Lucas Marandi

Marandi was born on 4 April 1922 at Beneedwar in a Santali Dinajpur to Mathius Marandi and Maria Kisku.^[1] He was converted to the Christianity as per rule of theology after nine days of his birth.^{[citation needed]}

Marandi received his primary education from Beniduar Mission Primary School.^[1] He was admitted into Dinajpur Santal Middle School (now St. Philip's Boarding School) in 1934. Later, he was sent to Italy to study divine perfection and attributes.^[1] After completing studies from there he came back to his country.^{[citation needed]}

Marandi was appointed as a bishop at the cathedral of Dinajpur on 1 December 1955.^[1] He also worked as a religious teacher and was appointed as the leader of his community. At first he was sent to work in Mariampur Mission in Ghoraghat of Dinajpur.^[1] Later, he was sent to work at St. Philip's Boarding.

Marandi took interim responsibility of Dinajpur religion state in 1965 but due to the Indo-Pak War he faced some difficulties in conducting missionary work in that place.^[1] He was then appointed a temporary bishop at Ruhea in Thakurgaon.^{[citation needed]}

Besides missionary work Marandi worked to build up leadership to develop agriculture.^[1] He introduced a boarding school at Ruhea in Thakurgaon.^{[citation needed]}

After the beginning of the Liberation War of Bangladesh the refugees took shelter at Ruhea Missionary.^[1] Marandi provided food and shelter of these people. He motivated the young people to join the Liberation War of Bangladesh.^[1] He also provided treatment and medicine to the injured freedom fighters secretly.^{[citation needed]}

On 12 April 1971 Marandi crossed the border and went to India to collect medicine for the freedom fighters.^[1] After returning he saw that the people of Ruhea began to move to the refugee camps of India. In the meantime he was told to leave Ruhea Mission.^[1] Then he decided to leave his country with the people of his missionary. Though he crossed the border, he returned to Ruhea later.^[1]

On 21 April 1971 an army jeep appeared in front of the Mission and four soldiers got down from the jeep. Marandi welcomed them and offered them tea and biscuits.^[2] They had a suspicion that freedom fighters might be given shelter in the mission. They searched and found nothing. Then they left the mission.^{[citation needed]}

The jeep came back again after three hours.^[2] They took Marandi out of the mission. He was killed by them by bayonet charge.^[1] His dead body was taken to the Catholic Church at Islampur in India and he was buried there.^[2]

A memorial monument was built at Ruhea Mission to memorise him.^[1] A football competition is held every year at Beniduar Mission on 21 April in memory of him. A road on the southern quarters of Dinajpur is named after Marandi.^[1]