Dnc Times - March - 2015

March 2015March 201502
he role and status of women in society has been
a topic greatly overlooked for centuries.
Women have been considered subordinate toTmen and have rarely enjoyed equal status with men in
the important sectors of life. They have been treated as
lesshumaninalargelypatriarchalworld.
However, the role and expectations of women
have changed over time. This change and growth can
be seen in many ways as expressed in the legal system,
human rights and fairness of opportunity. Still the
numerous incidents of gender-based discrimination
and violence tell us that despite many efforts we have a
long way to go to see a world where men and women
liveas equals.
Pope Francis recently called for a greater
presence of women in the decision-making areas of the
church. He recognizes the need to ensure women that
they are not guests, but full participants in the various
spheres of the life of society and the church. Men and
women tend have different qualities and attributes.
These differences should not be used as tools to
suppress and stereotype women. The church and
society need all of these diverse gifts. Society and the
church should ensure that women have choices that
helpthemdeveloptheirtalentsandleadershiproles.
The famous British actress and UN
ambassador for women, Emma Watson, in her famous,
“he for she” speech mentions that men are also victims
of gender stereotypes. She points to the commonly
held beliefs about masculinity and masculine ideals
that force men to
adopt a dominant,
a g g r e s s i v e ,
controlling, and
sexualized version of
masculinity. These
ideals of masculinity
make even normal
men take a defensive
stand vis-à-vis gender
discrimination. As
Watson rightly puts it,
gender issues are not
just the issues of
women alone; they
are the issues of men
also.
The question for all men of understanding and
openness would be, 'how are we going to contribute to
the welfare of women and their struggle for dignity?'
How can we build a society which can be proud of its
women? How are we going to take up this mantle so that
our own daughters, sisters, mothers can be free from
prejudices?
This edition of DNC Times dwells on the theme
-Women. We have a number of write ups which focus
on the life, the charisma, and the struggles of women.
The opinion polls and poems are an absolute delight to
read.
It is also an honour and a joy for us to receive
article from Sunitha Krishnan and to have an inspiring
interview from Teesta Setalvad. These women will
ever be remembered
as inspirations in the
history of India for
their dedicated lives
andcourageousacts.
Apart from
this, we also dedicate
a section of this issue
to focus on the
ongoing attacks on
ChristiansinIndia.
I wish you a
very engrossing
reading of this
edition on Women. I also invite you to break your
culture of silence against any form of injustice and
violence that we perceive in the world, be it against
women or whoever else. Let us together strive to build a
betterhumanitywhereallarecaredfor andrespected.
The ideas expressed in this E-magazine
are the opinions of individual writers.
is not responsible
for any ideological conflicts.
DNC Times
The ideas expressed in this E-magazine
are the opinions of individual writers.
is not responsible
for any ideological conflicts.
DNC Times
EditorialEditorial
Sharath George, SJ
www.dnctimes.comwww.dnctimes.com

feel blessed as I have had the honour of meeting
the worst as well as the best of men in my personal
and professional life.I Rescuing thousands of
women and children from sexual slavery, I have heard
millions of stories of the brutality of men. Buying sex
from an anonymous person gives so much of freedom
and guts to do whatever one's sadistic mind can
fantasize about - from pouring chilli powder into the
woman's vagina, burning with cigarettes or cigars, to
tying the woman to a bedpost and whipping her.
Anything and everything seems possible in paid sex. I
always thought that in a marriage or in a love
relationship a lot of restraint is exercised. Today that
toois doubtful.
I have also met the best of men on this planet.
My father was my strength throughout my childhood
and as a young adult. He encouraged me to follow my
heart never imposing any personal dreams as
expectation despite the fact that I was his favorite child
and had all the qualities to make his dreams come true.
In my early twenties I met my mentor and friend Br
Jose, who was instrumental in guiding me to establish
the proactive intervention 'Prajwala'. Br Jose was an
example to all the victims we rescued that all men are
not abusers. And then I met Rajesh my soul mate and
husband; a secure man whose greatest happiness was
and still is the growth of his wife.Words are inadequate
to explain the extraordinary role Rajesh is playing in
strengthening my activism and my interventions.
Oneday when I was fed up with the repeated threat
calls I was getting, I asked Raj 'if I am killed by these
p e o p l e w h a t w i l l y o u d o ? '
The answer I got was, “It will be an honour for
me if you are killed while rescuing a child." After
seeing and understanding the best and the worst I am
realizing more and more that there is a need to bring all
the best together and create a counter movement to
reduceorbetterstilleradicatetheworst.
My faith was further reinforced and received a
new direction with an incident that happened on my
recent trip to the US.After my presentation to a group of
200 Indians and Americans, I found one gentleman
giving me strange stares. After all the participants left I
found this man still sitting there. And then reluctantly
he came to where I stood.Automatically I went forward
to shake his hand with 'thank you' on the tip of my
tongue (that is what I was doing for the better part of one
hour). The man held my hand and broke down. I was
bewildered and confused. And then softly he said "I
have raped a lot of children. I went to Cambodia and Sri
Lanka for them." I was numbed, no words would come
out. How does one react to such a statement? In silence I
held his hand and slowly I told him to seek help. For
four days I tossed and turned, my sleep lost with this
strange incident. For years I had held only anger and
bitterness against all perpetrators and now I have one
who is seeking my energy to heal him. What does one
do in a moment like this? And then he sent me an email
sharing with me how his father started sexually abusing
him from the age of four, and how by the time he was
seven he started enjoying the abuse, and by the age of
fifteen became a powerful person in a household of
eight as he was his father's pet. In his adult life he
wanted to recreate the same pleasure and that is how he
startedabusinglittlekids.
This incident transformed me forever. For the
first time I realized that maybe working with
perpetrators is also a tool for prevention and
empowerment.
Involving Men
To Be a Part of the Solution
Involving Men
To Be a Part of the Solution
Sunitha Krishnan
“I am fighting for a new world order,
a world where there’s no violation
of any human being.”
“I am fighting for a new world order,
a world where there’s no violation
of any human bein .”g
Article
Sunitha KrishnanSunitha Krishnan
An Indian social activist, chief functionary
and co-founder of ‘Prajwala’, a non-governmental
organization that rescues, rehabilitates and
reintegrates sex-trafficked victims into society.
An Indian social activist, chief functionary
and co-founder of ‘Prajwala’, a non-governmental
organization that rescues, rehabilitates and
reintegrates sex-trafficked victims into society.

March 2015March 2015o4
he very topic,Women and Church – is in itself
provoking and hints at a need for reflection on
Tthe self understanding of the church,
especially in relation to women. Theologically, the
church is nothing but a community of disciples of Jesus
Christ. Church is also defined as the people of God.
Within this framework of the church being people of
God how do we understand the place and role of
women in the church? and the place and role of women
inthechurch?
Over the years and centuries, because of
several political and historical factors, the church has
taken on a very patriarchal image. To re-phrase this
image is to restore the human face of the church which
entails recovering the feminine dimension of being
church. The second aspect with regard to women and
the church is to reconstruct the structure of the church.
And here again concerning the structure of the church,
it is about deconstructing gender boundaries, for we
are aware that boundaries normally divide and
exclude. Hence we need to break down gender
boundaries and transcend them. Thirdly, retrieve
Christ's vision for the church, and this vision is none
other than that of being a community of equal
discipleship, a Church that is egalitarian and inclusive,
as Pope Francisoftensays.
In this regard, I believe that there is a need for
an alternate mode of authority because culture, society
and religion have determined how authority has to be
exercised in the family, in the society, religion and the
church as well. If authority is viewed as something that
is life giving, it is reciprocal and dialogical. But if
authority is understood as a kind of up-down, ladder
style of functioning, then it creates a superior-inferior,
a master-subject style of functioning in the church.
When authority is understood and exercised as an
authoritarian form of functioning, it affects the whole
structureandlifeofthechurch.Itparticularlyaffects
the place of women in the church because women have
always been viewed as being in the lowest rung of this
hierarchical structure. Here I would say, women have
something to contribute towards the understanding of
authority, especially when we look at the imagery of
motherhood.
Pope Francis speaks much about this, about
religious men and women being fathers and mothers.
We need to understand who we are as men and women,
as religious men and women, as consecrated people.
Maternity has to be understood from the perspective of
motherhood, which is life giving and relational, like
that of a mother and child. This aspect is essential for
both men and women if we want to understand the place
and role of women in the church and if we want a church
of equal discipleship. From this point of view,
deconstructing the socio-cultural and religious gender
constructs and gender stereotypes, creating gender
sensitivity and promoting an alternate mode of
authority will enable us to restructure the church as one
of partnership and equal discipleship. I think the best
example of this partnership is God himself; God
enteringintoapartnershipwithhumankind.
God, our father and mother, entrusted a double-
mission command to humankind - to increase and
multiply LIFE and to protect and take care of LIFE
(Gen. 1: 26-28). He invites us to be co-creators with
Him in His plan of Creation and partners with Him in
his mission of giving life and love. With the 'Fall' when
human and cosmic relationship was ruptured and God's
life-giving mission impeded, God once again enters
into a partnership with humankind. He calls and
chooses men and women (Abraham/Sarah,
Jacob/Rachel, prophets/prophetesses, Kings/queens,
men and women leaders – Moses/Miriam, etc.) to
participate with Him in his plan of salvation. He now
inviteshumankindtobeco-restorersofHis lifeand
Women and Church TodayWomen and Church Today
Evelyn Monteiro, SCC
Article

love. Jesus himself who called both men and women
to continue his Kingdom mission is a model to us. He
willed the same for the Church that he founded. If we
have to continue Jesus' Kingdom mission (Jn 10:10;
Lk 4:16-18) and fulfil God's plan of salvation and his
creative plan of sharing of His life and love, we need to
follow God's/Christ's model of partnership. This calls
for a communion model of being church, which was
given to us at Vatican II. Church as communion
implies involving women in the life and mission of the
Church; in the proclamation of the good news of the
Kingdom of God. This does not necessarily mean
preaching from the pulpit. But why not? Women can
proclaim the good news from their perspective which
will complement the male perspective. We need both
ininterpreting,understandingandlivingGod'sWord.
In this context, I would like to underline that
women's experience of God is different and distinct
from that of men. Both are important, both are
significant. But unfortunately, women's experience of
God is not articulated and not even written about. This
is a significant missing link in our Christian heritage in
the church. A woman's expression of her God
experience; expression of her faith is distinct and
unique.This is an important aspect that we need to take
note of. Women's experience of God, women's
expression of their God experience, women's
interpretation of the Word of God are expressions of
the feminine ethos, which will complement that of the
male and give a more holistic understanding of being
church. Likewise, we will also have to include the
feminine dimension in spirituality, theology and
liturgy.
Another aspect of re-constructing our way of
being Church is to form women leaders in the church
and recognize their competence, intelligence,
creativity andpotentialityforleadership.
As in the apostolic times, women are called to be co-
workers and co-leaders in the life and mission of the
church. St Paul has done it in his time. This somehow is
not happening in our church in India. If women are
accepted as co-workers and collaborators and not sub-
workers, it will retrieve the biblical understanding of
being church, the communion way of being church.
This would be a more credible way of witnessing to the
Kingdom of God and of fulfilling God's mission of
sharingHis lifeandlove.
The contemporary world speaks so much about
globalisation, a world that is moving towards becoming
a global village crossing boundaries of cultures,
civilisations and even gender barriers. But why is this
not happening in the church in India? The church is part
of the society; the church is part of the whole global
system. To bring about this essential change in mindset,
attitudes and gender relationship, we need to include
women formators, spiritual directors, counsellors,
professors along with men in houses of
religious/seminary formation and in philosophates and
theologates. This would ensure the feminine dimension
inpriestlyformation,eveninhumanformation.
In the same vein, we also need to emancipate
and empower women, especially from the lower social
and economic strata; those who are marginalised and in
the periphery. Because these are the silenced and
forgotten women - the Dalit women, the tribal women,
the rural women; these are the women who must be
empowered and 're-membered' in order to have a
church of equal discipleship. Re-imaging the role and
place of women will enable us to retrieve the human
face of the church. This depends both on men and
women to recognise who women are and what women
cancontributetowardsthechurchandsocietytoday.
Sr Evelyn MonteiroSr Evelyn Monteiro - teaches theology( Mariology
& Ecclesiology) at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune.
Women and Church TodayWomen and Church Today
Article
Evelyn Monteiro, SCC

woman is unique in her own way just as a
man is unique in his own way. Both are
humans created in the image of God, andAJesus is the prototype of that image. Jesus had a very
positive understanding of the status and role of women
in society. Women cannot in every way be equal to
men, nor can men measure up to women in all that they
are and do. Yet, put together, they live out a beautiful
and harmonious existence. Therefore an empowered
woman carries herself with a smile and with an air of
confidence. There is gentleness in her action, warmth
in her dealing with others, and she walks the distant
mile with courage. By her call to equal discipleship
she does not fight or demand for her rights. Rather she
stands firm for her rights not with aggression but with
firmness, patience, love, and endurance. An ideal
woman is a woman of
doubt, a woman of
q u e s t i o n i n g a n d
seeking. She seeks to
be a part of the Church
not with her ego thrust
forth, not seeking
position or power, but
by the fact of her being
a w o m a n . H e r
creativity unfolds in
her power to influence
not by rules but by her
very quality as a
woman, a sister, a
daughter, a mother.
She is a woman of
c o m p a s s i o n , o f
listening, and is one
who is able to share and reflect. She has that magnetic
power to attract others by her qualities and by her very
being.
What does a woman look for in her male
counterpart? She looks not for equality in terms of
power but rather for recognition, dignity, and respect
for humanity in which both women and men are
complementary partners. Every man has that feminine
quality in him; some have this explored better, some
less. It is the integration of both sides that make a man
a real man. Therefore men and women need one
another as co-partners in this journey of life. The
Christianfeministsknow thatoneoftheprinciplesof
feminism is to step over boundaries, to reach out, to
listen, and to demand respect and dignity in the process.
Feminism does not set out to create boundaries. Rather
it aims at strengthening mutual respect and dignity.And
only a solid spiritual life can provide this depth and
strength. We need to recall and believe that God has
created us in two sexes, in multiple colors, and in
various parts of the globe. Yet, all own the moon. We
need to realize that alone we can do nothing. Together
wecanwork wonders.
Furthermore, what prevents a woman from
being empowered is not merely the discrimination she
suffers, but her own attitudes towards herself and other
women. We hear so much of injustice done to women
by society. What is this
society? Society is both
men and women. Hence
women are discriminated
against not only by men
but by women as well.
Most of the time we
easily identify ourselves
with the dove, the sheep,
and all that is good. We
seldom realize or we're
afraid to accept that we
also are wolves and tigers
in the places we live in.
We expect men to treat us
with respect, love,
understanding, etc., but
what about the lives we
lead among ourselves?
Do we really care about
the other woman's situation? We don't really care.
Women ought to respect other women before expecting
respect from men. Our egos at times are so stiff that we
don't see or care about what is happening to other
women. Due to our own preoccupations we often fail to
lendotherwomenoursupport andencouragement.
We sometimes ask the question, 'But what can
one woman do?' The answer is, 'a woman can change
the world'. If a single woman is capable of creating hell,
she is also equally capable of creating a heaven
wherevershe is.Thechoiceis hers.
The WomanThe Woman
She has it in her to change the worldShe has it in her to change the world
Scandiya Sanglyne, FSP
Article

iolence against women is an extreme
manifestation of the pervasive discrimination
against women and violation of their humanVrights. Women's rights are the rights and entitlements
claimed for women and girls of society. In some
places, these rights are institutionalized or supported
by laws, local customs, and behaviour, whereas in
other places, they may be ignored or suppressed. They
differ from broader notions of human rights through
claims of an inherent historical and traditional bias
against the exercise of rights by women and girls in
favourof menandboys.
The 1981 Convention on the Elimination ofAll
Forms of Discrimination against Women, signed by
many United Nations member states, defines
discrimination in a way that implies that women's
rights are in "political, economic, social, cultural,
civil" and other spheres. It denounced any distinction,
exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which
has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the
recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women,
irrespectiveof theirmaritalstatus.
Article 21 of the Constitution of India ensures
the right to live with human dignity and freedom from
exploitation. Very often women's right to life, liberty
and equality remain a question. The Constitution
prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, but often
the position of women remains unequal. Women in
India have long been subject to entrenched cultural
biases that perpetuate the valuing of sons over
daughters, who are often seen as an economic burden
to families. As a result the women's rights to good
health,educationandleisureareignoredrightfrom
childhood.
A generation ago women held few professional
jobs and seldom ventured out alone. With women
entering the workplace and becoming active, the
challenges faced by them have also increased. Right to
freedom and right to safety are in question for such
women. 'Women in the workplace', are not just about
professional women, but also the underemployed
women as well as those who belong to the economically
disadvantaged sections of society. Professional women
in the workplace have a host of concerns, ranging from
sexual harassment issues to rejoining the workplace
after childbirth. Concern among the underemployed
women as well as the economically disadvantaged
women consists of hurdles relating to minimum and
unequal pay, no job security and no benefits
whatsoever.
Women may have rights but are often unable to
exercise them fully due to lack of awareness of existing
laws and on other hand, their legal rights are not
protected as they should be. Despite equal protection of
law guaranteed by the Indian Constitution to men and
women, there have been relatively few cases in which
women have asserted their right to equality by moving
to courts. Although efforts have been made through
various legislative measures to improve the status of
women, the constitutional dream of gender equality is
milesawayfrombecomingareality.
Patriarchal institutions pervade our lives,
whether it be family, society, business, religious
affiliation or politics.We have developed a mindset that
allows men the right over women but puts restrictions
on women's behaviour and interactions.Amidst the din
of voices providing opinions on how to stop violence
against women, we hear a lot about what women should
not do or how she is supposed to behave, than what men
should not do. Real change can only be effective if
everyone, men and
women, change their
misogynist mindset.
Until women are
respected and looked
upon in equal terms
with men in society,
v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t
women will continue to
hauntus.
Women and RightsWomen and Rights
Reena D'Souza, SSpS
Article

omen have been ill-treated for centuries
and have often been seen as lesser humans.
WI would like to focus my attention on the
attempts made by the Indian legal system and the
Indian Constitution to empower women and protect
themfromtheongoingviolenceagainstthem.
Constitutional Provisions
· Equalitybeforelawforwomen(Article14)
· The State is not to discriminate against any citizen
on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place
of birthoranyofthem(Article15i)
· The State is to direct its policy towards securing for
men and women equally the right to an adequate
meansoflivelihood(Article39a);
· Equal pay for equal work for both men and women
(Article39d)
· To promote harmony and a spirit of common
sharing amongst all the people of India and to
renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of
women(Article51A, e)
· Not less than one-third of the total number of offices
of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level to be
reservedforwomen(Article243D,4)
TheCrimesIdentifiedUnder theIndian PenalCode
SpecialInitiativesforWomen
·NationalCommission forWomen
This statutory body aims at studying and
monitoring matters relating to the constitutional and
legalsafeguardsprovidedfor women.
· R e s e r v a t i o n f o r Wo m e n i n L o c a l
rd
Self–Government: The 73 Constitutional
Amendment Acts passed in 1992 by Parliament
ensure one-third of the total seats for women in all
electedofficesinlocalbodieswhetherinruralareas
LegalProvisions
§ Rape(Sec.376 IPC)
§ Kidnapping & Abduction for different purposes
(Sec.363-373)
§Homicide for dowry, dowry deaths or their attempts
(Sec.302/304-BIPC)
§Torture,bothmentalandphysical(Sec.498-AIPC)
§Molestation(Sec.354 IPC)
§Sexualharassment(Sec.509 IPC)
§Importationof girls(up to21 yearsofage)
or urbanareas.
· The National Plan of Action for the Girl Child
(1991-2000):The plan of action is to ensure survival,
protection and development of the girl child with the
ultimate objective of building up a better future for
thegirlchild.
· National Policy for the Empowerment of Women,
2001: This policy aims at bringing about the
advancement, development and empowerment of
women.
ActsSupporting theEmpowermentofWomen
·The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: It aims at
protecting women from the rampant bride price
custominIndia.
·The Immoral Traffic PreventionAct, 1956: It aims
at protecting women from sexual slavery and
exploitation.
· The Indecent Representation of Women
Prohibition Act, 1986: Prohibits the representation
of women through advertisements or in publications,
writings,paintings,figuresor inanyothermanner.
· The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 : An
Act to provide for the constitution of a National
Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights
Commission in States and Human Rights Courts for
better protection of human rights and for matters
connected.
· Protection of Women against Domestic Violence:
An act to provide for more effective protection for the
rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution.
This is for women who are victims of violence of any
kind occurring within the family or for matters
connectedwithit.
Laws and Legislations do not really make a
difference unless someone stands up for the ongoing
injustice then and there. Can you be a voice that stands
against the odds to restore the rights and dignity of
womeninyour surroundings?
To Empower Women!
Legal & Constitutional Provisions for Women in India
To Empower Women!
Legal & Constitutional Provisions for Women in India
Jesuraj, SJ
Know Your Law
Jesuraj, SJJesuraj, SJ is the minister at DNC, Pune.
He’s also a student of Law

wonderful life began in my mother's womb
thirty years ago. I remember my mother
Aalways as being the most beautiful woman I
ever saw in my life; full of love, compassion,
simplicity, kindness, sympathy, with a never-fading
smile on her face. All love began there; a mother who
dedicated her life to educate her children though
illiterate herself. I never saw fights or chaos that could
create an unpleasant home. On her face always shone a
light of lovely cheer. All I am today I owe to my
mother. I praise my mother who remains my truest
friendof all.
Niral Deogam, SJ
he woman who inspired me to join religious
life is a nun, Sr Belinda, who taught me
Tcatechism every Sunday in the parish Church.
She would often ask me about my dreams. And my
constant reply, which I knew irritated her very much,
was to become a doctor. She would immediately reply,
as if correcting me, that I was to become a priest. She
even once told me that she would be the first person to
receive communion from me after my Ordination. I
never gave much thought then to becoming a priest.
But her constant gentle reminder often mixed with
humor and cheerfulness made a deep impression on
my mind even without my awareness. And I think that
she was the first person who sowed the seed of a
vocation in me; inspired, motivated and above all
trustedmetojoinreligiouslife.
Sahil Gill, SJ
y mother Kamala, used to be very silent and
hardworking. She instilled in me an attitude
Mof hard work. “Listen to your heart and do
what it says,” these were the words of my mother when
I expressed to her my desire to become a priest. She
always encouraged me to take decisions in freedom
and grow in it. Though our village was divided
according to caste, my mother used to treat others
equally and told me, “Never discriminate against
others, treat everybody equally,” otherwise there is no
value for your priesthood. These words of hers got
rootedinmymindandmademededicatemylifeto
work for the oppressed and the poor. My mother's silent
encouragement always supported me to become a priest
today in spite of struggles in life. I believe that she will
be showering her blessings from heaven and will
continue to support me in leading a meaningful priestly
life.
Yesu Ratnam, SJ
t seemed like a dream. I was standing at the altar of
God, stretching out my hand and saying, “This is
Imy body . . . This is my blood.” YES, my call to
religious life was first nurtured in my home by my
loving parents. My mother played a very crucial role in
my vocation. Her role was much more significant than I
can comprehend. She never pushed me towards
religious life; she always prayed and supported my
interest and was prepared to hear and say 'yes' to God's
call. I believe that I am a better person today because of
the decision to enter religious life which I made in my
mid-twenties. With God's grace, I try to live each day
seeing God's loving actions in the events and
circumstances and in the dear neighbour. My deepest
desire is to grow into the person of God that I am meant
to be, and for me, the best way to be that person is to be a
Jesuit.
Pradeep, SJ
What has been the Role of Women
in your Vocation to be a Jesuit?
What has been the Role of Women
in your Vocation to be a Jesuit? Opinion Poll
Get out of the way! His
Excellency, the Archbishop
has an important...
GerardMesterGerardMester
Transl:Aneesh,SJTransl:Aneesh,SJ

generation ago, women held few professional
positions and seldom ventured out alone.
ANow they are present everywhere; even in the
public and professional sector.They move out freely in
public, particularly in cities and multinational
companies. Unfortunately, they are also easy targets
for sexualharassmentandotherexploitation.
In the light of violence against women I would
like to delve into an attitude of women, which they
inherit from their societal upbringing - “Respect
precedes love”. In other words, women respect others
before they begin to love. Respect and love are two
different and unique feelings of human beings. Most of
the time we tend to feel that love is the most qualitative
and the highest feeling in an individual, which
comprisesallotheressentialelementsinit.
I would think that respect is an attitude of high
regard which demands certain status, good opinion,
and admiration. In the modern society, love is
understood as an intensive feeling of affection and care
towards another person. In other words, love is a deep
abiding liking for something or someone. In the
present scenario, I am likely to feel that the world
stands in need of respect towards women because men
seem to be myopic about women concerning their
exceptional attitude of respect. The feeling of love is
even found in animals.We are social beings; we are not
restricted to love alone but to respect the other beings
especially our complementary sex. Love at the
physical level can emerge from a mere empirical
perception. Love at the thinking level provides one
with mental pleasure and comfort, whereas respect
does not emerge intrinsically towards the other either
atthephysicalorthethinkinglevel.
Women by nature respect first and then they
begin to love. Family is the nucleus of relationship and
inception of all virtues. When a child grows in the
family, he or she is taught to respect parents. Women,
even in times of great adversity and oppression, take
the pain to respect men and run the family smoothly. I
believe, quite often, the same men fail to respect these
women.
From the beginning of the scientific revolution
(or probably from the beginning of time), there seems
tobeanattitudeamongmentolookatwomenas mere
objects. Our society needs introspection about the place
and attitude it has towards women. This conscious
process alone can aid holistic growth. There is a
pressing need to cultivate respect and responsibility
towards women. Levinas, the world famous
philosophersaid,“Theotheristhefuture.”
Only an inbuilt attitude of respect and dignity
towards the complementary sex will enhance societal
functioning, and will build us as a human community
leadingtoholisticdevelopmentof persons andnations.
The Exceptional Attitudes of Women
Love and Respect
The Exceptional Attitudes of Women
Love and Respect
Article
John Kamilas, SJ
Unthinkable though of might,
Running its own height,
Tell this, think be right,
Days so long to fight.
Arose once the guided spirit,
Within the mind of heart,
Yearning zeal to the hut,
Lurking hesitation once but.
Though willing yet not willing
Still to destination kept moving,
Expectation to action kept arising,
To failure, hardly even expecting.
Sir conditioned housing,
Would hardly be discomforting
May be many longing
It, becoming, me, uncomforting.
The lonely fragrance to hate,
And so does the room mate,
See the fate of the night
Still tougher to fight.
Could have travelled once,
Such ways by chance
Must have had a glance,
How to love to hate an ambience.
Place in the factor
Acceptance, the other,
Be it whatever,
Say not no and never.
Ways of the Cross
Preetam Prakash, SJ

he Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed
Trinity. However, since the Spirit had no
'personal form' it tended to be forgotten forTages. Today, the Church reiterates that the Spirit is a
person and tries to revive the devotion to the Spirit.
This renewed stress now given to the Spirit in the
Catholic Church is welcome, even though this seems
promoted by conspicuous Spirit-devotion by the
PentecostalsandotherEvangelicals.
The assertion in the book of Genesis (1:26) that
human beings are created “in
the image and likeness of
God” is central to Christian
Anthropology. However,
since our images of God are so
closely identified with male
persons - Father and Son -
w o m e n a r e s o m e h o w
considered as not fully
imaging God, and by
extension not fully equipped
to perform sacred and godly
functions in the liturgical and
sacramental sphere. To offset this lacuna, can we not
consider the Holy Spirit as the feminine face of God?
Viewing the Spirit as God's feminine face has been a
subject of research and hermeneutics by many
scholars.
There are similarities between the Spirit and
women in the Church. First, just as the Spirit seemed to
be the forgotten member of the Trinity, women in the
Church seem forgotten, too. Second, just as the Spirit
is shakti, power, so do women possess immense
power, which most often goes unrecognized,
unutilized and unappreciated. Feminine power is
internal, tender, yet solid, capable of great resilience in
times of trial and equipped to withstand opposition
frommanyfronts.
The dependence of the Church only on male
power and the sidelining of feminine power can
analogously be compared to our human obsession with
the use of the right hand and limiting use of the left
hand for very few purposes. In fact, left hands at times
were tied at the back to force children to eat, to write
and to accept things with the right hand only. Right was
right,earlier;andtoday,'rightismight'too.
The time is ripe to rectify our God images and
reap the fruits thereof. By considering God as
exclusively male, we have made ourselves unilateral,
monolithic, one-sided and stiff-necked. Moreover,
anybody who says anything different from what the
ecclesiastical hierarchy thinks is condemned. However,
the present is full of promise. We have Pope Francis at
the helm: a God-realizer, spirited leader, who is much
more humane than his predecessors, possessing a
holistic vision, inclusive in his embrace, and careful
aboutpassing judgmentsirrationally.
So far, by and
large, the contribution
of women to Church
life was limited to
them being subjugated
by clerics and often
being given roles of
secretaries to heads of
commissions (all
male). Till recently,
the study of theology
was mostly out of
bounds for women.They were regarded as secondary in
sacramentalaction- mainlyentrustedwith doing jobs in
the sacristy like keeping altar linen clean, arranging the
flowers atmass,etc.
Just as we require both, our right hand as well as
the left hand, so must the Church tap the potential of
men and women. Women depict the feminine energy of
God - analogous to the power of the Holy Spirit - and
can be given more powers in planning, decision-
making, providing life-generating and holistic
perspectives to Church programmes and policies and so
on.Then, just as for healthy living our body requires the
cooperation of all organs, and just as our bodies operate
on the yin yang dual energy principle, so will our
Church be healthy, harmonious and holistic in its
outlookandoutreach.
The Holy Spirit and the FeminineThe Holy Spirit and the Feminine
Santana Pereira, FMA
Do send us your comments,opinions on
!Attacks on MinoritiesinIndia
!Mohan Bhagavat’s commentson MotherTeresa
Do send us your comments,opinions on
!Attacks on MinoritiesinIndia
!Mohan Bhagavat’s commentson MotherTeresa
Email : dnctimes@gmail.comEmail : dnctimes@gmail.com

oseph Conrad once said, 'being a woman is a
terribly difficult task since it consists
principally in dealing with men.'As I reflect onJwomen and the church, I think no man can fully
understandawomanunless heisbornawoman.
In the creation story, God created woman
from man's rib – 'bone of my bones and flesh of my
flesh.' The same God who created Adam, created
Eve. It reminds us of the dignity and equality of man
and woman. Pope Francis says that the legitimate
rights of women should be respected, based on the
firm conviction that men and women are equal in
dignity. Unfortunately, as generations passed,
women became a matter of possession, envy, power
and jealousy. In Indian society we see that a
woman's psychology is so set that she depends on
her father when she is young, then depends on her
husband in married life, and finally depends on her
son in old age. She has no separate identity. She is
always submissive to one or the other. Today by
emancipation of women in the church we hope for
the Reign of God on earth where men and women
willhaveequalrightsanddignity.
Christianity from the very beginning has
paved a broad way for the emancipation of women.
Jesus challenged gender prejudices at their core. He
dissociated himself from the customary exclusion
of women. St. Paul theApostle too had great regard
and respect for women; he presented women as
equal to men. He did hold an androcentric view on
theworld,buthewas notamisogynist. On the
contrary, St. Paul did admire Christian women,
specially their leadership in the Church, and even the
persecutions they had to endure. St. Paul did not reject
and diminish women leadership in the early Church, but
encouraged their participation in Christian
communities. He showed nothing less than deep love
and admiration for women at that time. Then once the
church was established, tens of thousands of ordained
women deacons served in parishes during the first
millennium of the Church. St Remigius of Reims in 533
AD makes a mention in his last will of his daughter, the
deaconess Helaria. The two local Synods in Gaul tried
to suppress the diaconate of women 'for their region'.
Due to socio-cultural influences on Christian society,
the hatred of women began to be found almost without
exception in all the major Christian theologians
throughout Christianity's early formative centuries.
Finally, and only very recently,Vatican II brought about
many revolutionary changes. Yet a vast majority of the
localchurchesareuntouched.
The first wave of feminism began in the mid
nineteenth century.Ahuge amount of feminist writings
in huge volumes of books, monthly's, weekly's,
newsletters and so on were published; but today the
trend is in a dormant state. The stigma on women as
inferior, physically weak, impure, objects of carnal
pleasure, and so on, still continues to be as it was in
many of the societies. Women were, are, and remain a
mystery to be unearthed.And I hope our dream to have a
society where men and women are of equal dignity is
notveryfarahead.
Emancipation of Women in the ChurchEmancipation of Women in the Church
Challenging age-old prejudicesChallenging age-old prejudices
C. Ajeesh Benans
Article
I am a previleged traveller
with a Platinum Plus Card
and I have been made to wait
over ten minutes over my luggage. For God
and Conveyer
all people are equal.
GerardMesterGerardMester
Transl:Aneesh,SJTransl:Aneesh,SJ

saint is a sign of divinity dwelling in
humanity, the divinity which transcends the
limitations in the world. Their lives are like aAray of light in the darkness, moments of joy in sorrow,
and flashes of hope in despair. Every generation needs
saints both men and women who can make the world a
better place. After being born through the Holy Virgin
Mary, God continues His incarnation through women
saints who conceive him through contemplation,
nourish him through prayer, and bring Him into the
worldthroughproclamationandworks of charity.
Women saints have contributed uniquely in
establishing God's kingdom on earth. Every woman
saint has been a source of inspiration with her
weakness and her strength, her vanity and humility, her
ignoranceandwisdom,herunbeliefandbeliefinGod.
Women saints by their unique contribution have
brought about changes in the mindset of the people.
They dared to break some of the norms in society,
much like Jesus did, in order to bring about radical
changes for greater good and for God's glory. During
the time of Jesus, women were expected only to listen
to God's word and not proclaim it. Mary Magdalene
however, was the first to proclaim the risen Christ. The
Apostles did not believe her but she stood a firm
witness to the resurrection. The life of St. Monica of
Hippo, a married woman, is exemplary. She was not
only a person of prayer and perseverance but she
confrontedherhusband andson abouttheirways of
life rather than being submissive to their demands. She
not only confronted but also found out means to bring
about a transformation in her son, Augustine, through
BishopAmbrose of Milan. Joan ofArc, the patroness of
soldiers and of France, is a good example of a brave and
active woman. Being a woman she did not remain
behind the walls praying and doing household chores
but began her mission to unite France. She led the
French army in a momentous victory at Orleans. In the
th
16 century, St. Teresa ofAvila showed through her life
that company of women can be sought not only for their
beauty and friendship but also for spiritual assistance,
guidance for better living, and reformation of one's life
and religious Order. It was under her guidance that St.
John of the Cross reformed the Order of Carmelite
priests. She not only helped St. John of the Cross reform
the Order but she herself reformed the Carmelite nuns
andbuiltmanyfoundationsfor theOrder.
The lives of women saints have been an
inspiration to many. They were new wineskins
containing the new wine. Their unique style of living
the Kingdom values have empowered women and
enabled the predominantly male society to experience
in a woman an indwelling presence of the divine. She
makes the church incorporate the feminine image of
God in the mystical body of Christ.Thus, communion is
established in the Church through her life and the
KingdomofGod realized.
George, SJGeorge, SJ
Women Saints in the Church
and their Unique Contribution
Women Saints in the Church
and their Unique Contribution Article
Fiona D'cruz, CM

e live in a nation where the woman is
seen as a goddess and is also treated less
than an animal. The reports of crimesWagainst women in India such as rape, dowry deaths,
abduction and molestation have increased by
26.7% in 2013 compared to 2012, in Delhi alone.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) said
that in India, there were 309,546 crimes against
women reported to the police in 2013, as against
244,270 in2012.
According to a 2013 global review of
available data, 35 per cent of women worldwide
have experienced
either physical
a n d / o r s e x u a l
intimate partner
violence or non-
p a r t n e r s e x u a l
violence. However,
s o m e n a t i o n a l
violence studies
show that up to 70
per cent of women
have experienced
physical and/or
sexual violence in
their lifetime from an
intimatepartner.
One can never forget the brutal rape and
murder of Nirbhaya in Delhi which shocked the
nation and let us not forget that the incident was just
one of many similar incidents. We need to have a
look at the undercurrents and the deep story behind
violenceagainstwomen.
a.Longing for the Divine: Having a close look at
the criminals involved in these brutal rapes and
murders, we come to learn that many of them are
either in search of either joy or pleasure or
meaning. There is also a kind of rising restlessness
in the human heart today more than ever before.
Constant fights in the family, dissatisfaction in
personal life, increasing work load in the
competitive world of today, and untold worries and
tensions are possibly given vent to in the form of
heinous, inhuman crimes like rape and murder. I
believethatamidstallthisthesecriminalsasIsaid
earlier are in search of something. Will I be wrong if I
say that even at the depth of such gruesome acts is a
search for the divine, which is the very longing of a
human?
b. Growing Herd Mentality: An increasing number
of gang rape cases is also a sign that the wounded and
insecure individuals find their identity in anti-social
groups. Human, scared to be by himself, is
developing a kind of herd mentality, where the group
dictates how one's value system should be. Every
human by his/her very nature is unique, but the world
today is moving into an unhealthy uniformity. Isn't this
a curse of this
modern competitive
word?
c. T h r e a t t o
Complementarity:
If the Indian society
continues to make
women insecure
through violence
against them, then it
will be forced to pay a
heavy price. When
m o r e a n d m o r e
w o m e n c o n f i n e
themselves indoors, citing security issues, the nation
will definitely lack the complementary view on various
societal matters and that would in the long run spell
disaster for society. The need of the hour is to promote
complementarity by fostering equal participation of
womenindecisionmaking.
The nation saw a new wave in Indian politics
with the AAP sweeping the Delhi elections and
Congress being totally kept out by the people of Delhi.
Everyone speaks of corruption as a cause for the
debacle of the Congress, but I believe that the rising
rapeandmurdercasestoocontributedmuchtoit.
We tend to see now that the nation is slowly
waking up to the issues of women, which is indeed a
welcome sign. Women like Medha Patkar, Sunitha
Krishnan and Teesta Setalvad should serve as a source
of inspiration to the women of India to stand up for their
rights.
Violence against Women
A Critical View
Violence against Women
A Critical View
Vishwas Misquith, SJ
Analysis

he Universal Declaration of Human Rights
defines human rights as being universal,
inalienable, and indivisible. TheTuniversality of human rights means it applies to
every single person, by virtue of their humanity and
to everyone equally, for everyone is equal in simply
being human. The idea of human rights as
inalienable means it is impossible for anyone to
abdicate a woman's human right, even if she wanted
to, since every person is accorded those rights by
virtue of being human. Therefore human rights of
women and girl children are an inalienable, integral,
and indivisible part of
universal human rights. The
full and equal enjoyment of
all human rights and
fundamental freedom by
women and girls is a priority
for governments.
Human rights are
rights relating to life, liberty,
equality, and dignity of the
individual guaranteed by the
Constitution and enforced by
the courts in India. Gender
based violence is a form of
discrimination which
seriously inhibits a woman's
ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on the basis of
equality with men. The right to life includes the
right to dignity. The Supreme Court has rightly
observedthisfactinmanyofitsjudgments.
Violence against women, clubbed with
these inequalities & deprivations is a total denial of
her human rights and is perhaps the most shameful
human right violation. It knows no boundaries of
geography, culture or wealth. As long as it prevails,
a society cannot claim to be making real progress
towards equality,developmentandpeace.
Violence against Women & the Need for Social
Change
The Times of India published an extensive
study on domestic violence. This study was
conducted across six states and showed that “nearly
27% of the women surveyed in Maharashtra were
beatenup,draggedorkickedbytheirhusbands at
some point in their married life. This figure is a close
second only to Bihar where 30% reported similar
violence. The study conducted by the International
Institute of Population Science, Govandi, and the
Population Council of India, Delhi, included interviews
with 8,052 married men and 13,912 married women in
the 15 to 29 age group. The study reveals that the
incidence of both physical and sexual violence is very
high. Moreover, violence was reported not just in
homes of the illiterate, but the experiences shockingly
touched working and non working, urban and rural
women equally. The torture for some begins early on,
with 23 per cent women in
Maharashtra saying their
husbands had forced sex with
them on the wedding night
itself. Not surprisingly the
men who were interviewed
perceived a much lower
incidence of violence against
women. Only 4 per cent
admitted to forcing sex on
their wives on the first night.
18 per cent of men admitted to
beating their wives or
physically assaulting them in
thefirstyearof marriage.
A smaller pilot study
conducted at J.J. Hospital,
Mumbai, in September-October 2008 showed that not
just domestic violence, 20% of the 100 women patient
interviewed admitted to experiencing violence in the
office and on the roads as well. This is not necessarily
confined to physical violence but the creation of an
atmosphere of terror, a situation of threat and reprisal.
Violence in other words has built a hierarchical social
order.
Many forms of violence against women are not
even recognized as such, but rather ignored, condoned
or justified by invoking religion, culture or traditional
beliefs, which makes the whole effort for a violence-
free society arduous and unworkable. We hear every
day that many children are being raped and hung on the
trees naked. On an average, every year 1200 girl
children and women are raped. If this continues then
what will be the future of our nation? Can our society
claim real progress towards equality, development and
peace?Thisisthebigquestion!
Violence against Women is a Human Rights ViolationViolence against Women is a Human Rights Violation
Challenging a social hierarchical orderChallenging a social hierarchical order
Yesu Ratnam, SJ
Article

he phrase 'contemplatives in action' is widely
used in order to speak about the spirituality of
Tthe Society of Jesus. This phrase was
popularized by Jerome Nadal and is certainly a
succinct manner of expressing the Jesuit way of life.
However, a more accurate expression of the Society's
spirituality would consist in the phrase - 'Finding God
in all things'. While we can certainly assume that the
essence of both these phrases is the same, there is a
nuanceddifferencebetweenthem.
In the first phrase, two concepts
'contemplation' and 'action' are fused together. While
Nadal was right in stating that we are called to be
contemplatives in action, there exists the subtle risk of
considering action as being secondary (or inferior) to
contemplation. This danger is partially because of a
limited understanding of the word 'contemplation'
within Christian spirituality. It considers
contemplation to be limited to formal prayer, pious
acts and other external manifestations of faith. Various
spiritual authors have elaborated upon this idea by
using the encounter of Jesus with Martha and Mary to
prove their point. Though Nadal at no point of time
subscribes to this hierarchy of acts, his juxtaposition of
two words having different meanings could cause a
certain amount of confusion. A person may verbally
speak of the unity of these two concepts, but actually
live in a manner where there is a clear separation of the
two.
This does not mean that formal moments of
prayers can be substituted for work or a life of frenzied
activity. Ignatius was very particular about the time
spent in formal prayer and insisted that one ought to
prepare oneself adequately for the Eucharist as well as
one's personal prayer. The daily Examen was critical
in Ignatius' understanding of spiritual life. A cursory
glance at the Spiritual Diary is enough for us to
understand the importance of formal moments of
prayerinthelifeofIgnatius.
However, to consider moments of formal
prayer as being synonymous with contemplation
would beanerroneousreadingof Nadal's phrase
'contemplatives in action'. Part of the confusion arises
because of the association of this word with the use of
the word 'contemplation' while referring to specific
moments of prayer in the Spiritual Exercises. Nadal's
understanding of the word 'contemplation' is far more
nuanced, has a meaning which is profound, and can be
better comprehended by trying to understand it within
the context of the Contemplation to Attain Love (cf.
SpiritualExercisesofStIgnatius).
The second phrase 'finding God in all things' is a
far more accurate expression of that which constitutes
the core of the Society's spirituality. This is the goal of
the spiritual method proposed by Ignatius and is
highlighted towards the end of the Autobiography
where Ignatius tells de Cámara that through the years he
had grown in devotion, i.e. in an ease in finding God in
all things. Devotion was not merely all that entailed
popular piety, but an experience of the presence of God
at all times – in the governance of the Society, social
activities in Rome, conversations with various persons,
fund-raising for the Roman houses, instructions related
toformationandso on.
The experience of 'finding God in everything' is
rooted in an Incarnational spirituality which
emphasizes the presence of the laboring love of God in
all reality.AJesuit is called to participate in the action of
the Spirit in today's world through a total offering of
oneself. Ignatius through the Spiritual Exercises
indicates to us a way in order to grow in this awareness
of the presence of God in everything, and respond
generously to the invitation of God in our day to day
lives. The growth in a mystical awareness of God's
presence and a generous response is not a mechanistic
or an automatic process. It is primarily the grace of God
and the deliberate effort of a person to grow in silence,
reflection, prayer, discernment and action. This
harmony of God's grace and the human response helps a
person to slowly progress in the ability to 'find God in
allthings'.
Finding God in All ThingsFinding God in All Things
Francis Pudichery, SJ
Finding God in All ThingsFinding God in All Things
Jesuit Spirituality
www.ignatianspirituality.comwww.ignatianspirituality.com

ather Ignatius' pilgrimage from earthly values
to holistic liberation was entirely God centered.
He would consult God at every step of hisFjourney. Never did he feel that he was willing away his
'ConsultationtimewithGod', doingnothing.
1. Focus on Youth: Today, increased independence
among youth is considered to be an emerging and
modern trend. The younger generation all over the
world wishes to be independent and they long for some
kind of virtual relationship. They are not willing
though to be socially concerned towards each other
where commitment and loyalty in relationships is
needed. I see the world being drawn towards a selfie
culture (I-for-me) which appears to be self-sufficient
but not soul comforting. Why don't we Jesuits orient
the youth with transformational leadership to build a
better WORLD, making them realize the necessity for
human beings to be related to each other.All are to live
in love. Why don't we make them feel Jesus through
Ignatianwisdom?
2. Go to the Frontiers - Millions of refugee families
from different nations and of every religious faith live
through dramatic stories and carry deep wounds that
willbehardtoheal.Whydon't westilllendourselves
God was forming him in order to ignite the
world with zeal. I am sure that GC 36 will count on
God alone just as our founding fathers did; for God
alone purifies our actions, intentions and desires. I
pray that GC 36 becomes a platform where we learn to
do away with all that destroys us – gossip about others'
weaknesses, enjoyment at other's expense and
infidelity to Jesuit identity. Instead, we plunge into
reshaping the world where the Anawim, the neglected
and the poor feel at home. Pope Francis has been
earnestly insisting upon and praying for a renewal in
the Church. He insists on a Church of the poor and we
Jesuits cando itforthegreatergloryof God
John Paul Lobo, SJ (GUJ)
to the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)? (2014,
recordedthehighestnumber ofrefugeesintheWorld).
Michael Panimaya Raj, SJ (MDU)
I see three main challenges before us which need
adequate and creative responses as we move towards
GC 36. These three ought to be an integral part of the
apostolateandmissionof theSocietyofJesus.
1. Ecology
Though GC 35 has given great emphasis on our
response to environmental degradation, I feel that years
later we are still to respond strongly and genuinely.As a
culture of economic development alone as a priority in
life grows, definitely the ecological crisis will also
increase. Many other issues are on the rise – the water
crisis, equity issues, pollution & health-related
disorders, migration, environmental refugees & tribals,
etc.
2. Value based Education – Renewing Ignatian
Pedagogy
We see growing fundamentalism, terrorism, violence,
hedonism, materialism and consumerism in our present
world. We Jesuits having so many educational
universities and centers of learning, where we have
young minds that can be shaped with ethical values that
would enhance personal as well as communitarian
growth.Thisis theneedof thehour.
3. Movementbased SocialAction
The growing disparity between the rich and the poor,
oppression and suppression, are key concerns that
affect the marginalized and the poor. Unless and until
the oppressed organize and realize their due rights and
seek it, nothing is going to change. Our social
involvement which focuses on promotion of justice
must become more movement-based and should arise
fromconscientizationof thepeople.
Lumnesh Swaroop, SJ (KAR)
South Asian Scholastics SpeakSouth Asian Scholastics Speak
GC-36 Special
GC 36 - ExpectationsGC 36 - Expectations

ne fine day I was born from my mother's
root. I came to the world as a tiny and gentle
fellow. When I opened my eyes, I sawOeverything around me was black and white. I
thought that would be the colour of those things
which are really not. Later I noticed I myself was
neither black nor white in complexion but a blend of
both. Confused, I asked my mom and she replied
with a smile, “As a new born child, you will see
everything in black and white”. Some days later, I
saw my relatives, all of them greenish.They told me
that my name was grass, which happened to be my
family name, too. Every morning I worshiped our
God, mother earth,
as I woke up from
my deep slumber. I
felt like the happiest
person intheworld.
One day, a beautiful
girl named butterfly
came and sat on me.
I was transported to
a seventh heaven. I
noticed that she was
not that happy as I
w a s . S h e w a s
f r i g h t e n e d o f
something or somebody. Her beautiful wings were
shivering. I asked her for the reason politely. She
said, “Atwo-legged animal is chasing me and trying
to catch me.” I consoled her saying, “Don't be
worried; I will kill it with my sharp blade body”.
Shesmiledatmyreply.
She then told me about the two-legged
animal. Its hand was huge like an iron rod. Even its
body, head and eye were huge. It was really a
gigantic animal. This huge animal was trying to
catch my beautiful and tiny lady. When its hand
came close to her, I shook my head and gave her a
sign to escape. She flew leaving her colours and
fragrance on me. I realized that I was not 'I'. I was
flying in the air for saving my beloved's life, but that
was nottolastlong.
“Oh! My God! Save us, save us”, was the
loud cry from my friends. I was frightened.With my
timid voice I asked my brother, “What happened?”
Eventhoughhewas well-built,sunk inthefightof
fear, he told me, “a four-legged animal, called cow, is
biting and killing our people.” I saw it and it saw me too.
I felt like many butterflies flying in my stomach. When
the animal opened its mouth I could see all my dead
friends in it. I hid myself to save my life. I almost lay flat
on the earth with the help of my cousin, air. My brother
was killed before my very eyes. I could not but only cry,
cry,andcry.
Fear engulfed me. At times, the two-legged
animals would come and squeeze me and go.
Sometimes a huge rock or a stone would fall on me.
Every day brought us new life. We could not spend our
life happily round the
clock. At one point, I was
forced to think that we
were the most frightened
and fragile people on
earth.
However, I grew up
young and energetic. I was
enjoying the presence of
my cousin air, my friends
and the surroundings. I
looked tall and I was
enormously happy about
it. One day, a gigantic two-legged animal came close to
me. It had a pair of glasses on its face. I had never seen
such an ugly animal in my life. The cruel animal tried to
catch me, but my cousin helped me escape. The second
time, I was caught and it beheaded me, crushed me and
suckedmyblood.Idied.No, No… Iwas actuallykilled.
I was brutally decimated by this unreasonable
act. My body was killed but my soul wasn't. I went to
God to argue with him. I asked him, “I did no wrong to
those creatures. How come, then, those animals could
torture, persecute, and kill me for no reason?” God
answered me, “My dear Grass! I create everyone with a
purpose, granting them full freedom to fulfill it. In the
long run, many don't accomplish their purpose; they
live as they wish only to finally meet me here with tears.
Only those people who do not find any purpose in life
go on to disturb others. I am extremely happy about
you. You have fulfilled your purpose and so come and
enjoyyournewhome,myKingdom.”
I, grass, then happily sat beside God and
enjoyedtherestofmylife.
Purpose with FreedomPurpose with Freedom
John Paul, SJ
Short Story

s I fixed my gaze on the body of St Francis
Xavier, my thoughts went back to my
novitiate days. It was a Saturday. Like everyASaturday, I stepped onto the bus to go for my
ministry. I was still reflecting over what our novice
master had told us the day before. He told us about
Francis Xavier's experience with a leper on the ship
when he was on his way to India. Xavier was
repugnant at first but later he overcame it by putting
his finger into the leper's wound and licking the pus.
Whatmadehimdo that,Iwondered.
Meanwhile I heard the bus-conductor
reminding me that we had reached the bus-stand, my
destination.I got down. It was all a hustle-bustle with
many people, noise of the announcements and
vehicles. Through all this, I made my way to the
railway station, a 20 minute walk from the bus-
stand, then onto platform no. 2. The booth of Bosco
child-line was on this platform. This ministry was
run by the Salesian fathers. My ministry there was to
go in and around the railway station, look for those
who have run away from their homes and take them
to the residence, which was a 45 minute walk from
there,wheretheywouldbetakencareof.
On that day I found many boys and I had to
reach them to the residence. This, I had to do several
times and I was tired; not just tired, but dog tired.
Finally at the end of the day I was on my way back. I
stepped out of the railway station and saw this boy of
11 years old. He was crawling on the ground because
his legs were polio stricken. I looked at him and he
also looked at me. I looked at my watch; I was
already late. Then I turned my face towards him, he
was stilllookingatme.Should Itakehimor not?
Reaching him to the residence would cost me at least
one hour and I would then be very late in reaching the
novitiate.So Ijustpassed himby.
I was waiting for my bus. But the look of the boy
haunted me. My thoughts were not clear. Then came to
me what I was thinking over during that morning while
I was travelling. I tried to imagine how that leper looked
at Francis Xavier. Something within me compelled me
to go to him. Then I went in search of the same boy but I
could not find him. Finally I spotted him at the garbage
bin looking for food. I went to him and asked him to
come with me. At first he resisted but when I told him
thathewould begivengood food, heagreed.
I was walking and he was dragging himself on
the pavement. I just took him on my back and carried
him all the way to the residence. I waited until he had
his meals. After he finished I got up to come back and
looked at him once more. Then he also looked at me.
This time it was different. There was a charm and a
spark in his eyes when he looked at me. He found a new
refuge, a new hope in life. And that look I never forgot
thereafter.
Now, as I take a deep look at the body of St.
FrancisXavier,thelookof theboyis stillinmymind.
That Unforgettable LookThat Unforgettable Look
Kamalakar, SJ
I was born and they called me a child
I grew up and they called me adult
I spoke less they called me reserved
I spoke a lot they called me talkative
I was open and they called me chatty
I was moody and they called me selfish
I spoke against and they called me arrogant
I kept quiet they called me nut
I was modern and they called me conceited
I was traditional and they called me outdated
I was simple they called me frugal
I spent more they called me spendthrift
I had many friends and they called me uncultured
I had nobody around and they called me immature
I was as I am they called me adamant
I, now, lose my 'self' they call me WOMAN
They Call Me
William Charles, SJ
Experience

he very name DNC evokes in my mind fond
memories of the four glorious years I spent
there, the longest duration of any stage of myTformation. They were full four years, without any
interruptions such as going to the Province for
holidaysandso on.
The best thing about DNC life for me was the
extensive contact with Jesuits of various Provinces,
other Congregations, and Seminarians of various
dioceses in India. Among my Jesuit companions were
Subash Anand, Xavier Irudayaraj, Dick Lambert,
RobergeandthelateAloysius Fonseca(Jr).
In the academic field we had some eminent
Jesuits as professors – Neuner, Bermejo, Hambye,
Volckaert, Antoine and others. The extensive library
was a real treasure trove, made all the more valuable by
the ever ready service of Fr Schlegel. Opportunities for
apostolic outreach abounded in the form of IHS
Letters, Prem Marg, social work activities, directing
CLCgroups inthecity,etc.
The decrees of Vatican II were just coming out
then in the form of a book, but our professors were
already incorporating the Council's ideas in their
classes. Liturgical reforms had begun already. DNC
was considered one of the experimental centres for
inculturation in liturgy. There was scope for creative
thinking and expression of ideas through the
cyclostyled bulletin QUEST – a purely student
initiative.
It was during those years that a few of us,
including Stan Fernandes (subsequently DNC Rector
andnowArchbishop) volunteeredtodo thescullery
ourselves rather than blame the kitchen staff for want of
cleanliness. Later it became something of a regular
assignment to take turns – a thing for which many might
havecursedthegroup thatinitiatedthepractice.
Though there was some criticism among
bishops and among Jesuits too, that laxity prevailed in
Pune, personally, I felt that the freedom given to us, and
the responsibly used, contributed much to our growth in
maturityandformationforthemissionthatawaitedus.
It was, however, not all study and no play. There was
the daily rush after meals to the rec. room to get the best
Domino set and the cards pack, while others, went
round the house enjoying a leisurely stroll. There was
no TV then. Every evening, a game of basketball (some
playing, others watching from outside the refectory) or
other games or a swim kept us fresh for the evening
study. The much awaited cycle picnics, the adventures
of scaling the heights of Sinhagad, Raigad, Pratapgad,
etc., and the unforgettable quinzaine (major holidays
that lasted 15 days) at Mahabaleshwar helped to keep
ourspiritshigh.
Fond Memories of DNCFond Memories of DNC
Richard Sequeira, SJ
Down Memory Lane
ForaLotMoreForaLotMore
PhotosPhotos DiaconateDiaconate
VideosVideos
Balamela - Saheli ,
Gorpuri
Balamela - Saheli ,
Gorpuri
Women and Church
by
Sr Evelyn Monteiro
Women and Church
by
Sr Evelyn Monteiro
Oppression of Women
Judges 19, 1-30
Oppression of Women
Judges 19, 1-30
PoemPoem O Woman Divine
by
Prashanth Saldanha, SJ
O Woman Divine
by
Prashanth Saldanha, SJ
Short StoryShort Story Purpose with Freedom
by John Paul, SJ
Purpose with Freedom
by John Paul, SJ
www.dnctimes.comwww.dnctimes.com

t John de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary and
martyr, was born on 25 March 1593 in Condé-
Ssur-Vire, Normandy, France. A brilliant
student, gifted linguist, and competent manager, he
could make things happen. Even though weakened by
tuberculosis, John joined the Canada mission in 1625.
For a quarter of a century with only a four-year break,
he evangelized the hurons in Quebec. He lived with
them, embraced their customs, mastered their
language,andwroteacatechismforthem.
In 1649, the Iroquois
attacked the huron village
where John was living i.e.
where he and his converts
were martyred. John de
Brébeuf was canonized by
Pope Pius XI on 29 June 1930,
and was proclaimed one of the
patron saints of Canada by
Pope Pius XII on 16 October
1940.
Reflection
It becomes crystal
clear from the life of this saint that God does choose the
weak in order to shame the wise (1 Cor 1:27) so that
power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9) and
one can thus see the finger of God active. We often
seem to go by outward appearances and judge people
according to varying pre-set standards. Human as we
are, we are carried away by human factors. The great
prophet Samuel while searching for someone to anoint
as successor to Saul (1 Sam 16:7) and Jesus' disciples
wanting to bring down fire (Lk 9:54) reveal humans'
desperate need to be powerful or to take control of
situations. However when divine intervention takes
place in one's life, a person realizes who he/she is, and
thentakesrefugeinthedivine.Thenoccursinthe
person, a desperate need to respond to the kind of love
thathe/shehas experienced.
Response to love takes places in different ways.
Since the focus is no longer oneself and 'for oneself', the
person moves away from one's comfort zone and
becomes ready to tread any path. The hurdles may seem
gigantic to others but for the person driven by love, it is
nothing but an opportunity. The hurdles could be
concerning language, or diet, or cultural barriers;
nothing obstructs the way as in
the case of our dear saint Brébeuf.
W h i l e h i s m i s s i o n a r y
companions found it difficult to
adapt to trying conditions, life
w i t h t h e h u r o n s c a m e
spontaneously for him. Of course
his health never supported him,
rather it troubled him for he had
already contracted tuberculosis
and for that reason he was about
to be sent out of the Society of
Jesus. Thanks to divine
providence which somewhat
preserved him and made him a channel of God's
unconditional presence among the less fortunate hurons
ofQuebec.
The account of his martyrdom along with his
companions proves his spiritual maturity. While he was
being tortured in the cruelest way, his concern was
primarily for his companions and for the converts. A
simple and sick person as he was in the beginning, he
went on to become the apostle of love and charity to the
people of the huron mission, while responding to divine
love. The lesson that we can learn from St
is that we can bloom with much fragrance
despite difficulties, only when we are rooted in the
divineandconstantlyabideinit(Jn 15:4).
John de
Brébeuf
St John de BrébeufSt John de Brébeuf
Saint of the Month
Christopher E, SSS

he recent attacks on the Christian
community in India are well known. The
Tmain issues raised against Christians in
recent years by Hindutva organizations have
focused on three topics: culture, nation and
conversion.
Culturaland National Identity ofIndia
Inspite of the fact that an immense amount
of anthropological evidence makes India a multi-
cultural, multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-
religious country, the Sangh Parivar proclaims
India to be a Hindu nation (Hindu Rashtra). Today
according to Hindutva ideology, to be an Indian, is
definedbyone's religion.
In the perception of Hindutva, the Christian
mission is an unwanted and foreign body in Indian
culture and civilization, and is therefore to be
eliminatedfromtheholysoil(PunyaBhoomi).
TheIssue ofReligiousConversion
Another important issue on which
Christians are targeted is on religious conversion.
Many pronouncements from various Hindutva-
oriented journalists, politicians and religious
leaders are intended to deliberately and
systematically distort facts. They reflect a lack of
knowledge of Indian history and a disregard for
humandignityandfreedom.
We need to analyze the issue of conversion
with an open mind. The process of religious
conversions has to be seen against the broad context
of social change. Usually, when religious
conversion is discussed in India, it is limited to the
context of conversion to Islam and Christianity
alone. Today in the process of forming a Hindu
nation, all people other than those baptized into
Christianity or belonging to Islam are simply
categorizedas Hindus.
SomePracticalSuggestions
India is a sovereign nation. It has a written
Constitution, an invaluable legacy to the Indian
nation by our founding fathers. The Constitution
stresses the need for protecting the multi-cultural,
multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic
natureofIndiansociety.No religiouscommunity
can put forward the monopolistic claim that India
belongstothemalone.
But today the notion of a modern, pluralistic
democratic India is in danger of being forcefully
suppressed. Hindutva forces are increasingly seeking to
impose a strongly regimented cultural lifestyle in terms
of an upper caste, Sanskritic, Brahmanic Hinduism.
Anything outside their cultural orbit is denied a
legitimate right to exist. Hindu fundamentalist
organizations claim that tribals and dalits are
“Backward Hindus” (see Ghurye, 1963:19). But the
tribalsandthedalitsrejectthissuperimposedidentity.
The actual socio-cultural, political reality in
India has to be taken seriously and given the necessary
scope for development and freedom to act in the process
of inculturation. The mystical and interiority traditions
of Hinduism are important in the process of
inculturation, but Christians need to view them
critically and assimilate them selectively. The reason
being, that in spite of the fact that India at times is
almost choked to death with religiosity, thousands and
millions of people do not have even the minimal
resources for their survival. At the same time,
provisions have been made for others to enrich
themselves and enjoy all the privileges and comforts of
life.
Tribals, untouchables (dalits) and other
minority communities are struggling to keep poverty
and distress from the door. They have for ages been
treated with contempt and have often met with
oppression. Thus, the glorified vision of India as a
paradise of religion is deceptive in the face of the
grinding poverty and systematic social oppression. In a
civilized nation the process of inculturation also
implies a responsibility to challenge oppressive and
destructiveculturalvalues.
Finally we may also point out that it is important
to urge Christians to develop sensitivity on the issues of
culture, nation and conversion in India. Christians in
India should actively get involved in the political
process to reconstruct modern India as a strong nation.
The Church must collaborate with government
agencies and other secular organizations to bring life
andupliftmenttothedowntroddenof India.
Christians in Nation BuildingChristians in Nation Building
In the emerging political scenarioIn the emerging political scenario
S.M. Michael, SVD
Church Attacks

had an unforgettable experience in July 2012
while probing the baptism of 63 bold Hindus
embracing Christianity after taking priorIpermission from the government under the Orissa
Freedom of Religion Act. As many as three vans of
vocation promoters reached the church in quick
succession asking for the way to the house of a girl
who wanted to become a nun. The Catholic
congregations' eagerness to find such people was
amazing.
It is indeed another feather in the cap of
Kandhamal's shining faith that persecution has
increased the number of vocations to priesthood and
religious life from Kandhamal. However, it is ironic
that while more and more vocation promoters are
now venturing into Kandhamal to increase their
fold, hardly any new congregation has opened a
house thereaftertheorchestratedviolence.
On the contrary, as Father Bijay Kumar
Pradhan,Vicar General for Kandhamal, who died of
a heart attack in 2013, had expressed his
disappointment after congregations even
backtracked and shelved their grandiose plans for
thedistrictaftertheconflagration.
Is this the prophetic witness the religious vigorously
debate? When the simple folk in Kandhamal were
standing up for their faith bravely, a gesture of
solidarity on the part of Religious congregations
would have been to open houses in the backward
regionsanctifiedby thebloodof martyrs.
One of the shocking experiences from my
Kandhamalengagementcameintherunuptothe
Anto Akkara
antoakkara@gmail.com
2013 World Human Rights Day – December 10.Ahead
of a press conference at the Constitution Club in New
Delhi, I contacted a Christian charity requesting them
to buy some copies of my 'Kandhamal Craves for
Justice' documenting the travesty of justice to meet part
of the expenses. On contacting them after a couple of
days, I was told: “We are very happy you are doing
wonderful work.We discussed your proposal. But there
is a problem. If Modi came to power and found out that
weboughtyourbook,therecouldbeaproblemfor us.”
The contrasting witness amused me. On the one
hand, Kandhamal Christians sacrificed their lives and
possessions for their faith in Christ. On the other hand,
Christian leaders were afraid even to buy a book that
chronicled the travails and heroic witness of the less
privilegedsheepof ChristintheKandhamaljungles.
Should we be afraid of the changing times?
Even if we are scared of the powers that be, as followers
of Christ, there is no harm in standing quietly behind
thosespeakingupforthosevoicelessChristians.
The valiant Christians of Kandhamal who have
melted the hearts of even bigots with their amazing
witnesschallengesus all:Standup andbecounted.
The Titus Brandsma award winning Journalist,
has made 18 trips to Kandhamal has authored two
st
investigative books: 'Early Christians of 21
Century' (on the incredible witness of Kandhamal
Christians) and 'Kandhamal Craves for Justice'
(on thetravestyofjustice).
Contact:
Anto Akkara
antoakkara@gmail.com
Prophetic Challenge from KandhamalProphetic Challenge from Kandhamal
Anto Akkara
Church Attacks

n unnecessary controversy is raging in the
country today created by Mohan Bhagwat,
Athe RSS Chief, who a few days ago, went on
record to say that the sole aim of Mother Teresa was to
convertotherstoChristianity.
There is of course nothing new about
Bhagwat's utterances. It is in keeping with the ideology
of the Sangh Parivar in which the denigration of
minorities of the country is paramount. Meenakshi
Lekhi, the spokeswoman of the BJP, added her two-bit
opinion saying that Mother Teresa had been baptising
evenfromherdeathbed.
Very naturally, thousands from all over have
taken a stand in defense of Mother Teresa, praising her
good works and the profound impact she had on
millions the world over. The social media has gone
viral with people from every walk of life joining in the
chorus.
Navin Chawla, the former Chief Election
Commissioner and Mother Teresa's biographer, in an
th
interview to the Times of India (February 26 , 2015)
states that he had even asked Mother Teresa directly if
she converted people. In response, Mother Teresa said,
“I do convert but I convert you to be a better Hindu,
better Muslim, better Catholic and better Sikh. Once
you have found Him, it is up to you to do what you want.
Conversionis notmywork.'”
In March 1996, Mother Teresa was in
Ahmedabad. At a reception hosted for her by the
Municipal Commissioner, a man belonging to the RSS
asked her, “Why do you convert people to
Christianity?” Very humbly and gently, Mother
replied, “I have no power to convert anybody; but if
you wish to be converted, I will certainly pray to Jesus
and he will touch your life.” Of course, the man was
just dumb-founded!So raking up this controversy on
Mother isindeed a very cunning strategy to defocus our
attentionindeedaverycunningstrategytodefocus
our attention from some of the major problems which
grip the country today. These include the massive
protest by farmers all over against the land acquisition
ordinance which seems to have been conveniently
ignored by the media.It is an appropriate moment,
however, for the common person to reflect on Mother
Teresa's legacytous whichincludes:
Compassion
Mother Teresa was compassion personified. She had
the extraordinary gift of touching almost anyone with
her heart; from the dying man on the street to the
President of a powerful country. Her love was
contagious and over the years, she succeeded in
openingmanydoors withthisonekey.
Candour
Mother was honest to the core, to the discomfort of
many! She had no hesitation in calling 'a spade, a
spade'. She was transparent and did not hide the fact
that she was able to serve the poorest of the poor only
becauseshelovedJesus andsaw himinthem.
Courage
Mother Teresa demonstrated tremendous courage in
whatever she did. She feared only God and not any
human. She was convinced that what she and her
Sisters were doing was needed. She was ready to face
any amount of obstacles to ensure that the dying, the
orphaned, the unloved and the rejected had a home to
go to.
Commitment
Mother has surely shown each one of us the importance
of commitment in order to make our world a better
place. Her unflagging commitment to the poorest of
the poor has been her hallmark all along. Her
Missionariesof Charitycontinuethislegacytoday.
If Bhagwat, Lekhi and their ilk make an attempt
to imbibe some of these qualities, India will surely be
CONVERTED!
Mother Teresa and ConversionMother Teresa and Conversion
Cedric Prakash, SJ
Current Affairs

rsTeesta Setalvad is the Secretary, Citizens
for Justice and Peace. She is a vibrant
social activist, an effective journalist, and aMliving inspiration to thousands around the globe. She
was awarded the Padmashree in 2007, International
Nuremberg Human Rights Award in 2003, and the
Defender of Democracy Award by Parliamentarians
for Global Action in 2004. I find in Teesta a true
Christian working for a just and humane society. She
can be a living model to Christians and to women in
particular, urging them to live out the radicality and
humannessof thegospel.
What made you plunge into
socialaction?
The battle for the soul of
India; inclusive, egalitarian, non-
violent and peaceful, is what
drew me in or threw me into
socialaction.
What is your vision as a citizen
ofthis country?
A vibrant country needs
an active, assertive citizenry;
believing in its convictions of
inclusive governance, willing to
speak up against the politics of
discrimination, hatred and
violence.
How can a religious leader (in
any religion) contribute
towards nation building?
Recently at a commemorative meeting in
remembrance of Dr Asghar Ali Engineer who was a
mentor for us all, a friend and priest Rudi Heredia put it
beautifully, “Asghar was a religious man because he
was an inter-religious man.” I could not put it better.
Today's India, today's world is many-splendored, rich
in its diversity, the diversity being not just of faith,
languageandregion,butof thoughtandbelief.
A deeply committed religious leader should
constantly and at all times reflect this diversity, and
express faith in it. My bitter complaint is that when
violence breaks out, it is persons like us who are out
there in zones of bitter conflict. There was a time when
this country's million zillion mini-Gandhis would be
outthere,demandingastop totheviolence.Whereare.
these voices now? Why are religious persons coy or
silentwhenbloodisshedinthenameof faith?
Do minorities have any role in tackling
fundamentalism inIndia? How?
As citizens of this country, undoubtedly.
Minorities have a role to play in supporting secular,
democratic formations across all citizens, and by
playing a pro-active role to ensure that the precious
diversity of this beautiful land is preserved where
Christ and Mohammed can be remembered and
worshipped in Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Gond or Kunbi
dialects; where the
vastness of the vision of
the Hindu faith is not
threatened or determined
by hatred; and where
Jayabala or Gargi or
Janaki are remembered as
women of strength who
make Indian women what
theyare.
Minorities (of all kinds)
s h o u l d a c t i v e l y
participate in this
discourse so as to enrich
andlivenit.
Do you foresee any
c h a n g e i n o u r
educational system, in
creatingabetterIndia?
Independent India's fundamental failure has
been achieving our goal of 'Education as Social
Transformation.' This we could have done if we had
provided good primary education to all our children.
Even today the state is withdrawing from education, a
small (that seems large) section is getting expensive
private education. What we should be doing is ensuring
a common educational standard in state schools
compelling the middle class to attend – a common
school. Content of education also needs to be
addressed. I am concerned that we do not give respect to
work and force children away from working with their
hands by our single focus in a just bookish education.
Also in our social studies and history teaching we need
to analyze text books, especially the hate driven narrow
sections inserted by the politics of majoritarianism and
ensurethatrationalandinclusivehistoryistaught.
Exclusive Interview withTeesta SetalvadExclusive Interview withTeesta Setalvad
Interview
by Rayan Lobo, SJ

What do we teach the young about the first act of terror
in Independent India—the killing of Gandhi on
30.1.1948? Who were his killers? Why were they
threatened by a Man of Peace? Why the reluctance to
teach the history of the Khudai Khitmatgars? Khan
Abdul Gaffar Khan? Christianity and Islam travelled
to our shores through traders from West Asia who
landed in Kerala with businessmen and traders, not
through force and the sword.. Yet why do we not share
withtheyoung how faithsenrichedSouthAsia?
What do you think is the role of women in our
society, living in times when
their dignity and safety are
underthreat?
Women, as nurturers,
care-givers, have always
been the backbone of
societies often playing dual
or multiple roles: within the
home and family, and
stepping outside with greater
responsibilities. This
experience brings great
maturity and complexity to
decision-making processes
and contributes nuances and
richness to discussions and
deliberations.Asociety reflects itself when it is able to
be comfortable and proud of the role of its girls, its
women.Westillhavealongwaytogo.
What could be some ways of promoting the
awareness of human rights among the least, the
last,and thelost insociety?
· Constant struggles for justice, better living,
and peace among those and for those who's
rightsaredeniedeveryday.
· Mobilization of those among all sections who
believe that human dignity and life are the
basics of a civilized society and a mature
democracy.
The battle for human rights and dignity needs to be
fostered first within family and society, within
institutions of education and governance, and of
course fought for and demanded through our courts of
Justice. The media, that is giving less and less space to
the discourse for rights needs to be engaged with
assertivelyandcreativelytoensurespaceis createdfor
thefurtheranceofhumanrights.
Do you train some 'second generation' activists
eventually to take over the good work done by
people like you, OR would such work just come to an
end aftera fewyears?
We must reach out to the young, in campuses,
journalism schools, law schools, small towns and
villages where there are a whole crop of eager young
minds willing to take the plunge. Genuine necessary
work can never end. And a second crop will always
come…
Do you think religion
as such has a positive
role to play in nation
building or is it a
hindrance?
The history of
religion and faith is the
history of battles for
social emancipation
and liberation as well.
Sometimes these take
inspiration from the
religious, sometimes
not. The important
thing is that work for
social justice, equality, and emancipation must
continue.
What keeps you going as a vibrant activist amidst
opposition and threats?
The unshakable belief that the vast majority of
Indians who breathe in each other's live traditions of
syncretic faith, Buddhist, Agnostic, Christian, Jew,
Sikh, Muslim are on our side. They do not believe in a
Hindutva-driven India but an inclusive India, the India
of the Phules, Ambedkar, Azad (Maulana), Anthony
(Frank)andGandhi.
What isyourmessageto ourreaders?
Write clearly, rationally, and often. Articulate a
compassionate, rational view based on facts and
dialectic. Grapple with abhorrent ideas of hatred,
division, casteism and communalism through the
power of positive thought, argument, dialogue and
action.
Exclusive Interview withTeesta SetalvadExclusive Interview withTeesta Setalvad
by Rayan Lobo, SJ

Diaconate Ordinations - 2015Diaconate Ordinations - 2015

The first law of ecology
is that everything is related
to everything else
The first law of ecology
is that everything is related
to everything else
DelightsDelights
Barry CommonerBarry Commoner
The April - May edition of DNC Times will be out in the last week of April.
: Mother MaryTheme : Mother Marywww.dnctimes.comwww.dnctimes.com dnctimes@gmail.comdnctimes@gmail.com
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