India: Persecuted Christians from the Land of Martyrs Rejoice at the Ordination of an Auxiliary Bishop

Christians from Kandhamal, long known as a land of martyrs, have found renewed joy and hope in the ordination of Bishop Rabindra Kumar Ranasingh as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cuttack–Bhubaneswar, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.  His elevation holds deep symbolic meaning for a community that has endured some of the worst anti-Christian violence in India’s recent history.

Bishop Ranasingh hails from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bamunigam, Kandhamal—a place etched in the collective memory of Indian Christians for the large-scale violence of 2007–2008. During that period, hundreds of Christians were killed, tens of thousands were displaced, and thousands of homes and hundreds of churches were burned, desecrated, or destroyed. Bamunigam itself was among the first parishes to be attacked.

In a significant recognition of this suffering witness, the Holy See has granted permission to begin the beatification process for 35 Christians who were killed for their faith during the Kandhamal violence. These men and women are now officially recognized as Servants of God, marking the first step toward their possible beatification.

Kundan Montri, a seminarian and one of the 35 Servants of God, was among the earliest victims of these attacks, which later escalated into widespread and organized violence.

“The appointment of an auxiliary bishop is the right choice at the right time,” says Fr. Ajay Singh, advocate and human rights activist. “The selection of someone with sound knowledge of Church law and a deep understanding of pastoral life is particularly apt. Significantly, he comes from a parish that was the first to be destroyed during the violence of December 2007. He truly carries the pulse of the people.”

In January 2008, Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, then President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), visited Kandhamal and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bamunigam, to express solidarity with the devastated community.

“The persecution continued for two consecutive years,” recalls Fr. Singh. “It was the largest attack on Christians in India in over 300 years, leaving behind untold suffering and deep trauma. Lives were lost, limbs injured, livelihoods destroyed. Even after a decade and a half, many wounds remain unhealed—justice is still awaited, livelihoods need restoration, and the social fabric requires full reconciliation.”

These traumatic events deeply affected both the pastoral and social life of the Archdiocese. Priests and religious who accompanied the people bore heavy emotional and physical burdens, often ministering in remote and hilly terrain. The vastness and demanding geography of the region have made pastoral outreach especially challenging.

Against this backdrop, Fr. Singh describes the appointment of an auxiliary bishop as “timely and crucial,” adding that the Archdiocesan community must now move forward decisively—toward becoming a holistically empowered Church rather than remaining confined to a prolonged phase of rehabilitation.

Veteran journalist Anto Akkara, who extensively covered the Kandhamal violence and authored several books on the subject, sees the ordination as a powerful response to persecution. “Those who declared that Christianity was banned in Kandhamal, and even skeptics within the Church who doubted whether Christians could rise again after the 2008 bloodshed, should have witnessed the scene at the episcopal ordination on January 17 in Daringbadi,” he says.

The episcopal ordination was held at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Daringbadi, with Archbishop John Barwa, SVD, of Cuttack–Bhubaneswar as the principal consecrator. He was assisted by Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur and Bishop Kishor Kumar Kujur of Rourkela, in keeping with the Church’s ancient tradition. The solemn liturgy drew around 10,000 faithful, along with more than 350 priests, 100 religious sisters, and nine bishops.

Born in Kosbasa, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bamunigam, Bishop Ranasingh was ordained a priest on April 18, 2001, at the same parish in Daringbadi where he would later be ordained a bishop. Over the years, he has served in various pastoral and administrative roles within the Archdiocese. His appointment as Auxiliary Bishop was announced by the Holy See on November 22, 2025.

For the persecuted Christians of Kandhamal, his ordination is more than a personal milestone—it is a living testimony that faith has endured, hope has survived, and the Church continues to rise from the ashes of suffering with renewed strength and courage.