Remembering Fr.Bernard Digal Who Washed Women's Feet 20 Years Before The Pope Did

By Fr. Ajaya Kumar Singh

25 March, 2016
Countercurrents.org

Kandhamal Martyr Fr.Bernard Digal had washed the feet of women in Kandhamal in 1996 as a gesture of equality and service.

He was appointed as a Parish Priest in Mondasoro Parish, a Parish that had witnessed internal disturbance due to some issues. I was his assistant priest and my first year of service as a priest. We did discuss a lot about the symbol and significance of washing of the feet. We did take care to discuss with Parish Council Members and Catechists and some elders quite in advance. Yet, there was a little tension as about to begin. It was a special day, I was asked by Fr.Bernard to explain the need of inclusion of women. Everybody seemed to agree in the congregation except for five people, who hardly came to Church. We went ahead. If Fr.Bernard were to be there today, he would have been well pleased that he was ahead of times. Sadly Fr. Bernard was killed in the Kandhamal pogrom unleashed by Hindutva fascists in 2008.

It is quite reassuring that the Pope is quite earnestly campaigning not just for women, but for other minorities also, sees the symbolism of 'feet washing ceremony' beyond religion.

The Huffington post reports:

Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 refugees Thursday at a migrant center in Castelnuovo di Porto outside of Rome, Italy. The ceremony took place as part of the observances of Maundy Thursday, the Holy Thursday before Easter that dates back to the story of Jesus’ Last Supper.

In a powerful gesture of interfaith embrace, the pontiff knelt down before a group of eight men and four women, among whom were Muslims, Coptic Christians and one Hindu. “All of us together: Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Copts, Evangelicals ... all brothers and children of the same God,” the pontiff said during a Mass before the foot washing ceremony. “We want to live together in peace.”

Two Bishops told me that they have taken personal interest and explained through circulars and meetings the need of such inclusion.

I feel rather surprised that some churches make an excuse for exclusion and not ready to change the practice citing lack of preparation and worse still, as a cultural practice. We should strive for equality and should seize the occasion to facilitate it and use it to perpetuate equality. Caste as cultural practice is crime today. We cannot perpetuate a cultural practice that degrades women, denies human dignity and rights.

Fr. Ajaya Kumar Singh is a social activist