BIS # 1298 - APPA TILAK AT DIVYADAAN

Renvick Pereira adb NASHIK, FEBRUARY 26, 2009: On the occasion of the death anniversary of late Mrs. Laxmibai Tilak - one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, the community of Divyadaan invited her grandson, Mr. Ashok Tilak alias Appa, on Tuesday, February 24, to acquaint us with the holy life of his grandmother, The talk was attended by some of the religious as well as the Nashikites. Fr. Robert Pen welcomed and introduced Mr. Appa Tilak to the gathering after which Fr. Nelson Falcao led the group into a bhajan composed by Late Narayan Vaman Tilak. Mr. Tilak gave a succinct talk enumerating different incidents in the life of Mrs. Laxmibai and her struggle to become a believer of Christ. He wanted the people to know that she became a Christian not just because her husband had converted, but because she was touched by the hand of God. Mr. Appa Tilak gave a “step-by-step” process of her transformation. Initially, she couldn’t reconcile with the fact that her husband had converted to Christianity. Having resolved to win him back at any cost, she prayed, made many sacrifices and went on fasts. Tilak mentioned nothing to Laxmibai as regards the Christian religion. Gradually she was drawn to admiring the devout life of her husband. Finally, prayer and grace were the only means by which she was admitted to the sacrament of baptism on June 8, 1990. Mr. Appa Tilak ended by quoting the scripture “it is accomplished”. As Laxmibai Tilak was going through a period of change, she also mastered Marathi and completed the book on ‘KRISTAYAN’ (Life of Christ )- the unfinished work of her husband. Here was a woman, as Mr. Appa states, ‘who saw God’s hand in her life.’ Fr. Robert thanked the chief speaker as well as the gathering for their presence. Our sincere thanks to Fr. Ivo Coelho who made the initial contact with Mr. Tilak and made this dialogue a reality.