Random Thoughts About Guezou

Thoughts about Guezou The Man for the Frontiers - James VM Appearance: hair gone silvery, sun drenched face with familiar wrinkles, forehead with lined strips that speaks of strong mind that faced tough situations, ‘tanned skin’, the specs guards his silent eyes – a Constant companion, toughened hand, most powerful voice, a man of medium height, At 87 could go around with full confidence on a motor around the complex, It is the man Guezou. Like every white people who spend their life in India, they become a sort of enigma to their countrymen but they become a hero here in India. No matter what work they have accomplished. It is the hospitality in reversal. The white in India are always has some enigma. Most of them have led a heroic life and often noticed and respected by local people, but address less men in their world. The man who brought twentieth century to Yellagiri’ – Fr. PM Thomas The infrastructures have entered in. life style of the People of plain only intimidate the poor tribals and make them realize their painful poverty. But then Guezou seems to have entered their lives. To this day Guezou stands as unwelcomed person for some in the hill. But their children are under the caring fold of the Salesian community thanks to Guezou. The children offer the hope of brighter tomorrow which they never have experienced. The mission has come of age, thanks to Fr Francis. As a farmer Guezou has ploughed hard, planted and watered and God gives the growth. It is the same story of D-Day that led to French liberation. The pioneer has to suffer, even if it costs life. A look around the current scenario will tell the tale of the Yellagiri hill. The land sharks are around looking for their prey. Lodges and hotels have cropped up catering to the vile of affordable Indian rich. Consumerism has placed its mark around here by intimidating the lifestyle of tribal people. Greedy Indian sahibs roam about in Fridays and weekends here in the name of tourism. On the extreme positions of the hills, our ecumenical Christians have put up structures of education and their own brand of missionary activities. The biggest village Nilavur (city of moon) the center of Y hill, now sends children grudgingly to school run by St Charles’ Sisters. People don’t know anything about around them. The long died volcano that is the Yellagiri, has steep and arid façade for people to grudge about while laboring on their uphill climb. Mind. There wasn’t a road in 1960’s. People here simply don’t know anything. And so, not so much of talk about them would help them in any way. Charlemagne promoted education to the once barbaric Europe. French are the pioneers in democracy. Paris is known for her fashion and taste. French knew the great wars that ate into their confidence of dignified living. The strong love for the fatherland sustained the resistance movement that kept harassing the Nazi occupiers. Existentialism got into the French culture. Sense of

philosophical brooding went into them through cultural unconsciousness. Such a change that has been in twentieth century. The birth throes of Vatican II, Birth of liberation theology in Latin America, Hippie culture in the west (Flower children), cold war era, Inculturation movement in Tamil Nadu, NBCLC and India, Tamil language upraising in 60’s. rampant casteism, draughts and famine in 70’s, widening the frontiers of science and space… Did Guezou become like De Nobli, Beschi, Bede Griffith, Livenes of Jharkhand Adivasis? No, he simply remained Guezou. What God has for him in this obscure hill? Is he academician? A Think-tank? Selffulfilled Catholic seer? Or what? Will he sit and spend time on reflection and write bombastic spiritual statements unmindful of the people in his opposite hut struggling with poverty? No. Guezou is not made for that. Friend is the extension of one’s self. Duhayon seems a correct expression for Guezou. He is definitely a missionary, But with what mission? It is very apparent in the changes that he made in the lives of people he entered into communion. Address less people (Still many are) he gave them a face in their society. The shock of cultural transplantation demanded his psychological strains. He became precise in communication and communion with others. He is no longer the French man but a (Salesian) missionary. The salesianness that bloomed in Kerala didn’t happen in Yellagiri hills. It came very late and but profoundly in late 90’s. Till then he was battling his vagueness in missionary charism. He is a farm-hand and a strong one. That is written well on his forehead - those strips of lines. He never gave up when things were not in his way. Stood firm by just courage? Don’t know. What would power him other than faith? Anonymity is the trademark of the poor and he took it on himself. He is slightly free from the harsh climatic conditions of tropical India. Apart from it he has nothing to hold on too. Life is just as it had been before. People still live in huts, work on the field when elusive rains relents, if not struggle some other way. But free from bonded labor. Did people see in him God’s hand? Those came in contact with him surely would have seen it in his life of sacrifice. Those came to him for money, surely would never have seen him other than a “funding-being”. It depends on the perspective of the people. He sacrificed his future for the unknown people of India. God might be opening a new way of being missionary in this well-connected world. Charity is not only giving. Traditional Tamil mentality is this To beg is mean, whereas To refuse a beggar is much more a mean To give is noble, whereas To decline is noblest.

One must not educate people in beggarliness. Interdependency has been the hallmark of Pauline Church. It is the communitarian nature of the Church. Through Guezou the French church lived here on Yellagiri. Loneliness and sense of failure which breeds desperate frustration is the common cross for a missionary to carry. There were silver linings that God charted for him too. He must have held on to it. All of a sudden his year long sacrifice has taken a fresh start and blown out in tremendous way. Thanks to Duhayon, a De Paul enthusiast. Guezou has become the mirror of Duhayon and good willed people of France. He went about digging wells, constructing buildings for schools, boardings, dispensaries. He never appears before the camera alone, NEVER ALONE. He seems to be at his self when the young people are around. That is where the Salesian in him happens. As Salesian he is for the young. The common response of the people is those of gratitude expressed in facilitation. He was more like David Livingston, until Duhayon offered him a helping hand.