandyal)
Ordained1948[2]
WritingsSee Section
Offices held

TitleReverend

Devaraj also taught in the Andhra Christian Theological College,[4] Rajahmundry {affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University) - a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f) [5] of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956[6] (as modified up to 20 December 1985)}.

Ravela Joseph who compiled a bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu with the assistance of B. Suneel Bhanu under the aegis of the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College included books by B. E. Devaraj entitled A Commentary on First Corinthians (మొదటి కొరింథీ పత్రిక వ్యాఖ్యానము),[7] Good Friday (మoఛి శుక్రవారము),[8] and Love's Servant (ప్రెమదాసు).[9]

The Bible Society of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary released the New Testament in Lambadi on 25 October 1999[10] in the presence[11] of G. Babu Rao, then Auxiliary Secretary, G. D. V. Prasad, Director - Translations of the Bible Society of India, Central Office, Bengaluru and B. K. Pramanik, its General Secretary. Lazarus Lalsingh[12] of Badao Banjara Phojer[11] who put in efforts for bringing the New Testament in Lambadi recalled the earlier efforts of B. E. Devaraj in translating texts into Lambadi at the release in 1999.[11]

Contribution
  • Books in Telugu
    • 1949 - Religious Lessons[13]
    • 1956 - Good Friday (మoఛి శుక్రవారము)[8]
    • 1960 - Gospel of St. Mark in simplified Telugu[14]
    • 1967 - Love's Servant (ప్రెమదాసు).[9]
    • 1969 - History of the Church in India,[15]
    • 1973 - A Commentary on First Corinthians (మొదటి కొరింథీ పత్రిక వ్యాఖ్యానము)[7]
  • Books in Lambadi (Translations)
    • 1963 - Gospel According to St. Mark[16]
    • 1966 - Gospel According to St. Luke[17]
  • Books in Lambadi (Translations with Special Titles)
    • 1974 - Way of Hope, The Gospel According to St. Mark[18]
    • 1975 - Way of Peace, The Gospel according to St. Luke[19]
    • 1976 - Way of Life, The Gospel According to St. John[20]

History and Studies

Devaraj attended the local S.P.G. School in Nandyal and then graduated from the Noble College in Machilipatnam in 1920 where he took a B.A.[2] He also studied for an M.A. at the Madras University in 1929, eventually became principal of a Training School in Nandyal.[2]

During 1946–1947, Devaraj attended a special course[21] at the United Theological College, Bengaluru and was ordained as an Anglican Priest in 1948.[2]

Reminisce

Talathoti Punnaiah who studied a 3-year theology course leading to Bachelor of Theology at the Andhra Christian Theological College, both at Rajahmundry and at Hyderabad from 1970-1973 recalls his association with B. E. Devaraj:

Devaraj was Bursar of the College and a senior most among the faculty hailing from an Anglican background, very active and healthy. He was very good in Telugu and composed the Hymn 484 appearing in the Christian Hymnal in Telugu. He was very particular in grammar pronunciation. As I studied in Madras and had Tamil slang, I was afraid to read the Telugu book in the class. Later on, I understood the importance of Telugu language through his Telugu class and I improved my Telugu vocabulary, expression and accent.[22]

References
Notes
  1. South Indian Teacher, Volumes 22-23, South India Teacher's Union, 1949. p. 82.
  2. Constance M. Millington, An Ecumenical Venture: The History of Nandyal Diocese in Andhra Pradesh, 1947-1990, Issue 214 of ATC publication, Asian Trading Corporation, Bengaluru, 1993. pp. 22, 82 and 217.
  3. K. M. George, Church of South India: Life in Union, 1947-1997, Jointly published by Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi and Christava Sahitya Samithi, Tiruvalla, 1999.
  4. Andhra Christian Theological College Prospectus 1969. Printed by A. Nageswara Rao at Saraswathi Power Press, Rajahmundry.
  5. Under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956, University means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recoginsed by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act. The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since The Serampore College Act, 1918 was passed by the Government of West Bengal."UGC and Senate of Serampore College (University)". Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 Archived 29 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. B. E. Devaraju, A Commentary on First Corinthians, Telugu Theological Literature Board for Andhra Pradesh Christian Council, Hyderabad, 1973. Cited by Ravela Joseph, Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bengaluru, 1993. p. 7
  8. B. E. Devaraju, Good Friday, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 1956. Cited by Ravela Joseph, Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bengaluru, 1993. p. 30
  9. B. E. Devaraju, Love's Servant, Christian Literature Service, Chennai, 1967. Cited by Ravela Joseph, Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of original Christian writings in Telugu, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bengaluru, 1993. p. 44
  10. New Testament in Lambadi, Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1999
  11. Sowing Circle, A Bulletin of the Bible Society of India, Volume 15, Number 1, January–April 2000 (For Private Circulation), Bengaluru. pp.24-25.
  12. Tony E. Samuel Hilton, Lazarus Lalsingh, Banjara: a people in India, People series, People India Research & Training Institute, 1999.
  13. B. E. Devaraj, Religious Lessons. Cited by Frank C. Laubach in India Shall Be Literate, Printed by F. E. Livengood at the Mission Press, Jabalpur, 1940. p. 99. Reprinted by Read Books in 2007.
  14. B. E. Devaraj, M. J. Prakasam, Sarah Anstey, Gospel of St. Mark in simplified Telugu, Bible Society of India and Ceylon (1956-1966), Bengaluru, 1960.
  15. B. E. Devaraj, History of the Church in India, Telugu Theological Literature Board, 1969.
  16. B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel, Gospel According to St. Mark, Bible Society of India and Ceylon, Bengaluru, 1963.
  17. B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel, Gospel According to St. Luke, Bible Society of India, 1966.
  18. B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel Way of Hope, The Gospel According to St. Mark, Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1974.
  19. B. E. Devaraj, P. Solomon, R. J. G. Samuel, Way of Peace, The Gospel according to St. Luke, Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1975.
  20. B. E. Devaraj, Way of life, The Gospel According to St. John, The Bible Society of India, Bengaluru, 1976.
  21. The United Theological College, Directory 1910-1997, Bengaluru, 1997. p.90.
  22. Talathoti Punnaiah, My Memoir, Ministry and Message: (60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010), Kakinada, 2010, pp.18-19.
Further reading
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