By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, Nov 5, 2021: A Catholic nun, who braved coronavirus pandemic and official apathy, to reach out to hundreds of stranded migrants laborers during lockdowns has won a prestigious award from the Indian Catholic Press Association.
The national body of Catholic journalists on November 5 chose Sister Sujata Jena for the best reportage on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Bhubaneswar-based member of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary was chosen for “authentically and consistently being the voice of people’s rights, especially the poor Dalits who are more susceptible to exploitation and injustice,” a statement from the association says.
The award is sponsored by the Office for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. It will be conferred on December 1, at the National Convention of Christian Journalists in Bandra, Mumbai.
Sister Jena contributes regularly to news portals such as Matters India, especially on Dalit issues. “Through the power of reporting and storytelling, (Sister Jena) amplifies the various aspects of Dalits and Tribals, women, children and the homeless, who have been sidelined by the elite, powerful, and societal structures,” says the press release signed by ICPA president Ignatius Gonsalves and secretary Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew.
The association also says Sister Jena’s reports focus voiceless people. “Her deep sincerity and perseverance in highlighting the rights of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes show grit, courage and conviction. Her writings showcase hopes and resilience that the deprived people and communities show despite many challenges, deprivations and exploitation. Her writings have shed light on issues that no secular journalist has ventured to report. It takes both courage and professional excellence to do so.”
Speaking to Matters India, Sister Sujata said she was not sure if she was worthy of such a prestigious award. Thanking the ICPA for the recognition, the 39-year-old nun said. “All I tried was to raise up the struggles and aspirations of my people.”
She said she dedicates the award to “my brothers and sisters who are victims of structural injustice and every calamity be it man made or the result of the fury of the nature.”
She also said that she was proud to be identified as a Dalit and Tribal journalist.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, Sister was involved in the safe return of the migrants. She continues to work for their rights through advocacy and lobbying through networking with government administrations and civil society groups.
She said she felt compelled to help the migrant laborers as many fell on prey to road accident, sickness, starvation and death.
Currently, she is working as the deputy director of the Excellent IAS Academy in Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern Indian state of Odisha. She also coordinates her congregation’s social projects.
Sister Jena credits Udayani Social Action Forum, the social wing of the Calcutta Jesuit province, with her commitment to the cause of the poor and marginalized. She says she was given various responsibilities of women empowerment projects during her December 2014–March 2017 stay with the forum. The nun says Jesuit Father Irudhaya Jothi, who was the forum director then, gave her tough challenges but ample opportunity to work for the poor.
The forum sent her various training programs in Bangkok, London and Rome.
Father Jothi is thrilled that his protege has won the ICPA award. “When I first met Sr. Sujata in my office, she was self-conscious and different from other staff in dress and mannerism in the office. The first assignment given to her was to read and understand Gitanjali verse, “Leave this Chanting and telling of beats….” by Rabindranath Tagore. She didn’t understand the meaning and the purpose. Today I am happy she lives the poem,” the priest told Matters India.
The Jesuit social activist, who now works in the northeastern state of Tripura, says he is “very happy and proud to see her grow in other centeredness quickly after she realized her true call is to be a prophet today.”
Sister Jena’s constant encounter with exploited Dalit, Adivasis, migrants and the periphery has made her realize of her true call within a call to be a voice of the broken people and the world, he explained.
“I know it is not an easy journey for her to walk differently from the secure and protected of a convent life. She might encounter more challenges but I wish her courage and strength on her journey,” Father Jothi added.