K. Koshy | |
|---|---|
| Archdeacon ofMavelikkara | |
 | |
| Diocese | Anglican diocese of Travancore & Cochin |
| In office | 1885–1899 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1856 (deacon) 1859 (priest) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Koshy Koshy 1825 (1825) |
| Died | 1899 (1900) |
| Nationality | Travancorean |
| Denomination | Malankara Church (1825–1836) Anglican Church (1836–1899) |
| Alma mater | Pazhaya Seminary, Kottayam |
Koshy Koshy also spelled asKoshi Koshi (1825–1899) was an Indian Anglican priest andMalayalam novelist.
K. Koshy was born in theKingdom of Travancore, to aNazrani family, part of theMalankara Syrian Church. However, when he was 11 years old (1836), his family converted toAnglicanism, under the influence of theChurch Mission Society.[1]
Koshy desired to enter his Church's ministry and studied at thePazhaya Seminary, Kottayam.[2] By 1844, he was a scholar inSanskrit,Latin andEnglish languages.[2] In 1856, he was received into thediaconate. In 1859, he was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church.[3] In the nineteenth century, the highest office attained by Indians within the Anglican Church was that of anarchdeacon.[4] In 1885, Rev. K. Koshy became the first Indian to be raised to the rank of an archdeacon.[3]
Adn. K. Koshy was one of the original Malayalam litterateurs. He wrote over 10 books, includingPulleli Kunju,Bhasmakuri andThiruvavatharamahatmyam.[2][5]Pulleli Kunju (1882) is regarded as the first novellike original work on a local theme, in Malayalam.[6] He also translatedJohn Bunyan'sThe Pilgrim's Progress (Paradesi Mokshayathra, 1845) andThe Holy War (Thirupporattam), to Malayalam.[5][6]
Adn. Koshy was the editor ofNjananikshepam (published since 1840), the first Malayalam periodical.[7][5] His most important religious contribution was with respect to the revision of theMalayalam Bible (1872–1898). The Archbishop of CanterburyEdward White Benson conferred on Koshy, aLambeth Doctorate, for his pre-eminent role in that.[8][2]
