Dilraj was born to Mrs. Sara & Mr. Joseph Kakkariyil of Arthunkal in Alleppey Dist. After the death of his father his mother migrated to the nearby town Chertala along with infant Dilraj and some of her younger children. She worked as a domestic maid. The little boy worked as a domestic help in the family. Young Yeshudasan had only one goal in his life: to become a missionary in North India.

DILRAJ

He first worked at Khrist Sevashram, Rasulpur in Kotwa Narainpur of Ballia district. In 1985, after completing 12 years of relentless pioneering service in Rasulpur, he was appointed Rector of Vishwa Jyoti Gurukul. After three years, he went back to the villages, where his heart was; he was assigned to Vishwa Bandhu Ashram in Nandganj. Dilraj transformed Nandganj village into a hub of social activities. In 1998, he launched a new ministry in the city of Varanasi. Staying in a humble rented room, he founded ASMITA, a Centre caring for the migrant laborers. He entered every slum of Varanasi city and started non-formal education of rag pickers, slum dwellers, children of domestic maids, rickshaw pullers and migrants. For some time ASMITA functioned from Shivala, Varanasi. From 2008 until now the center is functioning from Sigra. Various activities for the migrant labourers specially the women and children from the slums are organized. Dilraj stood firm in the traditions and the original values. He practiced pioneering evangelization all through. He dreamt and envisioned new avenues to reach out to the poor. He consulted and sought opinion from many, and executed all his dreams in magnificent ways. Enculturation was the trademark of his missionary life: he regularly organized Virahas and Keertans, and 24-hour chain-singing called Akhand Keertan, and continuous chanting of the Bible in Rasulpur and Nandganj missions and even in Asmita, Sigra. Extreme simplicity of life, frugality in his personal life, but extravagance when it comes to the poor were his hallmarks. Health problems, the changing times and modernity were no reasons for him to dilute these values in any way. On 28 April at the age of 82 Dilraj left his earthly abode for a life with the eternal God. Yes, Dilraj didn’t die, but he passed on to eternity where his beloved mother, many of his friends, other collaborators and friends had already reached. We trust and believe that this man of mission, now in heaven, will intercede with the heavenly father for the Indian Missionary Society and for the success of its pioneering missionary service among the poor and the marginalized. May he enjoy eternal bliss in the company of the saints and the angels and may he continue to inspire us to live genuinely our call.