Update One

Some of you who have read my earlier letters on Kandhamal have requested for an update on the present situation. I thank God for your concern and pray that this update will enable you to understand and pray for the people of Kandhamal. The Background Kandhamal district in Orissa was home to more than 150,000 Christians. In August 2008, following the assassination of Swami Laxamananda by Maoists. Hindu fundamentalists unleashed an unprecedented wave of violence against the Christians which saw thousands of Christians driven away from their homes, churches vandalized, shops and businesses destroyed and many pastors and believers killed and burnt. The BJP-BJD government aided and abetted this atrocity. Even after a year and two months the situation is far from normal. Kandhamal Orissa

Swami Laxmanananda

The Present scenario  The Maoists have admitted to the killing of Swami Laxmanananda absolving the Christians of the wrongful allegation  The BJD-BJP parties which were political allies during the riots have parted ways.  The Home Minister of India visited Kandhamal and assured Christians of all support and help  Fast track courts have been set up to try the cases of atrocities against the Christians  Government has provided some monetary relief to some of the affected people  Major Relief camps have been dismantled and people sent back to their respective villages to mini relief camps Has normalcy returned to Kandhamal ?

The Churches The churches still remain in the same condition even today .

We can say normalcy has returned to Kandhamal only when the vandalised churches are repaired and people are able to worship without fear but today that seems to be a distant dream.

The Relief Camps The major relief camps at G Udaigiri, Raikia, Mondakia and Tikabali have been dismantled and people have been sent back to their villages. Here they have pitched small tents and live in them. They are still unable to rebuild their homes and move into them because of the opposition from Hindus and due to financial constraints. In some villages police protection is being given to the people. Camp at GUdaigiri in Jan09

Mini camp at Pisarama in front of the church

In my first letter I wrote about Goliath from Bakingia village who used to live in the Mondakia camp. He has gone back to his village to live in a tent not far from this house. He and many like him continue to struggle Goliath and myself in front of his house (Jan 09)

Women at Mondasar camp who still live there

More than 50 Christian families who used to live in Betikola near Tiangia are unable to go back to their village even to set up a Mini camp. The local Hindus resist their return, so the government has accommodated them in a camp near a place called Nandagiri which is between Kalinga and G Udaigiri. There are many villages where Christian cannot enter even today. The Pastors In my first letter I had mentioned about pastors who were killed in the violence. Pastor Akbar was killed and burnt and his bones were lying in the open when I visited Totamaha in Jan 09. A Fast Track Court found 5 persons guilty of the murder and has convicted them and awarded Life sentence and a fine of Rs 5000/The once happy family has been scattered. His son lives with his cousins in North India, his wife lives alone in Kandhamal. There are many families which have been affected like this Pastor Akbar’s family

Ashes and bones of Pastor Akbar

His son and wife

Pastor Samuel Nayak and Gapan Nayak Gapan Nayak was killed near this church and body burnt with the beams of the church Calcified blood at the spot where Pastor Samuel was killed

Spot where Gapan was burnt

Pastor Samuel and his mother were killed by the same mob which killed Pastor Akbar. The killers managed to escape conviction in Samuel’s case but were found guilty in Akbars case.

Pastor Samuel’s wife (right) Mrs Gapan Nayak (left)

They live in a Care home for widows and orphans in Bhubaneswar run by my friends. They spend much time in praying and comforting others who have lost their dear ones

Two visits and Two letters During my previous visit I was moved by the plight of the widows of the martyrs. A friend who accompanied me came forward to setup a Care home in Bhubaneswar where widows could stay in safety and comfort. Today with the help of other friends we are maintaining this home

The Care Home at Bhubaneswar Widows and Orphans from Kandhamal live here

Urmila (left) with her sons Ajay and Rahul Revathi (right) lost her husband in the first riots in Dec 07

Urmila Mamitha, Kadamful, Shanthi Lata, Revathi Savithri, Ranchi

Montu, Dharmendra, Rakesh, Sanathan, Mukesh, Ajay, Ayuba, Nehemiah, Sudhanshu,

Students I was moved by plight of High school students in Kandhamal In March they were looking for someone who could sponsor their admission fees. With the help of some friends we were able to admit 140 students into the High schools. Here are the photos of a few of them

Madhu smita Nayak th 8 Std Tiangia

Subhranjali Digal th 10 std Murudipang a

Seshma Digal th 9 Std Digi

Alexander Nayak 8 Std Mlahupanga

Abhaya Nayak th 8 Std Tiangia

Susana Digal th 9 Std Mondasaru

Prthyasha Nayak th 10 std Tiangia

Roji Paricha th 8 Std Kilakia

An young couple from my church were moved by the plight of Chandramma and Aparijitha after reading about them in my earlier letter. They came forward to sponsor their education on a long term basis and provide cycles and other facilities to help them continue their education.

Chandrama & Arparijitha during my previous visit to their tent where they still live

Chandramma with the gifted cycle, books etc

Aparijitha on her way to college

The Malkangiri Story Mr Kirubakaran Samuel started corresponding with me after reading my letters. He took efforts to get 25 children from Kandhamal to get accommodation at the IMS (Indian Missionary Society) Hostel at Malkangiri. Now 21 of them are staying there

Boys from Kandhamal at Malkangiri

Girls from Kandhamal at Malkangiri

Mr Kirubakaran with students when he visited Malkangiri IMS Hostel

Ruupagaun relief While we were returning from our previous visit we heard about a village called Rupagaun in which 20 Christian families were near starvation as no relief agency was reaching rations for them.

People from Rupagaun

Provisions being distributed

So we arranged rations to that village for a month and had it distributed through our friends. Since this village is in a very sensitive area they were called out and the provisions were distributed. I also brought this to the notice of relief agencies which are giving rations in Kandhamal. Last week I heard that one Delhi based agency was arranging rations for the families at Rupagaun The People who fled Kandhamal

We have Worship Center in Bhubaneswar for people who fled Kandhamal to meet and worship every Sunday. Pastors who also fled, do odd jobs and support themselves. The maintenance of this center has been possible through the help of some friends.

Care Home at Berhamapur took care of 12 people from Aduskupa for 6 months. Now they have been put up at Raikia

Dear friends This letter is not only an update but also a testimony to what God has done with my very small contribution of “two visits and two letters”. With the help of less than twenty friends we have made a difference in the lives of people you see in the pictures above and it is the Lord’s doing. I also acknowledge the help and cooperation of my trusted friends on the ground in Kandhamal, Berhampur and Bhubaneswar The changes that are taking place are answers to your prayers. I am sure that you are also hearing from the people through whom you may be supporting the relief work there. I sincerely request you to continue to pray and support the people of Kandhamal since they need your long term cooperation in rebuilding their lives.

Though the pace of change may seem to be slow, I see God’s hand at work, I see the steadfast faith of the believers who are standing firm in spite of the struggles, I see your love and concern when I read your replies. That makes me hopeful, hopeful of that day when I can bring you pictures of our brothers and sisters in Kandhamal living in their homes, worshiping in their churches, working, studying and supporting their families and living without the fear of discrimination but until then please continue to pray for them and reach out to them A little effort and prayer submitted in God’s mighty hand will make a big difference, so let us not cease praying and reaching out to His precious children who are in crisis. Please forward this mail to others who are concerned about the people of Kandhamal and encourage them to pray for them. If you want to read my two previous letters please mail me at [email protected] and if you want a copy of my video presentation on Kandhamal I would be glad to send it to you anywhere in India or you can arrange someone to pick it up from my residence in Bangalore. Come, let us join hands and make a difference together. May His name be glorified in all that we do. Yours in His service Malcolm Athishtam. (I am an Engineer working as Regional Manager for a Private Instrumentation Company. I am not working for any Relief Agency or Church. The visits and my endeavors are purely based on my personal conviction that if “One member suffers all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26) and “whatever you do for the least of my brethren you do it for Me”).