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“Never forget O Brave One the best kind of existence is to exist for others”
Saint kuriakose Elias Chavara was a social reformer. He is the first canonized catholic male saint of Indian origin. He was one of the founders and first prior general of the first religious congregation for men known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate and the founder of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel a religious congregation for women. Though his excellence touched all field, today I would like to focus him as a social reformer.

Alas! Till 20th century kerala history ignored him. But today things are changing. History accepted him as a social reformer. That is why, his history and contributions are become the necessary part of various grade exams like IAS, PSC, etc. He hailed from a Syrian Catholic family. He played a major role in educating and uplifting the people of kerala. St. Kuriakose Elias had the conviction that only through education the social status of people can be improved. He started the first Sanskrit school at mannanam in 1846. He made it possible to sit together and to learn knowledge to the students. Where the system of untouchability were strong and education restricted only to a certain people.  The social evils like untouchability, inequality were gradually removed by this movement. In order to attract children, he installed mid-day meal policy. Indian government has adapted this policy which is continued even today. To foster the interest on learning he felt the necessity of a press there started St. Joseph‘s press at mannanam in 1846. Which was the third printing press in kerala and the first press founded by a keralaite without the help of foreigners.

His another charity practice was known as pidiyari policy. It is to encourage people to help each other especially from their plate. The radical steps was taken by him in the educational literary and charity realms triggered the development in the society. St. Chavara was a social reformer who gave significant contributions to awaken the social cognizance of kerala and become a trend setter to trigger its further progress.
When our founder kuriakose Elias surrender himself to the Almighty to be an instrument, God made him to be a great blessing to the land of kerala. Let us surrender ourselves to God. So that our eyes won’t be blind towards the needy. To cultivate this culture, let us take the policy ‘each good each day’.

Bro. Sifin Lazer CMI
Dharmaram College, Bengaluru


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St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, A Social Reformer

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