Nagpur: Sushma Suryawanshi has forgiven those who blamed her for husband’s death a year ago,.

The Buddhist woman thanks the Bible for bringing peace in her life after she began forgiving people.

She says she was hurt deeply when people blamed her after her husband died of cardiac arrest due to excessive drinking a year ago.

“The Bible not only gave me the strength to forgive those who hurt me but brought a lot of confidence to face life,” she said on July 17 while sharing her Christ experience at the first anniversary of the Catholic Information Centre in Nagpur, her home town in central India.

She said she had started reading the Bible daily “for a long time.” When the information center was opened she enrolled for the Bible study course to get a deeper understanding of Christ and his teachings.

She read the New Testament again as part of her study and was amazed to find Christ merciful and forgiving.

“I had found it difficult to take the insults after my husband died. Then I turned to Jesus and realized he had always loved everyone. He healed people, did good to everyone. Yet he was accused falsely and crucified,” the mother of two sons told the gathering comprising Hindus, Muslim and Christians.

She said Jesus inspired her not only to forgive those who insulted her but to love them.

She says her Buddhist roots do not prevent her from drawing consolation from Jesus in times of difficulties. She is the only earning member in the family as her sons are still studying engineering.

What has caught her attention is the verse in St Paul’s letter to Timothy: “This religious book can give you the wisdom of salvation which is gained by having faith in Jesus, by believing in Jesus.”

Another phrase that strengthens her is the assurance of Jesus, “I will always be with you, until the end of the world.”

She says although the Bible was written centuries ago, its verses “are so true and relevant that we can use them in the present time. We can have a peaceful and happy life if we read the Bible prayerfully and try to understand the spiritual meaning of the words of Jesus.”

She encouraged others to join the course, and invited them to follow the example of Jesus, his forgiveness and mercy.

The information center was started on March 15, 2015, at the initiative of Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara of Nagpur.

Rina Mais, a Catholic woman, recalled that the Bible study was not open to Catholic lay people earlier. “Only Protestants were reading the Bible. Now we can also hold the Bible in hand and read. And when we started reading it was difficult for us to understand.”

She said the courses offered by the center help people like her to easily understand the message of the Bible.”

Sister Suman Tigga, director of the center, says they could reach out to people of various religions in the past one year.

“We make ourselves available for people who wish to talk to us and listen to their pains and sorrows,” the Daughters of St Paul nun told Matters India.

To promote the Bible Correspondence Course they also visit the parishes in the archdiocese.

The center’s activities include meeting people at various religious centers. They also visit schools on occasions such as Teachers’ Day, Children’s Day and Parents’ Day.

The center also prays the rosary with groups of local people, stages street plays, conducts Carol Singing during Christmas season and hold Bible painting exhibitions. All this help impart the message of Jesus, Sister Tigga claimed.

Agnes Anthony, who assists Sr Tigga, says they use action songs, games and film to make Jesus known to people of different faiths.

At the anniversary function, the archbishop presented certificates and a copy of the Bible to 60 people who had completed their Bible Course.