Veez Konkani Global Illustrated Konkani Weekly e-Magazine in - Kannada Script.

Mangaluru:First Professionof Apostolic

CarmelNovices HeldatMaryhill

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Mangaluru, Jan 21: After a period of intense prayer, preparation, and discernment, twelve bold and beautiful brides of Christ, seal their

choiceoflifeintheirfirstprofession by setting aside the allurements of an attractive world on Saturday January21.

Thejubilationcommencedwiththe

solemnEucharisticcelebrationbyFr Daniel Veigas OP, the episcopal

vicar for religious of Mangalore diocesealongwiththeotherpriests

at Maryhill chapel. During the Eucharistic celebration, the novices

weregiventheirreligiousdress.The superior general of the Apostolic Carmel Sr Maria Nirmalini AC

received their vows. Fr Daniel in his homily encouraged the young sisters to remain faithful to Christ

and to become the evangelizing presenceinthesociety.

Further, the celebration continued in the auditorium with the felicitation and rejoice. The twelve celebritieswereaccordedagraceful welcome by the students at Mount Carmel Central School through the graceful welcome dance. The felicitation song by the junior novices had in its melody and heartwarminglyricswhichmadethe newly professed sisters rejoice over their choice. Superior general Sr

Maria Nimalini AC cut the cake alongwiththesisters.SrLathika AC compered the felicitation programme and as she introduced the 12 young brides to the gathering, superior general Sr Nirmalini felicitated them with a garland. In her message, Sr Nirmalini invited the newly professed sisters to recall their first call from time to time and encouragedthemtolivethiscalltill the end and to share the merciful love of Jesus to the least and the lost. The celebration magnified as the newly professed sisters partook in thefellowshipmealalongwiththeir familymembersandsisters.

Is GEM Culture the Victim of AcademicBaloney?

Part l: GEM Culture (previously discussed)

Part II:Indo-PortugueseLegacy

PhilomenaLawrence Gilbert Lawrence

Authors: Insights into Colonial Goa

PublishedbyAmazon/Kindle

Indo-Portuguese legacy in the OverseasTerritories(OT)iscurrently an educational hot topic for historians and sociologists. In their academic papers, the authors use terms such as lusophilia,

lusotropicalism, lusofonia, lusotopia, lusosphere, lusocentrism, and Portugalidade. These Portuguese terms were coined by BraziliansociologistGilbertoFreyre. There are no exact English equivalents for these words. However, some close approximations include endearment, kinship, affinity, friendliness, and goodwill between Portugalandtheruled.WhenFreyre vacationed in Goa in 1951, he described the native society as being "the best expression of Lusotropicalism emotional

attachment to the common Lusitanian heritage of feeling and culture." However, five years later, OrlandoRibeiro,whowasdeputized by Salazar in 1956, was shocked at the "near absence of Lusophile feelings" in Goan society. So much for foreign “experts” who visited Goa and whose work is so often quoted by current academics! Ribeiro failed to ask the Goan empregados (bureaucrats) the causesforthelackoflusophiliathat he perceived. Neither Ribeiro nor the empregados fully explain the reasonsforthelackoflusophilia. Comparingthe leveloflusophilia in other colonies in Africa, Asia, and Brazil, where the colonizer was the same, Ribeiro claimedthat the fault lay with the caste-sensitive Goans, who generally refused to marry the colonizers and be part of the empire’s miscegenation. Had he donehishomeworkafterarrivingin Goaorpriortowritinghisreport,he would have found his answer in Lisbonitself.Eventoday,academics like AB Xavier fail to seek an explanation for this disconnect, beyond reporting the near-absence

ofmiscegenationinthepriortwoor three centuries. It appears, then as now, anything perceived to be wrong with GEM and Indian societiesisblamedon“caste.”

Historians, sociologists, and students who read those textbooks traditionally credit the colonizer’s contributions to “Colonization and Conversion.” Intruth,itwas:

• Evangelization.

• ArtandArchitecture.

• Affluence.

• Emigration.

• Education. (Presented in Part lll)

• Creation of a Remittance Economy

• Development of roads, bridges,shipping,andrailroads.

• A broader outlook in life and openingthedoortoawiderworld.

• Western-style hospitals and medical schools built of brick and mortar.

• Improved farming techniques and the introduction of new plant species.

• Intermingling between people of different regions and various walksoflife.

Interestingly, when the royal palace inLisbonweighedtheprosandcons of colonization, it did not consider any of the above-mentioned items except perhaps for evangelization.

An entire chapter could be dedicated to exploring in depth eachcontribution.Spacelimitsusto concisely discuss only a few of the issues. Those interested in the healthcarefield,includingtheRoyal Hospital, an early institution, and Goa Medical School the first western medical school in Asia established in 1842 -- should read DoctorsfortheEmpire:TheMedical School of Goa and its Narratives by Cristina Bastos, as well as The Goa Medical School and its importance in the History of Portuguese Medicine by Dr. Jose Filipe Monteiro.

Evangelization

It is often claimed that da Gama sailed to India in 1497 in search of Spices and Souls. However, original documents suggest that the explorer’s purpose was to find Prester John (or his followers) and seek their help in evaluating Asian

spices as a trading commodity. Da Gama and his successors were navigators, whose knowledge of spices or trading or diplomacy was minimal. Without assistance, the Iberians would have been at the mercy of the Moors/Arabs who dominated the spice trade out of Asia and were expelled from the Iberian territories in Europe after a prolongedwarofindependence. The priests who accompanied the explorers and subsequent Carreira da Índia were responsible for serving the Iberian sailors and residents at the feitorias. The colonizer’s claim of “saving souls” was a feel-good moral message to would-be sailors as a way to avoid providingthemwithinformationon thehighrisksinvolvedinvoyagesto India during which a third of the sailorsandboatsperished.So,while some claimed (and historians report) the explorers came to India “in search of Spices and Souls,” the first recorded village baptism took place in 1558, six decades after the Portuguese arrived; while after 1498,theyeardaGamafirstarrived in India, convoy of 20-25 caravels

annually shipped boat loads of spicestoLisbon. FrancisXavierarrivedinGoain1542 butleftamerefourmonthslaterto carryouthismissionworkalongthe Fisheriescoastatthesoutherntipof India. Francis’ own catechism book waspublishedseveralyearsafterhe died; his major contribution was breaking the barriers wherever he preached, including in Goa, India, Malaysia, and Japan. His work from Africa to Japan – focused on caring for lepers, the sick, and the poor. He often performed menial tasks as acts of charity and without expecting any recompense. These humanitarian services were delivered and received without coercion or expectation of conversion to Christianity. In fact, Xavier’s writings do not mention any instances of conversion in Goa. Instead, his reports to the king provide information on the moral lapses and criminal irregularities of the colonizer, including their participation in land-grab programs, which forcefully displaced the natives. The king chose to ignore Francis’ messages

as all of his recommendations would have deterred Lusitanian pioneers and settlers from coming to the east. The colonizer’s purported intention to “save souls” (which writers like to repeat) was merely an unachieved claim. The professed goal of conversion was aimed at presenting the explorers’ riskyeffortsasbeingnobleinintent ratherthanmercenary.Thereligious arrivals were Renaissance-minded academics and linguists, who introducedthefirstprintingpressin Asia and set to work putting Indian languages to script, developing native grammars, and translating worksintoandfromSanskrit,Hindi, Marathi,Konkani,andPersian. Itisworthrepeatingthattheefforts of the colonizer’s soldiers to terrorize and displace natives, encourage eviction, and grab their landrancountertotheeffortsofthe priests and nuns whose purpose wastoservethenatives,spreadthe message of the gospel, as well as encourage self-worth, equality, and dignity. It was the Pope and the Jesuits, led by Francis Xavier (who arrived almost half a century after

da Gama did), who made evangelization a priority for the priests and nuns. Francis was so frustrated with the disruptive activitiesofthecolonizerthatheleft Goatocarryouthismissionarywork insouthernIndia,farawayfromany Iberianrule. The majority of priests and nuns who came to the east were talented but poor; their intention wastoescapeEurope’sReformation and Counter-Reformation chaos. The meeting of the GEMs and the newly arrived missionaries was lifeenhancing for both groups. Soon, these Europeans’ new goal evolved into making the theological concepts of spiritual joy into a physical reality. Their enthusiasm in serving Christ was contagious, which made them the very best bearersofthegospel. Someauthorsclaim,“Thecolonizers were on a mission to convert.” However, the white and mestizos resented the conversion of the natives, who would have the same benefitsasthecolonizers,including the right to receive land-grants, government jobs, other perks, as

wellasjointhepolice&military. By the end of the 17th century, the conquistadores (white and mestizo) lost their will to fight and became fidalgos. Goa was no longer a collection of fortified forts. Instead, the thriving Estado Português da Índia with 200,000 residents becamethecapitaloftheOT,which extended from Mozambique to Macau, and the metropolis with 75,000 was comparable to the leading cities of the world. The educated and articulate Bamons and Chardos now presented themselves as "the true resident, pure-blood nobles." With their own long family pedigree of civil servants for various rajas, they accusedthemestizosofbeing"sons of niggers and fishermen" and therefore unfit to hold government jobs. Regardless of whether the various groups were desirable or undesirable, all had “Actual and Aspirations of Equality" in government offices, as well as political, socio-economic, and religious authority. The differences that existed between the colonized and the colonizer were not

completely eliminated after the Assimilationist Policies were introduced, butthelinesseparating the two were constantly being successfullychallenged.

Someacademicsandwriterssuchas Dale Menezes conflate the terms religion, ethnicity, and nationality. Other scholars may in future also include race, tribal groups, caste andsub-caste,culture,andheritage, which will add to the confusion. Despite what some scholars claim, IndianheritagedidnotenterGoaas a counter to colonialism or conversion; it was part of the Goan way of life long before the Portuguese arrived, never left the overseas territories, and survived colonial rule. The priests and nuns provided education and healthcare as a means to uplift the people, especially the marginalized. Those interested in learning more about Christiancivicactivityinthestateof MaharashtrashouldreadMs.Kranti Farias’sexcellentpaperonthetopic.

In the view of some writers, Christianitycanbepracticedonlyin a Western milieu and must be confined to Whites. Additionally, according to these authors, Hinduism can only exist within an Indian context and is therefore limited to Asian believers. The anomaly is that many of these authorsmakesuchclaimswhilethey themselves live in a disconnected world. For example, TB Cunha, a western-educated Goan physician and freedom fighter, stated that he was proud to be Catholic but denounced his religion as a tool of theforeigner,onethatwasaimedat deprivingthenativesoftheirethnic culture. Some right-wing Hindu extremists decrythepresenceofChristiansand theirinstitutionsinIndia,whilethey or their relatives are educated in English and live comfortably in Europe,America,orAustralia,where theypracticetheirfaithandculture.

(Tobecontinued…….)

NewChapterforPope Francis

Two deaths in the Vatican within a spanoftendayshaverekindledthe debate on the future direction of papacy. Will Pope Francis provide clearleadershipinhandlingofchild sex abuses by catholic clergy with special focus on the prevalence of homosexual activities within the churchhierarchy.

The death of Pope Emeritus Benedict:

Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, who retiredon28February2013andled a life of prayer, studies and writing inanewlyrenovatedmonasterynot farfromthePapalPalacewithinthe CityStateofVaticandiedon31Dec 2022. His constant companion and personalsecretarywereArchbishop Georg Ganswein, the Prefect of the

Papal Household under Benedict, whom Francis did not retain in his service. Benedict was elected as successor to Pope John Paul II on 19 April 2005. During his papacy, Benedict advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularization of many Western countries. He taught the importance of both the Catholic Church and an understanding of God's redemptive love.. Benedict also revived several traditions, including the Tridentine Mass.. He strengthened the relationship between the Catholic Church and art, promoted the use of Latin and reintroduced traditional papal vestments, for which reason he was called "the pope of aesthetics". He was described as "the main intellectual force in the Church" sincethemid-1980s.

Benedict's handlingof sexualabuse cases within the Catholic Church

and opposition to usage of condoms in areas of high HIV transmission led to substantial criticismfrompublichealthofficials, anti-AIDS activists, and victim's rightsorganizations. Benedict’s relations with Islam were strained at times. Because he was known as a doctrinal purist and orthodox in outlook, one of his speeches titled “Faith, Reason and the University” delivered at a German University in 2006 drew protests and widely publicized criticismbyIslamicnationsandtheir religious leaderships. Radical islamists accused him of "insulting and misrepresenting Islam” and calledforanunconditionalapology. Muslims were particularly offended bya quote in his speech:“Show me just what Muhammed brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such ashiscommandtospreadbysword thefaithhepreached”.

holy war and the relationship between faith and reason did not improvehisimageasahard-liner.

Benedict’s predecessor Pope John Paul II was, and successor Pope Francis is very skilled in global diplomacy and hence avoided politicalcontroversies.Benedictwas brutally outspoken and blunt in airing theological arguments and historical views on evolution of religions. He is the pope more sinnedagainstthansinned. In that context, most Vatican observers, including myself, thought that the passing of Benedict will free Francis of the insider opposition from the conservative wing of the Catholic Church Hierarchy. That is so because Benedict symbolized orthodoxy in doctrine and dogma whereas Francis is seen as a liberal andreformist. Butthatisnottobe!

ClarificationsthatBenedicthadonly referred to the views of Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus, on such issues as forced conversion,

Opposition toPopeFrancis:

In March 2022, Sandro Magister, a journalistwhorunshisVaticanblog

Settimo Cielo, had published a scalding insider critique of Pope Francis’s pontificate. It touched on everything from moral to financial issues and ended with an appeal about the kind of pope that should emerge from the next conclave: in short, somebody the opposite of Francis. The journalist had said at that time that a very senior Vatican official had invited him for a confidential meeting and handed him a seven-page memo which he hadfaithfullyreproducedverbatim.

On 10 Jan 2023, Australian prelate CardinalGeorgePellpassedawayin Romewherehehadgonetoattend Benedict’s funeral. After his death, Magisterrevealedtheidentityofthe author of the “anti-pope Francis” memo:CardinalGerogePell. “The Successor of St. Peter is the rock on which the Church is built, a

major source and cause of worldwide unity. Historically, the PopeandtheChurchofRomehave a unique role in preserving the apostolic tradition, the rule of faith, in ensuring that the Churches continue to teach what Christ and the apostles taught. Previously it was: Roma locuta. Causa finita est. Todayitis:Romaloquitur.Confusio augetur.” (Before Francis, Rome spoke. Matter settled. Under Francis, Rome ponders. Confusion spreads!) Thus summarized Pell’s memo, accusing Francis of sowing confusion among the faithful Catholics.

Cardinal Pell, as former Archbishop of Melbourne, and Sydney in Australia was convicted of child sex abuse in 2017 (after he returned home from Rome, where he had served for 3 years as a very senior

Vatican official) and underwent rigorous solitary confinement for 404daysbeforetheStateofVictoria High Court overturned his conviction on grounds of lack of evidence. Through-out his ordeal, Francis had stood by him and therefore,itisironicthatheaccuses Francis of not taking a stand on moral issues. I quote from his memo.

Quote-1: The German synod speaks on homosexuality, women priests, communion for the divorced. The Papacyissilent.

Cardinal were to continue without Roman correction, this would represent another deeper breakdown of discipline, with few (any?) precedents in history. The Congregation for the Doctrine of theFaithmustactandspeak.

The silence is emphasized when contrasted with the active persecution of the Traditionalists and the contemplative convents. (ThisisaccusationthatPopeFrancis acts only against traditionalists and not against his fellow-traveler liberals)

Quote-2:

Cardinal Hollerich (of Luxemburg) rejects the Christian teaching on sexuality.ThePapacyissilent.Thisis doubly significant because the Cardinal is explicitly heretical; he does not use code or hints. If the

The Christo-centricity of teaching is being weakened; Christ is being moved from the center. Sometimes Rome even seems to be confused about the importance of a strict monotheism, hinting at some wider concept of divinity, not quite pantheism, but like a Hindu panentheismvariant.

(A) Pachamama is idolatrous; perhapsitwasnotintendedassuch initially. (My Note: Pachamama is a goddess revered by Andes

indigenous peoples in Latin America,fromwhereFrancishails).

(B) The contemplative nuns are being persecuted and attempts are being made to change the teachingsofthecharismatics.

(C) The Christo-centric legacy of St.JohnPaulIIinfaithandmoralsis

under systematic attack. Many of the staff of the Roman Institute for the Family have been dismissed; most students have left. The Academy for Life is gravely damaged, for example, some members recently supported assisted suicide. The Pontifical Academies have members and visiting speakers who support abortion.

I would not reproduce the text of the seven-page memo, (widely available on the internet) in its entirety because of its length. It is intriguingthatPell,whowasmadea cardinal by Francis, and was appointed to head the newly createdSecretariatfortheEconomy with broad powers to oversee all

economic and administrative affairs of the Holy See- turned against his benefactor and boss. (As de jure FinanceMinisteroftheHolySee,he was the third powerful Vatican official after the Pope, and the SecretaryofState).

Goingfurther,CardinalPelldwellsat length on the likely debates in the new conclave tasked to elect the next pope. He advocates what a new pope should do: “The new pope must understand that the secret of Christian and Catholic vitality comes from fidelity to the teachings of Christ and Catholic practices. It does not come from adapting to the world or from money (Implied in this is criticism that Francis is deviating from Christian doctrine to appease the secularworld).

The first tasks of the new pope will be to restore normality, restore doctrinal clarity in faith and morals, restore a proper respect for the law andensurethatthefirstcriterionfor the nomination of bishops is acceptance of the apostolic

tradition. Theological expertise and learning are an advantage, not a hindrance for all bishops and especially archbishops. (Translation: The new pope must undo everything that Francis has done since2013)

CardinalPell,astaunchconservative grew increasingly disillusioned with the direction of Francis’ papacy, including its emphasis on inclusion and canvassing of the laity about thefutureofthechurch.Inhisview, Francis’ papacy is a “disaster” and “catastrophe” for the ecumenical church.

CardinalPellclearlypredictsthatthe papacyofFrancisisinitsfinalstages and soon a new conclave will be heldtoelectthenewpope.Afterthe publication of his memo by Magister, it was circulated to the college of Cardinals who will be

votersintheconclave.Theintentof Pell in anonymously writing such a criticalmemoistopromotedisunity among the members of church hierarchy and push Francis towards resignation. The passing of both Pope Emeritus Benedict, the shadow Pope and Cardinal Pell, the friend-cumdisciple turned whistle-blower and disruptor, opened a new chapter in the papacy of Francis. That and muchmore,inthenextissue. *****

(Philip

Mudartha)

Subject:SandeshaAwards 2023

About Sandesha: Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education,Mangalorestartedinthe year 1989 and was registered as a charitable institution in the year 1991.Itaimstobuilda value-based society and tries to foster harmony byencouraging and supportingthe art, culture, education, and folklore

related activities. It is also an educational institution which trains students at various levels in music, dance, art, and painting. It also conducts courses in journalism, media education, public speaking, and other similar courses. It organises workshops on drama, poetry, media, and other related subjects. It brings together people fromallwalksof life.

Sandesha Awards: ‘Sandesha Awards’programmeisanimportant annual feature of Sandesha Foundation. It is to appreciate and recognize outstanding and valuebased contributions made by various personalities through

Literature, Journalism, Arts, Education,Music,Media,andSocial Serviceetc. Sandesha Awards 2023: This year’s award programme will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 5.30pm at Sandesha Institute Grounds. Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza, the Bishop of Bellary and Chairman of the Institute will preside over the function. Dr. M Mohan Alva, Chairman, Alva’s EducationalInstitutions,Moodbidre will be the Chief Guest. Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of MangaloreandMostRev.Dr.Gerald Isaac Lobo, the Bishop of Udupi, Fr. Sudeep Paul, the Director of Sandesha, Mr. Roy Castelino and Rev. Fr. Ivan Pinto, the trustees of theInstituteshallbetheguests.

1951 in Betageri, Belagavi district, a teacher by profession. His writing

genres are varied, short stories, novels, critique, travelogue and editor. Collections of short stories likeOdaps,Pratimi,Desagati,Maiya Mukhas, Kana Kaduthava Kabbakki, etc,Novelslike Theru, Amritavahini, Gayra Samajuti, Vagavada, Ananda Kanda, Madhyastha etc. Travelogue of Unknown Mumbai. Dozens of editedworks. The language of his writing be it manly slang or village slang are beautiful. The fact that most of his works have won some kind of award, this award is a testimony to the solidity of his literary contribution. Among them, the most award-winning was his story collection, Maayiya Mukagalu. He haswonKarnatakaSahityaAkademi Award, Vardhamana Award, ChadurangaAward,Dr.BasuPatted Award, Vishwanath Varambally Awardandmanymoreawards.

To top it off, Raghavendra Patil's novel 'Theru' won the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Best Novel Award in 2003 and the Central Sahitya

Akademi Best Kannada Novel Award in 2005. ``Theru'' also attractedtheattentionof the youth as a textbook in the universities of MysoreandDharwad.Hewaseditor of the quarterly magazine ``Sahitya Samvad'' and the bimonthly magazine ``Samahita'' for a long time. It is special that both those newspapers have held literary dialogue at a high level and receivedrecognition.

Whatevertrendhetakesup,ithasa literary edge. President of Betageri Krishna Sharma Memorial Foundation in Belgaum, President of Sahitya Sambrama Samitiheldin Dharwad,TrusteeofMalladiOrphan Sevashram, Trustee of Girardi Govinda Raja Foundation of Dharwad, Founding Editor of Ananda Kanda Granthmale - such a prominent personality who has served literature in dozens of organizations.

Andrew L. D’Cunha: Active in Konkaniliteratureforover40years, AndrewL.D’Cunhaisrenownedasa

creative contemporary Konkani poet. More than 600 of his poems, three poetry collections, 30 short stories, 50 articles, columns for children and poetry lovers, on contemporary social issues have been published in various Konkani magazinesandwebsites. He has also served as a judge for several Konkani literary competitions.Hispoetrycollections have received Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Book Award, All India Konkani Writers' Association Award, Vimala V Pai World Konkani

Sahitya Puraskar, Dr. TMA Pai KonkaniSahityaPuraskar. Dr. K. Chinnappa Gowda: Dr. K. Chinnappa Gowda, former professor in the Kannada department of Mangalore University. He has written literature in Kannada as well as Tulu. He was born in a town called Kuduru in Vittla of Dakshina Kannada district. He has an MA in Kannada from Madras University. He obtained his Doctrate for his thesis Bhootaradane – Janapadiya Adhyana under the guidance of Dr. VivekRai.HehasservedasAssistant Professor in SDM College. Registrar

of Mangalore University, Professor in SVP Adhyana Samsthe, Head of the Department, Served as Dean of Arts Institute, Served as Vice Chancellor,KarnatakaFolklore UniversityHaveri. He is an expert in modern Kannada literature and folklore studies. Expertinfolklore,Tuluoraltradition and cultural studies. He has guided 13 PhD Students and 5 M Phil Students He did his Post Doctoral Fellowship in Finland, Japan Foundation Fellowship in Japan Chosen as Cultural Ambassador, Visiting ProfessorbyIndianCouncilofIndia toMaxmillansUniversity,Wurzburg, Germany. He has visited University of Turkey, Finland, University of Tübingen, Maxmillen's University of Uerzburg, Germany and Tsubochi Theater Museum, Wasada UniversityTokyo Japanas a Visiting Professor on Folklore and ComparativeReligions Chinnappa Gowda Bhutaradhane, a professor at the Kannada

Postgraduate Studies Center of Mangalore University, has been selected in the Department of Tulu Literature and Research and has authored more than 20 books, including some studies, Jalata, SankrutiSiri,Ratnamanasa.

Shivaji Ganeshan: Born in 1954 in Malavalli Taluk of Mandya District, Shivaji Ganeshan studied J ournalism at the University of Mysore.Whilestillastudent,hewas writing articles for Andolana and Panchamanewspapers,andin1978 he joined Prajavani Daily as a subeditor and reporter. Shivaji Ganeshan worked as a reporter in Hubli, Dharwad, Tumkur, and New Delhi for ten years from 1990 and retired there as a senior reporter at Prajavani's Bangalore headquarters. Since his retirement, he has been serving as the Head of Community Radio``RadioSiddhartha90.8''ofSri Siddhartha Education Institute, Tumkur for the past ten years. During the six years tenure as a reporter in Delhi he has observed

and written about the administrative and governance styles of P.V. Narasimha Rao, H.D. Deve Gowda, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During that period, he was also writing a column called ``Delhi Dinachari''. Heisfamousforwritingarticlesand columns in the newspaper along with reports on political analysis, currentaffairs,social issuesetc. The articles he was writing in Prajavani were published under the name S. Ganeshan. Shivaji Ganeshan was an expert in analyzing the political arenaofthestate.Asareflectionof his concern about the Dalit community,‘DalitLiteratureHistory’ and ‘Steps of Dalit Movement’ are written by him. Many organizations have honored his service. He has received many prestigious awards suchasAragam RamayyaMemorial Award, Karnataka Press Academy Award, Kempe Gowda Award, Press ClubAnnualAward. JoyceOzario:ShewasbornonNov. 26, 1952, at Jeppu, Mangalore. She

has been singing and winning contests in the last 60 years. She is considered as one of the Konkani's sweetest female voices. She has beensingingasaleadfemalesinger for Mandd Sobhann in all its shows and recordings, ever since its inceptionintheyear1986. For her immense contribution to Konkani music, has been decorated withthetitleof'KonkaniAbolem',in the year 2011, at the 3rd Konkani Global Music Awards. She is still active singing on stage and recordingsevenattheageof70. Dr. M. S. Murthy: Dr. M. S. Murthy was born in Bangalore in 1960. He found painting as a way of life for four decades. Murthy is an

internationally acclaimed artist. Whathebelievedtobethegreatest strength of his life was the simplicity, courtesy, restraint and love that he captured through the Buddha's light, his silence and his alms bowl. His ‘Buddhanemba Belaku’ artwork was awarded ``International Biennale'' by the Academy of Arts, Iran. Hampi University honoured him with a doctorate for his thesis Makkala ManasinaChitragalu. He has created one of the first novels in the art world called `Drishya' through pictures, which has also won an award from the

Karnataka Drama Book Authority. His works of art are included in the permanent collections of prestigious National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, Art Acre Museum in Kolkata, and many national and international museums.

EvenM.SMurthyhasmadeaname as a writer. His play ``Yashodhare malagiralilla'' has been translated into many languages. It is awarded Banuli National Award. Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for his essaycollection``Desinagu''.``Bowl'' isanovelcreatedundertheshadow of Buddha, has been released recently.

Dr. M. S. Murthy served as the President of the Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy and received many awards such as ``Varnashilpi Venkatappa Award'', ``Karnataka RajyotsavaAward'',``MysoreDasara Kala Award''. He has organized many international art exhibitions, hundreds of art camps at state and nationallevel.

KotiganahalliRamaiah:Hewasborn in Kotiganahalli in Hasan District in 1955.Whilehewearsmanyhatswe have singled him out for his role in foundingAADIMA an institutionthat experimentswith children's theatre, film, education, and social consciousness, and for proposing a distinct philosophy of learning. He has argued that existing learning disconnects a child, particularly from lowly communities, from his/her distinct culturalmooringsandthemeanings associated with them and makes him/her a plaything of modes of dominance. He seeks to rebuild

integrated community learning through resources and memories close to a child’s lifeworld such as Ragi, Bamboo etc. Over the last three decades he has developed a dozen street plays for children woven around ‘instinctive learning’ and‘survivalknowledge ofordinary people’. He has inspired other performativeactssuchastheBayalu theatre. AADIMA, the cultural centre operates from the picturesque boulder-filled landscape of Shatashrunga Konda inKolar.

His plays include Kaage Kannu Irve Bala, Nayi Thippa, Ratnapaksi, Kannaspatre Quenalli Jagadambe,Hakki Hadu, Vogatina Ranietc. Hehasalsowrittenaward winning scripts and dialogues for feature films, documentaries, educational films, and films associated with government programmes.

He was associated with Dalit Sangharsh Samiti for two decades and written extensively for Dalit-

Bandayajournals.Hehasworkedas a reporter in Lankesh Patrike , Mungaru, and Suddi Sangati and was editor of Panchama, a fortnightlyjournal. Hismanyawardsinclude Karnataka Sahitya Akademy Award (2012), Suvarna Ranga Samman, Kannada Sangha Kanthavara (2012), and KarnatakaRajyotsavaAward(2005) Prerana Resource Centre: Based in Bangalore,PreranaResourceCenter is a ray of hope in the midst of darkness for the destitute women, poor children, and disabled individuals. Set up in 1992, by the dedicated women of Goraguntepalya. "Prerana" spearheads the struggle for the welfareofthelessfortunatepeople. Smt.M.R.Prashantha.M.A.(Psy.)isa dedicated Social Worker during her exclusivevisittoruralparts,shewas movedbythepatheticconditionsof the disabled especially visually impaired teenage girls of the rural area.Herdeterminationtoupliftthe blind/disabled girls resulted in

establishment of 'PRERANA'

fortheBlind/Disabledteenagegirls. The main focus of "Prerana" has been the upliftment of neglected, disabled poor girls especially the blind, by training them, providing employment, and instilling confidenceinthemtoleadanormal cheerfullifeinspiteofthehandicap. Prerana is also involved in many activities for the upliftment of the local poor and also to bring about social and cultural awareness in them. PRERANA is providing FREE FOOD &SHELTERfor120teenageBLIND/

DISABLEDPOORORPHANgirls.The Important activities of Prerana are: Providing FREE HOSTEL for 120 Blind/ Disabled/ Downtrodden destitute women. Counseling service for Blind / Disabled. Providing Education for Blind / Disabled orphan girls from Interior village. Orientation and Mobility training. Home Management training. Providing Vocational Training like Garlands, Basket Making, Cover Making etc. Organizing Marriages of visually impaired/disabledgirls.Trainingin Industries & Placement. Providing aids and appliances / Referral services.

In recognition of her tireless work, the Government of India honored her with an award in 2001. The Government of Karnataka honored Shrimati Prashantha with the Rajyotsava Award. The Inspiration Resource Center has received several awards, the first of which was the Kittur Rani Chennamma Prasasti. Mrs. Prashantha's

daughter, Meghana Jois, gave up her job in a foreign company and was engaged in full-time motivational work. Presently the motivational institute has its own independentbuilding. Eight marriages between a blind manandablindwoman have been performed in the motivational shelter.Manyvolunteersarecoming forward and providing free service and financial assistance for motivation.Thecentralgovernment has honored Mrs. Meghana Jois witha specialawardin2015forher ability to take up the responsibility ofmother.

Sabiha Bhoomigowda: Sabiha Bhumi Gowda was born in Mysore. She has 25 years of teaching

experienceand10yearsofresearch experience. She has written many poemsandshortstoriesinKannada. In 1992, she was awarded PHD for her thesis on Origin, growth, and development of Short Stories in Dakshina Kannada. She was a professor in the Department of Kannada Studies, Mangalore University, and the director of the Shivram Karanta Peetha. She has served as member of Karnataka Sahitya Akademy, worked as Director of Centre for Women's Studies. He has served as the incharge head of Chikka Aluwara Postgraduate Center of Mangalore University, Kodagu, and ViceChancellor of Karnataka Women's University.

SomeofherMajorresearchprojects are Unmarried Women of South Kannada District - Socio-Cultural

Study' of Women's Studies Center of Mangalore University. Major Research Project of UGC - Feminist Thoughts in Developing Countries. Shealsoundertookaresearchstudy titled Movements and Struggles in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, and Udupi Districts in Kannada LanguageDevelopmentProject. Shehasservedasanofficebearerin various organizations; Coastal Writers and Readers Association, Mangalore as its President from 1998-2000. Kannada University, Hampi during 2002-2005- as a memberofitssenate.Asamember of the Women's Studies Center Advisory Committee of Mangalore University.

FrSudeep Paul Director,SandeshaFoundation

Mangaluru:‘Japan -A Travelogue’book

byFlorineRoche

MediaRelease

releasedonJan26

Mangaluru,Jan24: ‘TheLotusthat BloomedintheLandofRisingSun–Japan’, a travelogue in Konkani writtenbyFlorineRochereleasedon January 26 at 4 pm at the World Konkani Centre, Shaktinagar. The book was released by the

former President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Dr K. Jagadeesh Pai. NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael D’Souza wasthechiefguestandpresidentof World Konkani Centre CA Nandagopal Shenoy presided over thefunction.

Celebrating theRepublic@74!

At a Press Conference held in Delhi on 18 January, the Government spokesman said, “The Nation will celebrate its 74th Republic Day on January 26, 2023. The celebrations includethetraditionalmarchpastat Kartavya Path comprising a grand parade by the contingents of the ArmedForces&ParamilitaryForces; tableaux display by the States and Central Ministries/Departments; cultural performances by children; acrobaticmotorcycleridesandaflypast, besides Beating the Retreat ceremony. The Republic Day celebrations are going to be weeklong commencing on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of great

nationaliconNetajiSubhasChandra Boseandculminateon30thJanuary which is observed as Martyrs’ Day…Many new events are being organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations this year. These include Military Tattoo & Tribal dance festival; Veer Gatha 2.0; second edition of Vande Bharatam dance competition; performances of Military & Coast Guard bands at the National War Memorial; an AllIndia School Band Competition at the NWM; a Drone Show and projection mapping during Beating theRetreatceremony”.

This definitely needs to be applauded. There will be much pomp and pageantry at the grand

-

*Fr.Cedric PrakashSJ

parade; the muscle of India’s militarymightwillbedemonstrated with full spectacle. The Egyptian President will be the Chief Guest with a huge entourage at the flag hoisting ceremony and parade! During the day there will be the plethora of speeches everywhere; politician after politician will wax eloquent. Some may even claim (and many will believe their lies!) that India became a Republic only after 2014! Few will remember that on that first Republic Day: 26 January 1950, we the people of India, began to live by a visionary Constitution. The day (26 January) itself is very significant: it was chosenbyourfreedomfightersand the first Government of India, because on this day in 1930, the Indian National Congress revealed Purna Swaraj, the declaration of India’s independence from the colonial rule. Celebrating the Republic@ 74 is important and pregnantwithmeaning!

At the heart of Celebrating the Republic@ 74, is the Preamble of the Constitution, which

unequivocally states “we, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens: justice, social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all fraternity assuring thedignityoftheindividualandthe unityandintegrityofthenation”. A couple of months earlier, on 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly ‘adopted, enacted and gave to ourselves’ a visionary Constitution. Celebrating the Republic@ 74 is a painful reminder of the reality today. In February 2019, Justice DY Chandrachud (now Chief Justice of India), delivering the Justice K. T. Desai Memorial Lecture at the Bombay High Court on ‘Why Constitution Matters’, strongly said, “the people who work the constitution may go terribly wrong andsometimestheydoaswhenwe jailacartoonistforseditionorwhen

jail instead of bail is given to a blogger who is critical of our religious architecture. When a mob lynches a person for the food that she or he eats it is the constitution which is lynched. When we deny to human beings the power of lover for reasons of religion or caste it is the constitution which is made to weep. That is exactly what happened yesterday whena groom belonging to the Dalit community was asked to climb down from a horseinaweddingprocession.Let’s makenotwobonesaboutit.Itisthe constitution which weeps when we readofsuchincidents”

CelebratingtheRepublic@74isthe Supreme Court collegium challenging the government’s rejection of Advocate Saurabh Kirpal, as a Delhi High Court judge becauseheisgayandhasaforeign national as a partner. Kirpal is the son of former Chief Justice of India B.N. Kirpal; he has vast knowledge of commercial law and successfully helped fight a decade-long legal battle for LGBT rights, culminating in the apex court de-criminalising

gay sex between consenting adults in September 2018. The collegium says, “Decisions of the constitution benchofthiscourthaveestablished the constitutional position that every individual is entitled to maintain their own dignity and individuality, based on sexual orientation. about his orientation…In view of the constitutionally recognised rights which the candidate espouses, it wouldbemanifestlycontrarytothe constitutional principles laid down by the Supreme Court to reject his candidature on that ground. Shri Saurabh Kirpal possesses competence, integrity and intellect. His appointment will add value to the bench of Delhi High Court and provide inclusion and diversity. His conduct and behaviour have been aboveboard.”

CelebratingtheRepublic@74isthe courage to take on those who destroy the independence and the autonomous functioning of several Constitutional and other statutory bodies. The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI),theEnforcement

Directorate (ED) the National Investigating Agency (NIA) have become ‘caged parrots. The police kowtows to those who have rendered them spineless! All these agencies, together with the Income Tax Department, are systematically used (rather, abused) to throttle voices of dissent and anyone who stands up for truth and justice! The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is browbeaten to bend backwards to cater to the whims and fancies of a government that has sent the country into a downward economic spiral! Media, the fourth pillar of a vibrant democracy, has been made largely impotent, completely godified! Other important bodies, like the Information Commission, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and even the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) have been made toothless andfilledwithpliablehenchmen!

openingdayoftheWorldEconomic ForuminDavos,Switzerlandreveals thatthetotalnumberofbillionaires in India increased from 102 in 2020 to 166 billionaires in 2022.From 2012 to 2021, 40 percent of the wealth created in India has gone to just one percent of the population and only a mere 3 percent of the wealth has gone to the bottom 50 percent. The combined wealth of India’s100richesthastouched$660 billion (INR 54.12 lakh crore) – an amount that could fund the entire Union Budget for more than 18 months. Freedom of speech and expression is muzzled as never before. The Government has banned the people of India from watching a film by the BBC on the Gujarat Carnage 2002! Besides on several other global indicators the country has reached abysmal depths!

CelebratingtheRepublic@74isthe awareness that in our nation, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. Oxfam India’s report which was released on the

CelebratingtheRepublic@74isthe openness to internalise the passionate speech by Dr BR Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly (25 November 1949). He said, “If we wish to maintain

democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The firstthinginmyjudgementwemust do is to hold fast to constitutional methodsofachievingoursocialand economic objectives…. where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for (..) unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us. The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenanceofdemocracy,namely, not “to lay their liberties at the feet ofevenagreatman,ortotrusthim with power which enable him to subvert their institutions in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure roadtodegradationandtoeventual

dictatorship. The third thing we must do is not to be content with mere political democracy. We must make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it, social democracy.Wemustbedetermined to defend our independence with thelastdropofourblood!”

TheRepublic@74isaboveall,isthe courage of we the people to take a visibleandvocalstandtodayandto makeourConstitutionandallthatis enshrined in it – a reality for every singlecitizenofIndia!

23January2023

*(Fr Cedric Prakash SJ is a human right, reconciliation & peace activist/writer.

2 Gold medals with 3 National Records

With immense pleasure and privilege, I'm proud to announce that I have bagged 2 Gold medals with 3 National Records in the Equipped and Classic Master benchpress championship. And

became a Hatric BEST LIFTER and washonouredfirstfromKarnataka. And also, my beloved daughter Venizeia Annie Carlo bagged One Gold medal and made a junior National equipped Benchpress Record,totalweightlifted108.5Kg. InclassicNationalbenchpressevent she secured Silver medal held at Aurangabad from 16/01/2023 to 20/01/2023, Thus We, Father and daughter have become the proud

child of our Nation India and our native Mangalore by these meritoriousachievements.

We take this opportunity to thank Powerlifting India and Karnataka Powerlifting Federation for giving me and my daughter an opportunity to win plethora of medals. I also thank our Guru, An Ekalavyaawardwinner,HallofFame awardee , Also the President Mr. Sathish Kumar Kudroli ,An eminent personality in the field of powerlifting sports who is responsible for our excellent performance with plethora of medals.Wetakethisopportunityto thank all our generous donors

DNATests

without whose financial support we wouldn't have achieved these medals.Thankyousomuch.

I sincerely thank all our Excise department officers and staff for all the unstinting support and blessingstomeandmydaughter. Wealsothankallourdearmembers ofBalanjaneyagymandCarlo'sgym fortheirsupport.

I thank all my friends and well wishers for their unstinting support and blessings. I'm really overwhelmed.

Jai Hind.. Jai Karnataka.. Jai Mangaluru.

by VincentAugustineD'Souza

Ancestry and genealogy are fascinating subjects. Many people want to know their ancestry. Many

undergoDNAteststoconfirmwhat they know. Sometimes there are surpriseswithshockanddisbelief.

Testsshowthefatherisnota

biologicalfather. Husbandandwife are related as first cousins or some otherway.

One man at 73 found out he was conceived byartificial insemination. Hehadmanyhalf-siblings.

Kara Rubinstein Deyerin was raised as biracial. Her father Kenny was Black. Her mother Joey was White. Theyhadbeenmarriedfora few months. At 43 Kara had a test. It showed she was fully white. Half of DNA was Ashkenazi Jew. Joey had one night stand with a Jewish businessman. Two weeks later she had sex with Kenny and thoughtKarawasKenny’sdaughter.

Dani Shapiro thought her parents wereAshkenaziJew. HerfatherPaul Shapiro died when she was 23. Yearslatertestrevealedthather father was not Ashkenazi Jew. Paul Shapiro was not her biological father. She found her father was a retired physician and medical ethicist.

mother had an affair with wife’s uncle. Liane Kupferbeg Carter found she andherhusbandarethirdcousins.

One husband found out that his pregnantwifewashishalf-sister.

It is good if people have DNA tests before marriage. They can avoid marrying close relatives. Sperm or eggdonationscanresultinaperson having many half-siblings. Many times, doctors have used their sperm to make women pregnant without informing them. In one townadoctorhadimpregnated158 women.

In one case, the husband and wife found they were first cousins. They hada2-year-oldson.Thehusband’s

Sometimes there are mix-ups in fertility clinics. Mike Harvey and Jeanine had intrauterine inseminationatahospitalinOhioin 1991. Next year their daughter Jessica was born. Nearly 30 years later the DNA test revealed Mike was not Jessica’s father. When Jeanine was in the hospital another man was undergoing fertility treatment and his sperm was injectedintoJeanine’suterus.

Sarva Dharma Sangama' was Inaugurated

Survivor Ambassador addresses Human

Trafficking – A Training for First Responders in USA

Dr. Lara Wilken from Bowling Green State University invited world renowned ‘Survivor Ambassador’ Harold D’Souza to traintheStateHighwayPatrol,Fire Departments, Perkins Township DivisionofPolice,SanduskyPolice Officials and the Sheriff’s Departmentstoidentifyvictimsof Labor Trafficking in the United StatesofAmerica.

This empowering event was organized on Thursday January 19th, 2023 at Perkins Police DepartmentTownshipHall.

Dr. Lara Wilken shared; “Harold thank you for your kind words, it takes a community and a team to achieve the dream. On 19th we witnessed both. I was more gratefulthatitprovidedaplatform for Harold to be able to share his remarkable and inspiring journey with all of us. Every time we are

together, I learn something new and for that I am forever grateful to Harold D’Souza. Looking forwardtofutureeffortsinraising awareness on human trafficking withHarold”.

PresidentBidenhasproclaimed

January2023as“NationalHuman Trafficking Prevention Month,” reaffirming his Administration’s commitment to protect and empower survivors of all forms of human trafficking, to prosecute traffickers, and to bring an end to human trafficking in the United Statesandaroundtheworld.

Linda Majeska Powers, Legal Director from Dave Yost Ohio Attorney General’s Office attendedthe‘HumanTrafficking–ATrainingforFirstResponders’at Sandusky,Ohio.

Harold D’Souza, international inspirationalspeakerservesonthe ‘AdvisoryCouncil’ofCollaborative

toEndHumanTrafficking,basedat Cleveland,Ohio.

FormerOhioSenatorTeresaFedor presented at this forum. Today TeresaFedorisontheStateBoard ofEducation.

“It’s my dream project to start a ‘MaleShelterHome’intheUnited States of America” spoke Harold D’Souzatothepress.

If you or anyone you suspect is a victimoflaborexploitation,sexual abuse, or LGBTQ harassment in America dial: 1-888-373-7888, in Canada call: 1-833-900-1010 and inIndiadial:+91-79902-62632.

IndianAmericanHaroldHenry D’Souza native of Bajpe, Manguluru, India is the CoFounder of Eyes Open International a nonprofit organization based in the United States of America focused on preventionofhumantrafficking.