Reflections

Story published in Mangalam Daily (1993). Context is the indefinite strike declared by the doctors of government hospitals

An old story published in the magazine of SB College, Changanacherry (1994)

Last Saturday (18th April), I made a talk on Information Technology to a group of students at Kottayam. It was part of the week-long Education Orientation Camp conducted by Mar Gregorious Orthodox Christian Students Movement (MGOCSM), the students wing of Indian Orthodox Church. The presentation is available in Slideshare. Objective of the session was to familiarize the students to the world of IT career and motivate them.

Personally, it was a home-coming for me. I was a also a participant in the same camp, way back in 1992. Actually, that camp helped me in shaping my character, vision and future.

Yet another Good Friday. Time to remember a great human being and his sacrifice for mankind. This year, I devote this day to ponder the fond memories of another great man-a true desciple of Jesus. Saji Achan (Fr Philip Thomas), who passed away on 26th December 2008 was the rarest of his breed. These are the days where people lose faith in their leaders-spiritual or political-for a variety of reasons. In the Church, we can see many times people complaining about their priests. That was never true about Saji Achan. Everyone loved him. The parishes where he served, wished he would never get a transfer. While, others wished he could get a transfer to their parish. For us-Niranamites- he was our personal pride. Me and my friends carried more pride to that as Saji Achan was our MGOCSM unit’s secretary during his student days.

He had a very sweet voice. Those who participated in the prayers with him could enjoy the heavenly bliss. Late Fr George Mattackal, Vicar of Niranam Church was very particular during the holy services, that being a senior priest, he rarely allowed other priests to lead the prayers. But if Saji Achan was present, Mattackal Achan used to affectionately allow Saji Achan to lead the songs.

Some people, we respect and some others, we love. Saji Achan was a person whom people loved and respected. In physique, the elegant smile and a few white hairs among the black beard were his trademarks. When we meet, I used to ask him in lighter vain, whether he had made those white hairs cosmetically. His smile used to burst out into a small laughter.

My wife Asha originally belonged to the Catholic faith. Last year, before the Good Friday, I decided to take her to any small parish for the day where the crowd is less so that she could concentrate the great liturgy and enjoy it. Natural choice was Saji Achan’s parish. I always preferred to attend the Good Friday services where he served. As always, this time also it was a great experience to attend the service lead by him. We submerged ourselves in the memory of Jesus’ sufferings. When we met after the service, he was surprised to see us there. I told him we were there because he was there. His family was also present. He asked me whether I could take them back home, so that he can stay at church for the evening prayers. I happily agreed. That time I never knew that, we won’t be able to attend next year’s service lead by him. This Good Friday, he’s physically not with us here.

Let me quote a few lines by P B Shelley on the death of John Keats:

He has outsoared the shadow of our night;
Envy and calumny and hate and pain,
And that unrest which men miscall delight,
Can touch him not and torture not again;
From the contagion of the world`s slow stain
He is secure, and now can never mourn
He lives, he wakes – `tis Death is dead, not he;