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Magazine
Path of enlightenment
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The Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth — Institute of Philosophy and Religion — has for decades been training priests within the multi-religious and socio-economic context of India. V. GANGADHAR writes on the work done by the alumni of the institute, on the occasion of its platinum jubilee celebrations.
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The Nuncio, the Pope's Ambassador to India, receives an offering at the jubilee celebrations.
THE sky was blue over Pune, the air had a nip, but the atmosphere at the Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth was warm and bracing. As the Vidyapeeth observed the conclusion of its year-long platinum jubilee celebrations, more than 200 students, now priests in different regions, who had gathered for the occasion, had much to talk about.
Spending three days on the campus, talking to its past and present students, the faculty and its president, the Rev. Fr. Noel Sheth, I was struck by how dramatically the approach and working of the Roman Catholic Church in India had changed. The Vidyapeeth had played an important role in the Indianisation of the Church. The cultural programme which was the grand finale, consisted mostly of Indian classical items, inspiring one of the VIP guests, the Most Rev. Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador to India), to play five western light classical tunes on the piano.
I came across dozens of students and priests from Kerala, representatives of the Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabar Church. At Bethany Hall, the religious rites of the Syro-Malankara Church were a lot like Hindu temple pujas. The hall smelt of incense. Everyone spoke Malayalam, the food served was more Malayalee than Maharashtrian and the Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram, was among the VIP guests.
This was not surprising. The Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, a sacred member in Indian tradition, aims to foster an integral understanding of the human person and of Jesus Christ, within the multi-religious and socio-economic context of India. Besides the main subjects of Philosophy and Christianity, the Institute offers courses in Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and Islam as well as Physical and Social Sciences. The 670 students are introduced to various forms of prayer and spiritual techniques including Yoga and Vipassana.
Whenever he spoke, Fr. Sheth quoted Sanskrit shlokas from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. The text of the Institute motto was from the "Mokshada" section of the Mahabharata. In the emblem of the Vidyapeeth, the Tree represents the "asvattha" tree described in the "Katha Upanishad" as having its roots above and branches below. The roots of this tree are in the Transcendent Awareness (the Eye) of God who is also imminent in the Universe. The branches of the tree overhang the meditating figure of the person seeking "brahma-vidya" or the Knowledge of God, on whom all creation depends for its life.
Such an enlightened approach and education has enormously helped and moulded the careers of the priests who have passed out of the Vidyapeeth. Explained Father Thomas from Thodupuzha, Kerala who studied Theology from 1966 to 1970, ``We learnt more than Theology at the Vidyapeeth. I was the choir master during my student days, and we often sang Tagore songs. These opened my eyes, gave me a wider vision of life and prayer, making them more relevant to life. The main theme of the songs was alleviation of human suffering, the same as the Church taught us.'' Since 1988, Father Thomas is running the Roshni Society at Rajpura village near Chandigarh, which helps polio-afflicted and thalidomide children, those born without limbs.
Going a step further, a 65-year-old, tall, burly, bearded priest, dressed in ochre robes and headgear, calls himself Swami Prabhudar and operates from the Viraktha Math, Soundatti, Belgaum district. ``I am a swami but also a Jesuit priest,'' he explained. ``I worship Christ but include tales from Hindu mythology and the Upanishads in my sermons.''
Calling himself a Counsellor and a rural doctor, Prabhudar treats his patients with rural medicine and is also officially authorised by the Church to practise exorcism in the Diocese of Belgaum. ``Yes, I do come across instances of people being possessed and devil manifestation, but most cases are caused by various illnesses and can be handled by doctors.'' he explained. A firm believer in prayer, he feels it can solve any problem.
Religious activities apart, it was heart-warming to learn how these priests helped the poor and the needy.
Father Felix Toppo, himself a tribal, was involved in educating tribals of Jharkhand. Tribals worship spirits and are controlled by their headman who can be called a witch doctor, he said. Thirty per cent of his diocese are tribals, exploited by everyone because of their lack of education. ``We had started several schools during the last 20 years for the tribals and these offered a ray of hope for them'', said Father Toppo. Thanks to help from sponsors and willing surgeons, Father Thomas has helped the disabled by birth and those who have lost limbs in accidents to get artificial limbs. The smaller the stumps, the more difficult the job. A thalidomide victim, Swapna Augustine, now 24, could not be fitted with artificial arms. Seeing her interest in drawing and painting, Father Thomas encouraged her to paint with her legs. She produced colourful paintings, which are now used in greeting cards and are bought in large numbers by corporate houses.
In another part of the country, Rev. Fr. Thomas Chennakattu rescued children, mostly runaways from home, from the streets of Quilon, Kerala, who were exploited by the local mafia in the drug trade. ``The children were trapped by the mafia and provided with foster parents. They first made the children drug addicts and then used them for drug distribution. Children aged six were also used,'' he told a shocked assembly.
The priest and his colleagues faced danger from the mafia, but inspired by what they had learnt at the Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, would not give up. Yes, the alumni of the Vidyapeeth have grown into mature, integrated leaders who are God-centred and people-oriented.
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