Musings on Turning Sixty

എന്തിരുപത്             - recklessly daring

മുറി മുപ്പത്               - ready to take up tasks/risks

നെറി നാല്പത്           - just and ethical

അറി അൻപത്       - wise

ശരി അറുപത്        -  integrated

തെറി എഴുപത്      - cursing

വെറി എൺപത്    - frustration

ചൊറി  തൊണ്ണൂറ്  - illness, irritable

കുഴി നൂറ് !               - Tomb

I heard this from venerable Fr Sylvester Puthussery - peace be upon him!! I think I have recalled it more or less exact. 

Typically, at 60, people used to get really old, in olden times.  It is called shashtipurti. I really can't
understand why this has become significant. If we look at the grand Indian plan about life - it is conceived in four quarters of 25 each - brahmacarya, gruhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. So, 50 should be a landmark. Perhaps, diluting it to suit the typical life expectancy for a healthy Indian, say 80, then 60 could be considered the entry into the last phase - sannyasa. In earlier times, a walking stick was provided during such celebrations, if any. 

At 60, I am feeling ok - okay! Feeling good? Rather, feeling not bad - except that in 60 years' time I have not really done anything significant - not contributed anything drastic to make the world a better place, though I have consciously tried to do good in most cases - trying not to avoid an occasion to do good.  At 60, 'aRi' and 'neRi' put together, I should be on the path of 'shari'. May the Lord help me thus!

Have I made the world a bitter place by my words or actions - I can very well remember at least 2 people who feel so - perhaps, more. But to those two, I have really not done any harm - however, they appear to sincerely believe that I have wronged them, and I must therefore deserve something bad - if possible, at their hands/mouth - the latter I have received rather in good dose by the kind of drubbing I have received from them. One on a public forum, the other by constant rebellion and questioning.  May they be well - sarvesham swasthir bhavatu! 

I usually start my day with the 7 mantras partly borrowed from Reiki. The first is 'Just for today, I shall show the attitude of gratitude'.  I have many things to be grateful for: 

At sixty, I still can  walk
Don't yet need a stick to walk 
My shoulders though now injured 
I  hope to soon get them repaired

I still can chew with teeth my own
And go about with the least concern
And still I hope to learn 
Arabic, Sanskrit I yearn

The Bible, Botany to learn I wish

So as well English and Spanish

In my bucket is endless travel
Laddak on wheels, Base camp on heels

And yet in my heart of heart, I like
To always Lord's will to seek
And in spite of my failings galore
To be on the Lord's favoured list for sure!

I am not leading a saintly life - I have also erred and failed in my promises to God.  However, at 60, I resolve to start again, to be holy before the Lord and people, to be good to all, and to be in the hallowed company. I believe in the communion of saints! 

At least some people, I feel, think that I live a daring life, I am adventurous, I take risks etc. to some extent, yes; I too agree. But in my heart of hearts, I feel I lead a very mediocre life - average! 

Erik Erickson identified the dispositions associated with various stages of development; there could be positive dispositions or negative dispositions acquired in a range.  Though these are not strictly to be found associated with any stage, they do provide insight for promoting positive growth in individuals: 

https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/human-development-and-family-studies/resources/stages-of-human-development/#:~:text=The%20key%20components%20of%20Erikson%E2%80%99s%20model%20of%20human,and%20stage%20eight%2C%20late%20adulthood%2C%20integrity%20versus%20despair.

1 to 2 Infancy - Trust vs Mistrust
2 to 4 Toddlerhood - Autonomy vs Doubt/Shame
5 to 7 Preschool - Initiative vs Guilt
8 to 12 Early school years - Industry vs Inferiority 
13 to 17 & 18 to 25 Adolescence - Identity vs Role Confusion
25 to 30 Young Adulthood - Intimacy vs Isolation
30 to 50 Middle Adulthood - Generativity vs Stagnation
50 & above Late Adulthood - Integrity vs Despair

When I look back on life, in most of the stages, I have had predominantly positive dispositions - or I was able to see things positively, in spite of the odds. Regarding the adolescent age - though the identity aspect didn't become very clear and strong, I escaped almost all those turbulent years, with the steady atmosphere provided by the monastic seminary training. 

Definitely, when it comes to intimacy vs isolation, I feel I had led myself away from all sorts of intimacies, that I am almost fully isolated.  So far, I don't regret that much, not desolate about being isolated - regret only that it did not take me to the next stage of intimacy with Jesus or the antaryaamin. As someone puts it, 'alone with the Alone'. We - the Alone & me alone - are very much on talking terms - I can relate and narrate anything to him - at least with me, it's Him and not him/her (even when I am doubtful about Him being real) - however, there is no such intimacy.  

In the stage of generativity, I wonder if I had been generative - definitely not posterity-wise in a physical sense.  But I feel, I should have been much more generative - reading, researching and publishing more - I was stagnant at that stage. Post-retirement, in the last 3 and half years, this was much better I should say, at least 20 articles - popular and academic, I have published. 

Now is the time truly challenging - will I be able to have integrity, and not to despair. Truly be the sannyasi - well placed/disposed/consecrated as I profess to be? I found my ammachi almost despairing, in spite of having been a woman of very positive dispositions till she became affected by old age accompanied by Parkinson's.  So too I find my aunt who leads a consecrated life, now almost in despair - she used to sympathise with ammachi for her plight.  I hope I will not despair, but rather, take things in their stride, and smile at the world. 

Trying to get the right dispositions as used to be accounted by late beloved Fr Sylvester, my sharp-witted friend Varghese, the apostle of entrepreneurial education, tapped Meta to get the following positive stages in life: 

"Twenties teach, thirties tame,
Forties establish, fifties proclaim.
Sixties shine, seventy sets free,
Seventy-nine calms, ninety contemplates, hundred returns to thee."

Then I decided to go meta Meta, and created the following lines:  

Train at twenty
Tune at thirty
Fight at forty
Fly at fifty
Steady at sixty
Serene at seventy
Easy-take-it at Eighty
Never-say-die at Ninty
Happy-to-go at hundred

With degeneration gradually setting into my knees and joints, and my ability to move on play courts as I would like to is getting limited, I look at my life plans sceptically. The simple plan is to live happily and healthy till 100 and then leave the body for the benefit world, and vacate the space. https://prasantamcmi.blogspot.com/2024/09/my-will-not-my-will-but-your-will-be.html

I would like to have the Vedic blessing given to the seeker who prostrates before the wise (the elders): “Shatamaanam bhavati shataayu: purusha:…”. I do my version of Suryanamaskar and when I do the step of ashtanga namaskaar, my mantra is: Om Sadguruve nama: - for me, Sadguru being the antaryamin as manifested in Jesus. 

I would like to have the Vedic birthday wishes fulfilled for me:  (Yajurveda 34:24)

तच्चक्षु॑र्दे॒वहि॑तं पु॒रस्ता॑च्छु॒क्रमुच्च॑रत्। पश्ये॑म श॒रदः॑ श॒तं जीवे॑म श॒रदः॑ श॒तꣳ शृणु॑याम श॒रदः॑ श॒तं प्र ब्र॑वाम श॒रदः॑ श॒तमदी॑नाः स्याम श॒रदः॑ श॒तं भूय॑श्च श॒रदः॑ श॒तात् ॥२४ ॥

Tattchakshurdevahitam purastaatcchukramuchcharat

Pashyema sharada:shatam jivema sharada: shatam

Shrunuyaama sharada: shatam prabravama sharada: shatam

Adinaa: syaama sharada: shatatm bhooyashca sharada: shataa||

May you see a hundred years, may you live (fully) a hundred years 

May you hear (good things) a hundred years, may you speak for a hundred years. 

May you remain healthy (free of illness) for a hundred years.  And you be there (with all these faculties in place) beyond a hundred years!!

To my happiness, I find several people sharing this day of birth with me: 

I remember our great teacher of Theology late, Rev. Fr Joseph Pathrapankal; my teacher at TISS, Dr Rajashree Maithani an excellent exponent of qualitative research, my classmate at TISS and now a very senior development officer with the Tatas - Shrirang Dhawale, my colleague at Rajagiri and its former student, presently CEO of Keystone - Jyothi Krishna, my colleague at Sacred Heart -Tessa Mary, my colleague now at Sitapur Neha Mehrotra, my nephew Melvin (also called Unnikuttan), my niece (in law) Annie.  I pray for all of them. 

It is a great day for us Catholics - whether I believe in it or not, the feast of the Archangels inspires me and challenges me with their invariable El in them - Raphael (wellness & healing), Michael (protection), Gabriel (communication), Ariel (lioness of God - nature, abundance, happiness), Haniel (energy, vitality, passion for life), Muriel (empathy & compassion), Uriel (light of God - openness to be illuminated by love of God - open palm).  (I find the ABBA song 'I Have a Dream' very soothing, with its mention of 'I believe in angel' and presenting a very optimistic vision of life with dreams and goodness. I am not sure, who discovered or invented them - clever 'guys' for sure. However, generally, the first three masculine figures are more familiar to our patriarchal world; the rest of them (perhaps, there are even more!) listed seem to be feminine, but are hardly ever heard of or discussed. However, they stand for (also implied in place of) God, without making the reference obvious, implying in them and through the 'el' in them, grace (God's presence) covering all aspects of life. 

https://www.ask-angels.com/archangels/

Celebrating 60 with a 66 km Olympic Ride in Doha

Olympic Cycle Track - A Great Sporting Facility

Ashgal, the public works department (PWD) of Qatar gifted another cherished gift to the residents of Qatar on the National Sports Day (celebrated on the second Tuesday of February annually) of 2020 - February 11. It holds the record of being the longest asphalt track for bicycle rides and is named Olympic Cycle Track.  It is 33 kilometres in length (32.869 specifically). 

The track is 20 feet wide. All along the path it is fenced on both sides - so no one can enter or exit the track, except for 3 access points around the start (Lusail City - adjacent Qatar University Metro Station) and 4 access/exit points around Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor (where the inaugural match of the world cup 2022 was held).  Thus it connects two major stadia of the country - Al Bait and Lusail (where the World Cup final was played).  It has 29 underpasses and 5 bridges to ensure a hassle-free ride. 

Though Doha appears rather even topographically, the ride offers you adequate toughness by way of regular climbs and inclines.  It is freely accessible 24 hours of the day. There are 3 electronic display stands presenting the data - one each at the beginning, middle and end of the track. Yesterday (Sep. 28th) it indicated 123 cyclists at the start (Lusail) and 102 at the other end when I covered the points. Finally, when I returned, the first one had counted 202, with a total of some 12900 plus cyclists for the year. 

The track, in general has a buffer area on both sides - on the Northern side (right as we go towards Al Khor) - generally 10 ft wide patch, with grass or sand, and similarly on the other side narrower in many places, but in many places much wider zones as well. But for a few 100 metres, the entire stretch has avenue trees on both sides - now having attained an average height of 12 feet, planted 10 metres apart. Roughly a total of 6000 plus trees. When they grow bigger, it will be a real shady green patch in the desert, and may contribute to the efforts to go carbon neutral! 

Safe! Till midnight and perhaps, even beyond, cyclists are riding men and women. The track is suitable to let the bicycles take a speed of 50 km per hour even! There is no fear of any motor vehicles bumping you off - at some points, the high way goes closely parallel, but with adequate distance and safety measures that they don't ram into you. There is no fear of stray dogs or similar animals chasing you. I saw one cat by the side of the track.  The entire stretch is safe, and practically, there is no fear that someone will do you some harm - bindaas!

A Green Patch on the Drab Desert Land - The trees planted are typical of the Indian subcontinent - Alstonia Scholaris (saptaparni), Hibiscus telleucius, Thespesia populnea, Azadaricta indica, Cassia fistula, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benglensis, Cordenia sebestena (Geiger tree), Pithecellobium dulce (jungle jalebi), Cascabela thevetia, Terminalia brachystemma, Cericidium parkinsonia (Palo Verde) and some sort of trumpet flower. 

The entire stretch is adequately illuminated with lights at fixed distance on both sides, though in certain stretches, they were not functional.  Still it was amply visible, and though I could not use the headlight of my bicycle, as the holder had disappeared in the repair process, I could see very well. The turf is  perfectly maintained all through. There are 5 or 6 access points for the ambulance, which are closed.  There are some mechanisms for opening them by authorised personnel. 

The entire stretch is neatly maintained.  However, the human habit of littering was seen here too - not expected of a fitness-conscious crowd. Toffee wrappers, water bottles....However, very minimal. All along the 33 km strech there is not a single outlet to get any stuff, no provision for water or toilet, which I felt could be a very useful addition.  Every kilometre is clearly marked beginning with 1000 mt till 32860 mt, at each point distance from both directions being shown.  A few wooden benches are found here and there, for resting and relaxing. 

Planning the Ride   It had been a preparation for over a week, and a search and for over three days - First, I got our former student, Nikhil Jose (a student of the first batch of RISE, Rajagiri) who is a very senior executive with a medical firm in Doha.  When he came to know of my enthusiasm for bicycle, he brought his own bicycle, saying that he was not using it regularly, and let mee use it. It was 2 years back. He had promised to take care of the repairs if any, as he knew someone who does that well. Yes, I did manage with the minor repairs or replacements like a puncture (usually requiring replacement of the tube).  However, since taking this to a shop and getting it ready for a ride was not an easy task to be accomplished in Doha, on the very first day of my arrival in Doha, I called up Nikhil and sought his help.  He readily obliged, and came to our residence. After updating ourselves, he took the bicycle and brought it back by Thursday so that I could go for a ride on Thursday evening.

From Sport to Commuting

Doha - Qatar being, generally a level land, should be quite suitable for bicycle rides - definitely during  the months of November to April (March). However, the problem is that it is promoted more from the angle of sports and fitness. So most of the tracks, which come to many hundreds of kilometres in this small country,  are not connected.  And for the bicycle rider, getting across the highways and flyovers to reach another stretch is nearly impossible and dangerous as well. My plan was to ride to the Olympic Track. However, I found no way to reach there riding a bike; so riding presupposes that you have a motor vehicle (car) to reach you to the riding track.  The beautiful Doha Metro does not permit bicycles to be carried on them - perhaps, if this is brought to the attention of the authorities from a carbon or sustainability angle, I trust they would definitely rethink it. 

Personal Adventure @ 60

When I completed 50, I had a great ride up the hill towards Shabarimala - a 90 km stretch. I thought of having one on a smaller scale as I approached 60. 

Come Thursday evening, and I tried many ways to find the route to reach the bicycle track, but the internet was not giving any clue. Then I sought the help of our transport department, and they arranged for a vehicle (Innova) to drop me at Lusail, where the starting point was supposed to be. In between, Alan, our heartian alumnus, and my regular companion in the Middle East (UAE, Qatar, Saudi, Bahrain), and who had thrown this challenge before me, when I first arrived in Doha, also tried to be helpful by guiding us. But around Lusail Boulevard or the stadium, we could not trace the place.  He directed us to go to Al Khor road and to find the track there. And we did, but found the track impenetrably fenced. Phew!! Again, Alan sends a location, and we found to our frustration, that we had to go another 14 kms back. And Alan had added some confusion by having given me the intro that the track is some 50-plus kilometres long, and the descriptions were not matching, making me think that we are in the wrong place. With the new directions, the Doha expert driver Vijendar confidently led me, but started missing one turn after the other, adding to the kilometres to be covered. After a few attempts, I sensed that we are not going to make it. And I called back the mission, after almost one hour of futile attempt.  I also was not sure of the distance to be covered, whether I would require some support, whether track be through till the end etc. 

Fortunately, I didn't attempt. We came to realise that contrary to our understanding the bicycle track is usable only on one side of the Al Khor highway - though almost the entire stretch has a northern wing of bicycle track, it is yet to be fully functional, and is not yet opened to the public. 

Another day of surfing didn't yield any results. The third day, our colleague, also a small-circle bicycle enthusiast Ashok, almost definitively found that the starting point was adjacent to Qatar University Metro station. That was specific, though on Friday morning, on our Friday outing we had passed by that, and Alan had shown it, the specific station was not clear.  Now armed with that, we explored the possibility of fixing the bicycle into the boot of the Corolla car used by the Principal.  We managed that, and the Principal himself drove me to the location - here again, there was confusion in the directions, google adding to confusion, but Waze, coming to rescue;  we finally managed to arrive at the starting point at Qatar University Metro station. Seeing the well-laid track, the Principal got enthusiastic, saying that someday, he too would do the stretch.  He left me to undertake the ride, promising to coming to Al-Khor if required, or at the starting point itself, depending on the need. 

I found several people riding,  most of them in the opposite direction; however, there were more people joining. All of them were riding at a pace greater than mine - I assume to some extent, on account of the bike as well. My broad-tyred (3 inches) Hummer was no match for the thin tyred race bikes. I had to struggle.  Long absence and not using the bike - I had forgotten the speed system - it is a 15-speed bike, with 3 for the smaller front and 5 for the back.  I got in grips with the system only after covering some 10 kilometres.  I took a small break after completing 12 kms, had some passion-fruit juice I had prepared and brought.  At 27th kilometre, Al Bayt stadium becomes visible - and like the 3 Kings who rejoiced while seeing the star again, I felt overjoyed.  I didn't really believe that the distance was only 33 kilometres. I covered the distance with the break in 1 hour and 42 mts. Got down, stretched the legs, took pictures - Al Bayt in the background was not becoming very visible. 

I walked 2 hundred metres, and began the ride back. It was tougher this time.  Since the afternoon news of a young Malayalee having died during an Uttarakhand trek was there in my mind, I was observing my breath and any sign of exhaustion. Though I was not puffing or panting, I felt that the breath was becoming belaboured. After 12 kilometres, I took a break - to relax my flailing knees and thighs, I almost walked 1 km. It was becoming tougher and thighs and calf muscles were under great strain. I stopped again at the 26th km, and my store of water was exhausted. All the cyclists were going past me rather fast, but that didn't disappoint me.  Lusail Stadium was visible about 28th km. It was gloriously shining like the big Arabian cap it was meant to be, with the four tall blue Hyundai towers standing behind it as sentinels.  I stopped in front of it, and took a picture. Walked a bit more, and then made the final leg. This stretch took me 2 hours and 10 mts including the 2 km (app) walking bit. 

Though this was not any big feat - as far as my record is concerned, or for any cyclist, still I thought my small crowd of supporters would have been there - at least with some water to replenish me - Yes, some glucose or a banana would have been fantastic! But none there. I was, or my lower half was really exhausted. I could not sit or stand. I lay on the cushioned bench, which was wet with dew - it was not helping. I lay on the cement floor of the parking lot, and tried to relax. My reconnaissance (read pick-up) team arrived 15 minutes later, and gave me some water. I struggled to be seated in the car - with muscles aching and exhausted. I feared whether there would be a muscular cramp, with salts having been depleted. But fortunately, no. 

It was heartian Santhosh who had come with the Principal (another heartian) to give me the ride. He was treating us to dinner at Al Saitoon. After many rounds of missing the route, we finally reached the destination, by which time, my muscles had relaxed, and I was free of the aches and exhaustion. That was amazing grace! And awaiting us was the seafood platter - a half platter was sufficient to fill the three of us! 

Personally, a very gratifying way to celebrate 60, though for the rest of the world, this is just an aam baat! 

Acknowledgements: Nikhil Jose, Alan Jerson, Ashok, Santhosh, Joshy Abraham

https://marhaba.qa/cycling-tracks-of-qatar/

Fr Archangel - Remembering him on the feast of the Archangels

Sep.  29, 2024 Sunday - The Feast of the Archangels

When it comes to the Latin rite, all other people are set aside on Sunday - it is the Lord's day - whether they be humans or angels! 

However, in our fraternity, there is the young confrere, Angelo.  This is not a common name among us. I don't know what prompted his parents to name him thus.  Angelo says his father named his children a bit atypically. That's all that he knows. 

I would have loved to write some notes on the Archangels, the beings having some fascination for me. However, greeting him on this day, brought to my memory a dearly beloved CMI who had been given the Angel's name on his rebirth as a CMI - He was Fr Mathai reborn (dwijan) as Archangel. I grew up seeing him around Thevara. In my primary school days, he would come to our school, at least once a year, with his projector and we would all be huddled together in the classrooms converted into a hall - all sitting on the floor (not very comfortable with that even in those times), and watching the black and white movies on the 'big' screen - a white cloth tied down on the raised platform. We were to pay 25 ps for that. He used to hold such shows sometimes at the Sacred Heart High School front yard as well. One of the movies he had shown was 'Njaan Oli' (Tamil), perhaps, Nadi was another.   I don't remember them. Most of them had tragic ending - nololi padangal, and in fact, they didn't inspire. I always preferred movies with fight (idi) where the hero would win - like Themmadi Velappan etc. This was the time, when going to a movie was a big deal for kids and family members, and our theatre in Thevara Sreekala (later named  Kaseeba) had not yet begun operating. 

I think he did it as a communication ministry.  Sometimes, there were also free movies which were kind of documentaries. He used to travel by a scooter - I think a white and blue lamby; Now, I don't recall, how he used to bring the projector and stuff like that to the school - perhaps, by an autorickshaw.  Or perhaps, the tempo van which was there with the LF press of the monastery. 

When I entered the high school at Thevara, he was the Principal of Sacred Heart College. Prior to that he served the Department of Physics. And it was a tumultuous time - with high-pitched politics.  There used to be strikes every now and then, and college elections were a time of intense political activity - as it is even now in many places, including Thevara. Only that in those days, politics was not banned, it was plainly on the basis of student wings of political parties all this was being carried out. 

Generally, he was considered an amiable person - and was nick-named 'punchiri mathai' (the smiling Mathai) by the students. My elder sister and brother were students at the college in those times. He used to encourage activities like AICUF and SH College was well known for its basketball culture.  Bartholomew Trophy was a great festival for the locality in those days.  I recall my sister commending on his effort to introduce some voluntariness among the students: "See in spite of being the Principal, I am taking up these menial tasks, why not you people do likewise?" I find the argument perfect, and perhaps, later on, as the principal of the college did (definitely) or said (?) the same thing. 

There was a very serious student agitation in those days, when the college chairman Rajan went on a hunger strike in front of the college. I remember him sitting there in a kind of tent.  I am not clear of the cause.  I have heard that once during an agitation, when the students forcibly entered the principal's cabin and pressed their arguments (perhaps in the typical uncivil manner in which the student agitators do), he responded quite angrily, and hit one of the students. The other version is that when he tried to show some action with his hands, somehow someone was touched, and it was interpreted as hitting.  And that led to the furore followed by hunger strike etc.  I don't know how it was sorted out.  However, after a few days, I found students taking up a procession with very many typical slogans, and one of them that caught my imagination was this: 

മത്തായി അച്ചനോട് 'അമ്മ പറഞ്ഞു മോനെ മോനെ മത്തായി 

Mamma said to Mathai acha, Son, Oh son, Mathai

പിള്ളേരോട് കളിക്കണ്ട, പിള്ളേരോട് കളിച്ചാൽ പിന്നെ 

Don't play (meddle) with the kids (students), If you play with them

നട്ടെല്ലൂരി കോട്ടേലാക്കീട്ട് ഐ ആർ എട്ടിന് വളമാക്കും 

They will pull your vertebral column out, dump in a (bamboo) basket, and add it as manure of IR8. 

ഇടി  നാദം മുഴങ്ങട്ടെ കടല് രണ്ടായി പിളരട്ടെ 

Let the thunder sound; let the ocean divide into two

മത്തായി അച്ചൻ ഞടുങ്ങട്ടെ. - Let Mathai achan be shaken (shocked)!

It was thrilling!! I learnt it immediately by heart. After almost 50 years, still same slogans are being repeated by today's (party) politically driven (instigated) students. 

Anyhow, the agitation came to an end.  But Archangel achan continued to be the Principal - I think till 1982.  That would have been about 5 years in all I think. He had taken over the office from Fr Victorian and he handed over the office to a milder man, Fr Aquinas.  In the late 70s and early 80s, he had played a vital role in promoting the Charismatic movement in Keralam, opening up the campus facilities for the same. 

I have heard from my senior colleagues that Fr Archangel and Fr George were very keen to promote faculty fellowship through outings and picnics, for which they used to make all arrangements at the monastery.  Though I tried to follow their footsteps in this regard, I don't think I could succeed much in that regard.  However, when we managed to convert our Zoology block roof to a spacious covered area to hold exams, I named it after him as Archangel Hall. I hope that it still remains so. I did that perhaps, I felt he had contributed well for the college, and some space in his name would be befitting token of appreciation. 

Later on, he retired from the service, and went to Rajkot mission of SH province and worked there in a school in Bhuj for several years.  By that time, he began to be called Fr Mathai (his original baptismal name), rather than archangel.  (My batchmates who did their graduate studies at SH college, used to refer to him as Mukhyadootan - the Malayalam of Archangel). In 1990, after undergoing a penitentiary year of service learning (!) at SH Provincial house, Kalamassery, I managed to squeeze out a few days to visit Rajkot mission. And I did reach Bhuj, to be received by him.  I think I spent one night at his place, but there was nothing memorable about it.  Perhaps, the exception of Fr Joy Payyappilly, my senior and good friend, being there as his assistant (After a few years, he quit the track, and a few years ago died while still being a young, but leaving behind a family of his own). 

I came to know, that he had to face stiff resistance from the local people, for having initiated some disciplinary measure, and it was all manipulated politically, and finally he had to leave the place.  Perhaps, he had a fiery temper as his adversary - I am not sure.  I have seen him only as a mild and smiling Archangel. 

In 1995, when I landed in Mumbai one night, travelling all the way from Kochi by 'buses', to attend the interview for admission at TISS, I went to the CMI transit house, named Sevasadan in Malad.  I just went there, no prior information (unimaginable in these days), and I was received by him without any trouble. I stayed there for the whole week or more, till the admission tests were over, the results were out, and secured a place in the campus hostel.  By that time, Fr Archangel was no longer a member of our province, but of our sister province with the headquarters at Muvattupuzha. And I think, in those days, I just stayed there, perhaps, offered masses in the intention of the superior, and relied on his hospitality without feeling anything amiss about it. 

I recall, how he used to prepare soup for dinner - there was soup every night, which was not a normal menu for CMI houses. He would save the water drained out when the rice was cooked (kanji vellam).  By evening, it would have become much thicker.  Then he would sautee it with the typical soup condiments and a good soup was ready without much effort every evening.  During my TISS days, I could call on him at any time, though I could not frequently do so.  After a year, he was transferred to Kothamangalam, where he became prior.  (I thought it was Vazhakulam, however, I learnt this from his obituary on our website).

I was sad to learn about his death in 1997, and I was there to pay respects to him at Kothamangalam during the final rites.  I feel he died young - Just 66 years! I find his picture in the list of our departed members - still smiling - punchiri Mathai. 

His young brother, another venerable CMI priest, Fr Peter, served for a long time in South Africa as one of the first CMIs to be there for ministry and died in 2020 at the age of 78. 

Namovakam before the dearly beloved memory of Fr Archangel Mathai Akkappadickal! 

A-shoka - अशोक

Ashoka’s visit to Ramagrama (Nepal) – Relief work in Sanchi

हम न करें शोक 

हम रहें नित चैन से सुख 

हर दम ढूंढें बहुजन सुख 

हम बनें सब अमर अशोक | 

अशोक रहे अन्तर्यामिन 

अशोक करे हर जीव जगत 

सबका है अधिकार अ-शोक मन 

सत्कार्य सही अशोक की राह 

अशोक बना एक जब त्याग किया 

अभिमान ने अहिंसा  रूप लिया 

ढाट-बाट सब त्याग दिया 

अमल प्रेम प्रखर प्रचार किया 

हम बनें  अशोक अमर 

हर पल इक मुस्कान धारण कर                              

हर लें दुःख हर मन से दूर 

हर में हर पल आश्रय कर!

(Dedicated to my good friend Ashoka Chatterjee Bindra)

State tree of Uttar Pradesh - Saraca Ashok

Fr Zacharias Moorkattel CMI

Sep. 22, 2024 We got along well - in spite of the difference in age, outlook, temperament etc.  Our close relationship lasted just about 3 months, but the goodwill and warmth that emerged from that short period lasted till now. When I visited Keralam for about 7 days last month, I made it a point to visit him, greet him - he strained his eyes to meet mine, but showed no great sign of recognition, no smile. I learnt to my great consolation that he was shifted to his room from the ICU, only to be alerted yesterday, that he slept in the Lord at the age of 88.  He originally hailed from Kaduthurthy parish of Pala diocese.

We were first introduced to Fr Zacharias, if I recall correctly, either in his presence or otherwise, by the late Fr Mathew Kaiparampil, our rector at St. Joseph's Study House, Meerut.  It was with that narration of his close encounter with bullet fire in the village of Nayagaon, Nawada, Bijnor Dt., UP.  I think it was during his tenure there that the new experiment with Hindi Medium school started in Bijnor diocese, and the school grew to be a success story for positive social influence in the society. 

He was a distant figure, one of the pioneering missionaries of Bijnor diocese, lived a frugal and austere life - perhaps, austere with oneself and with others that on some occasion, one of our senior confreres remarked, I had the opportunity to live under Fr Zacharias and to live with Fr Tom Jos. I had occasional encounters with him while I was at the ashram in Rajarampur undergoing graduate studies.  At that time, he was the priest in charge of Chandpur mission station. One day, perhaps impressed by my cycling skills, he asked if I could purchase two bicycles and get them to Chandpur.  I readily agreed.  Got two bicycles (I forgot the brand, most likely, Hero) and got the permission from Fr Superior to take them to Chandpur. No one bothered to ask, how I would buy two bicycles and take them to Chandpur - almost 60 kilometres away. I purchased the bicycles, then took them both, riding one, while holding another with the right hand. It was a narrow road, and when buses and big vehicles passed by, it was not easy to stick to the tarmac patch. And holding the bicycle in one hand and riding the other bike for a long distance was not easy.  However, with a great show of perseverance, I did that for 35 odd kilometres, till Bijnor. Took a short break at Tera Nur, Bijnor, and with the help of the seminarians staying there got both bicycles on the bus top to Chandpur - around another 30 to 35 kms.  And Fr. Zacharias received me warmly and was happy for having complied with his request. 

My prolonged encounter with him was in 1989. After completing the second year of graduation, with much wavering regarding this way of life, I confided in my then-superior about my state of mind, and requested permission to leave the order after some consultations with trusted elders like Fr Jose Koluthara and Fr Mathias Mundadan. However, with the consent of his council, he had already torn my page off the book of CMI life - perhaps, there were some faults in me, which were never revealed to me in any manner. So when after the said consultations, both of them, and several others persuaded me to persevere and make an effort again, I conceded, and the Provincial, Fr Bassus was receptive to the decision - but was in for a shock for the high voltage negative response from the Superior of Bijnor region when he was briefed about my 'turn-around'.  He insisted that in that case he (me) is to be given a 'compulsory regency' and good old Fr Bassus related the same to me with great trepidation - but I was least bothered, and I responded that that was fine with me. And got ready for the compulsory regency in Bijnor.  Landed there one fine day, again to his great disillusionment - and he treated me like an untouchable, without saying as much, and in a couple of days, packed me off to Kalagarh, almost under military orders (theirs is to do or die and not to ask the reason why) - with no other word than till further notice - also indicating that I was not wanted there, and would have to go back to the province in Kochi. I received it with no questions asked, no eyebrow raised and feeling rather at ease and peace.  I thought, if I quit, better that I quit without completing college studies and then seek opportunities elsewhere - like civil service to top with. This very big interlude was to connect to the beloved Fr Zacharias. 

I guess, my being sent to Kalagarh mission station under Fr Zacharias was meant to be a penitentiary or reformatory. Being already rather insightful of Fr Zacharias' nature from the 'air', I think I was never my usual ebullient self, but a subdued person, however, with no pretences I trust. I took a cue from him as to what was to be done - whether prayer, farm or parish work, and had no occasion to see him ill at ease on account of me.  There were 2 younger seminarians for the diocese of Bijnor - Jose and Joseph - who were attending the higher secondary school at Bhikkawala - Kalagarh. It appeared to me that he was a little more strict or severe towards them.  

In the two-odd months of my stay under his supervision, I feel we got along well. I co-laboured with him in fetching litchi plants from Najibabad and planting them.  I was active with pastoral work in the parish church and in the villages 10 and 14 kilometers away. I also vaguely remember having donated blood for some cause there. 

Our food used to be very frugal and simple - usually roti or rice, with some daals.  Perhaps, we had a chicken curry once during my stay there. Some mornings, when the hens would have laid sufficient number of eggs for all four of us to get one each, there would be a rare, precious egg - and I remember him instructing us that the boiled egg could be mixed with the bengal gram curry or with upma to add taste to it. I tried that and liked it. But having an egg in a week was itself a treat. As per the prevailing culture and standards of priestly living in those days, we hardly had any meat or fish, and I never felt deprived because they were not there. 

After my days of 'house arrest' were over, I think Fr Superior sent him a message that I could be sent back, as my ticket to be packed off to Kochi was ready. With my days being counted, Fr Zacharias asked me what gift I desired - he suggested a shirt or pants or anything else of my choice - I had hardly any such desire or needs, and I politely but firmly refused.  He again insisted on my having something, and then, I seized the opportunity and said to him: if you are so insistent, please teach me to ride your scooter. Now this was indeed something I had desired.  Though there were several two-wheelers at the ashram, I was never asked to learn to ride one, or get equipped thus and obtain a license. I had several occasions when I had to ride the bicycle to drop off some guest priests as pillion riders at the bus stand more than kilometre away. Like King Herod who could not go back on his word, Fr Zacharias, now could not go back on his promise - next two or three days, he took me to the public grounds in Kalagarh, and gave some tips to ride his light blue bajaj scooter (perhaps 4-gear).  It was more about managing the gears than the balancing part.  By the end of the third day, with sessions lasting about half an hour each, I managed to get initiated into riding a two-wheeler. In those days, kickstarting a scooter was also a skill - as they usually didn't start off easily. Later on, in the next 8 or 10 months, on the basis of that initiation, I managed to get a licence proper, without having to undergo a driving school training or any bribe to anyone. 

Next year, as I served as a regent at the Bishop's house, and having had access to a new two-wheeler, Fr Zacharias shared his insight into saving fuel - by negotiating the curves (which were many) of the road by sticking to a straight line, rather than going by the curves!! He said that from Najibabad to Kotdwar you could thus save almost 2 kilometres of the 28 kilometre distance. 

I learnt that in the later years, he had a very different role to play - as a spiritual guide in the formation houses.  I trust that might have been formative for himself and beneficial for the young aspirants who responded to Christ's call to follow Him. But the last phase of his life was that of physical suffering, which I am given to understand that he bore with great fortitude. 

Our later meetings - casual and short, were always marked with warm and sincere mutual affection and goodwill. I am sorry to have had no occasion to sit with him and listen to him at length before his departure.  Though I did visit him in the ICU of Rajagiri on August 21st, and he did open his eyes and look at me, I could not find the warm smile of recognition on his face, and I was a little disappointed. In the prolonged illness and hospitalisation, I think he has suffered a great deal - may his sufferings be found as his sacrifice for world green peace, and harmony among peoples. Fr Zacharias comes out as a man of few words, ready to do God's bidding as revealed through the superiors, who lived his call to discipleship artlessly, with rectitude and in a very minimalist manner.  Beloved Father, May you be in eternal bliss! 

P.S. Nov. 1, 2024.  All Saints Day. Rajagiri, Kalamassery

What an ittefaaq! His family with young Fr Moorkattel of Pala diocese in the lead, was holding a commemoration on 41st day at the Provincial house chapel. Fortunately, I was there, and I wanted to take part. Now the contingent from Anugrahalayam (Bijnor Bhavan) ask me if I could share the gospel message during the mass. I gladly volunteered and proclaimed the gosple that was Fr Zacharias - vishuddh, vinamra and viswast. The obedient, silent, suffering servant of Yahweh! Definite to attain the promise of the Lord, 'and those who have done good shall rise again into life'... Eternal rest grant to him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on him. 

MODI-fying India - For an Abundance Beyond Captivating Captions

Past 10 years of Indian government under the leadership of Narendra Modi - NaMo nama:! 

I am no Modi-fan, but I have no doubt that he is a powerful and charismatic leader and has a great following in this country and internationally. 

If he wants, this is the best time to make India a leader for world peace - and, in the last two months, I did see some efforts in this direction, though I would add - better late than never. And, internally for the country, this could be the best time to heal India, while knitting India and while much India-boosting & bashing are going around - the right time to make strides towards the great aspiration of the land: 'सर्वेशां  स्वस्तिर  भवतु|  सरवेषां पूर्णम भवतु| सरवेषां शान्तिर्भवतु|  सरवेषां मंगलं भवतु|'  However, regret to say, this does not seem to be happening to my eyes. 

All the same, I have no choice but to confess that the Modi juggernaut has pushed a few slogans which can brighten the political imagination of the state - they are challenging and inspirational. 

To begin with was perhaps from the love for 'Made in India' to the thrust on 'Make in India' - involving innovation and investment in India leading to production for a huge receptive market. I feel together with that there was a stress on innovation eco-system and a concomitant skill-based education - skilling India. That has indeed become a thrust of basic and higher education - though the results are yet to be seen - as someone who has been in the system for almost 3 decades now - the thrust is more on papers and less on outcomes, as the system is still the same, operation modality is the same, not fit for these ideas imported from elsewhere with an effort to India-wash them. 

The initial phase also saw the campaign - ek bharat shresht bharat - One India, Great India or Noble India. This was meant to assert the unity-diversity aspects of being India, implying understanding of diverse cultures, recognizing and respecting them, and promoting healthy interactions between the cultures. This demands dialogue between regions, religions and languages - making it a great learning experience across age groups. 

There was a great emphasis on 'swacch bharat' capitalising on Gandhiji who was otherwise getting branded as a rashtra virodhi, at times, and definitely almost getting displaced as the father of the nation - (Now, if I were to narrate my experience in the North India, where recently, someone is forcibly entering the Principal's office while the father or parent is being asked to report with a ward appearing to be errant, and unabashedly claiming that 'it is not your Christian culture here' - here I am also her father, and he is also her father! Ham sab iske father hein! I don't know what to make of it - that perhaps to have many fathers is perhaps now becoming meritorious, and perhaps, father can be displaced or substituted).  I read the report this year that the 10-year campaign has tremendously increased sanitary hygiene, with sanitary toilets being accessible to a large number of people, leading to a drastic reduction in infant mortality on account of water-borne diseases like typhoid and dysentery.  It is a piece of good news to hear, but I am sceptical about it.  I have seen no improvement in our beautiful land becoming unhygienic and an eyesore thanks to the indiscriminate practices of waste generation and dumping - with hardly any management. The mountains of waste generated in the national capital stand as a symbol of the lack of political will to tackle this menace.  If half the effort in promoting cow vigilantes in North India were applied to the task of indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, there would have been a tremendous change on this front. It is yet to be taken up as a religious duty.  Though the slogan 'swacchata hi sewa hai' - Cleanliness itself is service - it is yet to catch the minds of people and their leaders. 

There was an accompanying 'namaami gange' - Ganga is dear to all of us in India, and a clean Ganga is our dream - however, my understanding is that with more than 20000 crores having been already spent,  and more than 20000 more allocated, Ganga is still maili!  Impacts, if any, are yet to be seen. 

All the same, it must be accepted that the citizens have been given the challenge to take up this as an ideal with the motto: 'swacchata hi sewa hai' (Cleanliness itself is service). 

A great assurance was given through the slogan 'Sab kaa saath, Sab kaa Vikaas' (In support of everyone, and Everyone's development).  However, other than the trickles down from massive profits up the economic pyramid, what has been the vikaas of the bahujan is yet to be assessed or highlighted.  With the third term, new thrusts are added rhymingly - sab kaa vishwaas, sab kaa prayas! I am fully in agreement with the challenge of 'everyone's efforts'.  That is a must. The developmental process has to begin with the individual citizen, with me.  Unfortunately, sab kaa vishwaas  - Does the prime minister desire it? Does he try to trust and believe in that 'sab'? His frenetic and frenzied utterances against communities of the nation (most likely Muslim), his total disregard for the suffering caused in Manipur, his silence towards the angry and open protests against sexual harassment of women athletes by those in the authority of sports belonging to his party, his self-projection with least shame as some avatar, and his explicit alliance with a particular religion while functioning in the capacity as the national leader of a secular democracy, his indifference towards the incarceration and denial of medical help for a venerable saadhu of the Christian religion on the basis of an unproven allegation of terrorist support etc. point to a contradiction - there appears to be a 'wrong number' (PK fame) as far as this attractive promise or challenge is concerned. 

Assimilating the thrust of sustainability through the global goals for 2030, the Prime Minister has given a new mantra LiFE -  Lifestyle for Environment - Mission. Here the personal lifestyle which is to reduce impact on the planet is promoted. I am really thrilled by this initiative - however, this has hardly reached anywhere but some elite circles - aam janta, aam vidyaarthi is se poornataya aparichit hain.  That notwithstanding, I would add it to the earlier slogan of 'sab ka prayaas' - this has to be sab ka prayaas, beginning with me - from non-littering, to refuse-reduce-reuse-recycle, further on to replace, restore and reconcile. It calls for both responsible consumption and responsible production (SDG 12).  Sad to say, this has yet to reach the primary levels of learning (schools)

In this series, would I place a captivating slogan of 'Fit India' - Swasth Bharat!  I consider this a first step towards India being also glorious in sporting events at the international level, at the Olympics as an indicator. But primarily, शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्म साधनम् |  A fitness culture is to be promoted, increasing stamina and immunity, focussing also personal and environmental hygiene. 

The attention and importance given to the fitness (holistic or integrated) tradition of India - Yoga (which itself means integration), is a unique contribution of PM Modi's government. The easiest and least expensive way in which one can maintain fitness - physical, mental and spiritual - is the ashtanga yoga, a great heritage of Bharat.  Having a holiday dedicated to it internationally is a great achievement.  Promotion of Yoga in the true sense would also imply the promotion of a non-violent, harmonious, peaceful, truthful, non-covetous, learning and faith-centred life.  Hope it does go beyond the practice of Asanas, Pranayamas and Surya Namaskar (that is a good start) but would be further promoted for a non-violent culture of right relationships with self, the Transcendent and other beings.  This goes very well with the global agenda of good health and well-being for all (SDG 3). 

There was 'beti bachao beti padhao' campaign - perhaps benefitting a few; however, apparently, there are increased instances of violence against women, and women are not yet safe in the land - this has to change.  Recognizing the vital role women play in the sustenance of a nation, and the difference between the genders in a society still guided by patriarchal values, it is important that  women are safe - that is an indicator of general well-being - that all are safe. And all those systemic elements that prevent women from achieving what they can in any field should be set aside. For that a primary requirement is safety, and education can definitely contribute to that. 

Jan Dhan is another attractive notion for financial inclusion of the marginalised, with zero balance accounts, an overdraft facility, and an accident and life insurance provision. It is said to have taken banking to the very many millions, and making the transfer of benefits directly (DBT) for the poor possible, with minimal filterings and losses for the citizens concerned. 

On the whole, on Mr Narendra Modi turning 74, and comfortably into 11th year of guiding our great nation, it appears to be acche din for India, and India appears shining - several drawbacks and contradictions notwithstanding. He celebrates his birthday as 'sewa diwas' - that is very noble. But I feel behattar din can be achieved, and India can truly be the Vishwa guru among nations which he aspires it to be, leading peace initiatives, starting with a genuine effort at the inclusion of the smaller communities in number and power, that the ancient aspiration of the land - sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramaya, sarve bhadrani pashyantu, ma kashcit dukh bhaag bhavet - be realised in this our karma bhumi, making it truly a punya bhumi as he guides the nation into viksit bharat target 2047 through the acclaimed amrutkaal.  He pledges for a - competent, skilled, noble and divine India - saksham, samarth, bhavya, divya  bharat ki saugandh. 

I assume that either the Prime Minister himself is very imaginative, or he is having a very good team to generate ideas and render them in a captivating manner - after the Gandhian times of hind swaraj and satyagrah and bharat chodo, and the rare slogans of the later leaders like 'jai jawan jai kisan' or 'garibi hatao', it is the first time, people are given action-oriented ideas, also embodying some ideals. Hope they go beyond mere sloganeering to real change and lasting well-being!

Education as Transformation - Some Bennian insights

Being the provincial of a religious community having education as a key ministry or apostolate, one is bound to say something or other related to education on various occasions - some may get tired of the numerous occasions and may get into parroting cliched statements on education - transformation - being one among them. 

Our young provincial (young, compared to people like me!!), Rev Fr Benny CMI, himself an educator of religion (scriptural theology), is shaping his vision on the basis of the already articulated CMI vision of holistic education or integral formation. He claims it as a Chavara legacy, which being a theologian he is able to substantiate -usually established theologians have the uncanny knack of arguing out any proposition the way they want it to be, and substantiate it on the basis of scripture. 

Being a diligent observer and a perceptive poet, he is able to split and join words and to expand and extrapolate acronyms and abbreviations with new meanings. I would call them Bennian Educational Treatise (BET).  While he compares Shashi Tharoor as a wordsmith in the pattern of describing the various trades like ironsmiths, goldsmiths and blacksmiths, he himself has proven to be one, and more than that, a Wordsworth! 

The occasion is the decennial valedictory of Rajagiri Doha - the completion of 10 years of glorious partnership between Rajagiri Kochi and Al Kaabi Doha for an education that is value-based, global citizenship-oriented, stressing excellence - intellectual, aesthetic, humanitarian, and planet-friendly. September 21, the international day of peace is the Foundation Day of Rajagiri-Doha. We celebrate the 10 years with a new campus launched in the busy residential area of Mater Qadeem, and shifting grades 1 to IV with a state-of-the-art infrastructure, a swimming pool for training the kids, a full-fledged multi-purpose hall, a huge cafeteria and a semblance of greenery around. 

Our quest for excellence is concretized in the new campus and building implying the importance of adequate planned space for all-round formation. It is one of the few Indian schools in Qatar that has been able to comply with the Qatar state stipulations regarding the space requirements of a school.  We are grateful to God Almighty, the compassionate, and extremely merciful, and the source of all wisdom and truth, for guiding our paths in the past 10 years. We are also extremely grateful to Mr Mohammed Nazar Al Kaabi our Chairman, our Managing Director Mr George Jacob FCA and the management team, our former principals Mr Isaac Tharayil and Mr Sanjeev Kumar, our present Principal Mr Joshy Abraham and the VP Mr R.K. Radhakrishnan and teaching and admin staff, and our parents and the students. 

According to him, the Chavara legacy of education is about triple I to replace the I-problem (note: not eye-problem), that is disseminated through modern social media. I-problem is typically represented by iPad, iPhone, I-pod and is usually expressed through a 'selfie' with SELF projected disproportionately. Very often it also leads to the eye problem of perception, where only I is seen and the other is not seen, or even when seen, is easily disregarded. It may also lead to the status of an 'eye-for-an-eye', instead of peace and harmony, oftening a fruit of letting go of the I (the ego). 

Though, in our Malayalam I-O (spelt ayyo is an exclamation of fear, displeasure or shock), in Bennian terms, it is, in fact, the transformative education process of moving from I (self) to O (other), so that all be well (sarvesham swasthir bhavatu). And in management terms, it is very much the 'good business' where the 'I' is skipped, and the 'U' is projected as 'i', and in democratic terms, it becomes very 'parliamentary' (though rarely to be found) with 'i' remaining silent and what is voiced is always the concerns for Others. 

The first I in the Chavara Legacy of education is - Inclusion - amply shown by the humble but daringly humongous initiative to include Dalits in Sanskrit education by a Christian in the first half of the 19th century! Other initiatives include boarding for women, a religious order for women etc. 

The second I is Integration - which had been the CMI hallmark - of going beyond the intellectual domain to include the physical, the social, the emotional-relational, the physical and the spiritual - leading to the development of a WHOLE person (Holistic Development) or what NEP speaks about as 'well-rounded formation'.  While the CMIs make a claim to this, and maybe our system has made provisions for this to happen to some extent, I have felt that we are yet to make a conscientious, committed, and concerted effort in this direction - and often we have been obsessed by the so-called intellectual (to the neglect of the fascinating idea of multiple intelligence - Howard Gardner 1983) and the rest being more of a white or colour wash! 

The third I is Integral Liberation - as proclaimed by Jesus Christ in what is termed as his Nazareth Manifesto (Lk 4:16-21), with the claim of fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2 of making people free.  Jesus claimed that 'truth will make you free' (Jn 8:32).  Making truth available on the one hand and setting the learners on the path of searching for truth are the tasks of education which has been demonstrated by the ancient dictum 'vidya sa vimuktaye' - education is that which liberates. It should free the learner from the shackles of ignorance and slavery of untruths of divisive castes, creeds and isms, helping one to recognize oneself as a member of the earth family - vasudhaiva kutumbakam. 

In today's academic world of I to Z-quotients, these put together would form the R-Quotient or the Rajagiri Quotient.  Rajagiri, the Kochi unit of the world wide web of the CMIs comprising among many other things a network of almost 800 schools, 50 plus colleges (arts & science and professional), has under its own direct responsibility 16 schools, 1 special school and 5 colleges under its guidance and a legacy in the field dating from 1883.  In this AI era, its reach out to Doha truly implies AI - from Actually Indians to Arabic Indic interface to truly promoting Altruistic Internationalism based on our core value of promoting global citizens. 

Energy rediscovered as Character: Here Bennian redefinition of the Energy formula (E=MC²) becomes handy - He argues that the present formula of Efficiency = Manipulation x Chair.Career (C²) is to be replaced by Mindfulness x Commitment.Creativity (C²) leading to the new energy form of Character. 

With this heady mix, together with 45 minutes of non-stop Dance by the X graders and 30 minutes of non-stop music by the XII graders, I felt they ought to go MAD after this with adequate Academic stress to be sandwiched into their apparent natural passion for Music and Dance. I was comforted to see the X graders making a conscious effort to force in some of the core values that constitute the RQ - global outlook and peace as they danced madly. 

SALVATION IN THE CROSS - EXALTATION OF THE CROSS - Sep 14

Today, we are invited to the celebration of the feast of Exultation of the Cross by Holy Cross sisters, famous in India as Benziger sisters initially for their association with Benziger Hospital, Kollam. They are our friendly neighbour in Sitapur, running Bishop Charles Memorial (BCM) hospital.  The hospital, like all other Christian institutions of Sitapur, was built and handed over to them by the late Fr Gerard OFM Cap. They also run a nursing school and a regular school as well in Khairabad of Sitapur.  The CMI fathers in Naipalapur and the HC sisters of Khairabad have a very friendly and mutually supportive fraternal relationship.

Today, Fr Clive, the chaplain had invited me to be the main celebrant for the festal mass. It was some 2 weeks ago that he had thus asked, and without thinking much, I had okayed. It was only much later that I realized it was going to be their titular feast and all the priests of our Sitapur parish (spread around 900 sq km and having some 40 families) would be present.  In spite of being conversant with the Latin rite liturgy, I am yet to learn to intone the prayers on a solemn occasion and do the ritual incense properly.

The Holy Cross sisters numbering around 100 from four neighbouring convents are mostly Malayalees. There are a few from the North East and Jharkhand as well. The congregation had its origin in Menzingen, Switzerland in 1844 with the inspired leadership of Fr Theodosius Florentini and Mothere Bernarda. The sisters were invited by the Maharaja of Thiruvatancore (Travancore) to assist at the medical facilities of the state. They established a centre at Kollam and grew fast, leading to branches being established in the North of India, forming itself into a province.  Their motto is: In the Cross is Salvation – In Cruce Salus.

The feast of the exaltation of the cross is said to be about the discovery of the original cross of Christ by St Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.  She embraced Christianity on account of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity.  It is said that in 312 AD Constantine, leading one of the regions of the Roman empire, inherited from his father Constantius, got a revelation in his campaign to spread his hold against the prominent rival Maxentius  – a cross of light in the sky with a Greek caption – ‘τούτω νικι’ (Touto Niki - In this Conquer) – this got famous in the later days as ‘You shall have victory in this sign’.  A related narrative is about a Greek sign of ‘Chi Rho’ (representing the first two letters of Christos - X and P - in Greek) appearing to him. His historian Lactantius is said to have been the interpreter of the sign for him, and it is said that Constantine was victorious (though not clear as to which battle - thought to be of Milvian bridge) and in 313 through the edict of Milan Christianity was made the religion of the state – from a persecuted religion to a state religion.  St Helena is said to have made a pilgrimage or tour to Palestine in AD 326 and is said to have discovered the Cross.  A church was built at the spot by Constantine named as the church of Holy Sepulchre.  Whether becoming a state religion was really good for the spirit of Christianity etc are relevant questions – did the triumph lead to the triumphalism of the Church? Did the sign of the cross get transformed into the handle of a conquering sword? However, as simple believers, we could only say that in God’s plan, this had come to be – with untold benefits to humanity as well as several acts of omissions and commissions that could never be justified according to the spirit of Jesus Christ.  

The readings today are inspirational  - We find in the gospel according to John (3:16 ff) Jesus’ prediction or promise of being raised like the serpent raised by Moses (Numbers 21:4-9) – to heal the wounded humanity, and to be raised (upon what is not clear) as a sacrificial victim for the salvation of the world – indicating God’s care for the world for which, in human analogy, he is willing to give up even his only son!  The reference to the healing serpent in the desert cannot be missed. Those who looked at the serpent got healed (I am still not able to grasp why this measure was introduced by God.  It almost appears like idolatry). However, here Jesus makes a remark which gets accomplished in his crucifixion for his bold critical stand for a just, humane and rational society – placing the traditions in the right perspective – that all this should be guided by the principle of overall well-being. His meek submission without resistance and bold embracing of cruel death, have set a path for humans the world over for confronting the reality and the mystery of suffering – submit, resist not and accept the unavoidable sufferings of life as part of the broader plan of a caring God, the loving father of all.  The inspiration is to look up to Jesus on the cross, and learn the lessons of life from him, draw grace and strength from his life, to be healed. And millions to this day have found that.

In the Syro Malabar Church, this season centred around this feast is termed the season of ‘Elijah-Sliba-Moses’. It begins remembering Jesus’ transfiguration at Mount Tabor, where Moses and Elijah are found talking to him.  He is presented as the fulfilment of the law (represented by Moses) and the prophecies (represented by Elijah) – the transfiguration experience there is replicated with the cross. The sign of ignominy and suffering is made into a sign of salvation and glory. And the Sliba (Aramaic for Cross) without the crucified body is seen as the symbol of Christ triumphing over death fulfilling law and the prophecies.  Today, the challenge before every Christian is to be agents thus transforming our life situations and our daily crosses into joyful acceptance of the will of God, and persistent proclamation of God’s reign of justice, peace and joy.

The letter to Philippians (2:6 ff) clearly demonstrates the means Jesus employed to attain the glory of the children of God – of submission, of giving up self, even not considering his equality with God as the son of God to be held on to.  This is the Christian challenge to ‘let go’ our petty interests, rivalries and hurts; refusing to be resentful and be Christ-like in our relationships.

It is interesting to note that in our local tradition, we usually start our day with the solemn sign of the cross.  We bless ourselves with the sign four times – on the forehead – signifying our thoughts; on the lips – signifying our words; on the chest – signifying our emotions; and on the arms – signifying our actions. The spirit of the cross should permeate our thoughts, words, emotions and actions so that we are able to surrender our ego and thus triumph over our own selves. We pray, 'Through the sign of the Cross, deliver us from our enemies'.  Are we to seek deliverance from people who hate us, or people whom we hate or dislike? Rather, the deliverance Cross should give us is from those enemies that create enemies - vanity, selfishness, wickedness, manipulation, hatred, impurity, and jealousy (Koosappa prayer of Syro Malabar Liturgy before the 2nd Gehanta prayer).  After the passion commemoration at the consecration, the third Gehanta continues enumerating the gifts of the crucified Christ - one among them being 'the destruction of our enemies' - which should imply the destruction of the causes of enmity, namely the vices aforementioned. 

One way of interpreting the Cross is the triangular relationality the human beings find themselves in - the Cross is the symbol of right relationships - (i) rooted and planted on earth and in this world which God loves - caring for it as its stewards (Gen 2:15), especially against the looming threat of climate change & global warming, (ii) reaching out to people and other beings in mutually enriching love,  and (iii) lifting our hearts and minds to God, who transcends all our limitations. 

Christian call is to be a sign of the Cross - self-suffering to eliminate suffering and hatred and establish peace!

Three songs come to my lips today: 

(i) We hail thee, Saviour and Lord, Thy Cross ever be adored. 

(ii) Deep within us, shared among us/ May we ever give/ The Mind and heart of Jesus Christ.

(iii) जो क्रूज़ पे कुर्बान है वो मेरा मसीहा है हर ज़ख्म जो सितम उसका है वो मेरे गुनाह का है 

Oh definitely, these days, in spite of all the threat of being a Christian in this belt looming large, still the feast is a celebration - we get together, and the religious and priests from the neighbourhood are there. The food is good. And several 'lives' have been sacrificed to celebrate the rood by its stewards. And the fellowship is joyous. 

May our routine lives be marked by the sign of the cross spreading hope and happiness around, even though we have to let go our possessions, our egos, our time and our energy.