CHANDIGARH: RT Rey Gilbert Rego, President of Shimla Chandigarh Educational Society, has expressed continuing concern of the Christian community about the recent attacks on Christian personnel and institutions in Punjab and the failure of the police to apprehend the culprits. Rev Rego in this connection wrote a letter to the parents of school children seeking their sugsuggestions on how to overcome the evils in society of which the crimes in question were disturbing symptoms. The text of the letter: Dear Parents.
‘The subject of this letter may not directly concern the schooling of your child, but it certainly concerns your child’s education for life and, indirectly, it may also concern her or his schooling.
We are addressing you regarding the three attacks on the Church and Convent at Amloh (Di.Fatchgarh Sahib) on 11292 and 12293 and on the Church at Rajpura (Dt.Patiala) on 21693. Substantial sums of money were: robbed each time but far more serious are the personal injuries to at least six persons (one of whom is still in hospital) and desecration of Churches in all three cases.
We do not know the real motive of the miscreants who attacked these places, nor do we know whether they were hired by some other interested party. The indications are that there was some other motive besides robbery. Need for serious action.
Our schools were closed for a day on3293 to register our protest against this wanton attack and desecration and to draw the attention of Government to the need for serious action to apprehend the culprits. It is reported that one gang has been caught and this gang might have been responsible for the attacks.
We understand that some of the police officers who were initially handling the case have now been transferred. We also appreciate that it is not realistic to keep a time limit for finding the real culprits. On the other hand, justice and peace are not restored by making a couple of transfers and by offering police protection to Churches and Convents. The key to solve the crux of the problem goes beyond police action.
Roots of the Problem If these Were crimes motivated primarily for loot, the root of the problem lies in such social evils as unemployment, rising prices, corruption and the widening gap between rich and poor.
An even more insidious factor is the much lamented criminalization of politics and underground nexus between the makers and guardians of the law on the one hand, and breakers of the law on the other.
If these crimes are primarily an Attack against Christian places of worship and Church personnel, then they are another instance of communalism and religious hatred which has spread far wide in our country. This has caused, during the past three months, losses of human life and property far more serious than the Christians in Punjab have suffered.
It is the task of the police to apprehend the criminals and establish their motive. It is the task of the educationist to bring about awareness of the issues involved in such incidents. Our education would degenerate to mere book learning and our schools would degenerate to mere shops for certificates, if we were to continue teaching the printed syllabus while ignoring the evils in which we are immersed and the wrongs which those close to us have suffered. Christian Institutions Interconnected.
We are addressing this letter to you; dear parents, since we wish you to know that when a Church or Convent is made victim of a brutal attack and the process of law and justice seems to make no headway; our own institution and management are deeply disturbed. Christian institutions all over are closely connected, and any attack on one, necessarily disturbs all others.
We know that many of our parents are highly respected citizens holding positions of influence in society. We appeal to you to express your concern about the grave issues involved in the. Crimes against our Christian sisters and brothers at Amloh and Rajpura. Obviously, your concern needs to take on some more effective expression than mere words; it is only such active concern on your part which will ensure genuine and relevant education for your child. We are only your collaborators in this task.
If the crimes at Amloh and Rajpura are finally disposed of as unsolved cases we shall be forced to consider whether conducting a school in such a society really achieves any good or actually helps to perpetuate vested interests, Evil is overcome by good At this time of anxiety and distress, we address this letter to you because the education and, perhaps, even the future schooling of your child is affected by the crimes that have been committed, However, we are confident that none of us will be overcome by evil, but that we shall overcome evil by good.
We shall be happy to receive your suggestions as (0 how our school with your help can overcome the real evils in society of which the crimes in question are disturbing symptoms.
Relying on your active concern and assuring you of our commitment to the genuine education of your child.
Rt. Rev. Gilbert Rego President, Shimla Chandigarh Educational Society.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 16, 1993
