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{{Infobox medical person|name=RAC Paul|box_width=|image_width=|alt=|caption=|birth_date=19 August 1941|birth_place=Sawyerpuram, India|death_date=30 September 1986|death_place=India|nationality=Indian|citizenship=Indian|profession=doctor, medical missionary|known_for=Missionary work in India|years_active=|education=Madras Veterinary College|work_institutions=Virudhunagar Veterinary Hospital|prizes=|relations=|signature=}}'''Dr. RAC Paul''' (August 19, 1941—September 30, 1986) was an Indian doctor and a missionary who did medical and evangelical work among the Bondo tribes in [[Malkangiri]].

== Early life: education and personal life ==
Paul was born in [[Sawyerpuram]] on August 19, 1941, to parents Paul Ratna Samy and Gladys.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Another Grain of Wheat: a Life of Dr. R A C Paul|last=Jebaraj|first=Sasi|publisher=UESI Publication Trust|year=1996}}</ref> He had four siblings—two older sisters named Priscilla and Nirmala, a younger sister named Ramani, and a younger brother named Dhanapaul.

=== Education ===
In 1957, he passed SSLC and attended [[Madras Veterinary College]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Arackal|first=Sam|date=2004|title=From Malkangiri, With Love: Life and Work of Late. Dr. RAC Paul and the Living Testimoy of Dr. Iris Paul|journal=Indian Missions|pages=48–51}}</ref> After becoming a doctor, he joined Virudhunagar veterinary hospital and received a degree in 1963.<ref name=":0" /> He also attended Emmanuel Methodist Church at [[Vepery|Veppery]], Chennai.<ref name=":1" />

=== Personal life ===
Dr. RAC Paul was introduced to his future wife [[Iris G.R. Paul|Dr. Iris Paul]] by her college friend Chandra.<ref name=":1" /> Her father Mr. Walter went to Malkangiri in order to meet Paul and approved of him due to his hospitality and politeness. He then gave Paul permission to marry his daughter.

RAC and Iris were wed on January 24, 1972, at Emanuel Methodist Church.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Their first child, son “Remo” (meaning “man” in the Bondo language), was born in 1974. Their second son, Manoranjan, was born in 1977.

The couple adopted two Bondo children during their work as missionaries among the Bondo tribes. They named these children David Livingstone and Mary Smrutha.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Pioneering on the Pinda|last=Wood|first=Beulah|publisher=Evangelical Literature Service|year=1998}}</ref>

=== Influence of religion and health ===
As a young child, Paul had not initially accepted religion. When he fell ill, however, he turned to religion and prayed to live. This influenced him to become a doctor and work as a medical and religious missionary. He wanted to spend his life in "the Lord's service".<ref name=":0" />

After the birth of his second son in 1977, Paul fell ill with kidney problems. He needed a kidney transplant, which he received in the USA. After the transplant, he and Iris returned to their work in India.

Paul suffered a paralytic attack on January 24, 1980. He suffered from ill health, including typhoid and jaundice, until his death in 1986. In the hospital, when he felt well enough, he told nearby patients the gospel.<ref name=":0" /> He ultimately died during by-pass surgery.

== Mission ==

=== Call ===
Paul learned of a need for a missionary in Orissa (present-day [[Odisha]]) through [[IMS Health|IMS]] News Bulletin in Muthumalai magazine.<ref name=":1" /> The notice in the magazine asked for missionaries to go work in Orissa. He applied immediately.

=== Journey ===
Upon being selected, he left for service on January 15, 1967, and arrived at Malkangiri on January 23, 1967.<ref name=":0" /> He started medical work with the Koya, Bondo, Santhali and Poraja tribal groups. He met Munshi, a Bengali Christian, in the village MV3 and taught bible lessons there.<ref name=":0" />

After their wedding, on February 9, 1972, Dr. Iris and Dr. RAC Paul journeyed together to Malkangiri to begin medical work on the Bondo tribes. They left IMS and joined Indian Evangelical Mission, which sent two other missionaries to work with the Pauls: Bros Sasi Kumar and Jeyapaul Sithar.<ref name=":0" />

=== Service ===
The Pauls went to Bondo Hills, lived there, and did the ministry during the week and medical work on Sundays. They returned to Malkangiri once per week. The local tribal people were isolated and known as murderous. Paul was determined to reach them with religion. He became close with the locals, and they endearingly called him "Mr. Tall".<ref name=":3" />

Together, RAC and Iris treated and helped with many health problems, including the following: Malaria, Tuberculosis, skin diseases, dysentery, and the delivery of babies.

After Paul's kidney transplant, IEM shut down the work in Malkangiri.<ref name=":0" /> Dr. Iris and RAC Paul then resigned from IEM and returned to the base at Malkangiri. They continued medical and gospel work in Malkangiri but could no longer work with the Bondo tribes. Without the support of IEM, the Pauls faced financial difficulties, in addition to Dr. RAC Paul's own medical problems.<ref name=":0" />

=== Return ===
Paul suffered a paralytic attack on January 24, 1980, and from then on, he had to stay at home and assist Iris in her medical work.<ref name=":0" /> He told patients the gospel but was no longer able to continue his work in the ministry. He died in 1986.

== Legacy ==

=== Lasting impact on the Bondos ===
Dr. RAC Paul translated the New Testament into the Bondo language.<ref name=":0" /> The Bondos have been able to continue practicing Christianity.

=== Inspiration to others ===
At an IEM promotional meeting, slides of Dr. RAC Paul and Dr. Iris Paul were shown to a group of aspiring missionaries. At the time, Dr. RAC Paul was receiving medical treatment at CMC Vellore. One attendee of this meeting recalled being inspired by the following declaration, which was given by the man giving the presentation: "If a dying man is willing to keep on serving the Lord in a dry land, where there was no fruit, or benefit, what about you young people who have good health and strength?"<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Patel|first=Victoria|date=March 2011|title=In the Centre of God's Will|journal=IEM Outreach|volume=XLVII|pages=11}}</ref>

=== Continuation of his work after death ===
His wife, Dr. Iris Paul, continued working with the Bondos upon Paul's dying wish that she and their children would continue working as missionaries.<ref name=":0" /> Dr. Iris Paul received the Yoke Fellow Award from the Direct Mission Aid Society in 1988 and eight years later, she received the Robert Pierce International Award for Christian development work by World Vision International.<ref name=":2" />

=== Reaching Hand Society ===
Iris founded the Reaching Hand Society.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gmp.org.au/what-we-do/associate-partners/reaching-hands|title=Reaching Hands|website=Global Mission Partners}}</ref> Now, Remo Paul and his wife Dr. Susan Sunalini Paul run the RHS as Executive Secretary and Medical Superintendent, respectively. The Reaching Hand Society provides medical care, sets up local village churches, and spreads health education for the people in over 700 out of 926 villages in the district of Malkangiri.<ref name=":2" />

== References ==
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[[Category:Christian medical missionaries]]
[[Category:Christian missionaries in India]]
[[Category:Indian Christian missionaries]]