Post COVID-19: Challenges, Opportunities and Ethics of Care

The paper presented at the following conference:

“Post COVID-19: Challenges, Opportunities and Ethics of Care”

Two Day's National Webinar, 13 and 14 June 2020

Nirmala College, Department of Philosophy, Ranchi.

Organized By Dr. Ranju Kumari PhD

Post Covid-19: The Ethical Challenge of Care and Cure

Dr. Fr. Raju Felix Crasta  MA, PhD

Professor of Indian Philosophy, Specialized in Vedāntic Traditions

1. COVID-19: Origin Causes, Symptoms and Spread 

Corona Virus Disease 2019, known commonly as Covid-19 is a pandemic caused by a virus. It is classified under the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and named as Corona Virus Disease or SARS-CoV-2.[1] Its first outbreak was observed in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Therefore, it is also known as Wuhan Virus[2] among common people. When the person infected leaves germs around upon sneezing, coughing, or even when the infected body parts come in contact with the healthy person, place and things the disease gets spread. Globally, it is reported in more than 188 countries and territories resulting in over 406,000 deaths so far. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30th of January, 2020 and a pandemic on 11 March.[3]

The most common symptoms are fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and loss of smell. There could be pneumonia and acute respiratory distress. Since the virus is new and no vaccine or medicine is being discovered so far, the only solution till the remedy is found is as the dictum goes, “Prevention is better than cure.’ The recommended preventive measures include a thorough sanitization of the parts most likely get infected. Hand washing, covering one’s mouth and nose while sneezing, maintaining a social distance from others, wearing a face mask in public places, monitoring and self-isolation of the suspected people, implementing travel restrictions, lockdowns, workplace hazard controls, facilities of closure, etc. Equally important is to break the viral chain. For this, navigating the places the infected person has moved, identifying possible people contacted and isolating (quarantine) the people for about two weeks are the effective measures to combat the virus. 

The pandemic has raised several ethical questions ever since it started spreading its tentacles. The questions in all the fields from medical to biomedical, social to political, human to ecological and philosophy and theology and so on. Here we deal with some concerns pertaining to the ethical domain. 

Ethics is basically concerned with human rights, and the most fundamental of these are right to life, health care, education and dignified social living. Therefore, we try to understand the challenges the Covid has brought at present and in the near future. This will be followed the concerning ethical issues that we come across. 

2. The COVID Challenge 

2.1 Dual Nature of Viruses 

The first and foremost challenge of any viruses, apart from the complications of invisibility to the naked eyes, come from their dual nature. They exhibit two kinds of behaviors: intra-cell and extra-cell. When the virus gets into a live cell, it acts swiftly and multiplies, while outside the cell remains dormant for quite some time. This is also a reason for the delay in the vaccine preparation. A patient, upon sneezing, coughing or talking emits thousands of germs and creates a hotspot around. Thus, the virus finds another body or surface and the atmosphere gets ready to multiply. Human beings have tendencies to regularly contact their mouth, eyes, ears, nose and scratch body parts and if the hands are infected by contact, then the person becomes a victim of the virus, often unintentionally. Depending on the immunity of the person, the virus may take three to fourteen days to surface onset of symptoms. 

2.2 Facts and Myths on Soaps and Sanitizers as Effective Barriers 

Ever since the pandemic broke out, the experts have suggested use of soaps and sanitizers as protective measures against the virus. However, soaps should be one’s first choice and then the sanitizers. The reason is, the virus has a peculiar protein which can melt the cell membrane and penetrate into the cytoplasm through a process called phagocytosis or adsorption. The soap molecules too have a dual nature called “amphiphiles”[4] wherein one side it attracts water and repel protein and fats, and the other side attracts protein and fat and repel water. In the process, the dirt or the unwanted thing is dissolved and removed. In the same way, the viral protein takes some time to get dissolved in soap molecule and therefore it is advised to wash the hand for 20 seconds. The alcohol present in the sanitizers often is less concentrated and therefore the effect is lesser. 

To make the thing worse, often we find spurious sanitizers at the exorbitant rates. There are various companies advertising their products as best sanitizers and soaps. The fact is any detergent cake or soap is sufficient and effective due to the nature of soap molecule. Therefore, one need not purchase a costly sanitizer or soap. 

2.3 Business and Travel 

The velocity at which the virus spread across the globe is a matter of great concern than the other viral and bacterial pandemics the world has faced. For example, Antonine Plague (165 AD), thought to be smallpox affected mostly in Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece and Italy. Justinian Plague also is known as Bubonic Plague that killed half of the European population of that time (541-542 Ad) affected the Byzantine Empire and Mediterranean port cities. The third Cholera pandemic affected mainly Asia, Europe, North America and Africa in the 19th century lasted from 1852 to 1860.[5] The fact of the matter is that the spread of the disease became pan-global due to the wide range of travel facility. Though the physical distance between places hasn’t decreased, the travel facilities have decreased the distance. Add to this, over the last two decades China is extending its business over every country. The highly developed countries are accommodating millions of people from developing countries. This mutual exchange, trade and travel have triggered the spread of the virus in lightning speed. 

It is not possible to totally avoid trade and travel, for it is the matter of sustenance. Obviously, people have to travel for various reasons: medical emergency, jobs, care and protection, for law and order and various other reasons. There is a danger in travel also. Therefore, the traveller has to take necessary precaution. 

2.4 The Chain Reaction 

This Covid-19 virus transmits via a person. The infected person emits virus through tiny water droplets in the atmosphere while sneezing and coughing. It remains in the atmosphere for a certain duration. When the person infected touches the places and things they again get contaminated. When a healthy person comes in contact with these, becomes the victim of the virus. To make things worse, it takes several days to exhibit the symptoms. Humans cannot but relate with fellow humans in society. The asymptomatic person might meet several persons and places during this period and potentially all those who come to contact with, one’s surroundings and places will be affected. And the chain continues, from one person to two or three and from them several hundred. Thus, identifying the probable contacts, places and isolating them is the greatest challenge for society. 

The severity should be understood from three stages. The first stage is the person infected from a known patient. The Second stage of spread is the person’s contact with the person and places the infected person travelled, where navigation is possible. But, the third stage is the most dangerous wherein one cannot trace the contact from where the person received the germs. Therefore, protective measures and effective quarantine are very much needed. This is indeed challenging to both public and people involved in care and law and order. 

2.5 The Social Set-up 

Humans are social beings and in particular, the Indian society is communitarian. They live together, relate each other closely as compared to the individualistic life in most developed countries. This is the reason the migrant workers in Kerala were eager to return to their homes in spite of the best care and protection the government and the local people offered.[6] If this the case of the migrant workers in Kerala, one can imagine the situation in those states where basic facilities are not given, but also treated them merely as means. Treating people as means is against the fundamental the right. Add to this, in the Indian context, isolating and treating without human dignity is nothing but imprisonment. Thus, the unprepared social distancing and quarantine lower public patience. The result is in front of us today. 

2.6. Literacy and Education 

Though directly literacy has nothing to do with the infection of virus, it serves as a great challenge to the spread of the disease. The States where the literacy rate is high like Kerala and Delhi the number of deaths reported from Covid is relatively lesser than those States having poor literacy rate. The fact of the matter is that there is a growing awareness among people about health, hygiene and other nitty-gritty of the situation among the literate people than those without it. Places like Kerala, the common people understand the gravity and themselves take initiative for social distancing and other precautions than the people of other states. 

Illiteracy leads to superstitious practices and unreasonable workouts. Many of Indian educated people are illiterates. Illiterates in the sense they cannot independently reason out and act. They act according to other’s directions. Such are educated illiterates. Illiteracy leads to Superstition and hero-worship which plays another major role in curbing the disease. In India, many have a herd mentality and follow the ideals of certain people. Though many are learned people, yet they are imprisoned by their psychological conditioning. This is the reason when the Prime Minister symbolically urged people to encourage the corona warriors with “tali and thali bajavo” (beating plates and claps) and light a candle in from their balconies, the people took it literally and entered into the streets as if it is a victory march of the king. Even many educated people do not understand the symbolic language and the direct language, and their intended meaning. Many began to propitiate ‘the corona māta’ (Corona Mother Deity) with puja and a solemn marches. This is not to downgrade religious pious practices, but the reality that we see amidst us. Equally, there were people who questioned the closure of religious and places of worship. If the religious places can be closed for two months why not for another two months? Religion by its definition ‘religare’ is ‘to bind,’ ‘to uphold’ (dhr in dharma in the Sanskrit language), to unite. It is to cater to the spirituality of people and not the economy. There are countries who were infected by this virus, and are able to arrest the spread at a phenomenal rate due to the effective measures they have taken. They rose above their religious practices, social culture and norms. If they can, why can’t we? 

2.7 Leadership 

A leader is the one who walks the talk, gives a vision and direction. An able leader does not hide one’s light under the bushel, rather is the light oneself. The leader motivates people. One of the greatest challenges in addressing a situation is the leadership. India does not lack able leaders, but what she lacks is ‘the right people at the right place.’ If this is missing then, whatsoever superior medical care and facility that may be available are as if not there. India can boast of superior medical research institutes, virology departments, scientific technology and medical experts. What we fail is the top leadership that directs them. The direction is not an extempore practice but should have been built over the years. When the real worth of the person and trade is not recognized, the product obtained will be of substandard. The salaries of teachers, medical experts and scientists should have been the highest after the President of the Country. Because it is they who build and direct the country. Sad to say, some of these people mentioned above not even get what the present ministers get as their medical allowance. Health, science and agriculture should have been our top priority with better incentives. Alas! We are a few centuries behind the development. 

2.8 Financial Situation 

The kind of leadership exhibited at the hierarchy decides the financial self-dependency (ātmanirbharata) of an institution. Financial well-being leads to prosperity and growth. Over the decade the GDP has dropped considerably. The self-sustaining units like home products, handlooms, small industries are being seen the doors shut. Increase in farmer suicides cases, loss of income-generating schemes have made the ordinary people look towards posh buildings and Industries in the towns. Over a few decades, we have witnessed a growing number of migrant workers in search of their daily bread. One could see their plight if one stands at any town square of major cities in the early hours of the day. The leadership has failed to address the situation. The result is the growing number of Covid cases even in the remote villages. Covid-19 born as a sickness of the elite, spread by affluent category and the poor are in death pangs. Only questions can be raised at this level. Once these people are back in their homes (many are back already), what would be their situation? How long will be this pandemic go on? Will there be an end? Where will the people earn their daily bread? Where will they find their shelter during the monsoon? More importantly, the lion part of India’s economy is supported by these daily wage earners. The lack of vision and the unplanned lockdown has only doubled the severity. When the worse has happened, the only way out is to bear with it. Still, as an optimist, I feel there is an idealistic hope: share the economy and bread of the rich with the poor; cut off all facilities of ministers and give it to the Corona warriors; stop new projects and use that money for village self-reliance and job creation. 

2.9 Health and hygiene 

The good news is that the immunity of Indians is far better than the most developed countries.[7] Yet they are vulnerable to such pandemics. It is due to the malnutrition the country is facing. There is an irony here. India has enough food in its barns than what actually need, yet people go hungry and are malnutrition. The mortality rate of hunger death is so much that it hardly becomes headlines in the media, for it has become a common feature. That which is common is seldom given heed. 

Comparing to other pandemics that India faced, the mortality rate of Covid-19 is very low. This should not make us happy, rather should be a great matter of concern. It will affect the whole economy and integrity of the country, if not checked. One step to avoid it in the longer run and simultaneously arrest untimely death due to various other reasons (death of farmers, deaths due to loss of job and industries, malnutrition, poverty, certain diseases, etc) is to boost the immunity. It can be done by providing good health care, setting up hospitals and dispensaries at strategic locations, encouraging farming and herbal medicine, etc. 

General behaviour of Indians is another hurdle like a mountain stands on the way: awareness of health and hygiene. People are so comfortable that even on the billboard written ‘do not spit’ will do exactly opposite over that is written. Government places are treated as one’s private washrooms, even by educated people. Will they do such things in countries like New Zealand, Belgium, Australia and places like Singapore? Though there is the penalty for such public indecency in India,[8] hardly they get punished except in one or two instances. There are cases where hardly action is being taken when health workers spat on their face,[9] if so, what will be the situation in general public? 

One might say that it is not possible to reach out to the extreme villages due to the fact of the geographical conditions and connectivity. Frankly speaking, was it the case during the general elections? Even villages where electricity and telephone was the distant dream, there were political parties with their vendetta: LCD monitors airing the speeches of their leaders, distributing pamphlets and seeking votes. How was this possible? Are the elections superior to the life of people? If there are people today, then only can be parties tomorrow. 

3. Post-Covid-19 Ethical Questions and Concerns of the People 

From the above-noted challenges of the Covid-19 we can deduce certain ethical concerns the people are undergoing at present and will continue in the near future. It is clear that whether people are affected by the disease or not, the world is in anxiety and fear. The frequent questions that come from the ordinary people are: “When will this epidemic end? How long are we to stay locked in? How safe are we? What is the future of our children? How do we survive if it continues another few months?” People are sad, frightened and angry. 

Obviously, when it is the question of survival and if there is no cure for a certain illness people get panic and many end up in depression and even suicide[10]. This has been the case for many people. Many have lost their job and also financial security. A research conducted by the Caritas India on the migrant workers in India during this epidemic showed that as much as 95.2 per cent have lost their means of livelihood. Among them, around 10.6 per cent have lost a family member in the pandemic.[11] Many workers have not received their wages for the work done. Many private institutions are facing a financial crisis due to the closure and are unable to pay their workers. 

The worst-hit areas are agriculture and education. Nonetheless, we cannot avoid talking on the consequences of reverse migration too. Both these are the backbone of the economy and development. The farmers who cultivate are not able to market their products and thus are not able to get money. Though the permission to carry the essential commodity is given, only limited vehicles are operating and are not reaching to every farmer. Some business people are making use of this situation to manipulate the poor. To add the worry, people are not ready to work in their fields for three reasons: a. Fear of getting viral infection and lockdown menace; b. no guarantee of receiving payment; c. Why work when the essential commodity is freely being distributed? 

If the agricultural sector is facing this trouble, the educational sector is still in a pathetic mode. 98.5% of world education sector is worst hit by the pandemic.[12] Schools, colleges and places of learning are shut. Private schools and colleges have another worry. Since the school is closed, some parents have the opinion of not paying the tuition fee, in spite of the virtual classes the teachers give. We need to understand the trouble teachers take to give those online classes. They have to learn the technology, get gadgets (already managing with meagre salary), struggle with electricity and internet and then deliver. But on the other hand, the behaviour of some parents is different. I have literally witnessed the scene the parents create at the school office during this lockdown for fee payment. Many studious children feel the fear of losing the academic year even. If this is the case with teachers, one can imagine the children. Parents already struggle with money during this period. Only a few people can afford to buy needed gadgets and internet connection. Recent news from Kerala is alarming, “Kerala Girl Climbs Rooftop For Better Connectivity To Attend Online Classes.”[13] Do we have better connectivity in villages? If the situation in Kerala is like this, what about in other states of the country? Only towns and urban areas can have fair connectivity. Thus there is tremendous anxiety and fear among the people. 

Now that the migrant workers are back to their homeland, what is their future? How long the government and organizations can feed? Already complaints are coming from the people. A certain farmer Ramesh Mahato tells me with tears that his farm produce is stolen overnight. There was a theft in another village another day. These are not for big amount, but to fulfil the most basic need, the food. One may say that the government is distributing free grains. The reality is, not all the needy get this benefit. There are primitive and most vulnerable people who do not have any official records like ration card, adhaar card or election Id. Among the migrants, many do not have any proofs in government records. Are they not the citizens of our country, our brothers and sisters? Therefore, it is not a surprise to see the increased number of theft, murder, suicide and other such incidents. 

4. Ethical Dilemma and the Philosophy of care 

One of the important dilemmas the Covid warriors faced in countries like Italy, UK and America is triage dilemma. Triage is “the process of sorting people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care. Triage is done in emergency rooms, disasters, and wars when limited medical resources must be allocated to maximize the number of survivors.”[14] In other words, it is sorting the patients in three categories: those can survive without medical care, those will die even with medical care, and those will survive with care. India has not reached this stage, however, the kind of covid data is coming into the picture, cannot be taken lightly. 

From the ethical point of view, the right to life is a fundamental ethical value. This may be debatable in the cases of euthanasia, capital punishment and in such cases. One must accept, more so as Indians who are by nature spiritual, that there is ‘sanctity of life’, more so, of human life. It is the image and likeness of God, the essence of Brahman, tattvamasi. So, care for life should be the utmost need. But how do we care? If I am weaponless, how will I fight the war? 

This takes us to the question of our preparedness to fight the disease. Already there are a shortage of testing labs, protective measures and medical equipment. If a person is deeply religious, the doctrine would tell, ‘with all the mind, heart and soul protect the other.’ Covid is upsetting this dictum. Given the situation and with limited medical experts, the doctors and nurses have to protect themselves first before protecting the other. Secondly, whom are we going to save first: the elderly, children, vulnerable, youngsters or any other prominent people? This is the toughest choice a medical expert has to make in a given situation if there is a shortage of equipment, like ICUs, ventilators and serums. Imagine the trauma the medical experts will face at the moment when a person is dying and the doctor knowing what to be done is not able to save the person, precisely because there is no facility available. 

If the medical experts are facing such a crisis, the woes of the patients and their loved ones is deplorable. Any dying person would like to have their loved ones to bid the last farewell, to fulfil the last wish, and do the final rites suiting to one’s religious belief. According to the medical experts, half of the sickness gets cured maybe with the placebo effect, with sheer love and care poured in by the loved ones. Today Covid has threatened this kind of thinking. While the patients fear to contract the sickness to others, the visitors are more frightened of their own survival. Even to perform the last rites there is fear. 

There is another psychological dilemma between the patients and their parents or loved ones. Covid affects irrespective of age and gender. When a person is infected, say, a child is admitted in a Covid ward and not its parents or loved ones. They are kept in separate isolation places. Imagine the psychological condition or trauma between the parent and the child. If the child is an infant can/should we separate the mother with it? Separation may lead to more complications in the child, if not separated the healthy mother may be at the risk of getting positive or may be more vulnerable if has a very bad medical history. 

5. Undoing the Phobia and the Ethics of Care 

5.1 Acceptance 

One of the important aspects at this hour is to feel belonged. The experience that we have someone to care for, someone has a concern for us. Someone is loving us. Society should accept both the patients and the caretakers. Each one should make me feel the other at home. 

People need to accept the Covid warriors, especially the doctors and nurses with special care. I have a short advise to all the doctors and nurses treating Covid patients. Do not get dejected. Do not allow depression to ride on you. You are an important person. Ayurveda tells us, “vaidyo narayano hariḥ,” “Doctor is indeed God.” You are our saviours. If you show your sad face, how can the already frightened and depressed people overcome theirs? Whatsoever be the situation, even if you see people dying in front of you knowing what could have been done and yet not able to do (let this situation not reach India), do not worry. We are with you. Do what the present moment tells you. Follow your conscience. This is my message to all the Covid Warriors and health workers, accept people as they are in the present situation. Already they are under tremendous stress, fear and anxiety. Let us not overburden them. 

Here we need to pay attention to the formation of our conscience in India, because it has something to offer concretely. In India, we form our conscience largely on the basis of our rich religious, and in some cases, tribal heritage. This is an added advantage for us. Therefore, triage dilemma may not work in India. The need to understand the religious and tribal belief systems correctly is essential. Religion and culture have to be understood from its original meaning, ‘that which is good, valuable and that which builds the world, lokasangrahartha. The Mahopaniṣad refers to such a concept as ‘vasudaivaka kutumbakam,’ the whole world as a family. It says, “ayam nijaḥ, param veti, gaṇanām laghu cetasām. Udāra caritānām tu vasudaiva kutumbakam” “I am right and others are wrong to think those who are small-hearted. For the liberals, the whole world is their family.” The Bhagavadgita echoes with a similar tone and says that the one who accepts others, treats everyone and everything equanimously (samadarśina or samatabhāva) is a sthitaprajña, the person of steady wisdom. Jainism and Buddhism call such people as Arhant and Buddha respectively. The Gita says, “vidyā vinaya sampanne, brāhmaṇe gavi hasthini. śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāḥ samadarśnaḥ” (5:18). This gives us a sense of distributive justice, equality, right to life, the right to love. If our scriptures are forming and endorsing this kind of conscience, why are we not promoting such ideals amongst us? Why should we do polity out of it? 

It is praiseworthy that many organizations came forward to assist the migrant workers to reach them home safe. But, every village and homeland did not accept them. Many shut their entry into the village, even after completion of self-isolation. So too was the case within many cured Covid patients. Kudos to those people who welcomed the cured with garlands and honour. We have also witnessed people thrashing and beating and chasing from the roads. Where will the people living in slums and footpath go? Where will the homeless go? They are rejected by the officials, rejected by the loved ones and rejected by the village. Therefore, the first and foremost priority of the citizens as of now should be accepting the person as they are. There may be few people taking advantage, let us overlook it. 

5.2 Plan, Safeguard and Guide 

Duties of health care leaders during a public health emergency should be to plan, to safeguard, and to guide. Every hospital and health care institutes should have a detailed guideline. There must be an ethical consultation service and committee to support clinicians, doctors, nurses who care the patients in different situations. So be prepared. 

The government should leave aside their political views and work for a common cause. Already, the Covid has taught us the significance of relationship and bonding both at the family level and at the social level. Some states are working together without a feeling of ruling or opposition party. Together can plan, draw policies, and work as a unit to build a safe India. 

COVID-19 caught us napping as regards our health infrastructure. India has one of the poorest health infrastructures in the world. Access to basic health care is still a distant dream in our country. We should have been prepared all the time for any health emergency like COVID-19. Why do we spend so much on arms and ammunitions and so little on hospitals and primary health care centres? 

5.3 Online Engagements 

Deviating mind is an effective method to get rid of fear, loneliness and depression. Direct the education institutes, organizations to conduct various programmes and courses to deviate the minds of tensed people. Encourage online learning. Give enough incentives to perform and participate in such an endeavor. Direct the telephone companies to increase the broadband speed and make it free till the covid gets under control. This will ease the burden of children and researchers. Encourage online marketing: of both buying and selling. Let the merchants who buy from the village farmers online be given an extra incentive. 

With regard to education, not all States are using the free DD channels for online education in so far as the State Board education is concerned. Yet, using DD channel for online teaching is accessible to most Indians. The drawback of online teaching in India today is that it is leaving out a large number of poor students. The classes like ZOOM, Google classrooms, etc. are reaching up to the privileged classes of our country only. The poor, back in the villages are still with old Nokia black and white mobiles are unaware of such technology. 

5.4 Equality in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic 

The COVID-19 has affected all people alike. However, as we saw earlier, this sickness came from the rich. But why should the poor suffer when the rich are affected? Lockdowns have caused misery mainly to the poor and not to the rich. When the poor fall sick, there are no lockdowns. When the rich fall ill, the whole world is locked down. The poor have helped the rich and the society as a whole not to get infected by COVID-19. What have we given these poor people in return? Hence, the State and the rich people need to come to the aid of the poor during these times. This is the right time to bridge the gap between the poor and rich. 

Conclusion 

There is general feeling and may be right to a greater extent that this pandemic is a gift of the gory of the human relationship with the fellow humans and nature. Though it is traced back to Wuhan, somehow we are part of this social sin. Protection and care is the call for us today. Let me conclude along with Pope Francis who in his Laudato Si’ (Encyclical Letter On Care For Our Common Home, 24 May 2015), tells us. 

“Each organism, as a creature of God, is good and admirable in itself; the same is true of the harmonious ensemble of organisms existing in a defined space and functioning as a system. Although we are often not aware of it, we depend on these larger systems for our own existence. We need only recall how ecosystems interact in dispersing carbon dioxide, purifying water, controlling illnesses and epidemics, forming soil, breaking down waste, and in many other ways which we overlook or simply do not know about (no. 140). Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now. We need to reflect on our accountability before those who will have to endure the dire consequences (no. 161). Obsession with a consumerist lifestyle, above all when few people are capable of maintaining it, can only lead to violence and mutual destruction (no. 204).” 

Stay Home, Stay Safe.

Notes and references
[1] “COVID‐19 breakthroughs: separating fact from fiction”, ”https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ epdf/10.1111/ febs.15442, doi https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.15442.
[2] human-to-human transmission of Wuhan virus outside of China, confirmed in Germany, Japan and Vietnam - The Online Citizen, Jan. 29, 2020.
[3] WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19—11 March 2020". World Health Organization. 11 March 2020.
[4] https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2020/03/16/soap.
[5] For more details see, https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=c2b2ae 84262fa4e4b4cf4c5ccb70c15336105d2e-1591705986-0-Afqnq2kQ4d0uYT-hXMQHKmBNwgx5p1uMy ARDSRYyoaZeg77Pib7W8Cjwl4-9iZDbC60YMkBCGv3mnAcGaKhSYfUXKkDFQV3ZoRj6yX9TPbu5JFt6K 0pEVHzdDtrTh4GKWkiDBSUeWaQ6VGpksiRNCxxDeRQ0ReMjRpXNOUwGeYpMHRs-aBJz4OHAUes4l663YBn57y0pyLhg5HRWZL aq7OCWzAzrNRhWgMc1f6zx4VcfzhPf CMf6Ws8AHKsVD2CJx 2spmFC5kfkahgPwREsMdtONAId0wL-3EPLAch0OUpWA7jASxuk0YpALdaFgo5qTq JMqF3NXRk 3nVRnNWl XKYuQkPU3ihN4Oq5EXDmBZNzX4_GXNUX7gfeMxfclwUORCJwKsJSoYbni3VT-mICKr8Wia jqjJFzTp506LqoowxNqBYo-Do-nAiICak_M0dZPLoPd_HS2H82BontwE4-nhHQYrrJv4ZYBT 8IBzOJkyxZ9MFviTMC9ex0pAk3z53SUES_E1CeVqw_eVLyhS5eS29whfwlqbHgtWSa5KsFuleS7P2o Yb7JQ5DBkFYNkfHA5yWEd6XxEpJciChugprI1Uaag.
[6] “Amid lockdown, migrant workers a content lot in Kerala,” Economics Times. April 20, 2020. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/amid-lockdown-migrant-workers-a-content-lot-in-kerala/articleshow/75243908.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst.
[7] Vibha Varshney, “COVID-19: Do Indians have higher immunity to novel coronavirus” DownToEarth. Also see, https://www.immunopaedia.org.za/breaking-news/indian-population-could-have-intrinsic-immunity-to-resist-covid-19-challenge/. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/covid-19-do-indians-have-higher-immunity-to-novel-coronavirus-70322.
[8] https://untobaccocontrol.org/kh/smokeless-tobacco/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/08/factsheet_8.pdf.
[9] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52151141. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-coronavirus-news-case-against-covid-19-patient-for-misbehaving-with-hospital-staff-in-tam-2210604.
[10] https://twitter.com/shetty_kc/status/1271158105158508545?s=08&fbclid=IwAR0jtVSSW1unq BOTM2BdidZma oTjRTcYmJe3YHJDxAhs1DwVzaqP34R_guY
[11] https://catholicmasses.org/caritas-india-lockdown-hits-income-of-80-of-migrants-small-farmers/.
[12] "COVID-19 Educational Disruption and Response". UNESCO. April 3, 2020.
[13] https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-kerala-girl-climbs-rooftop-for-better-connectivity-to-attend-online-classes/354189.
[14] https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16736.

Formation and Ongoing Formation

On Saturday, the 6th July 2013, Pope Francis addressed a group of Seminarians and Novices. In his address he wittingly said, “Once a priest, a good priest, who did not feel he was a good priest because he was humble, who felt he was a sinner, said many prayers to Our Lady; and he said this to Our Lady “this evening, Mother, the promise is sincere. But in case anything happens, do not forget to leave the key outside”). However, he said this with love for the Virgin — people say “Our Lady” — constantly in mind. Yet when someone always leaves the key outside, for any eventuality…. It won’t do. We must learn to close the door from the inside! And if I am not sure, if I am not sure, I think, I shall take my time, and when I feel sure, in Jesus, you understand, because without Jesus no one is safe! — when I feel sure, I will shut the door. Have you understood this? What the culture of the temporary is?” 

How true are these words regarding the formation!? We are happy to keep the status quo. When we are training someone under us and sending someone for the formation to a place, think that our burden is over. We pass the ball on to the other court, “now it is your duty,” and conveniently wash our hands. Has our duty over with this? Or have we any plans for them?

Yes, I am speaking regarding the formation of our both future priests and the present priests. Once a person is ordained or finally professed the hierarchy thinks that they are done with their duty as if a new vehicle is out from a factory for the use. They are used till people say, “it is moving and therefore alright.” Have we ever prepared an action plan for the ongoing formation of the ordained or professed people? Ditto is regarding the formation of the seminarians. 

In my three years as a resident teacher in a major seminary, I saw very fewer seminarian in-charges or their bishops or the coordinator for formation coming and meeting the seminarians in the seminary, and checking their living condition and learning their mind. My interaction with several diocesan seminarians over nine years in formation of major seminarians across the country revealed to me that they are least cared for by their authorities. Many are not even given a timely correction, but the action is being taken suddenly for the ‘unsatisfactory report’. Did they give enough correction and time to mend their ways? Did they give proper “caution” or “ultimatum” before expelling or giving a corrective punishment? If yes, you are in the right direction and if not you are unjust in your judgement.

Where have we gone wrong if we find a priest or a seminarian not committed to one’s mission? Who are to be taken into the task? Let us not blame each other, rather accept the fact of our ‘lukewarmness’ or ‘the trackless train’. I would like to raise a question on the very process of evaluation and guidance that we give to our seminarians and young priests. Do the concerning people have any periodic evaluation and discussion with young seminarians and priests and inform about their growth?

There is a need for all the seminaries to relook into their mode of formation. I am afraid, the priority of some places is the only intellectual formation and they lack a good human and faith formation. When the heads of the institution are not bent on faith and human formation, the product of intellect will bring no good result in the mission in the longer run. Some seminaries lack good counsellors and experienced spiritual directors. If a major seminary is appointing a newly ordained priest as the spiritual director, surely one can gauge the depth and seriousness of the authorities who appoint them. 

Of course, the major part of the life of a seminarian is taken care of by the seminary and its staff, and evaluation is tended to the diocese. And now the task is of the diocese. How often it is being communicated to the student with a fatherly face? How often a report or an evaluation is being asked from the place of ministry (even if it is a month) by the authorities and discussed accordingly with the student? Let’s move towards our regents. Regency is a period of such formation where the person learns to live a practical mission life. It is here he is exposed to the world and the real mettle is known. It is here, the directors need to be extra cautious to direct the person and the responsibility falls more on the seminarian in-charge to check the growth both physically, emotionally and intellectually. 

Yet, there is another drawback we find in appointing a regent to a place. Mostly the criterion is “we need a person to take care of” and not ‘whether someone can direct him out there or not.’ The same thing applies when we speak about the ongoing formation of young priests. A newly ordained priest needs a person who can direct the youngster to apply himself for the mission. I have seen many young ordained priests who are unable to administer a sacrament with proper liturgy, unable to face people and break the Word of God. Do they not need a fatherly person who can support and correct them? In my meeting with new priests on a couple of occasions in a major seminary, I learnt that many were appointed to a place where their presbytery superior is only venting out dissatisfaction, or the place where they leant to ‘drink’ and ‘play shuttle.’ How about the talent, passion and specialization of a young priest is taken care of while sending to a place? I reserve my critique here. 

Partly, the entire formation system is to be blamed. Today we lack people who can think twenty years ahead of time. We lack trainers having vision in life. Add to this, there is no proper "reward" for seminary professors in today's modern society. School and established parishes fetch more 'income' than being the seminary professors. Being in seminary staff is no more glamorous and rewarding. Professors are always at the mercy of their seminary financial system and often it is the hand-to-mouth situation in all seminaries. This could be another reason the talented and worthy students do not opt for higher studies in philosophy or theology to be part of seminary staff. Yet, at the end of the day, seminary professor can breathe well with the satisfaction that he was part of the greater good in moulding the future of the church and society.

Another darker side of the system is the soft media. The 'short-cut' culture of electronic media is affecting our formation too. When lot of information is available at the fingertip, people prefer to have a shorter version than an elaborate hard text. The same culture is being transferred to your younger priests and the result is poor communication, lack of reading habits, un-updated knowledge, over-dependence on others, isolated and free-life. Spirituality has become a matter of choice. Therefore, I insist that the junior priests should undergo time to time certain courses on spirituality, liturgy and related topics. Seminary curriculum till the ordination is not sufficient in today's changing time. It is only after the ordination many become serious of their formation.

Another important aspect of the formation is the knowledge of the mission one will be spending the rest of one's life. This means to say, before the ordination, a seminarian needs to know the geography of the diocese; mission, vision and goals of the diocese; language and culture of the place; and a general rapport of the priests of the diocese. Holidays are the occasions one can get acquainted with these. Do we have any concrete action plans? 

Let's strive for a better formation. 

 

Dr. Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

From Social Network to the Human Network

Communication is an important aspect in life, be it among humans or non-humans. Among ants, birds and animals, though primitive we admit, is highly advanced, effective and hassle-free. There is no vindication, no fear, or limited to one’s own class or clan. Anyone who can decode it, can make use of it. That’s why when there is food available or when an enemy is approaching they raise their alerting voice. And the rest of the world follows it without any difficulty. There is no false news or wrong message being spread to deviate one from the path. But, the communication system involved amongst the most advanced beings, the humans is always under the scanner.

One of the recent metaphors for communication is net or inter-net, a tool of cyber technology. It has become a synonym for knowledge and wisdom, and even we have begun to speak about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Any resource for any issue, any solution to a problem, etc. is available at the click of the mouse. After all, many of our problems are similar in nature and therefore there is a commonality in the solution too. One helps the other. We are better connected with this facility. Kudos to the technocratic world, we have outlived our capacity. We have lost our creative wisdom.  

There are some important aspects to be noted in this metaphor. There is no centre here, rather there are multiple lines and intersections. Each inter-section though looks independent, without its relation with the other node has no life. Though there are several such cohesive and adhesive elements, there are also certain drawbacks. It can make a person ‘hermit,’ alienating oneself from one’s own creative potentialities, and from other’s well-being by treating other as ‘means and things’ to nurture one’s own selfishness and ego.

Our society is not a single entity, nor there is a single centre to say, “this way only,” rather there are multiple centres and nodes. Each node is connected to the other with a transcendental relationship. For example, the word ‘nation’ cannot be limited only to a geographical boundary nor to a particular language or culture. It is a sum total of a history, culture, language, interest, ideology, etc. ‘The Church’ is not a community of only Catholics, rather a sum total of a people who believe in Christ. In the same way, a religious congregation, a diocese or a community has a meaning in the relationship and well-being of every members of it.

When there is a dissent of voices in the community, or when a decision is autocratically enforced upon its members, the community sans to be so. It no longer remains as an organismic unit, like body and its parts. A complete body is that in which each limb is intact and communicate suitably. Thus, the metaphor of the body and limb is a better imagery for social networking than the internet, for, there is recognition of other’s face in a community which the latter lacks.

Today’s ministry of Communications in the Church in India though far better than a couple of decades ago, has not yet become a perfect model to be boasted about. The Church known for its cohesiveness has not yet effectively manifested. Admitted that Christians are minorities in the country and in some pockets sizeable number has not become ‘the salt’ and ‘the light’ which can give taste and guidance to the rest of the community. May be, the inner motives of different denominations are the blocking issues. But that is not an excuse either. In recent years the official highest body of Christians in India has made a difference in knitting various segments and streams of thoughts of the society. But that is not sufficient. The basic elements of the systems should take initiative in building bridges and then only the efforts of the higher level body will become more effective.

The Catholic Church, though have better structures, both in terms of networking and personnel has not sufficiently tapped and utilized its resources. In many parts of the country the hierarchy and including the several congregations are busy in constructing niches for themselves and for political and economic gains. Recent general elections and adherence to certain party ideologies by certain people of the hierarchy in different parts of the country cannot be forgotten, nor be forgivable. Many minorities of the country are looking for the Christian leadership, because they know that only Christians and their role in social well-being can bring a positive change in the country. Have we fulfilled this aspiration of the millions? Have we not failed in establishing bridges?

We need to be proud of our education and healthcare institutions. India has produced thousands of great think-tanks and social reformers through our institutions. This has made the country grow and develop in various sectors. The demand for admissions to our institutions is a visible proof for this. As we put our chest up, we need to reflect its present effectiveness. Economic well-being is not all that is primary. Though it is necessary, the future of the people is the most urgent need. The future is building a humane society filled with gospel values. Sacrificing these for the sake of establishing a structure is not being a Christian. Somewhere there is a lacunae created by our present welfare institutions. Our English medium schools, technical institutions, etc. are multiplying, but the quality and values that need to be cherished is being disintegrating day by day. We are losing our ‘Christian culture,’ sacrificing moral values for consumerist values. Somehow, we are falling into the trap of ‘-isms’ such as, ‘hermitism,’ elitism, standardism, superiorism, competitionism, etc. Should we not base our identity on ‘otherness’?

There is an enormous communication gap between our institutions, hierarchy, and people. We are treating each one as an independent entity needing no cohesion. This selfish gene from us should to be removed. Only when drops are united river finds life, so too is the society. For this we need to bring back the basic Christian community model of the Acts of the Apostles, ‘where one person’s need was everybody’s need.’ Sharing our resources with those who are in need is the real need of the hour. Add to this, shunning the individuality and wearing the robe of inter-dependence without any malice can give us a real success. Let’s hope for a healthy and vibrant human community.



Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Washing the Feet, an Eucharistic Mandate to Serve: An Insight for the Maundy Thursday

Washing the feet of our guests is not uncommon for any North Indians, irrespective of their religion. This is a common picture among the tribals of Chotanagpur. In the tribal culture, which I am familiar with (though I am an outsider), if the house owner’s wife comes out with a towel, soap, oil and water to wash the feet of their guests necessarily imply that they (the guests whose feet they will be washing) are very special (VVIP). He/she is an intimate guest or considered “our person.” Probably, this culture had to do with the kind of geographical setup, transport and distance covered. 

The life in Palestine at the time of Jesus was not different either. The popular means of transport was the feet. People walked a long distance on rough and dusty roads. Travellers often arrived their destination with sore and aching feet. As a sign of hospitality, the host would see to it that the guests were given a warm foot bath and massage as a way of relieving their aches and pains. This was usually done by the house servants or slaves.

This service of bathing and soothing the tired feet were also provided in the rest houses or inns found at strategic locations along the major roads and highways. Travellers worn out along the way could go into these rest houses and have food and foot bath. Their energy thus restored, would then be able to continue and complete their long journey. That is how such rest houses along the way got the name “restaurant(s)” – they restored strength of the tired and exhausted travellers on the way. The disciples would have understood Jesus’ washing their feet in the light of this cultural background. And for us, it is a pointer to the Eucharist we celebrate.

Understood in the light of the washing of feet, the Eucharist is a place of restoration for people on the way. The life of a Christian in the world is a pilgrimage, a long and hard journey. Along the way, we get tired and worn out and are tempted to give up and turn back. But Jesus has provided us with the Eucharist as a place where we can go in to bathe our aching feet and to be refreshed in body and soul for the journey that is still ahead. When we give communion to a sick person we call it viaticum which means “provisions for the journey.” The Eucharist is always a viaticum: in the Eucharist, we derive strength to continue our upward journey, a journey towards God.

I remember an incident that took place during my Diaconate ministry in a parish. There was a bedridden elderly man in a house. The Parish priest used to take Holy Communion every Tuesday. Once I accompanied the Parish Priest to that place. The elderly man said, “Father why do you take trouble in bringing Communion every week? I will not get healed, that I know. My days are soon to be over. When I need, I will send a word to you.” Then the Parish Priest replied, “I know, that this small piece of bread will not heal you nor will make you rise from your bed and walk again. But my coming to you taking Jesus, and in the name of Jesus and talking to you will surely relieve your loneliness, tension and mental worries. I can read this from your face. If this happens, even if you say ‘no,’ I will come.”

In the incident occurred at the table of the Last Supper, Peter was uncomfortable having Jesus washing his feet. Peter, who was somewhat of an activist, would have preferred to see himself doing the washing, washing the feet of Jesus and even of the other disciples. Sometimes it is harder to remain passive and allow someone else to bathe us than it is to bathe someone else, as every toddler can tell you. But having our feet washed and washing the feet of others are two sides of the same coin. We must proudly call it the Christian life.

The first and most essential part is to let the Lord wash us. As Jesus said to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8). First, the Lord washes us clean so that we belong to the Lord. Only then are we qualified and empowered to wash the feet of our sisters and brothers in the Lord. When this truth dawned on Peter, he overcame his reluctance and cried out, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” (v. 9). For this to happen all that the Lord needs from us is simply for us to be there, to present ourselves to him and to let him wash us.

The other side of the coin, which is equally important is that after our feet have been washed by the Lord, we must go and wash the feet of others. After Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15). This is actually a mandate (mandatum in Latin) for every Christian. Washing other's feet is to serve others in humility, care, respect, love. It is being hospitable and doing charitable work.

Pope Francis washing feet of the inmates of Rebibia prison in 2015

Jesus establishes a close link between his washing the disciples’ feet and the disciples washing the feet of others. If the Eucharist is the place where the Lord washes our feet, our daily life is the place where we ought to wash the feet of others. Eucharist leads to life and life leads to Eucharist. True Eucharistic piety must lead to the service of others. Jesus who broke the bread of the Eucharist also washed the feet of his disciples. We must follow his example both at the altar of the Eucharist and at the altar of life.

The Priesthood

Today we thank Jesus for giving us the Eucharist and the priesthood. Both the Eucharist and the Priesthood “were born” during the Last Supper. The two sacraments of this day – the Eucharist and the Holy Orders – are closely linked to each other. Without the Priesthood there cannot be Eucharist.

Pope John Paul II in his Letter to the Priests for Holy Thursday 2004, says that the priesthood is born during the Last Supper, “At the Last Supper we were born as priests…” (§1) Then he continues to write about the connection between the priesthood and the Eucharist, saying that priests were born from the Eucharist, “We were born from the Eucharist. If we can truly say that the whole Church lives from the Eucharist…we can say the same thing about the ministerial priesthood: it is born, lives, works and bears fruit “de Eucharistia.” There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist” (§2).

Priests involved in many different activities. No matter what type of work a priest is engaged in, the highpoint of the priestly ministry is celebrating the Eucharist. It is the most important moment of the day for a priest. And so the Pope writes, “The ordained ministry…enables the priest to act in persona Christi and culminates at the moment when he consecrates the bread and wine, repeating the actions and words of Jesus during the Last Supper” (§2).

Before this extraordinary reality, we find ourselves amazed and overwhelmed, so deep is the humility by which God “stoops” in order to unite himself with a human! If we feel moved before the Christmas crib when we contemplate the Incarnation of the Word, what must we feel before the altar where, by the poor hands of the priest, Christ makes his Sacrifice present in time? We can only fall to our knees and silently adore this supreme mystery of faith (§2).

The Pope reminds us of the importance to pray for vocations so that priests may never be lacking to the Church. This reminds us of the huge sacrifices that some people down through the history of the Church have made to protect priests during times when they were endangered by anti-Catholic laws.

Today’s Reality of Priests

Yes, and indeed a vehement Yes, that many priests are involved in scams, dishonesty, travesty, and what not! This does not nullify the honest, god-fearing and simple priests like St. John Maria Vianney. There are many more such priests with their prophetic zeal working amidst us. It is because of these true servants of Christ, the Catholic Church is bubbling with life today. I am proud of it.

Priests are not fallen from the sky nor are they formed overnight in a seminary. They are born in our families. They are weak as any human being is. They are broken in many places. But I must say, it is not the formation that is received in the seminaries make a person ‘the best priest,’ rather it is the formation received at the younger days at home that make a person ‘the best priest.’ It is the timely correction of father and mother, their love and their initial catechism that form a person who they will be in the future. If anyone asks a priest about their formation, no doubt, they will give their first credit to their parents and family members. As a priest, I can boldly say that it is the formation I received from my parents is what I carry in my priestly ministry even today. My seminary formation was only a confirmation of my family formation. The formation received at home gets deepened, branches out, and become a huge tree in the seminary. But it yields fruit, again, amidst his greater family, the world where he is sent. Had not the formation of parents, a priest is a half-baked one.

However, not all apples are sweet in a basket. There may be one or two insipid or sour. Just because one is not sweet enough, let us not throw it away. Our mothers know it well, how to re-use the leftover rice of the previous night. This is the beauty. Priests need the help of such mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters in making them delicious. I beg earnestly from you, ‘love your priests, help them, guide them, teach them, direct them, love them.’

Often, priests are misunderstood and become a subject of talk for the people. A famous anonymous quote goes like this:

A priest is always wrong because:

If he begins his mass on time, his watch is advanced;

If he begins a minute later, he keeps people waiting

If he preaches too long, he makes people get bored;

If his homily is too short, he is unprepared.

If he owns a car, he is luxurious;

If he does not own one, he does not go with the times.

If he goes out to visit families, he is always out:

If he does not, he has no time for them.

If he asks for donations, he is a moneymaker;

If he does not do it, he is too proud and lazy.

If he takes time in the confessional, he is too slow;

If he makes it too fast, he has no time for his penitents.

If he renovates the church, he throws away money;

If he does not do it, he allows everything to rot away.

If he is with the youth, he forgets the old.

If he is seen with women, he is a playboy;

If he goes with men, he is not normal;

If he is young, he has no experience;

If he is old, he should retire.

As long as he lives, there are always people who are better than him. But the reality is this, “If the priest dies….there is nobody to take his place!” Our entire life is a period of formation. We too need ongoing formation. When we fail, kindly correct us, but don’t punish us with third-degree torture because we are for you only. If you don’t own us as your sons, brothers and companions, then who will?

Yes, I left my mother, so that you become my mother

I left my father so that you become my father

I left my brother so that you become my brother

I left my sister so that you become my sister

I left my relative so that you become my relative

I left my friends so that you become my friend

I left my everything so that you become my everything

Now, accept me the way I am, mould me, guide me, love me, strengthen me, forgive me

Be with me in my loneliness, worries, tensions and problems

I count on your being with me in all my good and bad times.

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

St. Albert's College, Ranchi

Colour Colours the Reality

In our childhood we have studied that there are seven colours in the Rainbow. There are three primary colours - red, yellow and blue; three secondary colours – green orange and purple and six tertiary colours obtained as a result of mixing the first two groups. All other colours are combinations and shades of these. According to the psychophysicists, human being can perceive almost 10 million colours. Depending on the viewing conditions, the perception varies. However, what I want to reflect is not the scientism behind it, but the phenomenology of colour in the socialism. 

If someone is asked a question, “which is the natural colour?” obvious answer would be “White.” However, white is not considered the basic colour. In the spectrum, white is the result of seven colours of the rainbow. On the other hand, the most hated colour is, “Black.” Can anyone call ‘black’ as a colour? It is colourless or at least the absence of colour. Scientifically, when a ray of light is absorbed and not reflected back, it is called ‘black’. Therefore, neither white nor back are colours!? Yes, very much debatable. I am not going into it.  

White is the colour some people are proud about and think that it is ‘pure’ and ‘black’ as impure and vice-versa. The world has seen many wars, fights, bloodshed ever since human beings began to reflect over ‘colour.’ In the past, some colours enslaved and colonized the other. The shame is, this even continues in today’s postmodern globalized society! Can one colour be superior to another? If one colour were to be superior to the other, the whole equilibrium of the nature would collapse. 

The colour dominance depends on the light availability, its absorption and reflection. Light availability in the Polar Regions and the Tropical Regions is not the same. The pigmentation in the mineral rich and natural places like dense forest regions and arid desert landscapes varies. Temperate and cold regions have different equation. Therefore, claiming one colour to be superiority in one region and applying it to all other regions is a sweeping generalization and argumentum ad ignorantiam (fallacy of appeal to ignorance). Can anyone say a brown cow is superior to the black-spotted red cow? Absolutely no. If so, why should some human beings are to be considered superior or inferior to the other? Superiority should be gauged not with colour but with the internal traits – ones character, nature, personality, culture and behavior. In other words, your greatness is measured not with the kinds of attire you have, but with your ‘softness of heart’. 

Colour garnishes the reality. Often, multi-colour is preferred over unicolour. If the nature had only one colour, like the Arctic region (in fact not the case there) full of white ice, there would not be any creativity and life. The more colours in the nature, life bubbles out with joy. Varieties of trees and their flowers, colourful birds and animals, varieties of climate and landscape speak wonders of creation. This verily applies to human society. Varieties of cultures, people, habits, way of life, languages, relations, traditions etc. add life to the earth. The more varieties accepted by each other, there emerges a better harmony and peace. The world becomes habitable and in its real sense can be called ‘the earth’. If not accepted, the earth becomes a battle field, a hell. 

Psychologist and Counselors speak about the ‘Colour Therapy’ to treat the ‘unresolved’ brokenness of the self. It is a therapy where by a disorder or ailment is identified with an unpleasant colour. As a treatment, a colour which is pleasant and healing is filled within or the person is immersed in the healing colour. Thus, the unpleasant colour is taken away or abandoned. This heals the person. If a culture or a tradition is not a soothing one, unpleasant or if it is not making one a ‘human being’ it needs to be discarded and a culture / tradition which makes the person ‘truly human’ is to be imbibed. Years of unpleasant and subjugated life will only add agony and not happiness. Increased dose of pleasant colours will make life palatable. 

Colour blindness or Chromatopsia is disease whereby the person is unable to detect a particular colour. It can vary in number of colours. In our social life, many are not just blind to colours but also blind to the reality. Having eyes and sight is not able to see and judge. Even within the family, children do not recognize parents and parents their children and often from such families elderly parents end up in the ‘old-age homes’. What a pity! One community of people, do not recognize the other community. Many are blind with culture and tradition. Some see only the traditional language and letters inscribed in the scriptures and are unable to translate them into the vernacular language and culture and end up as fundamentalists. This is not just the case with some religions, but seen within one’s own religion and culture too. Religion, instead of binding (re-ligare = to bind) the scattered, scatters the bounded. Should I call such religions as salvific? 

I do not want be a Christian if my religion does not allow me to relate with a Muslim.

I do not want to be a Muslim, if my religion does not allow me to relate with a Hindu.

I do not want to be a Hindu, if my religion does not allow me to relate with a Buddhist.

I do not want to be a Buddhist, if my religion does not allow me to relate with a Jain.

I do not want to be a Jain, if my religion does not allow me to relate with a Sikh.

I do not want to be a Sikh, if my religion does not allow me to relate with an indigenous.

I prefer to be an atheist, an agnostic, a Carvāka, an Epicurean, a Materialist and Irreligious, if my religion does not allow me to relate with the last, least and the lost of the society hailing from any traditional background.

I prefer to be blind than to see.

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Picture source: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/colours-important-trademarks-fashion-in-season-2019-a7705261.html

Tribal Eviction for Corporate Profit

We are shocked and appalled by the Supreme Court order dated 20/2/2019 for eviction of Adivasis and other Traditional Forest dwellers from their Traditional habitats, thus depriving them their right to life and livelihood guaranteed by Article 21 enshrined in Indian constitution. We unequivocally appeal to the Supreme Court to reevaluate this retrograde anti people order which will throw Millions of Adivasis and other traditional Forest Dwellers into the streets., which is against all humanitarian precepts, Natural Justice, the spirit of the Indian constitution and various covenants and declarations of the united Nations charter on the Rights of the Indigenous people. The Supreme Court gave this order on a petition filed by Wild life First which is an extremely callous anti people, regressive conservationist NGO.

It should be noted that the Adivasis and other Traditional Forest Dwellers have been co existing with flora and fauna since millennia in a mutually cooperative symphony and harmony. It is a sheer travesty of truth and historical inustice to blame the Adivasis and other Traditional Forest Dwellers for destroying the eco system and wild life. One should clearly see the nefarious game plan of this anti people wild Life NGO Acting on behalf of the corporate sector and other vested interests to handover the forest land to the corporate sector for commercial exploitation. Already the sword of Damocles is hanging over forests and forest dwellers by the new draft Forest Policy and CAF Act, with a clear cut intention to handover the forest lands to the corporate Sector.

It is quite outrageous that the Government of India which is elected by the people to safeguard their interests did not appear or argue in different hearings of this case before this anti Adivasi order was past.

This is not only a serious dereliction of Constitutional duty of the Central Government but also a conspiracy of complicity to handover the forest lands to the corporate sector. The court order violates Section 6 of the Forest Rights Act which says It is a Criminal Offence not to process the claims of Adivasis and other Traditional Forest Dwellers for their rights to the Forest land Under the Forest Rights Act 2006..

The Supreme Court has asked the Chief Secretaries of 16 State Governments including Karnataka to evict the Adivasis and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers whose claims were rejected by the respective Forest Departments. In Karnataka a Total of 2, 27,014 claims were filled Under Forest Rights Act from this 35,521 claims of Adivasis and 1, 41,019 claims of Other Forest Dwellers were rejected.

We hereby wish to firmly state that the claims of forest Lands under the Forest Rights Act is neither a gift nor an act of charity by the Government of India. This Act was a necessary course correction of the Historical Injustice meted out to the Adivasis under the Draconian provisions of the Indian Forest Act and The Wild life Protection Act. We strongly emphasize that the enactment of the Forest Rights Act was not a result of the magnanimity of the central Government, but was the result of years of arduous struggle by millions of Adivasis. It should also be remembered that historically, Adivasis constitute as a key force in conserving India’s forests, rather than destroying it. The forests in India can not be protected without recognising this key role of the Adivasis. The Forest Rights Act rightly recognises this key role and therefore, we remind the Supreme Court not to violate it.

We earnestly appeal to the mass organizations of the Adivasis, political parties and other progressive and democratic forces to express your deep reservations against this anti people Supreme Court order which violates our right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of Constitution of India.

We would also appeal to you to take these concerns of the rights of the Adivasis within all sections of the civil society, media, activist organisations and the concerned individuals within political parties.

On behalf of Tribals.

(Post appeared in Facebook. Found it worth circulating to conscientize people in this regard.
The Blogger)

Annointed to Announce: Feast of St. Francis Xavier

1. Anointed for a purpose

During the ordination of the priest, the bishop anoints his hands with the oil of redemption that he becomes holy, set apart for the mission of Christ. He is given the Holy Bible to read, reflect, understand and break the word of God and give it to the people. He is given bread and wine with the mandate to receive the gifts of the people and offer them to the people on their behalf. Is breaking the word of God, preaching, consecrating, interceding on behalf of people, and becoming a mediator, the work of a priest only? What about the people? Is only a priest chosen among the people to do the work of God? 

Looking at certain religious functions, retreat centres and the way of dealings of people of God, seems to be so. St. Paul makes the missionary mandate very clear, “it is an obligation that has been imposed upon me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor 9:16). In fact, these are the exact words St. Francis Xavier wrote to St. Ignatius of Loyola in his first letter after seeing the condition of people in Goa. This obligation binds to all the baptised. It is in our baptism that we have received this mandate, “to be the king, the prophet and the priest.” In Baptism we are all anointed for this sake, to be the ambassadors of Christ. St. Paul again stresses this, “And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Cor 5:20). 

2. Our mandate is the mandate of Christ

In his mission mandate, Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Lk 4: 18-19). And for the same mission Christ sends us, “As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you” (Jn 20: 21). Therefore, the mandate is not only for priests and religious but to the people of God. The basic anointment is to continue the mission of Christ in the world. 

3. How do we practice this mandate?

Who actually makes the proclamation? The pulpit gives only the instructions, but the actual proclamation comes from you. After giving two greatest commandments, Jesus tells us, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35). The way you live, the way you behave, the way you interact with others, the way you speak, the way you guide or instruct people understand that this family is different.  This ‘different’ is actually more powerful than preaching hours in the pulpit. 

In the tribal belt, it is not priests who catechize the people, but the people of god. The ordinary people whom we call catechists. Walking miles and hours, spending their most valuable time, the time they should be giving to their families is being spent in teaching the prayers, creed, our father, hail Mary etc. It is to them, the Isaiah said centuries ago, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation (Is 52:7).

4. Anointed to Proclaim in my Family

In the synod of bishops held in Rome under Pope Benedict, on the topic “New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith” once again stressed the need for the evangelization of the evangelized. Why it is a need today? Pope John Paul had already spoken about it in the following words, “where entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case, what is needed is a ‘new evangelisation’ or a ‘re-evangelization.’”

Our altars have become unseen things in the houses. They have taken the place of showcases. Daily rosary and prayers have taken the place of serials, movies, WhatsApp and social media. Parents see their child growing laterally and not longitudinally. Social life and cultural practices have taken the place of DJ culture. Cultural values have diminished. It is here, we need the preaching. Spend time with your family. At least once in a while go out as a family to a park, hotel or the river side or for a picnic, if you are busy in your schedule. Listen to your children. Speak to your children. Play with them. 

The road to my neighbour’s house begins from my house and passes through my courtyard.

 

 Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

JDV, Pune