LOUIS RODRIGUES
BELAGAVI
Residents of Deshnur village in Bailhongal taluka, about 28 kilometers from Belagavi, have rejected any kind of furore 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. Stating these reports are misleading and absurd, the villagers have appreciated the work of these priests, who according to them, have sacrificed their lives and are serving 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 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. The Deshnur village has a population of about 12,000. Since 1948, the priests are striving here selflessly towards the upliftment of people.
According to Fr Menino Gonsalves, present moderator of the Sarvajagktik Virakta Mutt here, Fr Armando Alvares, a prominent Jesuit priest from Aldona, who later identified himself as Swami Animanand, reached the village around 1947-48 when the village was totally backward. “It was Swami Animananda who set up a school here and was responsible for the overall development, including the roads, post office, electricity, etc,” 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, the native people apply vermillion on our foreheads, which we do not mind. On August 29, as we were observing the death anniversary of Swami Amalananda bishop Derek Fernandes, like all of us, was also offered the saffron cassock, which he happily accepted. A large number of followers of Swami Amalananda coming from Jain, Lingayat, Muslim and other castes who were present appreciated the gesture made by bishop Derek,” said Fr Gonsalves.
After Swami Animananda, another Goan Jesuit Swami Arulanand, (Fr Sebastian Nazareth), Swami Amalananda, Swami Shantananda and Swami Prabhudhar rendered their services in the area.
Following their spiritual lives, all these priests were engaged in selfless work in many other villages, including Deshnur.
No conversion in Deshnur: Sarpanch
BELAGAVI: Lauding 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, sarpanch 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 we address as Swamiji. They made us literate and taught us 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 Patil, challenging any such claims of conversion made in the area.
