By Matters India Reporter

Bhubaneswar: Several Catholics in Odisha have welcomed the initiative of the women council of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) to draw national attention to the plight of the survivors of the worst anti-Christian violence of modern India.

“We were touched by CBCI council of women delegation’s sense of solidarity,” Amana Nayak, woman from Tiangia village under Our Lady of Charity parish of Raikia in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, told Matters India on October 24.

She was reacting to a letter Sister Talisha Nadukudiyil, national secretary of the CBCI Council for Women, wrote on October 16 to all bishops and Church leaders in the country.

The council urged them to show solidarity with the Kandhamal survivors. A group of 22 council members led by its chairman Syro-Malankara Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas of Gurgaon visited Kandhamal October 2-4 to understand the plight of the survivors of the violence in 2007 and 2008.

“It is our duty as Catholics, to help our brothers and sisters in their times of difficulties and needs. So it is a humble request from the Council of Women to take this issue with serious concern and help them with all kinds of support,” Sister Nadukudiyil’s letter said. The member of the Sisters of the Destitute urged Christians to join together to help the Kandhamal Christians to carry their cross.

Nayak said their interaction with the council members convinced them that they have understood the survivors’ struggles for the past 10 years. “Their visit showed us that there are Christians who support us. We shared with them how we are being and how struggle with insecurities. We do not know what future holds for us. If we get support and assistance for our women and girls, it would be definitely good news,” added the woman, whose village lost seven people in the violence.

Sister Pancrasia, secretary of the Women Commission of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese, said the Odisha Church appreciated that the CBCI council has decided to assist some girl students to pursue professional courses. Bishop Barnabas identified a girl for studying nursing course. “Funds and moral support from outside would be a great relief to the families. It would help them live a dignified life,” the nun told Matters India.

Shivani Behera, women leader from St. Paul’s Church, Balliguda, a parish in Kandhamal, said the visiting women could understand “our struggles and vulnerabilities as well as our aspirations for future.”

The schoolteacher asserted that the women and girls of Kandhamal would have a bright future if the Church came forward to support them. “We are bound by the love of Christ and it would strengthen our bond as unified Christians in India. Wish that many would join such noble campaign so that there is really support forthcoming,” Behera told Matters India.

Father Ajaya Kumar Singh, director of Odisha Forum for Social Action, too welcomed the council’s gestures. “It is a very welcome step that CBCI Council has made an appeal to provide assistance. In fact, more than the support, we appreciate the goodwill and solidarity of the women council,” the priest told Matters India.

According to him, the visiting team’s “special interest” to visit the affected people has sent a message to the survivors that the outside world has not forgotten them. “Wish it could encourage the Church groups to show solidarity and strengthen to stand firm to seek truth and justice.”

Father Singh bemoaned that Kandhamal still has pockets where people are scared to practice their faith in Christ for fear of attacks. Some other villages would accept the survivors back only if they abandon their Christian faith. “As we observe the 10th anniversary of this unfortunate tragedy, the Church and civil society groups could come together to secure justice, peace and harmony in the region besides overall development of the community,” he suggested.

Sister Nadukudiyil’s letter reminded the Church members have a“fundamental duty” to care for one another and that Catholic parishes promote the dignity of women and children.

In Kandhamal, nearly 100 people were killed and 56,000 rendered homeless during violence targeting Christians that started on August 24, 2008, and lasted for nearly four months. The spark was lit by the assassination of Swami Lashmananada Saraswati, a Hindu religious leader who had lived in Kandhamal for decades mainly to oppose Christian missionaries.