Friday, September 08, 2006
Katheang Asong
Katheang Asong
(Street Theatre Group)
Breaking the Barriers in Karbi Anglong
Street theatre as a form of communication in recent times has been used to propagate social messages and to create an awareness amongst the masses regarding critical issues. Street theatre breaks the formal barriers and approaches the people directly. This is a means of reaching people of all strata and creating an awareness of events around them, calling them to change what they believe are the social ailments.
The exchange is close, direct and intimate and, to be more effective, usually loud and larger than life. The script and direction is always significant. In order to draw crowds from all walks of life, the plays are humorous. Songs based on popular catchy tunes are included to add to its appeal. The choreography of the play varies from script to script. Street theatre is people-friendly. The dynamic and mobile nature of street theatre, makes it possible to go to people where theatre is not accessible to the majority like streets, markets, slums, villages, schools, office complexes, parks, residential areas. It is a free show for every one, be it a shopkeeper, an officer, a labourer, a housewife or a student. Therefore, it never has a limited and repeat audience. With participants sitting at the same level as the audience, it shuns hierarchy. The unpolished performance gives it power to reach people. The shows are not ticketed, as the aim is not to earn money but convey the message by reaching out to people. Rather, the audience is asked for contributions. With the potential to dramatise social, economic and political issues (hardly addressed by popular media) street theatre raises people's consciousness to an extent that the viewers may not do something but it hits their mind and they become aware.
The members of this street theatre group are mainly unemployed youth and students committed to bringing about social change. Their returns in terms of finances or fame are nil. The time that this form of theatre demands is considerable. All evenings and weekends are spent rehearsing or performing.
The preparation for the play is a joint effort. Each member has to agree completely on the theme for a production to go through. The script is usually written jointly as the play progresses. The group analyse the society as it exists, visualize its future, and then attempt to put the vision across
What Katheang Asong aims at is towards sensitising masses to social issues, enrolling them in the process of social change and promoting peace and harmony. It does not necessarily provide answers to the issues raised, but tries to analyse the problems. Using humor it gives satire on current problems and issues. The group has conducted more than 65 programmes in various places of Karbi Anglong in the year 2006.
(Street Theatre Group)
Breaking the Barriers in Karbi Anglong
Street theatre as a form of communication in recent times has been used to propagate social messages and to create an awareness amongst the masses regarding critical issues. Street theatre breaks the formal barriers and approaches the people directly. This is a means of reaching people of all strata and creating an awareness of events around them, calling them to change what they believe are the social ailments.
The exchange is close, direct and intimate and, to be more effective, usually loud and larger than life. The script and direction is always significant. In order to draw crowds from all walks of life, the plays are humorous. Songs based on popular catchy tunes are included to add to its appeal. The choreography of the play varies from script to script. Street theatre is people-friendly. The dynamic and mobile nature of street theatre, makes it possible to go to people where theatre is not accessible to the majority like streets, markets, slums, villages, schools, office complexes, parks, residential areas. It is a free show for every one, be it a shopkeeper, an officer, a labourer, a housewife or a student. Therefore, it never has a limited and repeat audience. With participants sitting at the same level as the audience, it shuns hierarchy. The unpolished performance gives it power to reach people. The shows are not ticketed, as the aim is not to earn money but convey the message by reaching out to people. Rather, the audience is asked for contributions. With the potential to dramatise social, economic and political issues (hardly addressed by popular media) street theatre raises people's consciousness to an extent that the viewers may not do something but it hits their mind and they become aware.
The members of this street theatre group are mainly unemployed youth and students committed to bringing about social change. Their returns in terms of finances or fame are nil. The time that this form of theatre demands is considerable. All evenings and weekends are spent rehearsing or performing.
The preparation for the play is a joint effort. Each member has to agree completely on the theme for a production to go through. The script is usually written jointly as the play progresses. The group analyse the society as it exists, visualize its future, and then attempt to put the vision across
What Katheang Asong aims at is towards sensitising masses to social issues, enrolling them in the process of social change and promoting peace and harmony. It does not necessarily provide answers to the issues raised, but tries to analyse the problems. Using humor it gives satire on current problems and issues. The group has conducted more than 65 programmes in various places of Karbi Anglong in the year 2006.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
The Judas syndrome: A response to Da Vinci Code
The Judas syndrome: A response to Da Vinci Code
Before he chose his first disciples, Jesus went up the mountain to pray all night (Luke 6:12). He had many followers at the time. He talked to his Father in prayer about whom he should choose to be his twelve apostles-the twelve whom he would form intimately, the twelve whom he would send out to preach the good news in his name. He gave them power to cast out demons. He gave them power to cure the sick. They watched him work countless miracles. They themselves worked countless others in his name.Yet one of them tuned out to be a traitor. One who had followed the Lord-who had seen him walk on water and raise people from the dead and forgive sinners, one whose feet the Lord had washed-betrayed him. Jesus didn't choose Judas to betray him. But Judas was always free, and he used his freedom to allow Satan to enter into him, and by his betrayal Jesus was crucified and executed. But God foresaw this evil and used to accomplish the ultimate good: the redemption of the world.The point is, sometimes God's chosen ones betray him. That is a fact that we have to confront. If the early Christians had focused only on the scandal caused by Judas, the Church would have been finished before it even started to grow. Instead they recognized that you don't judge a movement by those who don't live it but by those who do. Rather than focusing on the betrayer, they focused on the other eleven on account of whose work, preaching, miracles, and love for Christ we are here today. It is on account of the other eleven-all of whom except John were martyred for Christ and for the gospel they proclaimed-that we ever heard the saving word of God, that we ever received the sacraments of eternal life.The secular media almost never focuses on the good "eleven," the ones whom Jesus has chosen who remain faithful, who live lives of quiet holiness.
Unfortunately, scandal is nothing new for the Church. There have been many times through the ages when things were much worse off than they are now. The history of the Church is like a cosine curve with many ups and downs. At the times when the Church hits its low points God raises up tremendous saints to bring the Church back to its real mission. It's almost as if in those times of darkness the light of Christ shines ever more brightly.
Francis de Sales came along after the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation was not principally about theology-although theological differences came later-but about morals. Martin Luther, an Augustinian priest, lived during the reign of perhaps the most notorious pope in history, Alexander VI. He was a wicked man. He had nine children from six different concubines.
Luther, like everyone, must have wondered how God could allow a wicked man to be the visible head of his Church. All types of moral problems confronted Luther even in his own country of Germany. Luther was scandalized, as anyone who loved God should have been. He allowed the scandal to drive him from the Church.Eventually God raised up many saints to combat this erroneous solution and to bring people back to the Church Christ founded. Francis de Sales was one of them. At the risk of his life he went through Switzerland, where the Calvinists were popular, preaching the gospel with truth and love. Several times on his travels he was beaten and left for dead. What should our reaction be then? There is a story told of Francis of Assisi that sticks in my mind from one of the biographies I read as a seminarian. Once one of the brothers in the order of Friars Minor who was sensitive to scandal asked him, "Brother Francis, what would you do if you knew that a priest celebrating Mass had three concubines on the side?" Francis replied, "When it came time for Holy Communion, I would go to receive the sacred body of my Lord from the priest's anointed hands."Francis was getting at a tremendous truth of the faith and a tremendous gift of the Lord: God has made the sacraments "priest-proof." No matter how holy or wicked a priest is, provided he has the intention to do what the Church does, then Christ himself acts through the priest, just as he acted through Judas when Judas ministered as an apostle. So whether Pope John Paul II or a priest on death row for a felony consecrates the bread and wine, it is Christ himself who acts to gives us his own body and blood. Francis was saying he was not going to let the wickedness or immorality of the priest lead him (Francis) to commit spiritual suicide.Christ can work still and does work still even through the most sinful priest. And thank God! If we were dependent on the priest's personal holiness, we would be in trouble. Though they are chosen by God from among men, priests are tempted and fall into sin just like anyone else. But of course God knew that from the beginning. Eleven of the first twelve apostles scattered when Christ was arrested, but they came back. The Church will never failSome people are predicting that the Church is in for a rough time, and maybe it is. But the Church will survive because the Lord will make sure it survives. One of the greatest comeback lines in history was uttered two hundred years ago. As his armies were swallowing up the countries of Europe, French emperor Napoleon is reported to have said to Church officials, "I will destroy your Church"." When informed of the emperor's words, Ercole Cardinal Consalvi, one of the great statesmen of the papal court, replied, "He will never succeed. We have not managed to do it ourselves!" If bad popes, immoral priests, and countless sinners in the Church hadn't succeeded in destroying the Church from within, Cardinal Consalvi was saying, how did Napoleon think he was going to do it from without?The Cardinal was pointing to a crucial truth: Christ will never allow his Church to fail. He promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church (Matt. 16:18); that the barque of Peter, the Church sailing through time to its eternal port in heaven, will never capsize-not because those in the boat won't do everything sinfully possible to overturn it but because Christ, who is captain of the boat, will never allow it to happen. Jesus is with us, as he promised, until the end of time. He is still in the boat. Just as out of Judas's betrayal he achieved the greatest victory in the universe-our salvation through his passion, death and resurrection-so out of this new scandal he may bring, wants to bring, a new rebirth of holiness, a new Acts of the Apostles for the twenty-first century, with each of us-and that includes you-playing a starring role. Now is the time for real men and women of the Church to stand up. Now is the time for saints. How will you respond
Before he chose his first disciples, Jesus went up the mountain to pray all night (Luke 6:12). He had many followers at the time. He talked to his Father in prayer about whom he should choose to be his twelve apostles-the twelve whom he would form intimately, the twelve whom he would send out to preach the good news in his name. He gave them power to cast out demons. He gave them power to cure the sick. They watched him work countless miracles. They themselves worked countless others in his name.Yet one of them tuned out to be a traitor. One who had followed the Lord-who had seen him walk on water and raise people from the dead and forgive sinners, one whose feet the Lord had washed-betrayed him. Jesus didn't choose Judas to betray him. But Judas was always free, and he used his freedom to allow Satan to enter into him, and by his betrayal Jesus was crucified and executed. But God foresaw this evil and used to accomplish the ultimate good: the redemption of the world.The point is, sometimes God's chosen ones betray him. That is a fact that we have to confront. If the early Christians had focused only on the scandal caused by Judas, the Church would have been finished before it even started to grow. Instead they recognized that you don't judge a movement by those who don't live it but by those who do. Rather than focusing on the betrayer, they focused on the other eleven on account of whose work, preaching, miracles, and love for Christ we are here today. It is on account of the other eleven-all of whom except John were martyred for Christ and for the gospel they proclaimed-that we ever heard the saving word of God, that we ever received the sacraments of eternal life.The secular media almost never focuses on the good "eleven," the ones whom Jesus has chosen who remain faithful, who live lives of quiet holiness.
Unfortunately, scandal is nothing new for the Church. There have been many times through the ages when things were much worse off than they are now. The history of the Church is like a cosine curve with many ups and downs. At the times when the Church hits its low points God raises up tremendous saints to bring the Church back to its real mission. It's almost as if in those times of darkness the light of Christ shines ever more brightly.
Francis de Sales came along after the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation was not principally about theology-although theological differences came later-but about morals. Martin Luther, an Augustinian priest, lived during the reign of perhaps the most notorious pope in history, Alexander VI. He was a wicked man. He had nine children from six different concubines.
Luther, like everyone, must have wondered how God could allow a wicked man to be the visible head of his Church. All types of moral problems confronted Luther even in his own country of Germany. Luther was scandalized, as anyone who loved God should have been. He allowed the scandal to drive him from the Church.Eventually God raised up many saints to combat this erroneous solution and to bring people back to the Church Christ founded. Francis de Sales was one of them. At the risk of his life he went through Switzerland, where the Calvinists were popular, preaching the gospel with truth and love. Several times on his travels he was beaten and left for dead. What should our reaction be then? There is a story told of Francis of Assisi that sticks in my mind from one of the biographies I read as a seminarian. Once one of the brothers in the order of Friars Minor who was sensitive to scandal asked him, "Brother Francis, what would you do if you knew that a priest celebrating Mass had three concubines on the side?" Francis replied, "When it came time for Holy Communion, I would go to receive the sacred body of my Lord from the priest's anointed hands."Francis was getting at a tremendous truth of the faith and a tremendous gift of the Lord: God has made the sacraments "priest-proof." No matter how holy or wicked a priest is, provided he has the intention to do what the Church does, then Christ himself acts through the priest, just as he acted through Judas when Judas ministered as an apostle. So whether Pope John Paul II or a priest on death row for a felony consecrates the bread and wine, it is Christ himself who acts to gives us his own body and blood. Francis was saying he was not going to let the wickedness or immorality of the priest lead him (Francis) to commit spiritual suicide.Christ can work still and does work still even through the most sinful priest. And thank God! If we were dependent on the priest's personal holiness, we would be in trouble. Though they are chosen by God from among men, priests are tempted and fall into sin just like anyone else. But of course God knew that from the beginning. Eleven of the first twelve apostles scattered when Christ was arrested, but they came back. The Church will never failSome people are predicting that the Church is in for a rough time, and maybe it is. But the Church will survive because the Lord will make sure it survives. One of the greatest comeback lines in history was uttered two hundred years ago. As his armies were swallowing up the countries of Europe, French emperor Napoleon is reported to have said to Church officials, "I will destroy your Church"." When informed of the emperor's words, Ercole Cardinal Consalvi, one of the great statesmen of the papal court, replied, "He will never succeed. We have not managed to do it ourselves!" If bad popes, immoral priests, and countless sinners in the Church hadn't succeeded in destroying the Church from within, Cardinal Consalvi was saying, how did Napoleon think he was going to do it from without?The Cardinal was pointing to a crucial truth: Christ will never allow his Church to fail. He promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church (Matt. 16:18); that the barque of Peter, the Church sailing through time to its eternal port in heaven, will never capsize-not because those in the boat won't do everything sinfully possible to overturn it but because Christ, who is captain of the boat, will never allow it to happen. Jesus is with us, as he promised, until the end of time. He is still in the boat. Just as out of Judas's betrayal he achieved the greatest victory in the universe-our salvation through his passion, death and resurrection-so out of this new scandal he may bring, wants to bring, a new rebirth of holiness, a new Acts of the Apostles for the twenty-first century, with each of us-and that includes you-playing a starring role. Now is the time for real men and women of the Church to stand up. Now is the time for saints. How will you respond
Friday, March 24, 2006
Charity is a practice of our Lenten spiritual exercise
Charity is a practice of our Lenten spiritual exercise
By giving up good things and denying them to ourselves we encourage an attitude of humility, free ourselves from dependence on them, cultivate the spiritual discipline of being willing to make personal sacrifices, and remind ourselves of the importance of spiritual goods over earthly goods. The giving up of a good thing to attain a spiritual goal is Charity. Charity is a practice of our Lenten exercise. Charity is being kind, generous and caring towards others, especially those in need. Give the money you saved to a person, a cause or an organization in need, or that helps others in need. Who would you like to help? Is there a cause that would make the world a better place? Consider the following…
• Is there a disease or a person with it you would like help: heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Malaria, AIDS, TB, diabetes, etc.?
• Is there a painful human situation you would like to see overcome: drug, alcohol, suicide prevention (A very relevant issue for Kerala) etc.?
• Would you like to make a dent in the problem of housing, hunger or displaced people?
• Can you contribute to the work of the missions, the rebuilding of homes, schools destroyed by ethnic violence, floods, etc.?
By giving up good things and denying them to ourselves we encourage an attitude of humility, free ourselves from dependence on them, cultivate the spiritual discipline of being willing to make personal sacrifices, and remind ourselves of the importance of spiritual goods over earthly goods. The giving up of a good thing to attain a spiritual goal is Charity. Charity is a practice of our Lenten exercise. Charity is being kind, generous and caring towards others, especially those in need. Give the money you saved to a person, a cause or an organization in need, or that helps others in need. Who would you like to help? Is there a cause that would make the world a better place? Consider the following…
• Is there a disease or a person with it you would like help: heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Malaria, AIDS, TB, diabetes, etc.?
• Is there a painful human situation you would like to see overcome: drug, alcohol, suicide prevention (A very relevant issue for Kerala) etc.?
• Would you like to make a dent in the problem of housing, hunger or displaced people?
• Can you contribute to the work of the missions, the rebuilding of homes, schools destroyed by ethnic violence, floods, etc.?
Thursday, March 23, 2006
The joy of Lent
The joy of Lent
I realize that linking the words joy and Lent may be a bit startling. Some see Lent only as a somber season of struggle to subdue the power of the flesh. Indeed, admission and confession of sin and doing penance should be part of Lent. They are indispensable to authentic renovation in our personal lives, but they are not the whole story. In one of the Lenten Prefaces for Mass, the Church prays, "...each year you give us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery with mind and heart renewed."
I didn't understand the joy of Lent. But, today, I understand this prayer much better. Each year I rediscover how grateful I am for this season which calls me to deeper prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I am also grateful for the joy these Lenten practices bring by making me more open to Christ's presence in my life and in the lives of others.
Reconciliation -- making peace with God and neighbor -- is the fully rounded work of Lent. And reconciliation means joy. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, or more aptly, the Merciful Father, it is the son who has admitted his sins and sought pardon who prompts the celebration. The self-righteous brother does not attend, for in his jealousy he cannot open his heart to share the father's mercy. He can find no satisfaction in forgiveness and refuses to be part of reconciliation.
I realize that linking the words joy and Lent may be a bit startling. Some see Lent only as a somber season of struggle to subdue the power of the flesh. Indeed, admission and confession of sin and doing penance should be part of Lent. They are indispensable to authentic renovation in our personal lives, but they are not the whole story. In one of the Lenten Prefaces for Mass, the Church prays, "...each year you give us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery with mind and heart renewed."
I didn't understand the joy of Lent. But, today, I understand this prayer much better. Each year I rediscover how grateful I am for this season which calls me to deeper prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I am also grateful for the joy these Lenten practices bring by making me more open to Christ's presence in my life and in the lives of others.
Reconciliation -- making peace with God and neighbor -- is the fully rounded work of Lent. And reconciliation means joy. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, or more aptly, the Merciful Father, it is the son who has admitted his sins and sought pardon who prompts the celebration. The self-righteous brother does not attend, for in his jealousy he cannot open his heart to share the father's mercy. He can find no satisfaction in forgiveness and refuses to be part of reconciliation.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Temptation during Lent
Temptation during Lent
Just as Jesus was tempted during his forty days of preparation for his mission, we as followers of Jesus should know that the tempter is still around. We may have lot of challenges and temptations. We will have to struggle to give up our natural desires some bad habits and self interest that prevent us from growing spiritually. Temptation may come even when we are praying, for example we may have a spirit of discouragement or feel too weak to go for the Lenten observances; we may want to be generous with our time and resources but we may be tempted to think that we do not have enough for ourselves and family. We may even refuse to seek for forgiveness from God for sins committed by not making use of the sacrament of penance and by our unwillingness to reconcile with other people around whom we might have hurt. Remember,during Lent, Jesus in the desert is our model, dying to ourselves so that the Father’s plan can be accomplished.
Just as Jesus was tempted during his forty days of preparation for his mission, we as followers of Jesus should know that the tempter is still around. We may have lot of challenges and temptations. We will have to struggle to give up our natural desires some bad habits and self interest that prevent us from growing spiritually. Temptation may come even when we are praying, for example we may have a spirit of discouragement or feel too weak to go for the Lenten observances; we may want to be generous with our time and resources but we may be tempted to think that we do not have enough for ourselves and family. We may even refuse to seek for forgiveness from God for sins committed by not making use of the sacrament of penance and by our unwillingness to reconcile with other people around whom we might have hurt. Remember,during Lent, Jesus in the desert is our model, dying to ourselves so that the Father’s plan can be accomplished.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams
Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams
A Press Statement
on the Occasion of International Women’s Day
International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women often divided by boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.
International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. This year's theme, women: Builders of Communities and Dreams, honors the spirit of possibility and hope set in motion by generations of women in their creation of communities and their encouragement of dreams.
We are horrified at the levels of violence witnessed recently and the women and children are the primary victims. We have a moment of great peril, and great promise. We stand at a crossroads, where our region face the prospect of two widely different visions for our future: the potential for peace is greater than ever; the potential for violence and chaos is greater than ever. This was the objective of Jirsong Asong in organizing a series of programmes in view on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
At a moment such as this, it is absolutely vital that we decide which vision is the one we want to hold onto and work for. The first women’s Day celebration of the year was held at Diphu club on 6th March, 2006. A district level seminar of women empowerment participated by eminent women leaders of the district, beautiful presentations of health related issues, herbal plant exhibition which gathered more than 500 herbal plants from the district, multimedia presentation on women, health, peace and women related issues, and a spectacular cultural night by women were the highlights of the day. Similar programmes will be organized in the coming days at various parts of Karbi Anglong.
Peace comes through community involvement, the ethnic communities of the region with their traditional attire participating in the programmes made a powerful statement to the public: that peace is a possibility in the region.
Tom Mangattuthazhe
A Press Statement
on the Occasion of International Women’s Day
International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women often divided by boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.
International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. This year's theme, women: Builders of Communities and Dreams, honors the spirit of possibility and hope set in motion by generations of women in their creation of communities and their encouragement of dreams.
We are horrified at the levels of violence witnessed recently and the women and children are the primary victims. We have a moment of great peril, and great promise. We stand at a crossroads, where our region face the prospect of two widely different visions for our future: the potential for peace is greater than ever; the potential for violence and chaos is greater than ever. This was the objective of Jirsong Asong in organizing a series of programmes in view on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
At a moment such as this, it is absolutely vital that we decide which vision is the one we want to hold onto and work for. The first women’s Day celebration of the year was held at Diphu club on 6th March, 2006. A district level seminar of women empowerment participated by eminent women leaders of the district, beautiful presentations of health related issues, herbal plant exhibition which gathered more than 500 herbal plants from the district, multimedia presentation on women, health, peace and women related issues, and a spectacular cultural night by women were the highlights of the day. Similar programmes will be organized in the coming days at various parts of Karbi Anglong.
Peace comes through community involvement, the ethnic communities of the region with their traditional attire participating in the programmes made a powerful statement to the public: that peace is a possibility in the region.
Tom Mangattuthazhe
I am really happy after 3 years and 4 months.
I am really happy after 3 years and 4 months.
"I'm really happy to be back with my family. That's all I wanted," said Christopher Kujur, who was flanked by his Father, mother and our prison ministry volunteers: Mr.Anil Toppo, Sailesh Kandulana.
Christopher Kujur was jailed together with his friend for a murder in the village of Lokihijan near Hidipi, Karbi Anglong Assam. He spent 3 years and 4 months at Diphu district jail and was released on bail today (8th March,2006).
Thanks to our prison ministry volunteers who did the wonderful networking with the families, villages and the offices. It was difficult to persuade the officials and also the family, says Anil but we are happy that we got him released. We will try to release more prisoners by networking with the family and the public, said Sailesh.
Why such a long time in prison without even bail, well! there are prisons like that too in our democratic socialist republic of India. When poverty and illiteracy mix there can be still worst things such as these.
The person was bailed out just for 6 thousands rupees. This amount was raised by the family through the efforts of our youth champions; of course several times they had to travel to the villages and to the offices and those days were not very happy either.
Christopher declined to discuss his years in prison, saying, "I spent many days and nights being bitter, and I'm just happy to be back with my family." His immediate plan was to visit his family, he said, adding, "I just want to be left alone so I can laugh and cry with may family the way we used to."
Foot Note to the above
This incident also is a lesson for our youth, and I am really proud to be associated with them too. The entire work was completed just within two months on their own. We take up some case on our visit to the prison and several under trails were released, say 82 of them during the last three months, to be more precise since December, 25th. Thanks to our religious houses in Diphu who are visiting the prison on weekly basis. The visit has reduced torture in the prison, this was testified by Christopher himself and this is indeed a boost for our volunteers.
"I'm really happy to be back with my family. That's all I wanted," said Christopher Kujur, who was flanked by his Father, mother and our prison ministry volunteers: Mr.Anil Toppo, Sailesh Kandulana.
Christopher Kujur was jailed together with his friend for a murder in the village of Lokihijan near Hidipi, Karbi Anglong Assam. He spent 3 years and 4 months at Diphu district jail and was released on bail today (8th March,2006).
Thanks to our prison ministry volunteers who did the wonderful networking with the families, villages and the offices. It was difficult to persuade the officials and also the family, says Anil but we are happy that we got him released. We will try to release more prisoners by networking with the family and the public, said Sailesh.
Why such a long time in prison without even bail, well! there are prisons like that too in our democratic socialist republic of India. When poverty and illiteracy mix there can be still worst things such as these.
The person was bailed out just for 6 thousands rupees. This amount was raised by the family through the efforts of our youth champions; of course several times they had to travel to the villages and to the offices and those days were not very happy either.
Christopher declined to discuss his years in prison, saying, "I spent many days and nights being bitter, and I'm just happy to be back with my family." His immediate plan was to visit his family, he said, adding, "I just want to be left alone so I can laugh and cry with may family the way we used to."
Foot Note to the above
This incident also is a lesson for our youth, and I am really proud to be associated with them too. The entire work was completed just within two months on their own. We take up some case on our visit to the prison and several under trails were released, say 82 of them during the last three months, to be more precise since December, 25th. Thanks to our religious houses in Diphu who are visiting the prison on weekly basis. The visit has reduced torture in the prison, this was testified by Christopher himself and this is indeed a boost for our volunteers.
Monday, February 20, 2006
How to promote a culture of Peace
How to promote a culture of Peace
Peace as an organizing principle is a revolutionary idea that if applied at the regional, block, village and individual levels, would radically change the world we live in. Since our actions and structures grow out of our core beliefs, let us consider the assumptions of peace as a principle for society. Four essential and inter-related principles or assumptions upon which peace flourishes are: Community - the power of interconnectedness, Witness - the power of presence, Nonviolence - the power of love and lastly Cooperation - the power of sharing power
Community — the power of interconnectedness
Peace is grounded in a basic understanding about the nature of reality — that we are all one in a single family of life on this planet, interconnected and interdependent. A simple study of the natural world tells us that this is indeed so. This world view is something that traditional and tribal societies have long held. Shifting from a mindset of separation to one of unity has profound implications for how we live together. If one is hurt, we are all diminished. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) Replace all forms of force, oppression with partnerships, alliances, and coalitions. (2) Address poverty and its related ills differently, allotting the resources necessary to provide for the basic needs of all people everywhere rather than for the few self-judged to be more entitled. (3) Honor our children and our elders above all else, making their care and well being our top priority.
Witness, the power of presence
Peace does begin inside each and every one of us because we all carry the seed of peace within. As with other universal human ideals, like Justice, Freedom, Beauty, or Truth, Peace is one of those `capital-letter' words that speaks an yearning and a striving within every human beings that cuts across all boundaries of culture, ethnicity, and religion. While we might define and understand `peace' differently, we all hold it as one of our highest values. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) See that potential for peace in every person and in every situation, and take it for granted that we water that seed in each other with our thoughts, words, and actions. (2) Attach our individual and collective lives around the importance of finding and living serenity, tranquility and harmony. (3) Honor those who embody the living presence of peace over those who excel in violence, be they in entertainment, sports or politics. (4) Select as our leaders those who demonstrate the ability to live from and lead from that place of inner peace.
Nonviolence is the power of love
To do violence to another, we must first de-humanize them in some way. If we make the deep human connection from one heart to another, we would not be capable of causing suffering; rather, we would wish to alleviate pain, fear, and sorrow. Respect, appreciation of differences, compassion, empathy, and forgiveness are the result of keeping an open heart. We may be able to get temporary solutions to our conflicts and disputes without openheartedness, but we will never achieve the full reconciliation needed to break forever the recurring cycles of violence which characterize our worst conflicts. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) Eliminate the glamorization of violence from our culture, and eliminate the dependence on violence as a method of solving our problems. (2) Insure that nonviolent methods of conflict resolution are taught in our schools and practiced in all our family, workplace, community, and villages. (3) Poverty and discrimination are forms of violence too and so put our collective intelligence and resources towards solutions that work to eliminate these social ills. (4) Understand that violence begets violence, and so enact zerotolerance policies against violence at every level. (5) Put human rights first before profits or power. (6) Put love at the center of every decision and action.
Cooperation, the power of sharing power
True power is the ability to create and when we put that together with the fact that we are all interconnected and interdependent, we understand that we are all involved in creating the world we share. In every moment, with every individual decision and action, we are choosing what is collectively manifested. True cooperation means that we work together for the common good; dedicate our resources for the benefit of the whole; and realize we are crafting the future now — and that we need the wisdom and perspectives of all of us, not just a few, to make it work. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) Offer our superpower status in service to the community, in all humility. (2) Listen to learn from the needs, the interests, and the views of other cultures and peoples, without assuming we know best. (3) Shift our idea of power politics, from a reliance on power `over' another to one on power `with' others, and work collaboratively to create a world that works for everyone, not for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many. (4) Make decisions on the basis of what is most beneficial 7 generations into the future.
If these assumptions of peace are the organizing principles of our society, our lives would look and feel quite different in every respect, from the individual to the community level. These changes would necessitate a reprioritization of our budget; a restructuring of our educational, political, and economic systems; and a revamping of our popular culture. Into that heaven let us awake and let Karbi Anglong awake!
Peace as an organizing principle is a revolutionary idea that if applied at the regional, block, village and individual levels, would radically change the world we live in. Since our actions and structures grow out of our core beliefs, let us consider the assumptions of peace as a principle for society. Four essential and inter-related principles or assumptions upon which peace flourishes are: Community - the power of interconnectedness, Witness - the power of presence, Nonviolence - the power of love and lastly Cooperation - the power of sharing power
Community — the power of interconnectedness
Peace is grounded in a basic understanding about the nature of reality — that we are all one in a single family of life on this planet, interconnected and interdependent. A simple study of the natural world tells us that this is indeed so. This world view is something that traditional and tribal societies have long held. Shifting from a mindset of separation to one of unity has profound implications for how we live together. If one is hurt, we are all diminished. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) Replace all forms of force, oppression with partnerships, alliances, and coalitions. (2) Address poverty and its related ills differently, allotting the resources necessary to provide for the basic needs of all people everywhere rather than for the few self-judged to be more entitled. (3) Honor our children and our elders above all else, making their care and well being our top priority.
Witness, the power of presence
Peace does begin inside each and every one of us because we all carry the seed of peace within. As with other universal human ideals, like Justice, Freedom, Beauty, or Truth, Peace is one of those `capital-letter' words that speaks an yearning and a striving within every human beings that cuts across all boundaries of culture, ethnicity, and religion. While we might define and understand `peace' differently, we all hold it as one of our highest values. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) See that potential for peace in every person and in every situation, and take it for granted that we water that seed in each other with our thoughts, words, and actions. (2) Attach our individual and collective lives around the importance of finding and living serenity, tranquility and harmony. (3) Honor those who embody the living presence of peace over those who excel in violence, be they in entertainment, sports or politics. (4) Select as our leaders those who demonstrate the ability to live from and lead from that place of inner peace.
Nonviolence is the power of love
To do violence to another, we must first de-humanize them in some way. If we make the deep human connection from one heart to another, we would not be capable of causing suffering; rather, we would wish to alleviate pain, fear, and sorrow. Respect, appreciation of differences, compassion, empathy, and forgiveness are the result of keeping an open heart. We may be able to get temporary solutions to our conflicts and disputes without openheartedness, but we will never achieve the full reconciliation needed to break forever the recurring cycles of violence which characterize our worst conflicts. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) Eliminate the glamorization of violence from our culture, and eliminate the dependence on violence as a method of solving our problems. (2) Insure that nonviolent methods of conflict resolution are taught in our schools and practiced in all our family, workplace, community, and villages. (3) Poverty and discrimination are forms of violence too and so put our collective intelligence and resources towards solutions that work to eliminate these social ills. (4) Understand that violence begets violence, and so enact zerotolerance policies against violence at every level. (5) Put human rights first before profits or power. (6) Put love at the center of every decision and action.
Cooperation, the power of sharing power
True power is the ability to create and when we put that together with the fact that we are all interconnected and interdependent, we understand that we are all involved in creating the world we share. In every moment, with every individual decision and action, we are choosing what is collectively manifested. True cooperation means that we work together for the common good; dedicate our resources for the benefit of the whole; and realize we are crafting the future now — and that we need the wisdom and perspectives of all of us, not just a few, to make it work. Hence for our immediate attention: (1) Offer our superpower status in service to the community, in all humility. (2) Listen to learn from the needs, the interests, and the views of other cultures and peoples, without assuming we know best. (3) Shift our idea of power politics, from a reliance on power `over' another to one on power `with' others, and work collaboratively to create a world that works for everyone, not for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many. (4) Make decisions on the basis of what is most beneficial 7 generations into the future.
If these assumptions of peace are the organizing principles of our society, our lives would look and feel quite different in every respect, from the individual to the community level. These changes would necessitate a reprioritization of our budget; a restructuring of our educational, political, and economic systems; and a revamping of our popular culture. Into that heaven let us awake and let Karbi Anglong awake!
