Residents of Sahar are miffed with the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) for denying them access to the century-old cross.
MUMBAI: Residents of Sahar are miffed with the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) for denying them access to the century-old cross. This has prevented the residents from offering their daily rosary in May — the month dedicated to Mother Mary — observed the world over as the Decade of Rosary. MIAL has fenced the area with a compound wall. As a sign of protest, residents of the area will hold a candlelight procession on May 19, supported by the Marol parishioners and the Bombay Catholic Sabha.
St John the Baptist Church Save Committee in Seepz will present a gun hammer to the police and MIAL authorities to break down the compound wall.
“We want to assert our rights as a minority community. Praying at the 300-year-old cross fosters community spirit and camaraderie followed by a get together,” said Father Allwyn D’Souza from Church of Our Lady of Health.
MIAL’s general manager (corporate communication) Manish Kalghati was unavailable for comment.
Residents said that the East Indian tradition has been in practice for centuries and is also followed in Goan villages.
“Some people who died during the plague have been buried there. There are many families who have a sentimental value attached to the cross,” said D’Souza.
He also said that this has to be seen in the context of how the original local inhabitants were pushed to a corner. “They have been pushed into obliteration and this hurts the sentiments of our people,” D’Souza added.
“We want to emphasise that minorities are set aside during planning. We have to reassert ourselves and be out on the streets. That is the only language the administration understands,” said Dolphy D’Souza, president, Bombay Catholic Sabha.
For Nicholas Almeida, a Sahar village resident, the century-old cross is a landmark, which helps locals find their way. “It is a matter of faith and is like our postal address. Even if it comes in the way of development it should be easily accessible to local residents. I got a stay on 40 crosses in Bandra. This is the only cross in Sahar Village,” said Almeida.
He said that in 2003, the High Court had passed an order to maintain status quo and protect all the ancient crosses in the city.
b_linah@dnaindia.net
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