Forgive us, dear Stan, and intercede for us from your eternal abode!

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ 

Dear Stan,

I write this to you with a heavy heart—shocked, saddened, and angry. This letter is perhaps an attempt to ease my own angst; I truly don't know what to say or how to say it. But I'm sure that what I write also reflects the sentiments and emotions of countless others: your Jesuit companions, colleagues, collaborators, alumni, well-wishers, and friends who knew you so well, and especially the Adivasis and other subalterns whom you loved and for whom you gave your life. This letter comes from the bottom of my heart, and all our hearts, to say, "Sorry, Stan!"

On August 9, St. Xavier’s College (SXC) Mumbai was scheduled to hold "The Annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture" through their Department of Inter-Religious Studies. The topic was "Migration for Livelihood: Hope Amidst Untold Miseries," to be delivered virtually by Jesuit Fr. Prem Xalxo, an Associate Professor of Moral Theology at the Gregorian University, Rome. The speaker was a renowned figure and the topic was both timely and relevant.

However, on August 4, representatives of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) met with SXC authorities and, in a written letter, "strongly condemned" the lecture and demanded its cancellation. Very sadly, the Jesuit management and other officials caved in to this pressure and cancelled the event. For this, "Sorry, Stan!"

In their letter, which they posted on their Facebook page, the ABVP stated that "organizing a lecture in memory of a person who was a key accused in serious crimes, like UAPA, including contact with the banned CPI (Maoist), financing and recruiting armed Naxalite groups, and seizure of documents containing a conspiracy to overthrow the constitutional government through armed uprising, is glorifying the Naxalites... it is extremely sad that prestigious colleges like St. Xavier’s are trying to encourage Naxalist ideas by glorifying a person accused of committing anti-national conspiracies. We demand that the principal cancel this lecture immediately."

All of this is patently false. It has been proven that even the so-called "incriminating documents" were planted on your computer. Furthermore, the law stipulates that for an "alleged" crime, a person is innocent until proven guilty. Your innocence is without a doubt. Judge after judge has recused themselves from your case for the simple reason that they would have to declare you innocent! For the falsehood and slander you are still subjected to, "Sorry, Stan!"

Stan, you know that SXC is my alma mater. I spent cherished years there as a Xavierite from 1968 to 1972 (1969 was our Centenary year). Back then, we had Jesuit stalwarts, excellent staff, and a great student body! It was a joy to be a Xavierite. It was during that time that I first met you in a Social Analysis Programme, and ever since, you have been a hero, mentor, and guide to me. In 1974, after entering the Society, I and my companions readily accepted the faith-justice mandate under the leadership of Fr. Pedro Arrupe. Over the years, I learned that your heroes were Dom Helder Camara, Paolo Friere, Ivan Illich, and Arrupe. Your knowledge of their writings and works influenced many. As a good friend of yours, as an SXC alumnus, and as a Jesuit, I feel duty-bound to say, "Sorry, Stan!"

Since the news of the memorial lecture's cancellation broke, I have been literally besieged with calls and comments. In the many social media groups I belong to, there are countless comments against the Jesuits and particularly against SXC, some of them even offensive. People from all walks of life, including several alumni and Jesuits, are feeling angry and let down. They say that SXC has failed to see the bigger picture: cancelling the lecture means giving in to anti-national and anti-Constitutional fascist forces. Acquiescing to these forces means they are emboldened and will continue to call the shots. It means negating the academic freedom that is the essence of every institution of higher learning, and it means that the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and expression is not important.

In the past, when faced with such threats, we are aware that SXC would call in the police and proceed with their programs. Today's (August 10) Mid-day reports, "We are surprised that the college has shown cowardice and yielded to pressure tactics. We teach our students about the values of justice, democracy, and peace, but when it comes to taking a stand, we bow down to the pressure, even when Stan has not been proven guilty. This has been the general pulse of the St Xavier’s alumni and the community," said a source from the St. Xavier’s College Society. "Sorry, Stan!"

On July 1, our Superior General, Fr. Arturo Sosa, delivered a path-breaking inaugural address to the Assembly of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) in Colombia. Among many other things, he said, "At the 2018 IAJU Assembly in Bilbao, I also recalled how Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J., one of the martyrs of the UCA-El Salvador, strongly insisted on understanding the university as a project of social transformation. Trying to explain the meaning of those words, I said: 'It is a university that moves toward the margins of human history where it encounters those who are discarded by the dominant structures and powers. It is a university that opens its doors and windows to the margins of society. With them comes a new breath of life that makes efforts for social transformation a source of life and fulfillment.'" That the Jesuits of SXC have not understood this fundamental aspect of Jesuit education, we say, "Sorry, Stan!"

Today, on Facebook, I came across a powerful picture and quote posted by 'Earth. We Are One.' The picture shows birds in a cage criticizing the bird who dares to fly. The quote said, "The image of caged birds criticizing a rebel who has chosen to fly free is a powerful metaphor for the way society often views those who dare to challenge the status quo. The caged birds represent the fear and conformity of those who prefer to remain inside their safe boundaries, while the free bird embodies the courage to break away from societal norms. What is it that makes us fear the rebel—the one who chooses to question the rules? Perhaps it’s because they see a different path, one that holds the potential for growth and freedom. This cartoon asks us: Is it better to stay in the cage, or should we follow our own path toward true liberation?"

This reminded me of you, Stan, someone who had the courage to fly. Even when you were caged in prison, you dared to tell us that even caged birds sing. Of course, you meant the song of truth and justice. For not having the courage to fly, or even to sing while being caged, we say with humility, "Sorry, Stan!"

I can see you, Stan, smiling at us from up above, telling us in your own inimitable, no-nonsense way how we have lost the plot! You tell us that instead of accompanying the Adivasis and the Dalits—the excluded, exploited, minorities, marginalized, poor, and vulnerable—we focus on constructing buildings and on institutionalization. You question us about "forming men and women for others" when some of those who take away the jal-jungle-jameen (water-forest-land) and other natural resources, identity, and dignity from the Adivasis are those "educated" by us. You remind us of the film The Mission and of the Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvador. You challenge us to live our faith-justice mandate and to realize the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) in all our initiatives. Above all, you tell us that mere "tokenism" and "cosmetic activities" will in no way help us truly walk the talk! Yes, Stan, we have betrayed you, your vision, and your mission. Perhaps this act by SXC may even, hopefully, help us all to "examen" ourselves much more and honestly! Until then, "Sorry, Stan!"

Forgive us, dear Stan, and intercede for us from your eternal abode.

Your brother,

Cedric

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Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation, and peace activist/writer