Augustine Ralla Ram papers, circa 1947 -- 1959
Collection context
- Creator:
- Ram, Augustine Ralla, 1888-1957
- Abstract:
- Augustine Ralla Ram was General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India, Burma, and Ceylon; Vice President of the World Student Christian Federation; Executive Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Christian Council; and Editor of "The Christian Messenger," among other titles. The collection contains one book of tribute to Ram, a report, correspondence, and research and writings.
- Extent:
- 0.25 linear feet (0.25 linear feet; 1 box)
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains a book of tribute entitled, "An Appreciation," by the Student Christian Movement of India, Burma, and Ceylon, for which Ram served as General Secretary from 1928 to 1947. In his 1955 "personal report" as Executive Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Christian Council, Ram lists the many organizations he worked with and positions he held from 1953-1955. The first page of an undated letter describes a visit with the Metropolitan and details Ram's travel plans. Additional correspondence and research and writings are also included in this collection.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Augustine Ralla Ram was born on September 1, 1888, at Hoshiarpur in the Punjab. He was one of four children and the only son of Ralla Ram, an orthodox Brahmin priest who converted to Christianity, a faith he would pass on to his son Augustine. In 1911, Augustine graduated from Forman Christian College, and in 1915 he graduated from Saharanpur Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor in Allahabad for three years before traveling to Iraq and Persia to serve as a chaplain to Indian Christian forces. In 1919, he returned to India where he worked as both a church pastor and professor at Ewing Christian College. From 1923-1925, he took a leave of absence to travel and served as National President of the Christian Endeavor Executive Council. Ram was General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India, Burma, and Ceylon from 1928 to 1947, and Vice President of the World Student Christian Federation from 1932 to 1935, with which he traveled to Bulgaria, France, Germany, the Philippines, Java, and Malaya. In 1945 Ram received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the College of Wooster in recognition of his service to the Church of Christ Ecumenical. He was elected as Moderator in the United Church of Northern India at the 1947 General Assembly. Ram became the Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Christian Council in 1948, a position he held until 1956. He was also editor of "The Christian Messenger," and remained so until his death in 1957. Ram also served as Vice President of the North India Auxiliary of the All-India Central Committee of the Bible Society of India, Pakistan, and Ceylon, Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the National Missionary Society, Secretary of the Committee on the Study of Hinduism, Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Rajpur Retreat and Study Center, and Superintendent of the School and Home for the Blind. He was also part of the Executive Committee of the National Christian Council and on its Committee on Public Affairs, and served on the sub-committee of the Unification of the Ministry for the Church Union Movement.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
- Terms of access:
-
Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.
- Preferred citation:
-
Item description, MRL3: Augustine Ralla Ram papers, circa 1947-1959, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.
- Location of this collection:
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- Contact:
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