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martyred 1752 · canonised 2022 · Catholic & Portuguese

Devasahayam Pillai

Documented
Devasahayam Pillai
Kumbalam, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 — source

Devasahayam Pillai, an official at the Travancore court, converted and took a name meaning “God is my help.” Fierce opposition led to his death in 1752. In 2022 he was declared a saint of the Catholic Church — the first Indian layman to be canonised.

Modern church and news sources; cited, not reproduced.

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