M.K. George S.J., Rome

Do you think this act of NIA is against Stan Swami and the hate they have shown to him is a strike against the missionaries in the Adivasi and tribal belts of India, against their social activism?

The total lack of compassion on the side of NIA authorities and the NIA court baffles me. Normal human behaviour manifests, even animals in fact do, some mercy. So, using common sense, I am tempted to think that as you rightly put it, the ‘hate’ the NIA authorities have shown, whether it is in the process of arrest of Stan, or taking twenty days to give a straw for drinking to an old man with Parkinson’s, does not make any sense.

So, one is tempted to believe that the NIA and those in the government controlling NIA had other motives. It must be seen as a zero tolerance to any social activism whether it is from an old man, a priest or whoever. The government had showed it already by arresting the 15 other top level humanitarian and intellectuals of our country. More than any strike against the missionaries, it is a strategic strike against any activism that will stand against corporate interests. And you can understand this from available government data. The corporates fund the ruling regime in substantial amounts and they will necessarily claim their pound of flesh.

How do you as a Jesuit look at social activism as missionary exodus of the Christian?

The identity of a Jesuit is as a man on a mission: of Faith and Justice; and as recently rearticulated, Reconciliation and Justice. Hence, social activism is core to the Jesuit mission. The Christian call to evangelisation, contrary to what the ruling regime in India tries to establish, (as conversion) demands of Christians, lives of charity, proclamation of the word through words and deeds, promotion of faith through an active liturgical life, inter-religious dialogue, ecumenism, and work for Justice.

The recently articulated Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Jesuits are another example of what Christians should live and die for: Showing the way to God, walking alongside the poor, the world’s outcasts, accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future and Caring for our common home.

Aren’t these deeply Christian and deeply activist in orientation?

Do you think the Church in India has a clear picture of mission activity here? What is the mission trust in India?

The answer is a definite no. The Church in India seems to be lost and do not even show sufficient efforts at searching for a clearer articulation. I do not mean to say the situation is simple and the Church hierarchy is sitting idle. The socio-political situation of India, with a clearly right wing regime in power, and proven history of anti-minority activities, it is no easy job. But we should be sitting together, discussing, praying, discerning and acting together. Unfortunately, the Church in India does not show any concerted effort for this. Everyone seems to be fending for oneself. Some going to the shameful levels of actively supporting the right wing ruling party, Church in India, especially its leadership will need a far more united search, discernment and action together to get out of the quagmire the church is already in. Nothing seems to be bringing us together, where as there are so many things keeping us apart.