Independence Day Message

 

Saha Navavatu, 

saha nau Bhunaktu |

 Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai |

 Tejasvi Naavadhiitamastu 

Maa Vidvissaavahai |

The purport of this mantra is, let there be no animosity amongst us. Conversely, let us live together, eat together, work together and together let us prosper. How wonderful are these words that speak of communion and unity!

On 15th August, we, the Indian Christians, are celebrating two historical events: the 79th Independence Day and the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first is political and the second is spiritual. Today’s first reading calls for introspection on this auspicious day. The woman in labour and delivering the baby amidst the great danger of the dragon’s destruction points out the situation that we are living in today. Like the woman in labour, our nation is in a state of transformation. We are called to give birth to a new India, an India where justice, equality, and peace prevail. It is a challenging task, but it is not impossible. Let us draw inspiration from the life of Mary, who gave birth to the Saviour of the world. She faced immense challenges, yet she remained steadfast in her faith.

Although we look ahead with confidence and optimism, the signs of our times are disturbing and depressing. On the political front, we experience much turmoil and upheaval. For days together, we witness the very act of democratic institutions being questioned. Violence and crime are increasing. Constitutional rights are denied to ordinary people. Justice is being denied to innocent victims. The gap between the rich and the poor is sadly widening ever more, in spite of several welfare schemes. The economic scenario is alarming and afflicting the aam aadmi. The prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing, thus depriving the common man/woman of one square meal a day. The job seekers have to pay a heavy price; merit and competence are totally and conveniently ignored. Their cry is growing louder. Social unrest is on the increase. The underprivileged sections of the people are the targets of the powerful. The enforcement authorities seem helpless to put an end to atrocities, assaults, crimes, murders, gang rapes, human trafficking, drug-peddling, strikes and scams. They fail to ensure peaceful and fraternal living.

On the other side, we come across people and organisations striving for peace, progress and prosperity of the country. Right from the early days, they made concerted efforts to combat social evils prevailing in the country. Advances in science and technology have made great strides in the agricultural, industrial, education, health, space and communication sectors, thanks to the ingenuity of great Indians. This augurs well for the future. Like Mary, we are called to give birth to values of justice, equality, peace and harmony. But these values are surrounded by forces of evil. But we should not be afraid of fostering values even if it costs our lives. Our courageously performed virtuous work towards social welfare will turn hatred into love, powerful into powerless, hungry with a stomach full, etc. Therefore, let’s work for a fear-free, loving and prosperous country.

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः 

सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु 

मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् । 

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Illiterate  Literate Vs  Literate  Illiterate 

When India became independent in 1947, the literacy rate was just under 12% of the total population and today, it has grown up to 75.06% of the total population, a six-fold growth. Among the states, Kerala, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and some other states boast of the literacy rate they have achieved over the years. Congratulations and well done! This is a lesson to be learnt from the success stories of these states by the states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh etc. who are still pulling on.

This is one phase of literacy. On the other hand, are these literate people really literate? What decides literacy? Is it the ability to read and write? Is it the reasoning out and answering the things and issues of the common man? Is it the ‘common sense’ knowledge of the ‘common man’ that makes the person literate? The fact that one is literate, should he/she not able to take up or own responsibility in society? The society here I mean the whole totality of our existence which includes religion, civil society, social aspects, political field, cultural dimensions etc.

Illiterate Literates

Let us take our political system itself. Who is our political leader? He is the person chosen by us, elected by us and therefore, he is supposed to know us, work for our good, and the good of the Nation. Most of them know to read and write. Some are good orators, writers and social workers. But when the issues like FDI, Minority protection Bill, Farmer's Bill, Education Bill (NEP) came, why were the mixed reactions? I find such ‘dum’ people illiterate.

Let us examine at the grass-root level. Who elects them? If one analyze the polling percentage in the cities, rural areas and villages, the percentage usually higher in villages and in the rural areas. Most of the literate people in cities and towns abstain from casting their votes. For some, it is the clash of their ideology, for some, the candidate is from the ‘other side’ and for many, it is a waste of time.  They are the  ‘Illiterate Literates.’

Literate Illiterates

In my younger days, on the day of the election, I have seen the elderly people who cannot even walk, leave aside their literacy, are eager to cast their votes. Most of the aged people not even have seen the classrooms. When the pension comes, or when they have to sign some documents, they show their thumb. But their knowledge of democracy is unmatched with the present-day learned generation. They were convinced of what and why they vote. Are not these illiterate people more literate than we literate people? Of course, they are!

One may take any other value system. They may not have attended any seminars or leadership training programmes, but most of them are born leaders, thinkers and guides. Most of our freedom fighters, even those who are not recognized are the true saints in this regard. They have not lifted any trophies or carried any medals around their necks, but have taught us more than the present day ‘Social Organizers’ and ‘Masters of Ceremonies.’ They are indeed ‘Literate Illiterates.’

Literating the literate

There is a pressing need for us today to evangelize the literate. One may say, what we need is ‘motivation.’ It is true that motivation is necessary. But, the educated who are already having the torch in their hand and know to use where and when do not want to use it. They have already put a full stop in their learning. To motivate them is to make them to rewrite what they have already written or to begin a new one altogether. Therefore, such people need to ‘re-learn’ what they have learnt.   This re-learning is a liberation from the ideological clutches and values systems they are adhered to.

Blinding the Blind
Crowd mentality is a common thing of the present. When something is said by the leader, the people who follow them blindly believe it to be 'gospel truth'. They believe without examination. Someone has rightly said, "the unexamined life is not worth living." When the leader himself/herself is blind, he/she will not be able to show the path of light. Today's Tuglakh rule is another example. RBI heads know very well that India is not yet ready for a cashless economy. Yet, the leaders want it. Unreflected demonetization demonizes the poor! The hard-earned white money of the ordinary people is termed as 'Black'. What a paradox! 

Delanding the Land
Land is ours, we are the owners, we pay the tax, we are the land owners. But government has the right to alienate from us! Century old CNT and SPT Acts of Jharkhand-Bihar speak volumes about the political acts. For them, change is necessary, like Heraclitean dictum, 'change is real'. what is hidden behind the agenda is , 'to sell the state to the multinational companies' in the name of development, for it says, 'for the development of the country land can be alienated.' If the government really want the development why can't it sow the seeds of education, health and social development programmes? Why does it want the MNCs to open schools, hospitals and build roads? Why does it hinder the activities of NGOs and minority programmes? We are being alienated from our own culture and rights. Should I call such behaviour as mature and literate ones? I cannot pose a positive answer.  

As India is celebrating Her Republic Day, it will be apt for us to think, whether we are really literates or carrying the certificates of our diplomas, degrees and still remain illiterate? Today the country needs literate people who can think ahead of time, who can see beyond what is being seen, who can act beyond what is being acted upon. Only then as an educated person, one can sing, “Asato maa sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyothirgamaya, mrutyor maa amrutamgamaya. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.” Lead us from falsehood to truth, from the unreal to the Real, from darkness to Light, from death to Immortality. Om peace, peace, peace.

HAPPY   REPUBLIC   DAY

Literacy leads to rationality which in turn leads to intellectual growth. This is the beginning of economic, social and political development. Spiritual illiteracy leads to doom of anyone who doesn't recognize Divine knowledge. One may be religious for years, or maybe the most successful person in an institution, but if he/she doesn't recognize God in life, is an illiterate literate. In the kingdom of God, an ordinary person who is not trained in theology or philosophy can be the most spiritually literate person. Who am I, "literate illiterate or illiterate literate?"

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

I want to Study: An Inspirational Success Story

The Recent news from Rewari of Haryana shook the conscience of the education department. The news was about the Right to Education. About 80 girl students fearing harassment in travelling a long distance to attend the higher education after Matric sat for the hunger strike. On the fifth day, the education department came up with a written assurance of opening a Plus Two school for them. Well done the daughter of India. I was in goose bumps reading the news which enabled me to pen down these few lines.

Some want to educate themselves and be somebody in the society, while the others want to be where they are! It is funny and surprising that for over ten years government did not feel the need to address the situation in spite of the repeated request for the up gradation of the school, nor it heard the cry of eve teasing on the way to high school. Some raised the voice and closed their senses willingly and unwillingly. 

Who is to be blamed? Government? Education Department? Officials? Parents? Eve teasers? Village Sarpunch? Villagers? Children themselves? Should we blame our system? Each one of us is to be blamed. But some are to be blamed more and some less. 

Government officials say that they would consider the demand of the people. But the children are not satisfied with their oral recitation of assurances. This is just because, the people have lost faith in the functioning of the government. How will the people have faith? When the government gives only bold headlines in the newspapers and TV for the publicity sake and not doing anything at the ground level, funds meant for the education are diverted to the vested interest of the authorities, schools are closed for various reasons or the existing schools are used for the political publicity, the people will lose their faith in the authorities. 

Another jolt is on the minority educational institutions. For many political parties, they are money making institutions, centers of conversion and places of anti-social activities. A watchful look at the institutions where they are established will show that they actually cater the education of the last, least and lost. But the colour blind eyes of the officials find them as nuisance to the up growing elite and fanatically oriented institutions. Therefore, in order to put a check on these, government is back footing the funds, permission and needed recognition. Other kinds of harassment are uncountable. 

Consider the present education policy. School is not supposed to fail any student till the Matric, nor the teachers can give any kind of punishment for not doing the homework. What kind of psychological markup is promulgated here? “I don’t need to study, anyhow I will pass.” If we see the children of elite, majority of them are not studying in government schools. Rather they are in the highly reputed schools of the country spending thousands of rupees per day. It is Okay. But why are the ordinary people deprived of high standard education? There is a psychological reason for it. If the minority is educated and become somebody in the society, they will be a threat for the existence of the elite. Therefore, ‘it is better that they are where they are. Push them to periphery and do not allow them to reach the centre,’ is the ideology at work. 

Another reason that we have not yet become a developed country is the stigmata that we are carrying on our shoulders. It is the stigmata of “I am not able to do it”. For the centuries, we have been telling to ourselves that we are “like this only”. Our elders said the same thing, “We are fit for washing the dishes only. We are not supposed to study. Girls any way go to their in-laws house and so why to teach them? Women are for the sake of men….” We need to come out from this and boldly assert ourselves, “Yes, We Can. We Will. We are Able.” The power of positive thinking has enabled those girls from Haryana to take a revolutionary step and demand for right to education. Today their cry is heard. India needs several such daunting girls today. 

Did those children ask for something extraordinary? Did they demand gold, silver or wealth? They just asked, “We want to study without fear.” They asked for their right. Child has the right to ask for the basic necessity from its parent and it is the duty of the parent to provide what is moral and just. Government is the parent of every child. It has the duty to provide quality education and make the child grow in wisdom and knowledge. Today several children in our villages and slums are earnestly requesting the same, “provide us teachers, provide us education, provide us knowledge, provide us schools, provide us schools of higher learning, provide us opportunities to excel, provide us jobs, provide us our basic rights….” May our parents listen to us. 

For the news see, (See the news published in various national dailies, http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/may/16/haryana-girls-fearing-harassment-sit-on-hunger-strike-for-school-upgradation-1605377.html). 

Also Published in 

http://velivada.com/ on 2017/05/18 entitled "I Want to Study: An Inspirational Success Story". 

http://velivada.com/2017/05/18/want-study-inspirational-success-story/

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Fear of Existence as the Suppression of Integration

The Article is first published in the following site. 
http://velivada.com/2017/05/17/fear-existence-suppression-integration/

Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain or threat. The fear could be real or imagined, often accompanied with increased autonomic activity. Seeing a rope lying on the floor at dusk one jumps over, gasping for breath, thinking that it is a snake which is about to bite. It takes few minutes before to know that it was in fact the rope. The imagined snake is verily, the stationary snake or it may be elsewhere! Some Psychologists claim that the fear is not real, only an imagination and while the others claim the contra view. Medically, it is an autonomic reaction to cope with an impending threat. Whatever may be the case, I am not reflecting in this line of thought. What I do draw from here is a reaction emerging from this threat. 

Fear of existence is the reaction drawn by the existence of the other who pose an imagined or real threat to the one who is frightened. The resulting reaction can move in two directions: either can challenge the other or can integrate the other. When it is challenged, the end result is devastating. When the other is accommodated, the fear changes into joy and peace. 

The inbreeding fundamentalistic tendencies, the growing anti-social hidden activities and agendas, ‘white-washed’ developmental projects of the state and the country are nothing but few traces of the alienation of the other. The existence of the one threatens the existence of the other. And this is the existential reality. 

Often it is understood as the dictum goes, ‘the might is right’. Powerful are the rulers and the powerless are the subjects to be enslaved. Be that, it might be. A question very well can pose here is, “to what does the present authority is threatened of?” Is it that it has no power to lord over, or is it that the purpose is to have a holistic development, or has it got any other agendas to accomplish? The very simple reason could be, the fear of the existence of the minority. Sounds very strange!

Muslim population in the country is just 14.2%, while the Christian population is just 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Buddhism 0.8% and Jainism 0.4% according to the 2011 census. However, the threat posed to majority religion that form 80% of the total population is mostly by the first two minority groups. This is very clear from the number of atrocities and persecution done against Muslims and Christians. 

This difference in opinion towards the minority religion is due to the threat the majority religion is now facing, the threat of its existence. This threat is inflicted from three sides: i.) Materialism and agnosticism of the postmodern time and thus the declining religiosity, ii.) Growing world-wide minority population and strength creating certain uncertainty, iii.) Literary revolution which is creating a social awareness. 

The religion once ruled the whole nation without much struggle is at the verge of division and separation. Several vested interested groups and people are claiming to be the real custodians of the religion. At the same time, agnosticism moved by the postmodernism and materialistic culture is growing. While the other minority religions having distinct commander-in-chief guide the integrity of it, the majority religion of the county lacks it. Too many deafening and inhuman practices are being questioned by the educated society. And therefore, many opt to be ‘skeptics’ or ‘agnostics’. The literary revolution brought by Christian missionaries is yielding its fruit in the country. The opening of several educational institutions in the urban and villages have opened the windows to the new waves of thinking. Higher education has become need of the hour. What has made here is the growing rationality amongst the people to judge right from wrong (or at least from dangerous thinking). The existential awareness of the situation coupled with the education is not ready to accept anything for granted. The perceived threat here is not by the thousands of educated people but by a mere 2% educated think-tanks of the society. It is this minor percentage of educated among the total educated who bring out any change in the society. It is these 2% who think ahead of 20 years and bring out new vision for the society. Till 200 hundred years ago ordinary people simply followed word to word what the influential people said may be with or without reason. Today, even an ordinary person looks for justification of the such claims made.

Along with this the ruling elite is trying to silence the voices of the common man. The existential fear can be seen here in three ways: by ignoring the weak, by silencing the voices and by diverting the attention. As long as the oppressed people’s movements, voices and struggles are weak and imperceptible, the fearing elite will tend to ignore the weak. At times they will give an impression as if nothing wrong has happened or everything is normal. They will give such statements as if there is no hell on earth, everything is in its heavenly bliss. 

If this does not work, then they will go for the second option – silencing the oppressed. The main target group of silence is the leaders of the oppressed. Often, the demand for justice is brought into fore by some emergent charismatic leaders. Now the elite class will stifle the movement by neutralizing the leadership by hook or crook. They will allure them with money, power and position and if this plan fails, then the path chosen is physical elimination. This is followed by silencing the potential leaders of the group, if needed. 

At the failure of both the above plans, the third trick is put in to practice – diversion of the attention. It is scientifically proved that human memory is often short-termed. After a few days of the incident however brutal it might, the event is forgotten or at least bears less significance. Similarly, the fearful class when it senses mass movement, opts for a radical movement. It is a well-thought out diversions and distractions into the scenario that the original thrust of the movement and struggle are diluted. They effectively bring out ‘development-ism’, ‘regional autonomy’, ‘constitutionality’, ‘amendments’, ‘law and order’ etc. weapons to divert the issues. 

A genuine well-being will have no opposition whatever situation it might be or at least it will survive all the odds posed against it. The sixth sense of the beneficiaries will perceive the goodness by which it is implemented without having any issues. But today, most of the welfare schemes of the government however excellent, are not reaching to the ordinary people because of the motive with which they are prepared. We can note this very well in our own families. If the mother is full of vengeance towards a person, the child who sucks her breasts will constantly fall sick. From a positive thought, a positive vibration or aura and from the negativity only a destructive aura is created. 

The genuine integration safeguards every culture, tradition, ethnicity, identity, class and structure. The democracy and the constitutional rights are well protected in a genuine integrated system. The government has no moral right to imposes something on certain section of the society just because it needs to come under mainstream culture. One section of the society cannot uphold that it is the mainstream culture and others as primitive. Drawing one into other is not the integration, but the murder of culture. It is this psychological threat of existence of one’s superiority that takes up the drastic step to eliminate the other.

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

__________________________________

Picture Source:    http://energeticsinstitute.com.au/fear-of-life-fear-of-anger/

FREEDOM AT THE CROSS-ROADS

Who

says that being free we are really not free? How dare are you to say, “India is in manacles.” Have we not got more freedom here than there in Heaven? Of course, we do have. Therefore, the question, “Where is thy freedom?” is an unnecessary bullshit! Then, listen carefully, understand and reflect. Am I not right in what I say? Have I no freedom to puke what I want? I will say what I want to say. You may christen me crazy, for you’ve your freedom.

Who

said that we have no freedom to use the world as we like? Peel the plantain, eat and throw the skin on the road. Smoke bundles of bidis and cigars and throw the buts in the public places. Empty the kitchen waste in the main road. Throw your dead pets and animals in the uncovered gutters of the municipality. Let others see and enjoy. Drive your vehicle as you like, honk as you wish and dash into whomsoever you want. No problem! After all it is your vehicle. You’re free to use it. Change the party as you wish at any time. You are free. Pelt stones at public vehicles, shops and offices as you used to throw at the ripe mango when you were young. Not yet satisfied? Enflame them! They are all at your service. After all, it is a democratic country! You have won freedom just a few days ago.

Who

said that we’ve no freedom here? Who said that the freedom given for us is barricaded? To do what you want is freedom. You are given ample freedom and that too coagulated with responsibility. But you say, responsibility with freedom is a redundant absurdity. Rightly you’ve said it, ‘policing in my privacy is curtailing my freedom.’ ‘I dance and sing 24x7, because, I am responsible for my future. Who are you to dictate?’

Who

said our country is in the dark? Climb up to the terrace at night and have an aerial appraisal and see the beautiful panoramic towns twinkling like the sky and sing the rhyme, “twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are…” Who said our country is in BPL? Go for an evening walk, look at your right side, people are living in the castles. Their buildings are touching the sky like the Tower of Babel. Beware, how dare you are to glare at the left side, for there only demons live! Know this, that though our views have narrowed, yet no problem, our roads have broadened. Though we need only one child, the divorce rate has increased. Though our farmers do not get enough seed to sow, don’t worry our godowns are full. Though our children go hungry, we export enough food to alleviate hunger. Are we not good Samaritans? What else do we need?

Who

said we are intellectually abaft? Though our knowledge has weakened, our degrees and diplomas are increasing. Though we don’t get permission to open LKG and nursery schools, no permission is prerequisite for IITs, Engineering and Medical colleges, for they decide the GDP. Though our bullock-carts have not vanished, we ’re successful in organizing space-walk picnics. Though our reasoning has become weak, our aptitude for knowledge has increased. Though diseases have increased, medicines too have increased. The learned proclaim that the “decrease in adult mortality and increase in child mortality” is a sign of social awareness. What a paradox! So they don’t need LKGs.  Though we’ve stopped smiling and cheering, has not our shouting and yelling in the bars and pubs increased? And you say ‘it is modern a gurukul.’ Though we are unable to think afresh, there are enough think-tanks to think for us. So, why worry on unnecessary supranno?  After all we’ve money to pay. Though our appetite has declined, our fast-food centers are mushrooming. Though we’ve not learnt to live, we’ve learnt to live in the towns and metropolis. See how posh we are!

Who

said our spirituality has gone wrong? Though we don’t pray, our shrines on the roads are increasing. Shrines and worships are their needs and not my need! Simony is law of the land. My share is my right! Though we fail to bring people to God, we are able to empower them with our lofty ideals. Though we don’t practice what we ought to preach, the hidden mysteries of the Kingdom of God, our preaching has not gone down with our mysterious agenda. Though we are unable to bring glorious revolution, we are talented to bring gory revolution. Is not Gurudev Tagore ubiquitously wrong, “Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the pathmaker is breaking stones. He is with them in sun and in shower, and his garment is covered with dust….” We want to demolish one mosque and build a temple over there; demolish temple and build church over there, destroy that statue there and erect this one here. Though God protects us, we think we need to protect God! People of the country are the 'uncivilized vanvasis' while the others are 'civilized citizens'! This is the religion. This is the freedom of religion which my country proclaims today! I am proud of it!

Who

said our leaders are bad? Though they are producing and blasting tons of granite, receive handsome black bags and parade in scamy adventures, their hearts are soft like sponge! Today they blast granite and tomorrow weep at the blasted granite. Today they beep up for trekking and tomorrow receive medals of bravado. Though they cannot write their names, they’ve their secretaries to write for them. See, how faithfully they work for you! Every minute and second busy in writing and signing MoUs of MNCs, and other project works. MNS and Corporates, Amabanis and Adanis are their revered guests who only can uplift the poverty in India. They are busy in developmental acts to attend your calls, so don’t disturb them. Let them have the pleasure of serving you when they get time. That is why you have chosen them. Though we’ve no sandals to wear, they are busy funding pedal-less cycles for your sisters in the villages. You are healthy to drink murky water, that’s okay; but if they drink, who will cure them whilst they fall sick? So allow them to drink ‘bisleri’ water. They have passed bills in parliaments for wells and ponds for farmers. But you see, the delay of boring is due the punctured wheels of the trucks! If the present project has not addressed the 250 million farmers; don’t worry, the next 5 year plan will address their needs.

i

I find it difficult to understand what our Father wrote, the day after Independence: “We’ve achieved political freedom, but we’ve not yet achieved economic, social and moral freedom. It is a difficult task to achieve.” Is not Gandhi wrong!? I have the freedom to do what I want. I can raise my moral, social and economic standard. Therefore, I am not enslaved. Therefore, let us rejoice, celebrate and be proud! This is my nation, my country and I am proud of its heritage!

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Picture source:

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcStXpi2IagoXR9k-3z49lPHQrzphno9XruJVtbEHNkltCAtgoc0