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Thoughts about GuezouThe Man for the Frontiers

- James VM

Appearance: hair gone silvery, sun drenched face with familiar wrinkles, foreheadwith lined strips that speaks of strong mind that faced tough situations, tanned skin,

the specs guards his silent eyes a Constant companion, toughened hand, most

powerful voice, a man of medium height, At 87 could go around with full confidence

on a motor around the complex, It is the man Guezou. Like every white people who

spend their life in India, they become a sort of enigma to their countrymen but they

become a hero here in India. No matter what work they have accomplished. It is the

hospitality in reversal. The white in India are always has some enigma. Most of them

have led a heroic life and often noticed and respected by local people, but address less

men in their world.

The man who brought twentieth century to Yellagiri Fr. PM Thomas

The infrastructures have entered in. life style of the People of plain only intimidate the

poor tribals and make them realize their painful poverty. But then Guezou seems to

have entered their lives. To this day Guezou stands as unwelcomed person for some in

the hill. But their children are under the caring fold of the Salesian community thanks

to Guezou. The children offer the hope of brighter tomorrow which they never have

experienced. The mission has come of age, thanks to Fr Francis.

As a farmer Guezou has ploughed hard, planted and watered and God gives the

growth. It is the same story of D-Day that led to French liberation. The pioneer has tosuffer, even if it costs life.

A look around the current scenario will tell the tale of the Yellagiri hill. The land

sharks are around looking for their prey. Lodges and hotels have cropped up catering

to the vile of affordable Indian rich. Consumerism has placed its mark around here by

intimidating the lifestyle of tribal people. Greedy Indian sahibs roam about in Fridays

and weekends here in the name of tourism.

On the extreme positions of the hills, our ecumenical Christians have put up structures

of education and their own brand of missionary activities. The biggest village Nilavur

(city of moon) the center of Y hill, now sends children grudgingly to school run by StCharles Sisters.

People dont know anything about around them. The long died volcano that is the

Yellagiri, has steep and arid faade for people to grudge about while laboring on their

uphill climb. Mind. There wasnt a road in 1960s.

People here simply dont know anything. And so, not so much of talk about them

would help them in any way. Charlemagne promoted education to the once barbaric

Europe. French are the pioneers in democracy. Paris is known for her fashion and

taste. French knew the great wars that ate into their confidence of dignified living.

The strong love for the fatherland sustained the resistance movement that keptharassing the Nazi occupiers. Existentialism got into the French culture. Sense of

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philosophical brooding went into them through cultural unconsciousness. Such a

change that has been in twentieth century.

The birth throes of Vatican II, Birth of liberation theology in Latin America, Hippie

culture in the west (Flower children), cold war era, Inculturation movement in Tamil

Nadu, NBCLC and India, Tamil language upraising in 60s. rampant casteism,draughts and famine in 70s, widening the frontiers of science and space

Did Guezou become like De Nobli, Beschi, Bede Griffith, Livenes of Jharkhand

Adivasis? No, he simply remained Guezou.

What God has for him in this obscure hill? Is he academician? A Think-tank? Self-

fulfilled Catholic seer? Or what? Will he sit and spend time on reflection and write

bombastic spiritual statements unmindful of the people in his opposite hut struggling

with poverty? No. Guezou is not made for that.

Friend is the extension of ones self. Duhayon seems a correct expression for Guezou.He is definitely a missionary, But with what mission? It is very apparent in the

changes that he made in the lives of people he entered into communion. Address less

people (Still many are) he gave them a face in their society.

The shock of cultural transplantation demanded his psychological strains. He became

precise in communication and communion with others. He is no longer the French

man but a (Salesian) missionary. The salesianness that bloomed in Kerala didnt

happen in Yellagiri hills. It came very late and but profoundly in late 90s. Till then he

was battling his vagueness in missionary charism.

He is a farm-hand and a strong one. That is written well on his forehead - those strips

of lines. He never gave up when things were not in his way. Stood firm by just

courage? Dont know. What would power him other than faith? Anonymity is the

trademark of the poor and he took it on himself.

He is slightly free from the harsh climatic conditions of tropical India. Apart from it

he has nothing to hold on too. Life is just as it had been before. People still live in

huts, work on the field when elusive rains relents, if not struggle some other way. But

free from bonded labor. Did people see in him Gods hand? Those came in contact

with him surely would have seen it in his life of sacrifice. Those came to him for

money, surely would never have seen him other than a funding-being. It depends onthe perspective of the people.

He sacrificed his future for the unknown people of India. God might be opening a new

way of being missionary in this well-connected world. Charity is not only giving.

Traditional Tamil mentality is this

To beg is mean, whereas

To refuse a beggar is much more a mean

To give is noble, whereas

To decline is noblest.

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One must not educate people in beggarliness. Interdependency has been the hallmark

of Pauline Church. It is the communitarian nature of the Church. Through Guezou the

French church lived here on Yellagiri.

Loneliness and sense of failure which breeds desperate frustration is the common

cross for a missionary to carry. There were silver linings that God charted for him too.He must have held on to it. All of a sudden his year long sacrifice has taken a fresh

start and blown out in tremendous way. Thanks to Duhayon, a De Paul enthusiast.

Guezou has become the mirror of Duhayon and good willed people of France.

He went about digging wells, constructing buildings for schools, boardings,

dispensaries. He never appears before the camera alone, NEVER ALONE. He seems

to be at his self when the young people are around. That is where the Salesian in him

happens. As Salesian he is for the young.

The common response of the people is those of gratitude expressed in facilitation. He

was more like David Livingston, until Duhayon offered him a helping hand.