Lakhman Pradhan grew up in a devout Hindu family in Kandhamal, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. His childhood was shaped by daily puja at the family shrine—usually a small altar adorned with images or idols of deities. Worship included offerings of flowers and fruits, incense, oil lamps (diyas), and sacred ash (vibhuti), accompanied by the chanting of mantras such. Evenings were marked by the lighting of lamps and prayers before dinner.
His parents were deeply religious, and as the eldest son, Lakhman was expected to carry on family traditions by performing daily pujas and studying Hindu scriptures.
Yet beneath his outward devotion and fidelity, Lakhman felt a deep inner emptiness. “I did everything that was expected of me,” he recalls. “But I could not find peace, joy, or happiness within. I wanted to know the truth about God—why I was here and what life really meant.”
His search took an unexpected turn during his work as a mason, when a Christian neighbour invited him to a youth fellowship. Out of curiosity, Lakhman accepted the invitation—expecting a religious debate, not a life-changing encounter. What surprised him was seeing people pray not out of fear, compulsion, or duty, but out of love. “They spoke to God so personally, so deeply, as if He were their Father,” he says, his eyes softening at the memory. “I had never witnessed such a relationship with the divine before.”
Over the next few months, Lakhman began reading the Bible. The words of Jesus—“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”—touched his heart deeply. Gradually, he experienced a new sense of peace. After much inner struggle and strong opposition from his family, Lakhman decided to marry a Catholic woman. He received the sacraments of Baptism—taking the name Paul—Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Matrimony.
“I repent for my past actions, including tearing and burning the Bible,” Paul says candidly. “The Holy Bible that I once burned has now become the source of my strength and life. I was not even hesitant to insult Christians in the past.”
His decision came at a great cost. His family was heartbroken, and some relatives refused to speak to him. Yet Paul found strength, courage, and perseverance in his faith. He studied catechism, read the Bible daily, and grew steadily in his commitment to Christ. Married and blessed with three sons, he is now an active member of Couples for Christ (CFC).
Couples for Christ (CFC) is an international Catholic lay movement founded in 1981. An outreach of the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (Joy of the Lord) charismatic community in Manila, Philippines, it seeks to renew and strengthen Christian family life through evangelization.
Paul goes from village to village proclaiming the Word of God and promoting Christian family values such as faith, commitment, love, forgiveness, hope, and chastity. He emphasizes virtues rooted in Christ—righteousness, holiness, gratitude, kindness, and mutual service.
Paul regularly visits families for prayer, preaches the Good News to fellow Catholics, and remains faithful to the sacraments, receiving Holy Communion frequently. Today, he travels across the state, sharing his testimony in villages, towns, and cities, witnessing to the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
“My story is not about abandoning my culture,” Paul explains. “It is about finding the truth I was searching for all along. I did not lose my identity—I found my purpose.”
Paul’s life has become a bridge between two worlds. Drawing on familiar Hindu concepts, he explains the message of Christ to those who have never encountered it. His deep understanding of both traditions allows him to speak with compassion and respect.
“Many people think Christianity is foreign or not indigenous,” he says. “But when they hear that Jesus loves them personally—without conditions or fear—something changes. That is the Good News I love to share.”
He does not reject his heritage or traditions; rather, he honours them while pointing to what he believes is their fulfillment in Christ. “I found true satisfaction, spiritual fulfillment, and lasting peace in Him,” he says.
This approach has helped many listen without fear or prejudice. “When I speak of Jesus as the ‘Word,’ people understand,” Paul explains. “When I speak of divine love, they realize it is not foreign—it is what the human heart has always sought.”
After decades of witness, Paul’s message remains simple yet profound. “In Hinduism, I tried to reach gods and goddesses,” he reflects. “In Christ, the one true God reached down to me.”
