Justus Mendis sdb
NASHIK, NOVEMBER 17, 2009: The book release of ‘Khristapurana’, the Marathi translated works of Fr. Thomas Stephens by Fr. Nelson Falcao was held on November 14, 2009 at 5.00pm in the premises of Parsuram Natyagruha, Nashik. The release was held amongst the well-known personalities such as Mr. Vinayakdayak Patil, President of Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan and Marathi Sahitya Parishad, Nashik, who was the chief guest of the function; Bishop Thomas Bhalerao, SJ, former Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nashik; Fr. Francis D’ Britto, ex-editor of Suvarta, Vasai; Dr. A.H. Salunke, an eminent lecturer from Nashik; Dr. Dilip Dhaondge, specialist in ‘saint literature’ of Maharashtra and Fr. Ivo Coelho SDB, the former provincial of Mumbai province.
Fr. Ivo in his speech congratulated Fr. Nelson for his magnificent work which is accomplished because of his dedication and zealous work. Mrs. Mebal, the younger sister of Fr. Nelson, narrated their family background and his early liking towards translations of the texts as his hobby. She shared how from his childhood days as an alter boy he used to translate the Konkani sermons of his parish priest in Marathi, his mother tongue.
Fr. Nelson in his speech marvelously narrated his great journey to this present glorious moment. He began by saying that during his six years of study in Rome he could not do his doctorate due to his interest in philosophy rather than theology. After becoming a priest, he once expressed his desire to do his study in Khristapurana to Fr. Staffner in Sangamner who immediately handed to him the old copy of the same. Further when he met Bishop Thomas Dabre he found out that he too was already writing his commentary on ‘Khristapurana’. Later on, after his preliminary application for doctorate in J.D.V. (Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth), Pune, he ‘felt inspired’ to choose this topic for his doctorate and then wisdom started opening its doors to him. He remarked: “Khristapurana has given me all types of knowledge; Om Namah Vishvabharita i.e. God in this world”. He thanked Bishop Bhalerao for reading the whole Kristapurana with his guiding comments and also giving his Imprimatur.
The book was then inaugurated officially by the chief guest Mr. Vinayakdayak Patil and the crowd went into giving a big applause as all the eminent personalities on the stage stood holding each copy for that memorable moment. In his reflective comment Bishop Thomas Bhalerao brought to the notice of everyone that in Kristapurana the external decoration of the Hindu literature penetrates the internal body of the text which is Christ Himself. The great act of this book was that it includes everything from the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. He added that, Jesus Christ teaches us everything about the kingdom of God and Fr. Thomas Stephens had written that Jesus himself is the true God which today Fr. Nelson has translated for us. Fr. Nelson had to go England, Spain, Portugal and Italy to get the old original ’Marden manuscripts’ for his translation. The bishop commended for this proficiency of his.
Fr. Francis D’Britto in his speech said that all types of religions live in this country in a very cordial way, enormously sharing the various dimensions of culture within themselves but the caste system yet reminds us that we still have a long way to go in this aspect of life. Fr. Thomas Stephens was aware of this at an early age being convinced that we all belong to one God and this contribution of his in those times was indeed a vital one. Being an outsider he studied Marathi and saw Marathi language as the best way of expressing the theology of Christ.
Sir Dilip Dhandke and Dr. A.H. Salanke in their words of appreciation for the work of Kristapurana commended the initiative and scholarly research of Fr. Nelson. Vinayak Dada Patil in his speech expressed that Jesus Christ was, Jesus Christ is, and Jesus Christ will be, as 500 years ago in Khristapurana, and it is for this reason that Fr. Nelson has translated this work which would have been otherwise difficult to understand today.
The function ended by giving a big applause to Fr. Nelson Falcao, the man who out of his own curiosity and will for truth took up a task which today has benefited the vast rich Marathi literature of our country. The people in the crowd, while congratulating him, also wished him for his next publication of the English translation of the same book which he has already begun.