a Filipino Sister and her helpers gives a lead

By Sr. Conception ‘Ching’ Madduma, ICM

Sr. conception ‘Ching’ Madduma ICM has been working for many years in India with the mentally handicapped. She runs a school and trains trainors and teaches parents how to look after their mentally handicapped children. Her expertise is in the education and care of persons with learning difficulties. In some cultures mentally handicapped people are seen as non-persons. Sr. Ching has had a long uphill road. Here we give a little picture of one of her many faithful co-workers, Mr. Shiv Hari Singh.

Mr. Singh

Imagine a very thin (almost emaciated –looking), not quite medium-sized Indian man. He has short, straight and flat hair-prematurely white for his 50 or so years of age. He is rustic in appearance, and one is almost distracted by the red beetlenut-stained teeth strikingly evident when he smiles. However, he is characterized by his clothing...always wearing a dhoti (light, white clothing worn by most Hindu men). It is the proper dress at home or at school for this assistant principal and lecturer of the Tilmapur Sanskrit vidyalaya (school), Mr. Shiv Hari Singh is my close acquaintance.

Reincarnation

Yesterday I had a most revealing conversation with Mr. Singh concerning the origin and function of the Tilmapur School and our ‘connection’ with it through our special educational unit. We have been associated with the village and the school for many years now and are always warmly welcomed and highly respected her. The reason? Mr. Singh says it is because the people in the village thinks that I am a reincarnation of their late Baba (master)! This Baba was well-known in the entire area because he used to care, heal and pray over people who were mentally ill and mentally handicapped. They say he was “Baba Ji’ and that I am that I am ‘Sanyasi‘(sister). And so they believe I am his re-incarnation! Mr. Singh insists it is so.

Hindu Health Group

Here, too, the Hindu believers have a traditional special group. Mr. Singh is associated with it; and so are we, unintentionally. The Association was formed to conduct various educational and social services for the community-all free services. They conduct Sanskrit School. There are cultural affairs (Hindu celebrations), medical services and rural educational services for all the people. They (the local Hindus) see our work with the handicapped as integral to the care of the needy people in the barren countryside villages. For example, under medical services at present there is no one but us who are providing free-of-cost education and care of the mentally handicapped (the job once done by Baba Ji).

Our presence and our work in the school helped in doubling the enrolment in the last six months. We have revived many of the Association’s services. This prompted.
Mr. Singh says; ‘All people in this area think you are the re –incarnation of Baba Ji, and that is why they have such high regard and respect for you! They would like you to become a member of the Governing (Hindu!) Committee.”

The Crucifix

That reminds me of our moving into the Tilmapur School compound. Mr. Singh noticed that the crucifix which I had been hanging on the wall of the classroom in our previous place for 15 years or so was nowhere to be seen. Actually it was inside my bag, but I hesitated on hanging the cross on the wall of a Hindu classroom. He said, “There is no objection because Jesus is also my God.”

Path to Holiness

Mr. Singh is most faithful in doing translation works, in helping us in counseling families, in services to people in need, in accompanying us so often over the blistering sand dunes along the Ganges, or in the heavy monsoons, and the cold of winter! His interest in special education never wanes. He search for the way to God! He likes to read the Christopher book, Three minutes a Day, which I gave in his search for the ‘wedding garment’ called faith. His sincerity will be rewarded, I am sure, by the Lord who is the Way. The Truth and the life.

“The mystery of those with a mental handicapped---and we say the same thing for all weak and rejected people—is that they are a source of life and truth, if we welcome them, enter into communion with them, and put ourselves at their service....They give (us) life and hope. In our world, with its divisions and hardness, often full of hate and strife, they teach men and women they way to trust, to simplicity, to love and to unity.” (Jean Vanier)

Someone once wrote of how important it is to have a deep faith of your own when you are living and missioned with people of other religions. It is the ‘rock’ on which the firmness of heart and the temple of Christ rests. I recall the words of one person giving advice to a friend who had to travel: “Put on the costume of the country you visit; but keep well the right suit of clothes you will need to go home in!”