Kerala - Thrissur   

Church, Left cannot escape blame for Dalits' plight, says Sarah Joseph

Staff Reporter

`A similar tendency seen in church, Left movements'

THRISSUR: Sarah Joseph, writer and women's rights activist, has alleged that the church and the Left movement cannot escape blame in the marginalisation of Dalits and other deprived sections of society. Prof. Joseph was speaking at a programme organised here on Wednesday to remember the contributions of the late Bishop Paulose Mar Paulose, a social activist. She said there were very few Dalit priests or nuns in the Catholic Church in the State, and "as far as my knowledge goes, none in the Thrissur Archdiocese.

``I had made some enquiries about this in connection with the creation of a character in one of my works. Then I was told that this [the absence of Dalit priests and nuns] was related to the issue of faith. Dalit Christians were, in fact, neo-converts, and only when they grew mature in faith through the evolution of six or seven generations, they would be able to become priests and nuns.

This explanation was hardly acceptable to me,'' she said. Similarly, this tendency to marginalise the Dalits sections, on some pretext or the other, was seen in the Left movement also, Prof. Joseph said.

The social critic Sukumar Azhikode, who delivered the Bishop Paulose Mar Paulose memorial lecture, attacked the contemporary legacy of rulers to measure the relevance of any contribution with the yardstick of professionalism.

Professionalism was indicative of only the technical aspect of an activity. For example, a teacher, or a doctor, realised the full dimension of their vocation only if they were able to go beyond the technical aspect of their careers and were able to give expression to the philosophical dimension of those fields through their work.

The late Paulose Mar Paulose could transcend the usually perceived professional dimensions of priesthood and dedicate his life to explore the deeper meanings of the teachings of the Bible, through his deeds and words.

Dr. Azhikode released the book Karutha Kurbana: Njan Nadanna Vazhikal, authored by Fr. Aloysius D. Fernandes, by giving a copy to Prof. Joseph. The Metropolitan of the Church of the East Mar Aprem presided over the function.

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