This is the the continuation of my previous post . . . a translated article from the Malayalam daily, Mathrubhoomi . . .
. . . ‘My daughter’s blood were on your hands. It’s a blessing to
have kissed them’.
The next day was the 8th anniversary of Sr.
Mariya’s death. Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil initiated the procedure for
proclaiming Sr. Rani Maria a saint in
the memorial program.
Sr. Rani Mariya’s family gave it in writing that they have
forgiven Mr. Samundar Singh. After a long legal process, Mr. Samundar was
released on 22nd August 2006. The next day, he reached the grave of
Sr. Rani at Mirzapur near Udayanagar. He cried loudly in front of the grave.
Later, he went to the Nachanbor hillocks, to the place where he had stabbed the
nun to death. Later, he reached the convent where Sr. Rani lived, asked the
nuns for their forgiveness and had food with them.
Later, Mr. Samundar reached Kerala along with Fr.
Sachidanandan, popularly called Swamiachen to visit the place where Sr. Rani
Mariya was born. On 20th January, 2007, in a scene akin to the
return of the prodigal son in one of parables of Jesus, with folded hands, he
begged forgiveness from the debilitated father of Sr. Mariya, Mr. Pylee and her
mother Mrs. Eleeshwa. The elderly couple places their trembling hands on the forehead
of their daughter’s murderer and blessed him. Sr. Rani’s siblings and other
relatives took good care of him. They had prepared a great feast for him. Mr.
Samundar could not bear the goodwill that everyone had towards him. He wept
like a baby. Then, he proceeded to bite and injure his hands. Mrs. Eleesha
embraced him and urged him not to do so saying, ‘Never, son. We all have
forgiven. If you cry, we shall feel sad. Aren’t you also our son?’
It was a tearful sight. Samundar visited Sr. Rani’s parents
once more along with Swamiachen.
I saw this Samundar standing with a rose flower in front of
Sr. Rani’s grave. Now, Samundar is a farmer. He has cows and buffaloes.
Whenever he gets time, he reaches the convent. Sr. Selmi is the Mother Superior
in the Sneha Sadan convent. The congregation allowed Sr. Selmi’s request to
allow her to serve the same area that her murdered sister served. Whenever Samundar
visits the convent, he does not forget to take some fruit or other agricultural
produce from his fields for Sr. Selmi.
On February 25th, 2015, Samundar had brought
fruits from his fields as thanksgiving on Sr. Rani’s memorial day. He fell on the feet of the chief celebrant,
Cardinal Mar George Alancherry and asked for forgiveness. Those who came from Pulluvazhy village had started Rani Maria Foundation and Mr. Samundar was the first
member.
On asking Mr. Samundar on what he felt now, after he remains
silent for some time, he says, ‘Sometimes guilt fills my heart. I feel that it
may be better to die. Later, I think. Everything is God’s plan. I’m just an
instrument in God’s plan. I’m baptised in the blood of the Sr. Rani. I’ve
learnt that if you do good, you’ll be happy and peaceful. I pray in the church
and the temple. We’re all brothers. We’re all children of one God.’
He continued, ‘I would like to go back to Pulluvazhy village. Sr. Rani’s mother is not keeping well. I would like to see her. I
would like to see my accomplices in the murder to have a change of heart and
visit Sr. Rani’s home at Pulluvazhy village. Then, I want to see Sr. Rani
beautified. I pray to God for that everyday. That way along with Sr. Rani, I
would also be remembered’ . . . Samundar concluded with a mournful smile.
As I returned I told myself – This is also Easter. Not of
the Son of God, but of a poor son of man. Where else can one find a better
meaning for the word, resurrection?
Thank you, Jeevan for making this known to people like me!
ReplyDelete