Homage being paid to Fr Stan Swamy at the Holy Spirit Church, Margao on Sunday. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Members of the Chotanagpur tribal community on Sunday participated at a peaceful meeting to pay homage to Fr Stan Swamy, with the speakers vowing to take the struggle and movement to protect the rights of the adivasis and tribals forward.
Organised at the Holy Spirit Church on Sunday evening by the Jesuits and collaborators for the Chotanagpur tribal community, the meeting recalled how Fr Stan had taken on the establishment to ensure that the tribals and the adivasis enjoy their constitutional rights.
Addressing members of the tribal community, Fr Simon Fernandes recalled that Fr Stan Swamy had worked to secure the rights of the marginalized sections of society, including the tribals in the Chotanagpur region of Jharkhand. “Fr Stan had seen the state of affairs of the poor and the marginalized sections in the Chotanagpur region. He fought all along his life for justice to these people. The government was working against the tribals, but Fr Stan had taken on the might of the government to secure justice for the tribal community”, he said, adding that Fr Stan was punished for launching the struggle and movement against the government.
He added: “Fr Stan was not like other persons, who will watch the injustices on the people. He had once said that he is not a silent spectator as he saw the plight of the people who were denied their rights to land, water and forests. He raised his voice against injustice and oppression and had to go to jail”.
Saying that he had an interaction with Fr Stan around 10 years ago, Fr Simon said everyone has to work together to take Fr Stan’s mission forward.
Sister Monica and others also paid their homage to Fr Stan, by taking a pledge to carry forward his movement.
