Today, four years after he physically left this earth, what does Stan Swamy mean to the legion of his admirers, his followers, those who were inspired by him and particularly, those for whom he gave his life for…He meant and continues to mean different things, to different sections of society. Stan epitomised human values at their best and radiated them in his non-negotiable commitment for a more just, equitable, fraternal and humane world!

One needs to take a cue from Stan Swamy’s words just before his arrest on October 8, 2020. In a video-message which went viral he said, “over the last two decades, I have identified myself with the Adivasi people and their struggle for a life of dignity and self-respect… In this process, I have clearly expressed my dissent over several policies and laws enacted by the government in the light of the Indian Constitution. I have questioned the validity, legality and justness of several steps taken by the government and the ruling class. If this makes me a ‘deshdrohi’, then so be it. We are part of the process. In a way I am happy to be part of this process. I am not a silent spectator, but part of the game and ready to pay the price whatever be it…. I/we must be ready to face the consequences. I would just add that what is happening to me is not unique. Many activists, lawyers, writers, journalists, student leaders, poets, intellectuals and others who stand for the rights of Adivasis, Dalits and the marginalised and express their dissent to the ruling powers of the country, are being targeted. Grateful to all who have stood in solidarity with me all these years.”

These words give us a very powerful insight into Stan Swamy – the Person, the Pilgrim, the Prophet

Stan, the Person:

One would need to write volumes on Stan the person. He was a human par excellence! All through his life he radiated compassion and concern for the other! He was selfless to the core! His focus was always ‘his people’; an approach which was people-centric: a much-needed value in today’s world! He lived among the people – the poor, the Adivasis. He ate their food, sang their songs and danced with them. His life was extremely simple, to the point of frugality! He lived his vow of poverty to the fullest and in a most edifying manner; his material needs were few; his actual possessions were even less. The media had a field day, when the ‘authorities’ came to ‘seize’ his possessions from his room in Bagaicha where he lived till his arrest! They got almost nothing- which of course, made them a pathetic laughing stock! In his early days, Stan was a trainer, mentor, guide – inspiring hundreds of youth and others through social awareness programmes and to critically analyse what was happening in society; there are many today, from across the board, who are and will always be grateful for the profound impact he left on their lives. Several of them today have a social concern only because they were inspired by him. For Stan, his heroes and motivators were the likes of Paolo Freire, Dom Helder Camara and Fr Pedro Arrupe. He read profusely and also wrote a lot.  Vatican II and the faith -justice mandate which emerged from the 32^nd General Congregation of the Jesuits, greatly shaped Stan’s way of proceeding: his thinking and his actions. Like Jesus his Master, he questioned and taught others to question, to be visible and vocal, to challenge all that is wrong and unjust in society and to respond constructively and positively to these issues. When he was imprisoned in Taloja jail, he wrote, “on the other hand, we sixteen co-accused (in the Bhima-Koregaon conspiracy case) have not been able to meet each other, as we are lodged in different jails or different ‘circles’ within the same jail but we will still sing in chorus, a caged bird can still sing.” Yes, Fr Stan Swamy was convinced that a caged bird could sing because he was a complete person who epitomised and radiated the best of human values! One rarely, sees such a person today!

Stan, the Pilgrim:

Pilgrims are those who walk, who walk with others, who walk the talk- they have a clear focus on their destination. They know where they are going and for what. Like St. Ignatius (the Founder of the Society of Jesus, Stan was a Jesuit)), he was a pilgrim in the true sense of the word. He believed in movements: people on the move, just like in the Biblical ‘Exodus’: the struggles of the ‘people of God’ for a more just, equitable, dignified and humane life.  He identified himself with and participated in peoples’ movements. Stan left no stone unturned to ensure the Kingdom of God on earth belonged to all (particularly the sub-alterns) and that all would be together around the table of fellowship. For him that ‘kingdom’ was ‘kinship’- the readiness (attitude and action) to serve others with love! ‘Fratelli Tutti’ (Brothers and Sisters All) as Pope Francis reminds us in his Encyclical. Like a true pilgrim, he lived a frugal life, unencumbered with baggage. His room in Bagaicha (now made into a Stan Memorial Museum), had the barest necessities; it bore witness to the life of a man on the move – a real pilgrim. Stan did all he could to empower the Adivasis. He accompanied them in their struggles and showed them the way to a better future! Stan’s life as a pilgrim should be a motivating factor today for all to get out of one’s comfort zones, institutionalised lifestyles and cosmetic band-aid approaches, which reek of tokenism and opportunism, and to be attune to the grim realities which the ordinary, poor people face today! In a world which is divided and fragmented Stan is a beacon: a pilgrim of hope! 

Stan, the Prophet:

A prophet whilst announcing the good news, must denounce all that is wrong, unjust and evil in society. One needs to take an unequivocal stand; to be visible and vocal. Stan, as an authentic disciple of Jesus, truly feared no one! He also shunned the hypocrites! He joined the Adivasis, the Dalits, other sub-alterns and civil society members, in the struggles against the violation of laws in acquiring land for mega projects for mining (coal mining is rampant in Jharkhand and in other tribal areas today) and infrastructural development which flout the rights of the downtrodden and tribals. He took a stand against the wanton destruction of the ‘jal, jungle, jameen’ of the Adivasis. He consistently raised his voice in democratic, legitimate ways against the state-sponsored violations of laws and the assault on the democratic rights of people, aimed at paving way for unrestricted exploitation of land and natural resources. He questioned the non-implementation of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution why the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act [PESA], was being ignored. He strongly expressed his disappointment at the silence of the Government on the landmark 1997 Samantha Judgment of the Supreme Court; he spoke out strongly against the half-hearted action of the Government on the ‘Forest Rights Act, 2006’. He expressed his apprehensions at the Amendment to ‘Land Acquisition Act 2013’ by the Jharkhand government which was a death-knell for the Adivasi Community. He strongly disagreed with the setting up of ‘Land Banks’ which he saw as a calculated plot to annihilate the Adivasis. Through the ‘Persecuted Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee’ he challenged the indiscriminate arrest of three thousand young Adivasis under the label of ‘naxals’ just because they questioned and resisted unjust land-alienation and displacement. Because of all this and more he made enemies- from among the powerful and vested interests; those who felt that he was a thorn in their flesh. He minced no words when he challenged his own, to stop over-institutionalisation, to stop catering to the privileged and elite sections of society (who have plenty of other possibilities and opportunities) and above all, to get out of the safety and security of one’s comfort zone! He was a visionary who took prophetic stands! He once said, “the Government calls me a ‘deshdrohi’ for defending the rights of the Adivasis. So be it!” Stan was a prophet of and for our times. He radiated an unparalleled prophetic courage and ultimately, like all genuine prophets, he too paid the ultimate, supreme price of being one!

There is a bust of Fr Stan Swamy in the garden of the Bagaicha, the Centre which he started in Ranchi. Etched on a marble stone just below this bust, are his incisive and immortal words, “why truth has become so bitter, dissent so intolerable, justice so out of reach… Yet truth must be spoken, right to dissent must be upheld and justice much reach the doorsteps of the poor. I am not a silent spectator!”  Stan Swamy was indeed a martyr for justice, a pilgrim of hope and a prophet for our times. As we pay tribute to and try to emulate Stan Swamy; the person, the pilgrim and prophet – the only way we can genuinely do so, is by not being silent spectators to the terrible realities, the crimes against humanity, which have engulfed our people and many of us, today!

(The author is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer; cedricprakash@gmail.com )

Related:

Fr. Stan Swamy’s legacy lives forever!

Jailed Father Stan Swamy dies ahead of his bail hearing

Fr Stan Swamy’s institutional murder

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Stan Swamy is a SYMBOL: He is a symbol of resistance! He is a symbol of hope! He is a symbol of a new dawn! He is a symbol that justice and truth, which will ultimately triumph, whatever the consequences or the price, one may temporarily have to pay! Stan Swamy is a sign-post, a non-negotiable direction for the country today, particularly for the sub-alterns, those who have nowhere to go, and those who live on the peripheries of society. Stan is a symbol of the relentless struggles of ordinary people belonging to all sections of society.  He is a symbol for the ostracised and the dehumanised, that all is not lost! That there is still hope and that change is inevitable.

Stan Swamy is a SERVANT: in the complete sense of the word! Someone who loved to serve others and he served with love!  Stan Swamy was a servant made in the image and likeness of his Master Jesus. At the Last Supper, Jesus, went down on his knees to wash the feet of his disciples. It was an unimaginable gesture at that time. The mandate of Jesus to his disciples was clear: “do this in memory of me!”; “love one another, as I have loved you!” Stan lived this mandate throughout his life in the service of others. He served others without counting the cost! He did so with humility and selflessness. He epitomised what is referred to, as ‘servant-leadership,’ today! Like Jesus, he knelt down and washed the feet of his people, he embraced them, he held their hands and walked the miles with them in their struggle for justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and dignity!

Stan Swamy is a SHEPHERD:  accompanying his people to greener pastures; being in their midst: in their ‘joy and hope, grief and anguish’. Stan Swamy lived in the villages of Adivasis, ate their food, and sang their songs, danced with them. He lived a simple, frugal life and his possessions were the meagre necessities. He was a compassionate pastor! A little after he assumed office, Pope Francis called on the world’s priests to stay close to the vulnerable, the marginalized and to be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.”  “This is what I am asking you,” he said with emphasis, looking up from his prepared text, “be shepherds with the smell of sheep.” In ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ Pope Francis issued the same call to all Christians, “Evangelisers thus take on the ‘smell of the sheep’ and the sheep are willing to hear their voice” Stan Swamy did exactly this: and his people heard his voice!

Stan Swamy is a SINGER: who always had a song to sing! Stan would surely smile hearing this!  A true singer, everyone knows, is much more than a song:  much more than the lyrics and the music. A singer is the soul, is the spirit that touches, that motivates, that inspires that leads. The singer is about attitude and conviction, about one’s body language: the song is from the heart!  A singer cannot be caged, can never be imprisoned. The song is immortal: the words will never die. From Taloja Jail, during his incarceration, Stan Swamy wrote, “my needs are limited. The Adivasis and the Society of Jesus, have taught me to lead a simple life… Listening to the life narratives of the poor prisoners is my joy in Taloja Jail… I see God in their pains and smiles… Many of such poor under trials don’t know what charges have been put on them, have not seen their charge sheet and just remain for years without any legal or other assistance. The 16 co-accused have not been able to meet each other as we are lodged in different jails or different ‘circles’ with the same jail”; he concludes, “But we will still sing in chorus. A caged bird can still sing.”

Stan Swamy is a SAINT:  there is no doubt about that! A saint is one who personifies holiness in the small simple, ordinary things of daily life. Pope Francis gave us an incisive Apostolic Exhortation in 2018, ‘Gaudete Et Exsultate’ (On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World). In it he emphasises that saints are not only those who have been beatified and canonised by the Catholic Church. Pope Francis states, “your identification with Christ and his will involves a commitment to build with him that kingdom of love, justice and universal peace. Christ himself wants to experience this with you, in all the efforts and sacrifices that it entails, but also in all the joy and enrichment it brings. You cannot grow in holiness without committing yourself, body and soul, to giving your best to this endeavour”. A description that fits Stan Swamy to the T! His companions in prison Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira will testify to this!  Stan Swamy was a living saint – the Adivasis believed in him! A few days after his death, in July 2021, hundreds gathered together at ‘Bagaicha’ near Ranchi, the Centre he had begun for the rights of the Adivasis. During the memorial ceremony, his name was etched on the stone that had the names of tribal leaders who gave their lives for the sake of their people! Yes, Stan Swamy is a martyr and a Saint! Many pray to him today!

Alpa Shah, who teaches at the London School of Economics, recently released her path-breaking book, ‘The Incarcerations: Bhima Koregaon and the Search for Democracy in India’. She writes, “In July 2018. Stan found himself accused of sedition by the Jharkhand government, alongside nineteen others. He wrote an email to his friends on 28 July 2018 in defence of his new status has a national traitor.  ‘FIRs have been made out. We are accused of supporting the self- rule movement taking place among Adivasis in Jharkhand and neighbouring states of central India. Pathalgadi (erection of stone slabs) listing the powers of gram sabha (village councils) as per PESA Act 1996 and declaring their right to self-governance. The state government is not able to digest this declaration and calls it “a war against the state” and all those who support it as desh drohi (a national traitor)! In an attachment to the email, Stan listed all the issues he had raised about the government and ruling class policy in the light of the Indian Constitution and concluded, ‘if this makes me a ‘desh drohi’, then so be it”!  

 That was and is the quintessential Stan Swamy and his indomitable spirit: Symbol, Servant, Shepherd, Singer and Saint – all rolled in one! That Spirit will never die!  We are ALL called to celebrate and emulate that Spirit today!

(Fr Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer. Contact: cedricprakash@gmail.com )

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