The Tragic Story of Graham Staines and His Sons
On the night of 22 January 1999, Graham Staines and his two sons, Philip and Timothy, settled into their station wagon in the small village of Manoharpur, Odisha. The jungle camp they were attending was an annual Christian gathering where fellowship and faith were celebrated. For the Staines family, such events were part of their mission-driven lives, fostering a sense of community among tribal Christians. The boys, aged just 10 and 6, had joined their father on this trip, enjoying a break from their boarding school in southern India.
Little did they know that as they closed their eyes that night, a mob was gathering nearby, armed with axes, sticks, and petrol. Their intentions were fuelled by deep-seated hatred and unfounded accusations against Graham, who had spent 34 years serving the community through medical care and social upliftment. As the family slept, the mob descended on the station wagon, blocking any chance of escape. They smashed the windows, doused the vehicle in petrol, and set it alight. Trapped inside, Graham and his sons fought to escape the blaze but were ultimately consumed by the flames. When the fire finally died down, the bodies of the three were found intertwined—Graham’s arms wrapped protectively around his boys in a final act of love.
The Aftermath of an Unthinkable Tragedy
The brutal murders sent shockwaves across India and the world, highlighting the growing tensions between religious communities in the region. Politicians, religious leaders, and activists condemned the attack, with then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee calling it a “shameful crime” and promising swift action. However, questions were raised about the government’s inability to prevent such acts of violence and its role in fostering a climate where extremism could thrive.
Local villagers, many of whom had benefitted from Graham’s selfless service, were devastated. Known for running a leprosy home in Baripada, Graham had dedicated his life to helping the most vulnerable. His work was never about proselytisation, as some of his detractors claimed, but rather about compassion and care. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, one of the accused killers, Mahendra Hembram, stated that the killers "were provoked by the 'corruption of tribal culture' by the missionaries, who they claimed fed villagers beef, and gave the women brassieres and sanitary towels."
The Hunting of Justice For Graham Staines
The investigation into the attack quickly identified Dara Singh, a Hindu nationalist, as the leader of the mob. Singh was accused of targeting Graham Staines under the false belief that he was forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. After a series of arrests, Singh and several others were brought to trial. In 2003, a court convicted Dara Singh of leading the attack, sentencing him to death, while 12 accomplices received life imprisonment. However, in 2005, the Odisha High Court commuted Singh’s death sentence to life imprisonment, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 2011.
The court declared:
"In the case on hand, though Graham Staines and his two minor sons were burnt to death while they were sleeping inside a station wagon at Manoharpur, the intention was to teach a lesson to Graham Staines about his religious activities, namely, converting poor tribals to Christianity. All these aspects have been correctly appreciated by the High Court and modified the sentence of death into life imprisonment with which we concur."
"Our concept of secularism is that the State will have no religion. The State shall treat all religions and religious groups equally and with equal respect without in any manner interfering with their individual right of religion, faith and worship."
"It is undisputed that there is no justification for interfering in someone's belief by way of 'use of force', provocation, conversion, incitement or upon a flawed premise that one religion is better than the other"
While justice was technically served, the incident left a lasting scar on India’s religious landscape. For many, it was a stark reminder of the dangers of religious intolerance and the need for greater efforts to promote harmony and understanding.
A Legacy of Forgiveness and Grace
In the face of unimaginable loss, Gladys Staines, Graham’s widow, chose a path of forgiveness and healing. Remaining in India until 2004, she continued her husband’s work among leprosy patients, showing the same compassion that had defined Graham’s mission. Her public statements, marked by grace and hope, resonated deeply:
“I forgive the people who killed my husband and my children. I harbour no bitterness because forgiveness brings healing. It frees you from hatred and bitterness.”
Gladys’s steadfast commitment to her faith and her late husband’s mission earned her widespread admiration. In 2005, she was honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, for her contributions to society.