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Father. Antonyraj, Founder of Dr. Ambedkar Cultural Academy
IN MEMORIAM

FR ANTONY RAJ

(1945-2021)

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Frontline Crusader for the Liberation of the Marginalized

A PROPHET AND A BEACON

The prophet of and crusader for the Dalits, Fr Antony Raj SJ (76/57) of the Jesuit Madurai Province was called by the Lord to Himself on 10th May 2021. Fr Antony Raj, fondly called as Tony, had been constantly searching for meaning – the meaning for the existence of the Dalits. As the Nietzshe’s philosophy, ‘He who has a why  to live can bear with almost any how’ that runs through the book Man’s Search for Meaning (by Viktor E. Frankl), has been the propelling dynamics in Tony’s life. His childhood struggle to survive, and identifying with the marginalized, fueled his fights for justice as the leader of people’s movement - a moment to annihilate humiliation, and find dignity and uniqueness for the oppressed. His walk to freedom would serve as a pointer and beacon to reach the goal.

 

EARLY LIFE

Fr Antony Raj SJ was born in Meenthulli in Thirunvelveli Dt. on 13 March 1945. His family was very poor but his father had tremendous faith in God. As a child Tony realized that faith alone cannot bring salvation, but one should fight for one’s rights. Tony experienced what it is to be hungry and he realized, even as a child, education would be the talisman and solution. He was brought up and educated by his elder brother who was a teacher.

 

After his primary schooling in his native place, he had the secondary education in Manapad and Palayamkottai. During his PUC at St Xavier’s College he was the Champion in track events. He joined the Society of Jesus on 11 June 1963. He could feel in the early stages of formation that he was different from others (as he was treated so) and that unleashed the lion within himself. He was determined to excel in his studies and he did so to the surprise of all. During his regency (1971-1972), he was known not only for his strictness but also for his kindness. As much as he was tough in the study, he was so friendly in the hockey field when he played with the students. His education in philosophy, theology along with his college studies went well. After his usual formation in the Jesuit Order he was ordained a priest on 20 April 1975.

 

After his  BA in Economics (1967-1970) in St Joseph’s College (Trichy), he was sent to do MA in Sociology (1976-1978) in St Xavier’s College (Trivandrum). After some field work experience, he went to Loyola University (Chicago) for his doctoral research. His taking stand with the oppressed and his critical voicing forth of his commitment for the marginalized, especially the Dalits, kept his final vows not in the near future. Though he did his tertianship in 1978 (in Beschi Illam), he was invited to pronounce his final vows, when he was fully incorporated into the Society of Jesus, on 09 February 1990 (15 years after his ordination to priesthood!).

 

The consolidated report, called ‘the summary of four-sheet’ provided at the time of the final vows, gives us a glimpse into Tony as a person. It says, that Tony was a “man of deep faith, committed to God, respectful of authorities, a good Jesuit…He stands by his friends…He is willing to take certain risks even to the point of losing his reputation for the sake of his friends and his commitment to the oppressed…His words and actions are likely to generate controversy – which in the long run will have healthy influence in the province” (Cf. Enclosure to letter of Provincial 23 December 1989 inviting Tony to pronounce his final vows).

 

PREPARATION FOR THE ARENA

Tony observed as a student and later experienced the caste discrimination in the society, in the church, and in the religious life first hand. The more he reflected on the predicament of the Dalits, the louder the voice of Moses echoed in him: Let my people go (Ex 5:1) in freedom. Tony wanted to serve the people but he wanted to know them well. In the light of his own experience of discrimination and suppression, he wanted to know the people’s predicament. His exposure to Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed in the Philippines (1975-1976); Master’s in Sociology (with the dissertation entitled: Power Structure and Development) in Kerala University (Trivandrum 1978);and his Doctorate (with the doctoral thesis: The social Bases of Obedience of the Untouchables in Tamilnadu) in Loyola University (Chicago 1987) opened the window to reality. Already during his studies in Trivandrum he writes to the Provincial (15 July 1976): “I envisage a political, economical liberation for the harijans. If we could make the church involved here, it will be a great things.” He adds: “I am rethinking my sermons in the light of Biblical Humanism. Books like ‘Marx and the Bible’, Theology of Liberation are of immense help.”

 

Tony went to Loyola University (Chicago) in 1979 for his doctoral research. As the Jesuit Community in Loyola University was overflowing with 102 Jesuits,  he worked in St Margaret Mary Parish for some time and then he stayed with the Maryknoll fathers helping out in hospital besides working on his PhD course works and research. He got back to the Jesuit Community while he was writing his dissertation. As his first guide, Fr Tom Gannon SJ, suddenly left for Washington DC, he had to adopt to a new tough doctoral guide assigned to him. Whatever be the difficulty he accepted them in order to equip himself for the future assignment / duty of empowering the Dalits. Tony was well remembered for his erudite scholarship by the Jesuits, especially by the President of Loyola University, Fr Baumhart SJ, even after 20 years when Fr Selvaraj Arulnathan SJ visited the university in 2007.

 

FIELD WORK AND COMMITMENT

When Tony returned to India after his PhD research and visited the area of his data collection for doctoral thesis in Malligapuram, one of the villagers asked him,“Illustrating our inhuman, pathetic and untouchable situation, you have obtained an honorable doctorate degree. What is the use of your PhD for us”? This gave him definite direction for his future. Two more surveys he conducted for Missio in Aachen (Germany), namely 1. ‘Discrimination against Dalit Christians in Tamilnadu’ (1992) and ‘Atrocities against Dalits in Tamilnadu’ (1996), reinforced in him that his lot is with the Dalits. One of the major findings of his was that 70% of the Tamilnadu Church comprised of Dalit Catholics. This was accepted and adopted by the Tamilnadu-Pondicherry Bishops Conference.

 

He writes to Provincial (01 August 1975) about his field experience with Fr Stephen Rodrigo SJ in Ramnad area: “It is really depressing to see this harijan communities being persecuted by all the forces. They are economically, politically, socially, and even religiously alienated… Untouchability has become the accepted custom… Priests and nuns are no exception to it. They do not have any respect for the harijans. They consider them as a group of uncouth people who ought to be treated in that way.” He also saw the problem from the side of the oppressed: “The inborn inferiority is  a real hindrance to their progress.”

 

And he threw himself heart and soul in the long walk to freedom with the people. His pastoral ministry in Rayappanpatti and Malligapuram (1979-1983), his services at AICUF (National House, Chennai), and his stay at Satyanilayam (Chennai) gave him concrete perspectives and opened up vistas for his future walking with the oppressed. His research on atrocities against Dalits in Tamil Nadu indicated that as long as Dalits accepted their lowly status, they were allowed to live in peace, but if they questioned the unjust practices, they became victims of vandalism. His personal experience in his childhood and his interaction with the marginalized people during his field studies and later the outcome from research projects, made him devote his entire life for the enlightenment, upliftment, and empowering of the Dalits through education.

 

Tony was drawn into the vortex of the struggle and he had to learn the fine art of combining research with action. He also soon found himself organizing the Catholic dalits, who formed the majority of the church in Tamilnadu, against the apartheid system practiced against them in the Church.

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR ANNIHILATION OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION

His deep conviction to work for the liberation of the Dalits made him a social activist and a leader of Dalit movements. He was the Founder-President of ‘Dalit Christian Liberation Movement’ (DCLM – 1989) and ‘Schedule Caste Integration Federation’ (SCIF- 1992). He has been the President of Janodayam (since 1988), an organization for the upliftment of the Adi-Andhras, mostly the sanitary workers, especially in Chennai through socio, economic, and educational empowerment.  He offered his service as Chairman for Central Board for workers’ Education, Ministry of labour, Central government (1996). He also served as the Adviser to the Adi Dravida Welfare Department, government of Tamil Nadu (1997).

 

He was very much involved in developmental works. He worked with Fr Ceyrac in the Thousand Wells Project in Ramnad Dt to help people get water for irrigation and drinking. He stood with the oppressed. When the huts around Loyola were demolished, he along with Fr Manu took his side with the affected people.When the Villupuram tragedy took place in 1978,in which 12 Dalits were murdered and many of their houses were burnt down, he was there to help people put up houses. In similar violent caste riots in Bodi (1989), Varusanad, Kodiankualm (1996)etc his firm standing with the victims of injustice was enormous. When violent caste conflicts erupted in the Southern Districts of Tamilnadu (in July 1995), with the help of Fr Maria Joe Mahalingam SJ, data were collected and analyzed and the findings were published as a book entitled "Kodiyankulam:  MunnumPinnum" in March 1996. The last part of the recently released film Karnan depicts what has been described in this book. In February 2001 an international conference on ‘Profiles of Poverty and Networks of Power’ was organized at DACA with the help of Fr Anand Amaladoss SJ.

 

CAUSE OF THE DALITS

Born in a society of extreme and unspeakable social and economic inequality, Tony developed an acute sensitivity to injustice, a passion for freedom and consequently an attitude of fearless rebellion and revolt against anything that even distantly smacked of unfreedom and injustice ever since his childhood.In his address to the Jesuits at the concluding ceremony of the 150th anniversary of the formation of the New Madurai Mission in Kazhukerkadai in 1987, Tony said emphatically, “Tamil Nadu Church is a Dalit Church. We will be at its centre because we constitute 70% of the Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu. Those who are dominating it hitherto should leave the place to us.” 1989 saw the emergence of Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM), which Tony founded along with Frs Yesumarian SJ and Anandanathan SJ (RIP), and Fr Gnanapragasam (Palayamkottai Diocese). In 1992during the Province Congregation, the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement got the assurance from the Provincial that 50% of seats in admissions and appointments will be reserved for Dalit Catholics in Jesuit Educational Institutions. DCLM worked on the 10-point program that was adopted by the Tamilnadu Bishops Conference.

 

When DCLM started educating the people, organizing them, and gave strength to them to fight for their dignity and equality, opposition grew as well. Mammoth meetings in Kumbakonam, Palayamkottai etc irked the Church hierarchy and criticism grew from all ranks and files. In his response to the Provincial (20th September 1996) regarding the complaint from the Bishops about his speech in Kumbakonam, Tony writes “the church should create space for responsible dissent… I will not tolerate the practice of untouchability in the Catholic Church of Tamilnadu. There is absolutely no compromise on this issue.” His anger was not “directed against any individual but towards the church as an establishment… the church authorities’ attitude reminds me of a puny mahout taming a huge elephant and make the huge beast beg… I am answerable to my God, my conscience and to the people… more and more I am getting convinced that the Dalit Christians are not going to get justice from non-dalit-dominated catholic church… I do not want to go in history as a coward who has betrayed the cause of the Dalits.” He was convinced of the DCLM interventions, for he wrote to the Provincial (16th September 1991), “At one stage it was necessary for DCLM to challenge the Church authorities because they were using sacraments more as a social control mechanism rather than as a sign of liberation.”

 

More and more criticism grew through complaints that came in to the Provincial and to Fr General, often from the Bishops. Pressure on Tony grew to step down as the President of the DCLM. Fr Provincial writes to Tony (30th March 1992), “In the context of Father General’s directive I would like you, therefore, to tender your resignation as President of DCLM in April 1992 and make room for a smooth transition to lay leadership.” And Tony responds, within 72 hours but with a heavy heart (02nd April 1992), “Thank you very much for the letter dated 30th March 1992 informing me Fr General’s decision on my stepping down as President of Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM)…It is with deep pain I accept Father General’s decision on this. Within me I strongly feel that I am betraying the hopes of the dalit Christians.” And a letter of Fr Provincial (28th May 1992) to the local superiors announced that “Fr Antony Raj has resigned as DCLM President on 18 May 1992”. The wings of a warrior-bird were clipped but Tony continued with his struggle and he stood as a beacon for all who were fighting for liberation, dignity, and equality. The fire of his fight for liberation never dimmed.

 

From the frequent correspondence with the Provincials, one could glean how the Provincials were able to understand the stand taken by Tony and how they expressed their support. But representation or misrepresentation to the higher ups made them give Tony directions which Tony swallowed as bitter pills, not for the betterment of the people he served but for his vow of obedience.

 

ATTEMPTS TO RALLY TOGETHER

Tony stood like a solid rock for the fragile people and especially he was very close to the people at the margin. At the same time, he developed personal and working contacts with political leaders, administrative officers, judiciary dignitaries, medical personnel, social activists and movement leaders. Political leaders such as Mr Chidambaram, Mr Arunachalam, Mr G.K. Moopanar used to consult him on their political move. Movement leaders such as Mr.Oorkavalan, Mr.Chandrabose, Mr.Athiyaman, Mr John Pandian, Mr.Thirumavalavan and many others took him as their model and inspiration in rendering their service to the oppressed people in the society. In the judiciary, he had very close friends such as Justice Ashok Kumar and Justice Chandru.  A myriads of doctors as well as police personnel were very friendly with him and they were helpful to Tony in his service to the people. Tony founded Dalit Lawyers’ Forum (1993) and Dalit Doctors’ Forum (1994) in order to bring the intellectuals together as a source inspiration for the Dalit youngsters. He had many friends in India and abroad, such as Fr Joe Übelmesser SJ (Germany) who supported and encouraged him, often financially.

 

Tony took tremendous efforts in 2000s to unify various Dalit movements to evolve as one formidable power. He sought to bring together Dalit leaders to effect concerted collaboration to fight for the rights of the Dalits. His letter to the Provincial (05th November 1992) underlines the need: “The dalit leaders in Tamilnadu who have been long divided on the basis of sub-caste and creed, have mooted the idea of uniting all the dalit organizations into one umbrella organization. The objective of the integration move is to give a sense of human dignity to the Dalits and work for their economic development”. Tony was always focused towards liberation together with the Dalits.

 

Whenever there was problem or threat to the Dalit and the oppressed communities he was there with them. He was a mesmerizing orator who could articulate vividly and convincingly. He walked with people for their rights; and stood for the freedom of the oppressed. He welcomed anyone who came to him with open arms and heart and his hospitality touched all who came into contact with him. Whenever the dalit priests and nuns were in a tough spot they approached him for personal guidance; and he always welcomed them to stay with him and get enlightened and strengthened.

 

EDUCATION - THE KEY TO EMPOWERMENT

He registered Madurai Jesuit Downtrodden People Welfare Trust (MJDPWT - 1994) ‘to promote the socio-economic, educational, religious and cultural values of the downtrodden people in Tamil Nadu'. His experience and realization that the key to empowerment of the marginalized is education, propelled him to found Dr Ambedkar Cultural Academy (DACA) in Madurai and named the area as Mandela Nagar. He bought the lands for DACA in 1996 and started building construction. DACA was formally inaugurated in 2000 with the motto: Knowledge is Power. The main building in DACA, named after Fr Joe Übelmesser SJ as Übelmesser Bhavan, is not only an academy building but a monument to Dr Ambedkar. In order to educate the rural girls, who are orphan or semi-orphan, he founded a girls hostel, Vidivelli (1999) and Mother Teresa Home (2000). In DACA over 200 Dalit girls receive secondary and tertiary education. In order to keep the children in touch with their cultural roots, he formed a cultural troupe which excelled in breath-taking cultural programs. Further, he started over 100 evening study centers in 7 districts of Tamilnadu (which grew at one point of time to 250 centers in 11 districts). These centers serve as remedial school to the rural children. And to empower the rural women, he started Self-Help Groups (in 2003) and they are now 500 in number helping the rural women become entrepreneurs. He also founded a Teacher Training Institute (2005). When he realized that the rural people needed medical help, he founded a hospital, and, in honour of his close friend and companion on the road to freedom Fr Pierre Ceyrac SJ, named itCeyrac Medical Foundation (CMF- 2000) which has been recently renamed as Siddhar Traditional Medical Center (2017) for providing indigenous health care to the rural poor. Rural health care camps too cater to the needs of the poor and the marginalized.

 

He also started many other projects such as French Bakery, Carpentry, Tailoring, JeniTextiles, Computer Training, etcto offer skill-training to the youth. In 2010 he initiated Makkal Sakthi Sangamam to kindle the political awareness of the downtrodden. Toni started a Night Shelter project in Sellur (with the help of the Madurai Corporation in 2011). He dreamt of starting a CBSE school and a nursing school and a coaching center for civil service exams. He hoped for a women university in DACA as well.

 

SOURCE OF ENERGY AND STRENGTH

His natural thirst for freedom was quenched by his constant reading books of great inspiration like Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, Karl Marx, Frederic Nietzsche, Oscar Romero etc. (The Jesuit Residence at DACA is named after Romero).Even when he suffered a mild stroke a few months before his death, he kept on reading books. He found a parallel of Dalit liberation in India with the Black liberation in the USA. And of course, his breath, speech, and writing were filled with thoughts and words of Dr Ambedkar. Tony walked with people for their rights; and he stood for the freedom of the oppressed. He was able to move the Dalits from an attitude of victimhood to an audacity of hope and an attitude of creative militancy to assert their rights for freedom, equality, and dignity.

 

DREAMS AND MIRAGES

Already when he completed his PhD he was having his future plan ready. When he defended his doctoral dissertation on 18May1987, he wrote to the Provincial (27May1987) with the request to have Loyola (Chennai) as a base for his ministry. He writes, “For the type of work I envisage for the Untouchables I would like to have my base in Loyola Madras. As the problem is political the solution has to be political. An institutional label plus my contacts with the politicians, bureaucrats, and scholars at MIDS will enhance my work a great deal”. Total liberation is possible, he believed,‘if we quicken the process and bolster the Dalit movements’. It is his dream to start a university exclusively for Dalit girls and expose them to higher education in arts and science, engineering, nursing, law, agriculture, business administration and IT. Only if they get an opportunity, he was convinced, will they reach the Promised Land where there is no bondage nor servitude nor discrimination. They will be the fearless children of modern society, who will be able to assert themselves as well as leaders of transformation.

 

WHAT IS HEARD AND SAID

His interview to The Hindu (27th July 2011) portrays him well. The interview reads: “I am a self-made man and second to none,” declared Rev Dr P. Antony Raj recently during a seminar in the city. “You may call it cultivated arrogance but I have learnt the hard way.” In the same vein, he asserted the need to go ahead with hope. He said, “to give up hope is suicidal.”

 

In the words of Fr Ceyrac, “Antony Raj is a fighter. We need men such as him, otherwise nothing ever moves” (Pierre Ceyrac, Frontier Pilgrim, 1998). Fr Peter Balleis SJ, President of Jesuit Worldwide Learning (Geneva) declared(10 May 2021): “He was a prophet and impressed us already when I was a young Jesuit.” And his friend for nearly half a century, Fr Joe Übelmesser, the former Mission Procurator in Nurnberg (Germany) who helped much to build up DACA wrote(11May2021): “Though I myself have done my theological studies in India, it was, until I met Tony, only theoretically aware of the plight of the Dalits. Only through Tony and his words have I realized the real situation of so many dalit people in India. And this gave me the impetus, to help, as much as I could through the means of Jesuit mission.”  Fr AXJ Bosco, his companion and friend in the Jesuit Order, himself  a social activist and the Champion of Dalit liberation noted (12 May 2021): “Fr Antoni Raj was a firebrand and a rebel for the sake of Jesus and the Dalit Christian people whom he loved; he fearlessly struggled and fought for justice; he is a prophet of our times who challenged the caste ridden Church Hierarchy.”

Personally,  I miss a mentor and an inspiring big brother. I met him first when I did my PUC at St Joseph’s (Trichy) in 1969  and he was then doing his BA. After my formation in the Jesuit Order, I used to meet him often and we became close friends. We exercised our rights to dream of founding a Women University, palliative care center, CBSE school, nursing school - all in DACA. When I was transferred from LICET (in 2016)and was assigned to DACA, we planned greater things for DACA. I even wrote the concept note, I was then taken to Geneva. The last time I met him was on 17th January 2021 – We had two long sessions: One was the Board of Trustees Meeting and the other was a personal meeting. Among the Tamilnadu Jesuits, two have done yeomen service for the liberation of the Dalits: In the South Fr Antony Raj and in the north Fr Yesumarian and both synchronized well in ideology and in building people’s movements.

 

REST IN PEACE

Tony was a symbol of courage. He was a leader who stood with the marginalized, come what may. He never gave up his right to dream and it is up to us to realize his dream for ourselves and for others. Tony was restless fighting for the liberation of the Dalits and the marginalized. May his liberated soul now rest in peace. The most sacred of places in DACA is in front of the Übelmesser Bhavan, where Tony is asleep with his dreams of Dalit liberation. This dream will take roots through education, branch out as movements, flower forth as fight for equality and dignity, and bear the desired fruit of empowered leaders for the transformation of the society.

 

As a person Tony has been searching for meaning in his life and found it. As a leader he sought dignity and equality for the oppressed and he partially achieved it. Tony was a Mahatma who has been struggling all along, personally and collectively, for human rights and with meaningful faith. He has now gone to receive his reward for his empowering race and fights. He was often humiliated but he never lost heart and he has been now glorified. Tony, the prophet, the visionary, and the go-getter, will live on in our memories and hearts. His long walk for freedom has ended for himself but we need to continue the same for our fellow human beings till we live in a community of equals living in peace and harmony.

 

Tony’s life reflects the life of Jesus. He never compromised; always did the will of the Father (justice for the lowly and equality for all); much misunderstood; had ardent followers who were ready to give their life for him; paid the price of his vision and values. At the end, he resurrected and became the all-powerful Lord, whose followers never dimmed, but increased in number, strength and vitality. 

 

Simeon, at the Temple of Jerusalem, sang, ‘nunc dimittis’ (Lord, let me now go in peace - Lk 2:29), but Tony has gone singing ‘maranatha’ (Come, Lord, set the people free –I Cor 16:22) and the Lord says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon’ (Rev 22:20).

 

Dr Samuel Abraham, a close friend of Tony in Japan, has proposed to establish an inter-disciplinary research division of Nichi-in Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM at LICET) and GN Corporation (Chennai/Japan) as Antony-Xavier Inter-disciplinary Scholastics (AXIS) to honour Frs Antony Raj and Francis P Xavier.

- Francis P Xavier SJ

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/making-a- difference-born-to-fight/article2298869.ece

https://countercurrents.org/2021/05/salute-to-an-anti-untouchability-crusader-within-the-catholic-church/

https://dalitchristiansdigest.com/tamil-nadu-dalit-movements-pioneers-death-mourned/

https://mattersindia.com/2021/05/father-antonyraj-dalit-liberator-who-kindled-hope-in-others/

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