How did it all begin ?
During one of the routine visits to drought-affected villages of the district, a saintly man popularly called ‘Paradesi Peters’ was introduced to a boy, then aged 7 or 8 years old by Angappa Pillai, the local school teacher. This boy’s parents had no land and both worked as labourers in other farmers’ fields. The family was extremely poor. Paradesi Peters asked the boy’s mother if he could take him to the city to make him study in a school. That boy happened to be my father. Thanks to Paradesi Peters, my father started his school education. Paradesi Peters supported my father with hostel and food expenses.
Who was Paradesi Peters ?
Paradesi Peters was actually my mother’s paternal uncle, Paul Chenappan Reddy (P.C.R) Peters. Though my mother’s entire family were Protestants, P.C.R. Peters became a Catholic. P. C. R. Peters was born on April 30th, 1895 at Peralur, Ammapettai, Thirumangalam Taluka, Madurai district in the present Indian state of Tamil Nadu (then Madras Presidency). In 1927, he was teaching at St. Xavier’s College, Palamcottah. He joined the Franciscan third order consisting of lay people and started doing missionary work along with teaching. It was during one of his missionary visits that he got my father admitted to St. Xavier’s College for continuing his school education. In addition to Tamil and English, P.C.R. Peters knew many other languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Sanskrit, German, French, Latin, Aramaic and Hebrew. By 1944, he left his job, devoting his entire life to prayers, preaching, and other missionary activities. He led a life of extreme asceticism.
His missionary work in the interiors of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh continued for another 14 years till 1958. He died on June 21st, 1958 and is buried at Palamcottai. He was declared a Servant of God (the first step of canonisation) on October 9th, 2008. He was popularly called “Paradesi Peters” due to his fair complexion.
Role of P. C. R. Peters
It was while studying at St. Xavier’s College, Palamcottai, my father converted to the Catholic faith influenced by P. C. R Peters. In accordance with baptism customs, Paul Maria was added to in addition to Kumarasamy (my grandfather’s name) and Sundharam (my father’s name). My father was ever so grateful to Paradesi Peters for the education that he had received.
References:
http://www.palayamkottaicathedral.org/servant-of-god