The Open Knowledge Vision of Christumatha Saram

Abstract

Chattampi Swami (Swamikal) a religious reformer from the late nineteenth century India seeks to capture the core elements of the Christian faith in his booklet Christumatha Sāram (CMS). His effort is commendable, as it demonstrates the openness and willingness of one from a different faith to take on this task. It serves as a valuable tool for evangelising those who may be misinformed or uninformed, and it was a timely contribution, particularly in an era when Christian literature was scarce in the region. SWAMIKAL subtly yet powerfully emphasizes the importance of understanding the Sacred Scriptures and the teachings of all religions, advocating for inter-religious dialogue, which was particularly relevant at the time. However, in his zeal to present the Gospel of Christ, Swamikal becomes overly influenced by Old Testament teachings, fails to consider some key aspects of Christian doctrine that define the Christian way of life. Despite this, his work is aimed at introducing the essence of Christianity to the Indian population at a time when the Bible was not accessible, especially in regional languages in India. By making the teachings of the Bible accessible in a culturally relatable format, CMS stands as a testament to Swamikal’s vision of spiritual inclusivity and his commitment to making knowledge open and accessible to all.