soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..."
“A Tryst with Destiny”
"A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the
ಮಹಳೆೆಂ: “New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change.”
Chicago is a hellhole right now. Baltimore is a hellhole right now. We have the right to call in the National Guard because I have an obligation to protect this country.”
Buiscuits
?This issheer nonsense!”
sheer nonsense?
fu-ru-i-keya (5)
ka-wa-zu to-bi-ko-mu (7)
mi-zu no o-to (5)
hatsu shigure saru mo komino wo hoshigenari
ದಿಶಾ
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar felicitates Jemimah Rodrigues, member of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025-winning Indian cricket team. (PTI)
Jemimah and Gavaskar ‘playing together’
Indian cricket’sspankingnew poster girl JemimahRodrigues and the sport’s veteran war horse Sunil Gavaskar give the term “playing together” new meaning. They don’t mean
cricket, of course. Though really, it would be fascinating to see both Mumbai batters at opposite ends of the crease even in a limited overs exhibition match. No, this “playing together”is the delivery of a promise Gavaskar made on the eve of Sunday’s final. Ever the optimist, he had blithely said he would sing while Jemimah strummed her guitar if our Women in Blue won the World Cup. Well, they won. And now Jemimahhas called out the Legend, asking him if he is ready, because she and her guitar can’t wait! I am all in favour of this duet. Jemimah is as talented a musician as she is a cricketer. Of that, Instagram has ample reels to show. The guitar is as much an extension of her arm as is the cricket bat. And she has a nice lilting voice.
Our Sunny is a maverick musician himself. Back in the day when the cricket calendarwas not so busy, he daringly flirted with showbiz briefly but didn’t get the same ready acceptanceand wide appreciationas he got on the pitch. He acted in the 1974 Marathi film ‘Saavli Premachi’. As the hero! Thinking in him they had a surefire winner, the filmmakers further got Gavaskar to sing a song titled ‘Ya Duniyemadhye Thambayaala Vel Konala’ for the film. With dismal results. But Gavaskar was used to scoring a duck and gettingon withlife. Undeterred, he made a cameo in the 1988 Bollywood action comedy ‘Maalamaal’ starring Naseeruddin Shah, Mandakini, Amjad Khan, and Satish Shah. And cut another Marathi single titled ‘He Jeevan Mhanje Cricket’.But not finding any takers for his acting and singing, he was excitedby the film and recording studios and went back to the stadium dressing room. Now he’s ready to return to showbiz. With Jemimah! Welcome back, Sunny.
Is PK, a Hurdle in Nitish-Tejaswi Battle?
Gabriel Vaz, Bengaluru
Bihar assembly electoral battle has reached a crucial and phase with voting for 121 out of the 243 constituencies taking place on Friday, November 6, 2025, in the firstphase.Polling fortheremaining 122 constituencies in the second phase will happen on November 11 with counting scheduled to be held on November 14 celebrated as Children’s Day to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister JawaharlalNehru.
Going by pre-election surveys and analyses by different media persons of almost all major newspapers, it is evident that caste affiliationswillbethekeyfactorthat will determine theoutcome.
However, electoral verdict by all accounts is likely to be a photo finish with electoral strategistturned politician Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) leader Prashant Kishore, known byhisinitialsPK,isprojected to be the big hurdle in the quest of Janata Dal (United) President and ChiefMinisterNitishKumartoretain his post and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)leaderTejaswiYadavtosnatch thepost.
Most pollsters believe that PK could well turn to bethe big hurdle inthepath of Nitish orTejaswi.
Nitish, hailed as “Suhashan Babu” for his good governance, has the distinction of serving as the chief minister for 20 long years,
while Tejaswi, son of RJD chief and former union minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, had ruled Bihar or through his wife Rabri Devi upon being sent to jail over the multi-crore fodder scam and is still facing CBI court cases in the IRCTC scam, was accused of running a “Jungle Raj,” still has to face the stigma of corruption cases facing the family, including himself.
Tejaswi, however, is confident of wresting the chief minister’s post mainly on account of the antiincumbency factor dogging Nitish and the government’s failure to tacklethemounting unemployment
problem and the frustration of younger generation, the Gen Z, most of whom are probably firsttime voters and unfamiliar with the past achievements of Nitish, as also the spiralling inflation, the frequent exam paper leaks affecting the future and lack of development despite Modi regime’s reliance on thesupport ofNitishandTDPleader Chandrababu Naidufor itssurvival.
Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), which was part of NDA inthelastelection, isnowamember of Mahagathbandhan with his tremendous pull among the Mallah community of fishermen and his projection as the candidate for Deputy Chief Minister, is expected to give an extra boost along with strongman Pappu Yadav, who has now switched his loyalty to Congress under Rahul Gandhi. Given the ambiguity of BJP continuing with Nitish in the post-
election scenario and the speculations over springing a surprise as had happened in Maharashtra, when theNDA fought the election under the then chief minister Eknath Shinde, who was side-lined in favour of Devendra Fadnavis afterthe elections, Tejaswi is trying his best to exploit the confusion.
Nalanda, Buddha& Mandal
What are the ground realities in Bihar? Despite his reputation as “Suhashan Babu,” Nitish is facing anti-incumbency after ruling the State for 20 long years on his own or in alliance with other parties. He doesn’t discriminate his allies and has had no qualms about tying up with either BJPor Lalu, Congress or other parties including the Left. But hehascarefullycultivatedhisimage and isreckoned asthechampion of his own backward class communities. Hehasnobaggage of religious and communal bias or family.
Though known as the land of Buddha, who received “enlightenment” at Bodh Gaya in the 5th century B.C. and is also
renowned astheCentre of Learning in ancient India through the historical Buddhist Nalanda Mahavihara in medieval Magadha under the Gupta dynasty, Bihar is part of the proverbial backward BIMARU (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthanand UttarPradesh) bunch of States steeped in poverty, burdened with unemployment problem and even illiteracy with little or noindustrial growth.
Bihar has been crying for a “Special Status” for over a decade with successive governments at the Centre paying lip service but doing precious little to uplift the conditions of the people or the State. Even the redoubtable Nitish had served as an Union Minister along with coastal Karnataka’s George Fernandes, who had won from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur LokSabha constituency while languishing in jail over the alleged Baroda Dynamite case during the emergency period.
Like the enterprising Malayalees of Kerala, who can be foundinalmosttheentireworld, the industrious Biharis can be found all over the country as the cheap migrant labourers in the
construction of infrastructural projects andmega buildings.
What makes Biharspecial?
IfGujaratisknown astheState thatgave birth to the“Father of the Nation” Mahatma Gandhi, Biharcan legitimately be considered as the birthplace of Gandhian Satyagraha as Gandhi experimented with his civil disobedience movement from Champaran intheState wayback in 1917. Jayaprakash Narayan known as JP was born in Bihar, and he launched “Nav Nirman Kranti” that led to thedownfall of Indira Gandhi and was instrumental in the formation of the first non-Congress government attheCentre in1977.
Subsequently, when V P Singh tried to save his government by implementing the Mandal commission’s report on reservation to Other Backward Classes in 1990, it was again Bihar that was in the forefront of anti-Mandal agitation along with Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, RajasthanandHaryana.
But much before Mandal politics, thethenBiharchiefminister Karpoori Thakur adopted the revolutionary affirmativeactionplan
in 1978 for empowering the lower castes and extremely backward castes(EBCs) providing reservations over and above the constitutionally guaranteed protections to SC/STs. Karpoori Thakur is regarded as the mentor tobothLaluandNitish,who continued thequota policies.
Women-centric & Caste-driven
In 2025, when Modi and BJP are harping on Vikshit Bharat with lofty targets of turning India into a mostdeveloped economy, Biharhas one of the lowest per capita incomes in the country. The politics of the State is completely castedriven, and all the political parties are focusing on emancipation of women, backward classes, extremely backward classes and Dalits by promising reservation to improve their lot.
The special attention to women by both NDA and Mahagathbandhan is because of women accounting for3.5crore out of the total electorate of 7.43 crore and the larger turnout of 59.7% of women against 54.5% of meninthe last assembly elections. Therefore, the rival camps are targeting
women to reap the benefits. The NDA hasgiven tickets to 34 women candidates against Mahaghatbandhan’s 31 while PK’s JSPhas25women candidates.
While Nitish is banking on his pull among backward classes, particularly his own Kurmi community, and also women, his mainrivalTejaswiiscountingonthe backing from his own Yadav community and minority Muslims, famously described as M-Y equation. In the present election, RJD and his Congress-supported Mahagathbandhan (not INDIA block as other constituents like Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin’s DMK, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena etc., are not very active in the State) has turned its focus on women or Mahilamaking itM-M-Y equation.
To drive home the point of major shift in emphasis for women inthe NDA,Modi virtually launched from Delhi the Mukhyamantri MahilaRozgarYojanafordirectcash transfer of Rs 10,000 each to 1.21 crore women with a promise to sanctionRs2lakhaftertwoyearsfor self-employment schemesinvolving a total budgetary outlay of Rs 7.5
crore just a week before the announcementofelections, whichis in sharp contrast to his own public ridicule of pre-election sops by other parties as “Revdis!”
Surprisingly, the Election Commission restrains State Governments of transferring its officers much before the announcement of elections, did nothing when the Prime Minister launchedthescheme! TheNDApoll manifesto also promises creation of 1 crore jobs in Bihar, forgetting Modi’s unfulfilled promise of creating 2crore jobs annuallymade before the 2014 Lok Sabhapolls!
Tejaswi’s Mahagathbandhan manifesto also has sops for women and unemployed youth just like Congress party’s guarantees in Karnataka and also promises government jobs for every household. But, it is too early to predict whether the pre-election sops of NDA or Tejaswi’s Mahagathbandhan manifesto promises may sway the electorate or thevoters, especially thewomen, would go with the advice of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the womenfolk to happily accepttheRs 10,000 “bribe” ofNDA
but vote “wisely” by choosing the right candidate andcombination.
Unpredictable PK enigma!
It is in this political scenario that the presence of election strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) as the unknown factor that queers the pitch. There is speculation that PK might surprise the established players inthe present elections.
WhoisPK? The48-year-old PK incidentally hails from the Kumar village inSamsaraof Rothaydistrict. From being an executive in public health, heswitched roles tobecome the election strategist to in 2011 help Modi win his third term as Gujarat chief minister in the 2012 assembly polls. With Modi ousting BJP stalwart L K Advani to become the NDA candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll battle, PK was a key
backroom player in the election campaign.
PK helped Nitish-led Mahaghatbandhan’s victory in 2015 Bihar assembly polls and subsequently joined the JDU to become its Vice President in 2018 and subsequently got appointed as CM’s Advisor for Planning and Programme Implementation. He was also involved in 2020 assembly elections of Nitish. In between, the Congress party used the services of PK in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, whichfailed to yield results. He had also worked with former Punjab Congress chief ministerCapt.MarinerSinghin2017 assembly polls, YS Jag an Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress in 2019 AndhraPradeshassemblypolls, Aim Aadi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal’s in 2020 Delhi elections, Mamatha Banerjee’s Trinomial Congress (TMC) and DMK’s M K Stalin in the 2021 West Bengal and Tami Nadu assembly polls respectively. However, after the 2021 assembly polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, PK announced his decision to quit as election strategist and in the next year, becameafull-timepoliticianhimself
by launching his own JSP. From 2022, PK went on a padayatra covering over 3500 kms visiting all thedistricts inBihartopromote JSP, whichheclaimedtobedistinctfrom allother parties of theright or left.
PK’s JSP, however, is yet to have its own organisational base or dedicated party structures and cadres and remains as the unpredictable quantity. PK and JSP are always in the news, possibly becauseofhiscloseassociationwith themedia. He,himself, hasdeclared that “JSP will win either 150 out of 243 seats to form the government onits ownor get lessthan10 seats! If my prediction doesn’t come true,
my three-year effort will be awaste and a failure requiring drastic changes!”
The big question is: Whether Nitish and NDA will come back to power or Tejaswi will triumph? Alternatively, will PK turn out to be the hurdle for both Nitish and Tejaswi?
The Poor are with Us!
-*Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ
TheCatholicChurchwillobserve the ‘World Day of the Poor’, on 16 November 2025. The day has a specialsignificancethisyear,sinceit comes inthewakeofPopeLeoXIV’s first major papal document: An Apostolic Exhortation addressed “to allChristians,onloveforthepoor,” titled ‘DilexiTe’(‘I have loved you’) and dated 4 October (the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi). About four monthsearlier, on13June2025, the
Feast of St Anthony of Padua, Pope Leo, released to the world his message for the 9th World Day of thePoor, on the theme ‘Youaremy hope’ (cf. Ps 71:5). Both in his message and in his exhortation, he makes one thing clear: The Catholic Church takes sides with the poor and that one should do everything possible, to become and to be visible as the Church of/for the poor!
For the ‘World Day of the Poor’, PopeLeogivesusaveryincisiveand challenging message: to pray, reflect and act upon. Focussing on the theme, which is the crux of his message, he emphatically writes, “Thebiblicalsummonstohopethus entails the duty to shoulder our responsibilities inhistory, without hesitation. Charity, infact,“isthe greatest social commandment.” Povertyhasstructuralcausesthat mustbeaddressedandeliminated. Inthemeantime,eachofusiscalled tooffernewsignsofhopethatwill bear witness to Christian charity, Hospitalsandschools,forinstance,
were institutions established to reach out to the most vulnerable andmarginalized.Theseinstitutions shouldbeapartofeverycountry’s public policy, yet wars and inequalitiesoftenpreventthisfrom happening…The poor are not a distractionfortheChurch,butour belovedbrothersandsisters,forby their lives, their words and their wisdom,theyputusincontactwith the truth of the Gospel. The celebrationofthe‘WorldDayofthe Poor ‘is meant to remind our communitiesthatthepoorareat theheartofallourpastoralactivity... Godtookontheirpovertyinorder toenrichus”.
Pope Leo’s message is crafted in six pointed units. At the outset, he givesusascriptural justification and understanding of his message. He asserts that, “amidlife’strials,our hopeisinspired bythefirmand reassuringcertaintyofGod’slove, pouredintoourheartsbytheHoly Spirit”. After this introduction, he emphasises the need for and importance of having God as our first and only hope and that one should notrely onthemateriality of this world. The poor, have nothing,
they rely on God. “Thepoorcanbe witnessestoastrongandsteadfast hope, precisely because they embody it during uncertainty, poverty, instability and marginalization.Theycannotrelyon the security of power and possessions;onthecontrary,they areattheirmercyandoftenvictims ofthem.”
Trusting in God alone is what gives meaning to our lives. Pope Leo is unequivocal when he states, “the gravestformofpovertyisnotto know God.” In the third unit, he continues, “thisisaruleoffaithand thesecretofhope:allthisearth’s goods, material realities, worldly pleasures, economic prosperity, however important, cannot bring happiness to our hearts. Wealth oftendisappointsandcanleadto tragicsituationsofpoverty above allthepovertybornofthefailureto recognizeourneedforGodandof theattempttolivewithouthim”
His next step is on Christian hope, which he notes, is symbolised with an anchor, providing stability and security. “Christianhopeislikean anchorthatgroundsourheartsin
thepromiseoftheLordJesus,who saved us by his death and resurrection and will come again amongus”.He situates this hope in the tradition of the Church saying, “the Church’s tradition has constantlyinsistedonthecircular relationship between the three theological virtues of faith, hope andcharity.Hopeisbornoffaith, whichnourishesandsustainsiton the foundation of charity, the motherofallvirtues.Allofusneed charity,hereandnow.Charityisnot justapromise;itisapresentreality to be embraced with joy and responsibility. Charity engages us andguidesourdecisionstowards the common good. Conversely, thosewholackcharitynotonlylack faithandhope;theyalsorobtheir neighboursofhope.”Pope Leo, like PopeFrancis doesnotmincewords!
After giving us the crux of his messageinUnit5,hewindsupinhis characteristic style (very much like PopeFrancis). Hesays,“eachdaywe encounter poor or impoverished people.Wetoomayhavelessthan before andarelosing whatonce seemedsecure:ahome,sufficient food for each day, access to healthcareandagoodeducation,
information,religiousfreedomand freedom of expression…. In this promotion ofthecommongood, oursocialresponsibilityisgrounded inGod’s creativeact,whichgives everyoneashareinthegoodsofthe earth.Likethosegoods,thefruitsof human labour should be equally accessibletoall.Helpingthepooris amatterofjusticebeforeaquestion ofcharity…”Words thatarefamiliar, but very hardto swallow!
In his concluding para Pope Leo prays, “let us entrust ourselves to MaryMostHoly,Comforterofthe Afflictedand,withher,letusraisea songofhopeaswemakeourown thewordsoftheTeDeum:“Inyou, OLord,isourhope,andweshall neverhopeinvain.”Justbeforethat, he gives us his final salvo, “Itismy hope, then, that thisJubilee Yearwill encourage the development ofpoliciesaimedat combattingformsofpovertyboth old and new, as well as implementing new initiatives to supportandassistthepoorestof the poor. Labour, education, housing and health are the foundations ofasecuritythatwill never be attained using arms. I expressmyappreciationforthose
initiativesthatalreadyexist,andfor theeffortsdemonstrated dailyon the international level by great numbers of men and women of goodwill.”
Pope Leo’s message comes then as a challenge to all who claim to be followers of Jesus. Whilst his message is obviously and directly for Catholics, in its sum and substance it transcends the narrow confines of any religion. His messageisinfaceachallengetothe whole of humanity- every single person- ‘Are we willing to see God in the poor? Do we have the couragetoallowthepoor toleadus
to God? Are we ready to become poor? ‘All inter-related dimensions to make us realise as he says, “the poorareourbelovedbrothersand sisters.”
The key question is, ‘how many Indian Catholics will actually take Pope Leo’s message seriously, internalise it and implement the directives encapsulated in it?’ A question that may certainly go abegging! For one, several among the hierarchy, clergy and religious do very little reading of Church documents; much less, is a serious study, reflection, discussion and discernment. One hardly hears of such teaching being preached from the pulpit, very little is written/said about such teaching in the Catholic print and virtual media. One does not easily hear of seminars and teaching programmes being conducted for the laity on such subjects. Therefore, Catholic Social Teaching, remains one of the bestkept secrets of the Catholic Church! Few also ask why Pope Leo XIV, chosethatnameafterPope LeoXIII!
Then comes the general attitude towards the poor! They are looked
down with disdain! Both in Catholic homes and institutions the poor who are often made domestic workers or as casual labourers are not given just wages, made to work long hours and not even accorded thedignity, whichisthebirthright of every human who is created in the image and likeness of God! The poor become easy recipients of left -over (even stale) food, of old dirty clothes and anything else, which one does not need. After all, they say‘beggars cannotbechoosers’; as one ‘good’ Catholic once said, “These poor people should be gratefulforthefoodIgivethem whichIdonotwanttokeepforthe next day!” An attitude and expression would certainly find resonance with many other ‘charitable’ Catholics! Nevertheless, this is not Church teaching; it isnot what discipleship is all about; it should never be the way we treat the poor, as Pope Leo makes it amply clear. Unfortunately, Churchdirectives are conveniently overlooked, swept underthecarpet! Manyprefertobe caught up with rites and rituals, the cosmetics and tokenisms and
escape from the challenges that confront our Christian identity! Will the ‘World Day of the Poor’ be yet another ‘event’ when we indulge in lip service and empty rhetoric? Are we committed to translating the directives given tousby theChurch into substantial action both individually andcollectively? Arewe concerned that in the 2025 Global Hunger Index has ranked India ranks 102 out of the 123 countries and has a level of hunger that is considered serious?
Thewayaheadisclear; therecanbe no doubt or debate on that! Pope Leo both in his message and in his Apostolic Exhortation hasgivenusa roadmap, whichno Christian witha conscience can deny. The poor are withus;theyareourhope!PopeLeo reminds us that, “LovefortheLord, then,isonewithloveforthepoor…. Theconditionofthepoorisacry that, throughout human history, constantly challenges our lives, societies, political and economic systems, and, not least, the Church…Every form of poverty, without exception, calls us to experience the Gospel concretely andtooffereffectivesignsofhope” .
GANDHI, THE JEWS & PALESTINE
(By Pascal Alan Nazareth, Former Ambassador of India to Egypt)
Jeffrey Sachs, renowned Columbia University Professor, in a January 2024 article titled “Saving Israel by Ending Its Warin Gaza” has written: The Israeli government argues that it is in a vital fight for survival and therefore must take every measure, including destruction of Gaza. This is false. There is no ethical, legal or geopolitical case for killing tens of thousands of civilians and uprooting 2 million people to
protect Israel against the threats Hamasposes. InalltheyearsHamas has ruled Gaza since 2007, it has never captured Israeli territory, nor remotely threatened its existence. Hamas has around 30,000 fighters, IDF’hasmorethan600,000. Besides, Hamas has neither an air force nor armored units nor militaryindustrial base. The American people need to understand that Israeli politics is now dominated by extremists who mixreligious fervor with murderous violence against Palestinians. This ultra-violent side of Israel is still largely unknown to Americans. The Grayzone has compiled a shocking compilation of its soldiers & politicians celebrating Palestinian killings.
Supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza is antithetical to Israel’s longterm security and perhaps even its
survival. TheArab andIslamicstates have repeatedly declared their readiness to normalize relations with Israel within the context of the two-state solution. Israel has hemorrhaged political support worldwide. In a recent UN General Assembly vote, 174 countries, with 94% of the world population, voted in favor of Palestinian political selfdetermination, whilejust4countries with 4% of the world population –Israel, the United States, Micronesia and Nauru – voted against. 15 countries abstained. Israel’shardline militarism has united the world against it.
US open-ended support for Israel has seemed to be unstoppable in Americanpolitics. TheIsraellobby a powerful constellation of Israel politicians andwealthyAmericans has played a huge role in building thisstrong support. TheIsraellobby
gave $30 million in campaign contributions in the 2022 Congressional election cycle and willgivevastlymore in2024. Butthe lobby is up against the public’s growing opposition to Israel’s brutality inGaza. Many zealous religious Israelis strongly resist a Palestinian state, based on ancient biblical texts. Judaism’s vision is not to rule over Palestinians or ethnically cleanse them. It is to use reason and goodwill to findpeace. AsHillel the Elder declared, ‘Whatever is hateful and distasteful to you, do not do to your fellow man.’. and Prophet Isaiah(2:4), urged that‘nations beat their swords into plowshares, and theirspearsintopruning hooks: and no nation lift up sword against nation, nor learn war anymore.’ So mayit be.”
What are the outcomes for Israel and Palestine, of the last eighteen months of ceaseless violence, hostage taking, bombings death & destruction?
. Israel has not achieved its proclaimed prime objective of destroying Hamas. On October 7,
2024, when Israel was having its memorial service for the soldiers & civilians who had died in the previous twelve months, Hamas fired missiles at it. Every assassinationofaHamas,Hezbollah or Houthi leader by Israel has only intensified their drone, rocket & missile attacks onit.
Israel’s aura of invincibility hasbeen severely dented. It’s much touted “Iron Dome’ and ‘David’s Sling’ protective shields havebeenunable to protect allits strategic sites from the frequent barrage of missiles, and drones which Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis&Iranhavefired at it in the last eighteen months. One of them hit Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence recently!
Israel’s security scenario has greatly deteriorated. It is now battling on five fronts; Gaza, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and. 845 soldiers & 69 police officers killed since October 7, 2023, is the highest figure foranyof itswarssince 1967. The 8 soldiers killed on October 2nd,2024, insouthernLebanonisits largest single day loss during the same period. On October 10 a
missile strike on its Golani Brigade training centre killed four soldiers andinjured 49others. Besides, ithas lost 363 of its land armour assetsMerkava tanks, armoured vehicles andbulldozers.
Israel has also hemorrhaged political & diplomatic support worldwide and is now widely regarded as a “Rogue“or Pariah State”. In a recent UN General Assembly vote, 174 countries, with 94% of the world population, voted in favor of Palestinian political selfdetermination, whilejust4countries with 4% of the world population –Israel, the United States, Micronesia and Nauru – voted against. 15 countries abstained.
Even more damaging for Israel are thefinancial&economic costsof its multi front wars of the preceding twelve months. In May 2024, Bank of Israel revealed these had cost $ 65Billion! ItsEilatport hasdeclared bankruptcy. Its CEO, Gideon Gilbert indicated that Yemeni Houthi attacks had reduced ship arrivals at itby 85 per centandplummeted its revenues Exports of Israel’s most highvalueitem, polished diamonds, hadplummeted by33percentinthe first seven months of 2024. Tourist arrivals have also plummeted. All this has resulted in a sharp fall in Israel’sexportearnings, creditrating and value of its Shekel. This has constrained it to temporarily close some of itsministries.
Palestine has suffered mammoth losses. Its official figures indicate that 62,614 Palestinians have died. The reputed Lancet journal gives this figure as186,00. Destruction of housing, civilian infrastructure and means of livelihood are over 80%. However, these enormous losses
have secured substantial global sympathyforthemandtheir“cause” hasprogressed more inthe lastone year than in the preceding three decades.
Pro-Palestinian rallies have been held in over 100 cities, college campuses & sports stadia from Canberra Manila & Djakarta to Cairo, Cape Town, Madrid, Paris, London, New York Los Angeles, Mexico, Caracas&Sao Polo.
Asmost of these rallies inEuropean and US cities have been led by ‘Jewish Voices for Peace’ (JVP) and ‘Rabbis for Palestine’ which have denounced “Zionist Israel” the vital factthatIsraelis aZionist andnot a Jewish State as it claims, has been amply clarified. JVP’s most widely reported protestwasonOctober 14, 2024, when 500 of its members, wearing T shirts with “Not in our Name’ and ‘Stop Arming Israel’ printed on them, staged a ‘sit in “in front of the New York Stock Exchangewhere.InapostonX,they wrote "As Gaza is bombed, Wall Street booms, Stock prices of weapons manufacturers have
skyrocketed. U.S. economy is profiting from genocide."
On 29 December 2023 South Africa notified the International Court of Justice that Israel's indiscriminate bombing of Gaza Strip was a contravention ofthe1948 Genocide Convention. Spain, Belgium, Bolivia Ireland, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Chile, Colombia, Nicaragua, Maldives & Mexico subsequently joined it on thiscase.
On May 24, 2024 ICJ ruled that : “The State of Israel shall, in conformity with its obligations under the Genocide Convention and in view of grave conditions faced by civilians in Rafah immediately halt its military offensive, keep open the Rafah crossing for unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance; and submit a report on measures taken on this Order, within one month from its date. of this Order”
On July 19, 2024, ICJ ruled that “Israel's occupation of the West Bank,GazaStrip, andEastJerusalem areunlawful”.
The UN Security Council (UNSC Resolution 2334) has unequivocally declared Israel’s settlements in
occupied Palestine to be in flagrant violation of international law, All these are major legal gains for Palestine.
Palestine now has top rung supporters in the United States, whichisIsrael’sstrongest supporter. Professor Jeffrey Sachs has already been mentioned. Senator Bernie Sanders inarecent speechdeclared “The US should stop funding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war in Gaza, This week 19 people have been killed & scores injured in a strike in its humanitarian zone An American hasbeenshotintheWest Bank andschool bombed, killing 14 people, including 6UN aid workers”
In an earlier speech he had described Netanyahu as a “war criminal.”
Palestine has also received much support from Russia, which has invited it to attend the 2024 BRICs summit atKazan, October 22-24.
Israeltoday isin thesame strategic, diplomatic, financial and economic situation that Apartheid South Africa was before its collapsed in early1990 andNelson Mandelawas released on February 11, 1990. The big question is what will happen in Israel.Ifitwishestoadopt theSouth
African example, (which is unlikely), itshould releaseMarwanBarghouti, leader of the two Palestinian ‘Intifadas, the first (1987 – 1993) andthesecond (2000 -2005.) whois much more respected by Palestinians than Palestine Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas. Some of them have described himas‘Palestine’s Nelson Mandela’!
The great tragedy for the Israelis is that after centuries of slavery in Egypt and wanderings, discrimination and massacres in many other lands, when they finally secured a “Homeland” their leaders brought them into it clothed not with the ennobling tenets of Judaismbutshackled with theracist neocolonial ideology of Zionism because of which they have been embroiled in a ceaseless cycle of wars. .
There is no animosity between Judaism & Islam. They are both “Religions of the Book”. The two golden ages of the Jews in thePost KingSoloman (970 – 780 BC)period were in Moorish Spain (710 – 1498 AD) and in the Ottoman Empire
(1453 – 1918). During these periods the rulers were Moslems but the philosophers, physicians, financiers, pharmacists, translators & composers were mostly Jews. The Jews have suffered most in Christian lands where they were denigrated as “Christ Killers’. Martin Luther, in his ‘Jews and Their Lies book vilified them as “public enemies” and urged Christians to “destroy their homes and synagogues”. Hitler did this, and muchmore!
When I visited Israel in April 1992, I wasdeeply impacted byJerusalem’s sacredness to the three great religions of Judaism, Christianity & Islam.Their holiest placesarewithin walking distance of each other in this revered city. If Israel would adopt the noble precepts of Judaism’s Prophets, particularly Hillel the Elder & Isiah and discard itsvitriolic Zionism, Jerusalem could become theworld’s prime venuefor religious pilgrimage, inter-religious harmony &universalbrotherhood. I greatly hope and pray that auspicious day will dawn before long.
Mrs. Isobel Nazareth with Late President of the United States of America Jimmy Carter
Lingayat Religion Demands
Separate Religion Status
How are Christians of Mangalore concerned with this issueis thefirst question anybody will ask after reading this title. As we know Lingayat presence is more in North Karnataka. Some maid servants fromBagalkot, BijapurandGulbarga etc.working inourhousesbelong to this religious faith. Beyond this we don’t think that this issue has any serious implications for us. Let us explore this subject.
In Mangalore there is a place called Ganjimutt on the way to Gurupur. Why is it called so? This Mutt is a Lingayat Mutt. Ganji is Konji which was served (Daasoha) in this Mutt for the visitors. It is the staple food
ofthis District.HowcomeaLingayat Mutt came to be set up in Mangalore? During theperiod of
Venkatappa Nayaka, the Senior (1583-1630) Mutts were constructed at several places like Moodbidre, Gurupur, Bantwal, Boloor, Kodeyal, Karkal, Sagar, Shankaranarayana, Maaraga,Barkur, Bennekudru etc. (Source: M. Ganapati Rao Aigal in Dakshina KannadaJilleyaPraachinaItihaasa , 1923)
Before Hyder Ali captured Bednoor in 1763 by defeating Veeramajji and Somashekara Nayaka (1758-1763)
Ikkeri Nayakas were rulers of Dakshina Kannada and Uttara
Kannada. They became independent after the battle of Talikota in which Vijayanagara Kingdom of Hampiwas defeated by theBahamani Sultans in 1565. Rani Chennamma of Ikkeri or Chennammaji (1672-1698) donated the land for Milagres Church at Mangalore as well to the Milagres Church in Kalyanpur. Nayaka Kings encouraged Christians by giving land for agriculture after their migration from Goa. Christians served in the Nayaka army too. Veerabhadra Nayaka (1630-1646) ordered that only native priests shouldbeappointed inhiskingdom and banned Goan priests as they were encouraging Portuguese attacks on forts like Basrur to promote their faith. In 1651
Shivappa Nayaka (1646-1661) gave Arkula village to the Portuguese. It is in this village the Monte Mariano monastery exists. In 1657 he recaptured the forts of Mangalore, Kundapur, Gangolli, Honnavar from the Portuguese. Basavappa Nayaka (1698-1715) started many Ganjimutts in his kingdom. Itcan beseen from theabove that Lingayats were rulers of this area and the religion had royal patronage. They helped Christians too.
Impact on Hindu Population Christians area religious minority in Karnataka. In the Northeastern States like Mizoram, Christians are 87 per cent, Buddhists are 8.51 per cent and Hindus are only 2.75 per cent. In Goa, according to the 2011 census, 66.08 per centwere Hindus, 25.10 per cent were Christians and 8.08 per cent were Muslims. Thus, the minority status of a community changes from State to State. However, as far as the country is concerned the Hindus are
considered as majority and all the others are considered as minority. What are the implications of treating Lingayats as a separate religious minority is the subject of this article.
According to the 2011 census, the religious composition of Karnataka is as follows: Hindus are 84.00 per cent, Muslims are 12.92 per cent, Christians are 1.87 per cent, Jains are 0.72 per cent and Buddhists are 0.16 per cent. There is a small percentage of Sikhs also especially in Bidar, Hubli and Bangalore. In Karnataka Hinduism is the majority religion, with Muslims forming the largest minority group as of now. Lingayats are 66 lakhs. It is claimedthatthere are87lakhsor17 percent of the population. Hindu population is 5.13 Crore out of 6.10 crore totalpopulation.
The Lingayats are considered as a partof Hindu religion till now. Buta sizeable number of Lingayats believe that they are not Hindus because they had rebelled against Hindu Brahmanism in the 12 the C. under the leadership of Basavanna. It is also argued that Veerashaivas existed before Lingayats came into existence and both are not one and
the same. The Lingayats are demanding that they should be treated as belonging to Lingayat religion and not Hindu religion. Separate religion status will give them a separate identity and will helpthemtotakeuppropagation of teachings of Basavanna all over the world as distinct fromHinduism.
If this demand for recognition as a separatereligion is accepted, then a sizeable number of people (87 lakhs) will go out of the Hindu fold. Thestrength ofHindus willgodown in terms of population without affecting the majority status of Hindu followers. However, any movement away from Hindu fold is not welcomed by Hindutva groups.
This is also the reason why conversion of Hindus to Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and any other religion likeLingayats isopposed by the Hindu groups. When Ambedkar left Hindu religion with 5 lakh followers andacceptedBuddhism in 1956 itwasamajorblow andthreat. The number of converts to Buddhism from SC community is increasing every year. The fear that the strength of the Hindu community will be reduced is responsible for opposition to the acceptanceofLingayatasaseparate religion.
Therefore, accepting Lingayat faith as a separate religion is taken very seriously bytheHindu andHindutva groups. Some Lingayat Mutts themselves like Kaneri Mutt of Kolhapur have protested this demand for reasons best known to Mutt.
Implications for Minorities
IfLingayats aretreatedasareligious minority in Karnataka, there are many implications for the existing minority groups. Muslims., Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Parsi’s and other small groups are treated as Minorities in Karnataka. There is a separate Department for
Minority Welfare and there is a Minority Development Corporation. Christians havebeen given separate fundallotment forthedevelopment of Christian community. If Lingayats are treated as a religious minority, they will become beneficiaries under theMinority Department and minority welfare schemes. The Government will no doubt increase the fund allotment when the Lingayats aregiven Minority tag. They will become eligible for benefits and rights belonging to religious Minorities like right to run minority educational institutions, minority charitable institutions and other benefits available to minority development.
Addition of 87 lakh Lingayats to Minorities will strengthen the voice of Minorities vis a vis the majority population. But there is a catch. At present the Muslims with 78 lakh (2011) population is the dominant group among minorities. But that balance will be disturbed after the Lingayats areaddedandtheywillbe thedominant minority group with a higher population. Already in State politics, Lingayats is a dominant group and have contributed large number of Chief Ministers and
Ministers. B. D. Jatti, who became the Vice President of India is also from this community. The Lingayats and Vokkaligas are two forces to reckon with in Karnataka politics. Luckily there is no communal electorate system in India. Lessons for Christians Allthedevelopments happening in StatePolitics affectChristian citizens in one way or other. Becoming a separate religion is a decision that can be taken exclusively by the Lingayat community. However, we cannot afford to ignore these developments and be ignorant and indifferent. Vivekananda said “Arise, AwakeandStop Notuntilthegoalis
reached”. Dr B. R. Ambedkar gave this mantra to the Dalits: Organize, Educate and Agitate. We should become more vigilant andwake up.
Dr. Charles Lobo
First International Convention -
PMI:
Prison Ministry India
The very first 'International Convention of Prison Ministry India (PMI)' solemnly opened with very positivehopeson October29, 2025, at NESTT, Muvattupuzha, near Ernakulam, Kerala, with the inspiring theme “Fallen Humans May Rise Again on Wings of Prayer.” The PMI was born as a prayer group to start with. The inaugural ceremony marked a historic milestonein the missionof PMI, reflecting its unwavering commitment to bring faith, rehabilitation, and dignity to those behindbars.
This Convention opened with a ferventprayerandsongledbyRev. Fr. Jins Pulickal and the Hail Mary Band (KLM), setting a deeply spiritualtonefor thegathering.The Biblereading camefromVery Rev.
Fr. Vincent Nedungatt, Vicar General and the first prayer group member of PMI, followed by a moment of prayer led by Rev. Fr. Joseph Mackolli, KCBC’s first DirectorforPMI.
In his introductory talk, Rev. Dr. Francis Kodiyan MCBS, CoFounderofPMIandCBCISecretary to PMI, traced the humble beginnings of the movement and highlighteditstransformativeimpact across India’s prisons and the inmates. He recalled the countless volunteers who brought Christ’s compassion to the most marginalized and reaffirmed PMI’s missionof spiritualrelief and social reintegration for prisoners.A warm welcome was extended by Most Rev.MarGeorgeMadathikandathil, Bishop of Kothamangalam, and
Rev. Sr. Amala DC, National SecretaryofPMI. A symbolicactof watering the plant represented growth, renewal, and the nurturing ofhopethroughprayerandservice.
His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, delivered the Inaugural Address, commending PMI for embodying the Church’s call to mercy. “Every prisoner is a human being with a divine spark,” he said. “Through faithandcompassion,wehelpthem rediscoverthatlight.”HisEminence captivatedthe gatheringby singing a Telugu hymn in his rich, melodious voice, filling the atmosphere with reverence and emotion. He also lauded the exemplarywork ofRev.Dr. Francis KodiyanMCBS inthefieldofprison rehabilitation, emphasizing the mission of Jesus’ mercy toward those who seek forgiveness and renewal. Onthisoccasion,Fr.Saviofrom
Goa read out a message from Cardinal PhilipNeri, who conveyed hisblessingsandgoodwishestoall participants, encouraging them to continue the mission of Prison MinistryIndiawithrenewedzeal.
In his Presidential Address, Most Rev. Mar Jose Pulickal, CBCI Chairperson to PMI, emphasized that true freedom is found in forgiveness and conversion. His Eminence Cardinal Poola and Bishop Pulickal together released the book “From Captivity to Calling – The Legacy of Prison Ministry India,” authoredbyRev.Dr.Francis KodiyanMCBS.
The event also witnessed the release of several other significant publications that enriched the intellectualandspiritualdimensions oftheconvention. AnInnerSpiritual Journey Through Prison Walls by Sr.MarinaGulatiCSJwasreleased by Most Rev. Peter Remigius, former CBCI Chairperson to PMI. Chains to Wings – Stories of Grace from Prison Ministry by Sr.
SherlyKidanganOSBwasreleased by Most Rev. Mar George Punnakkottill, Bishop Emeritus of Kothamangalam. Understanding Crime, Prison and Forensics by Prof.EdmundFrank(ofMangalore) was released by Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Koyickal, CBCI Deputy Secretary General, Delhi, and Fr. Varghese Karippery. Each publication reflected a unique aspect of PMI’s holistic mission embracing spirituality, psychology, criminology,andpastoralcare.The ceremony also included a special moment to honour Mr. Mathew Albinforhisdistinguishedserviceto the prison ministry, recognizing his years of dedication and compassion.
The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanksdelivered by
Rev. Fr. Martin Thatil, PMI South RegionalCoordinator,followedbya group photograph of His Eminence the Cardinal, Bishops, Priests, Religious, and lay delegates symbolizing unity in service. The opening of PMI’s Jubilee Convention stood as a powerful testimonytotheChurch’smissionof mercy, reaffirming that no life is beyond redemption. Echoing multiple papal writings and encyclicals, the message resounded: “There is no cell in the world that can be isolated from God’s love and mercy.”
At the Prison Ministry India International Jubilee Convention held at NESTT PASTORAL CENTRE, Ernakulam, Kerala, Cardinal Michael Felix Czerny SJ released the Jubilee Convention Souvenir on October30, 2025, before the convention ended. Prof Edmund Frank (St Aloysius DeemedtobeUniversity)andhead of a Task Force for the Release of UndertrialPrisoners,PrisonMinistry IndiaandEditoroftheSouvenirwas with Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ. HeisthePrefectoftheDicasteryfor Promoting Integral Human Development,VaticanCity andwas a special invitee to attendthe maiden PMI Convention, a memorableeventinIndia.
AnOverview ofPMI:
Generally,the perceptionof people of a person inprisonis that he/she isa'criminal'andmustbepunished. Lawprescribessuitablepunishment for crimes based on evidence and severity. Many religions, including Christianity..........the belief is, a crime or a sin must face punishments and retribution. Only, when the wrongdoer is sorry and experiences remorse for his fault/crime and resolves to turn away from guilt and never ever go back to this sinful doing, is he/she forgivenandabsolvedoftheguilt,is commonunderstandingevenif this is not practical sometimes. Yet, according to practice, punishment and atonement are demanded before one is freed and absolved from all consequences of crime. There are also many other requirements depending on the nature of sin/crime before one is totallyfreed.
Mercy is a door, an opening, an invitationto touch a life, to make a difference.Butitisnotadestination. Those stuck in 'mercyministry’ often grow impatient with the recipients of kindness, wondering why they don’t help themselves more, feeling a growing discomfort withthehalf-truthstheytelltojustify their persistent wants. Mercy that doesn’t move intentionally in the
direction of development (justice) will end up doing more harm than good—tobothgiverandrecipient.
In a strange twist of divine irony, those who extend mercy discover that they themselves need mercy. Theclassicalepisodeinthe Bible reveals Christs input on 'mercy vs justice', in the episode where a mob is hankering after stoning a woman 'caught inadultery'to death;asper the law then......she comes under the spell ofJesusandthemobdemandsher blood;calmlyJesustellsthem, that one among them who has not sinnedcastthefirststone......oneby one they leave the place.....Jesus says to the woman, "Where are those that accused you? Go your way and sin no more". A longranging deepcommentaryon 'MercyandJustice'.Bothmercyand justice are needed for all living humans......nooneexcluded.Allare sinners, some are caught and are inprisons,others are not inprison...!
A glimpse of India'sprisonstoday:
According to the NCRB - National Crime Records Bureau's 'PrisonStatistics India 2015' still valid, a depressing glimpse of the state of India's jails is seen. Overcrowding is still the main
problem,therewere nearly4.2plus lakhprisonersin jails, which had spaceforjust3.66lakh-thismeans that 114prisonersshared a space meant for 100. While this is an improvementfromthepreviousyear - in 2014, the figure was 117 in spacefor100,ameagerchange. It is more seriousin states like Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, which had occupancy rates of 234, 227 and 169, respectively. Overcrowding results in dirty living conditions, poor personalhygieneand lackof sleep for inmates. Failure to provideprisonerswith "reasonable space" is a violation of rights. AccordingtotheNCRB report,67% of allprisonersare undertrials. About 66% belong to the Dalit and Other Backward Castes, while roughly 19% are Muslims. Around 28%areilliterate.Alargeproportion ofprisonersare from economically and socially marginalised sections of society.Itis lackof opportunities that drives people to crime. It is likely, too, that people from castes andcommunitiesthatbearthebrunt of social discrimination end up injailasjusticeisnotfair.
The state of India'sprisonsas per the NCRB report underscores the need for urgent reform of our criminal justice system. Speeding upthedeliveryofjusticewillreduce the number ofunder-
trialslanguishing in jails. Many undertrials spend time in jailthat oftenexceeds the sentence they are likely to get if convicted. Fasttrackcourtswillnotonlyreducethe problemofovercrowdinginjails,but undertrialswill not haveto facethe tortureofneedless prisontime.
Jailinfrastructure needs a lot of attention too. However, it is more important to change our approach toprisonsandprisoners. Rather than viewingprisonsas spaces to isolate and punish wrong doers, India needs to see them as places toreformandrehabilitateprisoners, enable them through training and education to become productive
membersofsocietyandhelpintheir reintegrationintosociety,improving matters inprisonsand forprisonerswill be PMI's true and correcteffort for 'mercyand justice' inatangiblepath.
-Ivan Saldanha, Mangaluru
"Coconut breaking and Animal SacrificeinHinduism"
The Vedic period is generally considered to span from approximately1500 BC to 500 BC. The period from 1500 BC to 1000 BC consisted mainly of a tribal society and cattle as the primary form of wealth. The period from 1000 BC to 500 BC consistedof a more settled agrarian society. There was an abundance of forest wood and wild animals, such as deer. Their religious practices centered on fire rituals. It was common practice to sacrifice animals in the fire; they called it yagna. There was a rise in the asceticmovementamongpeoplein thelaterperiod,andtheformationof
Dinkarray Mapndaliya
Buddhism and Jainism occurred. Both new religions rejected animal sacrifice.
King Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya (321 to 185 BC), accepted Buddhism after the Kalinga war around 260 BC. King Asoka abolished animal sacrifice. However, althoughanimal sacrifice wasreduced,itcontinuedafterKing Ashoka, due to the further rise of Shaktism during later Empires, as well as the compositionof theDevi Mahatmya around 1000 CE, and theincreaseintheDurgaPuja.
Adi Shankaracharya (around 700 CE) is credited with replacing animalandhumansacrificewiththe breaking of a coconut. Thiswas part of his efforts toreform Hindu
thedeity.
AdiShankaracharya rituals. Coconut is seen as a symbolicsubstitute for a human or animalhead.Breakingacoconutis now considered a symbol of removingegoandsurrenderingto
Animal sacrifice continues to be practiced to a small extent, particularly among worshippers of fierce goddessessuch as Kali and Durga.Itispractisedinplacessuch as parts of India, including Orissa and West Bengal, the Kamakhya temple in Assam, and for goddesses Gadhimai and Kali in Nepal. Dakshineswar Kali temple, where Ramakrishna Paramhansa wasapriestandtheguruofSwami Vivekananda, stopped animal sacrificein1950.
Calligraphy of Life
In resistance we bring pain into our lives
Every obstruction is a redirection we resist When things don't go your way, stop and breathe Maybe it's a sign to let the universe take the lead
Calligraphy should be a compulsory subject in school
There is much to learn from this art of writing
To be patient, to be precise and above all, controlled From this will emerge a new and unshakable you
Troubles are a part of life, no less than seasons
What feels like forever will change like the tides that fall
No, it's not easy, can't take that away from anyone, pain hurts
Calling this life an illusion doesn't free us from trials and tribulations
Calligraphy teaches us patience and persistence
The same goes for anything worth anything in life
Can be achieved by being wholly present at any given moment
Making every moment count, compels the universe to respond positively
-Molly Pinto
THE NIAGARA FALLS
The soft, sleeping river travels for miles undisturbed
Until suddenly out of the earth, Into the riverbed, seeps the eternal conflict of man.
The river rushes frantically, twisting, swirling
Tearing at the earth unceasingly.
Grasping at the rocks, and hurling itself
Through the soil vengefully.
Like a hysterical woman it froths and rushes agitatedly.
Suddenly the earth falls away
Like the nothing man into eternity’
But the raging waters gush impetuously on…
A magical metamorphosis
The furious river transforms itself into a
Spectacle of grandeur and proud nobility
Niagara has become the milk of our earth, Falling forever with such vitality
Like the thick silky stresses of a Goddess’ hair it looks
As it sprays the powdery mist
Up to the skies
Tirelessly it churns, With neither beginning nor end And yet just a dot in the universe
Like me and the bird that flies over its mist”
New York, June 1989
Beyond the Taste
The food is meant for survival, But now it comes with luxuriousness. In this world, millions starve, While tons of food are abandoned.
If you want to know the value of food, You’ll find it in the eyes Of those who suffer hunger. The food is meant for survival, But it’s used today just for taste.
If people changed By the will of God, Food grains could be transported Even across the ocean— Where ships and boats sink.
Children behind Barbed wires
We wonder what we did, Learning life’s harsh lessons—
Not through books or guidance, But through the weight of oppression.
We are the only ones Who’ve watched our community Scatter in fear, displaced in grief. We mourn a massacre— While children are our age Cry over broken toys.
We do not need toys. We need land Free from chains, Free from oppression. We are not mature by age, But by what we have endured.
We ask not for luxury— Just the right to live. We sleep beneath thin tents, While others dream in mansions.
We have grown Not in inches, But understanding. We are people Suppressed, unheard
WORLD DIABETES DAY-14TH NOVEMBER
“Healthistheresultofinvestingin goodnutrition”
WorldDiabetesDayiscelebrated on November 14th to commemorate the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who along with Charles Best, co-discovered insulin in 1922. This day wasestablished in1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World HealthOrganization(WHO)andwas officially recognized by the United Nations in2006.
Myth“Diabetesisalifetimedecease and to be on medication for lifetime”.
What if we told you diabetes doesn’t have to be a lifelong sentence? Most people think diabetes only manageable-nor reversible. But with the right knowledge and lifestyle habits, you cantransform your life.
Myth “IfItake mymedicines on time,I’mmanagingmyillness” InIndia over 101 million people are now living with diabetes. Whybecause of consuming processed foods, Sedentary lifestyle, Diary & Animal products and lack of
Myth“Peoplewithdiabetesshould not consume fruits because they containsugarandcouldraisetheir bloodglucose”
Naturally sweet foods like fruit, sweetpotato, dates andevenwhole sugarcane have fibre which slows down theflow ofsugar intheblood stream.
The real cause of Diabetes is not sugar. High sugar is result of diabetes. Thereal causeof diabetes is insulin resistance which in turn is caused by fat. If you minimize the bad fats (those not linked to fibre)
like oil, ghee, butter and all animal products including diary, you can reverse diabetesandliveamedicine free life. The good fat in nuts & seeds are bound to fibre and protect your body.
Myth “Ifyour sugar iscontrolled withmedicine,you’refine”. Medicineonlymanagessymptomsnot root cause. They are not designed to heal; theyare designed tomanage.Inthemedicine youstay dependent and the disease stays alive. Healing happens when you changewhat’s on your plate.
“Eatforthebodyyouwant,notfor thebodyyouhave”
India is now the diabetes capital of the world. 3 out of 4 deaths are caused by preventable lifestyle diseases.Mostofusthinkmedicines arethe only wayout -they arenot.
Myth “Once you start medicines, youcan’tstopandthereisnocure formedicines”
This is not true. There may not be a pill cure, but the right lifestyle can reverse it. Hundreds have reduced or eliminated medications entirely by adopting the right nutrition and
lifestyle. A whole food, plant-based diet is your greatest immunity booster since it acts against diabetes.
“Ifyoudon’tmaketimeforexercise, probably you mayhavetomake timeforillness”
Just having the right diet won’t be sufficient to reverse the diabetes. Along with that exercise is important. Exercise that you enjoy boosts your immunity while lack of exercise reduces it. Imagine a car that doesn’t move, it will rust right? Your body is thesame. Move it.
“Its luxury to have zero health problems”
We need ‘Vitamin D’ as well for our health.Sunlightbrightens ourmood
andprovides ‘Vitamin D’thatboosts immunity. Get energized by spending atleasthalfanhourinthe sun every day. Sunlight in the morning or evening ispreferred.
“Fall in love with taking care of yourself”
Laughter & happiness boosts your immunity. Depression undermines it. Read some jokes or watch some funny movies and spend time in midst of the nature. Don’t take life too seriously. When we truly heal ourselves, we spread the healing energy to others in our sphere as well.
“Every-time you eat is an opportunitytonourishyourbody” Weneednottogetpanicthosewho have diabetes. Those who have diabetes, consider it as a blessing. Its nature inspiring and guiding us to turn towards the nature and to havethe right food style and tolive in harmony with nature and kind towards animals.Also, good newsis that we can reverse the diabetes andliveamedicine freelife. Wecan consumeallthethingswhichcomes from theplants indespite of sweet.
“It’snevertoo latetostartliving well”
Your body is a miracle machine, it can heal itself of anything, if you provide it the right environment to do so. Everyone knows that what you get is dependent on what you put in. Your health is the best life insurance in the world. There is nothing more important than our Good Health - that’s our principal CAPITAL ASSET. Take care before your wealth extracted by medicines &hospitals.
PhD Awarded to Suchitra of St Aloysius University
************Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food***********
-SantoshDsouza, Kinnigoly
Ms Suchitra, Assistant Professor, School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy,St Aloysius(Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, has been awarded the degree of PhD for her thesis titled “Sustainable Women Entrepreneurs: A Study in CoastalKarnataka.” She carriedout her researchunder the successful guidance of Dr. Ramesh.A.Pai., Research Professor at the Institute of Management and Commerce, Srinivas University, Mangaluru. Mr.Sudhakar and Mrs.Sunanda from Kuthar, Mangaluru and the wife of Mr. Kishor Kumar from Landlinks,Mangaluru.
Book Introduction:
“Aakaashvaanichya Vaavraanth Konknnicho Baandh”
A unique Book on Konkani activities in All India Radio – A Memoir
“Thereisagreatneedforbookson the topics of Banking, Computers, Technical knowledge, Professional work experiences, Agriculture, Animalrearing,Travel andtourism, etc”. Writes Fr. Francis Rodrigues, former editor of Raknno Konkani
Weekly in the article published in Raknno dated 10-16 October 2025 titled ‘Konknni Basavaa’. Incidentally Karnataka Konkani SahithyaAcademyhasbroughtout a book titled “Aakaashvaanichya VaavraanthKonknnichoBaandh”(A
recollection of ‘Tryst with Konkani’ inAIRservice).
Mrs. Concepta Fernandes, who has put in 35 years of service in All India Radio (Akashvani), premier National broadcasting organization under the Central Government, served in Coastal town Mangalore, Hill Station Madikeri and State Capital Bangalore and retired as Assistant Station Director (IBPS grade) of Akashvani Bangalore. In the book she recounts her rich experiences and memories of producing and broadcasting programmes in
Konkani Language in detail while servinginMangaloreamongother activities.
Her Book was released along with 8 other books by different authors on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in a glittering function at the Head Office of M.C.C. Bank, Hampankatta, Mangalore. Chief guest Prof. Valerian Rodrigues, retired Prof of JNU, New Delhi, Guests of Honor Walter Nandalike, CEO of Daijiworld Media (P) Ltd, Anil Lobo, Chairman of MCC Bank Ltd and presided over by Joachim
Stany Alvares, President, Konkani Academy.
Contentsofthebook:
Early chapters of Concepta’s book throw light on her humble background – less educated parents, large agrarian family with more female kids than males and the hand to mouth condition but undeterredeffortsoftheirparentsto educate every single child. It’s hearteningtoknowthatConcepta’s dad’s youngest sister Emiliana (Milly) was admitted to the first batchofAdmarHighSchoolin1950 and she was the lone female student to have passed Matriculationfromthatschoolwhile all her classmates were boys. It shows the farsightedness of the family in giving importance to the
education of girls much before the slogan‘BetiBachaoBetiPadhao’of recent years. Concepta has mentionedthat when the familyfell shortof cashto payschoolfeesfor allchildreninthemonthofJune,her father would take loans from some affluent families and promised to repay rice from their fields after harvest in October, which he did withoutfail.
Her journey of dedicationand hard work through the academics until pursuing bachelor’s degree from
School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya Mangalore and postgraduation from Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Konaje is quite inspirational. And then comes the job-hunting phase, short stint as part time lecturer in Alma Mater Roshni Nilaya, simultaneously part time engagementintheKonkaniLexicon Project and nearly missing the interview call letter from the Staff Selection Commission for the coveted Akashvani post make interestingreading.
National and State Awards for Programmes:
“GUMTAM” a documentary, written and produced by Concepta during her early period in service, on the Folk songs and dances associatedwith the folk percussion instrument‘Gumot’ largely used by Konkani speaking communities in their cultural and religious celebrationsin the western coastal region across the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala won a National Award (1990). A humble regional folk instrument received national attentionandbroughtherfame.
She produced yet another documentary,this time in Kannada
on the legacy of ‘Konkan Kogull Wilfy Rebimbus’ and introduced a Konkani Artiste to the entire Kannadaspeakingcommunity.This book also gives a small glimpseof other awards for radio productions and accoladesshe received in her career.
A copy of the book to Mr. Michael DSouza, Promoter of ‘Michael DSouza VisionKonkani.’
Introducingbestoftalentsduring service:
Concepta’s dedicated work and unbiased inclusiveness of different dialects and communities speakingKonkani,herkeeninterest
andcommitmenttopresentthebest of thetalents – writers, poets,story tellers, playwrights, actors, performing artistes across genres, professionalslike doctors, lawyers, bankers,educationists,achieversin different fields and introduction of new talents, i.e., first time broadcastersthroughouther career findsmentioninthisbook.
Conceptanarratestheincident of taking Sri Mingel Anthon Siddi from the Siddi community of Yallapur, Uttar Kannada District to the studios of Akashvani for an interviewtounderstandthelifestyle andcultureof thetribalcommunity. She writes about Walter Nandalike mentioning in a public stage about getting an opportunity to present a short story in Konkani as a young and first-timebroadcasteron radio. A few people and programmes in the long spell of her career are recalledandputtowordsandwhile doing so, she admits that there is the possibility of missing out on prominent personalitiesand events too. And she is confronted with several constraints while recalling incidents like loss of memory and printspaceconstraints.
President of Konkani Sahithya Academy in his introductory remarks:
President of Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy Joachim Stany Alvares in his President’s remarks writes, “Books related to work and workplace are very few in Konkani. Concepta Fernandes has documented her memories and experiences, recounting her association with Konkani during her services in Akashvani.Apart from work related matters there is a lot of valid information and knowledge which will be beneficial for the readers, I hope”.
ThisAuthor’snote:
My association with AIR Mangalore is over four and a half decades (first broadcast in 1979). ConceptajoinedAkashvaniin1989 and we were married two years after that (on 1st January 1992). I havewritten thisshort articleabout a good book on professional experiences, first of its kind in Konkani in the capacityof reader / writer andnotjustas spouseofthe author. I congratulate Konkani Academy for encouraging professionalliterature.
Book is reasonably priced at Rs.200/-Pagesvi+182.
HowtogetCopiesofthebook?
Copies of the book are available:
At the office of Konkani Academy, City Corporation Building,Lalbaug,Mangalore.
Celebrated Indian architect and UniversityofOklahomaalumnusDr. Oscar G. Concessao was formally inducted into the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame on October 2, 2025. The recognition honors his outstanding contributionsto global architecture, sustainable design, and architectural education spanning morethanthreedecades.
Dr.Concessao,co-founderofOscar & Ponni Architects in Chennai, is widely acclaimed for blending sustainability, technology, and cultural sensitivity in his designs. Alongwith hiswife andpartner, Dr. Ponni M. Concessao, a Cornell University alumna, he has completed over 1,000 projects acrossIndiaandabroad,earningan
international reputation for excellenceandinnovation.
A proud University of Oklahoma alumnus,Dr.Concessaocompleted his Master’s in Architecture (Urban Design)in1987.Thatsameyear,at just 23, he won the William Van Allen International Fellowship Design Competition, marking an early milestonein his distinguished career. He later pursued advanced professional studies at Harvard University and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Malaysia and the University of Milan.
BorninValencia,Mangalore,and an alumnus of St. Aloysius Institutions, Dr. Concessao earned his Bachelor’s in Architecture from NIT Tiruchirappalli (formerly RegionalEngineeringCollege).In 2014, he received NIT’s Distinguished Alumni Award from the late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,formerPresidentofIndia.
Earlier this year, he was also honored with the Eminent Aloysian Award by St. Aloysius Institutions for his contribution toarchitectureandsociety.
Among hislandmarkachievements is the Telangana State Secretariat inHyderabad, a1.2-million-squarefoot complex recognized as Asia’s largestgreensecretariatandoneof India’s most technologically advancedgovernmentcenters.The project reflects his design philosophy of combining monumentality, functionality, and sustainability, while integrating traditionalIndianmotifswithcuttingedgesystems.
Dr. Concessao’s influenceextends beyondpracticeinto academiaand thought leadership. He has presented over 175 technical papersat internationalconferences on urban resilience, smart city planning, and climate-responsive architecture. A passionate mentor, he continues to inspire young
professionals as a visiting faculty member and keynote speaker at leadinginstitutionsworldwide.
Over theyears,Dr.Concessaohas received more than 224 national and international awards, including honors from the Indian Institute of Architects, the Green Apple International Beautiful Buildings Award(London,2024),andmultiple government recognitions for excellence in design and innovation. HisinductionintotheChristopherC. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall
of Fame places him among the most distinguished alumni of the University of Oklahoma — celebrating a career that bridges innovation, sustainability, and inspiration.
Even as his work achieves global recognition,Dr.Concessaoremains deeplyconnectedtohisIndianroots shaping spaces that are sustainable, human-centered, and culturally resonant. His journey continues to inspire a new generation of architects to design forbothpeopleandtheplanet.
Italian Exchange Students Experience the Warmth and Culture of India at St Aloysius Gonzaga School
St Aloysius Gonzaga School, Mangaluru, successfullyconcluded the Student Exchange Programme with IstitutoLeone XIII, Milan,Italy, on 1 November 2025, further strengthening the spirit of global learningandfriendshipbetweenthe twoJesuitinstitutions.
The visiting team, led by Ms. Bernadette Walshe, Teacher Coordinator,was warmlyhostedby Indianfamilieswhoensuredthatthe guestsexperiencedauthentic
Indian hospitality. The Italian students explored important landmarks of Mangaluru and neighbouring cities, visited the historicStAloysiusCollegeChapel, and learned about the rich Jesuit heritageoftheinstitution.Theyalso enjoyed traditional cuisine, visited
their host families’ homes, and experienced the warmth of Indian familylife. Theyparticipatedenthusiasticallyin theEthnicDay celebrationof Class XI, admiring the colourful Indian costumes and cultural diversity. Their visit to a local temple helped them gain insights into the multireligious aspect of our country, whileatriptoafarmhouseoffereda glimpseinto India’srural traditions, animal husbandry and agricultural practices.
Intheiraddress,theItalianstudents
expresseddeepappreciationforthe kindness and generosity extended to them by their hosts. Principal Fr Rohan D’ Almeida SJ highlighted the Jesuit ideal of Global Citizenship, explaining that Jesuit education promotes a “glocal” perspective global awareness combined with local action for the commongood.
Now in itsthirdyear, thisexchange programme continues to build cultural bridges and nurture empathy,collaboration,andrespect amongstudentsfrombothnations.
Vibrant Kannada Rajyotsava Celebrated at
StAloysius Gonzaga School
St Aloysius Gonzaga School celebrated Kannada Rajyotsava with vibrant cultural splendour and regional pride on 1st November 2025.
Chief Guest Mr. Stani Bela, Production Director of Daijiworld Channel, in his address, said, “We arefortunatetobebornonthisland. We must adapt to changing situations positively.” He commended the school for providing an excellent platform for students to showcase their individualtalentsandurgedthemto makethebestuseofit.
PrincipalRev. Fr Rohan DAlmeida SJ,who presidedoverthefunction, spoke about the greatness of the Kannadalanguageandthe
significance of the yellow and red colours representing purity and sacredness.He also explainedthe meaning of the State Anthem and encouraged everyone to work together to make Karnataka a gardenofpeace.
The celebration began with a lively “Huli Vesha” (Tiger Dance) performance,followedbyaseriesof dance dramas, songs, and dances thatreflectedtheculturalrichnessof Karnataka.
The
DwithiH.L.ofClassIVspokeonthe importance of the day. The programme was compered by Avani, Yashik, Samarth, and EshanviofClassVII,withAvaneesh deliveringthewelcomeaddressand RishaKotyanproposingthevoteof thanks.The eventwas coordinated bytheKannadalanguageteachers.
Konkani community has played a major role in the development of Mangalore city*
- MLA Vedavyas Kamath, while presenting the 21st Kalakar Puraskar
Kalangannstood witness to a Dual CelebrationonNovember2nd-The 21st Kalakar Puraskar and the 287th Monthly Theatre. Srinivasa Rao S., famously known as Kasaragod Chinna, who brought prestigetotheKonkaniTheatreand also won awards for his work in
literature and cinema, was presented with the 21st Kalakar Puraskar.MangaloreSouthMLAD. VedavyasKamath handedoverthe Kalakar Puraskar, which is jointly given by the Carvalho Household and Mandd Sobhann. The award includesashawl,agarland,fruits,a memento and₹50,000.
Speaking well of the occasion, Mr Kamath said, "The Konkani community has playeda major role in the development of Mangalore city. In this, the contributions of dramatists like Kasaragod Chinna andComposerslikeEricOzarioare
significant. Now, Konkani can also be spoken in the Lok Sabha. We must all work together for the development of the Konkani languageandpassitonto thenext generation. The work on the Konkani Bhavan has halted. I will
extend my support to see it to completion."
Kasaragod Chinna, after accepting thehonor,sharedhisfeelings,"Iam a Konkani man. I have worked in Tulu, Kannada, and Malayalam
languages.Languagesshouldunite hearts and minds; they should not be a cause for hatred. Various organizations are doing Konkani work. But it is true that, for various reasons, other Konkani communities have not created as much literature as the Catholic Konkanipeoplehave.Wemayhave two eyes, but our vision must be one. We might have differencesof opinion, but the work for Konkani must be done unitedly." He then thankedeveryone.
The guest of honor, Stanley Fernandes'Dattu',apromoterofthe arts and a strong pillar for Konkani in Oman, wishedthe programwell. Earlier, giving the introductory speech, the Carvalho Gharane's representativeandlinguist,Rev.Dr. Pratap Naik SJ, explained the originsandjourneyofthisaward.
Kalakul Co-Sponser Michael Dsouza (Dubai) and Mandd Sobhann supporter Jerry Pinto (Qatar) were honored with flower bouquets.TreasurerSunilMonteiro read the citation. Mandd Sobhann President Louis Pinto, Secretary Rony Crasta, Kalangann Pirjent Roy Castelino & Chinna’s Spouse Anita were present on the dais. Yogita Bellare compered the felicitationceremony.KeronMadtha madetheannouncements.
Followingthis,the287thMonthly
TheatrewassetinmotionbyDubaibased businessman Francis Dsouzabyringingthebell.The17th 'Maxim Nite' was presented by Melody StarMaxim Pereira andhis troupe. Maxim Pereira, Shilpa Cutinha, Prakash Dsouza, Sonal Monteiro, Priya Menezes, William Rebello, Genelia Saldanha, and Derrick Machado Sang and the 'GMajor' band accompanied with music: Sheldon Pereira (Bass
Guitar), Alister Dsouza (Lead Guitar), Veekshith (Tabla), Milton Pereira (Drums), Macklin Dsouza (Keyboard), and Sunil Kumar (Violin).JosephD'SouzaandNilesh of team 'Maskiri Manglur' spread laughter through their Skits. Sheldon Crasta and Glany Fernandescomperedtheprogram.
PratapanandaNaik,SJ
Mangalore Bishop Dr Peter Paul to grace as chief
guest at KCO Pearl Jubilee celebrations
Media Release
AbuDhabi,Nov1: Dr. Peter Paul
Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore diocese, has graciously agreed to bethechiefguestfor theupcoming KCO Pearl Jubilee celebrations, scheduledto take placeat the Abu Dhabi Country Club on November 8.Theeventwillcommence at5:30 pmsharp.
Celebrating 30 years of exemplary service, culture, and community spirit,KCO’sPearlJubileepromises aneveningfilledwithentertainment, music, dance, and heartfelt camaraderie. Attendees will enjoy performances by renowned artists such as Ester Noronha, Lavita Lobo, Jason Lobo, and Cassian, along with bands including Sanjay Rodrigues (Mangaluru) and Crimson Tide (Goa). Comedy fans
willbeentertainedbythehumorous Nitesh Shetty, while the lively Konkan Taram brass band from Dubaiwillwelcomeallguests.
Only a limited number of seatsare available before it becomes houseful.
AboutKCO
A highly respected organization in the UAE, GCC, and India, KCO is dedicatedtosocietalbetterment.Its initiatives include supporting
underprivileged students and patients with critical illnesses through scholarships, medical aid, and donations. KCO collaborates with NGOs in Karnataka, providing aid to marginalized and distressed communities. Notably, it has organized the construction and donation of three houses for the most disadvantaged individuals in Mangalore.
Stay connected at Facebook:KCO TrustIndiaand Instagram:@kcotrust.
Mangaluru to get mega tech park creating 11,000 jobs; major investments planned across 8 other districts
Daijiworld Media Network –Bengaluru
Bengaluru,Nov2: Inamajorboost to Karnataka’s ‘Beyond Bengaluru’
initiative,the state governmenthas invited bids under a public-private partnership model to establish a
state-of-the-art Tech Park in Mangaluru.
The project, being spearheadedby the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation (KEONICS), is expected to generate employment for around 11,000 people and transform Mangaluru into the state’s next majortechhub.
Thetenderprocessfortheprojectis underway and is expected to be finalisedbyDecember.Theparkwill be developed under the ‘Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer’(DBFOT) model.
25% will include food courts, retail outlets, hotels, and serviced apartments.
The project permits constructionof 3.52 lac sq ft of floor area, with scope for expansion under Premium FAR and Transferable Development Rights (TDR). The development is expected to take aroundthreeyears.
The proposed Tech Park will come up on 3.285 acres of land near Blueberry Hills Road in Derebail, lessthan a kilometrefrom National Highway66.
The site, already home to the SoftwareTechnologyParksofIndia (STPI) campus,hasbeenidentified as a prime location. Unlike regular tech parks, this facility will feature Grade-A officespaceswith modern amenitiesincludingmeetingrooms, cafeterias, recreation zones, and conferencehalls.
About75%ofthetotalbuilt-uparea will be dedicated to commercial office spaces, while the remaining
IT-BT ministerPriyankKharge said the new Tech Park reflects the government’s commitment to building a strong innovation ecosystem across Karnataka. He addedthattheproject,approvedby the state cabinet, will help Mangaluru emerge as a highgrowth corridor under the Local EconomicAccelerationProgramme (LEAP).
Currently, Mangaluru contributes around 5.5% to Karnataka’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and has been witnessing rapid growthintheIT,fintech,andmarine technologysectors.
With premier institutions like NITK Surathkal, Manipal Institute of Technology, and Kasturba Medical College, the city also has a strong talent base. Excellent connectivity through ports, national highways, railways, and an international airport further enhances its potential.
Upcoming projects like the airport runway expansion, ring road, and the Bengaluru–Mangaluru Expressway are expected to strengthen the region’s infrastructurefurther.
InadditiontotheMangaluruproject, thestategovernmenthasapproved investments worth over Rs 27,000 crore by 11 companies across variousdistricts,expectedtocreate nearly9,000jobs.
Among them, SFX India will invest Rs 9,298 crore in Bengaluru Rural (806 jobs), QPIAI India Rs 1,136 crore (200 jobs), and JSW’s two projects in Ballari Rs 8,402 crore (1,171jobs).ReliancewillinvestRs
1,622 crore in Vijayapura (1,200 jobs), while companies like Schneider Electric, Toyota Industries,and Tejas Networks will investRs 3,392 crore in Bengaluru Urban(2,412jobs).
In other districts, Wind Assets will invest Rs 1,251 crore in Chamarajanagar (1,912 jobs), Grasim Rs 1,386 crore in Haveri (203jobs),andHSS TextileRs 740 croreinShivamogga(800jobs).
With these developments, the Karnataka government aims to expand tech-led growth beyond Bengaluru and create balanced economic opportunities across the state.
Pope Leo XIV names Fr Simon Almeida as new bishop of Poona
• Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
appointed Fr Simon Almeida, 64, as thenew bishop of Poona,filling the vacancy created after Bishop John Rodrigues wasappointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay on November 30,2024.
Fr Almeida currently serves as the deputy secretary of the Western Regional Bishops’ Council and parish priest of St Joseph’s Church, Ghorpuri,Pune.
BornonNovember 4,1960,inGass, Bhatori, Fr Almeida completed his schooling at St Gonsalo Garcia PrimarySchoolandHolyCrossHigh
School, Nirmal. In 1978, he joined Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary in Pune and later pursued his philosophical and theological formation at St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He was ordained a priest on April 1, 1990, for the diocese of Poona.
Fr Almeida holds a bachelor’s degree inpsychology andamaster’s degree in sociology from the University of Bombay. He further enhanced his pastoral and leadership skills by completing a diploma inFoundations for Pastoral Renewal and Steward Leadership in the Church of the Poor at the East Asian Pastoral Institute, Manila (2000–2001), and amaster’s degree in pastoral studies from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines (2000–2002).
During his 35years of priestly ministry,FrAlmeida hasheldawide rangeofpastoral andadministrative roles within the Diocese of Poona. He served as assistant parish priest at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Pune (1990–1994), and St. Ignatius Parish, Kirkee (1994–1996). Between 1996 and 2000, he was appointed in-charge of diocesan youth, before becoming rector of Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary, Pune(2002–2003).
HelaterservedasparishpriestofSt Patrick’s Cathedral, Pune (2003–2008), andSt.Francis Xavier Parish, Chinchwad (2008–2013). He also held the position of financial administrator of the diocese from 2010 to2015. From 2013 to2019, he was parish priest of St Anne’s Church, Sholapur Bazaar, and from 2019 to 2023, he served as parish priest of St John Paul II Church, Wakad.
Since2023,FrAlmeidahasbeenthe regional deputy secretary of the Western Region Bishops’ Council, and since June 2025, he has been serving as parish priest of St Joseph’s Church,Ghorpuri,Pune. Fr Almeida has been a member of thediocesan priests’councilfor two terms and has served as a diocesan consultor since 2006. Reflecting on his ministry, a diocesan representative described him as “a pastor deeplycommitted toservice, formation, and faith leadership, whose humility and administrative experience make him well-suitedto shepherd theDiocese ofPoona.”
The Diocese of Poona currently includes 92,360 Catholics, 42 parishes, 64 diocesan priests, 135 religious priests, and 300 religious sisters.It covers thecivil districtsof Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli, and Kolhapur cityinMaharashtra.
The vicariate of Poona was established on March 8, 1854, and later elevated to the status of a diocese onSeptember 1,1886.
Tribute of service and sanctity: FMCI marks Memorial
Day with blessings and care
MediaRelease
Mangaluru, Nov 1: Father Muller
Charitable Institutions (FMCI) observed a significant and spiritually enriching day on November 1, commemorating the 115th death anniversary of its founder Fr Augustus Muller SJ, along with All Saints’ Day and the 69th Karnataka Rajyotsava. The occasion beautifully intertwined faith, gratitude, heritage, and servicetohumanity.
A solemn Eucharistic Celebration was held at the St Joseph Chapel, withmaincelebrantDr JohnBaptist Saldanha, parish priest of St
withthemanagementpriests.
Inhishomily,DrSaldanhareflected on the Gospel message, ‘The last shall be first, and the first shall be last’. He narrated an incident from his seminary days that reminded him of God’s justice—one that uplifts the humble and honours those who labour quietly. He emphasized that ‘Prayer, good deeds, and the grace of God determineourplaceinheaven’.
He gratefully remembered the missionary zeal of Fr Augustus Muller SJ, whose faith and service laid the foundation for a healing ministrythat continuesto transform countlesslives.
Later, the dignitaries inaugurated and blessed the newly renovated outpatient department (OPD) spacesof psychiatry,and plastic& reconstructivesurgery.
DrSaldanha,inhisblessing,prayed that these spaces continue to be havens of relief and hope for the suffering.
Fr Faustine, in his presidential address, recalled with pride and said, “Father Muller Hospital is home to the state’s oldest psychiatryservices a place that restoresthemindandspirit,making apersonwhole.”
He alsohighlightedthe remarkable advancements in plastic & reconstructivesurgery,especiallyin burn care and trauma recovery, restoring dignity and confidence to patientsindistress.
Prof Dr Arvind Lakshmana Rao (head, plastic surgery) welcomed the gathering and briefed them on theupgradedfacilities.
ProfDrSupriyaHegdeAroor(head, psychiatry) delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks, acknowledging all whocontributedtothefacelift.
The programme was elegantly compered by Valerie Ann Lobo, lecturer in clinical psychology, FMMC.
FMCIhostedaspecialhealthcamp for teachersfrom institutionsunder the Catholic Board of Education (CBE), inaugurated by Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo and Fr Praveen Leo Lasrado,secretary, CBE. Dr Kelvin Peter Pais, liaison officer, warmly welcomedthegathering.
Fr Lasrado appreciated FMCI’s generous gesture of offering comprehensive health check-ups free of cost to teachers — ‘those who tirelessly shape future generations.
Fr. Faustine addressed the gathering in Kannada, reminding teachers of their rightful duty to prioritise their health even as they dedicate themselves to their vocationandfamilies.
The health check-up session spread smiles, reassurance, and gratitude among the participants. Wellness talks were given by Nishanth Gowda, lecturer, department of community physiotherapy, FMCOP on ‘Move Better, Live Better: Physiotherapy forBackandLegPain’;ValerieAnn Lobo lecturer/counsellor clinical psychologistFMMC on ‘Mind Over Matter: Mindfulness for Stress Relief’ and Dr Elroy Saldanha associate professor surgical oncology FMMCH on ‘Know
Cancer, No Cancer: Awareness is theFirstSteptoPrevention’.
It was a day of faith, heritage & humanity, marking three significant commemorations: 115th death anniversary day of Fr Augustus Muller S.J, All Saints’ Day of the
SJEC recognized
Catholic Church and 70th KarnatakaRajyotsava.
FMCI thus united in prayer and in service,turningthedayintoagiftto society and a living tribute to its founder’s mission, Heal with compassion.Servewithfaith’.
as 1st runner-up
for ‘Excellence in Energy Management’ at FKCCI INDIA Awards
MediaRelease
Mangaluru, Oct 29: St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), Mangaluru,hasbeenrecognizedas 1st runner-up in the ‘Excellence in Energy Management (Corporate & CorporateFoundationCategory)’at the INDIA CSR & Sustainability Conference & Awards 2025 organized by the Federation of KarnatakaChambersofCommerce and Industry (FKCCI). The recognitionwas formally presented
in Bengaluru on September 4, and endorsed by M G Balakrishna, president,FKCCI.
Acknowledging the honour, Dr Rio D’Souza, principal, SJEC, said, “This recognition reflects SJEC’s sustained campus-wide commitment to responsible energy useandcontinuousimprovement.”
Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, director, SJEC, who has been the drivingforce behindthe institution’s Green Initiatives, stated, “We see this as motivation to deepen our efforts in energy stewardship and environmentalresponsibility.”
The proposal for this prestigious recognition was led by Dr Nishitha
D’Souza, assistantprofessorin the departmentof civilengineeringand chairperson of the Development and Planning Group (DPG), and wassupportedbyDrBinuKG,head – strategy & planning and mentor (DPG).
The award highlights SJEC’s continuous commitment to promoting sustainable practices, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility within the campus. Through various initiatives and innovative approaches, the institution has successfully integrated sustainabilityinto its academic and operational framework, setting a benchmark for other educational institutions.
Successful 2nd Phase of a training seminar on civil services “PRERAN – CATCH THEMYOUNG”
CATHOLIC SABHA EPISCOPAL CITY
& “PRERAN” –
with C.O.D.P and St Aloysius Civil Services College wing organized a 2nd Phase of a seminar on civil services “PRERAN – CATCH THEM YOUNG” for the youth of catholic community was organized at Shanthi Kiran Hall, Bajjodi On 2nd November 2025. MCC Bank,
Mangalore has sponsored towards the organizing of this seminar. Inaugurationofthisseminarisdone by Rev Fr Santhosh Rodrigues, Director Mangalore Diocesan Pastoral Centre and gave an inspiringmessage“To get readyto serve our nation in best way possiblethroughoneofthebest
education system available around us”. Along with him – Co-ordinator of PRERAN Diocesan Committee
Rev Dr Praveen Leo Lasrado, Mr AnilLobo – ChairmanofMCC Bank Mangalore, Rev Fr John Vas
Spiritual Director, Ms Ida Furtado President, Mr Rohan L Sequeira
Secretary, Mr Deepak D Souza Attavar – (ConvenorofProgramme) - of Catholic Sabha Episcopal City Varadoalongwithresourcepersons -ProfessorRonaldPintoDirectorof InstituteforIndividualDevelopment , Prof Alwyn DSouza professor of PoliticalScienceatStAloysius
College, Ln Suresh M S – Director of Sarvajna IAS Academy were present on Dias for formally inaugurating 2nd Phase of this seminar“PRERAN – CATCHTHEM YOUNG”.
Morethan142youngparticipantsof all 11 churches of Episcopal City Varado were part of this seminar. Ms Lizzy Pinto anchored the programme, Ms Jacintha Lobo along with Rev Fr John Vas Led Prayer session and Mr Rohan L Sequeira of Catholic Sabha Episcopal City Varado expressed wordsofgratitude.
FacesofSouth Asian political leaderswho won their racesin the Electionson Nov 7, 2025
FacesofSouth Asian political leaderswho won their racesin the Electionson Nov 7, 2025
Last week, political contendersofSouth Asian origin made history asthey were voted intooffice acrossthe country, breaking barrierstostrengthen democracy through public service.
Camões and Churchill
Philomena Lawrence
Gilbert A. Lawrence
Luís Vaz de Camões (1524-80) and Winston Spencer Churchill (WSC 1874-1965). (From Last week)
