Religious plurality and tolerance has been the spirit of India.  Yet instances of Christian martyrdom began with St. Thomas, the Apostle. After this instance we have some cases of priests, nuns and laypersons being murdered on the process of setting up schools, social work centres or health services. Until the Orissa massacre we heard stray incidents where one is killed for preaching the word of God or chose to die to proclaim the faith in Christ. Probably after two thousand years the Church is retuning to its beginnings where hundreds died to proclaim the message of Christ.
            The early Church made distinction between martyrs and confessors. The title martyr was only attributed to those who had suffered the extreme penalty to the point of death. The death too which exclusively proclaims and saves the faith in Christ. This also echoed the words of Our Lord, ‘ there is no greater love than offering ones life for the master.’ Whereas the title of ‘confessor was given to Christians who had shown their willingness to die for their belief, by bravely enduring imprisonment or torture, but were not put to death.’ We have both cases in Orissa.
            As per the reports available the martyrdom began on 25th August 2008 with the burning of a  handicapped Christian named Rasananda Pradan. Whole family fled to forest while he could not run due disability of legs.  On this day we have around 25 persons offered their life for faith. Tiania village four christians namely Mr. Vikram Nayak, Dasharathi Pradhan, Surendra Nayak etc. were killed while trying to protect the Church from demolition.  A pastor named Masuel Nayak in  Bakingia village stood before a mob with swards and other arms telling them that he will not allow the Church to be destroyed till he is alive. He was cut into pieces. Sidheswar Digal , a Hindu, was killed for sheltering the Christians. A seven month pregnant lady  Mrs. Kamalini Naik refused to abandon her faith along with her husband. In front of the whole village and family the fanatic mob cut her into pieces. Adding to the exceptional cases of martyrdom we have Fr. Bernard Digal on 28th of October 2008. As per the known source of information so far we have around sixty persons who sacrificed for Christ. Let us also remember the number of laypersons, priests and nuns who died   for their faith since St. Thomas the Apostle.
            We have another large number of confessors  who stood with all kinds of sufferings, the thousands who live in camps refusing to abandon  their faith and return to their villages, those seriously injured , those raped , paraded naked , letting their houses and everything to be burnt and looted. There are thousands who wandered in the thickest and darkest forests taking the name of Lord Jesus. Many days and nights they had no food, no water, no shelter but Lord Jesus. There are also a good number of Hindus who saved the life of many Christians by sheltering them in their houses. The great sacrifices made by these exemplary persons are never less than the martyrs. They endured suffering to proclaim that Christ is alive.
            These numerous martyrs and confessors have added their share to the suffering of Our Lord Jesus and the countless Christians who shed their blood to safe guard the faith. So it may be befitting to declare 25th August as the day of Indian Christian Martyrs Day. It is this day maximum Christians were martyred.  The Indian Church can adopt this day as the day to remember the martyrs and confessors who stood for their faith. We have great martyrs like Fr. Antony of Jharkand (1964) , Fr. Herman of Bihar , Fr. T A Thomas of Bihar , Sr. Rani Mariya of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Gram Stains of Orissa , Fr. Aruldoss of Orissa , Pastor Botlaratnam of Andra Pradesh , Satira Toppo ,a lay person,  of Chattisgarh etc. along a number of persons who died for Christ can also be remembered in India as Indian martyrs. So it is need of the Church in India to call this day as the “Indian Christian Martyrs’ Day” to honour their great sacrifice.

 
Fr. Anand Muttungal

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