Veez Global Illustrated Weekly e-Magazine. Published from Chicago, USA.

English Weekly

Vol: 1 No: 7

February 17, 2022

ManGoa’s ‘Ranni Kogull’ Sonal Agnes Monteiro

Hindutva activists taking advantage of Christians!

Last week was a very bad week for

against minorities and spend their

Christians in Karnataka.

money on these goondas to harrass

Hindutva

activists along with the moral

minorities,

support

Christians.

from

Karnataka

i.e.,

Muslims

They

are

and

working

Government demolished 2 Christian

towards their hidden agenda, a

prayer centers overnight. Nobody

hidden goal to make India one

knows who gave them the power

nation, oney party and one religion.

todo so. If something was wrong or illegal, there are legal departments

Some Congress MLAs are joining by

to look over these issues, but here

taking money from Hindutva outfits

these goondas took law into their

and cheat the people who elected

own hands and destroyed these

them as Congress MLA’s. BJP has

prayer centers.

lots of money to bribe these

backboneless politicians.

There

This should not happen in the

should be a law to avoid politicians

largest democratic country in the

jumping one party to other like

world – India.

monkey jumping on the trees

It looks like

democracy is just on the papers.

recklessly

and

doing

Now central as state government

business in the real world.

monkey

gave these Hindutva goondas full

license to harrass minorities as they

Politicians become so selfish and

want.

money makers; they do not have any values in life. They are making

Slowly

their

fundamentalism

is

India a lawless nation!

spreading all over the nation. Many politicians

do

the

same

thing

Dr. Austin Prabhu, Editor

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ManGoa’s ‘Ranni Kogull’ Sonal Agnes Monteiro

Sonal Agnes Monteiro was born on 9th of August 1999 to Mr. Sunil Monteiro and Mrs. Janet Flavi Monteiro. Four years later she was introduced to the concept of jealousy when she saw her baby

sister Simone Angela Monteiro for the 1st time on her mother’s lap.

Sunil Monteiro is an electrical engineer by profession. He works at MESCOM as an Assistant Executive

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Engineer. He is very much into music. He has rendered his voice for several CD’s and performed for

various Nite’s. He is the Runner-Up

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of Soad 1. Janet Monteiro is a high school teacher. She is a writer and 6 Veez Illustrated Weekly

very much interested in public speaking. Simone Monteiro is pursuing her bachelor’s in engineering, in the field of Computer Science at St. Joseph Engineering College Mangalore.

She is a very good singer. She was also a part a part of Soad-5 and one among the 10 girls.

Both Sunil and Janet have always encouraged their daughters to grow as an individual and make a name

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for themselves in the society.

Sonal has always been a bubbly, enthusiastic kid with a lot of passion towards music.

She did her schooling at Sacred Hearts School, kulshekar. She was bright in studies and never bothered her parents when it came

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to academics. Because of her dedication, hard work and interest 9 Veez Illustrated Weekly

in studies, she scored 96.8% in her 10th grade board exams.

Growing up, Sonal participated in various competitions and has emerged victorious.

Apart from singing she was also interested in Dancing, Acting, Sports etc. She played sports such as Football, Handball and Netball.

She was also a good athlete. She took part in various trecks and camps.

She enjoyed taking responsibilities and hence was also a part of the School cabinet as a Cultural Minister.

She has completed Rajya Puraskar in the Bharat Scouts and Guides association.

Sonal attended summer camps organized my Mandd Sobhann and fell in love with Konkani language and music.

Sonal was trained in Carnatic music from Mrs. Sandhya for almost a year. This helped her understand music better at a young age. Sonal participated in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa little champs Mangalore auditions and was one of the 7 children to be selected.

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She studied her 11th and 12th, at Mahesh PU College, Kottara Chowki. She passed out with flying colors, scoring 94,8%. This helped her get into one of the most prestigious institutions, NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte.

She was very active in her college activities and grabbed all the opportunities that came her way.

She was Documentation head and Performance coordinator of Stereo Club (Music club) in her college. She also organized various events like Battle of Bands, Quiz competitions, Singing competitions during intercollegiate fests.

She got placed in Sony India Software Centre (SISC) through college placements and she is currently working as a Software Engineer at Sony.

Apart from school and college, she was also very active in her church.

(Holy cross church, Kulshekar) She is an active member in the church choir and a part of Blue Angels Choir Mangalore.

She has participated and won several prizes in the interparish competitions

organized by Konkani Natak Sabha.

Mangalore.

She has rendered her voice for several album songs and Devotional CD’s. She has also performed for Singing Nites in Mangalore, Goa and Karwar. She performed at an event called Kor Kantar at Goa. Her journey in Soad-5 began in the month of February 2020. She was shy during the initial rounds of the show. Mr. Eric Ozario, her guru helped her grow as a singer and as a performer throughout the show.

Sonal’s journey in the show has been an upward graph. She has received a lot of help from a lot of experienced musicians and Singers like Roshan Dsouza, Shilpa Cutinha, Raina Castelino and Denzil Pereira.

After 8 rigorous rounds of competition.

Sonal emerged victorious and was crowned as the Ranni Kogull of Soad-5 Mangoa alongside Vaibhav Kamat, who was crowned as Ray Kogull.

Parallelly, Sonal and her sister Simone took part and in the Duet Singing Stars competition organized by Daijiworld Media and

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have reached the finale. She also competition organized by won the group Carol singing Daijiworld Media.

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On Choosing a Great Career Recently I came across a profound and very meaningful post in the WhatsApp which read like this: “I asked a wise man, ‘tell me Sir, in which field could I make a great career?’ He said with a smile, ‘be a good human being. There is a lot of opportunity in this area and very little competition’”.

Indeed, to be a good human being is a noble career but a daunting and challenging one; a life-long task.

Most people either just exist and do not live as good human beings, or else they are in the hot pursuit of professions and careers in order to make money and be wealthy and rich. In the bargain they fail to be good human beings.

There is hardly any or very little competition among people to be good human beings. On the other hand, there is cut-throat

competition to be doctors, nurses, engineers, managers, secretaries, auditors, teachers, politicians, bureaucrats, police or army officers etc. etc. The rat race is so highly competitive, that many forget ordinary forms of decency, courtesy and humanity, leave alone justice and equality or other moral principles. Corruption is so rampant that it has become normal part of life and many do not even realize that they are being unfair, unjust and corrupt, or are brazenly so.

The wise man’s advice to choose to be a good human being as one’s career is so profound and meaningful and urgently necessary for peaceful co-existence of human beings and for the survival of human society. If you are a good human being you will be a good doctor, good engineer, good teacher, good bureaucrat etc. But if

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you are a bad human being you cannot really be a good doctor, engineer, teacher etc.

If your character itself is bad that will reflect in your dealings and life in general.

That is why we see so much of corruption, injustice, oppression, violence etc. in the society because of bad human beings. If human society is to be just and humane, we need more good human beings in it.

We need to train our children to be good human beings. That is the foundation on which any or all careers are to be built. Let them be good human beings, then there is no worry which career they choose.

They will be good teachers, doctors, politicians, bureaucrats etc.

cooperated with him and ran the racket, going to the extent of even killing patients for the sake of money. That is the height of greed and love of money. St. Paul has reminded us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils (cf. 1 Tim.6:10). The multi-crore scams, bank frauds, money laundering, bribery, extortion, arms race, lucrative business in drugs and pornography, flesh trade, human trafficking etc. are only concrete examples of greed and love of money. One is reminded here of the famous words of Mahatma Gandhi: “The earth has enough for everybody’s need, not for everybody’s greed.”

Sometime ago Delhi police arrested a doctor for allegedly killing more than 100 patients in order to remove their kidneys. Obviously, it was a racket carried out not just by one person but several. How could a well-trained doctor, a surgeon commit such heinous crimes? If he was a good human being this would not have happened. There were other bad human beings who

In the Book of Proverbs, we read: “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

(Prov.6:16-19). Further the wise man

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in the Book of Proverbs says: “A good man obtains favour from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns. No one is established in wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved” (Prov. 12:2-3).

It is indeed a great challenge to be a good human being, a righteous person, and a person of character.

People are more inclined to choose easier paths and comfort zones and end up in wickedness and sin. Or else in pursuit of efficiency, maximum production, and maximum profit they lose human character. Charles Lindbergh shared his experience thus: “I grew up as a disciple of science…. Now I have lived to experience the early results of scientific materialism…. I have watched pride in workmanship leave and human character decline as efficiency of production lines increased.”

Pope St. John Paul’s exhortation is very pertinent: “Help transform the world around you by giving the best of yourself. Teach others the value

of faith and prayer and goodness”.

And the great St. Paul wrote to the Romans: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with goodness” (Rom. 12:21).

Let us therefore choose and guide and help our children to choose the great career of becoming a good human being. Let us use every opportunity in this field without fear of any competition, for as the wise man said: “there is a lot of opportunity in this area and very little competition”.

+ Gerald John Mathias Bishop of Lucknow --------------------------------------

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St. Pope John Paul II's memorable footprints in M'lore - February 6, 1986.

Compiled : Ivan Saldanha-Shet.

The date February 6, 2022, brought back very special memories for the Konkani Catholic community of Mangalore - Thirty five plus (35+) years ago on February 6, 1986. This mark of remembrance is to regenerate the joy of that day when a saint and a Pope set foot on his land here for the very first time. The then very popular and longest ruling Pope John Paul II paid the first ever visit to the area by a Pope. This saintly figure head of the church on earth has been canonized a Saint subsequently which is very highly valued and seen as a great treasure for the land, seen so closely identified with Rome and it's pontiff.

It is recorded approximately five lakh people gathered near Mangalore's International Airport, at Bajpe to have a glimpse of Pope John Paul II,

the first and only Pope to visit Karnataka, and Mangalore on the west coast at that.

Though the Pope was scheduled to visit Bangalore that year, the venue was changed to Mangalore, also known as the “Rome of the East,” as the stopover in Bangalore was practical.

People without discrimination across religion and caste thronged the venue, near the Bajpe airport, from every nook and corner of the State and outside the State, for the only engagement of the Pope in Karnataka.

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His Holiness. You experience it to know.”

have

to

General Recollections of the Pope's visit on Feb 6, 1986 :

A Godly visit : People who witnessed the historic event attended the special mass at the venue that Sunday, as it is Sunday today that jogs the emotions. A teacher at St Joseph PU College in Bajpe, a school student then said he felt he was “seeing God” when he saw the Pope, people reached the venue well before 10 am for the Papal visit scheduled for 2.30 pm.

Businessman V U Seemon, who chauffeured the Pope from the airport to the venue in an open jeep, said it was the most memorable occasion of his life. Stating that he was “mesmerised in the presence of His Holiness the Pope”, he said he always recalls the “divine” countenance that the Pope radiated. “Impossible to put in to words the divine vibrations around

Msgr.A F D’Souza at the time VicarGeneral of the Diocese effectively served as Convener. Late Blasius D’Souza former Minister Karnataka was the organizing committee head. Late P Rodrigues former Minister Karnataka lead the Transport Committee.

Joe Gonsalves co-ordinated with Law and Order and security matters. The late Rev.Fr.J J Saldanha ( who was last stationed at Milagres after retirement) was the Parish Priest then at Bajpe.

The Pope arrived by the special flight from Goa and was at Bajpe for two hours. Ushered in with a traditional aarti, the Pope was presented with a shawl prepared by the inmates of Fr Muller Charitable Institutions by late Blasius D’Souza, the representative of the state and the diocese. ’Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi he chanted as he stood on the podium and acknowledged the cheers ’Viva il papa. (Long live the

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Pope) The Pope delivered his message translated into Konkani and Kannada.

Many recall that then Bajpe parish priest, late Fr J J Saldanha, assistant priest, Fr Victor D’Souza, worked and toiled for this event. Gratian Aroza Pai was the administrator of the parish council and John Moras was the secretary during that period supported by an organizing committee.

The land belonging to 22 families was marked for use and Pope’s visit, there were lots of vegetable gardens here. Fr Saldanha was given the authority to assure the families that the sites taken for the purpose would be returned as they are, with boundary walls restored. Pope visit organizing committee was formed consisting of 72 coordinators from Karnataka region.

This site lacked drinking water, Mr. Soans of Moodbidri divined a source of water, ample water even now - after 35 years is a miracle; the borewell it was said was owned by Mr. Manohar Malli, a builder who, having bought the land,

promoted Abhiman Pope’s Layout.

The stage remained untouched because it was sanctioned for Jerome D’Souza in the Land Tribunal. So the stage is safe! Malli has given 7 cents of the stage to the Diocese. He has named it as "Abhiman Pope’s Layout".

The stage was built in a unique style - 12 feet high resembling a Cross.

The backdrop contained jasmine and yellow coloured flowers. A special high chair was kept in the centre of the stage for the Pope.

There were red carpets all over the approach paths and the ground was covered with multi-coloured flags.

The shamiana was decorated with white and yellow coloured cloth.

"Pope jagathgurugalige swagatha, Bharathavu nimmannu preethinda swagatisutade" were the words on the welcome banners. A tri-colour balloon at 60 feet height looked very impressive. People with trumpets, drums, classical instruments were present to welcome the Pope.

Many visitors had come to the venue the previous day itself. There was tight security.

People

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appreciated the arrangements made by the organizers of the programme. The moving crowd seemed like the rivers in full spate.

Controlling the crowd was a challenge to the Police; but they were successful in their mission.

An announcement was made at 2.45 pm that the Pope had arrived at the Mangalore airport and would be reaching the podium in 10 minutes.

At 3 PM sharp he arrived at the venue in a special car. He stood in an Open Jeep and went around the ground and blessed the people. He addressed the gathering saying: "Pithana suthana mattu pavithra athmana naamadalli".

The Pope was welcomed by the Bishop of Mangalore who was the chief architect of this historic event.

The Pope blessed the gathering again at 3.20 pm. He blessed 2 black granite slabs, one of which is displayed on the wall of the Bajpe Church. At 3.55 pm prayer service was conducted by various diocese heads in English, Kannada, Tulu and Konkani.

On that blessed day, at 4.05 pm, the

Pope announced in Kannada:"Mangalurige bandu naanu theevra ananda gondidhene, nimmellarannu devaru harasali".

After this the choir sang hymns in praise. And when Pope blessed the crowd for the last time, people shouted "Pope Chirayuvagali".At 4.10 pm he blessed the aged people and physically challenged patients and consoled them.

The choir members released the white doves as a symbol of love and peace. Then the Pope waved to the vast throng and returned to the airport while the people chorused: "Long Live Our Holy Father".

Memorable Pope speak : "Namaan zaanv Jezu Christak" said Pope John Paul II in Konkani when he paid his historical visit to Mangalore on February 6, 1986. "E Dina Karnatakada Mangaluru nagaradalli nimma madhye hajaragi nimmannu kaanalu nanage tumba santhosha aguthade" said the Pope to the thundering applause of people assembled to welcome His Holiness here. The audience was amazed when Pope said, "Eshwaranalli vishwasa eruvavaru

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dhanyaru". Recalling the selfless contribution of Christ towards mankind, he said, "Somiyan amchya madhen vishesh karyan kelyanth".

Speaking about India’s progress, he said, "Tho tumcha kutumbank ani rastracha karyancher ashirwadisundi". He blessed the people by saying "sath ani mog ekvat asdundi, somesthank devanchen besavn".

"Jiyon jiyon papa amcho, Laamb jiyon papa amcho" was the response by five lac people who were waiting expectantly near the platform situated 1.5kms away from the Mangalore Airport. People had come from all parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala for this historic event. There was a discipline, vehicle parking, Government bus facilities, medical facilities including blood banks and ambulances, licensed food counters and drinking water facility. People were given proper information and

guidance by the trained volunteers.

There was separate gallery for photographers and the Press.

The Memorial Develops : Later on Sunday, Feb 6, 2011,

thousands of Christians gathered at the same venue near Bajpe to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Papal visit to the Port City.

Offering a special mass, then Mangalore Diocese Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza recalled the Papal visit and his message — “to live like a true Christian and to live harmoniously.” The Bishop also installed a bust of Pope John Paul II at the memorial site.

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1986.

Earlier, Catholics took out a huge procession to the venue simultaneously from three different areas. The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he will beatify Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011, at St Peter’s Square in Rome doubled the joy for the Catholic community.

February 2014 : A shrine built at Bajpe, about 25 kms from the city honouring Pope John Paul II, with

support of devotees of Mangalore Diocese at a cost Rs 1.5 crore. It was built at the place where Pope addressed a humongous gathering of four lakh plus on February 6,

Some vital glimpses of the St Pope : John Paul II, Latin Johannes Paulus, original name Karol Józef Wojtyła, (born May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland—died April 2, 2005, Vatican City; beatified May 1, 2011; canonized April 27, 2014; feast day October 22), bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church (1978–2005), the first nonItalian pope in 455 years ..Death of the loved Pope : In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April A.D. 2005, at 9.37 p.m., while

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Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord’s Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church’s beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father.

From that evening until April 8, date of the funeral of the late Pontiff, more than three million pilgrims came to Rome to pay homage to the mortal remains of the Pope.

2005). The canonization was held on 27 April 2014, along with that of Pope John XXIII. The decision to canonize was made official by Pope Francis on 5 July 2013 following the recognition of a miracle attributed to the intercession of John Paul II, The date of the canonization was assigned on 30 September 2013.

Saints John XXIII and John Paul II Patriarch of Rome

Pope John XXIII (left) and Pope John Paul II (right) Pope John Paul II (18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the sovereign of Vatican City 1978 to

The Canonization Mass was celebrated by Pope Francis (with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI concelebrating), on 27 April 2014 (Divine Mercy Sunday), in St. Peter's Square (Pope John Paul had died on

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the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005). About 150 Cardinals and 700 bishops concelebrated the Mass, and at least 500,000 people attended the Mass with an estimated 300,000 others watching from video screens placed around

Rome. Pope John Paul II planted his first footsteps in Mangalore, traveled in a car and then in an open Jeep here, stood on dais in front of 5 lac people, blessed everyone present....These moments I will always be cherished eternally.

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Mangaluru: Sr Rose Celine reelected superior general of

Bethany Sisters Media Release Mangaluru, Feb 11: On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Friday February 11, Sr Rose Celine BS was reelected by the XVII General Chapter of ‘The Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany’ (Bethany Sisters) at Bethany Motherhouse, Bendore. She will continue to head the congregation for another term of six years. She hails from St Antony’s parish, Fermai, Mangalore diocese.

Elected as the general councillors are Sr Shanthi Priya BS (assistant superior general), Sr Mariette BS, Sr Santosh Maria BS and Sr Sandhya BS to assist the superior general.

The Mangalore-based indigenous congregation was founded in 1921 at

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St Sebastian parish, Bendore by the Servant of God Raymond F C Mascarenhas with four sisters namely Mother Martha, Sr Clare, Sr Lourdes and Sr Gertrude. The institute has a membership of 1,371 with 192 communities spread over in 9 countries of 3 continents - Asia, Europe and Africa. The sisters serve in 56 rural development centres and 185 educational institutions mostly in villages. It also has a significant presence in the field of medical and geriatric care services. As many as 1,600 lay associates in 100 units spread all over the country collaborate in the mission of the institute.

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Mangaluru: 'He continues to be with us' - Rich tributes paid to

Basti Vaman Shenoy at WKC Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje Daijiworld Media Network Mangaluru (SB) Mangaluru, Feb 6: Kavita Trust on Saturday February 5 organised a rememberance meet in memory of Konkani Sardar Basti Vaman Shenoy at World Konkani Center here.

Addressing the gathering, Kavita Trust founder and poet Melvyn Rodrigues said, "We have passed a month without Basti Vaman Shenoy in our midst, yet we can still hear his voice in the pillars of World Konkani Center. We can experience his presence by remembering his signature smile and words. He was one of the ardent supporters of Kavita Trust and he was a regular guest at Kavita Fest. He continues to be with us in spirit, and his enthusiasm for excellence in Konkani and dreaming big things for Konkani continues to guide and inspire us."

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Recalling his days with Basti Vaman Shenoy, Konkani poet Titus Noronha said, "In my childhood I used to visit Basti regularly at Syndicate Bank office in Moodbidri. He was the manager there. Basti sanctioned a loan to our new dream home without any technical hassles. Once on 30 Veez Illustrated Weekly

Christmas Day he visited our home too. After his promotion to divisional manager, he was transferred to Mangaluru and at the time I was working in a shipping company in the city. Thereafter our friendship became stronger, and we visited each other daily.

"Once I introduced him to Melvyn, who was then the secretary of Konkani Bhasha Mandal. He made him the member of Konkani Bhasha Mandal. It was then that he was attracted towards Konkani language and culture. Slowly he himself became completely dedicated to Konkani activities. For his visionary thoughts on Konkani and relentless work to promote and preserve the language and its literature, he earned the title of 'Sardar' of Konkani. He was a big brother for us, and will continue to be," he added.

Expressing his thoughts on Basti Vaman Shenoy's visionary activities in Konkani, writer and member of Kavita Trust William Pais said, "Basti lives with us in the form of 'time'. He did not write much in Konkani, nor did he perform much in Konkani art forms.

But still Basti is called the big brother of Konkani. To know why this is so, we should read the history of Konkani. He

was the first person to build a temple for Konkani. He was the first person to dream of a generation highly educated in Konkani. The scholarship project of WKC was the brainchild of Basti Vaman Shenoy. He bought the entire Konkani community together without any discrimination in terms of dialect, region and culture."

He also appealed to the WKC to construct a statue of Basti Vaman Shenoy and exhibit his belongings for public.

A brochure containing three poems written by Melvyn Rodrigues, Gourish Vernekar and Smitha Shenoy on Basti Mam was distributed on the occasion.

A special issue of ARSO monthly containing detailed Information on Basti Vaman Shenoy's Konkani mission was released by WKC president Nandagopal Shenoy, in the presence of publisher H M Pernal and editor Wilson Kateel.

A video clipping which had Basti Vaman Shenoy's speech delivered during Kavita Fest held at Thumbay Gardens in 2013 was shown to the audience.

Prior to the meeting, members of Kavita Trust and followers of Basti Vaman Shenoy paid tribute to him by offering flowers to his portrait. ****

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Mangaluru: Protest staged over demolishing prayer centre

at Panjimogaru Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe Daijiworld Media Network Mangaluru (ANK)

–

Mangaluru Feb 8: The St Anthony Holy Cross building committee staged a protest here at Kuluru junction on Tuesday, February 8, against the razing down of a prayer centre at Urundadi Panjimogaru.

The protest started with a prayer.

Addressing the protestors, Mangalore diocese PRO Roy Castelino said, "We are a peace loving community. We seek justice over the razing down of prayer centre at Urundadi in Panjimogaru which is 42 years old.

The Mangaluru City Corporation has issued us a door number, license, water connection, electricity connection and tax exemption also has been given. We did not violate any law. What was the mistake of the building committee? Notice was not

served before razing down the building. Police had assured us to

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resolve the issue but noting has been

even after three days."Former Corporator Mariam Thomas said, "We

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Stany Alvares said, "We demand justice from the police commissioner and deputy commissioner in the issue. Many religious places like temples, mosques and churches exist on government land. This is nothing but a political motivated move."

will fight till we get justice in the issue."

President of St Anthony Holy Cross building committee Anthony Lobo, vice president of Kulur church Mable Bennis, president of Catholic Sabha, central Council.

Diocese of Mangaluru, Stany Lobo, president of District Labour Cell Lawrence D'Souza, parish priest of Kulur church

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Fr Vincent D'Souza, president of Mangaluru Jaison Crasta and others ICYM, Central Council, Diocese of were present.

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COMPASSION and COURAGE to LISTEN! specifically meant for ‘catholic’ communicators, but if read in its entirety, they are for all Catholics and also for all women and men of goodwill who are concerned about what is happening in the world today and seriously want to do something about it.

- *Fr Cedric Prakash SJ

Every year, on 24 January, the Feast of St Francis de Sales, the patron Saint of all Communicators, (particularly of journalists and writers) the Holy Father releases to the world a special message for the World Day of Social Communications of the Catholic Church. These annual messages are

Pope Francis, in the typical style which characterises his writings and also his verbal communications, has given the Church another profound message, full of challenges and very contextual. The theme of his message for this year’s 56th Communication Day (29 May 2022) is ‘Listening with the Ear of the Heart’. It is rooted in the Gospel of St. Luke ‘Take care, then, how you listen.’ (Lk8:18). The theme

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complements the one of 2021 and in his opening statement he says, “Last year we reflected on the need to “Come and See” in order to discover reality and be able to recount it beginning with experiencing events and meeting people. Continuing in this vein, I would now like to draw attention to another word, “listen”, which is decisive in the grammar of communication and a condition for genuine dialogue”.

‘Listen’ for Pope Francis then, is not merely a buzzword but is the sine qua non for any catholic communicator who is interested in authentic communications, through searching and arriving at nothing but the truth, just like the Master Communicator Jesus!

One hears a common complaint today “nobody is listening!”

Many experience this feeling – there is a painful story to share, a cry that needs to be heard – but nobody cares!

That story, that cry becomes a voice crying in the wilderness! Is there someone listening? Does anybody care? In his message, Pope Francis throws a direct challenge to communicators: to listen and when you listen to do so with the ear of your heart! He minces no words when he insists that we need compassion and courage to listen to the ‘other’!

In October 2021, Pope Francis

launched the Synodal process on the theme “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. The process will culminate with the 2023 Synod in Rome.

Throughout, Pope Francis has been insisting that this entire journey is about listening, learning and loving.

His Communications Day message reiterates this when he says, “A synodal process has just been launched. Let us pray that it will be a great opportunity to listen to one another. Communion, in fact, is not the result of strategies and programmes, but is built in mutual listening between brothers and sisters.” But is there serious listening?

Or is it lip-service: a tiresome formality which one needs to get over with as soon as possible so that the rigid ‘status quo’ may continue?

Are we listening to the cries of the poor and the vulnerable, the excluded and the exploited, the minorities and the other marginalised? When we listen with the heart, we are called to do something about it – we need to make a paradigm shift, to change; to ensure a better quality of life for all.

Pope Francis says it rather strongly “human beings tend to flee the relationship, to turn their back and ‘close their ears’ so they do not have to listen. The refusal to listen often ends up turning into aggression

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towards the other, as happened to those listening to the deacon Stephen who, covering their ears, all turned on him at once.”

In this context, he once again highlights the plight of the migrants and their cries. We often treat them as outsiders: they are not like us, they do not ‘belong’ here! These suffer because of man’s inhumanity to man.

They are the ‘other’! To this Pope Francis says, “The reality of forced migration is also a complex issue, and no one has a ready-made prescription for solving it. I repeat that, in order to overcome prejudices about migrants and to melt the hardness of our hearts, we should try to listen to their stories. Give each of them a name and a story. Many good journalists already do this. And many others would like to do it, if only they could. Let us encourage them! Let us listen to these stories! Everyone would then be free to support the migration policies they deem most appropriate for their own country. But in any case, we would have before our eyes not numbers, not dangerous invaders, but the faces and stories, gazes, expectations and sufferings of real men and women to listen to”. The reality of forced migration is a key concern of Pope Francis’ papacy! Once again, we need to ask ourselves if we are listening to them with our hearts?

Pegasus spyware is in the news! Pope Francis has some direct words for snooping, which is a blatant violation of one’s right to privacy! He says, “there is a kind of hearing that is not really listening, but its opposite: eavesdropping. In fact, eavesdropping and spying, exploiting others for our own interests, is an ever-present temptation that nowadays seems to have become more acute in the age of social networks.” The Church in India needs to question itself on its complicit silence when the Government or their goons (as one sees in the Pegasus issue and the Sulli deals) intrude into the privacy of citizens, specially of journalists or activists who stand up for the rights of others.

The absence of listening in public discourse is something else which the Holy Father laments. He emphatically states, “The lack of listening, which we experience so often in daily life, is unfortunately also evident in public life, where, instead of listening to each other, we often ‘talk past one another’ … “This is a symptom of the fact that, rather than seeking the true and the good, consensus is sought; rather than listening, one pays attention to the audience. Good communication, instead, does not try to impress the public with a soundbite, with the aim of ridiculing the other person, but

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pays attention to the reasons of the other person and tries to grasp the complexity of reality.” In his audience on 26 January, he told parents who had children who are gay/with different sexual orientations, to listen to them, accept them and never to condemn them!

Pope Francis has consistently been talking about a Church which is void of clericalism and patriarchy. He has made some significant gestures in this regard. The appointment of French nun Sister Nathalie Becquart as the first female Under-Secretary with a right to vote in Synod of Bishops.

Earlier, he had appointed Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini as the new secretary general of the Vatican governorate, making her the first woman to ever hold the post. On Word of God Sunday (23 January 2022), he conferred the ministry of Lector also to women, which is a major departure in the Catholic Church, which till then regarded it as a ‘men only’ ministry. Whilst the Pope does not mention in his message the ‘cries of women’ specifically, the Synodal process is all about that: Is the Church, is the world listening with the heart, to the cries of women today??

In the wake of the Franco Mulakkal’s case and the recent verdict by the trial

court, Sr. Nirmalini A.C. the President of the Conference of Religious of India (C.R.I.) has written a letter to Cardinal Oswald Gracias the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI). This letter is today in the common domain.

Among other things, Sr Nirmalini writes, “whatever the outcome of their appeal in the higher court, our serious concern now is, if the Church has a forum where religious women who suffer sexual abuse from their bosses, be they priests or bishops, can present their cases and where they would be heard sympathetically. As you know well, while the religious women are rendering incredible service in society and are the face of the Church, we have no power or jurisdiction. Where do we go?”. A plaintive cry from the women religious of India to be listened to!

Significantly, the Pope’s prayer intention for February 2022 is dedicated to religious and consecrated women. In a video message released at the beginning of

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the month, Pope Francis recognises the injustices religious women have to face even within the Church and strongly says “I invite them to fight when, in some cases, they are treated unfairly, even within the church; when they serve so much that they are reduced to servitude, at times, by men of the church”. Wow! Is one listening to what Pope Francis is saying?

In his message Pope Francis does not spare Church and calls for a Church with a listening heart. He says, “It is sad when, even in the Church, ideological alignments are formed and listening disappears, leaving sterile opposition in its wake.” In the final segment of his message, he emphasises the need and importance of “Listening to one another in the Church” emphasising, “in the Church, too, there is a great need to listen to and to hear one another. It is the most precious and life-giving gift we can offer each other…. Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by him who is himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the word of God” Interestingly, Pope Francis refers to the German Lutheran theologian Bonhoeffer, who was executed by the Nazis in 1945, “thus, the Protestant

theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us that the first service we owe to others in communion consists in listening to them. Whoever does not know how to listen to his brother or sister will soon no longer be able to listen to God either”. Strong words indeed if we have the courage to listen with the heart!

Pope Francis’ message is for all those who are entrusted with communicating through word and witness, the person and message of Jesus in today’s world! He shares a significant example, “A respected doctor, accustomed to treating the wounds of the soul, was once asked what the greatest need of human beings is. He replied: “The boundless desire to be heard”. A desire that often remains hidden, but those challenges anyone who is called upon to be an educator or formator, or who otherwise performs a communicative role: parents and teachers, pastors and pastoral workers, communication professionals and others who carry out social or political service”.

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Ultimately, he keeps his choicest words to so-called Catholic communicators, many of whom are frightened to be visible and vocal in standing up for truth and justice. Pope Francis urges them to develop their listening capacities. “Communication does not take place if listening has not taken place, and there is no good journalism without the ability to listen….in order to provide solid, balanced, and complete information, it is necessary to listen for a long time.

To recount an event or describe an experience in news reporting, it is essential to know how to listen, to be ready to change one’s mind, to modify one’s initial assumptions.”

called’ Catholic publications and portals will publish it in the context of the realities which grip India today!

The synodal process has begun; but one needs to be reminded, all the time, that ‘synodality’ will become effective and meaningful only when respectful listening is at the heart of everything! Today, in the country and in the Church, the people cry out for justice, liberty, equality, dignity and fraternity!

Do we have the compassion to listen to these cries with the ear of our heart and the courage to respond to them?

6 February 2022 (-Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a human It is highly unlikely that this message rights, reconciliation, and peace from the Pope will be popularised by activist/writer.

Contact: the hierarchy or the clergy and if ‘socedricprakash@gmail.com) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Philomena and Gilbert Lawrence Authors: Insights into Colonial Goa For information about the authors and the book click: → Insights into Colonial Goa. ----------------------------------------

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A visit to CT Scan !

by Antony Cony D Souza Who am I to suffer with God..! Is a difficult combination of words from religious vocabulary to human vocabulary. The subject has been disturbing my peace of mindever since I visited a CT scan dept. in Mangalore recently. I don’t know why I should have lighted upon this particular incident. Perhaps God put in me an effort consciously to know and to understand why these various forms of suffering we have to bear in this world before no more to bear.

In once life time, consciously or unconsciously, none must have failed to ask himself, 'why this suffering to me” ?.It is quite natural to ask such questions to ourselves while we are under certain tribulations. However, on other side of the shore there are many people who are not in a position to ask themselves ' why this suffering to me' ?.

Recently, I had accompanied one of my friend to one of the hospital in Mangalore for his body CT scan.

While generally calm atmosphere prevails while calling out patients' name one after other, suddenly one personaged around 22 years old stood up answering very loudly ‘yes I am he’ and started limping towards the CT scan room. My ears felt pain of his loud voice and my eyes moved towards his limping legs for he was an amputee. I inquired his care takers why he shouted so valiantly and how he became an amputee.

They answered me that by birth he is born insane, no one can take control of him nor he himself.Further they said, recently his one leg got fully crushed while he met a major accident.

After listing them patiently; impatiently I asked myself, ‘who is the author of his sufferings’.

By virtue of his great sufferings, it is really pity that he can't ask univocally himself 'why this

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suffering to me'. He is not in a position to reflect the causes of his imperfection and the pain which led devoid of his every happiness and peace since his birth. His sufferings are of multi dimension; physical, mental, spiritual, social. His life tragedy is so much that he is not in a position to express himself with others. His each phases of his life are unknown to him even though his body yarns for the unsatisfied urges from his childhood days to adolescent and now he is a youth, whose life continues in existential perplexity. Even if by some of his behavior he convince parents that he would like get marry but who would dare to ? How misfortune is his entire life, he has no love to give nor he understands to receive; such life even unknown to animals.

Again my question is ‘who is the author of his sufferings’ Marriage is a sacrament; we believe partners are made in heaven. Then why the heaven treats him differently. Is it because he is not in a position to understand God or pray withGod or does he pays for the hereditary sins ? Either of the case, it is true that he just as innocent as a child to whom usually

we call an angel. Furthermore, in case after his death he gets double portion of heaven than what was the purpose of his life long suffering which is equivalent to hell ?As we know, life is an one time affair in this world but he never knows where he spent his life, how he spent his life !.There are no words to describe the anguish being felt by such people who; our heart and prayers has to go out to them. It is indeed a human irony.

Such suffering of such people confronts us all with deep questions about the meaning and purpose of their life.

This is just one example out of numerous such sufferings captures the essence of a human tragedy.

Human tragedy is around us all the time — wars, political unrest, famines, minority bashing, race discrimination, slum life, refugees, natural disasters are occurring constantly. There are also many other tragedies such as petty injustices, violence, sickness, accident, and of course, the death of loved ones and our own. Indeed, life from these point of view is a succession of tragedies. Can anybody do anything about it ? Can we find a solution to these problem

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of our own? Even if political solutions could be found to all the crises in the world, even if poverty could be eradicated (impossible ?), suffering would still exist. People would still be subject to old age, sickness and death, to the grief of separation and the malaise. To all sufferings, men are just mute observers, helplessly bound to lookup to the sky, " Oh! God, WHY do you allow this to me?”

“Why” question goes back to thousands of years. It was asked in the Old Testament by Job and the writers of the Psalms, and it was especially relevant during the 20th century, where we witnessed two World Wars, the Holocaust, the emergence of Cancer and AIDS etc., and the 21st Century didn’t start any better.

There was 9/11, devastatinghuge cyclone, hurricane and Tsunami, impact of various forms of Terrorism, Syrian slaughters and so on.

Can you answer why such types of miseries strikes us if there’s a loving and powerful God? Why does he allows these kind of sufferings to his people?. Is the God author and finisher of our sufferings? If yes, why?

We do not have God’s mind nor we can stand in the shoes of God to have clear answers for we as we read in 1st Corinthians 13:12 says, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

Let us focus on overarching issue why God allows suffering in our lives. Some people ask, “Couldn’t God have foreseen all of this?”. Yes, he did but let’s apply a concrete analogy. Almost all parents, even before they had children, couldn’t they foresee that there could be the very real possibility that children may suffer disappointment or pain or heartache in life, or that they might even disobey them and walk away from them? Of course — but all still had kids. Why? Because you knew there was also the potential for tremendous joy and deep love and great meaning.

We make the choice either to run away from God or to embrace him till we are delivered from the crises.

Sufferings may cause one person to

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turn bitter, to reject God, to become hard and angry and sullen, but at the same time can cause another person to turn to God, to become more gentle and more loving, tender and caring. One philosopher had said: “I believe all suffering is at least potential good, an opportunity for good. It’s up to our free choice to actualize that potential. Not all of us benefit from suffering and learn from it, because that’s up to us, it’s up to our free will.”

Mental health matters'. Mental illness is real.I think this is the time to join the efforts on mental health stigma, social stigma by taking a heed from Bro. Joseph Crasta from Snehalaya, Ms. Corrine Rasquinha from White Doves, Bro. VC Paulose from Seon Ashram Belthangady also there could be few others too who through their Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Centres provide sanctuary to the destitute who are mentally challenged, i.e., down’s syndrome and stigma...have lost their mental balance and are found lost on the streets. These inmates irrespective of caste and creed are personally picked up by them and brought into their ashram and after recovery uniting them with their

families back home. Their seed of service comes from the word of God, 'How can you say you love God whom you cannot see if you cannot love your brother whom you can see.’

There is no bar becoming a destitute or a wanderer in the streets. Before few years, Mr. Joseph from Snehalayahad picked up a man from an isolated garbage area at Kankanady, who was once founder and director of Mission Avishkar Science Centre based at Kolhapur, Aurangabad and Goa and that he was a scientist from Aurangabad, Maharashtra. He claimed to have worked with the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. In fact, Dr.Kalam had even visited his Mission Avishkar Centre in February 2010 and interacted with children and staff. He too was reunited with his family after having recovered at Senehalaya.

In the society, stigma continues.

Let's be sympathetic to these cases !. Social stigma has caused people to look down on those with mental illness and it becomes a chain reaction where perceived stigma happens to the victims and treatment and recover is prolonged.

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Many assume that people with mental illness as 'insane', are 'weak and sick. But to me, these people are fighters and warriors who fight day to day battles and wars with their mind and still manage to face and survive the world?. Is this not a greatest quality of a struggling man ? They have a battles within themselves, a battle that cannot even be touched yet they are fighting being innocent children of God. We should not see people who commit suicide as selfish. In the first place, they wouldn't commit such acts if they didn't feel that they are alone by which they are losing the meaning of their very existence. It's true that understanding someone with a mental illness is a difficult task and it's common to say, 'He doesn't understand, he is mad, what I can do ?' but remember these people didn't choose to be like that.

Glad that they are not alone in this world but there are God's people around them who take care of them as I said above. Let's join in their mission too..

British church leader Galvin Reid tells about meeting a young man who had fallen down a flight of stairs as a baby and shattered his

back. He had been in and out of hospitals his whole life — and yet he made the astounding comment that he thinks God is fair. Reid asked him, “How old are you?” The boy said, “Seventeen.” Reid asked, “How many years have you spend in hospitals?” The boy said, “Thirteen years.” The pastor said with astonishment, “And you think that is fair?” And the boy replied: “Well, God has all eternity to make it up to me.”

There is another example from Ryan Pittman who is suffering from down syndrome. He struggled while he gave a speech and said, “ God made us different and I am different than you for I am suffering from down syndrome since my birth. Don't you know that yet we are all same for 'We All Need God'.

Pittman is right. We all need God even if we are hale and hearty or not. God promises a time when there will be no more crying, no more tears, no more pain and suffering, when we will be reunited with God in perfect harmony, forever. Let the words of First Corinthians 2:9 soak into our souls: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

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no mind has conceived what God sing "Our Father is in Heaven here has prepared for those who love with us, Holy is His Name, We are in him.” That’s absolutely breathHis Kingdom....." Faith is a precious taking, isn’t it?. No more prayers gift–and let it not become rare required there but only Praises to amongst us.

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India should tax agricultural income

(By Philip Mudartha) Writing my usual opinion essay for Veez Konkani, I mused that the rich farmers with active farm incomes must be taxed according to current tax rates. I opined that it is unfair to tax the senior citizens who eke out a living on their retirement savings.

After all, they have paid income tax through their working life of nearly forty years. However, I am aware

that senior citizens do not constitute an influential voter base unlike the farmers. Hence, the suggested tax reform will remain a pipe dream.

What some rich farmers earn: It is not right to club all farmers as poor or rich. Their incomes vary as much as those who have non-farm incomes. While many may be termed as poor, there is a class of farmers who should not be enjoying the exemption from paying income tax.

I provide a few anecdotal examples compiled by krishijagran.com, a web portal dedicated to Agriculture and allied issues: Pramod Gautam is a former automobile engineer.

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He transitioned to farming in 2006.

He now makes more than a crore each year after using a completely different gardening strategy.

Pramod left engineering in 2006 to pursue farming full-time on his 26acre ancestral property. Pramod encountered several obstacles in the beginning.

He planted groundnuts and turmeric but received unsatisfactory income.

Besides poor income, another major concern was that his employees were choosing to relocate to cities and work in manufacturing. Labor shortage led to higher labor costs.

To deal with such conditions, Pramod opted to move to alternative crops and new agricultural equipment that were less labor demanding.

Pramod shifted his focus fully to agriculture in 2007-08. He cultivated oranges, guavas, lemons, Toor Dal, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables. He established a farmmill. He sells both processed and raw pulses. He earns roughly Rs. 1 crore per year from his dal mill and an extra Rs 10- 12 lakh from his farm produce, which is far more than he earned as an engineer.

Sachin Kale is a former mechanical

engineer He left his cushy life as a power plant manager with an annual salary of 24 lakhs. He then became a farmer in 2013.

“Everything was a problem," he says, "since I had no idea about farming.

As a result, I had to learn everything from ploughing the ground to planting the seeds." He used his 15year-old provident money to launch a renewable energy model.

He founded his own firm in 2014 to assist farmers with the contract farming concept. Currently, his company is assisting 137 happy farmers who are working on 200 acres of land. He earns about Rs 2 crore a year.

Harish Dhandev is a former government officer.

He is a successful farmer who ranks third among India's top five wealthiest farmers. He began cultivating Aloe Vera in Rajasthan.

Following that, he made the decision to work on his ancestral estate in Jaisalmer.

Harish conducted his research online using services that connect farmers' ideas with agri-experts.

Harish discovered that if he explores for new industries and uses internet

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gateways to access national and international marketplaces, he may swiftly sell his products for a profit.

Harish's initial 80,000 trees rapidly grew to seven lakhs in six months.

He taught his laborers how to remove the Aloe Vera pulp, giving them a little additional money.

Harish has purchased more properties and now cultivates Aloe Vera on hundreds of acres. The annual income of his agri-firm, based 45 kilometers from Jaisalmer, ranges between Rs. 1.5 and 2 crores.

Ram Saran Verma is India's most prosperous farmer He has brought modern and successful farming methods to agriculture. He is the sole farmer in his state who delivers these approaches to tiny Indian farmers in rural areas. His agricultural methods have been studied and replicated throughout his state. In 2019, he was honored with the Padma Shri Award.

Rajiv Bittu is a professional Chartered Accountant A full-time farmer, he earns more money than his chartered accountancy practice. Firstly, he leased a property near Ranchi. Since he could not afford land rent, he

bartered a third of the vegetables he raised with the landlords. To maximize productivity on his farm, he adopted cutting-edge technology like drip irrigation and mulching.

Rajeev has leased 32 acres of the farm and grows brinjal, cucumber, watermelon, and a variety of other crops. He makes a profit of roughly Rs 15 lakh to 16 lakh per year.

A few anecdotal stories from my contacts list: 1. I know a “diversified farmer” in an Udupi village who earns more than I do. Yet, he does not pay income tax. Sources of his crop income includes horticulture (jasmine flowers), cash crops like coconuts, areca nut and rubber, spice crops like pepper, ginger and turmeric, assorted vegetables and banana. In addition, he rears two hybrid cows for commercial scale milking. He also keeps bees for honey harvesting. Further he owns two cars for renting out and an auto-rickshaw. The income from vehicles is all cash. All is “nonagriculture” income is clubbed as “agriculture income.”

2. Another former colleague, a metallurgical engineer, switched

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from a handsomely paying steelmaking floor manager job to farming. He had acquired 30 acres of dry land at attractive prices on which he set up his farm. He grows vegetables and seasonal fruits which are sold “at gate prices” to his contractors. Needless to say, he earns more as a farmer.

3. Another friend grows lemons, assorted green chilies and fresh herbs on his twenty-acre farm. The farm is irrigated from the local dam through a canal.

The water supply from the stateowned irrigation systems is yearround and free of cost. The electricity supply to the pumps is free too. Farmers connect their residential buildings on the farm to the free electrify supply network.

Thus, they spend nothing on water and electricity in their homes.

The definition of agriculture income: As per Section 2 (1A) in the Income Tax Act 1995 (ITA), agricultural income means any rent or revenue derived from land located in India, including rent on agricultural land and buildings, and is tax-exempt.

To qualify, it is essential to have two types of operations on the land, basic and subsequent. Basic

operations include classic farming operations like, tilling, sowing, planting, etc., and demands labor and skill to make the crop sprout.

Subsequent operations include weeding, digging, removal, tending, pruning, cutting, prevention from insects, pests, cattle, disease, etc., after the crop sprouts.

Under contract farming, a farmer could undertake many of these operations and qualify for income tax exemption. Under corporate farming, where the farmer is only leasing land and the corporate is performing basic and subsequent operations, the farmer continues to qualify for income tax exemption.

As per the clarification from the finance ministry on May 28, 2018, “Agriculturists are exempted from GST registration. Agriculturist has been defined to mean an individual or a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) who undertakes cultivation of land, by own labor or by the labor of family or by servants or wages payable in cash or kind or by hired labor under personal supervision or, the personal supervision of any member of the family.”

Processes carried out at an agricultural farm including tending,

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pruning, cutting, harvesting, drying, cleaning, trimming, sun drying, fumigating, curing, sorting, grading, cooling or bulk packaging and such like operations which do not alter the essential characteristics of agricultural produce but make it only marketable for the primary market are “farming activities.”

Therefore, income from such services is exempt from tax.

Services like loading, unloading, packing, storage or warehousing of agricultural produce are exempt from GST. Services by any Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) or Board or a commission agent for sale or purchase of agricultural produce are exempt from GST. Thus, definition of an “agriculturist” includes a large group of agribusinesses who neither pay income tax nor GST. Where I live in Navi Mumbai, there are APMC agents who earn several crores every year, own several personal SUVs and have lavish lifestyles but do not pay any taxes. Many such “agriculturists” club their income from nonagricultural sources as agricultural income and avoid payment of income tax.

Calls for income tax on “agriculture” income: Bibek Debroy, a member of the Niti Aayog said that agricultural income should be brought under the income tax net. “The eventual answer to expanding the tax base is to tax the rural sector, including agricultural income above a certain threshold,” he said on April 25, 2017.

The Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, Arvind Subramanian, also said that states can decide to tax agricultural income, but stressed the need to make a distinction between the rich and the poor farmer.

Following an outroar, (then) Finance Minister (late) Arun Jaitley categorically stated that the Centre had no plan to impose any tax on agriculture income. Under the separation of powers enshrined in the Construction of India, the Union Government has no power to tax “agriculturists” but can guide states in the matter.

What can be done?

Because of the constitutional exemption of farmers from paying taxes on their income, salaried class both serving and retired, receiving pension or not, and general

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businesses who meet the income threshold pay their taxes, while the wealthy farmer with several crores of “agriculture income” pays absolutely nothing.

This is not fair. Its fair that the rich “agriculturists” pay their share of the taxes. The tax to GDP ratio in India is around 10, while most liberal countries with fair income tax provisions have the ratio around 16.

The tax base must be enlarged and one of the ways is to tax rich “agriculturists”.

The right-wing BJP will soon complete two terms in office. It has the required strength of MPs (including its allies) to pass a constitutional amendment to bring agriculture in the Union List. BJP is the ruling party in more than 15 states, and hence ratification of the amendment by minimum of 15 states should not be a problem. All that BJP and PM Modi needs is political will to take on the political clout of rich farmers. *********** (Opinions expressed are personal) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

National Conference on Poetry ..... Yuva Parzall brochure were released by Dr.Jaywanth Nayak Co ordinator Konkani Adhyayana Peeta

on 10 February 2022. St.Aloysius College Registrar Dr.Alwyn D'sa given the introduction about the conference in our venue

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collaborated with Adhyayana Poet is conducting practical session Peeta. on Poetry followed by Video College Principal Rev.Dr.Praveen recorded Poetry & recorded Martis SJ congradulated both the konkani culture video will be judged institutions hosting a unique Lively!!! conference in the blended mode.

Yuva Parzall gives the spirit to youth Dr. Devadas Pai Co-ordinator MA to exhibit their talents on the floor konkani, Mrs. Flora Castelino with Live Music & Popular Lecturer were present on this Mr.Christopher D'Souza Ninasam occasion. Ms.Viola Lewis Secretary Direct the play for the Youths. welcomed & compeered the All this will take place in one Venue!! program.

Ms.Ashlin D'Souza So..... Come in large, encourage our secretary proposed the vote of youths. thanks.

This is hosted by St.Aloysius ******************* (Autonomous) College.

A national conference gives you This Competitions were held for more and more to learn about the College students. poetry & culture.

Further enquiry can contact given Mr.Melvyn Rodrigues a renowned numbers in the brochure.

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Mangaluru: Konkani web series 'Flat No 403' to premiere on Localwood on Feb 14 Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru Mangaluru, Feb 10: The muchawaited Konkani web series 'Flat No 403 Ben Morris', is all set to release in coastal regions exclusive OTT platform Localwood. The web series will premiere on Monday, February 14 at 6 pm.

The series is produced under Tomcat Productions owned by Jeevan D Souza, Angelore.

Known cine-serial director Stany Bela 58 Veez Illustrated Weekly

Mrs Meena and Godfather, Flat No 403 is Stany Bela's third directorial which casts all new artistes. Wellknown stage comedian and actor Sunil Bajal plays the lead role in this serial. Cine-drama artiste Salomi Bondel, singer-turned-actress Jancy Fernandes, Bajpe, Viola Permannur, Venus Loretto and Muriel Bendur are also featured for the first time in a serial. Kiran Kotian and Durga Kakkyapadav have worked as DOP for this project. Noel Puttur has handled the editing work. The postproduction was done at Daijiworld Audio Visual Pvt Ltd, Mangaluru.Serial lovers can watch the 'Flat No 403' by downloading the app Localwood from playstore or App store on Iphone. The App is also available in Amazon stick.

directed the web series along with script and screenplay. The series narrates common happenings in a middle class family. The entire plot is written around a family man named 'Benna' and his crazy children and relatives. After the great success of

Download the Localwood app using the below links: Android Users: https://play.google.com/sto re/apps/details?id=biz.atconline.lo calwood IOS Users: https://apps.apple.com/in/a pp/localwooddaijiworld/id1563895115 -----------------------------------------

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We were the children of ONE India

Wendy Dickson

I taught in a

Bangalore for most of my teaching premier women's college in career.

In my classroom, there were Hindu girls who wore their bindis, sacred ash, holy threads on their wrists etc.

There were also Hindu girls in Western clothing who came out in all their ethnic beauty for Ethnic Day and the next day came to class in jeans and t-shirts.

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On Onam, the whole college campus was a sea of beautiful cream and gold saris and jasmine flowers and sandal paste tilaks. Even the non-Malyalis like myself looked forward to turning out in our saris and mundus and we would order in Onam Saadya and enjoy it in the department during lunch break.

I have three beautiful Onam saris hanging in my wardrobe as reminders of those happy days of the past.

It was the same during Sankranthi...the driveway and corridors would be decorated with beautiful rangolis. For Ugadi, one of my department members, knowing my fondness for the traditional tilkadlai- jaggery- sugar candy mix, would make sure she brought an extra little packet of it for me.

There were Muslim girls, many of them in jeans and kurtis / salwarkameez etc and also many who wore the full hijab.

Many of them who did not wear the hijab could be seen, especially during Ramzan namaaz, covering

their heads with their dupattas when they heard the call to prayer...right in the middle of a lecture.

It was no big deal.

In fact, if and when I did happen to notice it while teaching, something in me felt a deep respect for those small signs of reverence for their prayer time that they showed in just covering their heads.

None of their fellow students, and, as far as I know, none of us teachers were disturbed by it.

It was just the thing they did and we respected that.

In the same classroom, student nuns could be seen wearing either the sari or the habit and veil, and all of them wearing a crucifix.

Christian students often wore a cross or rosary around their necks.

On Ash Wednesday you could tell who the Catholics were by the cross of ashes on their foreheads.

And ...they/ we all shared the same space, the same laughter, the same

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exam stress, the same enjoyment of fests, the same boredom during boring lectures and the same interest during good ones.

They / we all dived enthusiastically into each others' lunch boxes to sample different cuisines from different backgrounds.

They/ we sat at the same tables in the cafeteria and simply enjoyed being together.

From the happy, raucous laughter and palpable sense of youthful joy, I doubt many / any were discussing religion.

The food fests were the BEST. You would have the popular chaat stalls, the much sought after biryani counters, where mutton, chicken and veg biryani were available, the kaati roll counters were hugely popular too, as were the momo counters run by the sweet and gentle students from the North East.

With Hindus , Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Jains, and those who

didn't specifically adhere to any religious belief or symbolism sharing the same benches, imbibing the same knowledge, while sporting their different traditional dresses and religious symbols (or no obvious symbol at all), our classrooms were mini melting-pots of Indian diversity.

And it was WONDERFUL. Our teaching and non-teaching departments were made up of men and women who worked together as colleagues and team-mates, even as most of us wore some symbol of our personal religious beliefs, even if it were just a wedding ring on the left hand or a mangalsutra..

So many non-Catholic and nonChristian lecturers and students would attend the Christian prayer service / Mass celebrated on campus for special occasions.

And they attended by choice, and with great reverence, many even covering their heads with their dupattas/ saris while that was not and is not required even of those of us who were / are Christian.

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We simply respected each other.

Why is all this becoming so important now...why are we marking each other by religion and caste etc?

When did we stop respecting the fact that as Indians we are the same despite our differences of faith and ethnicity?

When did we start taking offence more often than giving respect?

nonsensical non-issue of Muslim girls and their right to wear the headscarf/hijab to school.

I copy-pasted it here.

I expect to be trolled, on the other page, for this comment.

And undoubtedly, crudely, as has been done in the past, on that same page, both for my name and the image that is my profile pic.

It's ok.

I just posted this comment of mine on a public page which has carried a report on this ongoing,

That too is an insight into this idea of "New India".

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Hema Hardikar – the Nightingale of India *By Tino de Sa*

How Hema Hardikar came to be called Lata Mangeshkar – the name by which the world knows her – is a fascinating story that begins in the village of Mardol, just eleven kilometres from my own native village of Divar, in Goa. On the outskirts of Mardol is the Mangeshi temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Mangesh or Manguirish. The deity had been shifted here in 1560 when the Portuguese occupied Kushasthali (now Cortalim, on the banks of the Zuari), and in course of time a

magnificent temple was constructed unlike any other in India, its unique architecture with its domes, tiled roof, balustrades and balconies is typically Goan, reflecting a blend of Christian and Muslim elements in an overall traditional Hindu layout, but different from temple buildings elsewhere, in that it is bright, airy and spacious, its mahamandapa adorned with chandeliers and large windows topped by Gothic trefoil arches.

In this temple town lived a Karhade Brahmin bhatt or temple priest by the name of Ganesh Hardikar in the late 1800s. Also in the temple lived a devdasi by the name of Yesubai, who sang and danced before the deity on festival days. At the turn of the century, in 1900, a son was born to Ganesh and Yesubai, and they named him Deenanath. Deenanath was very

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talented, excelling in music and whom they named Latika. Alas, the singing. He felt that Mardol was too infant died, and soon after her small to contain his talent and that mother too passed away. A he would do better in drama, distraught Deenanath married his because of which, in 1920, he sister-in-law, Shevanti. In 1929 he shifted to Pune, with its thriving were again blessed with a daughter Marathi stage. In an attempt to whom he named Hema. But in retain his links with his childhood memory of his eldest child Latika, temple town he took to calling who had died in infancy, he used to himself Mangeshkar instead of call Hema Lata – and the name Hardikar. stuck.

At 22 he met and married the And that is how Hema Hardikar daughter of a rich businessman, and grew up as Lata Mangeshkar. The they were blessed with a daughter, rest is history.

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Forgive Me

-- Guadalupe Dias

O Konkani Maye

Some of your offspring Bear venom in their hearts And flowers on their lips Though their feet are intact They limp with crutches We are all one,

sans discrimination Sweet words uttered on stage Nurture little vipers behind the curtain Spitting subtle rage Knowing well that the Biboy incites irritating itchiness They offer its twig as a gift

And pretending to be saviors present the kokum rind on the other palm.

O Konkani Maye Today history repeats itself Your Roman script is

slaughtered a second time…

Every alphabet is left speechless.

(Translation of the Konkani poem "Maaf Kar" by Glenis Mendonca ) 67 Veez Illustrated Weekly

With a pinch of salt: (1) (A well-known writer, director, dramatist, ex-editor

DaijiWorld Weekly, community activist and my best friend Stephen Mascarenhas, (well known as Hemacharya) brings back his famous writings. I

welcome him to Veez Illustrated Weekly. – Editor)

20 Point program for Religious Conversion On a sunny day, I was surprised to find our dog Tarzan reading from a well bounded folder, that looked like a party manifesto.

“What is it” I asked him.

“It’s a 20 point program” “Don’t remind me of 20 point program of Indira Gandhi. I am already done with it,” I said, then added - “Devraj Urs was the only honest Chief Minister who religiously lived by it. Others including Indirajis own son Sanjay Gandhi exploited many of the points in the program” “You have a point there” said the dog. “Each program is worth its implementation. But for your kind

information, this program has nothing to do with Indiraji nor her party. I am the proud author of this document and I have spent considerable time drafting it. It’s a commandment for religious harmony and conversion, and I have prepared it after watching the recent atrocities on weaker sections like us.”

“Don’t again utter that word called ‘Conversion’” I cautioned my dog.

“Already that word has caused enough damage to our semi civilized society.”

“First you read this document, ” – insisted my dog passing over the folder to me, then said, “By now I

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have realized that human beings are fed up with their own program, hence I thought of its relevance/ Per say, I am sure you like it.”

Honestly, I had never expected our dog to be so sensible and sensitive towards our issues. I wondered why our otherwise religiously sensitive Religious did not think about a program, whether 20 or 10. Since I was quite impressed with the points I would like to share them with our readers: The title read: 20 point program for religious conversion and communal harmony, Author: Tarzan, the dog 1. If you are leading a graceful life yourself, then pass on your compassion around your neighbourhood, (including the dogs, cats or donkeys) in your society. You will win their faith in you. It’s not important to which religion, sect or community you or they belong.

2. If you have invited a lower caste or down trodden person to your house over a cup of tea, make sure you have served the tea in a

decent cup, the one similar to yours.

(Gone are the day serving tea in coconut shells, etc. Recall the days you made them drink tea sitting outside hotels/ If you cannot afford another melamine cup then better you also use a coconut shell to show solidarity.

3. At times, make an effort to hold the hands of your servant or a daily wage labourer who comes to clean your toilet or cow shed. You will soon observe a sense of conversion in him. If not, join the labourer in carrying the shit outside your house. He may not mention or indicate, but I bet he has already judged the power of your faith or religion.

4. When you are driving down the uptown market in your brand new Scorpio four wheeler offer a lift to your neighbour if you see him walking. By doing this, you have already converted him. But don’t make a mistake by offering a lift to a younger of another religion. You will be blamed for her conversion.

5. If you’re a religious person, learn the language of majority; else you will be termed as a foreigner in your own homeland.

6. If you’re celebrating Christmas,

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Eid or a Divali, invite the guests from the other communities. You can invite and feed your own people anytime later. (But don’t forget the dogs and cats. It is a sin to feed them after all have left. There may not have enough left-over food.!)

7. Don’t restrict your children to stay and play within the walls of your compound. Let them be friends with other people from different sects and communities.

You will find your neighbours coming to the rescue of your children when in trouble. If your children came up with an inter-caste marriage proposal, jump and grasp that opportunity. You will be happy to find a great number of communities living in your own household. Follow the example of George Fernandes, the king maker.

8. Don’t explain the greatness of your religion or the beauty of your prayer to your neighbour. They may have already observed this in your attitude. Chances are that while your prayers have remained within the pages of your book, they are happily practicing every word of it – without your knowledge.

9. If you’re a religious head committed to work for the welfare

of humanity - shun your comforts and luxuries. Live like a sage. You cannot profess faith by living in a five star luxury. Do away with your imported Rolex, Lap tap computer, Honda Suzuki - whom ever may have gifted them to you. You are not going to convert anyone if your bathrooms have marble tiles imported from Italy, for you have not converted yourself, yet. (Who will take care of your own salvation?)

10. If you’re committed to preach the Word of God, save your time reciting the same prayer day and night. At times we find the language of God being quite funny and strange; it may not comprise of too many words and sentences; it may be simply emanating from your heart. Say that prayer.

11. Don’t ever criticize other religion or their faith. Perhaps you were not aware of the fact that they are saying your own prayer, but in a different language, the language which you have failed to learn.

12. Whenever you come across an unemployed youth roaming around the streets, help him find a job. Else he will be without direction in life

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and worst, his services may be utilized by religious bigots or anti social elements. Before they convert them you do.

13. Encourage your children to opt for lucrative jobs in civil, legal or police force, instead of pushing them across the sea off to Canada, Australia, if not to the Gulf.

14. Organise religious events in your house, in your compound and you stay behind the stage. Let them share the fun and they will call you as a good leader. Learn from Sonia Gandhi. Even if you fail to convert anyone, the dust and dirt from your house would be gone at their cost and effort.

15. When someone calls for help in your neighborhood, be the first one to jump. Don’t pretend as if you’re too busy. If you do this, neighbours would do the same when you scream for help.

16. Please don’t paint people from any religion in red. There are black sheep’s everywhere.

Recognize and respect the black sheep. The one who hates other religion has already relinquished his/hers.

17. Don’t involve politicians when you have a problem. They will have their own agenda. You may end up

pouring petrol to the fire. Involve the people whom you trust and ask them – How can we together prevent this situation from happening again?

18. Don’t blame the police. They are simply obeying the orders from their masters. And their masters listen to their masters and so on.

That depends to which political party is in power.

19. If you notice anti social elements playing wild game in the name of football in your society, share the information with the local police and be prepared to sign as a witness.

20. And the last but not the least, if you think nothing will work in this country after adhering to 19 points above, don’t panic – there is a Protector of world peace and freedom, in waiting – the American Big Brother. He has nothing much to do. And he loves two things on this planet - poverty and unemployment.

(I regret any reference to any person, dead or alive. The points were gathered from the comments received on a popular website. Also I am sorry about my spelling

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mistakes and bad language as it was my master who converted me to this language – Tarzan, the dog) (First published in ---------------------------------------

www.daijiworld.com - November 12, 2008) Stephen Mascarenhas Hemacharya --------------------------------------

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16 achievers including Melvyn Rodrigues to be conferred

Sandesha Awards Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru With Inputs from Media Release

Sandesha, Fr Ivan Pinto and Roy Castelino, the trustees of the institute shall be the guests.

Mangaluru, Feb 8: Sandesha Foundation trustee Roy Castelino announced the names of 16 achievers including a trust who will be awarded the annual Sandesha Awards.

Addressing media at a press meet, he said, “This year's award programme shall be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 5.30 pm at Sandesha institute ground. Dr. Henry D'Souza, bishop of Bellary and chairman of the Institute shall preside over the function. Dr P Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya, vice chancellor of Mangalore University will be the chief guest. Shashi Kumar, IPS, commissioner of police, mangaluru will be the guest of honour. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore and Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi, Fr Francis Assisi Almeida, director of 73 Veez Illustrated Weekly

“The 16 achievers who will be conferred with the awards are Baraguru Ramachandrappa, Amar Konkani, Dr Sunitha Shetty, Nagesh Hegde, Meena Rebimbus, Avithas Adalphus Cutinha (Dolla), Lakshman Saab Chauri, and Samarthanam Trust for the year 2021 and Rahmath Tarikere, Melvyn Rodrigues, B K Gangadar Kirodian, Dr T C Poornima, Alwyn Noronha, Kasaragod Chinna, Dr P K Rajashekar, and Sa R Raghunath for 2022.

“Valerian Rodrigues is the president of Sandesha Awards jury, and Dr B S Talwadi, Dr Na Da Shetty, Concepta Alva, Chandrakala Nandavar and Mohammed Baddur are part of the jury,” he said.

Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education is an educational institution which trains students at various levels in music, dance, art and 74 Veez Illustrated Weekly

painting. It also conducts courses in journalism, media education, public speaking and other similar courses. It organises workshops on drama, poetry and other related subjects. It brings together people of all walks of life.

'Sandesha Award' programme is an important event of Sandesha Foundation. It is to appreciate and recognize outstanding and value based contributions made by various personalities through Literature, Journalism, Arts, Education, Music, Media and Social Service.

Fr Francis Assisi Almeida, director, Sandesha Foundation and manager Simon D’Souza were present.

Sandesha Awardees 2021 Sandesha Literature Award (Kannada) – Baraguru Ramachandrappa Sandesha Literature Award (Konkani) Amar Konkani Sandesha Literature Award (Tulu) – Dr Sunitha Shetty Sandesha Media Award - Nagesh Hegde Sandesha Konkani Music Award Meena Rebimbus

Sandesha Art Award - Avithas Adalphus Cutinha (Dolla) Sandesha Education Award Lakshman Saab Chauri Sandesha Special Award Samarthanam Trust Sandesha Awardees 2022 Sandesha Literature Award (Kannada) - Rahmath Tarikere Sandesha Literature Award (Konkani) - Melvyn Rodrigues Sandesha Literature Award (Tulu) – B K Gangadar Kirodian Sandesha Media Award – Dr T C Poornima Sandesha Konkani Music Award Alwyn Noronha Sandesha Art Award - Kasaragod Chinna Sandesha Education Award – Dr P K Rajashekar Sandesha Special Award – Sa R Raghunath

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Bishop blesses and felicitates re-elected

Superior General of Bethany and General Councillors 12-Feb-2022 9:31:19:am MANGALORE, FEB 12: Sr Rose Celine BS, re-elected Superior General of Bethany along with the elected General Councillors met Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore on February 12, 2022 at the Bishop's house this morning.

Sr Rose Celine BS was re-elected by the XVII General Chapter of ‘The Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany’ (Bethany Sisters) at Bethany Motherhouse, Bendore on February 11, 2022. She will continue to head the congregation for another term of six 76 Veez Illustrated Weekly

years. She hails from St Antony’s parish, Fermai, Mangalore Diocese.

Sr Shanthi Priya BS (assistant superior general), Sr Mariette BS, Sr Santosh Maria BS and Sr Sandhya BS are the newly elected general

councillors who will be assisting the Superior General in her mission.

Bishop blessed felicitated them.

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them

and

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Ohio Governor recognizes Indian American on

Human Trafficking Task Force

Governor Mike DeWine in his recent progress on Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force Report featured crusader Harold D’Souza resident of Blue Ash, Cincinnati on what community members can do to prevent human trafficking.

Inspirational ‘Survivor-Advocate’ Harold D’Souza an Indian American,

has definitely exemplified how survivors can thrive irrespective of the challenges faced during pandemic.

In January 2021, Governor DeWine signed Executive Order 2021-02D to create a stronger and more comprehensive response to human trafficking. The order expanded the

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Governor’s Human Trafficking Task Force by adding five additional state agencies to assist in pursuing multisystem strategies to combat human trafficking.

The new Task Force agencies include: The Ohio Department of Commerce, Department of Developmental Disabilities, Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Department of Transportation and The State Medical Board of Ohio. The Ohio Task Force Agencies is comprised of fourteen Agencies.

Harold D’Souza is an Ohio resident and a strong partner of the Governor’s Human Trafficking Task Force.

Today, Harold D’Souza President of Eyes Open International (EOI) is focused on a ‘EOI Freedom Survey’ on expungement of felonies for labor trafficking victims. Harold’s dream project is to open a male shelter for labor trafficking victims.

If you or anyone you know is a victim of labor or sex trafficking call1-888-373-7888 the National

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Human Trafficking Hotline in America. In Ohio dial 513-800-1863.

Simple recipe of chicken masala which is quick, easy and tasty. When you are busy need to cook chicken pls follow below recipe

1) 1 kg chicken cut into small pieces

Recipe to cook chicken masala

3) 2 medium tomatoes peel off skin and finely chopped

simple

2) 4 medium chopped/sliced

onions

finely

4) 1 tbsp each fresh ginger and garlic finely chopped/crushed 5) 3-4 cloves 6) 1 inch cinnamon stick Ingredients :

7) 1 tsp chilli powder

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8) 1 tbsp coriander powder

* Add finely chopped ginger garlic and sauté well for a minute

9) 1 tsp cumin powder 10) 1 tsp black pepper powder 12) 1/2 tsp garam masala powder

* Add onion and fry till golden brown * Add chicken stir well and fry on high flame for 5 mins

13) 1/2 tsp turmeric powder * Reduce the flame and add tomatoes, stir well and cook until tomatoes become soft and mushy

14) 2 tbsp oil 15) bunch of finely chopped coriander leaves for garnishing 16) salt as per taste

* Meantime roast for a while on low flame chilli powder, coriander powder and cumin powder until raw smell goes and get a nice fried aroma * Add salt and mix well

Method : * Wash chicken nicely and keep aside to drain water completely * Take a cooking vessel and heat oil * Add cloves and cinnamon stick fry for a while

* Add roasted masala, garam masala, pepper powder and turmeric powder, stir well and add 2 cups of hot water, stir well, cover the lid and cook until chicken cooked well (approx 10 mins) * Switch off flame and garnish with coriander leaves * Serve hot with chapatis, naan, jeera rice or any roti’s as per your

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choice

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M JESSY DSOUZA ️Black Pomfret Urad Methi Curry | Halwa Curry | Maanji Curry

Fish meal of the day with Black pomfret urad methi curry, boiled rice & veggies.

Today's Mangy special, flavoursome

INGREDIENTS:

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sprinkle salt, lime juice and keep aside.

Heat 1/2 tsp oil, stir fry rice, methi and urad dal remove keep aside. Same pan add 1 sliced onion and fry.until golden brown, dry roast chilli, pepper corn and remove. Dry roast grated coconut with turmeric.

1 big black pomfret 1/2 cup fresh or desiccated Coconut 1 Onion + 1/2 for seasoning 1- 2 Green chilli 1 pc Ginger chopped 6 Kashmiri chillis 3 Bedgi chilli 10 Pepper corns 1 tsp Cumin 1 tbsp Coriander 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder Small ball of tamarind Pinch of roasted rice 1/4 tsp Urad dal 8 - 10 Funugreek seeds or as required.

1 tomato 2 tbsp Coconut oil Salt to taste METHOD: Clean, cut halwa into pcs. Wash,

Grind coconut, red chillis, cumin, coriander, tomato, onion, turmeric powder and tamarind into fine paste. Now add methi, urad dal and rice to the same paste. Grind once more.

Take kadai, add oil once hot add remaining sliced onion, chopped ginger and green chilli, add ground masala, add water and salt. Once start boiling add halwa pcs, wait for simmer. See the taste and off the gas.

NOTE: Adjust all ingredients as per your taste & spice control. Specially chilli increase or decrease.

Add extra kasmiri chilli for bright

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colour or use only bedgi chilli.

Reduce qty of chilli for lighter colour. I hv used less coconut for this curry. You can adjust as per your requirement.

Same recipe you can use for Bangda|Mackerel curry & tastes awesome ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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