My inspiration for today is Gladys’s Staines, wife of Graham Staines, who made the Ultimate Choice to forgive the mob, and continue to work with the lepers and the poor in a village named Manoharpur.
In 1999 her husband and her sons
while they slept in a station wagon to spend a cozy night in the warmth of the
natural surroundings, were burnt alive by the mob of that village, who believed
that they were saving our country and religion from the hands of these foreign
invaders.
The mob carefully locked the door
of the houses around to prevent people from coming out to help, and then
deflated the tyres of the station wagon.
Then three of them were mercilessly beaten up, pierced with trishuls, and their station wagon set afire. The brutal mob watched their screams of agony which was silenced in few minutes, as three of them went from the unbearable torture to a deep quiet eternal rest.
Then three of them were mercilessly beaten up, pierced with trishuls, and their station wagon set afire. The brutal mob watched their screams of agony which was silenced in few minutes, as three of them went from the unbearable torture to a deep quiet eternal rest.
Gladys survived this experience
in her life, and continues to work in the same place along with her daughter
Esther. I cannot imagine her sorrow, and how she would have coped with the loss
of her husband and her two sons.
In Gladys own words “ I hold no
grudge against anyone ! My husband and my children have sacrificed their lives
for this country, India
is my home! I too hope to die and be buried alongside them.The Government of India has
recognized them, and has honored Gladys Staines with Padma Shri for social
service in 2005.
It takes a lot of courage from
within to forgive some one who has wronged us, As long as we don’t forgive
people who have hurt us, they will start occupying a rent free space in our
minds. Let us learn to survive and not
become a victim of situations and circumstances, may we be inspired by Glady’s
Staines, who had the courage to make
the ultimate choice …. 
Today I'm on U of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge.
Have read about this brutal incident and subsequently about Gladys... she is one courageous lady and what she has done (by forgiving the culprits) is simply exemplary. Truly an ultimate choice!
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you, I still remember it reading in the news papers, I admire this lady, and truly she is inspiring !
DeleteTruly courageous woman. I am really humbled by people like her.
ReplyDeleteSo true ! I don't know what to say..
DeleteThere are so many sad stories and brave people in the world. Thanks for sharing! I just stopped by as a fellow A to Z-er.
ReplyDeleteSo kind of you, for your comments ! appreciate you!
DeleteI remember this incident from 1999. It shook the whole country. Exactly the same came to my mind after the incident- How must she have coped with this tragedy in her life. A great soul indeed!
ReplyDeleteShe is indeed a great soul ! and continues to inspire me..
DeleteI don't know if I could have done this, it looks too super an act to forgive someone like that. Courageous woman!
ReplyDeleteRightly said Nandana, I used to struggle even to forgive my family member, if they hurt me, its a tough choice, but once we decide to forgive, we will find a way out.. its not so easy, but definitely not impossible, we can learn..
DeleteI truly admire Gladys and am ashamed as an Indian when such barbaric crimes are committed:/
ReplyDeleteI too feel terrible, when I hear such things, there is so much discomfort, Gladys is definitely an extraordinary women.
DeleteI too remember reading about this case and feeling sick to my heart that anyone could be so inhuman (well, we know know how much more barbaric we can be). I don't know if I could make the same decision, but probably her work showed her the many people who needed help and the goodness in them, rather than the ugliness of a few.
ReplyDeleteTrue ! the best part is, she made her choice to stay back and continue the good work for majority, who needed their her, thanks for your comments !
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