By Irudhaya Jothi
Bhalukpong, Sept 6, 2022: Father P Antonisamy, who was an inspiration to scores of Dalit priests, religious and lay faithful, died on September 6 in Pondicherry. He was 82.
The funeral Mass was scheduled for 4 pm on September 6 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry.
He was a resident of Emmaus house in Pondicherry, a house of the retired clergy of the Archdiocese, for the past five years.
Father Antonisamy “was my inspiration and guide. As the first parish priest of Kanakkankuppan, my home Parish, he made an indelible mark in my life as a Dalit activist,” said Father Devasagaya Raj of the Pondicherry Archdiocese, who was a former secretary of the Office of Scheduled Caste under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
Father Antonisamy was a soft-spoken gentle priest, ever smiling, peacemaker and able administrator, Father Raj recalled.
Born on March 29, March 1940, in Thurijipundi, a village some 165 km south of Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu state. He studied at St. Anne’s School Dindivanam and did clerical studies at St. Peter’s seminary Bangaluru.
Ordained priest in 1967 Father Antonisamy worked as a parish priest in eight parishes and administered as manager and secretary of the education and SC/ST commissions and vicar-general of the Archdiocese.
Father Raj recalled Father Antonisamy encouraging street theater in the 1970s to highlight the struggles of the community in the Dalit parishes and show ways to overcome the challenges. “This motivated me to start my own team ‘Kanal’ as the diocesan youth director,” he added.
Father Aruputharaj, a diocesan priest and the present SC/ST commission secretary of the archdiocese, said Father Antonisamy went through innumerable challenges as the first secretary of SC/ST commission a quarter century ago. “He suffered much humiliation due to his caste identity from the so-called upper caste clergy and faithful and cried bitterly in a closed circle of priests.”
He encouraged people’s grassroots movements and NGOs who worked in three northern districts of Tamil Nadu and collectively formed Social Action Groups. He served as counsel and spiritual guide to those nascent groups.
As the vicar general he embraced all and made amicable settlements of various challenges posed by caste groups and Dalits as well, he was a peacemaker. He contributed much to the archdiocese and to society in general, Father Arputharaj told Matters India.
Capuchin Priest Nithiya Sagayam, a native of Pondicherry, said Father Antonisamy was a great inspiration to many younger priests and religions from the archdiocese.
“People loved him so much because of his simplicity and love. He broke away from the traditional clericalism in the Church and was one among the people,” Father Sagayam said.
The Capuchin priest, a former secretary of Justice and Peace Commission of CBCI, bemoans that the younger generation, – priests, religious and laity – is “totally ignorant about our own great leaders”.
FatherSagayam suggested recording those above 70 years of age both men and women, religious and clergy who have contributed to the welfare of the community and transformed the lives of Dalit Christians for inspiration and model.