New Delhi: ‘Good News of Kandhamal’ – a powerful documentary capturing Kandhamal’s amazing saga of faith – was released on August 23 to mark the 15th anniversary of the 2008 bloodshed and persecution in the remote Kandhamal jungle district of Odisha.
Photo by Anto Akkara taken on February 27, 2009
“What Kandhamal witnessed in 2008 was a terrible tragedy. But the poor but valiant Christians of Kandhamal have turned this worst systematic persecution in Indian history into ‘Good News’,” said journalist author Anto Akkara, introducing his 6th documentary on the incredible Christian Witness of Kandhamal – released on the 15th anniversary.
“Due to their incredible forgiving response, even the assailants who tried to banish Christianity from Kandhamal are now embracing the same faith,” pointed out Akkara who has brought together spine-chilling witness documented from his 35 arduous trips to Kandhamal, ‘sanctified by the blood of martyrs’.
Following the 2008 Janmashtami night murder of 81-year-old Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, Hindu nationalist groups promptly blamed Christians for the murder and ‘banned’ Christianity in remote jungles and brutalized the Christians.
“Those who refused to forsake their faith were burnt alive, buried alive and chopped into pieces rendering nearly 100 martyrs. Over 300 churches and 6,000 Christian houses were plundered, rendering 56,000 homeless for years,” Akkara pointed out in his introduction to the ‘premier’ of the 25-munite documentary organized by Federation of Catholic Associations of the Archdiocese of Delhi.
“Fifteen years later, Kandhamal is no more a tragedy but GOOD NEWS for the Christians everywhere to rejoice as the assailants could not force any Christian to recant their faith in Christ. On the contrary, hundreds of Hindus including fundamentalists have embraced the Christian faith,” pointed out Akkara
“God has made this anniversary day memorable as my 5th Christian witness documentary ‘Right Hand of Hand over Kandhamal’ that was released at this Easter time crossed the milestone of two lakhs (200,000) views couple of hours ago,” said Akkara who has been carrying on a dedicated campaign for Truth & Justice for Kandhamal with his books and social media campaign.
Akkara has been spreading awareness about Kandhamal’s travesty of justice – demanding freedom for 7 ‘Innocent’ Christians (fraudulently convicted for the Swami’s murder that triggered the bloodshed), with the online signature campaign www.release7innocents.com. These seven Christians were released on bail by the Supreme Court of India in 2019 – after 11 years.
“Today is also an occasion to pay tribute veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar who had stood with me like a god-father in the Kandhamal campaign and died on the 10th anniversary day when I was getting ready to launch ‘Innocents Imprisoned’ – my first documentary that exposed the shocking political conspiracy behind Kandhamal,” Akkara noted.
However, he pointed out that “at this launch of the ‘Good News of Kandhamal, I do not want to even mention the names of big leaders involved in the Kandhamal fraud as this documentary focusses on the power of forgiveness as a weapon.”
Earlier in January first week, Orissa state government had denied Cardinal Toppo permission to meet the hounded Christians when he reached state capital Bhubaneswar.
Photo by Anto Akkara
Though couple of eminent people including a bishop were to join the podium for the premier, heavy rain and traffic jam forced them and several others from reaching the Community Centre of the Archdiocese of Delhi in the heart of the city.
All the three panelists who joined Akkara at the documentary release were all those associated with Kandhamal and visited it several times.
“It was challenging to go there and coordinate the relief work,” recalled Pastor Sudhakar Pawar, Professor at Caleb Institute, who had coordinated construction of house for the homeless visiting Kandhamal several times on behalf of Christian networks like Evangelical Fellowship of India.
Annie Raja, eminent woman activist and general secretary of National Federation of Indian Women said “I have no words to describe what Anto has brought out today.”
“I salute him for the persistent campaigns for Kandhamal’s people like a one-man army,” pointed out Raja who started visiting Kandhamal as it was burning.
“I saw reconversion ceremony ritual and I was almost attacked there. My party workers escorted me out safely,” recounted Raja her testing times in Kandhamal three weeks into the conflagration.
“When the raped nun was brought to Delhi (to address a press conference to expose the coverup), the traumatized nun was kept in my house and police recorded her testimony in my house only. I cannot forget what she shared,” Raja recalled.
John Dayal, outspoken human rights crusader and columnist, congratulated Akkara for “his faith, zeal and perseverance over the years for the cause of justice to Kandhamal”.
“Justice remains incomplete till the conviction of seven (Innocent Christians) is not thrown out by the high court,” pointed out Dayal, a frequent visitor to Kandhamal and involved in national campaign for justice for Kandhamal.
The program ended with participants gathering in front of the Sacred Heart Cathedral holding candles to remember the martyrdom of Kandhamal’s valiant Christians and for peace and harmony in the country.
Over the years Anto has rendered amazing service to the people of Kandhamal. God bless him