Link to my Agra Visit-2011

Kindly click on the following link for the photos of my recent visit to Agra.



http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0349-62fa-a476?em=1&st=60831884

Mai, my mother: Stella D'Silva

Mai: You are the living Saint- Silent Sufferer- You are the Greatest!

“She is a living Saint”, declared Sr. Josphine, my Naravi High School headmistress, after hearing my explanation for my absence the previous day. Well, every family has problems...so too my family had! But Stella Rodrigues (better known as ‘Estu Bai’ in the village), my mother “suffered silently” and “stored everything at heart.”

Just imagine her situation- ‘Estu bai’ born in 1931 to Helen and Benjamin Rodrigues at Birau near Moodbidri, Mangalore as the second child out of seven; the Rodrigues family earned their living by running a grocery shop in the village;  after her early education up to Class-V and moving to Mumbai as a domestic help; returning home unable to bear the harassment in Mumbai; given in marriage at the age of 18; toiling  in the paddy fields at the in-laws house- her first experience in life; giving birth to 13 children 4 of whom dying due to sickness/accident; taking the burden of managing the household after the early demise of her husband due to throat cancer in 1987; her priest-son being kidnapped and not traced for 63 days and at last a massive stroke incapacitating for three years now... I just adore my mom and agree fully- ‘mai (‘mother’ in Konkani) you are a living saint indeed’!

“I thought in the beginning he was one of the Muslim traders”, recalled my mai talking about her first encounter with our ‘Aan’ (father), Marian D’Silva, who had gone along with his maternal uncle to look for his better-half. Her most frightful moments were- spending nights in the tiny hut in the jungle, which eventually became our home too, of course developed day by day. Ask about the tragic moments? Well, how could she forget the untimely end of her four children: Leo, Philomena, Marceline and Michael! And her suffering was inexplicable when I was kidnapped in Assam and was kept in the jungle for 63 days by the Cobra militants in 1998. She felt fully fulfilled when Vincy our youngest brother married Olivia in December 1999 and with that all her children employed, married and settled. Her burden of responsibility was almost over.

“Estu bai is the best flower among all the seven children (Lt.Coses, Stella, Bernard, Alex, Lititia, Piyad & Carmine)- virtuous, submissive and mild by temperament,” explains Sr. Iris (Lititia), her sister, who is a Charity Sister working in the Province of Dharwad. Sr. Iris recalls the beautiful white frock which Estu bai wore for the First Holy Communion and which was handed down to all the sisters for the occasions later on. “Her character was spotless like that frock,” she feels.

I will never forget the beaming smile of my mother when all her nine children along with her sons/daughters-in-law and grand children- came together in 2005 and celebrated her Platinum Jubilee (75 years). There were her brothers and sisters, friends and relatives, neighbours and admirers gathered. It was a great occasion. “Though we were born in the jungle, we were never left to become ‘junglee’, rather we were formed and educated by our ever-caring mother,” I had spoken on behalf of nine of us.

September 23, 2011 is the gloomy day for us, as mai suffered the second and a major stroke. With that she is not able to speak and swallow food. We pray to the Almighty to work miracle and heal our wonderful mother. Mai- you are the greatest mother. We all love you.

Hazaar....hazaar....Anna Hazares!

Anna Produces hazaar....hazaar.... Anna Hazares

Thomas D’Silva

“I want to show my kid how was Mahatma Gandhi like”, a middle-aged woman was seen screaming at the microphone amidst the din of patriotic fervour: slogans, songs, street plays, reporters on war footing, and all kinds of creative expressions to their frustrations... There was a drama unfolding outside the Tihar Jail! And inside? As irony would have it, Kisan Baburao Hazare, or Anna Hazare as he is popularly known, the ‘mahatma-in-the-making’ for his Anti-corruption crusade was locked up in the very same jail, where the icons of crime and corruption too were lodged! Well, there was A. Raja- Suresh Kalmadi & Co, with their plates filled to the brim while Anna had decided to give up food for the cause.

The cause and the crusade to wipe out corruption from the country and to make a ‘free nation’ envisaged by Gandhi had landed Anna in trouble. The nation besieged and beleaguered by hunger and poverty, injustice and inequality, inflation and price-rise, unemployment and corruption suddenly woke up to a ‘revolutionary call’! The frustrated techno savvy youth through social media, SmSs, mainstream media, etc. managed to turn it into a massive movement. The eruption could be likened to that of Tiananmen Square of China and to Tahrir square of Cairo. The only difference was that there is no dictator or monster but a virus of corruption to be eliminated. Because,  the political class of the country have taken the democracy for a ride!

When the nation was in no mood for any let up, the government realized its folly and overnight released Anna and his team agreeing to all their demands regarding the indefinite fast, venue and the method of protest. The scene of action moved to Ramlila Maidan, the very ground from where a month ago, Baba Ramdev and his followers forcibly were evicted. But this 74-year old Gandhian is made of sterner stuff! This time around Team Anna was street smart with Chanakya-like strategy: mobilizing the media, the youth, the celebrities, resources and so on. The Ramlila Maidan wore a look of battle ground: why not? After all it was a battle over Bill: Sarkari Bill vs. Jan Lokpal Bill.

Thousands flocked to Ramlila Mainda. Millions pledged support to the movement. Protests were held in different parts of the country. Social media, SMSs, millions of missed calls to President, Sonia Gandhi, etc. were sent- for the cause of Jan Lokpal Bill. Several rounds of parleys, backroom dialogues with Team Anna, feelers and mediators, conflicting media statements and several other pressure tactics were applied. It was a battle between Team Anna Vs. The Government. When millions donning the Gandhi cap with words inscribed- “Main Anna Hoon” (I am Anna) joined the protest, the government had to take note of the wish of the people. And finally the will of the people prevailed.

The Parliament on August 27, 2011 took cognisance of the main demands and adopted a resolution to incorporate them apart from other points viz.: i. To institute Lokayuktas in every state; ii. To bring the lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal ambit; iii. And to enact Citizen’s Charter for facilitating speedy and time-bound service delivery system. Only after receiving the written assurance from the Prime Minister that Anna Hazare broke his 291-hour long fast.

Anna’s ‘unshan’ (fast) has been his way of showing dissent and demand. He had done it in the past with considerable success in Maharastra. That was only a rehearsal for the ‘final’ showdown: demanding a strong Jan Lokpal Bill to wipe out the cancer of corruption from the country. And he did it in style uniting the citizens in the process of rebuilding the nation.  “It is only a half victory. The final victory will be when India becomes corruption free”, said Anna addressing the mammoth gathering at the maidan as he broke his fast on Sunday morning (Aug.28^th).

A diminutive, 75 years old Anna Hazare, thus stirs up the imagination of over a billion strong population.  People burdened under the oppressive and corrupt governments since 1947 are at last woken up for what Anna terms- ‘the second freedom struggle’. The nation wants to cleanse the democratic system by having leaders who are accountable and the government transparent. “I am Anna”, is their slogan. Hence, there is not one Anna Hazare but millions of them with the same aspiration and goal. Well, Anna has a clean image. And his intentions, beyond doubt. But the millions who have joined the bandwagon- how sincere and focused are they? Is it a mass frenzy? Is it a splash in the pan- come and gone? Only time will tell whether along with Anna they are going to be on a vigil till the goal is achieved, when the country is cleansed of corruption.

D'Silva & Co/ Hithlu House, Mantrady

Anna's 'Unshan' (Fast) at Ramlila Maidan

NISCORT Bids Farewell to its Longest Serving Dean

NISCORT Bids Farewell to its Longest Serving Dean

Thomas D’Silva

Vaishali (Ghaziabad), Aug.17: National Institute of Social Communication Research and Training (Niscort) Centre bid farewell to Rev. Dr. John Edappilly,  who is transferred after serving 8 years as its dean.  The function held here today was attended by Rt. Rev. Salvadore Lobo, the Bishop of Baruipur, several prominent media persons, the priests and nuns from the neighbouring institutions and the staff and students of the institute.

Enumerating the abilities and achievements of the outgoing dean, Dr. Jude Bothelho, the director of Niscort expressed, “I could fully depend on John and I knew the task taken up by him will be fulfilled.” Among the many success stories under Dr. Edappilly, the affiliation of the Centre to Makhanlal Chaturvedi University, Bhopal is the biggest one, he felt. He was candid in admitting that the centre would miss the services of Dr. Edappilly very much.

Bishop Lobo, who is also the member of the Governing Body of Niscort pointed out- “Fr.John’s welcoming smile is a contagious one”. Among many virtues of Dr. Edappilly, “I liked his initiative of community building the most”, announced the Bishop. He thanked him on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) for the long and meritorious service rendered to Niscort. It is to be noted that Niscort is the media wing of the CBCI and now Dr. Edpappilly has been replaced by Fr. Devassy Kullankudiyil as its study co-ordinator.

The staff and students of Niscort expressed their sadness at the transfer of one of their long serving dean, colleague and professor. Mr. A.J. Philip and Ms. Sunaina Chabra speaking on behalf of the staff felt that Dr. Edappilly was a strict disciplinarian and at the same time very human and understanding. The students gave expression to their emotions: as Thomas D’Silva quoting from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: ‘Veni, vidi, vici’ (he came, he saw, he conquered) said, “Father you have conquered our hearts”. The farewell song- ‘All of us gathered here’ put the gathering in the farewell mood.

The ‘Memories of Dr.John Edappilly’, a documentary with his photos and video footages, was the highlight of the function. ‘Save the Earth’, the street play and the fusion dance gave some food for thought and also kept everyone tap tapping their feet.

The final message from Dr. Edappilly, was witty, humorous and at the same time with a lot of wisdom. He thanked everyone, in particular the staff for the co-operation, he acknowledged the good words of appreciation and gave the last piece of advice to the students, “You have facilities second to none in the country. Make the best use of them and remember there is no substitute to hardwork.” Anand Kumar, the Master of the Ceremonies was forthright in telling that with Dr. John Edappilly’s transfer, “An era has come to an end.”

Farewell Address to Fr. John Edappilly

I'll never try to hold you back 
I wouldn't try controlling you 
If it's what you want 
It's what I want 
I want what's best for you 
And if there's something else that you're looking for 
I'll be the first to help you try 
Believe me when I say 
It's hard to say goodbye 

Dear Rev. Dr. John Edappilly,

The above lyrics from Celine Dion’s song aptly describe the sentiments: yours and ours too! “There’s a time for everything”, says the author of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Holy Bible.  After 8 eventful years at Niscort, the time has come for you to move on. Moving on...has been your trait in life.

You moved on from the humble hamlet of Irinjalakuda in Kerala in 1963 to be a Carmelite of Mary Immaculate (CMI) priest. Almost 50 long and eventful years spent with one and only one goal- to be a humble instrument of Good News from God! You shunned mediocrity and worked hard to be a thorough scholar and professional. You hold triple masters degrees in Theology, Psychology and Theatre and Media. The Temple University, Philadelphia conferred- ‘Outstanding Academic Achievement Award’ for your PhD Dissertation titled: The Emerging Electronic Church. It was in line with your motto in life as a priest-“To help people, especially the youth to find a right perspective in life”.

Dear Fr. John, you are an acclaimed and accomplished teacher. Which is evident as you are a visiting professor at Dharmaram College, Bangalore;  Ponfifical Institute, Alwaye; Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai; and Immaculata University, Pennsylvania in the United States of America. NISCORT indeed was privileged to have such an outstanding scholar in you as its dean for the past 8 years.

NISCORT was a baby when you arrived in 2003, with only a few in-house Post Graduate Diploma programs. It was your initiative by which the institute got affiliated to Makhanlal Chaturvedi University and the students could proudly wield their Post Graduate certificates while looking for a career in media. You introduced a lot of interesting and unique study programs and appointed experts in the faculty. Facilities and opportunities were provided. You gave a direction and an impetus. It was your dream to make NISCORT one of the premier media training institutes in the country. You have worked hard and you have been advising us saying, “You have one of the best chances with the facilities second to none. Make the best use of it. There is no substitute for hard work.”

Fr.John, you possess a multi-faceted personality: very witty; highly humorous; an accomplished artist; a disciple of MS Subbalakshmi when it comes to classical singing; strict and disciplined- as if you were an army General in your previous birth; kind and considerate to the weak and vulnerable like Jesus your Master; well-focused on the goal and achieving it at all cost. Father, I can go on... but time is the constraint. But one trait that is outstanding in you is that you are an exemplary, enthusiastic, confident and committed leader. And we would love to be your disciples!

It was God’s call that brought you here and it is He now sending you to elsewhere. “Veni, vidi, vici”, were the words attributed to Julius Caesar, meaning, “I came, I saw, I conquered”. Well, you have conquered our hearts... the packed audience here is the proof enough! Every good thing comes to an end. But true love doesn’t have a happy ending, because true love never ends. We wish that you could stay with us a little longer. However the words of Robert Frost, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep...But I have promises to keep...and miles to go before I sleep”, may be coming to your mind.

Thank you Father for coming into our lives and leaving the footprints on our hearts. Best of luck for your future plans. We would like to conclude with a wish and a prayer quoting the Irish Blessing, “May the road rise up to meet you; may the wind be ever at your back; may the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Wishing you Farewell,

We, the NISCORT Family.

Wednesday the 17^th August, 2011.

       

Re-Inventing the Soul of India

Re-Inventing the Soul of India

I am a worried man and I ask any man on the street, “How goes everything with your life?”- The answer is invariably- “I am a worried man”! That explains the state of affairs, in our State- India, which marks the 64^th anniversary of its freedom from the Colonial Masters. Not everyone though agrees with the statement- ‘we are a free country’. The nation is enchained by the plagues of poverty, unemployment, inflation, price rise, violence, fundamentalism; and top up with terrorism and corruption in every walk of public life. One tends to feel a sense of distress and disappointment and conclude- our country is a disaster!

I am not a ‘prophet of doom’, nor am I a revolutionary. Our country has seen many of them and witnessed scores of revolutions. Anna Hazare is the latest one to make our imaginations soar high with a glimmer of hope. The doctor (Hazare) has diagnosed India’s malady: the symptom is poverty, the cause- corruption at political and bureaucratic level and the cure- a strong Ombudsman- Jan Lokpal Bill! The question is will Team Anna and his million-army of fans make India free again? Is this the ‘second Independence struggle’ making India: a corruption-free country, which was once the abode of noble kings and holy monks generating ancient civilizations and renowned world religions? Who can free me if I want to remain in the muck!

We may bask in the glory of our rich past, forgetting the torments of today and the thought of tomorrow. We may even take our seats on the gallery and cheer the team or criticise it on the sidelines. But the point is will I face the problem of today and the prospect of tomorrow? Will I leave the luxury of gallery and be part of the battle in the field? That’s a choice each citizen of the country should make as our country is on the cross roads of history. Otherwise, neither Lokpal nor Jan Lokpal nor any other ombudsman is ever going to pull us out of the mess that we are in at the moment.

It is a moment for soul-searching, looking inward and digging deep into the resources that we possess. That we need to be rooted in our spiritualism: the eternal virtues of honesty, integrity, self-respect...they have to come alive. The mind of a monk, the soul of a sage, the peace of a peasant at work has to be reborn in us. Each citizen needs to be a ‘mahatma’. No amount of coercion and even vigilance from outside is going to liberate us, if we do not want to be liberated. Shall we resolve to get out of the muck! Let this Independence Day be a clarion call for each citizen to re-invent the soul of India!

NISCORT Re-Opens After Summer Vacations

NISCORT Pledges to Promote Human Values in the Media

Thomas D’Silva

Vaishali (Ghaziabad), Aug.8: “The Dharma of media is the promotion of human and divine values”, reminded His Excellency Gracian Mundadan, the Apostolic Visitator of the Syro Malabar Church in Delhi while addressing the staff and students of National Institute of Social Communication and Research Training (NISCORT) Centre here today. Inaugurating the academic session 2011-12, Bishop Mundadan gave the example of a German newspaper which had ventured to cover only the ‘good news’ had to be closed down within a year of its inception! “Though they found no good news to cover, yet NISCORT should make a difference in the media field and bring hope to the nation with the good news”, advised the Bishop.

Dr. Jude Bothelho, the director in his welcome address invited the gathering to ‘be the voice of the voiceless’. “Media is not a one-man-show”, he cautioned stressing the importance of working together as a team.

All the staff and students- new and old, introduced each other on the occasion. There have been some changes in the residential staff of NISCORT.  Dr. John Edappilly, the dean has been replaced by Fr. Devassy Kullankudiyil and Fr. Dominic D’Abrio takes over as the new Registrar in place of Fr.Jackson, who will be helping the students at the studio. There are 23 in the new batch which has joined for the Masters in Audio-Visual, Print and Broadcast Journalism.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the NISCORT productions: ‘Insight’ and ‘Are Women Safe in Delhi?’  These audio-visuals were indeed inspiring.

The session was closed on a cautious note by Fr. Jose Edassery, the Co-ordinator of Syro-Malabar Church in Delhi. He highlighted how media ‘creates’ stories and warned, “Be aware of the world around because everything- your clothing, dress habits, attitudes... will be determined by the big ‘event managers’ of the media”. NISCORT, the media wing of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) is a premier national institute trying to make a difference in the field of media.  In an age when the mainstream media is scrambling for commercial gains, NISCORT plans to set its own benchmark. 

Hope to the Hopeless

This video is really inspiring. I thank sr.Anu who gave the link to this video. I am putting the link here below:

Tony Mendeleze showing how to live without complaining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF9wo9sVn2c&feature=player_embedded

Palla: The fearless-farsighted-farmer, my Brother!



Palla with Linet



He was a late-arrival! On 18^th July 1969 as my mom had delivered a baby boy, there was a mood of celebration at home. But mom was not at ease...there was someone still there within...kicking and struggling to find a way out into the world! The mid-wife gave up citing ‘complication’, so dad brought the Doctor from the nearby health centre and at 5.00 PM, PAUL,  the twin brother of Peter announced his arrival with a cry of pain! Pain, because in the process of being ‘pulled out’, he suffered a fracture on his right hand.

Unfortunate he was from the start: to be the younger of the twins, born with fractured right hand- which was again fractured as our notorious naughty Baptist dattu ran over it and to make it worse one day 'Karbas', his favourite bull too hurt his hand badly, he was deprived of school to work in the field (he could attend only upto class-V), once his eye almost gone as the end of the umbrella poked into..and finally when our dad died he had to say ‘yes’ to Baptist dattu’s ideas when he himself had better ones!

But Paul who is better known as PALLA, was sharp, shrewd and what I would call- ‘worldly-wise’. Though he lacked formal education, yet he was a wise manipulator and an intelligent manager of home-affairs. He is a ‘fighter’: depriving me of mother’s milk (as the twins were born within 18 months of my birth), fighting for milk- if not of mom, even of Coses aunty or Chimbri or Lokakka..., his deep resounding male voice when given full volume- putting the enemies in the neighbourhood to a sense of fright...!

Pritam, Primal and Mitchelle(from left)

He is a fearless farmer: at the division of the property, he opted to build the house just in front of the dilapidated and condemned Hindu temple against the advice of many men of superstition, not afraid of the ghosts or spirits believed to be haunting the vicinity, hunting the wild-bores and chasing away the notorious rogue monkeys, fishing at  a time when any man of prudence would opt to sleep under the warm blanket, felling the trees and selling the timber in ‘black market’- ready to face the forest-force squad and penalty thereof...!

10^th May 1 (997: is a bitter-sweet day in Palla’s life- Our mom was overjoyed at the triple occasion of my First Holy Eucharist as a Priest, Peter marrying Hilda, Paul marrying Linet. The whole village and the neighbourhood were invited for the reception held in our field. Paul as an efficient manager had planned in consultation with Baptist dattu, all the arrangements: the reception, band party, the food, drinks and so on... Our Palla danced too with Linet that day. Yes, he was in the seventh heaven that night I believe... The next day as usual he got up early and went to the cowshed to greet the buffaloes, cows and bulls. He was shocked to see them all lying and not responding and demanding the feed! Something had badly gone wrong. He knew at once. He was inconsolable as 4 of the buffaloes dead and the rest were badly gone ill. It was a food-poison case. He loved them as his own kids...they were no more... So whenever I remind him of the wedding, he remembers and rues over the loss of his kids in the cowshed!

He has moved on from then. Hard work has yielded fruits. His business in dairy, dealings in river sand and clandestine sale of timber has yielded dividends. The house is bustling with love and laughter as three of his kids: Pritam (class-viii), Mitchelle (Class-vi) and Primal (class-ii) have been energising his aging mind and body! What’s more- Mom is too pleased to be with him receiving his tender and affectionate care after she suffered a stroke almost three years ago.

When it comes to Yakshagaana, Bull-race (popularly known as 'kamabala'), the village-melas, Palla is foremost to set out. He was a proud owner of racing buffaloes once upon a time. It is recalled even today, when his buffaloes won the medal- he drank a full bottle of beer and ordered the waiter in Tulu- 'onji plate cha bokka onji glass bajil korle' (bring a plate of tea and a glass of beaten-rice). ...

Hats off to  Palla. The villagers are reminded of Lt. Mr. Marian D'Silva, our dad in his personality- intelligent, efficient manager, business acumen, worldly-wise, jovial and at the same time serious to the core when it comes to accomplishing the task at hand!  That’s the greatest complement any son may  get. And we your brothers and sisters are proud of you.

Twins Apart for 14 years!: Happy Wedding Anniversary



Paul                           Peter



Nine months together in the womb...and together from 18th July 1969 until May 10, 1997 when two beauties managed to separate them when I as a new priest blessed their marriage on the occasion of my First Holy Eucharist at St. Anthony's church, Naravi in the diocese of Mangalore! Yes, Peter and Paul (better known as Pella & Palla), my twin brothers were separated. Well, that is life.

Today is the 14th Wedding Anniversary of : PETER & HILDA D'SILVA / PAUL & LINET D'SILVA.

I vividly recall the next day of their honeymoon: both the twins whispering into each other's ears... secrets only they could share and enjoy... the rest of us? Just Imagine!

Was there a mistaken identity for Hilda & Linet? Pella and Pall were shrewd. They decided to live apart: Peter with Hilda in Mumbai and Paul with Linet at the ancestral house in the village Mantrady. Hilda and Linet were saved from possible confusion and embarrassment.

Happy Wedding Anniversary to both of you brothers. I wish and pray for a happy and a long life together with your better haves.

Farewell to 2nd Yeas at NISCORT