THE BAD POLICE OFFICER IN ERNAKULAM

We had gone to Ernakulum for a shopping. There were different matters to be done there. We had given some order for making Alter cloth. It was promised to be given to us in a week. Just now it had become two and half weeks. So we got it at last now. The second thing is about buying a new bike for the community. We had already agreed to buy a bike last year. But the priest, who was before me, went to Rome for formation studies. This particular priest took initiative to buy this, but since he was going to Rome, he did not worry about it. Two or three weeks before we went to the shop to give order for the new bike. We wanted to register it in the name of Dehon Charitable trust.  But then there were problems. So we decided to register in the name of a brother in the community. As went to the shop he asked us for the address proof. As we give him the photo copy of the passport, he wants it be attested by an officer. He himself said that there is Cochin CID commissioner’s office just near to the international stadium. (Why this man did not inform us to get the paper attested before when we called him remains a mysterious items.) We walked to the office. As we come there, we ask a man for help, he just said go to the other room. As we go to the “other room”, another man says to go back to the previous room. As we come there, one another officer says wait here. Ok the officer is making phone calls; we wait there around 15 minutes. Then he called an officer by name, Varghese, come here. They go on discuss again. After a time I just told him, sir we have come to get attested on a paper. He just shouted “I have no time.” I said sir, please it’s only about a sign. He just shouts again, don’t you understand when I say that I have no time. It is not possible now. I have other business. Yes, my friend and I just came out. But as we come out of the office, the words that came from both of us were not that holy. Indeed I did not talk much, because it was boiling inside me. I was just thinking, how a words can kill a day. I just said to my friend, the time that he took for talking wound not needed just to sign. This is India and Indian mentality. Government offices are just for some people’s pleasure and others to suffer. I feel shame for that person, because his name is James. (By I understand those two officers were Christians, and Christ must be feeling shame for them. Indeed St. James must be crying to see this fellow having his saintly name.). We just go to another government school and got out paper signed. A day of bad memory. 

For sure, here in India, priest has great respect. If I were to say that I am a priest, he would just stand up and then do the work and give in a second. But I do not want my priestly life to keep in order to get a sign. I just did not say to him anything about me.