By Midhun J Francis
Rome, Nov 28, 2023: In a digital age where the first message on our mobile devices often carries weighty information, the morning communication from Jesuit Father Stan Alla of Delhi’s Vidyajyoti College of Theology about a courageous girl named Sirisha in Telangana caught my attention.
Her story, coupled with the absence of formal support from the Church, reminded me of the unsettling realities politicians face, especially those embodying the spirit of service.
Coincidentally, on November 21 at the Gregorian University, a seminar on Servant of God Julius Nyerere, (1922-1999), the esteemed father of Tanzania and former prime minister and president, enhanced my reflections on political service.
Julius Kambarage Nyerere exemplified what Pope Francis describes as a ‘politician with soul’ in his encyclical Evangelii Gaudium. Nyerere’s life story is of human-centred development, democratised education and healthcare, and a profound commitment to human rights and peace in a tumultuous region.
Despite criticisms of his miscalculations, Nyerere’s integrity and simplicity stood out, offering a potent critique and creative inspiration to African society and beyond. Bishop Justin Samba sought Nyerere’s canonization, and Pope Benedict XVI declared him a Servant of God in 2005.
Earlier this year, Kerala bid farewell to Oommen Chandy, a politician who, like Nyerere, demonstrated a soulful commitment to service. However, the challenges faced by Chandy within his Church underscored a recurring issue: the lack of preparation within the Kerala Church to nurture politicians committed to justice.
Reflecting on the seminar organized by the Faculty of Sociology at the Gregorian University in Rome, it becomes evident that Nyerere’s teachings are timely for the current political landscape. Rector Magnificus Mark Lewis emphasised the need for politicians and teachers like Nyerere who prioritise service over wealth.
Monsignor Anthony Ekpo, undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, highlighted Nyerere’s sacrifice for others and his emphasis on the national language, Swahili, as a unifying force. He pointed out even the personal comfort Nyerere sacrificed for others and emphasised the national language, Swahili, which united the people, breaking down barriers among them.
Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, the secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, emphasized Nyerere’s healing approach to colonial wounds. He said the colonial wounds are everywhere, but Nyerere never focused on the wounds; he was healing them and teaching them not to act the same way as a superior tribe or an inferior tribe.
It is, in fact, a powerful message for India after eight decades of independence; we still speak of the past, and we need to go ahead; we are a powerful country. In the same way the church in India, especially in Kerala, speaks unnecessarily of the past wound of Latinization, it is high time to heal and go ahead as a church.
Nig’wanza Kamata, senior lecturer at University of Dar es Salaam, underscored Nyerere’s dedication to alleviating poverty and his understanding of the people’s needs. Leaving his beautiful job as a teacher for the people, as a politician, he never bothered about the star on the car; he was dedicated to all the people. He was a leader who understood the people; he led them in the way the people needed. He was well aware of the leadership these people in Tanzania needed.
Ethan Sanders, an associate professor of history, politics, and political economy, shed light on Nyerere’s political thoughts, shaped by Catholic readings and influenced by theologians and philosophers. Human dignity and equality were central to Nyerere’s socialism.
He said that most of the time, only two aspects were brought to light, such as his upbringing and the social life of Africa, and that the European writers influenced him. He said Julius Nyerere’s political thoughts come from Catholic reading, as he translated Catholic texts such as catechisms, encyclicals, gospels, and books like Gustavo Gutiérrez to Swahili.
Theologians and philosophers such as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Jacques Maritain, and Hans Kung influenced Nyerere. In many ways, his political thinking is shaped not only by local considerations but also by ethics and morality rather than classical socialism.
Human dignity was emphasised. Julius Nyerere’s quotes show his thinking of socialism: “The basic philosophy of socialism is human equality and human dignity, and the achievement of this basic and equal human respect for all people is what socialism is about.” –Nyerere, 1969. “Socialism rests upon a basic acceptance of human equality and involves every man accepting responsibility for the dignity and welfare of every other man.” -Nyerere, 1967.
Jesuit Father Festo Mkenda discussed the government with soul, aligning Nyerere’s principles with Pope Francis’s teachings. He stressed the need for politicians with ethics, morality, and a love for humanity. He emphasised the idea Nyerere had always had: to serve humanity. This man of a politician with a soul inspires the Indian church to make her men and women enter the realm of politics with ethics and morality, who love every religion and every culture. He always says no to violence and yes to love, humanity, and protecting nature.
In India’s dynamic political landscape, the life of Julius Nyerere serves as a poignant call to action for the Indian church to engage actively in the formation of politicians. Nyerere’s exemplary life becomes a guiding light for the Church in India to play a transformative role in nurturing political leaders with a deep sense of service, ethics, and morality.
As the nation grapples with the complexities of governance, the church is challenged to transcend historical wounds and actively contribute to cultivating leaders who prioritise the common good over personal gain. It underscores the urgency for the Indian Church to catalyze change, emphasising love, nonviolence, and environmental stewardship in the political arena.
This call resonates as a compelling invitation for the church in India to step into its role as a moral compass, shaping a generation of politicians who, like Julius Nyerere, embody the virtues of compassion, unity, and a genuine commitment to the welfare of all citizens.
(Jesuit Father Midhun J Francis Kochukallan, a native of Kerala state, is a researcher at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome specializing in Christian-Muslim interfaith relationships. He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Tilak University, Pune, a Licentiate in Systematic Theology from Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic Studies from Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad, and diplomas in Arabic and Urdu. He works with the South Asian Jesuit Conference on Christian-Muslim relations. He also writes for several English and Malayalam magazines and newspapers.)