I encountered her in the Kandhamal forest, diligently sewing a blouse under a makeshift canopy. Beside her tailoring shop stood her humble tree-house where she and her husband lived in isolation, unaware of their grown-up children's whereabouts.

When the Sangh Parivar initiated attacks on Christians in their village, the only possession they salvaged was the sewing machine. Amid the chaos, the family became separated, and their children went their own way.

She offered blouse stitching services for Rs 30, often receiving just Rs 15 to 25. She accepted whatever people could afford. During that time, my wife paid Rs 250 per blouse in Delhi. Their return to the village was impossible as they were determined to hold onto their newfound faith.

The villagers, influenced by Hindu fundamentalists, imposed a single condition upon Kandhamal's Christians: Renounce their faith and revert to Hinduism. She firmly declared that she would never comply with this demand.

I could see the unwavering religious devotion in her eyes as she chose to face the consequences of forest life over the comforts of the village.

As I conversed with her a few weeks after the tragic Kandhamal "riots," a period of introspection began in my own mind. Did I possess the unwavering religious conviction to stand by my faith, regardless of the potential consequences? It is easy to answer in the affirmative but difficult to affirm it in practice.

It is true that when Jesus parted ways with his disciples, he did not promise them an easy journey. Instead, he conveyed, 'You will face difficult times and experience sorrow. However, your sorrow will ultimately transform into joy.' 

I cannot confirm whether the tailor-lady is alive today or if she managed to reunite with her children. However, if she is indeed alive, it is likely she would find solace in knowing that the Catholic Church has initiated a process to recognise the martyrs of Kandhamal, who will now be honoured as Servants of God.

In the Catholic Church, the canonisation process is a lengthy journey that can extend over several years, if not decades. In this particular case, there are three more steps to be completed before they can be officially declared as saints. Nevertheless, for the people of Kandhamal, the commencement of this process marks a significant milestone in the district's history.

A total of 35 individuals, comprising 24 men and 11 women, have been recognised as martyrs in Kandhamal. However, it's important to note that this number does not represent the entirety of those who lost their lives during that period. The Orissa government itself acknowledged 38 deaths, while unofficial estimates suggest a much higher figure, close to 100.

This difference in numbers can be attributed to the Catholic Church's selection process for canonisation, which focuses exclusively on martyred Catholics in Kandhamal. The Church has a well-established system for conferring sainthood. In 993, Pope John XV formally canonised St. Ulrich of Augsburg as the first saint. 

Nonetheless, the history of Christian martyrdom dates back to St. Stephen, who lived in the first century CE. He was stoned to death with his body in a pit. 

Throughout the 2000-year history of the Church, approximately 10,000 individuals have been canonised as saints. While many of them have faded into obscurity, some are held in perpetual remembrance as people seek their intercession in prayers. 

In the most recent announcement from the Vatican, the beatification process (the first step towards canonization) has been initiated for one person and 34 others, referred to as “companions”. Yes, companions in the journey of both faith and death! 

Among the 35 martyrs, the first to be mentioned is Kanteshwar Digal. It is notable, though, that Fr. Bernard Digal, a local son-of-the-soil priest, is not listed first. I had an occasion to visit his ancestral house and meet his relatives. There are differing opinions regarding his martyrdom. He did not die in Kandhamal, though he was captured and subjected to torture. 

Fortunately, he was assumed dead and left behind, only to be later rescued and sent to Mumbai for treatment. His recovery was remarkable. Regrettably, a brain clot resulting from the torment he endured continued to haunt him. Ultimately, during a visit to Chennai, he suffered a seizure that led to his passing.

The Orissa government did not include him in the list of those killed. Nevertheless, there is no dispute that he suffered and died due to torture, making a compelling case for his consideration as a martyr. Fr. Bernard Digal was highly regarded, known for his potential to rise to leadership positions within the Church.

The story of Kanteshwar Digal is deeply disturbing. He resided in Sankarakhole. There is a false narrative, perpetuated by the Sangh Parivar, which claims that the anti-Christian violence was a reaction to the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. 

About a week before the swami's murder, the Christians of Sankarakhole were summoned to the village court with their Bibles. Digal, fearing a sinister plan, refused to obey their command, which was aimed at forcing him to burn the Bible and renounce Christianity in favour of Hinduism. Instead, he sold most of his goats and fled to Bhubaneswar, where his son worked as an autorickshaw driver.

However, he returned to the village two days later to sell the remaining goats. While he was there, news of the swami's murder spread rapidly. He feared for his life, as some individuals had identified him as a staunch defender of his faith. Digal managed to board a bus to leave the area.

Word reached those pursuing him that he was trying to escape. They intercepted the bus, identified him, and forcibly took him out of the bus. He was taken to a place where a Christian couple, their hands bound, was also brought. All three of them endured horrific torture. 

The woman was subjected to a heinous act of violence in the presence of her husband and Digal. Their bodies were mutilated, and they were ultimately thrown into a river. Several days later, their bodies were recovered, and his son was able to identify Digal. He was a man who stood unwavering in defence of his faith.

The derogatory term "Rice Christians" is often used to suggest that Christians converted to the faith due to missionaries providing them with food, implying that they abandoned their traditional beliefs and practices for mere sustenance.

However, this accusation does not hold up when we examine cases like Kandhamal. Many individuals there were willing to risk their lives to remain resolute in their faith. In Kandhamal, the choice was stark: Either avoid trouble in their own villages through reconversion to Hinduism or stand firm in their beliefs, even at the cost of their lives.

In their case, they exemplified the sentiments expressed in Romans 8:38-39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

In the case of Christians, their faith was marginalised and even proscribed until the third century AD when Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, making it the official religion. The Bible itself contains numerous instances of persecutors converting and becoming preachers, as seen in the example of Paul. 

Similarly, in Kandhamal, there are accounts of Hindu hardliners turning to Christ after the violent events. Anto Akkara, a friend and journalist, has diligently documented the Kandhamal story. His book, "Early Christians of the 21st Century," recounts cases resembling those of St. Paul and St. Stephen, which he encountered in Kandhamal. There is no doubt that his extensive body of work will be invaluable in the canonisation process.

It's worth noting that Akkara's unwavering commitment to the cause of Kandhamal has played a crucial role in uncovering many truths about the tragic events. During my visit to the Swami's ashram, I observed a stark contrast – he had access to modern toilet facilities, while the girl students at the hostel were deprived of basic amenities.

When I inquired about the students' toilet facilities, the caretaker pointed to the forest area behind the hostel. Strangely, the Swami met his fate in the very toilet, which bore bullet marks when I saw it. I also witnessed young girls washing and cleaning the cowshed, where over half a dozen cows were kept. 

They were also responsible for pounding rice and preparing meals, as the Swami had not employed anyone for these tasks. Adding to this, they lacked qualified Sanskrit teachers on their staff. By the way, one of those alleged to be involved in the murder was the brother of a girl student.

The Swami appeared to have a singular mission in life – to expel Christians from the area. Ironically, he himself was an outsider who had settled in Kandhamal with the intent to teach them a lesson. Understanding his methods, it becomes clear that his intentions were far from noble. 

I followed the path that the extremists took to transport the body to its final resting place. The winding route they chose had a sinister purpose: to target all the Christian churches along the way. This strategy bore a resemblance to the approach used when the bodies of those who perished in the Godhra incident were paraded through Ahmedabad and other locations. The intent behind these actions was to incite people to take matters into their own hands.

The Maoists claimed responsibility for the Swami's death. Rather than conducting a comprehensive police investigation, some innocent individuals were taken into custody and have been incarcerated since. Shockingly, the Sangh Parivar has been fabricating documents to insinuate that the Swami was murdered by Christians.

Even more concerning is the publication of a book, purportedly authored by an American, with a foreword by the Union Finance Minister. This book presents alleged minutes of a church committee meeting that supposedly decided to assassinate Swami Laxmanananda. Ever heard of a church committee planning and minuting a murder!

I visited a fast-track court where individuals accused of torturing Christians were being prosecuted. Their relatives expressed regret for being influenced by the Hindutva brigade to participate in the anti-Christian campaign. It became evident that their support for the cause was shallow, as they were not well cared for afterward. 

On the contrary, the Christians, even if they were economically disadvantaged, stood together and faced the persecution. Anybody familiar with Kandhamal would dismiss the notion that they were "rice Christians." Notably, during the "riots," not a single First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Christians for attacking Hindus.

I asked the late Bishop Raphael Cheenath, who provided exemplary leadership to Kandhamal's Christian community, why Christians, who were numerically stronger in some areas, did not resist. 

The bishop expressed his contentment that there was no retaliation from the Christian side, stating, "As a result, I have the high moral ground to stand on. People may say that Christians are not assertive, but no one can accuse us of taking the law into our own hands. I am grateful to my community for remaining faithful both to the Lord and to the laws of the land."

The beatification process that has been initiated will once again bring attention to Kandhamal. It will likely lead to more extensive discussions on the false narratives that were propagated to justify the violent events. 

Notably, the Supreme Court had ordered compensation for many of the victims of the pogrom, and it's imperative that this legal commitment is upheld. Additionally, the individuals who were wrongfully arrested and subjected to punishment based on fabricated charges should be released. Among them is a person who is mentally unsound.

The initiation of the beatification process for the 35 Catholic martyrs brings a glimmer of hope. Their unwavering faith, courage, and sacrifice serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through their martyrdom, they have become beacons of inspiration, reminding us of the power of love, forgiveness, and the enduring strength of faith. May their journey towards sainthood be a source of solace and encouragement for believers around the world. 

ajphilip@gmail.com