History of Russelpuram, Near Balaramapuram,
Thiruvananthapuram (India) | 2020 English
Documentary
Russelpuram was named after the American Missionary Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 - October 31, 1916). He was the founder of what is now known as the Bible Student movement. After his death, Jehovah's Witnesses and numerous independent Bible Student groups developed from this base.
Upon his visit to India in 1912, Russell spoke at a village called Nyarakad, near Balaramapuram. Afterward the name of the village was changed to Russellpuram, meaning The Place of Russell, and so it is called to this day.
S.P. Devasahayam, hailed from a place named Ethamozhi near Nagercoil. As a science student he had gone to America in 1905 and there he met Charles Taze Russell. After spending some time with him in studying the Bible, Davey returned to his native village in South Travancore and started forty Bible study groups in and around Nagercoil, at the extreme southern tip of the Indian Peninsula. In the same year, A. J. Joseph, from Kottayam began searching for Bible truth and later came in contact with C.T. Russel. He also got the opportunity to meet C.T. Russel at Madras during his visit to India in 1912.
C.T. Russel was invited to South Travancore by S.P. Davey and upon Russell's arrival at Quilon raiway station from Madras, S.P. Davey came down from Neyyatinkara and greeted Russell
at the railway station. Russel was garlanded in typical Indian style. S.P. Davey took C.T. Russel to Njarakadu where he had already been running a Bible study group in 1909. Upon reaching Njarakadu, the villagers were very excited and gave a Royal welcome to Russell.
S.P. Davey arranged a talk for C.T. Russell at an Auditorium at Njarakadu and many flooded to listen to the talk. Russell continued to deliver talks and discussions at Njarakady and its surrounding places. The people of Njarakadu loved C.T. Russell and as a respect for C.T. Russell, the name of the village was changed to Russellpuram, meaning the place of Russell. Watch video to learn about the interesting history.
