Nepal blast victim forgives bomber who killed both wife and daughter

In something truly 'Christian', the survivor of last month's Nepal church blast, who lost both his wife and daughter, clinched over forgiveness than hate and revenge.

Mr. Balan Joseph and his family were attending the Saturday gathering on that fateful day on May 23. At around 9.15 a.m, a blast ripped through the Assumption Church in Dhobighat area in Lalitpur district, outside Kathmandu, killing his daughter Celeste Joseph and wife Buddha Laxmi Joseph.

The third person that was killed in the blast was identified as 19-year-old Deepa Patrick, who had come from Patna with her husband Vikash four days ago for their honeymoon.

A total 15 was severely wounded in the blast, which occurred hours before the country's parliament was to elect a new prime minister.

Police eventually arrested Seeta Thapa Shrestha, a 27-year-old woman who confessed to planting the bomb "because I hate Christians and other religions and only love Hinduism."

The woman is said to be associated with several organisations, including one called the Hindu Rashtra Bachao Samiti that claims to work for the restoration of Hinduism as the state religion in Nepal.

The devastated Balan, meanwhile, addressing a Christian gathering last week, said he decided to take the path of forgiveness and love despite the pain incurred by the blasts.

The Christian, who hails from Kerala and settled in Nepal, after the arrests, met the bomber at a police lock up.

Recalling the meeting, Balan shared, he was seething with anger when he met the person who destroyed his family and shattered his peace. But, "I thought she could be St. Sita like Saul who persecuted the Christians and later became St. Paul."

Balan has made up his mind to stay in Nepal "forever" and is now left to care for a daughter and son, both below 10 years.