CHRISTIANS BY THE RIVER CHENAB AT AKHNOOR

Thirty three years ago, foundation for Christ the King Church was placed in Akhnoor and now we gratefully celebrate God's blessings daily with the Holy Eucahrist. Though Christianity is more than hundred year's old here, missionaries from abroad and later from South India used to visit the poor and illiterate Christian families once a while on horseback. However, with the emergence of church building and resident priests, faith education started taking proper shape along with education and development, though with slower pace.

Christ, the King Parish, Akhnoor shares its boundary with India's International Border with Pakistan, one of the most sensitive borders of Kashmir. This area of the border is known as Chicken neck border (in India)or Dagger border (in Pakistan). It is here the ferocious river Chenab (Chanderbagga) takes its course towards Pakistan. The town has lots of military presence as it is strategically important place, as it is linked to other parts of India by a bridge over river Chenab. The town also has archaeological importance as ancient Buddhist stupas are dug out in Ambaran, near the banks of the river. The town could easily be described as financial backbone of Jammu city, the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir state.

Presence of the Christians is very insignificant. They amount not even 0.1% of the town's population. They are just odd 110 families scattered around 20 remote villages. Due to their profession (mostly skin tanners, and sanitary workers)and caste implications, they are not respected by the others. However, the Christians are simple and hardworking, devout and courageous people. Due to the hard work and persistence of the Catholic Church, so much of education, self-respect and sense of dignity has come into our Christian families.

Yet, we have a long way to go. Our aim is to enable them to receive proper holistic and Catholic education by which they may achieve an occupational shift, thus achieving self-sufficiency, dignity and self-respect as persons. We are glad that some of our young boys and girls have already initiated higher education in professional degrees.Now we are glad that we have teachers, nurses, software & hardware engineers among them. We help out the drop out students to complete their inter-mediate course with the help of IGNOU and initiate graduation. May God bless our people in Akhnoor. May the Eucharistic Presence of our Merciful Lord continue to shower His choicest blessings upon His Children at Akhnoor.