For the past eight days, 80-year-old Thresiamma has been receiving a steady streams of visitors at her home ‘Poochavelel’ in Udayagiri panchayat.
Political leaders, human right activists, and well wishers have been calling on her to console and reassure her after the arrest of her daughter, Sister Vandana Francis – one of two nuns jailed by Chhattisgarh police- on charges of forced conversions and human trafficking.
Despite her age and fading memory, Thresiamma remains glued to the television, closely following updates on the case. Ever since her children informed her of the arrest, she has been asking after her 60-year-old daughter. Vandana, the fourth of eight siblings, has been particularly dear to her mother. For 35 years, she has lived away from home, working among the poor and marginalised in remote corners of the country.
Her prayers did not go in vain, when the Chhattisgarh NIA court on Saturday gave conditional bail to Vandana Francis and Preeti Mary.
Her younger sibling, Jinson Mathew, said their mother may forget many things but becomes visibly anxious whenever news about the case came on television
“Just like our mother, all of us were deeply concerned about Sister Vandana and the others,” he said. However, the bail by the court has come as a huge relief, he added.
Mr. Jinson who returned from Chhattisgarh on Friday after meeting his sister, said she and others arrested had been falsely charged and described the situation after the arrests as “chaotic and undemocratic.” Though the conditions inside the jail are uncomfortable, the only solace they have is the massive support from people rallying for their release,” he said.
According to him, none of the women involved were minors and they were willingly travelling to Agra, where Sister Vandana is currently posted.
“The women were offered jobs at a hospital and joined the nuns voluntarily, with the full consent of their parents,” he clarified.
Vandan’s older sister, Molly Mathew, described her as a constant source of inspiration.
“She visited home once a year, staying for a week. But when she returned, she would take clothes and even gold from us to help poor girls to get married,” Molly said, calling her “generous and selfless”.
She dismissed the charges of human trafficking and forced conversion.
Molly recounted that Vandana joined the Assisi Sisters Mary Immaculate Congregation in Cherthala after completing her Class 12.
“From the beginning, she was kind, helpful and determined to follow the path of service. She was the first among four sisters to join the missionary service, mostly working in the northern Indian States,” she said.
Vandana’s younger sister Deepa Francis, also serves in the missionary in the north, while their eldest brother Fr. Kurian, is serving in Switzerland. The family, originally settlers in Thomarakkadu, moved to Udayagiri to their now house 40 years ago.
Through the uncertainly, Thressiamma continues to wait, surrounded by family, visitors and a growing tide of public support, hoping her daughter will return home.
Published – August 02, 2025 07:56 pm IST
