PANJIM: Eminent Catholic Jesuit Priest and well known social activist, writer and thinker Swami Prabhudhar (78) died on Monday morning. Swami Prabhudhar alias Constance Drago was hospitalized at the A M Sheikh Hospital in Belgaum.
He had his roots in Aldona and was hailing from Santibastwad village near Belgaum. He was born on August 1, 1936. An ardent follower of St Francis Xavier, he was also the propagator of the famous walking pilgrimage to Old Goa since last 35 years.
He was ordained priest on March 22, 1969 and was posted at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka where he worked towards the upliftment of the poor and marginalised. Apart from Kannada, Swami Prabhudhar had mastery over English, Marathi and Konkani, German and French languages. His preaching and practical ways of spreading spirituality among the classes and masses were well acclaimed.
In his 46 years as a Jesuit priest he worked in Srirampur, Karad and Ajara in Maharashtra where he founded schools, convents and boardings for village children due to which a large number of village children pursued education in English. Swami Prabhudhar also rendered yeoman service at the Jesuit ashrams in Madanbhavi, Yaddalgudd and Saudatti north Karnataka.
Bishop Peter, the Bishop of Belgaum has expressed profound grief over the death of Swami Prabhudhar. “Swami Prabhudhar was not only a missionary, but a well accepted man in the society both as a scholar of languages and connoisseur of culture. As a missionary he was a man of unity who communicated presence of God with everyone who came to him. He was a proficient in inter religious dialogues and was a votary of communal harmony.”
The mortal remains of Swamy Prabhudhar have been kept at the Jesuit House in Belgaum. The funeral mass will be said on Tuesday at Fatima Cathedral, behind St Paul High School at 3.30 pm. This will be followed by burial at the British Cemetery near Race Course. Bishop Peter Machado and Provincial of Goa province Fr Rosario Rocha will be present. Apart from priests followers of Swami Prabhudhar from three states, followers belonging to different religions are expected to pay tributes during his funeral.
