EDITORIAL
Public figures must remember that health is not something they can neglect
The death of Fr Bolmax Fidelis Pereira—priest, campaigner, artiste and cultural activist—struck many as the loss of a friend and guide, rather than that of a religious leader. He went early, and unexpectedly. His collapse at a railway station while going with parishioners to a summer picnic triggered a series of events that ended in his saddening death on Tuesday.
Fr Bolmax was outspoken and quick to point out wrong whenever he saw it. But that was not what set him apart. It was his friendly nature, his down-to-earth style, and his willingness to stand with the man on the street that made all the difference. More than that, he was an activist-priest who had a huge following. After his death, the tributes that came his way from fellow activists, regardless of religious divides, only underlined this point more strongly.
In a world where the priest is not necessarily the most educated person in a village any more, Pereira held a PhD in Botany (2017), with research focused on wetlands and ecology in Goa, and a Master’s degree in ecology and environment. Here was a priest who won awards for his environmental work, and one who campaigned to protect the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and the forests of the Western Ghats.
His passing may be a time for sadness. But it is also a time to do some stock-taking. It is a time to ponder over the life of a man who won so much respect and gratitude during his short stay on our planet. Also, it is time to look at what can be learnt from his life. In a rapidly changing world, some religious leaders are taking on newer roles that extend beyond ritual and sacramental duties. People in our times apparently expect the clergy not merely to preach doctrine, but to act as culturally rooted community-builders who can engage thoughtfully with the key issues and concerns of our times. The debate is still on over whether a priest should advise the flock on politics because, many times, they unintentionally touch a sensitive nerve and, with social media, a small trigger is enough to cause an explosion. Fr Bolmax was not without controversy. One issue for which people will remember him was his comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Our society too has so much waiting to be done, even in spheres such as tackling loneliness, facing up to AI and technology, family fragmentation, unemployment, heritage preservation and coping with spiritual anxieties. The clergy has taken up such matters and, in the days to come, with new technology bringing new challenges, it has a lot of scope to guide people. But they need support from society.
Fifty is too young an age at which to die, considering the advances in healthcare. Fr Bolmax reportedly underwent a procedure for heart valve replacement in 2010 in Bengaluru. His untimely death also has a lesson for all people in public service—whether social, political or religious. It is said that health is wealth, and that needs to be given importance by all, especially by those striving for positive change, for the betterment of society, and those fighting for larger causes. In the past decade, we have lost relatively young leaders such as former chief minister Manohar Parrikar at the age of 63, Vishnu Wagh (53), Francis D’Souza (64), recently Ketan Bhatikar (38), and not to forget Fr Bismarque Dias, who died in 2015 at the age of 52. Public service can impact one’s health. They need to remember that, to serve longer, health should not be neglected.
