Konkani Manyata Day Celebrated by DIVO and Kavita Trust

Mangaluru: 'DIVO' Konkani weekly ( a sister publication of The Secular Citi- zen), in association with Kavita Trust, Mangaluru celebrated 'Konkani Man- yata Day' and get-together of writers at Bishop Jattana Auditoriumm Man- galuru on Sunday, August 20, 2017.

The occasion is graced by Dr. Ron- ald Fernandes, Bureau Chief of Dec- can Herald, Mangaluru and President of Mangalore Press Club as Chief Guest. Senior Konkani Writer Eddie Netto and Senior Writer-Editor Dol- phy Cascia as Guests of Honour

In his address The Chief Guest Dr. Ronald Fernandes said its time that Konkani journalism should introduce more professionalism as we see it today based on amateur thinking. Moreover articles need to be more research oriented.

Eddie Netto and Dolphy Cascia also address the gathering and stressed in bringing new thinking and innova- tion in their writing

Earlier in the introductory speech DIVO editor Lawrence Coelho gave background on DIVO Konkani Weekly publication, its various programmes organised during 23 years period.

Founder president of Kavita Trust and poet Melvyn Rodrigues conducted recitation of Konkani Kavitas which is participated by poets, Wilson Ka- teel, Roshan Bajpe, Vincent Pinto Angelore, Naveen Kulshekar, Stany Bela, Felcy Lobo Derebail and Umer Bhatkal.

A large number of Konkani writers were present on this occasion.

Earlier DIVO Mangaluru Bureau Incharge Naveen Kulshekar Wel- comed the dignitaries and gather- ing. Richard Pereira introduced the guests. Suzan Coelho publisher DIVO proposed the vote of thanks. Santhosh Omzoor Compared the Photos by Dayanand Kukkaje programme.

2 28 August 2017 Advertisement. Tariff Over all size 21.5 cms x 27cms  Print area 18 cms x 25.5 cms Full pg. back Colour (19 cms x 24 cms) Rs. 15,000 A National family WEEKLY Center spread colour(39 cms x 23.5 cms Rs. 15,000 Vol.26 No.35 August 28, 2017 Rs.5/- Full pg. inside Cover colour(18 cms x 24 cms) Rs. 10,000 Full pg. inner colour (18 cms x 24 cms) Rs. 8,000 99, Perin Nariman Street, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001. Half pg. Colour (18 cms x 12 cms) Rs. 5,000 Mobile: +91 9820485389, 9820473103 Tel: +9122 - 2269 35 78 / 2265 49 24 Full page B/W (18 cms x 24 cms) Rs. 5,000 E-mail : [email protected] Half page B/W (18 cms x 12 cms) Rs, 3,000 Website: www.sezariworld.com Small Size Ads B/W Editor-in-chief : Lawrence Coelho Editor: PHILIP MYABOO 12 x 12cms Rs. 2000  6 x 24cms Rs. 2000 18 x 6cms Rs. 1500  6 x 12cms Rs. 1000 ‘Thought for the week’ 6 x 6cms Rs. 500 The happiness of the world is transitory. The less you become Matrimonial Classifieds: attached to the world, the more you enjoy peace of mind.  Rs. 500 per insertion (for 35 words) (includes box no.)  Rs. 2000 for 12 insertions. (1 year The Secular Citizen FREE) Contents Becoming a Republic of Fear pg. 3 - Becoming a Republic of ... pg. 4 - Wheelchair and disabled by Don Aguiar Catholics can also be ... veryone is busy planning for, waiting for, and dreaming about the present govern- pg. 5 - Voice of the People ment they had voted to power in 2014. Whether it's just a simple price reduction or pg. 6 - Trains & Alarm Chains a long, tax break for businesses and the people or the ’Acha Din” they promised the people in their election manifesto, talking about the present government has pg. 8 - The parish book centre E become an integral part of life, a time when people feel they are short charged. And then pg. 10 - How safe is your child in when the present government starts becoming bias and authoritarian as the months go by, the digital world? the perceived bliss of democracy starts fading. But isn’t what the people are dreaming and the government is doing, just an escape from themselves? pg. 11 - Views on News pg. 14 - A unique canvas for fledg- India has become a Republic of Fear where justice, democracy and the basic right to life lie in tatters, and the Constitution of Dr Ambedkar is violated daily with the government’s ling artists, talents blessing. The issue in India today is no longer corruption. Not even secularism. It is free- pg. 17 - The age of more information dom pure and simple. and less knowledge! India has become a country where Hindu supremacist gangs can lynch and rape freely pg. 18 - You the citizens decide and without any fear of punishment. Where children, women and men are brutally killed for pg 19 - Inspiration! what they eat, who they love and simply for who they are pg 20 - Matrimonials Does the present government seem schizophrenic to you? Media headlines are divisive, pg 23 - A missionary with the armour full of government views and their targeting of dissent or for praise on them, but read the of prayer morning newspaper and it’s all about dealing with stress, about living in fear, and about becoming a more revengeful individual. So how did we achieve this balance, how did we become like this?

Subscriptions Rate: This government has made you schizophrenic, split. They have created guilt in you by One year (anywhere in India) Rs. 500 creating a split; it is their whole business. Only a greedy man will go for the governments’ Three years (anywhere in India) Rs.1200 bait of their development plank; otherwise there is no need. If you are one, you would like Five years (anywhere in India) Rs. 2000 to dance in the open air under the sun. That will be your real acceptance. Nothing is said, nothing is asked, but you are showing your gratitude to the government. One year (outside India) Rs. 3500 This is a smart way of this government to keep people passive and obedient in strictly E-paper Edition limiting the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that sent anywhere in the world (by email) spectrum. One year Rs. 600 or US $ 15 Two years Rs. 1000 or US $ 25 The only motive for attacks on Christians is religious hatred. The recent launching of a campaign against Christian conversions by Jharkhand’s BJP government, which mislead- Cover : How safe is your child in ingly invokes Gandhi, appears to be an ominous prelude to more violence against the Christian minority the digital world?: (Article on p. 10) (Contd.. on p. 4) 28 August 2017 3 (Contd.. from p. 3) Wheelchair And Disabled Catholics Where can you escape to? Wherever you go, you go to another place in your country. You Can Also Be Apostles cannot run away from your country. What- widowed, not mobile because of in- ever place you reach, you will realize that mid violence in the world today you are still in your country with the Hindu we must keep fast the Light of jury could also be silent apostles of nationalists chasing you. Then you have to AGod in our mission to provide Christ. run away from that place, and from the next hope to everyman. Pope Francis place… and in this way you will have to keep said, “Hope teaches us to smile. One In the same homily at St. Peter’s running from the Hindu nationalist of the first things that happen to peo- Square, the pontiff said, “armchair ple who withdraw from God Catholics, who love to chat about Dividing humanity into parts by creating is that they are people with- how things are going division by religion, cast, and creed is the in the Church and the game of the politician. It is poison to hu- out smiles…” Hope comes world… apostles on the manity with trusting in God, in his Son and the Holy Spirit. The go who are on fire with The fact that Prime Minister Modi, and those key players in this mode love for God and ready to closest to him, have refused to condemn can also be the wheelchair, offer their lives for him…. these incidents and focused instead on tar- disabled and armchair (el- Apostles for Christ know geting any dissent as ‘anti-national’ and on derly) lay- Catholics, shep- that they cannot just tread whipping up exclusionary and violent Hindu herds who are homebound By Melvyn Brown water or take the easy way nationalism is further cause for deep con- out, but have to risk put- cern about India’s future and who radiate the Light and Promise of God’s Word. ting out into the deep, daily renew- ing their self-offering,” Pope Francis It is a cause for concern that, under the pres- ent government, religious minority commu- Pope Francis spoke to new Cardinals stated. nities feel vulnerable due to Hindu nationalist and Archbishops to be “apostles on groups engaging in violence against non- the go” not armchair Catholics, at a Lay people in wheelchairs, disabled Hindu individuals and places of worship recent Mass on the feast of Ss. Peter ones and those elderly who are on and Paul in St. Peter’s Square. armchairs can also be Apostles for While the national government sometimes Christ. speaks out against incidents of violence, lo- cal political leaders often do not, which has For that matter is it too much to find left victims and minority religious communi- that lay-Catholics who are retired, (Contd.. on p. 15) ties feeling vulnerable. And that leads one to learn to love their fate, taking a lead from our be replicated, were inside his laboratory, then act. That’s learning to love your fate. holy books. burning to the ground. It’s to make you feel great irrespective of Learning to love you fate is an attitude in “Don’t worry it’s all right,” Edison said calm- what happens. If it happened, then it was which one sees everything that happens, ly, “All my mistakes and a lot of unnecessary meant to happen. You are meant to make including suffering and loss as necessary. rubbish have just got burnt.” the best of it. It is unnatural to feel calmness Whether one likes them or not, it is accepted when faced with calamities. But see it this with Zen like serenity. In this, Edison revealed the true nature of way. It is fuel for you to push harder when “learn to love your fate” no matter what. you felt lost, when you want to quit or to Thomas Edison was at home eating dinner. think big when nothing is going right. A man burst into his house interrupting him. Not only was he not broken hearted, he was He had bad news. His research facility was revitalized. Despite losing over $ 1 million at But what’s valuable–and impressive–is when on fire. the age of 67 in a fire, he persevered and someone can look for solutions and oppor- made over $ 10 million thereafter. tunities instead of just looking for problems. Now how would you imagine Edison react? Any dimwit can find a problem! Do you imagine Edison panicking or do you I am in love with learning to love your fate. hear him scream out “Why me?” or is he Why? Because, the power that we have in We must not remain silent and allow the deeply distraught or do you see him in deep life by accepting our fate is so immense that forces of the Hindu right to transform India agony? you feel nothing is impossible for you. You into a Republic of Fear believe that everything has a purpose and None of these happened. Edison requested that it is up to you to make this purpose We have to bring this to the notice to the his son to go and get his mother. It seems, something positive and active. common people of our country They are Edison excitedly told his son, “She will never the best ones to judge what is going on in see a fire like this again.” Maybe you lost your job or your trust was India According to me action means to cre- broken with impunity or someone ill-treated ate awareness amongst the people about Naturally, Edison’s son thought his father you. The challenge of your life may be con- what is happened, we must do exactly that had lost his mind, and rightfully so. All of Edi- siderable and in escapable. And yet you’re and ensure that India continues to remains a son’s experiments, things that never could given a choice to greet it with a smile. And secular democratic republic. 4 28 August 2017 August, he reminded the audience that, “When Something Makes Us Suffer, Let Us Listen to the Voice of Jesus in our Hearts – ‘Do not fear! I AM with you’!” (cf. Matthew 28:20; & Mark 6:50). According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis has more than 35 million fol- Corruption aisaahi be heeded by all priests of the Catho- lowers on his Twitter account in nine lic church. Homilies should ideally languages – the top four being, 13.6 chalegaa? focus on the day’s readings and the million in Spanish, 12.1 million in Eng- gospel, and on the message they lish, 4.52 million in Italian, and 2.79 I was disappointed to realise that in wish to convey , and not on fairy tales. million in Portuguese. your 14 August issue Mr. Don Aguiar This should not exceed 10 minutes This @Pontifex account, opened in his article on ''Corruption" seems to at the most. Instead, today’s homi- by Pope Benedict XVI on 03 Dec. say: there is no medicine on corrup- lies are a mere repetition of what has 2012, is among the most followed in tion in India, "Yah aisahi chalenga!" already been read, which often hap- the world, and the one that records He makes no mention of the AAP pens when the priest comes unpre- the most ‘retweets’! Since 19 March experiment in Delhi. .Aam Aadmi pared. Secondly, preparing a sermon 2015, Pope Francis is also present on Party in Delhi state is giving a corrup- should not be a daunting task for a Instagram, with the account @Fran- tion-free government. Mr. Kejrival has person with several years of seminary cisus, which has recently exceeded 4 in last 3 years of his reign, given the training in theology and philosophy. million subscribers. Delhites water free of charge, electric- Every priest may not be gifted with or- However, if I may be more explicit: ity at half rate,, medical facilities in ev- atorial skills , but communicating the “For we do not proclaim ourselves, ery Mohalla at affordable rates, clean Word of God should not be a prob- but Christ Jesus. For God Who said, night shelter for the homeless, DTC lem, whether on a Sunday or week ‘Light will shine out of darkness’ buses at concessional rates, and Pub- day. Finally, it is true that a short and (Gen1:3), is the One Who has shined lic schools are made attractive even to good homily will help to bring more in our hearts, for the enlightenment the middle class people. Many more people to church on a Sunday without of the knowledge of the glory of God services are given without spending a feeling of compulsion. The message in the Face of Christ” (2 Corinthians ex-chequekers money. of the wise priest should instead read 4:5-6). In fact we Christians should be the “ If you cannot strike oil in 5 minutes, —Dr. Trevor Colaso, first to encourage such corruption- then stop BORING, not drilling” . (Boca Raton, Florida, USA). free political parties and their humble efforts. But alas! That was not seen in —A. F. Nazareth last Goa elections! I am so sorry that Alto Porvorim even the Delhi Christians do not sup- Goa. port the AAP. If they had to support by now some Christian ministers would have been serving the country. AAP Pope Francis on is the only formidable party today that Twitter and Instagram opposes BJP tooth and nail. Tomor- row if the BJP succeeds in crushing On 10 August 2017, Zenit.org re- the AAP we will be guilty of the sin of ported that,“Pope Francis Uses Twit- omission if not commission! ter to Remind the World that Jesus Does not Leave Us Alone, because —Fr. Michael G., We are Precious to Him!” And on 11 Samajshudhdi Abhiyan, Vasai

On short homilies Our Branch Office at Mangaluru : The Secular Citizen, DIVO Konkani Weekly and This is with reference to the letter ‘ Preparing homilies no easy task’ By Royal Christian Family Prof. Robert Castellino( Secular Citi- Netravathi Building, 2nd Floor, Balmata Road, Mangaluru 575001 zen, Aug. 7). The message of Catholic priest Fr Paddy O’Kane of Northern Tel.: +91 8139958222 Ireland to his parishioners, on short homilies of 5 minute duration, should Subscriptions, Advertisements, Registrations are accepted here 28 August 2017 5 Trains & Alarm Chains

hen I travel by train I feel Bengal, vandalism in Agra, and de- relaxed. I am not tensed the most alarming cas- tentions in Madhya Pradesh were not about the journey be- es of orchestrated vio- listed. Wcause I trust the driver, the guard and the system. I am not lence against Christians The dichotomy between 4 and 604 constantly on edge about what may were the attacks on made me sit up. There could be two happen, and it hasn’t even crossed reasons for this. First, that the Chris- my mind to look for the alarm chain or tribal Christians in the tian community (myself included) is how to use it. collectively very poor in its public re- Dangs area of Gujarat lations hence unable to draw the at- Yet there are many alarmists on every in 1998, and the sus- tention of the nation or the media, to gravy train. They see ghosts, devils atrocities against the community. The or assailants under every berth. This tained pogrom in Kand- second reason, is that we could be morning (10th August) I received a hamal, Orissa, in 2008. turning alarmist, with a persecution video sent by a sister in Rome. It was complex, possibly blowing minor in- about one Rajiv Dixit. He went on a A horrendous personal cidents out of proportion. In some in- 5-minute harangue about how Chris- stances we could also be inviting trou- tian churches and convents in India attack for being Chris- ble by aggressive evangelization, and were actually the largest land owners. tian was the burning telling the “pagans and idol worship- They had got these vast tracts of land pers” that they are all going to hell! for a pittance from the British, he al- of Rev Graham Staines leged. and his two minor chil- To my memory, the most alarm- ing cases of orchestrated violence He then went on to say that 92% of dren, again in Orissa, in against Christians were the attacks the students in Christian “convents” on tribal Christians in the Dangs area in Mumbai were Hindus, and the 1999/ 2000(?). of Gujarat in 1998, and the sustained amount of fees they were paying an- Recently an Open Letter to church pogrom in Kandhamal, Orissa, in nually was equivalent to the budgets heads was signed by 101 eminent 2008. A horrendous personal attack of some small States. What he con- Christians (not Dalmatians). One of for being Christian was the burning of veniently glossed over was why these the contentions in that letter was that Rev Graham Staines and his two mi- 92% of Hindus had so much there had been over 600 nor children, again in Orissa, in 1999/ faith and trust in “convent” attacks on Christians in the 2000(?). schools. He did not also last three years. I did not see the need to mention sign the petition. Among If we compare these incidents with how much expenditure was other reasons, I queried the massacre of Sikhs in 1984, Mus- involved in imparting such if the authors of the let- lims in Gujarat in 2002, or earlier in quality education. ter could document and Nellie (Assam), and the increasing at- authenticate these 600+ tacks on Muslims in recent times, for I always take forwarded attacks? My question re- being beef eaters, we would have to messages with a large pinch by chhotebhai * mained unanswered. acknowledge that we Christians are of salt. I immediately asked relatively safe in our motherland, In- the Roman informant where Ironically, on the day that I dia. Certainly safer than in our neigh- she had got the video from, and if she received that appeal (28th July 2017) bouring countries of Pakistan, China, could authenticate it? By evening one I also saw a full page “Catalogue of Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh; or of my wife’s relations had forwarded Horrors”, or hate crimes, listed in the in the Middle East – Iraq, Yemen, Syr- her the same video, saying that Chris- Hindustan Times. The newspaper ac- ia, and sub-Saharan Africa – Nigeria, tian institutions and properties were knowledged that the list was incom- Southern Somalia etc. under threat. Again I questioned the plete. Nevertheless, of the hundreds source, only to be told that the person of cases reported, only 4 were against While writing this a fresh controver- in the video had died in 2012/13. So Christians, all pertaining to vandal- sy has erupted with outgoing Vice- where did this video resurface from in ism. I know the list was incomplete President Hamid Ansari, stating that 2017? because recent heinous crimes in (Contd.. on p. 7)

6 28 August 2017 (Contd.. from p. 6) when he was contemplating such a sue an active agenda for conversions move. will be the subject of my next article, a Muslims in India were beginning to sequel to this one. feel insecure, and the incoming Vice Other than judicial intervention, we President, Venkaiah Naidu, saying also need to build public opinion by For now it should suffice to reiterate that Minorities in India were safer than countering wild allegations with facts that eternal vigilance is the price of in other countries. Propriety apart, and figures. The best tool is the data freedom. To travel safely on the train both statements were true. What also from the Census of India, the latest we should not buy food from unau- needs to be said is that the insecurity being that of 2011. Most importantly, thorised vendors (not succumb to and intolerance levels have spiked the Christian percentage of the pop- rumour mongering or unverifiable in the last three years; and growing ulation has remained static at 2.3% Whatsapp messages). We also need unrest among Muslims could reach since 1971. Significantly, the Decadal to chain our luggage to the hooks flashpoint. The tremors are there. The Growth Rate (DGR) of the Christians under the seats (avoid unnecessary volcano could erupt at any time. at 15.5% is more than 2 percentage risks, bravado and keep our houses points less than the All India DGR of in order, so that there are no “raids” To revert to the Christian community, 17.64%. Almost unbelievably, Na- by the FCRA or other Govt agencies). I do not for a moment wish to belittle galand, (a Christian majority State) ac- Yes, we will pull the alarm chain when the hardships that many Christians tually has a negative DGR of -0.58%! there is an emergency, but we should face, especially in remote rural ar- Old Christian bastions like Kerala and first take all preventive measures to eas. There is no doubt that “eternal Goa also have significantly lower DGR ensure that such a situation doesn’t vigilance is the price of freedom”. My at 4.91% and 8.3% respectively. arise. only contention is that we should not get alarmist and start pulling the chain The percentage of Christians in both * The writer is a former National Presi- every now and then. Kerala and Goa has reduced drasti- dent of the All India Catholic Union cally. In Kerala in 1961 Christians con- We know that bonafide passengers stituted 21% of the population, down get very irritated with chain pullers, if to 19% in 2001 and 18.38% in 2011. there are insufficient grounds for do- In Goa the fall is even more drastic, ing so. So we need to strike a balance from 36% in 1961 to 27% in 2001 and THANKSGIVING in our public relations. Remember the 25.1% in 2011. Himanchal Pradesh, NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. JUDE boy who kept crying “wolf”? When the last State to feel “threatened” by O Holy St. Jude, he was actually attacked he had lost Christian conversions has just 0.18% Apostle and Martyr, all credibility and consequent assis- Christians, and Jharkhand too has a tance. mere 4.3% Christians! One therefore great in virtue and wonders why various political parties rich in miracles, We Christians also tend to press make such a hue and cry about con- near kinsman of the alarm button every time an anti- versions? Jesus Christ, faith- conversion bill comes up. The latest ful intercessor of all one is to be tabled in the monsoon Ironically, Arunachal Pradesh that has who invoke your special patron- session of the Jharkhand Assembly. a strict law against conversions now age in time of need, to you I have The bill has the same draconian pro- has 30.26% Christians. It is one of the recourse from the depth of my visions as in the earlier Himanchal four Christian majority States in India; Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh acts; the other three also being in the North heart and humbly beg to whom about seeking prior permission for East – Meghalaya (74.59%), Mizoram God has given such great power conversion from the District Magis- (87.16%) and Nagaland (87.93%). to come to my assistance. Help trate. If indeed this bill becomes law Manipur, also in the North East, is not me in my present urgent peti- then its unconstitutional provisions far behind with 41.29% Christians, just tion, in return I promise to make will have to be challenged in the 0.1 percentage points behind the Hin- your name known and cause you courts. Yes, we should be alert, but du population at 41.39%. to be invoked. not unduly alarmed. Shortly after In- dependence the first such enactment On their part, Hindus should not be Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Mary's was by the Congress in the 1950s, a alarmed by these statistics, because and three Glory be's. consequence of the infamous Niyogi most of these conversions in the North St. Jude pray for us and all who Commission. Thereafter several other East have not been from among Hin- invoke your aid. Amen. States have made such enactments. dus, but from the indigenous or ani- (THANKS FOR FAVOURS GRANTED) However, there has not been a single mist tribal religions. conviction; as I wrote to the then Con- —Mrs. Lydia Fernandes, gress Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Whether or not Christians should pur- Andheri (w)

28 August 2017 7 The Parish Book Centre

giving a face to the morals and values that have witnessed the growth of the human person from civilization to civi- lization. Seen in this light, publishing books cannot but be considered a significant ministry or even a mission. It is indeed gratuitous to note that the Church both in India and the world is blessed with religious congrega- tions that produce Christian as well as other wholesome literature that ben- efits readers tremendously—Media House (Capuchin friars), Franciscan Publications (OFM friars), St Paul’s (Pauline priests & brothers), Pauline Publications (Pauline sisters), and Claretian Publications (Claretian Mis- Where the Word Meets the World! sionaries) to name but a few, besides Asian Trading Corporation, a privately owned entity. Books published and hat’s in a name?” a given 50 year period, it was the Holy distributed by these are sold in vari- says Juliet in Ro- Bible that trumped the rest, with sales ous Christian book-centres across the meo and Juliet by grossing a whopping 3.9 billion cop- country. However, how many such the Bard of Avon. If ies and counting! Proof enough that outlets have we in any given diocese? “W Expecting the prospective buyer to there’s one book outlet on the media not only is there a growing hunger for firmament whose name could fasci- God’s Word but that the Bible is one travel long distances to pick up a title nate the discerning book enthusiast book that is being read at any given is the last thing a publisher must have no end, it is the FAITH CEN- point of time by more than in mind! TRE of Our Lady of Lourdes two individuals in some part Church, Orlem, Malad! Open of the globe or the other. Dissemination of Literature every evening apart from Sun- Versions of the holy book, Time was when the ‘Daughters of Saint day mornings, it is a small fa- not to speak of language Paul’ nuns visited Catholic homes with cility run by the parish prayer translations, abound but literature meant to deepen faith and group and has a little of ev- the Word per se remains morals. They don’t do that anymore - erything [largely books] that the same – “Jesus Christ is for a variety of reasons, obviously, one helps foster the faith of the the same yesterday, today of those being that times have com- community. But this article is by Ladislaus L and forever” (Heb 13:8), pletely changed. With an increasing not about Orlem’s Faith Cen- D’Souza publishers registering high number of neutral families where both tre per se but about the need sales of ‘Bible diaries’ in parents are at work, there’s no one at for every parish in every diocese in various parishes being further proof! home to even meet the goody good our country to have such a facility that Sisters! There’s also the danger now caters to the faith enrichment needs of The Word and its expression prevailing in relation to conversion al- the parish community. In the context of the age of the internet legations. However, what has over the when all its attributes dominate social time emerged as the rallying point for Book most widely read communications media, even with ref- literature is the space allowed on par- “No two persons ever read the same erence to education, it is imperative ish premises on Sundays for makeshift book,” avers Edmund Wilson. Wilson that we begin to see the Word of God stalls displaying a limited selection of is absolutely right, because choices being spelt out in various ways that titles, largely during dry weather. Not and tastes differ. Yet he is also quite could well pose a challenge to the to be overlooked is the fact that most wrong, eh! Well, here’s why! When electronic media. This is possible only such stalls are manned by the elderly James Chapman listed the 50 most if we look at any good book, a really whose limitations include age asso- read books in the world based on the enriching compilation, as an expres- ciated issues concerning distance, number of copies of each title sold in sion of the Word-made-flesh in print mode of travel, finance etc in relation (Contd.. on p. 9) 8 28 August 2017 (Contd.. from p. 8) ing people are returning home. Such handy, with parishes taking the lead folk are deprived of the opportunity to in initiating the process. The ques- to selecting/ordering titles. The result: pick up the wholesome literature our tion of stocking titles in such a facil- the timeframe between one visit and Catholic book-centres have to offer. ity can be well answered by the par- the next is such that titles selected Extending evening working hours by ish periodically calling for old books earlier are long outdated! at least an hour, if not more, is also an to be dropped in a carton placed at a option that could be considered to the convenient spot on parish premises, Marketing Strategy benefit of all. Catholic bookstores setting up a simi- Incidentally, to those involved in the lar arrangement. Could parishes that distribution of the treasures of the Gifting facility – Books sure make are self-sufficient take the lead in ad- Church in print form, Blessed James good gifts! And so, some publishers dressing the issue? Alberione, initiator of the Pauline have what is known as the ‘Gift Vouch- apostolate of the media and whom er’ option, a facility that needs to be The Goal par excellence! Pope Saint John Paul II hailed as widely promoted so as to enable the Vera Nazarian, modern day American “the first apostle of the new evange- prospective buyer/gift-giver as well as writer, says, “Whenever you read a lization,” says, “Consider yourselves the recipient of a gift voucher to avail good book, somewhere in the world servants of Christ and dispensers directly of the choice of purchases a door opens to allow in more light.” of the mysteries of God” (UPS IV available on redemption of the vouch- Are our parishes and Catholic pub- 87). Indeed, it is not for nothing that er at all outlets of a specific publisher lishers willing to go the extra mile to he also clarifies that “distribution is anywhere in the country or at least collaborate in opening doors to more done with the head,” adding, “Don’t within a diocese or city, including their light and windows to fresh air for the think that distribution is to be left to occasional book display in parishes. sake of the Gospel? Seen objectively, those with less intelligence” (Pr D making good literature available to 487). And so, turning net-savvy and Parish facility – The writing on the believer and non-believer alike is defi- floating apps galore—easy work! No wall is clear: the future of dissemi- nitely much more than a commercial leg-work involved!!—need not make nation of Catholic literature lies in enterprise. In fact, Alberione was wont Catholic publishers content. Au con- direct networking with parishes, to caution his sons and daughters traire, one must seriously consider not in the general/secular market- in the media apostolate thus: “Our the number of titles thus sold and ing network, nor even in the limited book-centres are focal points of apos- the quantum of book sales for any number of Catholic outlets in evi- tolate,….not commercial shops but given timeframe or rather, the num- dence. As the Turkish proverb retold centres of service to the faithful…. The ber of individuals reached. by Francis Bacon puts it, “If the moun- book centre is a temple; the religious tain will not go to Muhammad, Mu- who serves a preacher. Light, holi- Timings - Then there is the timing fac- hammad must go to the mountain”! ness, joy in Jesus Christ and Christian tor. Our Catholic book outlets gener- Catholic publishers need to reach out life are the goals sought, the counter ally close by 7 pm, which happens to to parishes with a view to helping set is the pulpit” [UPS IV 162]. In effect, a be precisely the time when most work- up a book-store/stall and establish- parish book facility, whether book- ing an active link whereby titles are store, reading room or library, is a delivered and replaced at least on a place of profound encounter be- For placing Ads. in monthly basis if not oftener. Given the tween the Word and the world! fact that it is from Saturday evening The Secular Citizen to Sunday evening that parishioners come together in worship, those run- MATRIMONIAL The Examiner ning Catholic book facilities need to MUMBAI : Mangalorean Roman think in terms of giving themselves Catholic spinster (Born in April 1973), DIVO Konkani Weekly their weekly rest on some other day of 5’ 5” tall, looks much younger to her RAKNNO the week if Sunday happens to be the age, good looking, fair complexion only day personnel concerned in any with qualifications, B.Com. (Mumbai), parish are available, the nitty-gritty of M.B.A. Finance (Canada), M.B.A., and other community all transactions being worked out as (H.R.) and Diplomas in I.T. (NIIT), per mutual convenience. Comp. (Aptec), and Cert.Ind Acct. publications (I.C.A.), working in good position. Parish Library - Finally, a parish could Graduate / Post Graduate unmar- Contact : further enhance the benefits accruing ried R.C. Bachelors upto 47 years, to the reading habit by providing a employed in good position and well Ad-Master suitably stocked library or at least a settled in Mumbai or abroad. Contact ‘Reading Room’. Here again it’s the email.: [email protected] OR 9820473103 publishers whose aid could come in Mob.: 9892700617

28 August 2017 9 How safe is Your Child and our growing children who are encouraged to attain knowledge through ave we ever in the Digital World? what the digital world of- been made fers, could anytime fall aware of or prey to it. What is worse Hstopped to is they may learn to like notice the shadowy it or become addicted to world surrounding us? it without the knowledge Whether we acknowl- of the parents! Isn’t it a edge it or not, it is very frightening scenario- cor- much part of our exis- ruption of young minds tence and makes its with a sneak peek into the presence felt in the most evil world? unpleasant of ways, It was time the com- sending shockwaves puter was put to more to rock our peaceful use and find solutions to existence. The “Blue its own problem. Surfing Whale” video game for cation with the family, some research through, I came across the kids has been making headlines in and a storehouse of my thoughts and elaborate explanations about such newspapers as it challenges children expressions. How on earth could this problems. I share them here - to take their own lives. Falling victim have happened? The time the kids “The way malware goes about do- to such foul play has prompted me to spent at the computer playing games ing its damage can be helpful in share my experience with you……… and videos was last on my mind, as categorizing what kind of malware My family from the other side of I sent an SOS to the professionals to you're dealing with. The following the globe was visiting the old par- take over. is a list of common classes of mal- ents bringing with it a breath of fresh Truth was revealed as the tech- ware, but it's hardly exhaustive: air and a new dose of enthusiasm. At nicians had encountered the same Virus: Like their biological name- home, the young kids, grown problem elsewhere recently. sakes, viruses attach themselves up with knowledge beyond They sheepishly queried to clean files and infect other clean their years were glued to the me on the absence of kids files. They can spread uncontrolla- computer most of the time, in the house. On my admis- bly, damaging a system’s core func- exploring the world of sci- sion to their presence, they tionality and deleting or corrupting ence, imagery, fiction and explained how the greedy files. They usually appear as an ex- games, under strict supervi- and unscrupulous elements ecutable file. sion. Nevertheless, I ruefully of the Digital world use their Trojans: This kind of malware disguis- wondered about the chang- technical expertise to cor- es itself as legitimate software, or is ing times. Gone are the days rupt software using kids’ included in legitimate software that when all nature used to be a by Vera Alvares websites. The websites of has been tampered with. It tends to playground and every rock games and imagery de- act discretely and create backdoors and tree, a playmate! signed for children often are vehicles in your security to let other malware When the visit ended, leaving be- to sneak in a virus or two, usually por- in. hind memories to treasure and mo- nography. He named it as ‘Malware’, Spyware: No surprise here: spyware ments to count, it was time to get back short for ‘malicious software’. It seems is malware designed to spy on you. to the business of living the old lifestyle it is an umbrella term used to refer to a It hides in the background and routinely practiced over the years. variety of forms of hostile or intrusive takes notes on what you do online, The home computer monopolized software including computer viruses, including your passwords, credit by the wiz kids of the family, now worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, card numbers, surfing habits and beckoned. When the screen lit up, spyware, adware, scareware and oth- more. the flashing pictures and messages er totally malicious programmes! Worms: Worms infect entire networks sent me spinning away into a total This was indeed news to me. My of devices, either local or across shock….Well, something unwanted knowledge of computers fails to run the internet, by using network in- had entered my little world through the into technicalities and is limited to terfaces. It uses each consecutive computer without my permission or plain simple usage and emergency infected machine to infect more. knowledge! Like most of the parents tinkering …… Ransomware: Also called scareware, and grandparents, my home com- But, this dark world of all kinds this kind of malware can lock down puter too is just a means of communi- of malicious software exists in reality (Contd.. on p. 16) 10 28 August 2017 BJP – Time to wake up. Let us not go into how many kids lost VIEWS on NEWS their lives during your time and my time was shown to you and not what you should in Gorakhpur. The fact remains they died have insisted on seeing. Again the hospital and all that is important is to know why was decked up for your second visit at a they died. This has been an annual phe- cost of about a million rupees and then you nomenon in the BRD hospital. So con- cancel it. First you sack all who ordered a cerned about the issue as an MP [now make-over for your visits. This is something CM of UP] he had been relentlessly rais- they are supposed to do every day. Go in- by Marshall Sequeira ing this in Parliament for decades. He was cognito to each and every hospital not with well informed then and obviously as CM fact there was no other line]. It may not Black Cats and Commandos in tow. Sack much better informed now. He cannot be a rash judgment to assume that it your Health and Medical Education minis- deny that. All that he needed to do was had something to do with the pending ters forthwith. Don’t shift the focus on non get to the bottom of the problem no soon- inquireies against his nephew Ajit Pawar issues. Make videography compulsory in er he donned the mantle of Chief Minister. and Praful Patel. By giving one vote to hospitals on how patients are being treated He did not do that since it was not ‘in the the Congress, he has ensured that he re- and not in Madrasas to find out how they news’ anyway. mains part of the Opposition Unity. Who are celebrating Independence Day. The PM The problem Yogiji lies elsewhere. The knows with Nitesh out and Rahul Gandhi spoke about introspection. If anybody, the death of hundreds of kids each year, was not in the reckoning, the opposition could BJP and the RSS need it more than any- not your priority No 1. Maybe you thought, rally around Sharad Pawar. Shrewd man! body else. it is a routine matter. You were more con- The JD[U] backed the BJP and en- cerned with illegal slaughter houses and ***** sured its entry into the NDA at the Centre. closing them was the first thing you did Congress outsmarts the But its lone MLA voted for the Congress on assuming office. Nobody had died defying party diktat. Obviously, he is a because of illegal slaughter houses or by BJP supporter of former party Chief – Sharad eating beef sold from such outlets. You fo- Normally Rajya Sabha elections hap- Yadav now at logger-heads with Nitish cused on who sings or does not sing Jana pen at periodic intervals either because of Kumar for his decision to form the gov- Gana Mana, Vande Mataram, who refuses the term of the outgoing members is over ernment in Bihar with the help of BJP. The to say Bharat Mata Ki Jai. You want Yoga in or due to death or resignation. Never be- party in Bihar is heading for a split but with schools. Your party is suddenly concerned fore in the history of Independent India did the loaves of office with Nitish Kumar, the about triple talak and the ‘injustice’ done one witness the hype and drama that sur- majority of the MLAs are likely to remain to the poor Muslim women. The problem rounded the election for Rajya Sabha from loyal. It is said that the two rebel MLAs of with the BJP it wants to focus on issues Gujarat – the home of the two most power- the Congress who had crossed over to which ‘affect’ Muslims adversely. Trying ful men in the BJP today. The election was the BJP actually voted for Ahmed Patel. to insist on issues which are very sensi- contested among others by Ahmed Patel This is something unheard of in politics. tive to that community [rightly or wrongly] – Sonia Gandhi’s Man Friday and for BJP But considering the prestige attached to has been your government’s priority. You his defeat at all costs was more important this election, money power could have concentrate on who eats beef, who carries than who wins from BJP. Amit Shah had an played a very significant role, first in de- it, who transports it etc not realizing that axe to grind with Ahmed Patel as the for- fection and then in cross voting. Ahmed there are more important issues that need mer believed that the latter was primarily Patel won much to the disappointment tackling on emergency basis. No doubt responsible for his incarceration in the fake of the BJP. Amit Shah who had made it the cow is sacred and everybody accepts encounter case. Naturally Amit Shahl had his prestige issue to ensure that his bête that but protecting the cow at the cost of a big stake in ensuring that Ahmed Patel noire Ahmed Patel lost the contest was social disharmony and unrest is not desir- lost – cost immaterial. No stone was left shell-shocked. The BJP was very confi- able for a country with diverse faiths and unturned and it may be fair to believe that dent and were even seen celebrating be- beliefs. Hundreds of cows die due to mal- the sudden desertion of Congress Party by fore the results were out nutrition every year in the scores of gaush- Shankersinh Vaghela could have been en- The BJP had not factored the brains alas which you founded. Nobody bothers gineered and mind you, he was a former in the Congress Party. Unlike in Goa, they about them but one cow being transport- BJP leader. With him remaining in the party had Plan B ready the moment the two ed by a Muslim is a huge problem even if with his MLAs, the election of the Congress votes [which were shown to unauthorized he has purchased the animal. candidate was a mere formality. person – Amit Shah] became an issue. Coming back to Gorakhpur, sacking The day of election witnessed hectic Once the Returning Officer [RO] rejected a couple of low level functionaries [with activities with the fortunes of thee contes- their objection, their Plan B swung into ac- no political clout] will not help. There is a tants [particularly Ahmed Pate] vacillated tion with facts and documentary evidence problem of cleanliness, sanitation, filth etc between hope and despair. In this drama, to take the issue to its logical end. The BJP in the hospital which every news channel the game played by NCP led Sharad Pawar kept taunting and mocking at them and could see but not your administration. A needs mention. Known for his fence-sitter advising them to take the verdict of the EC young kid just out of ICU is taken by his tag, he smartly tried to ride two horses at sportingly [expecting it in their favour] and parents for a bath outside because con- the same time. One of his MLAs voted for not to knock the door of the Apex Court. ditions inside are appalling. The hos- the Congress, the other for the BJP and In the final analysis, the EC over-ruled the pital was spruced up overnight for Your then announced that one of his MLAs RO and declared the two votes invalid. Majesty’s visit, patients lying on the floor cross voted. This was a drama because Now it appears the BJP is contemplating were cleared, windows washed, every- the concerned MLA is neither suspended moving the Supreme Court. Another ex- thing was given a face lift. You saw what nor expelled for violating the party line [in ample of double standard! 28 August 2017 11 Achievers Honoured by Vikhroli Unit of BCS

Vikhroli unit of the Bombay Catholic clude Mr. Anthony Chettiar and Advo- tated including the local corporator Sabha (BCS) organised its annual cate Aileen Marques. of ward 119 – Ms. Manisha Rahate. felicitation program on 15th August 2017 at the St. Joseph's Church Hall. During the event representatives of The Chief Guest for the occasion was political parties namely Shiv Sena, Mr. Alfred Arambhan an Entrepreneur A total of 48 students comprising MNS, NCP and Congress were felici- owning, managing, operating and of SSC, HSC, Graduates and Post representing a diverse set of enter- Graduate who had scored above a Chief Guest Alfred Arambhan spoke prises. He addressed the gathering fixed criteria were felicitated during on the topic “Retired at 40”. He stat- and honoured the achievers. the event by special guests who are ed be what you want to be and make achievers in their own fields. yourself capable to achieve by using Mr. Bobby Singh Chandal – founder the various services and resources and CEO at MyDisha graced the oc- Optimum use of the event was made that are available and constantly get casion as a Special Guest, spoke on by felicitating the unit football players updated with the latest. He used the youth skills and right attitude towards and their coaches, journalists, spon- importance of making the most of workplace environment. sors and the volunteers who had pro- the word “Why” – for understanding vided their services to the unit. Simon the reason, cause or purpose and to Other Guest of Honours include Mr. Pereira a marathon runner aged 61 find the right approach by making Dolphy D'Souza, Former President of was also felicitated. the most of what’s available today BCS and Convenor of SOUL (Save in terms of internet, books, lectures Our Land)]; Adv. Rahael D'Souza, Others felicitated during the event in- and pep talks. State President of the All India Cath-

12 28 August 2017 Bobby Singh Chandal spoke about having closely worked with job seekers and providers for a long time now. One of the basic challenges faced while hiring fresher’s was the lack of basic workplace skills in addition to the right attitude to- wards workplace environment. He spoke about the primary reason why gradu- ates in India stay unemployable for long after their graduation / post graduation is because they lack basic work place skills which makes them job- ready. The academic learning leaves them with- out the direction of using their learning into their careers. He conveyed the only way we can tackle unemployment was by making our youth realize olic Union; Lawrence Coelho, Edi- Dolphy D’souza spoke the skill and competency gap and make them un- tor - The Secular Citizen; and Susan about the need of our derstand their personality profile so that they can Coelho of DIVO Konkani Weekly Catholic brethren to join prepare themselves for their future and choose a the Government admin- functional role which suits them the most without Fr. Sachin Lopez – Principal of St. Jo- istrative services and also blindly following their peer. seph’s High School – spoke that the join political parties. students of SSC and HSC had a fixed He appreciated the unit curriculum but the students need to for its outdoor activities Subscriptions for take a proper call on what they want and having protest events to be based as per their interests and amongst the people on understanding their strengths with the streets. And spoke Renewal as well as New, can be sent the vast opportunities available for about continuing the through Bank Fund Transfer to any one them to build their future and not as same approach. of the following banks: per pear pressure or following blindly their friends. He further spoke about Adv. Raphael D’souza said about Bank: HDFC Bank having the right friends and the right the neglect by and lack of priority by Branch : CST - Mumbai VT attitude. the Government to the overall medi- Account Name: The Secular Citizen cal care resulting in child deaths in Account No. 03552000006744 Also during the event young children Ghorakhpur and also elsewhere. He ISFC code: HDFC0000355 came up with excellent stage perfor- said questions from today's young or mances under the guidance of Mrs. brains should be why the adminis- Bank: Citizen Credit Co-op Bank Ltd., Jessy D’souza and her daughter Ely- tration in our country deteriorating? Branch : Colaba, Mumbai sia D’souza Whether in 70 years we can truly Account Name: The Secular Citizen say we are independent? What is Account No. 2090031000000489 The event concluded with lunch and the role of youngsters who consti- ISFC code: CCBL0209003 one to one interaction of the students tute 45% of electorate? He invited and their parents with the speakers. youngsters to consider active Poli- Please inform us through email: secu- More than 300 parishioners were tics and Bureaucracy as not *dirty [email protected] or through phone: present for the program. and dirtier* respectively, but as an 9820485389 after transferring the same. opportunity to serve the country.

28 August 2017 13 A unique canvas for fledgling artists, talents

ndian artists across generations have communicated ideas, is- sues and emotions through po- Ietry, music, paintings and many art forms. The life of an artist in India is often filled with struggles. Aiming to provide a durable common plat- form to struggling artistes and take their art across to those who see val- ue in it, Dr. Alexander Martin started the venture Talents on Display, along with Manpreet Singh Virk and Irene D’Souza on November 16, 2015.

The venture goes with the tagline, ‘Art for responsive participation of societ- ies worldwide’. “Talents on Display endeavours to provide a platform to all struggling artistes of various art forms, especially visual, musical and Martin too loves painting,” he says. for starting the venture was miniscule. culinary art, who are unable to ar- “We realised that we could safely rive at a platform that can take their In 1998, Dr. Martin joined as a lecturer in fund ourselves and get the business aesthetic talent to a larger audience psychiatry in MGM College, Kamothe started,” he says. worldwide,” says Dr. Martin. “We where he taught MBBS students. He want to use art as a medium of com- then moved onto D.Y. Patil Medical Talents on Display has two arms- ‘The munication, whereby we can com- College as a Professor in 2012-14. At Art Vestibule’ and ‘The Art Gurukul’ municate our culture and develop a D Y Patil College, Dr. Martin met Dr. at Progressive Sea Lounge, Sector foundation for a sustainable Manpreet Singh Virk, who too shared 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai. The future for ourselves and a passion for art. However, Art Vestibule is an exhibition gallery our children.” Dr. Martin what motivated him to think while the Art Gurukul is an avenue for had an intense passion for of this venture was when he artists to impart training to art lovers, music, drawing and paint- met two aspiring young art- especially children. It also prepares ing right from childhood. ists, Samadhan Bhandari youngsters who wish to pursue a ca- Although he did his MBBS (20) and Yogita Shelar (20), reer in fine art, applied art, architec- (1991-92) from St. John’s residents of Navi Mumbai, in ture, interior designing, western and Medical College (Benga- by Ivan Saldanha- 2014. “I was greatly inspired Indian music, says Dr. Martin. luru) and M.D. in Psycho- Shet by the beautiful paintings logical Medicine (1995-96) made by these artists. How- The struggling artists also get an op- from Nair Hospital (Mumbai ever, what disturbed me was portunity to earn and propagate their University) and has been practising in that despite being talented, they were art from ‘The Art Gurukul’. Nearly 25 Navi Mumbai since 1996, he nurtured unable to reach out to people due to students are taking classes in various a deep desire to promote art. lack of awareness and a platform,” art forms. “The teachers are the artists says Dr. Martin. working on a part-time basis and are “My mother, based in Mangaluru, is paid 60% of the fees taken from the a musician and painter. So we were Art Vestibule and Art Gurukul : students,” informs Dr. Martin. There raised in an atmosphere that promot- Apart from getting an opportunity to are five art teachers –2 for art and one ed art. I used to watch with fascination showcase talent, the artists get vis- each for guitar, violin, keyboards and her drawings on nature and marveled ibility on the website and sales assis- Indian vocals respectively. In addi- at her creativity,” says Dr. Martin. Dr. tance through the marketing efforts of tion, there is a premise manager who Martin married into a Mangalorean Talents on Display. “Through this plat- works on a salary. There are four art- family that too nurtured a deep pas- form we try to widen the network of ists (one sculptor and three painters) sion for art. “My mother in law, Irene artists and the buyers of art,” says Dr. registered with them, and their works D’souza, although not an artist, loves Virk. Since the brick-and-mortar facil- are showcased on the website. art in all its forms. My wife, Shanta ity is self owned, the seed requirement (Contd.. on p. 15) 14 28 August 2017 (Contd.. from p. 14) (Contd.. from p. 4) I have seen that elderly Catholics turn Talents on Display intends to hold to a spiritual life as an answer to con- “I want to do something for Christ and necting with parish and local commu- regular exhibitions of struggling art- to make myself useful” blurted Shel- ists “atleast once a month,” for which nity through armchair dialogue. The ton to his family at the dinner table. disabled and those in wheel-chairs it charges them Rs. 15,000 for a week, He was a prisoner in the mobile chair says Dr. Martin. have beliefs and values which play for too long. Shelton was only 32 an important part in their on-going years old, a victim of speeding on his lives. By their actions and outward Sara Hussain from Kochi, whose exhi- bike across the flyover bition was at the Art Gallery, says this show of beliefs they are also apostles for the faith. is her first-ever in Mumbai. “It feels so Citing the words of Pope Francis, nice to reach out to a larger crowd.” “The Lord answers prayers. He is The exhibition has received wide ac- Religious Congregation’s, and a host faithful to the love we have professed of other groups have many disabled claim and led to two projects, says Dr. for him and he stands beside us at Martin. Catholics who assist care providers, times of trial.” giving encouragement and help, Another painter from Odisha, Par- spending time with wounded souls Shelton’s prayer was answered when as Care-workers. meswar Samal (27), whose exhibi- he applied for a position in the local tion is scheduled to be held in Au- Catholic TV. Station. His application gust, says, “This will be my first solo In today’s world, religion and faith are was accepted and after an interview mere words of expression. Catholics, exhibition in Mumbai and I am really he was selected in the quota for grateful that such a platform has been however, in all walks of life believe “handicapped”, as a news broad- and trust in God: Christians keep to provided by Talents on Display for up- caster. Shelton made the best of the coming artists.” Mr. Samal hopes to the truth of God’s religion. All dis- opportunity by writing short talks (on abled Catholics are missionaries as spread awareness on deforestation the side), talks on the gospel and Je- through his art. they promote the Word and reach out sus – truly becoming a lay Catholic to the world. apostle for Christ. Future plan : You can join the AFJ Open Apostle- Dr. Martin plans to look for partner- We are taught by the pontiff that the ship opportunities in Pune and Ben- ship Society for Lay Catholic Dis- life of an apostle is strengthened in abled Evangelists. galuru besides the rest of India, once edifying prayer, a passionate vocation the business is consolidated in Mum- of faith, and the readiness to endure Contact Melvyn Brown at Divine bai and Navi Mumbai. “We will be in patience any type of persecution. Mercy Chapel, 3 Elliot Road, Calcutta constantly building upon our artist 700016. (M) 8017934248. resource, which will be the source of our core capability,” says Dr. Virk. Prayer to St. Expedite for For artists like Mr. Bhandari, the ven- solving a financial crisis ture offers opportunities for displaying their art to a wider audience. “There is I call forth the Power and the pres- a lack of awareness about art among ence of St. Expedite in my time of people, who perceive that art is for the financial trouble. I offer my body, elite and beyond their means. There heart, mind and soul upon your al- are several struggling artists who are tar of light. I have faith and trust and indeed very good in their work and are desirous of recognition but do not complete confidence that you will know how to go about it. Talents on be my strength in this time of need. Display has provided a platform to all Quickly come to my assistance. such artists to showcase their talent (State Your Petition)______to a larger audience,” he says. My financial need is urgent. Be my Light and Guide in this situation so that I may live with peace, love, pros- perity and abundance and in the Contact::: talentsondisplay@gmail. Praise of God. com (By-Ivan Saldanha-Shet with Amen. (Promise Publication) Inputs from Dr.Alexander Martin) —Ms Rosaline G. Lobo, U.A.E. 28 August 2017 15 To FOCUS Towards REACH he Fellowship Of Catholic Uni- model of “win, build, send” – winning versity Students (FOCUS)has students through friendship; building Tannounced on 18 August 2017, faith with Bible studies and cateche- that it will expand to 15 new cam- sis; and, sending out students who puses for the 2017-2018 school year. wish to evangelize – ‘Digital Cam- This brings the total number of cam- pus’! puses with a FOCUS presence to FOCUS has already started two 137.FOCUS plans by 2022 to reach REACH – Reaching Every Ameri- 250 campuses. can Campus Holistically programs A Campus Ministry, FOCUS works through Prayers and Breakfast out- to inspire and equip college stu- reaches in New York City and Wash- dents to know, love and share their ington DC areas. Many more such COURSES on faith through intentional virtue based ‘Reaches’ are being planned. friendships. Committed missionaries It was founded in January 1997 by Personality Development stationed at campuses throughout Curtis Martin and Dr. Edward Sri at w Public Speaking Course the USA, and even internationally, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kan- w How to Groom Yourself invite students to grow in their faith sas, USA. For more information go w How to Remember (Memory Power) through Bible studies, small group to www.focus.org/reach. w Be a Good Administrator events, mission trips, and one-on- w Cultivating Positive Attitude one discipleship. —Dr. Trevor Colaso, w Discover Your Talent FOCUS missionaries follow a (Memphis, TN. USA). w Stress Management Techniques w Conduct of Effective Meetings (Contd.. from p. 10) out personal details – such as name, w How to do a Presentation address, school and telephone num- w Team Work Building your computer and threaten to erase bers – to online friends they have not www.limrt.com everything — unless a ransom is met face-to-face. Tell them never to paid to its owner. respond to junk email or open attach- Subscriptions for Adware: Though not always malicious ments that are from people they don’t in nature, particularly aggressive know. advertising software can under- Television, phones, social media, Renewal as well as New, can be mine your security just to serve you group chatting…..the potential av- sent through Bank Fund Transfer to any ads — which can give a lot of other enues of danger are many-fold. But one of the following banks: malware a way in. Plus, let’s face it: we need to remember that these are pop-ups are really annoying. mere tools and if used judiciously Bank: HDFC Bank Botnets: Botnets are networks of in- could benefit us greatly. Let the ‘Digi- Branch : CST - Mumbai VT fected computers that are made to tal World’ serve humanity to build a Account Name: The Secular Citizen work together under the control of better world, for us and for our chil- Current Account No. 03552000006744 an attacker.” dren. ISFC code: HDFC0000355 or We can protect our children from the Bank: Citizen Credit Co-op Bank Ltd., potential dangers by taking a few Thanksgiving Branch : Colaba, Mumbai steps. Get to know how your children Account Name: The Secular Citizen use the internet. Ask them to show CurentAccountNo. 2090031000000489 you some of their favourite sites and ISFC code: CCBL0209003 talk about them. Make them aware that there are things on the internet Please inform us through email: secular@ which may upset them and that they vsnl.com or through phone: 9820485389 can always talk to you at any time. Be after transferring the same. aware of any changes in the way they use the internet, such as the amount of time they spend online or how of- The Secular Citizen ten they access the internet through Mail your articles, news, and their smart phone. Make them aware Thanks to St. Clare for other creations to: of the risks such as people might not [email protected] be who they say they are and cyber- the favours granted bullying. Instruct them never to give —Annie Lemos, Miraroad 16 28 August 2017 The age of more information and less knowledge! We like to believe that more infor- tion that we use. Your brain is working can’t take in every bit of information mation allows us to make more in- as quickly as it can to send data from at once but you can choose to learn formed decisions, to be more knowl- your working memory to your long more about things you’d like to im- edgeable. That’s wrong: knowledge term memory, but it can’t retain every- prove. You’ll retain more information does not grow with information ac- thing. While it’d be perfect to absorb when you target your searches as op- cess. Terms like ‘knowledge explo- and apply 100 percent of the informa- posed to mindlessly scrolling. Take sion,’ Information overload,’ or ‘in- tion, it’s not quite possible. So, if we opportunities to reflect on what you formation avalanche’ have become can’t take in everything anyway, how have learned along the way. You’ll not part of our vocabulary. So, let’s try can we really learn? only feel better about your progress to figure out why we know more but you’ll be able to make use of what stuff but aren’t getting any smarter Filter out information: Scrolling you already know when you take on a through the internet is a passive form different challenge. PRESENT TIMES of knowledge acquisition. The amount Technology has brought a surplus of of information that we can access is Lastly, to get smarter, it’s not about information to our fingertips but has it always going to be more than we can how much you’ve known but how made us smarter, we’s all be geniuses process. To filter the information you much you’ve brought into play. To at this point. But mere expo- know something deeply, sure to data doesn’t make you’ll have to engage with it us better thinkers and learn- on a consistent basis while ers. The fact is, we’ve never giving yourself plenty of op- learned how to learn prop- portunities for self-reflection erly. In the present day, the and objective feedback. True mass media plays a crucial learning is not always easy. role in the lives of people You’ll experience struggles and the development of the as you tackle new challeng- world. Despite the advan- es and wade through Digital tages of the mass media as Age. If you can focus on your modern day communication efforts and make deliberate its excessive integration and over-reli- take in, focus on what you need to choices about your learning, you can ance in the lives of its users could be improve. What must you learn to be navigate the abundance of resources detrimental. These users especially successful? Taking this simple step to make meaningful gains in your life. the technology enthusiasts’ younger enables you to pass over unrelated generation faces the effects of lower and tangentially-related information. • No matter how many articles cognition critical thinking. So, what As you continue to grow your knowl- you’ve skimmed through, you are we need to remember is Information edge and skills, you can update the not getting smarter. Unless we and knowledge aren’t synonyms: parameters of your filter. use that information, we’re bound Knowledge is always an interpretation to forget it. of information. For instance, you can Take information into the real world: • The way that we apply knowledge easily collect and recount factual in- You know that reading about some- is different today because we are formation about someone: where and thing once doesn’t guarantee that the exposed to so much informa- when they were born, where they lived information is yours to recall at will. tion every day. Tradition learning and studied, what subjects they hold Knowledge isn’t useful until you can styles often involved apprentice- and so on but what does that really apply it. If you are trying to learn a new ship or immediate active applica- tell you about the person? Scientists skill, you’ll have to do the things that tion of skills. like to describe such processes as the you’ve read about in your research. It • Our knowledge is like a big bal- search for more precise and detailed isn’t always easy to take information loon, filled with huge amount of knowledge. from your computer screen into the information. It continues to ex- real world. There’s a fair chance that pand; growing thinner with each Today, we have sacrificed the you are going to fail the first time you addition of volume, until it finally quality of the knowledge for quality. attempt something. bursts and sends bits and pieces There’s an imbalance between the of knowledge flying across the knowledge we take in and the informa- Stay alert to what to learn next: You room.

28 August 2017 17 Why Do We Still Call Some Of Our Brother And Sister Christians As Sechedule Caste Or Dalit Christians?

by Eric D'Sa cepted to be more than 3,000 years ways lived in segregated colonies, the old. water wells were not shared, Brahmins ost liberal Indians, leave would not accept food or drink from alone the foreigners are How did caste system the Shudras, and one could marry horrified by the inhuman come about? only within one's caste. India's caste discrimination meted out Manusmriti, widely regarded to be system is among the world's oldest M the most important and authoritative forms of social stratification surviving to the lower caste and Dalit people by the upper caste people of India.. book on Hindu law and dating back to to this day Christian, Muslim, Parsi, Buddhist, at least 1,000 years before Christ was Traditionally, the system bestowed Jain or Sikh religions are supposed born, "acknowledges and justifies the many privileges on the upper castes not to have caste system, yet carry caste system as the basis of order while sanctioning repression of the some vestiges of the caste system lower castes by privileged groups. in them. Caste and Casteism have Often criticised for being unjust and been carried to every corner of the YOU THE CITIZENS regressive, it remained virtually un- globe to which the Indian diaspora changed for centuries, trapping migrated, even to USA. Our caste DECIDE: people into fixed social orders from prejudices manifest themselves which it was impossible to escape. most clearly in the matrimonial Even the British found it difficult to newspaper columns, where prospec- and regularity of society". The caste change it. Despite the obstacles, how- tive brides and grooms of all religions system divides Hindus into four main ever, some Dalits and other low-caste are sought for traditional marriage al- categories - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Indians, such as BR Ambedkar who liances. Caste and skin colour are the Vaishyas and the Shudras. Many be- authored the Indian constitution, and most important criteria for admitting a lieve that the groups originated from KR Narayanan who became the na- strange woman into that most intimate Brahma, the Hindu God of creation. tion's first Dalit president, have risen circle, the home and the family. The At the top of the hierarchy were the to hold prestigious positions in the woman who will bring forth children Brahmins who were mainly priests, country. to perpetuate the line, must almost al- teachers and intellectuals and are be- ways be fair-skinned and of the same lieved to have come from Brahma's Is the system legal? or higher caste. The exceptions to this head. Then came the Kshatriyas, or Independent India's constitution rule are still very rare. the warriors and rulers, supposedly banned discrimination on the basis from his arms. The third slot went to of caste, and in an attempt to cor- What is India's caste system? the Vaishyas, or the traders, who were rect historical injustices and provide India's caste system is among the created from his thighs. At the bottom a level playing field to the tradition- world's oldest forms of surviving so- of the heap were the Shudras, who ally disadvantaged, the authorities cial stratification. The system which came from Brahma's feet and did all announced quotas in government divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical the menial jobs. jobs and educational institutions for groups based on their karma (work) The main castes were further divid- (Contd.. on p. 22) and dharma (duty), is generally ac- ed into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their spe- cific occupation. Outside of this Hindu caste system BHOIR GARDENS were the achhoots -the Dalits or the untouchables. * Open air garden for Ceremonies * Theme Decor * Accommodation 300 - 1500 How does caste system work? guests * Open Catering * Parking space for For centuries, caste dictated al- above 100 cars * 2 AC Changing Rooms most every aspect of Hindu religious and social life, with each group occu- Bhoir Comound, Off Western Express Highway, pying a specific place in this complex Suhasini Pawaskar Road, Ghartanpada No.1, hierarchy. Rural communities were Dahisar (E), Mumbai 400068 For enquiry call Godwin Mendes: +91 9920387618 or long arranged on the basis of castes - Patrick Master +91 9820325889 the upper and lower castes almost al-

18 28 August 2017 Inspiration! Release Anger and Forgive Holding on to old wounds and grudges Forgiveness is hurts no one but your- twice blessed self. Learn to let go of • Forgiveness blesses anger, forgive and be twice. Forgiveness is just free as beneficial to the one trol of your life and destiny. It also forgiving as to the one serves as a release of energy. When et’s face it—we’ve all been an- receiving the forgiveness. you lack forgiveness you still retain gry from time to time. Anger in It is very important for the an energetic bond or cord with the itself is not bad. It’s a common person who was wronged transgressor. Although you may no emotion and expressing it is to let go of the anger and longer be angry, until you forgive, the L grief that they are feeling. remnants of the connection are still healthy. But if you’re not careful about it, particularly unresolved anger, then there. But once you forgive, those en- you are in for potential trouble. ergetic bonds are freed. The thoughts and emotional vibrations tangled up and actually do work! with the offender and the situation are Releace the anger: When the feeling Many times our anger is directed of anger wells up inside, it can be frus- transmuted into positive energy. And at a person. Communicating with the that’s freeing for both of you. trating and painful. Sometimes your transgressor may be a good idea. first inclination may be to lash out and Although you have no control over Be free: Once you let go and forgive hurt someone, other times you might their response, this does give you just stuff it down deep within. Either then you are truly free. You will notice the chance to express how you feel— a huge difference in your outlook and way is unhealthy. While it is important which may help you let go. to express your anger, it is also impor- attitude. It’s almost as if a weight is being lifted off your shoulders. You tant to do it in the right way so you can Foster forgiveness: Once you’ve let release it, let go and move on. may even question yourself about this go of the anger, then you can start whole process asking, “Why did I wait Allow yourself to fully feel your to foster forgiveness. Although for- angry emotions. Acknowledge them so long to lose the anger and forgive?” giveness doesn’t erase responsibility if that’s the case, don’t beat yourself along with the hurt. Do the tradition- for offensive acts, it does help bring al things people tell you to do when up for it. This is all part of the journey about peace for everyone involved. It towards compassion, understanding you’re angry: cry, scream into a pillow, is good for the heart both figuratively exercise and journal. While they may and wisdom. Embrace the lessons and literally. along with the newfound freedom. sound cliché, they are tried and true— So how can you reach that point of forgiveness, especially when the Allwyn Leo Fernandes scars are so deep? Start by taking PAMELA WADIA Mobile no.: 8108781461 your time. Forgiveness does not nec- Meet Pamela Wadia for designs fitted Cooperative Housing Society Consultant essarily happen all at once. It can be a to perfection from simple A-line styles process. Give yourself permission to to fabulous Ball Gowns Excellent bead All Legal work & Embroidery - Any size or Shape, move slowly. You may still need awhile as per your budget. Documentation Services to grieve and reflect on the situation. BRIDAL GOWN Conveyance, Deemed Conveyance, Adjudi- You can try repeating it aloud as well. BRIDES MAIDS DRESSES cation, Development Agreement, Stamp Duty It can start the ball rolling. Essentially FLOWER GIRLS DRESSES Refund, E-Challan, E-Stamp Duty, E-Regis- it works just like an affirmation. By re- COMMUNION DRESSES tration, E-Leave & Licence, Court Marriage, peating it over and over, eventually it WESTERN FORMAL WEAR Will, Gift-Deed, Adoption Deed, Sale Deed, takes root within your psyche and be- READY WEDDING GOWNS ALSO Partnership Deed, Release Deed, ETC... AVAILABLE comes reality. Mob: 9322277790, 66959482 Even I will provide you Actively choose forgiveness. By www.ready2wed.in Advocates and Solicitors doing so it shows that you are in con- 28 August 2017 19 6751 MUMBAI : Goan Roman Edn. B.Com., working for Private Firm. Ht. 5’ 7”, Wt. 65 kgs, Fair, smart and Catholic Bachelor, (Born in December Contact email : savio_101in@yahoo. good natured. Non alcolholic and 1990), Ht. 5’ 10”, Wt. 70 kgs, Wheatish co.in non smoker. Seeks a fair, good look- Complexion, Edn. B.Sc. (Hospility), 6695. Mumbai : Mangalorean ing, good natured slim Goan RC girl. working in UK Cruise Line. Contact RC bachelor, (Born in Auguat 1972), Contact Mob: 9930466725 email : [email protected] Ht. 5’9”, Wt. 77 kgs, Fair Complexion, 6666 MUMBAI : Mangalorean R.C. 6750 AUSTRALIA : Goan Roman Edn. F.Y. B.Com., + IATA , Bachelor (Born in February 1988) Ht. Catholic Bachelor, (Born in October working as a C.S. Associate in MNC., 6’, Wt. 72 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. 1985), Ht. 5’ 6”, Wt. 70 kgs, Wheatish Contact email : binatone55@gmail. BMS/PGDM, working as a Customer Complexion, Edn. Bachelor in Com- com OR Phone : 25441116 / Executive. Contact email: lilydsou- munication, working as a Media Ana- 9619742315 / 9619032564 [email protected] OR 9869158197 lyst. Contact email artemiamaria@ 6693. Mumbai : 6664 MUMBAI : Mangalorean R.C. gmail.com Mangalorean RC bachelor, (Born in Bachelor (Born in December 1982) 6746 MUMBAI : Mangalorean Ro- September 1988), Ht. 6’, Wt. 85 kgs, Ht. 5’ 3”, Wt. 68 kgs, Fair Complexion, man Catholic Bachelor, (Born in April Edn. Graduate Degree, M e r c h a n t Edn. B.Com., A.C.A., LLB., C.A. by 1987), Ht. 5’ 10”, Wt. 78 kgs, Fair Navy Captain in U.K., working as a Profession. Contact email: saldanha_ Complexion, Edn. MBA / BE, Work- Merchant Navy Officer. Contact email [email protected] OR 9820670158. ing as a Asst. Manager. Contact email : [email protected]. 6663 MUMBAI : Goan R.C. Bach- : [email protected]. 6684. Mumbai : Goan RC bach- elor (Born in January 1979) Ht. 5’ 5”, 6756 MUMBAI : Goan Roman elor, (Born in January 1969), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 65 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Catholic Bachelor, (Born in December Wt. 60 kgs, Edn. High School, working Edn. B.Com, Working as a Manager 1977), Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 78 kgs, Wheatish as at Airport as Counter Staff. Contact in MNC. Contact email: francis_fer- Complexion, Edn. 12th std. (HSC), email : [email protected]. [email protected] working as an Admin. Assistnat in 6677. Bangalore : R.C. Parents 6662 MUMBAI : Goan R.C. Bach- DUBAI. Contact email : charlotteirani@ invite alliance : son Engineer B.E., elor (Born in September 1972) Ht. 5’ yahoo.com (Mechanical), Divorcee working in the 7”, Wt. 75 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, 6718 MUMBAI : Goan RC Bachelor, Gulf, having good job, well off, (Born Edn. Edn. HSC., Selfemployed, Con- (Born in April 1980), Ht. 5’ 7”, Wt. in June 1967), Ht. 5’ 4”, Wt. 63 kgs. tact email: [email protected] 85 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. Girl should be educated, good family 6618 MUMBAI : East Indian Roman B.Com., working as a Marketing Exec- background, kind, loving & caring : Catholic Bachelor, (Born in December utive. Contact email : mumbaischool@ caste denomination no bar! Contact 1989), Ht. 5’ 6”, Wt. 56 kgs, Wheatish yahoo.co.in Mob.: 07795101265 Com plexion, Edn. Edn. M.Sc., work- 6717 MUMBAI : Born and brough- 6669 MUMBAI : Goan R.C. Bach- ing as a Resource Manager. Contact tup in Mumbai, Keralite RC Bachelor, elor, M.Sc., in Telecom, MBA, (Born in email : fernandesclyde176@gmail. (Born in June 1986), Ht. 5’ 9”, Wt. 75 February 1978) Ht. 5’ 5”, Fair, good com kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.Sc., natured. Working as a Financial 6616 MUMBAI : Goan Roman Cath- (Computer Science), PGDM MBA,m Analyst in New York. Contact email: olic Bachelor, (Born in October 1980), working as a Software Consultant in [email protected] OR Ht. 5’ 9”, Wt. 80 kgs, Tan Complexion, reputed IT firm. Only Child., Contcat 8698375997. Edn. SSC, working as a Graphic De- email : [email protected] OR 6667 MUMBAI : Goan R.C. Bach- signer, hardworking, smart. Contact 9004608504 elor, B.Com., (Born in January 1983) email : [email protected] 6700. Mumbai : Goan RC bach- elor, (Born in September 1979), Ht. 5’ Address your replies to : 7”, Wt. 72 kgs, Wheatish Complexion, Check your email at least once a week for proposals from Royal Regd. No. Important Notice Christian Family and other mem- Royal Christian Family, Telephone no. of candidate will 99, Perin Nariman Street, 1st be printed only with the consent bers Floor, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001. of members. Members are requested to For Tel. Nos. Please contact on inform us when they are settled, To Place Your Matrimonial 022-22693578 / 9820485389 so that publication of their Advertisement Call: or Email : 2269 3578 or 2265 4924 [email protected] details can be discontinued. 20 28 August 2017 gmail.com Important Notice 6714. MUMBAI : Goan Roman 6749. AUSTRALIA : Goan Roman Telephone no. of candidate will Catholic Divorcee, (Born in May Catholic spinster, (Born in October be printed only with the consent 1978), 5’ 5”, Wt. 54 kgs, Fair Com- 1985), Ht. 5’ 2”, Wt. 57 kgs, Wheatish of members. plexion, Edn. HSC., working as a Complexion, Edn. Bachelor of Arts For Tel. Nos. Please contact on Company Secretary. Contact email : (Psychology) working as a Psycholo- 022-22693578 / 9820485389 [email protected] gist. Contact email : artemiamaria@ 6701. Mysore : Mangalorean Ro- yahoo.com or Email : man Catholic Divorcee, (Born in May 6741. MANGALORE : Mangalorean [email protected] 1983), 5’ 2”, Wt. 70 kgs, Wheatish Roman Catholic spinster, (Born in Complexion, Edn. MBA, Ph.D., As- March 1993), Belonging to a very af- sistant Prof., by profession. Contact ing in Mumbai in an MNC. Looking for fluent business family. Edn. MBBS, email : [email protected] a professionally qualified well settled intends to pursue M.D. Very fair, very 6699. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Mangalroen RC boy with good family beautiful seeks suitable groom Con- Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in background age upto 29 years, BE/ tact email : [email protected] September 1976), 4’ 11”, Wt. 45 kgs, CA working in India or abroad (Not 6528. DUBAI : Mangalorean Roman Wheatish Complexion, Edn. B.A., Di- from middle East) If interested, please Catholic Spinster, (Born in April 1985) ploma in Personal Secretaryship, Di- respond with recent photograph and Ht. 5’ 7”, Beautiful and Fair Complex- ploma in Art, Studing Diploma in Spe- details to stanley_ds118@yahoo. ion, Edn. Masters in Health, Care cial Educator for deaf and deafblind. com (MHA), Employed as a Manager in Contact email : saritadsouza08@ 6752. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Ro- MNC Dubai, is looking for a suitable gmail.com man Catholic spinster, (Born in Feb- alliance between the ages of 32 to 36 6697. MUMBAI : Goan Roman ruary 1985), Ht. 5’ 8”, Wt. 60 kgs, Fair with a height 5’ 10” and above. Kindly Catholic Spinster, (Born in January Complexion, Good looking, Edn. MBA respond directly to the party by email 1979), 5’ 2”, Wheatish Complexion, (HR), working as a Chief Manager in : [email protected] with your Edn. Graduate / PGDHM, working as Insurance Company. Contact email : photograph. a Administor. Contact email : jmjcapri- [email protected] 6504. Kuwait : Mangalorean Roman [email protected] 6721. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Ro- Catholic Spinster (Born in June 1980), 6696. MUMBAI : Mangalorean man Catholic Spinster, (Born in De- Ht. 5’ 5”, Wt. 58 kgs, Fair Complexion, Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born in cember 1993), 5’, Wt. 45 kgs, Wheatish Edn. B.Com., Computer, Finance, August 1991), 5’ 1”, Wt. 49 kgs, Fair, Complexion, Edn. B.Sc., IT., working Banking Marketing Course & Airlines Edn. MBA - Finance, working as a for Engineering Company. Contact Course completed, employed as a Finance Executive in DUBAI. Contact email : [email protected] Travel Co-ordinator in Kuwait. Seeks email : [email protected] 6720. MUMBAI : Goan Roman a groom preferable working in Kuwait. 6694. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Catholic Spinster, (Born in November Contact Email : lucy777p@gmail. Roman Catholic Spinster, (Born 1989), 5’ 5”, Wt. 62 kgs, Wheatish com in August 1991), 5’ 4”, Wt. 57 kgs, Complexion, Edn. MBA working as 6754. MUMBAI : Mangalorean Ro- Wheatish, Edn. MBA - Finance, work- a HR. Contcat email : janessafer- man Catholic spinster, (Born in July ing as a Trade Finance Assistant in [email protected] 1991), Ht. 5’ 4”, Wt. 48 kgs, Wheatish DUBAI. Contact email : rochellemo- 6716. MUMBAI : Anglo Indian Ro- Complexion, Edn. B.E. Mechanical, [email protected] working as a Officer in Sami Govt. man Catholic Annulled (Divorcee) (Born in November 1983), 5’ 2”, Wt. Contact email : mel.6513.gmail.com Address your replies to : 6753. MUMBAI : Mangalorean 56 kgs, Fair Complexion, Edn. Mas- ter’s Management, working in DUBAI RC Parents seeks alliance for spin- Regd. No. as a Marketing/Sales. Contcat email ster daughter aged 26, Ht. 5’ 1”, CA Royal Christian Family, : [email protected] OR (Chartered Account), presently work- 99, Perin Nariman Street, 1st [email protected] Floor, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001. Royal Christian Family 6715. MUMBAI : Tamilian Roman Helps In Choosing Catholic Spinster, (Born in August 1987), 5’ 4”, Wt. 76 kgs, Fair Com- Please renew your membership The Right Life-Partner plexion, Edn. B.Sc. MBA., working as at lease a month in advance a Team Leader. Contact email : cdgo- before its expiration date. Serving Since 35 Years [email protected] / nishachandra05@ 28 August 2017 21 (Contd.. from p. 18) are becoming more common. respects with the others.Treat them scheduled castes and tribes, the low- In certain southern states and in the as the brothers and sisters within the est in the caste hierarchy, in 1950. BR northern state of Bihar, many people Christian community. My late mother Ambedkar, a Dalit, authored India's began using just one name after so- was a well known and famous match constitution. GOI for decades now is cial reform movements. Despite the maker of Mangalorean Catholics. She doing its best to enforce the law and changes though, caste identities re- once told me that when it came to ar- gradually bring a change in the mind main strong, and last names are al- ranged marriages, whether the bride set. The Judiciary has also tried to do most always indications of what caste or the groom was from a Brahmin its duty. However in these days when a person belongs. Catholic family or not came up dis- jobs are become difficult to get, this creetly. However if the bridegroom reservation system is under attack by Why then promote the concept of was well qualified, an engineer, doc- upper castes. Dalit Christian? tor, scientist, army officer, IAS or IPS Many Dalits and lower caste Hindus government employees, a wealthy What has been done to change the to escape from this degrading caste business man, the brides family over- system? system converted to Christianity. So looked the original caste of his fam- Gandhi tried to breakaway from why is the Catholic Church supporting ily. As far as the bride is concerned, the caste system by calling Dalits as the concept of Christian Dalits? Why the factors such as the dowry, fair and Harijans. Ambedekar tried to break are we with open eyes bringing this beautiful looks and education qualifi- the system by asking Dalits to convert repugnant, inhuman social system cation mattered more than the caste. to Buddhism. Congress party tried by into Christianity? Our Catholic Priests Hence what the Catholic Church electing for the first time to the highest keep preaching from the pulpits to should learn from the above, is that office of the President, a Dalit for the the congregations, that all Catholics the Dalit converts should be helped first time. Now the BJP government are children of a loving God. We are with the best education possible, the has also elected a Dalit to be President all brothers and sisters in Christ. We bright students encouraged to obtain of India. Both the parties have elected have to be good human beings first, top class college degrees, high pro- many State Governors and Cabinet then may be good Indians. Though all ficiency in English language, good Ministers from among the Dalits. Are of us have our distinguishing mother grooming and help to become entre- these just fig leafs and mean nothing tongues, and proud of our of own preneurs. Creation of sufficient wealth to millions of Dalits on the ground? identities of being Goans, Mangis, in their family hands is what will make The system still stays entrenched in Keralites, East Indians, Tamils, Telugu their families get over centuries of dis- the country. It not easy for a system etc. these get submerged of us being crimination and be able to confiden- which is supposed have originated Christians. So why are we trying to tially deal with the higher caste people. from the highest Hindu God and is bring the obnoxious caste system into Do not do it because they are or were written into the Hindu law more than the Catholic religion? Is it just because Dalits. Do it because they are poor 3000 years ago being easily changed. of the reservations provided to Dalits and uneducated fellow citizens. It is It has deep roots in the psyche of the in colleges and government jobs? in the capacity of the Catholic Church Hindus. to do the above. Let us demand that In recent decades, with the spread What should the Catholic Church GOI ensure good public schools that of secular education and growing ur- do to help the Schedule caste and have well trained teachers and are banisation, the influence of caste has Dalit converts? free to all poor students. Let the bright somewhat declined, especially in cit- The most important thing the students from poor families below the ies where different castes live side-by- Church could do is to embrace them poverty line be provided free college side and inter-caste love marriages as the children of God, equal in a all education and 50% of government jobs be preserved for the brightest of Flat For Sale these poor students. Let us Christians lead the attack on St. Cyril Road, Bandra West the caste system in this country. Let us be the guiding light that tries to dis- A Beautiful Fully Furnished 2 BHK 750 Carpet Area pel the darkness in people's life, for having been born as a Dalit. Should With Stilt Car Parking In a Registered Society we as Christians banish the words Sale - 4.75 CR, Only For Roman Catholics Dalit Christians from our lexicon and stop pleading for government doles for these people? - Brokers Excuse YOU THE CITIZENS DECIDE Call Owner: +91 9930035834

22 28 August 2017 A Missionary With The Armour Of Prayer

e do not know how and for the spiritual well being of the increased considerably. It’s a joy to to pray but the Spirit parishners. Father Jayaraj is the quin- watch him when he is on the altar. himself intercedes for tessence of Jesus’ love for the souls There’s mysterious devoutness and ‘Wus without words as if in this new generation world. We can benevolence when he celebrates the with groans’ (Rom 8: 26). see the people irrespective of caste, Holy Qurbana. The church in Machili- patnam is blessed with This may not be amplification the trails and the devo- if you happened to overhear tion par excellence of the and witness the pastoral parish priest. When he is activities being carried out away from the parish for in the parish of Machilipat- a day or so his dearth is nam. It’s a tiny port town in felt. The parishners have the coastal region of Andhra the ambiance of miss- Pradesh. Though it’s the ing a sacred celebration. head quarters of the district He goes to the villagers, it has not much development visiting the old and sick, and the situation is very grim visiting the families and during the rainy season or enquiring the welfare of other time when it’s hit by the the flock under his spiri- frequent cyclones. tual care. He is not just a parish priest but also The parish of Machilipatnam more than a family mem- has its history traced back ber. The parish commu- to the early British eon. This nity is fortunate to have parish is being nurtured and strength- creed and colour flow to him from far such an enigmatic person with the ened in the faith of the Lord and it’s a flung. Most of the times we can see power of intercession as his patrimo- very devoted parish community. the young adults and teenagers flock ny from the Lord who has anointed to him requesting his prayer for their him after the order of Melkisedek the We have a variety of pastoral activities endeavours. He prays on his knees high priest. carried out under the unplumbed per- most of the times. sonality of Rev.Fr. Lamu We do not know how to pray but the Jayaraj. He is a person It’s nothing his merit but Spirit himself intercedes for us with- who believes in the pow- the living power of the Holy out words as if with groans’ (Rom 8: er of the prayer and the Ghost is very much alive 26). I think this is really true in life of works of the Lord to be in him. There is anointing Fr. Jayaraj, because he prays along fulfilled in the lives of the when he prays. He blasts with the Spirit for the needs of the people on time. If we are the heavens open with the parish community and for the people to follow him closely in power of the Holy Spirit. who come to him for prayers. It’s also Sr. Bindu Abraham his village pastoral min- Many people have been my own experience that I’m indebted istry we may truly begin blessed by the power of to him because of his supplications to marvel in this luxurious time of the his prayers. His prayer has answered I’m able to march ahead after my period we may not find priests with so even the weirdest of the situations. surgery. It’s like a second life to me. much zeal for pastoral activities and Sometimes I think Jesus has reserved The Spirit has anointed him as the who believes in the intimacy with the a place nearer to his heart so he trust worthiest conciliator between Lord. knows the pulse of Jesus. Because of the people and the Lord. He prays that the Lord Jesus cannot but answer fasting accompanied by certain pen- He gets up before the dawn and his entreaties for the people of God. ance to know the will of the Lord. He makes a visit to the person of Jesus He is a person filled with the living organizes prayers with the blend of in the holy tabernacle and converse passion of the Lord to lead the faithful charismatic prayers in the parish as with him. Only then he is secure to closer to God. well as in the substations. It’s spiri- start his day. He spends his time and tual festival for the parish community. lends his ears for the faithful round After his arrival as the parish priest in Let’s taste and see the goodness of the clock. He’s accessible all through Machilipatnam the churchgoers have the Lord in our lives. out the day for the pastoral activities 28 August 2017 23 24 Published on every Monday Dt. 28-8-2017 & Posted on Monday / Tuesday of every week 28 August 2017 Posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office, Mumbai - 400001. Licenced to Post without prepayment Licence No. MR/TECH/WPP-70/SOUTH/2017 RNI No. 56987/92 Registered No. MCS/100/2015-17

An irresistible unique offerfor the entire family

Family Package It is designed to help you and your family members to enjoy the whole lot of benefits in one single package and at a special low rate The Family Package is just Rs. 5000 for five years and the benefits are worth many fold more

The Package includes: Progressive minded Christian Families are participating and Skill Learning Courses Christian Marriage (over 200 courses to Proposals enjoying the benefits and make your personality (for marriageable family members) advantages of this Scheme. more smarter) from www.limrt.com Royal Christian Family We invite you too to be Advertisement Space: one among them Wish your loved ones weekly for 5 years Skill Learning Courses are ideal for school- on good occasions in A National Family Weekly college students, Professionals and Busi- the weekly Published since 26 years nessmen and all those who want to reach The Secular Citizen and much more next level in their life: www.limrt.com A five year period package at Rs. 5000 brings you whole lot of important rare to get benefits and facilities several times more than the worth

The benefits: 1. Subscription to the Secular Citizen for five years 2. Advertisement space in the Secular Citizen (every year worth Rs. 1000) for five yearsRs. 5000 3. Opportunity to learn over 200 Skill Learning Courses of your choice at www.limrt.com for five years (normally Rs. 500 is charged to learn each course) (Under Family Package you can learn courses of your choice)(eLearn- ing) 4. Membership in Royal Christian Family for choosing the Life Partner for marriageble family members (Normally Rs. 2000 is charged for individual member for one year period) (Royal Christian Family offers services since 36 years in providing wide choice of Proposals for marriageable aged boys and girls) (www.royalchristianfamily.com) 6. And several other offers - opportunities throughout the 5year period. Bank details for making NEFT : For this scheme ‘Family’ includes: Father, Mother and Children Confidentiality will be maintained Bank: HDFC Bank The amount can be paid by NEFT, Cheque, Branch : CST - Mumbai VT Contact : DD, MO or by Cash (in the office) The Secular Citizen Account Name: The Secular Citizen 99, Perin Nariman Street, 1st Floor, Fort, Mumbai 400001 Account No. 03552000006744 ISFC code: HDFC0000355 Tel.: 022 - 22693578, 22654924 Email: [email protected] Royal Christian Family and The Secular Citizen has been serving the community for over 36/26 years

Printed and Published by Lawrence Coelho at The Secular Citizen, 99, Perin Nariman Street, 1st Floor, Harihar Nivas, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001. Tel.: 2269 3578, 2265 4924 Printers: The Secular Citizen, Fort, Mumbai 400001. Editor : Philip Myaboo