1	Joseph	11	Laura Pooranam
		12	Cornelius Joshua
		13	William James
		14	Jane
2	Grace	20	Frederick Ben
		21	Joshua Ebenezer
		22	Thomas Sigamony
		23	Gnana Siromony
3	Salome	31	Annapooranam
		32	Gnanai
		33	John Samuel Devasahayam
		34	Joshua David
		35	John Joseph
		36	Annammal
		37	Benjamin Thankaraj
4	Annie	41	Gracelet
		42	Elsielet
		43	Jessielet
5	Lewis	51	Rachel Pooranam
		52	Joshua Chelliah
		53	Lizzy Pushpam
		54	Joseph Kamalam
		55	Lily Donnie Bai
		56	George Oliver
6	Elizabeth	61	Samuel Joseph
		62	Stella Elizabeth

Life of late Mr.P.J.Devasahayam and Mrs.Elizabeth Devasahayam

            Our society has had many Indians of high ability and character associated with it in the service of theIndian Church.  Amongst them was Mr.Devasahayam.

Parentage and Birth

            Mr.P.P.Joseph was the son of Mr.Puthukunathan of Authicaud village.  Mr.Joseph went to Ceylon where he was employed in a coffee estate.  After returning to the erstwhile Travancore he established the Providence Estate near Pechipara Dam.  Mr.Joseph and his wife Rachel lived in NAGERCOIL.  He was a deacon of the NAGERCOIL Home Church from 1876 to 1893.  Mr.Joseph’s fourth son was Mr.Devasahayam who was born on 30th June, 1870.

Boyhood and Education

            Mr.P.J.Devasahayam began his school career in the NAGERCOIL Primary School and in 1879 he joined the Seminary and passed the Matriculation Examination in 1886.  He took his F.A. from Maharajahs College, Trivandrum in 1889.  He passed his B.A.Degree in language in 1891 and B.A.Degree in Science in 1892 from Madras Christian College.  He used to spend a lot of time in the Public Reading Room.  He had acquired the habit of speaking in English fluently.

As a Teacher

            On 31st January,1893, Mr.P.J.Devasahayam joined the staff of the C.M.S.High School, Bezwada.  He taught Science and Mathematics.  In January 1895 he joined Harris High School, Royapetah, as First Assistant.  He became a leading figure in the Indian Christian Community.  He took active part in the activities of YMCA, Royapetah and brought his students also in touch with the Association.

            He attended lectures in the Law College at Madras.  In addition he took his L.T.Degree in 1898.  In the fourth year at Royapettah he was married to Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of Rev.J.Joshua of the Home Church, NAGERCOIL.  His wife was well educated and sociable.

Life in Coimbatore

            Rev.A.W.Brough who was Manager of London Mission High School, Coimbatore heard about Mr.Devasahayam’s devotion to duty, sense of responsibility and cheerfulness, and brought him to take charge of the school as Headmaster.  When he joined the school in 1899 it had a serious setback and there were only 163 students.

            Mr.Devasahayam made effective changes in the running of the school and the school improved greatly.  The reputation of the school grew and soon it was regarded as one of the best in the town, both academically and from the point of view of character building.  His staff, both Christian and Hindu, came to have a deep personal affection for him and served him and the institution loyally.

            He felt so happy while teaching the Bible both in school and outside.  He often preached from the pulpit.  He had been one of the leaders in the movement which united Churches connected with a number of Missions into the South India United Church.  He had been the treasurer of the Coimbatore Church for many years.  He was an outspoken advocate of the claims of the Indians to greater positions of responsibility in Mission and Church.

            Mr.Devasahayam suffered a personal loss in the death of his wife on 26th February,1902 in an epidemic of small pox.  There were two children by this marriage - Samuel Joseph and Stella Elizabeth.  He married Miss Gnanayee on 7th January,1903. Through his second marriage he had two daughters, Felicia and Kamala.  Felicia became an M.A.(Hons) in literature and received the Dr.T.M.Nairs’ Gold Medal.  Kamala who was a B.A. was talented in music and drawing.

Retirement

            Though Mr.Devasahayam was to retire in 1925, the Mission Committee obtained permission from Government to retain his services for another two years till 1927.  He retired at the age of 57 years.  At the time of his retirement he was Principal and Correspondent, a position till then held only by Europeans. 

            During his days as Principal of L.M.H.School, he raised the strength of students from 163 to 600 and increased the number of buildings from one to four.

            When he finally left Coimbatore in retirement the people of Coimbatore showed their regard for his character and work by giving him a public farewell.  A sum of Rs.5,000 was raised through donations from pupils and the public for the erection of a new block which was to be named “Devasahayam Science Block”.

            His broadmindedness and secular attitude are revealed by his statements in the special report he sent to the London Mission Society in 1910.

            “As a missionary institution our school is open to all castes and creeds and it is often a sight to see, instead of the contemptuous tolerance of a few years ago, the active comradeship among all pupils in study and in sports.  Ten years ago I could not have believed that in a bigoted place like this my Christian, Muslim and caste Hindu pupils would in so few years, sit side by side in a common meal and yet, praise be to God, this has taken place”.

            Rev.A.H.Popley wrote about Mr.Devasahayam thus: “He was one of my most intimate friends and I spent many happy hours in his home”.

            “It was not only as an educationist that he will be remembered.  As a Church worker and as a member of the North Tamil Church Council he rendered distinctive service that is gratefully remembered”.

Life at NAGERCOIL

            In September 1928 Mr.Devasahayam left Coimbatore and settled in NAGERCOIL.  His daughter Felicia died in 1931 and his wife passed away in February 1935.  These successive calamities told heavily upon his health and he passed away on 3rd November, 1935.  His last words were “God help me to pass through the Jordan peacefully and joyfully”.

Source

1.  A brief Memoir of Mr.P.J.Devasahayam,B.A.,L.T.  by Mr.J.D.Samuel.

2.  The Guardian, January 2,1936.

3.  The Chronicle of the L.M.S. September,1927.