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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
'''Henry Alfred Krishnapillai''' (1827–1900) was a well-known poet in [[Tamil language]]. He was born in a [[Hindu]] family, but later converted to [[Christianity]]. He was an accomplished Tamil teacher and hence after his conversion sought to work on Tamil literary works. After his retirement he worked on his [[masterpiece|magnum opus]], ''Ratchanya Yaatrigam''. This work was based on [[John Bunyan]]'s ''[[Pilgrim's Progress]]'', although not a translation. The work itself took 16 years to complete and is one of finest works of Tamil literature of the nineteenth century.

Krishnapillai is well known to use analogies from Hindu text in his Christian writings. His Christian [[hymns]] are still popular among Tamil [[Protestants]]. These hymns are similar in style to Hindu text [[Tevaram]].

==Early life==
Krishna Pillai was born in 1827 at Karaiyiruppu, [[Tirunelveli]] District, [[Tamil Nadu]]. He was born into an orthodox Hindu family belonging to [[Vaishnava]] tradition of [[Hinduism]]. He received his early education in Tamil grammar and literature in the village.<ref name=BDCM>Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, p. 376</ref>

==Conversion to Christianity==
In May 1853, he moved to Sawyerpuram, a Christian hamlet. The settlement was founded by the Society for Propagation of the Gospel.<ref name=BDCM/> There Krishnapillai was appointed as a Tamil teacher by Bishop [[Robert Caldwell]].<ref name=DIL>A Dictionary of Indian Literature, p. 187</ref> It was in Sawyerpuram that he first encountered Christianity through his friends<ref name=BDCM/> and eventually was baptised an [[Anglican]]<ref>Love's Redeeming Work, p. 460</ref> in the St Thomas Church in Mylapore, Chennai.<ref name=BDCM/> He was christened Henry Arthur through his baptism but he still retained his Hindu name ''Krishna Pillai''. Later in 1875, he was appointed as a Tamil pundit at Church Missionary Society (CMS) college at Tirunelveli.<ref name=BDCM/>

==Tamil Christian literature==
After his retirement, Krishnapillai aspired to write Tamil Christian classics<ref>Dictionary of Hindu Literature, p. 102</ref> along the lines of Hindu epics.<ref name=BDCM/> Hence, he spent the 16 years writing the book ''Rakshanya Yatrikam'' (the journey of salvation, 1894). This work was modeled after [[John Bunyan]]'s ''Pilgrim's Progress''. Nevertheless, it was not a translation but an adaptation of the story in Tamil.<ref name=BDCM/> This work is considered as his masterpiece. He had read the ''Pilgrim's Progress'' even before his conversion and had planned to retell the story in Tamil verses. However, he started working on it only in 1878 to appear serially in ''Friendly Instructor''. He fell ill with malaria in 1879, and then, with encouragement from his friends, Krishnapillai decided to compile the work in an epic form similar to the Tamil [[Ramayana]]. After 16 years, it was sent to print in 1894 and is considered one of the most significant Tamil poetry works of the nineteenth century.<ref name=Indi115>Indigenous Responses to Western Christianity, p. 115</ref>

In addition to this masterpiece, Krishnapillai wrote several other books in Tamil on Christianity.<ref name=DIL/> Although he was a converted Christian, he used many analogies from Hindu text in his work.<ref name=BDCM/> He is sometimes referred to as ''Christian [[Kambar (poet)|Kamban]]''.<ref>{{cite news
| title = 'Thamizh Isai Peruvizha' to be held on November 5, 6
| date = 2005-11-03
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/03/stories/2005110306090300.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070322171542/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/03/stories/2005110306090300.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 2007-03-22
| work = [[The Hindu]]
| access-date = 2009-02-22}}
</ref> Some of the hymns he composed are still prevalent amongst Tamil [[Protestants]].<ref name=RVR253>Religions View Religions, p. 253</ref> His hymns were based on Hindu texts such as [[Tevaram]].<ref>The Smile of Murugan on Tamil Literature of South India, p. 265</ref>

'''DIED ON : 3 February 1900'''

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{Cite book
| last = Anderson
| first = Gerald
| title = Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions
| publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
| year = 1999
| pages = 376
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=oQ8BFk9K0ToC
| isbn = 978-0-8028-4680-8}}

*{{Cite book
| last = Gort
| first = Jerald
|author2=Henry Jansen |author3=Hendrik M. Vroom
| title = Religions View Religions
| publisher = Rodopi
| year = 2006
| pages = 252
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5CpUU1nXqUMC
| isbn = 978-90-420-1858-7}}

*{{Cite book
| last = Kaplan
| first = Steven
| title = Indigenous Responses to Western Christianity
| publisher = NYU Press
| year = 1995
| pages = 115
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XgzexEv4Y6YC
| isbn = 978-0-8147-4649-3}}

*{{Cite book
| last = Mukherjee
| first = Sujit
| title = A Dictionary of Indian Literature
| publisher = Orient Blackswan
| year = 1999
| pages = 187
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YCJrUfVtZxoC
| isbn = 978-81-250-1453-9}}

*{{Cite book
| last = Rowell
| first = Geoffrey
|author2=Kenneth Stevenson |author3=Rowan Williams
| title = Love's Redeeming Work
| publisher = Oxford University Press
| year = 2003
| pages = 460
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ognOQvh942QC
| isbn = 978-0-19-107058-7}}

*{{Cite book
| last = Satyendra
| first = Kuśa
| title = Dictionary of Hindu Literature
| publisher = Sarup & Sons
| year = 2000
| pages = 102
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UcAwrV60cpAC
| isbn = 978-81-7625-159-4}}

*{{Cite book
| last = Zvelebil
| first = Kamil
| title = The Smile of Murugan on Tamil Literature of South India
| publisher = Brill
| year = 1973
| pages = 265
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VF2VMUoY_okC
| isbn = 978-90-04-03591-1}}

==See also==

* [[Christianity in India]]
* [[Church of South India]]

==External links==
*{{URL|1=http://lyrics.abbayesu.com/author/henryalfredkrishnapillai/|2=http://lyrics.abbayesu.com/author/henryalfredkrishnapillai/ – Henry Alfred Krishnapillai Songs Lyrics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krishnapillai, Henry Alfred}}
[[Category:Indian Christians]]
[[Category:1827 births]]
[[Category:1900 deaths]]
[[Category:Converts to Protestantism from Hinduism]]

Henry Alfred Krishnapillai - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 09:18, 14 August 2023