Jesuit priests, students, teachers, support staff and alumni gathered at St Xavier’s College to pay tribute to Father Stan Swamy, who passed away in a hospital in Mumbai on Monday waiting for bail at age 84.

A prayer meeting was organised by the St Xavier’s College (Calcutta) Alumni Association at the foot of the statue of St Francis Xavier on the Park Street campus on Wednesday. Floral tributes were offered to the Jesuit priest and a minute’s silence was observed in his memory.

“Father Stan sacrificed his life in the true sense for his commitment for the poor, marginalised and tribals. Through his life he inspired many people by his commitment for justice and reconciliation,” said Father Dominic Savio, the principal of St Xavier’s College and the president of the alumni association.

He said the best tribute to Father Stan would be to continue and strengthen his crusade for ensuring justice, eradicating poverty and establishing legitimate rights of all sections of society, especially the marginalised and the downtrodden.

The prayer meeting was limited to a small gathering and the authorities decided against holding a candlelight procession because of the pandemic Telegraph picture

Father Savio said every individual in their own way, even if it was a “small way”, should work for peace and justice.

Father Thamacin Arulappan, the principal of St Xavier’s Collegiate School, was present at the prayer meeting. “Father Stan was a true prophet who released the voice of the voiceless — the tribals. He did so not just in words but in action,” said Father Arulappan.

The prayer meeting was limited to a small gathering and the authorities decided against holding a candlelight procession because of the pandemic

Prayer meetings are taking place at the college and other places to pay tribute to Father Stan Swamy.