Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Resuming preaching with Rev Gordon at Vishaphapatnam; Great sacrifice of Radhamani Devi; Second trip to Cuttack; Radhamani accepting Christianity. "Now separate to me Baranbas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 13:2 We have already read that Rev. James Dawson died in 1932. Three years later Rev J. W. Gordon of London Missionary Society came to Vishakhapatnam as a missionary. Gordon's message sent through Armstrong brought Purushotham to Vishakhapatnam. Gordon and Purushotham were so loving and kind to each other, they naturally made a wonderful team and started gospel work like Barnabas and Paul. What a link between Vishakha and London! God's purposes and plans are inconceivable. There was a lot of scope for gospel work in Telugu speaking regions of the country. It was sheer providence, they got teamed up for the job at hand. Earlier on, with the financial support from the London Mission, twelve schools were started with 500 students, with Hindu teachers, under the supervision of Major Brett. With Purushotham at hand, Rev Gordon asked him to oversee the schools as well as to propagate the gospel. In fact, Gordon wanted to arrange for a regular salary for him. But Purushotham was not at all interested in any salary and said as he was single, he would not need more than two annas (12 paise) and four paise according to the expenditure of those days, as he told earlier to Major Brett. Some discussion ensued. And finally, Purushotham's decision was accepted. However, they preached the gospel together for about one year with one accord. In 1835 Purushotham went to a place about 80 miles away from Vishakhapatnam to visit his family. By then, his mother had passed away. As a result of fervent prayer of Purushotham, Mrs Knott and Major Brett Purushotham's wife Radhamani Devi, daughter of Babu Raghunathpal

Mohanti dared to believe in Christ. The relatives as usual continued to abuse Purushotham and discriminate on the basis of religion. Around this time, something very significant happened at noon on 22nd December that year. Purushotham got ready to go somewhere and was waiting for a servant to join him sitting on the mud bench outside his house. As arranged, Mrs. Radhamani Chaudhurani arrived there fully decked out wearing a yellow sari, all her jewellery, particularly the jingling anklets. To top it all, she wore the sapphire dot on her forehead that shone like the full moon, the symbol of status as a married woman and feminine prosperity. The situation was so conspicuous because it was forbidden for a family woman to appear in public, that too talking to her husband out on the street. She, being a person who had never been out in sunshine, stood there in front of Purushotham like a shining sword drawn out of its sheath. Having walked out of her house all alone, she stood in front of Purushotham, bowed down her head and said in Oriya language, "My master, what an awful experience you are passing through! I am aware of the way my family is persecuting you, which I cannot tolerate any longer. I have accepted Lord Jesus as my saviour just as you have. Let us go away from here and I am ready now to go with you wherever it takes." Attracted by this unusual scene on the street- a family woman talking to her husband in the open- men and women gathered in a large crowd. Some farm hands chose to stay back and watch the developments instead of going to their harvesting work in the fields. Among the crowd was Radhamani's mother Lavanyavathi, her brothers Bhaskar Mohanti, and Rajamohan Mohanti and many other relatives. They all raised a rumpus. One of the brothers cried, "Radhamani, your husband hasn't come to our house, but you went out to his without telling any of us. How dare you do this! We are a respectable family. You trampled on our family reputation by making a scene on the street here." Radhamani answered softly but firmly, "Brother, I have been in your house without seeing my husband for two years and a half. Because I was

not bold enough, I did not go with him eventhough he called me a number of times and you are quite aware of that. Now I have made up my mind. Whatever way he chooses I will follow him. You cannot stop me. I don't need your caste and religious rituals. I give up all that. If my husband becomes a king, I am a queen, if he becomes a beggar, I become one. So, permit me to go with my husband." Deeply disturbed by these words, her brother said, "Dear sister, is there any shortage of food or clothing while you are with us? Now I am even willing to give out a village to you to administer, you can live on the revenue it brings, but don't choose to go for that untouchable food and life." To that Radhamani said, "Brother, I am sure you can give me all that and much more, but you can never give me my husband. Imagine what the society will think of me if I stay back alone. I am going, do not try to stop me." Listening to all this emotionally charged exchange of words, her brothers, relatives and everyone gathered there were moved and some even started to cry. Suddenly her brother produced a small knife and threatened to stab himself if she chose to go. Radhamani saw that it was merely a ploy to win her over. So she said, "I cannot help you brother, if you choose to kill yourself. There is nothing I can do. I take leave of you. Where is my daughter Santi? Give her to me, I am going." On hearing this, a huge lament went up among the men and women among the group of relatives. Their cry of anguish was heard from afar off. Someone had hidden the daughter, thinking that Radhamani will stay back for her sake. Pushing aside the traditional propriety and family prestige, Radhamani walked through the crowds to her husband, who was waiting for her, all set to travel. She told him that someone had hidden their daughter. Purushotham replied, "Don't you worry dear, they will bring the child to us before we cross the village border or else, they will appear before the court in Srikakulam." She replied, "So, let us go" and they started walking.

Every one gathered there was surprised at her resolute will. Not even a hint of thought seemed to occur to Purushotham regarding the property he was going to leave for good. The couple who had lived apart for two years and a half, are now together and Purushotham rediscovered in Radhamani the legendary role of a virtuous wife- who must be a maid in serving, a minister in advising, an angel in looks, mother earth in showing patience, a mother in long suffering- all rolled into one. Purushotham felt extremely thankful to God for bringing his wife into Christian faith and making her a co-believer. They both started to walk along the road with the servant leading the way. We do not know whether it was because of the harvesting season, or the villagers were against Purushotham's new found faith, no one offered them a bullock cart for transport. Radhamani with her head covered went behind her husband. Relatives and others cried aloud. Even before the couple walked about ten yards someone handed over Shanti, their daughter to them. It was late in the afternoon. The sun started to set with saffron and vermilion hues on the forehead of the evening sky. The splendour of the setting sun reflected on the yellow saree worn by Radhamani- a grand display of light and colour. Someone wicked shouted aloud, "Look at the woman who is going into the burning pit along with her dead husband!" With all that happened in Madanapuram village, Purushotham penned the following hymn. Come ye, oh people, come dear ones, to the eternal and excellent salvation- having considered the pros and cons come boldly to join the path to Christ. 1. Shunning all misgivings, come to find Christ who has given up his life for us, out of mercy that knew no bounds, to save us, come to serve him. 2. Commissioned by God to bear our sins, taking the form of man, performing marvellous deeds and going to the cross, come to join that great one.

3. Christ the strong benefactor, has cut down the burden of sinners, in great patience he came alongside of them, bearing their curse to save them. 4. Boastings of the vile flesh, harms the soul, know that the flesh is fleeting, shedding your desires of the body, come to see our Christ 5. The omnipresent, formless pure spirit, the only master of men, the lone mediator between mortals and God, come to see the one who came as the saviour. 6. Who is sinless among men, and blameless? Struggling in their mundane frustrations, lacking wisdom, all of you come While they walked along, Purushotham felt happy at the strength of conviction in his wife, and went on teaching her about the futility of all ornaments, upon which she promptly removed the jewels including the bangles which the traditional Hindu women consider sacred. She thus learnt a few spiritually significant points. As you read this, I am sure you are reminded of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, where the Christian walks away from the city of destruction. As Christ said, "Let the dead bury their dead. You follow me." The two pilgrims, Purushotham and Radhamani took up their individual crosses and followed their Saviour. It appears as though they are still singing that song as they did on that day in Madanapuram, for us Telugu people now. On 23rd December, our two pilgrims along with their daughter reached Srikakulam, stayed there for four days reflecting on their future. There were a few Indian Christian women in the local discussion group at Cuttack. Radhamani was not comfortable with Telugu language. So, she wanted to find an Oriya speaking group. Purushotham felt the same. After some correspondence with Rev Gordon and other friends, Purushotham along with his family left Srikakulam for Cuttack in January 1836. The fact that a rich and traditional Indian lady converting to Christ

and coming to Cuttack filled the hearts of the missionaries and those in the Christian circles with joy. Radhamani learnt a lot of spiritual truths at Cuttack fellowship and wanted to be baptized. And she was duly baptized on 3rd April 1836 by the Orissa Baptist Missionary Rev. Amos Sutton. The following account was written in the Annual Report of the General Baptist Mission - June 30, 1837: "This young lady, receiving Christ as her Saviour at a time when there is a shortage of evangelists, is very comforting. She is deeply convicted and has openly accepted Jesus as her Saviour. She has travelled for 20 days to come here and declared her faith. What a surprise! What commitment for a woman caught in a traditional and ritualistic frame, to come out into the open declaring her faith in Jesus, is singularly marvellous. She is exemplary not only to her family members, but also to many." Around this time, Rev Sutton having married an American lady, had to leave for America. He shared his concern and scope for evangelism in Andhra region with his friends there. And in response to Sutton's appeal, Rev S. S. Day was sent to India, by the American Baptist Mission. This was reported in "the Enterpriser." 1. Report of the General Baptist Missionary Society 1837, page 15.