India, May 8 -- The unexpected defeat of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the meteoric rise of debutant Chandrashekhar Joseph Vijay, arguably the biggest film star in Tamil Nadu, is like a bolt from the blue in the state's politics. While the political implications of Vijay's newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ruling over the state are being debated, the mixed religious heritage of the superstar, which has remained in the background, tells us the profound history of Christianity in south India.

It is a generally held belief that Christianity in India dates back to the 16th century when the Portuguese established their rule in Goa. In the north-east of India, Christianity spread only during the colonial period but its history ...