VEDANAYAGAM SAMUEL AZARIAH
In juxtaposition to the political, secular developments associated to the Independence Movement in India, or nearly a decade earlier, an ecclesiastical awakening occurred as a result of the great Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910. „It might be described as the first shot in the campaign against ‚missionary imperialism‘, socalled.“149 It was a slim, dark Indian, a young man by the name of Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, who „set us all talking: missionaries who had lived long in India said that the picture was overdrawn; missionaries of the younger generation, unconscious as yet of social shortcomings, asked, can these things be?“150 The sincerity of the young speaker was indisputable. Though the Conference ended on an encouraging note,
… the pebble cast that summer evening into a placid pool of Christian complacency started ripples that touched many shores and did much to bring about the happier social climate that now pertains in the mission world generally.151
Azariah’s plea at Edinburgh was a great call for ‚partnership‘ as a guiding principle between the missionary and the Indian pastor and Christian.152 It was a call for greater acceptance of Indian leadership and the indigenous Church.153 Yet the power and influence of ‚missionary imperialism‘, closely associated with the control of the finances, lingered generally and with certain social shortcomings, in spite of „an increasing demand from Indian Christians for ‚Home Rule‘ in the Churches.“154
In 1912 the Anglican Church in India took a promising step in making Azariah Bishop of Dornakal, a new diocese for India.155 It was „a notable reminder that the wisest way to deal with the splendid ardours of youth is to harness them to real responsibility.“156 His energies and vision as a leader at Dornakal are in themselves an unparalleled example of devotion and evangelistic fervour. Azariah at the same time took on an increasing role at the National Christian Council following World War I,157 which in turn led to his eminence, that from January, 1929, until his death on January 31st, 1945, „he was the indispensible Chairman.“158 And during World War II, particularly at the outset, Azariah had proven to be a dear friend of the German missionaries, and his services, with Paton and Hodge, towards the German Missions were another chapter of his Indian greatness.