By Louis Rodrigues –
Belagavi: Residents of Deshnur village in Bailhongal taluka, about 28 kilometres from Belagavi have rejected any kind of furore or unrest over the saffron attire worn by Bishop of Belgaum Derek Fernandes during prayer services at a religious institution in the village.
Images of Belgaum Bishop Derek Fernandes and some others wearing saffron clothes were circulated on social media, causing a controversy and evoking reactions from several people.
Lauding the selfless services rendered by the Jesuit priests in the village, the residents have expressed anguish over the misleading report and challenged any sort of conversion efforts by the priests in that village. They said Goan priests adopted local culture, did selfless work for over 70 years.
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Stating these reports as misleading and absurd, the villagers have appreciated the work of these priests, who, according to them have sacrificed their lives and are serving the people in the field of education, health and social welfare for over seven decades.
They claimed that the selfless work of the Jesuits began over 70 years ago since the first Jesuit Fr Armando Alvares, hailing from Aldona-Goa, had reached Deshnur around 1948 and worked among the people of the village by adopting their vegetarian lifestyle, culture and language.
Deshnur village has a population of about 12,000. Since 1948, the priests are striving here selflessly towards the upliftment of the people.
According to Fr Menino Gonsalves, present incharge of the Sarvajaktik Virakta Mutt here, Fr Armando Alvares, a prominent Jesuit priest from Aldona, who later identified himself as Swamy Animanand, reached the village around 1948-49 when the village was totally backward.
“It was Swamy Animananda, who set up a school here and was responsible for the overall development here including the roads, post office, electricity etc.” said Fr Gonsalves told The Goan.
“Many years have past since then and we are following a very stringent lifestyle. During our prayers and Mass, we adapt to local rites and rituals which includes wearing of saffron cassock and taking up the pure vegetarian food.”
“Before prayers as a mark of respect, people apply vermillion on our foreheads, which we do not mind. On August 28, as we were observing the death anniversary of Swamy Animananda, Bishop Derek Fernandes, like all of us, was also offered the saffron cassock, which he happily accepted.’
“A large number of followers of Swamy Animananda coming from Jain, Lingayat, Muslim and other castes who were present appreciated the gesture by Bishop Derek,” said Fr Gonsalves.
After Swamy Animananda, another Goan Jesuit Swamy Arulanand, (Fr Sebastian Nazareth), Swamy Amalananda, Swamy Shantanada and Swamy Prabhudhar rendered their services in the area.
Following their spiritual lives, all of these priests were engaged in selfless work in many other villages, including Deshnur, in the area.
Not a single conversion in Deshnur: Village Chairman
Lauding the Catholic priests for their humanitarian activities in many other villages, including Deshnur, for several decades, the local village leader has insisted that not a single incident of conversion has been reported all these years.
“Religious heads belonging to different sects and religions have always maintained harmonious relations with the mutt and its priests,” said Deepak Patil, chairman of Deshnur village.
Patil, who expressed his indebtedness to these priests, claimed that many people like him, who had lost almost everything in their lives, are indebted to the priests here.
“Whatever I am today, is because of these fathers, whom with due respect address as Swamiji. They made us literate and taught us about the values of life, without any single attempt of imposing their faith upon us.”
“Not a single conversion has taken place since they have established here,” said said Patil, challenging any such claims of conversion by the priests in the area.
The Goan Network