[Stephan Herald Mascarenhas, (Hemacharya) hails from Kinnigoly, Mangalore, a graduate from Mysore University; holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications, Trained in Quality Assurance and TQM from American Business Systems and Tuv Bayren (India); Certified Lead Auditor from Lloyds Register, UK. Professionally he is a Financial consultant & Lecturer at Sophia College, Breach Candy, Bombay in Finance, Administration and Quality in India, Oman and the U.A.E. for reputed organizations Worked as Admin & Quality Assurance Manager for a shipping company in Dubai. Currently Managing Director of Daijiworld Publications Pvt Ltd and editor in chief of daijiworld (International)English Magazine Founder of Ujwal Prakashan, A Regular contributor for Konkani and Kannada media. Had been on the Editorial board of prominent Konkani Journals. Worked as a regional reporter for Prajaprabutva, a Kannada Daily published from Bangalore. His Son Ian Austin, aged 26 passed away on December 23, 2017 following a car accident in Mangalore in his memory, A foundation, Ian Cares Foundation has been formed by the family to take care of rehabilitation of teenagers from drugs/drinks/smoking in Kinnigoli]
JOSEPH THE MESSIAH OF THE VOICELESS
According to Mahatma Gandhi, God is a friend and saviour of the poor. Hence he has created a few men in his image who are visible to us, those who feel the pain of the hungry, the poor and the unprivileged.
Snehalaya: Seeing is believing
As we set off from our office in Mangalore city, our journey began with a doubt & a question as to what to expect from a place called Snehalaya. We assumed that it’s just like another orphanage or so called Ashram for the destitute like any other; we have featured in our twelve years of journalism. But after driving down 45 km., on the Mangalore, Kasargod highway, when we reach Manjeshwar town and ask for the direction towards Snehalaya, to our great surprise, every other person (mostly Muslims) is so excited to guide and lead us unto the right path. Although Brother Joseph Crasta, the Managing Trustee & Executive Director of Snehalaya had sent the Google Map to trace his centre we were just double checking the route so that we don’t go too far. One of the passer-by even volunteered to take us through the road until our destination. We however, politely and thankfully refused his offer. We were filled with so full of excitement as we winded up our short journey and landed just in front of the gates of Snehalaya, the Psycho Social Rehabilitation Centre. There was a clear answer to both our confused doubt & the question at the first sight of the campus. Brother Joseph was there with a broad smile to welcome us, who took us into the small chapel for a brief prayer.
Who is God?
This question echoed in my mind as Brother Joseph led us through the women’s wing of the Rehabilitation centre. It was like ‘Seeing is believing.’ It is believed that there are 84 lakh living beings, only human beings earn their living, others depend on the nature or the other beings for their daily needs. However, not a single creature on this earth goes without food. If many human beings earn and live due to their hard work, there are a few who are taken care by angels sent by God. Brother Joseph Crasta is one among them. He operates and tends to the needs of humanity from a centre called Snehalaya in Bachalike, in the ‘God’s own Country’, the State of Kerala.
Where is Snehalaya?
The Snehalaya campus is situated in a green clad scenic plateau called Bachalike, on Pavoor Manjeswar road, in Kasargod district. Snehalaya, captures the attention at first sight, and in outlook will be mistaken for an educational institution rather than a rehabilitation centre. The centre is stretched from both sides with 10 acres of land filled with scenic beauty, both peaceful and graceful.
About Joseph Crasta
Brother Joseph was born on November 5, 1970 in Sitangoli, a small village in Kasargod to parents Marcel and Mary Crasta. He had his early education at St Bartholemia Higher Primary School, Bela and Government High School, Kumble. His father used to work in a liquor shop, and had no means to educate his three children. Hence the destiny forced Joseph to leave the school and join his father as his assistant, but it is said, much of the cash from the drawer was spent on poor destitute by a young and kind hearted Joseph.
Those were the days the schedule tribe people (who are called ‘Koragas in local language) were ill-treated and considered as outcast. Joseph’s father had the heart to welcome them inside his house and feed them. Many people who known Joseph by now feel that he has inherited the virtues of his father, as they say Yatha Raja tatha Praja.
At the right age, Joseph married Olivia and they have two children —Joslia and Jovial. While Joseph takes care of the rehab centre his wife Olivia Sheela, who is a teacher by profession, takes care of the garden and pet animals that in turn take care of the whole community within Snehalaya.
His family stays in a small house adjacent to the centre. His daughter Joslia is married and settled in Belthangadi whereas Jovial (indeed a jovial boy) studies law and assists his father in taking care of IT and Social Media activities.
Simple and smiling, handsome Brother Joseph is always found wearing a long-sleeved cotton kurta-trouser and walks bare-foot —simplicity is his virtue, he communicates with simple narration without exaggeration. He firmly believes that every humanitarian effort starts with the generosity of kind hearted people and person like him only works as a catalyst in taking their help and carrying forward the mission to the needy.
From a driver to a driving force
Brother Joseph started his career as a light driver/cleaner of small vehicles, later obtained license to drive heavy vehicles and became driver of a Mangalore — Bombay bus. Once he was injured in a serious traffic accident and was hospitalised for several weeks. There were no chances of his survival; he remained unconscious for a very long period. One day a miracle took place and Joseph opened his eyes to the great surprise of the medical fraternity. He came to know that he is admitted in a hospital. His recovery from that day was phenomenal.
According to him it was his second life. Perhaps this was for a different humanitarian cause in his life. Once back home, Joseph spent a few days taking total rest and then proceeded to Potta in Kerala for a 10 days spiritual Inner healing retreat. “It is here that I was anointed and commissioned for the job what I am doing today,” he says and adds, “I understood the real meaning of my existence. 1 realised where I came from and where I should go. I found a destination for my journey on this earth.” Soon he started running an auto rickshaw to keep fires burning at his home and to take care of his family but the fire to take care of the under-privileged was already lit in his heart.
The first ‘spark’
We wondered how at a time when the anti-social elements are thriving so rapidly, a shining star can emerge in such a distant land called Manjeshwar. Especially a Samaritan who takes care of those who look weird and gravely dirty, in smelling clothes and body rotten with various ailments, those who cannot communicate, instead they agitate — how this person thinks of rehabilitating them?
We start by asking him, what is that one incident caught his imagination and provided him the much needed motivation?
Once he was at the Bunder fish market in Mangalore, he saw a woman in dirty clothes and in unstable mind, drinking the fish soaked water. It was noontime; time to fill one’s stomach but that lady had nothing to quench her thirst or her hunger. Joseph was shocked, he ran screeching at her and pulled her hand from drinking fish water, rushed to a nearby restaurant and bought a full meal for her. The joy he saw on her face looking at the full meal changed his life. “Her face is still intact on the screen on my mind”, – he says.
I am thirst, I am hungry, I am without clothes, I am without a roof on my head the words of Jesus Christ echoed in his mind. From then onwards there was no looking back.
In 2007 the rampant spread of chikungunya fever around the place disturbed his mind as he took initiative in transporting many patients for treatment to Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore city which was crowded with patients. He also took a few to Mother Theresa Home in Mangalore and Vishwasada Mane in Shankarapura, Udupi.
Soon he obtained a 21 cents land with a tile house as part of his share from his ancestral property at Tuminadu, near Talapady followed by an unforgettable incident in his life.
On the fifth day of his auto ride, he saw two boys in a most shameful condition and in unstable minds in a gutter, near State Bank Hampankatta. Neither they had the control over their emotions nor on their physique as both were injured and mentally retarded. They were almost naked, there was a deep cut on the forehead of a youth from which fuss filled blood and worms were sprouting out. The other had lost one leg. Joseph had no heart to leave them in that state.
It was August 26, 2009, the birthday of Mother Theresa; Joseph made them get into his auto with the help of onlookers and brought them to his home at Tuminadu. With the support of his family, he trimmed their hair, gave them bath, cleaned their wounds and offered them food after a short prayer.
This is how Snehalaya was born
Someone called Arun Saldanha offered him two thousand rupees to take care of these two boys. Arun was the first donor. The fishermen at the fish market provided fish free of cost twice a week; many kind hearted people came forward to support him. Both the Wenlock hospital and Yenepoya hospital offered free counselling service and medication. With their help within soon, Brother Joseph could rehabilitate 20 more destitute picked from the gutters of the city. Within soon, the Kerala Government provided the permission to run an ‘old age home’ which was a much needed munificence.
Within four years, the inmate’s number swelled to 50 and they found the place insufficient.
The appeal to Kerala Government to recognise the place as ‘Psycho Social rehabilitation centre’ was fructified so also the government agreed to pay salaries to the staff appointed at the centre.
Without wasting much time, Brother Joseph commenced construction of new premises on August 2013 at the present venue Bachalike, on a barren land of 50 cents which got ready within a year, thanks to the kind hearted donors who responded to his appeal spontaneously. Within one more year yet another floor of 6000 square feet was added. The whole compound today consists of a large open yard, and the adjacent places consist of the men’s wing, TV rooms, library, media office on the ground floor and other basic amenities.
By this time, a Germany based Episcopal Conference Institution came to the support of Brother Joseph Crasta. They provided a grant of Rs. 2.5 crore to build the present women’s wing of three floors. With this facility, at the moment Snehalaya takes care of 54 women, 148 men both with physical and mental illness and 40 senior citizens at Shanti Dham. (The Shrine of Peace)
WhatsApp Charity Group
Brother Joseph says any person can become mentally ill — at any age, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, highly educated or even highly professionals, young or old, children or youth, there is no distinction but if such people are given love and the right treatment on time, they can jump back to life. Further he adds, there is no greater religion than love and compassion. (Refer the testimonies)
According to Brother Joseph, the usage of drugs and other depressant solutions are the worst enemies of the present world. Many youth become victims of this illness at an early age and end up with depression or untimely death. He has, to date nurtured and rehabilitated more than 700 destitute and handed them over to their loved ones, through the help of social media, various social organisations and government agencies and police personnel.
While we see around our generation misusing the social media for irrelevant causes, I suggest they take a lesson from Brother Joseph as to how social media can be used for the welfare of human kind, for the benefit of those poor and underprivileged, sick and needy. Best example is his ‘Whatsapp Charity group.’
Mannah Program
Snehalaya was the pioneer in providing mid-day meal to the patients at Wenlock Hospital in the city. During the lockdown as the government decided to convert the facility as District COVID Hospital, the Mannah program was suspended temporarily.
However, during the period Snehalaya provided 300 meals to the hungry daily labourers for a month at Uppala, Manimunda and Talapady Mariashram. They also supplied breakfast and meals to 150 people per day for 15 days when lockdown was relaxed.
Snehalaya has since resumed the above services, distributing free food (Mannah) plus medicines and clothes to the poor patients at Wenlock Hospital with the help of donors through his WhatsApp group. During the COVID lockdown period, a special facility for the people was provided free of cost as part of their mission. It was free ambulance service for the patients to move to the hospital and take them back home. Also the ambulances transported the dead bodies with their family members to the respective house or burial grounds/crematoriums.
Pandemic opened a new avenue of charity
COVID pandemic also opened a new avenue to carry on another challenging mission at Snehalaya. The volunteers identified a few houses in nearby areas in dismal condition. With the support of kind hearted persons 8 houses are inaugurated and handed over the beneficiaries. There is a huge number of applications flowing seeking help.
The centre also strives for educating the needy children, extends financial aid to the girls for their marriage, organises anti-drugs and anti-alcohol meetings regularly. While most of his mentally and physically ill patients are treated at Wenlock Hospital or Yenepoya Hospital the centre has in house counselling, so also medical and other specialists visit the place and take care of the inmates regularly.
Snehalaya has fruitfully engaged Self- Help groups in manufacturing bio-compost, detergents and soaps, surf, phenyl, in preparing paper bags, collecting honey and handling tailoring works. Inmates are encouraged to grow vegetables and fruits, rearing sheep, poultry under the supervision of the secretary of the Trust.
Inmates have easy access to daily newspapers, magazines, TV in a big hall that serves as a meeting place so also a place of entertainment. Also inmates are encouraged to pray according to their faith in prayer rooms provided to them. The national festivals are celebrated as a community so also sports, competitions are held daily to keep the inmates engaged and entertained.
While we were led by Brother Joseph on the second floor of Men’s wing, we saw some of them sitting on the floor and passing on some kind of a small thing. Joseph explained that it’s a kind of exercise for the mentally ill inmates to learn certain soft skills which help them to jump back to life. Even mentally stable women are encouraged to do craft work of their choice, which is sold to the fascinating buyers.
In the words of Mother Theresa, “It is not about how much you do, but how much love you do that counts.”
Perhaps these words fully fructify the work being carried out at Snehalaya, the home of Love. Joseph and his team is serving the society relentlessly to create a better society, better people in the present chaotic society. Joseph is a messiah of the least brothers who has no voice.
Indeed, Joseph Crasta and his Snehalaya deserve all appreciation for their humanitarian work. They have rescued the less unfortunate from the streets time and again and given scores of people a new lease of life. May their good work continue, and may their tribe increase.
