Staines is in the Capital now to attend a conference of the Christian Medical Association of India that coordinates the functioning of hospitals run by Christian missionaries. Staines had been invited for dinner in a South Delhi home on Friday night. She took time out to speak to The Indian Express.

``There's one thing I want to clarify before we start talking,'' Staines said. ``I don't want to talk about the murder. I have left the past behind. As far as I am concerned, the chapter is closed. I don't have any hard feelings against the Hindus. In fact, some of my closest friends in Baripada are Hindus.''

Dressed in a blue salwar suit, Staines chatted about her plansinstead. ``You must understand why I want to bury the past,'' she explained. ``There has been a lot of pain and hurt. Now I want to concentrate on achieving Graham's goals -- to build a 40 bed referral hospital at Baripada.''

Baripada is the town where the Staines family lived. Graham Staines was torched in Manoharpur village, 190 km away from home, where he was attending a Christian convention. Today, Gladys Staines runs a leprosy home at Baripada. Her 14-year-old daughter Esther lives in a boarding school in Ooty. ``The leprosy home in Baripada does not meet the requirements of the inmates,'' she pointed out. ``We need a hospital. There's no hospital in northern Orissa that can conduct reconstructive surgery on leprosy patients.''

Staines knows Orissa and its problems well. She speaks fluent Oriya and Santhali, the language of the tribes who live in the Mayurbhanj district where Baripada is located. ``From the start, Graham wanted to start a hospital. I want to push the project forward now. The directorof the Leprosy Mission in the Capital has given me valuable suggestions. I am confident we will be able to collect the funds for the hospital.'' Staines believes the hospital will be a ``living memorial'' for her husband.

Staines, however, has not yet made up her mind whether or not to apply for an Indian citizenship. She has extended her visa permit by a year. Sources in the church of northern India said they are writing to the Government requesting them to confer a honorary citizenship. Staines will be leaving for Baripada on Monday.