I took the ferry crossing from the Dona Paula side across the estuary just for the trip across. On my return to the ferry, I went past a military camp. I did not give it much thought until an armed soldier guarding it took exception to me carrying a camera. He shouted a command for me to come over to him. I pretended that I had not heard him not looking at him directly, just continuing on my way. It seemed to me this situation held unhappy prospects, either to comply or not to comply, with this aggressive guard. I was feeling distinctly worried when a miracle happened (that’s the way it felt to me!). A group of young men I had not noticed overtook me and I was now walking in the middle of them as part of their group. One cheerfully said he put his camera in a shopping bag to hide it showing me. We soon reached the ferry which left soon after. I asked who they were, they were Thomas Christians training to be priests. I had always wondered what this authentic Christianity would be like and I was impressed. The apostle Thomas came to India way before Christianity reached Britain. I suspect their church’s history has been troubled less by internal difficulties.
Tiracol II Ferry. Dona Paula, Goa, India, November 1994
Location: Dona Paula, Goa, India
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
