(Saint Oommen Chandy)
Sri Oommen Chandy (Umman Chandy) will be officially known as St Oommen Chandy in future. He was born in Puthuppally and was baptized as a Christian in St George Church, Puthuppally and worshipped God Jesus Christ and participated in the Sunday Holy Qurbana there throughout his life. And his body is buried in the special tomb amidst the tombs allocated for departed Priests near the Church. His tomb is visited by tens of thousands of people everyday since his funeral.
Sri Oomman Chandy was a marvel. Just like many Christian Saints, he too did ordinary things with an extraordinary dedication. He was a politician like many others, but he was different from all of them. He was an elected representative of the people with a rare record in entire India, probably in the whole world! He was an elected member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Puthuppally constituency for 53 consecutive years!
He served as the Chief Minister of the state for two terms. He served in many political positions. But unlike most leaders in power and positions, he used all his time and effort for literally serving the people. He was happy to sacrifice even his food and rest to help more hapless people. Even ordinary people had direct access to his office or home round the clock, without any appointment or protocol!
Sri Oommen Chandy led a simple and humble life. Even when he was the chief minister of the state, he used to travel in economy classes and compelled his staff (Chief secretary and other officials) to travel by business classes in planes.
He was a true Christian not in just words, but in actions. He never took revenge on his rivals or enemies who conspired heinously against him to topple his government. He even forgave and saved the communist militant who threw stone on his face and severely injured him when he was amongst the people solving their problems on the spot as the head of the state!
He was another Mother Teresa for all the poor, destitute and needy. He did not spare even the poorest of the poor from extending his assistance! He never showed any biases to any caste, creed, community or religion. As he was just and impartial, he had to face the wrath of his own Orthodox Church community who even excommunicated him for not favouring them in their dispute with the Jacobites, when he was the Chief minister!
Even before the Church authorities thought of recognizing Oommen Chandy (OC) as a venerable person, the people started thronging to his burial place without ceasing, and lighting candles and making prayers. Many people testify that they had sought Ommen Chandy's intercession in many difficult things and got them granted from God!
Now there are rumors circulating in the air that the Orthodox Church is going to confer sainthood on Oommen Chandy and declare him a Saint (Vishudhan) in an extraordinary circumstance, and he will be venerated as another Punyalan or sahada in par with the saints of the Orthodox Church.
By all means Sri Ommen Chandy deserves to be a Saint as he lived a Christian life to the fullest, bearing witness to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Even if the Church delays to announce his sainthood, he will be called as Mahatma Chandy or Oommen Gandhi and the Father of Kerala!
