SILOAM - FOR REGAINING SIGHT, GAINING INSIGHT

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As we move up from Guwahati to the beckoning hill city of Shillong, mid-way is Bara Pani ('r' usually pronounced closer to 'd' for the South Indians), and on the righthand you find the beautiful Umiam lake created by the dam on Umiam river.  You have to take a right turn along the lake from the highway at Uribang and go along the lake side for about 1.8 km on the Umswal road to reach this Indian Siloam. (Finding may locations beginning with Um in this region generates curiosity - that has something to do with water. Um means water in Khasi. Um with iam makes it tears of water) I got a shared taxi from Khanapara and trekked the 1.8 kms in the soft drizzle with my backpack and  laptop bag.  I thought that should fit better for our gathering on COP 30, as Christians interested in our Common Home. 

Siloam, from a Biblical point of view is a pool of healing, to where the blindman seeking sight 'is sent' by Jesus to wash his eyes and gain eye sight. The term is said to literally mean 'to be sent'.  So it is place where one is sent to be washed off one's limitations and gain or regain sight (Gospel as told by St. John, chapter 9 in the Holy Bible). 

The visitors to Siloam are encouraged to call up beforehand or else are likely to find it difficult to get entry, as there is no gatekeeper. Fortunately, I had the number of the director saved from my previous  visit as part of my pan-India solo ride for 'green peace and trust' in 2021. I sportingly bore the soft rain for about 25 minutes in the process of gaining ascertaining whether I was at the right place and gaining access. 

It is beyond imagination, how Rev. Fr George Palamattam SDB had the foresight and good fortune to
procure a piece of land on that waterbody! Perhaps, he had done that before the waterbody was formed. I guessed it right.  The Salesians had this property way back in 1963, when the waters of Umiam for Hydel project with a tunnel diverting the water to the turbines were just getting dammed. But it had to wait for long till the beginning of 21st century, for the arrival of a Saviour in Fr George, with his training in Psychology from California to appear on the scene. In a matter of 2 decades the campus, without great alteration to its undulated topography, has been converted into what generally people take for the lost Paradise of the Biblical story. The abundance of fruits, diversity of trees and flowering plants, mix of the species of the plains and the hills - we have a mini forest of pines as if standing guard on the eastern edge on the top (not actually part of the campus) and the lower end merging into the lake.  Though guarded jealously by the omnipresent Fr George, it is a self-effacing act - nowhere did I see anything in the exterior that makes a claim the Salesians ownership - the SDB tail is missing, nor is Fr George anywhere on those structures or documents.

The valley, for an aam aadmi is a museum, for better read person an e-book (ecology book), but for Fr George, whose brainchild and labour of love Siloam Biblical Valley is, it is a 'retreat'.  While getting naturally energised by the elements of the common home, the campus presents visual landscape of an Eco-spirituality and Christian doctrine and general knowledge about Christianity.  Over the years, he has come to believe in the daily dosage of Bible (like an apple a day) for a healthy living on the path of Christ.  One of the exercises he suggests to the spiritual seeker would be to read one gospel at a stretch and experience what Jesus says to one. 

I admire this Salesian trait of creating learning resources by thematic presentation of information and arrangement of cultural artefacts. Perhaps, this is unique to their North Eastern provinces of India. The great museum of tribal heritage of Shillong, the campus museum of Jorhat and Siloam stand testimony to this trait. 

In the 4 years since my last visit on my pan-India ride on 'Trust-Green-Peace' as a pilgrimage on the Indian roads (2021), there is a new addition of the amphitheater model of display of these aspects.  It leads one to the pool of Siloam at the centre and also the lowest point, where one can regain vision, one can revitalise oneself. 

It can also be a paradise for a student of life-science, an inspiration for an architect, a librarian, a theologian and a philospher. The campus gives residential facilities to about 50 people at a time. Spacious rooms and cottages, usually on a twin-sharing basis. Even in hot summer the rooms are comfortable without an air-conditioner. Hope it remains thus.  The dining area opens to the lake giving a great experience of dining in fellowship with humans and the planet. 

The lake appears to be free for people who would like to fish. I saw several people engaged in angling. And for sure there are birds for those who would love to watch them. However, a boat ride of about 10 minutes on the lake would cost you around Rs. 2000.00, which can be shared among 10 riders. Showers are frequent and that adds charm to the campus.  

The vision and resourcefulness Fr George, accompanied by the freedom his religious order has given him, have led to this new creation. I saw the name of other team members listed - people who could contribute without becoming a meddlesome baggage I suppose.  Creating one such island of diversity, perhaps, not with so many of human artefacts, is my dream as well, as my days are getting counted. 

While the campus can be inspirational for anyone, for a Christian visiting this part of the country, a place not to be missed. There is an entry fee of Rs. 100 for a person.