A national level conference to mark the concluding celebration of the birth centenary of His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Benedict Mar Gregorios, the late Archbishop of Trivandrum was organized by the Diocese of St. John Chrysostom, Gurgaon at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on 15 February, 2016. The occasion was graced by many eminent persons, including Honourable Shri. Mohammad Hamid Ansari (Vice- President of India), Union Minister of Minority Affairs Honourable Dr. Najma Heptulah, and the Supreme Court judge Honourable Justice Kurien Joseph, all three respectively being representatives of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary of India. Others present were His Eminence Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Honourable Prof. P.J. Kurien, His Grace Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, His Grace Most Rev. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, His Grace Archbishop Dr. Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, and the Post Master General of the Delhi Circle Shri. L. N. Sharma.
The august gathering was welcomed by Most Reverend Dr. Jacob Mar Barnabas, the Bishop of Gurgaon Diocese. The conference was divided into two sessions. In his presidential address, Cardinal Cleemis recalled Mar Gregorios as a spiritual leader a lover of the nature, a child of God who saw other human beings as children of God. "The space in his heart for others was such that it transcended all boundaries of religion, caste and creed, thus embodying the old Indian saying, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", that is, the world is one family. His heart always throbbed for both the mankind and the nature." His Eminence said that it is a challenge for us to expand the horizons of our hearts for humanity when the world today is in need of such great leaders.
Archbishop Salvatore Pennachio called Mar Gregorios as person who was known to everyone for his great services and was the true messenger of God. He expressed his indebtedness and gratitude towards the Malankara community for providing a leader like Mar Gregorios, who, notwithstanding the fact that India is a country of many religions, spread the fragrance of love and projected his spiritual pursuits to every human being equally.
Feeling privileged to be a part of the conference to mark the birth centenary of a "versatile personality", Prof. P. J. Kurien called Mar Gregorios as the "Bishop of the people". He pointed at two kinds of ecclesiastic leaders. First, those who confine to the four walls of the Church and pray. Second are those who use the Church to serve society and pay attention to the downtrodden, the marginalized and the poor. Mar Gregorios was of the latter kind, he said. Prof. Kurien reminded the gathering that any other person with an equal meritorious achievements in academics of Mar Gregorios in the late 1940s, and even today, would have settled with a lucrative job. Instead, Mar Gregorios, who had stood first in his graduation course in Economics from the University of Madras, chose to serve mankind. "His service in the education sector, agricultural sector and MSME were for everyone and not just for catholics. The respect that Mar Gregorios gained, even outside Kerala and among the political circles, is beyond measure." Prof. Kurien recollected the former President of India Late Shri K. R. Narayanan's description of Mar Gregorios as "the true secular person and a world citizen", for the world was Mar Gregorios's family, his vision contained in loka samasta sukhino bhavantu. He said that Mar Gregorios will be remembered as son of this country, not just as a bishop as he had served more than the Catholic Church. "He had served India."
Dr. Heptulah, a friend of Mar Gregorios as noted by Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas in his welcome address, termed Mar Gregorios as a compassionate and as the finest human being whose life sincerely personified Christian values. She particularly mentioned that her government's Swacch Bharat Mission resembled his efforts to clean the surroundings as well as the human mind. "If meaningful progress and achievement is to be made in all developmental goals, then the values for which he lived and that he practised must be replicated," she said.
The Honourable Vice-President of India Shri Hamid Ansari, in his valedictory address, portrayed Mar Gregorios as "an outspoken person for secularism", as he would always intervene on behalf of the administration to quench communal tensions. He stated that the people who benefited from him are the "witnesses to his special care and nutrition for the poor, rehabilitation of disabled, and sanitation." He identified the Late Archbishop as an example for all of us for the sustained development of and an empowered India.
The second session began with a song performed by the Gurgaon Diocese choir and a presentation on Mar Gregorios. But the highlight of this session was a beautiful memorial speech on the constitutional moralities exemplified by Mar Gregorios, delivered by Justice Kurien Joseph, who was introduced to the people present by the member of Minorities Commission Adv. Abraham Pattiyani as a "true disciple of Mar Gregorios."
Justice Kurien Joseph defined 'salvation' as "a person's liberation from sin and oppression." He confessed about knowing personally Mar Gregorios from the year 1969 onward, a person who "had left everything to be the good news, the Gospel to everybody, therefore bringing salvation to all through his deeds and a gentle smile. And in this pursuit, nothing of this world attracted him and nothing of this world distracted him. He was accepted by all, irrespective of religion, region, caste and political ideologies. His advice used to be final for social problems where solutions seemed none. He firmly believed in constitutional values of equality, liberty and fraternity." He referred to Article 25 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees us the Fundamental Right to practice, profess and propagate religion of our choice, and wondered how many of us follow that 'order'- first practice, then profess and later propagate. However, he said that Mar Gregorios had followed that order all through his life. For Justice Joseph, he was a true Indian and a true nationalist owing to the fact that he did his Fundamental Duties, enshrined in Article 51A of the Constitution more ardently than fighting for his Fundamental Rights. He particularly touched upon several of these Fundamental Duties applied by Mar Gregorios. These are as follows:
Article 51A(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities
Article 51A(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
Justice Joseph hinted at Mar Gregorios's simple attire and ascetic life (sannyasi), belief in culture of India and the need to assimilate it around the globe.
Article 51A(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures
"Mar Gregorios used to carry seeds of different trees in his pocket, give them to those who do not have a particular tree in their gardens. He would bring the seeds of those plants and trees from abroad that are not present in India," Justice Joseph said.
Article 51A(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence
Here Justice Joseph lamented over the fact that today, there is no such spirit in religions. He indicated about the inter-religious violence and at an equal war footing, intra-religious violence. He questioned the hearts of the people who worship God but at the same time, get involved in fights in His name. He saw the need of mediation and hence, requested His Eminence Cardinal Cleemis to work upon it in order to bring peace in society.
Article 51A(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement
Justice Joseph closed his speech with a remark that Mar Gregorios was a true Gandhian for his simplicity, for contributions towards the upliftment of the poor and the marginalized, and for his efforts towards communal harmony and peace. "His leadership for the civic society in India will be remembered for all time. Just as those who know Christ have every reason to celebrate Christmas, those who know Mar Gregorios have every reason to celebrate his birthday."
Soon after his speech, the Gurgaon Diocese launched the Mar Gregorios Birth Centenary Schemes- Accompany a Family; and Send a Child to School.
The former has a target of reaching out to 10,000 families within next 10 years. The first donation for this scheme was given by Mr. John Cherian from Bhopal.
The second scheme has a target of sending 5000 children to school in the next five years. Mr. K. K. Jose from the Mayur Vihar parish provided the inaugural donation for this scheme.
The first Mar Gregorios Award for services rendered in humanitarian betterment was given to Missionaries of Charity. The Award was collected on behalf of the Congregation by Sr. Amelis. The postal department, represented by Shri. L. N. Sharma, brought out a special postal cover on the occasion.
Both the sessions ended with vote of thanks by Mr. N. C. Philip (Pastoral Council member) and Rt. Rev. Fr. Daniel Kuzhithadathil Cor-Episcopo respectively.
