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{{Short description|Christian missionary and social reformer in India (1871–1940)}}
{{Redirect|Charlie Andrews|the Heroes character|Charlie Andrews (Heroes)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Charles Freer Andrews
| image = Charles Freer Andrews 1971 stamp of India.jpg
| caption = Charles Freer Andrews 1971 stamp of India
| birth_date = {{birth-date|12 February 1871}}
| birth_place = [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland]], England
| death_date = {{d-da|5 April 1940|12 February 1871}}
| death_place = [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| alma_mater = [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]]
| occupation = [[Church of England|Anglican]] priest, missionary, educator, social reformer
| known_for = {{hlist|[[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]] activism and friendship with [[Mahatma Gandhi]]}}
}}

'''Charles Freer Andrews''' (12 February 1871 – 5 April 1940) was an [[Church of England|Anglican]] priest and Christian missionary, educator and social reformer, and an activist for [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]]. He became a close friend of [[Rabindranath Tagore]] and [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and identified with the Indian liberation struggle. He was instrumental in persuading Gandhi to return to India from South Africa, where Gandhi had been a leading light in the campaign for Indian civil rights.

Andrews was affectionately dubbed ''Christ's Faithful Apostle'' by Gandhi, based on his initials, C. F. A. For his contributions to the Indian independence movement, Gandhi and his students at [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]], named him ''[[Honorary titles of Indian leaders|Deenabandhu]]'', or "Friend of the Poor".

==Early life==
Charles Freer Andrews was born on 12 February 1871 at 14 Brunel Terrace, [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], [[Northumberland]], United Kingdom. His father, John Edwin Andrews, was the "Angel" ([[Catholic Apostolic Church#Bishops|bishop]]) of the [[Catholic Apostolic Church]] in [[Birmingham]]. Charles was one of 14 children. The family had suffered financial misfortune because of the duplicity of a friend, and had to work hard to make ends meet. Andrews was a student at [[King Edward's School, Birmingham]], and afterwards read ''[[Classics]]'' at [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]],<ref>{{acad|id=ANDS890CF|name=Andrews, Charles Freer}}</ref> ultimately being awarded the Carus Greek Testament Prize in 1895.<ref>[https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000183/18951123/017/0003 British Newspaper Archive] (subscription required)</ref> During this period, he moved away from his family's church and was accepted for ordination in the [[Church of England]].

In 1896, Andrews became a [[deacon]] and took over the Pembroke College Mission in south [[London]]. A year later, he was made a priest and became Vice-Principal of [[Westcott House, Cambridge|Westcott House]] Theological College in Cambridge.

In 1899, Andrews was elected as a fellow at Pembroke College, Cambridge.<ref>[https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000183/18991211/055/0009 "University Intelligence"] British Newspaper Archive, London ''[[Evening Standard]]'', 11 December 1899</ref>

==In India==
{{See also|Indian independence movement}}
[[File:C.F. Andrews, Anglican priest.JPG|thumb|The bust of C.F. Andrews over his grave, in Lower Circular Road Christian Cemetery – [[Kolkata]] (earlier [[Calcutta]])]]
Andrews had been involved in the [[Christian Social Union (UK)|Christian Social Union]] since university, and was interested in exploring the relationship between a commitment to the [[Gospel]] and a commitment to justice, through which he was attracted to struggles for justice throughout the [[British Empire]], especially in [[British Raj|India]].

In 1906, he stood in as principal of the Lawrence Asylum (later school) in Sanawar.

In 1904, he joined the [[Cambridge Mission to Delhi]] and arrived there to teach philosophy at [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi|St. Stephen's College]], where he grew close to many of his Indian colleagues and students. Increasingly dismayed by the racist behaviour and treatment of Indians by some British officials and civilians, he supported Indian political aspirations, and wrote a letter to the ''[[Civil and Military Gazette]]'' newspaper in 1906 voicing these sentiments. Andrews soon became involved in the activities of the [[Indian National Congress]], and he helped to resolve the 1913 cotton workers' strike in [[Madras]].

==With Gandhi in South Africa==
Known for his persuasiveness, intellect and moral rectitude, Andrews was asked by senior Indian political leader [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]] to visit South Africa and help the Indian community there to resolve their political disputes with the Government. Arriving in January 1914, he met the 44-year-old [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] lawyer, [[Mahatma Gandhi|Mohandas Gandhi]], who was leading the Indian community's efforts against the [[racial discrimination]] and police legislation that infringed their civil liberties. Andrews was deeply impressed with Gandhi's knowledge of [[Christian values]] and his espousal of the concept of [[ahimsa]] ([[nonviolence]]) – something that Gandhi mixed with inspiration from elements of [[Christian anarchism]].

Andrews served as Gandhi's aide in his negotiations with [[Jan Smuts|General Jan Smuts]] and was responsible for finalizing some of the finer details of their interactions.<ref>[[Ramachandra Guha|Guha, Ramachandra]], ''[[Gandhi Before India]]'', Knopf; F., 2013, pp. 505-506.</ref>

Following the advice of several Indian Congress leaders and of Principal [[S. K. Rudra|Susil Kumar Rudra]], of St. Stephen's College, Andrews was instrumental in persuading Gandhi to return to India with him in 1915.

==Tagore==
In 1918, Andrews disagreed with Gandhi's attempts to recruit combatants for [[World War I]], believing that this was inconsistent with their views on nonviolence. In ''Mahatma Gandhi's Ideas'', Andrews wrote about Gandhi's recruitment campaign: "Personally I have never been able to reconcile this with his own conduct in other respects, and it is one of the points where I have found myself in painful disagreement."<ref>{{cite book|author=Andrews, C.F.|year=1930|title=Mahatma Gandhi's Ideas|publisher=Macmillan|page=133|quote=The Teaching of Ahimsa}}</ref>

Andrews was elected President of the ''All India Trade Union'' in 1925 and 1927.

Andrews developed a [[Interreligious dialogue|dialogue]] between [[Christianity|Christians]] and [[Hinduism|Hindus]]. He spent a lot of time at [[Santiniketan]] in conversation with the poet and philosopher [[Rabindranath Tagore]]. He also supported the movement to ban the ‘untouchability of outcasts’. In 1919 he joined the famous [[Vaikom Satyagraha]], and in 1933 assisted [[B.R. Ambedkar]] in formulating the demands of the ''Dalits''.

He and [[Agatha Harrison]] arranged for Gandhi's visit to the UK.<ref name=help>[http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/agatha-harrison Agatha Harrison], Open University, Retrieved 20 March 2017</ref> He accompanied Gandhi to the second [[Round Table Conferences (India)|Round Table Conference]] in [[London]], helping him to negotiate with the British government on matters of Indian autonomy and devolution.

== In Fiji ==
When the news reached India, through the writings of Christian missionaries [[J. W. Burton]], [[Hannah Dudley]], and [[R. Piper]]{{who|date=October 2018}} and a returned indentured labourer, [[Totaram Sanadhya]], of the mistreatment of Indian indentured labourers in [[Fiji]], the [[Government of India|Indian Government]] in September 1915 sent Andrews and [[William W. Pearson]] to make inquiries. The two visited numerous plantations and interviewed indentured labourers, overseers and Government officials and on their return to India also interviewed returned labourers. In their "Report on Indentured Labour in Fiji" Andrews and Pearson highlighted the ills of the indenture system; which led to the end of further transportation of Indian labour to the [[United Kingdom|British]] colonies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report on indentured labour in Fiji : an independent enquiry |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-506079796 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Trove |language=en}}</ref> In 1917 Andrews made a second visit to Fiji, and although he reported some improvements, was still appalled at the moral degradation of indentured labourers. He called for an immediate end to indenture; and the system of Indian indentured labour was formally abolished in 1920.

In 1936, while on a visit to Australia and New Zealand, Andrews was invited to and visited Fiji again. The ex-indentured labourers and their descendants wanted him to help them overcome a new type of ''[[slavery]]'', by which they were bound to the [[Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji)|Colonial Sugar Refining Company]], which controlled all aspects of their lives. Andrews, however, was delighted with the improvements in conditions since his last visit, and asked [[Indo-Fijians|Fiji Indians]] to "remember that Fiji belonged to the Fijians and they were there as guests."

==Later life==
About this time Gandhi reasoned with Andrews that it was probably best for sympathetic Britons like himself to leave the freedom struggle to Indians. Accordingly, from 1935 onwards Andrews began to spend more time in Britain, teaching young people all over the country about Christ's call to [[Disciple (Christianity)#Radical discipleship|radical discipleship]]. Gandhi's affectionate nickname for Andrews was ''Christ's Faithful Apostle'', based on the initials of his name, "C.F.A". He was widely known as Gandhi's closest friend and was perhaps the only major figure to address Gandhi by his first name, Mohan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/his-faith-our-faith/story-sdpOimN69y2gTuSJs1SltI.html|title=His faith, our faith|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 January 2008|author=Guha, Ramachandra}}</ref>

Charles Andrews died on 5 April 1940, during a visit to [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], and is buried in the Christian burial ground of [[Lower Circular Road cemetery]], Calcutta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110109/jsp/calcutta/story_13411918.jsp|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171019213538/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1110109/jsp/calcutta/story_13411918.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2017|title=A love-hate relationship with Calcutta|work=Telegraph India|author=Lahiri, Samhita Chakraborty |date=9 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090228/jsp/opinion/story_10594967.jsp|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171019213546/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090228/jsp/opinion/story_10594967.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2017|title=Searching for Charlie|work=Telegraph India|author=Guha, Ramachandra |date=28 February 2009}}</ref>

==Commemoration==

In 1948, [[Joseph John (minister)|Joseph John]], pastor in [[Katpadi]], was so inspired by Gandhi's and Andrews‘ ideas, that he left his ministry to serve the poor and [[Caste system in India|casteless]] in a remote area in [[Chittoor district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and founded a village/ Rural Life Centre, which he called Deenabandupuram.

Andrews was a major character, portrayed by British actor [[Ian Charleson]], in the 1982 film, ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'', by [[Richard Attenborough]]. He is [[Calendar of saints|honored]] with a Lesser Feast on the [[Calendar of saints (Episcopal Church)|liturgical calendar]] of the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church in the United States of America]] on [[February 12]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Holy Women, Holy Men Celebrating the Saints|url=https://diobeth.typepad.com/files/holy-women-holy-men.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Charles Freer Andrews|url=http://satucket.com/lectionary/cf_andrews.htm|access-date=2021-04-10|website=satucket.com}}</ref>

In 1971, India issued a commemorative postage stamp to mark the birth centenary of Andrews.

In 2024, it was announced that [[Newcastle City Council]] plans to install a plaque at 14 Brunel Terrace, the birthplace of Andrews, to commemorate his life.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=edanderson101|number=1763519125660254682|title=Wonderful to see such a positive response to the announcement that Newcastle City Council will be putting up a plaque to C.F. Andrews}} {{better source|date=April 2024}}</ref>

==Legacy==

Andrews is widely commemorated and respected in India. Several colleges and hospitals, across India, have been named after him.

* '''[[Dinabandhu Andrews College]]:''' The Dinabandhu Andrews College located in [[Garia]], south [[Kolkata]] was constituted with an aim of disseminating higher education to a huge number of children of the displaced persons from erstwhile [[East Pakistan]], presently [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dacollege.org/about.html |title=Dinabandhu Andrews College |access-date=19 December 2010 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209212600/https://www.dacollege.org/about.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''[[Dinabandhu Institution]]:''' Dinabandhu Institution, also known as Shibpur Dinobundhoo Institution, established in 1948, is an undergraduate college in [[Howrah]], [[West Bengal]]. It is affiliated to the [[University of Calcutta]]

* '''[[Dinabandhu Andrews Institute of Technology and Management (DAITM)]]:''' Established in 2002. Affiliated to [[Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology|MAKAUT]]. Offers UG and PG courses in Management and Technology <ref>{{cite web |title=Dinabandhu Andrews Institute of Technology and Management |url=https://www.daitm.org.in/ |access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref>

* '''Deenabandhu Hospital:''' Located in Thachampara, [[Palakkad]], [[Kerala]]

==Publications==
* ''Hakim Ajmal Khan A sketch of his life and career. Madras: G. A. Natesan.'' (1922)
* ''The Relation of Christianity to the Conflict between Capital and Labour'' (1896)
* ''The Renaissance in India: its Missionary Aspect'' (1912)
* {{cite book |url=http://www.gandhiheritageportal.org/fundamental_workdetail/NS0xMDQ= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131130110336/http://www.gandhiheritageportal.org/fundamental_workdetail/NS0xMDQ= |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 November 2013 |title=Non-Co-Operation |location=Madras |publisher=Ganesh & Co. |year=1920 }}
* ''Christ and Labour'' (1923)
* ''Mahatma Gandhi His Life and Works'' (1930) republished by Starlight Paths Publishing (2007) with a foreword by [[Arun Gandhi]]
* ''What I Owe to Christ'' (1932)
* ''The Sermon on the Mount'' (1942)

==See also==
* [[Delhi Brotherhood Society]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* D. O'Connor, ''Gospel, raj and swaraj: the missionary years of C. F. Andrews 1904–14'' (1990)
* H. Tinker, ''The Ordeal of Love: C. F. Andrews and India'' (1979)
* Deenabhandu Andrews Centenary Committee, ''Centenary Volume C. F. Andrews 1871–1971'' (1972)
* P. C. Roy Chaudhuri, ''C. F. Andrews his life and times'' (1971)
* K. L. Seshagiri Rao, ''Mahatma Gandhi and C. F. Andrews: a study in Hindu-Christian dialogue'' (1969)
* [[Banarsidas Chaturvedi]] & [[Marjorie Sykes]], ''Charles Freer Andrews: a Narrative'' (1949)
* J. S. Hoyland, ''The Man India Loved: C. F. Andrews'' [1944]
* N. Macnicol, ''C. F. Andrews Friend of India'' (1944)
* J. S. Hoyland, ''C. F. Andrews : minister of reconciliation'' (London, Allenson, [1940])
* David McI Gracie, ''Gandhi and Charlie: The story of a Friendship'' (1989)
* [[Susan Visvanathan|Visvanathan, Susan]], "S K Rudra, C F Andrews and M K Gandhi: Friendship, Dialogue and Interiority in the Question of Indian Nationalism", Economic and Political Weekly, Vol – XXXVII No. 34, 24 August 2002
* Visvanathan, Susan.2007. Friendship, Interiority and Mysticism: Essays in Dialogue. New Delhi:Orient BlackSwan

==External links==
{{Commons category|Charles Freer Andrews}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Charles Freer Andrews |sopt=t}}
*[http://www.saadigitalarchive.org/entity/cf-andrews Charles Freer Andrews materials in the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Andrews, C. F.}}
[[Category:1871 births]]
[[Category:1940 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Westcott House, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Anglican pacifists]]
[[Category:Anglican saints]]
[[Category:Anglican socialists]]
[[Category:British expatriates in Fiji]]
[[Category:British people in British India]]
[[Category:Christian radicals]]
[[Category:English Christian pacifists]]
[[Category:English Christian socialists]]
[[Category:English social reformers]]
[[Category:Staff of Westcott House, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Visva-Bharati University]]
[[Category:People associated with Santiniketan]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists]]

Charles Freer Andrews - Revision history

Ankushraj at 17:26, 30 January 2026