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Oriya edition of book on Staines
released amid tight security

The Oriya edition of a book on Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons, who were burnt alive nearly two years ago at Manoharpur village in Orissa, was released amid tight security in Bhubaneswar on Monday night.

Special security arrangements were made by the state government at the release function of the book Burnt Alive in Oriya.

Two police platoons were deployed at the function attended by nearly 1000 people, cutting across religious lines, at Soochna Bhavan. Archbishop of Catholic Diocese Raphael Cheenath, SVD released the book.

A T Kurian, chairman of the Bombay-based GLS Publishing House, which published the book, told rediff.com that the Oriya edition was necessary as ''the blackest and most heinous incident in Independent India's history had occurred in Orissa''.

"As it was in Orissa that Staines was burnt alive by fanatics, we felt it essential to expose the unfortunate incident, the worst ever crime against humanity before people, in Oriya," he said.

"We plan to publish the book in 17 Indian languages so that every Indian can read it in his or her mother tongue," Kurian said.

He said that in view of the scope and vital issues covered, there was an encouraging response to the book having been used as a 'witnessing tool'.

He said that the book had been published in Mizo, Malayalam and Marathi, besides German, and added that translations were underway in Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Telugu.

Kurien said that the book had been written in response to 'large-scale persecution' against Christians and to dispel misunderstandings about them in the minds of Indians.

The book gives an account of the 'yeomen service' of missionaries at the Mayurbhanj Mission and touches on the issue of whether freedom of conscience can be suppressed.

EARLIER REPORTAGE:
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Dara Singh arrested
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

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