A composed behaviour, coupled with persuasion skills and in-depth knowledge of Christianity, was good enough for Ganesh Iyer to introduce himself as “Evangelist Dr. John Ganesh”. It was in the early 1970s that he first met Rev. Fr. Michael of Tamil Ilakkiya Kazhagam, posing as a religious researcher studying the roots of Christianity in India. In no time was John Ganesh able to convince a gullible Fr. Michael with his eloquence and voluminous documents that he was fully engaged in researching the origin and growth of Christianity in India and some support from the church would help in expediting his work. He was referred to Fr. Mariadas of Srivilliputtur, who had no idea that the “visiting Professor” was Ganesh Iyer, a native of Srirangam, involved in a couple of cheating cases.
