Lucas Marandi

Marandi was born on 4 April 1922 at Beneedwar in a Santali Dinajpur to Mathius Marandi and Maria Kisku.[1] He was converted to the Christianity as per rule of theology after nine days of his birth.

Marandi received his primary education from Beniduar Mission Primary School.[1] He was admitted into Dinajpur Santal Middle School (now St. Philip's Boarding School) in 1934. Later, he was sent to Italy to study divine perfection and attributes.[1] After completing studies from there he came back to his country.

Marandi was appointed as a bishop at the cathedral of Dinajpur on 1 December 1955.[1] He also worked as a religious teacher and was appointed as the leader of his community. At first he was sent to work in Mariampur Mission in Ghoraghat of Dinajpur.[1] Later, he was sent to work at St. Philip's Boarding.

Marandi took interim responsibility of Dinajpur religion state in 1965 but due to the Indo-Pak War he faced some difficulties in conducting missionary work in that place.[1] He was then appointed a temporary bishop at Ruhea in Thakurgaon.

Besides missionary work Marandi worked to build up leadership to develop agriculture.[1] He introduced a boarding school at Ruhea in Thakurgaon.

After the beginning of the Liberation War of Bangladesh the refugees took shelter at Ruhea Missionary.[1] Marandi provided food and shelter of these people. He motivated the young people to join the Liberation War of Bangladesh.[1] He also provided treatment and medicine to the injured freedom fighters secretly.

On 12 April 1971 Marandi crossed the border and went to India to collect medicine for the freedom fighters.[1] After returning he saw that the people of Ruhea began to move to the refugee camps of India. In the meantime he was told to leave Ruhea Mission.[1] Then he decided to leave his country with the people of his missionary. Though he crossed the border, he returned to Ruhea later.[1]

On 21 April 1971 an army jeep appeared in front of the Mission and four soldiers got down from the jeep. Marandi welcomed them and offered them tea and biscuits.[2] They had a suspicion that freedom fighters might be given shelter in the mission. They searched and found nothing. Then they left the mission.

The jeep came back again after three hours.[2] They took Marandi out of the mission. He was killed by them by bayonet charge.[1] His dead body was taken to the Catholic Church at Islampur in India and he was buried there.[2]

A memorial monument was built at Ruhea Mission to memorise him.[1] A football competition is held every year at Beniduar Mission on 21 April in memory of him. A road on the southern quarters of Dinajpur is named after Marandi.[1]