# Chetti Devasahayam

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{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox clergy
| honorific_prefix   = [The Reverend](/source/The_Reverend) [Doctor](/source/Doctor_(title))
| name =Chetti Devasahayam, [CBCNC](/source/CBCNC)
| honorific_suffix   = [D. D.](/source/D._D.) ''[Honoris Causa](/source/Honoris_Causa)'' ([Northern](/source/Northern_Baptist_Theological_Seminary))
| image =
| bgcolour    = 
| imagesize =
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|10|6|df=y}}<ref name="Souvenir">C. L. Johnson (Edited), ''Canadian Baptist Mission 125-year's Jubilee Celebrations of Baptist Churches in Northern Circars'', Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada, 1999, pp.258–258 [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/433990749]</ref>
| birth_place = [Kakinada](/source/Kakinada), Andhra Pradesh, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|1993|2|28|1913|10|16|df=y}}<ref name="Souvenir"/>
| death_place = [Kolkata](/source/Kolkata), West Bengal, India
| occupation = Chaplain & Administrator
| ordained    =  1943<ref name="Souvenir"/>
| education    = 
*[B. Sc.](/source/B._Sc.) ([Andhra](/source/Andhra_University)),
*[B. D.](/source/B._D.) ([Serampore](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University))),
*[Th. M.](/source/Th.M.) ([Northern](/source/Northern_Baptist_Theological_Seminary)),
| writings    = 1974, ''The Role of Baptists in the Religious Future of India ''<ref>C. Devasahayam, ''The Role of Baptists in the Religious Future of India'', ''Baptist History and Heritage'', Volumes 10–11, Historical Commission of the SBC, 1975.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=dw4tYryEO1MC&q=The+Role+of+Baptists+in+the+Religious+Future+of+India+devasahayam]</ref>
| alma_mater    =
*CBM-McLaurin High School, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh,
*Pithapuram Rajah College, Kakinada, A. P.,
*Serampore College, Serampore, West Bengal,
*Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, [Lisle, Illinois](/source/Lisle%2C_Illinois) (United States)
| church =[Canadian Baptist Mission](/source/Canadian_Baptist_Mission)/[Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars](/source/Convention_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Northern_Circars)<ref>''Foundations'', Volume 11, American Baptist Historical Society, 1968, p.325.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWnkAAAAMAAJ&q=chetti+devasahayam+serampore]</ref>
| offices_held =
*Visakha Field Supervisor, Krishna Field Minister, [Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars](/source/Convention_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Northern_Circars) {{small|(1939–1960)}}
*[Military Chaplain](/source/Military_Chaplain), [Royal Indian Navy](/source/Royal_Indian_Navy) {{small|(1942–1947)<ref name="Betty">[http://bettykaiser.blogspot.in/2008/04/inspirational-life-of-padma-chetti.html Betty Kaiser, ''Inspirational life of Padma Chetti'']</ref>}}
*[Registrar](/source/Registrar_(education)), [Senate of Serampore College (University)](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University)) {{small|(1960–1975)}}
*Pastor, Lower Circular Road Baptist Chapel, [Kolkata](/source/Kolkata) {{small|(1968–1993<ref name="Betty"/>)}}
| parents =The Rev. [Chetti Bhanumurthy](/source/Chetti_Bhanumurthy), CBCNC
| title       = The Reverend Doctor
| footnotes   = 
}}

'''Chetti Devasahayam''' (6 October 1913 – 28 February 1993) was the Registrar of the nation's first University,<ref>[Murli Manohar Joshi](/source/Murli_Manohar_Joshi), ''Higher Education in India Vision and Action, A paper presented at the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education in the Twenty First Century, Paris'', 5–9 October 1998. Internet, accessed 22 August 2008.  {{cite web |url=http://education.nic.in/unhighedu.asp |title=Department of Secondary&Higher Education |accessdate=2015-11-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223010953/http://education.nic.in/unhighedu.asp |archivedate=23 February 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> the [Senate of Serampore College (University)](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University)) who was in office from 1960 through 1975.<ref name="Senate">[http://senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/registrars-senate.html Senate of Serampore College (University), ''Registrars of the Senate''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919053347/http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/registrars-senate.html |date=19 September 2015 }}</ref> It was during Devasahayam's tenure at the University that ecumenism gave way to merger of seminaries and the formation of [special purpose entities](/source/special_purpose_entity) throughout India.  It was Devasahayam who gave the inaugural address when the [Andhra Christian Theological College](/source/Andhra_Christian_Theological_College) was formed in 1964 in [Rajahmundry](/source/Rajahmundry).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=gXvkAAAAMAAJ&q=baptist+theological+seminary+kakinada+serampore ''The Lutheran'', Volume 2, Lutheran Church in America, 1964, p.30]</ref>

==Studies==
After scholastic studies at the CBM-McLaurin High School in [Kakinada](/source/Kakinada), Devasahayam enrolled for graduate studies from 1931–1933<ref name="Souvenir"/> at the [Pithapuram](/source/Pithapuram) Rajah College in [Kakinada](/source/Kakinada) from where he obtained a degree in Sciences leading to the award of Bachelor of Science ([BSc](/source/BSc)) by the [Andhra University](/source/Andhra_University).  For ministerial formation, Devasahayam studied from 1936<ref name="Directory">[S. J. Samartha](/source/S._J._Samartha), [M. P. John](/source/M._P._John) (Compiled), ''Directory of students 1910-1967'', Serampore College (Theology Department), Serampore, 1967, p.10.</ref>–1939<ref name="Souvenir"/> at [Serampore College](/source/Serampore_College), [Serampore](/source/Serampore) as a candidate of the [Canadian Baptist Mission](/source/Canadian_Baptist_Mission)/[Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars](/source/Convention_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Northern_Circars) at the [Serampore College](/source/Serampore_College), [Serampore](/source/Serampore).

In Fall 1955,<ref name="Souvenir"/> Devasahayam was sent by his Church Society for upgrading his academics at the [Northern Baptist Theological Seminary](/source/Northern_Baptist_Theological_Seminary), [Lombard, Illinois](/source/Lombard%2C_Illinois) where he enrolled for a postgraduate course in [Master of Theology](/source/Master_of_Theology) ([Th.M.](/source/Th.M.)) completing it by May 1956.

==Christian work==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Serampore Convocation.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Devasahayam ''(seated eighth from right with white scroll in hand)'' as Registrar at a convocation of the [Senate of Serampore College (University)](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University)) held at [Serampore](/source/Serampore).]] -->

After Devasahayam's ministerial studies at [Serampore College](/source/Serampore_College), he was assigned pastoral roles in  rural areas where there were hardly any Christians and much like the Baptist heritage, he was left to himself to build up congregations.<ref name="Souvenir"/> From 1939 to 1942, he was Visakha Field Supervisor of the [Canadian Baptist Mission](/source/Canadian_Baptist_Mission).

At the height of the [World War II](/source/World_War_II), Devasahayam was asked to serve in the [Royal Indian Navy](/source/Royal_Indian_Navy) as a [Military Chaplain](/source/Military_Chaplain).<ref name="Betty"/> Devasahayam was [Military Chaplain](/source/Military_Chaplain) from 1942 through 1947 and returned to Church ministry.<ref name="Souvenir"/>

He returned to the Church Society in 1947 and subsequently ministered in parishes of [Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars](/source/Convention_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Northern_Circars) from 1947<ref>{{cite book|first1=Kenneth|last1=Knight|first2=Shirley|last2=Knight|title=The Seed Holds the Tree: A Story of India and the Kingdom of God|year=2009|pages=125–126|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9780986476600|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W5MtAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA344}}</ref> as Krishna Field Minister stationed at [Avanigadda](/source/Avanigadda).<ref>C. Devasahayam's book review on T. C. Witney, ''Amos'' in ''Indian Journal of Theology'' 6.4 (Oct – Dec. 1957), 147–155.  [http://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ijt/06-4_147.pdf]</ref> During an overseas missionary visit to Canada in 1951, Devasahayam addressed a missionary meeting in Canada where many came from [Okanagan](/source/Okanagan), [Kaleden](/source/Kaleden%2C_British_Columbia), [Peachland](/source/Peachland), [Kelowna](/source/Kelowna), and [Vernon](/source/Vernon%2C_British_Columbia).<ref>{{cite book|title=Year Book of the Baptist Union of Western Canada 1951–1952|publisher=Baptist Union of Western Canada|year=1951|pages=13, 113 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=umXkAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

== University and Chapel ==
In 1960,<ref>{{cite book|title=Baptist Yearbook|publisher=Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec|year=1959|page=165|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gXvkAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> Devasahayam was appointed Registrar<ref name="Serampore">{{cite book|author=Serampore College|title=The story of Serampore and its college|publisher=Council of Serampore College|orig-year=1961|edition=4th|year=2005|pages=129–137|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e_QEAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> of the nation's first University.  As Registrar, Devasahayam was also a member of the Council of [Senate of Serampore College](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University)).<ref name="Serampore"/>

While performing his duties at the university, Devasahayam was an honorary pastor at Lower Circular Road Baptist Chapel in [Kolkata](/source/Kolkata), the chapel founded by [William Carey](/source/William_Carey_(missionary)).  Devasahayam used to pastor the church from 1968 onwards and became a full-time<ref name="Souvenir"/> Pastor of the Chapel in 1975,<ref name="Betty"/> but it was not until 1978 that he resigned from the university.<ref name="Serampore"/>

Devasahayam was visiting professor at his alma mater, the [Northern Baptist Theological Seminary](/source/Northern_Baptist_Theological_Seminary)<ref name="Cluster">[https://archive.org/stream/announcements1974chic/announcements1974chic_djvu.txt ''The Chicago Cluster of Theological Schools'', 1974–1975]</ref> during 1974–1975.
{{S-start}}
{{S-aca}}
{{Succession box
 | before=William Stewart<br />1954–1959<ref name="Senate"/>| title=Registrar,<br />[Senate of Serampore College](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University))|after=[J. T. Krogh](/source/J._T._Krogh)<br />1975–1978<ref name="Senate"/>
| years=1960–1975<ref name="Senate"/>}}
{{s-end}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devasahayam, Chetti}}
Category:20th-century Indian Christian clergy
Category:Christian clergy from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Indian Christian theologians
Category:Indian Baptist missionaries
Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni
Category:Academic staff of the Senate of Serampore College (University)
Category:World War II chaplains
Category:Royal Indian Navy officers
Category:20th-century Baptist ministers
Category:Indian Christians
Category:1913 births
Category:1993 deaths

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chetti Devasahayam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chetti_Devasahayam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chetti_Devasahayam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.