Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha

Poikayil Yohannan alias Kumara gurudevan was a philanthropist who dedicated his life to the liberation of the oppressed Dalit people. He learned to read and write and became a teacher with the help of missionaries. He embraced Christianity, which was influenced by the caste system of Hinduism, but there he faced only neglect and humiliation. He left the Marthoma Church in the name of caste discrimination and became the savior of Dalit Christians. The teacher aimed at the upliftment of the marginalized sections of Christianity. He also urged the weaker communities that the untouchables of today are the descendants of the primitive Dravidians. He established the 'Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha' in 1909 with its headquarters in Iraviperoor, Pathanamthitta for the lower castes. He formed the organization by incorporating the essence of Hindu and Christian religions. It was Poikayil Yohannan who solved the Kozhukuchira riots of 1913 over the seizure of agricultural land by the downtrodden. Yohannan advised his congregation to marry regardless of caste. Believers in the Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha specifically add 'Kumar' to their names.

PSC Questions

1. The organization founded by Yohannan for the liberation of the oppressed Dalits - Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha (PRDS)

2. The Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha movement was led by - Poikayil Yohannan

3. The year Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha was founded - 1909

4. The headquarters of Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha - Iraviperoor (Pathanamthitta)

5. The sub-headquarters of Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha - Amarakunnu, Udiyankulangara

6. The patron saint of Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha - Kumara Gurudevan

7. The mouthpiece of Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha - Adhiyar Deepam

8. The names by which Yohannan was known after the founding of Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha - Poikayil Appachan, Kumara Gurudevan