Saint Thevarparampil Kunjachan

Thevarparambil Kunjachan (born Augustine Thevarparambil) was an Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic priest who dedicated himself to the spiritual and temporal welfare of marginalized Dalits. Augustine was born on 1 April 1891, at Ramapuram in Travancore (present-day Kerala, India). He was the son of Itty Iype and Eliswa of the Thevarparambil clan, a branch of the Kuzhumbil family lineage. He received his primary education at a school sponsored by the government of Travancore and then attended St. Ephrem's School in Mannanam where his religious faith intensified, compelling him to pursue priesthood. After secondary school, he embarked on a journey on foot from Ramapuram to Changanacherry in order to enroll in St. Thomas Minor Seminary. After receiving his major seminary formation at Puthenpally Seminary in Varapuzha, he was ordained as a priest on 16 July 1915. After celebrating his first mass at St. Augustine Church in Ramapuram, his home parish, Augustine resided in his home village for eight years while undergoing practical training. He was known as Kunjachan ("Little Father" in Malayalam) for his short stature. In 1923, Augustine was appointed as assistant vicar to Thomas Kuzhumpil at St. Sebastian Church in Kadanad. During his vocation in Kadanad, Kunjachan was often approached by the local villagers, who relied on his advice and blessings for their agricultural yield. Kunjachan would sprinkle holy water on crops, ensuring a plentiful harvest. An illness forced Kunjachan to return to Ramapuram. In Ramapuram, Kunjachan witnessed an entire caste of people deprived of dignity, respect, and the basic necessities of life. He would devote his entire life to the uplifting of the downtrodden. It is the singular achievement of Kunjachan that he had been able to baptize by himself no less than 5,000 Dalits (earlier the term 'Harijan' was used). He is to be counted as one of the foremost missionaries among the Dalits in India.