Search the Internet            Tips

Staines family celebrating Christmas in Australia

Gladys Staines and her only daughter Esther Joy Staines have chosen to celebrate this year's Christmas in Australia instead of at Baripada in Orissa to overcomes painful memories of the fateful night nearly two years ago when Graham Staines and his two sons were burnt to death.

" Memsahib and her daughter are in Australia to celebrate Christmas," said Mishal Hansdar, housekeeper-cum-driver of the Staines family. Both would return in January in time to be present during Staines saheb's birth as well as death anniversary, he added.

Graham Staines birthday falls on January 17 and January 23 is his death anniversary. Had he been alive today, Graham would have celebrated his 60th birthday.

This is first time after a long time that there would be no Christmas celebration at the Staines' house, located inside an old church in Baripada, where late Graham Staines spent nearly 35 years working for leprosy patients.

Last time the family celebrated Christmas together was in 1998.

"Gladys memsaheb and her daughter were here during last Christmas but there was no celebration, like what used to be earlier when Staines saheb was alive," he said.

"Gladys went to Australia two months ago to meet her ailing father and other relatives. Her daughter who studies in a boarding school in Ooty joined her recently on the occasion of Christmas," Mishal said.

After the killing of Staines and two of her children, Gladys had made it clear that Baripada was her real home and she had no plan to leave India. She had said she was keen to finish the unfulfilled mission of her husband.

A police team is camping near the Staines' residence to keep a watch on their house. "We have instruction to safeguard the house in Gladys Staines' absence," one of the policemen on duty said.

For the inmates of Kasha ashram (leprosy home) in Barricade, this Christmas will not be as joyful because of the absence of the Staines family.

Kundu Majhi, an inmate, said that earlier they used to get good food and join the family in the celebrations during Christmas.

EARLIER REPORTAGE:
'Baripada is now my home'
Graham Staines's wife, daughter try to rebuild their lives around his work
In Manoharpur, Graham Staines is just a distant memory
CBI files chargesheet in Staines murder case
Journey into Orissa's land of strife
Varsha Bhosle on the Staines murder and its aftermath
CBI files chargesheet in Staines murder case
The complete coverage on attacks against Christians

ALSO SEE
Dara Singh arrested
Lifer for 13-yr-old Chenchu in Staines case

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report