A Catholic Saint and His Dockside Bullies

The dignity and defiance of Father Stan Swamy.

S. Subramanian

The dignity and defiance of Father Stan Swamy.

a catholic saint and his dockside bullies

Father Stan and his Tormentors. Art: Pariplab Chakraborty/The Wire

Excerpt of an exchange between Sir Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell in Robert Bolt's play, A Man for All Seasons:

"You threaten like a dockside bully."

"How should I threaten?"

"Like a Minister of State, with justice."

"Oh, justice is what you are threatened with."

"Then I am not threatened."

Father Stan Swamy, S. J., died unthreatened.

S. Subramanian is an economist, independent researcher, former National Fellow of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, and a retired Professor of the Madras Institute of Development Studies.

This article went live on July seventh, two thousand twenty one, at fourteen minutes past seven in the morning.

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