ROGERS NOT OUT

Long before the advent of SMS and abbreviations like asap, “Roger” was a word frequently used in signalling and communications; especially between pilots of war planes. Roger was an expression of agreement or acknowledgement of a message. To end the communication, a pilot would say “Roger and Out”.

This November 2007, I am writing about a different kind of communication and understanding, one which is in danger of going out. Hence this piece to keep a memory and a message alive. But why Roger? Because the man I am writing about is the late Rev Charles Murray Rogers. Born in Surrey, England in 1917, he died on the 17th October 2006 in Oxford.

Father Murray, as I always addressed him, may have been on Englishman by birth, but he was an Indian at heart. He was an Anglican pastor, but truly Catholic in his spiritual vision and mission. While studying in Cambridge in 1938 he met Rev C.F. Andrews (known as Deenabandu in India). In 1940 he married Mary Hole, and the missionary couple planned to make India their mission territory through the Church Missionary Society. It was only after the Second World War ended, that they could begin their Indian sojourn in 1945. For the next 26 years, till they left for Jerusalem in 1971, India was their home. Nothing extraordinary in the story so far.

The Rogers began their mission in the Agricultural Institute in Allahabad, a Christian institute, of which he was the chaplain. But visionary that he was, Rev Rogers soon experienced various stirrings. Had the colonial “missionary” come to convert the ignorant, idol worshipping natives? Something didn’t ring true. Was Christianity everything? Was God not present elsewhere; in all times, paces and religious traditions? The meeting with Deenabandu Andrews was widening his horizons, as was the Gandhi factor. The Rogers moved to Gandhiji’s Sevagram Ashram in Wardha for a year.

Rev Rogers now felt that the Church had presumed too much in trying to preach and teach Indians about God, religion and spirituality. He felt that Christians had much to learn form Hinduism’s rich traditions and philosophy. He also felt distinctly uneasy with the institutional Church condescendingly “dispensing religion”. He found it in stark contrast to the incarnational approach of Jesus. Jesus was incarnated in a specific milieu, culture, language, etc. He talked the language of men, being one with them.

But the Church in north India, coming as it did in the shadow of colonialism and imperialism, itself assumed an imperialistic approach. The imperialistic British army adapted to the various customs and traditions of warrior groups like the Sikhs, Dogras, Gorkhas and Marathas; making separate ethnic regiments for them. But the Indian church was totally western, be it Anglican or Roman. Jaikishans became Jacksons, Despandes became D’souzas, Makwanas became Mcwans, etc. They were Johnny - Tony - Topi - Tie, main hoon Isaibhai! You couldn’t be a Christian without eating beef, and assuming a western life style. It is this distortion of Christianity that Gandhiji encountered; leading to his almost condemnatory statement that he liked Christ, but not Christians.

Rev Rogers sensed this very strongly. He felt that Christ had to be incarnated in an Indian milieu that respected all religions and drew from their goodness. This spurred him to establish Jyotiniketan Ashram in the village of Kareli, just outside the city of Bareilly in U.P., in 1953. It was designed by the renowned architect Laurie Baker, who specialised in low-cost housing, incorporating indigenous materials and designs. Those of us who lived in Jyotiniketan jokingly called it an all weather construction – sweltering hot in summer, bitterly cold in winter, and damp and leaky during the monsoons!

The rooms had mud floors plastered with cow dung, asbestos sheets for roofing, half walls and half wire nettings. There was no electricity or running water. Liturgy and life were the same - squatting on the floor. There were some fields, a mango grove, dense bamboo clumps and dozens of peacocks. It was a joyous blend of Franciscan frugality and nature’s pristine beauty. It was a haven of peace and a beacon of light. Scholars and seekers came from all over the world. The French Benedictine monk Dom Le Saux, better known as Swami Abhishiktanand, was a frequent visitor, until he disappeared in the snowy Himalayas.

Though an Anglican, Rev Rogers celebrated the Eucharist everyday. He, and his wife Mary, studied the Hindu scriptures, and incorporated many beautiful passages from the Upanishads into their liturgy. They used rich Indian symbols like aarti, agarbatties, camphor and deepaks. Christianity can never be ethereal, so the Rogers also started a small dispensary to give simple and cheap health care to the neighbouring villagers. The third permanent member of the community was Heather Sandeman from Scotland.

Together with inter-religious dialogue, Rev Rogers was also a strong proponent of ecumenism. Some of his closest associates, like Rev Raimundo Panniker SJ, were Catholic. Because of his rich ecumenical experiences, Rev Rogers was made an expert consultant to the World Council of Churches.

Like St. Augustine, a deeply spiritual person is restless. He cannot sit back and rest on his accomplishments. Rev Rogers sensed that though he could change his thinking, he couldn’t change the colour of his white skin! He felt that if Jyotiniketan was to be truly Indian, the ashram acharya should be Indian. It was time to let go and move on. Not finding a suitable successor in the Anglican community, he handed the ashram over to a Capuchin priest – Fr. Augustine Lobo OFM Cap, who, co-incidentally, assumed the name of Swami Deenabandu!

At the age of 60, when most people think of retirement, Swami Deenabandu learnt how to speak Hind, roll chapattis and chop wood! The ecumenical, incarnational, ascetic Franciscan lifestyle continued for the next 20 years, till Swamiji’s passing on in 1991. I was privileged to spend 7 beautiful years there from 1975 to 1982.

The Rogers, on their part, continued their mission of ecumenism, spirituality and religious dialogue, in Jerusalem, Canada and eventually back in England. Rev Rogers finally succumbed to cancer. His beloved wife of 66 years standing could not bear the separation and soon followed him into the bosom of Abraham. Heather is the last flickering candle. Those who remember the Rogers could write to her at: All Saints’ Convent, St. Mary’s Road, Oxford OX4 IQE, England.

Rev Rogers was a visionary, way ahead of his time. Today, 42 years after the Vatican II “Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”, the Church in India seems to have slid backwards. It has lost the thrust of ecumenism, asceticism, deep spirituality and sincere dialogue. We need to say “Roger” again – to understand and accept. Rev Rogers is gone, but he is not over and out.

*The writer was closely associated with Rev Rogers for several years.