India's first tribal cardinal recounts prophecy of becoming king >From Indo-Asian News Service
Ranchi, Sep 30 (IANS) Telesphore Toppo, appointed India's first tribal cardinal by Pope John Paul II last week, says a prophecy based on tribal beliefs had foreseen his rise to the high position. "I was the eighth child after three successive sisters. According to tribal beliefs, a person born after three daughters becomes king," Toppo said in an interview with IANS. Toppo, only the fifth Indian to be appointed a cardinal by the Pope, has overcome hardships since the time of his birth on his way to holding several senior positions in the Catholic church. Toppo was born on October 15, 1939, in a tribal family that had converted to Christianity. Even his birth was not easy, Toppo recalled. He arrived in this world with his tongue joined to his palate, and his mother, who is now almost 100 years old, suffered while delivering him. "The midwives attending my delivery were sure that I would die but destiny had something else in store for me," he said. The midwives performed a rudimentary caesarean procedure to deliver him and then cut the skin that joined his palate and tongue. After initial studies at his village, he completed his higher education from the Xavier College of Ranchi. During his school days, he worked as a labourer to make both ends meet. "I cannot forget the hard work put in by my mother to educate me," he said. In 1957, he decided to become a priest, a decision supported by his mother. In 1978 he was elevated to the post of bishop. Since then, he has travelled around the world. Toppo has been closely associated with programmes for the uplift of tribals in Jharkhand and has never hesitated to speak out on sensitive political and social issues affecting the tribals. He expressed his unhappiness with several developments in Jharkhand, like the displacement of tribals for industrial and irrigation projects and efforts to divide society on religion and caste lines. His outspoken nature has, however, invited sharp criticism from some who have even charged him of playing politics with sensitive issues. --Indo-Asian News Service ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
