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Live-in-Relationship

Alvas of Pangla felicitates Sr Neeta Alva on her Golden Jubilee of Religious Commitment

“During this season, Pangla Parish has the occasion of Golden Jubilee of 3 elder sisters who have given tremendousservicetothechurchat large.Oneamongthem isSr.Neeta Alva of the Alva family from Hithlu. It is heartening to note that the extended family of Sr. Neeta has come together to honor her. I wish the very best in her mission” said Rev. Dr. Prakash Anil Castelino, Parish Priest of St John the Evengelist Church, Shankerpura –Pangla at the felicitation program held at the ancestral house of Alvas at Hithlu, Pangla on 21st December 2024.Onbehalfoftheparish,Fr.Dr. Anil Castelino honored Sr. Neeta withashawlandpresentedastatue ofStJohntheEvangelist.

Among the Catholic Christians of Coastal Karnataka Alvas are not in sizablenumbers buttheyare crème of society. Alvas are one of the pioneer families of Pangla Parish in Udupi diocese and district. Though Pangla Parish was established in 1922,Alvas along with D’Souza,

Martis, Castelino and Noronhas’ presencewas there in the present

Pangla Parish area under the then ShirvaParish.Itwassaidthatduring the 18th century Shirva parish was under the jurisdiction of Bishop of Goa, and Goan priests were the parish priests of Shirva parish. One of such priests brought Goan families in the year 1788 to Shirva Parishareaandmadethemtodwell in the area north to the present PanglaChurchbuilding.

Alvas presence in diversified fields:

Now, be it in politics, education, literature and in other fields Alvas’ presence can be noted and in the

religious field too their presence is felt. One such tall personality is Sr. NeetaAlva,71years,anunofMercy of the Holy Cross, congregation founded in Switzerland and rooted inIndiathroughHazaribagh(former Bihar andnowJharkhand) wayback inthelastquarterof19th century.Sr Neeta is a dedicated teacher who hasspentover50yearsofherlifein the education field, by teaching the younger generation and making them responsible citizens of the country. She is responsible for the establishment of educational institutions through her congregation, be it in Mira RoadMaharashtra, Bidi – Belgaum, Hassan and Neermarga in Karnataka.

Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Religious Profession of Sr. Neeta Alvaalongwith3othersistersofher batch -Sr. Sujata D’Sa, Sr. Cicily K. and Sr. Mary Jose, the senior sisters

of Mercy of the Holy Cross, (Hazaribagh), South Province, Bangalore who served the congregation and the society at large for 50 years, was held on 1st December 2024 at Holy Cross Institute and Convent, Kothanur Bangalore. Many Relatives of Sr. Neeta from Mangalore, Udupi, Mumbai and Bangalore have participated in the jubilee program ofBangalore.

Felicitation at Pangla:

The family of Sr. Neeta celebrated theeventattheirancestralhouseat Hithlu under Pangla Parish on 21st December in the presence of family – both immediate and extended, neighbors and well-wishers. The program was held at the yard of Nelson Alva, cousin of Sr. Neeta, who is an entrepreneur in Bahrain. Aunt Leena Alva, Renita Nelson Alva, Wilson and Wilma Alva, JulianaAlva and Herald D’Souza actively took the initiative for the successoftheevent.

The program commenced with a prayer service lead by Norin Alva Dias, the Gurkar of the ward. H. R. Alva, Entrepreneur and Columnist,

brother of Sr. Neeta welcomed the gathering andexplainedthe history ofAlvasinPanglaandHithlu.Helen Alva Mathias and Jacintha MendoncaAlva honouredSr.Neeta on behalf of the family by presenting a garland. Sr. Neeta cut thecake.

(Rtd)whowastheAssistantDirector

of All India Radio, Bangalore raised the toast by introducing Sr.

Concepta Fernandes Alva, IBPS

Neeta

and highlighting her achievements and services to the people in different states. A felicitation song wassungbythefamilymembers.Sr.

Neetareplied to the toast and thanked the family members for arranging a get together in her honor. Riyona Magdalene Alva, niece of Sr. Neeta proposed vote of thanks. Dr. Shalini Quadros, occupational therapist at KMC Manipal and a relative of Alva Family, compered the Jubilee Function.

withSr.Neetaandothertwosisters, was felicitated by Sr. Neeta during thisoccasion.

A portrait of Mrs. Magdalene Alva, the late grandmother of the Jubilarian was unveiled and handed over to Nelson, Wilson and Juliana Alva.

Sr. Sujatha D’Sa, companion of Sr. Neeta and the superior of Holy Cross convent, Neermarga, who also celebrated her Golden Jubilee

All arrangements like food, shamiyana, chairs, stage, backdrop and all other logistics were taken care of by Mr. Richard Alva, proprietorofPangalacaterersanda relativeoftheAlvaFamily.

About Sr.Neeta,theJubilarian:

Sr. Neeta Alva was born on 23rd October 1953 as the eldest child of Thomas Alva, who was a merchant navysailorandMariaCastelinoAlva (home maker) and baptized by nameJacinthaAlva.Hersiblingsare John Baptist Alva and Herald Reginald Alva (H. R. Alva). As their motherhadpassedawaywhenthey were small children, they were brought up by their grandmother Magdalene Alva. Jacintha (Sr. Neeta) did her elementary education at Little Flower Primary School, Higher Elementary at St. John’s Higher Primary School, Shankerpura, and High School at SVH High School, Innanje which is runbySodeMutt,Udupi.

Realizing her vocation she joined the Mercy of the Holy Cross, Hazaribagh in July 1969. As there is a Convent of the congregation at

Trasi(inKundapurTaluk)she was sentthereforstudiesanshedidher

Pre- university studies at S.V. Junior College, Gangolly. Further she did Teachers training studies at Capitanio Teachers Training Institute, Mangalore. Following her postulancy and Novitiate studies at Hazaribagh she was a teacher at Kallani Higher Primary School at Trasi for six years. During this period, she obtained a BA degree from Mysore University through Correspondence studies. She did Formators Course at Pune for 2 yaers. She was the Candidates Directress at Burdwan in Ranchi for sixmonths.ShetaughtatHolyCross High School, Ambikapur, Chattisghar. She was made Assistant Novis Directress for Holy Cross Novitiate in Hazaribagh for 3 years.

Sr. Neeta then served as the Superior of Holy Cross Convent, Neermarga, Mangalore for 3 years. During this period she studied for B.Ed. at St Ann’s B.Ed College, Mangalore. Then she served as the Supervisor of Holy Cross High School, Kalyan – Maharashtra for 6 years. During this period, she obtainedMaster’sDegreeinHistory from Bombay University attending evening classes at R.K.T. College, Ullasnagar.

Sr. Neeta founded Holy Cross School at Mira Road and served as Principal for 8 years. Then she was sent to Bidi, a remote village of Khanapur Taluk, Belgavi District where she served for 8 years and startedthe Holy Cross High School, which hasnow come to the College level. She was in Hassan for 3 years as the Principal of Holy Cross High School there. She served as the Superior of Holy Cross Institute, Kothanur, Bangalore for 3 years. During her stint at Neermarga, MangaloreasSuperiorshefounded the St Joseph’s High School and served as Headmistress for 3 years. Since 2018 Sr. Neeta is serving at ZalkiabackwardvillageinIndiTaluk of Bijapur District by starting a Conventthere.Shefoundedthe

Holy Cross Special School there for mentally challenged children. She serves as the headmistress of the school.

Sr. Neeta took her first religious vows in December 1974, and she celebrated the Golden Jubilee on

1st December 2024. Sr Neeta was also the Vice Provincial of Holy Cross South province, headquartered at Bangalore for 3 years.

Veez Illustrated Weekly CongratulatesSr.NeetaAlvaonthe Golden Jubilee of her Religious Commitment and prays to God Almighty for His continued blessingsonher.

- H.R.Alva

Jimmy Carter, the farmer, president and Nobel peace crusader, dies at age 100

PUBLISHED SUN, DEC 29

20244:21 PM EST UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Marty Steinberg@MARTYCNBC1

KEY POINTS

• Jimmy Carter rose from a Georgia farm to become president of the United States and a Nobel Prizewinning peace and human rights activist.

• Carter became the nation’s 39th president in 1977, defeating President Gerald Ford in the election more than two years after the Watergate scandal drove RichardNixonfromtheOvalOffice.

• He lived longer than any other U.S. president.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter holds up his Nobel Peace Prize Dec. 10, 2002, in Oslo,

Norway. During his acceptance speech, Carter urged others to workforpeace.

ArneKnudsen|GettyImagesNews |GettyImages

Jimmy Carter, the Georgia peanut farmerwhobecameaU.S.president and a Nobel Prize-winning activist for peace and human rights, has died.Hewas100.

Carter’s post-presidency had been widelyseenasmoresuccessfulthan histimeintheWhiteHouse,andhe calledit“moregratifying.”eveninto his 90s, crusading for human rights, writing books, building homes for the needy with his own hands, teaching Sunday school, and traveling the world in the pursuit of peace.

Carter graduated from the United States Naval Academy, participated in the Navy’s fledgling nuclear-

powered submarine program, and servedtwotermsasa Georgiastate senatorandoneasgovernorbefore hewaselectedtotheWhiteHouse.

He became the nation’s 39th president in 1977, defeating President Gerald Ford in the election more than two years after the Watergate scandal drove RichardNixonfromtheOvalOffice. Carterhadbeenonhospicecarefor morethanayear.

His family announced in February 2023 that he had enteredend-oflifecare inhishomeafteraseriesof hospital visits. His wife,Rosalynn, who had been diagnosed withdementiain early 2023, briefly entered hospice herself at age 96 beforedyingon Nov.19.

Carterturned 100in October, bringinganewfloodoftributesand accolades. His grandson Jason Carter said it was gratifying for Jimmy Carter to see a reassessment ofhispresidencyandlegacy.

After losing his reelection bid in 1980, he remained active in public issues,includingspeakingatage 95 insupportofJoeBidenatthevirtual Democratic National Convention in August 2020. Some commentators viewed him as the nation’s “most

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary with friends at Plains High School, within the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia,U.S.July 10,2021. MichaelA.Schwarz|TheCarterCe| Reuters

He wrote more than 40 books, including “Faith,” which he released when he was in his mid-90s. Days afterhis93rdbirthday,heofferedto go toNorth Koreaamid a nuclear crisis in an attempt to establish a permanent peace between PyongyangandWashington.Andat age 96, he denouncedRepublican effortsto restrict voter access in his homestate.

Carter lived longer than any other U.S. president, surpassing the late George H.W. Bush, who died in November 2018 at age 94. When Carter reached that milestone in

March 2019, Carter Center spokeswoman Deanna Congileo saidhewasstillactive.

“Both President and Mrs. Carter are determined to use their influence for as long as they can to make the world a better place,” Congileo said at the time. “Their tireless resolve and heart have helped to improve life for millions of the world’s poorestpeople.”

U.S. stock markets have historically closed for a day of mourning to honorthedeathofapresident.

Early life

JamesEarlCarterJr.wasbornOct.1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia the first U.S.presidentborninahospital.His father ran a general store and invested in farmland. His mother, knownas“MissLillian,”wasanurse.

Carter attended the U.S. Naval Academy. During one of his visits home from Annapolis, his younger sister Ruthset up a date with their neighbor and lifelong friend. Upon graduation in 1946 from the academy, he married that young woman, Eleanor Rosalynn Smith, when she was 18. (On July 7, 2023, the Carters celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary, marking a record-long marriage for a first

couple.)

Jimmy Carter on his peanut farm, Plains,Georgia,1976.

PhotoQuest|GettyImages

In the Navy, he served on submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets and attained the rank of lieutenant. He joined then-Capt. Hyman Rickover’s nuclear submarine development program. He did graduate work at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics and became senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew of the second nuclear submarine,theSeawolf.

After his father died in 1953, Carter resigned from the Navy and returnedtoGeorgia,takingoverthe familyfarmsandbecomingactivein local politics. He served in the Navy Reserveuntil1961.

A leaderofthe‘NewSouth’ Elected governor in 1971, he was consideredoneoftheleadersofthe “New South” — a progressive who

condemned racial segregation and inequality.

During his presidential campaign, he ran as an outsider, hoping to capitalize on the anti-Washington sentiment in the postVietnam/Watergateera.

“My name is Jimmy Carter, and I’m running for president,” a beaming Carter said in the opening of his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in July 1976.

Jimmy Carterin 1976.

HultonArchive|GettyImages

Heoffered to create jobsin a nasty economy with a 7.9% unemployment rate, and to set a squeaky-clean example as a bornagain Christian from outside the Beltway, unblemished by Washington’sscandals.

Ontheeveoftheelection,however, he gave an interview to Playboy magazine in which he made this shockingconfession:“I’velookedon

a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” Still, the man with the huge smile and genteel Georgia drawl handily won the Electoral College by 297-240 but received only 50.1% of the popular vote to Ford’s48%.

Once in office, Carter empowered his running mate, Walter Mondale, to transform the vice presidency intoapolicy-drivingoffice.

On the domestic front, in addition to stagflation and recession, Carter had to deal with the Love Canal ecological disaster in Niagara Falls, New York, which led to the creation oftheenvironmentalSuperfund.He alsoendedfederalpriceregulations for airlines, trucking and railroads; signed the bailout of Chrysler in 1979; and elevated the Department of Education into a separate Cabinet-levelagency.

Foreign policy successes

One of his biggest domestic problems was the festering energy crisis,whichstemmedfromtheArab oil embargo that began during the 1973 Middle East war. He termed the crisis “the moral equivalent of war.” In symbolic gestures, he wore a Mister Rogers-styled cardigan,

turneddowntheWhiteHouseheat, installed solar heating panels in the executive mansion, created the Department of Energy and pressed for tax incentives for installation of homeinsulation.

In international affairs, he campaigned for human rights, successfully concluded the Camp David peace accords between EgyptianPresidentAnwarSadatand Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, negotiated the return to Panama of the Canal Zone, established full diplomatic relations with communist China and reached anagreementontheSALTIInuclear armslimitationtreatywith Moscow.

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, right, addresses a gathering for the signing of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, left, and U.S. PresidentJimmyCarterwatch,on

the White House lawn, March 26, 1979.

Ya’akovSa’ar|GPO|GettyImages Then came the fateful end of the year 1979: The disastrous 444-day Iranian hostage standoff began in November, and the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in December, resulting in Carter’s call for a U.S. boycott of the1980MoscowOlympics.

Iran HostageCrisis

The seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by radical student followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on Nov. 4, 1979, and the subsequent siege made the Carter administrationseemimpotent.Even thefirstladyrecalledduringaCNBC interviewin2014thatsheurgedher husband to “do something, anything!”

Five months into the crisis, Carter ordered a military mission, OperationEagle Claw, to rescuethe American hostages. The mission endedinhumiliation:Intheprocess of aborting the plan because of operational difficulties, a U.S. helicopter crashed into a transport plane at the desert staging area, killingeightservicemen.

SecretaryofStateCyrusVance,who advocated diplomacy over force to

resolve the hostage crisis, resigned.

“I know this is a matter of principle with you, and I respect the reasons you have expressed to me,” Carter saidinahandwrittennotetoVance.

The crisis finally ended with the release of 52 Americans on Jan. 20, 1981, the day the man who ended Carter’s single-term presidency took the oath of office — Ronald Reagan. Before the 1980 election between Carter, Reagan and independent John Anderson, Sen. Ted Kennedy waged an unsuccessful challenge to the president for the Democratic nomination.

I could have wiped Iran off the map.

Jimmy Carter

In a 2014 interview with CNBC, Carter said he probably would have been easily reelected had he rescuedthehostages.

“It would have shown that I was strong and resolute and manly,” he said.“IcouldhavewipedIranoffthe mapwiththeweaponsthat we had. But in the process a lot of innocent people would have been killed, probably including the hostages. And so I stood up against all that advice, and then eventually all my

prayers were answered and all the hostagescamehomesafeandfree.”

In this 1979 photo, from right, President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Walter Mondale, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, on their way to meet about theIranHostageCrisis. Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Summing up the Carter presidency, formeraideStuartEizenstatwrotein a 2015 op-ed in The New York Times that the nation’s 39th president had numerous accomplishments.

“It is enormously frustrating for thoseofuswhoworkedcloselywith him in the White House to witness his presidency caricatured as a failure, and to see how he has been marginalized, even by his fellow Democrats,” Eizenstat wrote. “His defining characteristic was

confronting intractable problems regardlessof theirpoliticalcost.”

AftertheWhiteHouse

Carter remained active after he left Washington at age 56. He and Rosalynn volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, building affordable housing for the needy, and he established the Jimmy Carter Presidential LibraryandThe Carter Centerin Atlanta. Founded in 1982, the center has sent observers to monitor elections in more than three dozen countries. The center hasalsoledhealthefforts,including the push to eradicate the tropical parasitic Guinea worm disease. The center’s motto is “Waging peace. Fightingdisease.Buildinghope.”

“I still hope to outlive the last Guinea worm,” Carter told CNN in May 2018. (He came close. The Carter Center reported there were only13humancases in2023.)

Carter, who also taught at Emory University, traveled extensively to promote peace, human rights and economic progress. In one mission, PresidentBill Clinton secretly dispatched him to North Korea in 1994 to help mediate a nuclear dispute with dictator Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un’s grandfather. In 2002,

Carter received theNobel Peace Prizefor what the awards committee called “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic andsocialdevelopment.”

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and North Korean President Kim Il Sung meet in June 1994, just weeks before Kim’s death.

KoreanCentralNewsAgency|AP However, his actions were not always well-received. His efforts in his long campaign for peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors included the 2006 book “Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid,” which was perceived as antisemitic and biased against Israel. One sentenceprovokedanoutcry:

“Itisimperativethatthegeneral Arabcommunityandallsignificant Palestiniangroupsmakeitclearthat theywillendthesuicidebombings and other acts ofterrorism when internationallawsandtheultimate goalsoftheRoadmapforPeaceare acceptedbyIsrael.”

InaninterviewwithNPR,Carterwas askedaboutthepassage.

“That was a terribly worded sentence which implied, obviously in a ridiculous way, that I approved terrorism and terrorist acts against Israeli citizens,” he said. “The ‘when’ was obviously a crazy and stupid word. My publishers have been informed about that and have changed the sentence in all future editionsofthebook.”

(It became:“Itisimperativethatthe general Arab community and all significantPalestiniangroupsmake itclearthattheyrenounceallactsof violenceagainstinnocentcivilians andwillacceptinternationallaws, theArabpeaceproposalof2002, and the ultimate goals of the RoadmapforPeace.”)

In the 2014 CNBC interview, Carter said the Camp David Accords and other peacemaking stood among his greatest achievements as president.

“I kept our country at peace, which has happened very rarely since the Second World War, and I tried to work for peace between other people who were not directly related to the United States, like between Egypt and Israel. I normalized diplomatic relations with China, and I implemented a

very strong human rights commitment that brought about a change throughout Latin America, for instance, from totalitarian military dictatorships to democracies,” he said. “So I would say the promotion of peace and human rights were the two things thatI’m mostproud.”

Had he been elected to a second term, he told CNBC, “I could have implemented very firmly the peace agreement that I negotiated with Israel and its neighbors that was neverfullyimplemented.”

“I’d like to be remembered as a champion of peace and human rights. Those are the two things I’ve foundas a kindofguide formylife. I’vedonethebestIcouldwiththose, notalwayssuccessful,ofcourse,”he told CNBC. “I would hope the American people would see that I tried to do what was best for our countryevery dayIwasinoffice.”

A portrait of President Jimmy

Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter and their extended family. Left to right: daughter-in-law Judy, the wife of Jack Carter; grandsonJasonJamesCarter;son Jack (John William Carter); daughter-in-law Annette, the wife of Jeff Carter; son Jeff (Donnel Jeffrey Carter); first lady Rosalynn Carter; daughter Amy Lynn Carter; President Jimmy Carter; daughter-in-law Caron Griffin Carter holding grandson JamesEarlCarterIV;andsonChip (James Earl CarterIII). Historical|CorbisHistorical|Getty Images

Survivors include sons John “Jack,” James“Chip,”andDonnel“Jeff”and daughter Amy. Jack ran unsuccessfullyfortheU.S.Senatein Nevada in 2006. Jack’s son Jason lost a bid for Georgia governor in 2014tothen-incumbentRepublican Nathan Deal. Carter’s brother Billy, whose antics stirred up unwanted attention during the Carter White Houseyears,diedin1988.

On Aug. 12, 2015, the former president revealed that he had melanoma and that surgery on his liver confirmed that it had metastasizedthereandtohisbrain.

A week after his cancer diagnosis announcement, Carter held a remarkably frank news conference at the Carter Center to discuss his prognosis and the prospect of facing death. “I’ve had a wonderful life, I’ve had thousands of friends, and I’ve had an exciting and adventurous and gratifying existence,”hetoldreporters.

Illustrating that peace of mind, the former president took this picture when he returned home from the newsconference:

After four months of treatment, including targeted radiation and immunotherapy,Carter announcedin early December 2015 that a subsequent brain scan showed no signs of the original cancerspotsandnonewones.Then inMarch2016,heannouncedheno longer needed regular cancer treatments.

Months later, in July, he addressed the Democratic National Conventionbyvideo,urgingpeople to vote forHillary ClintonoverDonaldTrump. And at an Atlanta Braves game in September 2015, the former first couple was caught on the “kiss cam.”

In 2019, at age 94, Carter fell in his home andbroke a hipwhen he was preparing to go turkey hunting. “President Carter said his main concern is that turkey season ends this week, and he has not reached hislimit,”the CarterCentersaid. He underwent hip replacement surgery but had to cancel plans to resume teaching Sunday school six daysaftertheaccident.

Later that year, just before a planned week at October 2019 Habitat for Humanity project in Tennessee, the 95-year-old Carter fell in his home while heading to church. Although he suffered a black eye and needed 14 stitches in hishead,Carterappeared400miles away at a concert that night in Nashville to support the project. Wielding a power drill and other building tools, he soon joined the volunteerconstructioncrews.

Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter attach

sidingtothefrontofaHabitatfor Humanity home being built June 10,2003,inLaGrange,Georgia. ErikS.Lesser|GettyImagesNews| GettyImages

Then, two weeks later, he fell in his houseandsufferedapelvicfracture. But in another two weeks, he was back at church, giving a lesson on the Book of Job and talking about facingdeathduringhis2015cancer treatment.

“Iobviously prayedabout it.I didn’t ask God to let me live, but I just asked God to give me a proper attitude toward death. And I found thatIwasabsolutelyandcompletely at ease with death. It didn’t really matter to me whether I died or lived,” Carter told the congregation of 400 people at Maranatha Baptist Church on Nov. 3, 2019, according tothechurch’sfeedonFacebook.“I havesincethattimebeenabsolutely confident that my Christian faith includescompleteconfidenceinlife afterdeath.”

During the Covid pandemic, the Carters decided not to travel to Biden’s inauguration, but weeks later,theywerefullyvaccinatedand wereback intheir usual seatsin the

front pew of Maranatha Baptist for Sundayservices.

″It’shardtoliveuntilyou’re 95years old,”Carter told People magazine days after reaching that milestone.

“Ithinkthebestexplanationforthat is to marry the best spouse: Someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you and keep you alive andinterestedinlife.”

US president George W. Bush (C) meets with president-elect BarackObama (2nd-L),former

presidents Bill Clinton (2nd-R), Jimmy Carter (R) and George HW Bush (L) in the Oval Office on January 7 , 2009 in Washington, DC(GettyImages)

—MicheleLuhnandLynnePate contributedtothisreport.

Goa pushed into a vortex of linguistic violence over Konkanilanguage row

By M.Rahman, Jan 15,1987

Christmaswasnotaseasonofgood cheer for Goa. The idyllic Union territorywaspushedintoavortexof linguisticviolenceasthe18-monthlong agitation to make Konkani the official language go out of hand. Eight people lost their lives, the first deathsbecauseoftheagitation.The army staged a flag march and 14 companies of the Central Reserve

Police Force plus men from the Gujarat police were rushed to the aid of the tiny (2,500-member) Goanpolice.

An uneasy calm prevails now, but theembersoftheagitationthreaten to further divide the normally peace-loving Goans. Goa's predominantly tourism-based economy (annual arrivals: 800,000) is threatened by destabilisation at the height of the holiday season. The trouble took place in the Catholic dominated south Goa. Warned a sombre Lt-Governor Gopal Singh: "The collapse of the Mandovi bridge physically divided Goa into north and south; with this language issue we are risking a similardivisiononculturallines."

charge: That Rane - who is suspected to be pro-Marathi - had mishandledtheissue.Infact,thesix and Rane have long been at odds, partlyonthelanguagequestionand partly because some among them aspiretoRane'spost.

Butevenastheviolencesubsided,a different kind of political battle broke out. The Goa Congress (I)which has 22 MLAs in the 33-strong Assembly - has long been split almost vertically on the language issue.Thisburstintotheopenwhen four out of five ministers in the cabinet accompanied by the PCC (I) andYouthCongress(I)chiefsflewto New Delhi to persuade Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to sack Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane. Their

ButRajivdidnotevenseethem.The four ministers - and their two allies - then submitted their resignation, oddly enough, to the party’s FFhigh command. Now the spectre of political instability has been added in Goa to the language divide. Bemoaned a government official: "Unless there is a quick political settlementwithbothsidesagreeing to a dialogue and compromise, the realignment of political forces largely on communal lines will tear Goaapart."

Last fortnight's violence was the worst since the agitation began. Matters came to a head when the Konkani Porjecho Avaz (KPA), an organisation of Konkani writers and intellectuals championing their language's cause, fixed December

19, the 25th anniversary of Goa's liberation, as the deadline for making Konkani the official language. It simultaneously announced a boycott of government organised festivities in connection with the silver jubilee and demanded Rane's resignation. Votaries of Konkani feel Rane was responsible for the last-minute abortion of an official bill introduced in July 1986, to make Konkanitheofficiallanguage.

A day before the anniversary celebrations, a rally organised by the KPA in Panaji went out of control with agitators stoning government buses. For the next week, life in south Goa came to a complete standstill. Tourists were stranded in hotels and Goa briefly resembled a ghost resort as hundreds of roadblocks paralysed public transport and disrupted train services. To the authorities it quickly became obvious that the KPA alone could not have masterminded the

violence. The hundreds of iron spikes used in roadblocks were elaborate affairs. But politicians of all parties, including Rane's own, have exploited the issue for their narrow interests. The KPA itself was formed with the blessings of prominentCongress(I)leaders.Two of the four ministers who rushed to Delhi - Luis Proto Barboza and Francisco Sardinha - and PCC (I) chief Sulochana Katkar have even addressed KPA rallies. The Goa Congress, a breakaway group from the Congress(I) headed by exminister Wilfred D'Souza, has long been suspected to be behind the KPA.

Konkani supporters in Panaji: Dangerous trends

Morethan95 percentGoans speak Konkani but among the literate, most Hindus read and write Marathi. Traders and temple priests use Marathi and Marathi-medium secondary schools are next only to English. The votaries of Marathi fear thatthedevelopmentofKonkani as awrittenlanguagewouldobliterate

the Marathi tradition.

ThecauseofMarathiischampioned by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), through the Marathi Rajyabhasha Pratasthapan Samiti. The MGP, which has eight MLAs, also wants Marathi to be accorded the status of an official language. Says MGP'S Khalap: "Marathi has taught Goans patriotism and is the only link with the country. If the Union Government gets cowed down by goondas there will be reprisals from the other side." He argues that English has already wiped-out Marathi medium secondary school education. Now, Konkani could do the same to Marathi medium primary schools which outnumber all others.

But votaries of Konkani feel that unless it is declared the official language, it will never find its feet. Konkaniwas consideredadialect of Marathi till 10 years ago when the Sahitya Akademi gave it the status ofawrittenlanguage.SaysPundalik Naik,convenoroftheKPA:"Konkani

is the language of Goans, whether Hindu or Catholic. How does one say mhojem xet bangarachem koshem dista (How golden is my land) in Marathi and yet convey the authentic feeling?" KPA leaders charge that efforts are on to engineer a Hindu-Catholic divide. Mercifullythisisstillnotworrisome.

The language conflict originated in July1985whenLuizinhoFaleiro,the lone MLA of the Goa Congress, moved a private member's bill seeking to make Konkani the sole official language. Faleiro's bill was a patent attempt to embarrass Rane, an old political foe. There was an immediate outcry from the MGP group and Faleiro's bill was defeated, after Rane, keen on postponing a decision on the sensitive issue, promised to introduceanofficiallanguagebillat "amoreappropriatetime".

But to Rane's chagrin two months later, his own party executive met and passed a resolution, with the backingofEduardoFaleiro,Minister

of State for External Affairs but then onlyanMP,supportingthedemand to make Konkani the sole official language.

A Panaji roadblock: Escalating violence

Last year, the pressures on the Congress(I) finally resulted in the introductionofanOfficialLanguage Bill in the Assembly's monsoon sessiontomake Konkanitheofficial language.Twopartyobserversfrom the high command flew down to ensure the legislature party's acceptance. However, eight party MLAs, including two from the Gujarati-speaking areas of Daman and Diu, later revolted. Had they joinedtheMGP,Rane'sGovernment would have fallen. But the session wasprorogued. Mostpoliticiansfeelthattheissueis

nowtootangledtobesolvedbythe Assembly.SaysanMLA:"NorthGoa (which is predominantly Hindu) will blow up if the bill is passed and the south if it is defeated." Many, like Gopal Singh, feel that the Centre could defuse the situation by granting the long-pending demand for statehood. The focus of political activity will then shift to the elections, which could become a referendum on the language issue. Besides, both Goa Congress and MGP leaders say they will respect theelectoralverdict.Butthedanger inthereferendumisthatapartfrom deepeningthereligiousandcultural divide, the next problem could be whether Konkani should have a Roman script or Devanagari. Opinion is divided on this on communallines.

Meanwhile, Goa's booming tourism industry is already under strain.

Nearly 100,000 tourists from the West come here. West German groups of about 250 every week, brought in by Condor Tours after trouble erupted in Sri Lanka, are

estimatedtospend$5millioninthe winterseason.Alreadylargeforeign travel agencies have doubts about Goa's famed calm. Warned Wilhelm Kraatz, resident manager of a tour agency: "If the trouble goes on we willprobablycalloffthetoursfor at leasttwoyears."RudyCamara,sales manager of the Majorda Beach Resort:"IfCondorpullsout,tourism

in Goa is doomed." If tourism declines because of the agitation, language will be no bar to distress. But no matter what the official language, all Goans will be equally hardhit.

Published By: AtMigration

PublishedOn:Jan15,1987

Sharina Alisha Mathias crowned

Miss South India 2024

Daijiworld Media Network –Udupi(TP)

Udupi, Jan 3: Sharina Alisha Mathias, a 20-year-old from Perampalli, Udupi, has achieved a

remarkable milestone by winning the prestigious Miss South India 2024title.

Theevent,hostedbyCLMModeling Agency, took place at Poornima RegencyinBengaluruonDecember 29, 2024. Sharina emerged victorious among 13 contestants, impressing the judges with her poise,confidence,andcharismatic personality.

Sharina, the daughter of Sunil and Anitha Mathias, is a final-year student at Poornaprajna College, Udupi. Her journey to the crown includes notable achievements, such as being crowned Miss Tulunad 2023 2nd runner-up and Miss Coastalwood 2023 1st runnerup.

The event celebrated beauty, grace, and talent, with contestants from across South India competing for

the coveted title. Sharina's impressive performance secured the top spot, bringing immense pridetoherhometown. Speaking about her victory, Sharina expressed gratitude to her family, friends, and mentors for their unwaveringsupportthroughouther journey.

Sharina’s achievement has brought pridetohercollegeandcommunity, solidifying her position as a rising star in the world of beauty and talent.

Welcome 2025

Anotherrotation aroundthe sun is done, andyou'restillholdingon We'rethe chosen ones,with anincompletemission yet toachieve Closingchapters ofthepastandopeningnewdoors intohereafter Anotherchance tothrowyour diceandspinthewheel

Gather your strengthfrom the struggles you faced Takeadeep breath andremindyourself that you'restillplaying Noteveryone has madeit withyou across thefinishline Intoa New Yearofhopes anddreams andvision toaspire

That

Stay Young

Forget the years that mark your face, (Photo: Google) Dreams and goals will set your pace. The heart that hopes are always young, Its song of courage yet unsung.

Age is just a passing tide, With dreams, your youth will always bide. Stand up strong, let passion soar, Life is waiting, there’s always more. Chase your dreams with all you might, For hope keeps you forever bright.

By: Stany Jovin Menezes – Muscat / Pangla

- Machcha, Milaar

EPISODE: 3

Thoughthisordealstartedin1993byVallieVaggaalone for justice, fairness and a realistic approacḧ in fostering literature of all Konkani speaking people with the Sahithya Akadem̧i, it gave him more strength when he became the President of Konkani Writers Forum which was formed and registered on May 22, 1996 with a membership of more than 60 Konkani writers of Karnataka origin, residing at home and abroad.

Immediately he wrote a letter to SA on 25.02.1998 stating the names of the Konkani writers and litterateurs to include in the Advisory Board to represent form Karnataka.

He also recommended the name of late Msgr. Alexander Dsouza for the post of Convenor or Member of Executive Board in his letter dated 03.05.1998.

I think no reply has been given by the President of SA for his above referred letter. Once again he wrote a letter to SA on 26.06.1999. For this letter too, no reply is received from SA and issue was buried without giving any solution to the grievances raised and solution recommended by Mr Vallie Vagga

becontinued……)

Points to Ponder, January 2025

Anatomy of Subprime Crisis

1. Origins

Governments, particularly the US, were veering round to having a more liberal environment in which the various economic entities, especially the multinationals and financial organizations, could operate unhindered. This was inevitable as technology had compressed space and time resulting in increased integration of economies across the globe. The resulting competitive pressures at the global level encouraged major importingandexportingeconomies of the world to adopt the ‘least common denominator’ as regards regulation and national restrictions. The irony, however, was that the multilateral organizations that were createdtosupportglobaltradeand finance, neither had the wherewithal, not even a clear mandate to regulate or oversee the major players in international commerceandfinance.

So,thevariouschecksandbalances thatwereputinplaceintheUS–the world’s major economy, after the depression of 1930swere over time either inadequate, diluted or repealed. Atypicalinstancewasthe repeal in 1999 of the Glass Stegall Act of 1993. In fact, now that the contours of the sub-prime crisis are more or less clear and we are still contending with someof the debris left in its wake, we can discern that in the ultimate analysis, the crises is the result of what may be called ‘regulatoryarbitrage’.Thisarbitrage is made up of a cocktail of securitization, search for low interest rates and funds flowing to less rigorously regulated entities such as merchant banks and their SPVs who with excessive leveraging and fractional reserves sought to maximizeprofits,albeitbyassuming higherrisks.

2.Anatomy

Subprime mortgages comprised loans that were issued with little or no down payment generally to households with low income and assets and often with troubled credit history. The subprime crisis was triggered by a dramatic rise in mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures in the US, with major adverse consequences for banks and financial markets around the globe. The nature and magnitude of the problem are indicated by the following developments and statistics.

(i) Defaults and foreclosures activity increased dramatically as easy initial terms expired, home prices failed to go up as anticipated and interest rates under adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM) were reset higher. In the US foreclosures accelerated in the late 2006 and triggered global financial crisis through 2007 and 2008. During 2007, nearly 1.3 million US housing properties were subject to

foreclosure activity, 79% higherthanin2006.

(ii) The value of US subprime mortgageswasestimatedat $ 1.3 trillion as of March 2007.

(iii) Low interest rates and the largeinflowofforeignfunds created easy credit conditions for several years. Household debt grew from $ 705 billion at the end of 1974 from 60% of disposable personal income to$7.4trillionbytheendof 2000 and finally to $ 14.5 trillion in mid2008, which was 134% of disposable personalincome.

(iv) Financial products called Mortgage-BackedSecurities (MBSs) and Collateralised Debt Obligations (CDOs) which derive their value from mortgage payments and housing prices, had enabled financial institutions and investors around the world to invest

in the US housing market. Major banks and financial institutions had borrowed and invested heavily in MBS and reported losses of approximately $ 435 billion asof17thJuly2008.

(v) Financial institutions, particularlymerchantbanks, were encouraged to lend to risky ventures, because of inadequate regulation and resultant fractional reserve regime. Investment banks were excessively leveraged. Lehman, for example, was leveraged 35 times which encouraged it to lend to high-risk ventures. Naturally, only a few of these risky ventures succeeded. Butthefactthat thesuccessfulonesincluded such iconic names as e-bay, Amazon and Google, postponed the day of reckoning for organizations that carried on such highrisklending.

The factors that caused the subprime crisis are many and complex. But there are a few practices and instruments that readily come to mind when one talksofthecrisis. Theyare

(i) Securitization (MBSs/CDOs)

(ii) Credit Derivatives (CDSs)

(iii) CarryTrade

(iv) Role of Rating Agencies.

(i).Securitization:

3. Practices & Instruments that PrecipitatedtheCrisis

The traditional loan/mortgage modelinvolvedabankoriginatinga loan to the borrower/homeowner and retaining the credit (default) risk. With the advent of securitization, the traditional model gave way to the ‘originate to distribute’modelinwhichthecredit risk is transferred (distributed) to investors through MBSs/CDOs. Securitizationcreatedasecondary –largely an Over the Counter (OTC)market for mortgages which meant that those issuing mortgages were no longer required to hold them to maturity. Finance companies and merchant banks often placed CDOs

they originated or purchased into off balance sheet entities called Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). Moving the debt off the balance sheet enabled financial institutions to circumvent capital adequacy requirements, thereby increasing profits but with increased levels of risk. Such off-balance sheet financing is sometimes referred to as a shadow banking system and is thinlyregulated.

CDOs explained LetusassumethatCompany‘A’has substantial receivables on its balance sheet. It is the originator of the loans. It chooses to float a subsidiary – a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – withnominal capital and sell these receivables (assets/loans) to the SPV. The SPV will issue tradable securities called Pass Through Certificates (PTCs) to fund the purchase. To create a market for these PTCs, also called Structured Obligations (SOs), they are rated by rating agencies. Typically, the originator here, Company A, would like the SOs to have the highest credit rating so that they can be sold easily by the

SPV. If the SOs do not qualify for suchhighratings,theratingagency may require the originator to bring about suitable ‘credit enhancements like placing a percentage of the receivables as cash margin with the SPV. For the investors the attraction of PTCs is that generally the return on PTCs is higher than similarly rated bonds. But PTCs are illiquid since there is hardly any active secondary market for them. Securitization can be further tweaked to arrive at a product called Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO), wherein a variety of receivables such as vehicle loans, credit card receivables, mortgage loansandevenfuturecashflowslike property rentals, can be bundled andsecuritizedseparately.Thus,the company has now created multiple layers of PTCs with varying ratings andcoupons.

For example, company ‘A’ has received in property loans with varyingrisksofdefault.Itcreatesan SPV with a pool of Rs500 crores, with an average after tax return of 10 per cent. The SPV could have threetranchesofinvestors.TheFirst category – called the first loss

tranche, comprises,say,Rs50 crores with coupon of 16 percent. Categorytwo-calledthesecondloss tranche, covers, say, Rs75 crores with 11 percent coupon. The third category – called the senior debt would cover 375 crores with 9 percentcoupon.Whatthismeansis thatthefirstRs50croresofbaddebt will be borne by the first category, thenextRs75croresofbaddebtsby the second category and bad debts beyond those amounts by third category.Thefirstlosstranchwhich is a typical high risk reward instrument is one that would generally find favour with hedge funds, while senior debt which provides low risk low reward could findfavourwithpensionfunds.

(ii). Credit Derivatives: Credit derivatives emerged during 199596 and over a short span of time have grown into a business estimated in 2008, to be about $45 trillion.Themassivegrowthincredit derivatives, as also news of banks andinsurancecompanieswritingoff billions of dollars’ worth of credit derivatives exposure provoked heightened interest in knowing these financial instruments. Credit

derivatives are generally traded over the counter (OTC) unlike the exchange traded derivatives in equities and bonds. Although there are many complex credit derivatives, the instrument that has become well known in the context of subprime crises is the Credit Default Swap (CDS) and it is best explainedthoughanexample.

- Bank A provides loans to several entities (possibly nonA grade i.e. subprime categories)Thesizeoftheloan bookissay,Rs500crores.

- Bank A wants to buy a cover against default on its loan portfolio which is called the CDS. HereBank ‘A’isregarded asaprotectionbuyer.

- A merchant banker or an insurance company provides such a risk cover for a fee/premium. The premium or cost of such a cover works out to say, 8 percent i.e. Rs 40 crores. Here the company providing protection is the protectionseller.

- After due diligence (may be with assistance from a rating agency) The protection seller

decides there is a 3 percent chance of default on an exposureofRs500crores.

- Protection sellers must makea provision of 12 crores, resultinginanestimatedprofit ofRs28crores.

- However,inaeuphoricgrowth environment marked by heightened competition, there could be more aggressive assumptions concerning default and the level of provisioning required, which couldbeprogressivelymarked down, thereby reducing the cost of CDS i.e. the protection againstdefault.

- The ease with which banks could sell the risk clearly fuelled increased lending to subprime entities.

- AIG reportedly sold $440 billion worth of CDSs, which ended up in losses far greater thanwereestimated.

While the above discussion regards CDSs, essentially as a hedging instrument, CDSs could be traded like any credit derivative, purely for speculative purposes. In fact, more than majority of the trades in CDS were not in the nature of hedges.

Further, it was possible to trade indicesofcreditderivativesonasset backedsecurities,likeABX.HE(index of certain home equity securitizations), CMBX (index of certain commercial mortgagebacked securitizations) and so on. Therewasalsotheideaoftranching in which it was possible to trade in tranches representing different risk levels as explained under the paragraph on CDOs above. The combination of tranching with indices which led to trades in tranches of indices opens doors for a wide range of strategies or views, totakeoncreditrisks.Traderscould trade on the generic risk of default inthepoolofnames,orcouldtrade on correlation in the pool, or the way the different tranches are expected to behave with a generic upside or downside movement in thecreditspreads,orthemovement ofthecreditcurveovertimeetc.

(iii) Carry Trade: It essentially means interest arbitrage between two currencies. It is a strategy in which an investor sells a certain currency with a relatively low interest rate and uses the funds to purchase a different currency

yielding a higher interest rate. The gains from such arbitrage can be multiplied depending on the leveragetheinvestorcanorchooses to use. In the context of financial meltdown during the subprime crisis, the yen carry trade deserves the greatest attention. This is becauseduringthepastdecadethe most popular form of carry trade has been a strategy to exploit, the gap between US and Japanese yields or deploy funds borrowed at next to nothing in yen by multinational financial institutions in emerging markets such as China andIndiaforsuperiorreturns.Japan was the world’s largest creditor and was the epicenter of carry trade bubble with its yield starved domestic investors having ploughed$6trillionoftheirsavings inoverseasassets. Butplentyofyen carry trade money had flowed into risky cyclical assets including emerging capital markets and subprime mortgages. With ongoingeconomicslowdown,these assets fell in value. As a result, speculatorsin themcut their losses, bailed out and repaid their yen debts. The flow back into yen boosted the yen’s exchange rate,

regardless of Bank of Japan’s desire to keep the yen cheap to help its exporters. A rising yen put remaining carry trade positions under further strain, as interest rate differentials are nullified by yen appreciation. This caused more liquidation of carry trade positions with concomitant yen inflow and consequent strengthening of yen, and so on in a vicious cycle. One estimate (by Global Money Trends) put yen carry trade at $ 5.9 trillion, with yen loans of another $ 1.2 trillion on top of it. In comparison Arabian oil wealth, or Chinese reserveslookedsmallat$1.5trillion and $ 1.9 trillion, respectively. The effect of unwinding of carry trade was felt in India as well, which saw massive outflow of over $ 14 billion ofFIIinvestments. Theliquiditythat drove up the capital markets till January 2008 became scarce and this drove the same markets down tounwarrantedlevels.

(iv). Role of Credit Rating

Agencies: Now that one has the luxury of hindsight, after events such as the corporate governance crisis,exemplifiedamongothers, by the Enron fiasco, followed by the

subprime crisis, the role of the rating agencies can be assessed morecritically. Thefirstobservation that one is inclined to make is that these agencies, despite their ostensible experience and professional acumen, seem to be getting wise after the event, when much of the damage is done or has been already underway. It was only aslateasQ32007andQ22008,that rating agencies lowered the credit ratings on $1.9 trillion of MBSs. Financial institutions felt that they hadtolowerthevalueoftheirMBSs and acquire additional capital to maintain capital ratios. Where this involved the sale of a new stock of shares, the value of the existing shares got reduced. Thus, ratings lowered the stock prices of many financial firms. The question then was, how do we evaluate the efficacy of these agencies. Does it call for some kind of super rating agencytoratetheseagencieswhich could be funded by regulators like the SEC or by a fund to be created by collecting a cess from the rating industry?Butinafreemarket,itwill be argued that the best way eventually to discipline the rating agencies is for the investors to

express their confidence in the products that these agencies rate. Butthisisalong-drawn-outprocess and as Keynes has said, ‘in the long runwearealldead’.

Empirical evidence suggests that high ratings encouraged investors to buy securities backed by the subprime mortgages, which helped finance the housing boom. The reliance on agency ratings and the way these securities were trenched, innovatively bundled and rated, led many investors to treat securitized products–somebasedonsubprime mortgages – as equivalent to high quality securities. This also led to lower provisioning by ‘protection sellers who sold MBSs/CDSs. When borrower level defaults and delinquencies increased dramatically it triggered off a chain reaction in which a host of financial institutions, some of them icons of free market financial world, collapsed like a house of cards, threatening the entire global financialsuperstructure.

The investment grade ratings to CDOsandMBSsbasedonsubprime mortgage loans were justified in

part because of risk reducing practices, including overcollateralization (pledging collateral more than debt issued), credit defaultinsurance and‘equity‘in the formofinvestorswillingtobearthe first losses. However, indications have emerged that some of those who were involved in rating subprime related securities knew at thetimethattheratingprocesswas faulty. Emails exchanged between employeesofratingagencies,dated before credit markets deteriorated and put in the public domain by US Congressional investigators, suggest that some rating agency employees suspected that lax standards for rating structured credit products would result in major problems. For example, one 2006 internal email from Standard & Poor’s stated that “rating agenciescontinuetocreateaneven bigger monster – the CDO market. Let’s hope we are all wealthy and retired by the time this house of cardsfalters. It is in this context that critics have alleged that the rating agencies sufferedfromconflictsofinterest,as theywerepaidbyinvestmentbanks

and other firms which organize and sell structured securities to investors.On11th June2008theSEC proposed rules designed to mitigate perceived conflicts of interest between rating agencies and issuers of structured securities. Since September 2007, i.e. after it receivedauthorityfromCongressto register and oversee Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs), SEC has rigorouslyapplieditsnew oversight to examine how credit ratings have beencreatedanddisseminated.The SEC proposed to bring out comprehensive rules to govern the conduct of rating agencies. For instance, credit rating agencies are required to make all their ratings and subsequent rating actions publicly available. Such data would berequiredtobeprovidedinaway that will facilitate comparisons of each credit rating agency’s performance.Sucharegulation,itis hoped, would provide a powerful check against providing ratings which are persistently overly optimistic, and further strengthen competition in the rating industry. But in the aftermath of subprime

crises, one had little else to rely on otherthanhope!

Norbert Shenoy

ArunanjaliSecurities

PoonamAnandNikethan, GroundFloor,8thcross, Gandhinagar,UrwaMangalore575003

PHONE : +918243552437

MOBILE :9019787658, 8095275933

In search of the Creator of The Universe

Dinkarray Mandaliya

DDM2024-12-26

First, we can see how the Universe is according to present scientific data.

Thanks to the gravitational pull of Earth, we remain on Earth and are

not thrown away although Earth rotates on its axis at a speed of about 1000 miles (1600 km) per hour,67,000miles(107,000km)per hourasEarthorbitsaroundtheSun, and 560,000 miles (792,000 km) per hourastheSunorbitsinthegalaxy.

Therearebillionsofgalaxieslikeour galaxy in the universe and our galaxy is moving away from other galaxies due to expansion of space. That speed is relative to the galaxy wearelookingat.

Although our earth consists of 98 elements, the material of the universethatwecanseeinGalaxies, and in stars like our sun, is mainly Hydrogen and Helium (98%). The dark matter in the universe that we cannot see is estimated to be 7590%, consisting of unknown materials/elements.

Using the 98 varieties of elements, our earth has made/created innumerable varieties of molecules and further the whole biological worldweseeontheearthincluding mankind.

Now we are coming back to our question about how the Universe was created and who created the Universe.

Scientists have some theory of “Big Bang”. This theory does not answer many questions and does not explain what caused the Big Bang and the initial conditions of the Universe before the Big Bang. So, this does not answer our

question. Or we can say that it is not possible to have a scientific answer.

To our surprise, this question was asked by writers of “Rig Veda” over 3000yearsago.RigVedaconcluded thatitisnotpossibletoknowabout howitwascreatedandwhocreated it.

The Rig Veda was translated from Sanskrit texts by many American and UK Indologists. Rig Veda contains philosophical elements, exploring concepts about the nature of reality and existence within its hymns, making it a blend of both religious and philosophical aspects. Hyman “Nasadiya Sukta” of Rig Veda delves into questions about creation and the nature of existence.

Nasadiya Sukta hymn being a fundamental question, its translation by various prominent authors is compared. Given below is by Wendy Doniger. She was the MirceaEliadeProfessorofHistoryof Religions at the University of Chicago since1978.

Nasadiya Sukta ("Not the nonexistent")

1Therewasneithernon-existence

nor existence then; there was neithertherealmofspacenorthe skywhichisbeyond.Whatstirred? Where?Inwhoseprotection?

2 There was neither death nor immortality then. There was no distinguishingsignofnightnorof day.Thatonebreathed,windless,by itsownimpulse.Otherthanthat therewasnothingbeyond.

3Darknesswashiddenbydarkness in the beginning: with no distinguishingsign.Thelifeforce thatwascoveredwithemptiness, thatonearosethroughthepowerof heat.

4Desirecameuponthatoneinthe beginning;thatwasthefirstseedof mind.Poetsseekingintheirheart with wisdom found the bond of existenceinnon-existence.

5Theircordwasextendedacross. Wastherebelow?Wasthereabove? Therewereseed-placers;therewere powers.Therewasimpulsebeneath; therewasgiving-forthabove.

6Whoreallyknows?Whowillhere proclaim it? Whence was it produced?Whenceisthiscreation? Thegodscameafterwards,withthe creationofthisuniverse.Whothen knowswhenceithasarisen?

7Whencethiscreationhasarisen perhapsitformeditself,orperhaps it did not the one who looks downonit,inthehighestheaven, onlyheknows orperhapshe doesnotknow.

WendyDonigeradmitstothehymn being "conceptually extremely provocative"andhowmuchtrouble it has caused both Indian and Western scholars. She means that thisisintentionalbythepoetofthe hymn: "In many ways, it is meant to puzzle and challenge, to raise unanswerable questions, to pile up paradoxes.”

So, what do we conclude? Is it possible to know how the Universe was created and the creator?

Year 2024 and 3L Mission

Fr.PratapNaik,SJ

Every year, every day, and every moment is unique in our lives. We cannot take for granted people and events which shape and mold our existence. We must thank God and people who collaborate, cooperate, support, care,andprayforus.

The year 2024 was really a year of graceto3LMissioninits50yearsof service to the least, lost students and their families. Instead of enumerating what we did in this year, we prefer to thank God for his infinite mercy, love, and protection to us. It is His Mission. We are his stewards and instruments in His hands. We cannot claim credit for the success. What we achieved was possible due to the grace of God and generous support of Friends of 3L who were like Cherubim, Seraphim, archangels, and angels throughoutthis year.Theywerethe backboneofthis mission,andsilent artisans worked selflessly behind the screen. May God bless and protect them. May their tribe increase in the coming New Year 2025. We also thank those who

supported us through their prayers andwishes.

On behalf of 3L students and their illiterate or semi-literate parents or guardians, I wish you and your family a Joyful New Year 2025. May God bless you with health and strength to live a dedicated meaningful life. May our bond of friendship and unity grow and flowlikeariver.

May our loving God grant eternal peace andrest tothosewho leftthisworldintheyear2024.May Hegivethestrengthandcourageto the family members to accept the pain and physical absence of their departedpeople.

Let us begin the New Year 2025 with new hope and determination to reach out to others,especiallythelessprivileged and marginalized people. Let 2025 be a Year of grace and blessing forallofus

Philomena Lawrence

Gilbert Lawrence

Authors:InsightsintoColonialGoa(5th Edition)

PublishedbyAmazon/Kindle

For details about the book and authors see: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQPYSL1F?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

The 17th Century was marked by superior Dutch power on land (in Europe) and sea (Atlantic and IO), including several periods of the naval blockade of EE ports. The Lusitano handed overthe Islands of Bombay to the Brits as part of the dowry of Princess Catherine to Charles II. The Lusitanians vainly hoped the nuptial would cement a Lisbon-London alliance against Spain and Holland. The Spanish werethefirsttoclipLusitania’ssails; later, the Dutch followed suit. The Iberian naval strategy of catch-and-

kill using large galleons spawned theDutchtacticofcatch-me-if-youcan employing faster, smaller steerableships.Asaresult,Lusitania lost several posts in south India, Maldives, Ceylon, and SE Asia. The Marathas attacked Goa and outpostsnorthofGoa(Vsai-Bassein territory also called the North Province). The displaced IndoPortuguese relocated to areas around Bombay to become the East-Indian community.

Sultans from the Deccan, the rajasofKanaraandKerala,aswellas

the Safavids, Mughals, and Tokugawa shoguns waged assaults ontheLusitanos.Inaddition,Lisbon faced naval wars from trading rivals – the Dutch, English, and French. Native monarchy was restored in Lisbon in 1640 (after a period of Iberian Union). Portugal and Spain were forced to accept their declining maritime power and influence. Private interlopers from various groups hollowed out the EE while expecting to be protected by it. Lusitania’s EE was shrinking; at times its survival was at stake. Even thoughPortugalandherEEenjoyed a thriving middle class of traders and artisans, the migration of large malepopulationtoworkonseaand land changed population demographics in Portugal and EE. Bride Ships of orphan girls and widowsfromPortugal,England,and France were being sent to the variouscoloniestohelp“civilize”the settlers.

To capitalize and maximize on thetradeofAsianspicesandAfrican gold, both Iberian countries along with the Dutch, British and French viewed their colonial natives as commodities to be traded as slaves andindenturedlaborfromwhichall

could profit. Tragically the slave tradeandits persistent after-effects will cast a lasting shadow and stain on the cultural and economic progressof theworld.

The 18th Century – Europe considered Lisbon “The eighth wonder of the world” because the countrywasthrivingfromtheriches itreceivedfromAsia(spices,textiles, ceramics)Africa(gold,ivory,slaves), and Brazil (Brazil wood, indigo, sugar,gold).Startingin1700 The Enlightenment Period , every Tom, Dick, and Harry began exercising the right to free speech within a public space (café) not controlled by the church or state. Across Europe, coffee houses sprung up a by-product of colonization. Patrons were served coffee from Java (Indonesia); tea from China and India; and tobacco, chocolate, and cocoa from the Americas. The coffee bars encouraged mental engagement and the exploration of out-of-thebox thinking. Each café recognized an “Oracle of the Coffee House” who pontificated with great authority on all topics under the sun. In Europe and in Estado da

India, free speech generated fake news, gossip, and coffee-house politicians; there was an undeniable strengthoftheir thoughts.

Many attribute the American Revolution (1776) and French Revolution (1789-99) to “ men yappingawayamidstcoffee,smoke, music, and fibs.” In the colonies, legacies of Renaissance Europe include architecture, paintings, and sculpture. But in the EE, the Renaissance bequeathed an even greaterasset aneducationsystem which was introduced in the 16th centuryforthebenefitoftheWhites but taken advantage of by the natives. By the 18th century, widespread teaching and learning provided in every church and its school was purely a voluntary twoway endeavor not caused by forced colonial indoctrination, as some historians claim. In making such erroneous statements, these authors sell our ancestors short on their wisdom and survival skills. It is noteworthy that conversion’s lasting,generationalbenefitwasthe formal education of the natives, “a bonus” the colonizers never envisaged. It bears repeating that contrary to what some believe, educationofthenativewasnotdue to pre-planned colonization, evangelization, or Europeanization. Case in point: schools continued to thrive even after the colonizer’s decline. The 18th century saw the consolidation of Dutch power and the ascendency of the English in IO andAsia.TheLusoworldwasslowly declining, and Lisbon was forced to watch its diminishing power worldwide. By the end of the century, feitorias in Asia were dying inincrements.ForbothIberians,the worldwasalessopenspace,butfew acceptedtherealitiesofthedecline. In1755,Lisbonwasdevastated by the massive Great Lisbon earthquake, which registered 9 on the Richter scale and was followed by a tsunami, which killed 60,000 people in less than two minutes. During that earthquake, there were three major shocks, fires broke out all over the city, and three waves of tsunamisurgedintheTagusRiver.It tooktwodecadesforthecitytorise fromitsashes.

Britain established her first land colony in India because of the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Mir Jaffer, the Bengal Nawab’s Arab general, was bribed to desert when the

fighting began. The spoils of war were enormous -- the doublecrossing general became the new Nawab, and British general, Robert Clive, took 22 million pounds in what he described as a “moderate reward.” All it took for the Englishmantoreceivebribeswas to shake the Pagoda Tree , which servedasanimportantlessonforhis successors. In 1770, Bengal experienced a devastating famine, which resulted in the loss of a millionlives. Theregion didn’t have grain storage and distribution schemes in place for the general public, even though the ruler stockpiled rice for the army and Sepoys. The Dutch and British intently studied the Lusitano colonizing playbook before raiding and conquering their own way acrossAsia.

After losing the American War of Independence at the Seize of Yorktown (1781), General Earl Cornwallis (1738-1805) was made the Governor (G) and Commanderin-Chief in India (1786-94). With his American experience as his guide, he promptly instituted an apartheid system, denying his soldiers some of the local comforts. His approach

wascontrarytotheoneadopted by AAA; who encouraged his men to marry natives. The lack of trade from the United States forced Britain to concentrate on its coloniesinIndiaandtherestofAsia. Afterthe Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the subsequent century of lucrativetrade,theBritsruledhalfof India.Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the East India Company used refined weaponryand devious maneuvers, (perfecting the Luso play book), to turbo-charge the process of annexations in India and fine-tune the system of extracting wealth. That was no sweat for the Company, which had reached its peak to become the largest trading corporation in the world. Control of the IO shifted from Pax Lusitania to PaxBritannia.

Lisbon’s maritime power and influence crumpled because of external pressure and internal decay. In the Kanara region, Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan, inhumanely displaced Mangaloreans, creating a near holocaust in the process. In the Konkan region, specifically in Goa andBassein,Luso-Indiansmetaless brutal but similar fate at the hands

of the Marathas. These violent military interventions produced waves of GEM migration within India. In addition, Lisbon lost interest in its EE, concentrating instead on Brazil and Africa for the lucrative trade in sugar, indigo, gold, and slaves. Whites, Mestizos, Macanese (Lusitano—MacauChinese),mulatos,Africanslavesleft Asia en masse. Indians took advantage of these events and migrated to coastal territories. The G kept up his frequent appeals for money, men, ships, and attention. Globally, this was the “Golden Age” of slavery. The Luso-world was made smaller, yet for the GEMs, the worldbecametheirvillage.

The 19th Century was referred to as The Age of Progress in Europe. It ushered in the era of invention, communication, new modes of commerce and transportation. Education thrived. Industrial Revolutions transformed colonial priorities from trading solely in spices to business with a focus on securing worldwide markets for raw materials and expanding consumer markets. This further accelerated industrial output, commercial

supremacy, and population growth, which led to the expansion of railroads, bridges, waterways, and canals,andbanking.TheSuezCanal, opened in 1869, made trade and travel from Europe to Mideast, Africa, Asia, Australia safer and faster. The industrialists were the new bourgeois, and at the pinnacle thebankerreplacedroyalty.

In Lisbon’s EE, the century got underway with the British occupation of Goa (1799-1815), ending after Napoleon met his Waterloo. The occupation was a breath of fresh air for Goans, the British, and the Portuguese. The Brits considered Goans alluring and a desirable distraction. As an occupyingforceonR&R,lifeforthe Brits stationed in Goa was a continuous and relaxing shore leave, enjoying Goan cuisine, which included beef and pork, bread and cakes as the natives used yeast in baking, and the local brew feni . For the natives who were employed as apprenticesandaidstotheBritish,it was a time to astutely observe and learn the innovative ways their employers.WhentheBritsleftIndia, they recruited 3,300 locals to serve in the military and thousands more

aseducatedandblue-collarstafffor the company and as domestic helpers. Privately owned ships continued to periodically come to Goatorestocktheirsupplyofurrak, feni, and pork, as well as to recruit sailors, stewards, musicians, chefs, andotherdeckhands.Themigration gates to the Anglosphere and Lusosphere in Asia and Africa were opened; many others left on their own steam; establishing diasporas in the colonies. Depending on where the émigrés lived, they traveled to their destinations by boat and/or rail the only byproducts of the Industrial Revolution to successfully reach Goa.

GEMs became settlers in faroffplacesandtooktheircultureand education system with them. The primitive, bleak, and uninviting environment of the colonies in Africa (Luso and Anglo) startled the newarrivals.Gratefulforthechance to migrate, GEMs discovered their world was no longer their village and their god was no longer in Lisbon. With a liberated mind, they were ready to move ever outwards, finding employment at sea or on land. GEMs witnessed the out-

migration to Lusophone and Anglophone territories; they realized they had a choice to make. Educated and unskilled GEMs made theirwayacrosstheLusosphereand Anglosphere in Asia and Africa. GEMs that had the advantage of an education as well as social and language skills became mid-level managers in the public and private sectors in nearly all spheres of the two largest empires in the world. The diaspora created a Remittance Economy, earning Portugal much needed foreign exchange. The diaspora took their religion and parish-linkededucationsystemwith them. Portugal no longer exported spices, replacing them with an equally lucrative item Goan brains.

Numerous books outline the valuable role the GEM diaspora played in the economy of the various colonies. However, when these colonies gained independence, the GEMs were painfully forced to re-migrate. Except for sailors (shippies) and early pioneers, GEM diaspora settlers were accompanied by their wives,whoacceptedthe changesin their lives philosophically. These

brave women enjoyed the quiet domesticity and recognized that happiness and misery depend on one’s predispositionandnot on the circumstances. Mothers were the doctors and nurses in the family. They knew the healing qualities of various herbs and spices and concocted their own medicines to cure most of the common ailments. These women were ‘liberated’ in many ways. They were self-reliant, daring, competent, industrious, and resourceful the silent and effective morale boosters during darkdays.They dealtwiththeirjoys and sorrows with serenity and gratitude to the Almighty. After the last child left home, the parents gracefully grew old together, offeringmutualsupport.

Both Iberian empires were slowlydecaying.Lusitanosmigrated to Africa, Brazil and the Americas, including Hawaii. In the Estadoda India Portuguesa , the balance of

political power between the ruler and various sectors of the ruled, along with the remittances which floated the colonial economy, served to create a “benign bon vivant , ” which survived for over a century.Inhisbook,Britishhistorian Malyn Newitt describes the “contrast between creative forces in theEEvsstagnationanddecadence in Portugal” and its royal palaces. These geopolitics and economics were the raisond’êtrethat Orlando Ribeiro missed, along with the markedly diminished colonial reality. In the 19th century, seats in the British Parliament was increasingly being filled with returning nabobs; their credentials to be MP was “Loot” – an Indian term henceforth incorporated into the English lingo. In TheAnarchy , authorWilliamDalrympledescribed the EE as a mix of “unimaginable opulence and intolerable starvation.”

Fish fry Recipe Here’s a simple anddeliciousfishfryrecipethatyou canenjoy:---

Ingredients: Fish fillets (of your choice): 500g (e.g., tilapia, cod, or kingfish)

Lemonjuice:2tablespoons

Ginger-garlic paste: 1 tablespoon

Chilipowder:1teaspoon

Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder: 1 teaspoon

Garammasala:1/2teaspoon

Rice flour or corn flour: 2 tablespoons(forcrispiness)

Salt:Totaste

Oil:Forshallowordeep-fryingFresh coriander: For garnish (optional)

Instructions: 1. Clean and Marinate theFish:Washthefishfilletsandpat

On December 29,2024 marked a significant day in the history of the Diocese of Shimoga. On this day, the inauguration of the Jubilee year -2025tookplacewithpomp&gay.

TheinauguralritetookplaceatSt

Thomas CSI Church, near Shivappa Naik Circle, Shimoga City. In the beginning,RevFrSanthoshAlmeida ledtheMercyRosary.Thenfollowed theinauguralrite,presidedbyMost Rev Dr Francis Serrao S J, Bishop of Shimoga.RevFrSanthoshPereira

gave a brief reflection on the Holy Jubilee Cross, after the reading of the holy gospel. Then followed the procession carried the Holy Jubilee Cross on a beautifully decorated chariot through the main road of the city for around a kilometer, towardstheSacredHeartCathedral. Thechariotwasinfront,followedby Bishop, Priests, Women Religious and lay faithful. The musical band, colourful Umbrellas,AltarServers in their wonderful attire added devotional glamour to the

procession.

Once the procession reached the Cathedral, the Solemn Eucharist began, as the clergy were decked withthenewJubileevestments.The HolyJubileeCrosswasplacedinthe

Sanctuary in a prominent place at thedecoratedsite.Thereafter,there was the blessing of holy water near theBaptismalfontandsprinklingof the holy water on the faithful, followedbythesingingofGloria.

After the post communion prayer, THE DIOCEAN PASTORAL PLAN2025 as well as Regional Pastoral Planwasreleased,preparedbyVery RevFrDrSimonPinto,theDiocesan Co Ordinator of Commissions. At the end, Fr Clifford Roshan Pinto, the Convener of Jubilee Year Committee, proposed the vote of thanks. A large multitude of lay faithful participated with a lot of devotion in this great event. There were 40 priests and an equal numberofWomenreligious.

Bondel Church & Shrine Welcomes New Year

2025 with Devotion and Joy, Celebrated by

Most Rev. Dr. Henry D'Souza, Bishop of Bellary, the Main Celebrant.

The parishioners of Bondel Church &Shrinecametogetherinaspiritof unity and prayer on December 31, 2024,astheybidfarewelltotheyear gonebyandwelcomedthedawnof 2025 with hearts full of hope and gratitude. The New Year celebrations began at 7 p.m. with a solemn adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, drawing a large gathering of parishioners from St. Lawrence Church and Shrine,

Bondel. It was a beautiful moment of reflection, prayer, and togetherness, as the faithful gathered in reverence, embracing the New Year with renewed faith andtrustinGod'sgrace. TheHolyHourwasgracefullyledby Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza, the Parish Priest, who guided the faithfulthroughprofoundmoments of reflection, thanksgiving, and intercession. With a heart fullof

compassion, he invited the congregation to express gratitude for the blessings of the past year, encouragingthemtoreflectontheir spiritual journey and seekrenewal

as they stepped into the New Year. His message was one of hope and spiritual growth, inspiring all present to deepen their faith and trustinGod'scontinuedguidance. The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration for the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, was led by MostRev.DrHenryD'Souza,Bishop ofBellary.HewasjoinedbyRev. Fr

Andrew Leo D'Souza, Parish Priest; Rev. Fr William D'Souza, Assistant Parish Priest; Rev. Fr Peter Gonsalves,PrincipalofStLawrence

English Medium School; Rev. Fr Sudeep Paul, Director of Sandesha; and Rev. Fr Arul Betharaam, who participatedasconcelebrants.

Most Rev. Dr. Henry D'Souza, Bishop of Bellary, inaugurated the Jubilee Year 2025, celebrated under the theme "Pilgrims of Hope," as partofaglobalinitiativeproclaimed by Pope Francis. The celebrations marked the beginning of a year

dedicatedtospiritualrenewal,hope, and unity. The Bishop urged the faithfultoembracethisJubileeYear as an opportunity for spiritual growthandtoactivelyparticipatein the Church's mission to spread the lightofChrist.

In his homily, Most Rev. Dr. Henry D'Souza shared an inspiring message, emphasizing faith, hope, and love as the cornerstones of a fulfilling life. He reminded the faithful of God's unwavering love, affirming, "Having God in our lives meanswealreadyhaveeverything."

ReflectingonJesus'comingtoearth through Mother Mary as part of God's divine plan, he encouraged everyone to recognize that, like Jesus,wetooarepartofGod’splan. Toleadasuccessfulandmeaningful life, we must cultivate faith, hope, andloveinabundanceandalignour liveswithHispurpose.

The Bishop challenged the congregation to reflect on their blessings and consider, "What are

we giving back to God in return?" He urged them to offer their time, talents,andheartsinservicetoGod, livingwithgratitudeandsharingHis lovewithothers.

As the New Year unfolds, Bishop Henry declared 2025 as a Year of Hope,invitingthefaithfultodeepen their connection with God, family, and community. "Let us thank God for His countless blessings and commit to building stronger familiesandavibrantparish,guided by faith, love, and hope," he encouraged.

Thespiritualambiancewaselevated by the melodious hymns of the children’s choir, whose heartfelt voices brought profound depth to the celebration. Adding to solemnity, the newly elected Ward

Gurkars took their oath before the Altar, pledging to serve with faith andintegrityastheyembracedtheir newresponsibilities.

Concluding the Eucharistic celebration, Rev. Fr. Andrew Leo D'Souza,theParishPriest,expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Most Rev. Dr Henry D'Souza for celebrating the Mass and offering prayers for the parish community. He warmly extendedhisNewYear wishesto all parishioners and thanked everyone who contributed to the success of thecelebration.

Rev.Fr Andrew acknowledged the dedication of the PPC members, volunteers, liturgical committee, children’schoir,Altarservers,sound system sponsor, cake sponsor, and co-celebrant Priests, appreciating their unwavering support and efforts in making the occasion truly special.ToaddtothejoyoftheNew Year, a cake was distributed to all parishionersaftertheMass.

The celebrations continued with a vibrant program organized by the SVP (Society of St. Vincent de Paul), during which Most Rev. Dr Henry D'Souzawasfelicitatedwithashawl

and flowers by the SVP members in honor of his upcoming 75th birthdayonJanuary2,2025.

The winners of the Star and Crib Making Competitions were also recognized for their dedication and creativity, with prizes distributed by Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Andrew Leo D’Souza and Assistant Parish Priest Rev.Fr.William D’Souza.

The SVP special program featured engaging activities such as spot games, auctions, and Housie Housie.Theeventwasfilledwithjoy and energy, with enthusiastic participation from the parishioners, who exchanged heartfelt greetings and extended their wishes for a blessed and prosperous New Year 2025.

The vibrant atmosphere fostered a sense of community and togetherness, as all gathered to celebratethearrivaloftheNewYear 2025. Bondel Church & Shrine truly embraced the spirit of hope, renewal,andunity,settingablessed tonefortheyear ahead.

Photography:BrGlen&Meena Report:MeenaSerraoBarboza

56th Wilson Olivera Nite held at St. Lawrence Church & Shrine, Bondel, on New Year's Day 2025

OnJanuary1,2025,at6p.m.,the 56thWilsonOliveraNitewasheld at the Bondel Church Grounds withintheSt.LawrenceChurch compound.Thisgrandcharityshow

Mr.WilsonOlivera,renownedforhis soul-stirring lyrics and captivating voice, once again captivated Konkani music enthusiasts at the 56th Wilson Olivera Nite. His performance left the audience spellbound,reaffirminghisstatusas abeloved figure in the Konkani

wasorganizedinsupportoftheSt. LawrenceChurchandShrine Bondel's innovative project, markingamemorablestarttothe NewYear.

music scene. The event featured 18 mesmerizing melodies from Olivera’s iconic and latest compositions. Along with sidesplitting comedy, engaging skits, and dynamic dance performances, the show delivered a perfect blend of entertainment, making it an

unforgettable celebration to usher intheNewYear.

Theeveningwas expertlyhostedby the esteemed compere, Mr. Ronald Oliveira, whose charm and wit kept the audience engaged throughout the event, adding to the overall excitement and enjoyment of the night.Themusicwasdirectedbythe renowned maestro, Mr. Roshan D'Souza Angelore, whose exceptional talent elevated the performances, ensuring a

memorable musical experience for all in attendance. A stellar lineup of vocal talents graced the stage, including Ashwini D'Costa, Pradeep Pinto, Prashant Pinto, Joseph Mathias, Stuart Olivera, Velita Lobo, Zeena Pereira, Shilpa Coutinho, and Jason Lobo, whose harmonious voices captivated the audience. They were supported by the exceptionally talented Off-Pitch Mangaloreensemble,featuring: Drums:IvanPereira

Tabla & Percussions: Veekshith

Kondancha

BassGuitar:DerrickD’Souza

Keyboard:VijayRasquinha

Flute & Saxophone: Reuben Machado

Violin:RheanonPais

Accordion:Suraj Noronha

The rich vocals were further enhanced by the contributions of the background singers, including Ashel D’Souza, Cliyon Antony

D’Silva, Dealle D’Souza, Hayden

Sequeira, Prithuma Monteiro, Rolwyn Moras, Sonal Agnes Monteiro, and the Choral Group. Together, thisensemble delivered a flawlessmusical experience that left theaudiencemesmerized."

The well-known Kuwait Express group—featuring Stephen Machado, Lancy Rodrigues, Lucy Aranha, Anil Menezes, and Renny Menezes had the audience roaring with laughter, leaving them clutching their sides from their

hilarious comedic acts. Adding to the excitement, the Urban Groove dance troupe, choreographed by therenownedAvilD'Cruz,delivered thrilling performances that mesmerized the crowd with electrifying moves, seamlessly blendinggraceandenergytocreate anunforgettablenight.".

During the event, Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza, the Parish priest, felicitated Most Rev. Dr. Henry

D'Souza, Bishop of Bellary, Mr. Joseph Mathias and Mr. James Mendonca were honored with flowers and shawls for their exceptional service and dedication. The event was graced by the presence of, Mr. John D'Silva, the PPC Vice-President, Mr. Santosh Misquith, the PPC Secretary, and Rev. Fr. William D'Souza, who all participatedinthefelicitation. In his address, Bishop Henry D'Souza extended his

congratulations to Wilson Olivera for the success of his 56th Nite, acknowledging his immense contribution to Konkani music. The BishopurgedallChristianfaithfulto excel in their endeavors, pursue government jobs, and make a positiveimpactintheworld.

Bishop Henry D'Souza also praised Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza for his tireless effortsin renovating the

church, emphasizing the sense of unity and community he has fosteredbybringingallparishioners together through beautiful programs.TheBishopconcludedhis speech with heartfelt wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year to allpresent.

The event was graced by a

distinguished group of guests, including Rev. Fr Praveen Leo Lasrado, Secretary of CBE, Rev. Dr Roshan D'Souza, Chancellor of the Udupi Diocese, Mr. Stany AlvaresPresident of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Mr. Roshan D'Silva Mr. Alwyn Pinto, Mr Kishore Gonsalves ,Rev. Fr Peter Gonsalves, Principal of St. Lawrence English Medium School,Rev.Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza, Parish Priest, Rev. Fr William D'Souza -Asst Parish priest Priests, nuns, sponsors, and well-

wishersalsoattended,addingtothe importanceandprestigeofthe56th WilsonOliveraNight.

Many people gathered for the 56th Wilson Olivera Night, making the event even more special and memorable. The vibrant crowd added to the excitement, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebrationthroughoutthenight.

* Photography & Report: Meena SerraoBarboza

PRESS NOTE

Infant Jesus Shrine

CarmelHill,KulshekarPostMangaluru-575005

Ph.:9844503706

Annual Feast of Infant Jesus 2025

The Annual Feast of Infant Jesus at Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, MangaluruwillbecelebratedonJan 14and15,2025.

Festal Celebration:

The Festal Mass on January 14 at 6.00pmwillbepresidedoverbyRt. Rev. Wilfred Gregory Moras,

Bishopof Jhansi Diocese. A special Mass for children will be offered at 10.30 am which will be presided over by Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bishop Emeritus of MangaloreDiocese.

The Festal Mass on January 15 at 10.30amwillbepresidedoverbyRt.

Rev. Dr. Elias Frank, Bishop of Asansol and at 6.00 pm will be presidedoverbyMostRev.Rudolph D'Souza, Pioner of Carmelite MissionsinCanada.

TherewillbeMassesallthroughthe day too on January 14. Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 6.00 am, 7.30 am in English, 9.00 am in Konkani and 1.00 am in Kannada. The inaugural Mass of the Annual Feast at 6:00 am on January 14, will bepresidedoverbyRt.RevDrHery D'Souza,BishopofBellary.

The Festal Mass on the Second day (January 15): 6.00 am, 7.30 am, 9.00 am in Konkani; 10.30 Mass for the Children and 1.00 pm in Malayalam (Latin Rite). Mass for the sick and theagedwillbe celebratedat10.30 aminKonkani.

Children's Day: A special Mass will be offered for Children on January 11,Saturdayat6.00pm.

Formal Inauguration

The formal inauguration of the festivity will be held on January 4, 2025, at 4.30 pm with the votive offering procession beginning at

Holy Cross Church, KulshekarMangaluru.Itwillbefollowedbyan inter-religious meet and flag hoistingattheShrineCampus.

Nine Days Novena in preparation fortheAnnual Feast

Nine days of Novena Prayers are held from January 5 to January 13 during which we have 9 Masses every day. Masses are as follows: In the morning at 6.00, 7.30, 9.00 and 10.30 in Konkani; At noon 1.00 pm inKonkani;Intheeveningat4.00in Malayalam, 5.00 in English and 7.30 inKannada.

Procession of Infant Jesus will be held every day after the evening Massat7.15am Eucharistic Adoration will be conducted daily from 11.30 am to 12.45pm.

Anna Santarpane (C£Àß ¸ÀAvÀ¥ÀðuÉ), vegetarianmeal will beservedtothedevoteesonallthe daysofthenovenaandfeastdaysat noon.

Blood Donation and Hair Donation Camp will be held on January 9 and 10 from 8.30 am to 1 pm.

Two Projects to Mark the Jubilee Year 2025 and the Centenary of St. ThérèseofLisieux’sCanonization

To commemorate the Jubilee Year 2025, we are proud to launch the Infant Jesus Jubilee Housing Project. Through this initiative, a complete house will be constructed and gifted to a poor and deserving family,embodyingthespiritofhope andservice.

In honor of the centenary of the canonization of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we will introduce the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Centenary Scholarship Project . Under this program, 100 scholarships will be awarded to deserving children, supporting their educational aspirations and celebrating the legacyofthisremarkablesaint.

Additionally, a special exhibition is planned to highlight the significance of Jubilee 2025 and to honor St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Carmelite saint from France who,

despiteherbrieflifeofjust24years, becameaDoctoroftheChurchand thePatronessofMissions.

Present at the Press meet:

Fr Melvin D'Cunha OCD, Superior, St.Joseph’s Monastery

Fr Stifan Perera OCD, Director, InfantJesusShrine,Mangaluru

Fr Deep Fernandes, Delegate ProvincialfortheOCDS

For Contact: Fr Stifan Perera, Director, Infant Jesus Shrine, Mangaluru9844503706

Press meet:January 02, 2025, at 11.00am,PressClub,Mangaluru

Votive Procession Marks Annual Feast

PreparationsatInfantJesusShrine,CarmelHill

Mangalore, January 3, 2025 : The faithful gathered in large numbers to participate in a solemn votive procession held in preparation for the Annual Feast of Infant Jesus at Carmel Hill. The procession, organized with great devotion and fervor, began from Holy Cross Church, Kulshekar, with a prayerful wish and blessings of Fr Clifford Fernandes, Parish Priest of

Kulshekar, accompanied by Fr Paul andDnNishith.TheShrineDirector, FrStephenPereira,OCD,extendeda warm welcome to all devotees. The official commencement of the procession was marked by the waving of the flag by Mr Roy Rodrigues, PRO of the Diocese of Mangalore, alongwithFr Melwyn D Cunha,OCD.

Devotees carrying offerings and

participating

JesusShrineatCarmelHill,aunique

interfaith program titled

'Sahaballve' was organized. The 'Sahaballve' program aimed to

share the faith experiences of people from different religions and promote harmonious living.

Esteemed speakers of the day, Mr Ivan D’Souza, MLC; Mr Rafiq, a dedicated social worker; and Mr Sunil Kumar Bajal, a social activist, shared insightful perspectives on fostering unity and coexistence in a diverse society. Prominent guests gracing the event included Fr Clifford Fernandes, Parish Priest of Kulshekar Church; Fr Dominic Vas, Parish Priest of Bajjodi; Mr Keshav, Corporator of Maroli Ward; Mr Naveen, Corporator of Bendure Ward; and Mr Stany Alvares,

President of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy.

Later,Fr.MelwynD.Cunha,Superior of St. Joseph's Monastery, Carmel Hill, blessed and hoisted the Infant Jesus Flag, officially inaugurating the annual feast. The votive procession and the 'Sahaballve' program reflected the commitment of the Infant Jesus Shrine and its devotees to spiritual enrichment and communal harmony. The preparations for the Annual Feast continue to build anticipation and devotionamongthefaithful.

Mass TimingsforNovena Days (January 5–13):

• Morning: 06:00AM,07:30AM, 09:00AM,10:30AM,01:00PM(All inKonkani)

• Evening: 04:00PM(Malayalam), 05:00PM(English),06:00PM (Konkani),07:30PM(Kannada)

Mass Timingson Feast Day (January 14):

• Morning: 06:00AM(Konkani), 07:30AM(English),09:00AM (Konkani),10:30AM(Massforthe Sick-Konkani)

• Evening: 01:00PM(Kannada), 06:00PM(Konkani)Mass Timings on Feast Day(January15):

• Morning: 06:00AM(Konkani), 07:30AM(Konkani),09:00AM (Konkani),10:30AM(Massfor Children-Konkani)

• Evening: 01:00PM(Malayalam), 06:00PM(Konkani)

Report and Pics: Carmel Kiran Media

Mangalore, Karnataka –January2,

Culture and Education hosted a grand celebration titled “Shepherd of Grace: 75 Years of Blessings of Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza” at its premises in Bajjodi, Mangalore. The event, held at 6:00 PM, marked a significant milestone in honouring

the life and legacy of Most Rev. Dr. HenryD’Souza.

The event also included heartfelt felicitations by prominent individualswho havewitnessedand been inspired by Bishop Henry’s legacy. Speeches were delivered by Mr. Roy Castelino, PRO, Diocese of Mangalore, Trustee Sandesha Foundation, Kishoo Barkur, a celebrated Konkani poet, lyricist, and writer, President Kavitha Trust, J.R.Lobo,FormerMLA,MostRev.Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, Fr. Ivan Pinto, Trustee, Sandesha, and Ms. Anitha, representing the alumni of Sandesha. Each speakerhighlighted theBishop’svisionaryleadership,his unwaveringcommitmenttoservice, and the lastingimpact he has made oncountlesslives.

Theoccasionfeatureda varietyof

cultural performances, tributes, and reflections on Bishop Henry D’Souza’sdecadesofselflessservice and inspirational leadership. A highlight of the event was the release of a book titled “Faith and Service: A Tribute to Bishop Henry D’Souza’s Legacy,” edited by Fr. Sudeep Paul MSFS, Director, Sandesha Foundation. The book was officially released by Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, and the first copy was ceremoniously handed over to Bishop Henry D’Souza. The book begins with a series of heartfelt felicitations—expressions of admiration,gratitude,andlovefrom those who have been blessed to know him. The book also includes a succinct biographical sketch that takes readers through the defining moments of Bishop Henry’s life— from his humble beginnings to his extraordinaryleadershipasapastor, mentor, and cultural ambassador. Oneofthehighlightsofthisbookis an insightful interview with Bishop Henry, where he reflects on his incredible journey, the challenges hefaced,andthe grace that guided

him. Adding a deeply personal dimension to this book are the memoirs shared by friends, colleagues, and collaborators— individuals who walked beside him, learnedfromhim,andwereinspired byhishumilityandleadership.

Adding a musical touch to the evening,asongdedicatedtoBishop Henry titled “ಕುರ್ಪೆ

Jinem: Bhavarth Ani Mogacho Pavunshyavo Suwalo) was released. Thelyrics,pennedbyKishooBarkur, and music composed by Cajetan Dias, beautifully encapsulated the essenceofBishopHenry’simpactful journeyandhiscontributionstothe community.

Dignitaries, religious leaders, and well-wishers from across the region gathered to honor Bishop Henry and celebrate his extraordinary achievements. The event’s live stream enabled an even wider audience to partake in this momentous occasion. The recording is available for viewing at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/u6jjtmClrXU?si=jX0 pvGN5z4VuxFFJ

felicitation programme to Rev Fr Prashanth Madtha, SJ for being the recipient of Kannada Rajyotsava Award2024andFormerPrincipalof St Aloysius College and Ms Lucy Mariappa,aproudalumnaandUSA

based renowned Chief Executive Officer and Visionary Business Executive, on 3rd January 2025 in LCRIHalloftheUniversity.

Rev. Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, Vice ChancellorofStAloysius(Deemed

to be University) presided over the programme. Rev. Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto, Rector of St Aloysius Institutions, Rev. Dr Melwyn DCunha SJ Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr Alwyn DSa Registrar of the College, DrRonaldNazareth,Registrarofthe Universitywereonthedais.

The Directors of Various Blocks, Deans, staff and students were presentfortheprogramme.

After the felicitation programme, there was a guest talk by Ms Lucy Mariappa on the topic "Being Future-readyandCareer-prepared".

Manoj Dyson Fernandes compered the program. Dr Alwyn DSa welcomed the gathering. Dr Mahalinga Bhat & Dr Ronald Nazareth read out the citations. Ms Shanthi Lobo, Chair of Public Relations of the University, meticulously planned and executed theprogramme.

About Rev. Fr Prashanth Madtha, SJ

Rev. Fr Prashanth Madtha is hailing from a humble hamlet in Sullia in the district of Dakshina Kannada, you secured MA in Kannada from

Bangalore University with the Gold Medal. He served as a teacher of Kannada at St Aloysius College and went on to take up the mantle of being the Principal leading the institutionwithastrongandupright vision bringing several pathbreaking and innovative changes with refreshing and proactive perspectives laying a strong foundation to a new, diverse and inclusive paradigm and campus culture.

His prolific writing career in Konkani, Kannada and English is a testimony of his expansive reading

and reflection. His popular weekly column in Udayavani, Chakitha Chitthahasbeenahouseholdname and an incisive contemporary culturalandsocialcommentary.

His versatility has been proved beyondanydoubtinthedexterityin expression in his mother tongue, Konkani writing in his works, Kittalan(twoeditions),Ratavol,Vally PadryabachaBolsanthlenand other similarworkswhichhavecaughtthe imagination of the readers of all sectionsandages.

Fr Madtha’s Kannada works such as Veera Viraktha , Savira Hoogalu Aralali , Ninanthe Naanagalu , Sanidhya and Gandu Rachane; Hennu Rachane on gender construction has made a lasting impact on readers. His commendableattemptatwritingan intimate history of 125 years of eventfulsagaofStAloysiusCollege, On Eagle’s Wings has been a veritable testimony of his uncanny ability to retell the Aloysian narrative with his unique storytellingtechnique.

His foray into writing dictionaries resultedincollectingandpublishing 10,000 Konkani idioms in the form

of a book, Pikkolin has been an invaluable and enriching contribution to Konkani linguistic depository. In addition, works like Padanidhi, dictionary of Kannada synonyms and antonyms as well as Thesar , a thesaurus of Konkani synonyms and antonyms, have added significant value to the corpus of dictionaries of these languages.

His immense contribution and leadership to various Jesuit educational institutions in the Karnataka Province and the archdioceseofBangalorehavebeen commendable.

Besides this, he has been the recipient of the Indian Catholic Press Association Award-2008, Sandesha Award for Konkani Literature-2009, Lifetime Achievement Award by Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations of Karnataka, Bahrain Konkani Kutam Award, Alva’s Nudisiri Literary Award and several other eminent recognitionsandawards.

visionary leader, has carved a permanentmarkontheworldstage with her exceptional leadership, transformative vision, and groundbreaking innovations across 40countriesanddiverseindustries.

She held prominent roles at top technology companies leading the global product development for 32 countries (generating billions in annual revenue), consulted at Fortune500companiesdrivingtheir business ahead and then led large, complex organizations, positioning them as industry leaders. She has worked at industry-leading organizations including SAP and Oracle.

Her illustrious career, adorned with accoladessuchas"CIOoftheYear," "Top 100 Leaders in Education," Prestigious “2021 US CIO 100 Award” which is a special recognition to the top 100 organizations in the USA for their achievements in Technology Innovation & Leadership. All these accolades epitomize her dedication to advancing technology and businessexcellence.

About Ms LucyMariappa:

MsLucy Mariyappa, a distinguished Chief Information Officer and

A pioneer during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Lucy's leadership in

transitioning a large Texas-based school system to remote learning within just five days stands as a testament to her resilience and forward-thinking.Hereffortsearned national acclaim, including recognition from the U.S. Education Secretary.

Ms Lucy Mariyapp’s journey, however, began right here at St. Aloysius, where she pursued her bachelor’sinscienceandmaster’sin

computer applications. Even as a student,herleadershipwasevident.

As Joint Secretary during undergraduate studies and later Secretary during her post graduate studies, she was instrumental in launching the first-ever annual festivals focused on science, management, and women empowerment—anenduringlegacy that continues to inspire the Aloysiancommunity.