Published by: Carmel International Publishing House
ISBN: 978-93-47211-05-8
Price: Rs. 240; Pages: 196
To order, please click here
By Lakshmi Athreya –
The book, ‘The Digital Evangelist,’ on Jerin Thobias Vakayil’s life, though gone too soon at 23, is rendered with such authenticity and grace that his extraordinary presence lingers long after the final page, rippling quietly and forever…
The sublime portrayal by the author Verghese Vadakkethaka Joseph stirred something deeply personal in me, bringing back memories of my sister Lavanya’s own untimely departure and in that remembering, I could find my own healing. I marvel at how the story allow the reader to feel the loss deeply and then, with rare sensitivity, lift them back into the Divine Joy that Jerin himself seemed to embody.
I was especially moved by how seamlessly the book takes us through the joyous hustle of the Vakayil household, the honourable lineage tracing back to Blessed Mother Eliswa Vakayil, and every facet of Jerin’s being: his talents, his piety, his role in the community, his charity and the accounts of the countless lives he touched. The instance of Jerin’s prayer leading to the miracle recovery of the child after the valve operation is truly inspiring. It is no wonder that this stands tall in the growing corpus of Jerin’s saintly intercessory acts as the story mentions.
The chronicling is so intimate that Jerin feels known, not described. If I may be allowed to humbly make an observation which stirred me, his pious mother Blessy and Jerin appear chosen to shine as living reflections of the holy lives of Mother Mary and her Divine Son.
Moments like the epiphany of seeing Jerin’s name on the scooter during an ordinary grocery run are profound: the author has made him an indelible part of the reader’s own life script. We don’t just read about Jerin; we carry him with us.
These lines will stay and return to me time and again:
“In world consumed by negativity, he used social media to illuminate hearts with messages of hope, love, and unwavering faith.”
“…having fulfilled his earthly mission with such devotion, his gifts were now needed in God’s greater plan.”
“.. the grace on his face made him look like a saint.”
” The seeds he planted-online and offline, in code and in conversation-continue to bloom in unexpected places.”
“Even in our digital age, the call to sainthood continues to shine with living relevance and youthful grace.”
This is incredibly sensitive writing – poignant, reverent and quietly luminous. Thank you for giving the world Jerin once again, through an eternal legacy shaped in words.
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Lakshmi Athreya is a technologist by training, with a Computer Science education from VNIT and IIT Bombay. She brings over three decades of experience across global organisations and high-growth technology environments. Her professional journey spans leadership roles at Wipro, Apple India, McAfee, and emerging startups.
Much of her work has unfolded at the intersection of quality engineering, large-scale transformation, and human systems. Along the way, she learned that systems don’t merely fail technically – they falter when meaning is lost. Today, she writes and speaks on Humane Agility, blending Agile thinking, AI awareness, and human intelligence.
Her LinkedIn essays are reflective explorations of work, identity, and inner evolution. She guides professionals in finding their authentic writing voice, especially at moments of transition.
Lakshmi believes writing to be one of the finest forms of self-expression – a quiet bridge between inner truth, human connection, and personal transformation.