February, 2020 | Vol. 55 Editor Fr. Dr. Elvis Fernandes, SFX Editorial Team Fr. Dr. Ivon Almeida, SFX; Fr. Mark Furtado, SFX; Dr. Nelly De Sa; Dr. Rafael Fernandes Printer and Publisher Fr. Noel Menezes, SFX Cover Concept E. Sanguemkar Illustrations Dr. Smitha Bhandare Kamat Art & Design Clifford Fernandes Proof Reader Grisel Zuzarte, Blossom Araujo Editorial Office The Editor Fr. Agnel’s Call Pilar - Goa - 403 203. Email: editorfragnelscall@gmail.com Ph.: (0832) 2219091
CONTENTS 5 8 10 12 14 17 19
COVER FEATURE
A Prophetic voice must be raised
- Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ
Humanism Cannot Have Religious Borders
- Cleofato Almeida Coutinho
The Unemployed on the Peripheries
- Soter D’Souza
Pangs of the Poor on the Peripheries
- Fr. Dr. Elvis H. Fernandes, SFX
A Re-reading of Dalit History and Oppression - Fr. Dr. A. Alangaram, SJ
What is natural in nature? Lectio Divina
SPIRITUALITY
- Fr. Peter Fernandes, SFX
- Fr. Santosh Mendonca, SFX
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20
YOUTH
Stay Active, Stay Positive
- Fr. Carlos Luis SAC
MISSION MUSINGS
22 24
Ministry among the Dalits
27
The Rosto Campaign
28 30 33
- Fr. Dr. Prem Antony, IMS
Shepherding God’s People In Khiloda Gujarat
- Fr. Daniel Joy SFX
Fighting For Our Rights
OH! GOA - Lloyd J Rodrigues
INSIDE INDIA
- Scholastic Ian Pinto, SDB
GLOBAL GLAZE
Is Liberal Democracy in Recession?
- Fr. Agnelo Gomes, SFX
PADRE AGNEL
Venerable Fr. Agnelo – Model of Poverty
FR. AGNEL’S CALLMiranda, | February 2020 |3 - Br. Eusebio SFX
Editorial
CAA and pangs of Social injustice
S
ince 11 December 2019, campuses have become the centres of agitations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Thousands have been protesting the new citizenship law. The CAA 2019, provides a path to Indian citizenship for religious minorities (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian, except Muslims) who fled persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 2014. The act excludes the Muslims from taking this route to Indian Citizenship since Muslims, according to the ruling dispensation, can’t be termed as a “persecuted minority” since they constitute the majority in these three countries.
The driving force behind the anti-CAA demonstrations is because the act is clearly an unjust law. It overtly uses religion as a criterion for Indian citizenship and defies the secular fabric of the Constitution of India and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The act clearly pooh-poohs the Indian Constitution (Article 25) which guarantees freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. The CAA will also render millions of people stateless. Rendering a person stateless is a grave human right violation. Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) requires that “everyone has the right to a nationality” and that “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his/her nationality nor denied the right to change the nationality”. The proposed Nation-wide National Register of Citizens (NRC) combined with CAA will violate these rights by pushing millions into the horrifying state of statelessness. There are concerns that the Indian Muslims who are already experiencing political and socioeconomic marginalization would be singled out 4 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
and rendered stateless just like the NRC in Assam which has already pushed 1.9 million people into the verge of statelessness.
Henry David Thoreau, an essayist, poet, and philosopher, in his celebrated essay, “Resistance to Civil Government” gives a call for improving rather than abolishing government. Thoreau argued that resistance to an unjust law is a duty of a right citizen. Therefore, citizens should resist laws that overrule or atrophy their consciences. They have a duty to refuse becoming agents of injustices. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. took this path as a spiritual weapon against social and political injustice. “World Day of Social Justice” is observed by the United Nations annually on the 20th of February. Its purpose is to ignite sensitivity in everyone’s heart by standing up for the rights of the marginalized – the migrants, the disabled, the unemployed, the dalits, the poor and religious minorities, who become victims of social injustice.
This edition of Fr. Agnel’s Call highlights the pangs of the people on the peripheries. Fr. Cedric Prakash and Advocate Cleofato Almeida Coutinho highlight the pangs of the religious minorities stating that we cannot make religion the basis of granting citizenship. Fr. Dr. Alangaram, Fr. Dr. Elvis Fernandes and Soter D’Souza reflect on the pangs of the Dalits, the Poor and the Unemployed, respectively. We hope that the rich content will raise awareness of the need for better social justice both within nations and between nations and inspire solutions for improvements. “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” Elvis, sfx
Cover Feature
A Prophetic voice must be raised
“Only when we do so, we will be faithful to the two sacred books that should determine our lives: the Gospel of Jesus and the Constitution of India”. Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ
T
he Baptism of Jesus is rich in theology: Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist, a layman; the crowds witness this and finally the Father and Spirit proclaim their oneness with the Son. Jesus then goes for his time to pray and fast in the desert. Satan tempts him with power, possessions, position, privilege and pride. Jesus does not dialogue with the devil – he takes an unequivocal stand and says “begone Satan”; Jesus refuses to have any truck with him. After these forty days, Jesus begins his public ministry, going first to the Synagogue where he opens the Scroll which was given to him to a verse from the Prophet Isaiah “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
The message then is loud and clear : as priests and wanting to be ordained one day , we have to realise what our Baptismal commitment is all about : to have the courage to say “NO” to wiles and temptations of Satan, and being filled with the Lord’s spirit , we need to play a prophetic role by reading , by understanding the signs of the times and by responding wholeheartedly to the cries of the poor and the excluded of our world today! Having said this let me briefly highlight some major concerns of our country today: for more than five months now, Kashmir, after the unconstitutional abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, is on a complete lockdown. The new ‘Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act - UAPA 2019 (Amendment Act)’ clearly infringes on the fundamental rights of citizens. Harassments, intimidation and threats to human rights defenders, media personnel, intellectuals and other activists, who have the courage to take a stand for truth and justice, continue with frightening regularity.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 5
The ignominy heaped on women and children of our country continues unabated! Millions of our children are still deprived of their childhood! From farmers to sewage workers; from those who receive unjust wages to the unemployed – the vicious circle of poverty and injustice is hardly addressed! In fact, there is apparently a concerted effort to keep millions of people in dehumanised conditions. Above all, the economy is in shambles; the GDP fallen to an all-time low and unemployment to an all-time high. A few filthy rich amass huge fortunes and the vast majority remain in the well of poverty. The country has never been so corrupt. Law makers are bought to cross from one party to another: here in Goa, in Karnataka, Sikkim and elsewhere. Judiciary which is meant to be totally independent, impartial and just, is hardly doing itself proud. Constitutional bodies which are meant to be totally impartial and objective are made impotent; by the way they conduct themselves, they send a strong message to the country: that they have become ‘caged parrots’- in which they are just tools of a vindictive Government! Minorities are on the backfoot as never before! Lynchings continue as the ‘new normal’. Several intellectuals in India do think that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) are a calculated and manipulative ploy of the ruling regime to defocus from their inability to govern and to shore up the economy of the nation. Whatever the reason, the people of India are today out on the streets, in an unprecedented show of strength and solidarity, protesting against a law and policies which are patently discriminatory, divisive and draconian and which most believe, go against the grain and spirit of India’s constitution and democratic framework.
‘The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), was passed by Parliament on 11 December 2019 and became effective as law from 10 January 2020; however, even a fortnight later, the rules which are necessary for the implementation of the law have not yet been framed. The CAA amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make ‘irregular’ immigrants from Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain and Zoroastrian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan eligible for citizenship, but it significantly excludes Muslims. The government makes a distinction between Muslims, who it says have immigrated illegally, and ‘refugees’ – namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others, trying to escape persecution in their country of origin. India 6 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
is a secular state and for the very first time, religion is being used as a tool to discriminate; many do feel that that it violates several Articles of the Indian constitution, which guarantee the right to equality and non-discrimination. Above all, it is yet another substantial step in the design to make India a nation based on the ‘Hindutva’ ideology.
In a campaign endorsed by several eminent citizens from all the country, the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) in a statement said, “for the first time there is a statutory attempt, to not just privilege peoples from some faiths but at the same time relegate another, Muslims, to secondrate status. The proposed amendments to India’s 1955 citizenship law (Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019) need to be strongly rejected on these counts alone, in that they are divisive and discriminatory in character. The CAB, 2019 is at odds with Constitutional secular principles and a violation of Articles 13, 14, 15, 16 and 21 which guarantee the right to equality, equality before the law and non-discriminatory treatment by the Indian state. This regime threatens to go further. Through the process of enlisting for a National Population Register (NPR) and thereafter a National Register of Citizens (NRC), the present government appears intent on causing huge upheavals within Indian society. Assam has, especially since 2013 been reeling under the impact of this illconceived exercise. Apart from the huge material costs, the human costs have been immeasurable. Death, families torn apart; detention camps and foreigners’ tribunals; fear, the spectre of statelessness – this is what the ordinary people, especially minorities, Dalits, women, children and the poor have had to suffer and continue to suffer. The worst impacted are women and children. A nation-wide NRC, will unleash widespread division and suffering among people across the country – rather than address the critical needs, from food security and employment to the annihilation of discrimination based on caste, community and gender, to the freedom to speak, worship, and live as our diverse people choose. Today 19 lakh persons (1.9 million live a broken existence in Assam with the sword of statelessness hanging over them. Does the rest of India want to tread this path?” The CAA, the NPR and the NRC are bound to have a serious and detrimental impact on the poor, the excluded, the minorities and vulnerable groups like the adivasis and dalits. This anti-human exercise makes it incumbent on a person to prove one’s citizenship by furnishing one’s ‘official’ certificate of birth. Large sections of Indian society certainly do not have it; apparently one’s PAN card, passport, Aadhar card, driving licence, do not fulfil this obligation. So, what will happen to the millions of Indians who are
not able to furnish their official birth certificate? A palpable fear has gripped several sections of society
Students and other youth are protesting ‘en masse’; post-independence, this is the first time that the country is experiencing strong voices of protest from this section of society. The attacks on protesting students by police and right-wing elements in the Jamia Islamia University, the Aligarh Muslim University, the Jawaharlal Nehru University and on other university campuses have not been taken lightly. Students and others from across India and the globe, have been unequivocal in condemning these brutalities and demanding the revocation of laws which are divisive. We suffer today from two mortal sins: FEAR and IGNORANCE! We forget that Jesus has told us in no uncertain terms: ‘fear no one, except those who can harm your soul’. The moment we are afraid of the powers because they may take away our property, our money, our privileges we send a clear message that we DO NOT believe in the person and mission of Jesus. Besides, we often do not know facts: we are swayed by half -truths, fake news, myths and lies. As Priests, as young men in formation we are called to wake up and to WAKE UP THE WORLD; we have to smell of the sheep, get involved in taking a stand against the CAA, NPR and NRC. Only when we do so, we will be faithful to the two sacred books that
should determine our lives: the Gospel of Jesus and the Constitution of India.
Finally, we need to get out of our comfort zones reminding ourselves of our prophetic role which Pope Francis speaks about in ‘Evangelii Gaudium’, “Peace in society cannot be understood as pacification or the mere absence of violence resulting from the domination of one part of society over others. Nor does true peace act as a pretext for justifying a social structure which silences or appeases the poor, so that the more affluent can placidly support their lifestyle which others have to make do as they can. Demands involving the distribution of wealth, concern for the poor and human rights cannot be suppressed under the guise of creating a consensus on paper or a transient peace for a contented minority. The dignity of the human person and the common good rank higher than the comfort of those who refuse to renounce their privileges. When these values are threatened, a prophetic voice must be raised.” (# 218) [This write-up contains the highlights of the address by Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ, to seminarians and priests at the Pilar Seminary on 15 January 2020].
The writer is a member of the Society of Jesus. He is a human rights and peace activist/writer.
Celebrating 50 Years of Humble Service
Pilar News
The Society of Pilar rejoiced along with four of her members who celebrated their Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee. Rt. Rev Alex Dias, Rev. Fr. Walter Gomes, Rev. Fr. Bento Rodrigues and Rev. Fr. Joe Dias thanked God for the gift of Priesthood. The solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided by Rt. Rev. Alex Dias was held on 21st December 2019. In his homily, the Bishop acknowledged the hand of God in strengthening their vocation in difficult times. “We are sinners…” he said, “…yet made worthy by God”. Ordained in 1969, they have served the people of God in various places. Rt. Rev Alex Dias served as the Bishop of Port Blair diocese for 34 years. Prior to that, as a priest he has worked in the missions and also been the Rector of the Mission Seminary. Fr. Walter Gomes has served in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and also shouldered various responsibilities in the General Administration and Formation. Fr. Bento Rodrigues has worked and still continues to work in the field of education, igniting the young minds in Fr. Agnel Ashram. Fr. Joe Dias has offered his humble services as a pastor in the mission of Nagar Haveli. They are an inspiration for the younger generation to serve in the vineyard of the Lord. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 7
Cover Feature
Humanism Cannot Have Religious Borders
T
he Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has brought the country to a boil. Perhaps for the first time after 1950, there is a movement across the length and breadth of the country to protect the idea of India as visualized by our founding fathers. The idea of India with the diversity and inclusiveness came about, despite a bloodiest holocaust during the partition of the country. The world saw migration of millions of people like never before. Despite Pakistan becoming a Islamic republic our founding fathers gave us a country which encompassed all faiths. That idea certainly deserves to be protected. The opposition to the CAA is precisely that view.
According to the government and those who are supporting the government, the CAA move is to protect those persecuted religiously in three neighboring Islamic countries of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. There can be no opposition to our country providing shelter to the persecuted. In fact the UN convention on refugees 1951 and the 1967 protocol precisely attempts to protect those who are persecuted and are forced to flee their country because of persecution, war or violence and those who have well-founded fear of persecution for reason of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group. Our country did not sign the UN convention on refugees. Neither does our country have a law on refugees or a policy on refugees. But our country has provided an asylum to various sections at various times. We welcomed the Tibetans who even run a government in exile at Dharmashala. Our handling 8 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
Cleofato Almeida Coutinho of post partition migrations has been exemplary. The Kenyan and Ugandan refugees of Indian origin were provided shelter. The Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka made India their home. Three thousand Rohingyas were provided shelter when they faced a genocide in 1989, though now we threaten to deport them. Thousands of Pakistani illegal immigrants stay in India. Lakhs of Bangladeshis have already made Assam and Bengal their home. They are all also over the country for lowly paid jobs. Bangladeshis are here for social and economic reasons. They are not refugees. In Assam the illegal immigrants who entered before 1/1/1966 are to be granted citizenship and those who entered after 1966 but before 31/6/1971 are to be granted citizenship after 10 years of their detection. The BJP entertained a belief that the hindus are under some sort of the siege by the Muslims. They came out with 3Ds formula- detect, delete and deport- in their manifesto, due to which the NRC came threw up a strange challenge when 19 lakhs mostly Bangladeshi illegal immigrants found themselves out of the NRC. Thirteen lakhs belong to the 6 communities (Hindus, Sikh, Jains, Christians and Parsis but mostly Hindus and remaining six lakhs were mostly Muslims With the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act 13 lakhs Hindu illegal immigrants would get Indian citizenship while the 6 lakhs would have to go to detention centers. The home minister who piloted the CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill) told the country that they are providing citizenship to the persecuted minorities of neighboring Islamic countries.
Humanism and humanitarian principles demand that illegal immigrants who have nowhere to go deserve asylum and shelter. It is precisely to deal with such situations that the UN convention on refugees 1961 and the 1967 protocol were brought to give succor to the persecuted. What is required in our country is a refugee law and a refugee policy without any discrimination, not a change in citizenship law.
CAA wishes to confer citizenship to 6 communities (mostly Hindus) and deny citizenship to the south Asian Muslims. The grant of citizenship to the persecuted needs to be celebrated. It is in terms and tune with humanism of extremely high level but humanism has to be inclusive. Humanism cannot be selective and certainly not based on religion, race or caste. Nowhere in the world citizenship is based on religious lines. Even countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh do not deny citizenship rights on religious basis.
Since 2015 since the change is brought in the foreigners Act the 6 communities are granted long term visas and the illegal immigrants based upon religion are getting driving licenses, mobile phones, access to education, health care and even right to buy residential houses while others are huddled in miserable camps with no connectivity to the world. The government threatens to deport them to countries where they are not wanted. Is it humanism that illegal immigrants similarly situated are hounded just because they belong to non-privileged religion? The Uhirgur Muslims of China face death, the Ahmadiyya’s of Pakistan are declared non-Muslims and face discrimination of the worse kind. The
Rohingyas face genocide in Myanmar. It is these sections that deserve extreme sympathy and humanism requires that they get shelter. The idea of India is based upon sarvra dharma sambhava – all religions are equal in the eyes of law and the state shall not endorse any one particular religion. That is the foundational principle of our constitution, which is put on test by the CAA .
The home minister and those who support the amendment move tell us that fundamental rights are not available in non-citizens. Equality, life and liberty run through the entire constitution and are available to all including non-citizens. The illegal immigrants who have made this country their home must get the same treatment. Protection based on religion will also not pass the fraternity test. What sort of a law that similarly situated sections gets citizenship only because they belong to a particular religion on a ‘claim’ of persecution and others go to the detention centers only because of their religion. The law seeks to protect those who claim persecution without any proof of persecution. An affidavit by the one who claims persecution suffices. All that CAA has done is to elevate Hindu illegal immigrants to citizens and the Muslim illegal immigrants dumped as foreign infiltrators deserving deportation or detention centers. By making religion the basis of grant of citizenship the government has taken the country backwards! The writer is a Legal expert and Political Analyst, Asolna-Goa.
“That they all may be one” John 17, 21
Pilar News
The Mission Seminary, Pilar joined together with the universal Christian community to pray for Christian Unity during the week of prayer (18-25 January). Members of different churches gathered together on 23rd January 2020 and reflected on the theme, “They Showed Us Unusual Kindness” taken from Acts 28:2. The reflections highlighted the importance of need for “unusual kindness” in the dialogue that leads to growth in unity. Today separation and division hinder the quest for Christian Unity but specially in 2020, there is a universal call for each one of us to show unusual kindness towards one another. Earlier, the Mission Seminary organised a first ever ecumenical get-together Christmas on 30th December 2019. Members of the Rupantaran Church (Vasco), Syrian Orthodox Church (Ribandar) were together along with the scholastics celebrating the Joy by singing Carols and an Agape. Pastor Sunil Francis of the Rupantaran Church, Daniel Kurien Syria Orthodox Church and Fr. Elvis Fernandes sfx shared their thoughts on this special occasion. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 9
Cover Feature
The Unemployed on the Peripheries Soter D’Souza
“It’s recession when your neighbour loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours”. - Harry S. Truman
W
ith an economic recession and high inflation looming large over India, unemployment and high costs of basic commodities are a hotly debated topic these days in every sphere of society. The unemployment rate has climbed to a four decade high from 6.1 % in August 2016 to 8.5% in October 2019, which is claimed to be the highest in the last 3 years. Unemployment in the formal sector trade also spills into the informal sector. Those in the unorganised sector are currently seeing their incomes disappear. Daily wage labourers stare hopelessly every morning in labour markets hoping 10 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
to be hired by someone. While industries are known to get all sorts of bailouts from the government, it is the labour sector that is more than often left to bear the brunt and fend for itself in a job crisis.
The involuntary loss of a job for any person can be as traumatising as someone becoming aware of having a terminal physical illness. As the Spanish philosopher and essayist Jose Ortega y Gasset put it: “An ‘unemployed’ existence is a worse negation of life than death itself.” The mental and emotional impact from lack of employment is far worse, more so, when one is the only breadwinner for the family. It disturbs all plans for the future and becomes terribly agonising for those with debts to repay. The
impact may be softened in countries with provisions for an ‘unemployment dole’ to citizens, but often that too can do little to repair the loss of self-worth and dignity experienced by the unemployed. In a 1.3 billion populated country like India which has a reputation of social welfare schemes hardly reaching the deserving sections of society, how can anyone feel assured even if provisions for an unemployment dole by the government are in place?
Unemployment can no longer be seen as a localised issue restricted within a nation’s boundaries. It spills into wealthier nations with a rise in refugees and illegal immigrants, only to be resisted by the natives who see the migrants as a threat to their livelihood opportunities and security. The situation which drives people in thousands to leave their homeland and flock to other destinations is often about survival. It is often desperation to feed their families and for security. The mindless opposition from natives to these migrants forces them into ghettos and criminality. It is most unfortunate that the urbanised elitist mindset refuses to see the linkages between various social evils like alcoholism, rape, terrorism, dacoities, migration and the rest in relation to the social consequences from denial of basic human rights to every person.
Pope Francis is considered as the ‘Pope of the peripheries’. He says, “The lack of work also damages the spirit, like a lack of prayer also damages practical activity.” It is not just the unemployed themselves who get impacted but their families too. The growing political unrests among youngsters as increasingly being witnessed in many countries is said to be very much related to shrinking employment opportunities. This is why migrants in any country are seen as a threat to the economic opportunities by the natives. In our country India, religion is fast becoming a criteria to deny employment and disrupt means of livelihoods to citizens from certain communities. It’s time for us as the Church in India to understand and redefine the scope of Christian social concern
towards the human crisis of modern times. It has become extremely fashionable for stereotypical Christian charities to be seen feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and caring for the sick. This is not to say that charity should stop. But is poverty only constrained to the absence of food, shelter and physical or mental health? Those always living in poverty and on the margins of society will have developed the resilience to cope with their realities as they had no material possessions in the past, nor do they have anything to lose in the present. But for those who suddenly and involuntarily lose the comfort and security of a wage or salary from a regular job, the world appears to come crashing down. They are often not mentally and emotionally equipped to face the new and harsh reality of joblessness. As they, in a way, lose their social worth due to the social taboo about an individual having no gainful employment, they get driven to the peripheries. Therefore, for Christians, assisting those on the peripheries can no longer be constrained to the hungry, sick and dying. It needs to rise beyond, to include involuntary victims of modern day’s economic and political fall-outs like economic depression, riots and war. The parable of Jesus about the workers in the vineyard, as found in Mathew 20:1-16, presents a vivid description on how the owner of the vineyard attempts to restore the sense of self- worth in those who could not find work on that day. Work is a fundamental part of being human. As we in India observe the 150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we need to recall that eradicating unemployment was very much integral to the scheme of ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Ahimsa’. “You take my life when you do take the means whereby I live.” -William Shakespeare
The writer is a social worker, Porvorim, Goa
“I was in the Prison and you visited me” Mt 25, 36
Pilar News
The Prison ministry group of the Mission Seminary Pilar celebrated Christmas with the inmates of Central Jail, Colvale. The Eucharistic celebration was presided by Rev. Fr. Peter Melo Fernandes sfx and Fr. Leslie Rego preached the Word of God. The inmates along with the scholastics were actively involved in the liturgy and choir. They expressed deep feeling of joy to celebrate this great day. This was followed by singing of Carols and a Christmas message. The scholastics along with their guide regularly visit the prison every Saturday. They celebrate the Eucharist and also engage in activities like teaching music and sports. They say that this gives them a sense of joy as they bring a smile on those dejected and set apart. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 11
Cover Feature
Pangs of the Poor on the Peripheries
Fr. Dr. Elvis H. Fernandes, SFX
A
rather ambitious plan, called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was crafted and adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. To end poverty by 2030 in all its forms everywhere was listed as Goal No. 1 in the set of 17 SGDs. It is a call to hear the cry of the poor on the peripheries and act in a global partnership because there are enough resources in the world, but they aren’t getting shared. There is lack of sensitivity and empathy to the less privileged human being. This gap can be bridged through education for sensitivity to the poor on the peripheries.
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) The poor should not be categorized mainly on low income. Several other factors need to be taken into consideration and the MPI has been an invaluable analytical tool in this direction. It helps to identify the poorest among the poor and has been effective in revealing poverty patterns within countries and over time. The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is an international measure of acute multidimensional poverty. It compliments traditional monetary-based poverty measures by simultaneously assessing 12 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
the acute deprivations that each person faces with respect to education, health and living standards. These three dimensions are composed of ten indicators: Health (Nutrition, Child Mortality), Education (Years of schooling, school attendance), and Standard of Living (cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets).
A few months before the 2019 general elections, a UN report based on the MPI showed that between 2006 and 2016 India was able to lift 271 million people out of poverty. The report pointed out that India was able to reduce the MPI values with regard to cooking fuel, sanitation and nutrition. However, a few months later the National Statistical Office (NSO), based on the latest consumption expenditure survey during July 2017 and June 2018, reported a sharp dip in household expenditure. The monthly household expenditure of the average Indian has been reduced from Rs. 1501 (in 2011-12) to Rs. 1446 (in 2017-18). This clearly indicates that people don’t have resources and hence an increase in poverty. The survey also showed a decrease in food consumption. On an average, the monthly food expenditure of people in the rural areas went down from Rs. 643 (in 2011-12) to Rs. 580 (in 2017-18). The reduction in food consumption would increase
malnutrition leading to impaired cognitive ability and poor learning outcomes.
Poor, victims of poverty and malnutrition In June 2019 more than 150 children died due to an outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. These deaths have been attributed to low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia). Although, medical investigations pointed to Litchis as a probable cause for causing hypoglycemic encephalopathy, a senior pediatrician Dr. Arun Shah identified malnutrition as the real culprit behind AES. According to him poor children who lack food usually roam around the litchi orchard eating unripe, raw or rotten litchis and go back home and sleep on empty stomach and wake up in the morning reporting serious AES symptoms. Those who succumbed to AES were from the poorest of the families and no children from well-to-do families were affected, thereby indicating poverty and undernourishment as the main cause. Journalist Shobha De in her write up “Litchis? It’s government lethargy, poverty that’s killing kids” questioned the misplaced priorities of the political leaders by hitting them hard saying “We passively allow thousands to starve to death while we focus on grandiose projects that don’t fill stomachs”. This incident clearly shows the callous attitude and negligence of the government officials towards the poor as dispensable. We cannot discard the poor as waste. They have to be provided with public medical care facilities, nutrition, and sanitation and hygiene. Will the CAA and NRC combine increase the pangs of the poor on the peripheries? It is strongly felt that the the lethal combination of the CAA and the NRC will not just go against the minorities but more so against the poor on the peripheries. India has a large number of poor and illiterate people who are landless and undocumented. Given their existential situation, demanding from them documents or their school or other records will only add to their sufferings.
The poorest of the poor will suffer from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Parliamentarian Derek O’Brien, has called it a “fight between the rich and poor”. He said that “… no millionaire did you see in the queue for demonetisation. It’s the same thing today, the poorest of the poor will get affected – because they lost an ID in the (north Bengal) flood, or in ethnic violence”.
According to Prashant Kishor, Janata Dal (United) leader and political strategist, “ The poor Indians will not have the documents to prove their citizenship. It will be a huge logistical nightmare. This will result in loss of wages, harassment, bribery. The poor will suffer the most when these laws are implemented”. Education for sensitivity to the poor on the peripheries What we observe today is that education is seen as imparting only knowledge in view of competing with others. When students graduate from schools and colleges their aim is either to compete for admissions to higher studies or to get well-paid jobs. In this process young people tend to become self-centred monsters. They, especially the rich, lose sensitivity towards the less privileged and the poor. Education should gear towards forming our children in becoming more human – sensitive and empathetic towards the poor. According to J. Krishnamurti, an Indian philosopher, education should awaken the intelligence in the student making him a sensitive person towards the socially and economically underprivileged sections of the society. If education fails to achieve this purpose the rich and the rulers will continue to be insensitive to the pangs of the poor on the peripheries. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a practicing clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. He is also the spiritual director of the Pilar Seminary, Pilar-Goa.
Social Justice Awareness
“It is the role of every priest to strive for social justice” said Rev. Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ, a human rights activist. He was addressing the priests and seminarians at the All India Mission Seminary, Pilar Goa on 15th January 2020. He is an acclaimed writer for human rights, justice and peace and the issues of refugees, displaced and excluded. He shared about the recent developments in the country regarding the CAA/NPR/NRC and the WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA movement. “We as Christians and Indians should have two sacred books – the Holy Bible and the Indian Constitutions” he said. He urged the gathering to be well read and aware of the situation of the people of our country. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 13
Cover Feature
A Re-reading of Dalit History and Oppression
Fr. Dr. A. Alangaram, SJ
I
ndia today is one of the world’s biggest democracies. India is well-known for its tolerance and peaceful co-existence of different people with different religions, cultures, ethnicities and languages. At the same time, it has its darker side as well. In India there are more than 200 million people treated as slaves, less than human beings, and live in a context of constant discrimination and threat to life. They are known as Dalits. The reason is that they do not belong to the main four castes and are treated as outcastes because of their past karma1. It is said that every day that three Dalit women are raped and two Dalits are killed on an average2. The states like UP and Rajasthan top the list of day-today atrocities to Dalits. All these crimes are 14 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
continuing in India even today because the Dalits are not considered and treated as human beings with human dignity.
A Historical, Socio-Cultural and Religious Analysis A.M. Abraham Ayrookuzhiel, in his article on ‘Dalit History and Culture: its Challenges and Dalit Reponses’, presents enlightening information from different sources to authenticate that the Dalits and Tribals are the original inhabitants of Indus Valley and the Aryans deplorably subjugated them through a series of devastating fights with them, oppressing them inhumanly and bringing untouchability into existence. Source 1: Verse from Taittiria Brahmana: (11.4.6.8): “Yesam ime purve armasa asan,ayupah,sadma vibhrta puruni,Vaisvanara tvaya te huttah,prithvim
anvam abhi tasthur janasah.The people to whom these ruined sites, lacking posts, formerly belonged, these many settlements widely distributed, they, O Vaisvanara, having been expelled by thee, have migrated to another land”.3 Source 2: Verse from Rig Veda (Rv. vii, 5.3): “tvad bhiya visa ayann asiknir, asamana jahatir bhojanani,vaisvanara purave sosucana, puro yad Agne darayann adideh. Through fear of thee the dark coloured inhabitants fled. Not waiting for battle, abandoning their possessions, when O vaisvanara, burning brightly for puru, and destroying the cities thou didst shine, O Agni.”4 Source 3: There is another proof from professor Burrows who is an authority in the subject matter. His thesis is that, “(a) Vedic Aryans destroyed the Indus Valley Civilization, (b) the historical facts are narrated in mythological guise: (c) city of Vailasthanak mentioned in the Rig Veda is the city of Mohanjo-Daro”.5
Source 4: There is yet another source from the book on ‘The Civilized Demons’, written by Malati Shendge, a renowned professor and scholar in the subject. Her findings are: (1) The people Aryans called Asurs, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Pisacas were real people in Indus Valley, not mythological beings. (2) Indira and Vishnu were human leaders of the Aryans in their war with the non-Aryans. (3) The Aryan leaders and their non-Aryan accomplices became gods and sages while their opponents became evil spirits and mythological beings. (4) As the stories of war became themes of religious celebration and ritual in the Vedas and Brahmanas, it was pointed out that it was a struggle between good and evil.6
From such historical sources of information, we understand that the original inhabitants are systematically and forcibly subjugated by a race called Aryans. This historical subjugation is very well interwoven with their own socio-cultural, socio-economic and socio-religious subjugations. In the same article, Ayrookuzhiel also uncovers a number of socio-cultural and religious subjugations of the Dalits: a) the dark buffalo king Potturaj is the husband of the goddess Durga. But later on he is killed in a battle or defeated. b) The goddess Durga is the dark fierce aboriginal goddess of earth and forest groves absorbed in local goddesses. c) The legend of Renuka with Paraya woman’s body and Brahmin woman’s head after she is beheaded by her son, Parasurama at the command of Jamadagni are popular in Tamil, and Kerala regions.7
Ayrookuzhiel suggests that these stories are not mere stories to listen and enjoy but they are the scales that measure human relationships, people’s fixed behaviour which they have to strictly adhere to in society. Thus the religious stories and symbols have elevated the Aryans but dehumanised the Tribal and Dalits legitimizing a hierarchical social order based on inequalities. His exploration further reveals, the problem Dalits and Tribal face in relation to their history and socio-cultural and socio-religious subjugation past and present, which coupled with their economic subordination strengthens the traditional structure of institutionalised inequality-‘caste’.8 The practice of Untouchability Principles of State Policy contained in Article 46 of the Constitution : “The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation”.9 But such a Constitutional protection remains inoperative in India, as all caste practices are fully alive, supported not only by religion and culture but by Indian politics. The practice of untouchability against Scheduled Castes is a special handicap for the Dalits. On the one hand they are not helped by the Government to grow economically, on the other hand they suffer at the hands of landlords, Caste Hindus and high caste Christians. Today even after the twelfth five-year plan, the Dalits remain socially and economically backward and educationally handicapped. The general social development and economic progress have not in any way boosted their life. It is very much regrettable and something serious for our consideration and the whole Indian nation should feel sorry and shameful for such an unhappy and dehumanising state of affairs for 220 million Indians even today.
Now more and more Dalits are becoming aware that the humiliations and ill-treatments they undergo are structurally legitimised by a group of persons with their vested interests: “Dalits are now aware that historically they are the indigenous people of India forming one community with the Tribal. Over the centuries they lost not only their territory but were also scattered across the land, enslaved by the Brahmin priests and ruling classes and made into outcastes in a system of institutionalised inequality, the caste-system which is a product of Brahmin Civilization.”10 Moreover, “to be a member FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 15
of a community means to enter into the sharing of relationship; into the sharing of wealth or riches of talents and especially, work. It means also sharing the burdens, the failures as well as the success of that community.”11 But alas, while the Dalits share the burden of Indian society, they are not allowed to share the wealth, riches and success of the society, nor they are accepted and respected as full-fledged members of the society. “If Dalits are provided good education then education itself may lead to upward mobility. Education can serve as catalyst for upward mobility. The untouchables who number more than 220 million known as Dalits have been systematically neglected and ostracized in our Indian society for many years. The Dalits still suffer the stigma of untouchability.”12
Conclusion In 1982, the Indian Official Church (CBCI) openly spoke against caste system and its oppression and called caste practices sinful. In 2016, it has developed “Policy of Dalit Empowerment in the Catholic Church in India” to promote their welfare, well-being and liberation13. It is the first time the Dalit identity and presence have been officially recognised by the Catholic Church that has declared an open secret, namely that out of 19 million Catholics in India, 12 million are the Dalits. A strong appeal to the Catholic Church hence is that it has to do an ongoing research and study of the Catholic Dalits in India so that the Church understands the life and suffering of the crucified people and do justice for their all-round growth, development and liberation. We the Christians of all churches in India need to re-think not only in terms of total liberation of the Dalits, but also the reconstruction of Dalit communities. It will include all their social and religious aspirations like education, proper care of children, remedial schools for the drop-outs, education and concretisation of children, youth, men and women, provision of different employment opportunities like carpentry, painting, brick making etc. Organizing cultural programmes for recreation and creation of counter culture, planning social 16 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
gatherings to dine together with other castes, which will bring equality among our people and also encouraging inter-caste marriages. Such a praxis of reconstruction with “our commitment to the Dalits, a crucified people of our own times...” 14 will lead our people toward an ‘oikumene’ of the people of God. For it is our hope that in and through our fellowship, commitment and struggle, a victory over individual, social, historical, ecological, digital and structural sins is possible 15, and the Dalit sisters and brothers in India have a share in the political power, in the economic wealth, fully accepted as human beings in the social life, respected religiously and culturally and receive health and educational facilities both at the village and national level. (Endnotes)
1 “Karma” literally means “action,” and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction, which Hindus believe governs all consciousness. Also ref: https://www.google.com/ search? q=what+is+th e+meaning+of+karma+in+hinduism&rlz=1C1CHBH_deIN 815IN815&oq=what+is+the+meaning+of+Karma+in+Hin duism&aqs=chrome.0.0l2.12728j1j7&sourceid=chrome& ie=UTF-8, 19.01.2020. 2 https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/ story/20160215-dalits-untouchable-rohith-vemulacaste-discrimination-828418-2016-02-03, on 17.01.2020. 3 Ayrookuzhiel, p. 34 4 Ibid., p. 35 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid.,36 7 Ibid., 37 8 Ibid., p. 39 9 https://mhrd.gov.in/directive_principles_of_state_policy_ article-46 10 “An Indian Search for a Spirituality of Liberation,” Voices from the Third World, June 1990, p. 68. 11 Aylward Shorter W. F., African Christian Spirituality, ed. (New York: Orbis Maryknoll, 1980), p. 127. 12 https://www.jstor.org/stable/41856451?seq=1, 16.01.2020: Joseph Benjamin, “Dalit and Higher Education in India,” The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. LXIX, No. 3, July – Sep., 2008. 13 https://www.cbci.in/Policies/Policy922172823534.pdf 14 Willian Madtha, “Dalit Theology: Voice of the oppressed” Dharma, XVI (Jan-March 1991), 82. 15 Galilea, p. 22.
The writer is a professor of theology and superior of Berchmans Illam, an International study house for Jesuits in formation, Loyola College Campus, Chennai. He earned his Doctorate in Theology from the Catholic Theology Faculty of LeopoldFranzens-Universitaet, Innsbruck (1998). He is a visiting professor at the Catholic Theology Faculty of Leopold-Franzens-Universitaet, Innsbruck, Austria and several other Theological faculties.
What is natural in nature?
Spirituality
Fr. Peter Fernandes, SFX
T
he fundamental question humanity should ask is: what is natural in nature? Albert Einstein suggested, “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” In the wake of global warming, this question is more relevant than ever. In trying to capture and subdue nature, we rational beings have forgotten to respect that which is natural in nature or have just proceeded with flagrant disregard for the nature of the natural world. We rational beings must look at nature with more humility, and realize that the Earth and its atmosphere predate we human beings as the poet William Wordsworth said, “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher”. Man is made to enjoy nature and all that it offers by his Creator, but man’s curiosity has tempted him to try to alter it. As it is said, “curiosity kills the cat.” Man’s ability to reason should have guided him to explore nature responsibly, which would imply that natural law would be respected. Yet that has not always happened, and global warming is among the results. So now we in contemporary society are destroying much of what is natural in nature, and perhaps it will be lost forever. G.K Chesterton said, “The modern world is insane, not so much because it admits the abnormal, as because it cannot recover the normal.” The Industrial Revolution brought about tremendous changes in society, and ushered in new possibilities whose consequences were not always fully explored before they were seized upon. Fossil fuel, and the ability to release its energy in a controlled manner, made possible automation that could speed production on the land and in the factories. But world leaders have not always been mindful of the consequences of the excess use of such fuel, or the by-products of using it, which we now call greenhouse gasses. Without comprehending nature, man has played with it, and now, nature is playing with man’s fate. Suddenly people around the globe are waking up to the hard reality of nature’s wrath fully displayed for all to behold. The clear and present danger of climate change means we cannot fossil-fuel our way to prosperity. What is driving this? Human greed has prompted humans to manipulate nature, including the food we consume. Most food products consumed today are adulterated. They include essential human needs, like water. Today much of the food products available in markets are genetically-modified so more can be produced at less cost. Those concerned that man may not be knowledgeable enough to modify genetics to produce healthful products now look to what are labelled as organic products as more healthy for
humans to consume and less stressful on the natural environment. Whether this trust is well-placed is difficult to judge. But those who label their products as organic may simply be trying to make their products more desirable to buyers, rather than trying to foster nature’s ability to produce. In recent times, the people of Goa have come under the grip of formalin. One of the essential needs of Goans is fish. And, the fish that is available in markets is adulterated with formalin. Why? Is the addition of this putting people’s health at risk? Are most of the sicknesses from which people suffer direct results of the consumption of adulterated food and polluted water? “If I were a tree, I would have no reason to love humans”. This is a poetic sentiment, because of humans, the natural is lost in nature. Today, humans are boasting about what artificial intelligence may someday soon be able to accomplish, as if it could supersede human intelligence. What stupidity! Leaving aside why humanity wants to create artificial intelligence so it can abandon the use of its own God-given intelligence, how can a product made by a human be more intelligent than its human creator?
Clearly, we do not understand the nature of our own intelligence. It is an immaterial gift from God our Creator, while artificial intelligence technology is created by men of matter. How can matter be superior? Over time it will rot. Its machinery will rot. As for humanity? If it continues to allow pride and greed to determine what humanity produces and how it is produced, those vices will cause our demise, and that of the planet. Hence, before we digress too far from God’s nature, perhaps we should take time to develop some respect for the environment God has given us, and the intelligence we have been given by God, and start asking how God might want us to employ both for the good of all and His creation. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is Asst. Director at Fr. Agnel Ashram, Verna-Goa. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 17
Spirituality
St. Agatha Scholastic Christopher Gregory Joseph, SFX Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong…1 Corinthians 1:27
S
T. AGATHA was born in Sicily, to rich and noble parents—a child of benediction from the first, for she was promised to her parents before her birth, and consecrated from her earliest infancy to God. In the midst of dangers and temptations, she served Christ in purity of body and soul, and she died for the love of chastity. Quintanus, who governed Sicily under the Emperor Decius, had heard the rumour of her beauty and wealth, and he made the laws against the Christians as a pretext to summoning her from Palermo to Catania, where he was at that time. “O Jesus Christ!” she cried, as she set out on this dreaded journey, “all that I am is Thine; preserve me against the tyrant.” And Our Lord did indeed preserve one who had given herself so utterly to Him. He kept her pure and undefiled while she was imprisoned for a whole month under charge of an evil woman. He gave her strength to reply to the offer of her life and safety, if she would but consent to sin, “Christ alone is my life and my salvation.” When Quintanus turned from passion to cruelty, and cut off her breasts, Our Lord sent the Prince of His apostles to heal her. And when, after she had been rolled naked upon potsherds, she asked that her torments might be ended, her Spouse heard her prayer and took her to Himself. 18 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
St. Agatha gave herself without reserve to Jesus Christ; she followed Him in virginal purity, and then looked to Him for protection. And down to this day Christ has shown His tender regard for the very body of St. Agatha. Again, and again, during the eruptions of Mount Etna, the people of Catania have exposed her veil for public veneration; and in modern times, on opening the tomb in which her body lies, have found safety by this means.
For us Christians, the life St. Agatha teaches us that purity is a gift of God; we can gain it and preserve it only by care and diligence in avoiding all that which may lead us to sin. Purity is a singular devotion to the love of the Lord. These days the media is flooded with instances and means to give into impure thoughts and life style. The question is how strong are we against them, for the sake of the love of the Lord? Agatha was truly good, for she lived as a child of God. Her goodness coincides with her name and her way of life. She won a good name by her noble deeds and by her name she points to the nobility of those deeds. She teaches us by her example, to seek for true goodnes, God alone. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a student of First Year Theology, Pilar Theological College, Pilar-Goa.
Justice to those on the peripheries
Spirituality
LUKE 19,1-10
Fr. Santosh Mendonca, SFX Lectio The Gospel of Luke is often called as the ‘Gospel of the Outcast’ (T. W. Manson) especially Chapters 1519 which deals with parables, teachings, and healings telling us about God’s mercy and compassion towards the outcast and the lost. Our passage for reflection mentions one such outcasts – Tax Collectors. Tax Collectors were minor officials who agreed to pay the chief Tax Collector a given sum. Responsible for local duties and tolls, some collected in excess and hence are portrayed (justly or not) in both rabbinic and Christian texts as extortionists, morally questionable, and the least likely to repent (Matt 5,46; 21,31; Luke 3, 12-13; 7, 34; m. Hag. 3.6; m. Ned. 3.4; m. B. Kamma 10.1-2). Nevertheless, Luke’s characterisation of Tax Collectors is generally positive (they flock to hear John and Jesus (3,12;7,29;15,1); Jesus calls a Tax Collector to follow him (5,27); and he is called the friend of Tax Collectors (7,34). Since tax collectors are mentioned alongside the sinners (5,30; 7,34), we can see them as on ‘their way to conversion’ from their defrauding ways. This is evident from their question to John the Baptist, “Teacher, what shall we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more that is appointed you” (Luke 3, 1213). The desire for conversion is again demonstrated by Zacchaeus the tax collector who invites Jesus into his house, and Jesus easily obliges to his invitation. Through this depiction, Luke points to the dilemma of the early church, namely, the acceptance of the repentant outcast into the life of the community. Luke thus invites and exhorts his community, and now each one of us, to welcome them as their own brethren and thus fight for their cause for justice.
Meditatio It is not the first time that Jesus is seen with “bad company,” in his effort to bring about the kingdom of God in the heart of man (Luke 5,27-32; 15,1-3). As a consequence, he had to face the wrath of the so-called righteous people. But he knew the purpose of his coming to earth “to seek those who were lost.” Clearly, Zacchaeus was not a saint. Even he knew that. But this is precisely why Jesus chose to be a guest in his home and to enjoy his hospitality. This was an opportunity for Jesus and a chance to bring the Kingdom closer to sinners, and justice to those on the peripheries of society. We, as Christians, are given opportunities in various ways to give our hand in outreach for those who are on the peripheries of our society - those discriminated on the basis of sex, caste, colour, and creed. Can we, like Jesus, break the chains that divide our society and reach out to our brethren-in-need. This is the challenge and the invitation that our passage places before us. Oratio Lord, help me to hear the cry of those suffering discrimination and grant me the courage to provide them a shoulder to lean on in their time of need.
Actio Take some time to listen to one of your friends or neighbours or a stranger, and try to find a solution to his/her problem. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is pursuing his Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, Italy. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 19
Youth
Stay Active, Stay Positive
Fr. Carlos Luis SAC
W
ith every third person in the Indian city being a youth means that India consists of 64 percent of youth as its population. The total population of India according to the updated census by the UN is 1.38 billion. Whether it is a rise in the youth population of India or not, youth in India have always been expressive. In 2014, the Jadavpur University protests lasted for four long months leading to a movement called Hok Kolorob Movement which raised their voices against the molestation of women. In 2015, Justice for Rohith Chakravarti Vemula, an Indian PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad, he committed suicide after he was suspended and ill treated by the university by not being payed his stipend because he raised issues under the banner of Ambedkar Students’ Association. The protest was led by the Joint Action Commission which brought out of the closet the deeply rooted casteist genes of our society. In 2016, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protests which clarified the bias of our media. And later on the protests by national institutes like Delhi University, TISS, and BITS Pilani against 20 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
educational decisions.
The protests haven’t subsided, JNU is still making news. Nirbhaya 2012 gang rape case and murder that infused protests in the youth brings attention to the country’s epidemic of sexual violence. Their active fight led to the death warrant of the convicted four men. Having known the affirmative stand of the youth to fight against any injustice that disturbs our country, I would like to propose the following ways youth can remain active and positive in their fight for social justice:
You can be an influencer The term ‘influencer’ is trending on YouTube, Netflix, and other digital platforms. On these platforms an individual himself or herself is responsible for the content one is showcasing. The influencer at the top of my mind is Prajakta Koli. She runs a channel called, ‘mostly sane,’ which has content that influences young minds. The content is presented either comically or on a serious note. She is just one example out of many. You too can be an ‘influencer.’
Observe and get involved One of the most important aspects of becoming a change is observing and getting involved. Observing the social issues that affect the society and the social evils that hamper the growth and development of individuals, the society is marked by individuals who learn to take and not give back. Therefore one must observe and get involved. A suitable example in this regard could be Licypriya Kangujam, she is a child environmental activist from Manipur, India. She along with other activists like Greta Thunberg and Jamie Margolin have voiced out their opinion regarding climate change. Getting involved takes courage and as a youth, you have the support of your fellow like-minded friends. No doubt there would be comments against you and your work. But the difference that you would make is larger than the hate comments you may receive.
Understand and enlighten the ignorant Many times, one may understand an issue better than the other. It is best to then explain it to others who are ignorant about it, whether it is environmental issues, social evils, atrocities against the marginalized. Many living in their places of luxury do not come to the knowledge of the marginalized, downtrodden, and downcast. So it is best to refer to the knowledgeable first and then when one has understood, take the knowledge to the ignorant and become the light needed to dispel the darkness.
Tell your elders Youth have always come in conflict with the elders in whatever task they wanted to take up and therefore it is best to refer to the elders i.e. your parents, teachers, professors or anyone senior who you think will be of help to you. See it through their experience and they would be able to guide you. Usually, there would be a mismatch between the elder’s and youth thought process and we blame it on the generation
gap. But if we learn to collaborate in patience, there is always a chance that we may achieve miraculously something that we would not, if ventured alone. Harbour growth, change, and upliftment In every fight that you undertake after having understood that ‘Y’ou can be an influencer, be ‘O’bservant and get involved, ‘U’nderstand the issues and enlighten the ignorant, ‘T’elling your elders and having a fruitful conversation, it must always be your desire to ‘H’arbour growth, change and upliftment in the society that you live in. If Malala Yousafzai didn’t believe that her idea of educating the girl child would bring about the change she wouldn’t have stood up for it despite the troubles she had to undergo. If Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez didn’t think of speaking for climate change when he was six years old and would have not continued thereafter, he would have not been one of the 21 to have sued the federal government and Donald Trump for failing to act on climate change. If the purpose of your fight is to gain fame for yourself then it is best not to start the fight at all, but if you want growth, change, and empowerment to happen, then you are most welcome. Keeping these five tips in your mind will help you as a youth to stay active and positive. Because it is not always possible to stay active and positive when you are fighting a real fight, when you are fighting for the truth, when you fail, again and again, you ought to stand again and again. “Believe you can and you are halfway there!” said Theodore Roosevelt. The writer is a member of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines). He is based in Pallotti Retreat House and is the Vocation Promoter.
A New Emmaus Experience
Pilar News
‘Jesus Calls Ministries’ ventured into new a Emmaus experience in Anjuna, a picturesque village, where Venerable Agnelo D’Souza, the saintly member of the Society of Pilar was born. 26 youngsters who would be joining the seminary this year got together in a “Conclave” – an experience for knowing and understanding the life of a Missionary. This venture was supported by Rev. Fr. Patrick Luis, the ever-enthusiastic parish priest of St. Michael’s Church, Anjuna. Upon our arrival, he welcomed us and the students proceeded towards the ‘Miraculous Cross’, on a hillock and recited the Rosary. Rev. Fr. Mark Furtado, the Director of ‘Jesus Calls Ministries’ explained the purpose of this “Conclave”. The day was well-organised by the Major Seminarians of Pilar with lot of fun and learning activities. On the next day, Rev. Fr. Sebastiao Mascarenhas (Superior General) celebrated the Eucharist in the house of Ven. Fr. Agenlo and inspired the young lads through his homily. He told them, “We Need You to be a Pilar Missionary”.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 21
Mission Musings
Ministry among the Dalits
T
he period during 1960s and 70s was, in more ways than one, defining for Catholic Christians, especially in understanding theology and the Scripture itself. It was the time when theologians, inspired by the teachings of Vat II and out of their own experience of working with the poor of the world, began to recognize God with greater intensity as the God of the poor, a God who feels for and takes sides with the poor. It was the period when we rediscovered God as anawim Yahweh. That realization was also an invitation to every committed Christian to take sides with the vulnerable, ‘bowed down people,’ the marginalized and those who are at the cutting edge of the socio-economic structures of our times. The missionaries in north India were also gripped by this recognition and committed themselves accordingly to specifically work for the upliftment of the people of God. Their main focus group was dalits, the socio-economically ‘broken’ of the society. Dalits are technically not part of the Hindu society. The Purusha Suktam of the Rig Veda 22 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
Fr. Dr. Prem Antony, IMS speaks about the combination of the society as consisting of four varnas, Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and the Shudra, the servant class. The Smrti literature also speaks about it in detail. The dalits and the tribals are considered avarnas, outside the caste system. Hence they are often referred to as outcaste, panchamas, etc. and are socially and economically the most neglected and deprived group.
Most missionaries like my friend, Fr. Alex have been adopting multipronged strategies to work with these marginalized sections (shudras and panchmas) as to empower them in various ways and make them feel included and cared for by society. One of the important steps taken by most missionaries was to form Self Help Groups (SHGs) among them with a explicit focus on ‘small saving scheme’. This was done because many of them had become debtors to money lenders who fleeced the poor who were in need. Although SHGs were run both for men and women, SHGs for women were generally more successful because they were in greater need and
because they were more regular and responsive to the idea of helping themselves. This has indeed worked miracles among them, helping them with easier cash with which they could begin small enterprises, and meet their emergency expenses without submitting to the tyranny of the money lenders and the others. Yet another focus of the missionaries was to educate the children of these groups, with a particular focus on girl children because these are the marginalized within the marginalized and also because it dawned on them that an educated girl could educate an entire generation when she became a mother. Both girls and boys were helped in various ways to get educated, first of all, by establishing schools in the neighbourhood, by waiving off their fees if needed, providing free materials required for education, including uniform, and even providing midday meals.
It was also found that there was a large number of differently abled children among this category of people. Quite a few of these cases happen due to malnutrition and lack of proper care. I remember noticing many dalits who were with physical deformity when I was posted to a station in the early 1990s. When I enquired I was told that the dalits of that area were traditionally given their wages in kind, a kind of millet like cereal that induced physical deformity! Imagine the fate of a mentally unsound or physically challenged dalit child! A person with disability already experiences certain amount of humiliation and isolation. But when such persons happen to be dalits, they experience double exclusion and denial of rights! Very often they are locked up, tied to trees and windows and left to fend for themselves! One of the ways by which we in the north address this issue is by giving special care to such kids and even youngsters to give them greater physical mobility, train them in some skills, get them employed, etc. This is working out well. Besides such interventionist methods, many have involved themselves in getting them social justice through various means. One way it is done is by organizing them
to get the necessary promised help from the government, conscientizing them to be united, to stand up for their legal rights, to get land rights, housing, PDS, etc. Most dalits did not own any land in these parts of India, and therefore they had to be completely dependent on the landlords for every need of theirs. Working with them and working for them is tough, but it is worthwhile. The missionary has a sense of conviction that he is working for God’s people for whose sake he once commanded, ‘Let my people go’ (Ex. 5.1). I often feel what we are doing is a mere act of fire fighting, and we need to work with focused attention on structural change. But it is difficult to bring about a structural change in our society unless we are able to affect the value system of the society and bring in a totally different thinking. An average Indian, even most of the ‘modern’ ones think only within the category of caste. Most of them neglect the plight of the poor as their irredeemable lot. What I see close to my seminary, the state of life of one of the most neglected ‘musahars’ (rat eaters) is an apt example. Probably we need to work with greater focus in collaboration with many other agencies to bring in a different value orientation in our society for lasting social changes.
Be that as it may, it is in such contexts as mentioned above that our mission to preach the Good News gathers relevance even today - the Good News should make real sense to such oppressed, dehumanised, isolated and vulnerable lot (Luke 4: 18-19). If that was the mission of the Lord Himself, it can be ours too. That is why our beloved Pope Francis urges us on “to go to the peripheries” and to become “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.” Prem Anony is a missionary priest belonging to the Indian Missionary Society. He is currently a resident teacher in the major seminary of the IMS in Varanasi.
Pilar Fathers pay homage to the Missionary Son – St Joseph Vaz
Pilar News
The members of the Society of Pilar went on a pilgrimage to pay homage to this great missionary. The Mass at 4:00 pm was organised by the Pilar Family. Rev. Fr. Peter Melo Fernandes, Rector of All India Mission Seminary was the main celebrant. Rev. Fr. Joseph Fernandes, Director of Pilar Retreats, preached the Word of God. He highlighted the aspect of St. Joseph Vaz going out of the way to reach out to others. He said that Joseph Vaz trusted God and faced all the challenges in his life. “Walking in the footsteps of St. Joseph Vaz, let us be true missionaries in our simple day to day life” he said. Rev. Fr. Nazareth Fernandes, Vicar General, Fr. Mathew Fernandes, Provincial of Goa Province, Fr. Menino Gomes and other Pilar Fathers and seminarians were also present. The entire Novena and Feast programme was coordinated by Rev. Fr. Manuel Dias, who expressed his gratitude to everyone and said that we have to share and spread the devotion to St. Joseph Vaz to others which is also the sincere desire of the Archbishop of Goa. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 23
Mission Musings
Shepherding God’s People Fr. Daniel Joy SFX
S
ituated in the North East of Gujarat, ten kilometers from the border of Rajasthan and around 116 kms from Ahmedabad is a scenic and beautiful village called Khiloda. The village is primarily agrarian in nature, with most people engaged in farming. Cotton, maize, castor seeds, wheat, grams, groundnut, potatoes being the main crops. People are also engaged in dairy farming, thanks to the milk cooperative movement started in the state by the legendary Dr.Varghese Kurien. It is because of these milk cooperatives that people engaged in milk production here get a very good price for the milk they sell. With regards to the religious beliefs of the people living here they are primarily all Hindus belonging to various castes and communities. The Patels are the dominant caste. There are further divisions among the Patels as well, such as kuthci Patels and leuva Patels. Most of them 24 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
here are economically well to do and own acres and acres of land. Besides them there are many people belonging to the, Thakars, ST’s and SC communities.
It is in such a non-christian, agrarian milieu, where the winter temperature can be as low as 6 degree celsius and the summer temperature as high as 48 to 49 degree celsius that the Pilar fathers community at Khiloda works. One may wonder how the Pilar fathers began working here. With the establishment of the Archdiocese of Gandhinagar, the Archbishop invited the Pilar Society to extend their services here. The initial mission faced various ups and downs. Initially the Fathers began Pastoral and Social outreach programs from Himmatnagar. The search for land led the fathers to Asal. The Asal mission near Shamlaji was set up with the dedicated work of fathers and sisters. However
due to various problems, they could not establish themselves there. In the meantime, they shifted their base to a rented bunglow in Sodhpur and the Pilar sisters joined them soon in ministering to the people. Eventually a land was then bought at Khiloda amidst a lot of opposition. An English medium school has since come up along with a residence for the sisters. The Fathers used to stay in the school building itself till last year. A residence has come up now and three fathers are residing here.
Pastoral: Most of the parishioners here are migrants from Rajasthan. In the past, the Jesuit fathers used to work here. The Pilar fathers now take care of the pastoral needs of parishioners staying in 6 villages namely Lokan, Sajjapur, Vantada, Tintoi, Dantiya and Khari. In all there are around 20 catholic families most of whom are farmers. The fathers celebrate regular masses in all these villages. Masses are held in the houses of parishners, as they do not have a church building. After the mass, children are taught catechism. Every last Sunday of the month mass is held in the school building at Khiloda. Apart from celebrating masses the villages are visited on a regular basis by the fathers and sisters. Retreats are held for the people annually. Parishioners are also taken to neighboring parishes to attend seminars, Bible conventions etc. All the fathers and sisters collaborate well and are actively involved in the pastoral ministry. As there is prevalence of mixed marriages and disparity of cult, a lot of efforts are being made to regularize these marriages.
Educational: Being a rural area it has been indeed a challenge to work in the educational field. From getting qualified teachers, to collecting the fees, there are many challenges faced here. Yet amidst all odds the fathers and sisters who have worked here have left no stone unturned to provide quality English education to the students studying here. Apart from academics a lot of importance is given to co-curricular activities. Every month some competition is conducted. Various committees headed by students have been formed with the intention of inculcating leadership qualities in them. A lot of emphasis is given to spoken English as well. Children are constantly given opportunities to hone their English speaking skills by encouraging them to take part in competitions. As most of the students’ parents are farmers and do not have any knowledge of English, the teachers have to put in double the efforts to teach the children. The school also encourages celebration of various religious festivals in order to foster respect for other religions. Christmas too is celebrated every year in a grand
manner. For the last two years, the Nativity Scene in Gujarati has been enacted during the Annual Day in order to convey the message of Christmas to our non Christian brethren.
Social: The Pilar sisters have been playing a very active role in the social arena. Over the years the Pilar sisters have been trying their level best to touch the lives of the people specially those of women in about 28 villages, through their regular visits. Regular meetings are also conducted in 19 villages. Awareness programmes are conducted with the main focus on health, hygiene and education. A Credit Cooperative Society has also been started for the adivasi women in order empower them and make them financially independent. These women are most of the time exploited by their husbands, people belonging to upper castes etc. The Pilar fathers too have been lending their cooperation and expertise in the work carried out by the sisters in the upliftment of women and children. The parish of Khiloda may not have too many parishioners, but lots can be done. The faith is luke warm and needs to be constantly cared and nurtured. People are financially very poor as well. More can be done to empower the people, specially the youth and women. Coming from Goa, I at times wonder how on one hand most parishes there are so affluent, thanks to the generous spirit of the parishners while here the faithful are struggling to even build a place of worship. How wonderful it would have been if parishners from more affluent parishes could be conscientised about the challenging conditions faced by priests and religious working in mission stations like Khiloda. Lots could be done if we could collaborate to work in the building of the Lord’s Kingdom. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is the principal of St. Xavier School, Khiloda, Gujarat. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 25
Scholastic Agustinho Barreto, SFX appointed in Juhu-Tara and worked there till 2014. In 2014 I came to Pilar, where I reside presently. Life in the missions has been very joyful for me. I enjoyed working with the people providing them material as well as spiritual help. What ministry did you carry out in the missions? Mostly educational ministry. Wherever I went I tried to establish school for the children. Taking care of the education of the children, giving them good values and faith. Encouraging them to always give their best no matter what the circumstances come. Since the people were poor they could not afford to give best education for their children. To provide for their educational needs and making them responsible citizens of the country was my task. I also had pastoral ministry of celebrating the sacraments for the people and nourishing them spiritually.
F
r. Jose Francisco Dias hails from Silvassa, Nagar Haveli and is a missionary priest of our society. He completed 50 years as a priest in the service of the Lord. Today, he joyfully shares his experience to inspire, motivate and challenge all those who want to follow Christ in his footsteps.
Who influenced you to consider vocation to priesthood? At the very young age, I had a desire to be a man of God, to be different, to do something for the society. It was my parents who first taught me faith and love of God. Later on, it was my brother and sister in law who influenced me and encouraged me to go forward in my vocation. In 1952 I came to Goa and spent a year at Don Bosco in Panjim, later in 1954 I came to Pilar and joined the mission seminary. What attracted you to join the society of Pilar? Since I came from Nagar Haveli, I saw many Pilar missionaries working hard in my place. I was very much taken up by their zeal to do something for the society. They worked tirelessly to provide spiritual as well as material well-being of the people. So, I thought I can join Pilar and work in Nagar Haveli as a priest of the society. Tell me about life as a Pilar Missionary? I was ordained on 8th June 1969 at Silvassa. Soon after my ordination I was appointed in Agnel Ashram in Bandra. I worked there for eleven years. From there I was appointed as a parish priest at Juhu Kholivada. I worked there from 1979 to 1985. I built a church and school for the children. In 1985 I was appointed as a director of Fr. Agnel Niketan. In 1986 I was made as an acting manager of Xaverian Press. From 1988 to 2004, I worked in Daman. In 2004, I was appointed in Vapi. There I built a school and later on a church named after Our Lady of Valankani. In 2008, I was 26 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
What challenges did you face and what kept you going? The challenges that I faced were mostly with regard to construction of schools. The government authorities would not give us the permission easily. They had their own agenda. So, I had to make constant trips to government offices in order to clear the paper work. But I did not give up. I have great faith in Mother Mary. So, I urged the people to constantly pray the rosary. With the intercession of Our Lady, all hurdles and difficulties were easily overcome. What are some of your hobbies and interest? I like gardening, so I would insist on having a clean surrounding with flower plants and pots which would beautify the place. I would also encourage people to cultivate vegetables so as to be self-sufficient. I also encouraged children to go for sports and other activities.
What advice would you give to a young man who is contemplating a vocation to priesthood? I advise all priest and seminarians to be a priest according to the heart of Jesus. When we entrust our work to our Lord and Mother Mary everything becomes easier and fruitful. People always appreciated my work because I was sincere, loving and kind. I would advise everyone to serve the people with love and kindness. When you are close to the people and see their needs. They also love and respect you for all that you do to them. Above all I urge everyone to keep on praying and working hard to be fruitful. It is God’s mission that we carry out. Therefore, we should always be loving and filled with gratitude in our heart. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a student of Second Year Theology, Pilar Theological College, Pilar-Goa.
Oh! Goa
The Rosto Campaign Lloyd J Rodrigues
I
t is rightly said that difficult roads often lead us to beautiful destinations and a place like Goa, the pearl of the orient, is where we find perfect destinations covering a large stretch and we have tourists flocking to Goa every year to explore the finest uniqueness of our state But are our roads really leading the people to beautiful destinations in Goa ?. Certainly not! Burakache roste, potholed roads have been a major issue in Goa, poor condition of the roads have often lead to major predicament and Goans as well as the outsiders have to face many inconveniences due to bad roads ! What has been the solution to this problem?!’ Are we working towards it ? Well, we have a dynamic personality who has been giving her whole and soul for a better Goa! And has proudly taken up the initiative to tackle the problems the Goans face due to bad roads. Cecille Rodrigues, a social activist from vasco has been working on the “rosto campaign” along with her supporting team!
It is really important that we the citizens of Goa need to have better quality roads in our villages, in our areas and we have our elected representatives whose duty is to get the jobs done for us and make sure that everything functions as it needs to.
#the Rosto Campaign It started off last year in 2019 by Cecille Rodrigues. It was indeed a great move by her to do something for the betterment of our people it is our right to have better quality roads to be provided by our government is what she strongly believes! #Aim and mission of Rosto Campaign The aim of the Rosto Campaign is basically creating awareness that people need to stand for themselves and voice out, there are many of them who have lost their family members, lot of inconveniences have been caused due to bad roads and also the speed breakers which are very bad and unnoticeable has led to major road accidents and Cecille and team has taken up the responsibility of getting the speed breakers painted in many areas of Goa she completed nearly 70 plus speed breakers in most parts of Goa. She also deals with the garbage problem which creates a mess around and is very unpleasant to us. Cecille is giving her best for Goa which we all must’ do in our own locality to help make a change!
#peoples involvement and support Cecille started off this campaign by updating people through Facebook and Instagram and that’s when there were people joining the campaign one after the other and formed a team. They have people who support them financially and also most importantly giving away their valuable time for this great noble cause. They have also started the “Kochro campaign” wherein they segregate waste at places they come across and make markings stating “Do not throw Garbage” “keep Goa clean”. Nowadays the attitude of our Goans have been like “Maka Kityak Podlam? “why do we care? let them do It! This shouldn’t be our attitude towards our own state it’s a big shame for all of us. # governments involvement and initiative There is no involvement of the government nor the PWD minister in taking step to do something to the inconveniences caused to the people due to poor road conditions except for the speed breakers in Moira, Mapusa which was painted by the Rosto Campaign members and reflectors were placed there by the Moira panchayat which showed concern that even they too can bring about a change for good ! #current scene of the roads Well there have been roads that have been patched up and there are some which are shabbily done. The PWD minister promised that he’ll get the roads hot mixed by 30th November 2019 and now it’s already January 2020 and nothing has been done yet which is really a shame. There are hopes that in a due course of time something would be done by the present government regarding the roads and we all might have better roads soon. #message to the people We are the ones who can make a change for the betterment of our state and if we sit back with the notion “Maka Kityak podla?” we aren’t leading anywhere. As citizens of Goa we need to contribute and voice out for what we deserve. We have elected our representatives for a reason so that they cater to our needs which is not really happening. We all need to work in huge numbers and be the Change and have a better future.
The writer is a student of Rosary College of Commerce & Arts, Navelim. Writing has always been his passion. Apart from that he enjoys singing, art, music and exploring new places. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 27
Inside India
Fighting For Our Rights: A Cause for Joy or a Matter of Concern?
I
ndia is known the world over as a holy land and a place of diverse spiritualties. It is interesting however, that in recent years it has become known for things other than religion and spirituality. To be frank, it has become the butt of many jokes and the reference point for many things that are contrary to the widely accepted norm of behaviour and refinement.
India has become host to some serious protests in the last couple of years. One might recall the infamous protests against the Jan-Lokpal Bill spearheaded by Anna Hazare that led to the withdrawal of Sharad Pawar from the group of ministers who were tasked with reviewing the bill. Such was the gravity and efficacy of the protests that it was labelled as one of the top 10 news stories of 2011 by Time Magazine. The Nirbhaya movement which spontaneously took flight post the insidious Nirbhaya rape and murder case of 2012 shook the dozing nation out of its apathetic stupor. It wasn’t like this was the first ever rape and murder case in the nation but there was something about the callousness of the affair that triggered people’s anger and brought forth a longoverdue and at once, tremendous response from the citizens across the country who stood in one accord to decry the barbarism that was on display. The last example that I would like to cite here is that 28 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
Scholastic Ian Pinto, SDB of students of various renowned universities who dared to raise their voice in opposition to situations of crass discrimination and injustice. Here one might do well to recall the strong opposition that arose in the Rohit Vemula caste-discrimination case where the above mentioned committed suicide. Perhaps even more powerful than this case was that of Kanhaiya Kumar, the leader of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student’s Union who was arrested on sedition charges for participating in a protest against the hanging of Afzal Guru. The nature of his arrest and his subsequent release sparked even greater protests than the one that led to his arrest. Such was the volume of the protest that the entire nation had to lend its ears to these young and passionate youthful protestors.
It is not as if India has had no history of powerful protests. The Indian Freedom Struggle is one great narrative of how Indians have resisted unjust laws and rulers and have sought to assert their God-given freedom and dignity. The recent spurt of protests offer an incisive view into the nature of Government and political practice in India in the last decade! Our history books do not shy from recalling the glorious sacrifices made by numerous Indians for the sake of the country and for love of freedom. Despite this, our society and government does not seem to realize the rationale behind protests. This is evidenced in
the manner our society continues to function in the face of grave inhumanity. The hitherto unclear fate of rapists is a case in point.
It is absolutely imperative that our country realises the rationale behind protests, not just so that we can understand why they arise and where they are heading but that we can start taking them seriously, and God knows that we need that more than ever. Just think about it. Nearly all of the protests I mentioned in the beginning of this article have grown into faint memories. But this much is certain, they have led people to realize the power of numbers in opposing injustice. Protests offer people more than just an opportunity to make demands or vent out their emotions. Protests also have a psychological effect on the population over and above the protestors themselves. They serve as cathartic events where people can feel a certain sense of relief from the impact caused by the event while at the same time, feeling that they are contributing to making a difference. It is this psychological aspect that often undermines and outshines the more basic aspects of the protest. What happens when protests grow from micro to macro levels is that the real emotion and passion that sparks off the protests reduces steadily as it proceeds to the outer circles of protestors such that those on the outer circle protest purely for psychological benefit. On the other hand, the psychological effect that protests have on the protestors belonging to the inner circle is far more transformative. One might look to Arvind Kejriwal as a classic example of such transformation. Arvind was the right-hand man of Anna Hazare during the Lokpal Bill agitation. Thereafter, he broke away from Anna and went into “ JOY IN JESUS YOUTH”
politics by establishing the Aam Admi Party (AAP). Arvind was never the face of the protest but today he is the face of AAP.
Protests are a direct result of injustices either real or felt. They take various forms from righteous letters to the editors to indignant posts on social media to morchas, rallies and even full blown riots. What is of concern however, is not the manner of protest but the reasons for doing so in the first place. This is the fundamental question that is raised in the sub-heading: Is India’s culture of protest something to be happy or worried about? It is a little of both. The worrying part is that it takes a nation-wide protest to push the Government or the judiciary to take strong stands and issue convincing diktats. The consoling part is that the youth of our country are no more inclined to remain silent against the rampant injustice and inhumanity that prevails.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself in his final ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address for the year 2019 pointed out quite truthfully that “what today’s youth dislikes is instability, chaos and nepotism.” There are numerous other things that can be added to this rather brief list but the silver lining of an awakened youthful population must always remain within sights for it will serve as a powerful deterrent against possible aberrations and abuses that are bound to take place in a society that is apparently growing conditioned to inhumane standards of living. The writer is a Salesian of Don Bosco belonging to the Province of Panjim-Konkan. He is currently doing his regency in Sulcorna, Goa.
Pilar News
A two-day programme for the youth of Goa was organised by the Goa Province of the Society of Pilar. The name of the programme was “Joy in Jesus Youth” aptly signifying how youth are always joyful. The three aims were “Ignite”, “ Inspire” and “Illuminate”. It was held on 11th and 12th January 2020. The organizers of the programme were Fr. Mateus Fernandes, Fr. Mark Furtado, Fr. Milton Rodrigues and Fr. George Nandiyala. The programme witnessed youth from different parishes across Goa such as Agonda, Penha da Franca, Anjuna, Sanguem, Velim, etc. including young teachers from Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar. Fr. Mateus Fernandes addressed the young audience. He beautifully explained Pope Francis’s Post-Synodal Exhortation to Young People “ChristusVivit”. He urged the youth to be alive just as Jesus is alive. Fr. Sebastian addressed the youth, explaining how the society of Pilar started in Goa. He also shared his experiences in the missions and urged the youth of Goa to take up the challenge of hosting a National Level Youth Meeting in October 2020. The two day Joy in Jesus Youth programme concluded with the Holy Eucharistic Celebration. The youth were very happy as it was a very well organised, well-co-ordinated, with motivating sessions and team-building games. The youth suggested that such kinds of programmes need to be conducted during vacations and for more days. It was indeed a very enriching programme.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 29
Global Gaze
Is Liberal Democracy in Recession?
Fr. Agnelo Gomes, SFX
T
hree decades ago in my first year of a bachelor of political science class at Nagpur University, my professor, Mr. Shrisagar, humorously defined democracy as “a government off the people, far the people and buy the people.” The class erupted in thunderous laughter. In the late 80’s the USA, Western Europe, and to some extent, India, were seen as torchbearers of a system of government which was, in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “of the people, for the people, and by the people.” Non-democratic nations were seen either as rogue nations or banana republics. Fast forward three decades and I’m not sure those torchbearers of democracy can be viewed in the same light today. Before the parliamentary elections were held in India in the months of April and May 2019, the BBC broadcast a 30-minute programme, ‘The Election in India’. It made the remarkable statement that the largest amount of people in the history of the world 30 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
would be participating in the elections. They called it a wonder. As an Indian, I was proud to read that. But I was also filled with cynicism. I was cynical because having seen numerous elections during my lifetime I felt India was in danger of becoming an “electiononly democracy” because once a party has won an election, it is unaccountable for its acts. In India today, the Parliament barely functions. Large sections of the media are scared or co-opted. The judiciary is overburdened and dysfunctional. The civil service and the police are more often than not controlled by politicians. There is a steady dismantling of impartial, rule-bound public institutions. One wonders if the very elections we are so proud of, are free and fair. It’s been hardly six months since the latest parliament has been operating and the majority party, the BJP, has already brought about some sweeping legislative changes.
On August 5th, 2019, the Parliament of India,
in a surprise move, scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir (JK). In the same order, it divided JK into two Union Territories. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was imposed in the state, which prohibited the gathering of four or more people. Both former chief ministers, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were placed under house arrest. Communication lines, too, were broken, and internet and mobile services were suspended. A few months later the Supreme Court handed down the verdict on the Ram temple at Ayodhya in favour of the government, and that verdict was followed by the court ruling exonerating the ruling party from the controversial Rafael deal. As recently as last week the ruling majority passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill leaving the toothless minority screaming. All these developments make many of us secularists and minorities wonder if India is heading towards a theocratic, autocratic, one-party rule? Is the democracy and freedom gained by our freedom fights still with us? It makes us wonder which of our rights will next be under attack. Will it be the freedom of press? Will it be the rights of minorities? How about the courts? Are the three branches of Government, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, going to team up against the opposition, the minorities and the liberals?
Democratic norms and laws are being similarly violated across the world stage. The American President, Mr. Donald Trump, is openly questioning and defying the world order that the UN and NATO brought about after the Second World War. He openly sought foreign interference in his 2016 election and is actively repeating the same strategy for the upcoming 2020 election. He has lambasted investigative agencies of the U.S. government, and even worse, pressured them to investigate his political opponents. He has ignored congressional subpoenas and refused to turn over documents, including his tax returns, and he has enriched his businesses through his position. He has attacked the Judicial Branch and the media, often calling the latter “the enemy of the people.” He has acted so egregiously that the House of Representatives is in the process of impeaching him for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson engaged in a political maneuver — suspending Parliament — that the nation’s high court unanimously ruled “unlawful.” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has praised extrajudicial killings. And leaders such as Recep Tayyip Erdogan
of Turkey and Viktor Orban of Hungary have managed to change their constitutions to assist in one-party or one-man rule.
As a perpetual student of Political Science, I view Democracy as Liberal Democracy. Liberal Democracy can be viewed as a system of government, which has widespread political participation by adult citizens, including members of racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic and economic minority groups. Liberal Democracy involves free, fair and regular elections and freedom of individuals to form and support political parties. Liberal Democracy also includes freedom of speech, press, conscience, religion, assembly and equal treatment before the law. I see today liberal democracy is in recession, because it is under siege by a populism driven by unscrupulous, unethical potential despots. Common people are easily fooled and manipulated by these individuals when they come to feel left out by elites. This particularly happens when the distribution of wealth increasing becomes inequitable leaving common people vulnerable to voting for potentially unethical fringe politicians like Trump, Johnson, and Modi who use bigotry and tribalism to prey on people’s fear. It appears that the humorous assessment of my Political Science professor of Democracy as “off the people, far the people and buy the people” is coming true in my very life time as it’s quite clear that Liberal Democracy is in recession The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is the Director of Fr. Agnel Ashram Complex, Pune-Maharashtra. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 31
Pilar News
Silver Jubilee Celebrations
Fr. Agnel Minor Seminary, Kalianpur, Karnataka Way back in the year 1977, the Pilar Fathers went to Kota, a substation of Sastan Parish, presently in the Diocese of Udupi, and began their missionary
work. After some years, in 1994, they bought a House opposite Milagres Church, Kallianpur and established a Minor seminary. It was inaugurated on 1st June 1994 by Bishop Basil D’Souza, the then Bishop of Mangalore. Fr. Henry D’Souza was the first director of the seminary. He also functioned as the vocation promoter. During the last 25 years of its existence, 172 young men joined the seminary. From these 11 have already been ordained as priests and around 28 of them are journeying towards priesthood.
Pilar Fathers presence at Stella Maris Church and School, Kolkata The Silver Jubilee of Pilar Fathers presence at Stella Maris Church and School was celebrated in a grand manner. On the first day a solemn thanksgiving mass was celebrated presided by Rev. Fr. Sebastiao Mascarenhas, sfx, the Superior General of the society of Pilar. On the second day, a cultural programme was staged. His Grace Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, the Archbishop of Kolkata was the chief guest. The
cultural programme consisted of various items like choral, dance, play and Christmas carols. Fr. Roque Noronha, sfx welcomed the gathering, Fr. Richard Couto sfx, the Head Master presented the school report. Prizes for various events that were held during the year 2019 were presented to the students. The grand finale was the energetic “Happy Ending” dance which was a real treat to the audience who enjoyed it immensely. The jubilee magazine was released by the Chief Guest. The programme concluded with the National Anthem.
Prakash Higher Secondary School, Bhopal Prakash Higher Secondary School, Bhopal celebrated its Silver Jubilee on the occasion of the Annual Day function. The theme of the programme was “Ubiquitous Divine Affection Always Nurtures”. A fusion of dances (Bihu, Rajasthani, Portuguese, Kathak etc) was a delight to the eyes. Fr. Franklin Rodrigues sfx, the founder of the school, was honoured for serving the institution during the last 25 years with zeal and commitment for the upliftment of the poor and the marginalised. The Chief Guest, Mrs. Amrita Rai, the Managing Editor of Swaraj Express T.V. & Social Worker, in her address congratulated the Principal and the Manager for their relentless dedication towards the development of students. She also appreciated and expressed her happiness at the efforts put in by the students and staff in staging the programme.
32 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
Padre Agnel
Venerable Fr. Agnelo – Model of Poverty Bro. Eusebio Miranda, SFX
A
ccording to our common thinking that a man who has a huge amount of money, vast properties, posh buildings is a rich man. Everybody honours a rich man. But there is also another way of understanding riches. People who have nothing and yet live a very happy life and are honoured by all. They may even not have enough food to eat and yet they are completely happy. There are different types of poverty. In the Gospels, Jesus speaks about the Beatitudes – “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and there is a poverty which is called holy poverty. Fr. Agnelo followed this type of poverty of the spirit and was fully committed to it. According to history, the Franciscan friars of St. Francis of Assisi practiced spiritual poverty. They evangelized the people of Bardez taluka in Goa and built more than 21 churches and preached the same poverty to the people of that area, including Anjuna, the birth-place of Venerable Fr. Agnelo.
The family of Fr. Agnelo had large properties. However, Fr. Agnelo voluntarily adopted and practiced spiritual poverty. His aim was to attain heavenly wealth and show the same path to the people around him. As he grew in age, he also grew in this spirit of poverty. As the Spiritual Director of Rachol Seminary he also taught the spirit of poverty to the seminarians.
In those days a boy who joined the priesthood also had a share in the properties of the family. It was called the patrimony. Fr. Agnelo also inherited a patrimony from his parents. It was called “the property of Kuddi” at Anjuna. After joining the Society of Pilar Fr. Agnelo lived a life of material poverty as well. His room in the Pilar monastery, where he lived for 10 years after joining the Society, is in place. In those days the priests who lived in the Monastery did not have self-contained rooms as we have them today. Seeing the poverty of Fr. Agnelo, the Patriarch of that time D. Mathew Oliveira Xavier told the Superior, Msgr. Lucio Vaz to give more clothes to Fr. Agnelo. Msgr. Lucio told the Patriarch that Fr. Agnelo did not accept any clothes given to him. Similarly, Delcia, a cousin of Fr. Agnelo,
who loved him so much, seeing his torn shirts, bought and gave him woollen shirts but he refused to accept them. Finally, she forced him to accept them. Fr. Agnelo told her; “they are full of decorations”. Such was his lifestyle. He is really a model for our times when people are longing to wear luxurious clothes.
On another occasion another cousin of Fr. Agnelo offered him two bags full of pillow cases, but again he refused to accept them. He said, “I don’t use such expensive material in my room”. It was his habit not to accept gifts or he would give them to other people.
At Rachol Seminary, he taught the seminarians to collect used postal stamps and sell them and give its income to the poor people.
He has such a great love for poor & that he sacrificed himself in every way to help such people. Fr. Agnelo made three vows when he joined the Society of Pilar. Poverty was one of those three vows. He fulfilled it so faithfully till his death. When he died there was not a single shirt or pair of pants to dress his dead body, as the Fathers who lived with him had witnessed. By living a poor life in this world he earned rich treasures in the Kingdom of heaven and lived happily in this world. He is a model of poverty for everyone. Translation credit: Fr. Jesuino Almeida, SFX
The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is the Editor of Vauradeancho Ixtt, Pilar-Goa. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020 | 33
Padre Agnel
Venerable Agnelo our great intercessor before God Vice-Postulation Office Translation credit: Dr. Nelly De Sa
A. Fernandes (Candolim): My son passed S.S.C
examination, but we had a lot of difficulty in getting admission for the 11th standard and he was kept on the waiting list. During this time, I prayed to Jesus through the intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo and my son got admission in a good college. I thank Ven. Fr. Agnelo and pray for his early sainthood.
Silvia Albuquerque (Vagator): My son was suffering
from kidney stones. I prayed through the intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, that the stones may fall off without any operation. My prayers were heard and my son recovered completely. I thank God and Ven. Fr. Agnelo and pray for his sainthood.
Hilda D’Souza (Candolim): I met with a bus accident
and got injuries to my face and spine. After taking an XRay, doctors advised me bed rest for 3 months. I was very frightened and asked Ven. Fr. Agnelo to intercede. I have completely recovered now and I am really grateful to Ven. Fr. Agnelo and pray for his early sainthood.
Janela Fernandes (Santa Cruz): I was suffering
from cancer and I had to undergo an operation. I constantly kept on praying through the intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo. One year has passed and my reports have come to normal. I thank God and Ven. Fr. Agnelo and pray for his early sainthood.
Margarida Pires (Usgao): I went to Dublin. There I
got severe chest pain and I did not know what was happening to me. I was very scared and prayed through intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo. I went to the doctor, after doing my tests, doctor said nothing is wrong with me and I have become completely alright. I thank Ven. Fr. Agnelo for praying for me. 34 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | February 2020
Prayer to obtain favours through Ven. Agnelo
Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father, we gratefully acknowledge your plan for our salvation, even by working miracles through your chosen servant. We thank you for giving us your faithful servant, Fr. Agnelo, as an example of how to follow in the steps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. With our whole heart, we pray that you may lead us through your Spirit to imitate his saintly life. Grant us also the favour we ask (mention the favour) as a sign that he now shares in the glory of our Risen Lord.
Prayer for the Canonization of Ven. Agnelo
O God of infinite mercy, we humbly prostrate at Your feet, we beg of You, with whole hearted trust, that if it be Your Holy Will, and if it serves our salvation, grant Fr. Agnelo the honours of the Altar through the solemn declaration of Our Provident Mother, the Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Miraculous favours obtained through his intercession may kindly be reported to: Vice-Postulator, Cause of Fr. Agnelo, Pilar Retreat Centre, Pilar, Goa India 403 203 Ph.no. (0832) 2219460, 2218694, 2218553 Email: vpagnel@rediffmail.com