Carlo Torriani

SWARGA DWAR

The conversion of a catholic missionary

presented by

Card. Simon Pimenta

PIME Publications, PIME Regional House, Eluru - 534 0-07, A.P., India

WORK IS GOING ON

Letter No. 25, October 1984

 Dear Friends,

    After taking possession of the land at Taloja, we went through a period of very intensive work in order to settle down in the new place and start the development of the same. That is why I also forgot to write to you earlier. The first necessary work was to fence the land which was completely open to people and cattle. Two contractors started the work, took some money and disappeared. The work was really difficult: the ground uneven, inaccessible to vehicles, a lot of thorny bushes, allergic pollen, scorching sun, and difficulty in handling the barbed wire. We could not wait any longer since May and the harvesting of mango was drawing near. In our land there are at least 200 trees with mango fruits.

Then we did it ourselves: seven patients from Chunabhatti under my direction, were putting up wooden poles and pulling two bundles of barbed wire every day, for a total length of 1600 metres. That was the first rehabilitation work.

    Then came the mango season. This year, fortunately or unfortunately, the fruits were not so many. No contractor came foreword to bid for the harvesting. We had to harvest them and sell what we could in Everard.

    Before the starting of the rainy season we needed to lay the foundation of the hospice. Get the drawing from the architect, engage a contractor, get the permissions from the authorities…and the works started at the beginning of June, two weeks before the rains. Always before the rains we had to drill a bore-well to get drinking water. We had been lucky: at the depth of 45 metres we struck abundant water.

    Then came the rains, which are very strong in Bomaby, they started with a deluge. We were in doubt whether we were able to cultivate paddy or wait for next year. Some local farmer came to our help. We started a bed of seedlings. At the tine of transplanting we had to engage labourers from the village, because our patients with ulcerated feet could not work in the water.

    After eating rice since so many years without knowing how much effort you need to plant and transplant it we did also this experience. While we write to you, the rice is making the ears and the hospice building is reaching the roof.

    There are also a few changes in the personnel. Dr. Antonio Grugni has decided to become priest and for this reason has gone back to Italy for some studies. Mr. Oswin Pereira, who had been my right hand in Lok Seva Sangam for the last three years is migrating with his family to Australia. His place had been taken by Mr Ferdy Pereira, a lawyer who has been converted to social work. Also in Taloja it has been necessary to take a young professional manager, Mr. Sylvester Fernandes who has the spirit of a Boy Scout. He resides on the spot night and day.

    This letter is a bit prosaic.  But when we are in need we must be practical. In life there is no music or poetry. We must be able to put it in. Inspiration come to us daily from the Word of God and will help us to transform and enlighten our daily routine. Living with leprosy patients, with poor people, with dalits, it may look depressing, but just the Gospel of today tells us that “the last will be the first”.

If we want to be first in the Kingdom of God we must stay with them. They are those who, suffering, like Jesus, redeem the world.