A BEACON of LIGHT in a BLEAK, DARK WORLD -Mrs.Dhanya BK St
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
January 3, 2019 4th Edition Vol : 2, Issue : 4 Founder’s Day 2019 A BEACON OF LIGHT IN A BLEAK, DARK WORLD -Mrs.Dhanya BK St. Kuriakose alias Chavara, an apostle who pro- Chavara volunteered to pay personal visits to Chavara’s service to the society envisioned a tagonised humility and compassion, was a Car- the residences of the poor and the downtrod- farsighted objective of elevating Kerala to that melite religious priest and a professor of theolo- den, to kindle a sense of consciousness and of an ideal society, free from all prevailing injus- gy in the Syro-malabar Church. He pioneered equality in them, besides making them realize tices and inequalities. His undaunted dedica- consecrated life in the Indian church by found- the significance of literacy. These relentless tion and positive spirit won him great support ing the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) commitment could be regarded as the first, firm from like-minded people from within the for men, and Congregation of the Mother of step that Kerala made to procure the coveted Church and from other portals of society. St Carmel (CMC) for women. He is widely recog- status of being a 100% literate state. Chavara’s services rendered him highly popular nized and respectfully regarded for his pioneer- and much revered in the society of the time. ing efforts to reform the church in Kerala and Besides these exemplary contributions, St for bringing about many social reforms within Chavara is accredited as a multi-faceted the society. litterateur, whose mastery in writing still re- St Chavara was born on 10th February, 1805 at mains unsurpassed. St Chavara’s literary genius Kainakkary, in Alapuzha district in Kerala. He spans from the subject of spirituality to tenets was dedicated to Blessed Mother Mary on 8th of social life to literature. His spiritual writings September 1805. During his childhood, he re- vividly prescribe the ideologies to be abided by ceived his elementary education of languages the followers of the faith. These writings are including Sanskrit and sciences from the village hallmarks of its kind and have been greatly in- school, called ‘Kalari’. St Chavara, who was strumental in haloing the faith in a strong and keenly observant to prevailing customs and unified bond. “Oru Nalla Appante Chavarul” ways of social life felt extremely disturbed to translated as “A Testament of a Loving father” realize that certain sections of society were unfolds a disciplined and orderly counsel to kept away from education, as they were consid- every Christian family, in dispensing responsibil- ered untouchables. ities and duties of a family member in a god- St Chavara was ordained into priesthood on 29th Evidently compassionate, unconditional and fearing and ethical manner. His creative output November 1829, and consequently entered the sensitive towards the needy and the downtrod- has been displayed in the form of small dramas, seminary leading a simple, monastic life. Be- den, St Chavara made a provision for a midday with a vibrant, pastoral setting. The plot, though sides his religious affiliations, St Chavara recog- meal for the poor students of the school. At simple, morally bound and Biblical, his vision of nised the strong urge to serve humanity as his gatherings at church, he implored the people to the plot is idyllic and impressively close to Na- vocation. A thinker with extraordinary foresight volunteer as members to the “Unnimissihayude ture, thereby conveying the metaphor of Jesus, and remarkable vision, St Chavara was strongly Dharma Sabha”, where in earnest contributions as the Good Shepherd, who loves all. convinced that reforms and change in a society and help to bring up the needy was the objec- “God The Almighty granted more time to me, steeped in superstitions, injustice and poverty tive sought. He appealed to the congregation to than to my predecessors. This was granted to could only be hoped for, with education. He en- set aside a’ fistful of rice’ (Pidiyari) as a family, me, not so much for me, I know: as for the ben- each day for the poor. During weekends this visioned using education as a foundation to efit of others.” Said St Chavara, when asked achieve his aim. He therefore initiated a small collection would be dropped into a donation about his perspective of life. The first priest of school(1846), adjacent to a church and lay its box at the church. In this way, St Chavara saw the Order from Indian origin to be beatified and doors open for all children, irrespective of caste to it that the poor were heartily fed every day. canonised, St Chavara entered the Heavenly or religion. He saw to it that the school pro- These innovative initiations were eye openers Abode on 3rd January 1871, at the age of 66. His cured a teacher from Thrissur to come and for all, and were soon adapted as set practices luminous vision and contributions renders him teach Sanskrit to the students in his school. St in other churches and social organisations. ST an apostle worthy of emulation and idealizing. 2 EDITORIAL ST. KURIAKOSE CHAVARAS MAJOR WRITINGS -Sona G. Roy(II-BA) Principal’s Note A Man Fully Alive and Fully All the literary works of Kuriakose lief that one can reach God wrote 10 Eclogues (Shepherd Human… Chavara were written between through Jesus Christ. The third is Plays) and introduced them in the 1829 and 1870. The literary the conviction that without re- novitiate at Koonammavu Semi- Wish you Blessed New year 2019 and Festal Greetings writings of Kuriakose Chavara are penting and accepting Jesus, one nary. of Our Founder St Kuraikose Elias Chavara…! unique in two aspects. First, it re- cannot reach Christ... what a Chris- The first Indian drama is Neeldar- flects the religious spiritualism of tian obtains is the awareness of Each New Year is a New Chapter add to our pan, published in 1860 and is Christianity. Second, even after a the noble qualities. These qualities life with new beginning and hope. Each Year is like a written in Bengali by Dinabandhu century after the Kuriakose Chava- are 'faith', 'hope' and 'love'. Only blank book, and the pen is in our hands that is each Mitra on the miseries of the indigo ra wrote, there are limited number through these triple qualities, a one’s life. It is our chance and duty to write beautiful cultivators. The first Malayalam of literary works with reference to Christian can attain Christ." stories for our self from this. It is our obligation to God play is considered Abhinjana Christianity. Almighty and Family. Our parents, teachers, dear and Shakuntalam, translated into Mala- near ones are eagerly waiting to see our beautiful stories The writings of Kuriakose Elias yalam by Kerala Verma Valiakovil of life. Each one of us are with lots of potentialities and Chavara can be divided generally Thampuran in 1882. Kuriakose into following categories during Chavara wrote the 10 eclogues or talents. If we fully utilizing these talents, then we can Maranaveetil Cholvanulla the namely: liturgical dramas decades before. achieve anything in this world. Author Pema Chodron Parvam (A poem to be He could be considered the father says that “To be fully alive, fully human and completely Chronics and historical sung in the bereaved of Malayalam drama. awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To writings Spiritual writings house) live fully is to be always in no man’s land, to experience Letters Letters It is intended to be sung when the each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to These letters were written on Prayer Texts corpus is placed in the coffin for be willing to die over and over again.” When we are different occasions to various per- Writings on Liturgy public homage. The poem contains coming out of the nest and our comfort zones we can sons or groups. There are 67 origi- Writings related to administra- 1162 verses. The underlying mes- become fully alive and fully human. nal copies of these letters. These tion sage is that one should lead a virtu- There was a Man who was fully alive and fully letters are published in 'Complete ous and God-fearing life in order human. He was our Founder St. Kurakose Elias Chava- Chronicles and historical Works of Chavara' Vol. IV. The overcome the painful experience chronicle in Koonammavu records ra. St. Kuriakose was a dedicated teacher, a relentless writings of death. The articles of faith relat- three letters written to them by social reformer, a talented organizer, a true visionary, a ed to the death of a man are enu- The Chronicles (Nalagamangal) Kuriakose Elias Chavara. Even gifted poet, a multi-linguist, a proven orator, an imagi- merated and beautifully illustrated narrates the daily events not only though the Chronicle states many native media person, a playwright and, above all, com- with stories or incidents, the poet of the monastery but also of the letters and notes were written by passion and kindness incarnate. All these were merged heard or read. society. These writings were origi- Chavara, only three are recorded. in his persona while successfully striving to shape his nally found in Malayalam, in Kuria- Nalla Appante Chavarul modest personal life to match perfectly to become fully kose Chavara's own handwriting. Prayer Texts There are two manuscripts under (Testament of a Loving Fa- alive and fully human. St. Chavara indeed was a man Even though Kuriakose Chavara the title 'Mannanam Nalagaman- ther) who is still fully alive and full human. His achievements wrote many prayer texts only six of gal.' Together with the events of made him an immortal.