Father Muller Principal, Prof Cherishma D'Silva, Receives Prestigious Global Young Investigator Award in Australia
Mangaluru,Jul11: Inamoment of immense pride for the nation and the physiotherapy fraternity, Prof Cherishma D'Silva, principal of Father Muller College of Physiotherapy, has been conferred the coveted Young Investigator Award 2026 at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) annual meeting, held in Melbourne, Australia, on June 25–26.
TheMASCC/ISOOannualmeetingis one of the world's foremost scientific congresses dedicated to supportive cancer care, bringing
together oncologists, physicians, dentists, physiotherapists, nurses, rehabilitation specialists,
psychologists, pharmacists, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals fromacrosstheglobe.
The congress serves as a premier platform for presenting cuttingedge research, advancing multidisciplinary collaboration, and improving the quality of life of people living with and beyond cancer through evidence-based supportive care.
The Young Investigator Award is among the most prestigious recognitions presented at the international congress. It is bestowed upon the first authors of the highest-ranked scientific
abstracts submitted by outstanding junior investigators, selected through a rigorous peer-review process from thousands of global submissions.
Prof D'Silvareceived the honour for her outstanding research titled, "A longitudinal randomized controlled trial of an exercise oncology programme on chemoradiotherapy-induced complications in head and neck cancer." Her pioneering work highlights thetransformative roleof Exercise Oncology in mitigating treatment-related complications andimproving functionaloutcomes among patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for head and neckcancers.
Her research stood out from more than 3,000 scientific abstracts submitted by researchers from around the world, underscoring its scientific rigor, innovation, and clinicalrelevance. Significantly, Prof. D'Silva has become only the fifth Indian inmore than twodecades to receive this distinguished international honour, marking an extraordinary milestone for Indian physiotherapy and supportive
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cancercareresearch.
Congratulating Prof D'Silva on this remarkable achievement, Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, director, FatherMullerCharitable Institutions (FMCI), expressed immense pride on behalf of the Management and theentire FatherMullerfamily. "This outstanding international recognition reflects Prof Cherishma D'Silva's unwavering dedication to scientificexcellence,innovation,and patient-centred research. Her achievement brings immense honour not only to Father Muller Charitable Institutions but also to the nation. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish her continued success as she advances on the frontiers of research and continues to bring laurels to our institution and to the profession of physiotherapy."
An accomplished academician, clinician, researcher, and administrator, Prof Cherishma D'SilvaisanalumnaofFatherMuller College ofPhysiotherapy, BPTBatch of 2003 completed her Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) in cardiopulmonary sciences from Kasturba Medical College (KMC),
Mangaluru, before joining Father Muller Institutions as a Lecturer in 2010.
Her academic career has been marked by steady progression through leadership positions. She served as the Unit Head of Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy from 2015andwasappointed Head ofthedepartment ofphysiotherapy in2021. InAugust2023, shecreated history by becoming the founding Principal ofFatherMullerCollege of Physiotherapy, where shecontinues to provide visionary leadership focused on academic excellence, research, innovation, and professional development. Currently pursuing her PhD in Onco-Rehabilitation at NITTE (Deemed to be University), Prof D'Silva's doctoral research focuses on exercise-based rehabilitation for patients with headandneckcancer. Her scholarly contributions include numerous publications in reputed Scopus-indexed journals, including PeerJ, besides securing competitive research funding in physiotherapy. She has presented scientific papers atseveralnational andinternational conferences and is a sought-after
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speaker at professional forums across thecountry.
Her growing international reputation has earned her several distinguished honours, including the ICMR Young Scientist Travel Grant (2024) and the MASCC Conference Scholarship Award (2025), which enabled her to present her research at the MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA. The MASCC Young Investigator Award 2026 now stands as the crowning recognition of her contributions to supportive cancercareresearch. Beyond research, Prof D'Silva has playedasignificantroleinacademic governance and professional development. She has served as a memberoftheAcademicCouncilof
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and has recently beenappointednodalofficerforthe State ofKarnataka bytheKarnataka State Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, reflecting her commitment to strengthening physiotherapy education and advancing allied healthcare professions.
Prof D'Silva's remarkable achievement is a celebration of perseverance, scientific excellence, and global leadership in physiotherapy research.Hersuccess reinforces Father Muller Charitable Institutions' enduring commitment to nurturing world-class healthcare professionals and conducting impactful research that contributes meaningfully toglobal cancercare.
GANDHI IN AN AGE OF TERRORISM & ASYMMEYTRIC WARARE
-Ambassador AlanNazareth (Retd.)
• The twentieth century was the most blood-stained in human history. Almost a hundred millionwerekilledintwoworld wars, Hitler’s gas chambers, atom bomb drops on Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Arab Israeli, India-Pakistan, IranIraq, Korean, Vietnam & Afghan wars, Cambodia’s “Killing Fields”; & tribal conflictsinAfrica.
• In the twenty first century’s first quarter there have been terror attacks in New York, Washington, Bali, Mumbai, New Delhi, Rawalpindi, Casablanca,Istanbul,Baghdad, Djakarta,Madrid&London,
• Amazingly, Gandhi had foreseen the terrorist threat
early in the 20th century. Startled by Indian revolutionaries he met in London hewrote ‘HindSwaraj’ in 1908 & indicated it was, “writteninanswertotheIndian schoolofviolence”&offered “thegospelofloveinplaceof thatofhate”&wasanattempt to provide the revolutionary “somethinginfinitelysuperior, whileretaininghisattributesof self-sacrificeandbravery”
• A Gandhian approach to terrorists requires “putting ourselvesintheirshoes” and trying tounderstand whythey do what they do. This is not difficultasmanyofthemleave “farewellmessages”indicating outrage over foreign troop
presence intheircountries, US support for Israeli occupation ofPalestinianland&genocide of its people, and denigration ofIslamintheWest.
• Soon after “9/11 “Paul Kennedy wrote “At 8:45 a.m. onSept. 11,2001, andnot the first day of the year 2000, America entered the 21st century. The millennial celebrations in New York’s TimesSquarewere ephemeral. The World Trade Centre’s destruction, only amile tothe south, was an epic, transforming event.Americais our modern Colossus, bestriding the world with aircraftcarriers, communications satellites&giantcorporations. Yet it is extremely vulnerable to weapons far different to Hitler’s panzer divisions & Yamamoto’s aircraft carriers and.IthasanAchilles’heelthat ismostlyofitsownmaking.Its relentless drumbeat of free market doctrines, forcing changes upon restricted markets,blockinginternational agreements onclimatecontrol
& overawing Third World governments are greatly resented bythose countries”
• Karen Armstrong wrote in the same strain. “The world changed on September 11th. We in the privileged Western countries can no longer assume that events inthe rest oftheworlddonotconcernus.
Whathappens inGaza,Iraqor Afghanistan today, will have repercussions in New York, Washington or London tomorrow and small groups will soon be able to commit actsofmassdestruction which previously only powerful nations were capable of”. She has also written “Fundamentalismisnotgoing away.Insomeplacesitisgoing fromstrengthtostrength& becoming more extreme. Suppression & coercion are nottheanswer.Amorejust& objective appraisal of these religiousmovementsmustbe sought”.
• In recent years terrorism has sprouted mainly in Muslim countries. Samuel Huntington
has provided a clue for this “The West’s efforts to universalize its values, maintain its military & economic superiority & intervene in conflicts in the Muslimworldgenerateintense resentment. In the 1980 –1995 period, the US had 17 military operations in the Middle East, all of them were against Muslim states. No comparable US military operations occurred against statesofanyothercivilization.”
• The9/11terrorist attackonthe World Trade Centre in New York & the Pentagon in Washington has become the defining icons of the 21st century & the new era of Asymmetric Warfare it has gestated. Its features are stunning. The 18 Al Qaeda linked terrorists involved in it were armed only with box cutters,usedUSflyingschools tolearnhowtofly&USplanes, USgasoline andUSairports to destroy/ severely damage two of its most iconic assets, in broad daylight & justone
• hour!
• Michael Brown, in his ‘Grave New World: Security Challenges inthe21st Century’ book, has written about other such grave threats, among which are “highly destructive ultrasonic weapons and micro unmanned aerial vehicles, the size of a hummingbird, networked toground controls which can destroy shopping malls, railway stations and evenplanesbyactingasaerial mines”.Hehasalso mentioned the “probability of a Cyber PearlHarbour”.
• At the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit at Washington, President Obama had stated that ‘a terrorist armed with a nuclear weapon represented thegravestthreat toUSsecurity”
• In1955,inNorway,ArneNaess & Johann Galtung had enunciated the concept of ‘non-violent social defence’, This established a direct link between Gandhi’s ideas & modern socialdefencetheory.
• In 1959, Stephen King Hall, a reputed British naval commander, in his ‘Defencein the Nuclear Age’ book, had questioned the rationality of conventional defence & urged Britain to devise a nonnuclear defencestrategy.Thisgestated a nationwide debate & led to the 1964 Oxford ‘Conference on Civilian Defence’. Several securities analysts, military strategists & non-violent resistance activistsparticipated in it. Its outcome was a scholarlybook,editedbyAdam Roberts, titled TheStrategyof CivilianDefense.Its American edition, published in 1968 was titled Civilian Resistance as NationalDefense .
• Asubsequent conference, held at Munich in September 1967, setuparesearchgroupheaded by Theodore Ebert to make a detailed study of the civilian resistance during & after the Soviet suppression of the CzechuprisinginAugust1968. It proposed a ‘Social Defence strategy’ for Germany. This coincided with the launch of
the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which two decades later enlarged itself into the European Nuclear DisarmamentCampaign .
• Paul Wehr, in his Conflict Resolution book has written “SocialDefenceasaconcept originated in the ethical principles of the Gandhian movement, which demonstrated the power of massivenoncooperation.As thedestructivenessofmodern warbecamemoreevident,it wasnaturalthattheprinciples andtechniques of Gandhian non cooperation would be applied to the problem of national defense. A quarter centuryofscholarlyresearch has produced a respectable bodyofknowledgeaboutthe underlying principles,diverse methods and practical developments of social defence….Only time and events will tell whether Gandhi’s ideas and practice willbeasinfluentialinthearea of national defence asthey
havebeeninthefieldofsocial change”
•
• Jonathan Schell, in his ‘The Unconquerable World’ has written “Asthenew century begins,noquestion ismore important than whether the worldhasnowembarkedona new cycle of violence, condemningthe21stcentury torepeatorevenoutdo,the bloodshedofthe20th.”Hehas averred that the present dangersarenot,asbefore, “the massed conventional armies andsystematized hatreds of rival great powers” but “the persistentandsteadyspread ofnuclearweaponsandother weaponsofmassdestruction andtheunappeaseddemons of national, ethnic, religious andclassfury”andconcluded by pointing out that
“notwithstandingtheshockof September11thandtheneed totakeforcefulmeasuresto meet the threat of global terrorism,anewandpromising pathhasopenedup.Forin 20thcenturyhistory another complimentary lesson, less conspicuousthanthefirstbut just as important, has emerged. Itisthatformsof non-violent action can serve effectively in the place of violence at every level of political affairs. This is the promise of Mohandas K. Gandhi’s resistance to the British Empire in India, of MartinLutherKing’scivilrights movement in the United States, of the non-violent movementsinEasternEurope andRussiathatbroughtdown Communism and the Soviet Union”
Points to Ponder, July 2026
Semiconductors & DataCentres inAIEcosystem
There isnodenyingthefactthatfor some time now, money is chasing economies where AIinduced capex super cycle is holding sway. Whatever may be our apprehensions regarding AI,welive in a world where AI matters, because AI will increasingly shape economic activity, public services, defence capabilities and access to knowledge. True self sufficiency in AIrests on astrong presence in the following interconnected layers.
1.Energy &Compute (Hardware Foundation)
Attheverybase ofthe ecosystem is raw power and processing. AI models require massive amounts of electricitytorun,andthespecialized processing power (provided by GPUs and TPUs) which relies on foundries and semiconductor fabricators to design and produce hardware atscale.
• Key Players: NVIDIA, AMD, Intel,TSMC,andglobal energy infrastructure providers.
2.Infrastructure&Cloud
This layer serves as the "factory floor" where the hardware lives. It consistsofdatacentres,serverracks, high-speed networking, cloud storage, and the platforms used to execute computations and train algorithms.
• Key Players: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, andGoogle Cloud.
3.Data
High-quality, diverse, and clean data is the fuel that allows AI systems to learn, identify patterns, and drive decisions. This layer involves data pipelines, vector databases, and knowledge graphs thatprepare data foruse.
• Key Players: Snowflake, Databricks, Pinecone, and MongoDB.
4. Foundation Models (IntelligenceLayer)
This isthe"brain" ofthe ecosystem. It consists of sophisticated algorithms and Large Language Models (LLMs) that have been trained on vast datasets. These models perform reasoning, generate content, andanalyse data.
• Key Players: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google (Gemini), andMeta (Llama).
5. Agents & Applications (User Experience)
At the top of the stack is where humans and businesses interact with AI.Itincludes both user-facing applications (chatbots, copilots, automation tools) andautonomous agents that can independently set goals, analyse situations, and use tools toperform multi-step tasks.
• Key Players: OpenAI (ChatGPT), Microsoft (Copilot), Salesforce, and enterprisespecificautomation platforms.
US based Space X, Anthropic and Open AI have launched or are planning toraiseresources through IPOs, at combined valuations of trillions of dollars. While OpenAI andAnthropicoperate mainlyinthe Intelligence and Agentic (User Experience) layers,Space Xcovers a wider gamut of AI spectrum, including space-based AI infrastructure. As of 16th June, that is, within three days of its listing, Space X market capitalisation exceeded $2.7 trillion, displacing Amazoninthefifthplaceintermsof market capitalisation in the listed space in the US and making Elon Musk the founder, the first trillionaire in the world. The current investment money trail suggests that India appears to have missed theAIbus.Butithascometorealise the importance AI sovereignty. Under the GOI funded AI mission, India has built a multilingual, Large Language Model (LLM); Sarvam.ai. The semiconductor production has begun to take shape with the Tata Group preparing to roll out madein-India chipsets. ButIndia remains far behind global leaders in most
layersoftheAIecosystem,though it is attracting billions of dollars in investments in data centres, strengthening infrastructure backbone required for AI. To appreciate the data centre ecosystem, it is necessary to understand the type of semiconductors required in a data centre and major global semiconductor suppliers.
AI is supposed to be the nextgenerational leapintechnology. But AI models need bleeding edge semiconductors working non-stop in data centres – both for training and inference. Semiconductor is a broad term andtheyare ubiquitous as they are found in numerous devices that we use daily. But for AI/data centre applications the relevant ones are theones required forGPUs, CPU,NANDs,DRAMsand HBMs. They are briefly described below.
GPU or Graphic Processing Units that dothe parallel processing, that is doing thousands of calculations simultaneously, that is, at one and the same time. These lend themselves fortrainingAImodels.
CPU or Central Processing Units handle ‘logistics’ in data centres. They fetch massive datasets to and from the storage for the GPUs to process. They are also capable of light inference tasks.
NAND flash memory acts as the data warehouse and is non-volatile in nature, that is, data stay after shuttingdown.
DRAM or Dynamic Random Access
Memory. It is like a kitchen with ingredients retrieved from the warehouse (NAND) for the CPU to cook. DRAMs are volatile and the data are erased when the device is switched off. They hold active operating systems, apps and hot datasets in memory for the CPU to process without latency(delay).
HBM Or High Bandwidth Memory
chips where multiple DRAMs are vertically stacked and placed next/close to the GPU to ensure fasterspeeds.
Broadly while GPU and CPU are known as logic chips, NANDs, DRAMs and HBMs are called memory chips.
Although there are manyplayers in the chip space the following eight
more or less cover the bulk of the design(fabless) and manufacturing(fab) of semiconductors.
Nvidia (US): Designs, sells GPUs. Fabless; outsources manufacturing to foundries like TSMC. 90% revenue relates todatacentres. Broadcom (US): Designs, supplies semiconductors (60%revenue)used in data centres, network hardware. Manufacturing mostly outsourced toTSMC, Foxconn &others. Restof the revenue from data centre relatedsoftware.
AMD (US): Designs, sells CPUs, GPUs for data centres & PCs. Fabless; outsources to TSMC, UMC, Samsung. 50% revenue from data centre chips.
Micron (US): Designs, manufactures memory chips. Derives major part of the revenue from data centres, hyperscalers (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc) and phones and PCs. Mix by tech: DRAM80%,NAND20%.
TSMC (Taiwan): Operates foundries (fabs) manufacturing semiconductors for fabless logic players. 58% revenue from AI & consumer GPUs, 5G/6G network
chips etc. and 29% from smartphone SoCs (System onChip).
SKHynix (South Korea): Designs, manufactures NAND (21%) and DRAM (77%). Within DRAM –Servers25%, GPUmemoryincluding HBM30%.
Samsung (South Korea): Memory major, but diversified electronic player. Memory 50%, Smartphones 25%, Appliances 10%, Display panels 5%, Chip design, Foundry 5%.
ASML (Netherlands): Supplies lithography systems, allied software & services to fabs. Absolute monopoly in high-end lithography systems. Lithography - printing microchip patterns on silicon wafer usinglight.
It is estimated that about 60% cost of a data centre goes towards computer hardware (which comprises the above chip types). India with its increasing share of renewable energy coupled with the fact that it generates an estimated 20% of the world's data, driven by its massive population, high smartphone penetration, andlargescale digital public infrastructure
(such as UPI), has attracted both domestic andglobal investments in data centres. Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Air Trunk (Australia) have committed toinvest over $90 billion by 2030 to set up data centres in India. Apart from these there areIndian companies, suchas TCS, Reliance and Adani that are planning investments in data centres either on their own or in collaboration with foreign partners and the aggregate investment is likelytobe $200billion by2030. At 60% of$200billion, theopportunity for the semiconductor players is huge. India's listed AI ecosystem features companies spanning enterprise IT services, hardware infrastructure, and embedded design. But yet they are peripheral players on the global stage. Nevertheless, investors can find opportunities galore inthesocalled ‘picks andshovels’stocks inrelation todatacentrebuildup,thatprovide services and materials required by the data centres. There are manyof themandtheshareprice ofsomeof them like HFCL, Sterlite Technologies, and MTAR Technologies have run up by
anywhere from 200% to 500% in a year or so, even as Nifty/Sensex going nowhere inthe last couple of years.The important ones aregiven below, grouped intosixsegments.
Cable & Conductors Polycab India Electrical and data cabling ~+15 % to +30%
Cable & Conductors RRKabel Building and power infrastruct ure ~+10 % to +25%
EPC / Grid Infra Kalpatar u Projects Internati onal Transmiss ion lines and substatio ns ~+15 % to +35%
EPC / Grid
Infra
Cooling/Buil
ding Systems BlueStar Precision cooling for data centres ~+70 % to +120 %
Cooling/Buil
ding Systems Voltas HVACand cooling systems ~+20 % to +40%
*Approximate ranges based on market prices during the past 12 months; exact returns depend on measurement date.
Data Centre
Developers Techno Electric & Engineeri ng Datacentre developm ent and power infra ~+80 % to +150 %
Data Centre
Developers Anant Raj Hyperscal e data~+100 % to
Thenames withthe highestupside potential are probably Anant Raj, Techno Electric, E2E Networks and Netweb because their earnings can changedramaticallyifIndia'sAIand hyperscalebuildout accelerates.The names with the lowest execution risk are Hitachi Energy India, ABB India,Siemens India,Cummins India and Polycab, because they benefit from the same trend without needingtosuccessfullydevelopand lease large data-centre capacity. AndiftheifAIinducedcapexsupercyclepersists, investors intheabove
companies are likely to reap handsome returns.
But caveat emptor. When a seeminglypathbreaking technology takes hold of the investors’ imagination, valuations are likely to go out of whack, as investors bake in euphoric future cash flows to arrive atcurrent valuations.Manyof theassumptions madeinestimating suchfuture cashflows anddiscount rates to arrive at net present value can come unstuck. Overoptimistic investors might then have to face theAIbubble burst alathedotcom burst of 2000. Also, how the accelerating AI investments would shapetheeconomies goingforward is still uncertain. It is quite possible thatAItechnologymightturnoutto be nightmare for investors as the Citrini report predicts.
Secondly, although at the moment the pace of innovation and growth prospects in the AI space look convincing, there are market veterans with counter-views. MichaelBurry ofthe BigShort fame and Peter Berezin of BCA Research are sceptical and talk of the bullwhip effect (See the Chart). It manifestswhenpanic/FOMO driven
spike in consumer demand (like for toilet paper during lockdowns) sets offawaveofplacinglargeorders at each node of the supply chain, eventually leading to drastic ramp up in production by the manufacturer. By the time the ramped-up supply hits the shelves, the panic subsides, leading to a flooding of inventory and price correction, which at times can be sharp.
Thirdly, the reported move by the US torestrict accesstoadvanced AI models such asAnthropic’s Mythos and Fable 5 for non-American citizens hasonceagainexposed the
unpleasant reality that countries that do not control foundational AI technologies will remain dependent onthose thatdo.Insuchasituation the burgeoning Data Centre infra willbeatbestbea‘tenant’ofglobal giants like Nvidia, Google, Microsoft,etalandIndia,despite its sizewill besubject towhatcouldbe termed as AI Colonisation. Finally, the hype about India becoming the global hub for data centres may have to be toned down. It is pertinent to note that the AI Infra, particularly data centres are energy guzzlers and require humongous
quantities of ultra-pure water thereby imposing natural limits, sooner than later, in an already frayedenvironment. Itisquite likely that euphoria mayhave toconfront reality sooner than investors currently expect.
Norbert Shenoy
Forgotten Melodies of the '90sKabootar Jaa!
Music has a unique way of preservingmemories,andthesongs of the 1990s continue to hold a special place in the hearts of millions. In this segment, we revisit tracks that were hugely popular or quietly cherished during their time of release but are often overlooked today. Once heard in homes, on radios, through cassette players, and on television, these melodies became an unforgettable part of everyday life.
For those who grew up in the late '80sandearly'90s,MainePyaarKiya wasmuchmore thanjustamovie.It was a film that people watched several times with theirfamilies and friends. The beautiful love story, memorable dialogues, romantic BGM and lovely songs made it an unforgettable experience. From the famous friendship cap to the innocent romance between Prem andSuman,everyscenefeltspecial. Even today, the film's simplicity,
innocence, and timeless music continue to win the hearts of audiences acrossgenerations.
Though Maine Pyaar Kiya was a musical blockbuster with several memorable songs, "Kabootar Ja Ja Ja" emerged as one of the film's most iconicandevergreen romantic numbers.
The songplays animportant role in the filmandismuch more than just amelodious number.Itcaptures the innocence of first love as Suman (played by Bhagyashree), unable to express her feelings in person, sends her very first love letter to Prem (played by Salman Khan) through herpet pigeon.
The song also marks the turning point in their relationship. What begins as a beautiful friendship slowly transforms into love, and by theendofthesequence, both Prem and Suman realize that they are meant tobe together. This heartfelt moment remains one of the most memorable romantic scenes in Bollywood.
Rendered beautifully by Lata Mangeshkar and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, with music by Raamlaxman and lyrics by Asad Bhopali, "Kabootar Ja Ja Ja" struck the perfect balance between simplicity and emotion. It was the kind of song that people found themselves humming without even realizing it.
While the idea of sending a love letter through a pigeon may seem amusing oreven illogical totoday's generation, it was a charming and believable expression of love for people who romanticized life and believed in the beauty of timeless love stories.
Interestingly, the pigeon was not just a romantic messenger but also played an important role in the film's climax. The loyal pet bird contributes to the downfall of the villain, played by Mohnish Bahl, adding an unexpected yet memorable twist to the story. This clever use of the pigeon not only strengthened its importance in the narrativebutalsomadeitoneofthe film's most iconiccharacters.
The classic "Friend" capfeatured in the song, along with the simple yet
elegant outfits worn by Bhagyashree, became a major fashiontrendamongteenagers and young adults ofthat era. Manyfans were inspired to recreate her look, while the friendship cap became a symbol of youthful friendship and love. Such was the film's popularity that these fashion trends remained popular long after the movie had left the theatres.
The film's romantic background score became synonymous with love, making it a favorite tune for countless couples during that era. The prominent placement of soft drink brands like Gold Spot and Thums Up in the song was a clever marketing strategy. At a time when product placement was still relatively uncommon in Indian cinema, this marketing strategy proved highlyeffectiveandinspired many filmmakers and corporate brands to embrace similar
collaborations in the years that followed.
Prem and Suman were just characters on screen, but theysoon became an inspiration for couples whobelieved inlove andfriendship. The song went beyond entertainment and influenced popular culture, with the products andfashionfeaturedinitwitnessing increased demand and becoming trends among theyouth ofthatera. If this article has stirred up some nostalgia, here'sthelinktothesong tohelpyou relieve those memories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Fzw49vnGhxU
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“Let the food be thy medicine and medicine by thy food”
Vegetable Poha
This recipe, without a drop of oil, is so tasty and the vegetables add the healthytwist-Madhura.
Ingredients
❖ 1 cup pressed red rice (poha)
❖ 1 cup grated mixed unpeeled vegetables or diced steamed unpeeled vegetables
❖ 1 tsp mustard (rai) seeds
❖ 2 green chillies, finely chopped
❖ ¼ cup desiccated coconut
❖ 1 tbsp lemon juice
❖ ¼ tsp turmeric (haldi) powder
❖ ½ tsp unrefined salt
❖ ¼ cup roasted unpeeled peanuts
❖ 2 tbsp grated fresh coconut (optional)
❖ 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves
x Method
Rinse the poha in a large strainer. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, or until the flakes become moist and thick. Meanwhile, keep a pan on low heat and add mustard seeds without oil. Once they start popping, add green chillies and vegetables. Add desiccated coconut, lemon juice, salt and turmeric powder. Sprinkle some water if too dry and stir for about 3-4 minutes. Add soaked poha and toss it around until it is fully coated with the turmeric. Add peanuts, mix well and remove from heat. Garnish with grated coconut and chopped coriander leaves and serve hot. This is a amazing breakfast which keeps your full day energetic as it doesn’t contain oil and any animal products. Serve this with love and save this recipe.
Source and inspiration: Dr Nanditha from Sharan with her permission. This is a smalleffort to aware aboutthe vegan recipesand to live a life without medicines.
Foundation Stone Laid for Parichaya Pamboor Cultural Complex
ByDr.Eugene DSouza
Pamboor, July 12: Marking a significant milestone in its 15-year journey of cultural service,
Parichaya, Pamboor, a voluntary cultural, literary and artistic organisation, laidthefoundation
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stone for its long-cherished Parichaya Cultural Complex on Sunday,July12,at11.30a.m.
Established in January 2012, Parichaya has nurtured a vision of creatingadedicated culturalcentre
with both indoor and outdoor facilities to promote literature, theatre, music, folk arts and other culturalactivities.Thatvisiontooka major step towards reality with the foundation stone laying ceremony heldinthepresence ofeminent
personalities from the fields of literature,theatreandart.
Theprogramme commencedwitha brief account of the origin and growth of Parichaya by its Managing Trustee Dr.Vincent Alva.
Welcomingthegathering,Secretary of Parichaya Prakash Noronha greeted Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza, Parish Priest of Holy Cross Church, Pamboor; Rev. Fr. Alwyn Serrao, renowned Konkani playwright; JoachimStanyAlvares,President of
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the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi; distinguished Konkani, Kannada and Tulu writers, playwrights, stageartistesandwellwishers.
Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza led the prayer service and blessed the foundation stones.
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Delivering the reflection after readingtheGospelpassagefromSt. Matthew(7:24–27)ontheParableof the Wise andFoolish Builders, Rev. Fr. Alwyn Serrao said the dream project of Parichaya had been foundedonthe"solidrock"offaith, conviction and commitment. He
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observedthatParichayaemergedas a cultural movement in rural Karnataka with the objective of creating awareness about the rich cultural traditions of Coastal Karnatakaandpreserving itsartistic heritage.
Quoting Lebanese philosopher and poet Khalil Gibran, Rev. Fr. Serrao noted that every great revolution begins as a thought in the human mind before transforming society. Likewise, he said, Parichaya was born from the vision of a few committedindividualsandhassince evolvedintoavibrant cultural force servingruralcommunities.
Following the blessing, the foundation stones were ceremonially laid by Mrs. Mary Noronha, mother of Prakash Noronha, who generously donated
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the landforthe project, alongwith Rev.Fr.RoshanD’Souza,Dr.Vincent Alva, Prakash Noronha, noted Konkani poet, lyricist and travel writerAnilPernal,andeminentartist WilsonKayyar.
Speaking on the occasion, Prakash Noronha fondly remembered late Eric Ozario, founder of Kalangann, Mangaluru, acknowledging his invaluable guidance, encouragement and unwavering support to Parichaya since its inception. He also paid tribute to legendary playbacksingerS.Janaki, the "Nightingale of South India," who passed away on July 11, recognising her immense contribution toIndianandKannada music.
The planning and design of Parichaya Cultural Complex was done by Wilson Kayyar-eminent artist andpainter. The construction of the Parichaya Pamboor Cultural Complex will be undertaken under the guidance of engineer Elias D’Souza of Civiteche – Civil Engineering & Project Management.
The foundation stone laying programme was attended by Joachim Stany Alvares-President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi,NavinLoboBajal-member of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi, Udyavara Nagesh Kumar and Santosh Shetty HiriyadkaKarnataka Tulu Sahitya Akademi members, Christopher Neenasam and Astitva Team members, Raju Manipal, Nellu Permannur, Roshan Belman, Anu Belle, Anil Pernal, CA Alwyn Rodrigues, Alron Rodrigues, Norbert Machado Shirva, Rajdeep Gomes, Arul D’Souza Shirva and otherinvitees
AboutParichaya Pamboor FoundedinJanuary2012byagroup of like-minded cultural enthusiasts, ParichayaPamboor hasemergedas one of the prominent cultural organisations in the coastal region. The organisation is committed to preserving and promoting the literary, theatrical and artistic traditions ofKarnataka,withspecial emphasis on Kannada, Konkani, Tuluandotherregional languages.
Parichaya Pamboor has been managed by persons of vision and
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dedication leadbyDr.VincentAlvaManaging Trustee, Anil D’SaPresident, Prakash NoronhaSecretary, PeterOsta-Treasurer and members.
Over the years, Parichaya has organised numerous literary meets, poetry recitals, book releases, cultural evenings, lectures and interactions with eminent writers and artistes. Its flagship event, "Ranga Saptaka," a week-long multilingual theatre festival featuring Kannada, Tulu and Konkani plays, has earned wide appreciation across Coastal Karnataka.
Theorganisation continuesto
provide a vibrant platform for writers, artistes, dramatists and young talents while fostering communal harmony through cultural exchange and creative expression. Through its consistent efforts over the past decade anda half, Parichaya has significantly enriched the cultural landscape of Udupi district andstrengthened the preservation of the artistic heritage ofTulunadu.
The proposed Cultural Complex is expected to become a permanent centre for literary, theatrical and cultural activities,furtheradvancing Parichaya’s mission of promoting therichculturallegacyoftheregion forgenerations tocome.
Mangalore Diocesan Inter-Religious
Holds Training for Parish Convenors
MANGALORE, July 12, 2026: The Inter-religious Dialogue Commission of the Diocese of Mangalore organized a significant training program for Parish Convenors on Sunday morning at the Shanthi Kiran Pastoral Centre, Bajjodi, Mangalore.The event
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aimedtodeepen theunderstanding of Inter-religious Dialogue and provide practical guidance for fosteringcommunal harmonyatthe grassroots level.
The program was inaugurated by the Vicar General of the Diocese, Msgr. Maxim Lawrence Noronha, who set a keynote address for the day’sproceedings.
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Rev. Rupesh Madtha, the Diocesan Convenor Secretary for the Interreligious Dialogue Commission, extended a formal welcome to the guests and participants, as well as addressed the participants
regarding the strategic vision and practical guidelines for promoting religious harmony from the parish level and beyond. He provided a roadmap for implementation and engaged inaproductive Q&A
session, addressing the specific queries raised bythe attendees. Dr. Praveen Joy Saldanha served as the resource person, delivering an insightful session on the fundamental elements of Inter-
religious dialogue. He underscored the mission of the Commission, which strives to promote common good focusing on shared commonalities while respectfully navigating religious differences.
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50oftheConvenors outof125took part today and the remaining members will attend a similar trainingprogram on19July2026.
EventHighlights
The day was marked by both professional training and organizational transition. The event was compered by Mrs Flavia Madtha, Madanthyar, while Mrs Anitha Dsa, Agrar proposed vote of thanks. Mr Prajwal Sequeira Derebail, Anil Dsa Kulshekar and Grance Monteiro Vamanjoor, the members from the former team helped atthetrainingevent.
Why
Members newteamatDeaneryand Diocesanlevelwereofficiallychosen to carry forward the commission's objectives.
Theprogram maintained aspiritual focus, beginning and concluding with prayer and Holy Eucharist. Attendees were provided with breakfast and lunch to facilitate networking anddiscussion. The Inter-religious Dialogue Commission remains a vital arm of theChurch,whichworks toenhance the relationship between other religions for the common good of thesociety.
Maharashtra IsAuditing Church and Missionary Land Across the State
Maharashtra, July 9, 2026: The Maharashtra government's decision to conduct a statewide auditoflandownedbychurches and Christian missionary organisations has sparked
widespread debate. While the government says the exercise is aimed at uncovering illegal land transactions and protecting public records, many within the Christian community are watching the development closely.
The audit follows an alleged ₹300 crore land fraud in Nashik and will examine ownership records, transfers and transactions involving churchproperties datingbacktothe British era. Officials insist the exercise is intended to identify irregularities rather than target any religious community.
WhatTriggeredtheAudit?
The state government's decision was prompted by an alleged land scam involving approximately six acresoflandinNashik,estimatedto be worth around₹300 crore.
Accordingtopolice,thelandlegally belongs to the Nashik Diocesan
Trust Association (NDTA). However, investigators allege that another body, the Nashik Diocesan Council (NDC), dealt with the property as though it were the legal owner, allegedly using forged documents to lease the land to government departments and sell parts of it to private individuals over several decades.
Theallegedfraudcametolightafter an investigation revealed that government agencies,including the Nashik Police Commissionerate, had been paying rent under lease agreements allegedly executed by individuals without legal authority overtheproperty.
The matter gained political attention when BJP MLA Devyani Pharande raised it in the Maharashtra Assembly, urging the government to investigate whether similardisputes existedelsewhere in thestate.
Responding to the issue, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced a comprehensive audit of church and
missionary-owned land across Maharashtra, with the exercise expected to be completed within three months.
WhatWilltheAuditExamine?
The statewide audit will be carried out by divisional-level committees headed by the respective Divisional Commissioners.
These committees will include officials from the Revenue Department, the Settlement Commissioner's office,theInspector General of Registration and the police.
Their task will be to verify land ownership records, examine historical property documents and review land transfers made both before andafterIndependence.
The government has also directed committees to investigate allegations of illegal encroachments, forged ownership records and transactions that may haveviolated existinglandlaws. Officials have indicated that the review will include properties
acquired during the British colonial period, as well as land obtained through later purchases, donations andgrants.
How Much Land Do Churches Own?
There is currently no official database that records the total amount of landowned by churches and Christian organisations in Maharashtra oracrossIndia.
Unlike some religious institutions that function under a single administrative body, Christian properties are held by hundreds of legallyindependent entities.
The Catholic Church, Protestant denominations, dioceses, parishes, educational trusts, charitable societies and hospitals each own property in their own names under Indianlaw.
Manyoftheseproperties havebeen acquired over several centuries through private donations, direct purchases, grants made during the Portuguese administration in coastal Konkan, British-era land
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allocations andlateracquisitions for schools, hospitals, churches, orphanages and charitable institutions.
According to the 2011 Census, Christians make uparound 0.96per cent of Maharashtra's population, numbering approximately 10.8 lakh people. The community is largely concentrated in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar,Raigad, Pune,Ahmednagar andparts ofthe Konkan region.
Why Is the Nashik Case Significant?
TheNashikcasestandsoutbecause one of the alleged victims is the Maharashtra government itself.
Police claim that since 1990, the Nashik Police Commissionerate occupied part of the disputed land under lease agreements. Although theCommissioner's officeshiftedto another location in 2014, several police offices continue to function from theproperty.
Investigators allege that government departments paid rent
foryears to individuals who didnot possess legalownership oftheland.
If proven in court, the case would represent a significant example of fraudulent property transactions involving public funds.
Thepolice estimate thatthe alleged fraud resulted in losses of around ₹300 crore.
What Happens if Irregularities AreFound?
The Maharashtra government has sought to reassure religious institutions that organisations possessing legally valid ownership documents have nothing to fear from theaudit.
Officials have stated that the purpose of the exercise is to distinguish legitimate ownership fromcasesinvolvingforgedrecords, illegal transfers or unauthorised sales. Whereirregularities areestablished, legal proceedings may be initiated against those responsible.
In cases where disputed land has already been developed or public infrastructureexistsontheproperty, thegovernment hassaidthatfuture action will depend on legal advice and the specific circumstances of eachcase.
Concerns Within the Christian Community
Although the government has presented the audit as a legal and administrative exercise,its scalehas attracted attention because it covers church and missionary properties across theentire state.
Many Christian organisations are expected to cooperate with the verification process while also seeking assurances that legitimate institutions will not face unnecessaryscrutinyordisruption.
Legal experts note that church properties often involve historical documents dating back over a century, making verification a
complex process requiring careful examination of land records, trust deeds andrevenue documents.
The audit is therefore likely to be oneofthemostextensivereviewsof Christian institutional landholdings everundertaken inMaharashtra.
A Significant Administrative Exercise
The statewide audit represents an unprecedented effort to examine church andmissionary landrecords across Maharashtra.
Whether it uncovers isolated instances of fraud or reveals wider irregularities remainstobeseen.For now, the government's stated position is that the exercise is intended to ensure transparency, protect lawful ownership and investigate allegations arising from the Nashik case, while legitimate property holders with valid documentation should not be adversely affected.
Inauguration and Blessing of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
The faithful of St. Mary's Church, Marianagar, Bellame, together with theirParishPriest,Rev.Fr.Rajendra, the Religious Sisters, the Parish Council, and the Finance Committee, have prayerfully and joyfully completed theconstruction of the magnificent Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on the church campus.
The solemn Inauguration and Blessing of the grotto will be held onSunday,12July2026,andwillbe graciously officiated by His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Thomasappa Anthony Swamy, Bishop of the Diocese of Chikmagalur. This sacred project holds special significance as St. Mary's Church,
Marianagar, prepares to celebrate itsGolden Jubilee (50th Foundation Anniversary)nextyear.Through the generous support of the parishioners, friends, well-wishers, andbenefactorsofRev.Fr.Rajendra, this beautiful grotto has been lovingly erected in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes as a lasting expression of faith, gratitude, and devotion.
ThegracefulstatueofOurLadywas specially brought from Kerala and has been exquisitely crafted with a radiant face and compassionate eyes that inspire prayer and deep devotion. A beautifully designed crownadornsherhead,symbolizing her Queenship as the Queen of HeavenandEarth.
Designedasafaithfulreplica ofthe world-renowned GrottoofOurLady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France, this
newly constructed shrine stands as abeacon offaith,hope,andpeace. Itinvites every visitor toexperience the loving presence and maternal careoftheBlessedVirginMary. Itistheearnestprayeroftheparish community thatthisholygrottowill become a place of grace where countless faithful receive God's blessings, healing, comfort, and spiritual strength through the powerfulintercessionofOurLadyof Lourdes. Even before its formal inauguration, people from different communities, irrespective of caste or creed, have already begun visiting the grotto to offer their prayers and seek the loving intercession oftheBlessedMother. About St. Mary's Church, Marianagar
St. Mary's Church, Marianagar, is a prominent Catholic parish situated
at Maria Nagar, Bellame (via Konanur), Arkalgud Taluk, Hassan District, Karnataka – 573130. Established in 1976, the parish serves the Catholic faithful of the regionandformspartoftheRoman CatholicDioceseofChikmagalur.
Maria Nagar has a unique and inspiring history. In 1979, following the construction of the Hemavati (Gorur) Damby the Government of India, several villages, including Shettihalli, were submerged aspart of the reservoir project. Many displaced families were resettled in what is now Maria Nagar near Arkalgud, where they rebuilt their lives with courage, perseverance,
and deep faith. Today, the parish stands asa livingtestimony tothat enduring spirit and God's providence.
AstheparishapproachesitsGolden Jubilee,thenewlyblessedGrotto of Our Lady of Lourdes becomes a visible symbol of the community's unwavering faith and Marian devotion.Itishopedthatthissacred placewillcontinue todraw pilgrims and devotees from near and far, fostering prayer, reconciliation, hope, andpeace forgenerations to come.
The Parish Priest, Religious Sisters, Parish Council, Finance Committee, and the entire parish community extendawarmandcordialinvitation to all the faithful, friends, benefactors, and well-wishers to participate inthiscelebration.
May Our Lady of Lourdes lovingly intercede for every family and obtain God's abundant blessings upon all who visit this holy shrine withfaithanddevotion.
Indian court demands fairer Christian divorce laws
An Indian court is strongly advocating for a sweeping overhaul of the country's divorce lawstobetter support andprotect Christian women. For years, legal experts and activists have pointed out that the current
regulations surrounding Christian marriages areseverelyoutdated, leaving manywomen atasignificantdisadvantage duringseparation proceedings. Thejudicial benchhighlighted that thesearchaiclaws desperately needto be brought into the modern era to guarantee true gender equality. By reforming these statutes, the legal system hopes toeliminate the lengthy, oftentraumatichurdles thatChristianwomen currentlyfacewhentryingto endanabusiveorirreconcilable marriage.
An Indian court is strongly advocating for a sweeping overhaul of the country's divorce lawstobetter support andprotect Christian women. For years, legal experts and activists have pointed out that the current regulations surrounding Christian marriages areseverelyoutdated, leaving manywomen atasignificantdisadvantage duringseparation proceedings. Thejudicial benchhighlighted that thesearchaiclaws desperately needto be brought into the modern era to guarantee true gender equality. By reforming these statutes, the legal system hopes toeliminate the lengthy,
AshighlightedintheBishop'smessage,suchspiritualgatheringsoffer priestsaprivileged timeofgrace,renewal,prayer,andself-reflection. Throughperiodsofsilence,meditation,andspiritualguidance,theretreat aimed to deliver a profound encounter with the Lord, helping the participantsdeepentheirrelationshipwithGodandstrengthentheirlongtermcommitmenttotheirministry.
Thedailystructureoftheretreatprovidedaharmoniousbalanceofprayers, silent meditation, spiritual conferences, Eucharist celebration and adoration, fraternal sharing, and rest. Participating priests expressed immensegratitudeforthetranquilenvironmentatShanthiKiran,noting thattheretreatfosteredastrongsenseofpriestlyfraternityandspiritual nourishment.
Udupi diocese hosts 2nd diocesan doctors' meet, honours medical professionals
Picsby:NithinPereira
Daijiworld Media Network –Udupi(NP)
Udupi, July 12: The Health Commission of the Diocese of Udupi organised the 2nd Diocesan doctors' meet and Doctors' Day celebration at Ave Maria Hall, Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, on Sunday. The event brought together doctors, Church leaders, healthcare professionals and government officials tohonour the medical fraternity and discuss the
role of doctors in strengthening community healthcare.
Chief guest of the event Karnataka minister for health and family welfareUTKhadersaid,"Iamhappy to be part of this gathering. The diocesan doctors' meet is a meaningful initiative that will strengthen society through the collective efforts of the medical fraternity. Doctors are blessed with adivinegifttoheal,andtheirservice
earns the blessings of countless people. Havingservedasthestate's HealthMinister13yearsago,Ihave witnessed how healthcare has transformed with changing technology and diseases. Even today, policy decisions are guided
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by the advice of doctors. I urge every doctor to work with utmost care and responsibility.
indicatethatmanydeathsoccurdue to medical negligence rather than disease itself. Let us ensure that such incidents are prevented and
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continue working towards building ahealthiersociety."
Guest of honour Dr H S Ballal, pro chancellor of MAHE, Manipal, said, "Doctors' Day is celebrated in honour of Dr B C Roy, whose life symbolised service to society. Manipalhasalwaysbeenknown for
healthcareandeducation,reflecting the vision ofour founderDrT MA Pai, who believed that education, poverty alleviation and healthcare, especially in rural areas, are the pillars of national development. Through quality education, advanced healthcare and technology, MAHE continues to fulfil that vision. Our Arogya Card initiative ensures quality treatment irrespective of caste, religion or economic status andsupports daily wage earners by reducing the financial burden of medical care. The strong participation of MAHE doctors and staff here reflects the close partnership between the Diocese Health Commission and MAHE."
Delivering a special address, Dr Jacintha D'Souza, joint director (Retd), health and family welfare services, Government of Karnataka, said, "I am honoured to be recognised onDoctors' Day.During my 35 years of service in various departments, I realised that a doctor's role extends far beyond treating patients within hospital walls.Doctorsmustactively engage withthepublicbypromoting health
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Several healthcare initiatives were inauguratedduringtheprogramme. 2027 Arogya Card was released by Dr H S Ballal. A Dental Unit and a Diabetic Screening Centre were launched at Goretti Hospital by Dr Jacintha D’Souza. A neuropathy screening device was handed over by Dr H S Ballal to Dr Nagaratna Shastri and Sr Zarina of Goretti Hospitaltostrengthen diabeticcare services. An ECG machine was also presented to Immaculate Hospital, Coimbatore, by Dr Padmanabha Kamath under the Cardiology at Doorstep (CAD) Foundation initiative.
The programme also honoured deanery directors, convenors, resource persons and sponsors for their dedicated contribution to the health ministry of the Diocese of Udupi.
Theprogramme wasattendedbyDr Leslie Clifford D’Souza, bishop of Udupi; Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, emeritus bishop of Udupi; U T Khader,ministerforhealth&family welfare, Govt of Karnataka; H S Ballal, pro chancellor, MAHE,
awareness, disease prevention, palliative care and first aid. While communicable diseases once dominated, non-communicable illnesses such as diabetes and lifestyle-related diseases have become major concerns today. Doctors shouldnotonlycureillness but also prevent new health problems arising from environmental andlifestylefactors.I always remember the message displayed outside an operation theatre: 'Enter with passion and humility. Do not leave only your footwear outside; leave youranger, egoandpride aswell.'" Presiding over the programme, bishop Dr Lobo of the diocese of Udupi said,"Doctors perform God's work by protecting, preserving and promoting life. Society places immense trust in doctors, believing that they will heal them with compassion and dedication. While doctors themselves are not free from illness, they continue serving humanity until their last breath. Yourhandsbecome God's handsin the service of patients. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt wishes to every doctor and thank youforyourselflesscommitmentto humanity."
Manipal; Fr Stephen D’Souza, chancellor&coordinatorofPastoral Commissions; Dr Jacintha D’Souza, jointdirector(Retd),health&family welfare services, Govt ofKarnataka; Hilda Cornelio, director, Health Commission; various congress leaders including chairman of the KPCC Campaign Committee, Vinay Kumar Sorake; Block Congress Committee president Ramesh kanchan’ Karnataka State coastal development Authority president MA Gafoor; President of the Udupi DistrictCongress Committee,Ashok
Kumar Kodavoor; chairman of the Udupi Urban Development Authority, Dinakar Heroor and otherswerepresent.
Hilda Cornelio, director, Health Commission welcomed the gathering, prayer was led by the choir team of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi. DrRen Trevor Dias, secretary, Health Commission, UdupiDioceseproposedthevoteof thanks. Dr Sony D’Costa, member, Health Commission, Udupi diocese comperedtheprogramme.
Edward Monteiro elected president of Emirates Konkans
Kasargod; Deepak D’Souza to serve as secretary
Dubai, Jul 11: Emirates Konkans Kasargod(EKKU),oneoftheleading associations of the Konkanispeaking community from Kasargod residing in the UAE, recently held its general body meetingandunanimously electeda
new executive committee for the 2026–2028 term. Edward Monteiro of Bela has been elected as the president, while Deepak D’Souza of Maniyampare has been chosen as thesecretary.
Edward Monteiro, a native of Bela parishinKasargoddistrict,hasbeen residing in the UAE with his family for the past 15 years. A dedicated socialworker andactivecommunity leader, he has previously served EKKU in various capacities with distinction. He has also been
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actively involved in several social, sports, and political organizations. During his time in India, he served as the president of ICYM Bela unit andlater asan office bearer of the ICYM Kasargod deanery. Since moving to the UAE, Edward has been anintegral part ofEKKUsince its formative years and has made significant contributions to the association'sgrowth. Thenewlyelectedsecretary,Deepak D’Souza,hailsfrom Maniyampare in theKasargoddeanery.Acommitted member of EKKU for the past ten years, he has successfully handled various responsibilities within the associationandiswellknownforhis dedication andorganizational skills. The meeting commenced with an
introductory address by EKKU founder president Santhosh Perla, who highlighted the vision and objectives of the association. He expressed his appreciation to all former presidents, executive committee members, and volunteersfortheircollectiveefforts in strengthening EKKU over the years.
Outgoing president Laila D'Souza thanked the executive committee and all members for their unwavering support and cooperation during his tenure and wished the newly elected team every success in taking the associationtogreaterheights.
The newly elected office bearers for the2026–2028 term are:
•President: Edward Monteiro (Bela)
• Secretary: Deepak D’Souza (Maniyampare)
• Vice president: Stegita (Kumbla)
• Treasurer: Preethesh (Ukkinadka)
•Cultural &sports secretary:Rohith D'Souza
• Event coordinators: Mithun (Kumbla) and Jeethesh (Ukkinadka)
The newly elected committee reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening unity among the members of Kasargod deanery in the UAE while promoting cultural, social, charitable, and sporting activities. The team also expressed its determination to build upon EKKU's achievements and continue serving the community with dedication andenthusiasmoverthe comingtwoyears.
St. Peter's Association (Barkur) Mumbai
Sunday at St. John Evangelist Church, Marol, Andheri East
Mumbai
Official Programme Event List
1. Introduction
Openingremarksonthecelebration of St. Peter's feast. Presented by: Joylan Fernandes
2. Devotional Session
Commencement of the St. Peter Novena reading - Nirmala Rebello Concluding hymn: San Pedru Mogala. Led by: Ivan Suaris and others
3. Dignitary Invitation
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Escorting guests of honour to the dais
Fr. Ivon D'Almeida (1) President (1) Former Presidents (4) Vice Presidents (3) Secretary (1) Treasurer (1)
4. Welcome Address
Official Welcome by: President Eric Carvalho
5. Educational Awards Distribution
StudentRecognition&Presentation
Names of eligible student beneficiaries announced by Treasurer Vincent Furtado Below given people to hand over
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cash prizes and certificates to students.
1. Joel Vivian Sequeira - Nitin Sequeira
2. Angel Joachim D'Souza - Eric Carvalho
3. Jisel Joylan Fernandes Boniface Sequeira
4. Kurt Anthony Gonsalves Ivon
Rebello
5. Arden Arthur Mendonca Richard Carvalho
6. Saloni Nitin Dhond Ida Roche
6. Current activities and future planning by Secretary Arthur Mendonca
7. SPA Member Felicitations Honouring achievers in Sports
Performance. Joylan Fernandes Introduced by John Gonsalves (Presentation of Memento by Fr. Ivon D'Almeida, Shawl by Boniface Sequeira and Bouquet by Felix Barnes)
8.VoteofThanksby:VicePresident WilfredSequeira
Amit Shah assures church leaders of no retrospective impact on FCRA registrations
DaijiworldMediaNetwork–New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 12: Union Home
Minister Amit Shah has assured a delegation ofseniorchurch leaders that the upcoming Foreign Contribution Regulation Act(FCRA) bill will not be implemented retrospectively, providing significant relief to nongovernmental organizations and religious bodies facing anxieties overtheirforeignfundinglicenses.
The assurancecame during ahighlevel meeting where Christian community leaders raised serious apprehensions regarding the stringent amendments proposed in thenewFCRAdraftframework. The delegation expressed concerns that retrospective cancellation or review of registrations could severely disrupt ongoing social welfare, educational, and charitable initiatives across the country. Sources privytothemeetingstated that the home minister gave a
patient hearing to the delegation’s grievances. Shah explicitly clarified that the new legislative measures are intended to streamline future monitoring mechanismsandensure financial transparency rather than penalize existing compliance. He reaffirmed that organizations operating within the established legal framework and maintaining clean financial records need not panic.
The Church leaders welcomed the positive dialogue, noting that the
explicit assurance regarding nonretrospective application clears the air of uncertainty that had gripped the sector since the initial announcement of the legislative changes.
The ministry has reiterated its stance that the modifications aim strictly at curbing unauthorized channelization of foreign funds while safeguarding legitimate humanitarianoperations
Rita D'Sa (78), Moodubelle
Rita D'Sa (78), wife of the late William D'Sa, mother of Mark/Reema, Sunil/Sunitha, Prema/Vijay, (Udupi Madras Café, Canada), grandmother of Sonia,Olivia,Sherwin,Steesha,NeilandNicholas,passedawayonFriday,July 10,2026.
Mortal remains will be kept for viewing at residence "Suprem", Main Road, Moodubelle on Tuesday, July 14 from 12.30pm. Funeral cortege willleave residence at 3.30pm for StLawrence Church,Moodubelle.
Priya mani recently opened up about working with Thalapathy Vijay in Jana Nayagan, calling the experience a memorable one. Speaking at a recent event, the actress praised the superstarturned-politician, describing him as a "born leader" and saying that
many believe he was always meant forhiscurrentrole.ShewishedVijay all the best for his political journey and expressed hope that he continues to lead successfully.
Apartfromshowering praiseonher co-star, Priyamani also shared an exciting update on Jana Nayagan, revealing that an official announcement regarding the film's release is expected soon. Directed by H.Vinoth, thehighly anticipated project marks Priyamani's first collaboration with Thalapathy Vijay and is also being touted as the actor's final film before he fully transitions into politics.
[Entertainment news,southcinema, politics, jana nayagan, Vijay thalapathy]
St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) Introduces ‘Konkani PratibhaI&II’CertificateCourses Mangaluru, July 2026: The Institute of Konkani, School of Languages and Cultural Studies, St Aloysius (Deemedtobe University), Mangaluru, hasinvitedapplications for its Konkani Pratibha I & II Certificate Courses in Konkani Language and Cultural Studies. The programme is open to undergraduate students aswellas the public who wish to learn the Konkani language and gain an understanding ofits rich cultural heritage.
Thecourseisofferedintwolevels— Konkani Pratibha I and Konkani Pratibha II. Each level is of six months' duration (one semester) comprising 30 hours of instruction and is conducted in hybrid mode, combining classroom and online learning. Candidates who have successfully completed Konkani Pratibha I are eligible to enrol for KonkaniPratibha II.
The programme features an AIempowered syllabus, flexibility to study Konkani in Roman, Devanagari, or Kannada script, and a blended teaching approach
with periodic online andclassroom sessions.
Applicantsshouldhavepassed PUC (or equivalent). The course fee is ₹500perlevel. Interested candidates may submit their applications on or before 31 July 2026 for KonkaniPratibha I. ClicktheLinktoapply: https://lms.staloysius.edu.in/course s-details/konkani-pratibha-i
Diocese of Mangalore who dedicated over five decades to pastoral and educational ministry, passed away on the morning of Monday, 6July 2026, atSt Zuze Vaz Home, Jeppu. Hewas82.
Born on 14October 1944 inBela,Fr
Crasta was the son of Cornelius Crasta and Remedia Monteiro. He was ordained to the priesthood on 1December 1971.
Throughout his extensive vocation, Fr Crasta served across various parishes within the diocese. He
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began his pastoral journey as Assistant Parish Priest at Omzoor (1971–1974) andUrwa(1974–1975). He later took on the role of Parish Priest, serving the communities of Thanirbavi(1975–1977), Petri(1980–1985), Nidpalli (1994–2002), Sullia (2006–2007), Kateel (2007–2012), andFermai (2012–2017).
In addition to his pastoral leadership, Fr Crasta made significant contributions tothefield of education. He served as a Lecturer at Milagres in Kalianpur (1977–1980), Puttur College (1994–2002), and Pompei College (2002). He also served as the principal of the institution at Madanthyar from 1985 to1994, guiding theacademic and moral development of numerous students.
Following hisretirement fromactive ministryin2017,FrCrastaresidedat St Zuze Vaz Home, a facility for retiredpriests inJeppu, Mangaluru.
The Diocese of Mangalore commends him tothe mercyof the Lordandprays fortherepose. Monsoon Milan 2026: An Evening of
The Ladies' Association, in collaboration with the Women Commission of the Bondel Unit, organised Monsoon Milan 2026 on 4 July at the St Lawrence Church Hall,bringing together parishioners foraneveningoffellowship,cultural programme, and traditional monsoon delicacies. The celebrations commenced at 5.45 p.m. with tea and a variety of monsoon snacks, followed by funfilled games conducted by Mrs Melinda D’Souza, creating a lively
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The stage programme commenced at 6:45 p.m. with a prayer song, followed by a warm welcome address by Mrs. Victoria D’Cunha. The dignitaries were warmly welcomed by the office bearers of the Ladies' Association, who presented eachofthemwith arose as a gesture of respect and
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Oneofthehighlightsoftheevening was the unique inauguration of Monsoon Milan 2026, where the dignitaries ceremonially opened a beautifully decorated umbrella adorned with flowers, adding a colourful andsymbolic touchtothe celebration.
Parish Priest; Rev. Fr Peter Gonsalves, Spiritual Director of the Ladies' Association andPrincipal of St Lawrence English Medium School; Mr John D'Silva, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC); Mr Alwyn Saldanha, Secretary of the PPC; Mrs Avitha Mascarenhas President, Mrs Veena Secretary ofLadiesAssociation
In his presidential address, Rev. Fr Basil Vas highlighted the importanceofpreservingtraditional food, culture, and customs. Recalling his childhood days, he fondly reminisced about the authentic monsoon delicacies he enjoyedandremarkedthatthetaste andvalueofthose traditional foods cannot be replaced by modern cuisine. He appreciated that Monsoon Milan 2026 provided the younger generation with an
opportunity to experience these treasured culinary traditions. Commending the efforts of the Ladies' Association, he congratulated the members for organising a meaningful and wellcoordinated Monsoon Milan programme that celebrated the parish'srichculturalheritage.
. The cultural programme featured melodious songs, a lively qawwali, an entertaining skit, and vibrant dance performances presented by the members of the Ladies' Association, alongwithenthusiastic performance by Wenora Pinto. The winners of the games conducted
before the stage programme were presented with prizes by Rev. Fr. Basil Vas in recognition of their enthusiastic participation and outstandingperformances.
Before dinner, Rev. Fr. Peter Gonsalves led Grace Before Meals. The programme was efficiently compered by Mrs Saritha D’Souza andMrs Matilda D’Souza,who kept the audience engaged throughout theevening.Thevoteofthankswas proposed by Mrs Divya D’Souza, who expressed her heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their generous support, wholehearted cooperation, and valuable contributions in making Monsoon Milan2026agrandsuccess.
The beautifully designed stage backdrop, creatively prepared by Mrs Sunitha Lewis, added colour and charm to the celebration and receivedmuchappreciation.
Thehighlightoftheeveningwasthe grand spread of 32 varieties of homemade traditional monsoon delicacies, lovingly prepared by the
members oftheLadies'Association. Themenuincludedawiderange of savouries, sweets, and seasonal specialties that evoked nostalgic memories of the rainy season and showcasedtherichculinaryheritage oftheregion.Thedelicious flavours and warm hospitality made the eventtrulymemorable.
The evening concluded on a joyful and festive note, with parishioners appreciating the dedicated efforts of the Ladies' Association in organisingavibrantcelebrationthat strengthened community bonds while preserving the traditions, flavours, andspirit ofthe monsoon season. Everyone relished the delicious homemade monsoon delicacies with great delight, making the celebration a memorable experience for all. The festivities culminated with a lively Baila dance, as parishioners enthusiastically took to the dance floor, filling the hall with music, laughter,andcelebration.
Report & Photography: Meena Serrao Barboza
Annual Feast Celebrated at Our Lady of Miracles Church, Milagre
The Annual Feast of Our Lady of Miracles Church, Milagres, was celebrated with great devotion and joy. Twosolemn Eucharistic
The first Solemn Mass in Konkani wascelebrated at7.00a.m.by Very Rev.FrWalterD'Souza,ParishPriest of Bendur and Vicar Forane of the
EpiscopalDeanery.Inhishomily,he reflected on how Mother Mary continually protects her children and inspires them to share God's lovewithothers.
ThesecondSolemnMassinEnglish was celebrated at 8.30a.m.by Rev. FrKennethCrasta,AssistantDirector ofSt.Joseph's Engineering College. PreachingonMary's lovingcare,he encouraged the faithful to draw closertoGodthroughherguidance andintercession. Attheendofthecelebrations, the
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Parish Priest, Fr Ivan Rodrigues, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the priests, parishioners, volunteers, benefactors, and wellwishers for their generous support and dedicated service throughout theyear.
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The Eucharistic celebrations were concelebrated by Fr Avith Pais, Fr AlwinSerrao, FrUdayFernandes, Fr. Gerald Pinto, Fr Maxim Rosario, Fr
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Victor George, Fr Jason Pinto, Fr FelixMonteiro, FrRajeshRosario,Fr Praveen Amrith Martis, and Fr Charles Menezes. The feast concluded in an atmosphere of faith,thanksgiving,andparishunity.
Study | Kothapatt Series VII InauguralWebinar (Supported by Bab Michael DSouza, Dubai)
“The inaugural webinar of the Kathapatt Series VII, a national webinar series dedicated to the study of Konkanishortstories,washeld on 4 July 2026. The webinar was inaugurated byBai Jane Edwin D'Souza.Dr. Chandralekha
D'Souzadelivered the keynote address, highlighting the significance ofKonkani Beyond Scripts(KBS), a digitisationanddisseminationinitiativejointlyundertakenbyAshawadi Prakashan, St.Xavier'sCollege,Mapusa,andDhempeCollegeofArts & Science, Miramar, in collaboration with the Goa Konkani Akademi,Dalgado Konkani Akademi, and the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi. The session was moderated byShailendra Mehta. BabAndrew L. D'Cunha, a member of the KBS Advisory Committee, spoke on the vision and importance of the Konkani Beyond Scripts initiative.Amongthe distinguishedguestswhoaddressedthegathering wereFr. Luis Gomes, Fr. Chetan Lobo, Bai Anju Sakhardande, Bab WillyGoes, BaiRajashreeSail,Dr.CharlesLobo,BabMachchaMilar, Bab Dharma Chodankar, and Bai Vidhita Shet. They appreciatedthe objectivesof Kathapattand KonkaniBeyond Scriptsand extendedtheir best wishes for the success of both initiatives.A detailedreport of the inaugural webinar, along with photographs, is presented below.
