Burnt Alive: Life of Graham Staines in Orissa

It was during the Christmas Eve in 2007, violence erupted in Orissa and Christians mostly the tribals were attacked and mob went on rampage destroying over 70 churches, 600 Christian homes and over 5000 people displaced. The campaign was led by the Sangh Parivar members on the issue of religious conversion and the Christian missionary activities.

While victims of the violence were still recovering, another communal violence rocked the Orissa state, and this time not just the properties of Christians but also attacked missionaries, nuns, clergies, leading to the death of over 40 and the fleeing of at least 50,000 people to forests and relief camps.

Anti–Christian attacks in Orissa have become mundane and have drastically increased over the past decade. Several hundreds of missionaries serving in the routed tribal areas have been ameliorating the plights of the tribal poor, offering medical assistances and free education and in all these 'Conversion' has never been a part.

In January 23, 1999, Orissa state witnessed one of India's most shocking incidents; the murder of an Australian missionary and his two sons who were burnt alive while seeping in their station wagon. The incident not only shook the entire nation but also received heavy international condemnation.

Graham Stuart Staines had been working in Orissa among the tribal poor and with the leprosy patients since 1965. He never forced conversion nor spoke anything anti–Hindu, but for 'erroneous' reasons, mobs led by Hindu activist Dara Singh gruesomely burnt alive the humble Christian and his two sons Philip (aged 9) and Timothy (aged 7) at Manoharpur village in Orissa.

The Brisbane–born Staines came to India in 1965, and was stationed at Rairangpur, the subdivisional headquarters of the tribal–dominated Mayurbhanj district in Orissa. For more than three decades, he has been there – with his Evangelical Missionary Society – among the tribals, working for the poor and the leprosy afflicted.

Staines took full charge of the leprosy home set up 100 years ago with the patronage of then ruler. It has a capacity for 100 inpatients; besides treating patients the home trains them in different vocations.

In the 35 years of his life to help the poor and illiterate, Staines became fluent in Oriya language and even translated the New Testament into the Ho tribe language. He also played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home.

Staines and his wife Gladys, whom he married in the '80s in the same state, were pillars of the local society. In one incident when a devastating fire in Baripada left at least a 100 dead and scores horribly burnt, it was the service of the Staines couple that saved the people. Gladys, a trained nurse spent nights nursing the injured.

On one fateful day during a four–day jungle camp attended by Staines, instructing tribals on a range of subjects from public hygiene to education, Hindu extremists threatened of dire consequences and demanded him to stop his activities.

Accusing him of conversions, a group of Hindu radicals instigated by Dara Singh surrounded them from all sides; a murderous crowd set on fire the old four–wheel Willy's station wagon in which the three had retired for the night.

Charred beyond recognition and reduced to fragile frames of ashes, the three bodies lay clinging to each other in what must have been a vain attempt to protect each other and escape the mob.

A few days later, Graham's wife, Gladys, 49, offered a clear and public statement forgiving the killers. Graham is also survived by his thirteen–year–old daughter Esther.

Captivating millions of people around the world, Gladys who was awarded the Padma Shri civilian award by the Govt. of India said, "I have no hatred against the killers, but have forgiven them, just like Jesus will. The path of cross is painful, and it can be walked only with love."

Gladys always insisted that Graham was never into conversion and "all he did was to spread the message of the Lord." But state Hindu Jagran Samukhya convener Subhash Chauhan alleges, "He was killed because he was proselytising. People might have killed him in a fit of rage."

However, contrary to general perceptions, Christian population has grown marginally from 1.98% in 1981 to 2.9% in 1991 and surprisingly the religious map of Orissa has not changed and it's still the same.

Gladys returned to India in June 2006, and in an interview underlined the importance of forgiveness. "In forgiveness, there is no bitterness and when there is no bitterness, there is hope. This consolation comes from Jesus Christ."

She even appealed for clemency to Dara Singh sentenced to death and 12 others who were given life imprisonment. The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in May 2005 by the Orissa High Court, who also acquitted the other appellants.

The state of Orissa, overwhelmed by epidemics, malnutrition and illiteracy has truly lost a savior, who not only dedicated his life for the betterment of the local people, but also constantly prayed for them.

Dr Binod Kishore Das, a skin specialist who treated patients at the Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home, says the void will be hard to fill.

While the BJP, RSS and other radical groups who consider 'words' their sword to accuse Christians and instigate attacks will vanish to vanity, it would be the testimony and lives 'saved' and 'served' by Staines and his likes that will make an impact in this nation.