Police torture kills 1,184 persons in custody

Police torture kills 1,184 persons in custody in India in the last eight years – Maharashtra records the highest deaths in police custody – http://www.achrweb.org/press/2009/IND0209.html
FCC South Asia, New Delhi: Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in its report
Torture in India 2009 released to the media today stated that in the last eight years (from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2009), an estimated 1,184 persons were killed in police custody in India. Most of the victims were killed as a result of torture within the first 48 hours after being taken into custody.
The highest number of custodial deaths was reported in Maharashtra (192 cases) followed by Uttar Pradesh (128), Gujarat (113), Andhra Pradesh (85), West Bengal (83), Tamil Nadu (76), Assam (74), Karnataka (55), Punjab (41), Madhya Pradesh (38), Bihar and Rajasthan (32 each), Haryana (31), Kerala (30), Jharkhand (29), Delhi (25), Orissa (24), Chhattisgarh (23), Uttarakhand and Meghalaya (16 each), Arunachal Pradesh (11), Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura (9 each), Puducherry and Chandigarh (3 each), Himachal Pradesh (2) while Manipur, Goa, Sikkim, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli recorded one case each.
These deaths in custody do not however represent the actual number of deaths in police custody in India. A number of cases of custodial death taken up by ACHR with the NHRC show that the NHRC was not informed by the police about these custodial deaths. While the NHRC has expressed its anguish against the failure to report these cases of custodial deaths but the NHRC’s guidelines on reporting custodial deaths within 24 hours continue to be flouted, stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of ACHR.
Further, deaths in the custody of the armed forces and the Indian Army under the control of the Central government are not reported to the NHRC as it does not have jurisdiction to investigate violations committed by the armed forces under Section 19 of the Human Rights Protection Act, 1993. ACHR itself has filed 50 complaints of extrajudicial killings from 2003 to 2009 from Manipur alone. Many of these alleged extrajudicial killings were indeed deaths in the custody of the Manipur Police Commandos but since the Manipur Police Commandos claim to be conducting operations jointly with the central armed forces, the deaths in the custody of the Manipur Police Commandos are not reported to the NHRC€ ¢’´ further stated Mr Chakma.
The report stated that high number of deaths in custody exposes the abject failure of the 1996 DK Basu Judgment that provides the procedures to be followed while making arrests.
Further, one of the key failures of the DK Basu guidelines is that its compliance is confined only to cases of arrests made under Sections 41 (when police may arrest without warrant) and 74 (Warrant directed to police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (as amended up to date). It does not apply to those who are summoned but not formally arrested, further stated Mr Chakma.
Prevention of Torture Bill, 2008 is a sham:
The Prevention of Torture Bill, 2008 being brought by the government of India is a sham. The Bill contains only three operative paragraphs relating to definition of torture, punishment for torture and limitations for cognizance of offences falls.
The Prevention of Torture Bill 2008 falls far short of obligations that the States ratifying the CAT must undertake. It provides € ¢’³narrow and restrictive definition of torture´ with no reference to death as a result of torture. It provides for lenient punishment for torture contrary to the punishments provided under the Indian Penal Code for similar offences. Further, the six months bar for taking cognizance of offences under the proposed Bill is contrary to the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.
Asian Centre for Human Rights recommended that the Supreme Court should amend the Guidelines issued in the D K Basu judgment to apply from the moment of summons issued by the police or detention with the police when acting in an official capacity; the NHRC should distinguish in its statistics between custodial deaths through natural causes and custodial deaths resulting from abuses of human rights; the government of India should send the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2008 to Parliamentary Standing Committee for organizing public hearing to ensure its conformity with the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the government of India should ratify the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Optional Protocol; and the government of India should extend an invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Liberhan Wanted To Extricate Advani

“It Was Apparent That Justice Liberhan Wanted To Extricate Advani From The Babri Demolition”
In 1999, Anupam Gupta, a respected lawyer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was appointed counsel for the Liberhan Commission set up to inquire into the Babri Masjid demolition. He left it in 2007 when serious differences cropped up between him and Justice M.S. Liberhan over the role of L.K. Advani in the demolition. Known for his activism against corruption in the judiciary, it was he who raised the stature of the commission from an obscure fact-finding body to the investigation juggernaut it later became, kindling expectations that its final report would be objective, comprehensive and hard-hitting. Stipulated to submit its report within six months, the commission took 17 years and a record 48 extensions to finally submit its report on June 30 this year. Shortly after, Gupta spoke to Chander Suta Dogra on his days with the commission and his differences with the justice over Advani.
For the complete story with pictures please click
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MangaloreanCatholics/message/17935

Babri report: You actually took 17 years, Mr Liberhan?

By Anand Soondas
To be brutally honest, it is a sheer and blatant travesty of “investigation” to take almost two decades to close what was little more than an open and shut case. Leaders were seen inciting mobs to tear down the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya on a day that may have permanently changed for the worse the psyche of large sections of people in India – both in the minority and majority communities.
Come to think of it, BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders were caught on tape, caught on camera and caught in the eyes of thousands of people exhorting frenzied crowds to bludgeon and batter the masjid. Ek dhakka aur do – give one push more – had been the battle cry for many in the Parivar, each as obsessed as the foot soldiers they were leading not just to destroy a place of worship but the very fabric of communal harmony that clothed India.
This case did not need investigative prowess and intelligence gathering acumen as much as it needed the courage of conviction, grand principles of justice, an acute sense of what’s wrong and right – on the part of the governments, then and those that followed, and on the part of those handed the enormous responsibility of pinning blame on the clutch of people responsible for what must surely rank as one of India’s biggest blotches – along with the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 and the Godhra violence.
It’s also startling and reeks of great indifference on the part of respective governments that the Liberhan Commission wasn’t given a strict deadline to finish off a probe that always tottered and never walked straight with the determination of direction. Or that MS Liberhan, the former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, himself wasn’t changed when there was little to show for things even after a decade. That the end has come after a staggering 17 years, 48 extensions, 400 sittings and Rs 9 crore of public money is a marvel on its own. This can perhaps be tolerated only in India.
In his defence, Liberhan has said he got little cooperation from people who mattered. Though he added he will not name them right away. We may or never know who these people were, but don’t bet on it. Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, the UPA government has six months to share in Parliament Liberhan’s findings and the action taken report. But, as TOI reported today, “tabling of the report in the two Houses will depend on how swiftly the government wants to act on the recommendations”.
If you ask me, the government will be in no hurry. Some players in the sordid saga are already dead, others too infirm, yet others have been completely marginalized during the time this report has seen the light of day. Taking action, even if this government gathers the guts to do it, will not mean the same anymore. Justice, like all things else, is only relevant when the injured party is agonizing about it. I get the feeling that the modern Muslim and the modern Hindu just wants to wash his hands of the blot, use a sanitizer to let go of the stench and move on. Good for the country. So, here’s hoping a place of worship is never attacked in India again, but in case there is such a tragedy, let’s hope the government works on a time frame to deliver its verdict on the sully, if not justice
Source: Times of India

First Malayalam TV Reporter Dies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala (SAR News) – Malayalam Television’s first reporter passed away 29 June at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s state capital. He was 48 years old. Survived by his wife and daughter, John Ulahannan was interned at his home parish in Kidangoor near Pala (Kottayam District), 1st July.
His body was kept for public viewing both at Doordarshan Kendra and Press Club Thiruvanathapuram, 30 June. Cutting across Kerala’s political divide several political leaders and ministers paid homage. The Kerala Chief Minister as well as the leader of the opposition also expressed their condolence as well as high words of praise.
“It was really sad to hear about John Ulahannan’s demise. He [was] a very familiar face for everyone who used to watch DD news. He was really talented journalist. Now, I can’t see any T.V reporters around in Malayalam who can be compared with him, in personality and presentation. We will miss him,” says Jo-ban commenting on blog news about Ulahannan’s demise.
The first Malayalee Television reporter, Ulahannan was popular among Doordarshan (state owned television channel) viewers at the time when no other channels were available.
Alumnus of St. Thomas College Pala and Press Club Thiruvananthapuram he started his career with Enadu group’s first English language daily Newstime at Hyderabad in 1985 and joined Doordarshan Thiruvananthapuram in 1989 to become the first Malayalee Television reporter.
Joining Doordarshan’s Malayalam channel, Ulahannan had a meteoric rise as television journalist. He was a familiar face among the Doordarshan viewers for his style of reporting and news presentation.
He reported Gulf War for Doordarshan and was winner of the prestigious “Statesman Award for Rural Reporting” established in 1979 by India’s oldest newspaper The Statesman, Calcutta.

Spiritual Adoption of Priests!

Year for Priests Special: A Worldwide Campaign
Priests are the greatest benefactors of humanity because it is through them that Christ continues to re-enact his unique sacrifice for the salvation of humankind. It is through them that he extends his forgiving hands and opens his heart full of Divine Mercy. Called to be the living monuments of Christ’s love in the world today, the priests spend their whole life, for God and His people. They need prayer support to live heroically their priestly commitment and mission in today’s challenging world.
Spiritual adoption consists in offering up of prayers and sacrifices, during this year of priests, for a specific priest who will be assigned to you. Sign up by sending an email to adoptapriest@gmail.com if you or your family would like to adopt a priest spiritually (your name, address, country, email ID required). The priest whom you adopt will pray for you in return. More details will be provided on request when you sign up.
Priests who would like to be adopted spiritually, please write to adoptapriest@gmail.com submitting the details:  Priest’s name, address, country, year of priestly ordination, present ministry, email. You will be informed about who would be adopting you spiritually.
The aim of this ministry is to strengthen the sanctity of priests through spiritual adoption by religious and lay people. We want to let every Catholic priest of the world know that someone has adopted him spiritually during this year of priests (June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010) declared by Pope Benedict XVI.
How can I spiritually adopt a priest?
Adopting a priest spiritually is very simple. You can adopt a priest spiritually by offering up to God various spiritual deeds for the sanctification of a particular priest.  Given below are a few examples. Praying and interceding for the priest (see below some model prayers which could be used daily).
This is the core of spiritual adoption.
1. Praying the rosary.
2. Praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
3. Participation in the Eucharist.
4. Offering Masses for the intention of the priest.
5. Making Visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
6. Making Eucharistic adoration.
7. Offering up to Almighty God your little sacrifices, sufferings, privations of life, etc for the sanctification of the priest whom you adopt.
8. Fast, abstinence, penances, mortifications, etc.
9.  Making a sincere examination of conscience and a good confession.
10.  Doing acts of reparation for the sins of the priest.
11.  Doing acts of kindness to the priest including gestures of appreciation
12.  Visiting holy places like Marian shrines, grottos, places of pilgrimage.
13.  Doing acts of charity for the needy.
14.  Speaking well of priests in spite of their imperfections.
15.  Avoid listening to and spreading gossip about priests.
Whatever you do, do it out of love for Christ and his priest.

Pakistani Christian Murdered for drinking tea from a Muslim Cup

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that radical Muslims running a tea stall beat a Christian man to death for using a cup designated for Muslims on May 9. The young man, Ishtiaq Masih, had ordered tea at a roadside stall in Machharkay village, Punjab, Pakistan, after his bus stopped to allow passengers to relieve themselves. When Ishtiaq went to pay for his tea, the owner noticed that he was wearing a necklace with a cross and grabbed him, calling for his employees to bring anything available to beat him for violating a sign posted on the stall warning non-Muslims to declare their religion before being served. Ishtiaq had not noticed the warning sign before ordering his tea, as he ordered with a group of his fellow passengers. The owner and 14 of his employees beat Ishtiaq with stones, iron rods and clubs, and stabbed him multiple times with kitchen knives as Ishtiaq pleaded for mercy.
The other bus passengers and other passers-by finally intervened and took Ishtiaq to the Rural Health Center in the village. There Ishtiaq died as a result of spinal, head, and chest injuries. The doctor who took Ishtiaq’s case told ICC that Ishtiaq had excessive internal and external bleeding, a fractured skull, and brain injuries. Makah Tea Stall is located on the Sukheki-Lahore highway and is owned by Mubarak Ali, a 42-year-old radical Muslim. ICC’s correspondent visited the tea stall and observed that a large red warning sign with a death’s head symbol was posted which read, “All non-Muslims should introduce their faith prior to ordering tea. This tea stall serves Muslims only.” The warning also threatened anyone who violated the rule with “dire consequences.”
A neighboring shopkeeper told ICC on condition of anonymity that Ali is a fundamentalist Muslim and all his employees are former students of radical Muslim madrassas (seminaries). Ali kept separate sets of cooking-ware for Muslims and non-Muslims at his stall. Ishtiaq’s family said that they immediately reported the incident to the police and filed a case against Ali. Though the police registered their case, no action has been taken to apprehend Ali or his employees. When ICC asked the Pindi Bhatian Saddar police station about the murder, the police chief said that investigations were underway and they are treating it as a faith-based murder by biased Muslims. When asked about Ali’s warning sign, police chief Muhammad Iftikhar Bajwa claimed that he could not take it down.
However, the constitution of Pakistan explicitly prohibits such discrimination, and the police could take strong action against the warning sign. But because the police are also Muslim, Ishtiaq’s father claims that they are being derelict in their duties to prosecute the murderers who are still freely operating the tea stall. Do contact the Pakistani embassy to protest this heinous crime.
Pakistan High Comission , India
2/50 G, Shantipath Chanakyapuri
New Delhi 110021
Phone: +91-11-2611-0601 / +91-11-2611-0603 / +91-11-2611-0605 / +91-11-2467-6004 / +91-11-2467-8467
Fax: +91-11-2687-2339 / 2688 8330 / 2688 8353
Email: Pakhc@nda.vsnl.net.in

Brain washing of Meghalaya kids in varna system

Shimoga, Jun 19:  Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji, spiritual head of Ramachandrapur Mutt Hosanagar, has provided shelter and is trying to rekindle hope besides driving home a sense of security among a hundred migrant children from Meghayala state. He has taken upon himself the responsibility of tending and educating them.
During his visit to Meghalaya some time back, the Swamiji was approached by local nomads there, who expressed their concern about the safety and security of their children and sought guidance from him. In tune with the assurance given by him then, Raghaveshwara Swamiji has arranged for providing them the Indian ‘Gurukul’ system of education.
The children, whose average age is between four and five years, arrived at the land and language to which they are strangers, on June 13. The teachers of Gurukul have taken upon themselves the challenge of acclimatizing the children to the new environment, language and customs. The Swamiji is of the opinion that Indian culture can be conserved only when one accepts such challenges. The teachers and students are trying to pick up the language of Meghalaya so that the children would feel at home.
The children from Meghalaya have been provided accommodation in the main building of Hosanagar Mutt. The Swamiji is of the opinion that the Indian way of life can be spread to Meghalaya once the children get education here and go back to their roots to guide the society there?
Daijiworld Media Network – Shimoga (SP)
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=61467&n_tit=Shimoga%3A+Tiny+Tots+from+Distant+Meghalaya+finding+Hope+in+Ramachandrapur+Mutt

USCIRF Regrets Absence of Visas for Visit to India

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regrets that visas have not been issued by the Indian government for a USCIRF visit to discuss religious freedom conditions with officials, religious leaders, civil society activists and others in the world’s largest democracy.
As a U.S. government body, visits by the Commission must have official status. USCIRF obtained U.S. State Department support, made travel arrangements, and requested meetings with a variety of officials. Despite this, the Indian government did not issue the USCIRF delegation visas. The Commissioners were to have left the United States on June 12.
The aim of the long-requested trip was to discuss religious freedom conditions in India, home to a multitude of religious communities that have historically co-existed. India has experienced an increase in communal violence against religious communities in recent years and the USCIRF Commissioners sought to discuss the Indian government’s responses to this, and its development of preventive strategies at the local and national levels. According to information before USCIRF, the Indian justice system has prosecuted only a handful of persons responsible for communal violence and related abuses since the mid 1980s.
In 2002, USCIRF recommended India be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) following events in Gujarat that resulted in an estimated 2,000 deaths. Although India was removed from the CPC list in 2005, USCIRF has continued to monitor, report, and comment publicly on events in the country, including last year’s violence in
Orissa, attacks in Mumbai, and other events.
The Indian government did not offer alternative dates for a visit. USCIRF first tried to obtain visas for India in 2001. This would have been the Commission’s first visit to India. India joins Cuba as the only other nation to have refused all USCIRF requests to visit.
“We are particularly disappointed by the new Indian government’s refusal to facilitate an official U.S. delegation to discuss religious freedom issues and government measures to counter communal violence, which has a religious component,” said Commission chair Felice D. Gaer.
“Our Commission has visited China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and over 20 other countries. India, a close ally of the United States, has been unique among democracies in delaying and denying USCIRF’s ability to visit. USCIRF has been requesting visits since 2001.“
USCIRF issues its annual report on religious freedom each May and this year’s India section was delayed because of the planned USCIRF trip
“We wanted to hear from all sectors of Indian society, and allow these diverse perspectives to shape our report,” said Gaer. In the absence of in-country travel, USCIRF will release a report on India later this summer.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission.
USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF’s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at <tcarter@uscirf.gov>
June 17, 2009, http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2524&Ite\
mid=1

Amazing Auto Driver in Mumbai*

Suvendu Roy of Titan Industries shares his inspirational encounter with a rickshaw driver in Mumbai.
Last Sunday, my wife, kid and I had to travel to Andheri from Bandra. When I waved at a passing auto rickshaw, little did I expect that this ride would be any different?
As we set off, my eyes fell on a few magazines (kept in an aircraft style pouch) behind the driver’s back rest. I looked in front and there was a small TV. The driver had put on the Doordarshan channel. My wife and I looked at each other with disbelief and amusement. In front of me was a small first-aid box with cotton, dettol and some medicines. This was enough for me to realise that I was in a special vehicle. Then I looked around again, and discovered more -there was a radio, fire extinguisher, wall clock, calendar, and pictures and symbols of all faiths‘ from Islam and Christianity to Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. There were also pictures of the heroes of 26/11- Kamte, Salaskar, Karkare and Unnikrishnan. I realised that not only my vehicle, but also my driver was special.
I started chatting with him and the initial sense of ridicule and disbelief gradually diminished. I gathered that he had been driving an auto rickshaw for the past 8-9 years; he had lost his job when his employer’s plastic company was shut down. He had two school-going children, and he drove from 8 in the morning till 10 at night. No break unless he was unwell. “Sahab, ghar mein baith ke TV dekh kar kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaam aayega.” (Sir, what’s the use of simply sitting at home and watching TV? If I earn some income, then it will be useful in the future.)
We realised that we had come across a man who represents Mumbai the spirit of work, the spirit of travel and the spirit of excelling in life. I asked him whether he does anything else as I figured that he did not have too much spare time. He said that he goes to an old age home for women in Andheri once a week or whenever he has some extra income, where he donates tooth brushes, toothpastes, soap, hair oil, and other items of daily use. He pointed out to a painted message below the meter that read: 25 per cent discount on metered fare for the handicapped. Free rides for blind passengers up to Rs50. He also said that his auto was mentioned on Radio Mirchi twice by the station RJs. The Marathi press in Mumbai knows about him and has written a few pieces on him and his vehicle.
My wife and I were struck with awe. The man is a HERO! A hero who deserves all our respect. I know that my son, once he grows up, will realise that we have met a genuine hero. He has put questions to me such as why should we help other people? I will try to keep this incident alive in his memory.
Our journey came to an end; 45 minutes of a lesson in humility, selflessness and of a hero-worshipping Mumbai my temporary home. We disembarked, and all I could do was to pay him a tip that would hardly cover a free ride for a blind man.
He has got a first aid box on the left and a newspaper box on right (which had all hindi-english- marathi-gujrati and economic times).
He has got a tv on the top with cable (I was watching colors channel) and below that is the tissue box. On the left is the mandir types and don’t miss the “Only gandhigiri” written there, below that is the calendar and a notepad and pen along with a blue fan (which is blowing towards the customer who sits) 25% discount for handicapped!! Who on this earth can expect something like this from a rickshawala yaar!!
It’s amazing there are people still alive like him in this world! I hope, one day, you too have a chance to meet Mr. Sander Bache in his auto rickshaw.
* Posted by: “Suita Dissolve”, MangaloreanCatholics@gmail.com, Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:18 am (PDT)

Orissa: Memmorandum to National Minority Commission

The Hon’ble Members of the Minority Commission, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 10^th June 2009
Dear Madam / Sir,
On behalf of Orissa United Forum of Churches I would like to appreciate your concern and constant support for the affected people of Kandhamal. After the communal violence, the members of the Minority Commission have visited Kandhamal and also met various stakeholders, including the leaders of the Church to get to know first hand information of the situation. While I thank you for all your efforts, I take this opportunity to brief you on the present status and the views of the Orissa United Forum of Churches.
Security threat still looms large:
Even after 9 months after the second violence on 23 August 2008, over 4,000 people are either in the government run camps or in village camps. Despite the efforts of the district administration still in some GPs the situation is tensed and people cannot return to their villages. On 6 June the BDO of Raikia block took the people from Raikia camp to villages. As the villagers did not allow the people to enter the BDO had to bring the people back to the camps. The main reason is that the perpetrators of the violence are still scot-free and continue to incite the ordinary people. While the district administration focuses on humanitarian aid it did not keep up its promise in taking stern action against these culprits.
The leaders of the Church are of the opinion that unless the culprits are arrested and legal action is initiated, peace will not be established in Kandhamal. The district administration may be able to maintain law and order in the towns but in villages the condition is precarious. It is the responsibility of the State to provide security of life and property of all its citizens. If people have to have faith in the administration it is a must that the culprits are arrested immediately. Moreover, the culprits block the entry of NGOs, Church leaders and humanitarian agencies.
Food security:
While the government run camps are being provided with dry ration, those who were forced to leave the camps by the district administration and could not get back to the villages live in market places or outskirts of villages. They are over 2000. Their living condition is pitiable and many do not have enough food to eat. Basic food security must be ensured for the next few months by the state as people have lost everything and in the process of rebuilding their houses and livelihood.
Housing:
Providing houses to the victims is the primary responsibility of the Government. What the government has given is much less in terms of compensation. The Churches and humanitarian agencies are willing to play a supportive role in the house construction to the district administration. But the district administration must ensure safety and security of volunteers, aid workers and the materials. For example, in the first week of June when the members of the Church went to assess the damages in two villages in G Udayagiri they were not allowed. The district administration need to ensure housing for the people as the rainy season is fast approaching. If housing will take time then the district administration has to prepare itself to meet the emergency needs of the people during rains.
While we appreciate the efforts of the district administration in issuing advance land possession documents the process need to be quickened especially in Tikabali and G.Udayagiri Blocks.  Issuing Pattas (ROR) to those who have been given advance land possession document is also need to be speeded up.
Lack of support from local officials:
Yet another concern is that the support provided by the local administration to the villagers is weakening day by day. The peace committees are not functioning. We have requested the district administration to organize regular peace meetings as well as meeting among local officials, communities and aid workers so that the peace process could be speeded up.
Invitation to NGOs and INGOs:
The needs of the affected people in Kandhamal are enormous – food, shelter, health, livelihood etc. We do not know the plans of the government to address these concerns. On the other hand humanitarian agencies are hesitating to come forward to work in Kandhamal since in the initial stage the state denied admission to human rights and humanitarian organizations. If the administration can send out an open invitation to humanitarian agencies many of them are willing and ready to support the housing programme and various needs of the people. We make an appeal that that the state in collaboration with district administration could organize a state-wide consultation on ‘Peace building in Kandhamal’ inviting all humanitarian organizations, so that many agencies will come forward to work in Kandhamal.
Compensation package to people:
The compensation package provided to people is minimum. Given the fact that the people could not involve in normal activities for the past 9 months, a good portion of the compensation provided by the state for housing is already spent by the people on various basic needs like medicine, education, food etc. The state must ensure that people are provided with employment opportunity so that food security can be ensured.
Compensation package to religious and public institutions:
The compensation offered to partially or fully damaged Churches, religious places and other institutions is far too less of the actual need.  Hence once again we appeal to you to help us to provide with reasonable compensation support by the state and centre to these religious places and institutions.
We the members of Orissa United Forum of Churches believe that you would use your good office to get justice to the affected people.
Thanking you for your support and understanding.
Yours faithfully,
Fr. Joseph Kalathil
For Orissa United Forum of Churches, C/o Archbishop’s House, Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar – 751 007

Indian Priests & Religious Hold Vigil For Sr Alphonsa

The Vigil Service for the canonization of Sr Alphonsa, on Saturday 11th October to be held in the 17th century Church of SS. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari, near Torre Argentina, is organized by the Indian Priests, Sisters and Brothers Union (IPSBU).

The two hour programme starting at 5 pm will consist of a short documentary film on the life and message of Bl. Alphonsa followed by a Lectio Divina and a reflection by Dr. Jacob Srammpikal SJ director of Centre for Communication Studies at Gregorian University and former director of NISCORT (National Institute of Social Communications Research and Training), New Delhi.

“His eminence Cardinal Ivan Dias, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Arch Bishop Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, and Mother Ceelia the FCC have assured their presence at the meeting,” says the newly elected president of IPSBU, Fr. Thomas Marottipparayil OCD doing doctoral studies at the Gregorian.

“We would specially pray for the persecuted church in India, particularly in Orissa, reeling under the pain of the communal carnage which is taking place since 24 August,” adds the Carmelite priest representing IPSBU established in 1950 and has over 1,700 members in Rome.

Salesian University Hosts Religion Today Film Festival

For the first time, the Salesian University Rome (UPS) Social Communication’s Faculty (FSC) has teamed up to host Religion Today Film Festival in Rome. The RT-FSC festival collaboration started in December 2006. Last year, a controversial film by Iranian director Nader Talebzadeh entitled Jesus the Spirit of God, had its world premiere at FSC (8 Oct 2007).

“We consider it our privilege to host RT festival in our faculty as we are interested in Cinema, Religion and Peace. Besides we have about 200 students from 35 countries,” said FSC dean Dr Franco Lever. Indian professor Dr Peter Gonsalves at FSC is the Executive Coordinator of the RT-FSC festival.

 

The festival at FSC is scheduled to be held 24-26 October with two morning sessions for students from the Communications faculties of Roman universities who will watch films and interact with film directors. There will also be three afternoon screenings and panel discussions with cine personalities and religious reps.

Archbishop Exposes Sangh Parivar’s Fears

Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong did not mince words in the memorandum submitted to Mr LK Advani who went to Shillong (29 Sept) to garner tribal and Christian votes for BJP Party a partner in the Orissa State Government where anti-Christian violence continues unabated since 24 August 2008.

 

The Archbishop reminds Advani, that ‘our beloved country has been known for its ancient civilization and for upholding values like Ahimsa, Truth, Tolerance and Respect for Religions. This picture has been very badly tarnished’.

 

‘We perceive the allegations of forced conversions by Christian communities as a strategy developed by vested interests in order to prevent Christian services of health, education, poverty alleviation and development on behalf of deprived communities. Conversion by force, allurements or deception goes against the teaching of the Catholic Church. Does not the Hindutva opposition to Christian activities come rather from the fear that many of the deprived communities may be so empowered as to assert their own rights and resist exploitation? All our works are carried out because we believe that Jesus Christ calls us to build a society founded on love, justice and social harmony’.

‘Given the record of attacks on Christians in various States ruled by the BJP (right wing Hindu party), we express our great doubts and anxiety for our future if our Country is governed by such a party again. Will the Christian communities ever feel secure and safe in their own home land? Will their rights ever be respected?  Will those who feel protected by such a government feel free to unleash waves of violent attacks and persecution on the helpless communities?  Verbal assurances are of no use to guarantee a safe and secure existence in our country.  We will keep praying that God may preserve our country and lead it along the path of peace and harmony among all people’.

Conversion business, by Khushwant Singh

Recent incidents of violence and vandalism against Christians and their churches deserve to be condemned unreservedly. They have blackened the fair face of Mother India and ruined the reputation of Hindus being the most religiously tolerant people in the world. At the same time, we must take a closer look at people who convert from one faith to another. To start with, let it be understood that these days there are no forced conversions anywhere in the world. India is no exception. Those who assert that the poor, innocent and ignorant of India are being forced to accept Christianity are blatant liars. A few, very few educated and well-to-do men and women convert to another faith when they do not find solace in the faith of their ancestors. Examples are to be found in America and Europe of men and women of substance turning from Judaism and Christianity to Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism.

 

There are also men and women who convert to the faith of those they wish to marry. We have plenty of cases of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh inter-marriages. However, the largest number of converts come from communities discriminated against. The outstanding example was that of Dalit leader Bhimrao Ambedkar who led his Mahar community to embrace Buddhism because they were discriminated against by upper caste Hindus. This is also true of over 90 per cent of Indian Muslims whose ancestors being lower caste embraced Islam which gave them equal status. That gives lie to the often-repeated slander that Islam made converts by the sword.

 

An equally large number of people converted out of gratitude. They were neglected, ignorant and poor. When strangers came to look after them, opened schools and hospitals for them, taught them, healed them and helped them to stand on their own feet to hold their heads high, they felt grateful towards their benefactors. Most of them were Christian missionaries who worked in remote villages and brought hope to the lives of people who were deprived of hope.

 

To this day, Christian missionaries run the best schools, colleges and hospitals in our country. They are inexpensive and free of corruption. They get converts because of the sense of gratitude they generate. Can this be called forcible conversion? Why don’t the great champions of Hinduism look within their hearts and find out why so many are disenchanted by their pretensions of piety? Let them first set their own houses in order, purge the caste system out of Hindu society and welcome with open arms all those who wish to join them. No one will then convert from Hinduism to another religion.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

[mukto-mona] Khushwant Singh: Conversion business

http://dailyalochona.blogspot.com/2008/10/mukto-mona-khushwant-singh-conversion.html

 

http://deccan.com/Columnists/Columnists.asp#Conversion%20business

Anti-Christian Violence Spreads to 12 States

24 August – 4 October 2008

ORISSA: 14 (of 30) Districts affected,  300 Villages damaged, 4,400 Houses burnt, 50,000 Homeless, 59 People killed including at least 2 pastors, 10 Priests/Pastors/Nuns injured, 18,000 Men, women, children injured, 2 Women gang-raped, 151 Churches destroyed, but attacks continuing and 13 Schools, colleges damaged.
BIHAR: 1 Church damaged
CHHATTISGARH: 4 Nuns assaulted
JHARKHAND: 1 Church attacked and attempted ‘reconversion’ of Christians
KARNATAKA:  4 (of 29) Districts affected, 22 Churches damaged or destroyed, still attacks continues, 20 Nuns, women injured by police
KERALA: 4 Churches damaged
MADHYA PRADESH: 4 Churches damaged and 4 schools vandalized
NEW DELHI: 2 Churches damaged and 4 attempts made
PUNJAB: 3 Christians harassed and imprisoned by police on false charges
TAMIL NADU: 4 Churches damaged
UTTAR PRADESH: 3 Pastors and a pastor’s wife beaten
UTTARAKHAND: 2 Christians murdered (priest and employee)

 

Released by Madhu Chandra, Regional Secretary, All India Christian Council New Delhi

aiccdelhi@gmail.com, www.aiccindia.

Religious Leaders’ Role in Trouble Times

“Religious leaders have a special responsibility to act as perceptive and committed leaders within the social fabric of a nation,” says Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati, a special invitee to the Synod of Bishops currently in progress in the Vatican. Reflecting on the current anti-Christian persecution raging in Orissa’s Kandhamal district and to eleven other Indian states he insists that, “they ought to be particularly leaders in the world of thought and of values.”

Politically motivated people tend to embellish and interpret the event according to their own political allegiance. Reporters are tempted to serve particular political or commercial interests. A wrong interpretation or presentation of a case of violence spreads anger and anxiety and can lead to further violence.

Religious leaders who rush in and take public stands before issues and events are clear, may be taking the risk of finding themselves on the wrong side or emphasizing a less important aspect. They make the mistake of those over-ardent justice-fighters I have mentioned above. That is why time and energy spent on study, reflection, analysis (I am referring to realistic analysis, not mere ideological analysis in which facts are forced to fit in with theories) and interpretation are never wasted. A good cause has a sturdiness of its own even before any battle is waged.

Mao thought that political power flowed from the barrel of the gun. Mahatma Gandhi’s political power flowed from the strength of his ideas and the rightness of his cause. This intelligent, righteous and balanced approach won him both admirers and followers on every continent.

The greatest contribution of religious leaders in times of crisis is to help people to discern the right manner of handling the problem that they are facing. Though many social activists today would consider denunciation of evil is the right manner of exercising their prophetic mission and the main contribution of religious leaders, I would consider inviting people to think and helping them to make intelligent and value-based decisions as the more important responsibility and the more useful assistance.

Salesian Surprise at FMA Chapter

At the end of the second week of Salesian Sisters’ 22^nd General Chapter (3 Oct) Fr. Carlos Garulo of Barcelona from the Salesian Generalate Rome and in charge of IUS (Salesian University Institutes) presented his book of poems comparing the life and deeds of St. John Bosco with the message of the different books of the Bible. His first volume is entitled “The Heart Beat of the Forest:: Genesis – Book of Origins and Germination” (El latido del bosque  Génesis. Libro de orígenes y germinaciones).

 

The presentation of his poems in Spanish language had four moments. After the reading of a textual commentary, author presented its corresponding poetic version. Third interactive moment consisted of question and answers with the author which led into the fourth moment, the recitation of another poem in which the audience joined, creating a counterpoint like in a Greek tragedy.  The poem referred to the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians as an emblematic temple, and during this reading some of its images were projected.

 

The moment of surprise that totally floored the Chapter members was the rendition of an unscheduled poem – Portrait of Mother Mazzarello. It will be part of the author’s third book: The Heart Beat of the Forest.  Narrations and Chronicles.  Book of Figures and Stories, which will be published in 2010.

 

14 Indian Sisters at FMA GC22

During the Chapter which will end on 15 November, the 191 chapter members will elect a new Superior General and her Council. Of 14 chapter members from India (12 from six Indian provinces, plus one General Councilor and an East Africa provincial) 12 Sisters are attending a GC for the first time.

 

Most of the Indian Sisters will be at St Peter’s Square joining some 10,000 compatriots for the canonization of the first Indian woman, Clarist Sister Alphonsa, 18 October.

 

The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians founded by Don Bosco and Mother Maria Domenica Mazzarello in 1872, number 14,324 and are present in a variety of educative, social and evangelizing centres in the five continents (Africa-Madagascar: 465, America: 4.585 Asia: 2.185; Europe: 7.042; Oceania: 47).

Rosary Campaign for Persecuted Christians in Inida

During this month of the Holy Rosary, Salesian Fr. T.C. George, director of Visvadeep, Kristu Jyoti College Bangalore has launched a Rosary Campaign for the persecuted Christians and persecutors of Christians in Orissa and in other parts of India!

 

“You can join this powerful prayer campaign by pledging yourself to say as many rosaries as you can during this month of October dedicated to the rosary,” says Fr George professor of Dogmatic Theology.

 

“Together with Mother of Jesus who, in the company of the apostles, awaited the descent of the Holy Spirit, we contemplate the salvific mysteries and pray for an outpouring of the same Spirit on our country, India. Let the Mother of God usher in a new era, a springtime for God’s reign on our land,” he adds.

 

Volunteers may join this campaign by emailing their pledges in the following format:

I would like to join the Rosary Campaign by praying … … number of rosaries for the persecuted Christians and persecutors of Christians in India.

Your name: ……………

Place (state/country): ……………     to rosarycampaign@gmail.com .

 

“The rosaries said by you will be offered up during a special Marian Eucharistic celebration conducted on November 1, 2008, in Bangalore during which you will be specially remembered (for this reason we need your name) and will be lifted up to our loving God through the sacrificial offering of His Beloved Son Jesus Christ,” explains Fr George.

 

Historical Background

Apart from the signal defeat of the Albigensian heretics at the battle of Muret in 1213 which legend has attributed to the recitation of the Rosary by St. Dominic, it is believed that Heaven has on many occasions rewarded the faith of those who had recourse to this devotion in times of special danger.

 

More particularly, the naval victory of Lepanto gained by Don John of Austria over the Turkish fleet on the first Sunday of October in 1571 responded wonderfully to the processions made at Rome on that same day by the members of the Rosary confraternity. St. Pius V thereupon ordered that a commemoration of the Rosary should be made upon that day, and at the request of the Dominican Order pope Gregory XIII in 1573 allowed this feast to be kept in all churches which possessed an altar dedicated to the Holy Rosary.

 

In 1671 the observance of this festival was extended by pope Clement X to the whole of Spain, and somewhat later pope Clement XI after the important victory over the Turks gained by Prince Eugene on 6 August, 1716 (the feast of our Lady of the Snows), at Peterwardein in Hungary, commanded the feast of the Rosary to be celebrated by the universal Church.

Power of the WORD Translated into Action

Indian Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati, a special invitee to the Synod of Bishops 2008 on the WORD OF GOD presenting the report on Asia, said that while Christianity was born on the continent, its declaration as the official religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century identified it so closely with the West that most Asians resisted its message. When Asians are drawn to Christianity, he said, they are attracted less by preaching than by the “‘word’ translated into action.” Offering health care and education, helping the unemployed and the oppressed, caring for people with AIDS or drug addictions, fighting the caste system and discrimination against women, Catholics have shown Asians the true meaning of the Gospel, the archbishop said. “Even where the Gospel is resisted most, the evangelical witness of socially relevant works finds welcome,” he said. “Silent but sincere service has an eloquence of its own.”

The Salesian archbishop referring directly to fundamentalist Hindu attacks on Christians in India recently, as well as other situations of pressure or outright persecution, Bishop Menamparampil said, “the patience manifested by the community, the restraint shown, the moderation in response, the spirit of forgiveness — all these have an evangelizing power.”

 

Gandhigiri* for Naveen Patnaik’s B’day

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is celebrating his 62nd birthday on Oct. 16. There is a discussion among some Christian groups to greet the chief minister on the occasion.

“Since we love those who hate us, please do not fail to send him special birthday greetings from the Christian community, especially from those who are impressed by his efforts to uphold the honour of women (by taking up the rape case of the nun in Orissa 40 days after the incident and coming on TV channel personally assuring her protection) and enforce the rule of law in his state,” they say.

You could email the Chief Minister’s Office: cmo@ori.nic.in (attn: Shri Naveen Patnaik)
We could flood his email box with birthday greetings and copy journalists you know like barkha@ndtv.com so the media gets to know how many blessings he gets from the Christian community.

Meanwhile, Missionaries of Charity Superior General Sister Nirmala Joshi, who succeeded Blessed Teresa of Kolkata met him in Chief Minister’s Office, 7 October. After expressing the Church’s concern over anti-Christian violence in the state, Mr. Patnaik, Sister Nirmala and local Missionaries of Charity superior Sister Suma prayed together Saint Francis of Assisi’s famous prayer, “Lord make me a channel of your peace.”

His postal address:
Shri Naveen Patnaik, Naveen Niwas, Aerodrome Road, P.O. Bhubhaneswar,
District Khurda, Orissa 751 001

If you would like to phone or fax him here are his numbers:
+91.674.2531100 , +91.674.2535 100, +91.674.2531 500
Fax: +91.674.2400100
Home: +91.674.2590299

 

 

*The term Gandhigiri (Gandhisim) highlights the fact that in an unjust world, change necessitates the use of force. It also emphasises that Gandhiji stood for action in the face of oppression. Not passive contemplation or individual salvation. The term “Gandhigiri” was popularized by the 2006 Hindi film, Lage Raho Munna Bhai  starring Sanjay Dutt.

 

 

National Convention Against Fascism,* 25-26 October, New Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India predicted that “Fascism will come to India in the form of communalism.”

Hindutva terrorist groups, like the Bajrang Dal, openly claim attacks on Christian institutions in front of television news cameras. Yet no action is taken against them!

Throughout the country Muslim youth are being targeted, without any or little evidence, as responsible for terrorist attacks. There is a concerted attempt by the Indian police, sections of the media and certain political parties to portray all members of the Muslim community as ‘terrorists and extremists’ – to be arbitrarily arrested, tortured and killed in fake encounters.

On the other hand hard evidence available against Bajrang Dal and other Sangh Parivar outfits about their direct involvement in terror attacks is not only being ignored but actively being pushed under the carpet by the state.

The areas yet uncolonized by the RSS network are decreasing by the day. The threat from the fascist forces is not only to the survival and dignity of India but undermines the very concept of Indian nationhood.

“We feel that there is urgent need to call for a national convention to challenge the forces of fascism. We had sent out sms messages to about 40 organisations to get a response from them about the possibility of organizing a national convention on 25 and 26 October, 2008 in New Delhi. Thirty NGOs endorsed the National Convention Against Fascism,” says Shabnam Hashmi of ANHAD.

 

“ The two-day programme is being finalized. You may send in suggestions.  The venue and the final schedule for the convention will be informed as soon as it is finalized after hearing from more groups/ individuals.” adds Hashmi giving his contact number and email id: Tel. 011.23070740/ 23070722 or anhad.delhi@gmail.com

 

*Fascism is a totalitarian nationalist and corporatist ideology brought into popular usage by the Italian founders of Fascism, Benito Mussolini and the Neo-Hegelian philosopher Giovanni Gentile. It opposes communism, conservatism, liberalism, and international socialism

Sr Alphonsa, 1st Woman Saint of India

Pope Benedict XVI will declare Bl. Alphonsa, the first woman saint of India at a canonization ceremony in St Peter’s Square, Sunday 12 October. Two Malayalam language television channels (Jeevan & Kairali) will broadcast live the event starting at 10 am Rome time (1.30 pm IST). About 10,000 pilgrims have come from India to participate in the Vatican event. Starting with a vigil service on Saturday, three-day celebrations will conclude with a thanksgiving Eucharist on Monday morning.

The Reserve Bank of India will honour the Kerala-born Sr Alphonsa with a special commemorative coin.

Sister Alphona was born in Kudamaloor near Kottayam on August 19, 1910 as the fourth child of Joseph and Mary Muttathupadath, in the parish of Kudamaloor, Palai diocese. A person who suffered various physical ailments since childhood, she opted for a religious life and took her perpetual vow in 1936.Her tomb at Bharananganam, near the convent where she spent her religious life, is visited by large number of devotees. Click teh link below to see a 42-minute video with Malayalm devotional songs on Sr Alphonsa and English language commentary on her life and times by Webindia123.com
http://video.webindia123.com/pilgrimagespots/bharananganam/blaolphonsa/index.htm

Sr Alphonsa was declared Blessed by the late Pope John Paul II in 1986 and last year Pope Benedict XVI signed the decree approving the miracle that took place through her intercession, paving the way for her canonization.

The Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) was founded in Kerala, India, on December 14, 1888, by Bishop Charles Lavigne of Kottayam Diocese, Kerala.  At present the Congregation has about 7,000 members spread out in 19 provinces and three regions in seven countries.

Other shorter YouTube links for a quick dekho on the life and times of St Alphonsa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4yeFpEoEGc&NR=1 CNS tv Eng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbUwT99HuFU&NR=1 NDTV Eng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRUhsxspehw&feature=related
India Video Org – Music background
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozmomP1fOnM&feature=related Webindia123.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18fmCuZLq7A ASIAnet Malayalam

LORD Baffles Miscreants*

This May 2008 incident narrates God’s mischief with mischief makers.

 

A big and beautiful Church was built by Fr. Reimus Morra an Italian Salesian missionary in 1962 at Barpeta Road (Assam) to accommodate 600 to 700 boarding boys and girls. As you enter the Mission gate, the word D.O.M. can be seen written on the facade of the Church. Since then (1962) curious onlookers continue to enquire about its meaning. The letters are from the Latin words: Dominus, Optimus, Maximus, meaning: The Lord: the Best and the Greatest. It is a wonderful way of making known and proclaiming the Lord to all and also of inviting all peoples and nations to praise Him Who is the Best and the Greatest (Ps 117).

 

The incident took place on 11^th May 2008 – only to teach us and others what and who DOM is or stands for. It was Sunday night when some miscreants entered the Church through the back door. From the disorder and the destruction caused, it appears that they tried desperately to find the Tabernacle key. Since they failed, they tried to break it open. They failed again. When they tried the third time it seems their tools went into pieces. Confused and defeated they smashed a paten, a chalice and took to their heels with a monstrance as their only booty.

 

The sacristans had in fact forgotten to remove the Tabernacle key after the Sunday Benediction. It was left in front of the Tabernacle and yet it remained hidden from the eyes of the wicked. It seems that the DOM was holding the key in His hand and would not give it to them and thus prevented them from profaning the holy of holies. We pray for their conversion and thank the Lord for displaying his power.

 

 “Give thanks to the Lord because he is good…
It is the Lord who helps me and I will see my enemies defeated…
Many enemies were round me but I destroyed them by the power of the Lord.
They were around me on every side but I destroyed them by the power of the Lord.
They swarmed round me like bees…
By the power of the Lord I destroyed them” (Ps 118).
D.O.M., praise the Lord!

*Narrated by Salesian Fr Andreas Panna in NewsLine, Guwahati

Ten Thousand Indians Witness Sr. Alphonsa’s Canonisation At Vatican

VATICAN CITY (SAR NEWS) – Over 10,000 Indians both from India and overseas gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City for the canonisation of Sr. Alphonsa, the first Indian woman to be declared a saint, October 12. Nine Syro-Malabar bishops joined the ceremony presided over by Pope Benedict XVI.

Pilgrims thronged the Vatican Square carrying their national flags, banners and caps very early in the morning awaiting the official opening of the Square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica to entrance card holders at 8 a.m. Each pilgrim was given a 180-page booklet which contained the canonisation rites in Italian, English, Spanish and portions in Malayalam and Greek languages. The open-air event started at 10 a.m.

“Arriving early this morning to Rome by Alitalia flight from New York, I was surprised to see so many Indians in the airport. On hearing it was the canonisation of Sr. Alphonsa, I cancelled my onward flight to Milan and dumped my bags in a hotel,” said Steve Joseph who was on a business trip to Milan and a first- time visitor to Rome.

Speaking to SAR News, the Rome correspondent standing next to him in the line, for over one hour for security clearance to the piazza at the Vatican City’s Sant’ Anna gate, Joseph got his entrance ticket from someone who had an extra card.

After x-raying handbag and passing through metal detector he joined the people seated on plastic chairs in the blazing October sun for preparatory prayers for the canonisation of four Blessed, including Sr. Alphonsa. The 45-minute prayer consisted of a reading from the writings of the four saints who were scheduled for canonisation and a prayer with a song interlude. It started at 9.15 a.m. (Rome time).

The Ceremony:

At 10 a.m. (1.30 pm IST) the Pope and the concelebrants came in a procession to the open-air podium and altar in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. Four giant television screens set up in the piazza helped the faithful to follow the events in detail.

While the Vatican Television supplied live feeds, the Vatican Radio covered the events live in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish and English languages in short and medium wave as well as on FM transmissions.

The canonisation procedure started with the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation
for the Saints, Salesian Cardinal Angelo Amato, reading a brief biography of the four saints (Italian Father Gaetano Errico, Swiss Sister Bernarda Butler, Indian Sister Alphonsa and an Ecuadorian laywoman Narcisa di Gesu Martillo Moran) and presenting them for canonisation. The litany of the saints sung in Latinfollowed by the Pope proclaiming them saints. While the choir and assembly sang Alleluia, relics of the saints were solemnly brought to the altar.

Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) Mother General Sister Ceelia carried a small piece of Sister Alphonsa’s bone in a highly ornate monstrance flanked by vice postulator Father Francis Vadakkel and lay representative and senior Kerala politician K.M. Mani.

The solemn Eucharistic celebration continued with the singing of Gloria in Latin.

The FCC Delhi provincial Sister Joncy read the second reading at from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (4:12-14,19-20) in English.

14 Indian Saints and Blesseds:

Sister Alphonsa is the second from India to be canonised in the Catholic Church. The first was Vasai-born Gonzalo Garcia, a Franciscan monk born to an Indian mother and a Portuguese father.

             He was killed in 1597 in Nagasaki during missionary work. Garcia was canonised along with 25 others in 1862.

Currently there are 14 Indian or India-connected causes for canonisation in various stages of investigation. Among the beatified are Kerala-born Father Kuriakose Elias Chaavara,

 Thevarparambil Kunjachen of Ramapuram, Sister Mariam Thresia and Sister Euphrasia; Blessed Joseph Vaz and Venerable Agnelo de Souza from Goa and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
            The Vatican took more than 50 years to scrutinise Sister Alphonsa’s life and work before conferring sainthood on her.

The Indian Church, believed to be founded by St. Thomas, one of the apostles, in A.D. 52, makes up 2.3 per cent of the billion-plus population of the country. The Roman Catholic Church in India, spread over the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites, constitutes nearly 70 per cent of theIndian Christian population, according to Church authorities.

Pope Mentions India Six Times During Canonisation

VATICAN CITY (SAR NEWS) – Alluding to the ongoing anti-Christian persecutions in India, Pope Benedict XVI alluded to India six times, both directly and indirectly, in his brief address to the pilgrims who came from India.

Each time the Pope mentioned the name Sister Alphonsa or India, the Indians in the piazza went wild some waving the tri-colour they carried with them and others clapping their hands. The Vatican Television captured those rapturous moments on the giant screens.

In the first instance, commenting on the parable of the guests at the wedding banquet and the sufferings of persecuted Christians the pope said St. Alphonsa was convinced that “such a cross was the very means of reaching the heavenly banquet prepared for her.”

The Pope also mentioned the 12-member Government of India’s official delegation which included Ministers like Oscar Fernandes, Moncy Joseph, M. Jacob, K.M. Mani, Dr. Jancy James, Cyriac Thomas, P.C. George and others.

In the third instance, the Pope said: “Her (St. Alphonsa’s) suffering reminds us that God always provides us the strength to over come every evil.”

He further said, “I wish to assure them (persecuted Christians of India) of my prayers during this difficult time, commending, commending to the providential care of Almighty God persons (who) try for peace and reconciliations.”

The fifth time, in a strongly worded pleading, he appealed, “I urge the perpetrators of the violence to renounce that, join the brothers and sisters to work together in building a civilisation of love.”

In the last instance before the Angelus prayer, Benedict XVI recalled the “violence against Christians in Iraq and India, “whom I remember each day before the Lord.”

German Youth Cycle for Peace in North-east India

.A group of five university students from the Ruhr region of western Germany has set out on an unique cycle expedition throughout the North-east India from 13 October. The KarmaRiders, as they call themselves, hope to be harbingers of peace and hope at a time when a part of Assam is reeling under the pain of ethnic violence.

The Don Bosco Institute (DBI), North-east, in collaboration with the Childaid Network of Germany is organizing the bicycle expedition through Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur.

The five German youth arrived in Guwahati, 11 October — M Schppen, K Meyyer, C Dominik, O Schrenk and M Baucer— are of the age group of 25 to 30 and are experienced in social and youth work. They also participated at the press meet at the Guwahati Press Club, 12 October.

“The other objective of the programme is to support various programmes for street children of this region as well as build bridges and remove the stereotype of the North-east as a land of insurgency and conflicts,” said Fr V.M. Thomas, executive director of the DBI, addressing the press.

Fr Thomas informed that, “the expedition will start from Guwahati on 13th October and will culminate in Imphal on 6^th December, covering at least 2,500 km across the north-eastern States.”

“A 60-km cycle tour across Guwahati city is scheduled on October 19 involving about one thousand cyclists including students from various educational institutions,” he added.

The tour across Guwahati will be flagged off at Latasil Field at 7 am and will culminate at Nehru Stadium.

First-ever Syro-Malabar Service Held In Rome Mother Church

ROME (SAR NEWS) — The post-canonisation thanksgiving Eucharist for Sister Alphonsa made history with the celebration of Eucharist for the first time in Syro-Malabar rite in Christendom’s Mother Church in Rome, October 13.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.

The Mother of all Churches in Rome and the world, the basilica was founded by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, during the time of Pope Silvester (314-335). Though it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, the current basilica dates from the 17th century.

“Probably this is the very first time that a Syro-Malabar rite liturgy is celebrated here with so many Indian nuns and priests,” said Dr. Scaria Thuruthiyil, professor of Philosophy at Salesian University Rome, hailing from Sister Alphonsa’s own parish Bharananganam, Kerala.

A conservative estimate puts the number of faithful in the celebrations at St. John Lateran at 3,000, including about 500 priests and some 2,000 Sisters, along with hundreds of devotees who came from India and around the world.

Archbishop George Valiamattom of Thalassery (Kerala) presided over the Eucharist in place of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly who is hospitalised in Rome due to heart problems.

The Redemptorist Cardinal, who is also the president of the Kerala Bishops’ Conference and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, was absent from Mass Sunday October 12, when Pope Benedict XVI canonized Sister Alphonsa.

Though his condition is stable, he has cancelled his public appearances.

The three-day celebrations in honour of the newly declared Indian saint Sister Alphonsa concluded October 13 with a thanksgiving Eucharist.

Canonisation Impact In The Time Of Persecution

ROME (SAR NEWS) — The persecution of Christians that kicked off in Orissa August 24 and spread out to 12 other Indian states continues unabated. The unprecedented incidents have brought discredit to the secularist credentials of the country, the world’s largest democracy, drawing upon it the ire of the civilised world.

Christians, who hold the Indian values of ahimsa and tolerance, grapple with the senseless violence heaped on the hapless victims by the rightwing activists.

“Jesus paid for our redemption with his life. There is a price we need to pay for the grace of our discipleship after 2,000 years of faith life in India,” says the Consultor for the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Father Franco Mulakkel.

According to Father Franco, “St. Alphonsa is telling the martyrs in Orissa that eternal reward is awaiting them, as they are the chosen and privileged ones to bear testimony to the cross for Christ with their very life.”

“Since the time the Church announced the canonisation of Sister Alphonsa, persecution of Christians has increased,” according to 84-year-old Kunjettan (little brother) who participated in the canonisation ceremony of Sister Alphonsa, dressed in his white mundu (loin cloth) and shirt. He founded the Mission League Palai in 1947, a year after Sister Alphonsa’s death, to promote missionary vocation in Kerala.

“These persecutions will continue and spread all over India giving a wake-up call to all of us to the practice of a radical Christianity.”

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity,” added the founder-editor of Kunju Missionary (Little Missionary) magazine (estd. 1961), recalling the prophetic words of the Church Fathers.

Speaking on the significance of Sister Alphonsa’s message of embracing the cross of Christ in one’s life, another white mundu and shawl-clad swamiji sporting an unkempt beard, called Sahodaran Aniyan (younger brother) participating at the Rome canonisation ceremony says, “We people don’t want any more the cross (suffering). We only want to glory in the cross.”

He insisted that these persecutions will bring about greater unity in the divided body of Christ (Church denominations and Rites) in India and “purify us of our seeking for comfort, reckless activism and alcoholism.”

In 1991, Sahodaran Aniyan started this Pious Association in Myladumkunnu, Thrissur district, Kerala. His magic remedy to stay off the anti-Christian demonic forces is the practice of “72 hours of adoration of the Holy Eucharist.”

Dalit Author of India’s Constitution Converted To Buddhism

The All India Christian Council (AICC) celebrated “Dhammadiksha”, the day on which Dr. B.R. Ambedkar freely chose a new religion on October 14, 1956 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The author of India’s Constitution showed that conversion is not a crime, but fifty-two years later voices inside India want a “moratorium on conversions.” The AICC is united in support of the freedom of religion and the freedom of conscience which includes conversion. The AICC President, Dr. Joseph D’souza writes.

 

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar commented in a speech, “Mukti kon pathe?” (Which path to liberation?), published on June 20, 1936, “To remain in a religion because it is ancestral is only suited to a fool. No thinking man can take such a policy. Remaining in a situation in which one finds oneself fits an animal; it cannot satisfy a human being.” Under Ambedkar’s leadership, millions of people embraced Buddhism.

 

Seven states have passed “Freedom of Religion Acts” and five are enforcing it, but, today, there has not been one conviction for conversion by allurement, fraud, or force. Even if wrongful conversions do exist in India, major religious leaders – especially from Christianity – have condemned them and believe this type of conversion is not legitimate.

 

Legitimate, legal conversions are now on the table for debate. On Oct. 8, 2008, Roman Catholic leaders in New Delhi agreed to meet with the senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader, Mr. L.K. Advani, along with a delegation. Mediated by Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, a joint press statement discussing conversions was issued after the two hour dialogue.

 

John Dayal, AICC Secretary General and member of the National Integration Council, said, “The AICC welcomes true dialogue. It is the cornerstone of our everyday life and Christian witness. But a dialogue presupposes free will, a peaceful platform, a structured agenda, a common goal for peace through mutual respect, and acknowledgement of each other as equals. Religious leaders should dialogue with other religious leaders in bilateral and multilateral fora. Parliament provides the forum for political dialogue. Civil society is the best platform for a larger, continuing dialogue and debate. These are fora we trust.”

 

Dr. Joseph D’souza, AICC President, said, “Dialogues don’t identify the killers, arsonists, and rapists of Christians in India. Calls for moratoria on conversion don’t put the onus of the violence where it belongs – on government structures which are guilty of inaction in saving victims, and, in many cases, of supporting the violence against Christians. Dialogues will not save Hindu fundamentalist organisations from facing justice.”

 

India has signed the United National Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says, in Article 18, people must remain free to choose their own religion. India’s Constitution, in Article 25, guarantees the right to propagate religion, which will naturally lead to conversions.

 

D’Souza said, “As long as laws of the land are respected and other faiths are not denigrated, each person has the right to convert. And other Indians have the right to tell fellow citizens about different choices in religion so they have the knowledge and options to convert. We believe each Indian citizen must be allowed to shop in the marketplace of religions and choose a faith. We appeal to Indians of all religions to protect this freedom. Conversion is the sign of a healthy democracy. Conversion is the ultimate symbol of freedom of conscience.”

 

The All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The AICC is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

Moratorium on Conversions: Who Decides?

Dr. Joseph D’Souza,* President of All India Christian Council (AICC) identifies that those who are asking for conversion debate are the micro minority population of Indian upper caste, who want to decide the fate of the most dehumanized group of people in human civilization.

 

In the first wave of attacks on Christians in modern India during the late 1990s, a Christian leader flinched under the pressure of Hindu extremists and called for a five year moratorium on conversions. Extremist Hindu forces have repeatedly said Christians are engaged in forced and fraudulent conversions and this is the chief reason for ‘spontaneous’ violence against Christians. The Christian leader apparently succumbed to the incessant propaganda campaign.

 

During the rule of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government, the emboldened RSS maneuvered to bring various Christian denominations and associations into a dialogue that would result in a public agreement to end conversions among the downtrodden castes of India. Major Christian organisations were forced to come to the table due to political pressure and veiled threats. After every meeting with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), the spokesperson of the RSS informed the media that the Christians had agreed to their agenda of stopping conversions in modern India.

 

In the midst of this theatre of the absurd, the AICC was one of the main groups that refused to dialogue with the RSS.  This aligned with the position of major civil society leaders and human rights movements in India. This decision was also taken in conjunction with Dalit-Bahujan leaders. The AICC differentiated between a genuine dialogue with non-Christian religious leaders and the sham of ‘discussions’ with Sangh Parivar outfits who have already decided, before the meeting begins, what they want the outcome to be. The AICC supports a genuine dialogue with other faiths out of our respect for our neighbours – Jesus said we must love our neighbour as ourselves – and in order to maintain civil law, decency, and peace.

 

Currently, the issue of a moratorium on conversions has emerged in the media in fulfillment of the propaganda of the Sangh Parivar. If the Hindu nationalist parties come to power in New Delhi, I suspect Christian organisations will be forced to come to the table again. Once again the AICC will refuse any dialogue on the issue.

 

Why? Who ultimately decides the issue of conversion?

 

According to the India’s Constitution the freedom of religion is given to every individual Indian citizen. He or she has the freedom to believe and practice the faith he or she chooses. The freedom of speech enshrined in the Constitution gives every Indian citizen the right to propagate his faith as long as civil norms and decency are maintained.

 

In the context of the caste revolt in modern India, a revolution which began with Mahatma Phule, Ambedkar, and Periyar, there is another logical reason.  If our country does not give the Dalits, tribals and the OBCs (Other Backward Castes) the right to choose their faith, we have effectively imposed permanent slavery of the caste system on them. It was Ambedkar who said that ‘I was born a Hindu but I will not die a Hindu’. In 1956 he fulfilled that promise with hundreds of thousands of followers. Since then, rightly or wrongly, the liberation of the oppressed castes is fatefully tied with the choice to convert out of the religion that imposes the caste system on them.

 

The Indian State tried to deal with caste discrimination by banning the practice of ‘untouchability’ in the Constitution. With affirmative action provisions through reservation programs, the State tried to lift up the low castes of our society.

 

In contrast, the Hindu fundamentalist groups led by the RSS only revived and enforced casteist religious practices that demean both the Dalits and also women. These extreme groups have done nothing to enforce the banning of the caste system within their religious systems. It was the Vice-President of the VHP who said the life of a cow is more valuable than the life of a Dalit.  This was immediately after five Dalit young men were lynched to death in Jhajjar, Haryana, for skinning a dead cow.

 

Hindutva groups tried to revive the practice of Sati and have distributed books which contain the Law of Manu which codified the caste system in ancient India.

 

So who decides on a moratorium on conversions?  The RSS?  The media? Those who come to the table and dialogue on this issue?  Or the oppressed Dalit and low caste person in India? Dare we take away this final and most basic of human rights from the most dehumanized group of people in human civilization?

 

Those of us in the AICC movement – we are a coalition of many Christian groups from mainline to Pentecostal – refuse to strip this right from the Dalits or any oppressed group. And we acknowledge there are two sides to the coin. Thus, we refuse to take away this right even from those who are Christians but may choose another faith. Simply said, we believe that, without the freedom of conscience, all other freedoms become meaningless.

 

We unconditionally condemn all forced and fraudulent conversions and we consider the terms themselves as oxymoron. We condemn proselytizing or any effort to denigrate another faith.

 

The targeting of Dalits who turned to Christianity in Orissa is now out in the open. This is blatant violence against Dalits who exercised their freedom of conscience. The Dalits are not stupid in matters of conscience.  Their leader Ambedkar has shown them the way. They neither need the State nor upper caste religious leaders to tell them how to make their choices.

 

The AICC is determined to protect and serve the Dalits. We have stated long ago that we will love and serve them unconditionally with Christ’s love whether they are Christians or not.

 

The Dalit Christian ethnic cleansing of Orissa must be contested by every means possible under the Indian Constitution and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The freedom of religion must be supported in every corner of our beloved country.

 

*Dr. Joseph D’Souza is President of the All India Christian Council (www.indianchristians.in) Birthed in 1998; the Council is a coalition of thousands of India’s Christian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

Indians Bag Awards at Salesian University Rome

Two Indian Salesians bagged awards for outstanding academic performance at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) Rome`s Inauguration of the Academic Year 2008-2009 ceremony held 15th October. Some sixty awards were given in three categories: Doctoral, Master`s and Bachelor`s.  Dr Charles Maria Antonisamy (INM) and Dr Peter Gonsalves (INB) both from Social Communications Faculty doctoral programme were awarded the UPS medal and citation. Some 20 students also received Euro 500 (INR 33,000) scholarship towards their academic fees for outstanding performance in the annual exams.

 

Indians in the UPS Staff

Out of 251 professors teaching in the University, only nine professors come from India. Two professors who joined UPS faculty this year are Dr. Edison Fernandes (INB)and Dr Peter Gonsalves (INB). Fr Scaria Thuruthyil who started teaching in February 1989 became the first Indian dean of Philosophy Faculty. Fr Cyril DeSouza is Coordinator of the Department of Youth Pastoral and Catechetics and part of the 25 Member Academic Council. Other professors include Frs Jerome Vallabaraj, Anthony Francis Vincent, Sagayaraj Devadoss, Jesu James Pudumai, Joshtrom Kureethadam.

 

Solemn Inauguration of the Academic Year

Over 200 priests, about 20 deacons, some 100 religious Sisters and hundreds of students joined the Vicar of the Rector Major Fr Adriano Bregolin for the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at the University Parish Church. There was also a delegation of the Diplomatic Corps attached to the Holy See in attendance.

 

Unlike last year, this year, a 50 member UPS students’ choir animated the liturgical singing. A 40 member Inter-University choir under the baton of UPS Professor Maestro Don Massimo Palombella SDB rendered three magnificent Latin renditions (Tu Es Petrus; Credo; and Esultabo) at the academic year 2008-2009 inaugural function held at UPS Paul VI Hall.

 

Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, gave the inaugural address on the theme of “University and Education“. In the words of Benedict XVI, the cardinal called on both the professors and students “to preserve the flame of hope.”

 

Fr. Bregolin on behalf of UPS Chancellor Fr Pascual Chavez the Rector Major declared open 69th Academic Year and handed over the awards. Also present at the event were the General Councillor for Formation Fr Francesco Cereda as well as the Economer General Br. Claudio Marngio. The UPS Chancellor, the RM of the Salesians Fr Pascual Chavez was absent as he is a member of the Synod of Bishops currently under way in the Vatican.

 

The UPS Milestones

The Don Bosco University for Youth started in Turin in 1940 as a papal Salesian Athenaeum with three faculties: Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law. Two more faculties were added (Sciences of Education, Christian and Classic Literatures) when it was transferred to Rome in 1965. In 1973, the Athenaeum was raised to Salesian Pontifical University and 15 years later the Faculty of Sciences of the Social Communications was born in 1988 to mark Don Bosco`s death centenary.

The University houses three communities of professors and three communities of students. About 2,000 students from about 100 countries including Mainland China attend the six faculties.

Kolkata Plans Solidarity Action for Orissa Riot Victims

The Religious (CRI), the Catholic Media association (SIGNIS) and India’s oldest Catholic lay association (CAB) of Calcutta archdiocese have initiated a number of steps to express solidarity with the victims of dastardly crimes in Orissa and elsewhere in India. Salesian Archbishop Lucas Sircar of Calcutta has endorsed the following action plan spread out in October-November.

1. An Audio Visual (AV) presentation has been compiled by SIGNIS West Bengal, based entirely on media reports. This will help us understand better, the chain of events that originated in Kandhamal, Orissa on 23 August 2008 that spread to five more states and is still continuing today.  This 20 minutes AV presentation may be screened during all major Sunday masses in October, preferably after the penitential rite. The homily may be suitably modified to reflect on the violence and to formulate a Christian response to the same, bearing in mind “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. For screening in your parish please call Sunil Lucas (SIGNIS) 98300 23564, or Alexander Anthony (CAB) 98310 12962.

 

2. Continuous adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in all parishes on Sunday 26 October 2008 from 8 AM to 8 PM.

3. The same day (Sunday 26 Oct) shall be observed as a Day of Prayer and Fast in all the parishes. You could encourage the laity and the communities in your parish to turn to the power of the Blessed Sacrament to restore peace in the hate filled regions of the country. The various parish groups like SVP, Legion of Mary, Parish Council, Youth groups, etc may also be motivated to participate in large numbers to express solidarity with the unfortunate victims of this senseless violence. The proceeds from the fast could be forwarded to Archbishop House to be sent for the grieving families in Orissa. For further details please call Fr. Reginald Fernandes (SKC) 98300 29752, Sr. Vianey (SCCG) 64569069 or Sr. Celine Anthony (FMM)

 

4. Relay Fast led by Bishops at the Metro Corridor, from 8 am Friday 07.11.08 to 5 pm, Sunday 09.11.08. The purpose of this public demonstration of solidarity with our suffering brethren is to reassure them that their leaders are resolutely with them in their hour of crisis. We are trying to ensure participation of as many Bishops as possible and other Christian denominations are also lending their support to this endeavour. The active support of our own organisations and groups like CAB/ CRS /DBDOC/ SKC/ ABCD/ CTG/ AFJ/ etc is solicited. Please make it a point to personally lead your flock to the venue on all 3 days so that large turnout may force the powers that be to notice and take necessary action. CRI West Bengal will be spearheading this effort and their president Fr George Pattery sj will be the convenor for this event assisted by Mr Sunil Lucas (SIGNIS) 98300 23564 and Fr Reginald Fernandes (SKC) 98300 29752. Any assistance / cooperation extended to them will be highly appreciated.

 

5. Human Chain on 09.11.08, the last day of the Relay Fast, from 5.00 pm to 5.10 pm starting from the fast site stretching as far as possible. As we join hands with one another let us pause for a moment and remember the sufferings of those innocent victims and pledge to ensure that another Kandhamal never happens again. We need to create a mass movement of all right thinking people to stand up and condemn mob attacks. All those who are not near the fast site will gather near parishes or schools and join hands to form a human chain for 10 minutes.

DB Past Pupil Wins Booker Prize

Don Bosco Egmore, Chennai past pupil 33 year old Aravind Adiga emerged winner of the prestigious Man Booker Prize for 2008 for his debut novel “The White Tiger.” In its 40^th year, The Man Booker Prize for Fiction promotes the finest in fiction by rewarding the very best book of the year. Adiga won a cheque for 50,000 pounds ($87, 283) in prize money.

“Adiga’s book is extraordinarily accomplished. The tale of an Indian servant who kills his boss, it’s written with wit and panache and crackles with a kind of joyfully subversive energy. Yet it is also a shocking portrait of Indian corruption and social injustice at a time when the media has tended to focus on sunnier tales of the nation’s economic transformation,” says Time report telling about its former New Delhi correspondent.

Mr. Aravind hails from Mangalore and did a major part of his schooling in Chennai. His extended family still lives in Mangalore. Sydney is where his father, a surgeon, is now settled.

Mr. Aravind’s cousin Ramesh Kumar Mohan Rao says the writer, who was born in Chennai, was very good at academics. “His house was next to ours on Poonamallee High Road, we grew up together and went to the same school, Don Bosco, Egmore. He studied here till 9th standard after which he moved to Mangalore where he completed his schooling.”

After his family moved to Mangalore, he joined the Canara School in 1981-82 for standard XI. He joined St. Aloysius primary school in 1983-84 and completed his SSLC in 1990. He secured the first rank in the State in SSLC.

Mr. Aravind did most part of his education at St. Aloysius group of education institutes, barring the two years of primary education at Canara English Higher Primary School, Dongarakery.

Sr Alphonsa’s Canonization: What Did Not Get Reported

Media reports can be distorted with regard to the number of participants. Several reports said there were roughly 25,000 Indians. An equal number said 5,000. Definitely there were more than the latter number; it could easily be seen from the Indian tricolour waved in St Peter’s Square. Indian delegation was far numerous than any other of the three countries: Italy, Ecuador or Switzerland whose saints were canonized. The Italians with over 20 big buses coming from Naples could not counter the Indian population gathered from America, Europe, India, locals and elsewhere. Their call to Rome seemed very motivated as one from the U.S. told quite emotionally, “I have never been to Rome, I did not come to see Rome, but I could not think of staying back home when my sister is being raised to the highest honour in the church.”

 

Latin Ritual Greek to Syro-Malabar Rite

Many missed out on the central point of the canonization as the declaration was read out in Latin after the brief life sketches were presented by the Cardinal Prefect. The applause at the very mention of the name of the saint drawing earlier was more than what was received at this point. Many thought the carrying up of the relics of the saints to the altar accompanied by the vice postulators was the main point.

 

The ceremony as a whole mostly in Latin, was packed ritual, which to some people lacked devotion. For the people who milled around the piazza before 8.00am (awaiting 10 am show), it was a celebration, all round joy was visible. Even the non-concelebrating priests in the enclosures were seen often waving to the camera while it was turned on them. TV camera men could refrain from focussing on the audience from the front, in close ups, but could do so largely in long shots and from the back and overhead.

 

Every now and then we had large groups of tourists walking in, speaking loudly in their language. One wonders why tourists can not be stopped from entering inside the piazza during the two hours of the ceremony. Obviously the many policemen patrolling the areas simply can’t silence the tourists who see St. Peter’s merely as a tourist spot.

 

Most of the Malayalees, about 10, 000 (according to a very conservative estimate) were Syro-Malabar people who did not even follow the structure of the Latin mass. At Gloria one guy shouted to his chum right from below the altar “thudangiyitte ullado” (just started only man). Some other guys were seen constantly standing up on the chairs and talking on their cell-phones, presumably reporting live from the piazza. It was really interesting to see Syro-Malabar people attending Latin mass (more so, it was in LATIN itself) like at an ulsavam (festival) in Kerala. Like our chettans (elder brothers) at a temple ulsavam. 

 

The ceremony was just two hours 10 minutes long — short much though– one could see a visibly tired Pope rushing a bit towards the end.

 

To many the pope giving communion on the tongue to people kneeling was a strange sight. One asked, “Could we argue, may be Jesus did the same at the last supper?”  “No comments” on that!

 

Alphonsa’s  Aluva (Kerala) based Franciscan Clarist Congregation (also founded in Aluva) is the largest congregation in Kerala, so also in India.

 

Finally is Alphonsa the first Indian saint ‘? Some people want to say so, as Gonsalo Garcia, the only other Indian saint had a Portuguese father (himself a capuchin brother-catechist unlike many media reports who called him a Jesuit) was part of a group of Jesuits hanged in Nagasaki.

 

Vigil Service
As regards the vigil programme organized by the Indian Priests, Sisters, Brothers Union (IPSBU) probably things were better as a prayer experience, because Jesuit Fr. Jacob Srampickal director of Communication studies at Gregorian helped everyone pray for some 90 minutes.

 

Fr Srampickal had a 24-minute documentary on Sr Alphonsa’s life made from two fictional videos from Kerala which set the tone for the evening. He followed up the prayerful starter with a short reflection on why Sr Alphonsa took to suffering and stressed the importance of her life for today’s people.

 

We had a few bishops too plus the Indian delegation of 8 minsters and ex-ministers led by Oscar Fernandes, the superior general of the FCCs (Sr Alphonsa’s congregation), the Indian Ambassador plus about 4,000 people packed inside and outside  the church . Coincidentally, the same church was booked by the Gaetano Errico group from Naples for their prayer service, for the saint from Italy, to be canonized along with Sr Alphonsa.  And so Indians had to conclude their prayer within 90 mts. 

 

Mr Oscar Fernandes, Bishop Chittilappaly, and the FCC Superior General Sr Ceelia spoke briefly before the conclusion. Some fine hymns well sung in English, Hindi and Malayalam enhanced devotion and helped prayer. The FCCs gave flags to be waived at St Peter’s square the next day. The IPSBU did a commendable job in their effort to bring together all the rites in such short notice at the start of the new scholastic year.

 

On a sour note

 It was indeed a moment also to unite the various rites together. The Government had sent Oscar Fernandes as the official head of the Indian delegation.  It was a pity that he played hardly any role at the canonization ceremony. Mr Oscar could have been the one carrying one of the lights to accompany the holy relics (instead of Mr KM Mani). And even when Oscar did really speak at the Vigil Service his message was ignored by Catholic media that was mostly controlled by the Syro-Malabar personnel.

Prayer for the persecuted Christians in India was put in the appendix, missing a golden opportunity of solidarity in the context of the “glorification of the sufferings of Sr Alphonsa”. We could also have collected 4,000 signatures and submitted it alnog with a memorandum on behalf of IPSBU to the Indian Ambassdor who came for the programme. 

AICC Wins Renewed Pledge, Massive Support

About 200 pastors assembled in the Church of North India (CNI), church at Rambagh, Amritsar, 16 October 2008. It also had several women as well as local political leaders like Mr. Hamid Masih, Mr.Ayub Masih, Mr. Jaspal Masih, Mr.Yakub Masih, Mr. Anwar Masih, Mr. John Kotli and Mr. Sucha Masih to name a few without mentioning their political affiliations. All of them spoke and made suggestions and pledged support for the All India Christian Council (AICC) cause.  Founded in 1998, AICC is a nation-wide alliance of Christian denominations, mission agencies, institutions, federations and Christian lay leaders.

 

Dr John Dayal Secretary General of the AICC, shared with the audience the reason for the birthing of AICC, its aim, purpose, history and the track record. He gave facts and statistics of the state of Orissa as well the atrocities done against the church in the rest of the country. He also explained the social and political reasons for the attacks on christian establishments and the church. He very fearlessly alleged that the attacks were perpetrated in a manner by the fundamentalist outfits like Bajrang Dal and other like minded entities to physically as well as ideologically weaken the Christians. First the businesses were attacked and burnt to weaken the Christians economically; women and children, raped and killed ,to create terror and to weaken physically; houses and churches burnt to cause harm morally and physically and the dead paraded as trophies, all this done in a phased and according to a plan which can only be labeled as ethnic cleansing. He further went on to urge the audience to be aware of the rights of every citizen of India. He detailed the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Democratic and Secular India and also urged each to teach the same to our Christians. He said it is very important to avoid saying and doing things that would be considered unpatriotic, unlawful, inflammatory and would hurt the sentiments and feelings of people of other religions.

 

The situation in many states is far from normal, Dr Dayal said. In Orissa, the situation remains so critical that even the Central Reserve Police Force, meant to guard the Christians and ensure peace, had retreated in the face of Sangh aggression.  He said we welcome religious dialogue as much as collaboration with Civil Society institutions. But surely there cannot be a dialogue with criminals and those who have no faith in the Constitution of India, who do not abide with the rule of law, who openly espouse ideologies of hate that have been proscribed internationally since the defeat of Nazism and Fascism in the Second World War.

 

There is no place in a civilised country for such barbarians. It is for the state to act, enforce the law of the land, and gives them the punishment due to them for the murder of innocent people, the rape of women and the elimination of a people from their homeland.

AICC Secretary for Public Affairs.Dr. Sam Paul, spoke that it is important that we spend time in prayer and ask for power and guidance from God at the same time we need to be united. We should work on creating and maintaining networks inter denominationally as well as build network and cordial and good relationship with government and civil authorities. He said the need of the hour is to be united and be together, and recognise and shun the forces that are trying to bring differences and wedges between the Christians and also among different communities. Dr Sam Paul said the issue of conversion, forcible and with allurements, raised by fundamentalists and the Sangh parivar is a mere excuse, fabrication  and false propaganda. National Integration Council chairman Mr Qureshi when examining the claim has rubbished it as nonsense for no state government’s machinery has reported any civil or criminal suit against any Christian organization on that score.

 

Dr Bernard Malik, President, Federation of Indian Christian Organizations of North America, USA, was also present and in his speech he described the purpose and aim of the FIACONA and also commended the AICC for it support to Christian community in India. While pledging his support to AICC, he urged the people to rise above petty issues be it  doctrinal, territorial, or denominational and forge into a cohesive Christian fraternity sharing and bearing a common goal of uplifting the community.

DB Past Pupil Elected President of Calcutta Press Club

It is hat trick time for Don Bosco Past Pupils in India. Coming on the heels of DB Calcutta alumnus physicist Souvik Das on the Bing Bang Project (LHC), the Booker Prize 2008 winner Aravind Adiga a DB Egmore (Chennai) alumnus and now DB Liluah past pupil is elected President of the prestigious Calcutta Press Club.

Mr. Shyamal Baran Roy (DBL 1980 batch), 20 years with Press Trust of India is currently Principal Correspondent in Kolkata. Roy`s news beat includes West Bengal State Secretariat, State Assembly, Defence, Railways, Diplomatic Missions, Corporates, Politics and Religion.

 

“This is the oldest press club in Asia and I am its youngest president so far,“ says 43 year old Roy who secured 98 votes more than his nearest rival in a four-cornered contest.

“My agenda is to improve services to encourage more members to visit the club and increasing the club profile in India and abroad,“ tells Roy spelling out his plans.

 

Some Scoops

“A story on the plight of Skeleton Exporters of Kolkata, the decision of the USSR authorities to allow opening of a Ramakrishna Mission centre in Moscow, the arrival of Hillary Clinton for Mother Teresa`s funeral (I was lauded by the American Centre for this scoop) and several Mother Teresa related stories,“ recalls the senior reporter confessing “I have lost the will of late to do scoops for PTI.“

 

Roy had also the distinction of interviewing church luminaries like Mother Teresa,  controversial Jesuit theologian (Fr Dupuis) after the Vatican re-instated him; first Indian Salesian Mission Councilor (Fr Francis Alencherry) as well as first Asian tribal Cardinal Telesphore Toppo.

   

Roy`s areas of special interest are: Peace, Conflict Resolution and inter-religious dialogue. Being single, he has ample time to engage in social activities as Rotarian (member of RC Salt Lake Uptown, district 3291) and Member of Amnesty International, India.

 

Maidan Tent Calcutta Press Club

Situated on Maidan Tent, Press Club Path, The Calcutta Press Club is the oldest club exclusively for the working reporters in India. Established in 1945 the Club`s founding members led the movement for the upliftment of the status of a journalist and also for the freedom of press.

 

Former Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi liked to attend the press conferences held at the Press Club. In fact there is a swing still there in the club that Ms Gandhi was very fond of. During the club`s diamond jubilee (60 years`) celebration, the club was graced by the presence of former President of India Sri Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Sri Manmohan Singh.

 

“This is a club that every journalist of the country would like to be associated with. It is one of the few clubs left in our country with tradition, glory and history,“ said Kalyan Moitra, a member of the club. “Press Club, Kolkata feels like home. It is `our` place where we can be comfortable and relax after a hard day`s work. It is very centrally located as well,“ he added.

 

The Press Club does social work as well as hold cultural events for its members. It takes part in the annual Kolkata Book Fair exhibiting books written by journalists and other press members. This club is also known for its National Press Day Celebrations where discussions and debates based on media or current affairs are held. Members of the club can also book railway tickets as the club has its own booking counter.

 

e-Mail contact: shyamalbroy@gmail.com

Countering Fascist Forces: Defending the Idea of India

Several NGO’s and minority groups along with All India Christian Council are holding a two day National Convention, 25-26 October at Constitution Club Lawns, New Delhi.

 

The Convention will be attended by social activists, common citizens, academicians, intellectuals, media and political leaders from various mainstream and non-mainstream political parties.

 

Each session will have 3-4 speakers to initiate the discussion.

 

On the second day the first session is only for Youth Speakers under 30. There would be an informal interaction with all those young people who wish to speak at the session and the coordinator of the session on 25th evening after the main sessions are over. 

 

Formation of National Legal Network

There is a meeting proposed on the first day in the evening for lawyers and activists to discuss the formation of a National Legal Network for the victims of communal violence and victimization. This has been proposed by a Human Rights organization from Kerala. There are a number of legal networks and organizations who are doing this work. The convention will facilitate this meeting and hopes that various existing networks as well as other independent lawyers and activists would join hands to find the possibility of a dedicated legal cell for such cases.

 

The Convention Background

The RSS and organizations under its umbrella have mounted a vicious campaign against the Christian community across India. Over 10 states have seen violent attacks on the Christian community, their institutions, religious places, property and businesses. The Hindutva terrorist groups like the Bajrang Dal are openly claiming responsibility for this communal violence against Christians and are yet being allowed to go scot-free.

 

Again, throughout the country Muslim youth are being targeted, without any or little evidence, as responsible for the various bomb blasts taking place in the country. There is a concerted attempt by the Indian police, sections of the media and certain political parties to portray all members of the Muslim community as ‘terrorists and extremists’ – to be arbitrarily arrested, tortured and killed in fake encounters.

 

The Indian state is also cracking down hard on ’soft targets’ like human rights and social activists and the fundamental rights of life, liberty, freedom of speech, religion and dissent guaranteed to all citizens by the Indian Constitution are being shred to pieces right in front of our eyes.

 

On the other hand those destroying the secular fabric of the country are extolled as ‘nationalists’ and it is clear that the Indian police, bureaucracy and judiciary – instead of upholding their neutrality- are going soft on the crimes of Hindutva terrorists. Hard evidence available against Bajrang Dal and other Sangh outfits of their direct involvement in terror attacks is not only being ignored but actively pushed under the carpet by the Indian state.

 

 It is a state of affairs that calls upon all those who value Indian independence, democratic rights and social justice to come forward, take responsibility and resist the onslaught by fascist and imperialist forces on the foundations of our national values and existence.  This convention is an initial effort in this direction.

 

Convention is organised by: Academy of Public Understanding of Science, All India Christian Council, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, All India Quami Mahaz, All India Secular Forum, Alternatives, Aman Biradari, Aman Samudaya, ANHAD, Antarik Visthapit Hak Rakshak Samiti, Anweshi, Arya Samaj, ASHA Pariwar, Asmita Collective, Awaz e- Niswana, Bandhua Mukti Morcha, Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Bihar Social Institute, BUILD, Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms, CACIM,CEHAT, Centre for Youth Development and Activities, Chattisgarh Jan Vigyan Vikas Sangthan, Centre for Information, Training, Research and Action, Commission for Religious Harmony, Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights , Countercurrents.org, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Danish Publishers, Darpana Academy, Disha Social Organization , Ekta, Foundation for Educational Innovations in Asia, Global Gandhi Forum, GRAVIS, Holy Cross Convent, Human Rights Law Network, Indian Social Institute, Indian Social Action Forum ,INSAF Bulletin, Institute for Minority Women, Institute for Secular Democracy, Jadugoda, Janadhikar Samuh, Jananeethi, Janvikas, JUDAV, Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Lokshakti Abhiyan, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, MASUM, Media Action Group, Minorities Council, Muslim Women’s Forum, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights, National Economic Forum for Muslims, Nazareth Mahila Samiti, NCHRO, Nishan, North East Support Centre & Helpline, Orissa Development Action Forum, Orissa Seek, Save & Development Society, Oxfam India, Popular Education & Action Centre ,People’s Movement against Nuclear Energy, People’s Research Society, People’s Watch, PRASHANT, Religious Harmony Commission (CBCI), Roshan Vikas, SAFAR,Saheli, Sahrwaru, Sajhi Duniya, Samarpan, Sanchetana, Sandarbh, Sarva Dharam Sansad, Shambhavi, South Asia Citizens Web, South Asians for Human Rights , SUTRA, Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, Udayan, Urja Ghar, Vikas Adhyan Kendra, Yuv Shakti and several others.

Don Bosco Musical Launched from Rome

ROME (SAR News) – Don Bosco the Musical designed by director of famous  Italian musicals had its premiere, October 18, at the Teatro Olimpico in  Rome.

Celebrated singer Marcello Cirillo plays the lead role of Don  Bosco. The twenty-member cast includes Our Lady, Don Bosco’s mother Mamma  Margaret, co-foundress of the Salesian Sisters, Mary Mazarello, Cardinal and  his secretary, Devil and a group of 12 boys and girls.

“We decided on this new venture because Don Bosco is so very much  up-to-date,” said Piero Castellacci, the show’s director. Castellacci has a high reputation in the world of Italian theatre, for successful shows  including the life of St. Francis of Assisi, Cristo 2000, and Mother Teresa.

“Don Bosco was a priest who lived among the people, on the streets. A priest  who taught values and saved youngsters from a life of crime,” the director  added.

“One hundred and fifty years ago, Don Bosco dreamed a charter of rights for
adolescents forced to work at an early age, making him a sort of forerunner of trade unions today.

“He was a priest who lived among the people, you may call a street priest,  with a simple heart and great humility so much so he named the Order he  founded the Salesians after Francis de Sales, a French bishop lived in the  sixteenth century.”

Though it all sounds very pious, equally renowned producer Elia Faustini has
ensured that the show does not lack the glitz and glamour needed to sustain audience interest in a 135-minute musical.

The music and lyrics were designed by Castellacci based on a text by Renato  Biagioli, in collaboration with Olimpio Petrossi (producer of several  Italian chart-buster audio albums).

The choreography is by super dancer Claudio Meloni and the lights and sound
is by internationally acclaimed Pepi Morga.

The company has shows lined up all over Italy during this season.

 150th years: The year 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salesian congregation.

Rector Major Father Pascual Chávez declared it “an year of grace” which should help the Salesians to remember their origins and destinations to which the Salesian Family is called. In the same year the relics of Don Bosco, enclosed in a special urn, will begin a pilgrimage through the 8 regions of the congregation, thus initiating the process of preparation for the celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco in 2015.

The Don Bosco Musical will be one of the popular ways of getting to know the
genius of Don Bosco – the father and friend of youth.

The Hindu Right fears not conversions but equitable society

By UDIT RAJ,* Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations

RIGHT-WING HINDUS never had any issue with Christians or with conversion when it came to using — and exploiting — Christian institutions. They have had no problem in availing Christian medical facilities. No abhorrence has been evinced toward convent schools, where the so-called upper castes were taught the English that got them jobs abroad and enabled them to articulate their views at global fora. That changed around 1998, when the BJP came to power. Targeting Christians became politically useful. A massive campaign was launched against Sonia Gandhi, making an issue of a person of foreign and Christian origin wielding power over a Hindu majority country. It culminated in the hatred for Christians, who are now seen as villains instead of the gentle community they had hitherto been known as.

Wisdom lies in understanding the causes which escalate the processes of hatred. So it becomes our responsibility to fathom the mystery of conversion, usually assigned as the basis for attacks on Christians. The RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP blame those said to offer inducements to convert; they also accuse the global Church of pumping money into India to influence the country’s have-nots. In such a context, the word ‘conversion’ becomes synonymous with ‘terrorism’, a connotation that could not be further from the truth. What does conversion mean except the choice of another faith or ideology? Laws against conversion are in operation in several states and, to date, not one case has been reported where a conversion was made in the greed for inducements.

What worries the Sangh Parivar is not the welfare of dalits but a possible reduction in upper-caste Hindu numbers. Their prejudice is so entrenched that they are not in a position to sense the agony of those who suffer under the caste-based system. In general, Hindu believers treat the disadvantaged as sinners reaping the fruits of a past life. Thus, a leper is to be shunned; the exploitation of dalits is justified. On the contrary, a Christian finds an opportunity for spiritual fulfillment in serving the leper and healing the sick. Before they build churches, Christians normally build schools and hospitals. Why do major Hindu religious establishments involve themselves only in collecting donations and not in performing such community services?

Let us examine the few hopes still left for Hinduism. Are dalits, tribals and members of backward groups allowed to become priests? Tall claims are made of dalits being trained to become priests or being welcomed to take up Hindu rituals. But, on the ground, the traditional situation has not changed. Though physical untouchability receded in the 20th century, the mental block remains.

The Hindu Right and the so called upper castes see ‘saving’ Hinduism as their mission. But, in this competition with Islam, Christianity and Buddhism, the superficial brotherhood shown by right-wing Hindu organisations toward tribals and dalits does not ultimately win their hearts. Unless the problems inherent to Hinduism are addressed, conversion can never be stopped. A Christian marries his or her co-religionist; a Muslim does the same. Is that possible for Hindus across caste? Are the upper castes ready to welcome reservation for their Hindu brothers? Is their society ready for inter-dining and for inter-caste marriages? Without these conditions being fulfilled, no one on earth can stop the rejection of Hinduism by the so called lower castes. The so-called upper castes can only stop conversion if they introspect, eradicate the evil in the caste system, and visualise themselves in a situation where they and their families are carrying human excreta on their heads. Then, they will feel the suffering of those condemned to do so for life.

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne251008proscons.asp

*Udit Raj is a dalit activist

DB School Kolkata Among India’s Top 10

According to a nationwide survey conducted by C fore – a Delhi based market research agency Don Bosco School Park Circus Kolkata is among the top 10 in the country.

 

Other Kolkata schools leading the grades are La Martiniere for Boys second, its counterpart La Martiniere for Girls fourth and St Xavier’s Collegiate School eighth among 250 of the most high profile schools in India.

 

In co-curricular education, Don Bosco Park Circus, St James and Loreto House have bagged pride of place.

 

Don Bosco and South Point have also made it to the top 10 in the ‘competence of faculty’ category.

 

Along with Don Bosco and Loreto House, Ashoke Hall has bagged a place on top in infrastructure.

 

While La Marts Boys and Girls and St Xavier’s Collegiate School have made it to the top positions in various parameters, other schools like South Point, Patha Bhavan and St James, have made it to the top 10 list in “academic reputation”.

 

Along with Ramakrishna Mission Vidya Mandir Belur, St James and Patha Bhavan have made the top-10 list in the survey titled ‘India’s Most Respected Schools’ for honesty and integrity.

 

In the results published in a Bangalore-based education magazine, The Shri Ram School, Delhi bagged the top position.

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/3_Kolkata_schools_in_nations_top_10/articleshow/3625720.cms

Mechanism to face SOS situations

The Christian community need to put in place a mechanism to face such SOS situations. Catholic Christian Secular Forum  (CSF) Genral secretary Mr Joseph Dias says, “we need to concentrate less on empowering others and more on equipping ourselves.” The anti-Christian violence has exposed weak links in the existing church and laity structures. Therefore -

1. The church & the community need to go back to the basics in the Bible. India is fast becoming like the West, in terms of most of us being Christian only in name. Of little importance, in the rush of modern living, are things like – the Great Commission, love & concern for our own, tithing or giving to God’s work, supporting the poor, sick, orphans, widows. Unless we put Christ back among Christians, our faith will be no less shallow than that of those in the “developed” countries – facing an economic meltdown for being selfish & ignoring God ?
 
2. The church & the community needs to introspect & support notable activist initiatives, for the tasks at hand are huge, needing much financial & professional resources. Most of the initiatives are dependent on private & personal funds, which will dry out in time.  Soon, yet another anti-Christian attack will not create a big stir, like anti-Muslim riots don’t today. Rather, many more activists would rise to the cause, if they are supported financially, since or else they would have to do so, at the cost of their jobs or small businesses.  We need to organize ourselves into a network – to take on a major community development exercises.
 
3. The church & the community needs to demand reservations for Christians in education / employment & Scheduled status for Dalit Christians. If we had done so at the time of Independence or during the Mandal Commission agitation, Christians would have been in a better position today. In case of such communal violence or discrimination, we would have had at least a handful of community members in the police, government, judiciary, administration, civil & defence forces, etc. to help us out. The Govt of India NSSO survey clearly states that Christians are in some cases, the poorest. What does the Church or urban Christians plan do about it.

Examples to learn from 

The Parsi, Sikh & Jain minorities, who are just a tiny fraction of our numbers, have shown the way economically & politically. The Muslims too can teach us something in this regard. The Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) has put out an appeal for the better blessed Muslims to each contribute a little Zakat (tithe) annually and is working towards a 25 Million U$ Dollar / Rs.100 Crore community development fund. Details on http://www.unitedislamicaid.org/ Christian clergy, intellectuals, professionals, ex-servicemen, financially better-off laity … need to think on these lines.
 
If we don’t watch out & take urgent steps, our churches will be reduced to muesuems and vocations will stop happening. We are thoroughly ill-equipped to face the onslaught & dangers to come. If we have been spared to some extent is because, we have internationalized the issue. But this too has its limitations.
 
The CSF is making a humble beginning by setting-up a major DATABANK, which will be of great service in meeting the challenges we are presently confronting. Nothing of this kind exists in India & the expenses for the same are expected to be at a minimum Rs. 2,50,000 or US$ 5555 approx. This will be for staff, office, systems, stationery, communication, etc. We are looking for partners, who are prompted or blessed by the LORD to help us out. If you feel called to assist in any way, please send your contact details to the csf.ceo@gmail.com

 

The CSF also has Dr. Peter Rodriques specifically looking into the issue of reservation – a subject very close to his heart. We invite others to contact The CSF and contribute (ideas, contacts, influence, volunteer…) your mite - assistance in kind is more valuable, than cash !
 
The CSF would also like to promote a national-level Federation of Christian NGOs & activists, to meet under one roof to see how best to organize the community effectively & come out with an action programme. We need to use the internet to tell the world and compel the Government of India to act. We have therefore put up a petition to the UNITED NATIONS & HEADS OF STATES and will follow it through internationally. We are closing this petition by 31 October ‘08. If you haven’t as yet signed in, please do so at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/thecsf17/petition.html

Servant of God Salesian Cardinal Hlond Honoured

In a thanksgiving Eucharist marking 60^th death anniversary of Cardinal Augusta Josef Hlond the primate of Poland was celebrated at church of St Stanislaw on via delle Botteghe Oscure Rome, 22 October.

The assembly also recalled another Polish servant of God, Pope John Paul II, marking 30^th anniversary of his taking charge in the Vatican.

The Secretary of the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints Archbishop Edward Nowak, another son of Poland, presided over the celebration in Polish language.

There were 31 concelebrants and some 120 Polish faithful crowding the little Polish Church. A Polish language choir too was in attendance.

During the Eucharist a two-volume hardbound books containing Cardinal Hlond’s  POSITIO (Case) were made public. The Congregation of the Saints case number of card. Hlond is number 1808. Both volumes together contain 1,654 pages of text and 15 pages of photos.

The members of the organizing committee included:  Bishop Stephan Wesoly, Superior General of the Society of Christ for the Polish Immigrants Fr Tomasz Sielicki, Salesian Postulator General for the Cause of the Saints Fr Enrico dal Covolo and Fr Stanislaw Zimniak in-charge of the historical research on Card. Hlond at the Salesian Historical Institute, Pisana.

After the Mass a 51 minute film on Cardinal Hlond in Polish language was screened.

All three brothers became Salesians
Augustus was born at Brzechowice, Poland on 5 July 1881. Attracted by the fame of Don Bosco, already at the age of 12, Hlond followed his elder brother to Italy to be ale to consecrate himself in the Salesian Congregation. This encouraged two more of his brothers to do the same. 

Distinguished path of leadership
He was admitted to the novitiate and received the clerical habit from the hands of Blessed Michael Rua, in 1896. Having completed his studies in the Gregorian University, he returned to Poland for his regency (Practical Training) at Oswiecim. Augustus was ordained a priest on 23 September 1905. He was appointed Rector of the new house of Pizemysl (1907-09) and later that of Vienna (1909-19). In 1919 when the Austro-Hungarian province was divided, he was made Provincial (1919-22). In two years the young Provincial was able to found some ten new houses. 

Bishop of Katowice, then Cardinal
having worked as Apostolic Administrator, he was ordained Bishop of Katowice on 3 January 1926. On 24 June of the same year, Bishop Augustus became the Primate of Poland. In the following year on 20 June, the Pope nominated him Cardinal. He was also in charge of the Polish people dispersed in various parts of the world. For this he founded a Congregation named ” Society of Christ for Polish Immigrants”.

The Calvary years of war
With the Second World War his Calvary started. Cardinal Hlond was forced into exile till the end of the war, at first in Rome from where he started a courageous defence of his fatherland. It intensified in France when he took shelter at Lourdes. >From there the Nazi police deported him to Paris so that he could form a Polish government favourable to them. But the Cardinal resolutely refused it. Hence the Nazis imprisoned him, first at Lorene and later at Westphalia. However, the Allied Forces freed him and was able to return to Poland where he was appointed Archbishop of Warsaw. Earlier he had defended his people from the horrors of Nazism, so now with his vigorous pastoral letters; he continued to defend them from Bolshevist atheism.

Triumph in death
God protected him from more than one attempt on his life, reserving for him the death of a great Patriarch on 22 October 1948. His funeral was a real triumph. For the first time in the history of Poland the internment took place in the cathedral itself.

Salesian Sisters Elect First Non-Italian General

Sr. Yvonne Reungoat, aged 63, a French national, is the first non-Italian Superior General of  the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. She succeeds Mother Antonia Colombo on 24 October.

“Having lived and worked beside her in the General Council for the past 12 years, I know her to be a person of strong faith, deep prayer life, ardent hope and true salesian joy,” says Sr Wilma DeSouza, Visiting Councilor.

“Deeply rooted in the spirit and charism of our founders and at the same time a woman of vision, she is enthusiastic and determined about leading the Institute towards a renewed understanding and living of our charismatic identity so as to respond adequately to the challenge of educating young people today,” adds Sr Wilma.

 

Commenting on the new Mother General’s qualities of the heart Sr Wilma says, “She has a profound capacity for listening and empathizing with the person she is listening to. Very thoughtful and attentive to the needs of those around her, she reaches out with sisterly care and  affection, very often going out of her way to help someone in need.”

 

“An enterprising, daring and courageous person, she is undaunted by challenging situations; she is able to find ways and means of solving problems and achieving goals. A warm-hearted person, very human in her ways, affectionate and sisterly in relationships, she will certainly touch the hearts and the lives of our sisters around the world as she begins her visits to the different provinces,” says Sr Wilma listing new General’s leadership qualities.

 

Sr Bernadette Sangma currently working in Rome adds, “through her missionary experience in Africa, she has a first hand knowledge of the challenges posed to the FMA communities in the developing countries. Her experiences in intercultural relationships during her years in mission-land and during the last six-year term as vicar general and in-charge of the FMA international communities in Rome will certainly enable her to delve into the complex intercultural and interreligious reality of India. This of course is the need of the hour for the FMA communities in India as we face the challenges posed by communal violence in our nation.

She has been to Guwahati in 2006..

Nun’s Rape Case Statement to Media

Orissa Police Failed to protect me from rapist and attackers. I lost my trust in Orissa Police” Sr. Meena

Civil societies disappointed at Supreme Court’s refusal (22 Oct) to order CBI Enquiry on nun’s rape case in Kandhamal, Orissa

On 24th August, around 4:30pm, hearing the shouting of a large crowd, at the gate of Divyajyoti Pastoral Centre, I ran out through the back door and escaped to the forest along with others. We saw our house going up in flames. Around 8:30 pm we came out of the forest and went to the house of a Hindu gentleman who gave us shelter.

On 25th August, around1:30 pm, the mob entered the room where I was staying in that house, one of them stopped me on my face, caught my hair and pulled me out of the house. Two of them were holding my neck to cut off my head with axe. Others told them to take me out to the road; I saw Fr. Chellan also being taken out and being beaten. The mob consisting of 40-50 men was armed with lathis, axes, spades, crowbars, iron-rods, sickles etc. They took both of us to the main road. Then they led us to the burnt down Janavikas building saying that they were going to throw us into the smoldering fire.

When we reached the Janavikas building, they threw me to the verandah on the way to the dining room which was full of ashes and broken glass pieces. One of them tore my blouse and others my undergarments. Father Chellan protested and they beat him and pulled him out from there.

They pulled out my saree and one of the stepped on my right hand and another on my left hand and then a third person raped me on the verandah mentioned above. When it was over, I managed to get up and put my petticoat and saree. Then another young man caught me and took me to a room near the staircase. He opened his pants and was attempting to rape me when they reached there.

I hid myself under the staircase. The crowd was shouting “where is that sister, come let us rape her, at least 100 people should rape.”
They found me under the staircase and took me out to the road. There I saw Fr. Chellan was kneeling down and the crowd was beating him. They were searching for a rope to tie us both of us together to burn us in fire. Someone suggested to make us parade naked. They made us walk on the road till Nuagoan market which was half a kilometer from there.
They made to fold our hands and walk. I was with petticoat and saree as they had already torn away my blouse and undergarments. They tried to strip even there and I resisted and they went on beating me with hands on my cheeks and head and with sticks on my back several times.

When I reached the market the market place about a dozen of OSAP policemen were there. I went to them asking to protect me and I sat in between two policemen but they did not move. One from the crowd again pulled out from there and they wanted to lock us in their temple mandap. The crowd led me and Fr. Chellan to the Nuagaon block building saying that they will hand us over to BDO. From there along with the block officer the mob took us to police outpost Nuagaon, other policemen remained far.

The mob said that they will come back after eating and one of them who attacked me remained back in the police outpost. Policemen then came to police outpost. They were talking very friendly with the man who had attacked me and stayed back. In police outpost we remained until the inspector in charge of Balliguda with his police team came and took us to Balliguda. They were afraid to take us straight to the police station and they kept us sometimes in jeep. In the garage, from there, they brought us to the station. The inspector in charge and other government officers took me privately and asked whatever happened to me. I narrated everything in detail to the police, how I was attacked, raped, taken away from policemen paraded half naked and how the policemen did not help me when I asked for help while weeping bitterly. I saw the inspector writing down. The inspector asked me “are you interested in filing FIR? Do you know what will be the consequence?” At about 10:00 pm I was taken for medical check-up accompanied by a lady police officer to Balliguda Hospital. They were afraid to keep us in police station, saying the mob may attack police station. So the police took us to the IB (Inspection Bungalow) where CRP men were camping.

On 26th August around 9:00 am, we were taken to Balliguda police station. When I was writing the FIR, the I I C asked me to hurry up and not to write in detail. When I started writing about the police, the I I C told me “this is not the way to write FIR, make it short”. So I re-wrote it for the third time in one and half page. I filed the FIR but I was not given a copy of it.

At around 4:00 pm the inspector in charge of Balliguda police station along with some other government officers put us in the OSRTC bus to Bhubaneswar along with other stranded passengers. Police were there till Rangamati where all passengers had their supper. After that I did not see the police. We got down near Nayagarh and traveled in a private vehicle and reached Bhubaneswar around 2:00 am on 27th August.

State Police failed to stop the crimes, failed to protect me from the attackers, they were friendly with the attackers. They tried their best that I did best that I  did not register an FIR, not make complaints against police, police did not take down my statement as I narrated in detail and they abandoned me half of the way. I was raped and now I don’t want to be  victimized by the Orissa police. I want CBI enquiry.

God bless India, God bless you all.
Sr. Meena

INSAF’s Orissa Fact-finding Team Report

The Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) led a four member fact finding team along with reps of four major media groups on a four day fact finding mission, 22-23 October. Here is their report.

24 October: Bhubaneswar – The attacks carried out on Christians living in the villages of Kandhamal district, Orissa were planned and executed by the Hindu fundamentalist groups VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal. With the BJD-BJP combine in power, the state machinery did nothing to stop the criminals from having their way and the violence spread to other parts of the district, which are largely inaccessible. The murder of Laxmananda Saraswati was used as a trigger to instigate large scale violence. A visit by a team from Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) in the affected areas on October 22-23, revealed the atrocities carried out on the people who have also been living in the same areas with their neighbours from other communities for the last few decades. Though Maoists have claimed responsibility for the killing of Laxmananda Saraswati, the state government so far has yet to make any breakthrough in the case. Nor has it been able to pinpoint who carried out the attacks.

 

From the night of August 23, mob shouting slogans for Bajrang Dal and proclaiming a Hindu Rashtra went around the villages carrying arms before attacking houses belonging to Christians. In most of the cases, outsiders guided by a section of the villagers led the attacks. Though, the district administration claims to have arrested around 650 people involved in the riot, some of the master-minds are still at large.

 

The attackers didn’t spare women and handicapped (one of whom was burnt to death in Gadaragam). Houses were ransacked and set on fire, belongings stolen. Remains of churches at Rupagam bore grim evidence of the hatred with which the attackers carried out their plans. A woman Salima Pradhan of Gadaragam couldn’t flee from the village and is living in the ruins of the houses where her relatives once lived. The woman has received no assistance from the administration and is begging for food.

 

Another case in point is Beheragam where as many as 40 houses were burnt. The residents managed to escape to the adjoining forest areas and survived. Hardly any of them have been able to return to their homes. Though, the administration has closed down one camp at Bariguda (where the refugees have returned home) in the rest of the camps like the ones in G. Udaygiri it will still take some time for the villagers to feel secure and return home. Those staying in the camps are afraid of another round of violence and don’t want to return home. Even the presence of CRPF has done little to boost their confidence. Some of the camp dwellers told the fact-finding team that only those who converted to Hinduism are being allowed in. They told the fact-finding team that their relatives were forced to tonsure their heads and go through a purification ritual before they were allowed to return. Posters claiming that the a Hindu country is for Hindus still remain. In a burnt down house at Gadaragam, one such poster still remains.

 

There are some more villagers who have fled to Bhubanaeswar and living in camps. None of them are willing to go back to their homes right now.

 

The refugees point towards a school Gurukul Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya started by Laxmananda Saraswati at Chakapada from where the anti-Christian feelings are being encouraged. They believe the villages in Kandhamal won’t be any safer till the school remain.

 

At the camps, the people are surviving on the bare minimum. For a family of 10 only two blankets have been provided. There are no less than 3000 people staying in filthy conditions. Among them are the elderly, sick and pregnant women. As many as 40 schools are closed down and the students about to appear Board exams face an uncertain future.

 

The team urges the Government to immediately: 

• Arrests all culprits and restore rule of law
• Provide adequate facilities in the relief camps
• Institute a Judicial inquiry by a sitting Judge into the event
• Provide adequate compensation to all victims
• Provide proper rehabilitation of all displaced.

 

Composition of the team:

1. Chittaranjan Singh, writer/Human rights activist, National Organising Secretary -PUCL, Uttar Pradesh
2. Dr. Ms. Shiamala Baby, gender activist – Director, Forward, Tamil Nadu
3. Dr. Ms. Saroop Dhruv, poetess/writer/activist, Ahmedabad
4. Dhirendra Panda, activist, Bhubaneswar.

 

Accompanied by media team of:

1. Arnab Ganguly, Special Correspondent, Times of India, Kolkata
2. Ms. Bala Chauhan, Chief of Bureau (investigation), Deccan Chronicle, Bangalore.
3. Prashant Nanda, Special Correspondent, IANS, Delhi
4. Bhupen Singh, writer & news producer, ZEE NEWS, Delhi

 

INDIAN SOCIAL ACTION FORUM (INSAF)

A124/6 1st floor, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi 110 016. INDIA

Tel: +91-11-26517814/ 65663958, Email: insaf@vsnl.com.

Website: http://www.insafindia.org

 

Countering Fascist Forces: Defending the Idea of India

The two day National Convention on Countering Fascist Forces: Defending the Idea of India concluded 26 October. About 750 activists from 18 states and 90 NGOs attended the convention and resolved to fight the fascist forces who have attacked on the idea of India which was invented by Mahatma Gandhi, explored by Jawaharlal Nehru and redefined by Dr. B. R. Amdebkar.

Prominent among those who spoke at the convention include: Abhay Sukhla, Achin Vanaik, Amit Sengupta, Ani Choudhary, Apporvanand, Colin Gonsalves, Deepak Bundele, Digant Oza, Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Dr. Sayeda Hamid, Harsh Dobha, Iftikhar Gilani, Jaya Mehta, John Dayal, Justice A.M. Ahmadi, Kamala Bhasin, Kavita Srivastava, Kerala, Ksitij Urs, Kuldip Nayar, Manisha Sethi, Manoj Sharma, Pooja Patel, Poorprekha Joshi, Prasant Bhushan, Prof KN Panikkar, Prof Mushir Ul Hasan, Prof Upendra Buxi, Prof Rooprekha Verma, Satya Sivaraman, Sanjay Sharma, Shabnam Hashmi, Subhash Gatade, Sumshot, Suresh Khairnar, Swami Agnivesh, Tanika Sarkar, Vineet Tiwari, Yogi Sikand, Yusuf Shaikh, Safar Agha.

The delegates and participants resolved as follows to:

1. Call for resignation of Shivraj Patil, Home Minister of India for his abject failure to prevent bomb attacks in major India cities; take action against Hindutva terrorist despite evidence provided to him by civil society groups; stop the Sangh Parivar’s attacks on Christian populations in Orissa, Karnataka and other parts of India; and for using face police encounters and false evidence against Muslim youth to save his political career;

1. Call for dismissal of M.K. Narayan, National Security Adviser for incompetence and all the intelligence lapses leading to rise in to both terrorist and communal violence;

1. Demand prosecution of all members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and ABVP who have links with Hindutva terrorist organizations, such as the ones implicated in the Malegaon bomb blasts.

1. Condemn the UPA government for falling prey to the Hindutva agenda while paying lip service to secularism.

1. Demand the setting up of a time-bound judicial inquiry into the Jamia Nagar ‘encounter’ headed by sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

1. Review major cases of ‘terrorist’ attacks and immediately release those against whom there is no evidence of any kind; implementation of NHRC instruction regarding independent investigation into all deaths in police custody and in police encounters over the last 5 years;

1. Call for a ban on RSS, The Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad for terrorist, anti national activities and seizure of their national and international assets; a White paper on terrorist activities of these organizations;

1. Demand the presentation of a White Paper on the scope of India ’s “war on terrorism” and the level of its cooperation and collaboration with US-led war n terror;

1. Enact the Communal Violence Bill after through revision in consultation with citizen’s bodies, human rights groups and anti-communal organizations across India;

1. Provide immediate relief and compensation to the victims of communal terrorism in Orissa and other states including reconstruction of destroyed private property and restoration of livelihood. Set up a permanent statutory body to deal with such issues in future.

1. Demand the formation of a strong statutory body like election commission (or extend the scope of the EC) to monitor pre-election conduct of political parties and their leaders which generally leads up to polarization of vote banks. Such a body should have right to disqualify party and/or its functionaries or elected representatives in the legislature in the wake of a breach of conduct;

1. The immediate release of Human Rights Defenders, such as Dr. Binayak Sen, who have been arrested for exposing police atrocities and state violence against innocent citizens.

1. Demand a White Paper on misuse of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Kashmir and the Indian North-East and the immediate withdrawal; search for a political rather than military solution to the Kashmir problem;

1. A National commission of inquiry into the misuse of special security laws by the police to arrest members of the minority community in false cases of terrorism. END

Indian FMA Elected Visiting Councillor

Sr. Lucy Rose Ozhukail, Superior of St Mary’s Guwahati and province delegate to the Chapter was elected a Visiting Councillor, 27^th Oct afternoon just after 4.00 pm. She is the second Indian/Asian to be elected to the FMA (Salesian Sisters) General Council. Hailing from Kerala, India she was born on 20^th May 1952. She has been an FMA for 29 years and first provincial of the Guwahati province from 2000-2006. Earlier she was also Novice Mistress for 6 years. Besides being a teacher with B.Ed degree in Salesian Spirituality (Rome) Sr Lucy Rose served as High School principal.

Bold Initiatives with Vision

“As community animator and novice-mistress I gathered that she was much esteemed and appreciated by her sisters and chosen several times as Delegate to the PCI Annual meeting.

During my visit to the ING province I had the opportunity of closer and more frequent contacts with her. I saw her as a simple, open, respectful person, calm in her ways, very dedicated to her mission of animation and governance of the province and enthusiastic about the educative mission among the young, especially the poor,” says Sr Wilma DeSouza of Mumbai the first VC commenting on the newly elected VC.

“Being the first provincial of Guwahati province, Sr Lucy was able to get her Council to work as a team in order to organize and build up the infrastructure necessary for the working of the province. With vision and foresight she and her council also searched for a suitable piece of land for the construction of the new provincial house and this too became a reality in early 2006 just before she concluded her term of office. The mid-term evaluation meeting of the Indian FMA provinces in January 2006 was the occasion for the solemn inauguration of this new provincialate in the presence of Mother General and four other general councillors,” adds Sr Wilma.

With the increase of vocations she saw the need for a separate novitiate for the new province and had it opened at Kohima in Nagaland.

Daring Ventures for Youth

It was during her term of office that the province first ventured into the apostolate among children and young girls at risk in Guwahati city. A day-care centre for these children was opened in the slums of the city. Later, towards the end of her term as provincial in January 2006, a centre was built near the community of Holy Child Krishnagar to offer shelter, care and education to street girls. As provincial her main concerns were the formation of the sisters, animation of the communities and care and education of the poor children, particularly the disadvantaged ones.

“As Visiting Councillor she will no doubt widen her vision, open her heart and extend her loving care and accompaniment to all the Indian provinces and to the whole Institute the world over, particularly to the provinces where she will be sent on visitations by Mother General. We wish her a joyful and fruitful term of service in the General Council and accompany her with our good wishes and prayers,” assures Sr Wilma.

Asian Award-winning Kokborok Film ‘Yarwng’ to open Indian Panorama

Newly released Kokborok Film ‘Yarwng’ (Roots) has brought unprecedented honour to Tripura by being selected to be the Opening Film of the prestigious Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The announcement made by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Shri Anand Sharma, comes on the heels of another announcement from Mumbai that Yarwng, was awarded the ‘Jury Special Mention Award’ along with the Israeli film ‘Foul Gesture’ by Tzahi Grad at the recently concluded 7th Asian Film Festival, in Mumbai.

The Jury of the Indian Panorama headed by noted filmmaker K.N.T. Shastri selected the 25 Indian films to be showcased at the International Film Festival of India, Goa. The list features latest films by Adoor Gopalakrishnan (Oru Pennum Randaanum) and Girish Kasaravalli (Gulabi Talkies), S. Priyadarshan (Kanachivaram), Suman Mukhopaday (Chaturnaga), Ashutosh Gowariker (Jodha Akbar) and Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par).

It is noteworthy that the Opening Film of the section is ‘YARWNG’ (Roots) in “Kokborok” language of Tripura, in which films are rarely made, as the tribal who speak the language virtually have no access to cinema.

The film has also been selected for screening at the forthcoming Kolkata International Film Festival in November.

‘Yarwng’ (Roots) is the second feature film of Don Bosco Sampari Pictures Tripura.  The first film, ‘Mathia’ was also in the Indian Panorama of the 35^th International Film Festival of India in 2004, besides winning an award in Poland and being screened in many international festivals.

The story of the 95-minute feature film revolves round the large-scale displacement that happened in Tripura when the newly built Dumbur Dam submerged huge areas of arable land in the fertile Raima valley about 30 years ago.

The lead actors of Yarwng are Meena Debbarma, Nirmal Jamatia and Sushil Debbarma.  Supporting actors include Jeshmi Debbarma, Bimal Sing Debbarma, Amulya Ratan Jamatia, Surabhi Debbarma, Madan Debbarma, Manohari Jamatia and Rabindra Debbarma.

The technical crew of the film from Trivandrum include cameraman Kannan, Sound Recordist Krishna Kumar and Associate Director Sajiv Pazhoor.  The music is by Bikash Roy Debbarma and background score by Abhijit Basu. The film, directed by Joseph Pulinthanath sdb is produced by Fr. KJ Joseph sdb of Don Bosco Sampari Pictures Tripura.

Orissa: First Catholic Priest Dies of Assault Injuries

Fr. Bernard Digal who was attacked during anti-Christian violence in the month of August in Kandhamal district of Orissa died in a Chennai hospital, 28 Oct succumbing to injuries. Archbishop Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhuabaneswar was beside Fr Bernard before he died. Perhaps Fr. Bernard is the first catholic priest to die in the attacks by VHP cadre since the ongoing Aug 08 communal violence unleashed on Christians.

 

Sources reaching from Rev. Harichandra, PRO of AICC, Orissa reports that Fr. Bernard was attacked in Kandhamal is last August. His jeep was burnt and he was brutally beaten and left in the open field. He was taken to the local hospital in Bhubaneshwor, then taken to Mumbai and later to Chennai. He died for his faith and in the service of his Master at Chennai.

 

The anti-christian violence reported by Orissa government of coming to the normalcy is due to the fact that there are no more Christians left in the once Christian villages to be attacked and killed by Hindutva forces and no Christian home and church also left in those villages that Hindu fanatics can burn down.

 

15,000 refugees in relief camps and 40,000 refugees in forest, refuse to return back to their respective homes and villages for the fear of being attacked and killed or forced into convert to Hinduism. Orissa has Freedom of Religion Bill which bans the conversion, but the conversion to Hinduism is not considered a crime even if force, fraud and inducement is used by the Hindutva brigades to convert Christians to Hinduism.

First DB University to focus on uplift of underprivileged

Don Bosco University, Assam’s first private university and the first such venture of the Salesians of Don Bosco in India, will be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Tepesia on October 31.

“Providing quality education and making it accessible to the disadvantaged sections of the society are the twin objectives of the university. Empowering the society and contributing to the socio-economic progress of the North-east is our long-term goal,” Fr Stephen Mavely, Don Bosco University Project Coordinator, said at a press conference.

 

Fr Mavely said that a number of new courses would be available in the university, with thrust on professional subjects for ensuring employability of its products.

 

“Our goal is to mould young persons into intellectually competent, morally upright, socially committed and spiritually inspired citizens,” he said.

 

The initial study and research programmes will focus on three broad areas: technology sector, service sector and social sector. “The criteria for selection of these courses will be – focus on cutting-edge contemporary technology, employability of graduates, and the capacity to transform and empower society,” Fr Mavely said.

 

The university, which already has an engineering college under it with 240 students, will be set up using the infrastructure already available with the Don Bosco Society at Azara, Kharghuli and Maligaon, while additional facilities will be built at the permanent campus at Tepesia.

 

Fr Mavely said that the fee structure for the students would be quite affordable, and there would be no capitation fee. “In fact, the fee for our engineering college is less than that of any of the similar colleges in the region,” he said, adding that it had also tied up with some banks for facilitating easy study loans to needy students.

 

Fr Mavely said that the university would not have the authority to bring other institutions under its affiliation under the Assam Private Universities Act-2007, but “we will be having constituent study centres.”

 

Fr VM Thomas, director, Don Bosco Institute, said that the reason behind the launch of the university in Assam was the “tremendous demand” for such an institution and the backwardness of the North-east region.

 

He said that special initiatives of the university would include distance education programmes, socially-relevant outreach programmes, and programmes to ensure equity and access.

 

“Another highlight of the initiatives would be a fully-sponsored residential school within the university complex for 1,000 underprivileged, especially tribal, children,” Fr Thomas said.

 

Noted economist Dr Jayanta Madhab, who also addressed the press conference, lauded the initiative, saying that any move to spread education needed to be welcomed. “We hope the university, with its focus on professional courses, will boost the education scenario of the State,” he said.

http://www.assamtribune.com:80/scripts/details.asp?id=oct2708/at04

Student Director Bags Best Short Film Award

Debut director Salesian Fr Jiji Kalavanal of Bangalore province doing masters in Cinema and Television in Kerala won the Signis Award for best short film at the Religion Today Film Festival held in Rome. Earlier this year, the film Seasons of Love had won a special mention in the feature film category, at the 23rd International Catholic Film and Multimedia Festival Niepokalanow, Warsaw, 1 June 2008. The award consists of a golden rose and citation.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the honour of being recognized in an international festival,” says Jiji who was in Rome for a four day Religion Today workshop for film directors.

 

The 11th Religion Today (RT) International Film Festival concluded in Rome with the Award Ceremony held at the Marconi Hall in the Vatican Radio building, 29 October. The six city festival started on 16 October. Marking 80^th year of its foundation, the World Catholic Communications body (formerly Unda/OCIC) had a three member jury which judged 22 films in the feature film, short feature and documentary categories.

 

Of 220 films that came to the festival, 78 films were short listed for the festival screenings in six RT festivals in Italy, Among them were four entries from India: 26 minute short film “Seasons of Love” by Salesian Fr Jiji Kalavanal and three documentaries, 28 minute “In Touch with the Divine” by Jesuit Fr Rappai; 41 minute “Traveller in the 3 Worlds” by Priya Patel and 47 minute “The Last Rites of the Honourable Mr. Rai” by Jayasingji Jhala.

Indian Wins Best Short Film
The Signis award for the best short film went to Fr Jiji Kalavanal for “Seasons of Love.” The film shows how a group of college students respond to the rejection of one of them suffering from AIDS, both by parents and society.

“It is a gripping film professionally made by a college student with promising talent,” says Mrs Magali Van Reeth, a jury member from France.

 

In the feature films section, the Signis Award went to Gianluigi Calderone for 200 minute “Don Zeno” a feature film made for Italian television showing the conflicting social and political context of the 30’s. Zeno, a passionate young man from the Catholic Action dedicates his life to the poorest in the most radical ways of the gospel.

“It is a powerful film with a story and characters that sustain the drama with a strong meaning for today’s television audience,” comments Fr Kamal Correya of Signis Bangladesh.

 

The Signis special mention was awarded to Mohamed Ismail for 85 minute film Goodbye Mothers which tells the story of Morocco in the 60’s where long time friends and neighbours of different religions cope with political exclusion. The script weaves individual family stories with a moving interpretation of their tragic destiny.

 

Several other awards by international Jury, Audience Awards too were conferred at the festival.
e-Mail: jijikalavanalsdb@gmail.com

Home Village Burial Denied to Slain Priest

Fr Bernard Digal, procurator of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese who survived a murderous attack on him by Hindu bigots succumbed to his injuries on the evening of October 28 at St. Thomas Hospital in Chennai. Though the initial plan was to bury him
at Raikia in Kandhamal – hi

s native place, under pressure from Orissa police and government, the diocese is compelled to bury him in Bhubaneswar, 31 October.

I believe Fr Bernard had a right to be buried in his native village.

Here is a moving account by journalist Anto Akkara reporting for Catholic News Service on what happened to Fr Bernard:

Mumbai (CNS) 9 Sept – The Holy Spirit Hospital in Mumbai witnessed emotional scenes when archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Bhubaneswar visited his seriously injured priests who had been flown to the Catholic hospital from troubled Orissa state.

Father Bernard Digal, Bhubaneswar archdiocesan procurator, broke into tears and sobbing as archbishop Cheenath met him for the first time on Sep 6 afternoon.

Archbishop Cheenath reached Mumbai taking a break from his camping in New Delhi meeting with federal government heads including Indian Prime Minister and President and shuttling to the supreme court demanding security to the hounded Christians in Orissa.

Fr Digal had been severely thrashed by Hindu fundamentalists and left to die in Kandhamal jungles on August 26 night before he was moved by local people and police to government hospital and airlifted by anguished church workers to the Mumbai hospital along with two other seriously priests.

After overcoming his initial outbreak of emotions, the archdiocesan procurator elaborated to archbishop Cheenath how he was tortured by the Hindu bigots who were on the prowl looking for church targets following the murder of their leader Swami Lakshamanananda Saraswati who had been shot dead at his centre on August 23 night.

The orchestrated anti-Christian violence since then has left two dozen Christians dead, 4200 Christian houses burnt and dozens of churches and Christian institutions ransacked or torched, and over 50 000 Christians – half of the 100 000 Christians in Kandhamal district with half a million people – fleeing their homes.

“I was sleeping inside a burnt (Protestant) church thinking nobody would come there when we lost my way. Then, they (Hindu mob) came and started beating me up,” recounted Father Digal who is unable to move as both his legs have severe fractures.
With all his strength, Fr Digal pushed the assailants off and ran for life to through the bushes in pitched darkness. But, after few hundred metres, the Hindu bigots managed to catch him.

They hit on his head with iron bar leaving him semi-conscious at the Dudurkagaon village.

“I lost all pain and saw them beating me all round and stripping me off my clothes,” said the priest. After some time, the left the profusely bleeding priest saying, “he is going to die and let us go.”

With his legs broken, Fr Digal remained in the jungle tract motionless for the while night of August 26 with jackals howling around him.

“I was so thirsty that I had to drink my own urine with great difficulty,” said the priest who heard some movement around and cried for help after the day break.
An old lady came in and finding him naked and bleeding, she fled.

Much later, a passing boy heard his cries for help and informed local villagers who carried him to some distance called the police to rush him to nearby government hospital before reaching him to Orissa capital Bhubaneswar.

Fr Digal had halted for the night with his driver at the ‘Seva Sadan’ (house of service) at Sankarakhol – 240 kms from Bhubaneswar – where 73-year old Father Cheralamkunnel Alexander was managing the parish when the news of the murder of Saraswati came in.

He decided to stay on with the elderly priest as the funeral procession of the slain swami was carried across Kandhamal for two days with huge motorcade and Christians became apprehensive.

As the huge procession passed the church centre on August 25 afternoon, local Catholics reported that the Hindu fundamentalists wanted to burn the church and the nearby convent as the procession passed but they decided to torch these targets after the funeral.

“First they (Hindu mob) burnt the convent just after the nuns left. Before they reached our place, we also fled,” said Fr Digal.

The mob did not even spare the two dogs at the centre and traced his van parked in a remote place and burnt it while the priests and church workers fled to jungles.
“Father Alexander was finding it difficult to trek to the jungles and so, I thought of getting a (motor) bike to take him out of Kandhamal,” recalled Fr Digal.

Since he was very familiar with the area, Fr Digal along with driver and a local youth decided to walk 15 kms to Padhampada to the nearest house of a priest where there was a bike.

“From a distance, we could see the house was on fire and so, we moved to another Christian village,” Fr Digal said.

With the all the houses burnt down in the village, Fr Digal and his companions moved on.

Since it was dark and they could not proceed further, they decided to halt at the burnt Protestant church at Dudurkagaon presuming that nobody would bother to come to the burnt church in the night.

“I had dozed off when they came and my companions called me and started running. I could not run fast and fell into their hands,” recounted the 45-year old priest hailing Kandhamal jungles.

When Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai visited him at the hospital bed and consoled him, Fr Digal told the Cardinal “I am lucky and ok now” despite both his legs fractured.

“But, I am worried about the people there (in Kandhamal),” he added.

While he was at the government hospital in Phulbani – headquarters of Kandhamal district, Fr Digal said there was a seriously injured boy and his mother on the beds near him while the dead body of the husband was kept outside for post mortem.

“The suffering of our people is hurting me more than my own pain,” Fr Digal told Catholic News Service. END

Think Novel Christmas Protest

Gerald Castelino, a Catholic Advocate from Mysore reflects on the recent attacks on Christians in India and makes some bold suggestions for an appropriate “Christian Protest”. He satrts off by narrating a small incident which took place during the atrocities which took place in Mangalore.

 

I was sitting beside a middle aged Hindu Advocate who asked me why are the Christians not protesting in Mysore (there was a procession arranged but had to be cancelled because the Police did not give permission – it’s another matter again) ? I just asked him one question, is it right what is done to Christians in Orissa and Karnataka ? He condemned the brutalities and felt very sad about the whole episode. I just told him, this is what we want, let the right thinking people know what was done is right or wrong.

 

I further told him, Christ was persecuted for having committed no crime, now Christians are persecuted for having committed no crime. He was stunned! He appreciated the services of Christians to India… Our silence and deeds should be greater protests than the processions!

 

Further, all of us have seen the way the Crucifixes being broken, either leg or hand of Christ is broken, all these churches must preserve them preferably with a note explaining what, when, why and how it happened, in the local language as well as Hindi and English to remind the atrocities we may have to face.

 

Why are we celebrating Christmas this year? Let there be no external celebration When our brothers and sisters are killed and thousands persecuted for their faith. Is it justified that we celebrate Christmas in grand manner?

 

If we keep our celebrations to Mass and family affair two messages would be clear.

First, We show our solidarity and our pain to the nation, in turn the world.

Second, Stop all external celebrations – save money and send to the victims . This affects thousands who make business. Think of cakes, sweets, decorations and parties out of Christmas are not Christians – it will affect them.

Third, we save money to help the ones who are affected.

 

It would be nice to do so all over India if not at least in Orissa and Karnataka. Hope our regional Bishops’ Conferneces and Ecumenical bodies would take this as a joint initiative out of repect toward the riot victims. At the same time it would send a strong peaceful message to the world.

Time to Contain the Indian Facists

Fascism arrived in India around 1925 with the arrival of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). These right-wing Hindu elements did not make a “serious” dent on wider Indian society (apart from killing Mahatma Gandhi), until it entered its modern avatar when L. K. Advani began his Rath Yatra from the Somnath Temple in Gujarat in 1990. Since then, the country has never been the same. The destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1992 is a watershed in the communal and divisive politics of the Sangh Parivar with its many affiliates.

At first, many of us Christians thought that the attacks were only against “them” (meaning, the Muslims). However, 1998 – 99 truly exposed the ideology of the Sangh Parivar, wherein they systematically attacked and even killed Christians and attacked several Christian institutions in different parts of the country. Gujarat is a classic example of how effectively they sought to decimate a miniscule minority. They have been relentless in their campaign so far, be it in Orissa or Karnataka, Maharashtra or Chattisgarh, with their vicious agenda, “to divide and rule” and to spread their tentacles of hate everywhere. The recent investigative exposures of their role in terrorist activities in different parts of the country clearly indicates that “they stop at nothing”.

Some Christians have very naively fallen into their trap, providing them with the legitimacy they hanker for : “dialoguing” with them, signing peace accords, “agreeing” on the way they defocus the reality with non-issues, etc. Over the years, in very manipulative ways, they have called the shots, setting the agenda for us.

They have made of us “reactionaries”, creating panic and fear in the ranks, proving (because of our fear of them) in no uncertain terms that many of us really “have no faith in Jesus”. They have hit us in vulnerable spots and in many ways, we have also demonstrated to them that “we have no roadmap of our own”.

We have a duty to preserve the integrity, the diversity and the secular fabric of our country. As citizens of this great land, the onus is clearly on us to safeguard the rights and freedom of every single citizen of this country. Today, we have no choice. We have to get our ACT together now. We have to set our “agenda”. We can possibly do so through :

1. AWARENESS
- to make everyone aware of their Constitutional rights and freedom
- to expose the divisive and hate agenda of some political parties and their terrorist outfits
- to campaign that every single adult citizen has his / her name on the Electoral Roll and is able to cast one’s vote for a political party that is not communal and / or fascist
- to make people realize that they cannot be treated as second class citizens anywhere in this country
- to get involved in advocacy issues

2. COLLABORATION
- to collaborate with all men and women of goodwill
- to join secular / civil society movements, for a more humane, just and peaceful India
- to defend the rights of the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized
- to work together with our other Christian brethren and ensure the formation of a United Christian Forum for Human Rights in every State
- to become more of a “Communicating Church”
- to broad base our efforts
- to be in touch with our Alumni, Parent Teacher Associations and demand that they stand up for the rights of all
- to ensure that we do not “re-invent the wheel” but are able to use effectively what is already in the common domain

3. TASK FORCE
- to set up immediately, a Task Force (Think-tank / coordinating and monitoring mechanism) in every Diocese
- this Task Force should consist of not more than five to seven members who are competent, capable and committed. At east half of them should be from the laity (including women)
- this Task Force is not a new organization nor a controlling / extra-constitutional authority but an empowered group that is able to work in cohesion, effectively respond to crisis and to communicate with all
- working together with this Task Force, should be four collaborative units :

• i) legal / human rights
• ii) media communication / PRO
• iii) research and documentation
• iv) relief and rehabilitation

- these units may be “housed” either in existing structures / Commissions / Congregations within the Diocese (eg. Relief and Rehabilitation could be with the Diocesan Social Works Office, Legal and Human Rights could be with the Justice and Peace Commission, etc.)
- if needed, these units could operate separately, provided they don’t duplicate or create conflict with other established mechanisms (taking into consideration that these latter are actually effective)
- each of these four units (of not more than three members each ) will have their own  networks, database, contacts, etc. (eg. the Legal and Human Rights unit will be in contact  with and will access several lawyers, human rights activists across the State)
- each unit will have their responsibilities (eg. training) clearly chalked out and will ensure that they complement one another and work as an effective mechanism
- the Task Force and its units will widely propagate the names, details like telephone numbers, emails and their respective roles and responsibilities
- if possible, the Task Force should have a website with their complete details
- for effective coordination, the Task Force and related units should be under ONE ROOF (and preferably NOT in the Bishop’s House)
- all Dioceses will revisit Church documents on Social Teaching in the Church and the mandate which the CBCI has given to itself on various issues like communication, education, women, etc.
In order to get our ACT together, we have to set the agenda and have our own “roadmap”. This “roadmap” must include the following elements :

• PRAYER – the way Jesus taught us to pray
• PREPARATION – meticulous and detailed, for the tough journey ahead
• PARTICIPATIVE – as Vatican II of the Church desires
• PROPHETIC – which is “the role” of the disciple of Christ
• PRAXIS – because “not all who say Lord, Lord….”

Yes, it is high time, we get our ACT together, and reclaim the lost space which is legitimately ours. (* Fr. Cedric Prakash sj is the Director of “Prashant”, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace) – sjprashant@gmail.com

Orissa Bishops’ Pastoral Letter

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
“The Lord is my Shepherd there is nothing I shall want”

In this time of crisis and conflict, we come to you through this pastoral letter to express our solidarity with you, to pay homage to those brothers and sisters who have laid down their lives for the sake of their faith, to comfort those who have been injured, to be with those who have been traumatized by the violence and mayhem unleashed on Christians, to do everything in our ability to ensure rehabilitation of those who have lost their houses, property, churches, institutions etc, to stand by those whose rights have been violated, and to assure that justice will be done to all who have suffered by the violence against the Christians of Orissa.

We are humbled by your strong adherence to your faith and by your trust in Jesus Christ as the Saviour and Lord. We are humbled by your willingness to go through all kinds of humiliations, trials and even persecutions for the sake of your belief. We are proud of you for your ability to withstand all forms of intimidations and threats. We pray with you for the continued strength from Jesus our Saviour and Lord so that we all may continue to carry forward his mission of compassion, love, unity, justice and peace.

Though a bit late, this pastoral letter comes to you to express our solidarity with you in this time of deep crisis and conflict; to share our own concerns about the violence that is done to us Christians; to condemn all forms of violence; to demand from the Government that adequate security be provided to all, relief and rehabilitation be undertaken in full measure, life in the relief camps be made more human; to demand from the government that the guilty be punished; to demand from the government that an adequate compensation package be announced and undertaken.

We condemn in strong words the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and demand from the Government that the culprits be identified and punished. We reiterate the fact that no Christian, no Church Institution or leadership is involved in this murder. We also condemn in unequivocal words the violence that is unleashed on the Christians as an aftermath of the killing of Swami Laxmanananda. We condemn in strong words the lies that are propagated by some vested interests that the Christians were behind the killing of the Swami. Instead we reiterate the fact that the loving and the compassionate mission of the Church continues irrespective of the persecution.

We understand the factors and forces behind violence against Christians. The Church has been standing by the side of the poor and the marginalized. Through education, health, housing and employment programmes, the Church has been bringing in awareness and awakening among the vulnerable communities. They in turn are demanding their rights. This is not liked by the powers that are since they fear their position being challenged by the poor people. Hence, they have taken to violence. But we condemn this and restate our resolve to continue the services of the church.

We appreciate the many initiatives taken by many individuals, organisations, civil society organizations, media persons and houses, NGOs, academics, political activists, conscious citizens and people from all walks of life of Orissa and India to stand by the Christians who were victimized for their faith. We are moved by their sense of solidarity and unity with all those who are affected by the ongoing violence in Orissa. Inspite of the fear of being identified by the fundamentalist forces, these people have stood by us as citizens of the same country, though our religions may be very different. We express our gratitude to them.

We also want to express our gratitude to all those organizations – both national and international – that stand by us in this time of crisis and conflict and provide various supports. In your name, we also thank the individual Christians, parishes, Dioceses, CBCI, other churches, church institutions all over the country and abroad who raised their voice against the violence on us and provided solidarity and support.

Above, all we want to express our gratitude to people of all religions of Orissa and India, who inspite of the efforts by the fundamentalist forces and some political parties to divide them and create conflict between them, upheld the Indian traditions of communal harmony and national integrity. As always, we promise to continue our tradition of communal harmony and collective destiny.

With you, we are agonized over the tardy manner in which both the State and Central Governments have responded to the ongoing violence against Christians in Orissa. We are sorry to state that both these governments have failed miserably in discharging their constitutional obligations. Hence, we call upon them to use all the powers bestowed on them by the Constitution of the country and ensure that peace and harmony prevail in the area and that the guilty be punished and the affected people be protected and adequately compensated.

We also acknowledge and appreciate the efforts taken by many officials, government departments, committees and commissions, politicians and political parties to ensure law and order, to ensure peace and harmony and to establish rule of law. We are committed to work with them at all times. Our appreciation is also extended to friends from the media who reported the unfolding of violence, the root cause and its impact in an unbiased manner.

Once again we want to express our pastoral sentiment that we are humbled by your adherence to faith in this time of conflict and crisis. We join with leaders of all the churches of Orissa to express our solidarity with you. Like Jesus, we pray for the perpetrators of crime. We pray with you that the Holy Spirit may give his wisdom and courage to the officials, government machinery and the governments to act immediately and to act in a non-partisan manner and bring life to normalcy for all in Orissa. We also pray with you that the Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus may strengthen us in this time of crisis so that we may continue to live our Christian life in this country without any hesitation. May Mother Mary guide our every step so that we may seriously, courageously, systematically and sensibly respond to the violence committed on us!

We are going to meet with the representatives of the Church of Orissa and would reflect about the violence and come out with short-term and long-term plans to respond to violence.

We send this pastoral letter with every spiritual blessing.

In Christ,
+ Most Rev. Thomas Thiruthalil CM, Bishop of Balasore and Chairperson of Orissa Bishops’ Regional Forum
+ Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath SVD, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
+ Most Rev. Alphonse Bilung SVD, Bishop of Rourkela
+ Most Rev. Lucas Kerketta SVD, Bishop of Sambalpur
+ Most Rev. Sarat Chandra Naik, Bishop of Berhampur
+ Most Rev. John Barwa SVD, Coadjutor Bishop of Rourkela – www.cbcisite.com 
ORISSA, OCT. 31, 2008

 

In World’s Largest Democracy, Tolerance Is a Weak Pillar

By SOMINI SENGUPTA, Published: New York Times, October 28, 2008

NEW DELHI — With national elections only months away, India is reeling from a rash of spiteful religious and ethnic clashes, prompting many in this country to ask why their vibrant, pluralistic democracy tends to encourage, rather than avert, the cruelty of neighbor against neighbor.

Tensions are growing in several corners of the country. The latest dispute was set off in Mumbai last week, when an upstart nativist party claiming to represent Marathas, the dominant ethnic group in the state, pounced on Indians who had come from elsewhere to apply for jobs at Indian Railways.

The party, which calls itself Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (roughly, the Army for the Reconstruction of Maharashtra) and has in recent months attacked northern migrants to Mumbai, wants those jobs to be set aside for local residents. On Oct. 21, the police arrested the party leader, Raj Thackeray, on a charge of inciting riots, after which his supporters went on a rampage across the city and its suburbs. Much of Mumbai was shut down.

A day later, a local court released Mr. Thackeray on bail, setting off a rampage in the northern state of Bihar, the source of the migrants attacked by Mr. Thackeray’s disciples. Protesters blocked trains, wrecked railroad stations and stranded passengers there and in several other parts of northern India.

Meanwhile, violence between Hindus and Muslims erupted elsewhere in Mr. Thackeray’s Maharashtra State, and spread south to the state of Andhra Pradesh, where a Muslim family of six was burned to death in their home in mid-October.

Clashes between Hindus and Christians continued to sweep through eastern Orissa State. In northeastern Assam State, indigenous Bodos fought with Bengali-speaking Muslims, leaving more than 50 people dead.

All the while, Indian cities remained skittish after a spate of terrorist attacks blamed largely on Islamic militants. Other factors include the longstanding Kashmir insurgency in the north and Maoist guerrillas across central India.

The Hindustan Times recently carried a map of India, splattered with red stains to mark current trouble spots. Many more would have to be added in the two weeks since the map was published. In mid-October, speaking to the wishfully named National Integration Council, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the rash of violence “an assault on our composite culture.”

He added, “An atmosphere of hatred and violence is being artificially generated.”

How can the world’s largest democracy fail to prevent such a fury of intolerance?

Ashis Nandy, a political psychologist and social critic, said that India was a democracy in a far more limited sense than many Indians cared to recognize. In spite of its lively and largely transparent elections, he said, some of the other basic pillars of democracy, including tolerance and respect for the rule of law, were fragile at best.

Perhaps, he went on to suggest, India was gradually becoming less democratic, as a variety of small, factionalized political parties vied to mobilize their caste and ethnic constituencies. National elections are expected to be held next spring, and five state elections are scheduled for November.

“Some amount of virulent, strident rhetoric, as well as violence, is becoming a deepening part of the democratic culture,” Mr. Nandy said. He described it as an inevitable danger of all large, pluralistic democracies. After all, he said, the Ku Klux Klan survives in the United States. And look at the increasingly aggressive campaign messages in the American presidential race, Mr. Nandy said.

Amartya Sen, the Indian-born Nobel Prize-winning economist who argued convincingly for the ability of democracies to prevent famine, acknowledged that those same states, including India, were far less effective at preventing sectarian strife.

In the case of hunger, a lively public debate can quickly generate enough political capital to prevent famine. Stopping demagogues from fanning hostility is another matter, he said. Just having a democratically elected government, he said, is insufficient.

“The role of democracy in preventing community-based violence depends on the ability of universalist political processes to subdue the poisonous fanaticism of divisive communal thinking,” he wrote in an e-mail message. “Much will depend on the vigor of democratic politics, not just the existence of democratic institutions.”

Dipankar Gupta, a sociologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said India’s leaders had become so focused on wooing votes for the next elections that they were losing sight of how to protect citizens, regardless of which caste or community they belonged to. “Religion is important,” he said. “Caste is important. Of course it’s important, but so long as it does not offend the basic principle of citizenship. In India, we have forgotten it.”

The unrest has cast a pall over October, a holy month for Hindus and Muslims alike.

As Tuesday’s observance of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights and gift-giving approached in recent days, markets and temples were guarded by a phalanx of police officers and metal detectors. Islam’s holiest festival, Id al-Fitr, passed somberly earlier this month, after a spate of terrorist attacks across India for which Islamic militants were largely blamed. Then, in mid-October, closed-circuit cameras kept a watchful eye over Ramlila, the epic play of good and evil re-enacted every year from the pages of Hindu mythology.

One of the most celebrated Ramlila pageants happens each year in the 15th-century walled city of Delhi, on lawns pressed hard against the Mughal era Red Fort. This year, attendance was visibly lighter and the organizers, for the first time, had arranged for a live Webcast of the play for those who were nervous about coming to a crowded fairground.

Unfolding over 10 days, Ramlila pits the clever demon Ravana — so smart that he has 10 heads — against the virtuous Ram. This evening, even Ram, played by a  rofessional model named Honey Sawhney, 20, had to walk through a metal detector at the gates of the fairground.

Vivek Gautam, known as Vicky, this evening’s Ravana, sat on a chair with his legs splayed, his hirsute and heavy girth pouring over a shimmering black nylon dhoti at his waist. He ruminated over the troubles of the times, saying it was in keeping with what Hindu legend called the Kalayuga, or the dark age.

“It is just the start of the Kalayuga,” he warned. “Once it reaches its climax you cannot imagine what it will be like. There will be no friendships, no relationships, not even between fathers and sons, only crime.”

Ravana’s cellphone trilled. As for the strife now erupting across his country, he said cryptically, “Our own people are betraying us.

Fact-finding report says 500 Christians killed in Orissa, cites govt officer

A Communist Party of India [CPI (ML)] fact-finding team visited Orissa’s Kandhamal District on 15-16 October, 2008. The team visited affected villages and relief camps, after facing interrogation by the Orissa Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The team also met District Magistrate (DM) and various police officials of Kandhamal district. Below is a report by team member J P Minz.

1. The District Magistrate’s (DM) Statement: The DM told us that Kandhamal had been peaceful for the preceding ten days. Whereas there used to be fifteen relief camps, now only seven were operational, having 12,641 people. According to him, breakfast, meals, supplementary food meant for children, and iron and calcium tablets for pregnant women are available in these camps; a doctor is available round the clock; books are available for children and there are regular reading sessions. Blankets, sarees, buckets and mugs and similar essentials have also been provided.

2. Conditions at the Relief Camps: Our team visited Phulbani, Tikabali, Ji Udaygiri and Rakiya relief camps and found that the inmates of the camp are living in extremely bad conditions. In the name of breakfast they get only fifty grams of chura (beaten rice) and rice-dal for meals, which is not enough to satisfy the needs of hunger and nutrition. In the name of supplementary food, the children are occasionally given biscuits. Bathing soaps have been distributed just once in the camps. The doctors do visit but patients are told that there is no medicine. There is no arrangement for pregnant women. The camp inmates sleep on plastic mats on the ground. They have to defecate in the open, which apart from being unhygienic also puts them in danger. One inmate of Ji Udaygiri camp, we were told, was killed when he had gone to defecate.

3. Role of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal: The victims in all the relief camps unanimously told the fact finding team that it is the VHP and Bajrang Dal cadres who have sowed the seeds of communal division in the villages. They used to organize meetings of the Kandha tribals and incite them to attack the Christian hamlets and also provided funds for doing this.

4. Role of the Police and Administration: The anti-Christian riots in Kandhamal started on the day of the bandh called by VHP after the murder of Swami Lakshmananad, and these riots continued for over a month. In the communal fire two hundred Christian villages and 127 Church and prayer halls were either destroyed or burnt. Apart from this, schools, hospitals, hostels and convents also have been damaged. The incidents of killings, rape and loot also were carried out in addition to former incidents. The shocking fact is that all these incidents took place in full view of police and the police remained mute spectators.

The official figure for deaths has been reported to be 31, however, a senior government official on the condition of anonymity informed that he himself consigned two hundred dead bodies – found from the jungle – to flames after getting them collected in a tractor. As per his estimates based on the intensity and pace of killings the number of those killed is over five hundred.

5. Atmosphere of Terror: The Christians continue to experience great terror. The Sangh outfits are campaigning for sending back the CRPF and the Nikhil Utkal Kui community is threatening to launch an armed movement. Riot-victims are frightened to go back to their villages because they have been threatened that if they return they will be hacked into pieces. The rioters are also proclaiming that only Hindu converts will be allowed to return. On the other hand, those in charge of the relief camps are pressurizing the riot victims to return to their villages saying that the life has returned to normalcy and peace has returned.

Conclusions:
1. This violence was a pre-planned anti-Christian communal assault, and in no way was it a ‘clash’ between adivasi (tribals) and dalits. 

2. This violence which had full support from the Biju Janta Dal Government was planned and executed by VHP and Bajrang Dal.
3. The Sangh’s propaganda about ‘indiscriminate religious conversion’ is a far cry from facts, as the Christian population of Orissa is only 2.5 per cent of the total population. It is to be noted that Christian missionaries began working in Orissa 150 years back.
4. Dalits have far less proportion of land in comparison to the Kandha tribals. In Kandhamal 90 per cent land is government land, 5.5 percent belongs to tribals and rest 4.5 per cent belongs to Dalits, OBC and Oriya (businessmen). There is not much difference in the economic conditions of the tribals and the dalits. The dalits are very slightly better off as they engage in small businesses.

Our Demands:
1. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (BD) should be banned.
2. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for the violence should tender his resignation immediately

3. The accused for the riots be immediately arrested.
4. The Orissa Govt. must reconstruct all houses, churches, schools, hostels, hospitals and other social-religious structures demolished during the violence and for other damages adequate compensation be granted after a proper survey
5. The relief camps be run for another six months and proper civic arrangements for food, medicine and sanitation be made in these camps.

6. Arrangements be made for registering First Information Reports (FIRs) related to the communal violence at all police stations.
7. Peace process be initiated and guarantees be made for reopening and running of schools, hospitals and other institutes run by the Christian missionaries.

 

* Liberation Magazine, November, 2008.

Websites: [mlint.wordpress.com] and [www.cpiml.org]

“Peace TV” Spawning Strife*

Of late, while watching TV I have come across a channel called “Peace TV”.  The star performer is one Dr Zakir Naik, probably from Maharashtra.  However, the address depicted on the channel is the Islamic Research Foundation based in Birmingham, U.K.  This channel portends to propagate peace by promoting Islamic values.  It seeks to portray the supremacy of Islam, and the scientific / rational nature of the Holy Quran Sharif.  It also studies comparative religion, with references to Christian and Hindu scriptures and scholars.  Apparently quite innocuous.  Not really.

 

I have carefully observed Dr. Naik’s programmes and have grave reservations about the style, content and purpose.  Peace is a misnomer for his show; because he is constantly deriding and belittling Christian beliefs, doctrines and its scriptures.  Since my knowledge of Hindu scriptures is rather limited I consider myself incompetent to comment on his approach to Hinduism.  I would, however, hazard a guess that Naik will tread carefully when talking about Hinduism, because he cannot afford to antagonise the majority community in India.  He would not be able to face the flak from the Bajrang Dal, VHP or even Raj Thackeray.  So the soft target in India is the Christian community.  He seeks to exalt Islam by deriding Christianity.

 

Let us first examine the content of Naik’s teaching. We have no quarrel in his expounding the virtues of Islam and Islamic scriptures.  The problem arises when he begins quoting from the Bible, with chapter and verse.  He picks and chooses texts that suit his trend of thought.  He then goes on to “prove” that Jesus never claimed divinity, or that there is no reference to the Holy Trinity in the Bible.  He quotes various anomalies in the Old Testament to prove its inaccuracies, thereby deducing that the Bible is unreliable and therefore cannot be the Word of God.  He quotes from Genesis and God “resting on the seventh day”, and wondering what kind of a “God” is this, that gets tired and needs a rest!

 

An average biblical scholar would easily answer these allegations/ half truths, if he got the chance.  But no such chance is afforded to Christian scholars of repute, by Peace TV.  Naik also made a startling claim that Christian organisations/ evangelists have tons of money for evangelisation, and they are well trained in the art of communication, body language, etc!  I wonder if Naik ever heard a sonorous Sunday sermon in our churches?

 

Another dangerous trend is Naik’s attitude to civil law.  He advises Muslims in India not to have a court marriage, as by so doing this would be subjugating Muslim Personal Law to civil law.  This is a dangerous mindset.  Perhaps Naik is unaware that Goa, which inherited Portuguese laws, as against British in the rest of India, has a uniform civil code.  Accordingly, all marriages – be they Christian, Hindu or Muslim, have to first be registered in the civil courts, before any religious ceremony can take place.

 

Naik selectively chooses texts to suit his line of thought.  “To choose” in Greek is hairein, which is the root for the English word “heresy”.  One who chooses conveniently is propounding heresy, which is what Naik is doing vis-à-vis Christianity.

 

What of Naik’s style?  Peace TV shows him addressing vast audiences sitting in rapt attention.  The settings seem Indian, but Naik always talks in English!  Why?  How many Indian Muslim masses in his audiences would understand English?  So why does Naik talk in English?  Who then is the real target of his Peace TV broadcast?  Something to think about.  Another amazing thing is that Naik quotes chapter and verse, not just from the Holy Quran Sharif, but even from the Bible and Hindu scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita, etc.  Somebody from his audience asks a random question and Naik has the answer at the tip of his fingers; chapter and verse!  Either the questions are stage managed, or the broadcast is slickly edited to portray Naik as a superhuman brain that can quote ad verbatim from various scriptures.  As he speaks the text with chapter and verse appears as a sub-title on the TV screen.  Gullible audiences just lap this up.

 

So what is Naik really aiming at?  The supremacy of Islam, at the cost of other religions.  His constant appeals for “zakat” and donations to his accounts in the U,K, also indicate that lots of money is involved.  Running an international TV channel on prime time, devoid of advertising revenue, obviously costs a packet.  Even the behemoth Catholic Church does not have such a set up.  None of the preachers on GOD, Miracle, Astha or Sanskar channels can match Naik and Peace TV for techno-savvy wizardry and audio-visual effects.  Naik is master of his medium.

 

But somewhere the bubble must burst.  Naik was to address a gathering in Allahabad recently.  But Shia and Barelvi Muslims protested, and Naik’s meeting was cancelled.  It was to be rescheduled in Kanpur (my hometown) but again the aforesaid sections of Muslims protested, and the Government refused permission for Naik’s programme, citing a law and order problem.

 

For those not familiar with Islamic groups, the Shias are a breakaway group of Muslims, who are relatively progressive in outlook.  The Barelvis are Sunni Muslims with their religious headquarters in Bareilly in UP.  They are also a moderate group that have adopted Indian/ Hindu customs like burning incense and praying for the dead.  Naik seems to belong to the Wahabee group that rules Saudi Arabia. (Remember that Churches cannot be built there, nor can one take a Bible, rosary or Christmas card there.  They are so intolerant of “others”).  In India the Deobandis are akin to the Arabian Wahabees.  Deoband is a small town in Saharanpur district, also in U.P.  It is from Deoband that strange fatwas emanate; like a woman raped by her own father-in-law being told that her husband has now become her son!

 

In view of the above, Christians in India should not allow Naik’s pyrotechnics to go unchallenged.  I have already written a strong letter of protest to him at his email ID zakir@irf.net.  I have requested the AICU leadership to take up the matter with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.  I hope that the CBCI will also act accordingly.  In fact I am amazed at how ignorant and lackadaisical our current crop of leaders is.  May I request whoever reads this article to please watch “Peace TV” to ascertain the truth of what I am saying.  Thereafter readers should express their views to Naik at the aforesaid email ID.  A copy may please be marked to me at noronha@vsnl.com  

 

“Peace TV” is a grave matter.  Let us address it before we find ourselves in the grave, with or without peace.

 

* The author (chhotebhai) is a former National President of the All India Catholic Union (AICU)

Story of a Jain Christian

Twenty-nine year old Sungeeta Jain was born and raised in the United States of America. Born into a Jain family, Sungeeta did not know the Lord until 1990, when her entire family converted to Christianity. Prior to the family’s conversion, on June 14, 1986, Sungeeta and her family were in a devastating car accident that left Sungeeta confined to a wheelchair.

 

At the age of ten, Sungeeta had to relearn how to live her life, from putting on her socks, to moving about using a wheelchair. At the same time, she learned how to believe in herself and trust God.

 

Determined not to let her disability hinder her, Sungeeta graduated from a top engineering college in the US with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. She also went on to get a juris doctorate degree in Law. Out of college she worked as an advisor to two high court judges. She is currently working as an associate in the premier law firm in the United States.

 

Among the many blessings of God in her life, Sungeeta won the title of Miss Teen of Washington in 1993, becoming the first person in the world in a wheelchair. She was also third runner up in the Miss Teen of America Pageant. Over the years Sungeeta, a Jain Christian has had the privilege of sharing her testimony and about how God has touched her with school children, political figures, churches, hospitals, youth groups and community groups both in India and the United States. God has powerfully moved at all gatherings, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed and filling His people with the baptism and power of the Holy Spirit…

 

Sungeeta Tells Her Incredible Story

We were a very religious family and became even more so after the car accident. After the accident, people sent me prayers from all over the world saying, “If you say this prayer this number of times every day, your daughter will be healed.” My mom was praying from day to night, but the only result for her was a constant headache!

 

My parents spent thousands of dollars paying Hindu priests who promised healing by specific dates. But, the dates came and went, and there was no miracle. There was only tension, sorrow and discord in my family.

 

Then we met a Christian man who began coming to our house and telling us about Jesus and praying with us. He told my parents he would pray for my healing, so they invited him to come. As he read to me from the Bible and began to tell me about Jesus, I don’t know when or how, but I started believing in Jesus.

 

The man then introduced us to a Pakistani Christian family which began inviting us to church every few days. My parents were not interested in going to church. However, they decided that the only way to stop the Pakistani family’s constant calls was to go to church and then to tell them we didn’t like it and were not coming back again. So, one night, my Mom, Dad and I went to church.

 

After the service, we were invited to go to the front of the church for prayer. The ladies gathered around me and started to pray with me, telling me to say “I need you Jesus. I love you Jesus.” But, as I was trying to pray, all of the sudden, I found I couldn’t speak.  Soon someone said I was being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Mom didn’t know who that was but figured “Holy” must have been okay. A little while later however, someone said this was not the Holy Spirit, but a bad spirit and that they would have to fast and pray about it, and cast it out.

 

Reluctant Mother

We started attending every church service after that. However, even though church members would repeatedly and constantly pray for me, they were unable to cast out the bad spirit. The fourth time we went to church, Mom was feeling frustrated and angry. So, that night Mom refused to go forward at the end of the service or pray as she was being told to. Up until that day Mom had never really prayed to Jesus. Even in church she had just said her own prayers. But that night she joined her hands together, knelt at her seat and said “Jesus I need you.” As soon as she did this she felt love she describes as melted butter going from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. It felt like all of God’s love was showering down upon her. She said it was the best feeling she had ever felt. She just didn’t want that feeling to stop and said she would have done anything for this feeling never to end. But, the feeling ended about 30 minutes later.  Mom asked others in the church what had happened and was told that she had received a ‘touch’ of the Holy Spirit. They told her that the Holy Spirit was a free gift from God that anyone who asks for will receive. They said that the sign that you have been ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit is that God begins to pray through you in a language you don’t understand. Mom said to herself, “If this is a ‘touch’ of the Holy Spirit, I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

 

Power of Mother’s Prayer

A week later on Monday, Mom sent us all off to school and work and said she was going to get filled with the Holy Sprit that day. She began to pray and soon she had said everything she could think of saying. She was sitting, waiting on God, with her mouth slightly open, when all of the sudden she began to speak in a language she didn’t understand. Immediately she was filled with such joy, that she danced around the house. When we came home from school Mom was laughing. We hadn’t seen her this happy since the accident. She told us that she had been baptized with the Holy Spirit.

 

That night Mom prayed for each of us and we could feel God’s love through her. Then she prayed for my dad, placing her hand on his heart. Dad had a very bad heart condition. Whenever Mom and Dad went for a walk he would have to stop every block because of chest pain. The very next day Dad walked from his office, 0.7 miles, all uphill, without stopping. Praise God! This was the first physical miracle we witnessed.

 

That night my eldest sister also received the Holy Spirit when Mom prayed for her. Then I said that I wanted the Holy Spirit too, but as soon as I started to pray, again, I couldn’t speak. So, like we had seen in church, we started to cast out the bad spirit. But nothing happened. We called the Christian man who had first told us about Jesus and prayed with him for 2 hours over the phone, but still nothing happened. Finally the man said, “I don’t think this is a bad spirit, I think this is the Holy Spirit. Say ‘thank you Jesus’ and see what happens.”

 

As soon as we thanked God for the Holy Spirit I started speaking in an unknown language. It turned out it had never had a bad spirit; it had been the Holy Spirit all along.  Now that we think back, we see how it was all in God’s perfect plan. The first time we all went to church and I was filled with the Holy Spirit, it meant nothing to my parents. They would never have come back to church. But because they thought it was a bad spirit, they kept going back to church to have it cast it and in the process God worked in their hearts and showed us all who He is. 

http://www.southasianconnection.com/articles/31/1/Sungeeta-Jain—A-Model-Christian/Page1.html

Brace up for Terrorism, Communalism & Regionalism

Under the guise of protecting India from Green Terror, we now have Saffron Terror, with the involvement of Hindu extremists alleged in the Malegaon blasts & the arrests of Sadhvi Pragya & her accomplices. We have encounter cops / retired militarymen, joining parties, like Shiv Sena, which have offered legal & other support to those arrested in the Malegaon blasts. Ex & serving defence persons, as well as defence training institutions (Bhosala) are being used to build-up forces. The Samajwadi & Bahujan Samaj parties have offered similar support / tickets / seats to Muslims, as in blasts (Batla House – Jamia Nagar) or in promoting the Haj pilgrimage.

 

Just as the Majority-Minority issue has the Congress & the BJP in a bind, so also the Marathi Manoos card has pitted the north & south Indians against the Maharashtrians. The Shiv Sena & Raj Thackeray’s MNS are falling over each other to claim the title of saviour of the Marathi Manoos. On this issue all Bihari politicians – Lalu, Nitish, Paswan… stood one to a man, while all Maharashtrian politicians did the same, soft pedaling on Raj and even backing him – in secret or openly. Whom do the Christians have to take-up their cause ? And will they all come together, as the others do, when their own are attacked ? Christians are a divided lot & unless come together in an activist organization, our state will worsen, as it has over the decades.

 

Reconversion & Demand for Reservations

Thousands are still in refugee camps, you & I would shudder at the thought of. The Orissa & other state governments talk of conversion by force or inducement, which are punishable. The re-conversions are under compulsion & widely publicized. The tribal converts to Christianity are now being forced to convert to Hinduism. In Western India, we have Narendra Maharaja doing it. Such re-conversions are illegal & comes under the purview of the anti-conversion law?

There is also pressure on Dalit Christians not to freely practise their faith & the government compels them to show themselves as Hindus or Buddhists, if they are to get official benefits. Christians, who share the same socio-cultural milieu as non-Christians, are being discriminated by the State on the basis of religion, if they are not granted Scheduled status. This again is nothing short of re-conversion by the Police State. In the given situation, wouldn’t we might all be forced to re-convert to Hinduism.

 

As our very own, Dr. Peter Rodriques says – its time to agitate & demand for Christian reservations in Jobs, Politics, Education, etc. We have enough of Government of India data to do so – NSSO & Survey  Employment/Education statistics There is enough ground to take it up legally. In fact, in Maharashtra even the influential Marathas & Parsis are asking for quotas – and may well get it. We also need to forcefully demand that Christians be recognized by the government to get at least OBC status, beginning with the Dalit Christians, pending their case being decided – since its almost a Golden Century that the Church has taken-up their cause. Will some advocate take-up these issues ? The CSF is willing to assist.

 

UPA Still to Act. Anti-Establishment Vote?

Will some one tell us what the Government of India has done on the anti-Christian violence? It has laid the blame at the State Government’s door and said that the Union Government is helpless & reduced to issuing a dozen warnings! Is’nt it that the government in power, no matter whichever political party, takes Christians for granted ? If so, why not vote anti-establishment? The assembly elections are due in 5 states and Parliament elections are around in a few months. Is it not time for Christians to reconsider their position? Surely, if the Opposition comes to power, it would know that the minorities have voted for it. The Opposition need not be the BJP everywhere. It could be the Left, Bahujan Samaj or the Third Front.  Alternatively changing governments, as happens in Kerala with the LDF / UDF or as in USA with the Democrats / Republicans, might help. And Christians will have a better deal, next time around, by God’s grace. Since that is the only reason, we are still around. Think about it.

 

Where is the Church? Has it met on this issue?

The Church’s response has been less than adequate. I doubt there has even been an all India level meeting of all church denominations – 3 Catholic Rites, CNI, CSI….including the Pentecostals & Evangelicals.

The existing Church structures are not equipped to face the situation at hand & will certainly not be able to handle the future. Its time Christians wake up to meet the challenges ahead by supporting / empowering the few Christian activists, we have in the community, who have been effective, in their protests, even with the limited means, at our disposal.

 

We need a NETWORK, with a CORPUS FUND to animate the community.

The Church in India is almost as old as Christianity itself – 2000 years – coming from Jesus’ apostle, St. Thomas and is responsible for a vast majority of the social services – in poverty-eradication, personality development, leadership, education, healthcare, rights, law, etc. Today, the non-Christians are way up ahead in all these areas and many more important ones, like politics, business & employment. We ‘educated’ or ‘treated’ or ‘empowered’ many of our attackers. For instance, Vijendra, the son of Karnataka CM, Yediyurappa allegedly studied in St. Joseph’s College (1994-97) and we could give you a number of VIPs who have passed out of Christian institutions. The silence of the ‘non-Christian’ majority is deafening & frightening.

 

Why do you call yourself a Christian? National Convention / Synod?

But even worse – Where is the Christian leadership? Is’nt it time for serious introspection & action – Has the Church been able to act effectively? Our Catholic & Christian hierarchy, clergy & laity - charismatics, Evangelicals & Pentecostals - sophisticated & elite institutions – church councils & commissions - international contacts – community unions & sabhas - one-man armies…. All built-up by the common Christian - funded by Lazarus’ or widow’s mite, so to say – over centuries. What has been our response ?

Do we have a Disaster Management Plan for the future ? There is a feeling that the true Christian will not miss out, if any of these structures are not there – like the persecuted Church in China or places, where there is no freedom of religion eg. some Islamic nations. Imagine !

The north-east is Christian & we have tribal or women MPs too. Did they even speak-up or do something more than speak-up ? It is time we wake-up to the harsh realities & stop thinking in terms of migrating to Australia, Canada or the West. For not all of us can afford that luxury.

 

The CSF would like to promote National Convention / Synod in Mumbai & we urge you to send us details of Christian activists, volunteers, bureaucrats, professionals, businesspersons & those influential, whom the LORD has blessed.

 

If you don’t help, Christian activists will go back to their work or businesses & pay more attention to it. After all that will help us to some extent, in the face of anti-Christian attacks. And nothing can stop us from praying for all of Christianity. So its time we take a stand for community development, because as the Bible says, “if you are lukewarm, God will spew you out of His mouth.”

Do let us have your thoughts on the above – You can be sure, every word will be taken seriously.

Please be assured of our prayers for you & your loved ones. Requesting your prayers for us, our families & associates too – without which, it would not have been possible for us to do so much.

Your Servant in the Lord’s Service
 
Ln. Joseph Dias, MA (Eco), Ex-Special Executive Magistrate / SEO, Govt of Maharashtra
General Secretary, The CSF
+91 9769 55 56 57 trinity.cmd@gmail.com
Cheques / DDs can be drawn in favour of The CSF and sent to our Regd Office.
Check out these links : http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/sep/22inter.htm and http://www.PetitionOnline.com/thecsf17/petition.html 

Mother Teresa: Saint or Celebrity ?

Marking 20^th anniversary of its foundation the Faculty of the Sciences of Communication is organizing a conference by Dr Gezim Alpion on his book

Mother Teresa: Saint or Celebrity at the Salesian Pontifical University Rome.

The conference scheduled for Thursday 20^th November will be in English with Italian translation. Open to all, the programme will start at 4.30 pm and will conclude at 6.45 pm.

 

Mother Teresa of Calcutta was undoubtedly one of the great personalities of the twentieth century. The author explores her significance to the mass media, to celebrity culture, to the church and to various political and national groups.

 

Albanian born Gëzim Alpion currently director of Research Postgraduate Studies, Department of Sociology (Birmingham University) received a PhD from the University of Durham, UK, in 1997. His works include Vouchers (2001), Foreigner Complex (2002), If Only the Dead Could Listen (2006), and Encounters with Civilizations (2008).

Transport from:
TERMINI take bus 90 Express or from Centre bus 80 Express.

Stop at VIMERCATI.

Actress Nagma’s Story

Nandita Morarji (Narmatha Sadhana) better known as Nagma is a somewhat controversial Indian actress, known primarily for her work in Bollywood and Kollywood. At her peak in the 1990s, she dominated Tamil cinema. Born of a Muslim mother and a Hindu father on Christmas Day, she began her acting career in Bollywood and acted in a few movies but shifted south where she met with greater success before returning to Mumbai. Although sometimes listed in film credits as Naghma, she should not to be confused with an earlier actress who went by the same stage name – that mistake is made in her listing on the Internet Movie Database website. Fluent in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and English, Nagma is notable for having acted in a broad range of India’s languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, and now Marathi.

Nagma’s biological father was Sri Arvind Pratapsinh Morarji, the late textile magnate. Her mother is Seema Sadhana, who married Morarji in 1972, separating only “a few years later,” as The Telegraph (Calcutta) reported in 2006 when Nagma made the information public.

I was born on Christmas to a Muslim mother and a Hindu father. I went to a convent school from childhood. I was exposed to Christianity from a young age. I went to Mount Mary Convent School in Bandra, Mumbai. There, Mass was a routine feature. I always thought I am very special to God because I was born on Dec 25th – perhaps because the world celebrated the day.

Even though I was not a believer then, I still enjoyed a constant companionship and relationship with Jesus Christ but never really mentioned this as it would have seemed odd then. 

A bit later in life, I came across a book called ‘Conversations with God.’ That confirmed to me that the power that was speaking to me all along was God Himself. Now when I look back, I feel that God’s hand was strongly upon me all along even though I hadn’t realized it then.

As God is just and fair, He has given us a free will to decide and make our choices whether good or bad because of His mercy and compassion.

There was a time in my life when things were going on really well. Yet, there was this big vacuum. There was no all-encompassing peace though life was busy and my job competitive. It went on like this for several years. After 15 years of my career, I started feeling the futility of it all and began asking myself questions like ‘Why am I here?’, ‘What’s God’s plan for me in my life?’ and ‘What’s the purpose of my existence?’ I asked myself these questions when I was doing really well in life just like how King David felt even when he had everything going his way. 

Since I was spiritually inclined I read a lot of books in that genre. I also started practicing meditation. I was teaching Art of Living for nearly 12 years. But Jesus continued to intrigue me. Since one of my aunties was a Christian, I kept urging her to tell me more about Christ. In the year 2000, in one such discussion, I said my salvation prayer.

Nagma opened up about her faith and mission in her life for the first time to the media in an exclusive interview with The Christian Messenger … in 2006, I became ill. I had a viral fever that the doctors weren’t able to diagnose. I had high temperature and was hospitalized. That’s when a Punjabi guy in my fraternity who was married to a Christian woman visited me and gave a CD. It contained a sermon titled ‘Freedom From Fear’ by Brother Johnson, an evangelist in Goa. For the next six months I kept listening to the CD. Like the Bible says: ‘Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God.’ After six months, I told myself: ‘Now, I want to read the Word.’ I began with the New Testament. I told God: ‘I am going to read your Word. Help me and be my teacher.

While reading the New Testament, I realized the importance of baptism and also of joining a church. Therefore, I immediately joined Pastor Shekhar Kalyanpur’s New Life Fellowship in Juhu, Mumbai. I took baptism on Jan 4. Since 2007 was a year of rest I decided to take a break from films and continued my Bible study fervently.

http://www.southasianconnection.com/articles/346/1/Actress-Nagma-Is-A-Christian-And-Christ-Follower/Page1.html

Obama’s Gujarati Aide Has RSS Roots*

HIMMATNAGAR (SABARKANTHA): Gujarati expat Sonal Shah (40), an eminent economist who heads Googles philanthropic arm and has now been appointed an advisory board member by US President-elect Barack Obama to assist his team in smooth transition of power, comes from a family rooted in Sangh Parivar in Gujarat.

Her father Ramesh Shah, who hails from Gabat village in Sabarkantha, has been associated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad for the last 30 years. The family is now settled in Houston, Texas, where Shah founded the Gujarati Samaj.

A mechanical engineer who migrated to US in 1970, Shah has been working with Morgan Stanley as a financial adviser and also playing an active role in VHPs activities in the US, as member of the governing council. In particular, he has headed the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation which collects funds from US residents to fund tribal schools in India run by Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad.

Sources in VHP here said that Sonals family was a “deep believer in Sangh ideology”, although she did not have any direct links with the RSS outfits in the US. Sonal is now on a panel comprising individuals with significant private and public sector experience who will offer their expertise in their respective fields to Obamas transition team.

Sonal was named person of the year 2003 by India Abroad publication, recognising her role as co-founder of US-based non-profit organisation Indicorps which offers one-year fellowships for Indian-Americans to work on specific development projects in India.

The Shahs philanthropic streak, which is common to both father and daughter, is also evident in Gabat, a village 90 kms north of Ahmedabad and inhabited by 10,000 persons. Shah still visits his house in Uncha Bazar area every year and takes personal interest in a public library named after his mother.

Gabat villagers got in touch with Shahs cousin Mukund Shah on Friday insisting that Sonal should be given a public reception. Her father was immediately contacted and he has promised to bring her over shortly.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Ahmedabad/Obamas_Gujarati_aide_has_RSS_roots/articleshow/3687115.cms  
(* 8 Nov 2008, 0034 hrs IST, Pramod Panwar, TNN).

Mira Bhupathi’s Confession

I was born as a Christian, but a “sleeping” one, who had no time for church or even a Bible study. I spent years of my life being totally worldly and a man pleaser. I went to the lord only when I needed something. Most often I got what I wanted, but soon afterwards I forgot my blessings. I went to college and met with a Hindu boy married him and from then on my religion was forgotten, till one day doctor told me that I could not have a child due to several complications. I immediately started praying desperately and a while later miraculously my son Mahesh was born. After that God blessed my husband and me with Kavita, our beautiful daughter.

I know that when doctors say something is impossible, our Heavenly Father still says, “All things are possible”. After my children grew up we returned to India after spending 15 years in the Gulf. I felt a voice speaking to me, telling me to witness to the world that Mahesh is the Lord’s child. The voice was very clear, but I didn’t want to hear nor obey it. So the Lord had to force on me. He allowed me to feel very lonely and unwanted. One day, after a family feud, I ran out of our house in sheer frustration to kill myself. I was driving my car with the only intention of having a head on collision with a bus or truck. Little did I realize that the Lord had different plans for me.

Suddenly I realized that the steering of my car had turned in my hands and the next thing I knew was that I was parked outside of my church (which I had started attending weekly). I was crying bitterly. Suddenly I heard a knock on my car window and it was a lady who convinced me to come tot her home. I believe that she was an angel from the Lord sent to rescue me in my pain.

She ministered to me and prayed with me. That night she invited me to stay in her home, which I did. Since I was so hurt, I didn’t want to go home. It was that same night that the realization dawned on me that it was my Lord Jesus who had rescued me from death. I committed my life completely to Him and promised my Lord that from that day I would belong to Him.

The next day I went back home and was lovingly greeted y my family who were very worried about me. I realized that it was only the Lord’s intense love for me that had protected me. That was the day that my whole life changed.

I began testifying in the Churches about what the Lord had done for me. This was in March 1997. Although up until that time, my son had been only a national tennis player, on June of that same year Mahesh brought the first international Grand Slam title to India (our country of one billion people). This victory was won on Mahesh 23rd birthday.

From that day until now the fire of the Lord had been burning in me, and a tremendous passion for souls had been kindled in my heart. Since the Lord knows my heart and how much I love Him, He has begun to use me more and more. Already in five countries He has used me to share the Gospel. He had used me in every denominational church in India to challenge the biggest doctors, engineers, business people and even pastors and bishops.

The Lord has lifted me up from being just a very shy housewife to become a successful and confident evangelist for Him. The Lord is using me where no pastor or bishop can reach. As the celebrity mother of Mahesh Bhupathi, I have access to the highest officials in India. I have already been blessed to be able to give the Gospel to two chief ministers as well as to actors and to people in high positions. Mahesh is the only sportsman in India to bring 10 Grand Slam titles to our country, only because of the Lord’s grace and blessing. Today he is a born again baptized believer.

My burden is for India, since in this country we fight with about 33 million other gods. And the Lord is moving in such amazing ways. My walk with the Lord has not been easy. I’ve gone through the fire, but did not get burned. The Lord has always been holding my hand.

I am also very blessed to be associated with ADHONEP (The international association of Full Gospel Businessmen). I am really touched that ADHONEP has such a great burden for India. I am sure that the Lord will do great thing for them in return.

The Lord has blessed us with so much fame, name and position, that I feel I need to give Him in return as a family. Ever since I came to the Lord, He has blessed my children so much.

Right now I know that I am someone who loves the Lord so much that I can give up my life for Him. I was praying that before I reach heaven I will take at least 10,000 souls with me, but now with God’s grace, that number has increases since the Lord has helped me to be an instrument in the salvation of thousands. Praise Jesus! “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Eph 3:20).

Now when we pray I am blessed that so many deliverances take place and even cancers are healed. The Lord is really honoring me. It is four years since I consulted a doctor regarding any serious illness. I believe that the Lord always keeps His word. As I “seek the kingdom first” in my life, in return I am greatly blessed (Matthew 6:33).

The whole world may let us down, but our Lord Jesus will never ever let us down. This is my personal testimony. Not once in these past 10 years has the Lord Jesus ever turned His back on me. He has only lifted me higher and higher.

http://tamilchristians.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1188&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Orissa Bishops Take on Govt Bluff with C.M.

Shri Naveen Patnaik
Hon’ble Chief Minister
Government of Orissa
Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
Date: 10th November 2008.

Respected Sir,

First of all we want to convey to you our sincere thanks and appreciation for giving us this appointment to meet you. Further we want to place before you the following points for your kind consideration and necessary action on an emergency basis.

1.The Exodus of Christians from Kandhamal District: There is considerable reduction of refugees in Relief Camps (from 24,000 to 11,000). The claim that those who leave the relief camps are going back to their own villages and settling down in their homes is not true. Most of them have migrated to relief camps in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jhanla, Berhampur and also settled down in rented houses and in the homes of relations, friends, acquaintances etc. It is estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 Christians of Kandhamal district are living outside the district.

A large number of Christians of Kandhamal district have gone to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat etc. People in the relief camps of the costal belts, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur etc. want to return to their villages, but are afraid because of the reasons:
(a) They may be attacked on the way or in their own villages
(b) They are forced to become Hindus under pain of death or loss of properties. They are told to become Hindus or leave the village, the district or even India (c) Many are unwilling to return because the criminals are still at large and moving about with swords, guns, weapons etc. as in Kothingia/Tiangia of Raikia block and Sarangodo block.

The Christians who have returned to their own villages and homes are forcibly converted to Hinduism; they are forced to accept Hindu Samskaras under oath and under pain of divine punishment. Their movements and meeting with people are restricted by the fanatics for instance in Padangi, Sankarakhol.

2. Acts of injustices against Christians.
a) Christians are chased away from their homes and villages.
b) Even though the State Govt. had promised to allot land to the landless (after the last attack) it has not yet been done. Many do not get money for the gutted down houses or damaged houses because the administration applies rules absolutely and strictly to the Christians in such a way that the landless will not get allotment of land or they even loose what they have.
c) A man was not allowed to be buried in the village as he did not become a Hindu in village Sarthaguda of Tikabali block.
d) Christians are not allowed to harvest the paddy from their own fields in many Gram Panchayats if they do not become Hindus.

3. Looting of houses, Churches & Religious Houses: As the people had fled out of threat and fear criminals are looting the homes, churches, religious houses, institutions and destroying/burning whatever is left over.

4. Non Acceptance of FIRs: FIRs are not accepted in Daringabadi and Sarangoda Police Stations.

5. Attack on Christians is not an Ethnic Conflict: Hindu Fundamentalist groups have been trying to name the communal violence as an Ethnic Conflict between the Tribals and the Pano Christians. A cursory look at facts reveals that this conflict is a calculated and
preplanned master plan to wipe out Christianity from Kandhamal district, Orissa, in order to realize the hidden agenda of Sangh Parivar of establishing a Hindu Nation. Therefore to keep the hidden agenda a secret they have tried to manipulate the facts:
- That the victims of attack were Christians
-That not only Panos but Christian Tribals also were killed, their homes and properties burned, destroyed and looted (list attached).

6. Fast Tract Court: We are happy that the state Govt. has decided to establish FTC at Kandhamal for expeditious trial of cases relating to communal violence. Looking at the geographical area it is suggested that the said Fast Tract Court may be set up at G. Udayagiri as it is centrally located to all the villages that have been affected by violence. Further it is requested that the Judge of the FTC should be from any other religion other than from Christian or Hindu Religion.

7. Request the presence of Central Forces in Kandhamal Dist: The Hate campaign beginning from 23rd August 2008 has been targeted to polarize religious groups and will affect peace process during restoration stages till the Parliament & Assembly Elections in Orissa are over.

The Christian victims now in relief camps and those who have taken distress departure from Kandhamal are afraid of further attacks as the State Police are few and who even can not defend themselves and their outposts. Hence we request that the presence of Central Forces be extended till the Parliament and Assembly Elections in Orissa are over.

8. Churches be built/repaired by 1st week of December 2008: This will allow Christmas spiritual preparations to begin and spiritual traditions to be observed. This will also help confidence building among the congregations and bury the past quietly as they approach Christmas 2008.

Thanking You
Yours faithfully

Dr. Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
Dr. T. Thiruthalil, Bishop of  Balasore
Dr. Sarat Nayak, Bishop of Berhampur

Archbishop’s Book “Never Grow Tired” Sold Out in 3 Months

Guwahati Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil’s book “Never Grow Tired” published by the Pauline Publications, Mumbai, India sold out within three months. Two thousand copies of the book released on 28th June contains an anthology of Archbishop’s talks to seminarians, religious, priests, bishops and others urging evangelical boldness, pastoral strategies, and plain good sense. A second edition is already under way.

“His words come from profound convictions and are based on a lived experience of sharing the Gospel,” says his former Secretary Salesian Fr C.T. Lukose.

“Archbishop insists on community building, teamwork, good neighbourly relationships, attention to culture, painstaking effort, austere living, persuasive ways, fearless in opposition and tireless in pastoral commitment,” adds Fr. Lukose Director of Snehalaya, Guwahati, a major ministry for street children.

Archbishops’ Secretary and Chancellor Fr Varghese Kizhakevely states Archbishop Thomas has many surprises for the reader, including simple truths like “make better use to time, be punctual, keep things clean in the campus, cut down on expenses, attend to the environment, don’t forget self-care, accept troubles as normal life, don’t grow complacent with success, concede defeat as a part of a larger strategy, motivate youth, make friends of your enemies, opt for the radical dimension of the Gospel, announce Christ, try for the impossible.”

“This book ultimately turns out to be something like a handbook suggesting practical ways of translating the slogan Passion for Christ, Passion for Humanity into life,” says Pauline Sr Lissy on behalf of  Pauline Publications Mumbai.

Excerpts from Book Review
In his review of the book ‘Never Grow Tired’ professor of Sacred Scripture and Spirituality, Salesian Father Dr. Jose Varickasseril says “with perspicuous dexterity the author cautions against doing things which do not ensure continuity in ministries undertaken, of seeking one’s advantage over that of the people one caters to, of drawing hasty conclusions from one untoward incident, of hurts that are even unconsciously inflicted upon others, and of the dangers inherent in success.”

“In a persuasive style Archbishop Thomas sets forth the benefits ensuing from the appreciation of the past and of not lamenting over the present state of affairs however perplexing they may appear to be,” assures Dr Varickasseril archbishop’s former pupil warning readers “not to take shelter in a glorious past that no longer exists.”

“Admiration for the pioneers of the past without emulating their dedication does not produce anything worthwhile. The author argues that reconciliation and peace are possible. He expresses his conviction that one can preserve freshness of life amidst the monotony one’s daily living,” insists Dr Varickasseril former Rector of Sacred Heart Theological College Shillong quoting the archbishop.

“Rather than speaking disparagingly about the ignorance of faith of the communities that one caters to, one ought to keep in mind that the superficiality of faith or lack of enthusiasm in a given community are a commentary on the type of “follow-up” that pastors are carrying out,” explains Archbishop Thomas who is at his best speaking on the good that issues forth from personal contacts and keeping in touch with Christian communities by visiting them.

Archbishop’s Personal Background
Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, twenty-six years a bishop at Dibrugarh and Guwahati, was an educationalist and a youth worker in his earlier days. Having worked in Northeast India for more than half a century, he has developed a passion for the peoples and cultures of the region. With several books to his credit, he has written insightful articles on themes like Evangelization, Culture, Peace, Religious Life and Pastoral Ministry. An active evangelizer, he has also made a mark as a peace-negotiator and a prominent leader in civil society. At present he is engaged, among other things, in arousing consciousness about the need for ‘Probity in Public Life.’

Special invitee to the Synod of Bishops for Asia (1998) and the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God (2008), Archbishop Thomas is Chairman of the Evangelization Commission of the Federation of Asian Bishop’s Conference as well as Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) Commission for Education and Culture. He is a member in the Post-Synodal Council for Asia; Member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and  Discipline of the Sacrament, Rome; Member of the Congregation for Commission Consecrated Life, Rome.) Pope Benedict XVI  appointed Archbishop Thomas member of the 15-member post-synodal (Synod on the Word) council.
Five of his earlier publications and best-sellers through St Pauls, Mumbai, include A Path to Prayer; Let Your Light Shine; Challenge to Culture; Thoughts on Evangelization; and Cultures: In the Context of Sharing the Gospel. END

Politics and Violence in Orissa*

Why have India’s tribal-majority districts witnessed the bloodiest anti-Christian attacks? The answer to this question indicates why at least 60 people were killed and more than 4,500 houses and churches destroyed in Kandhamal district of Orissa recently.

India saw its first large-scale attacks on the minority community in December 1998 in Gujarat’s Dangs district, where 93% of the population is tribal. In March 2004, anti-Christian violence broke out in Madhya Pradesh’s Jhabua district, where tribals constitute 85% of the population. Then followed the mayhem in December 2007, and again in August 2008 in Kandhamal, where nearly 52% of the population is tribal. These incidents took place during the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its allies.

The BJP has made inroads into the tribal-majority pockets of central India, where roughly 75% of country’s tribal population lives. During its six-year tenure at the Centre, beginning 1998, the party implemented its Hindutva agenda in tribal regions. In 1999, it created a separate ministry of tribal affairs, which was part of the ministry of social welfare. Not surprisingly, the scheduled castes community, which is much bigger, was not given a separate ministry. The party also bifurcated the commission for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and the national scheduled castes and scheduled tribes corporation by creating new panels for the tribal people.

The Sangh Parivar worked in tandem with the BJP to “Hinduize” tribals. For instance, the Ekal Vidyalaya (one-teacher school) Foundation was registered as a “charitable” trust in 1999. It is well known that these schools, that operate mainly in tribal areas, seek to “Hinduize” tribals and oppose conversions among them. The BJP government aided these schools. More recently, Sangh outfits made an overt attempt to “Hinduize” tribals through the Shabri Kumbh rally in Dangs in February 2006. Shabri, a character in the Ramayan and tribal devotee who offered berries to Rama, was made into a goddess of the tribal population there.

Tribals form only around 9% of India’s population, but their votes are crucial. This is why BJP leader L.K. Advani launched his Sankalp Yatra from the tribal district of Jabalpur in February with an eye on the forthcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh. Later, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone of a new rail line in Jhabua, another tribal district in the state.

However, wooing tribals has not been easy for the BJP, which faces not only the Congress as an opponent, but also Christian missionaries. Christian agencies have been working in tribal areas for much longer. Due to their good development record and social acceptance€ ¦’·evident in the fact that a portion of the tribal population today is Christian€ ¦’·the BJP finds it difficult to compete with them and undermine their influence. Therefore, the BJP and other Sangh organizations launch hate campaigns and attacks on Christians under various pretexts, including that of “forced” conversions. Tribals form only around 9% of India’s population, but their votes are crucial for any political party

That the Sangh’s anti-Christian agenda is more about politics than conversions is clear from the fact that Christian persecution is not endemic in Dalit-majority districts, although a majority of Indian Christians (around 70%) are from Dalit backgrounds. This is why Dalit districts€ ¦’·such as Sitapur, Hardoi and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh; Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Nadia, South 24 Parganas and Bardhaman in West Bengal; and Gaya in Bihar€ ¦’·have not witnessed any major anti-Christian riot though Christian agencies are working there as well. On the contrary, a majority of tribal districts€ ¦’·be it Jashpur in Chhattisgarh or Banswara in Rajasthan€ ¦’· have long been communally sensitive. The reason is clear. Wooing Dalits is an uphill task for the BJP, as it is seen as an “upper caste” party and Dalits are well organized and support parties such as the Bahujan Samaj Party. The tribals, however, fall in the indecisive vote category.

Even in Kandhamal, Sangh outfits “befriended” the majority tribal community and not the minority Dalits, many of whom converted to Christianity in the last 100 years or more. What’s more, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) fuelled tensions in an already strained relationship between the two communities by using reservation and land issues. Exploiting these tensions, the Sangh organized a deadly wave of anti-Christian attacks using the unfortunate assassination of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in August as a pretext. This is why when the Orissa Police recently confirmed the role of a Maoist group, that had claimed responsibility for the murder, a Sangh outfit circulated forged documents to implicate a local church.

Recall the attacks on Christians and their property in Kandhamal in December 2007 over an alleged attack on Saraswati, although there were no visible injuries on his body. Recall the 2004 Jhabua violence, which erupted after a nine-year-old Hindu girl was found murdered in a Christian school, a Hindu man was later arrested for the murder. Recall also the 1998 Dangs attacks that were launched after an alleged attack on a Hindutva rally, an allegation that had no evidence.

That the Orissa violence was organized is also clear from the fact that what started in one district soon spread to more than 14 districts of Orissa and several other states, mainly BJP-ruled Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. This at a time when several state assembly elections as well as national elections are around the corner.

* Vishal Arora is a Delhi-based commentator. Comments are welcome at theirview@livemint.com
Source: http://www.livemint.com/2008/04/07234535/2008/11/11232228/Politics-and-violence-in-Oriss.html?d=2

RSS involved in Assam blasts: ULFA*

ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) on Tuesday (Nov 11) alleged that RSS (rightwing Hindu group) was behind the deadly October 30 blasts in Assam and ethnic violence in Bodo Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD).

The blast claimed 85 lives while 55 people died in the ethnic violence in BTAD areas.

In an e-mail statement, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa further alleged that Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah was an agent of RSS and was blaming ULFA to cover up his involvement in the blasts.

“Whether Sarmah is in Congress or AGP, he is in reality an RSS agent and to cover up his involvement is making misleading statements like ULFA and Jehadi are the same,” he said.

Rajkhowa claimed the ULFA has enough evidence to prove RSS’s involvement in the October 30 blasts in four towns of Assam, including Guwahati.

“A few months ago, the ULFA in its mouthpiece Freedom had mentioned about the secret directive sent by RSS to carry out blasts in different parts of the country but the state government took no steps in this direction,” he said.

Moreover, the recent blasts in different parts of the country and the subsequent arrests have also proved that RSS and BJP are involved in blasts in states ruled by non-BJP governments, Rajkhowa alleged.

He said that ULFA has never targeted indigenous Assamese population and has no links with jehadi or any other religious fundamentalist organisation.

*Source: Press Trust of India
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, (Guwahati)
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080072229

Song For Raped Orissa Nun

MoreLoveRadio.com director Dr Dominic Dixon has composed a song for Sr Meena, the Orissa nun who was gang raped on 25^th August in the Orissa anti-Christian violence.

“I have forgiven and I have nothing against anybody” Rev. Sister Meena.

“I’m happy that this song has been composed by HSI MoreLove Radio. It has expressed deep sympathy  for the victim and has expressed the trauma that she is going through. I hope this song from HSI MoreLove Radio will bring sympathy and courage to abused women around the world and will convict the hearts of rapists that they will understand the trauma of their victims,” says Archbishop, Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Diocese, Orissa.

“When I heard that our beloved Nun had been raped, my heart broke and was troubled ever since. I fasted and prayed before the Lord for the healing of this precious Sister who has sacrificed her life for the very same people’s group who have raped her. Being a Psychologist, I know the trauma of a rape victim. I just cannot imagine what this nun is going through considering the fact that she saved her chastity for Christ, only for it to be violently violated. I decided to make a song for our Sister in Christ, she is PURE , TOTALLY PURE!,” says Director, MoreLove Radio, Dr. Dominic Dixon

You may log on to www.MoreLoveRadio.com to listen, watch and download this song with  lyrics & chords.  Log on to listen with a million others from over forty nations. Our Mission is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world through Music & Meditations and to touch the Hearts & Minds to save Souls!

Dr. Dominic F. Dixon, a Christian Evangelist based in Bangalore, is the Founder and Director of MORE (Ministry Of Reconciliation & Evangelization), MORELOVE.IN, MORELOVERADIO. Dom has reached out to several hundred thousand youth in over 36 Countries who have been abused, addicts, alcoholics, and the outcast including gangsters.

Dom is a faculty member at Colleges in the discipline of Ethics and Value Education, promoting PURITY. Dom is the most interviewed Christian Evangelist in India having been interviewed by CNN, NDTV, India Today, Times of India, Headlines Today, Agence France-Presse and other International News channels and projected in over 100 Provinces worldwide  in regards to his work amongst the youth.

After working as a Technology Corporate consultant in the US, Canada and India, he submitted to the CALL to serve Jesus in 2001. Since then he has travelled extensively proclaiming the good news of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Dom holds a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology. He has done his Discipleship Training and School of University Ministries with Youth With A Mission.

Dom has authored two major books on Psychology and Sociology. “The Beautiful Christian Mind – deliverance from mental illness” and “I’m a Teenager, pls understand me” and has produced an Audio Album on his series “Purpose of Life’s Events”

Dom’s cry: Lord Jesus, give me the YOUTH of this world or I will die!

Source: http://www.moreloveradio.com/

“Seer” Pandey a Disguise Master: ATS

LUCKNOW: Dayanand Pandey alias swami Amritanand is a master of disguise, a smooth operator and has even worked in the Air Force for five years, according to investigators. He is an NDA drop-out, a double-MA and is highly tech-savvy, said officials involved in the investigation.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Pandey in Lucknow on Thursday, a day after he was picked up from Kanpur in connection with the September 29 Malegaon blast. He reportedly told investigators that he was an active member of `Abhinav Bharat’, the suspected radical Hindu outfit behind the Malegaon blast.

According to ATS officials, Pandey has also admitted to his links with Lt Col Prasad Purohit already under arrest and to his involvement in the blast conspiracy. He reached Mumbai by an evening flight on Thursday after a special judge granted the ATS a transit remand till November 16. He will be produced in the court of the Nashik chief judicial magistrate within three days.

A top police official told DNA Pandey was a hard nut to crack during initial investigation as he either refused to answer questions or gave out information selectively. Even so, the little he has revealed has baffled ATS officials.

“He is a double MA and is tech-savvy. He is a smooth operator and can take anyone for a ride,” a senior official told DNA. “His communication skills are excellent and he has the ability to convince or befriend anyone in a matter of minutes,” the official said. Pandey is learnt to have made contacts with top level Army officers in Jammu and had even infiltrated the Army’s intelligence wing. Interestingly, Lt Col Purohit was with Military Intelligence in Jammu in 2005.

Initial interrogation has revealed that Pandey is a master of disguise. He had four separate identities and names at different times and places. In Kanpur, from where he hails, he was known as Dayanand Pandey while he served in the Air Force for about five years as Sudhakar Dwivedi. In Faridabad, he was known as Swami Amritanand Dev Teerth and in Jammu, as Shankaracharya or Peethadheeshwar of the `Sharda Peeth’ situated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Till some months back, he sported a full-grown beard. But now he is clean shaven. He used to change his appearance continuously according to the circumstances,” said a senior official.

He said Pandey’s father had been a sub-inspector in the UP Police and Pandey was selected to the NDA in 1989. He underwent training at the Khadakwasla air force centre for about six months before disappearing mysteriously.

Pandey, officials said, often used to stay at the Chakreshwar Temple in Faridabad. He also used to visit the `Sumeru Peeth’ in Varanasi. A source told DNA that his activities at these places used to be “suspicious”.

Pandey, he said, used a laptop to surf the net and often worked till late night. “A lot of people used to visit him in the night. They were top-notch people, businessmen and even bureaucrats,” the source added.

Sources revealed that after he was picked up on Wednesday, Pandey had claimed to be the `mahant’ of the Sharda Sarvagya Peeth in Jammu. But follow-up investigations revealed that there was no such `math’ or `peeth’ in Jammu, and that Pandey used to function from his CA VK Kapoor’s house in Jammu. “The `peeth’ existed only on paper and was perhaps being used only to get financial back-up for his devious plots,” the official said.

Zeishta shrine board denies links with Pandey: The management of Srinagar-based Zeishta Devi Prabandak Board on Thursday said that Dayanand Pandey had nothing to do with the shrine board. He has not visited the temple for the past three years, said a board official. Zeishta Devi shrine is located in the foothills of Zabarwan mountains over looking the Dal lake in Srinagar.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1206312&pageid=0
Deepak Gidwani, Friday, November 14, 2008 04:28 IST

Stop Hate Campaign

13th November 2008: On Sunday, 16th November, we observe in the Church of India, “Communications Day”.  In his message on the occasion, our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI says in the opening statement, “The theme of this year’s World Communications Day – “The Media : At the Crossroads between Self-Promotion and Service, Searching for the Truth in order to Share it with Others” - sheds light on the important role of the media in the life of individuals and society. Truly, there is no area of human experience, especially given the vast phenomenon of globalization, in which the media have not become an integral part of interpersonal relations and of social, economic, political and religious development.”

In keeping with the theme, and the spirit of what communications is all about, each one of us will have to explore ways and possibilities of ensuring that we earnestly seek the Truth to become a society which is more humane, just and peaceful.

Corresponding with this, is the need to be constantly vigilant in order to protect and defend our Constitutional Rights and that of every other citizen – very specially the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable.

We would like to bring to your kind attention some current happenings in Gujarat and in other parts of India :
- Fundamentalist / fascist organizations are very systematically mobilizing / organizing people through very effective propaganda / machinery, spewing hate, prejudice and divisiveness; large meetings / rallies in the name of religion are being held; subtle and innocuous strategies are being used, printed / electronic media is being used to the maximum ….

- “official bodies” have begun visiting our institutions making enquiries / conducting surveys / seeking of information / demanding accounts / foreign funds . This is sheer intimidation and harassment since the information asked for is not within the purview / legitimacy / authority of the concerned body.

We request:
- that any attempt to spread disinformation / lies / hate propaganda, be brought to the notice of appropriate authorities (this may change according to circumstances / places) immediately and also be communicated to others and to us (It would be helpful if we could receive copies of such printed material / CDs / DVDs, etc.).
- that we do not rush to provide any information whatsoever. Always ask why the information is requested and who has authorized it (in writing) (If requested, we could assist on letting you know if the information demanded should be provided or not).
We need to prepare ourselves in more effective ways, to respond to the challenges ahead…. One significant step is BECOMING MORE “COMMUNICATIVE”.

Fr. Cedric Prakash sj
Secretary, PRASHANT – A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
Street Address : Hill Nagar, Near Kamdhenu Hall, Drive-in Road, Ahmedabad – 380052, Gujarat, India. Phone : 91 79 27455913, 66522333. Fax : 91 79 27489018

CSFH* statement on Sonal Shah

A virtual melee has ensued in print and digital media over the selection of Ms. Sonal Shah, an American of Indian origin to the Obama transition team’s advisory board. Shrill accusations of Ms. Shah being a “racist and Hindu chauvinist” are being reciprocated by equally shrill attempts to portray anyone who raises serious questions about the selection as being anti-India, anti-Hindu, anti-progress, and recently, as against “liberal civility.” We condemn such baseless and unfair statements.

At the outset we wish to acknowledge that Ms. Shah has had a record of being a visible and an important face of the “desi American” community – a successful professional, and a politically and socially engaged citizen.

We are also happy to note at least one positive effect from this debate. Even as this issue gets played out on pubic fora, the din of militant Hindutva drumbeats has suffered some dampening. Almost all participants, including those who have come out in support of Ms. Shah, have said that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — both integral to the Hindutva movement, are part of the “politics of hate” that must be resisted. We wish such statements had come much earlier, such as the time when people were being butchered in Gujarat, or when Indicorps (an organization Ms. Shah co-founded) was felicitated by Mr. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Ms. Shah has become something of a point of pride for many Americans with origins in India. But Ms. Shah does have feet that leave tracks, has written words that have been archived, and has occupied offices of responsibility. We wish to explore this material record below by examining two of the most persuasive claims made by supporters of Ms. Shah. These are:

1. That accusations of Ms. Shah being a closet Hindutva ideologue amount to “guilt by association”, a reference to the fact that her father Mr. Ramesh Shah has well documented leadership roles within the Sangh Parivar (Collective Family, the name for the set of organizations of Hindutva).

2. That Ms. Shah’s only association with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) was in the context of the Gujarat earthquake; surely, she cannot be faulted for not picking the right organization when urgent action was the need of the hour.

Our claims of Ms. Shah’s Hindutva associations are not based on guilt by association. Instead, we ask: What organizational and ideological work did Ms. Shah perform for and as part of the VHPA?

We have archived records demonstrating that Ms. Shah was a part of VHPA’s leadership group—the governing council and chapter presidents/coordinators. She participated in strategy discussions with prominent leaders of the Sangh Parivar. Ms. Shah was not just a bystander, she was considered important and trustworthy enough by the Hindutva leadership to be included in a core group with Ajay Shah, Gaurang Vaishnav, Mahesh Mehta, Yashpal Lakra, Vijay Pallod, Shyam Tiwari, and others. Does Ms. Shah deny that she played such a role? Even in light of the recent public statement by Gaurang Vaishnav, General Secretary of the VHPA, that Ms. Shah was made a member of the governing council as she came out of college?

We are glad to hear Ms. Shah assert that her “personal politics have nothing in common with the views espoused by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or any such organization”, and that she does not “subscribe to the views of such Hindu nationalist groups”. However, in view of her close association with VHPA, as summarized above, Ms. Shah’s claim to have “never” subscribed to such Hindu nationalist views strains credulity.

Ms. Shah’s participation in the VHPA Governing Council predates by a few years her position as National Coordinator of VHPA’s Gujarat earthquake activities in 2001. The position of earthquake relief coordinator doesn’t seem to be an easy one to ascend to — VHPA’s website states that “national projects are executed by a committee of members drawn from the Governing Council and the various chapters.” Thus, Ms. Shah’s coordination of VHPA earthquake relief seems to have built upon her earlier leadership role within the VHPA. We do not know when/if her affiliation with the VHPA ceased, but VHPA media secretary Shyam Tiwari has recently claimed: “Sonal was a member of VHP of America at the time of the earthquake. Her membership has [now] expired.”

A note about Ms. Shah’s earthquake relief work. Calamities such as the 2001 Bhuj earthquake often bring out the best in humans, but the Sangh Parivar is notorious for using such moments instrumentally and cynically for advancing its violent ideological agenda. An ordinary donor or fund-raiser can be excused for not knowing the Sangh agenda, but for someone like Ms. Shah, who grew up in a family deeply rooted in the Sangh Parivar, it is more than a little disingenuous to claim that such fund-raising was apolitical or neutral. There are numerous documented instances of the Sangh Parivar’s religion- and caste-based discrimination in doling out relief. Therefore we are shocked that Ms. Shah has expressed pride in coordinating relief work (under the ambit of VHPA) following the Gujarat earthquake of 2001. The relief work coordinated by the VHP is known to have rebuilt villages in the Kutch region exclusively for caste Hindus while marginalizing lower caste Hindus and Muslims to the periphery. The VHP thus took the opportunity of the earthquake to re-create multi-ethnic villages into exclusive Hindu spaces. In addition, given the pivotal role played by the VHP and other Sangh organizations in the 2002 anti-Muslim pogrom, we fear her pride is entirely misplaced.

Although we appreciate the positive influence Ms. Shah has had on many second-generation desis, we have a hard time forgetting the many victims of Hindutva. If Ms. Shah really wants to dispel doubts about her linkages with the VHPA and other Sangh Parivar outfits, we urge her to be more forthcoming in her condemnations of the Sangh Parivar, especially its branches in the United States since that has been the site of her involvement. Some ways for Ms. Shah to do this would be to:
1. acknowledge her past organizational associations with the Sangh Parivar
2. distance herself from the public reception reportedly planned by the RSS in her native village in Gujarat
3. categorically condemn the role played by Hindutva forces in anti-minority violence in India, and the facilitation of this violence by funds sent through various Sangh Parivar affiliates in the United States

In Peace and Justice, 14 November 2008
*Campaign to Stop Funding Hate www.stopfundinghate.org

Source: http://www.sacw.net/article291.html

India: Worst Period Since Independence, says Major General

‘There are no communal feelings in the army’ & ‘We are in a dangerous position internally’.

‘There are no communal feelings in the army’
November 11, 2008 | 14:12 IST

Major General Afsir Karim, who retired from the Indian Army in 1989, now edits Akrosh, a strategic affairs magazine that analysis internal disturbances, conflicts and insurgencies in and around India. These days Karim saab, known for his balance and straightforwardness, is a disturbed man.

URL for this article:
http://www.rediff.com//news/2008/nov/11inter-there-are-no-communal-feelings-in-the-army.htm

‘We are in a dangerous position internally’
November 13, 2008 | 14:32 IST
In the first part of the interview, Major General (retired) Afsir Karim, an
expert on internal disturbances, conflicts and insurgencies in and
around India, spoke of the secular credentials of the Indian Army.
In the second and final part, he speaks to rediff.com’s Sheela Bhatt of the worrying internal security situation that India faces.
URL for this article:
http://www.rediff.com///news/2008/nov/13inter-we-are-in-a-dangerous-position-internally.htm

Indian Christians in US urged to form alliance

As violence against Christians continues in Orissa and other parts of India, secular-minded Indians in the United States have been rallying across the United States, condemning the violence and the government inaction.

While peace rallies and prayer vigils have been organized by individual churches and groups across the United States, for the first time, an inter-denominational meeting was organized in Bellrose, NY to chalk out a common strategy to plan a collective action in response to the ongoing violence against Christians in India.

Organized by Indian Christian Forum, the meeting was, among others, attended by leaders from the Federation of the Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) India Catholic Association of America, Federation of Indian Catholic Associations SMCC St. Thomas Ecumenical, New York ECFNJ PYFA (Pentecostal Youth), cryforindia (Philadelphia group), a Youth group headed by Tom John and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church.

The members agreed to help collect available data including video footage, a write-up on the violence and a personalized letter to all 100 Senators and the 535 Congressmen. They also agreed to conduct an email/fax campaign to do the same, after obtaining the email addresses of their respective congressman. George Abraham, an official of the United Nations and a leader of the Indian Christian Forum, gave an overview of the recent violence against Christians in India and the mute response from both the state as well as the central government in India.

He urged the Christian groups in the United State to come together, be proactive, and work on a long term strategy to respond to issues such as the ones we encounter in India.  Dr Babu Joseph, Spokesman for the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, gave an elaborate account of the atrocities committed against the Christians in India. Dr. Joseph, who has been on a month long visit to the United States to meet with a number of Indian Christians and their organizations based here, reiterated the need for coordinated efforts among them.

Source: http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/4429/

‘Bible’s Buried Secrets’ TV film in controversy

A two-hour program set to air Tuesday night (18 Nov) claims to have “new discoveries that shake the foundation of biblical archaeology,” echoing claims by other contested documentaries such as “The Lost Tomb of Jesus,” which aired last year on The Discovery Channel.

“The Bible’s Buried Secrets,” produced by Rhode Island-based Providence Pictures for PBS’s science series Nova, attempts to uncover who wrote the Hebrew Bible and whether it’s history or parable, delving into the origins of the Israelites to explore their gradual transformation into a monotheistic people.

The show also poses provocative ideas – including the “revelation” that many Israelites believed that God had a wife – and disputes literal readings of the text.

It is “a shocking film in many ways, but it’s truth, revolutionary, and it’s as fresh as yesterday,” said Bible scholar William G. Dever during the presentation for the program during the Summer 2008 Television Critics Association (TCA) Tour.

Dever, who specializes in the history of Israel in biblical times, says most of the two dozen biblical archaeology films he was involved in prior to “The Bible’s Buried Secrets” turned out to be “outrageously” dishonest.

“They either pander to the public’s misunderstanding that the role of archaeology is to prove the Bible to be true or, at best, they’re simply dishonest, outrageously so,” he said at a session for the program during the Summer TCA Tour.

“The Bible’s Buried Secrets,” however, is different, he claims.

“I vowed not to make any more such films until ‘Nova’ came along. I knew their reputation, and I knew this one would be good,” he said.

For the documentary, Providence Pictures scouted and filmed at archaeological sites throughout the Middle East – including Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria – and interviewed biblical scholars from around the world.

Producers say the interviews – along with historic works of art, ancient artifacts, animations of biblical passages and scenes, and dramatic recreations – provide the latest account of the ancient Israelites and how they found their one God – the God not only of modern Judaism, but also of Christianity and Islam.

“To this day, the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, is a sacred text for more than three billion people throughout the world,” says Gary Glassman, the program’s writer, producer, and director. “The film’s international team of archeologists and scholars researches biblical texts and examines artifacts and ancient manuscripts to illuminate how the concept of one God emerged to later form the foundation of the three great monotheistic religions.”

According to NOVA Senior Executive Producer Paula S. Apsell, the program is both a scientific detective story and dramatic adventure that digs deeply into the Bible and the history of the ancient Israelites through the archeological artifacts they left behind.

“In addition to exploring the historical authenticity of the biblical narrative, this powerful intersection of science, scholarship, and scripture also provides a unique insight into the deeper meaning of biblical texts and their continuing resonance through the centuries,” she stated.

Producers say they are “confident that our film will be the definitive documentary on biblical archaeology for years to come.”

Many, however, are very skeptical of the film and one group is even taking their protest over the film to Congress.  For MORE click the link

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20081118/pbs-to-air-bible-s-buried-secrets.htm

Glare on Christmas bandh in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 19: Observing that the situation in Kandhamal is still tense, the team of central ministers today advised the Naveen Patnaik government to take steps to ensure that there is no Orissa bandh called by Hindu outfits on Christmas.

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar leading a three-member minister team said they were told that recently a rally was held here issuing a threat to observe Orissa bandh on Christmas, if the culprits involved in the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati were not arrested within a month.

We don’t understand why the Christmas was chosen for calling the bandh, said Pawar adding agitation should not be allowed on major festival days like Diwali, Christmas and Chhath.

Stating that the minority community is under tremendous pressure because of such threat, Pawar said they had requested Naveen to see that agitation activities should not be there on Christmas.

Simultaneously, the police should gear up investigation to book the culprits involved in the murder, he said. We also requested the chief minister to give a sort of confidence to all sections, including the minority community, that their life and property will be protected in such situation, said Pawar.

The central team leader said they observed during their visit to Kandhamal yesterday that the situation was tense and there was sense of fear among the minority community. Responding to a query as to whether the state government had handled the Kandhamal situation satisfactorily, Pawar said: We are not here to pass comments on the state government’s performance. But the need of the hour is to restore normalcy in the riot-affected villages. Some efforts are going on in this regard.

The central team had earlier met a delegation of Christian leaders led by Raphael Cheenath, the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar diocese, in the morning before attending the wrap-up meeting with the chief minister and government officials.

Calling for a bandh on Christmas is aimed at creating communal divide and affecting law and order situation. The Christian community might be subjected to ferocious attacks,  apprehended one of the delegation members.

They urged for appropriate steps to ensure that the Christian community could celebrate Christmas without any fear, declaring the bandh as illegal besides providing adequate protection to the minority community, their places of worship and other institutions.

Naveen said: There should not be any bandh on Christmas. Normalcy has returned in Kandhamal, but bandh on Christmas may lead to future disturbance.

Before concluding their three-day visit, the team suggested the state government to set up peace committees at villages and gram panchayats in order to hasten the process of restoration of normalcy, taking up labour intensive work in every affected villages, ensuring retention of name of those people in Kandhamal who are away from home on the voter list, strengthening of public distribution system and setting up of trauma centres, disability camps and old-age homes.

Pawar indicated that their team might offer a proposal for a special package for Kandhamal, Gajapati and Boudh districts.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081120/jsp/nation/story_10134329.jsp

Peace Becomes Graver Still*

 

My previous article “Peace is a Grave Matter” about Peace TV and Dr Zakir Naik has invoked responses from all over the world. There have been some subsequent developments and broadcasts that merit attention.

 

A Jesuit priest in Rome has expressed disagreement with my presentation, saying that we should not give undue importance to the comments about Christians on Peace TV, as it will fade out in its own way. Isn’t that the same wait and watch attitude that the Catholic Church adopted towards Hitler? The silence of the shepherds led to the slaughter of the lambs!

 

CM Paul, placed my article on his blog. It elicited a sharp response from one Moeenuddeen, probably an ardent follower or close associate of Dr Zakir Naik. I also received a much studied comment from Predhuman Joseph Dhar, a scholar, and a Kashmiri Pandit who has embraced Catholicism. It is worth considering these responses and developments subsequent to my article.

 

On 5^th November, Naik made a seething attack on idol worship in Hinduism and veneration of sacred images in Christianity. On 7^th November Naik tried to justify Islamic terrorism, equating the terrorists with Shaheed Bhagat Singh; whom the British considered a terrorist. On 16^th November the Times of India carried a report on Naik trying to justify the actions of Osama bin Laden, who it called the “most wanted man in the world”. On 15^th November, another speaker on Peace TV said that a Muslim in America could not swear allegiance to the American Constitution, as it contained provisions that were contrary to Islam.

 

Should the shepherds keep silent? Will it then be the “Silence of the Lambs”?

 

Let us first address the social issues. There is the adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. If a person migrates to another country he is duty bound to abide by its Constitution. If not, such persons should not migrate there in the first place. By this logic a person of any religious persuasion can cite religious beliefs to disobey the law of the land. This will lead to anarchy. Moeenuddeen states that following Muslim Personal Law does not, and will not, create any problems in India. He has forgotten the Shah Bano case.

 

In that case the Supreme Court had ruled that a Muslim woman who had been divorced by her husband was entitled to maintenance, as per civil law. The Muslims considered this an intrusion into their personal laws. To appease them Rajiv Gandhi then enacted a law – “Muslim Women’s (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act” in 1986 – by which Muslim Waqf Boards would bear the maintenance costs of the divorced women.

 

This created a backlash among the Hindus, as Waqfs receive substantial grants from the Government. In effect this meant that a Hindu tax payer would be funding the maintenance of a Muslim divorcee! It was considered totally unjust. In like manner Hindus resent a rapid increase in the Muslim population as the latter consider it against their religion to follow family planning, and also believe in polygamy (though the second fear is largely unfounded).

 

To placate the agitated Hindus, the politically naïve Rajiv Gandhi then allowed the opening of the locks of the Ram Janmabhoomi/ Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The rest is history. So assertion of religious laws does create problems – serious ones at that.

 

In like manner, giving a religious garb to terrorist acts, and then justifying them in the name of religion, is fraught with danger. We are now witness to militant Hindu leaders using religion (or the perceived threat to it) as a justification for violence and vengeance. In what way are Lt Col Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya and self – styled Shankracharya Amritanand different from the SIMI, HUJI, LET, Osama or others who seek to give a religious colour to their dastardly and inhuman acts? Such attacks are in no way justifiable, as sought by Dr Naik on Peace TV.

 

As for idol worship, P.J. Dhar states that this is integral to the Bhakti Marg in Hinduism. He says that Hindus do not consider the material objects to be God, but an indwelling of the Divine; just as Christians believe that God dwells in them. Christians do not worship (aradhana) sacred objects. They venerate (upasana) them, as a means of uplifting ones human sensibilities, through tangible means, to the intangible God. If we can take photographs of our loved ones, and erect statues of great leaders, can we not revere those persons or objects that draw us closer to God? Naik and Peace TV must respect the religious beliefs of others. Unfortunately, even Moeenuddeen rubbishes my earlier statement about the ban on religious objects in Saudi Arabia. He says that they are “intolerant of nonsense like the Rosary, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, New Year, Christmas cards etc”. At least he admits to “intolerance”. He also admits to ignorance, by placing Valentine’s Day and Halloween in his list of Christian nonsense!

 

Moeenuddeen has also objected to my reference to different Muslim sects and describing Dr Naik as a possible Wahabi. Subsequently the Times of India has also referred to Dr Naik as a Salafist Wahabi. We need to accept the diversity of the human race. Hence there are bound to be factions and sects in all religions – Hinduism, Christianity or Islam – God the Creator is both creative and innovative. We humans mint coins in billions, each indistinguishable from the other. God the Creator has produced trillions upon trillions of human beings, but no two have the same finger prints. That being so, they will quite naturally leave different foot prints on the sands of time.

 

Moeenuddeen, in his defence of Dr Naik, refers to his numerous “debates” with people of other religions. I have not seen these “debates”. However, religion is not something to be debated; wherein one seeks to be one up on the other. Inter religious interaction should be a dialogue, a humble listening to the other in a cordial atmosphere of searching for truth. In India we call this Satsang.

 

I would reiterate that Dr Naik and Peace TV are well within their rights to propagate the wonders and virtues of Islam. However, I strongly object to their divisive and derogatory approach to all other religions. If this does not stop one will be constrained to lodge complaints with the Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, and the British High Commissioner, Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi (as Naik’s address is shown as Birmingham, England).

 

Let us hope and pray that good sense will prevail on Dr Zakir Naik and Peace TV. May we all strive for peace, aman, shanti, shalom, without causing grave injury to others.

 

* chhotebhai (the writer) is a former National President of the All India Catholic Union
Chk this link for chhotebhai’s earlier piece on Peace TV
http://cmpaul.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/%e2%80%9cpeace-tv%e2%80%9d-spawning-strife/

From Hindu to Carmelite

 Radha Krishnan, a Hindu Brahman was my teacher of English and social studies in the 1970s, has converted to Catholicism and is now a Discalced Carmelite. Every day, she offers her life and her sufferings “for the world.”

Radha Krishnan is the fourth daughter of a devout Hindu family in the Brahmin caste of the “Iyengar.” She has an older sister and three brothers, all of them Hindu. When she taught at the Canossa convent in Mahim (Mumbai) from 1971-1972, everyone loved her because she was young, attractive, friendly. She was the envy of all the girls because she had beautiful black hair, very long, arranged in braids.

Over two years of teaching, in contact with the Canossian sisters, Radha felt a strong, constant calling to give her life to Jesus. After her conversion, she joined the Canossian sisters, but there as well she felt the call to live her communion with the Lord more deeply.

I met my former teacher a few days ago. She is no longer called Radha, but Sister Mary Joseph, and for more than 30 years has been living in the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites in Mumbai, in Andheri East.

Sister Mary Joseph radiates joy in every one of her words and actions; her joy makes her so luminous that she seems much younger than her 61 years. Here I transcribe the things that she told me. NC.

At the age of 24, after my degrees in the arts and also in education, I joined Canossa Convent as a teacher teaching English and social studies. At the convent run by the Canossa Daughters of Charity, I came in close contact with the religious nuns, at an age when most of my friends were getting married. I felt an urgent and incessant calling to a meeting with Jesus, my love for Jesus began growing and I felt a deep desire to know him, love him and serve him. I enjoyed my teaching these young teenage girls, but this calling to be with Jesus never faded. I ran away from home and I was baptized Radha Maria Krishnan, and joined the Cannosia order.

My family was completely shattered, I had brought shame and embarrassment on the family, my parents had to suffer humiliation from my relatives, being from a very traditional and high caste Brahmin Iyengar family, and now converting to Christianity was a very big blow to our family pride. My parents suffered, my elder sister was already married but she too had to bear the taunts and torments of our well meaning relatives. Her mother was a very religious person, whose morning began at dawn performing religious rituals and whose afternoons were spent reading sacred Hindu scripture.

But Jesus never fails his beloved, over the years my parents, especially my mother, were completely at peace with my vocation as a Christian and as a Carmelite nun. Both my parents have died, but completely at peace with me and my Christian vocation. My brothers and sister too, and their children are very happy and reconciled to my Christian vocation, now they are at peace, also my relatives too are now reconciled not only to my being a Catholic nun, but also the family is united in reconciliation. Occasionally they come to the monastery with their own children – this is a matter of immense joy for me. My Spouse (Jesus) takes care also of my affectivity. All of them are still Hindu.

After joining the Canossa convent, I was sent for further studies to obtain a master€ ¦’²s degree. However, academic studies left me with very little time for prayer – this left me unfulfilled, I felt restless, I had a deep desire to devote my day and night to being with Jesus, praying, meditating, sharing, doing everything, even living for Jesus – and all of this left a yearning within me. Then my calling to the cloistered life was discerned, I joined the cloistered in May of 1977, and these 31 years have been the happiest and most joyful years of my life.

Once, during recreation, I made a special request to be permitted to read the newspaper (as we do not have any outside source of daily news – like TV , radio or other media) and this was granted to me, So now, my superior and I read the daily newspaper and I am living and praying in the present reality.

My hours of prayer are spent praying for the current events and trends of modern society.

I suffer and pray, my calling today is: “Vicariously suffering for the world.”

I enter deeply into the suffering with my prayer, my prayer for the persecuted Church, the moral and ethical issues in the world, the attacks against life, the youth, the snares of temptations for the youth like drugs, pornography and such evils that exist, the breaking up of the family and also marriage, these are my deepest sufferings and prayer.

Orissa is close to my heart, as is every other instance where the basic human right of religious freedom is attempted to be snuffed out and snatched away. But the history of the Church is persecution strengthens faith.

India today is experiencing self-defence of religion. And we Christians need to live our lives in a way that will attract others.

I have great hope for India, and God has always intervened in the history of humankind and this will be fulfilled for our beloved India too. We have to make a radical change in our life. Live the Gospel in a radical way- love for God and love for our neighbour.

Love for Jesus conquers all.
Source: http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13816&geo=1&size=A

Return of the barbarians

Give them the credit.  The political credit. The RSS calls itself a cultural organisation, but does nothing but politics, including having the gall to remove LK Advani as president of the BJP on his meaningful remarks on Jinnah. It also does culture politics, among other things such as hate politics or organising low intensity and big intensity communal polarisations, often with a great deal of sectarian strife and universal tragedy, as several enquiry commission reports have decisively proved, from Bhagalpur to Bhiwandi. Considering its sinister role, the outfit has been banned thrice, and the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi was alleged to have been linked with the RSS at one time.

It is largely invisible but operates through hundreds of fronts and backlane outfits in the social, educational and political sectors, including the brazenly violent and extremist outfits like the VHP and the lumpen Bajrang Dal, the latter particularly mindless and bloodthirsty, as those famous pictures from the Gujarat genocide show so transparently, so proudly, and so graphically.

Communal riots are different from organised pogroms, or State-sponsored pogroms, like the Holocaust in Germany and Europe, or what happened in the Balkans in the recent past. It is general anarchy and bloody madness let loose across the caste, class and religious spectrum in the case of riots, which are also instigated by vested interests, including political actors. Organised pogroms or the State-sponsored ones are inevitably backed by the status quo, the police, the bureaucracy and the ruling party, because no public violence can continue if the State wishes to clamp down and stop it to restore law and order. However, as the dismal record in terms of crime and punishment shows in India, everything becomes a part of the twilight zone once the killings and rapes are over and done with. Because this becomes a collective perversion, a mass enactment, socially sanctioned, almost like war. So even when it has faces, catalysts, protagonists and actors, often, no one gets punished. This helps communal organisations and fascists to attract legitimacy and consolidate. The Sangh Parivar is a classical example of this historical pattern of coincidences.

Witness whatever happened to the Srikrishna Commission report on the Bombay pogrom of 1992-93, where key police figures and Shiv Sena politicians were named by the judge with impeccable credentials. The BJP-Shiv Sena regime dumped it as “anti-Hindu”; the Congress never moved an inch. The Babri Masjid was demolished by the Sangh Parivar under the able leadership of LK Advani, Vinay Katiar (earlier, a Bajrang Dal leader), Uma Bharti and sundry BJP/VHP leaders, with effective intervention from Shiv Sena cadre. What followed was communal violence across the nation.

Almost 16 years later, the Liberhan Commission, instituted on the demolition, has got yet another extension, while Advani, 81 plus, is being pitch-forked as the PM-in-waiting. Ditto with the 1984 Maliana-Hashimpura massacre of Muslims in Meerut reportedly at the hands of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, often accused of being overtly communal in its law enforcement operations. Or the November 1984 organised massacre of Sikhs in Delhi and elsewhere, including the murder of some army soldiers on trains.

In a scenario whereby the killers can repeatedly go scot free, the political class turns tacit accomplice or blind and deaf, and no justice arrives even after decades, communal fascism of all varieties becomes an obsessive ritual, a part of the social consciousness, integral to norms and conventions, immersed in the sense and sensibilities of everyday life. Even while simmering wounds cry angry tears.

Witness Babu Bajrangi, one of the accused in the Gujarat carnage, waxing eloquent on his brave deeds in the Tehelka tapes on the genocide. Witness Narendra Modi being eulogised by the corporate sector and a section of the media – (please see a vegetarian pink daily one day after he won this assembly elections, with several pictures of the great man on page after page, even he, reading that very newspaper, as if that newspaper has totally appropriated him and his glory.)

That is why this twilight zone of bomb blasts, massacres, gang-rapes and ravaged landscapes have become an internal discourse of our collective social sensibility, whereby justice is neither seen to be done nor is it ever hoped that it will be done. So what becomes of a society which loses all its sense of shame or sanity, sense or sensibility, justice and injustice? Where the murdered and the raped are eliminated from public consciousness. What becomes of a nation where the extremists in the margins become integral to mainstream political discourse? So why can’t Ratan Tata and corporate fat cats deal with the likes of Togadia, the Thackerays, and Bajrangi? So when the politics of morality has been effectively buried, how can massacres block economic and political relationships, and mass murderers not be eulogised by the media, corporates and political class?

Be it the terrorist, or the communal fascist, it requires more than human guts to kill people in cold blood; or gang-rape women as a public spectacle or burn children alive as an act of religious redemption, as several testimonies from Gujarat and Orissa have unfolded. It requires a steely barbarism, a trained mind which has totally internalised this doctrine of barbarism in good faith and conviction, which hates like an evangelical and ideological creed in itself, not making any distinctions between good and bad, human and inhuman, skin and eyes, hands and fingers, colour and sensibilities, ideas and feelings, gender or class, man or woman or child. Almost abysmally robotic, sinking in these depths of depravity and perversion, bereft of the littlest trace of either critical rationality or humanism, with absolutely no sense of history or aesthetics, anti-god, anti-human, anti-democracy, anti-secular pluralism, anti-tolerance, anti-woman, celebrating, for instance, the Gujarat carnage as a “successful experiment” – in the words of Pravin Togadia.

In that sense, what is the difference between the Taliban stoning a woman to death for “adultery” in a football stadium in Kabul, the Al Qaeda punishing girls who go to school in South Waziristan, or terrorists killing innocents (distorting Islam) – and the Hindutva brigade unleashing violence distorting Hinduism? Like the Ku Klux Klan, these retrograde groups have no religion or faith or god. All they have is the mindless energy of barbarism and hatred; governments and societies should treat all of them as barbarians – not fit for a civilised, democratic society. In contrast, when they are not treated as barbarians, they effectively destroy the middle ground, the Constitution, democracy, social tolerance and cohesion, feeding communal hate and viciousness against each other.

That is why, Togadia celebrated the Orissa carnage at Kandhamal, literally, physically, while others celebrated by killing people, ravaging homes, burning alive a Hindu woman caretaker of a Christian orphanage, and raping a nun in full public view, including the police as voyeuristic witness. Under the tacit patronage of the BJD-BJP regime in Orissa, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the man who is selling the mineral rich ecological hot spots of tribal interiors to big business and MNCs by hook or crook, through seduction or repression.

That is, subsidised big business, power politics and communal fascism working in tandem, like a cold symphony in slow motion, as in Gujarat and Orissa, even though Ratan Tata’s Nano will not run with human blood in Modiland, or the memory of the human blood as a spectacle on the streets. Because cars, like machines, don’t have either memory or conscience. Not even a People’s Car.

Surely, Tata has not seen Parzania, the true story of a sensitive Parsi couple whose child disappeared in the Gujarat carnage, in this case, a State-sponsored massacre. Surely, profit or capital has neither ideology nor guilt.

In fascist Germany several capitalists backed Adolf Hitler till the last. Even many rich Jews bought their freedom, even while millions were being “gas-chambered” in concentration camps, women were being raped outside the camps in Gestapo quarters, and children’s bodies were being used to makes soaps and shampoos. No wonder the founder fathers of the RSS and Hindutva outfits hailed the Nazis and the mass murders – “purging of the Jews”. Witness this profound and oft-quoted statement by Hindutva ideologue Guru Golwalkar: “To keep up the purity of the Race and its culture, Germany shocked the world by her purging the country of the Semitic races – the Jews. Race pride at its highest has been manifested here. Germany has also shown how well-nigh impossible it is for races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole, a good lesson for us in Hindusthan to learn and profit by.”

Predictably, these hydra-headed fronts operate most effectively under State patronage – the Gujarat carnage had the tacit support of the BJP-led NDA regime in Delhi, the Karnataka and Orissa mayhem against Christians was brazenly backed by the state governments, even while the ¡secular’ Congress-led UPA played footsie between a hard and soft State. This is because this entire family of fanatics and xenophobes, incestuous and ideological blood brothers (pracharaks in the RSS don’t marry, as if they have renounced the world), who manipulate the materialism of worldly life, politics and culture with relentless and infinite sustenance, only flourish under State patronage.

They are not martyrs or willing to sacrifice their bodies and lives for a “higher cause” – like revolutionaries of the past and present – something which makes them inherently hostile to the progressive greatness of Bhagat Singh, Ashfaqullah Khan, Khudiram Bose, Ramprasad Bismil, among others who died for the cause of the freedom struggle. (Bhagat Singh was an atheist and communist, and he opposed anarchist actions.) They are not even like the communists of the past, or the Naxalites of the present, whose hearts beat for the poor, who make sacrifices or die for a cause, chase an egalitarian dream of larger social justice and equality, though the methods or means adopted by the underground Maoists might not be acceptable to several progressive sections.

In that sense, you will not see the BJP/RSS and its octopus like fronts deeply concerned about atrocities on Dalits and adivasis, gender injustice, affirmative action for the extremely poor, low and backward castes, starvation deaths, farmer suicides, people’s resistance against SEZs, big dams, big mining projects, custody deaths, fake encounters, human rights violations, corruption, or the rights of the millions of poor who have been systematically crushed and betrayed by all political parties who back the neo-liberal predator, crony, casino capitalism. They care two hoots for these ¡Leftist’ and ¡civil society’ issues. All they think of is a civilisation agenda: the Akhand Hindu Rashtra of One People and One Culture. That is why, the “successful experiment” of the laboratory of Gujarat (and now Orissa and Karnataka) are just one step forward. Because the coup against a secular democracy can happen anytime.

No wonder they did not participate in the freedom struggle. They made no sacrifices. No wonder Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, among other stalwarts, were wary of them. No wonder they were chasing the politics of xenophobia, when others were being jailed and hanged in the anti-colonial struggle against the British. That is why, all these fake sankaracharyas, sadhus and sadhvis, now being accused of terror blasts driven by fanatic hate politics, are being openly linked with the BJP/RSS/VHP and miscellaneous fronts of the incestuous Sangh Parivar.

Source: http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2008/11/2424

Mother Teresa: Saint or Celebrity?

ROME — The Faculty of the Sciences of Communication organized a conference on Mother Teresa entitled: Mother Teresa – saint or celebrity. Albanian born Birmingham University professor Dr Gezim Alpion author of a book under the same title presented the lecture at the Universita’ Pontificia Salesiana (UPS) Rome, 20 November. About 100 students and professors from Rome Universities attended the two hour lecture in English language.

 Two Missionaries of Charity Sisters, a delegation of three Albanians including the Albanian Ambassador in Rome were present.

 ”I have been misjudged as an attacker of Mother Teresa,” said Gezim who claims to be a social scientist and spiritualist who does not subscribe to any particular religious label.

 ”There are two groups of people related to Mother Teresa: those who admire her uncritically, and those who criticize everything of Mother Teresa,” said Gezim posing himself as mediator of the two camps not prepared to meet each other.

 ”Mother Teresa is a complex person, more sophisticated than her attackers and hagiographers,” Gezim said insisting the need to have more in depth study, research and understanding of one of the most influential persons of the 20th century.

 In an age when media needs celebrities and celebrities need media, Mother Teresa reminded media persons that “I am not a social worker. What I do, I do it for Jesus,” warning them of the celebrity danger “never make me the person I am not”.

 Prof Gezim also provided an insight into two areas most Mother Teresa literatures ignore: first 18 years in Skopje, and the first 18 years in Kolkata with the Irish Loreto nuns.

 Gezim explored the significance of Mother Teresa to the mass media, to celebrity culture, to the church and to various political and national groups. He also highlighted the cultural and critical analysis of Mother Teresa, and of the way she and others created, promoted and censored her public image, in the context of the sociology of fame, media, religion and nationality.

Prof. Gezim currently director of Research Postgraduate Studies, Department of Sociology (Birmingham University) received a PhD from the University of Durham, UK, in 1997. His works include Vouchers (2001), Foreigner Complex (2002), If Only the Dead Could Listen (2006), and Encounters with Civilizations (2008). The Italian version of his book Mother Teresa: saint or celebrity was published recently by Salerno publishers. END

Way we conduct our anti-terror investigations are wrong

With every new terror attack, the same old script plays itself out: the usual suspects are rounded up, a terror group is named, a mastermind identified, and then the investigation seems to fizzle out, till the next bomb blast, and the same cycle starts all over again, and again. Is something fundamentally wrong with the way we conduct our anti-terror investigations?

NEW DELHI, Nov 25, 2008 6:13 pm: Age-old theories are in tatters, most experts are clueless and India’s war on terror has become complicated beyond recognition. In what clearly calls for an urgent effort to look freshly at the spate of bomb blasts in recent years, evidence is emerging that the investigating agencies may have been getting it all wrong. One clear indicator is that that many of the blasts blamed on Islamic terrorists may have been actually the handiwork of fanatic Hindu groups.

Several sources within the security establishment are beginning to admit that “deep-rooted biases” within the intelligence apparatus had prevented them from picking on “very clear clues” available after some of the major blasts. “We had clues that linked both the Samjhauta Express blast and the Ajmer Sharif bomb blast to Indore. But we premised our investigation around SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) and its activists, never bothering to even look at the fringe Hindu groups,” says a senior intelligence official, who has for some time been warning against the erosion in the secular character of intelligence agencies.

Within days of the February 18, 2007 blasts in the Samjhauta Express (running from Delhi to Lahore), investigators had picked up clear leads pointing towards Indore, he says. “By the first week of March we had established that the bombs that killed 68 people had been packed into suitcases bought in Indore, and its covers were also stitched in Indore,” says one of the intelligence officers involved in the investigations.

“We picked up SIMI activists, questioned many of them. We had reasons to suspect SIMI because Indore is known to be a stronghold of SIMI, ” he said. “But when we didn’t get any leads from those people (of SIMI) we should have broadened the scope of our investigations. We should have looked at other groups,” he admits. Had the investigators done that, many of the subsequent blasts could have been prevented, indicate the ongoing investigations into the group of alleged Hindu fanatics led by Lt Colonel Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and others.

Of the about dozen arrested in connection with the Malegaon blasts of this year, half have strong links to Indore, and Hindu extremist group Abhinav Bharat had an office there too. Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a former ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) national level leader and an accused in the Malegaon blasts, is a native of Indore.

Shivnarayan Kalsangra and Shyam Bhavarlal Sahu, who too have been arrested in the case, are also natives of Indore. Sameer Kulkarni, an Abhinav Bharat leader, had shifted his base to Indore in recent times. A few months after the February 2007 blast in Samjhauta Express came the blast in Ajmer Sharif durgah in October 2007.

Yet again, clear indicators emerged of Indore links. The bombs were packed in newspapers from Indore and Ujjain. Some of the newspapers were also traced to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. “All those trails went cold, or better to say we didn’t investigate them properly,” admits another senior officer who was involved in several blast investigations. “We still don’t know if the group led by Lt Col Purohit and Pragya Singh Thakur was behind the blasts in Samjhauata and Ajmer blasts. But professionally it was up to us to look at all sorts of extremist groupings in Indore, not just SIMI,” admits this officer. There are many more blasts of recent years which many credible investigators are not ready to blame on Islamic terrorists.

Among them are bomb blasts in Delhi’s Jama Masjid, and the earlier Malegaon blast of 2006 in which at least 38 people were killed. In the case of the latter, the local police so badly botched the investigation, arresting several local Muslims, that CBI, which took over the case later, failed to make headway. In Andhra Pradesh, the police rounded up several youngsters from the Muslim community after the Mecca Masjid blast on May 18, 2007. Last week, the state government admitted that these youth had been tortured and there was no evidence against them.

There are more startling facts emerging which show that the Hindu terror network could be more potent than what is now known. Investigators are now looking at some striking resemblances that are emerging between blasts in Mecca Masjid, the Jaipur blasts of May 2008, and a blast in a court in Hubli in May this year. They were all triggered using mobile phones and had striking similarities.

Investigators had blamed all of them on SIMI, and they had their reasons. But with evidence that the Hindu groups can carry out high intensity explosions, and that they have a wide network and funding, many of those who were looking only at terror groups such as HUJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami) and LET (Lashkar-e-Taiba), and at SIMI, are taking a second look at the entire scenario.

For many within the intelligence agencies, what is most frightening are not their failures, but the bigger challenge of competitive politics taking over or thwarting their professional investigations.

Already, there are many questioning the Congress-run state government of Maharashtra for overzealousness in the investigations into the Hindu groups, and the BJP is up in arms defending possible terrorists.

But the important issues of cruel interrogations, utter lack of respect for human rights, use of fake evidence, and motivated investigations, to say nothing of cavalier investigations are also important; these cannot be ignored no matter who is suspect.

The question of institutional biases, built-in or induced, is also critical. So far, the record of the investigating agencies has not been edifying and the tally of convictions is also poor. With the emergence of newer players on the terror scene, will the investigators now start looking at all the cases afresh?
Josy Joseph in DNA j_josy@dnaindia.net
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1206790&pageid=0

First Catholic University in India to be Inaugurated

GUWAHATI, Assam (SAR NEWS) – Don Bosco University (DBU) Guwahati, Assam, the first Catholic university set up under the new government legislation, will be inaugurated on December 6, 2008.

The earlier inaugural programme scheduled for October 31 was postponed due to the serial bomb blast that rocked Guwahati and left 81 people dead and over 200 people injured, October 30.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and four State ministers (Education, Health, Power and Social Welfare) will attend the function along with a galaxy of eminent civil and church personalities of the region.

“We are focusing on teaching, research and consultancy on three core areas: technology, service and social sectors with the declared objectives of working with cutting-edge technology, ensuring the employability of the graduates and their capacity to transform society,” says Vice-Chancellor-designate Dr. Stephen Mavely in an interview with Radio Vatican in the Vatican, November 26.

While Information Technology and Biotechnology dominate the Technology sector, Nursing, Pharmacology and Para-Medical, Psychology, Counseling, Management, Media, Teacher Education, Social Work and Rural Development are other subjects of the Service sector.

Teaching and research on Religion and Culture, Ethics, Governance and Tribal studies will be the forte at DBU as North East India has a concentration of over 200 distinct tribal groups.

 

Engineering Courses Started in August

The first constituent College of Don Bosco University, Don Bosco College of Engineering and Technology (DBCET), Airport Road, Azara, launched its engineering programmes in August 2008. The new campus, located 15 km from state capital Dispur, when completed will nestle in a 230 acre tea garden.

“Currently DBCET offers Engineering Courses in four streams – Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering and Electrical Engineering for 240 students. When fully operational, it will have a full complement of 1,500 students in various streams of engineering,” says DBU Registrar-designate Dr. Basil Koikara.

“We have now 60 boys and girls in the college hostel while DBCET bus, as well as city buses, and car pools bring students from the city and neighbouring towns,” adds Dr. Koikara.

“State-of-the-art, tastefully furnished computer lab with over 70 computers networked under Windows 2003 server and Linux Computing Centre with 30 Internet enabled computers to serve the day-to-day computing needs of students,” says Campus Ministry coordinator Salesian Sister Celine D’Cunha showing the language lab equipped with 30 student consoles, language lab software and digitised audio and video material to develop interactive language skills.

 

Don Bosco Background Story

“Don Bosco Society came to Northeast India 85 years ago and has 8 colleges and 118 high schools with dozens of formal and non-formal technical schools,” says DBU liaison officer Dr. Peter Paul Hauhnar.

Don Bosco in India is 100 years old and has some 5,000 Fathers, Brothers and Sisters running 27 colleges and over 100 technical schools.

 

e-mail contact: mavely@dbuniversity.in    www.dbuniversity.in

Photo caption: Dr Mavely making a presentation to Angelo Cardinal Bagnasco Archbishop of Genoa and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) at Don Bosco parish Sampierdarena (Genoa), 23 November. Photo by C.M. Paul

Bombs and bullets cannot destroy India – as long as its gates remain open

This atrocity was not homegrown. But if it leads to demonisation of the nation’s Muslims, the terrorists will have won. Shashi Tharoor in Kerala , guardian.co.uk, Friday November 28 2008 00.01 GMT , The Guardian, Friday November 28 2008

There is a savage irony to the fact that the unfolding horror in Mumbai began with terrorists docking near the Gateway of India. The magnificent arch, built in 1911 to welcome the King-Emperor, has ever since stood as a symbol of the openness of the city. Crowds flock around it, made up of foreign tourists and local yokels; touts hawk their wares; boats bob in the waters, offering cruises out to the open sea. The teeming throngs around it daily reflect India’s diversity, with Parsi gentlemen out for their evening constitutionals, Muslim women in burkas taking the sea air, Goan Catholic waiters enjoying a break from their duties at the stately Taj Mahal hotel, Hindus from every corner of the country chatting in a multitude of tongues. Today, ringed by police barricades, the Gateway of India – and gateway to India’s soul – is barred, mute testimony to the latest assault on the country’s pluralist democracy.

The terrorists knew exactly what they were doing. Theirs was an attack on India’s financial nerve-centre and commercial capital, a city emblematic of the country’s energetic thrust into the 21st century. They struck at symbols of the prosperity that was making the Indian model so attractive to the globalising world – luxury hotels, a swish cafe, an apartment house favoured by foreigners. The terrorists also sought to polarise Indian society by claiming to be acting to redress the grievances of India’s Muslims. And by singling out Britons, Americans and Israelis, they demonstrated that their brand of Islamist fanaticism is anchored less in the absolutism of pure faith than in the geopolitics of hate.

Today, the platitudes flow like blood. Terrorism is unacceptable; the terrorists are cowards; the world stands united in unreserved condemnation of this latest atrocity. Commentators in America trip over themselves to pronounce this night and day of carnage India’s 9/11. But India has endured many attempted 9/11s, notably a ferocious assault on its national parliament in December 2001 that nearly led to all-out war against the assailants’ presumed sponsors, Pakistan. This year alone, terrorist bombs have taken lives in Jaipur, in Ahmedabad, in Delhi, and several different places on one searing day in Assam. Jaipur is the lodestar of Indian tourism to Rajasthan; Ahmedabad is the primary city of Gujarat, the state that is a poster child for India’s development; Delhi is the political capital and window to the world; Assam was logistically convenient for terrorists from across a porous border. Mumbai combined all the four elements of its precursors: a grand slam.

Indians have learned to endure the unspeakable horrors of terrorist violence ever since malign men in Pakistan concluded it was cheaper and more effective to bleed India to death than to attempt to defeat it in conventional war. Attack after attack has been proven to have been financed, equipped and guided from across the border, the most recent being the suicide-bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, an action publicly traced by American intelligence to Islamabad’s dreaded military special-ops agency, the ISI.

The risible attempt to claim the Mumbai killings in the name of the “Deccan Mujahideen” merely confirms that wherever the killers are from, it is not the Deccan. The Deccan lies inland from Mumbai; one does not need to sail the waters of the Arabian Sea to get to the city from there. In its meticulous planning and military precision, the assault on Mumbai bore no trace of what its promoters tried to suggest it was – a spontaneous eruption by angry young Indian Muslims. This horror was not homegrown.

The Islamist extremism nurtured by a succession of military rulers of Pakistan has now come to haunt its well-intentioned but lamentably weak civilian government. The militancy once sponsored by its predecessors now threatens to abort Pakistan’s sputtering democracy and seeks to engulf India in its flames. There has never been a stronger case for firm and united action by the governments of both India and Pakistan to cauterise the cancer in their midst.

India is a land of great resilience that has learned, over arduous millenniums, to cope with tragedy. Bombs and bullets alone cannot destroy it, because Indians will pick their way through the rubble and carry on as they have done throughout history. But what can destroy India is a change in the spirit of its people, away from the pluralism and coexistence that has been our greatest strength. The prime minister’s call for calm and restraint in the face of murderous rampage is vital. If these tragic events lead to the demonisation of the Muslims of India, the terrorists will have won. For India to be India, its gateway – to the multiple Indias within, and the heaving seas without – must always remain open.

• Shashi Tharoor is a former UN under-secretary general and author of The Elephant, the Tiger & the Cell Phone www. shashitharoor.com
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/28/mumbai-terror-attacks-india-islam

 

Where is the self-proclaimed savior of Mumbai?

EVEN AS Mumbai kept burning for last three days, Raj Thackeray, the patron saint, who claims to have special rights to protect the interests of the Maximum city ‘Mumbai’ has kept surprisingly silent.

 

His stand against the migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh over protecting the interests of the Mumbaikars has forced people to ask questions.

 

Where is Raj Thackeray and his `brave’ Sena? Tell him that 200 NSG commandos who fought to rescue the captives or lay down their life were not Marathi Manoos, they were sent from Delhi and the group was comprised of all North Indians and South Indians, so the patron saint could hide peacefully under his bed in Shivaji Park.

 

What the savior of Marathi Pride Has been doing in last 66 hours. Taking a dig at the MNS chief Thackeray, who has made life very difficult for the huge migrant population in Mumbai, this questions makes it very clear that people want an answer from him.

 

Thackeray should have come out with his men to take on the terrorists. Leaders like Thackeray can torment only innocent and poor people but when the real challenge comes up they just vanish from the scene. Why he couldn’t come out of the hibernation and tell the people what he has been doing for the last three days as Mumbai burnt. Why are they capable of beating and threatening only innocent people?”

 

Thackeray is especially known for his constant tirade against North Indians residing in Maharashtra. He has led several “violent” movements to ensure Mumbai is freed from North Indians.

 

The anger is palpable in Mumbai and across the country as well and it is not against Thackeray alone but all the rabble rousing politicians, who play with sentiments of the people.

 

All Indian citizens should stand together to get rid of this kind of bloody politicians. We need not worry about those who have come through boat, but must worry about those who have come from vote. Vande Mataram!’  Divisive politics seems to be thriving even in the midst of the terror attack.

 

Jai Hind

Christian Response to the Recent Hindutva Violence

The recent happenings in Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Tamilnadu have made it clear that it is all a well organized and preplanned scheme of the Hinutva people to terrorize Christians, the service loving community and to create a fear-psychosis among our rank and file.

 

Our Response so far has been the following:

 1. Our leaders have written pastoral letters or allotted a paragraph or two in the Diocesan News bulletins. Or our diocesan magazines have devoted a page or two to reporting of it. But, has it made any dint anywhere? They are needed, of course, but with concrete proposals of action!

 

2. Most of our parishes/institutions have stepped up security measures in our premises. But, how long can we go on in this way? If Indira Gandhi could be killed by her own security man, if a Lt.Col. PS Purohit and many others in the army can be wooed by Hindutva ideology, can we be sure of the loyalty of the poor security men indefinitely?

 

3. Some have urged the political leadership at the Centre to come to our rescue. The BJP has already attributed ulterior motives to the Central Govt. and is manipulating it for gathering ’sympathy votes’ in the forthcoming election.

 

4. Some take refuge in the Constitutional provisions. But, there are many clandestine moves to change the Constitution. Even the Supreme Court nowadays is not much in favour of the minority clauses.

 

5. Enthusiastically we closed down our institutions for a day. But we are now worried at the fact that we have been asked to give an explanation for it.

 

6. Taking to techniques of violence is incompatible with our basic tenets of faith like ‘Non-retaliation’ ‘Love of even the enemy’  ‘forgiveness’ ‘judge not’ ’show the other cheek’ which are to be lived out in all spheres of life, including the socio- political.  

 

How then could we make our protest pointed, simple, direct, but at the same time befitting our Christian call?  Here are a few proposals for consideration.

 

1. All the Christians constitute the ‘one body’ of Christ. If so, we, from the rest of India, should have flocked to the troubled spots and stood shoulder to shoulder to the victims of carnage. At least the office bearers of the CBCI and NCCI could have gone there, risking their life, just as the Master stood in solidarity with the woman in front of the stone-throwing crowd of self-conceited men, with a view to liberating the sister from what appeared to be a sure death. 

 

2. A more practical measure would be to take to vicarious suffering on ourselves. My close friend from a Reformed Church reports that when he broke his leg in an accident, his sister resolved not to eat her lunch and went on a chain of prayers, till he could stand on his toes. Likewise, why should not all the Christians in India individually opt for some form of fasting – prayer for the rehabilitation of the victims.  Do we feel on our elbow the hurt of the lethal weapons that attacked them in Kandhamal?  Do we endure the panting of lungs and palpitation of heart as they were running for life into hides? Do we experience in our stomach the pinch of hunger they are continuing to have in jungles?

 

3. An Advocate friend has suggested stopping of all external celebration of Christmas this year. Why not keep our celebrations only to Mass and family affair? If all our laity could resolve to buy no new clothes, no cakes, no greeting cards, no liquours, no dances, and forego all decoration of the houses/ Churches, the money we save thereby can be used to help the hapless Christians in rebuilding their houses and churches. Even serial lights should not be used. The stars of this Christmas could be in black colour?

 

4. If all our educational institutions make a bold move in favour of an indefinite closure, it will affect the majority community.  It will also be an effective way of expressing our pain to the nation. More concretely, the managements of English medium schools can resolve to boycott the text books published by communal minded firms. Almost the whole the commercial class today is in support of the BJP ideology. Therefore it will hurt them. If the Blacks in America succeeded in their protest against the Whites by simply boycotting their buses, and if the Philippinos could overthrow their ruler primarily by boycotting the Coco Cola, why not we apply the same technique the efficacy of which was proved in this land already during the Freedom Struggle?

 

5. The issue of ‘forced conversion’ has again been raised to justify their violence. It is the strategy of the Hindutva ideology to stigmatize us as their enemies, and to eliminate us from Hindu Rashtra the establishment of which is their ultimate aim. Why should we get trapped into their strategy? Vat II has clearly denounced conversions by inducements or force (Cf. DH. Nos 4, 10). The WCC also has come out with similar pronouncements. Why not therefore make it clear to the public the stand of the mainline Churches.  In fact the present day understanding of Mission is not necessarily to convert people from one boundary to another. Conversion is work of God. The true mission is, among other things, to stand by the side of the poor and the marginalized through education, health, housing and employment programmes.

 

6. It is only the splinter groups like the Assembly of God, the Pentecostals and New Life Movements that are busy converting people with great vigour. Therefore, there is no fighting shy of denouncing them as not belonging to the mainstream churches and establish dialogue with well-meaning Hindus. If they find any case of ‘forced conversion’ let them tackle it individually and legally? If otherwise, the personal right of the genuine individual searcher or of a group as a whole is protected by the Constitutional right as well as a Human right.

 

7. Our new missionary approach and particularly our conscientization programmes have in turn brought about a lot of awareness and awakening among the vulnerable sections of society. Hence they are demanding their rights. Evidently this affects the establishment. So they target us even through violence. In such a context, we need to re-state our resolve to continue the services in a re-doubled vigour towards the realization of God’s reign.  No going back at all. If need be, we will seal it with martyrdom joyfully and more meaningfully for the cause of promotion God’s reign.

 

8. A deeper issue is to be clear about the real Enemy. It is natural for us to brand Bajrang Dal youth or the RSS cadre or the BJP men as our enemies. But from a deeper point of view the actual clash is between good and bad, love and hate, justice and prejudice, right and wrong? It is the hatred, misunderstanding and the prejudice that inflict them to behave as our enemy.  It is imperative then that we deny every material comfort to us and go down on our knees for prayer, a prayer that ends only with redemption. We shall pray in a manner that first our hearts are filled with love for those erring brethren and then their heart too will be inflamed with the same energy. We shall not stop praying until then. 

 

9. To communicate our solidarity with our suffering brethren and concern for the erring ones, all our churches in the country can go for a mourning week of fasting and prayer, led by Bishops, priests, pastors, brothers and sisters in every district head-quarters and major towns. If nearly two hundred Catholic Bishops and about four hundred bishops among the reformed churches, and over a lakh of Religious personnel in India go for an open-air prayer, in their own respective places all over the country, it will drive the message straight into the mind of the erring brethren. It will also purify us of the dirt in our heart and the mind. It can be Christmas Octave of 2008 itself. Or if more time is required it can be during the Lenten Season 2009. Let us decide upon it and observe it simultaneously.  It would be a clear witness of our immense moral potency, our universal love and of God’s wondrous touch of purification.

 

10. Let us be clear that the violence of the Hindutva is not espoused by all Hindus. They are still peace loving, tolerant, harmony-promoting. They are really appreciative of the yeoman service that we have been rendering to the Indian society. Therefore it is important not to antagonize the public. Rather it is all the more necessary to establish dialogue at the grassroots, and promote popular religiosity in the true sense of spreading God’s reign.  No doubt we need to purify and perfect the elements that are impure and imperfect in those religions. Equally it will be with reference to our religion also. This will be a sure way of counter acting to the serious and systematic efforts the RSS is making to bias the masses against us. All the cadres of society, even the professionals like lawyers and policemen, uneducated youths and students, teachers, housewives are being wooed into the Hindutva ideology, all in the name of protecting their religion. Even the Gandhian circles today are no exception to the RSS venom. Hence, all the more reason for us to be seriously involved in interreligious dialogue.

 

11. Hindutva is a political theory advocated only by those who are politically motivated to establish Hindu Nationalism, more specifically Brahmininc Hegemony. Their agenda includes abandoning of democracy, secularism, human rights, change of secular and liberal Constitution. The well informed Hindus like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and Dr. Ambedkar knew their ultimate aim and were vehemently critical of it. That is why an RSS man killed Gandhiji. Mr. L.K. advani dubs Nehru’s secularism as pseudo-secularism. BJP men oppose Dalit movement as anti-national. It is unfortunate that Ambedkarites view Gandhi as their enemy. But actually the Bhraminic hegemony is the common enemy of both Gandhites and Ambedkarites. We Christians could play a key role in bringing about dialogue between them and enable them together to fight against the common enemy. We should join hands with all secular minded people and promote the civil society so as to fight for national cause of democracy, secularism, and humanism and human rights. We should be catalysts in the formation of a united front to a fight against the fascist force of Hindutva and safeguard the national cause of Justice, secularism, freedom, fraternity and liberty.

 

Conclusion

Let us then take the recent happenings of the Hindutva violence as the signs of the time to discern our call with clarity. Let this crisis be an opportunity for concrete and concerted action in favour of spreading the Reign of God.  

Dr. A. Pushparajan  anjelpura@gmail.com

Death For 11 while 12 Sentenced To Life In Jail for Bombing Churches

BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) – Eleven persons belonging to a fundamentalist outfit were awarded death sentence by a special court here, November 29, in cases relating to serial bomb blasts in churches across Karnataka June-July 2000.

The court also sentenced12 persons to life imprisonment and acquitted four others – all belonging to the banned Deendar Channabasaveshwara Anjuman outfit founded in Karnataka with an aim to Islamise India.

The 34^th Additional City Civil and Session Judge, S.M. Shivanagoudar, announced the quantum of sentence on the Deendar men who were convicted, November 11.

Special public prosecutor, H.N. Nilogal, said: “The sentence will definitely convey a tough message to terror elements who are seeking to destabilise the country. This is a historic judgment and it highlights the efficiency of the police force.”

Four police officers, M.B. Appanna, G.R. Hiremath, B. Mahantesh and V.S. D’Souza, were involved in the investigation. Twenty-seven Anjuman men from Bangalore, Hyderabad and Hubli were arrested in the cases.

The activists sentenced to death are Mohammad Ibrahim, Sheikh Hasham Ali, Hasnuzama, Abdul Rehaman Sait, Amanath Hussain Mulla, Mohammad Sharfuddin, Syed Muneerudin Mulla, Mohammad Akhil Ahmed, Ijahar Baig, Syed Abbas Ali and Mohammad Khalid Choudhary.

The 12 sentenced to “remain in jail till their death” are Mohammad Farook Ali, Mohammad Siddiqi, Abdul Habeeb, Shamshuzama, Sheikh Fardin Vali, Syed Abdul Khader Zilani, Mohammad Ghiyasuddin, Meerasab Koujalagi, Rishi Hiremath, Basheer Ahmed, Mohammad Hussain and Sangli Basha.

Some of the accused were nabbed while escaping in a car after carrying out a blast in Sts. Peter and Paul Church at Jagjivanram Nagar. This led to the arrest of others by the Corps of Detectives, which probed the case. They were also accused of involvement in similar blast cases in Andhra Pradesh and Goa.

The serial explosions that rocked churches in Jagjivanram Nagar, Magadi Road, Bangalore, Keshwapur in Hubli and Wadi in Gulbarga district, had created panic among people.

 

Mission Deendar Anjuman

The Deendar Channabasaveshwara Anjuman sect was founded in 1924 at Bellampet in Gulbarga district of Karnataka State. For more than seven decades, the sect maintained low-profile, till it gained notoriety after masterminding explosions in 13 places of worship in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa in 2000.

This Sufi sect, which preaches that Islam is a mixture of local cultures, religions and traditions, was founded by Deendar Channabasaveshwara Siddiqui.

His son Syed Zia-ul-Hassan is alleged to have masterminded the blasts. He is now the spiritual head of the outfit. Hassan, who is reportedly based in Peshawar, Pakistan, is also alleged to have floated a terrorist outfit named the Jamaat-e-Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan.

The Deendar headquarters is located in Hyderabad, where they have their own colony, including a mosque and a madrassa.

The present chief of the sect is Sayyid Imam, who presides over a team of approximately 100 muballighs or missionaries.

According to Deendar Anjuman, or Religious Association, Islam is the only true global religion and Mohammed the final prophet whose teachings “stand the test of time and space”.

The sect interprets Islam as the logical conclusion of the spiritual beliefs of all ‘true Hindus’. Even while it claims that all religions are equal, Anjuman cadres believe that Islam is “superior” and all other religions either begin from there or merge with it and are therefore ‘incomplete’. The mission of the Anjuman is Islamisation of India.

Alternative to current theory of ’spontaneous reaction’*

When I phoned Swami Agnivesh to invite him for an inter-religious memorial service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi as we normally do, his response was, “though I like you having such memorial services, I would want you to have a more radical response to such things, since our politicians and bureaucrats have all failed us miserably…”

 

Swami Agnivesh reflected the churning going on in my own mind which is now being voiced by millions of ordinary citizens against politicians and bureaucrats. The spontaneous reaction of the public against the politicians has been outrageous, though not violent.

 

One needs to only look at how the father of the late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan turned the Chief Minister of Kerala Mr. Achuthanandan out of his house and refused to meet him. Similarly the wife of Mr. Hemant Karkare, Kavita and his kin who clearly expressed that they did not wish to meet anyone when Narendra Modi’s protocol officer contacted them, as he had constantly criticized Mr. Karkare for his investigation into the Malegaon blasts and things connected with that.

 

The public is also simply wild at the statement of the Maharashtra Home Minister Mr. R. R. Patil who made light of the whole thing by saying, “in big cities such small things do happen”, not to mention about the ‘terror tourism’ by the Chief Minister Deshmukh who went to see Taj Mahal Hotel with his son and Ramgopal Verma. One hopes that such outrageous ’spontaneous reaction’ from the public will ultimately change things in politics and in our society.

 

It is good to recall at this time that ever since the Late Rajiv Gandhi made the statement after the assassination of the then Prime Minister and his mother Mrs. Indira Gandhi saying, “when a big tree falls the earth around it is bound to shake”, the theory of ’spontaneous reaction’ as mass violence in return for such occurrences have got a legitimacy. So whether in the recent past it is at the arrest of Raj Thackery in Mumbai when the Shiv Sainiks went on a rampage in a bout of “spontaneous reaction”, burning up buses, taxis and beating up north Indians or Narendra Modi infamously stating, “every action has an equal and opposite reaction” after the burning of S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express in February 2002 at Godhra, following which thousands of Muslims were brutally killed and their properties destroyed or indeed the ’spontaneous reaction’ in August 2008 after the brutal killing of Swami Laxmananda Sarswati in Jalaspetta ashram at the hands of the Maoists, they all seem to be justified by the perpetrators of inhuman violence committed against their own brothers and sisters. It appears that human lives, their houses or public property have absolutely no value as compared to the violent reaction, mostly instigated by one leader or a handful of them for their own political advantage. And quite often the police and other law enforcing agencies are just mute spectators and sometimes even collaborators in the crime.

 

Are we, as a society becoming more violent day by day or “have we”, in the words of German philosophers, Adorno and Horkheimer, “reached the end of reason”, as they wrote in their “Dialectic of Enlightenment”, while analyzing the German society at the height of Nazi uprising in the Germany of 1930s? The terrorists’ attacks are certainly mindless in every sense.

 

Most, if not all, the sane citizens of our country are deeply pained at instances of such total insanity. A civilized society like ours certainly does not approve of killing innocent people.

 

Nearly ten years ago, when Graham Staines and his two little sons were burnt alive by Dara Singh and his companions in the dead of the night, no one from the group of those he had served for over thirty five years took up arms to settle scores with those who had committed, what the then President of India, Mr. K. R. Narayanan had described as “an incident to be assigned to the dark pages of history”.

 

His wife Gladys Staines stunned the world by her ’spontaneous reaction’ then. Hours after receiving the heartbreaking news of her husband and two sons burnt alive, she stood before the world and declared, “I forgive those who killed my husband and my two sons”.  It was hard to believe what our ears heard. Similarly the late Pope John Paul II went to meet the person who had attempted to kill him at St. Peter’s Square – in his prison cell to offer him forgiveness and to pray with him. Also nearly 75 years ago in the undivided India, when thieves stole some cows from Gurudwara Tikana Sahib near Faislabad, now in Pakistan, and when the devotees urged Baba Sahib Dayal, the administrator of the Gurudwara that they would beat up the thieves who were camping a few miles away and bring back the cows, Baba Sahib Dayal seems to have told them, “they were probably in greater need of the cows, so please give the calves to them too…”.

 

Hasn’t Mahatma Gandhi, about whom Albert Einstein once said, “Future generations will scarcely believe that such a man as this walked the earth…”, taught us the path of non-violence through which he won the greatest victory against a powerful empire. He would go on indefinite fasts to make a point. He never wavered from the path of truth. In fact for him, Truth was God. Was his not a ’spontaneous reaction’, that some of our countrymen could emulate?

 

The Mumbai terrorist attacks and a different type of spontaneous reaction of the public against the shameless politicians shows that it is high time that the citizens of this country rise up to question seriously the theory of violent ’spontaneous reaction’ and seek alternate ways of expressing their anger, one which would promote lasting peace and change things for the better in our public and private life.
* Dr Dominic Emmanuel, 2nd Dec 2008, Asian Age’ & ‘Deccan Chronicle’.

“I’ll be glad if pope comes on YouTube,” says Archbishop Celli

“I’ll be glad if the pope comes on YouTube,” says Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications speaking to a group of 20 communications professors and doctoral students at Rome’s Pontifical Salesian University Faculty for Social Communications, 1 December.

“Don’t be afraid of the reality of the means of communications,” says archbishop Celli explaining the need to be engaged in media ministry., who comes from Vatican Diplomatic Corps.

“We are not ‘born digital’ as the young people of today. Though people of my age are imported into the digital world, we need to present the Gospel message in a meaningful way using technologies of today,” says 67-year old Italian born prelate

 “It is my endeavour to have close collaboration with academic centres and listen to the deans of communication faculties and the bishops during their ad limina visits on the actual problems connected with Church and daily life issues,” says the bishop hailing from Rimini the native town of Italian movie legend Federico Fellini (1920-1993).

“We need to form Missionary Teams for Social Communications,” said the bishop calling on doctoral students and faculty to take turns as a practical step to train 100 young media workers from 8 countries of the AMACEA group of East Africa over a three year period.

The Message for the 43rd World Day of Social Communications due to be published on 24 January 2009, Feast of St. Francis of Sales, patron of journalists rightly coveys the practical concept of media for relationship and dialogue. The message reads: “New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.”

Archbishop Celli was secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See before he replaced Archbishop John Foley who, after 23 years at the head of the Council, was named pro-grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, June 2007. For his diplomatic efforts to improve dialogue between the Holy See and countries like China and Vietnam, Abp Celli was awarded the “Freindadametz 2005″ prize. He also played a decisive role in launching the Vatican’s Web site in 1997. CMP

Media Shallowness Exposed

You must have talked a lot and listened to a lot about the attacks in Mumbai. Is it possible to look critically at what has happened in Mumbai?

 

who were focused?

who were not focused?

who were denied any focus?

who will never be focused?

 

The state of our news reporters! Have we ever compared our news reporters  with other International ones? their critical analysis of the issue and the way they appear? Who are news reporters of our country? their mind set? their commitment to Human Rights! to the poor?

 

Was the issue properly handled

by the media?

by the politicians?

by the governments?

 

Was the issue of Taj and Oberoi more focused than the loss of people?

Why not much was shown nor discussed on the death of so many people in the Railway station? Which politician went to meet them?

 

Who are the terrorists?

which terrorists were not caught? 

which terrorists will never be caught?

 

Many politicians at the centre and states are thrown away for their inactivity.

Why this did not happen when…

- thousands of farmers committed suicide?

 - thousands of innocents chased away from their homes and hundreds tortured in Orissa?

- thousands tortured everyday due to discrimination, domestic  violence etc.

 

Every life is precious and everyone has a right to live. But Mumbai experience seems to be giving us new lessons to learn… 

 

On the one side, politicians are playing their game of blaming each other! Media has taken a centre stage. They were more important than the news itself. We have learnt the shallowness of our media. There were familiar with Taj and Oberoi but not with the Railway stations. That is where they frequented for many press meets! They were more interested in creating sensational news and centring on themselves. (We are the first ones to reach here, ours is the exclusive report).

 

Nithiya ofm.cap
Justice and Peace Commission

Israelis choke 125 year old Salesian winery in Bethlehem*

“Churches in the Holy Land and in Europe are facing a Christmas without their preferred Cremisan altar wine because Israeli soldiers are refusing to allow trucks transporting the wine from Bethlehem to enter Israel. Middle East Online reports the wine is made by the Salesians of Don Bosco, at the Cremisan winery in Beit Jala, a suburb of Bethlehem. The Salesians have been producing the wine for the past 125 years as a direct means of support for their pastoral and educational work among the poor of Bethlehem and to provide a livelihood for many local Palestinian families.
    Now, for the first time in more than 100 years, the churches and religious establishments in Jerusalem, Nazareth and other parts of Israel are being deprived of Cremisan wine, Middle East Online says.
    Christian hotels and pilgrim houses in Israel are now being forced to buy Israeli wine. Because wines for export are shipped through the Israeli port of Haifa, no export to the UK and Europe has been possible for several months. Christians in the Holy Land and abroad buy the wine not just for its quality but because its purchase assists the economy of Bethlehem, which has been devastated by the drop in pilgrim numbers as result of the political troubles in recent years.
    Cremisan began to export to the UK in 2006 through a not-for-profit company, 5th Gospel Retreats, and to Germany through Cremisan Germany. The majority of sales are of altar wine which is a pure, unadulterated wine certified for celebration of the Mass by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. It is sold principally by mail order and delivered in the UK to an increasing number of churches and religious establishments.
    This is the latest obstacle in a series of increasing difficulties faced by the winery this year. Supplies of glass bottles have been held up as well as several truckloads of freshly harvested grapes, thus rendering them useless for wine production. All lorries and vans to and from Cremisan have been forced to travel south to the checkpoint at Hebron, such that a journey to Jerusalem of 10 minutes has become a journey of at least 6 hours, including waiting at the checkpoint followed by security checks, with no certainty as to whether permission to pass would be granted.
    During 2008 the path of the Israeli Separation Wall was extended to include the Cremisan vineyards. Once completed, the wall will sever Cremisan from the Bethlehem villages where all the workers live, allowing entry to the winery only through a new checkpoint. The Salesians are currently negotiating for their staff to be allowed permits to work so that they do not lose their livelihoods and the winery will not lose its skilled workforce.
    There is now no Cremisan altar wine available for UK churches, including both Catholic and Anglican parishes. In October Fr Franco Ronzani, Rector and Director of Cremisan, sent a letter of explanation and thanks to the UK clergy for their continued support, expecting the shipments to be made in November. When the news finally came through two weeks ago that the wine was not being allowed through the checkpoint, 5th Gospel Retreats immediately informed the clergy why their wine would not arrive as promised in time for Christmas. The response from the clergy was one of sadness and concern at the treatment of the Salesians and their wine. They are asking 5th Gospel retreats to make representations to the Israeli Embassy and the British Government, as well as to the authorities of the Catholic and Anglican Churches in both the UK and Jerusalem”.

* austraLasia #2302

Orissa Christians forced to leave relief camps

Victims of anti-Christian violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district are being forced to return to their villages by the state administration, a local Christian body claimed.

Kandhamal Christian Jankalyan Samaj (KCJS) alleged at a media conference that the administration has been forcing people to leave the relief camps even when little has been done to assist the reconstruction or repairing of their homes.

They lamented that people still feel “insecure” in their villages, even three months after violence erupted on August 23.

Moreover, continual threats from Hindu fundamentalists demanding “re-conversions to Hinduism” have frightened Christians, who are unwilling to return, they say.

KCJS Spokesman N Dinabandhu claimed that police has yet to arrest the culprits involved in the murder of people at Tiangia village which recorded at least nine killings. “Under such situation, how can people return to their villages?” he said.
Last week, the Evangelical Fellowship of India reported that suspected Hindu extremists attacked a Christian office and set ablaze their vehicle in Orissa, India.

“The assailants stormed the India Gospel Outreach and Social Action (IGOSA) office and assaulted the director Rev Niranjan Bardha before completely burning down the organisation vehicle,” its statement said.

Also, Christian Today learned that a woman identified as Lalita Digal, 45, was murdered on November 25 in Dobali village, Kandhamal district.

“The Christian woman who was staying in the relief camp went to the village to harvest the paddy on November 21. She was staying at her friend’s place, while she was allegedly dragged out from the house and murdered,” a source told Christian Today.

Another victim, Leunsio Digal, died due to lack of proper medication in the Daringbadi camp on November 24. He had an unattended fever for a week. Digal was a catechist for 25 years under Simonbadi parish, Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

Relief camps in the district lack all basic amenities, including pure drinking water. While no medical doctors are available round-the-clock, pharmacists are treating patients.

Christian leaders say violence in Orissa continues unabated as more pastors and churches fall victim to the “false allegations of forced conversions”.

Church leaders have demanded a stop to the upcoming bandh, a form of protest or strike, by Hindu groups on Christmas Day. They say the bandh is aimed at Christians and raised concerns that it will trigger fresh violence on its community. They met with Union Ministers in Orissa and requested in a memorandum that the bandh be declared illegal.

Demanding adequate security for Christian worship places and institutions, the Christian leaders also asked for the halt of forced re-conversions occurring in Kandhamal region.

They urged the state to punish those people or organisations involved in such actions.

Violence erupted on Christians in Orissa on August 23 with the assassination of a Hindu leader. Ignoring claims of responsibility by the Maoists, Hindu fundamentalists accused Christians for the slaying of the Swami and four of his aides.
Source: Dibin Samuel, (2 Dec.)
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.forced.to.leave.relief.camps.group.says/22033.htm

Late Prime Minister V.P. Singh’s interaction with Christian Community*

On the night of 26^th November the earth quaked as Mumbai rocked to the sounds of terrorist gunfire.  Some years ago, when Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31^st October 1984, the ensuing anti-Sikh riots were likened to the earth shaking when a giant tree fell.  This naiveté came from none other than Indira’s son, and future Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.

Rajiv, who was then a green horn in politics, was overnight transformed into the mighty Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy.  He too fell from grace in an earth shaking thud, when he was dislodged at the hustings in 1989 by his former aide, Vishwanath Pratap Singh (VP).

Now, while the Mumbai fire raged, VP went to his Maker on the 27^th morning.  There was no sound, nor ripple; perhaps because media attention was riveted to the carnage in Mumbai.  Or was it because the really great come and go quietly?

For most of the educated chatteratti VP was an enigma – a paradox, a contradiction in terms.  Was he Mr. Clean, or a schemer?  Was he the Raja of Manda (near Allahabad), or the Messiah of the downtrodden?  Was he a political maverick, or a deeply principled person?  Or was he like an enema – an old fashioned treatment for flushing out what is not wanted and causes unbearable distensions in the stomach?

Being a fellow Upite I have followed VP’s political career very closely, from the time he became the Chief Minister of U,P, about 30 years ago.  More importantly, when I was elected National President of the All India Catholic Union (AICU) in May 1990, VP was the Prime Minister.  Almost immediately after my election I was sucked into a political maelstrom following the rape of nuns in Gajraula in July that year.

And so it came to pass that I met VP thrice, in quick succession – to be precise on the 2^nd, 11^th and 17^th August, 1990.  I was privileged to meet this Prime Minister 3 times within just two weeks.  All three meetings left an indelible mark on me.

My first encounter was on the 2^nd August. I received a frantic phone call from Msgr Lucio da Viega Coutinho, the Deputy Secretary General of the CBCI.  He wanted me to rush to Delhi to lead the protest rally at the Boat Club lawns, and to speak in chaste Hindi.  I did.  We then proceeded to the PM’s house, where a select delegation of 14 persons was allowed in (Margaret Alva was livid that she had been excluded).  VP was then having a meeting of his Cabinet at his residence.  It was in that meeting that he had kicked out his troublesome Deputy Prime Minister, Devilal.

Despite such an important Cabinet meeting, VP left it to meet our delegation.  He could easily have said, “I am busy, don’t disturb.  Two women getting raped is no big deal, to merit the PM’s attention.”  But VP was a man of great sensitivity.  He left the Cabinet meeting to receive us in an ante chamber.  He made no excuses.  In our presence he called up Mulayam Singh Yadav, then Chief Minister of U.P., and told him in no uncertain terms that the convent in Gajraula should be protected and the case thoroughly investigated.

I then made a small intervention in Hindi.  Immediately his ears picked up, hearing his own dialect of Hindi.  I told him about one of his party’s MLAs, who had created some trouble at a convent in y hometown Kanpur.  He immediately told Mulayam Singh to tell the errant MLA to go and apologise to the Sisters; which the latter did a few days later.  So VP came across to me as a sincere and just man.

My next meeting was 9 days later in Parliament Annexe, where the Government had called a meeting of leaders of various minority communities.  I was then privileged to have 2 MPs, Peter and Paul, as my Vice Presidents – Peter Marbaniang from Shillong of the Congress, and Paul Mantosh a nominated Anglo Indian from Calcutta.  Ram Vilas Paswan, the then Welfare Minister, introduced me to the PM, saying that “I was a force to reckon with”!  Quite a compliment, about which I shall write later.  We wanted a photograph with the PM, but he politely declined.  He did not believe in a personality cult.  VP was a humble man.

On the 17^th August, just 6 days later, I met VP for the third time.  I was leading a vast throng of about 1,30,000 people from all over India for a rally in support of Dalit Christians, again at the Boat Club lawns.  From the rally our delegation went to meet the PM at his chamber in Parliament House, as it was in session at the time, and that was his lunch recess.  VP had just announced that Buddhists were being included in the list of those who were entitled to benefits as Dalits (Scheduled Castes).  It was the closest we ever got, to extending those benefits to Dalit Christians.  VP was forthright.  He said that he fully espoused the Dalit Christian cause, but was dependent on the BJP for support.  If he tried to extend SC benefits to Dalit Christians the BJP would surely withdraw support.  (A few months later the BJP did just that over the Babri Masjid issue).  At that meeting, when Abp Angelo Fernandez of Delhi entered the PM’s chamber, VP immediately rose to greet the Archbishop with folded hands.  VP both commanded and gave respect.  He was also a man of his word.

His implementation of the Mandal Report granting benefits to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) incurred the wrath of the chatteratti.  The Christians of India should know the truth of Mandal.  On 25^th July 1990 I had led a delegation of Christian leaders to meet Welfare Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan.  We presented him 5 lakh signatures of Latin rite Catholics of Kerala, collected by Adv Antony Ambat, in support of the Mandal Report.  Paswan was thrilled.  That is why, two weeks later he told the PM that we “were a force to reckon with”.  For those with short memories, Dalit Christians in 13 States get OBC benefits in the Mandal Report.  All Latin rite Catholics in Kerala are classified as OBCs.  And Anglo Indians in Kerala and Tamilnadu are also so listed.  So the Christians in India have much to thank VP for.

There are many more aspects of VP’s life that I would have liked to write about, but let this much suffice.  Today the twin cancers of corruption and communalism are destroying our beloved nation.  VP was the enema to flush this out. But cancer of the blood and renal failure felled this mighty tree, without a thud.  May his life and principles resound through time, and inspire those who continue to fight communalism and corruption.  I salute the man.

* The author chhotebhai was National President of the AICU (All India Catholic Union) from 1990 to 1994.

Mumbai attacks coverage shows (good and bad) maturation point of social media

The devastation in Mumbai has been top-of-mind and top-of-the-news over the last few days – with good reason. It’s also been the hottest trending topic on Twitter and covered widely as the latest disaster to be live broadcasted via tweet.

Sadly, the people writing about how cool it is that people are live tweeting the events in Mumbai are missing a huge point. What’s happening now — and what is happening in Mumbai — is bigger than all of us. It’s bigger than communicating via Twitter. It’s bigger than just reading blogs. This is where social media grows up.

Social media is providing the ability to report and take in unfiltered news in a more direct way than ever before possible and we’re doing it on a mass scale. It’s no longer just a toy for early adopters and Internet nerds; it’s taking its place as an influencer far beyond technology. There is, however, a downside: there’s very little way to know what is true and what is rumor. As fellow ZDNet-er Michael Krigsman said to me the night, “we’re trading off potential accuracy for immediacy.”

He’s right. On one hand, social media shows the wisdom of crowds while at the same time demonstrates the reactionary failures of the crowd.

One example: Do a Twitter Search for the hashtag #mumbai and you’ll find thousands of tweets from folks near the site of the tragedy as well as folks in other countries who are offering support. People are sharing locations where blood is needed, police activity that they are witnessing, and the health status of their family and friends. This is good, minus one little point in there – the police activity. These updates have begotten seemingly urgent warnings from users reporting that the government of India is asking people to stop reporting on police movement (that includes Twitter users, bloggers and television stations) due to the fear of the terrorists using the tools to glean information. Those not tweeting for the omission of police details are calling it a hoax.

Is it so far-fetched to believe that terrorists could be tracking Twitter or social media sites as part of their overall intelligence efforts? The U.S. Army doesn’t seem to think so. Last month it was broadly covered that the U.S. Army issued a report in which it claimed Twitter could be used as a terrorist tool. Many mocked this concept but I believe that mockery shows a bit of ignorance as to how any site or online communications tool could be effectively leveraged for evil – as demonstrated by cyber warfare. And look at how many articles and business decisions have stemmed from a 140-character thought over the last two years. It’s not so shocking that this technology can be used for evil as well as good.

My point isn’t to determine whether or not terrorists can use social media to get a leg up on their attacks. My point is that we have individuals running amok with information and we have no way of knowing if what is reported via user-generated social media is true. And in situations like the response to the Mumbai attacks, this presents bona fide danger. Remember the “roving gang” rumors that spread and created panic after Hurricane Katrina? This chaos was aided during a time when electronic communications were down. If social media had been as prevalent as it is now, it might’ve been worse.

Some cynics might say, “Jen, we’ve had this issue with mainstream news media for years. Yellow journalism?” To me, social media presents greater risks, as every single person with Internet access now has the power to report. And with such surges of information our filters for discerning truth from sensationalism are cluttered.

Beyond sensationalism, social media can be wrongfully leveraged as a fear tactic or a platform for hidden agendas. With most social networks there are no immediate content controls. An example of this is the Wikipedia page covering the Mumbai attacks. Impressive that the page was created so quickly, but it demonstrates the lack of controls I mentioned a minute ago. For a short time on Wednesday night, this is the only information that appeared on the page:

As social media grows to take on the issues of the world beyond the bubble of Silicon Valley, we early adopters need to consider how to balance the flood of information. This goes back to the age-old argument of the ethics of journalists vs. bloggers and their ethics, but it now extends to every person. We need to take what’s happening during the Mumbai tragedy and create an example of what to do and what not to do. While some controls are needed, one of the biggest benefits of social media is its transparency and freestyle communication, so is it even possible to control it at this point? Perhaps the train has left the station. Social media is complementing traditional media, and while this is new and exciting now, it’s going to boom in the next few years. As the communications increase so will the risks of fallacies. We owe it to ourselves to find the balance between excess communication and truth.

Posted by Jennifer Leggio @ 11:21am, Nov 28, http://blogs.zdnet.com/feeds/?p=339

Testimony: Miraculous escape from Mumbai Terrorists

My Name is Thomas Uledar. I am a believer, Jesus saved me 10 years ago. He saved my life then and now He’s given me a new meaning to my life. I am involved in Children Ministry and also run Classes where we teach English. On 31st October 2008, I got married to a girl who is a believer and has the same calling i.e. involved in Children Ministry.
This is how God saved me from the hands of Terrorists.
          My sister was admitted in Cama Hospital just adjacent to Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus). She delivered a baby girl on 25th November, but her baby had slight complications and was kept in an Incubator.
         On 26th November myself, my Mom and brother along with 7 other relatives (totaling 10) went to visit her. It was quite late about 9.30 pm that we decided to go back home. We wanted to leave in two groups. Five left earlier and the rest of us were also leaving the Hospital. Suddenly after 15 minutes, the 5 who left earlier came running into the Hospital and asking us to run and shouting that Terrorists are firing bullets at the CST station.
We all started running back into the Hospital as we saw Two Terrorists entering into the Building premises. They shot dead two security guards at the entrance.
      We, the 10 of us are all believers in Jesus and were cautioning people to hide in the hospital room and wherever they could. They all responded and went into hiding.
     My mother and Aunty went into the 2nd floor where my new born niece was, in an ICU. Rest of us ran to the 5th floor to be with my sister. There were many other ladies in the Ward (Hospital General Ward). We tried to secure the doors but could not. We tied the gate outside the doors with a piece of cloth and switched off all the lights in the Ward.
      After few minutes I noticed that a tube light at the corridor was on and so I went out of the room to switch it off. I could not locate the switch, when I turned back to head for the ward, I saw the 2 terrorists coming up the Stairway and they were armed with AK 47 Assault Rifles & Guns. I could not run, one of them came directly towards me and pointed the Rifle at my chest and asked “Where are the other people”? I replied “I came running up the stairs”.
      At this time my brother-in-law came out and they caught him too. They took us to the Ward and started looking around. They found another of my relative who was hiding under the Nurses’ desk. They made the 3 of us stand with our backs to the wall, they snatched our cell phones too.
      They then told the 3 of us to lie down on our stomachs and then started loading their rifles. They told us to stand up and asked us “Who are you”? I didn’t reply anything. They then turned and asked my brother-in-law “Are you Hindu”? To this he replied “I am a Christian”. They asked the two of us and we too said “We are Christians”?
      On the floor I saw my brother lying down, he pretended to be dead. They did not notice him, I think for they did not do anything to him.
      They took the 3 of us into the Rest rooms and told us to call those who were hiding in the restrooms to come out. My brother-in-law said to those locked in the restrooms in HINDI “Come out” and then in Telugu (language spoken in Andhra Pradesh)“Don’t come out” . The terrorists could not understand this language.
While one of the Terrorists was holding his Rifle towards us, the other went searching for people hiding in the Ward. He saw my brother lying on the floor pretending to be dead but did not do anything to him.
      Then he found an elderly man, he brought him out to make him stand with us. The old man kept pleading with him” Don’t kill me in the restroom, kill me here”. They caught him by his hair and pinned him on the ground. They told him say “Allah” and shot him on the shoulder (we later found that the bullet went through his body and had hit the floor) and stabbed him on his back.
      They again came to us and ordered us to stand with our faces to the wall. At this time I prayed “Father I am coming Home, receive me” because I felt there was no way of escape. To our amazement we found that the terrorist’s hands were not moving to shoot.
      All the ladies who had delivered babies were hiding in the Consulting rooms on the same floor. They could not find them.
     They then decided to lock the restrooms from the outside and proceeded to the 6th floor.
They first killed 2 policemen on the 6th floor, exploded 4 Hand Grenades they were firing 100s of bullets, spraying them on the Walls, ceilings and empty Elevators (we could hear the gunshots). I visited this floor a week after and photographed the walls, it seems that the LORD GOD confused them into wasting their bullets and ammunition.
     We were in the meanwhile locked in the restroom, praying, interceding and binding the spirit of terrorism & death and were speaking life. No one came till 2 hours, then 10 policemen came and opened the door. When the doors were opened we saw the old man who was shot, lying on the ground, my brother who was unharmed and other people injured on the floor. We helped to take the injured to another Hospital. We came back to Cama Hospital, we opened the doors of the Consulting rooms and other room where the people were hiding to tell them that they are now safe.
     Although there were new born babies, they were all sleeping and none made any noise. I believe the Holy Spirit took control over the little babies and all were protected. There were also many ladies in the hospital whom God protected and kept them unharmed.
     I had asked the Lord “Why did you allow 10 of us believers to be trapped by terrorists in the Hospital”? The LORD GOD answered me “Because of your presence other people were saved”. My mind went to the book of Genesis where Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah & God promised him “If I find 10 righteous people I will save the city”.
     Many thoughts came to my mind –
It’s less than a month since I am married, will I die now. I thought about my wife and was interceding very strongly during these hours.
      I had prayed “LORD I don’t want to die now, and I want to serve you. Nevertheless, I leave it into Your Hands, if I die so be it”.
Now I really want to use this New Life for Jesus.

Persecution Report: Jan-Dec 2008

Persecution Report for the period December 10 -16, 2008.

Total number of cases recorded by Christian Legal Association from January to December 2008 include 16 states and 137 cases.
01. Karnataka- 48

02. Andhra Pradesh- 19
03. Madhya Pradesh- 27
04. Maharashtra – 6.
05. Rajasthan- 2
06. Chhattisgarh- 4
07. Uttar Pradesh-4
08. Delhi- 6
09. Kerala- 1
10. Haryana- 2
11. Uttar khand- 3
12. Himachal Pradesh- 1
13. Tamil Nadu – 6
14. Bihar – 2
15. Orissa – 5
16. Jarkhand – 1

Total Cases: 137
We encourage you to contact the phone numbers provided to express concern over the incidents mentioned.

Aashima Samuel
Program Officer,
Christian Legal Association.
c/o EFI,
805/92 Deepali Building Nehru Place,
New Delhi: 110019.
Tel no: + 9111-26431133
Fax: +91-11-26285350

Persecution Report
December 10-16, 2008 Volume 2: Issue 46

Will Obama Spell Justice Outside of the U.S.?*

More people around the world will watch Barack Obama’s inauguration than any other presidential inauguration in history. From here in South Asia, it is also safe to say the world’s oppressed will follow the statements and actions of this president more than any other. Will Obama courageously speak for a group of slaves numbering more than 250 million?

It was understandable and, in many people’s opinion, right for Obama to distance himself from race issues and slavery’s legacy in his election campaign. This is largely possible because of a U.S. that is post-Martin Luther King and post-civil rights movement. But would it be right for him to keep silent on issues of modern slavery and neo-colonialism in our world?

Recently, while riding in one of London’s famous black taxis, I asked the black driver from Ghana what he thought of Obama’s election as president. He said, “It is the best thing that has happened to Africa.” When I enquired further, he said Obama has become a symbol of self-belief and hope for many Africans.

I looked at the Bible next to the driver’s seat and asked the taxi driver what he expected from Obama as a Christian. “To remind the world of the current problems of racism, slavery, and poverty in the world,” he said.

I wonder who Obama’s speechwriters will be. Will they compel him in the world of realpolitik to toe the line? To not mention the problem of modern slavery? India’s human rights defenders wonder whether he will, for example, mention the Dalits — the single largest group of humans victimized by a historic, religiously-sanctioned racism? One of Obama’s fellow students at Harvard, an Indian attorney who now litigates in India’s Supreme Court, told an Indian newspaper that as a law student, Obama was curious about the “untouchables” of India — today known as Dalits.

When President Bush gave his main speech in New Delhi in 2006, he (or his speechwriters) chose to quote three citizens of India in his comments on freedom and democracy: Gandhi, Nehru, and Tagore. I’ve explained elsewhere why this was a huge mistake. In brief, Gandhi and Nehru were indeed India’s great founding fathers, and Tagore was a Nobel Prize winner in literature. But one of the names should have been Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the father of India’s constitution, a Columbia University trained lawyer, the emancipator of the Dalits and backward castes, and India’s own Martin Luther King.

Will Obama mention the name of Ambedkar in any of his India speeches? Will he remind the world of India’s own struggle with slavery? Will Obama understand and embrace the symbolic power of his presidency outside the U.S.?

by Joseph D’souza 12-22-2008 http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=4927

Joseph D’souza is the International President of the Dalit Freedom Network. He lives in Hyderabad, India, and works out of Hyderabad, London, and Denver.

India’s ‘Other’ Terrorism*

The terror attacks on Mumbai made headlines around the world. When the dust settled, we found ourselves asking the same questions, “How did this happen?” and “What could we have done to prevent this?” But while
India and the world contemplates the causes and consequences of these attacks, we ignore India’s “other” terrorism: From late August through October, organized Hindu extremist groups committed systematic attacks
killing more than 100 people, mostly Christians, in the eastern India state of Orissa. Most worrying, the terrorists responsible for Orissa’s violence remain at-large and have explicitly threatened to repeat their attacks on Dec. 25.

Three Hindu extremist groups: the RSS, VHP, and the Bajrang Dal are responsible for this autumn’s violence, destroying some 4500 homes and burning 147 churches. The dead are mostly Christians and some moderate Hindus. Father Akbar Digal, a Christian, was beheaded after three  times refusing to convert to Hinduism. Gayadhar Digal, a Hindu, was hacked to death and his wife and son nearly killed for appearing sympathetic to Christianity. Others have been burned alive and beaten then buried alive. Some 40,000-60,000 sought refuge in the forests where they were further hunted. Hundreds remain missing. Over 11,000 remain displaced, and the attackers have threatened to kill them upon returning if they do not convert to Hinduism.

The attacks have been alarmingly systematic. Repeating tactics used by these groups in similar attacks last year, the August attacks began with cutting down trees to block the roads and cutting phone lines to block communications. Mobs led by these extremist groups were armed with guns and machetes, shouting slogans such as “Christians must become Hindu or die. Kill Them. Kill Them. Kill Them.” The same groups have organized related attacks across the country, the best known being in Gujarat in 2002 where some 2,000 Muslims were killed.

In each of these cases, violence continued for weeks without intervention by the state, and the perpetrators have enjoyed impunity thereafter. Six years after the Gujarat killings, there has been only one conviction. There were no convictions after the December 2007 violence. Without any punishment, we can expect these extremist groups to continue terrorizing civilians as a tactic to impose their will on the state and drive out minority religious communities.

In fact, threats of renewed violence in the coming weeks are so clear that if we ignore them and violence escalates, nobody can say we “didn’t know.” The extremists remain at-large and have demanded that the Orissa government pass several laws to further suppress Christianity. Failure to impose these laws, they threaten, will result in more violence through a ban on all public activity on Dec. 25 enforced by club-toting members of these groups effectively prohibiting Christmas festivities.

Responsibility for preventing further violence lies with the Indian government. The attacks in Mumbai have shown that when terrorists strike at Westerners and expensive hotels, Indian security forces can react and kill or arrest the terrorists within days. In Orissa, by contrast, two months into the violence, victims were still being burned alive.

Orissa’s chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, does not appear to be a Hindu nationalist zealot. But he is politically beholden to parties that use this violence to rally votes. At the national level, federal security forces finally came to stop the violence after two months. However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has not banned the parties responsible despite calls from advisers to do so, perhaps because doing so could be bad for politics in this Spring’s election. This element of government sympathy and political hedging make international condemnation all the more important. The international community should do its part to ensure that banning violent extremists and ending impunity for them is to India’s political and economic advantage. However, if the West is to speak more loudly on this issue, it must do so in the name of counterterrorism, religious freedom, and the fundamental human right, not because it is Christians who were attacked this time.

The U.S. public response has been almost entirely the result of mobilization by Christian groups with close ties to churches in Orissa. But the public coalition that can and should unite behind this is much larger. Darfur’s atrocities provoked an unprecedented American constituency for stopping genocide. While this constituency continues pressing for peace and protection in Darfur, situations like Orissa that are more tractable and still in their formative stages offer an opportunity to achieve the most important goal of fighting genocide and atrocity: prevention.

This issue must not be swept aside in the aftermath of Mumbai’s attacks, but raised as an important part of India’s role in fighting terrorism within its borders. The U.S. government should consider naming the individuals responsible for leading these groups as terrorists by adding them to the U.S. list of “Specially Designated Nationals.” It should also began investigating American charitable organizations that appear to be providing funding for these groups, and ask that India investigate terror financing on their side in
parallel.

U.S. President George Bush and President-elect Barack Obama should end their silence on India’s “other” terrorism. Every U.S. government official whether in Congress or the administration, should raise Orissa in the course of their other dealings with Indian officials, and ask what their plan is for ending impunity for domestic terrorism. How will they investigate and punish those who plan and lead these attacks? How will the state and federal government ensure that next time it does not take two months to stop the killing? It is not too late to head off mass killing in Orissa this Christmas, and to prevent it elsewhere in India where it is sure to recur if it again goes
unpunished.

* Chad Hazlett has lived and worked in India and is currently director of protection at the Genocide Intervention Network, a nonprofit focused on preventing and ending genocide and mass atrocity. (23.12.2008)
Source: http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/72-21077.aspx

Orissa: A visit to Kandhmal [Excerpts] *

On the request of our Superior General, Very Rev. Fr. Subhash Jose,IMS, I visited Orissa from November 20th-23rd 2008. In Bhubaneswar I met Archbishop Raphael Cheenath,SVD. His Grace gave a detailed description of the current situation of his archdiocese, especially of missions in Kandhmal district. …. From what I gathered, the state government has decided to close down relief camps by the 30th of November 2008. This was because of the government’s false belief that the situation had returned to near normal and people have gone back to their places. This is far from the real situation and the government officials realize this. Hence it was decided that the church will open relief camps at Kandhmal and the government will provide CRPF security and food materials to the camp. But the actual running of these camps will be in the hands of the church. At first, the local administration was reluctant to allow the church personnel in the camps. But now that situation is different. The local administration is supportive and wants that the church actually run the camps with government help.

During the day the people in the camps would be encouraged to visit their village to interact with their neighbors and friends, to harvest their paddy crop and care for the animals etc. But at evening they would be obliged to return to the camps as the government would not be able to provide them with security in individual villages. Then when confidence is built and peace returns the people would go back to their villages. As I understand, a lot of peace initiative will be required before normalcy returns to Kandhmal and other troubled districts of Orissa.

The Archbishop also informed me that he may need volunteers both priests and sisters to be with the people in the camps. He insisted that he does not encourage visitors but those who are willing to stay for a month or more in the camps. The volunteers need to be with the people to help in the camps, take care of the medical needs and if needed of counseling. The neighboring dioceses of Berhampur and Balasore may assist with volunteers as they know the language. But His Grace told me that simple Hindi will do to assist in the camps. Cerebral malaria and dysentery are common in Kandhmal region hence volunteers need to take care of their health.

More than 6000 houses and institutions stand in need of rebuilding in this region. Each house may cost Rs.2,50,000/=. Of this the state government of Orissa has promised to pay Rs.50,000/=, voluntary labor may add to another Rs.50,000/= and the rest the church may mobilize from other resources. It’s, as one can see, is going to be a mammoth task and how this project will be realized coming months will tell us.

My next destination was Berhampur. … Fortunately, Berhampur diocese did not suffer many damages. One of its mission stations was totally destroyed and other three partially damaged. But the missionaries, priests and religious and faithful live in great fear. I am grateful to Fr.Paul Pulickal who drove me in a hired taxi to Mohana and Birikot missions in remote jungles. In Birikot the Sccg sisters live in great fear. In the height of violence they sent the poor boarding girls to their villages, locked the convent in the evening and took shelter in some safe places with other villagers.

One evening I met Rev.Fr.Matthew Kallamkal,C.M. the young and energetic Provincial Superior of CM Missioners. He is also the President of CRI unit of Orissa. … The CRI under his president ship has great plans for rehabilitation of suffering people especially in Kandhmal, Rayagada, and Gajapati districts of Orissa.

Protecting Youth From Maoist Influence

Both the dioceses had near about 1000 youth to take care in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur towns. The dioceses provided the youth with food and shelter and now wants to encourage them to go back to their families. Fearing for their safety, these youth were housed in different Catholic institutions and not in camps. It is worth noting that a great number of youth are sent for vocational training to different parts of India. The whole Kandhmal area is a Maoist stronghold. It was the Maoists who took responsibility for the killing of Swamy Lakshamanananda in Kandhmal. Tortured, harassed youth will be a ready fodder for Maoist to recruit them. Thus the church was able to save these youth from the Maoist influence.

Maoist people’s court has passed ‘Mirtudand’ (death penalty) on some eleven perpetuators of anti-Christian violence in Orissa. Notices were posted to these effects in prominent places in entire Kandhmal region. Police removes these notices when ever these appear. The only concession the Maoists gave the individuals awarded of Mirtudand was that they could repent and leave Kandhmal for good. When the second person, a Contractor, was killed by the Maoists, the church expected a backlash. But nothing happened as the other Sangh Pativar members fled in fear out of Kandhmal. The violence in Orissa was supported by outsiders, traders and Sangh parivar outfits. The only power they are afraid of is that of Maoists.

The Jesuit REPORT
I want to enclose a part of the Report prepared by a group of the Jesuits (Frs. Joseph Xavier, AJX Bosco, Jebamalai Raja, and Stephen Martin,S.J., who visited Kandhmal recently. This Report is available on the CBCI website:
• “An estimated 150,000 or more people are affected across the state out of which 100,000 are from Kandhamal district alone. Other districts like Rayagada and Gajapati have over 25,000 and small numbers spread across other affected districts. In Kandhamal district, the worst affected blocks are Phulbani, Tumudibandh, Kotagrah, G Udayagiri, Raikya, Nuagoan and Tikabali.
• It is still unknown how many people are MISSING, who may have died or been killed in the forests or ran away to other states. The civil society groups estimate about 30,000 people had fled to states like Kerala, UP, Chttisgargh and Delhi.
• 14 out of 30 districts in Orissa are affected.
• 12 religious / pastors beaten, raped, or abused, 5 of whom had died. About 23,000 people are in different camps in the state.
Understanding the root causes:
The state as well as media projected the present violence as either Hindu vs Christian or Adivasis (Kondhs) vs Dalits (Panos) issue. Conversions and killing of the VHP leader opposing the same was said to be the major reason behind the entire episode. In our analysis the basic reasons behind these attacks are the power relations that have been challenged by the church’s interventions and work with the most marginalized.  Of late enlightened local people have started questioning land alienation, poor development indicators, exploitation by the dominant caste traders (from outside the district) and intrusion of communal forces in Kandhamal. These challenges from the grassroots annoyed the fundamentalist forces.

Like Gujarat where BJP conducted a ‘politically’ successful experiment by killing more than 3000 Muslims in 2002, a majority vs minority syndrome was being used by BJP as a step towards victory in the elections. All the indicators show that Orissa was a replay of Gujarat. Though majority of the victims were Pano Christians, considerable number of Christian Adivasis were also assaulted. Attack on non-Christian Panos and non-Christian Adivasis was evident in some places. In the first two weeks the rioters were non local and were mobilized from outside Kandhamal and also the state. There are also enough evidences that the local traders were among the perpetrators and belonged to Sangh Parivar, particularly to Vishwa Hindu Parisad (VHP) and Bajrag Dal (BD). The broad strategy of these forces seemed to be elimination of both Dalits and Adivasis, irrespective of their religion, and take control over the land and rich natural resources of Kandhamal.
The present violence is not just a break down of law and order. The state has overtly and covertly supported Bajrangis and traders who matter a lot in terms of sustaining political control over the Dalits and Adivasis. Yet another reason was that already with Kalinganagar struggle, wherein 13 Adivasis were shot dead by the police, the ruling BJD was loosing its ground particularly with the Adivasi communities. It needed to prove that BJD still requires the Adivasi votes to win both local and state elections. For BJP it was immediate interest in the forthcoming State as well as national elections. BJP wanted to turn Orissa into another Gujarat and win majority of the seats. The only tool available for the fascist forces was religious divide. That is why BJP needed outside support to carry out attack on the Christians of Kandhamal. The strategy worked perfectly for BJP, VHP and BD and they were able to whip up religious emotions and instigate the non-Christian Adivasis to attack the Christian Dalits and Adivasis. The extent of damage could have been considerably reduced if only the Central government had acted swiftly. The present United Progressive Alliance government was also taking a soft stand on the issue fearing backlash in the election year.

The Response:
Despite the non-vibrant Civil Society in Orissa, as compared to Gujarat or Karnataka, some individuals and organisations had initiated well thought out responses to the present violence. The national level fact finding teams, interventions of National Commission for Scheduled Castes had exerted reasonable pressure on the state to deal with the situation sternly. The Church leaders had also come out in open, particularly at the national level to condemn the violence, demanding the intervention of the Supreme Court. Inter-Agencies managed to initiate discussion at the local administration level to carryout minimum relief works, particularly medical care. As per the opinion of the people in the camps the intervention of CRPF in dealing firmly with the perpetrators of violence had reduced the attacks. Obviously these responses are a minimum. More systematic and coordinated response is the need of the hour at the ground level by the state and there is a need to de-saffronise the local media, which is all out in joining hands with fundamentalist forces.
The crucial issue behind the entire episode is control over land and natural resources. In Kandhamal the Adivasis and Dalits are about 51% and 17% respectively. In the recent past the intrusion of traders from outside the district and state has disturbed the Adivasi-Dalit harmony and sensitive tolerance towards one another. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that both these communities are primary stakeholders of land and natural resources in the district.
As recommended by the fact finding teams the state has to provide safety and security to all the affected people. Along with providing immediate relief like food, medical care, household materials, clothes and temporary shelter the state must provide compensation of Rupees ten lakhs to the next of kin of the killed during the violence and reasonable compensation to those physically and mentally tortured and those who have suffered bodily injuries while trying to escape from the marauding mob. The state must evolve a comprehensive rehabilitation package which would include the following: assessment of extent of damage, rebuilding of the destroyed houses and where the houses are totally burnt construction of new houses, reconstruction of homes, institutions and places of worship, special package for the education of the students, reissuing of certificates, housing and land documents, bank accounts, ration cards etc on the basis of affidavits filed by the community or gram sabha.”

*Fr.Mahendra Paul, IMS (Asst.Superior General)

30,000 tribal girls missing in Sundargarh

Sundargarh: Even though the State and Central Government-sponsored poverty-alleviation schemes are being implemented over decades in the tribals-dominated Sundargarh district, which is rich in natural resources and booming with both mini and mega industries, its poverty-ridden tribal minor and major girls are being sold out as commodities in the virtually slave market of the national capital of Delhi. Such a startling revelation has come to the fore following the arrest of a woman racketeer Sukra Badaik recently.

Sources informed that Badaik is a habitual offender and she has been nabbed many a time. Badaik was once again in the police dragnet due to the initiative of an NGO Child Line.

Badaik admitted that she sells each tribal girl at Rs 2,000 and the Delhiites, purchase the gullible girls, exploit on their whims. At the out set, the girl has to lose her original identity and she is rechristened with a fake name so that she cannot be traced either by her family members or by the police.

With every change of master, the name goes on altering. Badaik is unable to locate the whereabouts of the girls, whom she has already sold out, she confessed, adding that she has trafficked over 20 tribal girls from the district and her family members have assisted in her modus operandi.

Initially, each member of such a racket, connecting Delhi to Sundargarh, is recruited and trained thoroughly so that he or she can easily lure the innocent and poor tribal girls with lucrative job prospects in Delhi.

Once having crossed the threshold of one’s respective nativity, the job hunter is lost for ever.

Over 30,000 tribal girls hailing from Subdega and Balishankara blocks under Talsara constituency, Kutra and Rajgangpur blocks under Rajgangpur constituency, Birkera and Bisra blocks under Lathikata constituency, Kuanrmunda block under Birmitrapur constituency and Koida and Gurundia blocks under Bonai constituency have reportedly gone missing.

Stringent legislation and proper implementation by the law-enforcement agencies to rescue those missing girls and initiating measures to dissuade the victims from being fallen easy prey to such racket is the need of the hour, local urged. (Pioneer 10/12/08)
Source: http://www.isidelhi.org.in/hrnews/dec/1612.htm#TRAFFICKING

698 FIRs, 11,348 accused, 89,424 complaints in Kandhamal riots

Bhubaneswar (Orissa): As many as 698 FIRs have been lodged at various Police Stations spreading across the State in connection with the Kandhamal communal riots, Home Department sources said on Monday.
Some 11,348 people are named accused, while over 89,424 people have been categorized as others in the complaints. “We have deployed 50 police officers of different ranks on the job to assist in investigating the case,” said State DGP Manmohan Praharaj.

The number would go further up as 75 more cases have been lodged since we made the assessment a few days ago, a senior police official manning the troubled Southern district revealed.
Officially, 39 people were killed in the religious mayhem. Police have so far arrested around 700 people in connection with the murders, arson and other violence that took place in Kandhmal.
Even incarcerating those arrested has been a major headache as the state’s prisons are overcrowded. The jails in Kandhmal district could not accommodate such large number forcing us to shift a good person of the under trials to jails in Ganjam and other places, official sources said.
In such a scenario, police are at odds to nab all the accused and they are concentrating on the core elements that count around 200, sources said.
Source: http://www.odishatoday.com/orissa/Kandhamal_riots_fact_figure_291208-7542149209.html  Tue, 30 Dec 2008

New Maoist faction threatens to kill Christians*

New Delhi: After a violence-free Christmas in the eastern state of Orissa, a new, worrisome development has emerged. Some Hindu members of a Maoist (banned, extreme Marxist) group, which was allegedly behind the killing of a Hindu nationalist leader in August that sparked an unprecedented spate of anti-Christian attacks in the state, have reportedly formed a new rival group to target Christians.
According to the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), a breakaway faction of the Communist Party of India-Maoist has put up posters threatening to target Christian members in the state, saying it would kill a Christian on the 23rd of every month – to avenge the assassination of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a leader of the Hindu nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council or VHP) on August 23 in Orissa’s Kandhamal district.
The rival group, known as the Idealize of Democrat Garila (Guerrilla) Army (Maoist) or IDGA-Maoist, will be formally inaugurated on January 3 “at an undisclosed location under the leadership of a guerrilla identified only as M2”.
“People familiar with the Maoist movement in the state believe that the split will result in escalation of violence,” said the news agency. The objective of the splinter group would be “to protect Hindus from Maoist attacks and retaliate by killing Christian leaders” in the state, Nihar Nayak, an expert on Maoists at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, was quoted as saying.
“It is certain that violence will escalate and this split is going to be a major headache for the already burdened police force,” IANS reported an anonymous senior police officer as saying.
The wave of violent attacks that followed the murder of Saraswati and four of his disciples in August carried on unabated for more than two months. At least 4,500 houses and churches were burned down or damaged and more than 100 killed in the Kandhamal district.
*By Vishal Arora
Source: http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3573

Places attacked by Bajrang Dal in Karnataka (2008)

Based on the property damage, intrusion of religious place with an intent to commit vandalism and physical harm, the court should have been moved against the party and the leader who is on record with his statement to the press and damages should have been claimed in billions of rupees. This could have been a deterrent against similar anarchy in the future.
Bajrang Dal people claim that they have only attacked New Life Fellow Ship Centers in Karnataka giving the reason that they are involved into forcible conversions. But they have attacked number of Roman Catholic and protestant churches and their prayer centers. Irony is that there is not even a single complaint lodged for forcible conversion all over India.  Also there are several reports of forcible re-conversion to Hinduism in Orissa and other parts of the nation.
In fact at the beginning Bajrang Dal people openly claimed responsibility for the attacks. Later on they changed their statement and said all attacked places belongs to New Life Fellowship only. But now slowly they change their statement once again saying that they are not behind these attacks. May be they are now frightened that thegroup will be named as terrorist and banned.
The list of places that were attacked by them on 14th September 2008 and the following day.  Also four Roman Catholic churches in the next Sunday (21st September). Three churches in Bangalore and one in KodaguDistrict. I got total list of 33 places of attacks. There may be somemore left out apart from these.

A. South Canara District:
1. Roman Catholic: Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration Monastery ofMilagres in Mangalore city. Broken crucifix and vandalized the placeof worship including the blessed sacrament, furniture, window glasses.
2. Protestant Church: Kodikal CSI Church, Mangalore. Vandalized
Crucifix, sound system, furniture, lights and glasses.
3. Syriyan Church:: St. George Church in Ujire, Belthangady. Entered in the early morning 3.00 am and vandalized crucifix, blessedSacrament. They gathered bible, books, curtains and other things fromthe church and set fire.
4. Protestant: “Mahima Prarthanalaya” of Parenki, near Madanthyar. Vandalized the place including furniture, windows and attacked onPastor Antony Rodrigues and three others attempting to their murder.But all four are survived.
5. Indian Pentecostal church: Kalanja village, Belthangady. Vandalizedthe place.
6. Protestant: “Bethesda Aradanalaya” in Borugudde, Sullia. Vandalized the place.
7. Protestant: Nettana, Puttur, Sullia. Vandalized the place. AttackedPastor Joy and badly hurt.
8. Believers Church of India: Bannur, Puttur, Sullia. Vandalized the place.
9. New Life Fellowship Centre: Mastikatte, Moodbidri. Vandalizedfurniture, TV, VCD.
10. New Life Fellowship Centre: Kulur, Manglaore. Vandalized the place.
11. New Life Fellowship Centre: Kankanady, Mangalore. Vandalized the place.
12. Protestant: I. P. C. Prayer centre, Karyatadka, Belthangady. Vandalized the place. Robed bibles. Attacked and seriously injuredKrisudas an Dikayya.
13. Roman Catholic: St. Annes Friary, Jail Road, Bejai, Mangalore.Vandalized the place.
14. Roman Catholic: CODP Prayer Centre, Nantoor, Mangalore. Vandalized the place.
15. Roman Catholic: Vijaya Mary Convent, Mary Hill, Bondel, Mangalore.Pelted lots of stones and vandalized the place.
16. Roman Catholic: Infant Jesus Convent, Mary Hill, Bondel, Mangalore. Pelted lots of stones and vandalized the place.

B. Udupi District:
17. New Life Fellowship Centre: KSRTC Bus Stand, Udupi. Vandalised the place.
18. New Life Fellowship Centre: Byndoor, Shiroor. Attacked and
attempted the murder of Pastor K A Abraham. Vandalised the place.
19. New Life Fellowship Centre: Madur, Kollur. Attacked the people.Vandalised the place.
20. New Life Fellowship Centre: Taluk Office, Karkala Vandalised the place.
21. Roman Catholic: Malayalee Christians Clara Sadana in Kundapur. Pelted stones and vandalised the place.

C. Chikmangalore District:
22. Jehova Witness: Magod Village, Yahova Witness prayer centre.Vandalised the place. Attaced pastor Samiulla.
23. Prayer centre of Singarakatte, village in Kadur Taluk. Attakedpeople. Kalleshappa and Savitry are badly injured.
24. Time and Full Gospel Harvest Prayer centre, Jayapura. Koppa.  Bajrang Dal people entred the prayer hall attacked people. Vandalizedthe place.
25. St. Thomas prayer hall, Gorigandi, Balehonnur. Vandalised the place.
26. Roman Catholic: Vandalized the place of Our Lady of Mount Carmelprayer hall, Kudremukh. Vandalised the place. Broken the glasses ofmore than 20 windows.

D. Chikkballapur district:
27. St. Thomas peace prayer hall Chikkanagadi is vandalized.

E. Kolar District:
28. Roman Catholic: Statue of St. Mary in St. Mary’s Church Kolar Cityvandalized.

Churches attacked on 21st September
F. Bangalore District:
29. Roman Catholic: The St James Church in Mariannanapalya on the ringroad near Hebbal, Bangalore City.
30. Roman Catholic: The Church of Holy Name of Jesus near
Rajarajeshwarinagar on Mysore Road in Bangalore City.
31. Roman Catholic: Church at Boonahalli near Devanahalli in city outskirts.

G. Kodagu District:
32. Roman Catholic: Madikeri Church.

Orissa Police Torture Minor to Confess Crime he didn’t Commit*

Merciless inhuman torture on Master Sanjay Xess was committed to such an extent that he had no choice but to agree to have committed a crime which he has never committed. It is informed that Master Sanjay Xess; a minor tribal boy of twelve years of age has fallen victim to the brutalities committed by the police. Sanjay Xess had run away from his home with Rs. 400/-, being annoyed since he was slapped by his mother for not reading the study books.
Later in the night, while he was sleeping outside a house in Chend colony, Rourkela, was picked up by the police and taken to the Ragunathpali police station. He was beaten with stick on his legs, hands, back by tying him with rope and stick forcing him to confess that he has stolen mobile phone and Rs. 2,400 from one Nandini’s house. It is stated that Nandini had filed a complaint that her mobile phone and Rs. 2,400/- has been stolen. Instead of verifying the facts on its merit, police preferred to torture the boy for three consecutive days just to get a statement by coercing the tender aged tribal boy. The devil face of the police stands exposed as they poured petrol to the anus of the Sanjay Xess. The fear struck tribal boy had no choice but to agree what ever police wanted from him even to confess a crime which he has never committed. This is a very serious matter and can not be taken lightly.
This incident also confirms that there is no rule of law prevailing at Orissa. Only & only impunity is being practiced by the government, while showing their face in public. This is one more in the long list of many false cases in which tribals have been implicated falsely at Sundergarh district. No body should to live in illusion that they are not accountable.
We also request you to please arrange to hold a workshop at Sundergarh district where an open discussion with facts and figures will help to improve the situation and bring in a sense of responsibility amongst the law keepers themselves
Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to demand stern penal action against the erring police officials involved in this heinous crime by registering cases against them under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and rules thereof. The victimized tribal boy must be given adequate support and reparation at the earliest.
For Tribal Welfare Society, (Pravin Patel), Director.
Copy to: The Chief Secretary, office of the CMO, Govt. of Orissa, Bhubneshwar for information and necessary action in the matter.

CBI Probe Into Abhaya Case Going Off Track: Kerala High Court

KOCHI, Kerala (SAR NEWS) – The Kerala High Court observed that there “there is only a chase for the shadow rather than the object “in the investigation of the Sister Abhaya’s murder case by the CBI.”

Justice K. Hema observed that it appeared that the investigation in the sensational and controversial Abhaya murder case was “going off the track”.

The court further observed: “On a close perusal of the case diary, I (Justice Hema) find that there is only a chase for the shadow, rather the object, in this case. This chase is only a futile exercise. Investigation means to carefully examine the facts of a situation, an event, a criminal act to find out the truth about it or how it happened. It is not to fix the target first, without any evidence and then make a hunt for evidence.”

The court said it had found certain relevant materials on which the investigators must pay attention to. It should be done under the supervision of more experienced superior officers in the CBI.

The court also directed that the CBI investigate the facts revealed in the brain-mapping and fingerprinting report.

It observed that disturbances in the kitchen of the hostel, absence of blood in the kitchen, or the surrounding areas, bolting of the door from inside and outside, fallen veil without blood, nature of injuries in the post mortem examination report which did not correspond to the weapon found at the scene, the definite medical opinion on the possibility of suicide, absence of any homicidal injuries on the deceased, conscious state of Sister Abhaya in the well and death due to drowning and absence of any hue and cry from Sister Abhaya should be probed.

The investigators should find out whether a clearer picture could be obtained by exploring the details in the scientific study.

The court dismissed the contention of the CBI that the Church had influenced the police to hush up the case. The court said even a plain reading of the case diary showed that nuns and priests had made efforts to convince the police that it was a case of homicide and not suicide. The CBI took over the investigation on a complaint filed by the Mother Superior and other nuns seeking a CBI probe into the ‘murder’.

The CBI had not so far investigated and found out the presence of any blood at the scene.

The court also noted that the CBI was unable to explain where the incident exactly occurred – either in the kitchen or in the work area.

The court pointed out that no weapon which could have caused injuries on the body of Sister Abhaya was traced.

As for the narco-analysis test reports, the court observed: “In all probability, those are edited and manipulated at the Forensic Science Laboratory itself by the person or persons doing the analysis. It is, therefore, necessary that the investigator should take all steps necessary to retrieve the unedited original video on the test before proceeding further to act these CDs.”

On attributing motives

On allegations against former sub-inspector of police V. V. Augustine who prepared the inquest report, the court said the CBI should think before attributing motives to officers of other agencies.

The court said the case diary, which was prepared by him, indicated that there was no possibility of Sister Abhaya committing suicide.

As for allegations that the Crime Branch police were instrumental in destroying materials in the case, the Justice said, the CBI had taken over the investigation in March 1993 and if it wanted to protect the materials leading to evidence, it could have taken steps to prevent their destruction.

The crime branch filed its final report in January 1993.

The court said the CBI appeared to be “fishing out” for reasons to cover up its own lapses. “This is quite unfortunate and uncharitable,” Hema added.

Virginity test unnecessary

The court said the virginity test conducted on Sister Sephy was “unnecessary”. “It was unfortunate that the third accused was subjected to such a ridicule, which did not serve any purpose, other than making an attempt to throw mud on a nun in public,” Justice Hema said.

Sangh Parivar is communalising civil rights

RSS, VHP get foreign funds without any check, says John Dayal John Dayal, secretary general, All India Christian Council and Member, National Integration Council, has been a critic of Sangh Parivar. He has been fighting for the cause of the Dalit Christians for the past several years. Currently, Dayal is working 24/7 to bring out a While Paper on Orissa – 2008.
In a detailed interaction with Sai Prasan, a senior journalist, John Dayal spoke on issues ranging from the Dalit Christian rights to the foreign funding of the RSS and VHP to pursue communal politics in Orissa. Excerpts:
What will be the strategy of the Church in countering the violence unleashed by the Hindu fundamentalists on the Dalit Christians in Kandhamal? How Church will protect their life?
John Dayal: As a peaceful people, we can do nothing but pray. But as citizens of India, there is much we can do, and have done. We have moved constitutional authorities in the political, administrative and judicial spheres, ranging from President of India, prime minister and chief minister to the High Court and the Supreme Court. We are hoping the government will provide enough CRPF forces to ensure peace in Kandhamal, and if necessary, will call in the Indian Army.
There is a strong opinion that Christian organizations also do not want quick solution of the problem as they get foreign funds in the name of persecution?
John Dayal: We want the violence against us to end as soon as possible so that the refugees can go home. We have a vested interest in peace. It is the Hindutva forces that thrive on tension and fear. The church does not get a penny from any source without the knowledge and permission of the government. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) ensures that. In fact, the RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) get foreign funds from NRIs without any check.
Why the Church failed in fulfilling the aspirations of the Dalit Christian youth as youngster are either joining Left extremism or they are Naxal sympathizers in Orissa including in Kandhamal region?
John Dayal: The government has failed and betrayed us. It gave Dalit rights to Buddhists and Sikhs but has denied us those rights. It is a communal gesture and seeks to keep Dalits as bonded labour of Hindu upper caste society. The church is doing what it can from its limited resources, but it is committed to helping all people without reserving its activities only for Christians. It helps Hindu Dalits as much as Hindu Tribals and non-Hindu Tribals.
Naxalites and Maoists, which are different ideologies, do not have a religion. Most ultras are from Hindu families. There may be some from Muslim, Sikh or Christian families in the country, including Kandhamal.
Why are the Dalit Christians in Orissa divided on the denominational lines? Why are the different Churches staking their claim on Dalits?
John Dayal: This is not a fact. Orissa has several regions and the situation differs from one place to another. In the plains, especially in the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Berhampur coastal region, there are a few upper caste Christians, even perhaps in Sambhalapur. The rest are Oriya Dalits. And in both segments, both the Catholic and Protestant churches are prevalent. In the protestant churches, the Baptists are the dominant groups in Cuttack, for instance. In Tribal areas, the situation is slightly different. In the Northern region adjoining Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, the Oraons and other Tribals are mostly Catholic for historic reasons but there are Church of North India, which is about thirty years old and was founded by uniting existing denominations such as Church of England and Presbyterian, and Pentecost groups also.
The situation in Kandhamal is complex. Kandhamal has four groups of people. The outsiders are Oriya migrants from the plains who are mostly Hindus. The local people are Kondhs, Kuis, who speak the same language as the Kondhs but are ethnically different, and the Panos who speak a variant of Oriya but are culturally and ethnically different. All three groups have both Catholics and Protestants. The Protestants, as usual consist of Baptists, the oldest, church of north India and new Pentecost groups. Some Kondhs are also nature worshippers and are not Hindus.
The historic reason is that both Catholics and Baptists first came about 140 years ago from two streams – from Calcutta and from the Madras Presidency region. The churches they established continue to this day. The Catholics are the most visible because of the structured churches and the Nuns.
What are the reasons behind your not attending in person the proceeding of the State instituted Commission (investigations) in Orissa?
John Dayal: There two reasons. First, the government could not provide security to witnesses coming from Kandhamal. Second was that Mr Panigrahi seemed to have made up his mind? I have, together with the church, decided to boycott both commissions.
What is the permanent solution of Kandhamal violence ?
John Dayal: Permanent peace can come with justice and implantation of constitutional guarantees. The police cannot be partisan. The poison which was spread by Mr Lakhmanananda will have to be removed. Forcible conversions will have to be stopped, and the guilty should punished ; the rule of law has to be maintained. Churches and houses must be rebuilt, livelihood given, education restored and normal life encouraged. Kondhs, Kuis and Panos, whatever be their religion, will have to live together in peace and they will do so once they understand that the government will be fair and will not tolerate violence.
How do you portray Indian Dalit Christians in front of the western world including Vatican City specially through Christian media – www.persecution.in and www.dalitnetwork.org and similar other websites and publications?
John Dayal: Indian Dalits are a marginalised group, who have been denied their constitutional rights. No more. No less. They are fighting for their rights, and will get them some day.
What is the view of the western world including Vatican City on Indian Dalit Christians? Or What is the take of Vatican on the Dalit Christians?
John Dayal: The same.
At what level, the discrimination exists between the Christians and Dalit Christians? How the co-existence is maintained within the Church periphery in the social context?
John Dayal: Historically till about fifty years ago, some churches in south India had separate segments for Dalits and upper caste. It is not so any more. But traces exist. Caste is an Indian phenomenon, and all religions including Muslims and Sikhs and Christians have practiced it at some level. That is the truth. Even Mahatma Gandhi wanted an end to untouchability only, but not to caste. The church has outlawed caste within it and is working hard to make it a reality. There has been much success, but traces still remain.
Are the Dalit Christians going to remain Dalit Christians for ever as it is being observed in Southern states including literate Kerala where Christianity is 1,900 years old? Has church kept any time frame for their total integration?
John Dayal: Of course not. There will be no more Dalit Christian when there are no more Dalit Hindus. In the church, there will be no separate feeling within the next generation.
How do the reformed Dalits view themselves in the Christian fold? Is there any behavioural awkwardness among Dalit Christians?
John Dayal: No different from the rest.
Are Dalit Christians willing to forego the state offered benefits like land and jobs once they are converted to Christianity? Has the Church taught Dalits the Central tenets of Christianity after adopting them into its fold?
John Dayal: Dalit Christians get no benefits from the government. Dalit Christians are the same as any other Christian in their faith understanding.
Why does the Church think that it has started the social reform process when the Church leadership itself concedes that it does not interfere in the social issues like discrimination on the caste lines in marriages ?
John Dayal: Church does not interfere in anything of a personal nature, but the social teachings of the church make it clear that it does not acknowledge or encourage castism .
Do you endorse the Dalit concept in Christianity as Bible does not permit any discrimination on any ground. Why do you demand reservation for the Dalit Christians which is against Bible?
John Dayal: I do not endorse any discrimination on any basis – caste, race, gender. The Bible does not come into the picture in getting legal rights.
You are vocal on Dalit Christian’s reservation in public sector. But, why are you silent on similar reservation in the private sector where the presence of Dalits is negligible?
John Dayal: I support affirmative action in all spheres of society, including what is called the private sector but is built on bank funds and tax rebates from government agencies.
Are there any other issue which you want to convey?
John Dayal: These are issues of justice and of the rights of citizens. Let us not let religion come into it. That is communalising civil rights. That is what the Sangh Parivar is doing.
Source: http://blog.orissaconcerns.net/2008/12/sangh-parivar-is-communalising-civil-rights-interview-with-john-dayal/

Orissa’s Christians still hiding in forest*

Sushmita, 21, an Indian Christian from Orissa, listens to a speaker as she participates in a protest march in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. Christians marched in protest demanding protection.
As cold weather grips Orissa state, Christian leaders in India have expressed their shock at the revelation that there are still Christians hiding in forests to escape violence.
In spite of the presence of thousands of paramilitary forces in the state, hundreds of people, including many Christians and Hindus, are believed to be hiding in forests. They are fearful of a repurcussion of the violence that swept through the north-eastern state late last year after the murder of a radical Hindu leader.
“Hundreds of tribals haven’t returned home after the riots,´ district collector Krishan Kumar told Indo-Asian News Service.
“The tribals had recently visited their villages but fled to the forest again. We are trying to reach them.”
Although there have been no reports of violence in the last couple of months, there are reportedly more than 8,000 Christians living in state-run relief camps, many reluctant to return home after the attacks.
Says Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, Some 15,000 Christians are living outside Kandhamal and are scared of returning home because many of the rioters are still at large and the police are not arresting them.”
Bishop DK Sahu, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in India told Christian Today, “During this time of winter, the fact that Christians are still hiding in forests is really shocking to us. We urge the government and church relief agencies to do everything possible to provide them with shelter, and protection.”
Meanwhile, Kumar said Hindus were hiding in forests “due to fear of police action”.
Ashok Sahu, a Hindu leader said some 12,000 Hindus were hiding in forests for fear of police action against them after many residents in Kandhamal, the district at the heart of the violence, were charged with rioting.
According to official reports, 10,000 people have been named in 746 cases lodged during the August violence in Kandhamal. More than 250 prayer halls were damaged and some 4,200 homes burned down. More than a hundred were killed and thousands fled to surrounding forests and makeshift government camps.
* by Dibin Samuel and Anne Thomas, Monday, January 5, 2009
Source: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/orissas.christians.still.hiding.in.forest/22244.htm

Book lovers outraged at ban on Pak authors

Mumbai: A city book shop, the Oxford Bookstore, said it had been urged by the police to take Pakistan-authored books off its shelves. However, the policeman from the Marine Drive police station who visited the store said he had not advised anybody against stocking Pakistani literature, but had simply dropped in to “check that everything was all right.”
When this reporter persisted and asked the policeman what the problem was with Pakistani books, he asked her whether she was Pakistani. He then added that it was important that people took precautions, so that crimes were not committed.
“This is absolutely absurd! Is it anti-national to buy a book on Pakistan? I thought India was a democracy,” said Dilnaz Boga, a journalist who has made a documentary about the impact of violence on children in Kashmir. Boga, who recently went to Oxford Bookstore in search of books by Tariq Ali, was furious to find she couldn’t buy a single book by any Pakistani.
“Let’s not turn Mumbai into a playground for parochial politics. This is an assault on the world of letters. Unless there’s a free exchange of thought between countries, how can we call ourselves a civilisation?” asks Rahul Dev, a former editor of Jansatta who received threats from the Shiv Sena in the early 1990s, after he criticized them.
“Instead of preventing people from breaking the law, why are the cops censoring the potential victims of crime?” asks Paromita Vora, who wrote the script for Khamosh Pani, an internationally acclaimed film that was directed by Sabiha Sumar, a Pakistani director. “We have chosen to be a democracy. If one doesn’t agree with a particular form of cultural expression, one can create one’s own works of art and culture,” she adds.
“It’s wrong to hold an entire nation responsible for what a few of its citizens do. After all, Dawood Ibrahim is an Indian citizen. Should he be used to judge all Indians?” asks sociologist Nandini Sardesai, adding that Raj Thackeray was probably casting about for causes after finding himself in the political wilderness following his anti-North Indian stance.
Thackeray’s “ban” on Pakistani artists came in the wake of innumerable SMS jokes at his expense after North Indian commandos rushed to Mumbai’s aid during the 26/11 attacks. Protesters had even hit the streets with signs bearing pictures of Raj Thackeray and the words “Missing: Aapan hyana pahilaat ka?” (have you seen this person?)
The store was attacked earlier for stocking James Laine’s Shivaji book
Source: http://www.junctionkerala.com/2009/01/newstoday-city-book-shop-removes-pak.html

Cows More Important than Christians and Muslims in India

A Hindu seer plans to promote holy cow protection by a 108-day rath yatra (chariot journey) using 15,000 charriots and covering one million kms to demand a ban on cow slaughter in India. The main rath will stay in Orissa state three days to come down heavily on “Christian and Muslim terrorists”.

Comment: No Hindu seer ever said anything when over 2,000 Muslims were butchered in Guajarat (2002) and over 20,000 Christians in Orissa fled to the forest to save themselves from Hindu “mob terrorism” (2008). Read the whole story.

Give national animal status to cow, Seer tells Centre*
BHUBANESWAR,(Visakeo) Jan 6: Shankaracharya of Gokarna Pitha, Karanataka Jagadaguru Swami Raghaveshwar Bharati on Tuesday demanded national animal status for cows. The Hindu Seer asked the Centre as well as respective States Government to impose a complete ban on cow slaughtering.
Addressing a Press Conference here, the Seer said that they would conduct a 108 days Rath Yatra to high light the issue under the banner of Biswa Mangal Go Gram Samiti. The Rath Yatra, which will spread the message of ’save cow and save village’ will be flagged off on September 28, 2009, on Vijaya Dashami Day at Kurukhetra in Hariyana and calumniated at Nagpur in 2010 on Makar Sankranti Day,” the Shankaracharya said. The Yatra would traverse some 20,000 kilometers, he added.
Apart, from the main Rath, 15,000 smaller Rath to traverse some 10 lakh kilometers during in 108 days, he added. The Seer further said that meetings will be held at 400 places across the country and signature of 50 crore people will be collected and submitted to the President of India seeking complete ban on cow slaughter, he added.
The Seer said that main Rath would stay in Orissa for three days. Coming down heavily on Church and Islamic terrorists, the Seer claimed that Hindus are in danger due to faulty policies of the political class.
The urgent call for the protection and preservation of Indian Cow Breed has been Seer’s primary activity in the very recent years. Of total 70 breeds recognised in India, only around 35 breeds exist now and all of them can be found in Seer’s Matt in Karnataka. He started the Kamaduga yogana, to concentrate on the work. Projects are on to start 108 goshalas, of which few are already started in Karnataka, Maharastra, Kerala, Tamilnadu.
The Seer, who came into prominence after organising the “Go Yatre” in 2004 and the “Go Sansat” in 2006 has said that this move to focus attention on the need to protect and promote Indian cow breeds many of which are believed to be on the verge of extinction. Swamiji who had taken up protection of the pure Indian cow breeds as his mission through a programme “Kamadugha” will lead the 108 days Yatra, sources added. Shankar Lal ji, Joint-Coordinator Biswa Mangal Go Gram Yatra Samiti and AS Panigrahi of the State unit were among those present at the Press meet.
*By Golakha Chandra Das

Source: http://visakeo.blogspot.com/2009/01/give-national-animal-status-to-cow-seer.html

Symposium on Empirical Theology Planned

The Institute of Pastoral Theology of the Salesian University Rome will hold a symposium on Empirical Theology: Prospects and Problems on Monday 12 January 2009, 15.00 – 18.00 (Aula Zatti).

Five eminent, Empirical Research in Theology scholars are lined up for the three hour English language programme.

President of International Society of Empirical Research in Theology (ISERT) Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Ziebertz of the Institute of Practical Theology, University of Würzburg, Germany will speak on: Why practical theology as empirical theology?

Revd. Canon Prof. Leslie Francis of the Institute of Education, University of Warwick, UK will deal with Empirical theological research in pastoral ministry.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Riegel, Chair of religious education, University of Siegen, Germany will present the topic: Empirical theological research in religious education.

Prof. Dr. Hans Schilderman, Chair Religion and Care, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands will present : Empirical theological research on religion as a social force in Europe.

Prof. (Dr) Francis-Vincent Anthony co-ordinator of the symposium will speak on : Discussion on prospects and problems related to empirical theology.

Contact: Dr. Vincent vincent@unisal.it or Tel: 06.87290411

Margaret Alva to lead Kandhamal peace movement*

Bangalore: With all the angry public movements to restore peace and secularism in the country, a new movement will begin to resolve communal violence in Orissa. Former AICC general secretary Margaret Alva and Global Council of Indian Christians announced here on Tuesday (6^th Jan) that they would launch an awareness campaign across the country to restore peace in Kandhmal and give the victims the compensation they deserve. The campaign will be held in the city on March 30, 31, and April 1 and 2.

Alva said she was free now of her political commitments and she could devote all her time to the cause. “Our voice has been discarded because the Christian community is peaceful. But it is time to fight back now. One is the displaced victims who have migrated are being asked to convert to Hinduism before returning to their homes. This should be addressed. They are Christians and should be allowed to practice their belief,” she said.
The other demand, she pointed out, was that most victims did not have land documents as they have been living in the interior tribal areas and are not being allowed to enter their homes because of this. She said the issue needs to be addressed by the central government.
Twelve widows from Kandhmal from different camps of G Udaygiri, Raikia, Tikabali, Sugodbadi etc were present to have a word with Alva. Kavita Naik, also a victim who works with widows for their rights, said the aid that was being given to the camp members was not adequate. Children were getting a packet of biscuits every week and elders were getting rations of only dal and rice. “I had severe diarrhoea once and they gave me paracetamol. Medical supply is out of place and children are falling sick every day,” she added.

I resigned on principles: Alva
Three months after she was forced to quit the AICC general secretary’s post over her allegations that assembly seats in Karnataka were sold during the May 2008 elections, Margaret Alva has no regrets about it.
“I resigned because people were not ready to accept the truth. If people think I have embarassed my party, I cannot help it,” Alva told reporters on the sidelines of a function here on Wednesday (7^th Jan).
Alva said she had “trustworthy information” from Karnataka and acted on it.

“I resigned on principles,” she added.

* Source: TIMES NEWS NETWORK

BPO Inter-faith marriages affects Church

THRISSUR: The ever-increasing number of inter- faith marriages, technically known as a disparity of cult, by the Christian youth is causing serious concern to the Church. The concern is mainly due to the possible isolation of the couple from their families and its socio-cultural after-effects later in their family life, apart from the limited role the Church could play in case of any dispute between the husband and wife belonging to different faiths. Talking to The New Indian Express, Senior Vicar General of the Thrissur Archdiocese Fr Raphael Thattil said that a considerable increase in the number of Catholic youths seeking permission from the Archdiocese for ratifying their marriages has been noticed in the past two years. The number of youths approaching the Thrissur Archdiocesan authorities for interfaith marriages has gone up to between five and eight a week in the past two years. In the event of any dispute between the husband and wife belonging to different faiths, the role of the Church is limited to a mediator and the matter becomes a subject to be dealt with by a civil court. Thattil said that almost all these youths are IT professionals working outside Kerala, who have just started living independently. Main actors driving these professionals to the `non-conventional’ path are the sudden freedom from the control of parents and the financial empowerment. Absence of parental and religious guidance, the atmosphere at work places where close discussions and interactions between young men and women involved in the same project are inevitable, the free time available on holidays and the influence of western culture are other factors leading to the situation, he said. Thattil said that there was no readymade solution to the problem. To some extent, alertness by parents could prevent the situation. He said that considering the seriousness of the matter, the Church was also thinking of setting up pastoral care centres for religious guidance to these migrants.
Source: M.D’MELLO” mmdmello@yahoo.ca Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:13 pm (PST)

Beef was prescribed delicacy for Hindus

Any references to the beef-eating past of ancient Hindus have finally been deleted from Indian school textbooks, after a three-year campaign by religious hardliners. For almost a century history books for primary and middle schools told how in ancient India beef was considered a great delicacy among Hindus-especially among the highest caste-and how veal was offered to Hindu deities during special rituals. The offending chapters have been deleted from new versions of the books which were delivered to schoolchildren last week.
However, the National Council of Educational Research and Training [NCERT], which bears responsibility for the texts, now seems to be unhappy with the changes, which were agreed to by a former NCERT director. NCERT counsel Prashant Bhushan said that ancient Hindus were indeed beef-eaters and the council should not have distorted historical facts by deleting the chapters. “NCERT has committed a mistake by dropping those facts from the textbooks. It is a victory for Hindu fundamentalists who have lodged a misinformation campaign. Historians should unite against this cowardice by the council [NCERT],” said noted Kolkata historian Ashish Bosh.
Much of this current debate began in 2001 when Professor DN Jha published his book, The Myth of the Holy Cow: Professor Jha stumbled upon the facts relating to the presence of beef in pre-Islamic Vedic India two years ago, while researching Indian dietary habits. He says there is plenty of historical evidence to support the theory. An ancient Hindu text, the Manusmriti (200BC to 200AD), lists the cow as one of several animals whose meat can be eaten. A mention is also made, he says, in one of the two great Indian epics – the Mahabharata – which speaks of beef being a delicacy served to esteemed guests http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/003484.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1482614.stm

If you allow pork and fish why not beef ?

Hagari bommana Halli: “If it is ok to eat PORK or FISH why do you put restriction on eating beef ?” questions former CPM Legislator Mr. G. V. Sri Ramareddy to the government. He was talking at the press meet at Somavara Pattanna in Karnataka. Vishnnu was transformed into a pig (handi Vishuvina avatara). In the same manner one of the Devakanye was transformed into a fish. (Devakanyeyobballu matsyakanye-yagi avatarisidaLu). If this is the case then is it right to eat PORK or FISH? asks Mr. Ramareddy. BJP and it sub-ordinates are so much after banning cow-slaughter. They commit so much violence in this regard. After all the cow was only used as a vehicle. But non of their god was transformed into a cow. If anybody can eat PORK or FISH in which their god was transformed then why not the BEEF which was only used as a vehicle. If at all these guys have little respect to their gods then before banning BEEF let them ban PORK and FISH first. Ruling by evoking the religion sentiments: Yediyurappa Govt is ruling by playing with the religious sentiments of the people. They are after COW SLAUGHTHER but no one speaks about HUMAN SLAUGHTER in the name of religion, cast and language. There is no value to the human life though they speak about the respect to the life of a cow. *Translated by Ancy Paladka, from Kannada Prabha Kannada Daily news item published on page 5, in the issue dated 13-Jan-2009

ANHAD activists to meet in Delhi

Anhad has been working against the ideology of hate for the past six years. We have worked at several levels: organising training camps, producing campaign material, doing large scale campaigns, involving youth through various creative and crazy ideas, organising national level conventions and seminars, organising fact findings and tribunals, doing relief and rehabilitation work, providing livelihood, doing community level literacy campaigns and providing vocational training, organising media campaigns.
All this cannot be claimed to be Anhad’s work alone. A large number of organisations , intellectuals, academicians, activists in various parts of India have helped us from designing the programmes to implementing them and supporting them financially. It would not have been possible to do the amount of work which Anhad did in six years without this very generous support.
We are organising a day long session on January 18, 2009 at the Deputy Chairman Hall, Constitution Club (Time 11am-7pm) share this work and to find a way forward in these difficult times. Anhad activists from Kashmir, Gujarat, Bihar and Delhi will be sharing their work, discussing the challenges that they face and debate future course of action.
If you would like to join us in this sharing you are welcome. For outstation participants if any- please bear your own travel. If you let us know in advance we can make arrangements for your stay for a two days 17 and 18th night.
Sincerely Shabnam Hashmi & Mansi Sharma
Address: Constitution Club Vallabhai Patel House Rafi Marg, Raisina Marg New Delhi H.O. Delhi-110001
Landmark: Near Atlanta Hotel Phone: 011-23711849

Gujarat: Lies, Half-truths and Illusions

It is January 14th 2009… Makarsakranti, the only feast of the Indian calendar which is not observed on a particular day of the Lunar month. It is generally believed that on this day, the sun enters the constellation of Makar (crocodile) and begins to move towards the north. In Gujarat, it is known as Uttarayan, the day on which thousands of kites dot the skies in order to propitiate the Sun-God. The newspapers today (as those of yesterday) are filled with stories of ‘Vibrant Gujarat’… of how the biggest industrialists of the country have “promised” to invest thousands of crores (millions of dollars!) in Gujarat. Overnight, the problems of the State seem to have been solved !! Some have decided that Gujarat can now take on China and a couple of industrialists have even anointed the CM of the State as the next Prime Minister of India !!! Visitors and dignitaries who came to Ahmedabad were welcomed by posters and banners, by floodlights and illuminations, with newly paved roads and a city which was cosmetically spruced up for the “mother of all events” to flaunt what is termed in Government propaganda, as “Vibrant Gujarat”.
The local (and some national) media went “gaga”…..showcasing how Gujarat is more than India, how the “whole world” had come to invest in this one State during the two-day affair known as ‘Vibrant Gujarat Investors’ Summit’. The Government and their cronies flag-waved all over…..it’s the Number One State in the Country ! The hype put forward by the well oiled propaganda machinery was so compelling that even the most diehard critics of Gujarat fell into the trap, and joined the chorus that “all is well”. Very few dare ask uncomfortable questions. Everybody knows the truth about who is doing the “flag-waving !”. There are voices who say that ‘ the “emperor” has no clothes on ! ‘, but at this moment, there are not too many listening.
The plain truth is that the cosmetic has stifled the reality. If one scratches the surface a little, the bubble of euphoria will surely burst. Let’s look into how “Vibrant”, is Gujarat.
Violent : For a State that should have had ‘Ahimsa’ as its cornerstone, violence has in fact become institutionalized. The State presided over the killing of hundreds of Muslims during the Carnage of 2002. Trigger-happy policemen have eliminated several Muslim youth in ‘encounters’. (One high-ranking police officer is now in jail for such an ‘encounter’.) Innocent boys are killed in an ashram of a well known Guru, and, no one can do anything about it ! Young girls studying to be teachers are raped in Government Hostels by their teachers for the sake of better grades. Female foeticide is rampant. One only has to skim through the daily newspapers to realize how violence has become a perfected art in the State.
Intolerant : There is a sophistication in the way intolerance has been mainstreamed. One can experience it in the chaotic traffic on the roads. If one is a Muslim, one is denied to right to buy a house or a shop in the up-market areas of Ahmedabad, Surat and other cities. One is forced to live on the periphery of many villages. The Freedom of Religion Law prevents any one from embracing another religion, without permission from the civil authority. Couples in love, are forcibly prevented from marrying if the partner belongs to a different religion or caste. Movies like “Parzania” and “Fanaa” are not allowed to be screened in the State – one, because it exposes the Truth, and the other, because the lead actor asks that the tribals who were dispossessed because of the Narmada Dam, to be justly rehabilitated.
Bluffing : The art of lying seems to have taken a new meaning in Gujarat. This is obvious when even a sheer Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is regarded as “Mission accomplished !”. This bluff was called, when recently, under an RTI query, the Government of Gujarat admitted that just about 25% of the MoUs of the last three years were actually in the pipeline !! The waters of the Narmada Dam is being utilized by the rich and powerful of Ahmedabad. The parched lands of North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch still harbour illusions of the water reaching them !!! State Government advertisements highlight projects and programmes which are in fact undertaken and executed by the Central Government, like the expressway, the airport, the railway system and the 108 ambulance service. Revengeful : In Gujarat today, anyone standing up for Truth and Justice is at the receiving end. The Government pulls out all stops (to stop School Grants, to impound Passports) to ensure that voices of dissent are silenced. A few months ago, when the Times of India did an expose on the Police Commissioner of Ahmedabad, sedition charges were filed against some of those who ran the newspaper. Honest and objective police officials and bureaucrats are transferred to insignificant postings; Government agencies like the Collectorate, the Police, the Charity Commissioner are used to intimidate and harass individuals and groups that work for the betterment of the poor, the vulnerable and marginalized. Prominent citizens are kept under constant surveillance and many live under the veil of fear.
Arrogant : A sense of arrogance seems to have puffed up the chests of a few who try to control the lives and destinies of others. Such arrogance was very visible in the hey day of Nazism when Hitler brutally trampled on those who were “not like him”. Key people in the State roam about with immunity and impunity and are also elected to positions of power. The underlying message that is conveyed is that “no one can touch them”. One needs to look at the judgments that are given from the Lower Courts and the High Court of Gujarat, in order to experience the subjectivity and partiality that has permeated the system.
Negligent : Large sections of society in Gujarat are totally neglected. Systematic efforts are made to snatch the forests from the hands of the adivasis. A recent study says that more than thirty-five thousand families will be displaced from the banks of the River Sabarmati because of the Sabarmati River Front Development Project. Development-induced displacement is also the lot of several poor and marginalized farmers and others. Fisher-folk along Gujarat’s vast coastline, continue to be marginalized. Dalits are at the receiving end and many of them continue to live in inhuman conditions. The status of women in Gujarat is way down in comparison to several other States of the country. Children are denied their rights: a large percentage of them constitute the labour force; the textbooks dished out by the Gujarat State Secondary School Board is a clear violation of the rights of children – full of errors, inaccuracies, myths and distortions; only about 59.6% of the rural children of Gujarat can read Std. I text as against the All-India average of 66.6%. The Indian Express of December 21st 2008, has this to say : According to International Food Policy Research Institute’s 2008 Global Hunger Index, Gujarat is ranked 69th along with Haiti, the nation infamous for food riots. The State is placed in the ‘alarming’ category. Terror-filled : Gujarat State is truly terror-filled ! For almost seven years now, the principles of democracy have been thrown to the wind. Right-wing Hindu groups can put up bill boards almost anywhere proclaiming a “Hindu Rashtra”. Places of worship have sprung up on public space and they are given full protection by the law and order mechanism. The Constitutional rights and freedoms of an ordinary citizen are not safeguarded. In fact, in several cases, when a victim approaches the system for help, he / she is made the perpetrator of the crime !!! The diversity which has been characteristic of this State, has been totally decimated as communities are forced into ghettoization. There is palpable fear all over.
What “Vibrant Gujarat” then, does one talk about ? The truth is that Gujarat as a State is “Violent”, “Intolerant”, “Bluffing”, “Revengeful”, “Arrogant”, “Negligent” and “Terror-filled”. Let’s not live in lies, half-truths and illusions. Gujarat, wake up, before it is too late !! Satyameva Jayate !
by Fr. Cedric Prakash sj, Director of “Prashant”, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace  www.humanrightsindia.in

Tata, Mittal & Ambani endorse Narendra Modi as Next P. M.

Subsequent to a legal notice from TATA Sons, para 7 of the petition has been amended to remove a factual inaccuracy with reference to Mr Ratan Tata to read, “But when I saw you embrace the fascist mastermind of state sponsored genocide and endorse the Modi-fication of India, it was disappointingly apparent that the brands that aspire to make India rich shall continue to languish in ethical poverty”

---

 

To:  India Inc.
Dear Messrs, Ratan Tata, Sunil Mittal and Anil Ambani
I am one of a billion Indian citizens.
I am somewhere in the middle of that pyramid that you wish to give voice – from bottom to top – through wealth creation.
I am proud of the brands you represent that have made India proud.
I am one of the burgeoning Indian middle-class that share your aspirations of mutating India from indolent elephant to thundering tiger.
It ends there…
I have hitherto been accused of being indifferent and apathetic, simply because I am overawed and felt overwhelmed in a system replete with Goliaths.
But when I saw you embrace the fascist mastermind of state sponsored genocide as a future Prime Minister and endorse the Modi-fication of India, it was disappointingly apparent that the brands that aspire to make India rich shall continue to languish in ethical poverty.
While I am filled with revulsion at your endorsement of Narendra Modi, I must respect your right to do so as a fellow citizen.
In writing this petition I am a mere David amongst the mightiest corporate Goliaths but I feel empowered to address your collective amnesia – through recollection of the Gujarat pogrom of 2002 – by the true Goliath among Gujaratis in particular and Indians in general – Mohandas Gandhi.
All those who sign this petition will switch off their Tata Indicomm, Airtel and Reliance cellular phone and broadband connections from midnight on January 30th 2009.
It is eminently possible that I might be the one voice in a billion who will observe the 61st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on as Cellular Silence Day.
Then again, there might be close to a billion who could join me on January 30th, 2009 expressing their solidarity and silently insisting that the captains of India Inc adopt an ethical, compassionate path to wealth creation rather than the single-minded pursuit of the bottom-line.
We shall know that by the end of 30th January, 2009
The petition URL is: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/30JAN09/petition.html
The petition is directed to: India Inc.
The start date is: ..January 15th, 2009
The end date is: ..January 30th, 2009

Media Attacks on Christianity Rise, Why the Church is Silent?

With an awe and wonder we witnessed the strongest protest against the Sweedish cartoonist for the caricature made on Prophet Mohamed. Whole world joined the chorus in condemning. Yes it was needed.  I do not subscribe to any form of violence but it is good to meditate on the recent media onslaught on Christianity. The ceremonial silence observed by the Church and its devout followers are beyond ones understanding. The media is going all way out to weaken the Church. As part of it the priests and nuns are presented in a bad taste at every trifle issue.  We do not realize how the brain behind the media trespasses in to the privacy of individual freedom to follow role models.  It is probably because the priests and nuns are seen as the nucleolus of the Catholic Church. There are many statements made by the organizations and different individuals against Christianity, its dedicated servants and its practices. The mass media give them extensive undue publicity. Do we ignore them as freedom of speech or freedom of expression? Is there a fall in the ethical practices of journalists or a wicked brain behind this murky plot?  Probably it is the need of the hour that the Christians must think of legal options to raise their voice against these offensive attacks on the faith of the people. I would like to sight a few examples from the recent history of India.

            On Jan. 9, 2008 Delhi HC issued notice to Tamil Nadu CM, Shri M Karunanidhi for his derogatory utterances against Lord Ram. The petition was filed by Advocate Monica Arora in Delhi. It was at the end of 2008 Mumbai police arrested Ranjit Parande for publishing a book named  “The Santa and Banta Joke Book” for it hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. Vishnu Khandelwal, who calls himself a devout Hindu, registered a case against Arun Nayar and Liz Hurley. He described that their dressing did not adhere to the Nayar Hindu custom of wedding robs. It hurt his religious sentiment as a devout Hindu.   A cricketer Ravi Shastri was charged with hurting the sentiments of  Hindus. The cricketer made a statement in South Africa that he enjoys cow meet. The cow is considered a religious symbol so it hurt the sentiments of Hindus.       

            All these cases are based on the section 295(a) of the Indian Penal Code. The law states, “Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.” The commentary says that it can be by words either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise. It is a non-bailable offence.           In India majority of the cases are filed against Christians under this section.

            It is to be noted that Article 19 (1) (a) of the constitution guarantees freedom of speech, while the same Article section (2) allows limits to it on behalf of concepts such as “public order” and “decency and morality.” Its interpretation is left to judges.   So it is very clear that individual freedom of expression should not enter into the individual freedom of faith.

            I recall the decision of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Madhya Pradesh and the CRI state unit two years back. The Church decided to challenge all the derogatory statements published in Media against Christianity. It is put into action by the Public Relations Office with the help of different Christian organizations and committed individuals. We served legal notices to Mr. Vishvas Sarang MLA, the state BJP Youth President, Advocate Devendra Rawath, state spokesperson for Bajranga Dal and VHP, media owners, editors, reporters of Hindustan Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jagaran etc. are few in this line. All these legal actions are on process. As a result number of derogatory remarks made by leaders and it s publicity by the media is reduced. It boosted the moral of the Christian community. It made them proud to say that we are practising a true religion.

            It is very surprising to see how badly popular media in Kerala is trying to hurt the faith of the people. Many channels are airing programmes mimicking practices of different religions, write ups are appearing in medias against the monks,  priests , nuns,   faith systems various religions and many parody cassettes are in the market. Does it not hurt the sentiments of believers? Politicians are using offensive language against religious leaders, try to interpret religious practices and probably unknowingly hurting millions of followers. Should we further tolerate the “deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings” of believers? Should we garb them as expressions of freedom of speech? One must always remember that the limits of my freedom ends where the sentiments of the other begins. Long live the freedom of every individual!

Fr. Anand Muttungal

PRO & Spokesperson

Catholic Council of Bishops,  Madhya Pradesh, www.franand.com

(NB : Your opinion is very valuable, write to me at mppro2@yahoo.com)

Gujarat: `Laboratory of hate´*

The events of “Gujarat 2002″, in which up to 2,000 Muslims died (1 ), are widely known, but less is heard about those displaced. Gauhar Raza of the NGO Anhad says: “The Gujarat government… not only disbanded the relief camps but also adopted an active policy of discrimination towards the families that were displaced” (2 ).
Sophia Khan, who founded the NGO Safar, told me that, just among women, more than 150,000 are still displaced. Why Gujarat? It is mercantile, prosperous, with a history of immigration (Turks, Portuguese, Marathas) and emigration (Africa, the UK and beyond). Muslim invaders came in the early 11th century. From 1407, the Gujarat Sultanate (which broke free from rule by Delhi) synthesised Muslim and Hindu traditions in its architecture – the tomb and mosque complex of Dada Hari in Ahmedabad is an amazing mix of styles.
Ahmedabad is the city of Mahatma Gandhi, the place where he started the Salt March in 1930, a protest walk through southern Gujarat to gather salt from the sea in defiance of the British monopoly. But Gujarat remained inward-looking and parochial. Father Cedric Prakash, a Jesuit peace activist, thinks “Gandhi and the founding fathers prevented India from becoming a Hindu nation. And the [Hindu nationalist umbrella organisation] Sangh Parivar killed him. From then on they worked systematically to establish Hindutva in Gujarat, using the Dalits and Adivarsis [tribals]” – both were forced or bribed to take part in the 2002 carnage. There have been regular riots since the 1980s.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city, with a population of four-and-a-half million, is booming: Narendra Modi, the chief minister, has attracted Tata Motors’ Nano car plant and the city is full of construction work. But behind the economic success lies a damaged society. The long-established living arrangements between Hindus and Muslims have been ruptured. The fear is that this is beginning to happen elsewhere in India.
The modern Pir Mohammed Shah hospital is run by the Iqraa foundation and funded entirely by private donations. It is in the Muslim area of Juhapura to the west of the city; this grew from 2002, as Muslims fled here to find safety in numbers, to become the largest ghetto, housing 350,000 and swallowing up the outlying village of Sarkhej. The hospital’s administrator, Imtiyaz Shaikh, said: “We started up in 2002 because people needed medical facilities here, locally, for security. It is free and open to poor patients of any religion.”
Iqbal Baig, 35, works for the secular NGO Samerth: “We started in 2002 with relief work and looked after women and children, then we moved into job training and education. Now we’re into reconciliation. We’re not 100% successful but we’re doing our level best. We’re doing it through pre-school groups for 3-6 year olds; through them we can engage with the families.” Baig (a Muslim) pointed to the difference between Samerth and Iqraa: “Iqraa’s in a Muslim area, it’s a Muslim trust so, even if the hospital’s open to all, only Muslims go there.” Samerth is at the intersection of Juhapura and Vejalpur – a Hindu ghetto, Baig calls it. “In this narrow border area between the two, both Hindus and Muslims work, but Muslims can no longer live. We chose this point to work from to try and reduce the gap between Hindus and Muslims.” Then suddenly: “Gujarat is a laboratory of hate.”
Aadil Bagadia, 33, a property developer and civil engineer, lives in Paldi, which he calls a peaceful area. But in 2002 his aunt’s house was burned down, and another family building. “There were mobs looting and attacking with stones, sticks and swords.” He tells of the atrocities in Naroda to the east: “Even in wars, it’s not like this. And we were the people who chose to stay because we believed in India.”
Professor Abeed Shamsi, a retired English teacher and a Muslim, lives in Navrangpura, once a mixed district. “The Hindu building opposite is almost empty now; the Hindus are leaving and it’s become a totally Muslim area. What happened in 2002 is unprecedented. And it took place in broad daylight. But those [Muslims] who weren’t directly affected don’t want to talk about it. They’re the well-off ones. They’ve given money for hospitals, but ask them to a meeting to discuss all this and they won’t come. This apathy will lead to greater disasters.” He has harsh words for the muftis of Deoband (see main article). “They said nothing [about 2002]. It’s sheer insensitivity, because most of those affected were the poorest of the poor. As for the fundamentalists, they are helping the Hindu right with their Muslim identity phobia.”
Professor Ganesh Devi, who works with minorities, agrees that only talking can help repair society. “Even the workplace has become segregated. Only in areas with populations of 50,000 or less, do you still find mixed habitation and social mixing. But if there’s an India-Pakistan cricket match on the TV, windows and doors are firmly shut. The tensions could erupt at any minute.”
In the bustling Old City of Ahmedabad, Hindus and Muslims still live and trade side by side. The winding, narrow allies thread through diverse clusters of homes (known as Pols) housing tightly knit groups (the Chippas, printers from Rajasthan; Nagori, blacksmiths; Mochivar, fish-sellers; Vagari, second-hand clothes sellers). There are Sunni Muslim areas, and ones for the Bohra (Shia) Muslims. But there are also mixed areas, tiny lanes where Muslims and Hindus still live side by side. And I saw a small shrine built into a wall, which both Muslims and Hindus revere. But the Hindu temple at Badra Fort was packed at 8am and the beating drums seemed full of menace. In 2002 Muslims were attacked in the Old City. They fought back, with bricks and stones torn from walls. They still live there. Juhapura seems too far away, out of reach. So they keep piles of stones by their doors and windows, just in case.
*By Wendy Kristianasen Source: http://mondediplo.com/2009/01/03hate

M.P. Minority Commission plans to capture Christian Property*

Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh State Minority Commission in its monthly meeting held on 15th January 2009 recommended the state Government to establish a Board in the lines of Wakaf Board Act 1995 to control and use the property under the government control. The statement of the commissions reads , “The State Minority Commission has decided to ask the Government of Madhya Pradesh to enact a law in the model of Madhya Pradesh Wakhf Board Act 1995 to bring all the property owned by the Christian Minority either through gift or Government allotment be put under State Government for its control and use.”
Archbishop Dr. Leo Cornelio has very strongly condemned the move of the Commission. He in his first reaction said,” It looks that the State Minority Commission does not have any knowledge about the functioning of Christians organizations. All the property owned are under the government act of Firms and Societies. It holds regular meetings , audits accounts as per law, submits all documents to the Government and everything is in black and white. It is clear that the Minority Commission is working against the interest of the Christian Minority. Therefore the Commission has lost its moral authority to continue in Office.”
Mean while on 17th January , Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh held its meeting of members of the Political affairs in Bhopal. The meeting along with reviewing various issues took serious exceptions to the anti-minority activity of the minority commission. The Isai Mahasangh has adopted view of the Archbishop. It has decided to protest the decision of the commission all over the state. Its coordinator and Spokesperson for the Catholic Church, Fr. Anand Muttungal said, “ We ask the commission to withdraw its proposal with immediate effect or face protest and legal action. The commission has violated its own constitution.
The Madhya Pradesh State Minority Commission Act 1996 section 5 (B), clearly states “ The quorum of the meeting shall comprise the chairman with at lest one member.” In case of emergency and the chairman in his absence can appoint a member of the commission to chair the meeting but the constitution of the commission does not give any provision for the same. So it is very clear that the commission can not function without its Chairman, the commission has no provision to elect any of its members as temporary chairman for its working. Permanent Chairman is a must for the commission to hold its meeting.
On 23rd October 2008 the then Chairman Mr. Anwar Mohmad Khan completed his term as Chairman and then on it has ceased to be a collective body. No new chairman is appointed till date. So all the meetings and decisions taken from then holds no legal status. So it must be nullified.” Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasnagh has constituted a Sankarsh Samiti to organize protests all over the state.
President of the Sankarsh Samiti Dr. Chrsti Louis Abraham said, “ We will approach the Chief Minister and other Government officials to reject the proposals put forward by the ignorant commission members. We have come to know that the Christian nominee to the Commission Mr. Anand Bernard is behind all these. We have requested the Christian community to boycott him and do not entertain him in any Christian functions.” Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh Legal Cell President, Adv. James Anthony said that we are looking into the legal options. “If the Government goes along with the Minority Commission, we will approach the Court, it is also a blatant interference into the minority rights enshrined in the constitution of India.” He said that the constitution of the State Minority Commission Act 1996 (F) states that if the chairman or member works against the interest of the community or abuse the office can be removed from the office. So we are also studying the case seriously.
It is to be noted that in the Month of September 2008 around two hundred women and men belonging to the Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh reached in protest in the State Minority Commission Office and offered bangles to him for his apathy towards the community. His sluggish approach towards the Christian community has always been in the discussion.
*By Fr. Anand Muttungal, PRO & Spokesperson, Catholic Church, M.P

Anti-Christian Violence Last FIVE Months*

1. ORISSA: Ten years after the Christmas violence in the Dangs district of Gujarat in 1998, and the burning alive of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines, on 22 January 1999, in Orissa, anti-Christian violence has not just grown in the two regions, but has spread to other states such as Karnataka. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka, in fact, has now surpassed Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, which were earlier the main areas witnessing persecution.
In Orissa, where violence broke out between 24 to 27 December 2007 and then again between 24 August 2008 till the end of the year, a chilling tension still pervades the worst affected district of Kandhamal. And in government camps in G Udaygiri and Raikia in Kandhamal, more than Eight Thousand refugees live a life of torment, humiliation and unemployment. The un-totaled thousands in small and big Church-run camps outside Kandhamal and even deep in Andhra Pradesh that have little coordination with each other, people face an uncertain future. And perhaps 30,000 people still escape to the forests every night to sleep the night in the safety of raw nature, for fear of the marauding gangs. During sunlight hours, they attempt to harvest the paddy crop in the safer areas. Christian and Civil Society groups tried unsuccessfully to move the Courts to stop a government move to forcibly send back people from refugee camps back to distant villages without providing adequate security and employment. The Central Reserve Police Force has begun to thin out from its peak strength of 6,000 on the eve of Christmas, despite earnest requests to government to maintain sufficient numbers to bring confidence to the battered people. Criminal Investigation Department police are making some headway in the investigations in the rape of the Catholic nun, and that of another woman, a Hindu brutalized because her uncle had converted to Christianity. But police also admit that they will have to “trim” the list of about 70,000 persons named as aggressors in over in 746 cases to manageable numbers. The new Director General of Police feels that in each case only a clutch of principal accused can be investigated. So far 598 accused have been actually arrested. Christians have told investigators that many of the aggressors are still roaming free, and some murder suspects have even come to the government refugee camps. The death toll remains a matter of dispute. Human rights groups have a total of 120 names of persons of whom 103 are confirmed dead, and 17 are those whose names are not known, but are known only by their relationship with some villagers. Though there have been several other incidents in Orissa in December and mid January 2009, they have not been directly linked with the earlier sequence of violence. Reconstruction of the houses is yet to begin, and churches await the government assistance promised them by the Government after the intervention of the Supreme Court of India. A brief recall of major persecution:
ORISSA:
14 (of 30) Districts hit
315 Villages destroyed
4,640 Houses burnt [State government estimates 4,215]
54,000 homeless initially
120 People murdered
7 Priests/ Pastors killed 10 Fathers/Pastors/Nuns injured
2 Rapes confirmed [One of Nun]
252 Churches destroyed [estimated by State government]
13 Schools, colleges destroyed

2. KARNATAKA
8 (of 29) Districts affected
33 Churches attacked update again
53 Christians injured in attacks, including Nuns assaulted by state police.

3. TAMIL NADU
12 Churches attacked

4. MADHYA PRADESH
5 Churches damaged

5. KERALA
4 Churches damaged

6. DELHI
2 Churches damaged/destroyed

[Updated 20th January 2009. This update does not include incidents of violence and persecution witnessed in many other states, but not linked with the August 2008 outbreak.] *By John Dayal

‘Hindutva terrorists’ want Taliban-like overrun by 2024

HINDUTVA terror suspects, now in police custody for their alleged role in bombing Muslim localities including Malegaon, had a much larger socio- political agenda. They had planned a Taliban- like takeover of the country by 2024.
An anti- terrorist squad ( ATS) investigator preparing the Malegaon charge sheet, which is expected to be filed in court on Tuesday, said there is evidence of a deeper conspiracy by the accused to unseat the liberal Indian Constitution and install a hard-line Hindutva instead.
The bombings seem to be just minor events to motivate proponents of the Godse – Savarkar stream of Hindutva, still favoured by many Sangh Parivar activists such as the accused Pragya Thakur and Sameer Kulkarni. The attempt, police sources say, was to motivate Parivar radicals across the country and form a cohesive Hindutva army to defeat democratic forces.
ATS sources insist that co- accused Dayanand Pandey — the fake shankaracharya — had recorded Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit telling the core group of conspirators: “We will take over the country by 2024.” Purohit, who was part of the military intelligence when he was arrested, was also heard saying, ” I don’t have any faith in the Indian Constitution.” The investigators have seized five hours of Pandey’s recording of various meetings and speeches. The one in which Purohit was pushing the Hindutva agenda could have been recorded at a meeting in Faridabad or Nasik early last year. Purohit’s face is not visible in the video, but the investigators are prepared to do a forensic voice analysis.
An official source pointed out that the forensic analysis would become necessary because Pandey was discreetly recording his co-conspirators, “So, some people are visible, but others are not in the frame. We, however, don’t foresee any problem in nailing Purohit as we are planning to go in for forensic voice data analysis for him and others.” A similar exercise was done by the US investigators to prove the involvement of Zarar Shah and Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi in the 26/ 11 Mumbai terror strike case.
It is, however, not clear whether the accused are being charged for ” waging war against the state”. Special public prosecutor Rohini Salian was noncommittal about the transcript of Purohit’s speech and the punitive measures it would invite. “The charge sheet will be filed on January 20. You will come to know everything then,” is all Salian would say.
Purohit, though, has refused to admit his role in the conspiracy. “He was shocked when we first told him about these conversations. It was obvious that he too didn’t know about the recording. However, he has since recovered and now claims that he could have said all that without meaning it or doing anything,” said a police officer.
The investigating agency has already told the MCOCA court about various recordings of conversations in which the accused are seen discussing bomb- making.
Though police have not made the political connections of the accused an issue and have not even tried to trace the known Sangh Parivar affiliation of many of the accused, the investigators are aware of the group’s political agenda.
” It’s not just these statements. We found loads of other incriminating material that show that the blasts were not just acts of violence against the minorities but to bring about a change in the country. The conversations in the laptop show that Savarkar’s Abhinav Bharat was rediscovered with this objective in mind,” said the police official.
Police are sure that Purohit and his co- accused have inspired many Hindutva leaders across the country.
Some of them have brainwashed the conspirators, while others have provided the logistics. They claim that, ” One such high profile Parivar leader is on the run”. Apart from the laptop, ATS has over 20 witnesses and evidence such as weapons and cash recovered from the accused.
The ATS is also looking for one Praveen Mutalik, an Abhinav Bharat functionary, who could have been part of the bomb planting team.
[19 Jan 2009] krishna.kumar@mailtoday.in
Source: http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2009/01/the_hindutva_te.html

India’s Changing Image

Carlo Di Cicco

By SAR NEWS ROME (SAR NEWS) — Deputy director of the Vatican daily L’Osservatore Romano Mr. Carlo Di Cicco spoke to Salesian Father C.M. Paul on India’s Changing Image in the last decade. Excerpts:
SAR: How did you see India in the last ten years (1998-2008)?
Carlo: I was struck by the extraordinary progress India had made in the past decade, completely reversing the superficial and widespread image of a country traditionally lagging behind, to the eyes of the westerners and particularly Italians. The progress was not only economical, technological and social, but also cultural. And with the progress, the growing difficulties of a great democracy surfaced as a challenge demanding a change in attitude towards all its citizens. The development of India has shaken many clichés that identified with hunger, backwardness and religious myth. Perhaps, this has been possible thanks to better knowledge of India that we have through Indian writers and journalists who speak about their country in our media.
SAR: The recent anti-Christian persecution engulfed 12 of the 28 states of India, especially Orissa. What reactions did these evoke in Europe?
Carlo: We in Europe held India as a nation of great openness towards cultural minorities. And in these cases of anti-Christian attacks, violence cannot be justified. We cannot understand the context of the persecution of Christians and we regret the gradual estrangement of so many followers of Hinduism from the teachings and examples of great souls of India like Mahatma Gandhi. For many years, the outstanding figure of this statesman and indomitable fighter of non-violence gave India the image of a land of tolerance and non-violence. Today, we are surprised at the violence against Christians and intolerance towards other religions and, politically, the major unresolved issues with Pakistan. Besides, we cannot forget two great events that brought the Indian people and the world together at the beginning and end of this decade: the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the recent terrorist attack on Mumbai. With the exception of the clear and steady voice of the Pope, who spoke up for the universal principle of the freedom of religion for the persecuted Christians, especially in Orissa, pretty little of the persecution was noted, assessed or addressed in Europe. It did not evoke the response to similar situations in Africa or the Middle East. Even the voice of the policy-makers has been weak, limiting to motions and orders of the day in Parliaments. We must not forget that the President of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napoletano, called for Europe to do more in support of the Christian populations of Orissa and to affirm their right to religious freedom.
SAR: How did the Italian media depict India during the last decade?
Carlo: Although it continues to write and say that India is the largest democracy in the world because of the number of its citizens in Italy, not enough of Indian news is being carried in our media. Radio, television and newspapers consider the importance of India not only in view of a possible trade and cultural exchange, but also for the impact it may have in the world balance of power. We continue to see India especially as a possible escape to an exotic tourist destination, at the same time not sufficiently perceiving the cultural, economic and strategic importance of India as a world player. In terms of religion, also, India provides a large number of men and women in religious life and study of theology in many Catholic religious congregations. It is also an interesting cultural development that religious minorities, such as Christians, are working on the dialogue between different religions in India even in the exchange of monastic experience. This mutual deepening of their religious traditions could be beneficial in the philosophical and existential understanding of the different religions in the world.
SAR: As deputy director of the Roman Observer, how do you see India in comparison to your previous job as a journalist?
Carlo: I have never failed to study and learn more about the phenomena of India. Compared to my previous training period and job experience, now I cannot ignore what is moving in Asia and therefore also in India. L’Osservatore Romano (estd. 1861) is an international journal by its very nature. It is the newspaper of the Pope who is the bishop of Rome and then, for Catholics, the Successor of Peter and head of the Catholic Church, which has over one billion believers all over the world. And the Holy See has the heart, eyes and ears for the entire world. Besides, in every country there are many or at least a few people belonging to the Catholic Church. Even in India, the Catholic community, although a minority compared to other religious traditions, has an ancient presence. Thriving and fully inserted in the Indian culture, the Church tries to live faithful to the gospel of Jesus. So now, over to the knowledge of India which I try to perfect for professional reasons; I try to grow affection for India, its culture and its people as well as its different rites of ancient Christian tradition. L’Osservatore Romano has shown its great attention to the Christians in India by publishing an English language weekly edition as well as a weekly edition in Malayalam language (one of the six languages in which the weekly edition is published). For now, the daily newspaper, although international, is published only in Italian language.
SAR: What worries you most when you think of India?
Carlo: The danger that this great democracy runs the serious risk — because of its delicate position — to weaken the democratic system and may not hold on to the spirit of tolerance that has allowed the coexistence of so many religions. It would be an impoverishment not only for India but also for Asia and the world. I hope that as a result of new communication technologies growing rapidly in India, the younger generation becomes more open and tolerant than those who have often grown disenchanted and sometimes disappointed. If much is to be expected from young people, we can expect it from Indian youth who are so numerous.
Biographical note: Carlo Di Cicco, the current deputy director of L’Osservatore Romano, is a professional journalist since 1977. For many years, he was editor-in-chief of a leading Italian news Agency, ASCA, responsible for social and religious reporting. He also worked with several magazines. He promoted a daily information dispatch on social policies and the voluntary sector in Italy. He is an author of several books in Italian, including The keepers of dreams with their finger on the mouse-Educators in the Information Age (Elledici, 1999) translated into Spanish, Portuguese and Slovenian; Ratzinger-Benedict XVI and the consequences of Love” (Memori, 2006); and “I believed you to be another” (Cantagalli in December 2008).

Hindu group demands ban on ‘Slumdog Millionaire’

 Hindu Janjagruti Samiti will approach various governments insisting the movie should not be released, Jayesh Thali, state spokesman of the group, said. There were a few scenes in the movie that denigrated Lord Ram, he alleged. The Goa unit of a Hindu organisation has demanded a ban on the release of `Slumdog Millionaire’, saying the award-winning film hurts the religious sentiments of the majority hindu community.
Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) will approach various governments, including that in Goa, insisting the movie should not be released, Jayesh Thali, state spokesman of the group, told PTI. They alleged thatthere are a few scenes in the movie that denigrated Lord Ram, . Thali said a HJS delegation had met Central Board of Film Certification officials in Mumbai, demanding a ban on the film which is slated for release tomorrow.
`Slumdog Millionaire’, which tells the rags-to-riches tale of an orphan from a Mumbai slum, won four Golden Globe awards, including one for music composer A R Rahman. What angered the radical group is the Oscar nominations received by Rahman and is a desperate attempt to deny Oscar for Rahman.
Source: http://persecution.in/node/3711  23 Jan 2009

Girls at Mangalore pub assaulted by Hindu outfit’s members

Mangalore (Karna), Jan 25 Members of a right wing Hindu group allegedly assaulted boys and girls in a Magalore pub accusing them of behaving in an”obscene manner”, prompting police to arrest 10 of the attackers.
“About 15 to 20 activists, reportedly belonging to Sri Ram Sene, barged into the pub late last night and assaulted boys and girls dancing there,”Inspector General of Police (Western Range) A M Prasad told PTI here today.
Even the girls were not spared by the agitated activists who chased and thrashed the victims when they tried to flee from the pub on the busy Balmatta Road in the heart of the city, eyewitnesses claimed.
The incident was immediately condemned by the opposition Congress and the state National Commission for Women which promised to take suo motu action against the culprits while the ruling BJP said it was sure that the state government will take strict action against the guilty.
Ten suspected activists of Sri Ram Sene were arrested and remanded to judicial custody till January 27 today on charges of assaulting the guests of the pub, police said. Prasad said the attackers alleged that the pub owner was allowing the boys and girls to dance and act in an”obscene manner”.
No damage has been caused to the pub in the incident, he added.
Terming the incident as “unfortunate, Karnataka NCW member Nirmala Venkatesh said the attackers had badly beaten victims especially girls and suo-motu action will be taken against them. There were also allegations of some of girls being molested. It is time, Hindu Women rise up to protest this molestation of women.

‘We were molested in the name of God ’

MANGALORE: “The entire scene has been playing out in my mind over and over again,” said a woman who was in ‘Amnesia,’ the pub that was attacked by a mob of Sri Ram Sene (SRS) members on Saturday, 24 Jan. She was sitting at the reception counter when the mob entered the compound and was witness to the incident from beginning to end. She said that before barging into the pub, the mob went into a huddle and prayed silently. They then began raising slogans ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai,’ ‘Jai Sri Ram,’ ‘Bajrang Dal ki Jai’ and ‘Sri Ram Sene ki Jai.’
“We have been molested and humiliated in the name of God and country by people who obviously have no regard for either of the two,” she told The Hindu on Monday.  Around 4 p.m. on January 24, a group of over 40 people, wearing saffron headbands and scarves, came in through the main gate and approached the bouncer of the pub.
“They asked to be let in so that they could get everybody out of the joint,” she said. Even as the bouncers negotiated with them at the entrance, the pub’s staff quickly closed the doors, and locked the woman and the bouncers outside. Hearing the noise, a curious kitchen staffer opened the rear door to see what was happening. The mob seized this opportunity and barged in through the kitchen. The victim too followed the mob indoors through the back door. “Once inside, they went straight for the women guests. They rounded them up at the centre of the dance floor and then started beating them mercilessly,” she said. After the initial beating, some of the assailants began to single out some of them and molested them. “One of them stripped a girl and groped her. She was also badly beaten up. We are still trying to trace her,” she said. According to her, several girls were targeted similarly.
“They were laughing when they were doing all this. It was just fun for them,” she said. The attackers then targeted the men who dared come to the rescue of the girls. The narrator herself was slapped a few times. What tormented her was the reaction of certain sections of the media.
“They arrived on the scene even before the attackers did,” she said, and added, “there was no nude dancing or prostitution going on there as reported.”
She and a few other victims are now trying to form a support group of those who were attacked in the incident. “Some of the women are in shock because of the humiliation they had to face on television,” she said. “We are trying to get professional counsellors for the victims and for their families.” Asserting her right to frequent the pub, she said, “We will also soon launch a protest on the streets to voice our opposition. We want to tell the world that we will not tolerate the growth of a Taliban-style group in this city.”
*Sudipto Mondal in The Hindu

BACKGROUNDER
Three major radical outfits in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district operate with three different agendas. These right-wing groups operate without treading on each other’s toes. Bajrang Dal opposes conversions. Hindu Janajagrithi Samithi works against denigrating Hindu gods in any form. The main agenda of SRS is putting an end to fashion shows, which they say denigrates Hindu culture. SRS is an offshoot of the Bajrang Dal. It was born as the Karnataka unit of the Shiv Sena, when Bajrang Dal state convener Pramod Mutalik walked out in a huff after being sidelined by the BJP over cow slaughter. Since then the Karnataka unit of the Shiv Sena has ceased to exist and SRS was born in 2007 after Shiv Sena took a pro-Maharashtra stand on the Belgaum issue. All these outfits operate with impunity, without fear of the law.

An Overview: Sri Ram Sena

A handful of men from a group thought of deciding how others should behave in Mangalore (south India). The group is called Sri Ram Sena.
Here’s the history of the group and the man who founded it. Sri Rama Sena is a pro-Hindu apolitical organization based in Hubli.There was nationwide outrage, as the images of the Mangalore pub incident scarred the collective psyche of a nation that’s celebrating Republic Day. Pramod Muthalik is the man who laid the foundation of the right-wing Hindu group called the Sri Ram Sena.
“Whoever has done this has done a good job. Girls going to pubs is not acceptable. So, whatever the Sena members did was right. You are highlighting this small incident to malign the BJP government in the state,” said Pramod.
Pramod a full-time RSS man earlier, was the Karnataka coordinator of the Bajrang Dal four years ago. Soon he was expelled from the Bajrang Dal after which he joined the Shiv Sena and later he formed his own group.That is what happen in India all the time.
This isn’t the first time the Sri Ram Sena has indulged in moral policing.This is sadly not an isolated incident of groups taking the law into their own hands. Churches and prayer halls around Mangalore were attacked just a few months ago over alleged conversions. In Bangalore, rave parties on the outskirts of the city were raided – not by police – but by members of the Kannada Rakshana Vedike.
As well as in August, 2008, it vandalised an exhibition of M F Husain’s paintings in Delhi.However the group also finds mention in the Malegaon (Maharashtra) blast chargesheet filed by the Maharashtra Police. In the transcript of a conversation, the prime accused Colonel Purohit is quoted saying, “The Shri Ram Sena is doing very good work. Purohit calls the leader of the group as Muthalik.Muthalik staunchly defended Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, another key accused in the Malegaon blast case, saying she is innocent.And now he’s dismissing the Mangalore pub attack as a small incident.
Source: Guru Ghantal (Jan, 27 ‘09)
http://www.indyarocks.com/blogs/blog_visiterview_main.php?id=35453#blog35453

Attack on priests, nuns and Christians in Assam

We, the Catholic Christian Community of Upper Assam strongly condemn the demeaning incident in which a section of the locals of Kamalabari town in Majuli subdivision of Jorhat district ill-behaved with the priests, nuns and members of our community on January 24,2009. We take strong exception to the incident, where members of our community, who were returning after attending a religious function, were taken into custody and harassed and few of them even assaulted on baseless grounds. The unacceptable harassment meted out to the community has gravely hurt the religious sentiments of Christians. We strongly protest the gross violation of the human rights and dignity of the people.
The fact is that the Christian people numbering around five hundred were returning from Jengraimukh, Saint Paul’s school after participating in a religious ceremony in which a member of the Mising Community, Mr. Hemanto Pegu was consecrated a priest of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Christians from various places of Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts had been there to witness the ordination/ consecration of Hemanta Pegu and were traveling back by jeeps, trucks and buses. At around 2.45pm when they reached the Kamalabari Charali, some locals including women stopped the vehicles and asked for the reasons of their coming to the Island. When they told them that they had come to see the consecration of Hemanto Pegu, they shouted, “Why are you converting the tribals? You beef eaters, never come back again and if you do come, we will cut you into pieces and throw you into the Brahamaputra.” With such threats and abusing languages they allowed the jeeps to go.
Some of the priests who were in the group are: Fr. Jose Varghese, the former Principal of St. Paul’s School, Jengraimukh, Fr. K. A. Thomas, presently, the Director of I-Card Jorhat and many other priests and nuns and Church dignitaries.
After a while Fr.Caesar Henry, the principal of St.Antony’s High School, Mariani and Fr.G.P.Amalraj, the principal of St.Xavier’s High school, Duliajan came in a hired Sumo and followed by two buses and a truck. As soon as they reached the Komalabari petrol pump, the priests were pulled out from the sumo and manhandled. They kicked and punched on their stomach. They shouted slogan, “they are the missionaries, beat them and kill them” they used abusive languages and mocked at them and told to walk all the way to the Ferry Ghat.
The Christian nuns and girls pleaded to the mob not to kick and beat priests and they tried to protect them from further harm. Then the mob rushed to the bus and stopped the bus, told the people to get down from the bus. They were told to hold their ears and tell, “they will not come to Majuli again”
The men were beaten and Kicked and shouted at them with abusive words like, “you Chai bhagan people, you are worth for two rupees and why did you come here; you, the beef eaters, did you come to eat beef here,” though the people pleaded and asked them not to beat, they were mercilessly beaten.
The children got panic and cried. Even today many women and children are in deep trauma. They could not imagine such mob attack upon them for no reason. Then they were told to put their heads down and catch their ears and walk bare footed from Kamalabari to the Ferry Ghat. Like the slaves of the pre-independent India, men, women and children walked to the Ferry Ghat. As they were walking, the Kamalabari people abused them verbally. Then came Fr.Victor Toppo, the then principal of St.Paul’s School, Jengraimukh on a bike. He was stopped and kicked and beaten badly. And also a priest from Don Bosco school, Jorhat was manhandled and beaten. Some students of Holy Cross School, Naojan sustained injuries in stone pelting incident.
We seek to explain to the media and to the people of the state that the Christians were not on their mission to convert the tribals as alleged but using this opportunity when the first Mishing priest was getting ordained, they had made their first ever visit to this world famous island.
This brutal attack is a slur on the harmonious co-existence of the people of Assam.
May I request the media persons to publish this press release in their esteemed dailies to bring out the truth.
Fr. William Horo, Place:Dibrugarh, Director of Media communication,
Dated: 27th Jan2009, Diocese of Dibrugarh, Bishop’s House,PB No.50, Dibrugarh – Assam, 786 001

Rome Convention on “Christians in Today’s World”

ROME — A three hour convention is scheduled to take place in the City Hall Rome (P.za del Campidoglio, 1) on the topic entitled: Christians in the World Today (Cristiani nel mondo oggi), Tuesday, 3rd February 2009, 4 – 7 pm.  Among the speakers are: Fr Guiseppe Caramazza (Joint-director of MISNA – Missionary News Agency); Prof. Scaria Thuruthiyil former dean of the Philosophy Faculty (Salesian University Rome) expert on problems confronting Christians in India; Fr Livio Tagliaferi, Comboni Missionary expert on Sudan; and Salesian Fr Ferdinando Colombo (Founder-Director of International Volunteers for Development) is expert on Congo, Ruanda and Burundi. Each speaker will brief on their topic of expertise for about 25 minutes.
Prof Scaria’s presentation will open with a five minute video on the recent anti-Christian violence in India, particularly in Orissa with a commentary in Italian language. It will be followed up with power point presentation on Christianity in India, rise of Hindu revivalism with fundamentalist tendencies.
“I will attempt to answer the question: how is it that Hinduism which has preached and practiced ‘tolerance’ for millennia (in fact the most tolerant of all religions) suddenly became so intolerant?” says Dr Thuruthiyil.
“The scope of the convention is not only to give information but also to take decisions and propose concrete action against such violence and ensure basic human rights are upheld,” Dr Thurutiyil adds.
The convention is held under the patronage of Rome Corporation Councilor Honourable Antonio Stampete and Collector of the Lazio region Honorable Marco Di Stefano.
For further information contact: cmpaul53@gmail.com

5C’s Criteria For Lok Sabha Candidates

Clean, Credible, Competent, Corruption Free and Committed – Candidate

Dear Friends/ Citizens,
Recently we have experienced very traumatic times when our beloved country has been threatened both from beyond our borders and within.
Troubling times are upon us with Indian fighting Indian on grounds of caste, creed, community, region, language and culture for political advantage of the few, putting at grave risk the many.
Corporate India has lost its ethical moorings underwriting the mayhem created by the political class for the singular pursuit of profit.
The sanctity of Parliament has been compromised by persons with criminal histories a mile long; unable to debate on issues of national importance, squandering crores of public money on un-conducted business in an unattended Lok Sabha. Thereafter, our representatives enjoy the highest levels of security afraid of the citizens they represent.
Once again the Lok Sabha Elections are around the corner.
From 1.2 billion people we have to choose 542 persons with impeccable credentials to serve and provide leadership.
While we have enjoyed a far from impressive track record doing so, till date, another opportunity is upon us to make the difference that we have been seeking for so very long.
If we citizens have to bring the change then, we have to respect each other’s political differences and arrive at a consensus  seeking good governance from the political parties that represent us.
Please consider this an appeal from one Indian citizen to another,setting aside religion, community, language caste etc.
May I request you to read the contents of the petition below and then visit the link to sign it.
In order that this petition may receive the widest possible circulation and signatures, may I request you to do the following:

·                                 Translate it into any and every Indian language.

·                                 If any individual, group or organisation wishes to replicate the petition in an Indian language and place an electronic version on the petition online website, please contact citizen.positive@gmail.com. This is only to ensure that there is no duplication of the petition in any one language.

·                                 For those with no limited or internet access, please take a print out  of the petition and have the same signed, or thumb imprinted.

·                                 For those groups, organisations etc, obtaining signatures on a hard copy, please have a representative sign the petition, providing email address,valid registration number of organisation and number of signatures obtained.

·                                 For those groups of people with no internet access, the original hard copy may be sent to the, Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India, with photcopies to each of the poltical parties marked ” 5C’s Criteria For Lok Sabha Candidates” in a language of your choice.

·                                 The electronic version of the petition will also be sent to the Election Commission of India, with copies to each of the poltical parties.
Let’s make the difference…
sincerely
Ranjan Kamath
____________________________________________________________________________________________

The petition title is: 5C’s for Lok Sabha Candidates.
The petition URL is: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/5CLS09/petition.html
The petition is directed to: Political Parties of India _ National, Regional, Local
The start date is: .January 31st, 2009
The end date is: ..March 1, 2009
The petition statement says:
To: The Political Parties of India (National, Regional and Local)

Karnataka’s Recent Communal Violence Record (June 2008 – January 2009)

The state’s communal record has gone up drastically in recent times …
June 9, 2008: Temple affairs minister Krishnaiah Shetty issues circular to 34,000 temples to perform special puja for newly sworn-in CM. Order later modified after protests.
August 10, 2008: Karnataka Rakshana Vedike attacks a group of 35 people allegedly holding a ‘rave party’ at Manchanabele Dam.
August 14, 2008: State-owned Mahabaleshwara Temple in Gokarna transferred to Ramachandrapur Math, known for its save-the-cow campaigns A vandalised church in Mangalore.
August 29, 2008: The Public Instruction Department issues notices to all Christian institutions in the state to shut down to protest the violence against Christians in Orissa. Notice precursor to statewide attacks on churches. September 14, 2008: With Mangalore as the epicentre, Sangh parivar activists attack Christian prayer halls and churches across state. More churches attacked three days later.
October 16, 2008: The largest-selling Kannada newspaper claims on its front page that conversions have gone up alarmingly after Sonia Gandhi-Congress came to power. Debates the issue on its Op-Ed page for over a month.
October 30, 2008: Bajrang Dal activists attack two undertrials in Mangalore district sub jail; sixth such attack after its chief Mahendra Kumar’s arrest on September 20.
December 12, 2008: Aggressive posturing at Baba Budangiri by parivar leaders and Hindu pontiffs.
December 27, 2008: Hoysala Sene attacks Fuga bar in Bangalore, alleges illegal activities.
December 28, 2008: Bajrang Dal activists attack a bus ferrying students on a study tour to Mysore, saying girls and boys from different religions can’t travel together B.V. Seetharam handcuffed.
January 6, 2009: B.V. Seetharam, editor of Mangalore-based newspaper Karavali Ale, who followed a strong anti-parivar editorial line, handcuffed and arrested in alleged extortion case. Prior to his arrest, parivar elements vandalise paper’s office.
January 7, 2009: Laddoos distributed in some schools across the state on Vaikunta Ekadashi. Congress demands biriyani should be distributed on Ramzan.
January 19, 2009: An arrested dacoit reportedly confesses links with radical Hindu groups and admits to carrying out the Hubli district court bombing before the May assembly elections.
January 25, 2009: Sri Rama Sene activists attack pub in Mangalore and molest and beat up women.
January 25, 2009: Bajrang Dal activists attack a private party in Mangalore.
January 28, 2009: Muzrai department orders temples to perform special puja to ward off “ill-effects” of the solar eclipse. magazine |
Feb 09, 2009 ‘No Major Crimes Or Law And Order Problems During My Rule’ Karnataka chief minister Yediyurappa stuck to staccato answers in an interview.

“Valentine’s Day” originated in Gujarat!

Valentine’s Day originated hundreds of years ago, in India, and to top it all, in Gujarat !!
It is a well known fact that Gujarati men, specially the Patels, continually mistreat and disrespect their wives (Patelianis). One fine day, it happened to be the 14th day of February, one brave Pateliani, having had enough “torture” by her husband, finally chose to rebel by beating him up with a Velan (rolling pin).
Yes….the same Velan which she used daily, to make chapattis for
him….only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened.
This was a momentous occasion for all Gujarati women and a revolt soon spread, like wild fire, with thousands of housewives beating up their husbands with the Velan.
There was an outburst of moaning “chapatti-ed” husbands all over Anand and Amdavad. The Patel men-folk quickly learnt their lesson and started to behave more respectfully with their Patelianis.
Thereafter, on 14th February, every year, the womenfolk of Gujarat would beat up their husbands, to commemorate that eventful day. The wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with the Velan and the men having the supreme joy of submitting to the will of the women they loved.
Soon The Gujju men realized that in order to avoid this ordeal they need to present gifts to their wives….they brought flowers and sweetmeats.
Hence the tradition began.
As Gujarat fell under the influence of Western culture, that day was called ‘Velan time’ day.
The ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, specifically, the catch words ‘Velan time!’ Of course in their foreign tongues, it was first anglicized to ‘Velantime’ and then to ‘Valentine’.
And thereafter, 14th of February, came to be known as Valentine’s Day!
Source: “Reginald Vaz” MangaloreanCatholics@gmail.com Tue Feb 3, 2009 6:43 pm (PST)

National Anthem Controversy in M.P. & St. Thomas School

The Republic Day celebrations of this year in Madhya Pradesh remembered for quiet a number of days. It is due to the controversy arose from political, Governmental and social sector. The first controversy was heard Bhopal ward no. 31 of Bhopal Municipal Corporation. Here the Cooperator Mrs. Vandana Parihar un-noticingly hoisted the BJP Party flag in place of National Flag. She got over with it by the support of Mr. Alok Sanchar, the district of BJP. He said that the function was organized for the party to pray for the nation, and it has nothing to do with hoisting of national flag.
The Second was from the State Minority Commission member Mr. Kulvant Singh who stopped National Anthem in between and asked all the participants to sing the National Song – Vande mataram- . He justified himself saying that he had issued instructions to all members to sing the National Song in place of National Anthem.
The third was alleged to be a minister of the Sivrag Singh Government in Ashoknagar District of Madhya Pradesh unknowingly hoisted the National Flag Upward-down. In all these incidents no action is taken against anybody. The action of the Minority Commission is being justified by the alleged offender. He issued press statements in this regard justifying the act. In-spite of this the police is silent on this issue. In this raw we have to see the National Anthem controversy in St. Thomas School, Bhopal.
The fourth: The Principal of the school Fr. Thomas Malancharuvil narrates that Sports teacher Arvind Gupta as per the custom of the School was given the responsibility of making arrangements for the Republic Day Celebrations. He is alleged to be a disobedient teacher came that day also late. He came only after eight thirty i.e. one hour late as the decision of the school. The school had told him to do the preparations between seven thirty and eight. So that the school can begin the function by eight am. The whole programme could start only by eight forty five because no-one knew where the flag is kept by the sports teacher. After having all programmes related to Republic day the Principal announced that the school is hurt by the irresponsible behaviour of the teacher and the administration is suspending him for three days. The teacher pleaded that he will not repeat laxity in duty and pardons him.
The teacher with the cooperation a Lalit Sahu, the Drawing teacher and Thomas, the Music teacher wanted the principal to ask pardon to Sports teacher in front of all teacher and students. Their argument was that the principal suspended him in the public gathering so it must be equal in all regard. The School administration refused to do so. The three immediately took the help of Hindu organizations and accused the principal of insulting the National Anthem. An independent committee met the teachers in this regard and it was told by the Staff that these teachers are trouble makers ever since the new principal took charge. The police knew that the incident has no link to the National Anthem so no FIR was made under the complaint made by the teacher. The issue took a new turn when on 2nd February a group of ABVP activists vandalized school premises. They destroyed the office of the school. The police say that they are under pressure from all sides so they have registered a case against father under the disrespect to National Anthem. It is a non-bailable offence. So the principal had to take bail from District Court.
In this incident the ABVP activists also attacked one Police personnel. He was injured so the police canned and they were arrested. Mean while the Christian organization Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh asked the Collector and SP of Bhopal District to conduct a Magisterial enquiry on the matter to ascertain the truth, order a high level enquiry into the role of the Piplani station officer for he has worked in a partisan manner, the district administration must ask the ABVP to pay for the damage. They have told the district administration that if in three days time if no action is taken then the organization will approach the court for justice.
The Congress Party, Marxists, Different Religious Heads and Secular Organizations have raised question on the partisan behaviour of the Police. They held protests in support of the Principal. They also have asked the district administration to withdraw the case against the principal.
The whole incident has put a question to the Government that what are the criteria of taking action against a person with regard to the national anthem? How do the police take action on a person by flouting the law to save them from political pressure? What is the condition of Law and Order under the BJP regime?
Fr. Anand Muttugnal, PRO & Spokesperson Catholic Church, M.P 09425636129.

RESPONDING TO ‘MISLEADING GANDHIGIRI’ by S. ANAND

The link below will lead you the story titled ‘Misleading Gandhigiri’ by S Anand, published in Tehelka dtd 31/01/09, which rubbished the Cellular Silence Day petition.
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=Op310109misleading_gandhigiri.asp
Please find Ranjan Kamath’s riposte below which Tehelka felt it unnecessary to publish:

RESPONDING TO ‘MISLEADING GANDHIGIRI’ by S. ANAND

G. D Birla bankrolled Mahatma Gandhi. The ‘hits’ to the Cellular Silence petition page online attracted ICICI Lombard to solicit insurance while Tehelka  thought it prudent that S. Anand’s article ‘Misleading Gandhigiri’ – rubbishing the aforesaid unintelligent petition – be bolstered by TATA AIG’s personal injury plan advertisement. Corporate India continues to consort with the strangest of bedfellows, it seems!

Rather than lock horns in a constructive engagement on petition strategy and objectives, well-read Anand felt it more gratifying to grapple with an obscure part of the socially conservative bull’s anatomy, totally losing the plot in the process.

S Anand found it appropriate to mischievously manoeuvre portions of the petition airbrushed with his preferred selections of history to rubbish Gandhi; question the secular credentials of the signatories, conveniently clubbing all into a socially conservative monolith, all sophistically tailored to justify his diatribe.

While I have the greatest respect and appreciation for leaders of our freedom movement – including Ambedkar, Nehru and Gandhi, I choose to remain only inspired but refuse to treat them as ’sacred cows’ or, consider their writings as dogma.  It is more important to learn lessons from their mistakes and set course corrections for ourselves rather than remain shackled by history.

What I find objectionable is Anand’s propensity to select his ’sacred cow’ -while rebuking other leaders – to celebrate the victimhood of his constituency in perpetuity.

Pakistani school books justify their enmity with India; the Hindutva vanguard leave no ruin unturned to establish the sub-continent as Aryan homeland and S. Anand completes this ménage a trios of historical selectivity to justify his blinkered raison d’être – of preserving his constituency of the underdog.

While drafting the Cellular Silence petition it was Mahatma Gandhi’s strategy of non-violence that was the inspiration. Given, that two other greatest men of the 20^th century, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela employed it with efficacy, it strikes me as the most appropriate ‘operating system’ with which to address the violence, iniquities and inequalities of the 21^st century.

Fifteen days ago and for a few decades before that, I felt myself a voice in the wilderness falling upon deaf ears in the jungle of Indian democracy. Embraces and endorsements at the Vibrant Gujarat summit precipitated the tipping point.

The choice remained; an unvoiced angry reaction in silence or, a non-violent response with silence? It is with great trepidation that I placed the petition online, certain my call for cellular silence would receive a deafening silence in response or, worse still ridicule and censure.

To my surprise the petition was greeted with 50 signatures and hour! Ordinary Indian citizens from afar as Kashmir felt the petition gave them a voice they long sought. They felt empowered by what Anand dismisses as tokenism of the socially conservative. Theses voices originated from various corners of the country, from all walks of life and strata of society.

May I remind Anand that it was a fistful of salt – another token gesture – that precipitated the beginning of the end of British rule in India? While Anand remembers Martin Luther King’s boycott, his convenient amnesia as to where King sought his inspiration to launch the Civil Rights movement is unfortunate.

For the average Indian, a boycott call a la Gandhi or Martin Luther King – as Anand suggests – from an unknown Indian would have crashed on ‘take off’. A ‘token’ gesture permits the average Indian a vote of confidence; seeking reassurance in the comfort of numbers, before investing time, energy and self-sacrifice in a future boycott to ensure his ‘return on investment’.

We are in different times when strategies of protest are not black and white as in the time of Martin Luther King or Gandhi. Boycotting the Nano, as Anand suggests hurts the ordinary factory worker – many of whom might be Dalit and Adivasi; it hurts the image of India and might incidentally hurt Tata Motors. Switching cell phones off inconveniences the subscriber for a day but sends the message to the captains of corporate India that we can stop consuming anytime we choose at the press of a button.

In rubbishing the petition and Gandhi with it, Anand in his efforts to champion Ambedkar inadvertently finds himself ensconced between Narendra Modi’s fierce fan club who launch vitriolic tirades via email and the legal department of TATA Sons who also brook no criticism of their corporate captain.

Anand forgets that the Dalits, Adivasis and millions in the middle of India’s pyramid are all on the same side of the fence bullied by corporate India that bolsters the political class – eating out of their palms – for a sop.

Wealth creation is not a bad thing Mr Anand. Economic mobility is probably the most efficacious way to debilitate the caste system over course of time. To achieve that wealth creation must be for the greatest good of all and not just for those at the top of the pyramid, looking down on the rest as mere consumers fuelling economic growth – not citizens of India.

May I suggest that in future Anand use his erudition constructively, not to alienate but to forge a bond with citizens who sign such petitions all of whom are trying to find a voice to create a more equitable civic society.

sd/- Ranjan Kamath

Time for Indian Christian Sena

Bajrang Dal acually means Army of Hanuman
Shiv Sena- Shiva’s Army
Ranvir Sena- Army of Ranvir
Now its time for christians in India to wake up and set up All India Christian Network to counter the sangh parivar, to defend Christian life, properties and churches.
In India, when you defend your rights they will label you a terrorist and they will use that excuse to murder you or do some staged encounters which they are very good at. The best thing you can do, I feel is spread awareness about this, catch the politicians on their every lie like Modi’s vibrant Gujrat which turned on to be a farce but still majority believes he made a economic miracle there, stop their wild rumors.
Be political, take part in the political process, be part of the govt, the police, army etc. Let them remain free to all (otherwise u wont know when things happen, the police attacked and herded the Muslims for the mobs in Gujarat)…. on the extreme end don’t be a soft target, if these goons come to your house to kill your family make sure you take a few of them down with you.
Many people still believe in humanity, and the best thing is to make people respond or to be aware of their inner voice, their consciences. When you travelled round the world you will realise all this religious violence is stupidity, there are more pressing issues. And at the end when you die what’s important is if you were a blessing or a curse. There are so many Indians around the world and when these goons try to force us out from our homes because of our difference in religion, you cant help wonder what if all the Indians where forced of those countries and all the so called aliens were forced out of India….. who would benefit most? In places like Kenya, Hong Kong, America, malaysia, Mauritius.. Indians hold a lot of wealth and it is their right as they have sweated for it.

Source: http://www.sikhlionz.com/vhprssbjp.htm

Chilli spray guards for Valentine’s Day

DELHI: On February 14, the streets of Delhi will be manned by the guardians of love, who will thwart any attacks on young couples by the guardians of `genuine Indian culture’.
Armed with pepper spray cans and martial arts skills, members of the National Panthers Party will patrol the streets to ensure a molestation-free Valentine’s Day, which has now become as much a symbol of personal liberty as a day to celebrate love. Such patrols have been in place in previous years, but this time they are far more watchful because of the hooligan attacks on girls at a Mangalore pub.
The heads of this group are experts in judo and karate and they are going to be on the roads, says Sanjay Sachdev, the Delhi chapter president of the party. “We want to shun violence as far as possible, so we’ll use chilli spray. Nobody has the right to disturb anybody’s private life,” he adds.
His party’s views on love are simple: “Love has no barriers, no caste, and nobody should be discriminated on the basis of gender.” The party is distributing 50,000 handbills and pamphlets tomorrow on all campuses across Delhi. “We want young people to join our squad,” says
Sachdev, “because until and unless society does not come forward, it’s difficult to bring about changes on our own.” Party member Harsh Malhotra will answer its helpline on 9313784375.
Also, popular city nightspots like Smoke House Grill and Urban Pind say that they will keep extra bouncers in place to deal with any troublemakers.
Just do it: Youngsters are undeterred by threats to their V-Day plans from hardliners. “This is all crap,” says Garima, 19, of Gargi College. “These people are uncivilized. I’m not going to spoil the day because of this. Gender discrimination is banned, so why this nonsense?”
Nitish Sharma, 19, a student of Pioneer Media School, cannot understand how such attacks on one’s freedom can take place in a democracy. “If what’s happening in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan happens in India, then what’s the difference? Then let the government scrap the whole idea of democracy. Both sexes are equal, and people need to understand this,” asserts Nitish, whose V-Day plans are on track. Nor will “these dhamkis” subdue Shalini, 19, a DU student.
Kashif Anzar, 23, a graduate from Jamia Millia, feels that the hard-line attitude will only breed frustration. “Valentine’s Day is meant for your loved ones,” he says. “People have mistaken ideas about the day.”
Source: Minakshi Saini & Neha Ahuja, in Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 04, 2009

The Almighty Principals Left Alone with None

(The writer Fr. Anand Muttungal is the PRO & Spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh. This article is his personal view).
I am forced to highlight the plight of the so called ’Almighty Principals’ who run the catholic schools while they are being assulted. The schools are really run in the name of the Christians but the Christians are treated as extra burden to the School. Almost all these ‘powerful pricipals’ have some general traits such as arrogance, pride and an inconcealable effort to hide their incompetency. They fix one hour for parents to interact with them. We must remember that there may be students between two thousand to four thousand. They are never available on phone, do not pick up mobile phones, make people wait for hours etc. are very normal for them. We can judge from the way of their administration that majority of them have become principal just because they belong to the class of priests, brothers and nuns. Their competency in managerial skills is under question. It has put into them a rare variety of pride mixed with disrespect for people and christian lay leaders in particular. It has become an identity of these pricipals. They try to boast their acquaintance with the powerful administrative offcials, leaders, journalists etc. They feel that they can do everything under the sun. But what surprises is that their advisers are printers, publishers, stationary sellers, contractors, peons, drivers and in some cases one or two incompetent teachers.
They very often shun admission requests from senior officials, senior leaders etc. but the Hawaldar of the local police station, corporator of the area, local leaders of antisocial organizations etc. get a number of admissions every year. They do not grant even a single admission to the Christian lay leaders who fight day and night for their protection and the rights of Christians. They argue that the lay christian leaders should only ask for their children but a good percentage of admissions are distributed to whomever they want. A good number of them are sold by those who use their acquaintance with the principal. This has tarnished the image of the Christian community very badly.
Whenever an attack takes place in any of the schools, we do not find any one standing with these almighty principals. They are left with none. No high level contacts come to their support. They sit alone inside the police station waiting for their release. We find a good number of Christian leaders whom they did not allow to get inside the principal’s office are waiting out side to safegurd them. Could there be a greater fall than this for these almighty principal’s?
It is very heart-rending to hear the plight of the Principal of one of the Schools attacked in Bhopal. He is the principal of over thousand children, member of the Sahodaya Organization, (Organization of the CBSE Schools), Inter-diocesan Catholic School Association of Madhya Pradesh, Archdiocesan Catholic School Association and Member of the Archdiocesan Priests Council. There was no members of his gallery of assoications to stand with him for five hours inside the police station. Except the Archbishop of Bhopal who waited hours in the school premises for his return from custody and show his paternal love. No priests, brothers or sisters came to share his sadness. What hanppened to these spiritual beings who offers and participates in the Holy Eucharist and prayers every day. Is it the spirituality of Lord Jesus who died on the Cross?
I do remember the strong objection of the priests, brothers and some nuns about the purpose of founding Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh. Even though it is a socio-cultural organization, it was called a political outfit and refused to associate with it. They strongly argued against making anouncements in the Churches to encourage people to join its programmes to support the Christian community in the state. I feel proud to say that it was the members of this organization that lead the Church in dealing with all troubles in the state. Members of this organization stood with the principal from the time of his attack to his bail from the Court. It is to be asked here the Question of Lord Jesus, Who is your neighbour ? It is the right time the priciples, the parish priests and Church officials make right approach to the lay leadership in the Church. The issue comes up here because they do not seem to have grasped their role in the larger society. They probably still believe that they solely hold ‘the key to the kingdom of God.’
The world needs to be seen as one unified unit. We have been given the duty to make this world into a beatiful place for people to live. Every one is given a role in the process, Prime Minister to peons have a very distinct role. The role of the spiritual leader is to help the world to live in peace and harmony. So that the creation of the Lord progresses uninterupted. If the spiritual leader understands it then his / her out look to the world too takes a new shape. How long this arrogance and pride will go on in the administration? How long the Christian lay leaders will bear the insult and injustice at the hands of these “Almighty Principals” and stand with them in their moments of trouble?
NB: Your opinions are welcome. Send to mppro2@yahoo.com

Pink underwear for the Sri Ram Sena

Priya Ramani – Monday, February 09, 2009 2:56 PM
I hate Facebook activism. My friends are members of all kinds of online groups and campaigns such as “Conscientious Citizens for Causes”, “Let’s collect 50,000 signatures to support the Palestinians in Gaza”, “Stop Greyhound Slaughter” and “Corruption…Let’s Fight Now”.
My eyes glaze over when I get these invitations and I wonder how people even have the time to take time out from the rat race to participate. But I just signed up for a new Facebook group called The Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women and now I have to find the time to dig through my wardrobe for all my pink underwear to participate in their Pink Chaddi campaign. The group, as you may guess, was started after last week’s incident in a Mangalore pub. Its goal is to teach the Sri Ram Sena a thing or two about Indian women.
They’ve detailed their plan of action on http://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/. Here’s a preview from their blog: What can you do?
Step 1: It does not matter that many of us have not thought about Valentine’s Day since we were 13. If ever. This year let us send the Sri Ram Sena some love. Let us send them some PINK CHADDIS.Look in your closet or buy them cheap. Dirt-cheap. Make sure they are PINK. Send them off to the Sena at the address we’ve provided. If you don’t want to mail it yourself, you can drop it off at the Chaddi Collection Points. We will be collecting across the country through this week and sending the packages on February 12. More information about Chaddi Collectors in your city soon on our blog.
Step 2: Send the Pink Chaddi Campaign a photograph of the package. Tell us how many chaddis you are sending out and inspire other women in other cities. You can either mail the information to freelancehabba (at) gmail (dot) com or you can mail it at our Facebook address
Step 3: On Valentine’s Day we do a Pub Bharo action. Go to a pub wherever you are. From Kabul to Chennai to Guwahati to Singapore to LA women have signed up. It does not matter if you are actually not a pub-goer or not even much of a drinker. Let us raise a toast (it can be juice) to Indian women. Take a photo or video. We will put it together (more on how later) and send this as well to the Sri Ram Sena. What happens after Valentine’s Day? After Valentine’s Day we should get some of our elected leaders to agree that beating up women is ummm… AGAINST INDIAN CULTURE.
For right now, ask not what Dr VS Acharya, Home Minister of Karnataka can do for you. Ask what you can do for him. Here is his blog. http://drvsacharya.blogspot.com. Send him some love.
Nisha Susan, For the Pink Chaddi Campaign I hope you’re inspired to contribute a pink underwear or two. http://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/

‘Dalits banned from yagna’

10 Feb 2009, 0054 hrs IST, Kshitiz Gaur, TNN AJMER: In a shocking case of caste discrimination, nearly 450 Dalit families of Tiloli village in Bhilwara district were allegedly asked to undergo a purification ceremony by drinking cow urine if they wanted to participate in a seven-day long “sthapana yagna” at the local Hanuman mandir.
Tension arose in the village last week when Sadhu Rameshwar Lal wanted to to perform a yagna’ in Hanuman temple. “We were happy to know that a religious ceremony would take place in the village and all were ready to participate in it,” said Chogalal, a Dalit veteran of the village. The village has a population of 5,000 with 450 Dalit households. A committee was formed to perform the ritual and fund collection started.
“But they (upper caste men) refused to make us part of the ceremony and Sadhu Rameshwar Lal announced that no Dalit would participate in the ritual,” said Kanaya Lal Khateek.
Bhanwar Singh, deputy SP Gulabpura said: “We received the information that there was certain dissatisfaction in the village regarding a religious ceremony. We came to know that villagers were not taking the contribution of Dalits and were not allowing them to be a part of the yagna. We called a meeting of every community on Saturday night and ensured that anyone willing to contribute did so and provide them a receipt for their contribution.”
In the all-community meeting called on February 7, it was decided that no member of any community would perform rituals except the Brahmins.
When the Dalits showed their eagerness to be part of the ritual, Sadhu said if they wanted to participate in the ceremony, they will have to drink cow urine with dung. “We too wanted to participate in the ritual, after all it is a ceremony of the village,” said Hari Ram Megwanshi.
Three castes — Raiger, Khateek and Badai — were banned to sit for the rituals and Sadhu’s supporters allegedly published pamphlets stating that Dalits were not allowed to sit in the rituals. A group of Dalits then approached the district collector, asking him to intervene.
“We met the district collector and told him that we want to give a memorandum to the chief minister,” says Hari Ram. This was followed by an all-community meeting convened by deputy superintendent of police Bhanwar Lal who was asked by the district collector to tackle the situation.
Despite reaching a unanimous decision that the Dalits can witness the ceremony, they were seen sitting almost 400 meters away from the ceremony. Even as the situation remained tense, Ladhu Ram Jain of the organizing committee said: “There were some people who wanted to disturb the atmosphere.
The Sadhu is performing rituals on his private property and has the right to invite anyone he wants.” TOI tried to contact district collector Bhagwan Singh Deta many times but he was busy making arrangements for the visit of chief minister Ashok Gehlot on February 10. Source: TOI

Sita Sena to give Chaddi and Chilli Spray to Ram Sena on Valentine’s Day

Congratulate the brave females of India for starting this wonderful, innovative campaign to tackle the hindu talibani sri ram sena. For a change we could call these brave lasses “SRIMATI SITA SENA” – SS Sena for short.
Please join and support these females who are fighting for their as well as our fundamental right of freedom of expression.
What is the Pink Chaddi Campaign?
In this campaign you just choose any old pink chaddi (under wear) from your closet or purchase the pink chaddi (dirt cheap ones) and send to sri ram sena the hindu talibani org.

The address to send the pink chaddi package is:
The Pink Chaddi Campaign,
Pramod Muthali, Sri Rama Sene Office # 11,
Behind New Bus Stand, Gokhul Road, Lakshmi Park, Hubli – Karnataka

If you want to visit their site this is the address.
http://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/2009/02/welcome.html
On Valentine’s Day do a Pub Bharo action. Go to a pub wherever you are. From Kabul to Chennai to Guwahati to Singapore to LA women have signed up. It does not matter if you are actually not a pub-goer or not even much of a drinker. Raise a toast (it can be juice) to Indian women. Take a photo or video. We will put it together (more on how later) and send this as well to the Sri Ram Sena.

If you are in Delhi, bring your packages to
Nisha Susan
C/o Tehelka
M76, M-Block Market
Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi.
Last Date Of Collection For Delhi: 11 February

IDEAL VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS

India valentines day best gifts stay united. Form the Valentine’s Day groups, be together and when moral gundas come to beat you beat them like they will never try again. Catch them and hand them over to police after a dose of good thrashing.
Gift chilli sprays and other such sprays, keep them with you and use them on moral gundas, teach them a lesson. Remember if you are in group, they will run away… just show courage, let them know you are united.
Best gift for valentines day will be to stay united and teach a lesson to moral gundas.
What happens after Valentine’s Day?
After Valentine’s Day we should get some of our elected leaders to agree that beating up women is ummm… AGAINST INDIAN CULTURE.

She’ll Be Wearing Pink Chaddis When She Comes

On February 9^th 2009, Martin Luther King Jr’s son arrived to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of his father’s visit to India. In 1959, King Jr. returned to the US infused with the Gandhian mantra of non-violence to resist the segregation of his people.

On the same day that King Jr III commenced his India visit, this writer’s mailbox was enthusiastically inundated by the ‘pink chaddi’ campaign, sponsored by the Consortium of Pub-Going Loose and Forward Women, resolutely resisting the segregation of their ilk by Pramod Muthalik and his saffron hued cultural crusaders – the Shree Ram Sena.

King had acknowledged his intellectual debt to Gandhi saying “Since being in India I am more convinced than ever before that the method of non-violent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity”.

Fifty years later a gentleman from Chandigarh aptly christening himself ‘Ignoramus’ felt it necessary to recognise the Mahatma’s contribution to the ‘pink chaddi’ campaign with a blog comment saying “I would equate it to the Ahimsa movement by Gandhiji. The best revolution and inline with Baapuji’s call for Ahimsa. Gandhigiri at its best” .

While the ‘pink chaddi’ campaign has captured the imagination of 14,800 members on Facebook, securing the attention of the international press including the BBC, its myopic objective is restricted to elbowing Muthalik off the column centimetres with apparent and immediate success.

In a modus operandi of intolerance akin to their bête noire, the blog has been sanitized of critical comments, including those of this writer. Given, the association of the ‘pink chaddi’ campaign with champions of free expression – such as Tehelka in New Delhi and the Alternative Law Forum in Bangalore – expunging comments that sit uncomfortably with the cause is certainly not cricket.

The ‘pink chaddi’ concept deserves acknowledgement but unfortunately the combative nature of the campaign is antithetical to the Gandhian spirit of non-violence. While the Consortium certainly comprises numerous accomplished women, their political immaturity is evidently reflected in mirroring Muthalik’s language of confrontation, through which they have opted to demean themselves. Perhaps, faculties diminished by ‘pub-going’ encouraged the adoption of such a sensationalist but challenged strategy?

Apart from their captivating media attention over the subsequent days let us forecast the balance sheet of this campaign’s accomplishments. Rather than being humiliated, Pramod Muthalik will probably discount pink knickers for an inaccurate saffron hue and distribute this as largesse to his constituency comprising female supporters of every endowment.

Otherwise, the Shree Ram Sena lumpen will make substantial amounts of money selling softer pink grease rags across Karnataka to fund further dastardly acts of hooliganism. In all probability, some of his sympathisers are already laughing their way to the bank selling thousands of pink knickers during a recession. Not least, the postman will receive a bonus delivering this dubious bounty!

The consortium has not considered the fact that the Shree Ram Sena has a substantial constituency amongst women who are equally disapproving of “pub culture”.

Furthermore, the women of an entire minority community – otherwise in solidarity by virtue of gender – would distance themselves from spiritual pursuits in the pub not prescribed in their religious doctrines.

Finally, while this consortium enjoyed the opportunity of providing leadership to women across India at the receiving end of relentless male chauvinism, it is disappointing that they opted to segregate themselves from such responsibility to assert the blinkered purpose of their looseness, forwardness and ‘pub bharo’ rights instead.

Segregated from ‘pub bharo’, the ‘pink chaddi’ is a singular idea but the combination has left its slip showing. Dispatching pink knickers in bulk to Muthalik would reinforce the resolve of his cadres to retaliate manifold and win him sympathy from fence sitters.

Adopting the Gandhian way would have transformed the campaign from the sensational to the substantial. Exploiting the colour pink that symbolised the segregation and systematic elimination of an entire race would have captivated world imagination and given this campaign stature.

Sending the ‘chaddis’ to Muthalik is a protest of convenience conducted in anonymity not commensurate with the courage shown by women of the Chipko Movement.

To achieve that transformation, it would have required the ‘pink chaddi’ to signify more than a ‘bubble gum and Barbie doll’ Valentine Day protest. The courage of wearing the ‘chaddi’ as an over-garment – symbolising the segregation of progressive women by a horde of saffron hued neo-fascists – would have earned “world sympathy, in the battle of right against might” to quote the Mahatma.
Posted By Ranjan Kamath to C+ive _ Civic Society On The Web

Hindus plan cow urine drink to rival Western sodas

NEW DELHI (Reuters Life!) – A hardline Hindu organization, known for its opposition to “corrupting” Western food imports, is planning to launch a new soft drink made from cow’s urine, often seen as sacred in parts of India.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or National Volunteer Corps, said the bovine beverage is undergoing laboratory tests for the next 2 to 3 months but did not give a specific date for its commercial release.
The flavor is not yet known, but the RSS said the liquid produced by Hinduism’s revered holy cows is being mixed with products such as aloe vera and gooseberry to fight diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Many Hindus consider cow urine to have medicinal properties and it is often drunk in religious festivals.
The organization, which aims to transform India’s secular society and establish the supremacy of a Hindu majority, said it had not decided on a name or a price for the drink.
“Cow urine offers a cure for around 70 to 80 incurable diseases like diabetes. All are curable by cow urine,” Om Prakash, the head of the RSS Cow Protection Department, told Reuters by phone.
Prakash, who is based in Hardwar, one of four holy Hindu cities on the river Ganges where the world’s largest religious gathering takes place, said the product will be sold nationwide but did not rule out international success.
“It is useful for the whole country and the world as well. It will be done through shops and through corporates,” he said.
The Hindu group has campaigned against foreign imports such as Pepsi and Coca Cola in the past, which it sees as a corrupting influence and a tool of Western imperialism.
The RSS was temporarily banned after a Hindu mob tore down a mosque in 1992 which lead to bloody religious riots.
The Shiv Sena, a hardline Hindu political party also known for attacking what it sees as threats to Indian culture such as Valentine’s Day, started a similar initiative last year to appeal to its powerbase in Mumbai.
To promote the food of the native Marathi culture, the Shiv Sena said it was “making a chain like McDonalds” to sell a popular local fried snack.

Source: Matthias Williams, 12 Feb 2009,(Additional reporting by Vipul Tripathi, Editing by Miral Fahmy)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUKTRE51B1N820090212?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

Torched mission station springs back to life

INDIA : By Francis Maria Britto February 12, 2009 MADHUPUR, India (UCAN) A change of heart by some Hindus who razed a church in Orissa state six months ago is part of this remote Catholic mission station’s resurrection. “Our Hindu neighbors now condemn the incident and are angry with the attackers,” said Father Basil Kullu, parish priest in Madhupur, a mission station in the eastern state.
On Aug. 25, a mob of 500 armed men, including some Hindu neighbors, stormed the mission and torched its church, presbytery, convent and health center. The attackers spared only the mission’s high school and two hostels for students. The incident came amid seven weeks of anti-Christian violence in Orissa that killed 60 people and displaced 50,000 others, mostly Christians.
Father Kullu and his assistant escaped death by fleeing to the nearby forest with eight Handmaids of Mary nuns and 358 hostel children. Now, the mission’s once-imposing buildings, which Divine Word missioners began building in 1957, lie destroyed. A police battalion guards what is left and patrols the village. Father Kullu says the mission has no money for repairs.
It does, however, have a lot of sympathy from its Hindu neighbors, says Catholic social worker Devendra Nanda. “Even the main attackers, who are now out on bail, go about sad.” According to Nanda, the attackers had not anticipated the extent of the damage. “Their families are angry with them,” he said, and they fight among themselves because police impounded the vehicles they used for the attack.
Father Kullu reported the police have so far seized seven vehicles and arrested 70 people, 48 of them on Feb. 7 from Barupali, a village 12 kilometers from Madhupur.
“Others are getting arrested,” the 48-year-old priest added. The pastor said priests and nuns now remain within the mission station while a team of social animators and catechists tours villages. The team confirms that Hindu villagers feel remorse over the attack.
Father Kullu cited drastic consequences for some. Guilt drove two brothers who were in the mob to take poison, from which one of them died, he said, while a person who broke the cross on a village chapel also took his life. Another two people turned insane, and doctors have advised amputating a man’s hands that got burned while torching a Hindu girl working in a Catholic orphanage. Diabetes is preventing the man’s burn wounds from healing.
Meanwhile, Father George Soren, the assistant pastor, has noticed changes among the mission’s 1,000 Catholics. Many of them cared little for their faith before the attack, and some even stopped identifying themselves as Christians afterward, he said. But services now draw large congregations. “We had a good gathering for Christmas,” he noted.
Sister Carola, the convent superior, sees the entire incident as miraculous. On the day of the attack, she recalled, the children screamed and shouted as they ran to the forest, yet none of the attackers seemed to hear them and follow.
Four of her companions have also returned. “Our provincial hesitated sending us back. But we said we would go. Now we have more courage,” she said. “If we desert, [the Hindu radicals] will take advantage.” The nuns have special permission from their superior general not to dress in their Religious habit in Madhupur. According to Sister Carola, more nuns want to join the mission but it lacks accommodations for them. – www.ucanews.com

Panty-bombers beat back the pub-bombers!

A few weeks ago, the Pope told young Catholics to use the Internet and the new digital media to spread God’s message. For the last several months, Mangalorean Catholics have been shell-shocked by the intensity of the violence unleashed on them within weeks of the BJP-govt coming to power. Only the Archbishop of Bangalore, Bernard Moras, was able to take on the Chief Minister effectively. He and the media helped beat back the BJP onslight. Over the past three weeks, women have been brutally attacked by those determined to impose their centuries-old culture on them.
When I was in Mangalore last week, I was told about goon squads roaming college campuses, looking for boys and girls violating the Muthalik code of conduct. Now Mangalore, and India, have just witnessed a new way of fighting back, 21st century Gandhi-style, (someone recently described the computer as the charkha of the 21st century!). What we have seen in the last few days is something to think about — the power of digital media combining hands with mainstream media to fight back! It shows that all is not lost. If we can organise ourselves and join hands in a sustained manner with others, even the most obstinate goons can be beaten back, non-violently. Nisha Susan from Bangalore, now residing in Delhi, has shown us how.
This is a case study in itself and is making waves in media circles of how an imaginative approach can help take on the sledgehammer methods of the muscled and the powerful. But that calls for a new discipline amongst ourselves, in what we say and do and, abover all, a willingness to Learn, Unlearn and Relearn the new tools at our disposal. Are we up to it? Read on…
Panty-bombers beat back the pub-bombers! Barely three weeks after he vowed to go round Mangalore on Valentine’s Day, with goons, priests and video cameramen in tow, and forcibly marry off unmarried couples celebrating Valentine’s Day, Pramod Muthalik has been forced to sit out Valentine’s Day in a police cell so that women can celebrate their right to love! It is a powerful victory for the rational and the balanced. Barely three weeks ago, this self-styled leader was threatening to force his belief that women ought not to go to pubs because it was against “Indian culture” on the rest of the world. What made the difference?
The power of click! Nisha Susan, a Delhi-based media professional originally from Bangalore, had two options — stay quiet and accept everything, or meet these people head-on and make fun of them. She chose to click off an imaginative “Pink Chaddi Campaign” of the “Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women” on Facebook on Feb 5 – and made a difference! “Most women in this country have enough curbs on their lives without a whole new franchise cashing in with their bully-boy tactics. Be imaginative, have fun and fight back!” was her novel, Gandhian, 21st century form of non-violent protest!
A new style of Gandhigiri! Print and television media picked up the story of the “panty-bombers vs the pub bombers” five days later, on February 10. Other social networking sites took it up. Bloggers and media columnists jumped in and the word chaddi, normally an unmentionable in conservative Indian society, acquired acceptance as the campaign became the buzz of the country. By 5 pm on Feb 10, over 5,000 had signed up for the campaign on Facebook. By 8 pm, the number had crossed 8,000, by 11 pm it was 11,000 and by Friday night it had crossed 33,000. By Valentine’s Day morning the number was 38,150 and still climbing!
“The content and the form of the movement enthused me. It’ll make a point in a cheeky way. This is a way of taking back the space the guardians of morality are trying to take from us. This movement isn’t just an activist movement, it’s by ordinary women who want to speak up and fight back,” one woman told the Main Stream Media (MSM).
The BJP top brass picked up the signals that Yedduurappa did not! Media reports said they packed him off from the Nagpur meeting a day earlier than scheduled and told him they wanted no more negative headlines from Mangalore. Which is why Muthalik’s men called a news conference yesterday, eve of Valentine’s day, to announce a change of plans – instead of forcibly marrying of couples or compelling them to tie rachis, they would be good law-abiding boys and merely inform the police about “obscene displays of love in public “! Instead, the police rounded them up and marched them to jail for a day! Hurrah for the new digital media! Allwyn Posted by: Allwyn Fernandes, Journalist & Communications Professional, MangaloreanCatholics@gmail.com Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:13 am (PST)

Why we said pants to India’s bigots

A week ago, when my friends and I formed a Facebook group, the Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women, it was a delayed reaction. Earlier in the month, the Sri Ram Sena, a Hindu, right-wing group based in Karnataka state, attacked some young women in a pub in Mangalore. The men were proud of defending Indian culture from cocktail-drinking floozies.
The attack had been caught by a news crew, discussed, dissected, and was ready to be forgotten. It was considered natural that the attackers got out on bail and the girls were afraid to press charges. It was the aftermath which caught our attention. The SRS was stepping up its efforts. Its leader Pramod Muthalik announced that his group would ensure that no couples were seen together in Karnataka on Valentine’s Day. Any couple who defied them would be married off immediately. One would imagine this would have been the cue for the arrival of the men in white coats. But no.
All the spectators understood that SRS, a new and unwelcome franchise of India’s favourite corporation, the moral police, was announcing a play for greater power. Karnataka’s government watched to see what would happen next. Could Muthalik pull off what he boasted? Our first step was the Pink Chaddi campaign. Chaddi is a childish word for underwear and slang for right-wing hardliner. We invited people who disagreed with Muthalik’s plans to send him pink chaddis.
Indian women are aware of our tenuous grip on our rights. We worry that our next move will condemn us: running, sitting in a park, hugging a man, whistling, consensual sex, writing, buying a condom, asking for a share in property, getting a demanding job, leaving a husband. It could be any of these. The rules keep changing. Anger is never permitted because friends, on any point of the political spectrum, will say that you are lucky: what about the woman who walks 15 kilometres for water?
So it amused us to embrace the worst slurs, to send pretty packages of intimate garments to men who say they hate us. One day, the campaign had 500 members; a week later, it had 30,000. A 75-year-old woman from Delhi sent us panties. A Bollywood lyricist wrote a poem in honour of the rose-coloured chaddi. Amul, India’s best-known brand of butter, put up a billboard featuring a pink chaddi. More than 2,000 chaddis arrived at the SRS office. The SRS accused us of being from bad families. They still imagined that we were all party girls. Yet for many of those who signed up, neither Valentine’s Day nor pub-going meant anything.
What we agreed on is the need to end violence in the name of somebody’s idea of Indian culture. Later, a better-informed SRS hoping to shame us into modesty said that it would send us pink saris. We announced that we would wear them with pride because for 15 minutes in Muthalik’s life we had freed his rhetoric from violence. Supporters across the world fell about laughing. Three days ago, Muthalik retracted his threat of Valentine’s Day violence. On Friday (13 Feb)  he and his supporters were placed in preventive custody by an embarrassed Karnataka government. It is difficult to cheer. This is not the jail sentence and obscurity we wish for him. Last week, a Hindu girl in Mangalore, who had been harassed by right-wingers for talking to a Muslim boy, committed suicide. Even the supportive media flinch when we talk about such things. Whatever happened to the cute story of Indian girls sending pink panties to save Valentine’s Day from the clutches of evil?
Source: by Nisha Susan in http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/15/india-gender

‘Dadaji’s Sena’ : micro-networks in the public service

The idea of developing holistic solutions for problems that plague the developing world is certainly challenging. These are solutions that have positive ’spin offs’ in a multiplicity of areas, while conjuring solutions to address a specific problem. In the developing world, we are akin to Apollo 13 stranded in outer space – low on power. We are all shouting “Houston we have a problem!” – in desperation, trying to achieve an elusive comeback with systems approaching “shut down”.
The question is, how do we pull off a ‘comeback’ with some wire and duct tape solutions? The solutions I advocate are ‘green’ – not the liquid and explosive kind from science-fiction films but those that address the issue of WASTE. My definition of waste is unwanted, undesired, unutilised and underutilised resources – which we call trash, garbage junk, rubbish etc, simply because we remain clueless what to do with it. Such waste is not just what we throw into two bins called ‘organic’ and ‘inorganic’ but includes humans like senior citizens in old-age homes, children in orphanages and juvenile homes – both in need of appreciation- technology, like cell phones and even time! The inspiration for seeking ‘green’ solutions originated with the extraterrestrial.
SETI@home (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) is an extremely popular volunteer computing project launched by the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. Internet connected computers – when in idle mode – search the skies for life by analysing radio telescope data. Over five million users in 200 countries – including this writer-contribute over 19 billion hours of computer processing time with an average throughput of 387 Teraflops, equivalent to the second fastest computer on earth.
Of what relevance is SETI to resolving civic problems? The answer is apparent. Like SETI, we have to use existing @Home resources. C+ive is an effort in that direction. We have millions of retired senior citizens – with billions of man-hours of experience – going to waste. We also have millions of school-going children, glue sniffing street-children, who must be instilled with civic awareness to prevent them from becoming violators of the future. Many of our youth are already in organisations like the Scouts and Guides,NCC ashrams and orphanages who can contribute to public service with their leadership abilities. Our senior citizens could provide leadership to squads of neighbourhood children, christened ‘Dadaji’s Sena’. Armed with cell phones – with cameras of course – they take date-stamped photographs of civic infringements, traffic violators, strangers in a neighbourhood and image transfer their data onto the C+ive website which could then be shared with Police HQ in the various cities. Imagine the revenues to be earned from wrong parking, committing public nuisance, dumping garbage -the endless wealth of civic infringements! While we treat the traffic policeman with utter contempt and condescension we might be more circumspect about being caught jumping the red light by Dad, Dad’s friend, son or son’s friend – which ought to prove an efficacious moral deterrent.
Cell-phones with Dadaji’s Sena in each neighbourhood, could create micro-networks in the public service, saving millions of dollars on CCTV systems – monitoring public thoroughfares. We create the cheapest known national and internal security network by reposing our confidence in deprived youth; affording them the opportunity to nuture their self-esteem in service of society and earning public appreciation for it.
Dadaji’s Sena could earn a percentage from every fine that could be invested in primary health care and education in the villages of India. Your views and opinions are certainly welcome along with your inputs on the feasibility of implementing such a pilot scheme in your neighbourhood, community and city, before it can develop into a larger application.
Source: Ranjan Kamath citizen. positive@gmail.com

Orissa: Christian beaten and abducted by Hindu extremists, but is a wanted man for police

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – A young man has been abducted and tortured by Hindu fundamentalists without police lifting a finger. If anything when his mother tried to file a complain about his disappearance, police issued him a summons to come to the police station, this according to Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), an NGO that monitors the ill-treatment of Christians in the Indian State of Orissa.
The activist confirmed that the “situation is still bad” for Christians, and that extremists are “freely roaming villages”, involved in criminal acts and attacking people without much as hiccup from police.
In Daringabadi, a village in Kandhamal district (Orissa) police refused to register the statement of disappearance involving the young man; instead, it issued a summons for the abducted Christian to come to the police station. “At 4 pm on 11 February a Hindu mob surrounded Golyat Pradhan’s house, demanding that the 22-year-old and his widowed mother Pusra convert to Hinduism,” said Sajan K. George.
“When the two Christians soundly refused, the mob became enraged. Hindu fanatics then “dragged the man out of the house” and “began beating him mercilessly. Helpless the mother watched, pleading with her son’s assailants to have mercy on him.” Instead, “her cries spurred the fanatics who then shoved her inside the house, bolting the door.” The Hindu extremists took Golyat to the neighbouring village of Galabadi, dragging and beating him mercilessly. Armed with sticks they tied him to a post, standing guard near the entrance to the village, to prevent any attempt to rescue him. The mob beat the young man till he lost consciousness. Two fires were lit near the post where he was tied. The torture continued until 10 pm when the extremists called Daringabadi police, informing them that they had arrested a “Maoist” who had come into the village to rape.
“Police arrived in the morning around 10 am,” said Sajan K. George, “and freed the young man’s mother, who took the agents to where her son had been taken. But there was no trace of him. He has not been heard ever since.” The activist said that instead of starting an investigation into the young man’s disappearance the police issued a summons for him to appear before police to answer charges filed against him. Since August of last year, when anti-Christian violence broke out in Orissa, the Pradhan family has been the victim of threats by Hindu fundamentalists. Local sources told AsiaNews that this was due to the fact that “they are close friends of a Catholic priest, a situation that has made them a prime target for fundamentalists who want to reconvert them to Hinduism.”
by Nirmala Carvalho, 18 Feb 2009 http://www.persecution.in/node/3783
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14509

‘Convert or die’ threats prevent Christian families from returning to home villages

NEW DELHI, February 18 (Compass Direct News) In the wake of anti-Christian violence in Orissa state last year, hard-line Hindus in Kandhamal district have forced nearly half of 40 Christian families in one village to convert under threat of death, area Christians said.
Bareka village resident Goliath Digal, 58, told Compass that the Hindu hardliners have taken 18 Roman Catholic families to a Hindu temple and performed Hindu rituals on them, forcing them to sign statements that they had converted of their own will.
“During the riots, all our belongings had been taken away and we were left with nothing,” Digal said. “Now they are threatening to murder us if we do not become Hindus.”
In G. Udayagiri refugee camp, 55-year-old Vipin Nayak of Piangia Budaripura village said that all 400 Christian families from the hamlet have remained in the camp except for five families who were allowed to return after being forced to become Hindus.
“We cannot enter the village until we become Hindus, if we do return, we risk our lives,” said Nayak, whose brother, Vikram Nayak, was killed in the anti-Christian violence that lasted for more than two months.

3 Things You Can Do for a Secular India

Your prayers & gifts to the poor have caught God’s attention (Acts10:3)

I will make this a short email, with a request to forward it to as many Christians as possible. We praise & thank the LORD that -
* Our email newsletter has crossed 17,000 Christians in India & abroad.
* Our Free SMSs which are soon to begin will touch 5000 of the Indian Christian Activists Network – ICAN
* Our publication on Contributions of Christians to India has already drawn response from India & Abroad – as far as Rome!
I would therefore, like to appeal to all who can participate in these community development initiatives to do so – Please don’t wait for a personal invitation, but please volunteer to join in this gigantic task. As a small token of our appreciation, we also want to send you a FREE MP3 CD of over 100 Gospel Songs – If you send us your name, phone & address, anywhere in India.
We have deadlines & limitations, so please help out ASAP, in the best way you can. Here is what You CAN DO -
1) Check your email address book & send us emails of those you think need to receive the newsletters you have been receiving to create a SINGLE NETWORK for the community.
2) Check your cell phones for Indian mobile numbers of Christians, who you think need to keep informed DAILY FREE of attacks/injustices, biblical quotes… and send us such mobile numbers, with either name/email/address
3) Send us an article on the Contributions of Christians to India. The write-up can be on work done by Christian individuals or organisations in any field, which has benefitted the nation. Some suggestions are in the PS at the end of this email. This publication will be the most widely circulated document in India & abroad todate. So be part of making history, by doing a little bit of research.
Finally, please pray for myself  (I suddenly seem to have excrutiating back pain) and the rest in The CSF team, that we may move with God speed to accomplish, what HE wants us to.
With warm personal regards. God Bless.
Your Servant in the Lord’s Service,
Joseph Dias
General Secretary, The CSF
www.thecsf.org trinity.cmd@gmail.com
PS: You can write on Individuals (Laity/Priests/Pastors/Politicians/Professionals) or Organisations (Congregations / International / National Groups), who have made Nationally Recognizable Contributions in any/every field you can think of – arts, sports, politics, social, finance, culture, science, medicine, business, economic, education, literature, public life, healthcare, cooperatives, civil services, armed forces, indigenization, schedule castes & tribes, etc.

Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act Challenged

Justice M. S. Shah and Justice Akil Kureshi of the Gujarat High Court admitted a petition filed by Gujarat United Christian Forum for Human Rights, Mr. P. K. Valera (Retd. IAS), Dr. Hanif Lakdawala, Mr. Valjibhai Patel and Mr. Dwarikanath Rath, representing various human rights organizations challenging the constitutional validity of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act of 2003 and Rules of 2008 and issued notice to the Advocate General of Gujarat.
Senior Counsel Girish Patel with Advocate Shalin Mehta contended that the Gujarat Act by requiring prior permission of the District Magistrate before performing any ceremony of conversion or participating in such ceremony and by requiring any person converted to give intimation to the District Magistrate directly violates the fundamental right of freedom of conscience and freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion under Article 25 of the Constitution. The State under the Indian Constitution, being a secular State and guaranteeing freedom of religion cannot intervene in any case of free and voluntary conversion from one religion to another for granting or refusing permission.
Conceding that the Act may prohibit any conversion by force or fraud or allurement, it was contended that in the name of public order likely to be disturbed by forcible or fraudulent conversion, the State cannot regulate or control the free exercise of the freedom of conscience and religion. Any such Act will be beyond the legislative competence of the State.
The Counsel also pointed out the basic distinction between Gujarat Act and the Orissa and M.P. Act of 1967 and 1968 in respect of the requirement of prior permission required by the Gujarat Act and contended that the Supreme Court Judgment in 1977 upholding the validity of the Orissa and M.P. Act had no occasion to deal with the question of prior permission for even free and voluntary conversion. The Act also by insisting upon intimation of one’s own free conversion attacks the right to privacy, as question of faith is purely a personal and private matter.
The Act by making one’s conversion a matter of public notice and knowledge really aims at facilitating and encouraging the religious fanatics to take law into their hands to prevent even free and voluntary conversion. In the name of maintaining law and order, the Act will invite people to disturb law and order.
Mr. Patel further contended that the Gujarat Act really wants to prevent the dalits and adivasis from converting to another religion, thereby forcing them to remain in the Hindu fold. The Act is in essence a fraud upon the Constitution in the name of freedom of religion.
Sd/-
Girish Patel
Senior Counsel – Gujarat High Court, (Cell: 9825328663), 26th February 2009

“Testimony of Hindu witnesses help a Muslim get justice”

“The testimony of Hindu witnesses helped me more than the silence of Muslims. And I can proudly say, if you fight legally, there is justice in our country.” – Farooq Mapkar, after one phase of his 16-year-old struggle for justice ended and another began. On February 18, 2009, Judge RD Jadhav of the 25th Sessions Court ended a 16-year fight for justice of a man who survived police firing inside Hari Masjid during the 1992-93 communal riots but was slapped with charges ranging from murder to rioting. “Not guilty”, ruled the judge. Farooq said: “The tension of attending court that has haunted me these 16 years is finally over. The accused has always got to be on time while everyone else — police, public prosecutor and even the magistrates — can walk in late. It’s unfair.
The Hari Masjid Incident, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Wadala In the midst of the communal carnage in January 1993, some policemen fired inside the mosque at Wadala killing at least seven persons. Injured in the unprovoked firing, Farooq Mapkar, a bank employee, was picked up along with 54 others from inside the mosque and booked for rioting and attempt to murder. His fight for justice began 15 days later when he lodged a complaint after being released. Over the years, he has become the face of Mumbai’s riot victims who refuse to give up till the guilty are punished. “I have never rioted in my life,” recalls the son of a Bombay Port Trust employee. Like others in the area, Farooq had gone to Hari Masjid to pray that Sunday afternoon.
He ended up being shot in the shoulder as police led by then sub-inspector Nikhil Kapse fired into the mosque. He saw four persons being shot while they prayed inside the mosque, and another who had came out with his hands up in the air. Farooq, like others present there, told Justice B N Srikrishna what he saw.
The judge indicted Kapse in his report, which was released in August 1998. Since then, Farooq has been fighting, not just to get acquitted, but also to ensure punishment for Kapse. Last month, on Farooq’s plea, the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI inquiry into the Hari Masjid firing. What rankles with him most is not the tedious legal process, “but the way the Congress government has cheated us Muslims. The Sena withdrew riot cases against their own people, but the Congress didn’t withdraw even those cases against Muslims that Justice Srikrishna found to be false, like mine. Neither did it punish the indicted policemen. Then it has the nerve to claim that it has implemented the Srikrishna Commission Report.”
During his 16-year-long struggle it was only human rights activists and lawyers who stood by him, said Farooq. Please pass the message around and motivate your friends to join in large numbers.
Reported by Dolphy D’souza President Tel: 09820226227 Email: president@bcsabha.org www.bcsabha.org

Deflating the “Hindu Moral Police”

Excerpts from Shalini Srivatsan’s Facebook
1. If by preventing love, the Hindu Moral police think that they are protecting Hinduism, I am extremely sorry to prick their balloon but they have no idea about their religion or its beliefs myths or teachings. One need only look at the following examples to see how hypocritical these people are:
a. Krishna, the sole deity accredited with our holiest of all holy books the Bhagvath Gita was known to be promiscuous. On the other hand however, as Ram Sena might argue he was a man, ok so lets leave him out of it, we’ll stick to Radha, Krishna can never be thought of without invoking this loveliest of all gopikas; Radha was never legally or lawfully Krishna’s wife. There is no account of any formal wedding between the two, so please could we all Hindu’s and protectors of Hinduism STOP going the any temple with Radha and Krishna, please STOP reading the Bhagvath Purana as it is Immoral, STOP singing bhajans on Krishna and Radha… Hinduism says:- NO LOVE between sexes unless they are man and wife or brother and sister or father and daughter.which brings to mind another such lowly woman… Meerabhai! Who, married to a Rajput King was in love with Krishna! Oops!! And not just love between a God and Devotee! To her, he was a man and she was his woman… Yikes! No Meera Bhajans Please! and DO STOP calling her a saint!
b. The Mahabarath must be completely wiped off our Hindu annals, it is filled to the brim with love stories; Nala and Damayanti, shakunthala, Satyavan and Savitri to name a few, why even many of the rishis fell in love throughout the epic! Ram Sena can we please destroy this affront to our Hindu culture
c. With talk of love between a man and a woman there must be of course a physical side to it as well. In this case being good Hindus we must first of all go to great Hindu shrines and temples such as the Kajuraho and ascertain that all those carvings there are of married couples only and then of course speaking of morality such displays in public is against our Hindu values (note holding hands in public is not to be tolerated between men and women…) so why not just get rid of the whole damn monument!
d. Parvati fell in “love” with Siva, Lord Venkateshwara aka Vishnu came down to earth simply because he so loved his wife he couldn’t live in heaven without her, Brahma fell in love with his own creation Saraswathi ( who is in fact if you look at it his daughter- moral decadence at its highest I would call it from a “western” perspective) and those are our “not Hindu” trinity!
2. Women, Morals and India Today
Sita is the epitome of the perfect Hindu woman, she followed her husband, didn’t look twice at any man other than him and led a blameless life. She was kidnapped by Ravana, so was she wearing a mini skirt? Or was it that she was with her brother in law (male company hence proving she was immoral and loose and easy prey to all and sundry just like us modern women when we are out and about with our male friends) and Ravana got tempted to kidnap her??? It wasn’t what she was wearing, its just that some men are crooked so how is it OUR fault that we get kidnapped and raped and are looked at like prize horses! Get a grip it has nothing to do with us its to do with HOW you brought your sons up and how you think… maybe when you read the Ramayana you got to highlight the bit about Ravana, not Rama… Ram Sena indeed… I haven’t heard Rama tell his wife she was dressed inappropriately that’s why she was carried off!
Pancha Kanya… “Ahalya, Draupadi, Kunti, Tara, Mandodari tatha panchakanya svaranityam mahapataka nashaka” The verse claims that remembering the 5 can destroy all sins, and dear Ram Sena isnt it Hindu? But wait… Ahalya married a sage and slept with Indra! Draupadi was a woman with 5 husbands, plus she was SO provocatively dressed in her bed room chambers and came out in the Halls of the Kings with NOTHING But one Piece of Cloth tied around her ( my my how disgraceful!), Kunti was married to one man but had 4 sons whose fathers were not her husband and were all different i.e she slept with 4 men, and Tara and Mandodari stood up and against their husbands actually daring to advice them and tell them off about how they were behaving!! Obviously Ram Sena, your Hinduism and our Hinduism are different ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF JUDGING MORALS. Morals either in men or women cannot be judged by random factors,and who are we to judge? Is any one of us blameless enough completely and totally, to point fingers?
Ram Sena are also invited to step up the crackdown on men wearing trousers, no shoes please, women now of course since they can no longer wear western outfits should get rid of the sari blouses as that is quite a new concept which came in with the western sewing machine and hooks and buttons and all that, we should only wear a long cloth tied all over us, and of course NO bras ladies; it was first invented in Crete in 2,500BC or some such! Definitely not Hindu! The list actually can go on and on and on… Ram Sena really needs to recruit a lot of people to help them out!
And lastly as for eroding our Hindu culture…. Our Hindu culture is so brittle and weak that it needs violence and extremism to keep it intact, it didn’t survive alone and lonely eons ago, nor did it survive the Alexandrian invasion or the mughal invasion and now it definitely cannot survive the western invasion!! Help us we are SO helpless! And helpless people are helped by beating them and torturing them!! Great Job guys!

US Must Stop Funding Religious Violence

Before the terrorist attacks in Mumbai rattled the world last December, the state of Orissa in eastern India was enduring its own gruesome and drawn-out version of religious violence. Following the murder of a hard-line Hindu swami on Aug. 23, extremist Hindus went on a rampage against Orissa’s minority Christians, burning homes and churches; battering people; and raping women, including a nun. The violence has left about 70 people dead and displaced 50,000 into refugee camps. As of last month, thousands remained in such camps. The All India Christian Council, an advocacy and relief group, was still distributing emergency items such as blankets and clothing even as its workers tried to help families earn a living again.
While the four months of violence have finally died down, Orissa’s history of Hindu-on-Christian violence means it may easily revive. And while it might be easy to chalk up the latest attacks to India’s occasional convulsions in communal strife, Americans are missing a crucial piece of the Orissa puzzle: Much of the funding for Hindu extremism comes from the United States.
In India, Hindu nationalist groups aspire to Hindutva – the concept of a “pure” Hindu nation where Hindus have an unassailable dominion over minorities such as Muslims and Christians and in which the caste system is rigidly preserved. During 2002 riots in Gujarat state, the ideology found a deadly outlet with the well-planned retaliatory killing of some 2,000 Muslims. The Hindutva groups fall under the umbrella organization of the Sangh Parivar, and include organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – which helped incite the latest violence in Orissa – and the national Bharatiya Janata Party. Sangh Parivar groups have affiliates in the United States that operate as cultural or charitable groups and gather most of their funding support from U.S. diaspora Indians. Their funding, in turn, of Hindutva groups in India has helped to both fuel and prolong the harassment and attack of Christians in Orissa and other Indian states. U.S. sources of funding for Hindu extremism is not a topic that attracts much press, but California-based anthropologist Angana Chatterji has been following the money for years. She has made 18 trips to Orissa since June 2002, gathered facts in dozens of its villages and has also convened a human-rights tribunal in the state. According to Ms. Chatterji, there are four major Hindutva-affiliated groups in the United States that have funded numerous organizations across India.
The U.S. groups register as charities with tax-exempt status and carry stated goals of providing development and welfare work for needy Indians. In reality, Ms. Chatterji says, the charities offer facades for vast political activities that include the education, conversion and indoctrination of Hindutva ideology in traditionally poor and often illiterate tribal and low-caste Indians. One example is the Maryland-based India Development and Relief Fund, which according to its Web site, has raised $10 million since 1987. According to a 2002 study that Ms. Chatterji helped author, the IDRF’s tax-exempt application form upon its founding named several Sangh organizations in India that it would support. One such organization, Sewa Bharati, is well-known for introducing the regular observance of Hindu festivals in villages where little existed, or for sending in Hindu teachers to counteract the perceived influence of local Muslims or Christians.
The 2002 report further noted that half of IDRF’s funds were going to Sangh-related groups whose main purpose was to convert and Hinduize the poor and marginalized. Less than one-fifth of its funds, in fact, were going to its stated aim of development work, and the IDRF’s political activity has been in direct violation of its tax-exempt status. In 2006, the IDRF disbursed $1.6 million in India, according to its tax records. Other Sangh-affiliated groups have raised similar sums, Ms. Chatterji says: Ekal Vidyalaya, which gave $2 million in 2006; and Sewa International USA, which allocated $284,000. Sewa International is the parent body to Sewa Bharati, the Hindu indoctrination group mentioned above. All told, such organizations form a complex and interconnected web through which U.S. funding travels. In Orissa, the stakes for Hindu extremists are particularly high. Orissa is the country’s poorest state, with almost 40 percent living below the poverty line – double India’s national level. The majority of Orissa’s residents are low-caste Hindus or non-Hindu tribals who have little hope in the discriminatory caste system. Christians, Muslims, tribals and other downtrodden groups are the targets of Hindu extremists in Orissa. Christian churches and groups that offer education, job training and ideas of a classless society understandably are appealing to many, to the anger of higher-caste Hindus who stand to lose their privileged status.
In most international religious conflicts, the United States can do little to curb the violence raging beyond its borders. But in India’s case, Ms. Chatterji notes, Washington can do something to help: investigate and reassess the charitable status of U.S. organizations whose funding is indirectly – or directly – enabling the bloodshed. The Hindu extremists’ 2008 campaign in Orissa was so well-orchestrated, the violence spread to five other states. For Christians still languishing in refugee camps, the next time could be chillingly worse.
Source: Priya Abraham, director of communications at the Institute on Religion and Public Policy.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/08/uncharitable-giving/

Change Rama Sena, here comes Sita Sene

BANGALORE: There seems to be a lot in store for Sri Ram Sene and similar groups in Karnataka. If thousands of pink `chaddis’ on Valentine’s Day have not humiliated them enough, they should be prepared for slaps from the newly formed `Sita Sene’. Noted author Shobhaa De, who’s considered a lead campaigner for women’s liberty, has formed the Sita Sene. The group will gather volunteers — men and women — in Mumbai and meet at the Gateway of India on March 8, International Women’s Day. They will protest against attacks on women in Bangalore and Mangalore.
“We’ve started something that means a lot to me. I’m sure it also means a lot to countless men and women who are shocked and saddened by what happened in Mangalore and Bangalore,” she told TOI. “If we don’t speak up now, chances are these sort of attacks against defenceless women will continue and the perpetrators will get stronger.”
She has outlined her plans on her blog. It stated that a strong action plan should be formulated, such a helpline for women in distress and other measures. “I read the reports of fresh attacks on women in Bangalore and felt sickened. `This must stop!’ I said to myself,” she explained.
“The idea of launching a Sita Sena to counter the Ravanas came to me in a flash. I communicated it to my dear, dear `blogdost’ Aham, who immediately swung into action and created a site. His plan is to congregate at the Gateway of India on March 8, International Women’s Day,” she wrote on the blog.
The blog also asks for suggestions from readers, which are easy to implement. She warns that citizen’s failure to address this issue might trigger similar violence in other metros as well. “This is why I want the campaign to be a pan-India initiative. And soon we will have several Kabuls sprouting up all over India. Shame the men. Show your contempt. Speak up!”
Source: 5 Mar 2009, 0223 hrs IST, TNN

Hindu rashtra is against Constitution: judge

Mumbai: It is one thing to form a Hindu organisation and quite another to speak of forming a Hindu state, which is not in keeping with the Constitution, the special court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act noted on Wednesday. “Forming an organisation is fine, but wanting to create a Hindu `rajya’ [state] is against the Constitution.
We are working under the Constitution,” judge Y.D. Shinde said during a hearing in the Malegaon blast case. The judge’s remark came when counsel Shrikant Shivade, arguing the case of bail for an accused, Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, said there was nothing wrong with his vision of a Hindu `rashtra.’
“If I say, `remove the word secular and insert the word Hindu,’ there is nothing wrong in that,” counsel said.
The charge sheet reveals that the blast accused were led by the ideology of forming a Hindu `rashtra.’
The transcripts placed on record highlight Lt. Col. Purohit’s contempt for secularism and the Constitution.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/05/stories/2009030561061100.htm

Why there will never be a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ !

There will NEVER be a Hindu rashtra. This lot of people who are campaigning for a Hindu rashtra are a group of brainless morons. Unfortunately for them Hinduism is not a community religion. It is a personal religion. It does not speak about salvation for all but it seeks salvation for the self.
It is this loss of ego that gives one salvation. Asking for a Hindu rashtra therefore goes completely against Hindu ethos. It also disrespects other traditions and paths to the almighty. Traditions such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism have given succor to many countless people and continues to do so not only for people of the said community but to ALL people. India is a fortunate country to have almost all religious traditions as our own. Again to the misfortune of the right wingers, there are hundreds of millions of Hindus like me who will resist any move to make India a Hindu Rashtra. Not for any other community per se but for oursleves first. I am sure we will be joined wholeheartedly by our Christian, Muslim , Buddhist comarades who feel the same way and will protect Hindu interests if there is ever a historical crossroad of a Muslim Rashtra or a Christian Rashtra. What we clearly need is clean water, schools, hospitals and educational institutions.
I truly hope this demand is reflected in this years election. I do not need a temple for my Ram, in Ayodhya or anywhere, for that is not Hinduism, What I do need is an Ayodhya where Hindus Muslims and Christians can all practice and preach their religions freely , go to good schools, have good hospitals and colleges and have electricity and water. That is the Ayodhya, and India my Lord Ram will want. Source: Dr. Hrishikesh Shenoy, UK” MangaloreanCatholics@gmail.com Sat Mar 7, 2009 3:56 am (PST)

Christians continue to be harassed in Orissa, says Archbishop

Following is an update from Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Diocese on the situation of displaced Christians in refugee camps in and outside Orissa. The Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar comprises the civil districts of Cuttack, Phulbani (Kandhamal) and Puri in the state of Orissa.
Harassment continues with impunity
On the other hand, humiliating and discriminatory rituals are imposed upon the Christians by the Sangh Parivar elements with impunity. For instance: Some villagers from Betticola had gone to their village. They were told by the people in the village that they will never allow the Christians to come back. If they did, Christians have to live as Hindus. They have to follow certain rules, like Christians have to pay a fine of Rs. 501 for their return.
If a Christian is riding a cycle and happened to meet a `Hindu’ Tribal, he has to get down from the cycle and walk. While bathing in the pond in the village, tribal `Hindus’ have to take bath first, only then Christians can bathe. People from Tiangia, Betticola, Chanchedi and a few other villages are still frightened to go to their villages. Local BDOs are forcing the camp people to go back to their villages knowing fully well that there is no guarantee for life in the interior villages. 17 people from Gimangia had gone to their village but they were threatened by the local villagers and they returned to the camp. Women are also asked to wear a towel and something to cover their body. (A Brahminic dictate to humiliate women) Christians have to salute tribals whenever and wherever they meet them. Christians are threatened with dire consequence if they dare to go to the Church. If they still make an attempt there are prescribed sanctions like they will have no access to drinking water wells, ponds, gathering of firewood, etc. They will also be subjected to social segregation and exclusion.
Another dangerous trend that is unfolding now is to kidnap or whisk away individuals and leaders and murder them. (On 20th Feb. 2009 dead body of Hrudanada Nayak, a Christian was found in the forest. He was found missing for a couple of days.)
Ridiculous Compensation Package
After the attack on Christian institutions in December, 2007 the administration gave compensation to the institutions of social, educational, health care, etc., but refused to give compensation to the churches and religious institutions. The Supreme Court, after the recent violence, has directed the District Administration to give compensation also to the churches and religious houses.
The District Administration is making an assessment, but without the presence and opinion of the beneficiaries (families, priests, etc). Unfortunately the whole process is tardy and unfair. For instance, a parish church, which could have in its campus Church, presbytery and religious houses etc, even if all of them are attacked, they are to be considered as one single unit for compensation to a maximum of Rs. 2 lakhs. Any normal sensible person will say it is unfair, since all the institutions are heavily damaged. We are still negotiating with the District Administration for an increased package of compensation and to consider each institution separately. I hope that Supreme Court will intervene in this matter.
Published : March 05 2009 http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/11394-1-3-Christians-\ continue-to-be-harassed-in-Orissa

Over 3,000 still in Orissa camps

Told by communal forces that they can return to their homes only as Hindus
People in six camps not willing to leave
Not forcing anyone to return: Collector
BHUBANESWAR: More than seven months after Orissa’s tribal-dominated Kandhamal district experienced widespread anti-Christian violence, 3,100 people belonging to the minority community are still living in
relief camps being run by the administration. About 25,000 people took shelter in 19 relief camps when communal violence was at its peak in the district in the aftermath of the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four others on August 23 last.
The number of people living in the camps has decreased slowly but the 3,100 people in six camps are not willing to leave as they are being told by the communal forces that they can return to their homes only
as Hindus.
The camps are at Raikia, Tikabali, K. Naugaon, Mandasar, Mandakia and Tiangia, according to Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar. “We are not forcing anyone to return to their villages. People are
returning to their homes following the process of peace building and reconciliation,” Mr. Kumar told The Hindu over phone on Saturday.
Apart from the State police, 19 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force are on duty to maintain law and order in the district.
The district administration has sought additional forces for the smooth conduct of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to be held simultaneously next month.
“We are hopeful that the district will witness a free and fair poll,” Mr. Kumar said.
Meanwhile, an independent fact-finding team, comprising prominent social activists, has urged the State government to keep the relief camps open till normality was restored in the affected villages.
Observing that the victims should be able to return to their homes with dignity, peace and security, the former Special Rapporteur to the National Human Rights Commission and one of the members of the team, K.R. Venugopal, has written to the State government that “there can never be any dignity if people practising a particular religion – here Christianity – are told that they can return to their homes only as Hindus.”
“Such threats are unconstitutional and the State has a duty to intervene proactively to put a stop to that and guarantee peaceful residence to the citizens with a right to their religious conviction,” Mr. Venugopal said in a letter to G.V. Venugopala Sarma, Secretary in the State government’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
by Prafulla Das, Correspondent, The Hindu, Delhi Eiditoon 8 March 2009
© Copyright 2000 – 2008 The Hindu

Orissa: Understanding the root causes of Kandhamal violence

Following is an update from Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Diocese on the situation of displaced Christians in refugee camps in and outside Orissa. The Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar comprises the civil districts of Cuttack, Phulbani (Kandhamal) and Puri in the state of Orissa.
Human Rights Intervention
A net work of Civil Society organizations, academicians, and professionals has been formed under the banner “Orissa Human Rights Protection campaign” (OHRPC). So far they have initiated twelve interventions creating awareness among the general public and leaders of both communities.
Documentation
Religious sisters are profiling the life stories of the martyrs of Kandhamal. They gather information about the victims and their experience. They guide the national and international journalists. Till now about 10 international NGOs have come to gather information from the field directly.
Understanding the root causes
It will not be right to state that all non-Christians and all tribals are engaged in the persecution. A number of non-Christian sisters and brothers both from Panos and Kondhs have supported and have given protection to Christian sisters and brothers, largely in a hidden manner. The fact of the matter is that not only the dalit Christians but most of the non-Christian dalits and Kondhs (tribals) live in utter poverty. The state has failed them. Unfortunately in the recent past, a larger number of simple and gullible non-Christian tribals have been systematically poisoned by the Hintutva forces with the active participation of the local trading community, who have come from outside the district and state. The tribals are made to believe that they are Hindus, which is not true at all. Ironically the people of the soil, both the Panos and Kondhs are alienated from the ownership of Kandhamal and the trading class has taken control over the socio-economic and political life of Kandhamal. These traders could not digest the growth of the dalit Christians and so they turned the non-Christians, especially the tribals against the Christians. Apparently it looks that the attack is on Christians by the Hindus. It is only one part of the story. Deeper analysis shows that the Hindutva groups like RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini would like to eliminate both the dalits and tribals irrespective of religion and plan to establish `Hindu Rashtra in Kandhamal and Orissa’. The challenge before all of us is to unite all the Panos, Kondhs and other marginalized communities in Kandhamal based on gospel values.
The real enemy is hidden but well organized and the state, instead of protecting and promoting the rights of the citizens, overtly and covertly supports the Sangh Parivar.
We need to expose them and challenge them. We need to defeat them politically and ideologically. It is not an easy task. I am happy to say that some attempts have been made by the archdiocese to bring together various leaders of the Panos and Kondhs cutting across religions, to make them understand the larger fascist strategy of the hindutva forces. The response so far is good. I believe that these are some hopeful signs.
http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/11394-1-3-Christians\ -continue-to-be-harassed-in-Orissa

Orissa: Let’s not be naive about Naveen Patnaik

- Mr. Naveen Patnaik, the suave Chief Minister of Orissa, has received the applause of several across the board for having pulled the carpet from under the feet of the BJP and now aligning himself with the Left. This ofcourse, is a smart piece of political opportunism, but in order to actually shed his spots, Patnaik has to come clean on several counts.

· Why did he allow first the Muslims and then the Christians, to be soft targets for Hindu extremism in Orissa ?

· Why did he not reign in goons of the Sangh Parivar when they very strategically disrupted Christian lives and events in 2007 and created mayhem for the Christians for a good part of 2008 ?

· Why did he not have the courage to contain Togadia and his ilk when they spewed venom all across the State against the Christians ? (He could have easily have emulated several other Chief Ministers of other States who easily put a halt to Togadia’s vicious march in their States)

· Why did he not ensure the safety and security of the Christians of Kandhamal District when thousands were languishing in the forests ?

· Why has he not guaranteed the safe return of those who have been dispossessed of their houses and lands from Kandhamal District ?

· Can he oversee a complete and just compensation package to the victims of the violence in Orissa ?

· Thousands of minorities, very specially Christians, have been disenfranchised in Orissa. Will he come out with a very honest political decision to ensure that their names are on the Electoral Rolls and that they are able to exercise their franchise in an environment which is free and fair ?

Naveen Patnaik will have to answer and act on these and several other questions immediately. There is tremendous pressure on him, we know, from the Western world; and being “a true Westerner”, he really would not want to go into oblivion and be treated as an international political “Pariah” the way Narendra Modi is treated just now. Given his situation, the best thing he could have done, was to distance himself from his political masters and mentors, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.

Leopards really do not change their spots; but the age of miracles is also not dead !!! Naveen Patnaik definitely needs to be given a chance but until such time, we should not be naïve…

Source: Fr. Cedric Prakash sj – email : sjprashant@gmail.com

Tibet: 50 Years of Freedom Denial

A dark curtain is being pulled across Tibet — foreign media detained and expelled, armed troops patrolling the streets, the coordinated arrests of monks. Now the Chinese government has even cut phone networks to prevent communication between Tibetans, closing off vital information channels to the outside world. As the Chinese government hardens its line for the 50-year anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, this blackout threatens to deepen the repression of Tibetan culture and society.

It is vital that we keep a multi-channel communication highway open — allowing Tibetans to broadcast reports of arrests, rights violations and protests, and providing vital information to Tibetans about their community and the world. For example grassroots organizations like Voice of Tibet, the only daily service which broadcasts vital and timely news and information into Tibet and China is regularly jammed with abstract noise and deafening music. Click below to watch the urgent video just received about the communication crackdown: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/tibetan_blackout_video/
Only freedom of information and dialogue can lead to the awareness that Tibetans, Chinese people and the world need to reach a lasting and peaceful solution to the Tibetan problem. As Avaaz members, who experience the power of technology daily, we have the understanding and the power to help draw the curtain on the blackout. With new technologies, governments cannot forever control the flows of information, but if we don’t act quickly, Tibetan isolation will continue, their plight increasingly forgotten behind an impenetrable firewall. Radio stations, bridge bloggers, anti-censorship technologies are like fog-lights out of the dark – and vital to the survival of the Tibetan people. Here is what the Dalai Lama says about Voice of Tibet, which your donation would go towards supporting: “This is the only radio service in [the] Tibetan language with a Tibetan editorial board in charge allowing us [Tibetans] to comment on events of Tibetan interest from our perspective…. I would appreciate [...] if sympathetic organizations and individuals could help Voice of Tibet continue functioning for many more years to come.”
But with shrinking funds, even this station is considering cutting programs for the year. Freedom of information is important to the survival of Tibetan culture, vital to prevent further human rights abuses and a key ingredient in securing Tibetan autonomy. It is also a key way to reach out to progressive Chinese in China, many of whom are looking for alternative perspectives and information. As a global community, we can help ensure access to reliable information for Tibetans, Chinese and those of us who are in the world beyond the veil.
With hope, Brett, Ricken, Alice, Paul, Graziela, Ben, Paula, Luis, Pascal, Veronique, Iain, Milena and the rest of the Avaaz team

Jailed priest prays & fasts for Saudi Arabia

NEW DELHI (AsiaNews): Praying for Saudi king Abdallah; for the well-being of the country and for religious freedom; for the Christians of India, who should make “a positive contribution” to the society that welcomes them. In this spirit, Fr. George Joshua, an Indian Catholic priest of the Malankara rite, has created prayer groups that every day, 24 hours out of 24, 7 days a week, alternate Masses, recitation of the Rosary, and meditations for religious freedom and for the prosperity of Saudi Arabia.
In 2006, Fr. George, who is from Kerala, became familiar with the rigors of the Saudi jails: the bishop had sent him to the Arab country to prepare Indian Christians for Easter. The religious police in the kingdom arrested him at the end of the Mass, and put him in jail for four days. In Saudi Arabia, it is prohibited to practice any religion except for Islam. During the spiritual retreat after his experience in jail, Fr. George had a vision of “a chalice cup planted on the map of the Saudi kingdom”; he says that he received a “call” to pray for the country, in which God gave him “the opportunity for an experience” of profound faith.
On May 1, 2007, Fr. George founded the Christ Army for Saudi Arabia (CASA), made up of groups that “pray and fast” for the well-being of the Saudi kingdom. As of today, more than 500 people have joined the initiative.
“Our primary prayers are for the king of Saudi Arabia,” the priest explains, “and for the prosperity and richness of the Saudi kingdom who so generously welcome tens of thousands of Indian to work there, thus leading to an better lifestyle and improved standard of living in their native India.” Fr. George has talked with Indian nurses who are working in the Saudi kingdom. “75% are Catholics from Kerala. I tell them they should serve their patients with the love of Christ, serve the sick with tenderness and love.”
He also recalls the many laborers in the factories and industries of Saudi Arabia; they come from a society, that of India, that is “multicultural, interconfessional, and pluralist,” and can “make a responsible and positive contribution to Saudi society.” “In Saudi Arabia,” Fr. George concludes, “when Christians and our dear Muslim friends interact so closely on a daily basis, each respecting the other as individuals and respecting each other’s religion, it gradually builds up fraternal collaboration. All this will be fulfilled through our prayer cells of CASA.” Source: Nirmala Carvalho (AsiaNews)

Police Whitewash Bangalore Anti-Christian Slogans

The graffiti carrying anti-Christian and anti-Muslim slogans which were found on Bangalore walls, have now disappeared, with the ruling government acting on Archbishop Moras’s complaint. The chief secretary it is learnt asked the Bangalore Police Commissioner to take action and the police white-washed the walls. The police commissioner, Bidari also assured Archbishop that action will be taken if any one attempts to hurt the sentiments of any religion through writings on the wall or any other means. There are now complaints that vested interests are usurping the lands belonging to or traditionally used by Christians in a big way in Karnataka.
Hindutva Miscreants Attack a Journalist & Hoist flags…
A staff Reporter of ‘The Hindu’ English daily newspaper in Mangalore, Mr. Samvartha was stopped by the Hindutva activists outside the office of the Hindu Samajotsava near Bunts hostel circle, who prevented him from entering the office, where Mr. Jagadish Shenva, leader of the VHP was to hold a press briefing. Mr. Samvartha said that he can identify the cadres if shown photographs or in a face-to-face meeting, though he did not know any of their names. According to the police complaint, Mr. Samvartha said “Some cadres of Vishwa Hindu Parishath and Bajrang Dal surrounded me and asked me to vacate the place before they break my limbs. They threatened to break my limbs if I wrote “against Hindutva.” And also said that if he wanted to stay in Mangalore, then he better support them. Earlier, as the Hindutva activists stopped buses, autorickshaws and even private vehicles to fix flags, traffic came to a standstill. People could do little but wait until the Mangalore East police arrived on the scene. The police reined in the activists and cleared the road. Speaking to The Hindu, sub-inspector Shivaprasad M. said the police had no warning about the incident. While the district administration’s contention was that the advertisements and flags violated the model code of conduct stipulated by the Election Commission, the vice-president of the VHP, Jagadeesh Shenava, said “Our banners are non-political, yet they have been removed.”
Bretheren Assemby Get Little Help from Bangalore Police.
Siloam Brothern assembly has been conducting worship in Mariyappan Palaya, Bangalore for the last 10 years. They have about 200 members as believers. The worship was conducted in a rented place. Because of the Metro Rail project, the church was evicted for building demolition. The elders and believers relocated their assembly to a near by property owned by a member of the church at 17th cross, Subramanya Nagara. This place is owned by a believer named Bhasker. At 7 pm on 06th of March, the believers gathered at the new church premises for the inaugural prayer. A group of Hindu Radicals led by Mr Adi & Mr.Ramamurthi of BJP/VHP along with a group of about 30 people forcefully entered the premises and raised objections to the conducting of prayers. They disturbed the prayer and also locked the premises and warned the believers and elders not to conduct prayer service. The next evening the group came back and again threatened the believers with consequences if they conducted Sunday worship. The elders Dr.Prabhudass, Balraj & Ashok lodged a complaint with the subramanya Nagara police station. The police have been far from helpful, telling them to refrain from holding prayer services.
Moral Police Target Muslims Over Burkha – Ragging Galore.
The remote Panja village, Sullia taluka, 100 kilometres from Mangalore, was branded the “Chikungunya capital” of Dakshina Kannada district after the 2008 outbreak of the disease. However, the village is gaining another kind of notoriety now. It is here that the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has successfully enforced a ban in the Government Composite Pre-University College on Muslim girls wearing the burkha. Within a week of the ban being approved by the college authorities, the ABVP held a meeting at a nearby temple where over 200 students of the college participated, claimed Hindu Jagarana Vedike district Secretary Lakshmisha Gobbalathadka, the self-proclaimed architect of the ban. A 17-year-old 1st PU student of the college, attended the meeting as his group of friends were going. He was the only Muslim in the group. “At the meeting they said a lot of hurtful things about my religion,” he said. Once outside, his friend apologised for bringing him along. Today, his friend is a leader of the ABVP in the college. He told The Hindu: “We were friends once but not any more. I was immature then.” None of his former mates speak to him now. Another 17-year-old girl student is in tears because her friend, a Hindu, who used to walk back home with her ever since primary school, has stopped talking to her. When asked about their friendship the Hindu girl said, “I want to talk to her, but if I do it will create trouble for both of us.” Many girl students spoke to The Hindu about the humiliation they face every day. One of them said, “All the other girls have started calling us `Damar Dabbi’ (boxful of tar). They have come up with rhymes that poke fun at our outfits.” According to her, every time she and her friends put on or take off their burkha, a few boys and girls start clapping or chanting “Jai Sri Ram”. Her classmate claimed that some students regularly take her headscarf from her bag and hide it. The bullying extends outside the campus. An elderly woman told The Hindu in confidence that some men forced her to take off her burkha when she was walking back home one evening. “When I agreed, they began to celebrate and raised slogans of `Bharat mata ki jai’,” she said. Panja Gram Panchayat president C.M. Rafique said that Hindus, Muslims and Christians of the village had worked together to bring the chikungunya epidemic under control. “But today, some vested interests have divided the whole village over a trivial issue,” he lamented.

EC files criminal case against Varun Gandhi

Varun Gandhi made the speech targeting Muslims on March 6.
New Delhi: Election Commission will lodge a criminal case against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi for his inflammatory speech against the Muslims in Pilibhit.
The Commission has directed Pilibhit District Magistrate to lodge the criminal case against Varun Gandhi against the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The case would be filed under Section 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 123 (a) and 123 (b) and would be non-bailable. An explanation has also been sought from the District Magistrate.
Varun Gandhi was issued a notice by the Election Commission for the speech which he had made on March 6. The notice was also sent to BJP as the speech was made against the Muslim community during an election rally.
The Election Commission reviewed the CDs showing Varun Gandhi making the povocative speech before taking the decision.
Although Varun claimed that the CD of his speech had been forged many BJP leaders admitted that the speech was unacceptable and had embarrassed the party.
“BJP believes in integration and what we have seen on TV is unacceptable. This is Congress culture. This is not our culture. Yes!
The BJP’s image has been affected by his comments BJP has instructed all its candidates to integrate and we will decide what action has to be taken against him by party after his explanation,” said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, a prominent Muslim leader of the BJP, demanded that Varun Gandhi publicly apologise for making the speech.
“Varun Gandhi has abused the entire Muslim community in his speech. To call every Muslim Osama is totally unacceptable. He should publicly apologise for making such a speech,” said Hussain.
“BJP does not associate itself with Varun Gandhi’s statement. BJP does not support such a statement and the central leadership has asked for the entire tape and will look into the matter. This is against the BJP’s ideology. Varun Gandhi has told the central leadership that his speech has been distorted and so the party is looking into the whole episode,” he added.
The party also issued an advisory to all its candidates to refrain from targeting any particular community during election rallies.
“BJP has advised all the candidates in the election fray to maintain caution and restrain while giving their speeches and otherwise as well.
This issue has been answered by Varun and EC has taken note of this so let EC decide on it. We must understand that Varun says this CD is tampered,” BJP media cell convenor Siddharth Nath Singh said in New Delhi on Tuesday.
CNN-IBN on Monday showed Varun making a provocative speech targeting Muslims in which he reportedly said that he will cut the hands of those who target Hindus.
A Congress delegation led by All India Congress Committee member Digvijay Singh had also met Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy at Election Commission office in New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon and demanded strict action against Varun.

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=87895&section_id=37

Pope and the condom controversy

It might be useful to begin by noting exactly what was the context and content of the exchange on the flight from Rome to Yaounde that has caused all this kuffuffle. The Pope was asked whether the Church’s approach to AIDS prevention – which focuses primarily on sexual responsibility and rejects condom campaigns – was unrealistic and ineffective, and the Pope responded in these words:
“I would say the opposite. I think that the reality that is most effective, the most present and the strongest in the fight against AIDS, is precisely that of the Catholic Church, with its programs and its diversity. I think of the Sant’Egidio Community, which does so much visibly and invisibly in the fight against AIDS….and of all the Sisters at the service of the sick.
“I would say that one cannot overcome this problem of AIDS only with money — which is important, but if there is no soul, no people who know how to use it, (money) doesn’t help.
“One cannot overcome the problem with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary they increase the problem.
“The solution can only be a double one: first, a humanization of sexuality, that is, a spiritual human renewal that brings with it a new way of behaving with one another; second, a true friendship even and especially with those who suffer, and a willingness to make personal sacrifices and to be with the suffering. And these are the factors that help result in real and visible progress…..I think this is the proper response and the Church is doing this, and so it offers a great and important contribution. I thank all those who are doing this”. (As reported by CNS from Yaounde).
A correspondent from English-speaking Africa sent in a number of responses from CCIH (Christian Connections for International Health) which he says is a reliable source of HIV/AIDS information. It might also be noted, as was reported in a recent austraLasia (2376) that the Southern African Salesian ‘Love Matters’ programme is well respected, especially in Swaziland which has the world’s highest rate of HIV infection.
The reader will have no difficulty finding the negative reactions. What of positive reactions? Dr Edward (Ted) Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Centre for Population and Development Studies, CCIH member and principal author of CCIH’s publication The ABC approach to preventing the sexual transmission of HIV: Common questions and answers, has this to say:
“The Pope is correct, or put in a better way, the best evidence we have supports the Pope’s comments. Condoms have been proven to not be effective at the ‘level of population’, which of course is the level we care about, in the so-called generalized epidemics of Africa. There is in fact a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the US-funded ‘Democratic and Health Surveys’, between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV infection rates. This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk reduction ‘technology’ such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by ‘compensating’ or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk reduction technology.
“Certainly we have found no consistent associations between condom use and lower HIV infection rates, which, 25 years into the pandemic, we should be seeing if this intervention was working”.
It is interesting too, to note that in the British media, which has fairly roundly condemned the Papal comment (or better just the part that refers to condoms), The Telegraph reporter George Pitcher, has decided to ’stick up for Benedict’ as he puts it:
“He declares that the Church’s historic teaching that chastity outside marriage and fidelity within it would prevent the spread of killer diseases such as AIDS. Whatever your views on the subject, that simple statement is undoubtedly true. And Benedict is in the truth business.
“But it is also a canon of what the Church teaches is God’s intention for his creation: it points to the Kingdom of God and what heaven hopes for us. These are divine standards that are indeed impossibly high for us to achieve in a broken and fallen world. But it is the Pope’s task to declare that they are there, and that we are in sin for falling short this side of eternity and forgiven in God’s grace. That is what the Church calls truth.
“To compromise that truth, infinitely beyond us in this world as it is, would be for it to cease to be the truth, so far as the Roman Catholic Church interprets it.
“Interestingly, many of the people who howl their protests at the Pope in response to his declaration of an immutable truth will also accuse the Anglican Church of a wishy-washy, anything-goes liberalism as it goes about its business of re-interpretive truth. We can’t win with the secularists and atheists.
“That’s bye the bye. None of us can deny that the Pope speaks the absolute truth in Africa, uncomfortable as it is”.austraLasia #2381

Kerala Cardinal Prefers BJP to Marxist “Brothers”

Response of Dr John Dayal, immediate past president of the All India Catholic Union, and Member, National Integration Council, to remarks of the CBCI President. Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of Angamaly-Ernakulam diocese, head of the Syro Malabar Catholic church of Kerala and current president of the Catholic Bishops Conference, is a highly respected religious leader. He is not the political leader of the Christian community either in Kerala or in the rest of India. In fact, the Canon law and the codes of the Catholic Church make it clear that Bishops can guide the flock on issues of faith, but active politics is in the realm of the Laity or the ordinary Christians. The church leadership does protest when there are atrocities on the community, and approaches governments and political leaders. But that does not amount to political activity.
The Cardinal’s views of the Bharatiya Janata party being better in any way than the Marxists, are therefore strictly his own as a citizen of India. One does understand that the Church in Kerala, specially the Syrian Churches, have their angst as far as the Marxists are concerned, dating back to 1958 when the first Marxist chief minister of Kerala, EMS Namboodirpad, sought to intervene in the management of Christian educational institutions. I see the Cardinal’s comments in this perspec tive, arising from his life experience in the State.
The Marxists too have their own compulsions in Kerala and see the Church – Hindu, Muslim or Christian – in an adversarial light. In the rest of the country, the Left in general and the Marxists in particular have been on the forefront of the common fight against communalism and fundamentalism, though their sudden love for Naveen Patnaik after his severing of ties with the Bharatiya Janata party has left us all rather breathless.
The Bharatiya Janata party, the political face of the poisonous Sangh Parivar, has soiled its hands with the blood of innocents – be they Muslims or Christians or others. And it remains unapologetic. How can anyone be worse than them in the Indian situation? I personally hope there will be a time in Kerala when the Church and the Marxists will be able to mend their fences and work for the common good. After all, even Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil in his autobiography calls the Marxists “Brothers.” Even in Kerala, Christians, and among them Catholics, exercise their Constitutional freedom to vote for parties and ideologies they like.–
Source: John Dayal -  http://groups.google.com/group/JohnDayal

India Elections: Should Christians remain helpless?

This is my reflection on the current scenario in Kerala. I believe that the most visible enemy of our country is the Sangh organizations with their agenda of making India a Hindu Rashtra. I think many of the Church leaders in Kerala are grappling with total confusion at this hour. They are still unable to understand the grave situation of the danger posed by the Hindutva forces in India.
I can understand this very well because of many perceived reasons on their part. Among them perhaps the hierarchy thinks that the church in Kerala is quite influential and powerful in all realms of life. Secondly Sangh Parivar has not made a large scale penetration in the social life of Kerala as it has done in many of the northern states or in Karnataka in the South.
Thirdly the left movements appear to be quite strong and `anti-religious’ in appearance. Therefore the church considers them as the principal enemy. There could be many other reasons but I believe that Kerala is not an isolated state outside the larger polity of the nation. And therefore any isolated analysis will be a misplaced analysis.
I hail from Kerala’s Kannur District. Formarly it was known as Canannore. Today in Kerala and outside Kannur has earned a very bad name. People are scared of the large scale violence that has been there for the last 25 years. The church in Kerala, like some opposition parties do, simply blames the Left for the violence and killings. They miserably failed to understand the hidden agenda of the Sangh Parivar in promoting violence in Kerala, and also in Kannur in particular to woe as many Hindus to their side to expand their bastion.
It is good to understand that the three major enemies of the Hindutva are: first, the Communists(the Left), Second the Semetic religions (Islam and Christianity) and third, the Dalit movements. It is spelt out very well in the book Hindutva by Savarkar. Hindutva doesnot accept the secular and democratic constitution of India. Instead they work for a Hindu Rashtra, where Muslims and Christians are merely second class citizens. Here we must not forget the attempt by the BJP government to constitute a Constitutional review commission to make it that our constitution has some thing wrong.
This was an attempt to gauge the mood of the people on the one hand and on the other to create confusion in the minds of the people. To a great extent they have succeeded in that direction. But any attempt from their part now has to be within the frame work of the existing Indian Constitution. In order to change it according to their vision they need to get an absolute majority on their own. Towards that direction they are moving with the formation of NDA to get acceptance all over. Even though they got set back in the last general election they have expanded to certain new pockets like Karnataka.
The political onslaught of the Sangh Parivar was arrested mainly then by the Left and the Dalit Political movements and not the Church in India. The Left parties have done an unimaginable sacrifice in supporting their principle enemy, the Congress, to check the communal forces marching ahead with their hidden agenda.
Now coming back to Kannur violence out of curiosity I attempted to know what exactly the reason for the violence and I found very many startling revelations. Among them first of all why Kannur was the epicenter of violence in Kerala was my enquiry. Kannur is in the North of Kerala closer to Karnataka. It is the cradle of Left movements in Kerala and perhaps in India itself. It is religiously one of the most Hindu populated districts of Kerala. There are certain pockets where Muslims and Christians have sizable number, but they are nowhere near Hindu population.
Christians and Muslims in Kannur are well settled and owing to their hard work are well off. Christians and Muslims do not form the Sangh Paivar. Christians and Muslims do not support the Communists either. Generally the Hindus are the supporters of the Left in Kerala and Kannur in particular. The Sangh Parivar with its well oiled research institutions and organizational skills understood that in order to expand their basis in Kerala they need to destroy the Communists and woe those Hindus to their side. They know very well that Christians and Muslims cannot be their base. Since Communists are cadre party it will retaliate any assault on them by any one especially the Communal religious fundamentalists.
Currently the violence is limited to Thalasseri, Panur, Koothuparamba and Kannur areas. Also the violence is between the Sangh Parivar and the Communists. This does not mean that the RSS will not attack the Christians or the Muslims in the future; in fact the current violence is to reduce the power of the communists to prepare a larger violence against Muslims and Hindus. They will not say it now, because Christians and Muslims are speaking their language right now and blames the Left for the violence. In fact, I am afraid after seeing the magnitude of violence in Orissa against the Christians, many church leaders are playing in the hands of the RSS by accusing, blaming and unnecessarily opposing the Left without knowing the vicious agenda of the Sangh. Violence from any quarter is unacceptable for us but one cannot simply blind to the larger agenda of the Sangh Parivar.
Imagine the day when there is no opposition from the left against the Sangh in Kannur or in Kerala what would be the situation of the Church in Kerala? Suppose the Communists in Kerala becomes the followers of the Sangh what would be the condition of the Christians in Kannur? (by opposing the Left for everything what we are doing is reducing the power of the Left against the Sangh and thowing ourselves in the hands of the Sangh). Does that mean that the RSS’s enemy is only Communists? The weakening of communists in Kerala will be detrimental to the Church in Kerala. With the arrival of Lotus and Khakhi in Karnataka one can expect more violence as a strategy of the Sangh in its adjacent districts of Kerala. This does not mean that the Church must simply support the Left. This only suggests that the larger agenda of the Sangh has to be studied and accordingly we must make our strategies. Where we need to oppose the policies of the Left we need to dialogue and correct them. After all Left has no hidden agenda of changing the secular constitution at any point of time. It is because of the Constitution we are enjoying all the privileges now. If that is no more we have no voice at all, however well off we are.
I remember one of the Central government senior officer told me in the background of Orissa that, no one is going to support Christians except the Constitution. If the court also fails, Christians remain helpless!
But the Sangh has and when it expanses more it gain more political acceptance and they are forming long term policies to make India a Hindu Rashtra. Gujarat, Karnataka, M.P., Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and many other states are ready to go their way. The Sangh is on the one hand talking of hard-Hindutva and on the other projects developmental plank to appeal to all sections of the Hindu society. We need to see this larger picture and join hands with secular organizations.
Wherever they are strong we need to strengthen them further. In Kannur we need to be realistic to support secular parties who can really check the Sangh at this hour otherwise there will come a day when no one will be there to support us in our hour of need. Congress and Communists are secular but communists are stronger than the Congress is evident from the growth of the Sangh where once Congress was the one and only power for decades. We should have better understanding of the Sangh agenda and act accordingly.
It is always wise to choose the lesser evil. Is it not a must to come together all the three `enemies’ of the Hindutva together? But who hears?
By Fr Sunny Jacob SJ, Published : March 19 2009

Vet Surgeon New RSS Chief

Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Brahmin and trained to be as Veterinary surgeon, is the newVet Surgeon New RSS Chief head of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the powerful Hindutva “mother organisation.” The “shakha” continues to be the basic unit of the RSS organisational structure, from where RSS gets its volunteers, or “swayamsevaks”. The RSS meetings are generally held in neighbourhood parks.
There is no official membership, or any records. According to RSS estimates, till the end of January 2009 there were 43,905 shakhas running in 30,015 places; weekly shakhas were being held in 4,964 places and monthly meetings took place in 4,507 locations all over India. There is no official count of its “swayamsevaks”. RSS is exclusively for males. But it has a women’s wing, Rashtriya Sevika Samiti.
In 1948, RSS was banned in independent India for the first time following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. The government suspected that the RSS played an active role in the killing. The ban was lifted in 1949. The RSS was banned twice later: during the ‘Emergency’ declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, and after the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992. Bhagwat’s first formal announcement has been he will ensure that every Hindu voters for the Bharatiya Janata Party, the political face of the RSS.
[Abridged from IANS report by Arun Anand]

“Moral policing:” who polices whom?

A leader and his group booked for promoting enmity amongst various religious groups and causing injury to the honour of women boasts of setting up a moral policing cell in our modern, liberal, yet culturally and ethically sound state.
Goa, one would agree with me, scores more on a cross cultural, modern thought and liberalism scale when compared to Mangalore. The long Portuguese regime and the modern yet morally stable outlook of the people being the main reasons.
The leader of the Ram Sene, Pramod Muthalik, now cherishes a dream to open a state branch of his party in 10 states including Goa. It was amazing to know that he was thinking out his moral policing aims while cooling his heels in the Gulbarga prison. The news doesn’t end there. On March 16, the district administrator and deputy commissioner banned Muthalik from entering the Mangalore district for a whole year, courtesy, his outfit’s members attacking boys and girls in a pub in Mangalore in a bid to pursue their moral policing mission there. Well, you women hitters, have you ever heard of that Sanskrit saying: yatra naryesthu pujanthe ramnathe tatra devata (Where women are respected that is where god lies).
In whose wildest dreams do you think Muthalik that a sensible resident of Goa will allow you to start an office in the state, especially after that aforementioned excellent biodata which would compete only with that of hypocrite Hitler? How can a man who boasts of a fountain of morals in his backyard ever think of hitting and causing injury to the honour of women? If not for you, it is for us in Goa to think and take the requisite step.
Morality may be synonymous with ethics or a code of conduct, the word by itself tracing its origin to the Latin term moralitas, meaning manner or proper behaviour. It would be absolutely bizarre for the Ram Sene to think that our own government cannot take care of the state and the needs and conduct of its citizens leave alone moral policing. But the moot question is, in a society like ours, do we need moral policing at all, and if yes, by whom?
What would you morally police? Pub culture, western dressing, women drinking, smoking, or would u police lovers who express themselves. The basis on which the whole ideology of the outfit’s moral policing is portrayed is absolutely senseless. Why would I as an individual, irrespective of my sex, want to be policed by a divide-creating element for the places I visit, socialize at or the drinks I consume, or for the love I express, as long as it is not against the law of the land? And if I act in a manner that is allegedly antagonistic to the norms of the law so created, it would be the requisite of authorities to take action against me and not that of a group of influenced minds attacking me at a leader’s sign.
Progressing towards the Goan scene, pub culture and cross cultural clothing have been a part of the society for ages, the then crude form of pubs being the tavern or small restaurant/drinking place, and the modern outlook of the society being implied on account of the Portuguese regime of 450 years.
In fact, on a general note & somarasa, madira have been part of the Indian cultural heritage for thousands of years finding mention in ancient scriptures. That women did not consume alcohol in ancient times has no staunch proof on record. On a contemporary note, in Goa, all these form part of the gross-earner tourism industry, with the trends being imbibed in historical paradigms.
If this code of conduct is well espoused by rational people in preference to any other options available, then a question of disobeying morals does not arise at all. In such a situation, why would I want a Ram Sene or any such outfit to be a part and parcel of Goa and create havoc out of peace and tranquillity over issues that are nonexistent? Our government does take action on issues that affect or hurt the morals of the state’s citizens, and we’ll account for it.
Conceptions of morals and morality have and should change significantly over time. What may seem modern and futuristic today may be very much an essential ingredient of society tomorrow. Before I hit a woman who drinks in harmony or harass a couple only because they express their love on Valentine’s Day, I should ask my self whether I would stop drinking or would I stop expressing love, in whatever way. One might ask why? The answer lies in the fact that we are a democratic country with the right to equality and the right to life forming an essential part of the Constitution. No one, including you Muthalik, has the right to deny a woman her right to drink, or me the right to express my emotions to another, which form an ingredient of the essence of human life, so long as it is not barred by the government of my country.
I believe that I have made my locus clear here. Goa, the state that is, does not need you or your elements to inspect us. We are ethically, morally, religiously, philosophically and to get in depth & meta-ethically sound and stable. The state’s machinery is competent enough to deal with any moral issue should one arise. With Goa’s leaders blowing the horn against Muthalik’s “dream moral police gang and their shop” the protest has already begun. It’s high time we take a step forward.
It is not that we in Goa do not believe in god or religion, it is just that we believe in humanity and sensible equality all the more.
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/We-dont-need-no-moral-policin\g/articleshow/4298115.cms>
The writer is a final year student at the V M Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar. The views expressed are those of the writer. Write in to toi.goa@timesgroup.com Tushar Naik, H.No 115, Ranghavi Estates, Alto Dabolim, Airport Rd. Goa, 403-801 Ph: 09011938860, 08322538332

U.N. warns India against anti-Muslim prejudice

The U.N. human rights chief urged India on Monday to counter suspicion against its Muslim minority following the Mumbai attacks and warned the country’s strict anti-terror measures threatened human rights.
India is still on edge after gunmen killed 166 people in a three-day rampage on the financial hub last November.
Hundreds of Muslims were detained and questioned over the attacks, angering rights activists who said innocent people were caught up in the backlash.
“The horrific terrorist attack in Mumbai has also polarized society and risks stoking suspicions against the Muslim community,” said U.N Human Rights chief Navanethem Pillay.
“Both internal and external terrorist threats have led to counter-terrorist measures that put human rights at risk,” Pillay said in New Delhi during her India visit.
Religious and caste-based prejudices remain entrenched in Indian society, she said.
Secular India has a long history of tensions between its majority Hindus and minority Muslims that have exploded in deadly violence. More than 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, were killed in communal riots in Gujarat state in 2002.
After the Mumbai attacks, the government rushed through new laws in December to allow police to hold suspects for up to 180 days without charge and created a new FBI-style national police force, in what was seen as an attempt to soothe public anger.
But human rights experts at the time said India’s main political parties ignored concerns the new legislation could be misused in the absence of an independent supervisory body to monitor its implementation.
Pillay also questioned India’s human rights record in the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces have been battling a 20-year separatist insurgency that has killed more than 47,000 people.
Pillay said security forces have excessive emergency powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, a law which lets them fire at civilians breaking laws in “disturbed” areas and make arrests without a warrant.
“In the past two decades, hundreds of cases of disappearances have been reported in Kashmir,” Pillay said. “These cases must be properly investigated in order to bring a sense of closure to the families who for far too long have been awaiting news, any news.”
Matthias Williams, http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20090323/738/tnl-u-n-warns-india-against-anti-muslim.html

Traumatised Orissa Tribals Can’t Vote

Traumatised Tribals of Orissa Cant Vote: Will meet the Press (25 March 2009, New Delhi) Citizens for Justice and Peace Delegation of 20 tribals and indigenous peoples from the Kandhmahals region of Orissa badly traumatised by the communal violence accompanied by local activists are in the capital since March 23 and will meet the Election Commission on Wednesday March 25, 2009.
The delegation is appealing to the Election Commission to address seriously the issue of disenfranchisement of over 22,000 indigenous peoples from this district and either consider postponement of elections in these areas or implement special measures to ensure their franchise for the displaced. The delegation will meet the press at the Press Club of India on March 25 at 2 p.m. Over the three day visit, the delegation has also met the National Human Rights Commission, the National Minorities Commission and the office of the United Nations Commmissioner for Human Rights. To address the critical issues of the state meetings with national political parties have also been organised. On March 23 the petition file by victims and activists came up for hearing before the apex court and Chief Justice Balakrishnan posted it along with the Archbishops matter for hearing on April 6.
The main prayer in the petition is for restraining the Orissa administration from forcible closure of relief camps and the stay on the functioning of the camp courts that in the situation where tribal Christians are unable to be pesent at the hearings are in effect rendering tribals landless. The entire visit has been supported by Citizens for Justice and Peace. Teesta Setalvad, Secretary, Citizens for Justice and Peace Nirant, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai 400 049. Ph: 2660 2288 Email: cjp02in@yahoo.com

Karnataka Education Minister Puts Pressure on Christian College

“There was a promise on 17 March that in two more day I would give some secret regarding the St Aloysius Pre University College hall-ticket controversy,”  says Fr . Fr Richard Rego. That secret relates to a desire (pressure) expressed by a local politician at the State level to meet the management in order to “sort out the issue” of hall tickets. On 19th March the meeting took place. But he did not want it to be public! He -before the meeting had a very long conversation with the Mangagement- demanded the hall tickets be issued to the students. When pointed out that the Management was only implementing the rules of the Government and every record was kept meticulously, he went on saying that he was looking at it from students’ side! But he was unwilling to put it in writing!!!
When asked for clarification on this and his unnecessary interference in educational institutions in spite of the clean certificate by the DDPUE, he said it was the education minister Kageri behind all this pressure! (the same man who served notice against the minority institutions in August for justifiably closing down the educational institutions!) He pleaded that this be kept confidential! With respect to his “pleas”, I don’t mention all the details, neither his name! Sorry for that! But he did.
The Background

Last year, the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri defended the notice served on Christian educational institutions that remained closed on August 29 as a mark of protest against the purported atrocities committed against minorities in Orissa. “There is no need for Christian educational institutions to protest against something that happened in Orissa. Their main responsibility is teaching the children. By such protests, they politicise the school atmosphere,” he said.
He said that the Government was considering taking “strict” action against the institutions that “violated the law” by closing down.
Kageri’s decision to serve notice to Christian educational institutions for shutting down schools and colleges on August 29 in protest against the violence on members of the Christian community in Orissa “smacks of communal hatred,” H.T. Sangliana, MP for Bangalore North, has said. Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Sangliana said the utterances showed the Minister’s “immaturity” and “lack of awareness of social issues.” http://richardrego.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/promised-secret-of-19th-march/

Support Mallika Sarabhai in fighting communal Fascism

Mallika Sarabhai is contesting from the Gandhi Nagar loksabha seat against BJPs Prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani. Ms. Sarabhai’s electoral fight against Mr. Advani assumes utmost political significant because it has become a symbol of struggle between the forces of secular democracy versus communal fascism. This is a struggle for pluralist democracy where the religious minorities are respected as equal citizens against the fascist Hindutva ideology of creating a demonic “other” and carrying out pogroms against religious minorities and treating them as second class citizens in a modern liberal democratic society. This goes against the very ethos of our constitution.
One recoils in horror about the memory of the gory episodes of murder, rape and mayhem of the ghastly state sponsored communal carnage in Gujrat in the year 2002. Mr. L.K. Advani as the Home Minister of India and Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujrat presided over this most shameful chapter of Post Independent Indian History.
It is needless to recall Mr. Advani’s role as the prime mover of communalizing the Indian society and imposing fascist Hindutva ideology on toiling workers, peasants and peace loving citizens of our country, thus tearing apart the social fabric of our society, which continues to bleed until today.
L.K. Advani’s infamous RathYatra in 1989 spread the communal poison across the length and breadth of the country, polarized the society on religious lines, inflicting a severe blow on the very basis of peaceful, dignified coexistence of various religious groups in a pluralist liberal democratic society undermining the secular democratic foundations of our constitution, which was achieved after numerous sacrifices in our long drawn freedom struggle.
The Rathyatra of Advani and the resultant communal frenzy culminated in the shameful demolition of Babri Masjid which has traumatized the Muslim community and secular citizens for a long time. Mr. Advani was present on the spot along with other B.J.P. leadership encouraging the lumpen Kar Sevaks when they forcibly brought down the Babri Masjid.
The recent incidents like the horrifying killing of Christians in Kandhmal, the attack on women in Mangalore and other places are frightening indicators of Hindutva ideology led by Mr. Advani. It bears ominous signs of the fascist take over of India if we don’t make the necessary effective intervention to stem this tide of regressing in to medieval barbarism.
Mr. Advani is the symbol of both communal fascism and patriarchy, which spells doom for religious minorities and women in this country. Therefore it is imperative all of us join hands to defeat the nefarious designs of the Sangh Parivar.
We appeal to all the secular, democratic, organization, womens, organizations, students and youth to actively campaign for Ms. Mallika Sarabhai against her principled electoral battle against Mr. L.K. Advani in Gandhi Nagar. END

Patnaik Needs More than Promises to Come Clean

Mr. Naveen Patnaik, the suave Chief Minister of Orissa, has received the applause of several across the board for having pulled the carpet from under the feet of the BJP and now aligning himself with the Left. This, of course, is a smart piece of political opportunism, but in order to actually shed his spots, Patnaik has to come clean on several counts. – Why did he allow first the Muslims and then the Christians, to be soft targets for Hindu extremism in Orissa?
- Why did he not reign in goons of the Sangh Parivar when they very strategically disrupted Christian lives and events in 2007 and created mayhem for the Christians for a good part of 2008?
- Why did he not have the courage to contain Togadia and his ilk when they spewed venom all across the State against the Christians? (He could have easily emulated several other Chief Ministers of other States who easily put a halt to Togadia’s vicious march in their States) – Why did he not ensure the safety and security of the Christians of Kandhamal District when thousands were languishing in the forests?
- Why has he not guaranteed the safe return of those who have been dispossessed of their houses and lands from Kandhamal District? – Can he oversee a complete and just compensation package to the victims of the violence in Orissa?
- Thousands of minorities, very specially Christians, have been disenfranchised in Orissa. Will he come out with a very honest political decision to ensure that their names are on the Electoral Rolls and that they are able to exercise their franchise in an environment which is free and fair?
Naveen Patnaik will have to answer and act on these and several other questions immediately. There is tremendous pressure on him, we know, from the Western world; and being “a true Westerner”, he really would not want to go into oblivion and be treated as an international political “Pariah” the way Narendra Modi is treated just now. Given his situation, the best thing he could have done, was to distance himself from his political masters and mentors, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.
Leopards really do not change their spots; but the age of miracles is also not dead!!! Naveen Patnaik definitely needs to be given a chance but until such time we should not be naïve…
- Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ, Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:10 am (PDT)

Varun Gandhi: Living in his father’s shadow*

Everybody has his or her version of the worst times in the history of modern India. For some it is the Partition. For others it is our defeat in the 1962 war against China. And still others talk about the destruction of the Babri Masjid and the violence that followed… Anybody who has observed the Varun Gandhi saga over the last fortnight will understand immediately what the BJP is up to. At first, it was embarrassed by the hatred embodied in Varun’s speech. Then, it realised it could have it both ways.
A second dark phase is the massacre in Gujarat a few years ago. The Gujarat killings occurred at a time when India was ready to take its place on the world stage. .. Given that these are my two selections for the darkest phases in recent Indian history, what do you suppose my biggest fear is? Well, it is a combination of the legacy of Sanjay Gandhi and the hatred engendered by Narendra Modi. And now, as Varun Gandhi’s goondas riot in the streets of Pilibhit, protesting their master’s arrest for spreading communal hatred, we have both phenomena captured in one squeaky, roly poly package. But at the end of the day, Varun Gandhi is not so much a politician as a surname. Were he not Indira Gandhi’s grandson, he would be just another fat boy trying to get ahead in the cesspool of Indian politics.
The reason he attracts so much attention and the reason the BJP so-called enemies of dynasty lavishes such affection on him is because he is a Gandhi. Better still, he is their kind of Gandhi. He may have the blood of Jawaharlal Nehru in his veins but he has the brain of Guruji Golwalkar, the charm of Sadhvi Rithambhara, the mendacity of Maneka Gandhi and the communal arrogance of Narendra Modi. All this combines with the anti-democratic legacy of the first thug to achieve such prominence in Indian politics: Sanjay Gandhi.
Anybody who has observed the Varun Gandhi saga over the last fortnight will understand immediately what the BJP is up to. At first, it was embarrassed by the hatred embodied in Varun’s speech. Then, it realised it could have it both ways. It could say that the CDs of the speech had been doctored without bothering to find any forensic evidence at all to support this outlandish claim. And it could promote Varun as a fatter-than-life, communal pin-up. From then on, Varun has been no more than a puppet in the BJP’s hands. It was the party’s idea to ask him to go to Pilibhit and to court arrest. It was BJP workers who threw stones and ran amuck in the streets. And it is BJP ideologues who are trying to see if they can turn him into some kind of Hindutva poster boy by provoking violence and mayhem. By any standards, this is a shameful strategy. Most BJP leaders of consequence including L.K. Advani were sent to jail by Sanjay Gandhi. They fought the 1977 election to defeat Sanjay and to restore democracy.
In the 77-79 phase, when Sanjay supporters brought their goondagiri to the streets of Delhi and Lucknow, it was the leaders of today’s BJP who were the loudest in its condemnation. And yet, here they are today, celebrating the legacy of Sanjay Gandhi and throwing in a dose of communal poison as well. All this augurs badly for the future. Is this kind of cynical manoeuvering the level to which the BJP has now been reduced? Is the BJP without the statesmanship of A.B. Vajpayee no better than the Youth Congress of Sanjay Gandhi? And what kind of government will the BJP provide if this is how it functions?
The BJP thinks it’s being smart. No top leader is saying very much in Varun’s favour (except for Rajnath Singh who speaks first and thinks afterwards). The defence is being left to chhota mota spokesmen of the calibre of Balbir Punj, who are figures of no consequence and who can easily be disowned if things go very wrong. But sometimes, it is possible to be too smart.

Something like that seems to have happened to the BJP. The violence and goondagiri on the streets of Pilibhit make us wonder about the party’s reputation for discipline. The hate speeches leave us wondering about the BJP’s new-found moderation. Think about this: if L.K. Advani can’t even rein in Varun Gandhi’s goondas, then what kind of Iron Man is he? Either Advani doesn’t want to stop the goondas or Manmohan Singh was absolutely right when he described him as a weak man whose sole achievement was the destruction of the Babri Masjid. You decide.
*Excerpts from Vir Sanghvi (March 28, 2009) Email Author: counterpoint@hindustantimes.com?<http://www.hindustantimes.com/Search/Search.aspx?q=Vir Sanghvi&nodate=1>

BJP defends riot-tainted candidate*

PHULBANI: Manoj Pradhan is a prime accused in last year’s ethno-communal riots in Kandhamal and is presently behind the bars. But that has not stopped BJP from nominating him to contest from the communally split G Udayagiri Assembly seat.
Over 600 people were arrested in connection with the unprecedented viole