By SAR NEWS
MANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) –Following in the footsteps of his philanthropist father, Nigel Colaco, son of non-resident India businessman, Ronald Colaco, distributed scholarships worth Rs 10.75 lakh to meritorious children of policemen, at a function held at Town Hall here, July 2.
Nigel gave away cheques for Rs. 25,000 each to 43 meritorious students. Nine hundred waterproof school bags were given to primary and high school children of the men in khaki and Rs. 2 lakh was donated towards theatre activities of jail inmates.
Inaugurating the programme, Ronald Colaco pointed out that in most of the foreign countries he had visited, he was highly impressed by the discipline among the people, good civic sense, high standard of living and good traffic sense.
“I realised that this is possible because of the efficient police force who are looked after well by the government. When I came to India, I noticed that the policemen here are not provided even basic facilities required for a decent living. How can we expect them to care of the society and enforce discipline when they lead a hand-to-mouth existence and always have to worry about their future,” Ronald asked.
Nigel said he was too happy to part with a his savings for a noble cause and advised the children of policemen to cultivate the habit of reading books and equip themselves with more knowledge so that they are able to come up in life in today’s competitive world.
Ronald, who was visibly happy at the gesture shown by Nigel, said his son first got the idea of giving scholarships when he discussed about the ultramodern police stations he had built in Bangalore, in Frazer Town, to start with.
“In Bangalore, I had built an ultramodern police station and this gesture of mine inspired other MNC’s and IT companies to come forward with a similar gesture. As a result, a total of 49 ultramodern police stations have come up in different parts of Bangalore and therefore the city could have police stations which were modern and people-friendly,” he said.
Though Ronald had requested MNC’s and Builders’ Association in Mangalore to show a similar gesture of providing scholarships to children of policemen, he said he was no one has responded positively. “When I shared my disappointment with my son Nigel, he volunteered to contribute something for the children of the policemen from whatever little savings he has. I am happy that he has set a rare example of giving back something to society in such an early stage of his life,” he said.
This year, Nigel donated a total of 16.25 lakh, of which scholarships worth Rs 10.75 lakh were given to 43 students. Last year, he had donated scholarships worth Rs. 12 lakh to the children of the policemen.
Ronald has called upon organisations and institutions to give back to society in whatever little way they can. While regretting the lack of response from others to follow a similar gesture, he said, “If no individual or organisation comes forward and continues this gesture even next year, I will have no other option but to continue, so that needy children of policemen get motivated to study well and come up in life.”
The 43 children were shortlisted for the scholarship by the Police Commissioner who had invited applications from children of policemen in different police stations of the district who had scored 80 per cent and above in SSLC and PUC. All the data was fed in the computer and 43 students who had secured the highest marks were selected for the scholarship.
IGP (Western Range) Pratap Reddy, who was present on the occasion, thanked Ronald Colaco and Nigel Colaco for their generosity and for their social concern. He also urged Ronald Colaco to extend similar support to the children of jail inmates.
Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh also expressed his thanks to the Colaco family. Every year Ronald Colaco has been spending Christmas and New Year with the policemen, which mirrors his concern for the policemen, he said.

By SAR NEWS

NEW DELHI (SAR NEWS) – The All India Christian Council has condemned the call by Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, that it is “necessary to destroy all the churches of the region”.

Christian Council president Dr Joseph D’Souza, said the Mufti’s controversial statement placed Christian churches throughout the Arabian peninsula in jeopardy and could have repercussions for religious minorities in other countries, a press release said.

Council secretary general John Dayal called upon the Government of India and other civilised countries to use their good offices to ensure that the nations in the Arabian peninsula rebuffed the Wahabi Imam’s bigoted statement, and assured the safety and security of churches in the Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

Christianity is already forbidden in Saudi Arabia which has no churches.

West Asian media had reported the controversial statement in the context of another statement by a Kuwaiti member of parliament who reportedly called for the ‘removal’ of churches in his country.

Legislation was also recently introduced in Kuwait’s parliament that would mandate the removal of Christian churches from the country and impose strict Shariah laws. Kuwait has later clarified the legislation would not remove the churches, but prohibit further construction of Christian churches and non-Muslim places of worship in the country.

The Saudi Grand Mufti  emphasised that because Kuwait is part of the Arabian Peninsula, it would be necessary to destroy all churches in the country. There are a large number of Christians living in Saudi Arabia and the other countries of the Arabian Gulf,  many of them from India and the Philippines, with their population estimated at over 3.5 million, over 800,000 of them in Saudi Arabia alone.

The All India Christian Council has been following developments in the region with growing alarm and concern as Christians continue to be coerced and harassed at various times. It is particularly disturbing because India has a large number of its citizens, mostly labour but also businessmen, engineers and medical personnel, in the region. A large number of migrant from the states of South India are Christians, the press release said.

The Christian Council said the Mufti’s statement flew in the face of the United Nations Charter and the U.N. Declaration On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Intolerance And Of Discrimination Based On Religion Or Belief.

From Fr Varghese Paul, SJ

NADIAD, Gujarat (SAR NEWS) – “Hard work and faithfulness have led me to success,” said Sanjay B. Surti, who was the first-batch student of Loyola ITI at Nadiad. Surti was addressing the gathering as the chief guest of the annual day function of his alma mater, March 24.

            Another guest of honour, Arpita D. Parmar, a former student of Spoken English and Secretarial Course at Loyola ITI, giving her own example of struggles and joys, called the students to work hard and aim high.

            Parmar, after completing the secretarial course, went on to do M.Ed. and M.Phil and became an assistant professor at a college at Anand.

            Both the former students paid glowing tributes to their alma mater. They appreciated not only the professional training, but also discipline, punctuality and other values of life they got from Loyola ITI.

            The Director of Loyola ITI, Father. K. P. Vincent thanked Surti and Parmar for making their valuable time available for the institute and inspiring the students for a successful future.

“Amidst much struggle and successes the two guests have done outstanding performances in their respective fields. They made the Institute proud. Mr Sanjay Surti has been selected as the best worker (Torrentian of the year 2012) by The Torrent Industry from their 14000 strong employees with a cash award of Rs.7,50,000/- and a certificate” Fr. Vincent told reporter.

            The Annual day celebrations included distribution of prizes and certificates to students for their outstanding performances in studies, sports and cultural programmes.

 By SAR NEWS

HYDERABAD, Andhra Pradesh (SAR NEWS) – The co-president of the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (AFPC), Bishop G. Dyvasirvadam, has reiterated the Federation’s stand opposing the enactment of Central and State legislations on Church properties.

He was reacting to a suggestion made by Ali Rafat IAS, secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Minorities Welfare Department, that bishops/ heads of Churches agree to the constitution of a Christian Property Board along the lines of the Wakf Board of Muslims, so that the government could usher in many benefits for the Christian community.

Rafat was the chief guest of the general body meeting of the APFC, held March 6 at St. John’s Regional Seminary, Hyderabad.

Bishop Dyvasirvadam also read out from the APFC document: “The Official Stand and Views of the APFC on enacting a Law for the Regulation of Church Properties”, copies which were distributed to the participants at the meeting.

The document was already submitted by the APFC to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and other Central and State ministers concerned, in the wake of some misguided Christians demanding the enactment of the said legislation.

The Andhra Pradesh Christian (Minority) Finance Corporation, the agency of the State government for the development of Christian Community with the annual budget of about Rs. 25 crore, also conducted its advisory council meeting along with the APFC meeting as the bishops / heads of Churches are also ex-officio members of the council.

Earlier, the meeting began with the prayer led by Bishop M.D. Prakasam, the treasurer of APFC, and the welcome address was given by Bishop Gali Bali, the general secretary.

The executive secretary B. Danam IAS (Retd) presented the minutes of the previous meeting, while Father Anthoniraj Thumma highlighted the significant events from the annual report.

The general body resolved to pursue the court cases on the Scheduled Caste status to the Dalit Christians and the ban on filling up of the aided teaches’ posts.

Major V. Ratnam of the Salvation Army said the concluding prayer.

 By SAR NEWS

AHMEDABAD, Gujarat (SAR NEWS) – Vedruna Sisters and residents of their St. Xavier’s Ladies’ Hostel celebrated its Golden Jubilee with a solemn Eucharistic and cultural programmes on theihostel premises here on March 4.

            Bishop Thomas Macwan of Ahmedabad led the Mass together with Bishop Godfrey de Rosario, SJ, o f  Baroda and a dozen priests. More than two hundred friends, well-wishers, benefactors, parents and hostelers participated in the Eucharist and more hostelers joined the cultural programme of songs, music and dance. 

            A good number of Carmelite Sisters of Charity – Vedruna (CCV) representing their many convents in Gujarat also graced the jubilee celebrations. 

            In his homily, the Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Father Vincent Braganza, SJ, spoke about the literal meaning, symbolic meaning, intended meaning and the personal meaning of the 3 biblical passages read during the liturgy. Pointing to Jesus who went from Transfiguration to the Cross and then to Resurrection and Victory, Father Braganza called upon the hostelers and others to live for others as Jesus did.

Calling for the emancipation of women in his message, Bishop de Rosairo said tthe search for humanity was continuing and it would not be achieved without the emancipation of women.

 ”Emancipation is possible only with women experiencing self-respect and internal freedom.”

He called the hostel girls to believe in themselves and make a difference in the world. “This is our vision, our dream and our goal,” Bishop de Rosario concluded.

            Speaking on the occasion, the Provincial Superior of CCV Sisters, Sister Celine Paul, recalled with gratitude the names of the pioneers and the successors by name. She also thanked the then Bishop Edwin Pinto of Ahmedabad, the Jesuit Provincial Father Charles Gomes, SJ, the Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Father Herbert D’Souza, who all facilitated and helped the starting of the hostel as the congregation’s second Foundation in India. “Today, 150 girls from all walks of life are getting university education and all-round formation through the selfless, dedicated services of our Sisters. Over the years, a good many tribal girls could pursue college education only because St. Xavier’s Ladies’ Hostel specially served them,” Sister Celine said.

            In his presidential address, Bishop Macwan recalled his childhood experiences of growing up with much love and care of CCV Sisters, in their very first Foundation in India at Bhavnagar. He said that the girls at St. Xavier’s Ladies Hostel were specially blessed by love and care of the Sisters who communicate dChrist through their lives. “Have the spirit of St. Francis Xavier, the Patron of the Hostel, who gave himself totally to the whole world and the world would give its best to you,” Bishop Macwan said.

            The hostel girls and the CCV Sisters (juniors) enthralled the audience with a number of songs, music and a variety of dances.

In between cultural programmes, the past as well as the present hostel-representatives narrated their own experiences of growing up through the love, care, inter-personal relationship and discipline fostered by CCV Sisters managing the hostel. “The Sisters are available 24 hours at our service and they help us to be better persons. It is a home away from home,” said quite a few hostelers.

 The cultural programmes began with the Superior of St. Xavier’s Ladies’ Hostel Sister Goretti D’Monte, CCV welcoming the gathering to the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Hostel warden Sister Shiby proposed a vote of thanks.

By Adolf Washington, SAR NEWS

MUMBAI, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) – Discussing the theme ‘Press as watchdog and whistleblower’ Managing Editor of ‘Tehelka’, Shoma Chaudhury, noted that “all protests need an audience”.

The media focused so much on the Anna Hazare movement while the farmers’ protest was not covered, she said while addressing participants at a national seminar organised by the Society of St. Paul, CBCI Office for Social Communication and Catholic Communication Centre, Archdiocese of Mumbai, March 3.

It is a disaster that “the judiciary is ruling this country. For how long will this go on? If you want journalists to take on big people, you need extremely intelligent and courageous people and you got to pay them well. People are willing to spend 100 rupees for coffee and cakes, but not for the media. The media today is corporate-run.  As a consequence they decide what news to give you”, Chaudhury said.

“Whistleblowing is extremely difficult. It should help persuade and not just expose corruption. It should help shape people’s ideals. This will help the media. We must also understand corruption in all its nuances. Land-grabbing, corporate scams, environmental denigration and political scuffles. The media should speak the correct language that ensures public discourse,” she said.

By Adolf Washington, SAR NEWS

MUMBAI, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) — Radio is a one-on-one conversation and is a very powerful tool for social transformation. It is cheap, mobile and can be with you always. Great transformation can happen in society when you get personal with listeners to understand their problems, said radio jockey, author and senior journalist Naresh Fernandes.

He was speaking on the ‘Relevance of the Print Media and the Electronic Media’ along with others, during a panel discussion at a national seminar held in Mumbai, March 3.

Journalist and columnist with various newspapers, Robert Clements, said: “The printed word has power to impress and also begin a thought-process in the minds of readers, inducing them to take up pressing issues proactively.”

Professor of Journalism at the Xavier Institute of Communication and Editor of ‘Parsiana’, a journal for the Parsi community, Jehangir Patel, observed, “We are not getting readable stories in newspapers these days. Television channels are giving us more of debates and discussions and less of news because of commercial gains.”

Former editor of the Mid-Day, Akaar Patel, stressed on “Being accountable for what we owe ourselves and what we owe others in the practice of journalism. Journalism in India is below average. Our institutes of journalism have nothing much to teach. Students are not really given the feel of what paid-journalism is and how the media has been corrupted.”

“A good journalist should subtly be able to make readers feel that the news published is tainted because of management policy that toes the line of the advertisers. There are challenges in being a good journalist. You may be paid less, but you still have the potential to rise up for the Truth,” he said.

By Adolf Washington, SAR NEWS

MUMBAI, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) — Heaping criticism on the Indian media, veteran journalist and keynote speaker B.G. Verghese said, “Commercialisation has eroded the media responsibility. The new philosophy now is ‘anything goes’.  Everyone wants breaking news. Breaking news comes with no authenticity… it’s full of exaggeration, nonsense, trivial, irrelevant and shallow. What we have today is only sound-byte journalism, meaning, it should sound good even if it is totally irrelevant.”

He was addressing participants of a national seminar on the theme: The Press in India- A Mandate for Social Transformation, organised by the Society of St Paul, CBCI Office for Social Communication and Catholic Communication Centre, Archdiocese of Mumbai, March 3.

He continued: “Nonsense added to nonsense makes more nonsense. They call you for opinions on stories that you don’t even know about. Your opinions are then quoted as great truths.”

Verghese, recipient of the Ramon Magsasay Award in 1975, former information advisor to the Prime Minister of India, and former editor of the Hindustan Times and the Indian Express, noted how centuries ago the Press was considered as the fourth estate, but described a paradigm shift calling the Press the “First Estate”.

He added, “It is from the newspapers that bureaucrats and ministers fetch information and then call up the intelligence bureau to know what’s happening.”

Verghese observed, “We are now in touch with the world instantly, with everyone having cellphones. We are humming with information. It is the media proving the First Information Report.”

“Whether it is President Obama, Manmohan Singh, Putin, Sarkozy, everybody fears the media. Unfortunately, it is deeply worrying that the media is becoming irresponsible in many ways. The media has the role of wiping the tear from every eye.”

He called the media an agenda-setter. “Eighty per cent of what happens in any parliament across the world is in the media. The media should not only be an agenda-setter, but also a public trustee.

He termed the media in India ‘unregulated’. “Defamation suits do not work here. Institutions like the Press Council of India are weak. The media is like a fast car that can travel at the speed of light, but drive if you have brakes. What you say and do, can create war or peace. Some television anchors can declare war on countries.  People watch not for news, but for entertainment.”

Talking about the slackness of many editors, he said, “Many editors are not minding their shops, but are busy on television channels. Change must come in the media. Change is often met with resistance. We are afraid of change, but change is the need of the hour.”

By Adolf Washington, SAR NEWS

MUMBAI, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) — “Pope John Paul II was very convinced of the role of the media and its power to effect social transformation,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias said.

He was addressing participants of a national seminar on the theme: The Press in India- A Mandate for Social Transformation, organised by the Society of St. Paul, CBCI Office for Social Communication and Catholic Communication Centre, Archdiocese of Mumbai, March 3.

The Cardinal observed, “The media has an indispensable role to play in transforming society. But unbridled freedom to any force can cause harm. Pope Benedict XVI affirms that unless ethics enters economics there cannot be change. In the same way, ethics must enter journalism if there has to be a transformation of society.”

The prelate emphasised that in the practice of journalism, there has to be three elements: information, accuracy (giving full stories and not half stories) and speed”.

Taking a dig at how some newspapers paint rosy pictures of government schemes, he said, “What is good on paper may not become a reality unless we have a good media that can become proactive in effecting progress.”

He added, “Our population is not our weakness, but our strength. The media can harness this strength for transformation, not just of India, but of Asia and the rest of the world.”

The seminar saw the participation of delegates from across India, including students of journalism from Mumbai. A galaxy of dignitaries from the print and electronic media, social activists and anti-corruption crusaders were on the panel and later felicitated by the organisers.

George Kaitholil, General Editor, ‘Better Yourself Books’, in his welcome address said, “The cruelest of all hungers is the hunger for Truth. The printed word gives nourishment to the mind, sows ideas and reaps the ideas it wants.  The press cannot escape its responsibility to effect social transformation.”

Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal, chairman, CBCI Commission for Social Communication, was present.