A pioneer educationist who brought free Don Bosco education to Kolkata's slum children died on July 19 in a hospital in the eastern Indian city. Salesian Father Joseph Aymanathil is the first Catholic priest to die in Kolkata archdiocese and the fifth in India. He was the 73.
Kolkata Salesian Provincial Father Joseph Pauria wrote in WhatsApp message, "Dear Confreres, it is with great sorrow that I communicate another sad news that Fr. Joseph Aymanathil passed away Sunday (19 July 2020) at 9:45 PM in Fortis Hospital, Kolkata." The message also said Father Aymanathil, who popularly known as FatherA. C. lose, was admitted for prostate related problems and was diagnosed with Covid•19. "He passed away while undergoing treatment." As Father Aymanathll was member of Provincial House Kolkata community, the entire Provincial House and Nitika Don Bosco complex has been sealed with 21 Salesians, most of them above 60 years old, inside. Father E. A.Thomas. a former Calcutta Salesian provincial who is currently in Sri Lanka says, You did such great service to the church, the Salesian congregation and to the poor wherever you ministered! We miss you. The poor will miss you more."
Thomas, principal of the Salesian College where Father Aymanathil studied, also writes, "Adieu Fr A.C. Joseph. You have shown us the way to be a missionary" The former also hailed Father Aymanathil as "the solace to the downtrodden and the marginalized of the neighborhood in the city"
He was a spiritually motivated person's in all that he did or spoke. The priest died on 115th clay of uninterrupted feeding program for Covid relief he had launched at Kapali Ragan and Kolkata's Sealdah Railway Station area. For some 30 years, Father Aymanathil pioneered quality education among slum children when he offered free tuition classes for those studying in Kolkata's Corporation schools of Tangra and Sealdah area.
Some slums from which children and teachers came for daily classes included Bibi Bagan, Kapali Bagan, Motijheel, Merlai Lane, Suarmari, Bamonpara, Seal Lane, Pottery Road. Dui Number Bridge. Theen Number Bridge, Palmer Bazaar, and Muchipara.
Each year, some 600 children profited from the project of Don Bosco education. Divided into primary section (2:30 pm to 4:30 pm) and senior section (5 pm to 7 pm) children used to be helped to study and do their home works in a comfortable environment with lights, fans and teachers. The slum children would come with clean dress and on time, were disciplined. eager to learn and proud to say that they were studying at Don Bosco, testified Lokhan, retired Security Guard at Nitika Don Bosco. Father Aymanathil was the first Salesian of Kolkata province who secured a doctoral degree in Canon Law from Salesian
University Rome in 1989, and served also on Calcutta Archdiocesan Tribunal for several years. As a canon law lawyer, he was specialized in marriage rectification. He also served as the consultant for laicization of priests and religious for several congregations and dioceses. Alumnus of Salesian College Sonada 1973 batch, Father Aymanathil did his theological studies in Kristu broil College Bangalore and was ordained priest on December 19, 1977, at Pannimattam, Pala diocese, Kerala.
After serving as assistant parish priest in Murshidabad and Nadia missions like Polsonda More, Joypur, and Ranaghat, he went to Rome in 1984 for doctoral studies in Church Law. On his return he was posted in Kolkata Provincial House. Auxilium Parish and Nitika Don Bosco in 1989. He remained there until 2020. From 2003, he was spiritual director of Calcutta Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (CCCRS) group. In 2006. he pioneered the Bible Study program at Archbishop's House Kolkata.
