Fr Bismark, A Priest with a conscience

Fr Bismark, unlike any other priest was unique and one who had a grasp of the way to live life in the true sense of the word. The simple and ascetic soul that he was, he always stood for the truth and despite his brief encounter with politics, knew what was good and actually made the difference between modern day living and the traditional genre of life, which he himself followed with religious fervour. Everybody knows about his social activism towards protecting the environment and nature. After his unspectacular stint in political field, Fr Bismark in an interview published in various newspapers exhorted youth that the internet, the computer, the mobile and television should not be used unless it was absolutely necessary. A modern man would have thought that what he said was anti-innovation and anti-modernity, but in real life, Fr Bismark’s exhortation was one of a true follower of Christ, not one that was going back the dark ages, but one that led to a better life, especially to our wayward youth in search of the true and shining path to fulfillment in life.

An example, to prove that Fr Bismark was right is the publishing business itself that we follow. Since the beginning of printing, the reporter had to write his story on paper or key it on a typewriter and then each alphabet was manually inserted into the column, after which the proof-reading had to be done. Both the writer and the proof-reader had to be proficient in right spelling as well as a very thorough knowledge of grammar. Today in our computerized world, the Microsoft Word we use to write is programmed with a copy of the encyclopaedia as well as a grammar check which has made people dependent on the automated version.  It would have been a living tribute to him then, if youth had followed his diktat and thus attained more values and proficiency rather than have to rely on the computerized method.

Both the church in Goa as well as the people in Goa will sorely miss the noble intentions of Fr Bismark who was a priest in the shining armour of truth, a genuine follower of God and a true lover of the environment and nature. May his soul rest in peace.