Thoughts about Guezou

The Man for the Frontiers

- James VM

Appearance: hair gone silvery, sun drenched face with familiar wrinkles, forehead
with lined strips that speaks of strong mind that faced tough situations, ‘tanned skin’,
the specs guards his silent eyes – a Constant companion, toughened hand, most
powerful voice, a man of medium height, At 87 could go around with full confidence
on a motor around the complex, It is the man Guezou. Like every white people who
spend their life in India, they become a sort of enigma to their countrymen but they
become a hero here in India. No matter what work they have accomplished. It is the
hospitality in reversal. The white in India are always has some enigma. Most of them
have led a heroic life and often noticed and respected by local people, but address less
men in their world.

The man who brought twentieth century to Yellagiri’ – Fr. PM Thomas

The infrastructures have entered in. life style of the People of plain only intimidate the
poor tribals and make them realize their painful poverty. But then Guezou seems to
have entered their lives. To this day Guezou stands as unwelcomed person for some in
the hill. But their children are under the caring fold of the Salesian community thanks
to Guezou. The children offer the hope of brighter tomorrow which they never have
experienced. The mission has come of age, thanks to Fr Francis.

As a farmer Guezou has ploughed hard, planted and watered and God gives the
growth. It is the same story of D-Day that led to French liberation. The pioneer has to
suffer, even if it costs life.

A look around the current scenario will tell the tale of the Yellagiri hill. The land
sharks are around looking for their prey. Lodges and hotels have cropped up catering
to the vile of affordable Indian rich. Consumerism has placed its mark around here by
intimidating the lifestyle of tribal people. Greedy Indian sahibs roam about in Fridays
and weekends here in the name of tourism.

On the extreme positions of the hills, our ecumenical Christians have put up structures
of education and their own brand of missionary activities. The biggest village Nilavur
(city of moon) the center of Y hill, now sends children grudgingly to school run by St
Charles’ Sisters.

People don’t know anything about around them. The long died volcano that is the
Yellagiri, has steep and arid façade for people to grudge about while laboring on their
uphill climb. Mind. There wasn’t a road in 1960’s.

People here simply don’t know anything. And so, not so much of talk about them
would help them in any way. Charlemagne promoted education to the once barbaric
Europe. French are the pioneers in democracy. Paris is known for her fashion and
taste. French knew the great wars that ate into their confidence of dignified living.
The strong love for the fatherland sustained the resistance movement that kept
harassing the Nazi occupiers. Existentialism got into the French culture. Sense of
philosophical brooding went into them through cultural unconsciousness. Such a
change that has been in twentieth century.

The birth throes of Vatican II, Birth of liberation theology in Latin America, Hippie
culture in the west (Flower children), cold war era, Inculturation movement in Tamil
Nadu, NBCLC and India, Tamil language upraising in 60’s. rampant casteism,
draughts and famine in 70’s, widening the frontiers of science and space…

Did Guezou become like De Nobli, Beschi, Bede Griffith, Livenes of Jharkhand
Adivasis? No, he simply remained Guezou.

What God has for him in this obscure hill? Is he academician? A Think-tank? Self-
fulfilled Catholic seer? Or what? Will he sit and spend time on reflection and write
bombastic spiritual statements unmindful of the people in his opposite hut struggling
with poverty? No. Guezou is not made for that.

Friend is the extension of one’s self. Duhayon seems a correct expression for Guezou.
He is definitely a missionary, But with what mission? It is very apparent in the
changes that he made in the lives of people he entered into communion. Address less
people (Still many are) he gave them a face in their society.

The shock of cultural transplantation demanded his psychological strains. He became

precise in communication and communion with others. He is no longer the French
man but a (Salesian) missionary. The salesianness that bloomed in Kerala didn’t
happen in Yellagiri hills. It came very late and but profoundly in late 90’s. Till then he
was battling his vagueness in missionary charism.

He is a farm-hand and a strong one. That is written well on his forehead - those strips
of lines. He never gave up when things were not in his way. Stood firm by just
courage? Don’t know. What would power him other than faith? Anonymity is the
trademark of the poor and he took it on himself.

He is slightly free from the harsh climatic conditions of tropical India. Apart from it
he has nothing to hold on too. Life is just as it had been before. People still live in
huts, work on the field when elusive rains relents, if not struggle some other way. But
free from bonded labor. Did people see in him God’s hand? Those came in contact
with him surely would have seen it in his life of sacrifice. Those came to him for
money, surely would never have seen him other than a “funding-being”. It depends on
the perspective of the people.

He sacrificed his future for the unknown people of India. God might be opening a new
way of being missionary in this well-connected world. Charity is not only giving.
Traditional Tamil mentality is this
To beg is mean, whereas
To refuse a beggar is much more a mean
To give is noble, whereas
To decline is noblest.
One must not educate people in beggarliness. Interdependency has been the hallmark
of Pauline Church. It is the communitarian nature of the Church. Through Guezou the
French church lived here on Yellagiri.

Loneliness and sense of failure which breeds desperate frustration is the common
cross for a missionary to carry. There were silver linings that God charted for him too.
He must have held on to it. All of a sudden his year long sacrifice has taken a fresh
start and blown out in tremendous way. Thanks to Duhayon, a De Paul enthusiast.
Guezou has become the mirror of Duhayon and good willed people of France.

He went about digging wells, constructing buildings for schools, boardings,

dispensaries. He never appears before the camera alone, NEVER ALONE. He seems
to be at his self when the young people are around. That is where the Salesian in him
happens. As Salesian he is for the young.

The common response of the people is those of gratitude expressed in facilitation. He

was more like David Livingston, until Duhayon offered him a helping hand.