By Matters India Reporter
Eraiyur, Feb 17, 2022: The body of a 25-year-old Catholic nun was found February 17 in a well in the Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu, southern India.
This is the first reported case of a nun dying in mysterious circumstances in Tamil Nadu.
Sister Kausalya Rajendren belongs to the Eastern Province of the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo.
The body was found near the campus of St. Charles Arts and Science College in Eraiyur, Ulundurpet taluk of the district, where she was studying Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
The reason of the young nun’s death is not known. The police officials are enquiring whether it was murder or a case of suicide.
Sister Rajendren was born the second of three girls in Dalit family in Kottupakkam village near Chetpet in the diocese of Vellore.
She joined the college after her first vows.
She had gone missing February 16 afternoon.
When they searched for her, they saw her slippers floating in the well.
The villagers first tried to take the body out. When they failed, they reported the matter to Elavanasur Kottai Police station near Ulundurpet. The Fire service was brought in take out the body at 6:30 am on February 17.
The body was taken to the Kallakurichi Government Hospital for the postmortem followed by the funeral Mass in Rani Pettai, Vellore diocese.
The faithful from Eraiyur village have paid their homage to Sister Rajendren.
What is Dalit??? There is no cast in Christ. Please avoid such references…
How media manipulate……. It was found that she accidently fell in the well while trying to save a child from falling into the well.
Becoming a nun or a priest is an outdated profession. Parents should not permit their children to join seminaries or convents. It is high time that Catholic Church is handled by married laity.
Unfortunate is the incident. Much more unfortunate to term the nun dalit. God forgive.
May the God of truth lead the people in His grace… Amen.
RIP.
These days wells appear to have become a place of death while in the days of Jesus it was his chosen place to declare to a lady that he was the awaited Messiah.
Dear India Matters,
Thanks for the news. Is it necessary to title as ‘Dalit nun’s body’!.
Wouldn’t be good enough without a title to the nun!!
My humble suggestion. Thanks.
Why the editorial is captioned as Dalit Nun?
Does the catholic hierarchy has cast wise segregation?
I’m of the opinion that such captions should be avoided,if say we are equal within the Church.
DALIT NUN YOUNG WOMAN WELL. A frightening case of Deja Vu. History repeating itself. Whether murder or suicide it points to something rotten in the system.
Since reason/motive of the nun’s tragic death is not known, it is not right to make any comment. However, EVERY women religious congregation must do a “sincere introspection” on the type of Formation, Peer Support and Counselling etc. that are practised by the congregation. Considering the increasing number of “untimely tragic deaths of nuns and priests”, CBCI, CCBI and CRI could take concrete steps to Revive/Renew the Formation of priests and nuns in India. This is the need of the hour.