Gladys Staines (born c. 1951) is the widow of Australian missionary Graham Staines. Graham Staines was burnt alive along with their two sons Philip (aged 10) and Timothy (aged 7) by a mob led by the Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh in Odisha, India on 22 January 1999.[1][2][3]
Shortly after the sentencing of the killers, Staines issued a statement saying that she had forgiven the killers and had no bitterness towards them.[4] Rather than return to Australia, Staines "decided to stay in India where she and her husband had served lepers for 15 years", keeping her daughter Esther, with her, stating: "I cannot just leave those people who love and trust us. I have high regard for the people of India and their tolerance."[5]
In 2004, Christianity Today described this woman as "the best-known Christian in India after Mother Teresa."[5] In 2005, she was awarded the Padma Shri, a civilian award from the Government of India.[6][7] As a result of the contributions earned from receiving that award, Staines transformed the leper house she served at into a full hospital.[8] In November 2015, Staines was awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice and after receiving the award, she stated "I thank God for his help in enabling me to carry out the work in caring for people with leprosy, even after my husband was killed."[9][10]
References
- ↑ Movie on Graham Staines Fails to Be the Reminder India Needs. The Wire. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ↑ Anti-Christian Violence on the Rise in India. Human Rights Watch(1999-09-30). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ↑ V. ATTACKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. www.hrw.org. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ↑ "I have forgiven them": Gladys Staines
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Forgiver of Missionary Martyrdoms Wins India's Mother Teresa Award, Lee, Morgan. Christianity Today(15 December 2015). Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ Padma Awards. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India(2015). Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ↑ Film marks the 20th anniversary of missionary Graham Staines’ killing in India. Religion Unplugged. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ↑ INDIA "Mother Teresa" award to the widow of Pastor Graham Staines, Carvalho, Nirmala. AsiaNews(25 November 2015). Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ Forgiver of Missionary Martyrdoms Wins India's Mother Teresa Award, Lee, Morgan. Christianity Today(15 December 2015). Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ INDIA "Mother Teresa" award to the widow of Pastor Graham Staines, Carvalho, Nirmala. AsiaNews(25 November 2015). Retrieved 16 December 2015.
External links
- "Kalam meets Gladys Staines", 15 May 2003
- "No comments, says Gladys Staines", 15 September 2003
- "Gladys Staines may leave India forever" - Times of India article, 14 July 2004
- "Gladys Staines bids adieu to India" - Times of India article, 15 July 2004
- "Gladys Staines leaves India promising to return"