In that birthday letter to you, I highlighted several dimensions of your extraordinary and exemplary life as a citizen, Jesuit and priest. However, I did make the letter public and some magazines and online portals did publish it. I addressed it and sent it to you c/o the Jail Superintendent there! I doubt whether it reached you and/or if it did, whether you had the opportunity to read it. I am re-reading the letter which I wrote to you on this day last year, whilst you were incarcerated in Taloja jail. Today however, dear Stan, you really have no choice, for the simple reason (which I am sure you will understand and humbly accept), your birthday today is about ‘us’, about we celebrating fond memories of you, thanking God for the gift of you to this earth and her people, particularly to those who needed you the most and above all, trying to see in what ways we can internalise and actualise the rich legacy we have inherited from you! This is the day we need: your untimely death on 5 July 2021 left a deep void in our hearts and lives some us feel orphaned and have still not been able to overcome that feeling there are others who miss your visionary insights, the servant-leadership qualities which you radiated, your relentless pursuit of truth and justice and essentially that unflinching commitment to the Gospel of Jesus and the Constitution of India. It is your earthly birthday! You would have certainly felt embarrassed and even winced at the thought of anyone wishing you, leave alone celebrating your birthday today! In a style which has characterised you all your life here on earth – you would have shunned and even run away from the very idea of anyone attempting to organize anything for you on this day!
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