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Is Kandhamal Burning

?My Second Visit in Detail

I traveled to Kandhamal again on the 27

and 28

March 2009. This time I was certain thatKandhamal is burning.

Yes ! Kandhamal is burning !

The love and concern for the peopleof Kandhamal is burning brightly in the hearts of thousands, some of whom have written tome and committed themselves to pray for Kandhamal. The fire of devotion to Jesus still burnsbrightly in the hearts of the persecuted Christians. The fire of hate still burns in the heart of theHindu leaders here. Yes ! Kandhamal is burning !As my cab was entering the Kalinga ghats, the sun settingbehind the hills brought back a deluge of memories. Mythoughts went back to my previous visit when the sun wassetting on that February evening

.Children from a School and Relief camp were makingtheir way to Mondasaru ravine view point, once apopular tourist spot These children were stamping the

fallen dry leaves and shouting with joy “picnic” “picnic”.

For the first time in three months they had come out of the camp to this spot which was just 100 meters away.That day those little children gave me hope of the betterdays in the future and I was anxious to find out if thebetter days had arrived and if it was safe for them tocome out of the camp and enjoy such simple pleasures.

When I took this picture (below) on 1/2/09, a thoughtwent through my mind that these kids had to learn andpractice the art of carrying one another to survive in thisuncaring world..But this time I knew thatcarrying one another can justremain a game for these kidsbecause I learnt from yourresponse that so many of youare willing to carry the peopleof Kandhamal in your heartsand prayers. I thank God foreach one of you.

Mondasaru ravine

, once apopular tourists spot. Some RCFathers and Nuns walked throughthis ravine to the neighboringdistrict to escape from theattackers during the riots.

My first stop was G. Udaigiri which had a Relief camp that had housed more than 1000 peopleduring my previous visit. By 15

February 2009 this Relief camp was dismantled and peoplewere sent back to their villages.

THEN

NOW

The Government dismantled this camp and other camps to back their claim that normalcy hadreturned and that the Christians have returned to their villages and are living normal lives.

Is there truth in this claim ?

This time also I could not get down to take any pictures on this highway (

Pics Then and Now compare dates)

Then Now Now (mini camps)I saw broken shops, abandoned homes, churches

and a “Mini camp” (Tents with blue plastic sheets)

adjacent to a destroyed homes as I traveled on the Highway from G Udaigiri to Raikia viaMondakia. Nothing much had changed.

Day 2 (28/3/09)

I began my tour of the interior areas on bikes starting with the Pisarama village

The homes still lay in ruinsThe people who were sent back from the main Camps at Raikia, G Udaigiri have now set upMini Camps in the village where they own homes. The Government wants them to move back into their homes The Locals and the powerful Kui Samaj (an organization which promotes theinterests of Hindu tribals) have warned them of dire consequences if they try to repair, rebuild orenter their homes without reconverting to Hinduism.

The Mini Camp at Pisarama:

A 20 X 20 Feet tent for 6/8 families 6- 8 partitions made with sarees200 people live here in suchtents

They have put up with this for 7 months, better conditions could come but with the cost of givingup their faith. Reconverting to Hinduism is not even a thought or option for these peoplebecause to them Jesus is very precious and no sacrifice is too big for them. I went around thecamp and tried to understand how they lived. Each moment was painful for me to see peoplesuffer so much for Christ. In the midst of all this they have not forgotten to be hospitable.