Ep. 4: The Gospel in South India: A Missionary's 19th-Century Account

How did Christian missionaries navigate the complex social and religious landscape of 19th-century South India? This episode journeys into a detailed historical account from Rev. Joseph Mullens, a missionary who documented the Protestant efforts to establish a foothold in the Madras Presidency.

We explore Mullens' firsthand chronicle of missions in the Telugu, Canarese, and Tamil-speaking regions. He provides a fascinating, and often critical, look at the challenges missionaries faced—from confronting the "barbaric" practice of human sacrifice among the Khond tribe to the persistent and divisive issue of caste within the church itself. The episode also places these efforts in a wider historical context, examining the legacy of earlier Jesuit missions and the ancient Syrian Christian communities.

Note: This episode examines a historical document containing colonial-era perspectives and critiques of Indian culture and religion. The views expressed are those of the 19th-century author and are presented here for historical context.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The establishment and progress of Protestant missions across the diverse linguistic regions of South India.
• The dramatic efforts by missionaries and the British government to suppress the "Meriah" human sacrifice among the Khonds.
• The deep-rooted challenge of the caste system and its divisive impact on native Christian congregations.
• A brief look at the history and influence of earlier Jesuit missions and the ancient Syrian Churches in India.
• The unwavering conviction and strategic methods of a 19th-century missionary in the field.