Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Christian Association is distressed at the prospect of a 78-year-old missionary facing deportation from the country by the end of this month. He is Father De Raet, a Belgian-born priest who first came to India way back in 1937 and has made India his permanent home.
Having worked among the tribals of Surgujia and other – places in eastern MP, he is now serving as a librarian in Bhopal’s prestigious Campion School.
He faced two expulsion orders in 1984 and in 1987, against which he appealed to the Supreme Court and obtained an interim stay order.
De’ Raet came to India in the prime of his youth as a Jesuit missionary and spent the best years of his life in the service of tribals of Bihar, Assam and later Surgujia district of eastern M.P. for about nine years. -. – He established complete rapport with the people through hard work and dedication to the cause of their education and health. The aged priest is a popular figure in the school where he now works. (Hindu Aug. 26).
