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On 9^th August (2023) night, a class 12 Schedule Caste student Chinnadurai, and his 13-year-old sister Chandraselvi were attacked with sickles inside their home at Nanguneri, Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district by three of Chhinnadurai’s schoolmates, hours after complaining to the headmaster against them. The victims are students of a government-aided school in Valliyoor. Chinnadurai was subjected to casteist harassment at school by the other students of class 11 and 12. He was asked to buy cigarettes and snacks by them and was also regularly bullied. Chinnadurai complained of harassment to his parents and had refused to attend school for a week before he was attacked. His mother Ambikapathi took him to school and informed his teacher about what had happened.

The teacher then called the harassers and warned them saying that action would be taken against them if they continued this behaviour. After the class hours on 9^th August, the angered harassers confronted Chinnadurai on his way back home and warned him of dire consequences for complaining to the headmaster. Around 10.30 pm on the same day, the three dominant caste students barged into the victim’s home and started attacking him with sickles. Hearing the mayhem, Chandraselvi who went to protect her brother, too, was hacked by them. When some neighbours rushed to their house on hearing their cry for help, the attackers fled the spot. The siblings were rushed to the Nanguneri government hospital with bleeding injuries and later to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

Not an isolated event. Incidents such as this not only make us raise our eyebrows but it also spurs us to question our education system. In the first page of every Tamil Nadu school text book, the following dictum is printed: “Untouchability is a Sin; Untouchability is a Crime; Untouchability is Inhuman.” Although we learned this maxim by heart over the years, we have failed to understand the meaning of it let alone practising it. Since we have got used to this axiom for several years, it has become a cliché – a part of our mind yet failed to touch our hearts. The Nanguneri issue is one tangible sign – albeit not an isolated one – of our failure to imbibe this great truth.

Fr Arnald Mahesh SDB

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The art of listening and learning makes a great teacher. However, all types of listening and learning may not make the best teacher. A genuine teacher chooses the content of listening and learning that holds on to universal moral principles. If not, a ‘fake teacher’ with unauthentic values may be created. In other words, all cannot become teachers, since teaching is the sacred responsibility of handing over the insights of sacred listening and learning. Then, the question arises, ‘can a person who wants to highlight his or her own selfish and relative ideologies (like a corrupt politician or a religious fundamentalist) become a teacher’? No. Even though many claim to teach or instruct others, all are not teachers since they may not desire the common good of the society based on the values of humanity.

A genuine teacher not only does ‘verbal teaching’ but also ‘lives out one’s teaching’. We are familiar with the dictum, “an ounce of practice is worth more than tonnes of preaching.” One of the best examples of those who practiced their teaching is Jesus Himself. He ‘listened and learned’ from the Father and demonstrated his ‘love teaching’ on the cross, giving his own life. Therefore, the art of listening and learning from the ‘Teacher LOVE’ is essential to become a genuine teacher in the present times. One of the narratives in the New Testament that highlights the importance of ‘listening and learning’ is the passage about ‘Bethany School’ (cf. Luke 10:38-42), a School that was not affected by the ‘virus of fake propaganda’. What do we mean by ‘Bethany School’ here? Bethany is recorded in the New Testament as a small village in Judaea. It is in Bethany that the house of the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus was situated. Symbolically, if we consider the house of Bethany as a School – Jesus as teacher, Mary and Martha as students – what are the insights we get? Since everyone, in one way or the other, teaches the other, the insights from the ‘Bethany School’ would give birth in us a genuine teacher. The lessons we learn are clearer from the expansion of the seven alphabets of the name ‘BETHANY’.

Fr Dr Binny Marydas

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गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।

गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥

(Gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ gururdevo maheśvaraḥ

Guruḥ sākṣāt paraṃ-brahma tasmai śrī guruve namaḥ)

Indian philosophy teaches us that a teacher is in the place of God. This shloka from the Skanda Purana can be translated as follows: “The teacher is God; the teacher is self-revealing ever-consciousness. May that teacher be praised!” Our Lord Jesus was called ‘teacher’. His teachings weren’t mere facts and logic, but faith and liberation. But as He described, “A prophet is not without respect except in his own hometown and among his own people” (Mk 6:4), he was crucified. The teacher is that new-age prophet who enlightens minds so that they shine in the world and dispel the darkness around; the darkness of ignorance and malice. Many prophetic men and women are subject to criticism and others to persecution and condemnation.

There are plenty of images that we have heard about teachers: a fire that kindles other fires, a candle that consumes itself in order to dispel darkness, etc. However, what is the use if all this is just ‘thinking’ and not ‘acting? If there is a dichotomy in our words and deeds, then we are nothing but a noisy gong. We need to ponder whether we require teachers like Dronacharya of the Mahabharata, who refused Ekalavya as a student only because of his caste, or teachers like Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha who went against the stereotypical thinking existing in their respective times in order to cleanse society of evil.

Sch. Denver A. Pushpam, SJ

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Around 32 years ago, I had a memorable encounter outside my village office cum residence. A local street cleaner, slightly drunk, posed a thought-provoking question: “Is a 5-paise pottu (forehead sticker) more valuable or a 50 rupee chappal (footwear)?” Intrigued, I admitted my ignorance. He shared his perspective, playfully teasing me for while inferring that I might be educated, but he, a drunkard, had the answer. “Though the pottu costs just 5 paise, we place it on our foreheads. On the other hand, even though the chappal costs 50 rupees, we wear it beneath our feet.”  This incident deeply impacted me, unveiling a deeper understanding of our cultural values. As a social worker in villages, I initially thought that I had much to teach. However, I learned countless human values by listening to and acknowledging the wisdom of ordinary people. One close friend, who never attended school, left me with a valuable lesson. During one of our exchanges in Tamil, he said, Maathi yosi (think differently) urging me to break free from conventional methods and biased mental frameworks for seeking solutions. This insight, stemming from an unassuming individual, has become a wellspring of wisdom. Our mutual learning continues, as he values my teachings while I find his perspective on intricate issues remarkably astute.

Learning – a mutual process

In rural areas, various individuals, from social workers and educators to religious figures and community leaders, are often seen as teachers. On the other hand, ordinary people like farmers, laborers, children, and youth are typically cast as learners. However, assuming exclusive teaching rights and expecting unquestioning agreement can lead to conflicts and strained relationships. While those striving for rural development have valuable qualities and resources, the people they aim to assist also possess intentions, insights, and resources of their own. For effective and comprehensive rural development, it is crucial to establish a harmonious synergy between these two groups. This involves recognizing the dual roles of both teacher and student, embracing a continuous process of mutual learning and growth. Successful outcomes in our development mission stem from respecting the contributions and capabilities of all stakeholders involved.

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Romans 12.:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Mother Mary is the model to transform oneself unto the fullness of Christ. Transformation is not a call to passivity, it’s a call to action. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven is the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven at the end her earthly life. Mother Mary’s assumption into heaven is a call to each of us to live our earthly life as a self-surrender to God alone.

I had a unique experience of transformation of my life and got empowered through the guidance of others. To share with you honestly, I faced many problems in life when I was a young religious mainly because of my ignorance of the situation and listening to negative people. At times I was arrogant, angry and not aware of the inner potentialities to help balance my life. This was made known to my spiritual guide by my sisters in community. One fine day my spiritual guide called me and asked me how I was coping in my life as a religious. I told her it is good and I am happy.  Further she asked, are you really happy? This question struck a chord within me, causing my conscience to surge forth and express itself.

Sr Benny D’Cunha UFS

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“Where the mind is without fear […]; where knowledge is free;

where the world has not been broken up into fragments by domestic walls; […];

into that heaven of freedom, […], let my country awake.”

– Rabindranath Tagore

A few days ago, I came across a report by United Christian Forum titled, “Atrocities Against Christians Increasing Drastically Year-On-Year.” It states, “The violence in Manipur has been raging for over two months now, and hundreds of churches and many precious lives have been lost. This year we have just completed half a year of 190 days and we have already witnessed 400 incidents of violence against Christians across 23 states in India with Uttar Pradesh leading the chart with 155 incidents. Last year during the same period (January to June 2022) 274 incidents of violence against Christians witnessed […]. This year the month of June in 2023 has witnessed the highest number of incidents against Christians with 88 incidents (almost 3 incidents a day).”

Addressing the issue of Manipur in his article, “Human Lives Matter” in the Indian Currents (10-16, July, 2023), Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati Thomas Menamparampil SDB reacts that “Today our interests ought to coincide with hearts and minds united in shared human interests. Manipur matters. The Prime Minister should speak up.” He further comments that “Modiji remains unmoved, He coolly raises the issue of Uniform Civil Code [UCC] and diverts the nation’s attention from the tragedies of Manipur. Is the government deliberately adding insult to injury by keeping the Manipur horrors as a non-issue?”

Fr Arnald Mahesh SDB

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If a celebration does not give any joie de vivre to a person or to a group of people, it becomes a meaningless event. Colourful ‘social media posts’ alone do not create any meaningful celebration in the hearts and minds of the people. These thoughts are relevant as we celebrate Indian Independence Day, which marks the end of British rule in 1947 and the establishment of a ‘free and independent’ Indian nation. On Independence Day, when the Indian tri-colour flutters in the air, it is apt to reflect on the importance of ‘freedom and responsibility’, since every celebration is an opportunity to refresh the memories, to revive the ‘original spirit’, and to analyze the holistic growth progress of a person or an organization in responsible freedom.

Freedom has nothing to do with the amount of physical space we occupy or the bodily capabilities we possess or fulfilling our instinctual needs.  In fact, it is more about respecting the ‘space of the other.’ Freedom is to choose, express and to live without infringing on the personal freedom of others. One of the secrets of happiness is to exercise responsible freedom. Freedom without responsibility is destructive and responsibility without freedom is frustrating. As far as a person does not exercise responsible freedom, no holistic growth happens in the life of that person. As a foetus experiences freedom in the mother’s womb, every human needs to experience freedom in the earth’s womb.

Fr Binny Marydas

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Investment is a very important part of financial management. It is only common sense that whatever extra funds (other than what is needed for the short-term) we have are kept invested. Investment is done in order to earn interest, an additional income to support our needs. It is also meant to beat inflation.

Goal oriented investments: Any investment is done for a specific goal.  A financial goal is a very important and necessary element of investment. We may have many financial goals such as buying a school bus for Rs 20 lakhs, setting up a computer lab costing Rs 10 lakhs, putting up a new block for Rs 6 crores, setting up a poor students’ scholarship fund of Rs 5 lakhs, etc.

Kinds of Investment: Investment can be of different types such as fixed deposit (FD), bonds, mutual funds, shares, etc. Each category is meant for a specific purpose. We know what a fixed deposit is. It is an assurance given by a bank or company which accepts a fixed amount from an investor for a fixed duration of 1 year or 3 years or 5 years with a promise to pay a fixed percentage of interest. A bond is an assurance given by the issuing party, usually the government, which borrows money from its lenders, the public, for a duration of 10 years or 15 years to pay a fixed percentage of interest. A mutual fund is a fund managed by a company which pools together the money of the investors, invests the same in specified stocks of the stock market and earns profit on its investments and distributes the same to the investors proportionately. Here, neither the duration of investment nor the percentage of income (return) is fixed. However, we need to remember the exit load (penalty paid if exited before the expiry of the load period) levied by funds for various categories of funds. Return on the mutual funds depends on the performance of the specific stocks in the stock market. Unlike investment in a mutual fund, investment in stocks is a direct investment in the stock market where an investor invests his/her money directly in a stock (buys shares of a stock with the price per share of the stock at that particular moment) and duration of his/her choice (sells the shares bought earlier at a current price of the stock per share). The difference between the purchase price and sale price of the shares of the stock is calculated as the gain or loss for the investor.

Fr Alex G SJ

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“Your brain is pounding and every part of your body aches. You want to rise from the cold concrete sidewalk, but your attempts induce vertigo and you sink back to the ground. Crowds of people stream past you… but most stare straight ahead when they approach you, some even move away, afraid that something might happen if they get too close. Meanwhile the acid in your stomach causes you to groan. It has no food to break down. You never eat regular meals. Then an older man stops and asks your name. He has short, graying hair and kind, tired eyes. His name is Claude Paradis. Claude is a Catholic priest in the archdiocese of Montreal, Canada”.

This is how Peter Rajchert begins his article on this extraordinary Canadian priest in Messenger of St. Anthony (September 2022).

Fr. Claude understands homelessness – all the sufferings and indignities people who live on the streets face, because he has experienced them all.

Born and brought up in the Gaspé region of Canada, he worked in Cowansville as a nurse. Wanting to experience life in a big city, he came to Montreal as a young man. Unable to find a job for months, he was forced to live on the street. “Isolation and despair took hold of me,” he says. He became an alcoholic and a drug addict. In a city of more than a million people, Claude felt he was all alone and that he did not belong. He decided to commit suicide and attempted to end his life three times.

Doctors saved his life and decided to send him to a psychiatric institution. But after he was discharged, he roamed the streets of Montreal, as he had nowhere to go. One night he saw the glowing lights and the open doors of an old chapel, called Notre Dame de Lourdes (Our Lady of Lourdes). An encounter happened that night in the chapel. Claude entered and knelt down and asked God to give him a purpose to live or just end his life.

Our God is a God of life, isn’t he? So God gave him a purpose to live – to become a priest and serve his people. Claude joined the seminary and, after several years of priestly formation, was ordained a priest in 1997. After his ordination he could have asked to serve in a parish in the vast archdiocese of Montreal. But he did not. He joined Fr Emmett Johns, the founder of ‘Dans la Rue’ – a programme to reach out to homeless youth and give them a shelter.

Fr. M.A. Joe Antony, SJ

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One common temptation many of us face in life is that of living either in the past or in the future and failing to live in the present moment. We live in the past when we remain controlled by past events, sins, hurts etc. We live in the future when our mind is constantly obsessed with that which is out of our control. All that we need to focus is the present moment. How can we enjoy this present moment? I had two golden opportunities to train myself to be aware of the present moment, for which I am grateful to God and my Congregation.

Two years ago I did Vipassana at Igatpuri, Mumbai, where I experienced the purification of my entire body, especially my mind and sensations. Vipassana taught me to live in the present and helped me to develop a calm and clear mind. It is the practice of mindfulness which helps us to reduce stress and anxiety and improve the perspective about our current situation. Recently I did the ZEN Meditation at Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, where I learnt to focus my mind to the present moment. This meditation helped me to increase my attention and focus, to gain a new perspective in life. The main goal of both the meditations is to let go of our thoughts and regulate our attention to the present moment. Living in the present is as important as all other virtues for healthy and holistic living.

Sr Benny D’Cunha UFS

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