TwoCircles.net:
54 years of selfless service of Sister Enedina in Odhisa rewarded with expulsion from the country
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image source: the wire |
Sister Enedina, 86 years old, belonging to the Daughters of Charity Congregation, left India on 20th August to Spain after the Indian government denied renewal of her visa on August 11.
Sister Enedina had come to Berhampur in Ganjam district in 1966 from Spain and after 5 years of social work there, she shifted to Aliganda village in Gajapati district of Odisha state to treat the people affected with TB which was rampant in the village.
Sister Enedina Costilla had a degree in medicine and surgery from Madrid Capital Medical College and she was engaged in serving the poor and needy by providing health care and other services from the last 5 decades. Her patients were mostly Dalits and Tribals from the surrounding villages that are mostly Maoist affected.
Apart from starting a dispensary, Sister Enedina also started four schools for the children. The services were provided for free of cost to the people and thousands of poor people benefited from these services.
Sister Enedina’s compassion for the poor and her dedication touched the lives of the people in the village who bid her a sad farewell when she departed from the village to go to Delhi from where she flew to Spain.
Like all law-abiding citizens sister Enedina used to renew her visa on time and never over stayed. But this time when she applied for renewal, the Ministry of External affairs refused to renew her visa and gave her 10 days’ time to leave the country.
She has applied online for the visa renewal and paid the fees but her application was rejected and no reason was given.
It is alleged that Hindu groups had been demanding expulsion of foreign missionaries from India accusing them of converting the poor tribal and Dalit people into Christianity.
Not just the people even her long time colleagues and other missionaries across the country have expressed their sorrow at the departure of Sister Enedina who had rendered great service to the people.
Many even referred this act of expulsion of the nun to the fact that the overstay of several illegal immigrants in India who are allowed to stay on while a honest nun who contributed to the Indian society with her service has been asked to leave. They termed this as an unfortunate thing and a huge loss to the Odiya people.
The dispensary which she ran is now without a doctor and the other nuns are on the lookout for someone to take charge and run the hospital. Her patients are all distraught and heart broken. Sister Enedina held a place in the hearts of many a patient who saw a ‘mother’ in her.
She had learnt the local language and knew her every patient by name. Her departure from India has left a void in Berhampur. With no means of communication with Sister Enedina all that the people have are rich memories of Sister Enedina.
The Daughters of Charity, to which Sister Enedina belonged, was founded in France in 1633, serving people through hospitals, orphanages, old age homes and educational institutions. In India the Daughters of Charity arrived in 1940 and is working in 14 dioceses with 232 members of the congregation living in 42 houses.
Not just the people even her long time colleagues and other missionaries across the country have expressed their sorrow at the departure of Sister Enedina who had rendered great service to the people.
Many even referred this act of expulsion of the nun to the fact that the overstay of several illegal immigrants in India who are allowed to stay on while a honest nun who contributed to the Indian society with her service has been asked to leave. They termed this as an unfortunate thing and a huge loss to the Odiya people.
The dispensary which she ran is now without a doctor and the other nuns are on the lookout for someone to take charge and run the hospital. Her patients are all distraught and heart broken. Sister Enedina held a place in the hearts of many a patient who saw a ‘mother’ in her.
She had learnt the local language and knew her every patient by name. Her departure from India has left a void in Berhampur. With no means of communication with Sister Enedina all that the people have are rich memories of Sister Enedina.
The Daughters of Charity, to which Sister Enedina belonged, was founded in France in 1633, serving people through hospitals, orphanages, old age homes and educational institutions. In India the Daughters of Charity arrived in 1940 and is working in 14 dioceses with 232 members of the congregation living in 42 houses.
Pope Francis has just concluded a visit to Thailand.
ReplyDeleteYes Thailand, with only 1% Christians. Malaysia by comparison has 9% Christians.
His Holiness was invited by the Thai King. Over the years the Pope has visited most ASEAN countries. But NEVER Malaysia, probably because we never invited the sitting Pope.
Come on Mujahid....we are supposed to promote Compassionate Islam. Please be compassionate to Malaysian Christians and ask Toonsie to invite the Pope.
QUOTE Mujahid:
The government has a narrative on how Islam is presented to the people – what we call the “compassionate Islam” or rahmatan lil alamin (compassion for all) because this dictates you to be inclusive.
Number two is to be compassionate and number three is to be progressive.
Question:
You talk about rahmatan lil alamin and inclusivity. Are you talking about both Muslims and non-Muslims?
Mujahid Answer:
Article 3 states that Islam is the official religion of the Federation and in the same article, all faiths are free to practise.
I do not think myself as being isolated in that big frame or that I do not relate to other faiths.
We practise freedom and being a Muslim, you have to also protect other people’s freedoms. I am committed to protecting the freedom of other faiths.
UNQUOTE
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/06/mujahid-pushes-for-more-inclusive-islamic-reforms#DK0cdJCWlFYLCy11.99
Ketuanan Hindu.
ReplyDeleteInstead of the Pope, what about inviting the head of the evangelical Christians? Many DAP members would concur.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that’s the reason Dr Zakir Naik not send back. Ketuanan India in India, Ketuanan Cina di China ( oppressing Islam ), ketuanan Burma, Europe and Malaysia
ReplyDeletePope Francis' current visit to Thailand (0.5% Catholics) is the second Papal visit to the Buddhist country, after the first by Pope John Paul II 35 years ago. Many Malaysians will travel to Bangkok to see and celebrate mass with the Pope.
ReplyDeleteAfter Thailand Pope Francis will head off to Japan (0.5% Catholics), the country Toonsie admires most and has visited countless times.
Pope Francis has also visited Buddhist Sri Lanka in 2015, Muslim Bangladesh and Buddhist Myanmar in 2017. This is the same Sri Lanka that killed those LTTE terrorists and the same cruel Buddhist Myanmar that persecuted those poor Rohingyas. But those two countries invited the Pope and he visited all the same. They don't mix religion with politics.
How many times did India, the country with the Hindu extremists, and only 1.5% Catholics, welcome the Pope?
There have been three Papal visits to India. The first Pope to visit was Pope Paul VI, who visited Mumbai in 1964. Pope John Paul II visited several places in India including Chennai in February 1986 and then again visited New Delhi in November 1999.
Pope Paul VI visited Indonesia (90% Muslims, 3% Catholics) in 1970. Pope John Paul II also visited in 1989. They both paid visits to President Sukarno and Pope John Paul II celebrated mass in front of 130,000 Catholics in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Of course Malaysia is much better, more tolerant and inclusive than these countries. I am sure all Christian denominations, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Taoists and I dare say even atheists will welcome a visit to Malaysia.
So far a sitting Pope has NEVER visited Malaysia. Not to worry, with Toonsie and Mujahid's new "Compassionate and Inclusive" Islam I am sure an invitation will be sent out to His Holiness soon.
In many ways, the BJP Government has been Great for India.
ReplyDeleteIndia is now open for business with the rest of the world.
It is finally coming out of the impenetrable socialist shell it hid under for decades under independence.
Government officials who used to treat foreign investors with suspicion and placed obstacles and delays at every turn are now far more business friendly.
It has now come out of the Soviet/Russian orbit that it revolved round , and building relations with other democracies. India went from a foe to a friend of Israel in a few years.
However, the Race/Religion politics that BJP is playing for Indian domestic purposes is ugly and dangerous.
Maybe thats the reason Dr Zakir Naik not send back. Ketuanan India in India, ketuanan Cina in China ( oppression of the muslim ), ketuanan Buddhist Burma, White Europe and Malay Malaysia... definitely theres a tuan except when the British Colonised Malaysia & we call them tuan
ReplyDeleteTradisi Melayu lama- Tuan Puteri (even for a female) & Tuan Hamba (even to a commoner).
DeleteKetuanan ?
DeleteThe British Home Minister, Muhyiddin's counterpart, is a Muslim , son of Pakistani immigrants, father was a bus driver.
Can Malaysia ever allow this to happen ?
Many countries have at least made the effort moving beyond Ketuanan politics.
Biar mati anak, jangan mati adat adalah slogan melayu yang syiok-sendiri!
DeleteWhen u r needed, u r tuan irrespective of yr family background. When u r not needed, ready to be stabbed in the back every seconds of the day by yr own elites!
That's the tragic story of the B40 blur-sotongs who r the stupendous followers of the alufbata farts
Monsterball Malaysia has been the most advanced nation in inclusiveness. Minorities have always been part of the ministerial cabinet since Merdeka.
ReplyDeleteBN was instrumental in this, Tan siew sin was finance minister under Tunku. Liow Tiong lai was Transport minister most recently under BN. Not forgetting Sambanthan was works minister in the Cabinet. It is only in recent years do we see minorities in leadership positions in the Western countries.
It was only after Dr M took over was there a more pro Malay narrative.