Jalandhar: Catholic schools in Punjab, northern India, have decided to replace textbooks with monthly course sheets. The brain behind the change is Bishop Franco Mulackal of Jalandhar, which covers most part of Punjab. The prelate has been heading the Jalandhar Catholic diocese since 2013. A native of Kerala, the prelate has been in forefront of social and spiritual renewal in the state. He recently shared with The Tribune newspaper his innovative ideas.

How did a small-town poor boy from Kerala become Jalandhar bishop?

I was born to a poor family in Trichur district in Kerala in 1964. I was the eldest of the six children. My father was the headmaster in a local school and poverty and oppression motivated and turned my attention toward humanitarian issues. Though initially I began to work as a priest and even went to Rome in 2008 in the capacity of international treasurer of the Priest Union of India, I returned as Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi in 2009. I finally took over as the Bishop of Jalandhar diocese in 2013.

When was Jalandhar dioceses erected?

Before the Partition, Jalandhar was under Lahore dioceses and kept lying abandoned for several years after Independence. It was only in 1952 that Rome declared this unit as ‘Jalandhar Prefecture’ and made Alban Swarbick, a British national as its in charge. However, it was only in 1971 that it was promoted to the stature of a diocese with Bishop Symphorian Thomas Keeprath as its first bishop.

Why did you choose Punjab to be your workplace?

I met Bishop Keeprath in 1979 when he came to my village and got impressed by his knowledge and concern for humanity. He also shared with us the challenges minority communities were facing in the state. I later got an opportunity to work in Punjab for three years and finally decided to shift my base here.

There have been recent attacks on Dalits. What, according to you, is the real cause behind such incidents?

There has been a lot of unrest among minorities and an overflow of emotions has a damaging effect on our society. Moreover, the inept policies of the state government have also blown up the issue to a much dangerous level. Though minority communities are fighting over reservation quotas all over the country, no one is realizing the fact that we do not have ‘unlimited seats.’ I feel that reservation should be given to a person on the basis of his economic situation and not because of his caste and creed. However, political ambitions are also reigning high behind such attacks on Dalits reported nowadays.

Why doesn’t Catholic Church support the idea of women priesthood?

According to the Catholic belief, when Jesus appointed 12 Apostles to give them authority to force out evil spirits from the world and to cure every disease and sickness, he chose all men and not even Mother Mary even though she was born without any sin. The belief still reigns large and opposes the appointment of women priests in Catholic churches.

Do you support gay marriages? The Supreme Court has granted constitutional rights to lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

I do not support gay marriages as the matter pertains more to belief and religious faith rather than granting human rights.

Catholic Church is always accused of conversions. Why?

Unfortunately, no one understands the true meaning of ‘conversions’ here in Punjab. We, as Catholics, believe ‘conversions’ as the transformation of a sinful soul to a pure one and have never supported the religious conversion on the basis of allurements, enticement or even by force. So many Christians have converted to Hindus and Sikhs in the recent years, but we have never created any uproar in society as we believe that religion is a matter of faith and choice and not of compulsion.

Catholic churches-run schools always remain the most-sought-after schools in the country. What is the secret behind their immense success and popularity?

Discipline, corruption-free selection process in the appointment of teachers and admission of students and also moving with technological advancements are the main reasons for the huge popularity of our schools across India.

What are you doing to ease the ‘weight ‘on your students’ back?

Recently, we contemplated to do away with books and provide monthly printed course sheets to students. This format will help children in two ways. First, it will ease the ‘weight’ on their backs as they only have to carry the syllabus for a month in their bags. It will also help families in transferable jobs to save some money, as they will only have to buy course sheets for the period they would stay here in the city.

What is your biggest concern for the community in Jalandhar diocese?

Poverty is the biggest concern for the community. There is also a need for the community to shed its fear complex, which springs from the minority situation. This makes the community shy and withdrawn. They should come out to play a more constructive role in nation building through the involvement of the laity in politics and other sectors of public life.

It should raise its voice against social injustice and human rights violation, moral issues such as corruption in public life, gay marriages, bio-ethical issues as that of contraception, abortion, in-vitro fertilization and other social and moral issues.

Christianity supports cremating body. Why do many still follow the age-old burial practice?

People are not ready to do away with the old-age belief. However in Europe, people have begun cremating bodies and stocking a part of ash in small niches made in the crematorium itself for keeping the memory of the deceased.

Who do you think will form government in Punjab in 2017 Assembly elections?

Looking at the recent developments, it seems the BJP may decide to break the alliance and go alone in the 2017 Assembly elections. The Congress, too, seems to have committed a folly by appointing Captain Amarinder Singh as the president of the Punjab Congress that has once again divided the party into two sections. Taking advantage of all this, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) might create history in Punjab as it did in Delhi.

(This appeared in The Tribune on March 7, 2016)