A Pilgrimage To The Light / Joice Thottackad

2020·29.8 MB·English

by  Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios

A Pilgrimage
To The Light
(English)
A Pilgrimage to The Light
(Biography of Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios)
Joice Thottackad
Translated by
George Joseph Enchakattil
First Edition: Nov. 24, 2020
Published by Gregory of India Study Centre for the glory of God and for the
benefit of humankind.
Distributed by Sophia Books, Kottayam Mob: [phone]
Cover, Type Setting & Printing: Sophia Print House, Kottayam
Price Rs. 600/-
A Pilgrimage
To The Light
Joice Thottackad
Translated by
George Joseph Enchakattil
Sophia Books
Kottayam

Foreword
Fr Dr. K. M. George
Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios was an intellectual extra ordinary, but
seemed unapproachable to ordinary men and women. This prevented
many people from moving close to His Grace. Yet, those people going
to His Grace without any preconceptions, possessing an open and
clear mind found him approachable and friendly. This being the truth,
small children who had no pre-conceived notions were the best friends
of his Grace.
Mar Gregorios was always searching for things or issues those
were not common. His Grace stayed away from day to day dealings
of common nature as also from routine affairs too ordinary. He was
not part of silly talks those entertained the ordinary men and women
in their social life. However, His Grace was keen to interfere with
the problems confronted by the common people and had no
reservations to mingle with them. His Grace took initiatives to
comprehend the problems of the neglected men and women as well
as those of the aborigines.
Mar Gregorios recalls in his autobiography that a big sized head
and a small sized body did not match his physique the right way. His
body was too ordinary. It was weak and easily susceptible to illness.
This body was subject to excessively volatile expressions of anger.
“Tireless intellect and incessant flow of ink in a golden pen” found it
very difficult to align with that body. His Grace was often angry to
his own physique and the surroundings as also with other men around
him as his body was slow in responding to the splendid and impatient
mental faculties formulated through transcendental visions. This
missing harmony between his faculties was the source of many
controversies others saw in him.
Mar Gregorios was looking forward to a soft touch of the Almighty
with real perception of emotional clashes within his inner faculties
holding on to an agitated sustenance of the interior man, similar to
men of unassailable intellect like St Paul and St Augustine. Surrounding
the external personality of His Grace, there hung coarse veils folded
6 A Pilgrimage To The Light
many times, but inside these veils, a spark of fire was glowing that
was nothing but personified humility with a richness of affection,
warm for all. His Grace perceived it as an invaluable gift from ever-
merciful God. Therefore, he never attempted to justify the
controversies in his individuality; neither His Grace wanted anyone
to justify them. This is truthfulness of a man.
We should not discard an adolescent boy from our memory who
possessed a zealous wish to be a good disciple of Jesus Christ doing
good things to others. This boy’s self-induced and enlightened desire
brought him out of the comfort and luxury of a power dominant royal
palace as well as the tempting ways of Western culture, to be with
the ordinary men and women; thus, Mar Gregorios returned to his
own people to be with them in their needs and their lack of knowledge.
His Grace was a man who could have occupied top positions in many
leading global forums; but he did not forget his roots. He had greater
concern for the issues confronting his country and his Church to
think about enthusiastically. His Grace raised questions to himself
and attempted to provide answers. It is no wonder for a community
having no questions and therefore not comprehending the meanings
of such questions and answers.
Mar Gregorios possessed inner faculties those were in continuous
vigil like eyes sans eyelids. Whatever happens around us, Mar
Gregorios familiarized himself with the events and ideas, their interior
and exterior, their top and bottom, their height and depth and their
past and future. His Grace was intelligent enough to analyze the
variations those go beyond our three dimensional conceptualities; but
these rare experiences of complexities simultaneously enthused and
pained his heart. We have here the veiled desires and disappointments
of a man who had a thirst to do something for his people.
Mr. Joice Thottackad is providing here an excellent window for
us to peep into the life experiences of Mar Gregorios Metropolitan,
through his book ‘A Pilgrimage to The Light.’ The author does not
claim this work as a biography in its true sense. This work indeed is
a witnessing of his personal commitment to Mar Gregorios apart
from the research talents and hard work of Joice Thottackad which
A Pilgrimage To The Light 7
includes portions from the auto biography of His Grace, other writings,
letters, opinions of those who had closely acquainted with His Grace
and many interviews with the Metropolitan. As Joice says, this volume
contains many documents that would be useful to anyone who carries
out research works on Mar Gregorios in future.
Before completing his autobiography, Mar Gregorios Metropolitan
left for heavenly abode. Yet, those few chapters His Grace wrote
unveiling his adolescent and youth period are sufficient to reveal the
richness of that fruitful and noble life. In a way, one can comprehend
that incomplete autobiography as a symbol of his unfinished life. The
thoughts and plans His Grace visualized about a new humanity are
longing for fulfillment. These are continuous invitations to his vast
and wide discipleship to initiate completion thereof. There are many
among us working keenly to fulfill that vision of life. This noble volume
is such an attempt from Joice Thottackad. Fr. C. C. Cherian and
Prof. K. M. Tharakan had been close associates of Mar Gregorios
since many years; they have already published short biographies of
His Grace which in no way reduce the relevance of this volume.
Since many valuable documents are forming part of this, those who
undertake research studies in future would find this useful. There
are many unpublished writings and letters of Mar Gregorios. It has
already been decided to collect all of them and publish at an early
date by Mar Gregorios Foundation functioning under Orthodox
Theological Seminary. This volume by Joice provides a few hints to
such vast collections.
Mr. Joice Thottackad engages himself in research works and
freelance journalism; with this voluminous work he deserves
congratulations and gratitude of all those who love and respect His
Grace. Let everything end up well.
Orthodox Theological Seminary
Kottayam
October 11, 1997
8 A Pilgrimage To The Light
A Pilgrimage To The Light 9
1
Pilgrimage Sets Off
October 1947. Just about two months since India has become an
independent nation. It was yesterday, Dr Paul Puthooran, the well-
known physician from Ernakulam passed away. Funeral was at 10:00
am. The man had walked normally to the club carrying his Tennis
racket, but collapsed at the gate consequent to a cardiac arrest.
Paul Varghese was waking ahead through Shanmugham Road
with a friend after taking part in the funeral service. During those
days, Shanmugham Road was close to the lake. Sitting on the short
compound wall separating Shanmugham Road from the lake, you
had fascinating and heart touching sceneries on the west. The
abundance of coconut trees in the tiny islands of Bolghatty Palace
and Ponjikkara, the slowly dancing waves of the lake surface, the
lake merging into the sea far away, Wellington Island slightly on the
south, Menaka Theatre on the opposite side of the road.1 Paul
Varghese kept walking, possessing a disturbed mental set up like the
movements of the waves, not caring all these beauties of nature; he
was probably holding on to some philosophical insights on all those
happened.
“Human life is momentary. Wherever you turn, you come across
death. If so, what is the meaning of this life? What is the purpose of
this life?”
Death…What does it mean? Is it the ultimate sorrow of life? Is
life comfortable until the advent of death? No, life is intermingled
with joy and sorrow. If so, how does it mean that death is the ultimate
sorrow?
This looks like the commencement of a search. Or else, continue
with the vocation with Postal Department, discarding all sorts of
disturbing thoughts hovering around you. Is it possible? All facilities
are there, awaiting you.
Now, if you go for a search, how far should it be? Should it be just
10 A Pilgrimage To The Light
to create an impression of a search that inculcates a sense of
satisfaction as many do; then retire into self with such an image of
having searched? This is senseless. More than such a satisfaction,
the dissatisfaction ending with a search is far better.
Paul Varghese and his friend slowly stepped into the Radio Shop
of Mathew Choolackal on Shanmugham Road.
Paul Varghese was an employee with Post & Telegraph
Department. He was a Trade Union leader too. While thinking and
discussing on varying aspects and viewpoints of life, Mathew enquired:
“I have to go to Alwaye now. Would you join? We can return by noon
time.” “I am ready; just stepping into your car and sitting leisurely. I
have to report for duty by 2’o clock.” “That is fine. Even I have to
return fast and have lunch at home.”
Indeed, Paul Varghese wanted a change after the funeral service.
Therefore, he expressed his willingness instantly. At this time, an
official from the nearby office of Indian Airlines came to Mathew
with a foreigner. After formal introductions, the official requested
Mathew to guide the visitor how to take a bus to travel to Alwaye.
Mathew responded: “We are about to travel to Alwaye in car now;
there is a delay of just about ten minutes. The car is a small one. If
you don’t find it uncomfortable, you may join us.”
Paul Varghese utilized these ten minutes to ask a hundred questions
to the visitor. Though this man Dr Robert N Thompson was a
Canadian, he was working in Ethiopia. He had come to India from
Ethiopia on some diplomatic requirements. Varghese found it
interesting to gather information about Ethiopia and Emperor Haile
Selassie. They discussed the life of the people of Ethiopia, their
language, their Emperor, the Italian atrocities and so on.
Paul Varghese and his friend proceeded to Alwaye in Mathew’s
car along with Dr Thompson. Even while travelling, Varghese was
asking umpteen questions, all about Ethiopia. In about ten minutes,
their car left the borders of Cochin and entered Travancore. During
those days, Alwaye was part of Travancore State. While nearing the
Edappally Bridge, they witnessed a tragic incident and stopped their
car. It was an accident on the road. A Travancore Military truck was