British priest regrets UK soldiers’ role

“I feel regret and shame at the thought of soldiers from my birthplace firing indiscriminately on innocent Indians at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919,” said Priest Jean Mayers at the office of Diocese of Amritsar here recently.

Born and brought up in the UK, Mayers, a priest of Haywood Ticktoria in Australia, is here as part of a 12-member delegation. “Visiting the scene of the firing, I was moved by the well into which scores of people jumped during the massacre. The bullet marks are still intact on walls. My heart is filled with remorse and I hang my head in shame,” he said.I apologise for the British army’s act during India’s struggle for Independence. Inside the memorial, I got the feeling as if I was at a holy place.”

The delegation from Australia, led by Dr Robert Boss, is here to participate in a seminar on communal harmony organised by Guru Nanak Study Department of Guru Nanak Dev University here.

Growing religious fanaticism across the world that had sparked violence in some countries was the topic of the seminar. More interaction among people from different religions was emphasised. Bishop Pradeep Kumar said though history couldn’t be undone, kind words of Mayers would gave solace to those who had lost their dear ones in the massacre.

Danial B.Das, coordinator, socio economic development programme, said there were still certain countries in the world occupying areas without the wish of the local people and it needed to be condemned.

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