Founder General William Booth Primate General André Cox Territory Universal | Independence 1865 Headquarters Kowdiar, Kerala, India | |
Recognition Independent Hierarchical Church | ||
Raksha Sainyam (രക്ഷാസൈന്യം) is the Malayalam term used for the Salvation Army in Kerala, India. Ratchannai Senai (Tamil) and Mukthi Fouj (Hindi) are other names for the same organization.
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Raksha Sainyam is a Christian Charity and Social Services organization. It's also a Church with Territorial Headquarters at Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram. Salvation Army is an international organisation and it is working in 121 countries. General William Booth is the founder and first General of the Salvation Army.
History
Salvation Army work commenced in the old Travancore State on 18 March 1894 by Captain Yesudasan Sanjivi, who was a Namboothiri (high-caste Brahmin) before his conversion. When the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth, visited Nager Coil, he was impressed by the enthusiasm of Captain Yesudasan (later Colonel) and the General appointed him on the spot to start the Army's work in Kerala state. He was called Namboori Ayyah by the members of the Church.
His son, Colonel Donald A. Sanjivi, became the first territorial commander from Kerala. The work was spread to other parts of the state through the dedication of pioneer officers-Commanders, Commandant Thayilath Abraham, Brigadier General K.V. Samuel, Pakalomattom Kalleekal Pandalam,Brigadier General Santhosham P.O.Varghese Parakattu,Brigadier P.K.Samuel and Commissioner P. E. George Pavureth Mavelikara who became the first Malayali keralite ever to become a Commissioner. Many officers who had worked for the poor and the oppressed had been banned from many villages and county's for dining and teaching good to the lowest class,even beaten up mercilessly all for the Lords glory.
The India South Western Territory came into being on 1 October 1970 when the Southern India Territory divided into two. The territory has its headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram and comprises the entire Malayalam-speaking area known as Kerala State.
Faith and Tradition
Local Parishes of this denomination are called "Corps" by its members. Usually all the officers are called by a common name "Ayyah" (meaning 'Sir' in Tamil language).
Similar to Catholic Church, the primary focus of this denomination is social services. A number of Schools, Hospitals, Children's Homes etc. are functioning under this church.