(The Times of India 23 Dec, 2006)
Q&A: A priest has to stand up for truth
and justice
It is unusual for a priest to take on a state
government. Cedric Prakash, a Jesuit priest
based in Ahmedabad, believes that his duty is
not limited to saying prayers for the faithful
but also to speak up against violence and injustice.
The French government bestowed on him its highest
civilian honour and the National Commission
for Minorities recently gave him the Minority
Rights Award 2006 in honour of his commitment
to human rights. He spoke to Humra Quraishi
about the dangers of communalism:
What prompted you to speak out against the
Gujarat government after the 2002 pogrom?
I did — and continue to
do so — what I thought was
the fundamental duty of any citizen: To defend
the victim and to stand up for those who are
at the receiving end even if the perpetrators
happen to be powerful. I have not done anything
extra-ordinary, only what was expected of me.
It has been difficult of course. There have
been all kinds of allegations against me, several
threats and I have been kept constantly under
surveillance. But I call all this an occupational
hazard if one has to stand up for truth and
justice.
Has the situation of minorities in Gujarat
improved?
The victims of the Gujarat carnage are still
fighting for minimum compensation and, in most
cases, they have not received any justice. There
are people in other parts of India who are genuinely
concerned about what is happening in Gujarat.
But, somehow, this has not evolved into a civil
movement which is absolutely necessary to prevent
the communalisation of the country and the continued
erosion of our constitutional values.
You are a priest. Your critics could say that
a priest's job is to be busy with prayer sessions
and not get involved in political issues.
Yes, I am a Jesuit priest and I am very clear
that the responsibility I am mandated with is
to take a stand for truth, justice, compassion
and peace. Unfortunately, the role of a priest
has been stereotyped and even to a great degree,
compromised. Many of my critics will be very
happy to see me confined to the four walls of
a church. That is not what Jesus came for, that
is not what He preached, that is not what He
died for.
How do you perceive the role of 'secular' parties
in fighting communalism in Gujarat?
The way most leaders of the so-called secular
parties are behaving, vis-a-vis the communal
situation in Gujarat, is tragic. Their mindset
is that if one takes a stand against the communalisation
of Gujarat, he will be alienating the majority
community of the state. I think most citizens
are much wiser and, in the end, will vote for
a party that is honest.
