By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, March 26, 2023: Father Varghese Alengaden, founder of a holistic spiritual movement to transform India with the Gandhian principles and advocate of a new way of presenting Christ’s message, died March 26 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
The death occurred at 9 am in Robert Nursing Home where Father Alengaden was brought from Medanta Hospital because of some post-surgery complications due to fluid formation in his lungs. He underwent a major open heart surgery on March 4.
The doctors were giving the needed treatment and closely monitoring his progress. He was on ventilator in ICU since March 24, says Carmelite Father Jacob Peenikaparambil, a close associate of Father Alengaden.
The doctors were planning for removal of the fluid but an internal bleeding started all of a sudden leading to cardiac arrest.
Father Alengaden was 70 and a priest for 41 years.
The funeral and burial will take place at 2 pm on March 28 at Cathedral Church Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh where Father Alengaden founded the Universal Solidarity Movement (USM) of Value Education for Peace, or USM, three decades ago.
Father Alengaden was born December 30, 1952, at Kallur village in Kerala’s Thrissur district. After his matriculation he came to Mission Home, a minor seminary in Palai, Kerala. Later he joined the Sagar diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in Madhya Pradesh.
After his priestly studies at St Charles Seminary in Nagpur, he was ordained a priest on March 21, 1981. He then served as a parish priest of Sagar Cathedral for two years until 1983.
He served the Vidisha Mission during 1984-1986. He was appointed the director of youth for the Madhya Pradesh region, a post he held for four years from 1986.
He worked in Jaisingnagar mission in 1990. He founded the USM in 1993 and served as its director until his death.
Father Alengaden, who had long years of experience of working with the youth, visualized a country that could be rebuilt by the young people. He had trust and faith in the youth and applied the ‘possibility thinking’ of ‘why don’t we train the youth to take charge of the nation with an inclusive, broad and lasting vision?’
He launched the USM in response to the huge challenges India faced from communal politics, religious fundamentalism, ethnic conflicts, discrimination and rampant corruption that destroyed the country.
He wanted to create a new nation of love with people of all castes, creed and culture. For this, he suggested adopting the Gandhian principle of self-transformation, “You be the change.”
In his autobiography “Ho Jayega” (It will be done), Father Alengaden envisages by 2040 India to have 500 members of parliaments and 3,000 members of state legislative assemblies trained in USM and live by the USM way of ethical life.
Similarly, he dreams of 600 such people in the Indian Administrative and Indian Police Services. Some 100 such people in the Indian Foreign Service serve as Indian ambassadors and work for global peace.
Father Alengaden criticized the Church’s institutionalization that kept it away from authentic Christian witnessing. He urged the Church to find “new wineskin” or new ways to present Christ’s message in India.
For this, he wanted Christian educational institutions to promote a truly secular India. He urged them to start interfaith prayers during assemblies and boarding houses, display the preamble of Indian constitution in all the prominent places in the institution and class rooms and stop saying traditional Christian prayers since the majority of teachers and students are from other religions.
He wanted those institutions to organize alumni associations and create emotional attachment so the former students could defend them in difficult times. Another suggestion was to convert value education classes to leadership training with the values of the Constitution.
He wanted the Christian institutions to take parents into confidence by giving them motivational orientation to develop a partnership with our institution, and participate in the local meetings organized by other institutions and organizations.
In one of his articles on attacks on Christians, he wrote: “Unfortunately, many who are leading the campaign against the missionaries are those who were empowered by Catholic institutions. The Church personnel failed to train them to protect the Indian ethos enshrined in our Constitution.”
Christ, he said, had envisaged these troubles two thousand years ago. “He had also given solutions to face all kinds of troubles at all ages: “Put the new wine in new wineskin.”
He regretted that few retreat preachers or theologians gave practical ways of applying the method of ‘putting new wine in new wineskins’ in different ministries.
“Unfortunately the bishops, priests and religious failed to make use of the new wineskin methodologies. On the contrary, they continued to follow their ‘old wineskin’ ways. Now the old wineskin (old ways of working) is getting broken and wine is wasted. In other words, all their efforts based on the old ways are met with failure and opposition.”
Father Alengaden had also noted that “neither in their formation, nor in any of their meetings and retreats including crisis management meetings, do the Church people go to the root of the problems. Root of the anti-Christian propaganda and hatred have their origin in the aggressive and forced ways of evangelization the Christians had followed in the past with the support of colonial rulers.”
He was aware that many had criticized him for being “very negative towards the Church and its leaders.
“I express my views and reflections after analyzing various issues which block the mission of Christ. I make constructive criticism after experimenting and living as per the teachings of Christ over the last four decades,” he wrote.
Respectful farewell to Father Varghese Alengaden. RIP.
Fr. Varghese often used to say , give all the credentials & acknowledgement to persons when they are alive. Apprecition after the person is no more alive makes no difference for the one who has left the world. I too believe in the same.
But I write this today because it may make a difference for all to give the other their due respect when we live. Beside this, the prophet who envisioned India and the world at large to see it as a civilization of love and harmony may live on!!!!
With great respect and gratitude we salute this great soul of India who offered his life to bring God’s Kingdom of peace, justice and solidarity among people and nations. He dreamt of a vision of a just human community above caste, creed, colour, race and national boundaries. He ignited this fire in the hearts of young boys and girls who will carry ahead his dream in the years to come. From his heavenly abode Fr Varghese Alengaden will now do a great work to fulfill his vision by inspiring many more people. His valuable writings and recorded speeches will continue motivate many. Long live the USM Vision !
–Fr Vincent Carmel ssp
Fr. Varghese brought out the very best in all the persons he came in contact with. He spoke with great conviction and experience. Like all prophets he was misunderstood and at times misquoted. May he rest in peace
Varghese was also in the forefront of criticising the institutional church. Yet his movement rode piggy back on those very same institutions.
Besides he often questioned the existence of organised religion and ordained priesthood while continuing to be a part of that very same system. This attitude is conveniently gaining ground among several priests and theologians. It is dichotomy that I find hard to digest
Father Varghese’s demise plunges us in a deep sorrow. Since we met in 1989 during aTaizé international meeting in Pecs (Hungaria), he granted us with his priceless, faithful, brotherly friendship. We will miss his visits, his mails and his phone calls…
No doubt India lost a great prophet of Love and Unity and the Church lost one of her most devoted servants ! Father Varghese loved his country and the Church as only Jesus’ friends can love : truthfully and boldly ! fearlessly helping both of them to move into deep waters of reconciliation – serving Christ only, rather than any institutions. Trusting in God’s caring inclusive tenderness, he never failed walking on Christ’s footsteps towards the glorious Cross where Love definitely overcomes all hatred and discriminations!
Dear Father Varghese, we owe you much more than we can put into words ! We continue to rely on your supportive presence by our sides and we entrust to your eternal intercession our desire to remain faithful to our commitments as children of God until we meet again in our Father-in-Heavens’ embrace.
Gratefully,
Marja Vainola
Martine Wendzinski
I met Varghese twice and have closely followed his writings and activities.
On the positive side he had a vision of a new India that he promoted through Gandhian principles and secularism. That is highly appreciated. However some of his expectations bordered on the utopian.
Fr. Varghese Alengadan was indeed a dynamic priest and prophetic voice of new vision for India and the world. He mobilized the team for this great vision with people of all religions and cultures. I was privileged to work with him and organize the Knit india gathering in Wardha in 1997 to celebrate the golden jubilee of our independence. He was a source of great inspiration and courage to many young souls and May his vision of religious harmony and global peace continue reign in our souls.
My heart felt condolence and prayers to all friends of USM.
May his voice and spirit never die…ever Amar rehe… Fr. Tom Thakadipuram.
We lost a real missionary in the church. Let Fr. Varghese Alengaden soul rest in peace- Amen.
He inspired millions of young people to live a true life : true to humanity and the Constitution of India .
I have know him for 35 years . He was an incredible man .
We will miss him.
KJ Alphons
Infact, he is a visionary who always wanted to to see the Nation and the World large as a place of worship in values and ethos. Thus he strived to challenge and mould the youth to be the responsible leaders with strong will power boosted in values and principles. Hats off to you Dear Fr.Varghese, your hardwork will be fruitful through the life of many young minds of the day.
In the unexpected and sudden death of Father Alengaden, the Church has lost a visionary. May his soul rest in peace.
Respectful homage. Read his articles, didn’t have the opportunity to meet him
Indeed, Varghese Alengaden had a clear vision for the nation and for the Indian Church. I had the privilege of working with him promoting value education programs in schools and colleges for students, teachers and parents for more than 10 years.
While I was being treated for my Rectal Cancer at St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru in March, 2022 he visited me just one day before my surgery. He boosted my morale as well as assured of his prayerful support to my wife and daughter. That was the last time we saw him. After that he was always in contact with me and my daughter enquiring about my recovery. He admired at how I have overcome one health crisis after another. He said that I will come out clean. Indeed, his wish became true. Today, after six health crises I am doing the work that God has entrusted me.
He has been a constant inspiration to young students and teachers. The seeds he has sown among the youth will definitely bear fruits in future.
May God grant him eternal rest and peace! May his team members carry on his USM mission!