VOL 134 NO. 11 JUNE 1-15, 2021 ` 25 Sunday Reflections NEW LEADER IndIa’s LeadIng CathoLIC MagazIne sInCe 1887 • arChdIoCese of Madras-MyLapore Beyond Digital Now! 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Thas been declared by the World Health Digital learning has become the new normal Organization (WHO) as an international public health situation for the students. In the villages, the scenario emergency. Owing to its high infectivity and consequent may be different. Millions of students are denied of health danger including death, countries all over the education. Their future is under great risk as they are world implemented nationwide lockdowns and other not given the basics of education. measures with the hope of flattening the epidemic curve. This situation may continue for some more time. The second wave of Covid-19 in India is making But there is greater awareness among people about this its dangerous spell on the people. Infection has spread pandemic. Further, we are having access to vaccine in its shadow on human lives even in the nook and corner order to protect ourselves from this deadly virus. Digital of every village in some States. One more state-wide learning may be the way of learning in the coming days. lockdown has been imposed in Tamil Nadu and few How are we going to help our children to stay protected other states of the country, forcing us to remain indoors and keep learning while staying at home? and work from home. Institutions small and big have In the cover feature, “Beyond Digital Learning,” to struggle in order to keep going. Labourers in the Cyril, SJ, presents both positive and negative elements unorganized sectors and daily wage earners have to face of digital learning (see p. 10). He says that “the poor tough time having no income. The poor have to struggle have neither access to proper internet services nor in order to survive during this challenging time. computers to follow online classes. Out of 1.6 million I could hear these days incessant sound of schools across the country, not even 10 percent can ambulances rushing to hospitals; I could see many afford digital learning.” thousands of deaths due to Covid-19; I could painfully “Digital learning cannot replicate the chalk and observe the suffering of patients who are unable to find talk pedagogy that we normally follow in the teaching- beds in the health centres and hospitals, who die due learning system. The lockdown experience for children to lack of oxygen facilities and absence of medicines; I is unusual and it is common for behavioural issues to be could experience the griefs and sorrows of the families exacerbated by the strangeness, and stresses of being which have lost their dear ones. We all would have lost confined to their homes.” The writer emphasises the our dear ones due to coronavirus disease. importance of social interaction for children even while I do not want to go into the details regarding the being confined at home. We need to be innovative in number of deaths occurred due to Covid-19. However, educating children towards integrated growth. The we must do everything that is necessary to stop this impact of this lock-down situation will be seen even pandemic and we need to get back to normal life, even after things become normal. finding ways to live while fighting this virus. While the current scenario has brought in fear, This pandemic has affected the children more anxiety, worry and pain, we are also learning many than any other section of the society. More than a year, things from this new situation. We witness every day children are unable to have their usual school learning the sacrifice of doctors and nurses who risk their lives and the related activities. Glued to mobile phones, in order to save the lives of many. We come across many children are compelled to learn something. In the Good Samaritans who have shown great courage in villages, even this facility is denied to them. Lock-down reaching out to the patients who are in need. We hear situations force them to remain at home, the impact is of so many volunteers who go out of the way to offer beyond description. help to the critical patients, and extend assistance for Recently in one of the schools in Chennai, a teacher decent burials etc. has been arrested for his inappropriate behaviour while Education is not only about acquiring skills taking online classes. Sending improper messages, and abilities, it is more about learning to be human. taking advantage of the position as teacher, he has Children, who are the future, need to be protected. We misbehaved with many students. Digital platform is need to go beyond digital learning and grow along with like Pandora’s box which contains evil in great measure. children who are our real wealth. There is a rainbow in Unless we are vigilant and alert, online portal can the eastern sky, seen beyond the horizon. 3 The New Leader, June 1-15, 2021 Contents NEW LEADER Editor Fr Antony Pancras Magazine Staff W. Morise Fathima S. Carolin Mary L. Alina S. Arputhanathan N.A. Madhu M.S. Kumar 10 NL Foundation Abp George Antonysamy Regulars Fr Stanley Sebastian Conversation 5, 6 Managerial Board Life’s Best Lessons 7 Mr V. A. George Theology & Life 9 Fr Vincent Chinnadurai Sunday Reflections 20, 22 Law and Rights 25 Editorial Board Ms Felicity Saldanha From Our Garden 26 Ms Jennifer Arul Faith Express 27 Fr Jerry Rosario, SJ Kaleidoscope: Psycho-Spiritual Refractions 29 Fr Joe Mannath, SDB Family Matters 33 Fr Joseph Fernandes, SDB ESP 35 Mr Bernard D’Sami Eco - Spirituality 36 Laughtonic 38 Advisor Nirmal R. Sanjeevi Features Issues - Spirit 15 The New Leader Pentecost 17 64, ARMENIAN STREET Farm Laws 19 CATHOLIC CENTRE, II FLOOR Issues - Living 21 CHENNAI - 600 001, INDIA Sacred Heart of Jesus 23 PH: (044) 2536 2371 Blessed Alberione 31 MOBILE: 73054 00596 e-mail: [email protected] Tribute 37 www.thenewleader.in News Vatican 8 Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter World 16 All disputes to be settled in Madras Courts only. Asia 24 The views expressed by the writers in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views Nation 28, 34 or policies of The New Leader fortnightly or Editor. 4 The New Leader, June 1-15, 2021 Conversation To See All Things Sad Demise New in Christ: Rev. Fr. S.J. Anthonysamy, former Vicar Ignatian Year General of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore Just now the Society of and The New Leader Bible Columnist for the past Jesus (Jesuits) all over the world is celebrating the year of St Ignatius from 32 years, passed away on 28 May 2021. Deeply 20 May 2021 until 31 July 2022. It is mourned by the Members of NL Foundation, to commemorate the fifth centenary Managerial and Editorial Boards, Readers, of the wound suffered by Ignatius of Writers, and Staff of the New Leader. - Editor Loyola in the battle of Pamplona on 20 May 1521, the wound that opened for him the opportunity for a radical of the genuine heart. It is therefore Covid-19 Warriors conversion in his life. once again a call to love and serve The Jesuits foresee this Ignatian the humanity for the Greater Glory We’ve just concluded the month Year with a special moment on 12 of God. Here it is worth recalling that of May and celebrated 1st May as a March 2022, the fourth centenary St Ignatius was declared patron of day dedicated to St Joseph the patron of the canonization of Ignatius of Spiritual Exercises and Retreats by saint of workers and labourers. Let us Loyola together with Francis Xavier, Pope Pius XI in 1922 – exactly a pray for all those front line warriors (also Teresa of Avila and Philip Neri) century ago.