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Christians in Mangalore have honored members of three Hindu families who had protected their church from Muslim invaders more than two centuries ago. Father Paul Pinto, parish priest of Our Lady of Remedies Church, honored the three with areca nut, beetle leaves and a bunch of plantains on Nov. 24 as part of an age-old tradition. The three Hindu households had saved the Kirem Church from destruction in 1784 by Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan. The recipients of the honor represent the three households.
 

Tipu had demolished all 27 churches of Mangalore on suspicions of the secret allegiance by Christians to the British, the country’s then-rulers. His men had instructed local Hindu people to dismantle the Kirem Church and transport it piece by piece to nearby Mulky village. The three Hindu families sent tiles and timbers of the church to Mulky but saved the wall structures. After Tipu’s death in 1799, the the remains of the church was renovated. “As a mark of gratitude for saving the structure of the church, the tradition started and continues even to this date,” said Albert Pinto, an 85-year-old parishioner. Father Pinto said that some Christians are bit “skeptical about the age-old tradition.” But the priest said the ceremony carries a powerful message of inter-religious harmony in times of continuous attacks on churches by Hindu fundamentalists.
 

Father Valerian Pinto, a former parish priest of Kirem, said the ancestors of Christians were either imprisoned or hidden in secret places. “It is God who sent Hindu guardian angels,” he added. Dinesh Shetty, one of the Hindus who received the honor, said he is elated by the “honors presented by Christian brethren.” Dejappa Shetty said, “I feel that more than 300 members of the three households must have joined hands in the protection proceedings.” Shrimathi Shetty from Mumbai said that she visits Christian shrines. At least 12 Hindu descendents of the three households were present on the occasion.