CHRISTI FESTA - 41st Annual Day Christ Central School, Maruthoor, Thiruvalla
CHRISTI FESTA itself sounds imposing, if not pompous. Now they add another name for the cultural events - AEVUS! This is how the new philosophy works - 'why make things simple, when we can make them complex?'
AEVUS - A word that came across me for the first time - as I can recall! It is tickling my curiosity.
Now these new gadgets come really handy. When I noticed it, I felt like consulting my friends sitting around, but sensed that it would be of no avail. In all likelihood, 'it was all greek & latin. Then the dictionary app in the android is there! However, it could reach only up to 'm'. Then, that was better! Yes, it was latin ( I should have guessed). In Scholastic philosophy, the aevum (also called aeviternity) is the mode of existence experienced by angels and by the saints in heaven. In some ways, it is a state that logically lies between the eternity (timelessness) of God and the temporal experience of material beings. Back at the desk, (google se bachke kahan jayega?) discovered aevus-i (masculine) means time of life, age, old age, generation etc. I think the school should rename it aevum, as that appear more suited for the occasion they claim or try to create. In all the compering that sense of the word was not heard coming out. It would have made at least some people richer by a word!
I am glad to have been invited - feeling proud of my confrere and batch mate (though junior, having managed to jump up, skipping one step) Mathukutty, the great Dr. Mathew Thengumpally CMI. Proud for he has been nationally recognized for his contributions as a teacher/Principal twice (or more?)! Jealous that I could never have had any such recognition. However, when he introduces me to his smart head boy Suresh and head girl Sandra, that he had been a topper among us wherever he had been with some additional description, that becomes an award for me. On his behest, the kids fall at my feet (traditional mode of seeking blessing - kuruttam- gurutvam) asking that they be number one. I don't mind now imparting a blessing!! I say, 'be better, do better'. It is more important to learn well, rather than be number one. Betterment is in reference to one's self, primarily, though there is no harm in your desire to be better than others, or do better than how others do!
I am proud and happy of Mathukutty - we are good friends. That has brought me here. He appears in the photo as if he is all set to take a leap - He is a puli, a paayum puli. When we lived together as students, we had to be very wary if we were playing with him. He could very easily snatch a ball in our possession and score against us! I am sure that the school is thriving under his vigilant and experienced leadership.
I recall Fr. Kurian Mukochery the founder who happened to be a friend or mentor to my father. I also remember other key people involved Fr. Joshy the manager, Fr. Jimmy, Fr. Antony - former principals, Fr. Mayanparampil - Vice Principal - all of them my friends.
I feel the school is very privileged to have a PTA and an erudite President like Mr. Haridas who has already given a very relevant message for the day in a befitting manner. I salute the PTA.
I am deeply impressed by the song sung by Vishak Thomas on baalyam! I wonder whether he has realised what he had been singing about - though he did it mellifluously.
He sang about it as 'maavin chottile manamulla madhuramaanu', also about, 'chelimannu' and 'mashithandu'. When I came back to Thevara after a gap of more than 30 years, my confrere was planning to plant a set of royal palms on the school campus. Definitely, something is better than nothing (the gulmohurs - Delonix Regia, were falling apart, and hence removed). I suggested, thanks to inspiration from my good friend Thomas, the agorean naturalist, that at least one country mango tree be planted. I was convinced of it. And I suggested that let our children see our local trees, and not just the same uniform stuff, but the diverse and the local which are disappearing. Somehow it clicked with my good friend. And lo, we had a mango tree, right in hte middle of the campus, without being a nuisance to traffic or games (courts). It's now more than three years and has grown up, and not likely to be destroyed. May be the generations after me may enjoy a baalyam with the sweet scent of ripened country mangoes!! In addition, thanks to Fr. Joshy who took the idea in earnest a star forest was introduced and the campus has almost 30 varieties of trees with their local and scientific names for the children to see, feel and experience!!
But out here, has anyone of you children has had the experience of mango and its scent? of mashi thandu, of chelimannu? This is a generation, highly protected from cheli. They don't have chorry. Hence their immunity is less. I look back at my fortunate baalyam where I grew up in a small family of 9 children, being in the middle, and never having had the feeling to demand the many things which were even otherwise not really available. We easily felt that we could not ask for 'things'. That we had enough to eat was good enough and satisfying. But today we are grooming a highly protected generation which has not seen 'mashi' then why should they have mashithandu? They have all in packs! Even family? Family packs!! They have not touched cheli, they have not heard 'no' and gradually, we are building a generation which is emasculated, weak! It is up to us to school them if not born tough (like CEAT tyres), train them tough, so that they can withstand the vicissitudes of life, from which no parent can shield them forever, except by a shikshanam!
When I think of baalyam, the Mammootty picture comes to my mind, where he narrates his story of childhood friendship (katha parayumbol) with Balan. Tears swell up in my eyes when I see the scene. What kind of friendships are our children having? What kind of shikshanam our children should have? That leads me to share with you two small stories.
A man, cobbler by trade was in dire straits and it was sever winter. Urged by his wife he set out to collect dues from his clients so that they could have another warm coat instead of sharing one among the two. But his mission was hardly successful. Only a very few people paid their dues. That was not sufficient for a coat. He thought of having a beer and returning. Then he noticed a man, stark naked, shivering in the cold sitting in front of the Church. He averted his eyes and went ahead for his beer. That having had, he returned only to find the man there. He could not resists asking after his well being. He wouldn't say anything other than his name being Michael and having been cursed by God. He insisted on asking him to go home with him. At home, his wife was enraged and said that she would have nothing to do with him who has spent the earnings on drink, neglected necessities home and brought a vagabond home. He was really chastised. However, he said humbly, Martha, for the love of God, pl take us in and give us food. When she heard that though not happily, she spread what she had before them. Then the MIchael's face brightened in a smile that was so consoling to all. He continued there, became Simon's assistant and got established. A rich man came with a high quality leather and asked to make a shoes which would really last long. Simon entrusted the task to Michael and left to the town. When Simon returned, he was aghast as the leather was cut for a soft shoe. When he expressed his shock, there was a smile on Michael's face that lit up the whole house. There arrived a messenger from the rich client saying that he met with his death on his return, and now what he required was a funeral shoe. After a while, a woman arrived at the shop with twin girls, and Michael's face was delighted with wonderment. When the woman saw that she responded saying the twins were not her daughters. Their father had died before their birth and mother, on giving them birth. Being left orphans, she took it upon herself to bring them up. When he heard that for a third time, there was a heavenly smile on his face that was so consoling to all. After they left, he revealed his identity to Simon and Martha. I am an angel, cursed by God. I disobeyed God when asked to take the life of the mother of these kids, wondering how they would survive. Then God sent me to earth as a punishment, asking me to find answer to three questions. I have found answers to the questions I have been assigned to find as part of my curse, and I am released!
The questions were:
What is there within humans? I have discovered it is Love, it is Love for God, or God itself!
What is uncertain about humans? It is death - when and how it would come.
What guides humans? I know it's God's providence, which is Love, which is God itself.
So finally, does our education lead our children to God who is Love, to the right kind of friendships? Also, to the wisdom - nityanityavastu vivekam. ability to distinguish between what is passing, and what is lasting. Hence as said by Gandhiji, 'live as if you were to die tomorrow and learn as if you were to live for eternity'. (Naaleyennathilla nammal innu thanne nEdanaNam)
The friendships that should develop in our schools should be of many levels: The first of it is usually with peers - that is good. Are we friends in deed? Do we have friends in need? Do we learn from our friends to be better? paadam saha brahmacharyebhyah! One quarter of our learning has to happen through our company with friends.
However, there are very many times, when such friendships belie our expectations - there comes the significance of having God as our trusted friend; like Anna in the book, who calls upon God everyday, or any time, and say, Mr. God, this is Anna! God as a friend in need, and friend indeed.
In today's understanding our friendship circle - love circle ought to exceed the human circle to encompass the planet of which we are part of - being friendly with Mother Earth, sister plants, brother soil as St. Francis of Assissi did. This is also our survival strategy as is being sung poignantly in the popular awakening song: ini varunnoru thalamurakku ivide vaasam sadhyamo?
As basically learners, our children ought to develop friendship with books. That to have books as their companion, to possess a book always to look into should become a habit, an indicator of a Christite.
Such habits will lead to further friendship of a learner - a friendship with some faithful friends who keep us learners, seekers: They are the faithful sevants of Rudyard Kipling: What, Who, Where and When, and on a higher plane How and Why with which we understand, discover and explain the world around us.
But when we step beyond these six, and befriend a seventh faithful, WHY-NOT, then we become Christ like - who create history, who change the course of life. We honour Kalam & Gandhi, but when we are able to stand up and ask beyond the hows and whys about phenomena to whynot-s of possibilities we begin to fill the voids such great people (mahatma) have left. When we are willing to leave the trodden path and go it alone, we make a difference like Christ, who thought 'why should we kill our enemies, why not love them, and destroy the enmity? A learner is invited to such a challenging path of a seeker.
I will conclude this by narrating the story of such a seeker. This story is placed against the context of corruption and discrimination that is being found and experienced in today's society. Our leaders become tainted, and that has come to be taken for granted. Rohit Vemula is no more, and it is said that it is discrimination as a dalit that led him to take his life. Against such context, we recall a seeker, Satyakaman. He wanted to make friends with the world of letters, with the six faithful servants. However the deeksha is given only when he is able to tell his gotram and his father's name. He had neither. When he asked his mother, she told: Son, you tell them you are son of Jabala. Though embarassing, Satyakaman, as the name goes, didn't have any hesitation in giving the answer to Maharshi Gautaman: I am Satyakaman, son of Jabala. Gautaman told him, you are a Brahmin, only a Brahmin can tell truth in that manner. He was accepted for deeksha.
In the classification of castes, Brahmin is said to be topping the classes - but take a cue from Gautama, we learn that 'brahmanyam' is an acquired status and it is acquired by the ability to seek truth and tell truth, and that is a possibility for everyone. We grow from a low disposition to high as we embrace and cling to truth.
satyam vada, dharma cara - satyameva jayate! We should not have to regret like Dhrutharashtra at any point saying, 'janami ca me dharamam na me pravrutti, janami adharamam na ca me nivrtti.' I knew the truth but I could not follow it, I knew the untruth, but I could not avoid it.
May Christ Central School have Christ at its centre, who claimed I am one with the Father, I am the truth. May the metamorphosis of MGM to Christ happen with the individual student, and may Christ rule their hearts and deeds leading them ever to the ever broadening horizon of truth.
I thank you for your patient listening. May God bless us all.
CHRISTI FESTA itself sounds imposing, if not pompous. Now they add another name for the cultural events - AEVUS! This is how the new philosophy works - 'why make things simple, when we can make them complex?'
AEVUS - A word that came across me for the first time - as I can recall! It is tickling my curiosity.
Now these new gadgets come really handy. When I noticed it, I felt like consulting my friends sitting around, but sensed that it would be of no avail. In all likelihood, 'it was all greek & latin. Then the dictionary app in the android is there! However, it could reach only up to 'm'. Then, that was better! Yes, it was latin ( I should have guessed). In Scholastic philosophy, the aevum (also called aeviternity) is the mode of existence experienced by angels and by the saints in heaven. In some ways, it is a state that logically lies between the eternity (timelessness) of God and the temporal experience of material beings. Back at the desk, (google se bachke kahan jayega?) discovered aevus-i (masculine) means time of life, age, old age, generation etc. I think the school should rename it aevum, as that appear more suited for the occasion they claim or try to create. In all the compering that sense of the word was not heard coming out. It would have made at least some people richer by a word!
I am glad to have been invited - feeling proud of my confrere and batch mate (though junior, having managed to jump up, skipping one step) Mathukutty, the great Dr. Mathew Thengumpally CMI. Proud for he has been nationally recognized for his contributions as a teacher/Principal twice (or more?)! Jealous that I could never have had any such recognition. However, when he introduces me to his smart head boy Suresh and head girl Sandra, that he had been a topper among us wherever he had been with some additional description, that becomes an award for me. On his behest, the kids fall at my feet (traditional mode of seeking blessing - kuruttam- gurutvam) asking that they be number one. I don't mind now imparting a blessing!! I say, 'be better, do better'. It is more important to learn well, rather than be number one. Betterment is in reference to one's self, primarily, though there is no harm in your desire to be better than others, or do better than how others do!
I am proud and happy of Mathukutty - we are good friends. That has brought me here. He appears in the photo as if he is all set to take a leap - He is a puli, a paayum puli. When we lived together as students, we had to be very wary if we were playing with him. He could very easily snatch a ball in our possession and score against us! I am sure that the school is thriving under his vigilant and experienced leadership.
I recall Fr. Kurian Mukochery the founder who happened to be a friend or mentor to my father. I also remember other key people involved Fr. Joshy the manager, Fr. Jimmy, Fr. Antony - former principals, Fr. Mayanparampil - Vice Principal - all of them my friends.
I feel the school is very privileged to have a PTA and an erudite President like Mr. Haridas who has already given a very relevant message for the day in a befitting manner. I salute the PTA.
I am deeply impressed by the song sung by Vishak Thomas on baalyam! I wonder whether he has realised what he had been singing about - though he did it mellifluously.
He sang about it as 'maavin chottile manamulla madhuramaanu', also about, 'chelimannu' and 'mashithandu'. When I came back to Thevara after a gap of more than 30 years, my confrere was planning to plant a set of royal palms on the school campus. Definitely, something is better than nothing (the gulmohurs - Delonix Regia, were falling apart, and hence removed). I suggested, thanks to inspiration from my good friend Thomas, the agorean naturalist, that at least one country mango tree be planted. I was convinced of it. And I suggested that let our children see our local trees, and not just the same uniform stuff, but the diverse and the local which are disappearing. Somehow it clicked with my good friend. And lo, we had a mango tree, right in hte middle of the campus, without being a nuisance to traffic or games (courts). It's now more than three years and has grown up, and not likely to be destroyed. May be the generations after me may enjoy a baalyam with the sweet scent of ripened country mangoes!! In addition, thanks to Fr. Joshy who took the idea in earnest a star forest was introduced and the campus has almost 30 varieties of trees with their local and scientific names for the children to see, feel and experience!!
But out here, has anyone of you children has had the experience of mango and its scent? of mashi thandu, of chelimannu? This is a generation, highly protected from cheli. They don't have chorry. Hence their immunity is less. I look back at my fortunate baalyam where I grew up in a small family of 9 children, being in the middle, and never having had the feeling to demand the many things which were even otherwise not really available. We easily felt that we could not ask for 'things'. That we had enough to eat was good enough and satisfying. But today we are grooming a highly protected generation which has not seen 'mashi' then why should they have mashithandu? They have all in packs! Even family? Family packs!! They have not touched cheli, they have not heard 'no' and gradually, we are building a generation which is emasculated, weak! It is up to us to school them if not born tough (like CEAT tyres), train them tough, so that they can withstand the vicissitudes of life, from which no parent can shield them forever, except by a shikshanam!
When I think of baalyam, the Mammootty picture comes to my mind, where he narrates his story of childhood friendship (katha parayumbol) with Balan. Tears swell up in my eyes when I see the scene. What kind of friendships are our children having? What kind of shikshanam our children should have? That leads me to share with you two small stories.
A man, cobbler by trade was in dire straits and it was sever winter. Urged by his wife he set out to collect dues from his clients so that they could have another warm coat instead of sharing one among the two. But his mission was hardly successful. Only a very few people paid their dues. That was not sufficient for a coat. He thought of having a beer and returning. Then he noticed a man, stark naked, shivering in the cold sitting in front of the Church. He averted his eyes and went ahead for his beer. That having had, he returned only to find the man there. He could not resists asking after his well being. He wouldn't say anything other than his name being Michael and having been cursed by God. He insisted on asking him to go home with him. At home, his wife was enraged and said that she would have nothing to do with him who has spent the earnings on drink, neglected necessities home and brought a vagabond home. He was really chastised. However, he said humbly, Martha, for the love of God, pl take us in and give us food. When she heard that though not happily, she spread what she had before them. Then the MIchael's face brightened in a smile that was so consoling to all. He continued there, became Simon's assistant and got established. A rich man came with a high quality leather and asked to make a shoes which would really last long. Simon entrusted the task to Michael and left to the town. When Simon returned, he was aghast as the leather was cut for a soft shoe. When he expressed his shock, there was a smile on Michael's face that lit up the whole house. There arrived a messenger from the rich client saying that he met with his death on his return, and now what he required was a funeral shoe. After a while, a woman arrived at the shop with twin girls, and Michael's face was delighted with wonderment. When the woman saw that she responded saying the twins were not her daughters. Their father had died before their birth and mother, on giving them birth. Being left orphans, she took it upon herself to bring them up. When he heard that for a third time, there was a heavenly smile on his face that was so consoling to all. After they left, he revealed his identity to Simon and Martha. I am an angel, cursed by God. I disobeyed God when asked to take the life of the mother of these kids, wondering how they would survive. Then God sent me to earth as a punishment, asking me to find answer to three questions. I have found answers to the questions I have been assigned to find as part of my curse, and I am released!
The questions were:
What is there within humans? I have discovered it is Love, it is Love for God, or God itself!
What is uncertain about humans? It is death - when and how it would come.
What guides humans? I know it's God's providence, which is Love, which is God itself.
So finally, does our education lead our children to God who is Love, to the right kind of friendships? Also, to the wisdom - nityanityavastu vivekam. ability to distinguish between what is passing, and what is lasting. Hence as said by Gandhiji, 'live as if you were to die tomorrow and learn as if you were to live for eternity'. (Naaleyennathilla nammal innu thanne nEdanaNam)
The friendships that should develop in our schools should be of many levels: The first of it is usually with peers - that is good. Are we friends in deed? Do we have friends in need? Do we learn from our friends to be better? paadam saha brahmacharyebhyah! One quarter of our learning has to happen through our company with friends.
However, there are very many times, when such friendships belie our expectations - there comes the significance of having God as our trusted friend; like Anna in the book, who calls upon God everyday, or any time, and say, Mr. God, this is Anna! God as a friend in need, and friend indeed.
In today's understanding our friendship circle - love circle ought to exceed the human circle to encompass the planet of which we are part of - being friendly with Mother Earth, sister plants, brother soil as St. Francis of Assissi did. This is also our survival strategy as is being sung poignantly in the popular awakening song: ini varunnoru thalamurakku ivide vaasam sadhyamo?
As basically learners, our children ought to develop friendship with books. That to have books as their companion, to possess a book always to look into should become a habit, an indicator of a Christite.
Such habits will lead to further friendship of a learner - a friendship with some faithful friends who keep us learners, seekers: They are the faithful sevants of Rudyard Kipling: What, Who, Where and When, and on a higher plane How and Why with which we understand, discover and explain the world around us.
But when we step beyond these six, and befriend a seventh faithful, WHY-NOT, then we become Christ like - who create history, who change the course of life. We honour Kalam & Gandhi, but when we are able to stand up and ask beyond the hows and whys about phenomena to whynot-s of possibilities we begin to fill the voids such great people (mahatma) have left. When we are willing to leave the trodden path and go it alone, we make a difference like Christ, who thought 'why should we kill our enemies, why not love them, and destroy the enmity? A learner is invited to such a challenging path of a seeker.
I will conclude this by narrating the story of such a seeker. This story is placed against the context of corruption and discrimination that is being found and experienced in today's society. Our leaders become tainted, and that has come to be taken for granted. Rohit Vemula is no more, and it is said that it is discrimination as a dalit that led him to take his life. Against such context, we recall a seeker, Satyakaman. He wanted to make friends with the world of letters, with the six faithful servants. However the deeksha is given only when he is able to tell his gotram and his father's name. He had neither. When he asked his mother, she told: Son, you tell them you are son of Jabala. Though embarassing, Satyakaman, as the name goes, didn't have any hesitation in giving the answer to Maharshi Gautaman: I am Satyakaman, son of Jabala. Gautaman told him, you are a Brahmin, only a Brahmin can tell truth in that manner. He was accepted for deeksha.
In the classification of castes, Brahmin is said to be topping the classes - but take a cue from Gautama, we learn that 'brahmanyam' is an acquired status and it is acquired by the ability to seek truth and tell truth, and that is a possibility for everyone. We grow from a low disposition to high as we embrace and cling to truth.
satyam vada, dharma cara - satyameva jayate! We should not have to regret like Dhrutharashtra at any point saying, 'janami ca me dharamam na me pravrutti, janami adharamam na ca me nivrtti.' I knew the truth but I could not follow it, I knew the untruth, but I could not avoid it.
May Christ Central School have Christ at its centre, who claimed I am one with the Father, I am the truth. May the metamorphosis of MGM to Christ happen with the individual student, and may Christ rule their hearts and deeds leading them ever to the ever broadening horizon of truth.
I thank you for your patient listening. May God bless us all.
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