Kerala - Kochi   

Glowing tributes paid to Acharuparampil

KOCHI: Mayor Mercy Williams suggested here on Tuesday that it would be appropriate to name a road in Kochi in memory of the late Archbishop Dr. Daniel Acharuparampil as the city renewed its memory of a scholar on Indian schools of thought, a dedicated shepherd of his flock and a great human being who sought to spread the message of fraternity among various religious groups.

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi inaugurated the memorial meeting at the Ernakulam Town Hall.

He said he met the late Archbishop for the last time after he took charge as the Minister nearly six months ago.

Mr. Ravi said the Archbishop always stood for fraternity among the various communities of people and in his death the Catholic Church and society at large had sustained a great loss.

Prof. Williams said the late prelate never turned away from the issues that confronted the city. He was always alive to the civic issues and had extended a helping hand in solving the problem of growing piles of urban waste in the corporation area.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas recalled that the Archbishop’s father Rocky was his teacher at the Kumbalanghi St. Peter’s School. Minister for Public Works P. J. Joseph recalled that between 1996 and 2001 he had several occasions to interact with the Archbishop on issues related to education and development of educational institutions. He was always kind and generous in his approach to every problem, the Minister said.

The Archbishop made the Christian message meaningful to all, said the Minister for Fisheries S. Sarma. He always maintained a warm relationship with the Archbishop, he said.

C. K. Manishankar, Deputy Mayor of the corporation read out the condolence message.

Mar Joseph Greogorios, secretary of the Jacobite Syrian Church and Bishop Joseph Karikkassery, Administrator of the Varappuzha Archdiocese, also recalled the contributions made by the late Archbishop.

Justice of the Kerala High Court Kurien Joseph; Assistant Solicitor General T. P. M. Ibrahim Khan and several MLAs, former MPs and prominent citizens of Kochi were among those present at the memorial meeting.

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