Week 9 – Cutchery Tamil Versus Pure Tamil Hephzibah Israel (Sugirtharajah)

This narrative presents some interesting solutions to the problem of  finding an appropriate Tamil Bible translation during colonial times.  Creating an alternative social identity by gaining literacy, education and government jobs as a  Protestant Tamil is not a bad thing, especially since the people were already believers and did not become Christians for the sake of supplemental benefits.  Certainly, Onesimus in Philemon benefited socially by becoming a believer.  I can understand the challenges involved in the situation, but then the kingdom of God includes lifting up the marginalized.  In this case,  it came about unintentionally.