Father Stan Swamy’s life will hold a mirror to govt: Activist John Dayal

Following the death of 84yearold activist Fr Stan Swamy on Monday fellow activist John Dayal expressed anger calling his death a judicial killingDayal who was close to Swamy said ldquoThe celebration of the life of this frail man his limbs quivering with the impact of his Parkinsonrsquos ailment will hold up a mirror to the government its policies towards its people the tribals and the poor and how it is stealing the nationrsquos resources which are also the very life of the tribals and is gifting the resources away to crony capitalism and bartering away the future mdash for that is why Fr Stan diedrdquoDayal said that one of Swamyrsquos last messages from jail was mdash ldquoWhat is happening to me is not something unique happening to me alone It is a broader process that is taking place all over the country We are all aware how prominent intellectuals lawyers writers poets activists student leaders mdash they are all put in jail just because they have expressed their dissenthellip I am ready to pay the price whatever may it berdquoTalking about Swamyrsquos early life and his work in tribalsrsquo rights Dayal said ldquoThe Tamil Naduborn Jesuit priest shifted out of the citadel of the church and its institutions to work with the tribals of central India basing himself in Ranchi Jharkhand for the last four decades of his life As much a researcher and writer as he was a grassroots worker he focussed on many issues of the adivasi communities particularly on land forest and labour rights He questioned the nonimplementation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution which stipulates setting up of a Tribes Advisory Council with members solely of the adivasi community for their protection wellbeing and development in the staterdquoTalking about Swamyrsquos time in jail Dayal said ldquoWith his health failing due to the advanced stage of Parkinsonrsquos disease he was denied basic human dignity and facilities including a simple water sipper as he could no longer hold a cup in his trembling hands A man who could hardly move was systematically denied bail by various courts The course of the various stages of his bail application the manner in which the investigating agencies and the prosecution insisted he was too dangerous to be released are ample evidence that the state wanted to make an example out of him and the others arrested with himrdquoThe Jesuit Provincial of India said in a statement ldquoThe Society of Jesus at this moment recommits itself to take forward the legacy of Fr Stan in its mission of Justice and ReconciliationrdquoHe spent his life working for tribal rightsldquoI was the one present when Stan was arrested Born in Tamil Nadu on April 26 1937 he entered Jamshedpur Province of the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits to become a Jesuit priest and work in the tribal regions of what is now Jharkhandrdquo said David Solomon SJ former Director of Bagaicha a civil society organisation Solomon added that Swamy chose to ldquodedicate his life to poor tribals after he was ordained priest on April 14 1970rdquoSwamy studied theology and did a Masters in Sociology at the University of Manila after joining the Jesuit order Later he studied at Brussels where he struck up a friendship with Archbishop Holder Camara whose work among Brazilrsquos poor influenced himFrom 1975 till 1986 he served as Director of the Jesuitrun Indian Social Institute at BangaloreHowever Jharkhand and work among the tribals of the state kept calling to Swamy and he came back 30 years ago to work with the adivasis He took up the causes of tribals marginalised after their lands had been taken over for dams mines and townships often without their consentlsquoShocked to learn about the demise of Father Stan Swamy He dedicated his life working for tribal rights I had strongly opposed his arrest amp incarceration The Union government should be answerable for absolute apathy and non provision of timely medical services leading to his deathrsquoHemant Soren Jharkhand CMlsquoDeeply disturbed by the passing away of 84 year old tribal activist Stan Swamy A ruthless amp callous government that deprived him of dignity even while he was alive has blood on its hands Absolutely shocked amp appalled May his soul rest in peacersquoMehbooba Mufti PDP leaderlsquoHeartfelt condolences on the passing of Father Stan Swamy He deserved justice and humanenessrsquoRahul Gandhi Congress leaderlsquoDeeply saddened by the passing of FrStan Swamy Unjustifiable that a man who fought all through his life for our societyrsquos most downtrodden had to die in custody Such travesty of justice should have no place in our democracy Heartfelt condolencesrsquoPinarayi Vijayan Kerala CM