The making ofJemimah Rodrigues Bandra, family,faith,and self-belief
"killing field", "a hell hole"
"murder capital of the world"
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1644-1694
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(2025-2028)
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Veez English Weekly Vol: November 6 2025
The making of Jemimah Rodrigues: Bandra, family, faith, and self-belief
Jemimah Rodrigues is visibly emotional asshe'scongratulatedby her teammates after her unbeaten 127ledIndiatovictoryintheWorld Cupsemifinal. Zenia D'Cunha Oct31, 2025, 06:32 AMET
On an emotional night in Navi Mumbai, Jemimah Rodrigues completed asporting journeyworth alifetime ofstoryarcs,herfaithand self-beliefcraftingacricketingnearmiracle to take India into a home World Cup final, beating the juggernauts thatare Australia.
Eight years ago, aged 17, she had beentheMumbaiunder-19 captain, scoring runs aplenty and seen as India'sfuturebattingsuperstareven before debut. Now 25, she has already lost a T20 World Cup final
(2020), been inexplicably dropped from an ODI World Cup squad (2022) and has now powered her teamintoanODIWorldCupfinal
Atthebeach under a mountain of pressure (2025). In between all this, she has become globally popular for her
cheerful personality, a social media celebrity in whichever country and competition she plays in, and a target for incessant online trolling, often duetoherreligious beliefs as
aminority community.
It's strangely contradictory cricket existence:precociously talentedbut perennially uncertain in the team combination. She's the extroverted face of team bonding on camera but cried daily through this
tournament -- before bravely opening about her battle with anxietypost theepic semifinalwin.
But it's in these seemingly opposite ideas that Jemimah thrives - from excellingatboth hockeyandcricket in school, two sports that require
very different skill sets and physicality, to still using the throwback finding-the-gap technique to gather big runs in power-hitting obsessed modern white-ball batting, tothe endearing mix of gravitas and mischief in her personality. Jemimah just has that rare ability tomake two things true atthesame time.
Aswheninheremotional postmatch press conference where, through tears, she said: "The Bible says that 'weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning'. Today joy came,but Iam still weeping," and made everyone, including herself,smile.
Truth, is she has always used this mix of gravitas and humour to communicate. Whenthis writer first metherbackin2017, right afterher double ton for Mumbai in the U19 Women's one-day trophy, it was evident that aninternational debut it was only a matter of time for the gifted cricketer. "I'm one step away from playing for India... Of course,
it's a dream of anycricketer toplay forIndia andraise your helmet and batforIndia,"shehadsaid. She made her T20I debut three months laterin2018, followed by
her ODI debuts: all as a teenager. Yet, in her seven plus years as an India cricketer, she has not been able to cement her spot in the playing XI with complete certainty. A result of team combination requirements, scoringspeeds, some fallow patches and bad shots, alongside good old mismanagement meant her potential wasnevertrulyrealised.
Until Thursday night, at Navi Mumbai.
*****
Navi Mumbai is a home ground for Jemimah by extension of it becoming a women's cricket fortress, but she is a Bandra girl through andthrough. It maysound cliched, but there are some attributes inextricably linked with thataffiliation:closefamilybonds, a strong faith - Bandra has a long history ofChristianity, sincethe first churchbuilthereinthe16thcentury - and music. It's these that have helpedhermake thedailygrindofa Mumbaicricketerthrough MIGClub and Shivaji Park, and this long journey toastarring role inaWorld Cupsemi-final.
Shedidn't doitalone,ofcourse.Her family,towhom sheblewkisses last nightintheDYPatilStadium stands, and whom she referred to several times during that emotional press conference, were with her every stepoftheway.HerfatherIvan,who has been her coach from when she was seven, used to travel from Bhandup to Bandra to train along with a bat too big for her frame in an all-boys club. Her mother Lavita, who, she joked with, had the tougher job of keeping her cricket whites clean. Her older brothers EnochandEli,whosecricketingskills a young Jemimah looked to copy before it became hercalling. This is where she got the strength from to keep going after each cricket rejection, eachdisappointment and, yes,eachbout ofvicious trolling.
Jemimah is one of the few Indian cricketers who is public about her personal life, her hobbies, her love for music and her religion. She shares snippets of her with her congregation, singing songs of praise andworship andquoting the Bible.Evenwhenithasputherinthe centre of majoritarian toxicity on social media, as when there were
allegations of her father using a prominent local club for religious conversion.
Faith, though, is everywhere in the Bandra West that St Joseph's Convent student Jemimah grew up in; in the many crucifixes and grottos that dot the streets of the old village, the celebrations around Mother Mary's birthday in September, the sensory joy during Christmas and the solemn procession during Lent -everything is observed together. That provides a social safety net that allows the likes ofJemimahtobewhotheyare inanincreasingly polarising world.
The guitar is an extension of her personality as much as the bat; there are viral videos of hersinging with herinternational teammates in overseas T20 leagues and events. She makes dance reels on trending songswithherteammatesandnon-
cricket friends alike, like any young Indianon Instagram.
While her social activities often make her a soft target for online trolls, hersocial circle is what keeps her spark alive. Her family and teammates who she said cried to almost daily, her friends who she sayspraywith her.
Thattight-knit Bandra culture has alsogivenherthestrength tocry,to be vulnerable, in public. Make no mistake, showing emotions in public, under the harsh and allseeing spotlights of a media room after a World Cup semi-final takes guts. More so when Jemimah explainedwhyshewasdoingthis:"I willbeveryvulnerable herebecause I know if someone is watching, this might be going through the same thing, that's my whole purpose of saying it because nobody likes to
talk about their weakness. I was goingthrough alotofanxietyatthe start of the tournament," she said, continuing totalkthrough thetears shesaidshecannotcontrol.
This is when she quotes the Bible about weeping turning to joy; it's thisfaith-inherabilityandahigher power - that backed the momentous physical effort she put inforthematch-winning century.
Midway through that innings, she was low on energy and dropping intensity, and that caused some loose shots India couldn't afford. She started crouching down between overs,closinghereyesand praying, talking to God because "I feel that I have a personal relationship with Him." She also believed in herself, "I want to be there till the end and finish the game... I know if I am there, I can
make a partnership and get those runs."
Hugging herDanIvanafterthewin
It's this combination of faith and self-belief that she wears on her sleevethatmakesJemimahaspecial cricketer. She has just played the knock of a lifetime and could have easily glossed over her anxiety and spirituality and stuck to "just cricket". But it's Jemimah's conversations, as much as her century,thatmake thisdayiconicin Indiancricket lore.
This sobbing Jemimah is not just a long way from the teenager with a bright smileandbraceswhodreamt of wearing India blue, but from the one who'd danced with fans after theNewZealandgame aweek ago, andeven from the one who'd been conducting the crowd with claps and heart gestures while fielding in thesemi.
This Jemimah, with her muddied jersey and tear-stained face, is something else. She has gone through all the highs and the lows. She has not let the noise stop her, makingherrunscountevenwithout expansive hitting, proclaiming her faith despite past accusations, and bearing her heart for the world to see knowing it can be seen as a weakness.
Withone more matchtogoonODI World Cup debut, Jemimah has alreadyevolved intoalegend inher own right. And she's done it the Jemimah way.
(Photos from: Google)
Corrine Rasquinha has been announced by the Karnataka State government as one of the recipients of 2025 Rajyotsava Award
destitute street people without discrimination of caste, creed or gender has been Corrine’s singleminded mission leading the Charitable Trust,WHITEDOVES®.
above head and wins. The White Doves Psychiatric Nursing and Destitute Homesheruns alongwith her team is more homely and less like an institution and that’s what aids infasterrecovery.
Corrine Antoinette Rasquinha is a name people in Mangalore are happytohear,forovertwodecades providing shelter, food, rehabilitation and more to the
When things were looking bright and rosy, Corrine was diagnosed with cancerin 2009. Sheunderwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and was progressing well through her strong will power and the prayers of many, when she was struck with Hepatitis B and was on her deathbed with the doctors giving up all hope. It was only a miracle through the prayers of
many, which even the doctors treating her do vouch for, that brought herbacktolifetoseemany more accomplishments and milestones achieved.
WHITE DOVES is a Charitable Trust registered intheyear2001, alabour oflove and compassion started ina humble way intheearly 1990's.
The result of a personal encounter with the Lord, Corrine Rasquinha and a few companions started visiting the local Government Hospitals, care-giving institutions andso on....
Seeing the misery, pain and deprivation ofsomanyhelpless and unwanted people - the destitute who had no place to go once they were discharged from the hospitalshocked them.
The shocking sight of half-naked mentally challenged young girls, exploited and misused by antisocial elements, drunkards, addicts....
moved Corrine and her small band of companions to do something with determination and make a difference. WHITEDOVESwasthusconceived.
WHITE DOVES was blessed to have been provided with 2 free lease premises to operate ‘REHABILITATION INSTITUTIONS’ (one for women and one for men) caring and sheltering the abused, destitute and mentally challenged by providing selflesssupport. Mostoftheinmatesarefromdistant places, found mentally deranged, lying in starving public places and delirious. They are picked up, cleansed, medically treated and rehabilitated. All effort is made to locate the family of the rehabilitated person and happily reunite them over a period oftime.
Thecaseson record arenumerous.
new facilityinMarch2019.
WhiteDoves
Psychiatric Nursing & Destitute Home
White Doves had embarked on the Psychiatric Nursing and Destitute Home Building Project in the year 2016. Thebuilding construction andsetup was completed in February 2019, and the new facility was inaugurated on17th February 2019
Door No: 5-79/20, Niddel Gokarna Road
Maroli,Kulshekar P.O.
Mangalore-575005
Karnataka State,INDIA
CONTACT
Email: mail@whitedoves.in
Phone: +91 9880517078
Itisa200-bed stateoftheartfacility to house and rehabilitate destitute who have been picked up from the streets.
Landline: +91 824 2231696, 2230193.
Theleasedpremised fromwherethe Homes were being run at Matadakani and Jail Road were handed backto theirowners andall theresidents wereshifted to the
Pics:DayanandKukkaje
DaijiworldMediaNetwork-Mangaluru(SB)
Mangaluru, Oct 31: Michael D’Souza, a renowned NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist, was honoured with the ET Now BusinessConclaveandAwards2025
– Mangaluru edition under the category of "Transformed Philanthropist and Community Leadership".
The prestigious award ceremony was held at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre as
U T Khader, Speaker of the
Karnataka Legislative Assembly, presented the award to D’Souza in recognition of his remarkable contributions to society and his exemplary leadership in philanthropy.
MichaelD’Souza,managingdirector of Ivory Grand Real Estate LLC and founderofHASHospitality,haslong been admired for combining entrepreneurial excellence with a deep commitment to social responsibility. His philanthropic initiatives span education, healthcare, affordable housing, and other humanitarian projects that havebenefitedcommunities bothin India and abroad. His life’s work standsasatestament togenerosity, compassion, and a steadfast dedication toupliftingothers. The conclave brought together a distinguished gathering of policymakers, industry experts,
entrepreneurs, and academic leaders to deliberate onKarnataka’s evolving role in driving inclusive, data-led, and sustainable economic growth.
Among the notable participants were Dharmendra B Mehta,CREDAI Karnataka, Arun Prabha, Mangaluru Smart City Ltd, Dinesh Pai, Hangyo
Ice Cream, Dion Monteiro, Rohan Corporation, Rohith Bhat, wrkwrk, 99Games, and Robosoft, and Pradeep Jhunjhunwala AWS. Their presence underscored Mangaluru’s growing prominence as a dynamic business destination and a hub of entrepreneurial innovation.
Candles and Oil Lamps are still in vogue in our digital age when electricity is easily available all over andweuseelectric lights,bulbs and tubes to dispel darkness and illuminate houses andbuildings on festiveoccasions,especiallyatnight. In the rural set up due to frequent power cuts candles and lamps are more frequently used.Oil lamps are used more for symbolism than for their utility to dispel darkness. Candles are used especially during prayerandliturgyintheChurchesor graveyards and even on altars at home. Theybecome asymbol or
meanofour offering ofprayers and adoration toGod.
Unfortunately, both oil lamps and candles face many challenges to keep burning and give light. You may have seen often during the inauguration of any function, traditional Indian lamp is ceremoniously lit by the dignitaries. Ihave done it hundreds of times as aChiefGuestorGuestofHonor. No sooner than it is lit, the lamp goes off because of breeze from outside or of the fans inside, or due to lack of sync between oil and wicks. Sometimes people struggle for a
long time to light the lamp and finally either succeed or give up. Rarely have I noticed oil lamps burning tillthe endofthefunction. Recently a group of priests were reciting the Rosary at night after supper before the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes during our Clergy retreat. One of them lit a few candles in front of the Grotto. Within minutes many of those candles were blown offone by one. One,however, heldupforlong time and eventually that too went off, because therewasbreeze. What canwe learn from those poor candles and lamps? Many things. We are like candles or oil lamps. Jesus Christ who claimed that he is the Light of the World (cf. Jn.8:12) asked hisdisciples tobe thelight of the world: “You are the light of the world………..let your light shine before others, so that they can see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 5:14-16). He also warned his disciples to always be ready and watchful: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.” (Lk.12:35)
As disciples of Christ, we need to have our lamps always burning. We
must be like the five wise virgins who took oil along with their lamps and not like the foolish ones who did not (cf.Mt.25:1-13).
For the lamps or candles to keep burning severalfactorsmustworkin their favour. There should be sufficient oil, the wick must be soaked in oil and remain well connected totheoil.Ifnot,itwillgo off quite fast. A little breeze may also blow offthe lamp, so we need to takeoffthefansor close doors if there is strong breeze. Candles or lamps will continue to burn only if they are protected from breeze. They can resist breeze to some extent but not beyond a certain point.
In our spiritual life too, just like the oil in a lamp or wax in a candle we need to have proper inner disposition to shine before people. If there is no proper inner disposition our spiritual exercises, prayer, charitable work etc. will not last long. We need to remain connected with God and continue to receive his grace and blessing without which we will fail in our spiritual duties and charitable works.
Not all candles go offtogether, nor thewicksofalamp.Eachgoesoffat its own pace and time. Spiritual growthandmoraldevelopment also take place in stages, all depending on conducive environment and favourable condition. Some candles or wicks go off faster than others. Some hold on for a longer time or even last till the end of a Mass or function. Humans also grow in stages. Each one is different from the other. Some move faster than others. Some fail quickly when tempted, others holdontilltheend. Some can resist temptations and overcomethem,othersgiveineasily andcommit sin.
Our lamps must keep burning. We seethatalamporacandledoesnot burn for itself but gives light to others, dispels darkness and sheds light around. Acandle burns itswax and then empties itself for others. Similarly, the oil burns itself up to give light to others. As good Christians and good human beings we ought to live for others, be altruistic andreachout to others, to bring joy and hope in the life of others, to dispel the darkness of ignorance, superstition, hatred, violence, sinandevil.
Just like the breeze which puts off candles or lamps there are many externalinfluences,temptations and challenges which interfere in our spiritual life and many a time destroy our capacity to pray, meditate, or do any good work. In the digital world Internet and smartphones with various options are a huge temptation, if not properly used. People easily succumb to attractions on the internet and smartphones, especially pornography and get caught in the net and once addicted,itisveryhardtogetoutof the net. Whatbegins asa matter of curiosity mayend upasaddiction.
Caution and precautions are necessary inour spiritual and moral life so that we don’t easily fall prey to these and so many other worldly attractions that lead us astray and away from God. Just like a candle is protected by a globe or lamps are protected in a similar fashion or by putting off fans, closing doors etc. Similarly, our spiritual andmoral life we need to take all measures to overcome temptations andavoid all occasions of sin. If necessary, precautions are not taken the
external influences from media, friends, gossip etc. will destroy our human capacity to remain connected to God and do good. Henceour light goes offandfailsto shine among people in the society and instead of people praising God for our good works will only curse us for the scandal that we may cause.
AsaChristian community we ought toshinelikestarsorlights inthesky in a crooked and corrupt world as admonished bySt.Paul(cf.Phil.2:15) Jesushasexhortedustoshineinthe world in such away that seeing our good works people will give praise toourFatherinHeaven(cf.Mt.5:1416).
Let us take seriously these few simple but significant lessons from candles and oil lamps. May they
remind us of the need for proper inner disposition and the need to exercise caution and take adequate measures to remain safe from the temptations and occasions of sin which destroy our relationship with God andfellow humans.
† Gerald John Mathias Bishop of Lucknow
India is a country easy to like, easy to dislike, but not easy to comprehend. There issomuchofit, of great diversity, complexity and antiquity. It is only by casting it in perspective & making an overview of its prime contours & watersheds thatone canfathom its‘elanvital’. India’smostnotablefeatureis its antiquity. Until the beginning of the 20th century it was generally assumed that its civilization began about 1500 BC when the Aryan tribes, a branch of the IndoEuropeanpeople, cametoIndiaand composed theRigVedic hymns,the world’s earliest sacred books. However, in 1921 at Harappa in
Punjab&in1922atMohenjodaro in Sind, the ruins of a highly evolved urban civilization, at least two thousand years anterior to the Aryan, were discovered. This has come to be known as the Indus valley civilization.
Sir Mortimer Wheeler, in his book ‘The Indus Valley Civilization’, has written “This civilization is appreciably larger than its contemporaries inIraqandEgypt…. The axis of Egypt’s is only six hundred miles. Mesopotamia’s is of similar length. But the significance of these figures extends beyond mere mileage. A considerable number of weights have been examined, and their constant accuracy is an illustration of strict civic discipline. Behind so vast a uniformity must lie an administration and economic management, howeverexercised,of animpressive kind.”
Another notable feature is the unbroken continuum of India’s civilizational values. In most other countries with ancient civilizations, their peoples’ present values have
little to do with those of renowned past civilizations. Either Buddhism, Christianity orIslamhavetakenroot there and given them new values. Will Durant, in his “Story of Civilization haswritten. “Onecannot conclude the historyofIndia asone canconcludethehistoryofEgyptor Babylonia orAssyria forthathistory isstillbeingmade,thatcivilizationis still creating””.
Besides, India has made major contributions to religion and philosophy. Four of the world’s great religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism & Sikhism have been born in India. Four others –Judais, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism & Bahaism have come intoitandflourished there.
Of the four Indian religions Hinduism &Buddhism gestated the most impressive systems of philosophy, philology & logic. Because of this, there has been minimal conflictbetween religion & philosophy in India. Arnold Toynbee, in his book “A Historians
Approach to Religion” has averred “Farfromarisingoutsidetheorbit of philosophy &subsequently coming to terms with it, Mahayana & post Buddhaic Hinduismarosewithin the
bosom of Philosophy & left them untroubled from the warping intellectual trammels that Christianity & Islam hadtocontend with the opposite process of translating these Judaic religions intophilosophies.”
There has also been no real conflict between religion and science at the intellectual level in India though at the people’s level superstitions & esoteric practices might have held wide sway. In his story of Civilization Will Durant has written “Religion being the core of Hindu life, those sciences were cultivated first that contributed to religion. Astronomy grewout ofthe worship of the heavenly bodies & observation of their movements to fix the calendar of festival & sacrificial days. Grammar & philology gestated from the insistence that every prayer & mantra’, though couched in a dead language, should be phonetically correct. As in our Middle Ages, India’sscientists were her priests”. Copernicus’ and Galileo’s refutations oftheearth centricsolar system and Darwin’s theory of evolution caused major conflicts between religion andscience in the
Christian world, but not in India. Many centuries earlier Aryabhata hadasserted “thesphereofthestars is stationery, and the earth, by its revolution, produces thedailyrising and setting of planets and stars”.
The “Dashavatar”, ten incarnations of Vishnu (fish, tortoise, wild boar, half lion half man, dwarf, farmer, ideal king, great teacher, the enlightened one & the apocalypse) is a revelation of Cosmic Evolution threethousandyearsbeforeDarwin. Shankara’s Advaita (absolute monism), enunciatedabout 800AD, postulates that all of creation is a manifestation ofthe Creator, who is the eternal, all-pervading Cosmic Energy. Einstein, with his E=MC2 equation, proved that all matter is compacted energy & that it is the fundamental, all-pervasive element intheuniverse!
Since earliest times India’s sages have been focused on the perfect order in the universe which.
they referred to as ‘Rtam’. In his book ‘India: What can it teach the World?’ the German Indologist Max Muller has written “In India we find the Aryan man, whom we know elsewhere as Greek, Roman, German, CeltandSlav,inanentirely new character. Whereas in his migrations northward hisactiveand political energies are brought to theirhighest perfection, the passive andmeditative are carriedtoits full height in India….Only when the finitenatureofhumanknowledge is perceived, is it possible for the humanmindtoconceivethat which is beyond the finite, which is the infinite or the Divine. Among the ancient religions it is only in the hymns of the Rig Veda. that the process by which homo sapiens moves from simple invocations to the fundamental elements of creation – fire,water, earth, sky and other heavenly bodies - to formulate complex ideasofaDivine Trinity and an all pervading, indefinable, eternal, creative energy is revealed in all its evolutionary stages.”
Another notable feature of Indian civilization is its millennial maximsof “EkamSatviprah bahuda
vedanti” (The Truth is one but is variously named) and “Udara charitanam vasdudaiva Kutumbakam (Forthebroadminded allofhumanityisone family). These contrast sharply with the “Chosen People” concept of the Abrahamic religions & the “Middle Kingdom” concept of the Chinese civilization. Thementionedmaximshavedeeply influenced the Indian psyche & spiritual traditions. The millennial social evil of “untouchability” is a serious contradiction to this enlightened universal brotherhood approach. It has therefore been outlawed in India since independence &numerous positive discrimination measuresinfavourof this group of people, now referred to as ‘Dalits’ have been included in India’s Constitution. Some of them have risen to high positions in various professions in recent years. The best examples are Dr. K.R. Narayanan, who was selected for the Indian Foreign Service, rose to be India’s ambassador to China & USA,thenUnionMisterofScience& Technology. Vice President of India & President of India. (1997 – 2002) & Ms Mayawati who was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s
largest state with over 200 million people, inthe2007 – 2012period.
India’s spiritual & cultural impact in East & Southeast Asia in past centuries & worldwide mid-20th century onwards has earned her a ‘Mother Civilization’ epithet.
French Indoligist Sylvain Levi, in his book ‘L’Inde civilistrice:Apercu historique’ has written “Mother of wisdom, law and philosophy, India gavetothreequarters ofAsiaagod, areligion, adoctrine, anart.”
Will Durant, in his ‘Story of Civilization’ (Volume I: Our Oriental Heritage’ has averred “Whereas Buddhism disappearedfromIndia,it wonovernearlyalltheremainderof
theAsiaticworld.Theculturalzenith ofmost ofthese nations camefrom the stimulus ofBuddhism. From the time of Ashoka to its decay in the ninth century, Anuradhapura in Ceylon was one of the major cities of the oriental world; the Bo tree there has been worshipped for two thousand years and the temple on the heights of Kandy is one of the Meccas of the Buddhists of Asia. Sven Hedin, Aurel Stein & Pelliot have unearthed from the sands of Turkestan hundreds of Buddhist manuscriptsandother evidenceofa culture which flourished there from the time of Kanishka (1st century AD) to the 13th century AD. As Christianity transformed Mediterranean culture in the third andfourth centuries afterChrist, so Buddhism in the same centuries effectedatheological andaesthetic revolution in the life of China. Buddhism, like Christianity, won its greatest triumphs outside the land of itsbirth – andwon them without shedding adrop of blood”
India present population is almost 1.4billion,80%ofwhomareHindus, 14% Muslims & the rest Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsees,
Bahais & animists. They all live on landofonly1.2million squaremiles. This isapproximately fourtimes the US population living on 1/3 itsland area. In view of this & millions of people of diverse religions & languages living near each other, it is remarkable how peaceful India is, despite its “million mutinies” & some violent incidents in some part ofiteveryday.
India’slong history alsoreveals that in all its golden ages religious harmony & peace prevailed. Whenever religious intolerance sprouted, as during Emperor Aurangzeb’s reign (1658 – 1707), diverse problems sprouted & resulted in internal strife, foreign invasions & loss of independence. Mahatma Gandhi & Indira Gandhi were both assassinatedby religious fanatics. Religious intolerance & fanaticism are the greatest danger India faces. How it confronts & safeguards itself against this ominous menace will shape its futuretrajectory.
In India’s long history also reveals recurrent instances of Kings & Prince’s renouncing regal comforts
inpursuit ofspiritual enlightenment & moral uplift of their people. Buddha and Mahavira (founder of Jainism) were both royal princes. Emperor Ashoka, afteraparticularly bloody battle, renounced violence, became aBuddhist &spent therest of his life spreading the gospel of compassion & nonviolence. Emperors Kanishka & Harshavardahana did likewise. In the 16th century Emperor Akbar devoted his later years to founding a new religion called ‘Din Ilahi’, based on the tenets of Islam & Hinduism. Gandhi, an England educatedbarrister, gaveupwestern clothing & cultural traits & wore only coarse cotton garments to identify himself with India’s “poorest ofthepoor”andleadthem to freedom, armed only with Truth, nonviolence &deeptrust inthe Almighty. Will Durant, in his already mentioned book has written “China
followed Sun Yat Sen took up the sword and fell into the arms of Japan. India, weaponless, accepted as her leader one of the strangest figures in history, and gave the world the unprecedented phenomenon of arevolution ledby asaintandwaged without agun.”
Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, in his poem titled ‘INDIA’ haslaudeditthus: “India,though hasttaught kings to laydown Crown, sceptre, throne and kingdom, andput onthe clothingofthe poor.
Thou hasttaught warriors inlawful battle
To forgive anenemy…., Toholdbackthe drawn arrow, forgetful ofvictory anddefeat. Thou hasttaught thedoer tosurrender toGod alltriumph of achievement”
- *Fr.Cedric Prakash SJ
On 1 November, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed St John Henry Newman as a Doctor of the Catholic Church, in a moving spiritual celebration in the Vaticanwhich waswitnessed by thousands. Pope Leo said “it isa great joy to include Saint John HenryNewmanamongtheDoctors of the Church, and,atthe same time,ontheJubileeoftheWorldof Education,tonamehim,together withSaintThomasAquinas,ascoPatronoftheChurch’seducational mission. Newman’s impressive spiritual and cultural stature will surelyserveasaninspirationtonew generationswhoseheartsthirstfor the infinite, and who, through researchandknowledge,arewilling toundertakethatjourneywhich,as the ancients said, takes us per asperaadastra,throughdifficulties tothestars.”Newman,thusbecame the 38th Doctor of the Catholic Church, joining a select group of saints recognised fortheirenduring contribution to Catholic theology and spirituality. He is especially noted for his insights on the development of doctrine and the role ofconscience
Significantly, Pope Francis canonized John Henry Newman (1801-90) as aSaint of the Catholic Church on 13 October 2019. The ceremony took place just days after theworld celebrated(on 2October) the 150th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(1869-1948). Both, Newman’s canonization and Gandhi’s sesquicentennial were momentous events. What is little known however, is the connect between Mahatma Gandhi and Saint Newman, and the amazing similarities whichmarked theirlives! Besides, it is important to note that Newman hadaprofound influence onGandhi.
As a professor in Oxford University, Newman proved to be one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of his time. He could hold vast congregations of students and intellectuals, spellbound with his depth, erudite and brilliant communication skills. He was a spiritual and intellectual giant: a theologian anda poet, awriter and an orator all rolled inone; he was a prolific writer, andhiswritings were incisive. He became known as a leaderof,andanablepolemicist for the ‘Oxford Movement’ , an influential but controversial group within the Anglican Church, which challengedsomeofitspracticesand wanted it to restore some of the important elements in the liturgy which were in the Catholic Church.
Newman was a relentless seeker of the truth. In a major shock to the Victorian establishment and intelligentsia of his times, he finally left the Church of England to embrace Catholicism in1845.
Newman’s most well-known poemprayer‘Lead,kindlyLight’,(dated16 June 1833) was apparently penned duringhissearchtodowhatisright. Hewrote itwhenhewasstrandedin Palermo Italy for three weeks. He was impatient to return home, but he was sick besides, there was no boat to take him back to England. Newmanwrites, “Ibegantovisitthe churches, and they calmed my impatience,thoughIdidnotattend anyservices.Atlast,Igotoffinan orangeboat,boundforMarseilles. Wewerebecalmedforwholeweek intheStraitsofBonifacio,anditwas therethatIwrotethelines,‘Lead, Kindly Light’, which have since becomesowellknown”.Inamatter oftime,thispoem(firstpublished in 1834) became very popular in literary circles and church circles in England, intheUnited States andin otherpartsofthevastBritishEmpire ofthattime.
Gandhi, who studied in Alfred High School,Rajkotwouldmostprobably have come to know about this poem as a school-boy. He would become more acquainted with it as a student of law in London from 1888-91, just at the time when Newman’s death, would have left a deep void in the intellectual and religious circles of England. Later, in South Africa, the
tremendous impact this poem had onGandhi, was obvious from the fact that ‘Lead,kindlyLight’held a unique position asthemotto of the ‘Satyagraha’ (the force of Truth) movement. On 11September 1906, Gandhi organised the first ‘Satyagraha’ campaign to protest the Transvaal Asiatic ordinance that was constituted against the local Indians.Again,inJune1907, heheld aSatyagraha against theBlackAct. There is a deep spirituality yet an unnerving similarity in both Newman andGandhi which is reflectedintheveryfirstverseofthe poem:
“Lead,kindlyLight’,amidtheencirclinggloom, LeadThoumeon!
Thenightisdark,andIamfarfromhome— LeadThoumeon!
KeepThou,myfeet;Idonotasktosee thedistantscene onestepenoughforme.!”
In his homily, at the ceremony for Newman, Pope Leo said, “wemust worktogethertosethumanityfree from the encircling gloom of nihilism,whichisperhapsthemost dangerousmaladyofcontemporary culture,sinceitthreatensto“cancel” hope.Thisreferencetothedarkness that surrounds usechoes one of Newman’s best-known texts, the
hymn“Lead,KindlyLight.”Inthat beautifulprayer,wecometorealize thatwearefarfromhome,ourfeet areunsteady,wecannotinterpret clearlythewayahead.Yetnoneof this impedes us, since we have foundourGuide’Lead,KindlyLight, amid th’encircling gloom, Lead Thoumeon’Thetaskofeducation ispreciselytoofferthisKindlyLight
to those who might otherwise remain imprisoned by the particularly insidious shadows of pessimismandfear.Forthisreason, Iwouldliketosaytoyou:letus disarm the false reasons for resignationandpowerlessnessand letussharethegreatreasonsfor hopeintoday’sworld.Letusreflect uponandpointouttoothersthose “constellations” thattransmitlight andguidanceatthispresenttime, which is darkened by so much injusticeanduncertainty.”
Both menwent through a painful process ofsearch:apursuit oftruth; to be able to embrace the truth from theuntruth, theright from the wrong. It was one of spiritual discernment, asking forlight andof conversion, before they unreservedly plunged into the crucial next step in their journey ahead. These ‘enlightened steps’ were indeed turning points: in their lives and in the profound impact it had on the lives of several others. Our country today, is being throttled with lies, half-truths, emptypromises;someofthosewho control the reins of power revel in falsehoodandhypocrisy.
In 1916, afterMahatmaGandhi had establishedhisashramonthebanks oftheRiverSabarmati, Ahmedabad, ‘Lead, kindly Light’ had a very special place in the daily prayers of the Ashram. Gandhi had the prayer translated into Gujarati by Narasimharao Divetia; the initial words read “PremalJyoti (Light of Love) taaro daakhavi Muj jeevan panthujaal.Durpadyonijdhaamthi hunneghereghanandhaar,Maarg suje nav ghor rajanimaan, nij shishune sambhaal; Maaro jeevanpanthujaal”. For more than thirty years, several of Gandhi’s writings and speeches had a reference to the phrases ‘Lead, kindlyLight’orto‘onestepenough for me’. Once, when asked the reason for his constant references toNewman and the latter’s works, Gandhi was quick on the retort, “he is perhaps the only honest Englishman, I have come across!” On March 10, 1947, Gandhi wrote to Vinobha Bhave, his closest disciple, “inmyprayers,IpraytoGodtolead mefromuntruthtotruth,isn’titthe sameideaconveyedin‘Leadkindly Light’?”
In India, we live today, as the antiNazi poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht would say “indark times”. The country desperately needs selfless and committed leaders – in themouldofNewmanandGandhiwho have the courage, the vision and the ability to emulate their valuesandstrengths.SaintNewman and Mahatma Gandhi were characterised by their spiritual depth and intellectual honesty. As we celebrate the Mahatma and the Saint, let us resolve to learn from them: the depth to pray “Lead
Kindly Light”. Our country today yearns for Mahatmas and Saintswho have the openness to search for what is right, the transparency, which is innate, the humility to discern, the audacity to take risks, and above all, the unflinching courage to stand up, visibly and vocally, forJusticeandTruth!
1November 2025
*(Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist &writer.
Contact:cedricprakash@gmail.com)
Practice and propagation of one’s religion is allowed by the Constitution of India. Conversion from one Religion to another Religion can happen due to propagation without force and free will. The Supreme Court of India in its judgement dated 17 October 2025 declaredthatconversion isnot unlawful and protected the citizens right to freedom of religion. It cancelled multiple FIRs under the UP Anti-Conversion Law and declared that outsiders cannot interfere inpersonal faithdecisions. The Court also clarified who can complain against conversion. Complaints against conversion can be lodged a) only the victim or immediate familyandb) nopolitical organization or outsiders can file the FIRs. The Supreme Court held that religious choice is a fundamental right under the constitution. The Supreme Court condemned misuse of anticonversion laws to target communities or to spread fear.
Many outsiders, religious groups, and political organizations have been filing complaints and harassing the converts and the social workers. As a result of such complaints and prolonged investigation, faithfularekeptunder arrest andharassed.
It is important to understand why Conversion is aburning issue inour country. Ithastwo reasons:a) ithas an impact on reservation in employment and education and b) it has an impact on the size of the population.
SC converts to Christianity or Islam or Buddhism prior to their conversion belonged to one of the communities listed under SC. Although Dalit SC Christians are demanding reservationineducation andemployment liketheirHindu SC counterpart it is not given because of the fear that the reservation benefitenjoyed byHinduSCpeople will go down in real terms if the SC is not increased. The SC reservation
is 17%. If the population increases by adding Dalit SC Christians, the share of Hindu SC will go down in real terms as more candidates will fight for limited 17% quota which was available for a lesser number before adding DalitSCChristians. The ST reservation quota in Karnataka is 7%. An example will help us to understand this issue. When an announcement was made by CM of Karnataka that Kuruba community (to which he belongs) which is in the OBC list at present will beincluded inSTcategory after obtaining approval from Central Government, one of the ST leaders demanded that they should bring additional quota for ST and partaking in the existing 7% ST quota willbeopposed. Healsosaid that he has no objection if the Kurubas areadded to STalong with an additional ST quota. By adding more people to the existing quota, the benefits enjoyed bythe existing population mustbe shared with the newcomers. This is much more serious ifthe newly added group is very big innumber like Kuruba. Although it is not a very serious issue as far as Dalit SC Christians is
concerned the issue is sensitive in thesinking employment market.
The second issue is the impact on the size of the population. The apprehension of the Hindu population is their number will decrease and the population of another religion like Christians and Muslims will increase. It is feared that in due course Hindus will become a minority. This is impossible. Suchafeariscreatedby some groups for their own agenda. Hence, conversion to Christianity and Islam is resisted by the Hindu majority. Therefore, anti-conversion lawsarebeing passed. Conversion from Hinduism to any other religion isopposed. Iamborn a Hindu, but I will not die a Hindu said Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, during aSC convention in1935. Hetooktime to decide the religion to which he should convert. He examined Islam and Christianity. The converts in Christianity continued to suffer untouchability fromthe upper caste Christians.Thenheconsidered Islam whichconsiders brotherhood asthe maintenet.Iflargenumber ofHindu SC people had converted to Islam,
the number of Muslims would have gone up and that would have strengthened the partition debate. He did not want this to happen. Therefore, Dr. Ambedkar waited till the Constitution was approved and rights wereconferred ontheSCand ST. Finally, he was disappointed to see that there was no change even after the new constitution was implemented. Hence,hedecided to convert to Buddhism, which was founded in India. This would not increasethenumber ofChristiansor Muslims. He believed in the tenets ofBuddhism.
Dr Ambedkar converted to Buddhism at the Chaitya Bhoomi in Nagpur on October 14, 1956, along with5lakhfollowers. Thiswasavery big number not anticipated by anyone. Mehastavir Bikku Chandramani of Sri Lanka gave them Deeksha (baptism) and admitted them to Buddhist religion. This was a very big blow to Hindu population. Immediately the Constitution was amended and a community known as neo-Buddhist was created under SC and made eligible forreservationbenefits.This trend iscontinuing.
Some time ago many SC people converted to Buddhism at Deeksha Bhoomi in Gulbarga (Kalburgi). Recently during an International BuddhistConferenceheldatMysore more than 500 SC families converted to Buddhism. The Deeksha was taken in the presence of Buddhist monks from Tripura, Arunachala Pradesh, Assam, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and other monasteries from India like Bylukuppe, Kollegala, Kamagere, Gulabarga etc. This happened on October 14, 2025. Generally, on 14 October, the Deeksha day of Ambedkar, the SC people organize conversions to Buddhism all over the country. Such converted SC people are called Neo-Buddhists and do not lose reservation benefits. They freethemselves from theCastesystemanditsobligations.
As per the Constitution of India, Hindu SC, SC converts to Sikhism and SC converts to Buddhism (known as Neo Buddhists) are eligible for reservation in education and employment. But SC converts to Christianity and Islam are not eligible for reservation. Therefore, anyattempttodemand itisresisted by thesegroups.
The fear of reduction in Hindu population makes the Hindu majority to oppose any kind of conversion whether it is to Buddhism or Jainism or any other Indian religion. Conversion to Christianity and Islam is not at all accepted. Therefore, there is so much attack on Christian workers and faithful. Extension of reservation benefits to Dalit SC Christians and SC Muslims is opposed by Hindu SC, SC converts to Sikhism and Sc converts to Buddhism for the same reasons the Beda and Valmiki ST communities oppose inclusion of Kuruba community to ST list. Years ago, a large majority of SC people had converted to Islam at Meenakshipuram in Tamilnadu. Pathetic Ignorance of Rules among Catholics
Many educated people among Christians and Religious do not know that the provisions applicable to ST are different from those applicable to SC. They think that converted STs likeKoraga Christians are not eligible for reservation and other benefits afterconversion. This isnotasper law.TheSCconverts to Christianity and Islam are not
eligible for reservation under SC category. But they are eligible for OBC benefits only. But ST Koraga Christians are eligible for all benefits available for ST after conversion too.
ST people like Koragas in Dakshina Kannada are not bound by rules of religion. In other words, they need not belong to Hindu religion to become eligible for reservation. They can be Christians, Muslims, animistsortotemistsorworshippers of Daivas or tribal gods. No authority can deny reservation benefits to Koraga converts to Christianity. I recently read in Daiji world that Koraga converts to Christianity in Panja Parish are denied the reservation and other socio -economic benefits by the Panchayat.Ifthepeople inquestion belong to Koraga Tribe and are Christiansnooneauthority denythe benefits. To demand our rights, we must approach proper government authorities in the Social Welfare Department and the Deputy Commissioner of the District. We must first educate ourselves. The comments under thenews report in Daiji world show our ignorance of this provision. (Sullia: Korga
familiesconvertedtoChristianity deniedgovtfacilitiesinPanjaGP, Wed. November 03, 2021.daiji world media network). If the conditions have not changed after 2021 and the benefits are denied even now, then the government officers concerned are subject to disciplinary action.
Koraga Convert to Christianity at Pallodi, Panja (Photo courtesy Daiji World Media Network)
Thiscondition ofconverted Koragas cannot be accepted. The Church, Catholic Sabha and lawyers must first educate the concerned and fight for their rights and dignity. Under our Constitution no one can stop their benefits.
Getting the right to convert is one side ofthe coin while taking careof the converted isanother side ofthe samecoin.Whilerejoicingaboutthe Supreme Court judgement about Conversion, it is important to provide dignity of life to the converted Christians and getting them benefits which are allowed under the Constitution for ST instead of dreaming for those not availablebenefits for SCconverts. Hope the concerned take note of this.
Dr. Charles Lobo
It is often said that marriages are made inheaven,astheyareaunion not just of two individuals, but of two destinies intertwined by a higher power. However, some marriages flourish through the strength of mutual understanding, empathy, and shared values while others fade under the weight of unmet expectations and growing emotional distance. In today’s busy world, mistrust and misunderstandings between partners canlead to the breakdown of marriages and, eventually, to divorce.
Jeeva Mhoja (made in 2 parts) is concerning around the same topic between the lovely married couple, played by Preston Sequeira and Shilpa Rao. The first installment presented a tragic narrative, while the sequel offered a satisfying resolution, ultimately leaving the audience with a sense of joy and contentment.
The first part of Jeeva Mhoja, a Konkani video song presented by Praveen Fernandes was released in November 2022, leaving a lasting impact while the much-anticipated sequel followed a year later, premiering on November 17, 2023, continuing the emotional journey with even greater depth and resonance.
This sequel isaunique video album thatstandsoutintheKonkani music world.
Both parts of the project were directed by Norbert John, with the lyricspennedbyPraveenFernandes. The first installment featured Ashwin D’Costa asthe lead vocalist, while the sequel sawShilpa Cutinha joining Ashwin as the lead female singer.Themusicforboth partswas mixed and mastered by Stephen Frank.
Additionally, several scenesinthe
second part were filmed at notable locations such as Martin's Restobar, Rego House in Kudupu, and Yoana Villa, which enhanced the visual appeal and added a touch of glamour tothe overall production.
Theleadpair,playedbyPreston and Shilpa Rao were were atrue delight to watch. Their portrayal of love, longing, frustration and anguish was both powerful and sincere. Their chemistry brought an added layer of depth to the narrative, leaving apround impactonviewers.
Ashwin D’Costa, in his extended cameo in both parts, delivered a highly impressive performance in hispivotal role.
The other supporting cast was outstanding in their performances, each bringing unique qualities to their roles.
Both parts were remarkable, with every department playing a crucial role in its success. From the actors to thetechnicalteams,every aspect was executed with remarkable skill and attention to detail. The audience will be captivated by the powerful performances, the evocative soundtrack, and the journey, with the lyrics emotionally charged that tie everything together.
Both songs are available for streamingonplatformslikeAmazon Musicand WynkMusic.
Datafrom 2020 toearly 2025 shows that more than 195K divorce petitions were filed across Karnataka, reflecting a notable volume of matrimonial disputes during this period. The upward trend in divorce and family instability can result in greater
mental and emotional distress, particularly among young people, while also leading to cultural disorientation.
Here are the links to the music videos:
Jeeva Mhoja 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =rE9L62B1lqk&list=RDrE9L62B1lqk &start_radio=1
Jeeva Mhoja 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =yyM_cn3H4A4&list=RDyyM_cn3H 4A4&start_radio=1
Jeeva Mhoja plays a significant role inbringing this subject to light, and both parts effectively portray the consequences of divorce and broken homes. The music is exceptionally composed, leaving listeners with melodies and lyrics that linger long after. Praveen Fernandes has thoughtfully
presented atheme that isespecially relevant and much needed within our community.
Prinson D’lima is an alumnus from MGM College, Udupi and Aloysius Institute of Business Management, Mangalore andcurrently residing in Doha-Qatar, with 17 years of experienceinthefieldofadvertising media inIndiaand Qatar.
Mr. Sabu Caiter, his wife Benetta, son Francis Aghil, (of Ernakulam, Kerala, India) have for years dedicated efforts to collect and displayed in many places, as our readers mayrecall,anunimaginable range of rosaries particularly and other Catholic holy objects. A few
days ago, they bagged “ASIAN BOOKOFRECORDSWorld Record and were given a certificate
confirming this status". The actual Image of the Certificate is as follows:
The contents of the Certificate says: "Collection of Rosaries in theWorld. ThisistocertifythatMr. Sabu Caiter, along with his wife BenettaandsonFrancisAghil,isthe holderoftheWorld’sLargestRosary Collection, comprising 103,000 unique rosaries from 107 countries across the globe. The collection, initiated in a moment of spiritual inspiration, has grown into a lifelong mission of devotion, culture, and unity. Since 2007, this extraordinary family has shared theirsacredcollection through over
300exhibitionsheldinchurchesand venues across India, spreading the message of faith and the beauty of therosary.
This remarkable achievement reflectsyears ofdedication, spiritual commitment, and the shared passionofafamilyunited.AsiaBook of world record. This is to proudly certify that Sabu Kaiter, born in Kochi, Kerala, has achieved a remarkable and spiritually significant milestone at the age of 59 year by being recognized for maintaining the Largest Rosary Collection(103000Rosaries). This extraordinary collection stands as a symbol of deepfaith,devotion, and a lifelong commitment to preserving spiritual heritage. This inspiring accomplishment reflects not only his unwavering
dedication but also his unique contribution tothepreservation and celebration of religious tradition. In recognition of this exceptional achievement,hisnamewasofficially confirmed and registered in the Asian Book Of World Records on October17,2025, undertheUnique Collections Category, honoring his devotion and remarkable record.
ASIANBOOKOFRECORD."
Indeed, this is positively an exceptional achievement and people need to be aware of and admire this inspiring feat in times when the trend is only for materialism, wealth and fame. Let uslookatareport ofoneexhibition of the rosaries in Mangalore, Karnataka India in2017; thisgives a basic insight into the details of collection, display and so on, pictures tooare attached:
An exhibition of the rarest of the rare holy rosaries, used world over by Roman Catholics, in thousands from all parts of the globe is sure a thrilling experience to behold. A unique exhibition of more than 100,000 rosaries and related religious articles with essential information was on display at the Rosario Cathedral Cultural Hall, Mangalore, witnessed bymeaswell years ago. It wasthe talk of Mangalore coastal areas and was later staged in many places around this region. Material and motivation came from a Keralite enthusiast and dedicated collector Sabu Caiter and family who were very present and interacting with delighted visitors whopoured in.
dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Christ Jesus. The word Rosary means “Crown ofRoses”, indicating a crown of prayers. The rose is the queen offlowers, andsotheRosary is the rose of all devotions, andit is considered a most important prayer. In 1569, the Dominican Pope Pius V, officially established the devotion to the rosary in the Catholic Church.The Holy Rosary is considered a solemn prayer because within it lies the awesome story of our salvation. Many say it often, and it is said that rolling the rosary beads between the fingers can remove anxieties and calm the mind andbody. The year 2018 was dedicated to the Rosary by the Universal Church.
Sabu Caiter Family: Hailing from Kerala, the story of this rare collector of rosaries andmementos is well on the way to becoming a legend. He solemnly proclaimed at every turn, the exhibition aims to motivate people to increase the practiceoffamilyprayerandtheuse of the Holy Rosary anddevotion to MotherMary.
"Rosary” is achainofbeads usedby Catholics in a string of prayers
Sabu Caiter's passion goes back
nearly 50 years, he just entered his teens, when his grandfather passed away.Atthe grave site, youngSabu emotionally collected the rosary thatwasplacedonhisgrandfather's body. Sabu mentioned that he was keen to have something as a memento of his grandfather. Little did he realise that it would create a passion for rosaries. Of course, it helped that both his parents were avid rosary collectors. Soon, Sabu excelled and when relatives and friends abroad asked him what he wanted, he always said, “A rosary that is different.” As a result of his constant effort hiscollection now is a wonder, with every rosary different from theother.
The collection grew rapidly afterhe received two rosaries at Velankanni. His collection consists ofrosaries gifted toSabu byPopes, Bishops, Cardinals, Priests, Nuns,
relatives andfromhisfriends across theglobe andgrows rapidly. Hehas been fortunate enough tobe gifted with rosaries used by Saint Mother Teresa, which she gave him in person. Rosaries made of gold, silver, ruby and emeralds are in his possession. A rosary costing about 5 lakhs, made in Singapore with white gold andred diamonds is the costliest. His prized possession includes a rosary given to him by Pope Francis. His request to Pope Francis for a rosary, brought also specialblessings from thePope,not onlyintheformoftheRosarywhich he wanted but also a rare Holy Cross, a memento and a letter by the Pope, for Sabu's commendable work-this serves as hismost powerful motivator.
His wife Benetta and son Francis Aghil are also contributing to the collection,headded. Sabu,whohas astockmarket background, feltthat theblessings inthe formof rosaries mattertohimalot.Hiscollection, in that way,is priceless, headded. He also has a collection of statues, relics,olddocuments, literature and soon.
Rarest of the Rare: The exhibition carries at least 15,000 certified rosaries. There are also Holy Rosaries from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Fatima and Lourdes. Rosaries made from rubber, wax, stone, Crosses, one of Rudraksha' exclusive Indian origin. Many impressedrecordedtheircomments in the visitors’ books kept at the venue.Thevisitors were madeupof all walks of life, of all ages, even a few elderly people in wheelchairs wereseen.Eachrosaryisdifferentin colour, size, design, material and other things. Some were special from the point of their antique value; there are 800 such old rosaries. Three hundred are from Vatican City alone, most are Italian made. Mr. Sabu has organised this exhibition in Karnataka region for
the first time in 2017, this is a springboard for him he mentioned and will visit this region more often. He later took it tosome placesinMumbaiandsurroundings, whichwasappreciatedbymany. He said he has displayed his rosary collection inBengaluru andMysore, apart from many places in Tamil NaduandKerala andthelastone in Mangaluru (2017) which was the 125th major edition at that point in time. He has displayed parts of his collection in at least 150 churches forshort durations.
Here are rosaries flowing, blessed by Saints, St John Paul the second and Mother Theresa. It also has nearly 400 statues of Mother Mary indifferent shapesand100Crosses, nearly 700 other statues and 400 Relics- all collections of Mr. Sabu, a layman. Our readers will recall that others too have started to follow and have achieved something - in particular at this point we recall Rev.Fr.Ivan Madtha, of Mangalore, wholost hisarm ina train accident too as a side line of his retreat preaching and other religious activities has and displays Rosaries and religious objects
around Mangalore and other places. Mr Caither’s exhibition is intended to help the devotees understandtherosarymore anduse it;toothers itistoknow. His family hasdedicateditselftoorganisesuch exhibitions across the country free ofcost.Hesays thathewants many people to come and patronize this Expo, he still is given rosaries by many.
Someoftherosariesareevenmade of tulsi leaves, coir, andolive wood. Hismostastonishingrosaryisonein whichthereareathousandbeads.A friend from Kerala made it especially, andthis Rosaryisspecial for the Caither family. An ardent devotee of Mother Mary, having prayed more thanalakh time using this rosary. Mother Mary means everything to this family. The most unusual rosary is the one made in the USA. It is called ‘Unborn children’. Each bead represents Mother Mary’s tears for aborted
children,” said Benetta. In 2002 Pope John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries, inanApostolic Letter on the Rosary, Rosarium Virginis Mariae.
Pope John Paul II had said that Rosary was his favorite prayer, we also need to follow in his footsteps andsayRosarydailyandgain many blessings. At the end of the exhibition in Mangalore, 5
Karnataka Bishops, Rev Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, Rev Dr. Francis Serrao SJ Bishop of Shivamogga, Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza then Bishop of Mangalore, BishopLawrence Mukkuzhy of Belthangady and Bishop Jerald Lobo of Udupi, felicitated the admired Sabu and Family. Indeed, there isnodoubt thatsuchdisplays and expositions can aid prayer, peace and harmony in world civil society, asserts Mr.Sabu. Don't miss the chance to see this collection sometime.
-By:IvanSaldanha-Shet.
Horus andVishnuaremajorgods in their respective pantheons/religion, and both Rama and the Egyptian pharaohs are seen as divinely appointed figures with important roles.
There seems to have been link between Horus and Vishnu, and between Rama and the pharaoh of Rama's time. The similarities are a result of comparative mythology, although the Egyptian and Hindu mythologies were developed independently from different linguistic andculturalroots.
Horus and Vishnu
Similarities intheirroles
• Horus: The Egyptian sky god and protector, a central deity in the pantheon. He was also associated with kingship andwar.
• Pharaoh: In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh was a living god, or a god on Earth, who was responsible for maintainingorder andjustice.
• Vishnu: One of the principal gods in Hinduism, responsible for preservation andprotection.
•Rama:Amajoravatar(incarnation) ofVishnuwhoisaherointheHindu epic,the Ramayana.Heisadivine
Rama figure who fights battles and emerges victorious.
Egyptian mythology developed from the ancient Egyptian civilization, almost during the same period as of Hindu mythology developed from ancient Indian cultures.
Although naming of gods is different, mythologies are very similar. Both refer to the same universal/Celestial power, the same God orAllahofIslam.
Egyptian Mythology developed on the banks of mighty Nile River,
whereas Indian Mythology developed onthe banks ofGanga.
Ganga River
As seen from the size and number of pyramids, Pharaoh were more powerful and ruled for many centuries.
Pharaoh
HindusshouldworshipPharaohand considerpyramids asgreat temples. When they go to Egypt and visit
pyramids, they should break coconuts, doartiandpuja Archana. Already, the shape of pyramids is considered veryluckyinIndia. They can have pyramid temples in India for those who cannot go to Egypt on pilgrimage. Place Pyramids in
temples like Shiva Lingam in Shiva temples.
Someone in India should write "Pharaoh puran" like "Shiva puran" and other purans of India. This will helpintegration ofworld religions.
Daijiworld Media Network –Mangaluru
From LtoR: Joseph Mathias, Remona Evette Pereira, and Sathish Ira
Joylene Mural Lobo
Mangaluru, Oct 31: The Dakshina Kannada(DK)districtadministration hasannounced the list ofrecipients for this year’s prestigious district Kannada Rajyotsava Awards,
recognizing outstanding individuals from various fields for their exceptionalcontributions tosociety. Among the awardees are Joseph Mathias, Remona Evette Pereira, and Sathish Ira, who have made notable contributions in their respective fields.
Rajani Shetty
The recipients of the Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Rajyotsava Awards this yearinclude SrLucianaPinto,headofMercyDe
Ami AniAmchim,Mangaluru
Home for Orphans, Paneer, Deralakatte, who has been honoured for her contribution to social service; Sathish Ira for his achievements in the field of press and media; Sunda Rai Mandara for his contribution toTulutheatre and cinema; and Prem Moras for his service towards the promotion of theKonkani language. DrVivian Mendonca from Kadri has been recognized for his excellence in business, while Joyline Muriel Lobo has been honoured for her achievements in sports. Peter JeromeRodrigues fromBantwaland Rajani Shetty from Mangaluru have been awardedfortheircontribution tosocialservice.JosephMathiashas been recognized for his contributions to social service and art, and Remona Evette Pereira has beenhonoured forherexcellencein art and culture.Among the awardees, Ami Ani Amchim, Mangaluru hasbeen selectedin the
institution/organisations category. Joylene Mural Lobo from Moodbidri hasbeenselectedforthe award for her outstanding achievements in athletics at the state, national, and international levels.
A total of 80 individuals from various fields will be honoured with the Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Rajyotsava Awards. The awards will be presented on Saturday during the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations to be held atNehruMaidan, Mangaluru. The awards celebrate individuals who have upheld the spirit of Karnataka through theirdedication, excellence, and service in diverse domains including social service, art, language, sports, business, and media.
Dr Vivian Mendonca to receive
Dakshina Kannada district
Kannada Rajyotsava Award
Daijiworld Media Network –
Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 31: Dr Vivian Mendonca, a globally respected physician and pharmaceutical leader, hasbeen selectedtoreceive the Dakshina Kannada (DK) district
Kannada Rajyotsava Award for his outstanding contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and global healthcare access.
Born and raised in Mangaluru, Karnataka, Dr Mendonca is the son of Vincent Mendonca and Mabel Mendonca, married to Swetha Mendonca from Brahmavar, and hails originally from Shirva and Mulky. A proud alumnus of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, and a medical graduate from Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Mangaluru, he embodies Karnataka’s enduring legacy of excellence, compassion, andservice tohumanity.
With a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, DrMendoncahasheldseniorglobal roles in leading biopharmaceutical organizations, pioneering strategies
to ensure that scientific breakthroughs reach patients in need, particularly in oncology, rare diseases, and immunology. His leadership has played a transformative role in shaping global market access frameworks that enable sustainable and affordable access to innovative therapies across both developed andemerging markets.
As an international speaker and subjectmatterexpert,DrMendonca has contributed extensively to global health congresses, policy dialogues, and expert forums, sharing thought leadership on patient access, value-based healthcare, and health system strengthening.
Dr Mendonca’s impact extends beyond corporate leadership to publichealthinitiativesacrossAfrica andtheMENAregion, where hehas led programs improving access to life-saving medicines and strengthening healthcare systems. Heplayedakeyroleinthe‘Hepatitis in Africa Call for Action’ initiative, which brought together scientific leaders, patient groups, and governments across sub-Saharan Africa to promote awareness,
screening, and access to curative treatments a milestone in the global fightagainst viral hepatitis. Beyond his professional achievements, Dr Mendonca is a mentor and advocate for ethical, inclusive, and purpose-driven leadership in life sciences. His inspiring journey from the classrooms of St Aloysius and KMC to the forefront of global health advocacy — reflects Karnataka’s
values of intellect, service, and global citizenship.
In recognition of his distinguished service and remarkable contributions to global healthcare access, innovation, and India’s leadership inlife sciences, DrVivian Mendonca will be conferred the Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Rajyotsava Award for distinguished service and contribution to the pharmaceutical industry.
to be University), Mangaluru, has beenawardedthedegreeofPhDfor her thesis titled “A Study on the EmergingTrendsinOnlinePurchase Decisions for Lifestyle Products AmongtheYouthinUdupi District.” She carried out her research under the successful guidance of Dr. ShailashriV.T.,ResearchProfessorat the Institute of Management and Commerce, Srinivas University, Mangaluru.
Ms Deshel Levines Fernandes, Assistant Professor, School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, St Aloysius (Deemed
Deshel Fernandes is the proud daughter of Patrick and Lenny Fernandes from Hanglur, Kundapur and the wife of Elson Denzil Dsilva from Kulshekar, Mangaluru.
At aturning point in their lives, this duo made a bold decision. In 2014, Shrikant lost his father to cancer. Theincident pushedboth torethink their lifestyle. That’s when they decided, “Wewanttoliveanatural,pure,and conscious life!”
Their product range includes A2 milk, Bilona ghee, butter, paneer made from traditional cream, incense sticks and dhoop made from cow dung, as well as wellness products like nutri bars and lip balms.
Everyitem ismade usingtraditional and ethical processes. Nohormone injectionsforthecows. They’re fed only natural fodder, given regular health checkups, and the milk is immediately chilled to retain freshness.
And from that resolution was born ‘Gauniti Organic’, a brand rooted in ethical dairy practices. They started small — with just 4 cows and a lot of determination. But their dream was big: to build a business that wasn’t just profitable, but one that was value-driven, cruelty-free, and in harmony with nature.
Even the name “Gauniti” reflects their mission — “Niti” meaning ethics and it shows in every decision they make.
They use eco-friendly packaging, never rely on shortcuts, and yet, in the financial year 2024, they reached a ₹2 crore turnover.
But Gauniti’s success goes beyond revenue.
It’s a win for values, for transparency, and for purity. Consumers today seek honest and clean products andShrikant and Charmi tapped into that need,
turning it into a movement.
They’ve proven that success in business doesn’t come from marketing alone. It takes values, persistence, and heartfelt effort.
Today, Shrikant andCharmi arerole models for countless aspiring entrepreneurs.
Theygaveuphigh-paying ITjobsto step into farming and dairy — and through their dedication, they’ve protected hundreds of cows, improved the health of thousands ofconsumers,andwontheheartsof lakhs.
This isn’t just the success story of a brand. It’s the story of a belief — “From purity comes prosperity.”
#corporate #coupleentrepreneurs #startups #marketinggrowmatics #indianstartups #Viralstory #fblifestyle
We have been hearing Veg and Non-Veg food diet since from the childhood. Those who consume animal meat/fish/egg are called non-vegetarians. Those who consume plant-based products/diary items like milk, curd, ghee arecalledvegetarians.
Apart from these two, there is another diet called Vegan Food. This diet is not much familiar. However, awarenessisbeingspread all over the world and very
important towards our health. Vegan diet means totally consuming plant-based products.
Vegan diet is refraining from animals’ products/fish/eggs/ dairy products milk, curd,ghee etc.
World Vegan Day — a reminder to reflect on the reasons for choosing a plant-based lifestyle that go far beyond personal health. World Vegan Day is celebrated on November 1 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding
of The Vegan Society in 1944 by Louise Wallisandthecoining ofthe term "vegan". The day raises awareness about the benefits of veganismforanimalwelfare,human health, and the environment, while also promoting the lifestyle and encouraging people toadopt plantbaseddiets.
In an age of information overload, choosing the right diet can be confusing, with arguments for and against plant-based eating everywhere. When faced with such dilemmas, I turn to Nature — because Nature is never wrong. It’s we who go wrong when we go againstit.Weareinstinctivelydrawn tofruits andvegetables. Wecaneat them raw, just as every animal in nature eats its food raw. Rawfoods
are rich in nutrients the body’s spare parts forhealing. Vegandiethelpstoleadagoodand healthy life. These days even the youth are affected by diabetes/heart diseases/cancer etc…. Processed foods, animals’ products anddairy products arethe main cause which increases bad cholesterol in our body. Our body has the power to heal itself if we provide the right environment. We have a wrong belief that plantbased diet vitamins are not sufficient for our body, and they won’tsupplement required vitamins and proteins. But nature and God designed the foodsystem in sucha waythatplant-based foods haveall the vitamin and proteins required forourbody.
However,adopting vegandietisnot easy. Due to our culture and conditioning of food system since fromourchildhood,weareaddicted to the non veg. For this we need a strong desire and sacrifice. If we really want a healthy and medicine free life, we must adopt the vegan diet.
There are famous legends in the historywhowere havingvegandiet. They were Mahatma Gandhiji,
Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Ben Franklin,SteveJobs,RosaParks.And inthecurrentworldwehaveplayers like Virat Kohli, Sereina Williams, NovakDjokovic.
There are lot of benefits in the vegan food diet and as mentioned asbelow.
1)Plant based food provides good cholesterol for our body and removes all the toxins and bad cholesterol from thebody.
2)Since the bad cholesterol removed from the body, automatically blood pressure reduces and comes to a normal stage.
3)Since no blood pressure, lower riskofheart disease.
4)Eliminates the diseases like Headache, Fatigue, Poor
Concentration, Low Mood, Depression.
5)Youcanreverse thediabetes and canliveamedicine free life. While animal products may have been necessary for survival during times of scarcity, today we live in abundance. Consuming foods not meant for us has made us sick. That’swhyprescribing plants— and the results are phenomenal. The body is a remarkable self-healing system when given theright fuel.
Beingvegan,wecanbefriendlywith the nature, and we can save nature as well along with our health. Each day vegan choice saves 1100 Gallons of Water, 30 Sq. of Forest, 20lbsofCO2,1animallife,45lbsof Grain. The truth is that eating more plants cansavetheplanet.
-Roshan Dsouza, Kinnigoly
Withdeep sorrow, Isharethe sad
news of the passing of Pradeep Aranha,Paladka.Heleftustoosoon attheageof44.Mayhisgentlesoul rest in eternal peace, and mayGod give strength to Roshal and the familyin thistime ofgrief. He is the nephew of Sr. Jyothi who served as a Superior General for Bethany Sisters and husband of Roshal Priya who won Budkulo competion and was known to Konkani community.
Don't forget them, the ones who paved the way
Through trials and tribulations like nothing we know They made it easier for you and for me, with nothing to gain Their foundation was solid faith, honour and trust
Today if the world appears to be crumbling, ask yourself why How strong is our foundation and what's it made of This only goes to prove, what comes easy goes easy Hard work made better people, less entitled and more grateful
Don't forget them, the ones who cut mountains
Through sweat, blood tears and broken bones They made the way that we may follow in ease Their struggles, a labour of love, for those they didn't know
Today’s history is stripped, rewritten to each one's whims
We woke up in the morning, by mourning.
The land of reputation Now lies in ruins.
We mourn the deaths of young and old, even newborns and women. Palestine, vast and rich in acres, now faces only massacres.
I wish this were a dream, but harsh realities strike the mind. They suffer in oppression pain we’ve never felt.
Yet we are not in despair
We believe in Allah and place our hope in Him
This is a test
Patience is the key And Palestine will rise
Echoes of The Veiled
People remain unseen
Their faces forgotten Their voices silenced.
Among wealth, we are poor, While the guilty roam free, We are locked behind fences Not for crimes, but belief.
This is persecution, With a million hearts crying. Yet the world stays quiet As we keep on dying.
Our village names are erased Once rich with history ki Religious, cultural, sacred Now stripped of identity.
We do not dwell in our homes, But in cold detention camps. We are Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Turkic Muslims.
St. Aloysius University [deemed to be] and Development Education Service [DEEDS] Mangalore have jointly developed a certificate course for those interested in becoming caregivers for senior citizens. Candidates who complete this training will have the expertise to provide various types of services tomaintain thephysical andmental health of senior citizens. Any candidate who passes this training will be prepared toprovide services intheirownhomes,neighborhoods, hospitals, nursing homes, and daycare centers.
Aging is a universal reality, and the number of senior citizens among the growing population cannot be underestimated. The care and
concernfortheelderlyisnotjustthe responsibility of the medical profession. Medicines and treatments canonlykeep them free from disease, but non-medical measures are equally important in keeping them healthy. It is our understanding and belief that addressing the challenges associated with aging requires an integrated approach to care that draws from diverse fields such as psychology, physiology, biology, andsociology.
Taking care of our elders is not a favor we owe to anyone, it is our dutyandresponsibility. Weneedto create a conducive environment for the elderly to peacefully and with dignity go through the final stages
of their lives. We have recognized that no matter how strong our concern for senior citizens is, our knowledge and capacity regarding theircareislimited. Toaddress this, we hope to foster a social awareness, knowledge, and responsibility among every citizen on how to care for their elderly family members emotionally, scientifically, and technologically. This small effort iscreating askilled workforce that can provide professional, compassionate careto seniors.
Course Details:
Course Duration One Month [26 DaysTotal 162Hours]
First Batchon 3rdNovember 2025. First batch on3rdNovember 2025. Second batch on 3rd January 2026. [Subsequent batches to be announcedfrom time totime] Weekendbatchforthoseemployed will be conducted from February 2026. [26 Sundays inayear] Accommodation will be provided for those from outside Mangalore city.
Course Cost: Rs. 7500/= per candidate [Meals and accommodation areseparate] Scholarship or fee concession will be provided to candidates with financialdifficulties.
• Trained and certified candidates can find employment in various hospitals, nursing homes, senior citizen daycare centers, and caregiver supplyagencies
• Those who can speak Tulu, Konkani, Beary, Arabic, Malayalam, Kannada, English, Hindi and Hebrew have more opportunities abroad.
• Immediate job opportunities for thosewhocanrideatwo-wheeler andhave apassport.
• Opportunities tobecome nursing assistants in government, nongovernment and private healthcare sectors.
• Who are qualified under this course are able to run one's own careagencyordaycare center.
• Those who persoue this training areable totake careoftheirown elderly in the household. which will cut the cost of frequent hospitalisation and dependency depend onexternal caregivers.
This course has been designed based on the long-term professional experience of medical experts,experiencednurses,experts in the field of psychology, and experts in the field of social work. This course is a non-medical certificate course and is designed forcandidates whowishtopursuea
career as caregivers after completing training in various service organizations, old age homes, and organizations that run nursing centers. Part of the design
Rev.DrPraveen MartisS.J
ofthis course istointroduce you to organizations that run nursing centers, hospitals, and service delivery agencies
Mrs.Merlin Martis ViceChancellor Director
St.Aloysius [Deemed tobe University ]Mangalore Development Education Service [DEEDS]
Ms.AshithaPinto
Ms.UshaMaria Periera Course Coordinator Course Coordinator
St.Aloysius [Deemed tobe University ]Mangalore Development Education Service [DEEDS]
Thepremises ofMCCBankLtdwere illuminated with festive lights and vibrant smiles as the Bank family came together to celebrate Deepavali 2025 on 21st October at the Administrative Office in Mangalore.Organized bytheBank’s management,theeventwasmarked
by great enthusiasm and joy, bringing together dignitaries, staff members, customers, and their familiesinacolourful celebration of unity,culture, andfestivity.
The programme was presided by Sahakara Ratna Shri Anil Lobo, Chairman of MCC Bank. The function was graced by two esteemed chief guests Mr Prathap Singh Thorat, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mangaluru Central Sub-Division and Ms Nazma Farooq, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mangaluru CityTrafficDivision. The evening commenced with the lighting of the lamp, symbolising the victory of light over darkness and the triumph of goodness. The lamp was lit by the Chief Guest Ms Nazma Farooq, along with Chairman Shri Anil Lobo, marking the auspicious beginning of the Deepavali celebrations. As part of the celebration, customers at the branch lit diyas from the main ceremonial lamp, symbolizing the spreadoflight andpositivity.
Inhispresidential address,Sahakara Ratna Shri Anil Lobo, Chairman of MCC Bank expressed his gratitude to the guests and attendees for
making the celebration meaningful. Hehighlighted thatDeepavali isnot just a festival of lights, but a celebration of unity, gratitude, and renewal. He commended the dedication of MCC Bank’s employees and thanked the customers for their continued trust andsupport.
MCC Bank, though recognized as a community bank, proudly extends its services to people of all communities, embracing inclusivity anddiversity atits core.Inthe spirit of unity and festivity, MCC Bank is celebrating Deepavali not just at its Mangalore branch, but simultaneously across all its branches inboth DakshinaKannada and Udupi districts. This collective celebration reflects the bank’s commitment to cultural values and itsdeep-rooted connection withthe communities it serves. Shri Anil Lobo concluded by wishing everyone a joyous, peaceful, and prosperous Deepavali, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to growth with values.
MsNazmaFarooq (ACP,Mangaluru City Traffic Division) expressed her happiness at being part of the Bank’s festive celebration. She
praised the Bank’s management and leadership, noting that although she works in the Traffic Department, she has “always heard only good things about MCC Bank” from the public. Ms Nazma Farooq also used the platform to raise awareness on traffic discipline and safety,urgingcitizenstofollowrules responsibly to make Mangaluru safer. She congratulated the Bank for its consistent performance and service excellence, extending her heartfelt Deepavali wishes to the Bank, its customers, and their families.
Delivering his address, Mr Prathap Singh Thorat (ACP, Mangaluru Central Sub-Division) conveyed his warm Deepavali greetings to the Board members, customers, staff, and their families. He lauded MCC Bank for its commitment to ethical banking, community service, and financialintegrity.
Mr Alwyn Dsouza, Accountant, Founders Branch compered, welcomed and proposed vote of thanks.
The event was alsoattended by the Board of Directors, General Manager, Staff Members, and Customers of theBank, allof whom
added to the festive spirit. As the lights of Deepavali glowed across the venue, they reflected not only the joy of the festival but also the collective strength and values that define MCCBank.
All branches of MCC Bank in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts celebrated Deepavali simultaneously, marking the occasion with unity, joy, andfestive spirit across theregion.
The valedictory ceremony of the RGUHS Mangalore Zone Intercollegiate Cricket Tournament 2025–26, hosted by Father Muller Homoeopathic Medical College, Deralakatte, was held on 20th October 2025 at 2p.m. The tournament, conducted from17th to 20th October 2025, witnessed enthusiastic participation and remarkable performances from various medical colleges under the Mangalore Zone.
The valedictory ceremony was graced by the presence of Dr Sebastian P. A, Associate Professor, Department of Organon of Medicine, Dr Jeeno Jose, Sports Coordinator, Dr Manish Tiwari, Sports Co-coordinator, Dr Ancy George, CulturalCo-coordinator, Mr Chandrashekara S. N., Mangalore Zone Coordinator and Physical Education Director, Father Muller Medical College, and Mr Chennakeshava M. G. Physical
Education Director, Father Muller Homoeopathic MedicalCollege.
The dignitaries congratulated all participating teams for their sportsmanship, discipline, and dedication throughout the tournament. They appreciated the organizing committee, volunteers, andstudents fortheirwholehearted
support andsmooth conduct ofthe event.
Following theformal addresses, the trophies andindividual awardswere distributed to the winners and outstanding performers.
• Winners: AJInstituteofMedical Sciences andResearchCentre
• Runner-up: Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences
• Third Place: KanachurInstitute of Medical Sciences
• Fourth Place: KVGMedical College, Sullia
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
• Best Bowler: Sangam, Kodagu Institute ofMedicalSciences
• Best Batsman: Ayush Varma,KVG Medical College, Sullia
• Man ofthe Match: Kushal, KanachurInstitute ofMedical Sciences
The valedictory programme was compered by Ms.Pushpitha andMs Neha Pais, who ensured a smooth and engaging flow of the proceedings.
The ceremony concluded with the institutional anthem, marking the successful end of the RGUHS Mangalore Zone Cricket Tournament 2025–26, hosted with greatenthusiasm andteamspirit by Father Muller Homoeopathic Medical College, Deralakatte.
St Aloysius Gonzaga School, Mangaluru, organised Talent
Thrillz – Gonzaga Got Talent 2025-26 from 13th to 17th October 2025, offering students from Pre-KG to Class XII a platform to showcase their creativity and skills through various cultural, literary, andartisticcompetitions.
The event was inaugurated by Ms Shaina Chrystle Dsouza, Actress, Public Speaker, and Joint Secretary of the Student Council, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, in the presence of Principal Fr Rohan D Almeida and Vice Principals Ms Laurel D Souza andMsAparna Suresh.
In the address, the Chief Guest, reminded students that talents are gifts from God and encouraged them tobelieve inthemselves, work with dedication, andmake the best use of every opportunity provided bytheschool.
In his address, the principal emphasized the importance of maintaining focus in life to achieve one’s goals.
The Parent Teacher Executive Committee members played a vital role in the smooth conduct of the programme. The parents expressed their happiness and shared their
delightful experience of being part ofGGT.Theyappreciated theschool for providing such a wonderful platform for students to showcase theirtalents.
Students participated enthusiastically in various events such as dance, music, art, fashion, and elocution. The week-long celebration, meticulously organised by the in-charge teachers, Ms Acquina, Ms Jevita, Ms Preethi Pais, Ms Mallika, Ms Bhindia, Ms Teena, Ms Roopa, Ms Reema, Ms Veronica and Ms Patricia concluded as a memorable and enriching experience forall.
Mangaluru, 27th October 2025:
Renowned musician and multiinstrumentalist Reuben Jason Machadois set toenter the Golden Book of World Records with a
never-before-attempted feat — the Longest Back Swim While Playing the Flute. The event will take place on 29th October 2025 at 10:00 AM attheStAloysiusCollege Swimming Pool, Mangaluru.
According to record officials, no such achievement has ever been recorded in any world record compendium, making this ahistoric global first. The attempt showcases an extraordinary blend of endurance, breath control, and musical artistry, reflecting Reuben’s dedication to both fitness and the performing arts. The event is being organized by St Aloysius (Deemed tobe University), whichwillhoststudents,faculty,and special guests for this remarkable occasion. Dignitaries, music
enthusiasts, and well-wishers are invited to witness and bless the record attempt as Reuben makes history.
Reuben Jason Machado, an alumnus and former journalism lecturer at St Aloysius College (Autonomous), served at the institution for around two years before dedicating himself fully to music. Today, he is an established professional musician, performing forthefilm industries ofBollywood, Sandalwood, and Coastalwood. He has played at major events across India, conducts online and international music classes, and is proficient in multiple instruments including the flute, saxophone, guitar, harmonica, trumpet, and several others.
Reuben was also part of the World Culture Festival (2016) held on the banks of the Yamuna River, a
Guinness World Record event that brought together musicians from over 150 countries performing in harmony.
In addition to his musical achievements, Reuben is aqualified lifesaver, certified by the National Institute of WaterSports (NIWS) a skill that complements the physical endurancerequired forthis upcoming world record attempt.
Most recently, Reuben had the honor of performing at the
prestigious wedding celebration of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, showcasing his artistry onone ofIndia’sgrandest stages.
With his upcoming world record attempt, Reuben Jason Machado continuestoinspire throughhisrare combination of talent, discipline, and innovation, proving that music trulyknows noboundaries.
Rev. DrPraveen Martis, SJ ViceChancellor
Organized by Milagres College of Nursing in collaboration with Our Lady of Miracles Church, Milagres Milagres College of Nursing, in association with Our Lady of Miracles Church, organized a meaningful and impactful awareness programme on World Osteoporosis Day 2025. The event was aimed at educating senior parishioners on bone health, the importance ofmaintaining strong
bones, and preventive strategies against osteoporosis.
The programme began with a Holy Mass, seeking divine blessings for the success of the initiative, followedbyasolemnprayerservice.
Dr. Flossy Rayappan delivered the
welcome address, setting the tone for an informative and engaging session. This was followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the spreading of knowledge, awareness, and health. Aspecialhighlightwastheunveiling
of the official theme of World Osteoporosis Day 2025, “It’s Unacceptable,” by Dion, a first-year B.Sc. Nursing student. The theme served as a strong reminder of the urgent needtoraiseawareness and
encourage responsible actions toward bone health.
Dr.DianaLobo,PrincipalofMilagres College of Nursing, introduced the Chief Guest, Dr. Vivian Roshan Dalmeida,UnitChief,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru.
Dr.Dalmeida delivered aninsightful keynote address on osteoporosis, elaborating on its causes, risk factors, and preventive measures. He emphasized the significance of regular physical activity, a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D,
and timely health check-ups to prevent bone-related disorders. The Presidential Address was delivered by Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Nazareth, Correspondent, who appreciated the initiative and encouraged everyone to take proactive stepstoward bone health. As part of the event, free Bone Density Tests and discounted Vitamin D Tests were organized, enablingparticipants toassesstheir bone health. Additionally, interactive games were conducted for the senior parishioners, making the event both educational and enjoyable.
The programme saw the active participation of 140 attendees, reflecting their enthusiasm and interest in the topic. The event was compered by Anushka, a B.Sc. Nursing student, and concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mrs Rhyna. Overall, the programme effectively combined education, health screening, and community engagement, leaving a lasting impact on allparticipants about the importance of bone health and osteoporosis.
St Aloysius Gonzaga School, Mangaluru, extended a warm welcome to the Student Exchange TeamfromIstitutoLeoneXIII,Milan, Italy, on 25th October 2025. Principal Fr Rohan D Almeida SJ welcomed the group and introduced them tothestudents.
The visiting team comprises Ms Bernadette Walshe, Teacher Coordinator, and her students.
The Italian group also participated intheDeepavalicelebration, adding to the festive spirit and sharing the joyofIndianculturewith theschool community.
Thehost familiesoftheschool have
warmly opened their homes to the visiting students, planning a meaningful itinerary for the weeklong cultural exchange. This initiative offers the guests an opportunity to experience Indian familylife,traditions, andhospitality while exploring the beauty and heritage of Mangaluru.
Now in its third consecutive year, theexchangeprogramme continues to foster global learning, cultural understanding, and lasting friendship, reflecting the Jesuit vision of forming compassionate andglobally awarecitizens.
The Course Inauguration Ceremony oftheSecondBatchofB.Sc.Nursing at Milagres College of Nursing was celebrated with great joy and reverence, marking a day of renewal, growth, and gratitude on 27th October 2025. The occasion also included the blessing and dedication of the newly renovated college auditorium and administrative office, symbolizing a new chapter of progress for the institution.
Theceremonybeganwithablessing serviceledbyMrs.DianaDLimaand
the students through a soulful prayer, invoking peace, purpose, anddivineguidance upontheentire college community. Following the prayer, the Welcome Address was delivered by Dr. Diana Lobo, Principal of Milagres College of Nursing, who extended heartfelt greetings to all dignitaries, guests, faculty, and students. The ceremonial lighting ofthelampwas then performed by the dignitaries, signifying the light of knowledge, purity, and hope guiding the path ahead.
The highlight of the event was the formal inauguration of the course by the Chief Guest, Dr. Renilda Shanhi Lobo, Principal of City College of Nursing, Mangalore. In herinspiring inaugural address, she emphasized the values of compassion, discipline, and lifelong learning that form the essence of the nursing profession. A moment of pride followed as the achievements of the first batch of B.Sc. Nursing students were celebrated. The students had brought laurels to the college by winning prizes at the State SNA Competition, competing against participants from various reputed
nursing colleges. The winners were felicitated, while all participants were appreciated for their enthusiastic involvement.
As a gesture of love and encouragement, Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Nazareth presented a Token of Love to the newly admitted students, warmly welcoming them into the Milagres family.
The event concluded with the Presidential Address by Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Nazareth, who emphasized the institution’s mission to nurture compassionate, skilled, and service-oriented
professionals. He encouraged the students to uphold the core values of the nursing profession and contribute meaningfully to society. To express gratitude to all who contributed to the success of the event, Mr. Melwyn Vas, Principal of Milagres PU College proposed the Vote of Thanks, appreciating the tireless efforts of the organizing committee, staff, and students. The programme was compered by Mrs. Jyothi Cutinha.Theprogramme was graced by Rev. Dr. Alwyn Serrao, Rev.Fr.UdayFernandez,andRev.Fr. Avith Pais, whose presence added tothesignificanceofthe occasion.
St Mother Teresa Vichar Vedike, Mangaluru, organized the Festival of Lights – Deepavali Celebration 2025 at Sahodaya Auditorium, St Aloysius Deemed to be University
on Saturday, October 25, at 6 p.m. Theprogramme began with awarm welcome address by Sunil Kumar Bajal and was held with the theme, “Festivals ofallreligions should
become festivals of all people,” promoting unity and togetherness among all communities.
Inaugurating the event, Rev.Fr. J.B. Saldanha,PublicRelationsOfficerof
the Diocese of Mangaluru,
said,
“Diwali is not a festival of only one religion; itisafestival thatunites us irrespective ofreligion.” Hestressed thateveryindividual must shinelike alamp spreading loveandhopein a society filled with division.
ChiefguestsincludedDr.JeevanRaj Kuttar, Principal of Yenepoya Educational Institutions, Yusuf Akthar, retired Social Welfare Officer,andRoyCastelino,President of St Mother Teresa Vichar Vedike. Notable community members present were Stany Alvares,
President of Konkani Sahitya Academy, and Stany Lobo.
During the programme, Rishal Melba Crasta,arising youngsinger, Anivn D’Souza, and Yusuf Akthar were felicitated for their
achievements.Aspartofthecultural
singing performance, while Anivn D’Souza entertained the audience with a lively dance performance.
Veez
The programme concluded with a vote ofthanks delivered byManjula Nayak. The event ended on a sparkling note with the bursting of crackers and lighting of diyas, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. The programme was skillfully emceed by Manoj Kumar and Dolphy D’Souza.
The organizers expressed that celebratingfestivalstogether asone family helps spread peace, respect, and brotherhood in society. St Mother Teresa Vichar Vedike continues to uphold the values of love and service inspired by St Mother Teresa, working towards communal harmony for the past nineyears.
On September 21, under the leadership of the Catholic Sabha, Mangalore Pradesh (R), Belthangady Deanery, a speech training programme for children was organized at the Holy Redeemer ChurchAuditorium,Belthangady.
The programme was inaugurated by Rev.Fr.WalterD’Mello,ParishPriestof Belthangady Church, by lighting the
lamp.Mr.AlbertSunilMonis,President of Catholic Sabha, Belthangady Deanery, welcomed the dignitaries and honored them with floral bouquets.
The chief resource person for the training was Mrs. Muriel Henrita Coutinho, faculty member at YenepoyaUniversity,Mangalore.
Other dignitariespresent onthe dais included:
Mr. Stany Lobo, Central Political Coordinator
Mr. Albert Sunil Monis, President, BelthangadyDeanery
Mr. Steiny Pinto, Secretary, BelthangadyDeanery
Mr. Gilbert Pinto, President, BelthangadyUnit
Mr. Daniel Crasta, Convener of the Deanery-levelSpeechCompetition
Mrs. Irene Sequeira introduced the chief resource person. Mr. Daniel
Crasta, Convener, proposed the vote ofthanks.
TheDeanery Director, Rev.Fr. Walter D’Mello, also addressed the children withaninspiringmessage.Theentire programmewasablycomperedbyMr. Walter Monis, Vice President of BelthangadyParish.
A total of around 270 children took part in the training session. Among them, the largest number of participants came from Madanthyar Unit.Inrecognitionofthis,Mr.Vincent D’Souza, President of Madanthyar Unit, and Mr. Leo Rodrigues, Vice President of the Central Committee, were specially felicitated on this occasion.
St Aloysius Gonzaga School, Mangaluru, felicitated Yuvaraj D Kunder of Class VIII on 20th September 2025atGonzagaHallfor his outstanding achievements in skating and athletics. Yuvaraj
recently won a Gold and Bronze medal attheCBSENationals heldin Varanasi and was selected for the SGFI Nationals in Madhya Pradesh thisDecember. Starting hissporting journey atjust fourandahalfyears,
Yuvaraj’s commitment and relentless practice have earned him 37 Gold, 13 Silver, and 5 Bronze medals in skating, and16 Gold and 3 Bronze medals in athletics. Congratulating him, the principal applauded Yuvaraj’s perseverance andurgedstudents toworkhardto
achieve their goals and aim higher. The proud occasion was graced by his parents, Mr Dheeraj Kotian and Ms Veena D Kotian, along with the Principal and Vice-Principals, who applauded him for his remarkable accomplishments.
A session on “Mathematics and Social Justice”was held on October 30,2025, atRobert Sequeira Hall,St Aloysius (Deemed tobe University). The session was inaugurated at 10:00 a.m. with Dr. Maura B. Mast, Professor ofMathematics andDean EmeritaatFordham University, USA, astheChiefGuest.
Theinauguralceremonywasgraced by Rev. Dr.Melwyn D’CunhaSJ, Pro Vice-Chancellor of St Aloysius
(Deemed to be University), who presided over the program. Dr. Ronal Nazareth, Registrar, was the Guest of Honour, and Dr. S. Ruban, Dean– School ofEngineering(SOE), andDr.Uday, Dean – School ofLaw (SOL), were present. Dr. S. Ruban welcomed thegathering.
Inheraddress, Dr.Masthighlighted the magic of mathematics and discussed how mathematical thinking, when directed towards
societal challenges, can promote equity and justice. Drawing from global and Jesuit educational perspectives, she emphasized that mathematics should empower individuals to analyze inequalities, understand systems, and advocate forchange.
In his presidential address, Rev. Dr. Melwyn D’Cunha underlined the need for teaching and learning to movebeyond theclassroom,urging students to integrate ethical reasoning into their professional andpersonal lives. Adv.Rayanfrom
theSchool ofLiberal Artsproposed
the vote of thanks, and the event was compered by Mr. Glenson Toney, AssistantDean – SOE. Following the inauguration, Dr. Mast conducted an engaging session exploring how mathematicalliteracycontributes to democracy and social transformation. Her talk connected dataanalysis, fairnessinalgorithms, and access to education with broader themes of justice and inclusion. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students posed thoughtful questions spanning topics from technology and social justice to liberal arts andethics.
The event provided students and facultyalike with fresh insights into how mathematics can serve as a language of empowerment and a tool forsocialchange.
Young Musician Reuben Jason Machado from Mangaluru entered the Golden Book of World Records by performing the longest back stroke swimming while playing the flute at the St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) swimming pool on Wednesday, 29th October 2025. DrManish Vishnoi, Asiaheadof the Golden Book of World Records, formally announced the achievement, confirming that Reuben covered more than 700m back stroke swimming which is a
featneverattempted orrecorded in the Golden Book of World Records. He presented a certificate and a medal,recognisingtheperformance asahistoricglobalfirst."Initially,the target was 300m, but Reuben completed approximately 700m," said DrVishnoi. "As per the Golden Book of World Records norms, the final measurement will be verified, but it is confirmed that he set a global record for the longest back float swim while playing the flute, covering over700m. It'saunique
and world-first accomplishment," headded.
Rev. Dr Praveen Martis, vicechancellor of St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), recalled Reuban’s approach regarding the idea of attempting a back stroke performance while playingtheflute, two months ago and the concept was shared with Dr Vishnoi, whose encouragement and guidance enabled Reuben to turn this vision intoreality.
Proposing thevote ofthanks,
Reuben said, "The idea came from my father, and I spent the past month practising back floating while playing the flute. I've been swimming for three years and studying musicforoveradecade." His record-setting feat was witnessed bythe staffofStAloysius University as well as his parents, Richardand JaneMachado, andhis wife,AnushaJaneD'Souza.
Manoj Dyson Fernandes, Assistant Professor of BBA compered the event.
St Aloysius Gonzaga School celebrateditsAnnualSports Dayfor ClassesItoVwithgreat enthusiasm
at the St Aloysius Stadium on Tuesday, 28October 2025.
The Chief Guest, Dr Vivian Roshan
D’Almeida,Professor andUnitChief, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Father Muller Medical
College, inaugurated the event by releasing doves symbolising peace and unity. Addressing the gathering,DrD’Almeidahighlighted that a fit body nurtures a fearless mind and a fulfilled life. He encouraged thestudents togive
their best in every endeavour and citedtheinspiringjourneysofRoger Federer, Neeraj Chopra, Mary Kom and Virat Kohli, who rose to excellence through discipline and perseverance.
Principal Fr Rohan D’Almeida SJ in his address, emphasisedthattrue
sportsmanship liesinthe spirit of never giving up. He urged the students to accept victory and defeat with grace and to always appreciate theefforts oftheirpeers.
The Vice Principal, Ms Aparna Suresh, welcomed the gathering,
and Ms Teena Abraham compered theprogramme. StudentsofClasses III to V presented an energetic aerobic fitness routine, setting a lively tone for the day. The event concluded with the valedictory ceremony, where winners ofvarious
track and field events were honoured for their achievements. Ms Divya compered the ceremony, and Ms Chetana proposed the words of gratitude. The day ended with cheers, smiles and a spirit of sportsmanship.
Shivamogga, November 1, 2025: The annual meeting of the Deanery Commission members, along with the Commission Directors, washeld onOctober 31,2025, from 9:30a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Sannidhi, Shivamogga. The meeting was presided over by the Most Rev. Dr. Duming Dias, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Shimoga.
The meeting began with a prayer song led by Very Rev. Msgr Stany D’Souza, followed by a Gospel readingbyMrsMaryD'Souza,anda prayer ledbyFrFranklin D'Souza.
Then, Rev. Fr. Simon Pinto, Coordinator of the Diocesan Pastoral Commissions of the Diocese ofShimoga, welcomed and introduced the importance of the meeting.
Bishop Duming Dias, spoke on the Pastoral Mission of 2033 for the Diocese of Shimoga. He explained the importance of Jubilee 2033 in line with the CCBI Pastoral Plan 2033. He appreciated the
commitment ofRev.FrSimon Pinto as the coordinator of the Commissions of Diocese of Shimoga. Secondly, he spoke on 2026 as the year of the marginalized, stating that every commission shouldorganize one
program for them. Thirdly, he discussed the 2026 yearly plan for all parishes of the diocese, which parish priests should note. He also spoke on Mission 2033; a "Dream Journey in the Footsteps of Jesus Christ 'Jubilee 2033'" initiated by
Bishop Francis Serrao SJ, which will continue with greaterjoy.
Fr. Simon Pinto's presentation on Mission 2025 andJubilee Year2025 was truly inspiring for our Mission 2033planning! Atthenational level,
we're on a "Journey Towards a Synodal Church,"andtheKarnataka Regional level's 7th edition focuses on "Renewal anda Synodal Church: Renewing the Church the Synodal Way," a Pastoral Plan for the Karnataka region. He said that, for our Diocesan Plan, we evaluated Mission2025withthePPCandDPC,
Diocesan commissions of the Diocese of Shimoga. Ournew draft for 2033 is beautifully named "Dream Journey in the Footsteps of JesusChrist."
Fr. Simon Pinto presented the draft of Mission 2033, in which he highlighted the important points of
Mission 2033, based on the vision statement. Theyare;
1. Context (ಸೆಂದಭಸ), 2. Mission(ಕಾರ್ಸ), 3. Aim (ಗ್ಳರ), 4. Purpose (ಉದಾೇಶ್) 5. Basic values (ಮೂಲ್ ಮೌಲ್ಾಗಳು) 6. Basic Principles (ಮೂಲ್ ತತಾಗಳು) 7. Commissions and Desks (ಆಯ್ಲೇಗ ಮತುು ಡ್ಸ್ಾ ಗಳು) 22Commissions 3 desks. 8. Prorities of the Diocese (ಧಮಸಕೆಷೇತರದ
9. Dreams of 2033 of the Diocese (ಧಮಸಕೆಷೇತರದ 2033 ಕನಸ್ತಗಳು)
Then, commission directors and members gathered group-wise and gave their suggestions for the year 2026 for the marginalized. Commission directors also planned activities together with the deanery members for2026.
Fr Simon Pinto proposed vote of thanks and Msgr Stany D’Souza concluded the meeting with Angelus.
Report by Fr FranklinD'Souza
Photos byFr VinuthBalu
Work permit, H-1B, Green Card: 3 changes in 2 months by US will hit Indians hard
Ever since US President Donald Trump assumed office for the second time, he has passed several immigration-related executive orders to curb immigration, to "protect the rights of American workers". In the past two months alone,theTrumpadministration has takenthreemajordecisions thatwill affectIndiansthemost.
The US government's three new rules ending automatic Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) extensions for certain migrants, raising annual H-
1B fees, and tightening scrutiny for Green Cardholdersseeking US citizenship are among major changes introduced recently which will significantly impact Indian students and professionals in the US.
On Wednesday, without giving any propernoticeorannouncement,the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)abruptlyendedtheautomatic renewal of EADs, triggering widespread concern among immigrant communities and legal experts. This rule will hitIndians the most, asH-1B visa holders' spouses and F-1 students on Optional PracticalTraining (OPT)needEADs
toworkinthe US.
This rule comes a month after Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a new annual USD 100,000 (approx. Rs 88 lakh) application fee for H-1B visas. Indians are the largest beneficiaries ofH-1B visas 70% ofrecipients in 2024 were Indiannationals.
Philomena Lawrence
Gilbert A.Lawrence
Luís Vaz de Camões (1524-80) and Winston Spencer Churchill (WSC 1874-1965). (From Last week)
