Please visit our website: August 2008 www.csijaffnadiocese.com 1 Newsletter

In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others Romans 12:5

Warm Welcome Awaits Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah in

Uniting Church Festival of Lights Melbourne he Creative Minis- socially-challenged places like Ttries Network of the ver since this invitation Sathiyapuram and Sandilipay Uniting Church of Aus- to Australia came to be where she is held with great E affection. In her own church in tralia has invited Bishop known Bishop Thiagarajah and his diocesan staff have been Melbourne she is also working Daniel Thiagarajah to inundated with invitations to with people from some of the participate in the An- various Pacific Islands as an extension nual St George’s Unit- church- of their ministry. ing Church Festival of es in n informal fellowship Lights Sunday Novem- Aus- Apublic lunch in Melbourne tralia is also being organized for ber 23,2008 and associated where Bishop Thiagarajah so that as events organized by the church former many people as possible from and their network in the State JDCSI the JDCSI and College of Victoria. The invitation has mem- alumni will be able to meet from the Director of the Crea- bers the bishop. Bishop Thiagarajah tive Ministries Network John wor- is also the General Secretary Bottomley and the Rev Angela ship. of the Jaffna College Board Tampiyappa who was the first They have expressed a desire of Directors. Cities like Perth, Sri Lankan fully ordained lady to play a role in the life of Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, minister while she served the their own home churches and Sydney, Newcastle and Can- Jaffna Diocese of the Church of their folks there. They see the berra are the new homes of South India. She is the min- emergence of a new beginning several families from the vari- Jaffna Diocese ister in charge of St George’s for the JDCSI which would be ous parishes of the JDCSI and Church of the Uniting Church meaningful to the entire com- the potential to help their folks of Australia. munity especially in rehabilita- in are tremendous n the letter of invitation tion work which is urgent and especially since the JDCSI is IDirector John Bottomley tapping the resources for rapid determined to spearhead such stated how delighted they development of the respective a programme. were to be supporting the visit parishes. of Bishop Thiagarajah and were he Rev Angela Tampiyappa very much looking forward to Twhile serving in Jaffna did engaging with the JDCSI as yeoman work in the church es- partners in Christ’s ministry of pecially in such neglected and healing, justice and peace.

ý Please consider the environment before you print this e-Newsletter Church of South India August 2008 2 Newsletter Delft Church ...... focus of the Month JDCSI launches six grass roots projects in Delft he Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South aving assessed the situation in Delft from TIndia (JDCSI) has a long and historic associa- Hrecent reports and also observed the needs tion with the people of of Delft, the of the people of Delft first hand, Bishop Dan- biggest of the seven islands that dot the north iel Thiagarajah announced how the JDCSI has and north-western waters off the Peninsula decided to meet these challenges in its drive to of Jaffna. The home of one of the twenty one create a new growth towards progress by tap- original churches of this diocese and the only ping our resources and potentials at the grass Sri Lankan home of what has become known roots, and across all the socio-cultural divisions as the Delft ponies, this island used to be self- that have plagued our community. He stressed sufficient in essential food needs. People of Delft that we are all one family whoever and whatever cultivated cereals such as the highly nutritious we are and the JDCSI is committed to creating kurakkan along with varagu, samy and mondy a new society that abhors divisions of any kind despite its dry zone conditions and fresh milk that exploits each other. was plenty and as for fish, there never was ever n the spirit of the mission to Delft, six projects a short supply. Ihave been launched on the island by the JDCSI including two day care centres that will meet he island was recently visited by the Bishop the needs of 160 children, a computer training Tin Jaffna, the Rt Rev Dr Daniel Thiagarajah centre as well a vocational training centre and and his team despite highly restricted move- free evening classes to help children with their ments in this region and the dangers that are Ordinary and Advanced Level needs. Apart from current to meet the people of his church and these, there will be English classes for every also to assess and understand their needs and Delftian and this will also be provided without create possible new opportunities for their charging any fees. development. n a stirring exchange of ideas he emphasized Ithe role of education when he observed edu- cation for development is underlined by the fact that it creates new persons who are capable of doing new things and this will be the highroad for progress as we chalk out a future for our- selves. hile prayer connects us all as one intimate Wfamily and a rich source of strength and inspiration, we must also become linked to the whole world which today has assumed the na- ture of one global human community wherever we make our home. In this world, English has become the major key to our unity and compu- ter the necessary vehicle to help strengthen our links, share our culture and seek new dimen- sions for worldwide progress. Jaffna Diocese

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Powerful Partnership with Korean Church

KORIND MISSION

Dr Lee II Ho,

the founder of the KORIND Mission

uring the first and second weeks of August Dtwo pastoral teams, one from Korea and the other from India appropriately called the KORIND Pastors’ Visit interacted with the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI) in four important events. They were Consultation for Pastors and Lay Leaders, Visit to the Hill Country to observe the ministry of the JDCSI there, Laying of the founda- tion of the new church centres, and finally s special worship service in Colombo where ordinations of priests and commissioning of evangelists took place. This was followed by an official discussion by the KORIND mission with Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah and lay leaders of the diocese about future plans. he Korean team was comprised of the Rev Dr TLee II Ho, Mrs Lee II Ho and the Rev Dr Kim Kyong Kon. The Indian team was represented by the Rev B D Prasad Rao, Mrs Lily Prasad and Messrs

Mission and Evangelism N Rajasingh and Silvanes.

n Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th August, Oa Consultation cum Seminar on Mission and Evangelism for Pastors and Lay Leaders was held at the JDCSI Church House Auditorium, 39 Fussels Jaffna Diocese Lane, Wellawatte, Colombo. he first day’s session at which fifty presbyters, Tdeacons, evangelists and lay leaders partici- pated, the opening devotion and chairperson’s address was given by the Rt Rev Dr Daniel S Thia- garajah. A former Executive Secretary of Mission and Evangelism of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), he based his stirring talk on the Gospel of St Mathew and observed that unlike the other Gos- pels, his is essentially a missionary text.

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n this, Mathew had set out to provide guidance Ito a community in crisis and on how it should understand its calling and mission. According to Mathew’s “Great Commission” Bishop Thiagarajah said it is not possible to make disciples without telling them to practice God’s call of justice for the poor (orthopraxis). The love commandment, which is the basis for the church’s involvement is an integral part of the mission commandment. Hence to become a disciple means a decisive and irrevocable turning toward both God and neigh- bour. r Lee II Ho, the founder of the KORIND Mis- Dsion gave three lectures on “How to become a healthy church?, Pastoral effectiveness and How to grow as a high impact church.” Making his observations on the traditional models of the church, he said the present day church fails miser- ably when it simply focuses on church growth without becoming a healthy and meaningful church to the community it serves. He staked out five principles and purposes (not methods) from the core of the Bible to explain the secret of the health of the church viz. Worship (Love your God), Ministry (Love your neighbour), holistic mission, baptizing and making disciples. he Rev Dr Lee II Ho said that a pastor should Tdream the purposes and make them come alive, that is visioning and making them a reality. He summed up his talk by saying that the church will always grow when it is mindful of its ability and become a healthy church and that church will always bear fruits.

Mission and Evangelism

Jaffna Diocese

ý Please consider the environment before you print this e-Newsletter Church of South India August 2008 5 Newsletter Renaissance in Jaffna Diocese We are emboldened by the spirit of renaissance

nto every nation and people there comes an Uopportunity to recast their nets after mend- ing or renewing them to seek new ideals and goals. Nets do not stand the test of time nor methods and technologies that operate them. Old systems get worn out and at times too limited to perform tasks that were perhaps appropriate and suitable in earlier times. ikewise civilizations arise and disappear, societies Lflourish and then peter off, communities progress and then reach a saturation point and if these do not become dynamic in their times, progress ceases giving way to problems mostly due to lack of new ideas, fresh energy, lofty goals and ideals. If these are neglected, chaos takes over and anarchy results. he American Ceylon Mission was founded in T1816 on what was then an alien soil to the work of overseas missionaries. Apart from spreading the message of the gospels as the primary objective of the founding missionaries, they also became con- scious of the reality that a good message must also come with good intentions that enshrine love and compassion in action towards fellow human beings. The early missionaries addressed themselves fully to these and founded schools and hospitals. ery soon these activities became a revolutionary Venterprise among the of North Sri Lanka and they began to make a rich impact on the Hindu people of this region. Progressively local people be- gan to involve themselves in the leadership of these efforts and by the first years of the 20th century, the South Indian United Church had taken over the work began by the early missionaries. In 1947, this became complete with the founding of the Church of South India (CSI) and the creation of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI). he strength and spirit of the local Christian com- munity was such that even when the Batticotta

Jaffna Diocese T Seminary founded by the American Ceylon Mis- sion was closed, a decision that will never ever be justified, they launched Jaffna College, a credit to their determination and visions and their dedicated commitment to endless future generations of our people.

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s would indeed be appropriate, the first few Ayears of the mission as the JDCSI, the church strengthened its spiritual focus under the leader- ship of the Rt Rev Dr Sabapathy Kulandran who was appointed by the CSI as its first Bishop in Jaffna. The year 1947 virtually coincided with Sri Lanka’s inde- pendence a year later, and very soon the country’s fate and destiny plummeted with racial and religious extremism taking an ugly hold of it. It was a tough period of time for the fledgling JDCSI which also managed several primary and high schools, two hos- pitals, a press, a weekly newspaper and a women’s centre. n a matter of time all the primary and high schools Iwere taken over by the government except the Girls College for which the JDCSI undertook entire responsibility of maintaining and running it. Jaffna College however is an institution with strong fraternal relationships with the JDCSI with a responsibility to ensure that this school remains a Christian institution committed to the educational development of the people of the . It was on these founding principles Jaffna College was legally enacted and incorporated under the laws of Sri Lanka. y virtue of its funding source from its own trust Bfunds invested in the US, Jaffna College gov- erned by a Board of Directors, has developed a tradi- tional sibling relationship and responsibility towards Uduvil Girls College on its own free will and volition. The Trustees of Jaffna College Funds, an incorpo- rated body that obtains holds and manages funds for Jaffna College, are obliged to honour this spirit of relationship between both schools and the liaison and rapport they have with the JDCSI. They are three independent but indivisible parts of the Christian mission in Sri Lanka that took its initial nutrients from the American Ceylon Mission. oday, we have reached another new milestone Taddressing ourselves to the current struggle in the country and the inevitable emergence of a new spirit or call it new society in which the Sri Lankan people will no more be ridden with caste, class, clan, community and other divisions that have plagued our country too long. Some may still feel this is a far- fetched fool’s dream caught up as we are in circum- stances that are indeed quite troubling. ut when we look at the history of nations and Jaffna Diocese Bpeople around the world, we can draw confi- dence that we will achieve stability and progress in e have major challenges ahead and we are the country once we have become tired of the divi- certainly adorning the mantle of peace, sions that are causing considerable damage to the W justice and development as our three ingrained country. As for us in the JDCSI, we have become free jewels in bringing the gospel of love, compas- of the manacles and shackles that were traditional sion and redemption to all people. Call it renais- drawbacks in our society and a new spirit is emerg- sance if you will but that is the spirit that has ing from our grass roots that respects every one as emboldened us to accept this challenge. free and equal to each other.

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Please consider theenvironment before you print thise-Newsletter Jaffna Diocese events in thecity, Jonahbecame angry of turn this at plans his from relenting was God evident was it When repent. W J I G wards eachother. and allofusto becompassionate to redeemed be to evil the wants He evil. or good are they whether one every of right the be to compassion and love wants God because us of all for lesson object them andtheybedestroyed. This isan on descend to judgment God’s desired he do, to him wanted had God as them treated hispeople. ofwarning Instead had they way the for Ninevites the hated ed mission. mission. ed that hecould getonwithhiscommand- such acircumstance andlethimoutso in prayer in ponder to time him gave God fish. huge a of belly the in up ended he result a as and escape to tried he as sea at storm a up stirred God perish. to their evilways. ButJonahwanted them from repent not did they if destruction impending the of people the warn and he hasto reside. hearts. That ishisplace andthat iswhere tions ofhis, we have to receive inour God forand hispurpose allthegreat crea- image his in him conceived even and God understoodmeditations oftheirhearts and, justlikethesagesofoldthrough the ourselves them discover to have We pose. to run away from God’s command. He He command. God’s from away run to ofJonahwe findhewantedn thestory August 2008 By Victor KarunairajanBy harm.” doing from relents who one kindness, loving in abundant and anger to slow God, merciful and gracious a are “You complaint: Jonah’s mand. He was told to go to Nineveh Nineveh to go to told was He mand. ob was reluctant to obeyGod’s com- lives have beencreated withapur Our us. of one every for plans has od of God’s warnings, they began to to began they warnings, God’s of heard Nineveh of people the hen Newsletter Church India ofSouth - - and left andmuch livestock.”and left hand right their between discern cannot who persons thousand twenty and dred in whichthere are more thanonehun- city great that Nineveh pity not I should “And Jonah: told Lord the Then day. next the perished which and growth its and for labored not had he that plant a over pity take to him for right was it whether wished hewas dead, theLord askedhim from doingharm.” relents who one kindness, loving in dant merciful God, slow to angerandabun- and gracious a are “You complained: and wanted to dierather thanlive. He W T destroy the plant. plant. the destroy totally and appear to worm a caused conversely Lord the morning next The heat. the from him protect and head near himandgive himshelter over his grow to plant a caused however Lord andthepeople.become ofthecity The would what see to wanted He him. for shelter simple a made having sun ing of the city andsat undertheblaz- of thecity out went Jonah harried much he the withering of the plant and and plant the of withering the hen Jonahprotested inangerover

Short Story 7 Church of South India August 2008 8 Newsletter JDCSI’s Pioneer Rehabilitation Workers

A tribute to Rev and Mrs Thambirajah

Passionate about bridging the gap between rich and the poor. By Christie Richards During the 1950s, a priest and his wife from the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India, the Rev and Mrs A C Thambyrajah, and Sister They obtained the needed land from the gov- ernment for agricultural activity and resettle- Elizabeth Baker, a Methodist mis- ment, and very soon it also became a centre sionary from who spent all for community workshops and other activities her adult life in Sri Lanka, launched apart from agricultural and dairy production. a novel agricultural rehabilitation Hundreds of orphans have benefited from the project in Paranthan in the Wanni work of Navajeevanam since its genesis half a century ago. District of the country. Called Navajeevanam (New Life) it ev Thambyrajah died in 1982 and Sis- was a centre especially for children Rter Elizabeth Baker followed a few years in dire need from the society with later in 1987. Today the project is managed a view to educate and rehabilitate by Kirupanandarajah and his mother Arul them in an agricultural setting. Thambyrajah. Now in her nineties, she remains Proselytizing was not their purpose a loving, strong-willed source of inspiration for Navajeevanam that has been extensively and Navajeevanam soon became affected by the civil war. Arul in Tamil means very acceptable to every commu- Grace and she indeed is a very gracious person. nity in Sri Lanka, be it Hindu, Bud- She is a fountain from which anyone can draw dhist, Moslem or Christian. The strength of will to reach for their goals. sacrifice that had gone into the A good part of Navajeevanam with all its founding and the visions that in- hostels, main home, administration, barns, vocational centers etc, have been reduced to spired it were highly commended the ground. When it became impossible to live by the community. there amidst government and rebel fires blast- avajeevanam was established on the ing away from either side, the Navajeevanam NParanthan-Mullaitivu Road in the Wanni family moved to a much smaller facility they District long, long before this region assumed had founded in Kandavalai, a few miles from its current political significance in the coun- the centre. This can hardly meet the needs of try’s highly contentious communal struggle. Navajeevanam especially now with so much It was a very courageous move the founders pressure on them to take children orphaned made with hardly any funds but only faith especially by the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami to fuel their determination and in spite of all tragedy and many families rendered homeless norms in the society that were in conflict with and or have lost their children and their means this ideal. of survival.

There were the social norms that involve Jaffna Diocese caste and class, the religious norms that avajeevanam grew consistently because split communities, the cultural norms that it was accepted by all and the opening flirt with false values and alien attractions, N up of Kandavalai was a part of this develop- and last but not least, the educational norms ment pattern. But all these came to a near-end that concentrated on the basis that ignored when the civil war broke out and the troops in the development needs of the country, and turns found Navajeevanam an oasis to stake where vocationalism was confined to the bot- their claim to the fruits and facilities of Nava- tom of the social hierarchy. Navajeevanam jeevanam and build their bunkers and set up a founders took up the challenge as pursuing military fortress the ideals to create a “New Clear” society.

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his is the tragedy of Sri Lanka far worse If a nation has a positive will towards egalitar- Tthan nature’s fury. This has gone on for over ian development, institutions like Navajeevan- three decades unabated now. The people, as am with their proven record of selfless service could be seen from the reports following the especially with their commitment among the tsunami terror from foreign and local media neediest and the vulnerable, must be helped to folks, do not want any kind of war but they develop back into the forefront of a country’s have been rendered helpless because the politi- ideals and goals. This is not only the responsi- cal and religious hierarchy are pursuing it with bility of a society but also a necessary obliga- blind obsession relentlessly. tion to express its gratitude to an institution It is the singular tenacity of Mrs Thambyrajah, that has served it well. her sons Kirupa and Kulam, their wives Ranji Navajeevanam also offers an opportunity to and Chitra and the Navajeevanam loyalists the Sri Lankan Diaspora - Sinhalese, Tamil, that have kept this project from being totally Muslim, Malays and Burghers - that has sought destroyed. They are determined to bring it back new homelands in various parts of the world to its former state and develop it as an institu- to identify with a grass root leadership that can tion that will give a fresh hope amidst the cur- create a new hope for our motherland. Thou- rent challenges the country faces. Their other sands perished in the tsunami disaster, nearly sons, Theepam, Prem, Arul and Sathi and their half of them were children and thousands more families along with their siblings on the site in the civil war. These deaths should be our ral- are hopeful Navajeevanam will rise again even lying force now to bring about a new nation of more in stature and commitment ready to serve people who will respect and revere each other’s the people who will very soon be in need of ur- uniqueness and share in the bonding that rec- gent and instant rehabilitation. Sathi is Sathien ognizes that we are all one family. Thambirajah a minister in the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka.

A tribute to Rev and Mrs Thambirajah

By Brothers Victor Karunairajan and Christie Richards

From their poem “Our Childhood Years”

The seeds of spiritual stimulus From the Christian community Were planted by a divine duo The Thambirajahs; Uncle ACT And Arul aunty of the church They served at Vaddukoddai But more than a preacher pair They were so very much loved.

Jaffna Diocese Our loyalty to the parish church By them sourced constructively And so these two fabulous folks Warranted our utmost affection.

In whatever they ventured out Committed to serve the needy Especially Wanni’s Paranthan Where Navajeevanam evolved A New Life agricultural system With rehabilitation at its core;

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The Challenge of Periya Nilavanai

eriya Nilavanai in the Eastern Province was Pone of the most devastated places of the tsunami horror. This has become one of our challenges to help rehabilitate the 1700 families there and instill in them a new hope. Considering the needs of the people and their sufferings, it is no easy task but we have the unshaken hope that we can help them led by our worker, the Rev Sel- vanayagam Selvantha. He was ordained into our ministry by the Rt Rev Dr Daniel S Thiagarajah in June 2008 and his wife is a midwife and social worker in this area which is a great asset to us. part from the church and the parsonage, a Adaycare centre was launched which was ded- icated by the Rev Ruban, the area JDCSI minister of this region. At present, the daycare centre has space and facilities for 40 children and there are more seeking to be provided the same. We will have to meet this need. The pictures illustrate the terrible tale of the people of Periya Nilavanai and also how they have taken up the challenge to bring new hope to them.

Patrick Ratnarajah een in the picture above is JDCSI’s United King- Sdom representative Patrick Ratnarajah with the British Parliament’s Leader of the Opposition and head of the Conservative Party, Mr David Cameron. Mr Ratnarajah, a strong prospect for nomination as a Conservative Party candidate for the national elections, is an active voice of the concerns and Jaffna Diocese needs of the Black and National Ethnic communi- ties in the region of Croydon and South London. Mr Ratnarajah is also in constant consultation with his peers in the Conservative Party about the question of Tamil minorities in Sri Lanka and seeks a solution that will take into account the traditional home- lands of the Tamils. r Ratnarajah is a grandson of the first bishop of Mthe JDCSI, the Rt Rev Dr Sabapathy Kulandran and Mrsv Mathuram Kulandran.

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Technical Education for a re-emerging community “Education is to create a person who is capable of doing new things “ Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah

hree decades ago the Jaffna College Institute of TTechnology and the Jaffna College Institute of Agriculture (JCIT and JAIA) were launched as part of the larger plan of Jaffna College to spread out edu- cational opportunities in various fields other than only mere formal educational pursuits to the people of the Jaffna District.

affna College was founded with such a goal and Jwhen Dr Luther Jeyasingam became president of Jaffna College, he promptly got the school to move in this direction. One day it is hoped that this will develop into a much wider field to serve a com- munity which needs to re-emerge from the current circumstances that have considerably affected our people. It is institutions of this nature that can give a fresh hope to our people.

uch a dream and determination marked the Sspirit of the Institute Day July 18, 2008 when the anniversary of their founding was celebrated in the premises of Institute of Technology.

resently many students attend both the insti- Ptutes. The Institute of Agriculture functions in Inuvil where it also has a farm.

M.A. Sumanthiran, B.Sc., LLB was the Chief Guest. He is the Chair of Commission for Justice and Peace of NCC-Sri Lanka. His wife is Savithri Sumanthiran, an Account- ant by Profession and is currently a Con- Jaffna Diocese sultant in Management. She gave away the certificates and awards.

Mr. N.R.G. Hoole is the Director of JCIT and Mr. A. Kugathasan is the Principal of JCIA. Mr Noel A. Vimalendran is the Chairman of the Council of JCIT and JCIA. Bp Jebanesan is the Chair of JCBD.

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Towards a Green Society;

on a bicycle meant for two

here is a matter of urgency and this is a global nlike in former times, we have the additional Tdilemma. But this is not beyond us to solve Uresource of our Diaspora who are in comfort- and every community in the world can participate able circumstances in the far flung regions of in this activity by ourselves and as participants the First World. We need the Diaspora to become in joint ventures and in the process, be support- conscious of the real needs of our people and be ive to each other. We are all linked from our very involved in it. This is an area where they can serve homes as never before by an incredible communi- as volunteers and also for their children to study, cation technology with many homes throughout experience and help their people in their own the world. This means information is readily avail- personal development through universities and able to us to make the best use of our knowledge, into their professions. resources and potentials. his aspect of learning opportunities can never e in Sri Lanka are at the threshold of having Tbe had in any of the formal universities or Wto launch a massive programme of reha- educational institutions and this facility is readily bilitation to bring hope and real life back to our available for them. Our people in Sri Lanka need people in cities, towns and villages. We have to them and their families especially at this hour. very specially address ourselves to the rural and s a starter to our programme we are launch- remote areas where people are in need of help, Aing a Bicycle Bank which we can distribute to assistance and support. our volunteers to have free movement to reach ortunately, we are people who can work people in need and also as an example that we Fhard and meet our essentials. The potentials need no fossil fuel to achieve our goals and aims. for such are great if we can build on what has Bicycles have played a great role especially in traditionally supported us in bygone times. As a recent years in the lives of our people but a still matter of fact such systems were environmentally greater use for them is yet to come. They are friendly and we encouraged, developed and sup- indispensable to the kind of progress we have ported them; even sanctified them as blessings of envisaged for our grass root communities. our Creator. This was the spirit of our people. t was Mahatma Gandhi who said that the future oday, the world’s natural systems and en- Iof India will be decided by the rural masses; if Tvirons have been greatly endangered by they are inspired to contribute towards economic unrestrained greed and senseless exploitation. progress, India will become a great country. The rash and reckless use of toxic substances to Long before the developed world woke up to increase productivity has been a major constitu- the foreboding realities that are a consequence ent of these hazards and some terrible diseases to uncontrolled exploitation of the environment, that have come to stay. this saint of non-violence saw a future in which he JDCSI is addressing itself to these concerns the humankind’s survival would depend on how it Tin a very committed way. We are thinking of respects God’s creations. setting up a team of trained volunteers who will Those who wish to donate bicycles for our grass work with the rural folks to help them rediscover [roots activities and also interested in serving

their traditional systems in agriculture, home as volunteers or train volunteers or even help to Jaffna Diocese barns and chicken hatcheries, food production, have them trained them in places like the South tree planting, proper use of water and conserva- East Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (SEAR- tion, fuel efficient systems like biogas, compost SOLIN) please contact the Secretary of for fertilizers, use of green manure unique to the the JDCSI Raj Rajkumar at jdcsirajraj- Jaffna farmer, indigenous medicines, cottage in- dustry and several other rural activities that have [email protected].] served us well for centuries in the past. Through the lack of development of these and the pride that these are indigenous to us, they were starved and many of them left to perish. We have to resur- rect them.

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