Cyril Veliath to all classmates16 December 2009
Subject: Remembering an old Friend
Dear Friends
This is just another message from Tokyo. I discovered this snap shown below a few days ago while I was looking through my old letters. The couple in the picture are the late Dr. Alexander Mathai and his wife Esmie. Alexander was our companion in the third form. He died in the Kanishka plane crash, that Air India plane from Canada that was blown up by terrorists. He is one of many innocent victims of terrorism. I am sure he would have loved to be with all of you in India.
Take care, and God bless.
Cyril Veliath SJ
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Maxwell Pereira to Cyril Veliath
16 December 2009
I vaguely recall the face from your photograph - though can't really picture in my mind's eye the person or associations with him.
Whoever would have imagined the tragic Air India Kanishka crash would come home to roost so close to us.
Like many across the world, in some small measure I too was associated with the peripheral investigations of this case at the Indian end. Reason enough for my blood to boil when the Canadian courts acquitted and released both the main accused arrested in the case (Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik) not too far back in the resent past.
My condolences to Alexander's family wherever they are. May the Lord grant his soul eternal rest.Regards,
Maxie
PS: Details of the Kanishka case are available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_India_Flight_182
and at http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/18/stories/2005031815900300.htm (article in Hindu dt 18 Mar 2005)
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