Two years on, Joseph is writing a chopping story

Writhing in pain, T J Joseph is writing a book with his left hand, two years after that fateful Sunday.

In between, life taught some bitter lessons to Joseph who taught Malayalam language and literature for hundreds of students over the years.

 But he is on a positive note.

 “There is a cause for every action. I am writing the book to tell the world that don’t ever give up,” he reveals his intention behind the endeavour.

Writing is not an easy affair for Joseph as his right hand is yet to regain its strength after the attack while his family considers July 4 as his day of resurrection.

The book would narrate his life in exile after a case against him, the attack, the painful hospital days and his vision about life.

 He expects to complete the book in a year’s time.

 Everything started as Joseph, who was a teacher at Thodupuzha Newman College, prepared a question paper for an internal examination.

 After four months, on July 4,2010, he was attacked by a gang of fundamentalists.

 “These kind of injuries can happen to any one. However my case is different as I was in one of the least dangerous professions never consider it as an attack against me. Hence I could easily forgive those who attacked me,” he says with words choking in cough after a surgery last week.

He remembers some words that moved him like the one from a soldier who was badly injured in a mine blast in a Naxal-hit area.

 Many persons from Muslim community came to meet Joseph at his house at Muvattupuzha as a solace. Many expressed regret as such an incident happened in the name of religion.

Some believers tendered an apology for the brutal marks on Joseph’s mind and body in the name of God.

 “I am happy that people’s love and affection to me only increased after the incident,” says Joseph whose 55th birthday is just 18 days away.

 According to him the physical pain was lesser compared to the mental agony.

 “It was my spiritual courage and the moral support provided by friends and relatives that became my strength during the last two years. I could go through the physical sufferings but the pain was much higher while I was sacked from the job when my children were in need of financial support.” Joseph is now waiting for a positive nod from the college management.

 Incidentally, the MG University appellate tribunal is to consider the case against his dismissal on Wednesday.