The Jesuit Activities in Andhra

ideas made them clearly distinguished between religion and social customs, between superstition and good manners, between faith and nationality. Though he faced thousand difficulties and numberless hardships, success crowned his enterprise.24 The most commendable thing Fr. De Nobili of Madurai was - his adoption of Food and Clothing of Brahmin and the retention of the manners and customs among the newly baptised Christians which he found not contrary to the new faith. He insisted that the Jesuit Missionaries going to the missions should possess the qualities namely acquisition of the vernacular literature, efficient organisation, condemnation of polygamy, opposition to idolatry, personal courage, and endurance for suffering. This new approach brought greater results in the context where the Jesuits failed a hundred years ago. This only showed how a suitable method of human approach and intellectual persuation could reap fruit where there was none before. THE JESUIT ACTIVITIES IN ANDHRA: Calmette mentioned in his letter of September 17, 1735 about the conversion of a Lady, Ann, the first convert from the Kamma caste in Andhra. The whole incident had a lot to do with belief in magic. A young woman was afflicted with some maladies. It was attributed to witchcrat practised by a relative of her who once unsuccessfully tried to solicit her. Whatever might be the cause of her affliction, the poor lady was subjected to a great suffering. The relatives rushed her to the

Brahman Priests and other magicians who they thought could cure her. Calmette says: “Every night, she was agitated by the most frightful phantasms, which tormented her so much that she became quite emanciated loosing all her strength. Six long months she suffered when, at last, she had recourse to Jesussist Priest. It required little persuation to make her see the necessity of becoming a Christian. In fact there and then, she placed herself under instruction of Lord Jesus Christ.25 She was relieved of her affliction and received baptism with a changed name namely Annamma. This incident spelled over the beliefs in witchcraft and paved the way for the spread of Christianity in upper castes especially in the villages in Guntur, Nellore and Chingelput districts.26 A large number of Kamma Christians in Guntur, Nellore and Chingulpet Districts claimed themselves to be the descendants of the first Kamma Christians and also of the commonly found Christian name Annamma, who was the first convert from Kammas and from her a large number of Kammas embraced Christianity in the later part of 18th Century.27 Though the Roman Catholic Missionaries could convert many people into Christianity drawn from upper castes in Andhra, but till the end of Seventeenth Century they could not covert anyone from among the depressed classes i.e., Malas and Madigas into Christianity.

Most of the Roman Catholic Missionaries were Doctors. This medical knowledge helped them much in their missionary work. Once it so happened that one Zamindar who was the nearest relative of Nawab of Kurnool brought his daughter for treatment to Roman Catholic Bishops. That daughter after listening to the teachings of the missionary went back to her home and sent her servant to bring that missionary to Kurnool. Meanwhile that daughter died without taking baptism from the missionary. Later her parents got baptised. That servant also later took the name as Paul and took baptism. When this servant refused to worship the Zamindars’ Gods he was sent out from his job. Later, he became a catechist and started preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reached Cuddapah. There he changed one Brahmin by name Thimmaiah and baptised him. Later he also treated the ill health of the daughter of Nawab of Cuddapah and as a gratitude the ‘Siddavatam’ Zamindary was donated to one of the Christian missionaries.28 At that time one by name'Rachappa' was living in Rajampet in Cuddapah district. He was married and had no children since long time. On one night when a Roman Catholic monk was passing through Rajampet, Rachappa gave him shelter in a animal shed. At that night, Rachappa found this monk feeling down and praying at length, Rachappa fell on the feet of the monk and requested him to pray God to give him children. The monk after praying for him left the place by giving him some