Father Baxla: Life of quiet conviction, unwavering pastoral witness

Shillong, July 7, 2025: Salesian Father Zephyrinus Baxla, a trailblazer in Adivasi cultural revival and education, died on July 7 due to kidney ailments.

The death occurred at 7:30 pm at Holy Cross Hospital, Kunkuri, in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, announced Salesian Shillong provincial Father John Zosiama. Father Baxla’s final moments were marked by serenity, prayer, and profound peace, he added.

Father Baxla would have turned 75 in August.

Father Augustine Tirkey, a companion of Father Baxla, said his confrere “was a man of quiet conviction. He never raised his voice, but his presence commanded respect,” said. “I remember him spending hours listening to villagers, never rushing, always attentive. His pastoral heart was his greatest gift.”

Born in August 1950 into a humble tribal family, Father Baxla’s early life was shaped by cultural rootedness, simple piety, and an innate call to serve, the provincial said.

Drawn to the Salesian charism, he entered formation and was ordained a priest when the Church in eastern India was taking bold steps in grassroots evangelization and social transformation, the provincial recalled.

A professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Theological College Shillong, over the decades, Father Baxla’s ministry spanned remote missions, parishes, formation houses, and educational initiatives. In every assignment, he embodied the heart of a true pastor – faithful, unassuming, and wholly dedicated to walking with his people.

Father Baxla’s contribution to Adivasi education and cultural revival was particularly profound. During his time in Kurukh-speaking regions, Father Baxla championed the Tolong Siki script, not merely as a linguistic tool, but as a symbol of identity and dignity, the provincial said.

Salesian Sister Mary Minj, who had worked with Father Baxla, recalled that the Salesian missionary believed that language was not just a tool, but a soul. “His support for the Kurukh script gave our people a voice we thought we had lost,” she added.

Narayan Oraon, who created the script, said Father Baxla printed, promoted, and preached in it. “He made it sacred.”

Father Baxla’s pastoral humility was matched by theological depth. A period of study in Rome and Jerusalem deepened his love for Scripture and enriched his spiritual direction.

Salesian Father Joseph Toppo, Father Baxla’s student, said his teacher radiated peace even in illness. “He taught me Scripture, but more than that, he taught me how to live it,” he added.

Father Baxla is remembered as the quiet architect behind institutions like Loordippa School, which began as a thatched classroom.

Salesian Father Michael Kujur said Father stood firm amid opposition and ridicule. “He used to say, ‘If Hebrew can rise again, so can Kurukh.’ That fire never left him.”

In his final years, though increasingly frail, Father Baxla remained a wellspring of wisdom and gratitude. His life was a tapestry of fidelity—woven with compassion, cultural pride, and Gospel resilience, Father Kujur added.