Stan Swamy is a SYMBOL: He is a symbol of resistance! He is a symbol of hope! He is a symbol of a new dawn! He is a symbol that justice and truth, which will ultimately triumph, whatever the consequences or the price, one may temporarily have to pay! Stan Swamy is a sign-post, a non-negotiable direction for the country today, particularly for the sub-alterns, those who have nowhere to go, and those who live on the peripheries of society. Stan is a symbol of the relentless struggles of ordinary people belonging to all sections of society.  He is a symbol for the ostracised and the dehumanised, that all is not lost! That there is still hope and that change is inevitable.

Stan Swamy is a SERVANT: in the complete sense of the word! Someone who loved to serve others and he served with love!  Stan Swamy was a servant made in the image and likeness of his Master Jesus. At the Last Supper, Jesus, went down on his knees to wash the feet of his disciples. It was an unimaginable gesture at that time. The mandate of Jesus to his disciples was clear: “do this in memory of me!”; “love one another, as I have loved you!” Stan lived this mandate throughout his life in the service of others. He served others without counting the cost! He did so with humility and selflessness. He epitomised what is referred to, as ‘servant-leadership,’ today! Like Jesus, he knelt down and washed the feet of his people, he embraced them, he held their hands and walked the miles with them in their struggle for justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and dignity!

Stan Swamy is a SHEPHERD:  accompanying his people to greener pastures; being in their midst: in their ‘joy and hope, grief and anguish’. Stan Swamy lived in the villages of Adivasis, ate their food, and sang their songs, danced with them. He lived a simple, frugal life and his possessions were the meagre necessities. He was a compassionate pastor! A little after he assumed office, Pope Francis called on the world’s priests to stay close to the vulnerable, the marginalized and to be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.”  “This is what I am asking you,” he said with emphasis, looking up from his prepared text, “be shepherds with the smell of sheep.” In ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ Pope Francis issued the same call to all Christians, “Evangelisers thus take on the ‘smell of the sheep’ and the sheep are willing to hear their voice” Stan Swamy did exactly this: and his people heard his voice!

Stan Swamy is a SINGER: who always had a song to sing! Stan would surely smile hearing this!  A true singer, everyone knows, is much more than a song:  much more than the lyrics and the music. A singer is the soul, is the spirit that touches, that motivates, that inspires that leads. The singer is about attitude and conviction, about one’s body language: the song is from the heart!  A singer cannot be caged, can never be imprisoned. The song is immortal: the words will never die. From Taloja Jail, during his incarceration, Stan Swamy wrote, “my needs are limited. The Adivasis and the Society of Jesus, have taught me to lead a simple life… Listening to the life narratives of the poor prisoners is my joy in Taloja Jail… I see God in their pains and smiles… Many of such poor under trials don’t know what charges have been put on them, have not seen their charge sheet and just remain for years without any legal or other assistance. The 16 co-accused have not been able to meet each other as we are lodged in different jails or different ‘circles’ with the same jail”; he concludes, “But we will still sing in chorus. A caged bird can still sing.”

Stan Swamy is a SAINT:  there is no doubt about that! A saint is one who personifies holiness in the small simple, ordinary things of daily life. Pope Francis gave us an incisive Apostolic Exhortation in 2018, ‘Gaudete Et Exsultate’ (On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World). In it he emphasises that saints are not only those who have been beatified and canonised by the Catholic Church. Pope Francis states, “your identification with Christ and his will involves a commitment to build with him that kingdom of love, justice and universal peace. Christ himself wants to experience this with you, in all the efforts and sacrifices that it entails, but also in all the joy and enrichment it brings. You cannot grow in holiness without committing yourself, body and soul, to giving your best to this endeavour”. A description that fits Stan Swamy to the T! His companions in prison Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira will testify to this!  Stan Swamy was a living saint – the Adivasis believed in him! A few days after his death, in July 2021, hundreds gathered together at ‘Bagaicha’ near Ranchi, the Centre he had begun for the rights of the Adivasis. During the memorial ceremony, his name was etched on the stone that had the names of tribal leaders who gave their lives for the sake of their people! Yes, Stan Swamy is a martyr and a Saint! Many pray to him today!

Alpa Shah, who teaches at the London School of Economics, recently released her path-breaking book, ‘The Incarcerations: Bhima Koregaon and the Search for Democracy in India’. She writes, “In July 2018. Stan found himself accused of sedition by the Jharkhand government, alongside nineteen others. He wrote an email to his friends on 28 July 2018 in defence of his new status has a national traitor.  ‘FIRs have been made out. We are accused of supporting the self- rule movement taking place among Adivasis in Jharkhand and neighbouring states of central India. Pathalgadi (erection of stone slabs) listing the powers of gram sabha (village councils) as per PESA Act 1996 and declaring their right to self-governance. The state government is not able to digest this declaration and calls it “a war against the state” and all those who support it as desh drohi (a national traitor)! In an attachment to the email, Stan listed all the issues he had raised about the government and ruling class policy in the light of the Indian Constitution and concluded, ‘if this makes me a ‘desh drohi’, then so be it”!  

 That was and is the quintessential Stan Swamy and his indomitable spirit: Symbol, Servant, Shepherd, Singer and Saint – all rolled in one! That Spirit will never die!  We are ALL called to celebrate and emulate that Spirit today!

(Fr Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer. Contact: cedricprakash@gmail.com )

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India today is on the brink! There are fascist, fundamentalist and fascist forces at work, determined to take the country back to the ‘dark ages’ of history. At stake are India’s pluralistic traditions and democratic ethos! ‘Good governance’ is pathetically lacking! Article 19 (which guarantees freedom of speech and expression), Article 21 (the right to life and liberty) Article 25 (which guarantees freedom to preach, practice and propagate one’s religion), for that matter, all fundamental rights- are consistently denied to citizens.

At the receiving end are the poor and the vulnerable, the marginalised and the minorities, the excluded and the exploited, the Adivasis, the Dalits and the OBCs; the small farmers and migrant workers; women and children; the differently-abled and other sexually-oriented persons; human rights defenders, journalists and all those who take a visible and vocal stand to protect and promote the idea of a democratic, pluralistic and secular India!

There is a serious lack of political will to address systemic burning issues; there are hurried legislation and draconian, prejudiced policies (all designed to decimate the Constitution) like the National Education Policy, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the anti-conversion laws, the anti-farmer (pro-Corporate) farm laws, the four labour codes, the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, the recent Uttarakhand Universal Civil Code, the ‘One Nation, One Election.’ Constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the NIA, the police and even the judiciary are compromised; they have become ‘Caged Parrots’.

Corruption is the new normal; we have the most corrupt government since independence! First, it was demonetization; then, the scam of the Electoral Bonds. Fortunately, the pathbreaking judgement on the Electoral Bonds by the Supreme Court on 15 February, has exposed the corruption, the lack of transparency and accountability of this current Government.

The State Bank of India (SBI) had to furnish the complete details to the Apex Court by 6 March. In a blatantly corrupt manner, on 4 March, the SBI petitioned the SC – for an extension of time till 30 June to provide these details! Only an absolute moron will be unable to see the nexus between the SBI and the regime! Let’s see what the decision of the SC is and whether they will be openly complicit in this corrupt act!

Communalism is everywhere! ‘Hindutva’ is mainstreamed: from the proliferation of temples to the ascendancy of the RSS in every sector. The pluralistic fabric and the rich diversity of the country is being destroyed systematically. Early December, in Jaipur, one of the newly elected MLAs went round closing down non-vegetarian restaurants run by Muslims. On 22 January, with much fanfare, it was the launch of the Ram Temple by the BJP /RSS, using official Government of India machinery.

There are numerous instances of minorities (Muslims, Christians and Sikhs) being targeted and attacked. In Manipur and elsewhere, Christian personnel and institutions are being attacked almost daily! The farmers and the ordinary labourers are on the warpath. Thousands of them, who at this moment, are outside Delhi are being forbidden to enter the capital city. The Government is using every ruse in the book to quell their protest.

On 26 November 1949, We the People of India, gave to ourselves a visionary and pathbreaking constitution. Thanks to all the members of our Constituent Assembly, eminent women and men, from every section of India’s society, led by stalwart Dr BR Ambedkar. On, 25 November 1949, the eve of the enactment of the Constitution, Dr Ambedkar gave a long but very passionate speech to the Constituent Assembly.

His speech set the vision and the spirit of what the new Constitution should be for the people of India. Ambedkar said:

“If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgement we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives…. where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for (..) unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us.

“The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not “to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, or to trust him with power which enable him to subvert their institutions in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. The third thing we must do is not to be content with mere political democracy. We must make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it, social democracy”.

Ambedkar’s final words in that path breaking speech, sums up his views on the measure of responsibility owed to preserve the idea of India, as envisioned in the Constitution:

“If we wish to preserve the Constitution in which we have sought to enshrine the principle of Government of the people, for the people and by the people, let us resolve not to be tardy in the recognition of the evils that lie across our path and which induce people to prefer Government for the people to Government by the people, nor to be weak in our initiative to remove them. That is the only way to serve the country. I know of no better.”

It looks as though, the visionary he was, Ambedkar was actually visioning and speaking of India 2024, when the Constitution is truly at stake! The sacred Constitution of India today, is not only being trampled upon and desecrated, but being torn to shreds. The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights (rooted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948) to every single citizen of India; they are based on the four non-negotiable pillars of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

These fundamentals which are enshrined in the Preamble with the pledge to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic; where dignity, unity and integrity are paramount. The promotion and the protection of human rights for all and the respect for pluralism and diversity, is sine qua non for good governance. Sadly, in the past few years we have witnessed the systematic erosion and the destruction of human rights, by those in power.

It is imperative that we the people, mainstream Constitutionality today, which could include:

• to promote and protect the Constitution in every way
• to study the Constitution: developing an ownership of it in letter and spirit;
• to organise in-depth training in social analysis and advocacy;
• to ensure that all official policies / legislation which are draconian anti- people, anti- poor and anti- Constitutional which go against the democratic and pluralistic fabric of the country be rescinded immediately and unconditionally;
• to ensure that all eligible voters are on the electoral rolls and exercise their franchise freely, for democratic, secular parties/individuals. It means that a regime which is fascist, fundamentalist and fanatic and is unable to ensure constitutional rights to all, must be voted out!

Many Constitutional challenges indeed! But only when we the citizens of India realise and exercise our Constitutional mandate will we be able to guarantee to our beloved nation the change we want to see! In the meantime, we need to pray and act in the words of Rabindranath Tagore, “Into that heaven of freedom my Father, let my country awake!”

*Human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer

Courtesy: Counter View

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In less than six months from now (around end-April, early-May 2024), the General Elections 2024 are due to be held in the country. These elections are expected to be crucial in the context of the future of democracy in India. One does not need too much of intelligence to realise that the country has reached abysmal depths on possibly every parameter necessary for a vibrant, meaningful and people-centred democracy.

It is imperative therefore, that every single adult citizen (above the age of 18 years) of the country exercises one’s franchise and does so wisely. Before that however, one needs to ensure that one’s name is registered on the Electoral Rolls.

As a starting point: FIRST visit the website of the Election Commission of India https://eci.gov.in/  for immediate, updated and accurate information regarding the entire election process. This website has all the necessary information. In some places, it has already been announced that 9 December 2023, will be the last date for registering one’s name on the Electoral Rolls.

Here are guidelines to ensure that people register themselves and engage meaningfully in the electoral process: which is the right and duty of every citizen! Some pointers, which may be helpful, include: 

I. THE ELECTORAL ROLL:

• if you are 18 years and above (or will turn 18 in the next few months) and a citizen of India, you must have your name on the Electoral Roll (ER)
• it is essential for every adult citizen of India
• check immediately whether your name is on the ER (by visiting the ECI website / your State CEO website / Taluka Office / Collector’s Office / the local branch Office of a national political party)
• for inclusion of one’s name on the ER, you will have to fill Form 6
• ask the concerned Officer on what date you should return to check whether your name is in the ER
• for any objection or inclusion of name/s, you will have to fill Form 7
• for correction of entries in the Electoral Rolls, you will have to fill Form 8
• write your complaints to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of  your State and to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Delhi (complaints@eci.gov.in)
• always retain copies of your application / letters, signed by the receiving Officer, for further reference
• ensure that you have the Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
• remember having an EPIC does NOT mean that your name is on the ER
• Constantly check on the ER if your name is still  there –particularly 2 to 3 weeks BEFORE your Election Day; there  are several instances of the names of registered voters mysteriously disappearing from the ER , just before elections
• Organise in your institution a  competent team/s with a computer/s to help people to register themselves
• help the poor, the vulnerable, the differently-abled ,to register themselves on the ER

 II. POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT:

• get involved in mainstream politics
• encourage / support political parties which focus on governance and on issues related to transparency, human rights, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism, socialism, pluralism and peace and the safeguarding of the Constitutional Rights and freedoms of all.

BEFORE Election Day:

• check out complete details of the candidates, the parties plan to nominate
• organise public debates / dialogues with them and assess their views / opinions / promises / track-record
• study their Election Manifesto of the previous elections and based on that manifesto, see whether the ruling party / sitting candidate has fulfilled the promises made
• assess their views on all vulnerable/marginalized sections of society particularly, the poor the tribals/adivasis, dalits, women, children, small farmers/migrant workers/casual workers, minorities, LGBTQI community
• question(preferably in writing) the candidates on critical subjects which plague the country today like rising prices, growing unemployment, widening gap between the rich and the poor, the takeover of precious natural resources (particularly the jal, jungle aur jameenof the adivasis) and profiteering Government-owned enterprises by some of the corporate sector,  drinking water, education( particularly the National Education Policy),food, security, housing,  ecology( climate change, global warming, use of fossil fuels), employment, agriculture ( the situation of the small farmers; the anti-farmer policies) health, displacement,  migrant workers, casual labourers (the four labour codes) , electoral bonds,  demonetization,  rampant corruption ( like buying up  duly elected politicians from another party),anti-conversion laws, denigration of minorities, misuse of Constitutional/ quasi bodies (like the NIA, ED , CBI , Income Tax, police), military spending. nuclearisation, draconian laws like the UAPA, the incarceration of human rights defenders , the throttling of freedom of speech and expression
• Never fall for their empty promises or ‘freebies’

III.  ON VOTING DAY:

• cast your vote fearlessly
• encourage all others to freely cast their votes too
• vote for a party / individual that is NOT corrupt, criminal, communal and / or casteist  and is committed to protecting the sanctity of the  Constitution
• if you notice any bogus voting, rigging or booth capturing, bring it to the notice of the police / Election Officers immediately and preferably in writing
• ensure that there is photo/video/audio documentary evidence
• make sure that the Electronic Voting  Machine (EVM) you use – works correctly also demand that there is a Voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT)
• you have the right to exercise your franchise as ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) under Rule 49 – O

IV.  AFTER ELECTIONS:

• find out the details of your elected representative (name, address, telephone / fax nos., email, etc)
• arrange that organizations, villages / groups invite the person to share his / her views about the area for the next five years
• ensure that you keep in touch with him / her constantly
• remember that they have budgetary allocations for their constituency; find out for what programmes this money is being utilized
• insist that your views / concerns are voiced in the assembly / parliament
• ensure that they do NOT endorse any draconian or anti-people legislation
• remind the representative that as a voter you have a right to ask for his / her resignation for non-performance

On November 25, 1949, in a passionate speech in the Constituent Assembly the Visionary Dr. Ambedkar warned the nation of three things that could destroy the democratic structure and fabric of the nation, “If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgement we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives…. where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for (…) unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us. The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not “to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, or to trust him with power which enable him to subvert their institutions in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. The third thing we must do is not to be content with mere political democracy. We must make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it, social democracy”. In voicing his strong sentiments, Ambedkar would certainly visualized India 2023, when some are determined to destroy the entire Constitution

It is time for ‘we the people of India’ to wake up immediately , before it is just too late- we must ensure that as citizens of India, we  seriously pay heed to the warnings of Dr Ambedkar and protect the sanctity of our Constitution and our democracy, at all costs! 

(Fr Cedric Prakash SJ, the author, is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer).

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Finally on September 13, after much pressure from the opposition the Government finally relented and put out a fairly ‘pedestrian agenda’ which in no way warrants a ‘special session’ of parliament! The agenda includes a discussion on the ‘Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha — Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings’, and the consideration of four Bills. The Bills include the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, introduced during the Monsoon Session in the Lok Sabha; the Advocates (Amendment) Bill and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session; and the Post Office Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session. The session is expected to be held in the new Parliament Building – which most regard as a colossal and scandalous waste of the tax-payers money.

Casually the Government also hints at some ‘other’ items being taken up! No one is being fooled though! The opposition parties have already publicly expressed its apprehensions of the Government having ‘something more’ up its sleeve. Of course, the Government would certainly like to push through plenty of their unconstitutional agenda without dialogue, debate or a people-centred discernment! The opposition have already put out several urgent issues which need immediate attention! Sometime ago Sonia Gandhi, had written a strong letter listing items which need to be addressed including the continued violence in Manipur and other parts of India!

The day after it announced the ‘special session’, the Government began sending out ‘one nation, one election’ missives. It followed this up by constituting a High-Level Committee (HLC) headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore the feasibility of a ‘One Nation One Election’. The other members of the Committee were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, ex-Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha NK Singh, ex-Chairman 15th Finance Commission Subhash C Kashyap, ex-Secretary General Lok Sabha Harish Salve, senior advocate Sanjay Kothari, and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner as members. The Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal was to attend the meetings of the committee as a special invitee, while Legal Affairs Secretary Niten Chandra will be secretary to the panel.

The gazette notification presenting the mandate of the committee stated, “Elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies of States were mostly held simultaneously from 1951-52 to 1967, after which this cycle broke and now, elections are held almost every year, which result in massive expenditure by the government, diversion of security forces and other electoral officers engaged in such elections from their primary duties for significantly prolonged periods, disruption in developmental work on account of prolonged application of Model Code of Conduct, etc.” The notification emphasised the need to rewind to 1967 by citing the 170th Report on Reforms of Electoral Laws by the Law Commission of India, which said, “We must go back to the situation where the elections to Lok Sabha and all the Legislative Assemblies are held at once. The holding of a separate election to a Legislative Assembly should be an exception and not the rule.” 

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was the lone representative from the opposition in the committee.  He refused to join the committee in view of its dubious mandate which is designed to endorse the ‘one nation, one election’ agenda, and due to its selective composition – excluding the current leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha while including a former leader of the opposition in RS who is now close to the BJP. In a statement he said, “the sudden attempt to thrust a constitutionally suspect, pragmatically non-feasible and logistically unimplementable idea on the nation, months before the general elections, raises serious concerns about the ulterior motives of the government”

The BJP and Narendra Modi have been advocating simultaneous elections or ONOE since some time now. It was in BJPs 2014 election manifesto.  Later in 2015 and 2016, it was the subject matter of a Parliamentary Standing Committee, and the subject matter of a communication between the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Election Commission of India (ECI), and a Union Law Ministry’s report sent to the ECI

 In 2016, NITI Aayog propagated a paper titled, “Analysis of simultaneous elections: the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’”. The paper put out several reasons as to why there should be simultaneous elections including:

• the suspension of development programmes and welfare activities due to frequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, leading to sub-optimal governance which adversely impact the design and delivery of public policies and developmental measures
• the huge expenditure incurred by the government and various stakeholders on frequent elections
• the influence of black money
• the engagement of government personnel (like school teachers) and security forces frequently and for long periods
• the perpetuation of caste, religion and communal issues, etc.

Whilst all the above are valid with limitations, in no way are they able to demonstrate that holding simultaneous elections are a panacea for the ills of the election process. In 2017, President Pranab Mukherjee made a mention of ONOE in his address on the eve of Republic Day. In 2018, President Kovind in his joint address to the two Houses of Parliament indicated the desirability of holding simultaneous elections. ONOE has thus been around in discussions for at least nine years now.

Why then is the Government in a tearing hurry to implement the ‘one nation, one election (ONOE)?. The Government for one, is certainly frightened! The results of the Karnataka Assembly elections have thrown the BJP and their allies into disarray. They did not expect such a resounding defeat! Those who headed their campaign were none other than the Sanghi triumvirate of Modi, Shah and Adityanath. They splurged money, tried to buy up the voters, had roadshows at the cost of the State exchequer, they pulled out all stops to ensure victory- but to no avail. They certainly fear the worst in the States which go to the hustings from December 2023 to before the National elections; these are Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana! Losing in some or all of these States, will do irreparable damage to the possibility of them returning to power in May 2024!

Above all, the climate has also been disastrous in most parts of the country; the monsoons have played havoc! The Kharif crop has been a dismal failure. The Government’s anti-small farmer stance has not helped a bit. So, shifting some of the elections in those States where elections are due, might be another reason why the Government seems to be hell-bent on its one nation, one election!

The complex nature of the country’s political and constitutional framework, will pose many a legal challenge in the implementation of the ‘one nation, one election’.  Most of the top Constitutional experts of the country are of the opinion that it would require five cascading amendments to the Constitution. Each has to be passed by Parliament with a two-thirds majority and with 50 per cent of the State assemblies. This is a tall order indeed! The five Articles of the Constitution which will have to amended are #83, #85, #172, #174 and #356; besides several statutory laws would have to be amended before any such proposal could be implemented. It will also be necessary for Union and State assemblies to have fixed tenures. This means that the House’s tenure cannot be extended at any cost, except in case of a declared emergency. It would also allow for the House to be dissolved before the expiry of its term. Amending the Constitution is a lengthy and politically challenging process that requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. States will also have to necessarily give their consent.

There are several other challenges even if ONOE has the numerical backing. If it becomes a reality anytime soon, what will happen to assemblies like Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where the terms are about to end? What about Karnataka, which has a new assembly since May 2023? In future, if there is a law-and-order breakdown in a State or a government loses a majority, how will elections be synchronised with the Lok Sabha? Will it be kept under the President’s rule? The Constitution has a clearly defined time-line on how long a state can be kept under central rule. What happens if the Central Government loses a trust vote as it happened in the past? If a new Lok Sabha has to be elected midway, what about all the assemblies? These and several other questions must be answered! The ruling regime certainly does not have them!

The proposal of ‘one nation, one election’ strikes at the very root of federalism. The Central Government has been over the years treating democratically elected State Governments in a slip-shod manner. Tensions between non-BJP ruled States and Central Government have erupted very frequently in the recent past. The way the National Education Policy (NEP), which is on the concurrent list, has been shoved down the States, is a case in point; fortunately, most of the non-BJP States have resisted its implementation. In 2017, the sharpest opposition during the Law Commission consultation came from MK Stalin of the DMK. He said in a communication to the Commission that this was a “complete misadventure that will decimate the federal structure of the country”. He went on to say that even though Parliament is empowered to amend the Constitution, it cannot alter its basic features like federalism. The letter also gave the examples of the judgments delivered by the Supreme Court in cases such as Kesavananda Bharati vs. The State of Kerala and Golak Nath vs. The State of Punjab.

It is evidently clear that under federalism, the constituent units i.e., the States have autonomy in governance on the subjects specified in the States’ list. Therefore, the election of legislative assemblies and the State government are autonomous functions. The Union government cannot interfere, unless there is proclamation of emergency as specified in the Constitution of India. The federal character of the Constitution is part of its basic structure, which cannot be amended as per the landmark 1973 judgement of the Supreme Court. We can do so, only by writing a new Constitution, which needs a new constituent assembly. All this goes far beyond the ‘one nation, one election’ obsession!

There are several pressing and urgent issues which plague the country today! The ruling regime does not have the wherewithal, tthe sagacity or the political will to address them. As defeat looms large, they are desperately trying to homogenize, to control, to ensure that India becomes a dictatorship based on the Hindutva ideology.  Modi certainly prefers the Presidential form of Government instead of the more people-fused parliamentary form! All this must be nipped in the bud immediately and eradicated in totality! This regime has played sufficiently with the lives and destinies of millions of Indians.

Dr B. R. Ambedkar the visionary that he was, sensed that India would fall into fall into such a trap. It is not without reason that in his passionate speech to the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949, he said, “We must observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not “to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, or to trust him with powers which enable him to subvert their institutions.” There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered life-long services to the country. But there are limits to gratefulness. As has been well said by the Irish Patriot Daniel O’Connel, no man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. This caution is far more necessary in the case of India than in the case of any other country. For in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.”

Dr Ambedkar never minced his words and loved challenging systems which were unjust and fascist; his one question to the rulers of India today would certainly be ‘One Nation, One Election: for Whom? Why?’. They would never dare attempt to answer his question! 

The calling of the special session of Parliament is patently a bluff foisted on the nation by the ruling regime! We, the people of India, must see through this ploy! In a brilliant article entitled ‘Parliament will tell you 3 stories at special session. All of them are false!’ which appears in ‘The Print’ and elsewhere, well known intellectual-activist Yogendra Yadav writes, “SRK’s Jawan teaches us to read the truth of fantasies. Use that knowledge to understand why the current crisis may be described as ‘democracy capture’.” That in a way says it ALL! 

(Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer)  

Related:

Challenge to Live Fr. Stan’s Legacy Today!

Women & Men too, must arise now and #Embrace Equity!

India Cries for Justice

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Given the grim realities which throttle the nation today, one person whose physical presence is greatly missed today is that of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy. Two years ago on July 5, 2021, he said ‘good-bye’ to us, having completed his pilgrimage here on earth. He was arrested on 8 October 2020 on fabricated charges, incarcerated in the Taloja jail where he suffered very much. His terrible and untimely death is regarded by many as ‘institutional murder’. He has still not been declared ‘innocent’ by the courts. However, Stan (as he was called by all very lovingly) the man, mission and message -lives on in the hearts and lives of thousands everywhere. He has left us with a rich legacy and challenges us to live that legacy today.

In his early days, Stan was a trainer, mentor, guide – inspiring hundreds of youths and others through social awareness programmes and to critically analyse what was happening in society; there are many today from across the board, who are and will always be grateful for the profound impact he left on their lives. For Stan, his heroes and motivators were the likes of Paolo Freire, Dom Helder Camara and Fr Pedro Arrupe. Vatican II and the faith -justice mandate which emerged from the 32^nd General Congregation of the Jesuits, greatly shaped Stan’s way of proceeding: his thinking and his actions. Like Jesus his Master, he questioned and taught others to question and challenge all that is wrong and unjust in society and to respond constructively and positively to these issues.

Stan did all he could to empower the Adivasis. He accompanied and struggled alongside with them on issues related to the violation of laws in acquiring land for mega projects for mining and infrastructural development which flout the rights of the downtrodden and tribals. He consistently raised his voice in democratic, legitimate ways against the state-sponsored violations of laws and assault on democratic rights of people aimed at paving way for unrestricted exploitation of land and natural resources. He questioned the non-implementation of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution why the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act [PESA], was being ignored. He strongly expressed his disappointment at the silence of the Government on the 1997 Samatha Judgment of the Supreme Court; he was visible and vocal at the half-hearted action of the Government on Forest Rights Act, 2006. He expressed his apprehensions at the Amendment to ‘Land Acquisition Act 2013’ by the Jharkhand government which was a death-knell for the Adivasi Community. He strongly disagreed with the setting up of ‘Land Banks’ which he saw as a calculated plot to annihilate the Adivasis. He challenged the indiscriminate arrest of three thousand young Adivasis under the label of ‘naxals’ just because they questioned and resisted unjust land-alienation and displacement. And much, much more!

Stan walked the talk; he should be a motivating factor today for all to get out of our comfort zones, institutionalised lifestyles and cosmetic band-aid approaches to the grim realities which our people face today! Stan is physically no more but the other Bhima-Koregoan 15 (all human rights defenders) who have been vocal and visible in standing up for the rights of the poor, are still languishing in jail, some for five years now (though three are out on bail).  He has however, left behind a rich legacy which challenges us today; this legacy can be spelt out in five inter-related dimensions: Presence, Partnership, Participation, Prophetic and Pilgrim

Presence:

The essential thing that St Ignatius of Loyola teaches one in the Spiritual Exercises is to be in the presence of God. A presence which undoubtedly helps leads one towards a meaningful physical presence among the people of God. God and his people were ever present in Stan’s life.  Stan was always in the midst of his people; he pitched his tent among them: he sang and danced with them; he ate their meals and walked the miles with them. He lived for them and he died for them. Like a good shepherd he smelled of the sheep. His presence among the people was perhaps to a fault. He gave without counting the cost; he was never ensconced in a comfort zone. His life was totally people-centred. Till the very end he begged the Presiding judge to give him bail to go back to be with his people; he never lost focus of this fundamental.

Participation:

For meaningful communion and effective mission, one must participate in the sufferings and sorrows, the struggles and anxieties, the cries and yearnings of those who are denied their legitimate place in society. Stan was an authentic participant in the lives of the people. He was visible; he spoke loudly and strongly; he was articulate, he studied and analysed society and the plight of the poor; he wrote and gave interviews (his letters and poems from jail are a testimony to this). He stood with the Adivasis against the powerful and other vested interests who robbed them their ‘jal, jungle aur jameen’. He internalised and actualised the words of Pope Francis in ‘Evangelii Gaudium, “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures”.  This was Stan’s mantra too and he had no hesitation in sharing it with others. 

Partnership:

Given the enormity and the complexity of the issues which challenge us, one cannot work alone or in our institutionalised silos. One needs to work with all women and men of goodwill for the establishment of a more just, equitable, free, fraternal and dignified society. Stan realised this throughout and for him his partners were the Adivasis and the Dalits, human rights defenders, lawyers and academics, animists, agnostics and atheists, from every gender and everyone else who would help realise the goals of the Constitution of India. He believed in collaboration and networking, an essential which the Society reaffirmed in the 35^th General Congregation; “We must in turn look to our collaborators in mission and say, with gratitude and affection, that the call we have received is a call shared by us together”. (D.6 #3) Yes, many of us welcome them into our institutions (we must continue to do so) but are we ready to join them – in their programmes, in their initiatives? Whom do we identify with? were Stan’s perennial questions! He journeyed with others in the relentless struggle for a more just and humane society.

Prophetic:

A prophet whilst announcing the good news, must denounce all that is wrong, unjust and evil in society. One needs to take a stand; to be visible and vocal. Stan, as true disciple of Jesus, truly feared no one! Because of this, he did have many enemies; those who felt that he was a thorn in their flesh. He minced no words when he challenged his own to stop over-institutionalisation, to stop catering to the privileged and elite sections of society (who have plenty of other possibilities and opportunities) and above all, to get out of the safety and security of one’s comfort zone! Stan was a prophet of and for our times. He radiated an unparalleled prophetic courage and ultimately, he had to pay the price for it!

Pilgrim:

Like St. Ignatius, Stan was a pilgrim in the true sense of the word. He believed in movements: people on the move, just like in the Biblical ‘Exodus’: the struggles of the ‘people of God’ for a more humane and Ignatius, Stan dignified life. Stan left no stone unturned to ensure the Kingdom of God on earth where all (particularly the sub-alterns) would be together and around a table of fellowship. Like a true pilgrim he lived a frugal life. It was a sad joke when they raided his room, besides his computer, the only’possesions’ the authorities were able to seize from him, would put a pauper to shame! A pilgrim is unencumbered with baggage and that’s what Stan was. Even today, his room, with the barest necessities, bears mute witness to the life of a man on the move – a real pilgrim

A little before his arrest in October 2020, Stan in a very powerful message said, “What is happening to me is not something unique- happening to me alone. It is a broader process that is taking place all over the country. We are all aware how prominent intellectuals, lawyers’ writers, poets, activists, students, leaders, they are all put into jail because they have expressed their dissent or raised questions about the ruling powers of India. We are part of the process. In a way I am happy to be part of this process. I am not a silent spectator, but part of the game, and ready to pay the price whatever be it”.

Today, Stan challenges us all to live the legacy he has left us, in a profound way by our presence among the people, by our participation in their struggles and joys, by partnering through a shared vision and mission with other women and men of good will, by having the courage to play a prophetic role and above all, to be a pilgrim. From Taloja Jail he wrote, “My needs are limited. the Adivasis and the Society of Jesus, have taught me to lead a simple life… Listening to the life narratives of the poor prisoners is my joy in Taloja Jail… I see God in their pains and smiles… Many of such poor undertrials don’t know what charges have been put on them, have not seen their chargesheet and just remain for years without any legal or other assistance. The 16 co-accused have not been able to meet each other as we are lodged in different jails or different ‘circles’ with the same jail”; he concludes, “but we will still sing in chorus. A caged bird can still sing.”

Do we have the courage to walk in Stan’s footsteps and sing the way he did, today?

(Fr Cedric Prakash SJ(Gujarat) is a huma rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer)

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It is your birthday today here on earth! You would have completed eighty-six years, if you were around. Well, thatwas not to be; onJuly 5. 2021 you were murdered by a brutal and fascist regime, which did not want a human rights defender like you to continue living! This is your second earthly birthday up above. Not sure how you will be celebrating it!

But here on earth dear Stan you are missed very much! Countless people remember you: your compassion and commitment; your courage to identify with them and their struggles. These are mostly simple, ordinary people; the Adivasis and the Dalits; the excluded and the exploited, the poor and the marginalised. You lived in their midst; you basked in their presence; you smelled of the sheep like a truly good shepherd. They celebrate you today and will always do so! There is certainly no doubt of that!

But I am writing this birthday letter based on the recent conversation I had with you! I can see you smiling (you always had that halting, tentative smile – slow, gentle but warm) and I can imagine others who reading this and with a sneer saying “Conversation with Stan? There must besomething wrong with him!” Well let them say what they want – but I will hold my ground!

It was the night of April 13/14 (less than two weeks ago), Frs. Tom Kavala and P.M. Anthony invited me to spend the night in Bagaicha. This was your home – before the ’powerful’ so unceremoniously took you away on October 8, 2021 like some kind of common criminal. I was given your room to stay in and your bed to sleep on! It was a totally unexpected privilege – something unforgettable which I will treasure all my life!

That day was a very tiring one for me. I fell asleep immediately! But I was suddenly wide-awake feeling as refreshed as ever; at first, I wondered where I was. The fact slowly dawned upon me – I checked the time: I must have been asleep for less than an hour. I began tossing and turning for apparently no reason. When suddenly I felt your presence in the room. Imagination? maybe – who knows!! I am not wont to give in easily to the ‘supernatural’. But I did share my experience with some! I began asking you questions and well, you seemed to be answering them directly and bluntly (like the way you always did). We were having a conversation: something I was convinced that I had to put down in writing; so here I go:

CP: Hi Stan! How are you and how is life up there?

SS: Its good here – I am certainly happy; however, when I look down at what’s happening in India and to my people, I feel very sad and upset and wish I was there with my people.

CP: Can you possibly do something from up there?

SS: What nonsense! Me from up here? Haven’t I left you and others a legacy? After my death there was some enthusiasm about actualising that legacy, but I see that not much has been done. I wonder why?

CP: Stan, the simple reason is that we are afraid! We lack your prophetic courage! We prefer to toe the line! We do not want to disturb the powerful – for fear of losing our privileges and possessions.

SS: Actually, it is much more than that! We have become highly institutionalised and most of our efforts (of the Jesuits and of the Church) are spent in managing/running our institutions, protecting our interests and trying to please the establishment (be it corporate or political).

I have suffered much because of this. I have questioned our priorities, the people we cater to in our institutions and above all, of how we do not want to risk responding radically to the realities in the same way that Jesus would have done!

Our commitment should stem from a Gospel without compromise, firmly rooted in the person and message of Jesus and the Constitution of India. Very often our action is relegated to social works in the project-mould, meant to adhere to ‘dos and don’ts’ rather than in the accompaniment of people.

We indulge in cosmetics and acts of tokenism rather than being visible and vocal in speaking truth to power!  We tend to run with the hare and hunt with the hound! As long as we are safe in our comfort zones, we do not want to rock the boat! We Jesuits easily forget that GC36 wanted us to row in the deep!

CP: Stan, you always said that Vatican II, GC32 and the likes of Bishop Helder Camara and Fr. Pedro Arrupe were among those who inspired you. Any comments?

SS: Yes, Vatican II and its direction to the Church meant much to me! If some more of us had tried to put its teachings into practice, we would have had a very different Church and world today. Bishop Helder Camara tried and he was branded a ‘communist’ (you know how easily they branded me too!). For me, the 32nd General Congregation had a very clear mandate that “the mission of the Society of Jesus today is the service of faith, of which the promotion of justice is an absolute requirement; for reconciliation with God demands the reconciliation of people with one another.” Fr. Pedro Arrupe wanted every Jesuit to live this mandate; sadly, many of us were afraid to do so! It is obvious today too!

CP: What more do you think we should be doing today for a more humane and just society?

SS: There is indeed plenty that each one of you should be doing – both individually and collectively! Do so fearlessly!Give and do not count the cost!

We have to be the voice for the voiceless; for those who continue to live on the peripheries of society. We must collaborate and network with other like-minded individuals, groups and movements; to keep our institutions and spaces open for them and to join them in their initiatives.

CP: Yes Stan, but doing all that one will have to pay the price. It is not easy!

SS: Certainly! Haven’t I paid the price? I suffered so much during incarceration! That’s what life is all about. Just before my arrest in October 2020, I said “What is happening to me is not something unique- happening to me alone. It is a broader process that is taking place all over the country. We are all aware how prominent intellectuals, lawyers, writers, poets, activists, students, leaders, they are all put into jail because they have expressed their dissent or raised questions about the ruling powers of India. We are part of the process. In a way I am happy to be part of this process. I am not a silent spectator, but part of the game, and ready to pay the price whatever be it”.

CP: Wow Stan! Thanks for reminding me of those immortal words from you!

Morning soon dawned! No, it was not a dream! It was for real! You, Stan, challenging me and others to do much more: to live your legacy in more profound, tangible andmeaningful ways.

Yes, we do have a long, long way to go! But with your blessings and guidance from above, we will do our best! Thanks, Stan, for being YOU! Happy Birthday dear Stan!

Your brother,

Cedric

The author is a human rights, peace and reconciliation activist/writer

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On February 13, a mother and her daughter were burnt alive during an encroachment clearing drive in Dehat village of Kanpur; the incident that killed a 44-year-old mother and her 21-year-old daughter had triggered massive tension between police and the villagers. A few days earlier, on February 7, in Karnataka’s Koppal district, a Dalit woman was beaten with slippers and abused by an upper-caste man when she entered his property to get her cow back. The animal had apparently strayed inside the man’s land. Early in January, a thirty-year-old Adivasi woman belonging to the Oraon tribe was allegedly raped and killed by forest department officials in Bihar’s Rohtas district while she was gathering firewood in a forested area near Rohtasgarh Fort. Not long ago, the photos of over one hundred Muslim women, including journalists and activists, were displayed on an app saying they were for sale, to humiliate and intimidate them. In September 2020, the gang-rape of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Hathras UP tore at the conscience of the nation. Sadly, a few days ago on March 2, a court in UP acquitted three of the four accused men; the fourth was found guilty only of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and under sections of the SC/ST Act but not of rape!

All these heinous crimes against women were reported by some media, in a matter-of-fact way, as though such violations are expected. The tragedy is that these incidents are not one-offs; they are representative of a systemic wrong that exists in a highly patriarchal society, structured on caste, which thrives on a chauvinistic mind-set. According to a 2018 survey by the prestigious Thomson Reuters Foundation, India is the most dangerous country for sexual violence against women. The status of women in India is abysmal: the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 135 out of 146 countries in its Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index for 2022. India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)  in its latest report shows that, crime against women rose by 15.3 per cent in 2021 from the previous year, with 4,28,278 cases registered last year following 3,71,503 cases in 2020. The NCRB report also shows that the rate of crime against women (number of incidents per 1 lakh population) increased from 56.5 per cent in 2020 to 64.5 per cent in 2021. All this is certainly a crying shame for a country, which today holds the Presidency of the G-20, and is also desperately trying to propel itself to be the world leader- with plenty of cover-ups and cosmetics!

As another International Women’s Day (IWD) dawns, there will be the usual round of cosmetic programmes, the plethora of speeches reeking in tokenism; male speaker after speaker will wax eloquent with that typically patronising attitude towards women. The sad and cruel reality is that precious little seems to change. In India, most women continue to be condemned to live as second-class citizens in patriarchal and male-dominated societies. Male domination continues in all the major religions!

Interestingly the campaign theme for IWD 2023 and beyond is to #EmbraceEquity. The concept notes states that, “Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA…Equity means creating an inclusive world…Each one of us can actively support and embrace equity within our own sphere of influence…. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all embrace equity. Forging gender equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting the good fight. Allies are incredibly important for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women…. Everyone everywhere can play a part”.

Significantly, February 14 was also the anniversary of the ‘One Billion Rising’ movement. It is the biggest mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence) in human history. The campaign, which launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls. The Theme of the campaign for 2023 is ‘Rise for Freedom’. The campaign states that, “this year we call on the world to rise for freedom. freedom from patriarchy and from all its progeny…. capitalism, impunity, poverty, oppression, division, exploitation, shame, control, individualism, greed, violence…and in this rising…create the new culture.”

True there have been (and are) several women who have had the courage to embrace equity and to create this new culture. The list is endless but includes the likes of Savitribai Phule, widely regarded as the country’s first woman teacher. She died on March 10, 1897.She is credited with laying the foundation of education opportunities for women in India and played a major role in the struggle for women’s rights in the country during the British rule. She was a poet too; her poems were against discrimination and of the need for education. For most of her life, she campaigned vigorously against untouchability, the tradition of sati, child marriage and other social evils, which affect women. In one of her poems she writes, “end misery of the oppressed and forsaken…break the chains of caste.” Along with her was Fatima Sheikh who was India’s first female Muslim teacher Together Savitribai and Fatima spearheaded an educational revolution in the 1800s. Fatima Sheikh played an essential role in starting the country’s first girls’ school. In 1848, Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule were asked to leave their home due to their anti-Brahmanical views. At that time, educating women and the lower caste was considered a sin. Along with her brother, Usman Sheikh, Fatima Sheikh gave refuge to them and started the school from the same building. Sheikh even undertook a teacher’s training course along with Phule to assist her in managing the educational institution.

In our midst today, we have Justice B V Nagarathna who is making waves in the Supreme Court!  Recently, she pronounced two dissenting judgements; both were verdicts of 4:1. The other four who opined were all male judges! Justice Nagarathna has however been unflinching and undeterred: her views have certainly not gone unnoticed Both the print and the electronic media (including the majority pro- establishment ones ) have provided the space and given the necessary coverage to her views There are several editorials and op-eds singing paeans to her judgements – with legal luminaries, academics and other intellectuals vying with each other to critique her judgements and at the same time provide grist to the mill. The Supreme Court is still a male bastion. Being a lone woman on a bench with four other men, is perhaps not very easy. It requires grit and determination to think differently!  Justice BV Nagarathna has undoubtedly proved that her ability to stand up to men who call the shots, is no flash- in- the- pan! She already seems to have broken the glass ceiling!

Then we have the horrendous tragedy of twenty-one years ago, which engulfed Gujarat.  Bilkis Bano experienced it all. Following the burning of the S-6 compartment and tragic death of 59 persons (mainly ‘kar sevaks’) on February 27, 2002, all hell broke loose, the next day, in several parts of Gujarat. Sensing trouble, a group of seventeen persons fled their native village of Radhikpur in Dahod district. The group comprised Bilkis, her three-year-old daughter Saleha, her mother and fourteen others. They took refuge in another village Chhaparvad hoping they would be safe there. On March 3, however, they were attacked by about 20-30 people armed with sickles, swords, and sticks. Among the attackers were the eleven accused men, just set free. Bilkis, her mother, and three other women were raped and brutally assaulted. Of the seventeen Muslims, eight were found dead, six were missing. Only Bilkis, a man, and a three-year-old child survived the attack. Bilkis was unconscious for at least three hours; after she regained consciousness, she borrowed clothes from an Adivasi woman made her way to the Limkheda police station to register a complaint. The Head Constable there, according to the CBI, “suppressed material facts and wrote a distorted and truncated version of Bilkis’ complaint”.

Bilkis has relived the horror of that tragedy several times over as she unwaveringly narrates the brutality, she was subject too. In great pain she says, “All the 4 men of my family were killed brutally. The women were stripped naked and raped by many men. They caught me top. My 3-year-old daughter, Saleha, was in my arms. They snatched her and threw her into the air with all their might. My heart broke as her little head shattered on the rocks. Four men caught me by the arms and legs and many others entered me one by one. When satisfying their lust, they kicked me and beat my head with a rod. Assuming that I was dead they threw me into the bushes. Four or five hours later I regained my consciousness. I searched for some rags to cover my body, but couldn’t find any. I spent a day and a half on a hilltop without food or water. I longed for death. Finally, I managed to find a tribal colony. Declaring myself as a Hindu I sought shelter there. The men who attacked us used foul language; I can’t repeat it ever. In front of me they killed my mother, sister and 12 other relatives. While raping and killing us, they were shouting sexual abuses. I could not even tell them that I was five months pregnant because their feet were on my mouth and neck. I have known the men who raped me for many years. We sold them milk. They were our customers. If they had any shame, they would not have done this to me. How can I forgive them?”

Her dogged and relentless pursuit for justice ensured that eleven of the perpetrators of this dastardly crime were sentenced to life imprisonment. In a clear travesty of justice on August 15, 2022, they were all given remission to their sentence and set free! Bilkis’ struggle still continues: as she fights so that these criminals are sent back to jail. In a public statement on August 17, 2022, she said “Two days ago on August 15, 2022 the trauma of the past 20 years washed over me again. When I heard that the 11 convicted men who devastated my family and my life, and took from me my 3-year-old daughter, had walked free, I was bereft of words. I am still numb. Today I can only say this- how can justice for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I trusted the system, and I was learning slowly to live with my trauma. The release of these convicts has taken from me my peace and shaken my faith in justice. My sorrow and my wavering faith is not for myself alone but for every woman who is struggling for justice in courts. No one enquired about my safety and well-being, before taking such a big and unjust decision. I appeal to the Gujarat Government, please undo this harm. Give me back my right to live without fear and in peace. Please ensure that my family and I are kept safe”. Blikis continues to wait for justice!

It has not been easy for Savitribai and Fatima, for Nagarathna and Bilkis and for several other women who have dared the system and worked towards change! These are women who have risen against all odds, ploughed the lonely path and courageously decided to embrace equity. These epitomise the immortal words of Maya Angelou, the American civil rights activist and poet:

Out of the huts of history’s sham, I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain, I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave, I rise!

Yes, Women and Men too, must Arise Now and Embrace Equity!

(Authored on March 6, 2023 by the writer, a a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer)

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In India, the cries for justice, are becoming louder and longer! They come from different segments of society and particularly from those who continue to be exploited and excluded! These cries are heart-rending: anyone with an iota of conscience will hear them! The sad and tragic reality is that these cries will remain unheard; those who need to hear these cries and to respond to them, have deadened their ears and hardened their hearts! 

Junaid and Nasir cry for justice! These two Muslim men were allegedly kidnapped, lynched, and set ablaze by a Hindutva mob in Haryana’s Bhiwani district on February 16. They were residents of Gopalgarh village in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur.The incident happened 100 kilometers away from their village, and the Hindutva group had accused the deceased Muslim men of cow smuggling.  Junaid and Nasir were apparently abducted from the forests of Piruka and taken them to Barwas village in Bhiwani, where they were burned alive. Family members also said that they were killed by members of the Hindutva outfit Bajrang Dal, and that the Bajrang Dal leader Monu Manesar was behind the gruesome killing. Though Manesar and some others have been arrested, there are others on the street demanding they be released immediately and providing legitimacy to their heinous crime. 

Darshan Solanki cries for justice! This eighteen-year Dalit student, was studying at the IIT in Mumbai. Originally from Ahmedabad, his father, Rameshbhai, works as a plumber and his mother, Tarlikaben, as a domestic worker. On February 12, Darshan apparently committed suicide!  He did not leave any note! However, most of his fellow students and others who knew him, have gone on record saying that he faced severe discrimination and harassment because of his caste background. Many regard it as an ‘institutional murder’. It was just three months since he had entered the portals of India’s premier educational institution. The death of Darshan a Dalit is not a one-off case. There are many more! 

Ashaben (name changed) cries for justice! She is still a minor, a 17-year-old Adivasi from Jharkhand. She was hired as a domestic worker by a well-off couple who abused and ill-treated her for the five-months she lived with them. On being rescued she says, “They hit me with sticks, rope… they hit me with a hot iron tong and used a blade to brand marks on my arm and lips. She would burn paper and light a matchstick and poke me with them… On one occasion, they tried to strangle me and threatened to kill me, I was given only one meal to eat at night, a small bowl of rice, and often ate leftover food from the dustbin since I was hungry for long periods… Often, I slept on the floor in the drawing room… without any clothes. She tore the clothes that I had brought along. He disrobed me and hit me with a stick on my private parts.” There are millions of Ashabens in the country today! Their employers get away with this abuse because of their wealth, their status, proximity to the powerful and of course, lack of accountability to anyone! 

The victim -survivors of the Gujarat Carnage of 2002 cry for justice! In a few days from now (February 27/28) it will be yet another anniversary of those infamous days in Gujarat! It was undoubtedly, the blackest chapter in post-independent India. Thanks to the painstaking efforts and the relentless pursuit of justice by several individuals and groups, in accompanying the victim-survivors: justice has been delivered in some instances. The truth however is that those responsible, the masterminds, the kingpins have still not been brought to book – despite authentic and incontrovertible evidence to prove their direct involvement and even complicity in those heinous crimes which engulfed Gujarat for week after week those terrible times! They still roam the streets with impunity and have manipulatively covered themselves with the cloak of immunity! Can the world ever forget the suffering and trauma of Bilkis Bano, Zakhia Jafri, Rupa Mody and hundreds of others who have lost their loved ones? Like the holocaust, during the Nazi regime, the Gujarat Carnage of 2002 will forever be etched in the memory of humankind, it will always remain on the radar -until perhaps the cries for justice are heard! 

Bilkis Bano cries for justice! Yes, for herself, for her loved ones and for all women who are victims of a heartless, brutal, patriarchal society! Today she is unable to accept the ignominy that the eleven perpetrators of that unacceptable violence have granted remission from their prison sentences and are scot-free. In pain she says, “All the 4 men of my family were killed brutally. The women were stripped naked and raped by many men. They caught me top. My 3-year-old daughter, Saleha, was in my arms. They snatched her and threw her into the air with all their might. My heart broke as her little head shattered on the rocks. Four men caught me by the arms and legs and many others entered me one by one. When satisfying their lust, they kicked me and beat my head with a rod. Assuming that I was dead they threw me into the bushes. Four or five hours later I regained my consciousness. I searched for some rags to cover my body, but couldn’t find any. I spent a day and a half on a hilltop without food or water. I longed for death. Finally, I managed to find a tribal colony. Declaring myself as a Hindu I sought shelter there. The men who attacked us used foul language; I can’t repeat it ever. In front of me they killed my mother, sister and 12 other relatives. While raping and killing us, they were shouting sexual abuses. I could not even tell them that I was five months pregnant because their feet were on my mouth and neck. I have known the men who raped me for many years. We sold them milk. They were our customers. If they had any shame, they would not have done this to me. How can I forgive them?” 

Migrant workers cry for justice! There are an estimated 400 million people work in India’s informal sector, on low daily wages and with no contract, pension, paid holidays or health benefits and above all, poor working conditions. The vast majority of them are migrant workers; they are scattered all over the country, who speak different languages. Migrant workers normally cannot defend themselves. When they go to another state, they don’t even speak the local language. No one inspects the premises to check working conditions are safe. They don’t even feature in the records of the local state government. They are invisible.  The powerful images of migrant workers suffering when lockdown was announced in 2020 will remain etched in one’s memory forever. Besides, in the height of the COVID pandemic the Government passed the four labour codes, which most people feel are violative of the rights of workers and favour the employers particularly, the corporate sector!

Christians cry for justice! It has never been as bad as this for this miniscule minority! Christians are attacked and persecuted with frightening regularity; Churches and sacred objects are vandalised and desecrated; false cases are foisted on Christian pastors and those assembled for prayer. On 19 February, more than 15,000 Christians assembled at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for a prayerful and peaceful protest! Speaker after speaker lambasted the current regime for their open instigation to their ilk to harass, intimidate and attack the Christians. Complete legitimacy is given to fascist outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Akhil Bhartiya Vidya Parishad (ABVP)- the student wing of the Sangh Parivar, to storm Christian institutions demanding that Hindu gods and goddesses be enshrined and even venerated in Christian institutions!  On 20 February, such an incident took place at St Mary’s School, Amreli Gujarat! The goons hounded and harassed the Principal, staff and students for most of the day. Neither the Government Educational authorities nor the local police, think it fit to halt the goons in their steps. In several other instances, Sangh Parivar outfits have been threatening and browbeating Christians, with absolutely false allegations like ‘forced conversions!’

Minorities cry for justice! Christians yes, but on a much larger scale, the Muslims are demonised, denigrated and discriminated against. The classic examples in recent years are the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), The National Register of Citizenship (NRC), the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A with regard to Kashmir’s special Constitutional status, the so-called ‘anti-conversion’ laws in several states – are all designed and directed towards the systematic targeting of the minorities in the country. There is much more: what minorities and other vulnerable groups eat, wear, see and read has become the bane of several from the majority community. Livelihoods of minorities are destroyed; Government employment is not given to someone from a minority community – even if the person meets the required competence and has the necessary qualifications. Venomous hate speeches against the minorities have become the order of the day. Those who spew them, do so with gay abandon- because they know that no one will touch them!

Voters cry for justice! In the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly elections, thousands of eligible voters, mainly Christians and Muslims, find their names mysteriously missing from the electoral rolls. Their names have been deleted. This is a travesty of justice. Elections are also due in three North- eastern states too. One has witnessed in almost every recent election- how the real issues of the people: their livelihood, employment opportunities, food security, environmental justice, habitat are bypassed and they are cleverly polarised on religious, ethnic and caste issues. Voters are coerced /threatened to vote for a particular party/candidate. The recent elections in Gujarat were a sham on Democracy; mafia of the ruling regime took away the voting ids (EPIC) from several voters prior to the elections and the votes were exercised on their behalf. Some were given money to do so or to vote for a particular candidate/party. Beef and liquor and other ‘gifts’ were freely distributed. Selected EVMs were manipulated before and also after the elections!

Human Rights defenders cry for justice! Thanks to those who have had the courage to stick their necks out for the poor, exploited and other vulnerable sections of society – that reality is still on the canvass!  Many human rights defenders are still paying the price for their courageous and selfless deeds. The likes of Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and others are still languishing in jail, in the Bhima- Koregaon conspiracy case. The struggle to prove the innocence of Fr Stan Swamy, who was institutionally murdered on 5 July 2021, still continues. Teesta Setalvad, R.B.  Sreekumar and Sanjiv Bhatt are hounded and harassed, with fabricated cases foisted on them. It is not easy for them and for their families, the wheels of justice indeed move extremely and painfully slowly. They however are resolute, determined to fight for the cause of justice – till the very end!

Freedom of the press, of speech and expression cherishers, cry for justice! In a country which is dominated by ‘godified’ media – it is not easy to speak truth to power! On February 2, journalist Siddique Kappan was released on bail after spending 846 days (28 months) in jail on being released on from a Lucknow prison on Kappan told the media that he had no idea why he was implicated wrongly in a case and jailed. The fact however was that he was on his way to Hathras in UP where a young Dalit girl was gang-raped by the powerful belonging to the ruling regime. Any media house ( be it print or electronic) if it takes on the Government – are denied Government advertisements( revenue) and have the ED , the CBI, Income-tax , NIA and other statutory bodies ( who have become pliable instruments in the hands of a vindictive regime) breathing on them , raiding them and creating untold suffering on them. The raids on the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi recently are a classic example of this. A free press is sine qua non in a democracy – and world leaders and Governments have taken on India on this score. Besides the banning of the BBC film on Modi- which is accurate, authentic, objective after faultless research is clearly an example of how the Government wants to throttle freedom of speech and expression. A churlish attitude of a fascist regime that is too frightened to face the truth!

Today India cries for justice! Junaid and Nassir, Darshan and Ashaben, the victim survivors of the Gujarat Carnage of 2002: Bilkis Bano, Rupa Mody and Zakhia Jafri; the migrants and labourers, the minorities: Muslims, Christians and others; human rights defenders: Vernon (Gonsalves), Arun (Fereira), Teesta (Setalvad), (RB) Sreekumar, Sanjiv (Bhatt) and many others; voters and those who believe in the freedom of speech and expression. There are many more crying: the fisherfolk of Kerala, those who have been displaced by megaprojects and the mining mafia; those who are concerned about the ecology and cry for environmental justice; the LGTBQIA community; the small farmers and land-holders; the small investors who have fallen prey to a corrupt regime which has been hijacked by crony capitalists like Adani. There are many more; the list is endless! Martin Luther King Jr. once famously said, that, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ” Injustice today abounds in India! Until such time, that the cause of justice is served and made real to every segment of society, the cries for justice will continue to grow shriller!

But is anybody listening?

(The author is a human right, justice, reconciliation & peace activist/writer)

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On December 21, 2020, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution – co-sponsored by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt – proclaiming February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity, inviting all Member States and international organizations to observe the International Day of Human Fraternity annually. The International Day of Human Fraternity commemorates the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 4, 2019; the day highlights the principles and values of the Document on Human Fraternity, while exploring good practices towards its implementation as a pathway to building a more peaceful world. 

So, February 4, this year will mark the third observance of this day. In a message for the day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says, “The International Day of Human Fraternity celebrates the values of compassion, religious understanding, and mutual respect. These values underwrite peace and are the glue that hold our human family together.

Yet all over the world, they are being eroded. By deepening divides, widening inequalities, and growing despair. By surging hate speech, sectarianism, and strife. The fact is, we see examples of religious extremism and intolerance in all societies and among all faiths.

It is the duty of religious leaders everywhere to prevent instrumentalization of hatred and defuse extremism amidst their followers. The declaration “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” – co-authored by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb – is a model for interfaith harmony and human solidarity. Let us all take inspiration and renew our commitment to stand together as one human family. Together, let us build an alliance of peace. Rich in diversity, equal in dignity and rights, united in solidarity”.

Guterres is in fact reiterating what Pope Francis and the Grand Imam say in their introduction, “from our fraternal and open discussions, and from the meeting that expressed profound hope in a bright future for all human beings, the idea of this Document on Human Fraternity was conceived. It is a text that has been given honest and serious thought so as to be a joint declaration of good and heartfelt aspirations. It is a document that invites all persons who have faith in God and faith in human fraternity to unite and work together so that it may serve as a guide for future generations to advance a culture of mutual respect in the awareness of the great divine grace that makes all human beings brothers andsisters.” The document above all is a ‘Magna Carta’, a way of proceeding for all of humanity, provided there is the necessary political will to ensure that. The document analysesthe realities which grip mankind today and provides a blueprint for all in order to address and ultimately overcome the hate, divisiveness and violence of today!

‘Fraternity’ however, is not a new concept. Though male- sounding, it embraces every single human in totality. It meansbrotherhood and sisterhood or a belief in co-existence. Thus, all the member states of the UN are directed by the United Nations to observe the ‘International Day of Human Fraternity’ in the best and appropriate manner to promote interreligious harmony, friendship, cooperation, and acceptance. ‘Fraternity’ is also a non-negotiable dimension of the Indian Constitution appearing in the Preamble. A pillar of our democracy. It refers to a feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood and a sense of belonging with the country among its people. The Preamble declares that fraternity has to assure two things—the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

On October4,  2020, Pope Francis gave to the world his latest Encyclical on Fraternity and Social Friendship ‘Fratelli Tutti’(Brothers and Sisters All). ‘Fratelli Tutti’ is path-breaking- it is radical in nature; it highlights and also challenges the coreteaching of every major religion in the world. Pope Francismakes an urgent and passionate call for meaningful discipleship, of authentic witness in our world of today! It is blueprint for concerted action which is addressed to “brothers and sisters all” (#8) and in his opening remarks he states “although I have written it from the Christian convictions which inspire and sustain me, I have sought to make this reflection an invitation to dialogue among all people of goodwill” (#6). In sum and substance, it provides a clear direction to all women and men, irrespective of their religious/ideological beliefs, that if we are sincere about addressing the realities of today- ‘Fratelli Tutti’ is the path we must walk together.

‘Fratelli Tutti’ provides a road map for all to become more fraternal in deed! Jesus tells his disciples “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). The Encyclical emphasises key dimensions of this witnessing. These include the fundamental, that the dignity of every person is paramount.  “Every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally; this fundamental right cannot be denied by any country. People have this right even if they are unproductive, or were born with or developed limitations. This does not detract from their great dignity as human persons, a dignity based not on circumstances but on the intrinsic worth of their being. Unless this basic principle is upheld, there will be no future either for fraternity or for the survival of humanity” (#107).

On February 3, 2023, the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat of the Society of Jesus under the leadership of its Secretary Fr Xavier Jeyaraj, organised a global webinar ‘Fraternity @ Frontiers’ which launched an interactive global map of Jesuit Social Centres. In an insightful address on the occasion Fr Arturo Sosa, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus said, “We celebrate the happy coincidence of the launch of the interactive map on the eve of the Third International Day of Human Fraternity, a day in which the UN recognizes the gesture of Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in signing the important joint document on Human Fraternity, on February 4, 2019. The document invites us to make all this “the object of research and reflection in all schools, universities and institutes of education and training, so that it may help to create new generations that bring good and peace, and defend everywhere the rights of the oppressed and the least.” In keeping with the vision of the ‘Day of Fraternity’ Fr Arturo was clear that every Jesuit, every ministry (and every single person of course), must move beyond our exclusiveness,transcend narrowness, network and collaborate much more if one truly intends creating an impact! It was a radical call for fraternity with those at the frontiers and with those who live on the peripheries of our dehumanized world!

Very significantly, at the beginning of the Webinar a beautiful and meaningful which prayer was first presented by Cardinal Dearden in 1979 and quoted by Pope Francis in 2015, was read out; an extract reads,

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an
opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master
builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.

So apt! So relevant – to help us understand why we must have the courage to play a more determining role in our world of today in which hate and violence, divisiveness and discrimination, xenophobia and exclusiveness seem to gaingreater traction and legitimacy.

Pope Francis recently said that “Fraternity, means reaching out to others, respecting them, and listening to them with an open heart.” He expressed hope that Christians will take concrete steps, together with the believers of other religions and people of goodwill “to affirm that today is a time of fraternity, avoiding fuelling clashes, divisions, and closures…. Let us pray and commit ourselves every day, sothat we may all live in peace as brothers and sisters.” This‘International Day of Human Fraternity’ is therefore a wake-up call to all – to be courageous in defending and promotingjustice and the rights of all, so that in sustainable peace, wecan truly live as sisters and brothers in dignity, equity and love in this our common home!

February 3, 2023

(The author is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer)

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Christmas is for the bravehearted: those who see and welcome the ‘strangers’ in their midst, those who have come from a different part of the country, to deal with the cumbersome process of having their names registered in the Census operations. The locals have already taken a stand against the unconstitutional Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) and now make every effort to ensure that no one is excluded from Census; in particular, the poor and the vulnerable, those caught up in and impoverished by the rising costs; those who live on the peripheries.

Christmas is for the bravehearted: who create space in their homes for the weary travellers, a bedraggled couple, who have journeyed through many difficulties. He is aged, she is heavily pregnant. They have been knocking from door -to-door for a place for the night; but sadly, in vain. All are very busy preparing for ‘Christmas: cleaning, decorating and illuminating their homes, making sweets, rushing to the tailors for their new clothes, to the mall to buy the last-minute expensive gifts. One tramp however, who points to the possibility of some place far away outside the town.

Christmas is for the bravehearted: as the couple makes their way to the periphery, they find a stable. The caretaker is fully inebriated, but that does not deter his goodness. He unlocks the stable so that the exhausted couple are able to sit in the warmth and comfort of the hay. He shares his evening meal and his water with them. Finds some swaddling clothes because he understands that there will soon be a new arrival. The animals who are inside know that they will soon be part of a defining moment of history. The stench and squalor of the stable give way to sweet fragrance and goodness. This moment is not meant for the heartless!

Christmas is for the bravehearted: listening to the angels sing “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will!” The angels are in unison and their song is harmonious! Their message is unequivocal: the glory of God which complements the need and importance of peace and goodwill for all men and women. This is easier said than done! In a world which is divided and fragmented, where hate speech and violence gain legitimacy, where ‘the other’ is denigrated and demonized with ease – what one yearns for is for a peace which is vibrant, which is inclusive and transcends the pettiness of our world today!
Christmas is for the bravehearted: the shepherds who listen to, internalise and actualise the song of the angels. They were ordinary, rugged folk who lived on the hill-side. When they hear the good news of the birth of the Saviour by the angels, they leave their sheep behind and go in haste to worship the new-born! They are joyously spontaneous in their response. There is no pretence or shallowness in their deed! There is clarity in their goal and they reach their destination! One is reminded of our protesting farmers who inspite of great difficulties courageously succeeded in having the anti-farmer laws revoked, sometime ago!

Christmas is for the bravehearted: the Magi are wise people, who physically lived in a distant land. Though they were rich, they had a singular mission in life: a relentless search for the truth and for the Messiah, who would be that truth. They go all out of their way to find him and give him of their best! The Magi find solace and spiritual fulfilment when they encounter Jesus. They realise that having found the truth they have to take a stand for justice. They return by another way demonstrating the unflinching courage not to succumb to the manipulative and murderous mechanisms of Herod. They take a stand for the minorities, the excluded and the exploited, for all victims of injustice! They remind us of Fr Stan Swamy, the others incarcerated in the Bhima-Koregaon conspiracy case, and the many bravehearts, illegally imprisoned because they took a stand for human rights, justice and peace!

Christmas is for the bravehearted: like the people of Egypt. A refugee couple with a little babe, arrive in their midst, with practically nothing! The trio has had an arduous and long journey through hostile terrain. They were forced to flee from their native land because of the vengeful plot by a tyrant. They were refugees but the Egyptians treated them as their own: warmly welcoming them into a society which would ensure their protection and security. Millions of migrants and refugees today, the ‘nowhere people, victims of war and persecution desperately seek refuge in a foreign land. Some bravehearts do welcome them!

Christmas is for the strong who can honestly sift through the material and mundane of the world

Christmas is for the bravehearted: and of course, there is Joseph! He is the foster-father of Jesus has always been referred to as a just man. He dreams and lives the impossible dream believing in the dignity, equity and the rights of all! From the moment, Mary was betrothed to him, Joseph was confronted with a host of sensitive issues. He had to make very difficult decisions; every decision of his would impact on Mary or Jesus or on both them, in a profound way. He did so with a great sense of prudence and responsibility and after much discernment. The Biblical righteous ness (justice) was his forte; he was imbued with a tremendous sense of justice

Christmas is for the bravehearted: so beautifully epitomised by Mary. She is chosen by God as the mother of Jesus. It is certainly not easy for her to accept this heavy responsibility. After due discernment, she willingly and courageously accepts Gods will. Her yes is unconditional! She then goes in haste to be with her kinswoman Elizabeth; in her old age, Elizabeth has conceived and will soon become the mother of John the Baptist. As she embraces Elizabeth, Mary sings the Magnificat — a prophetic and courageous song for change! During the birth of Jesus and till the very end of her life on earth, Mary radiates this braveheartedness.

Christmas is for the bravehearted: for those who recognise Jesus in the Crib, as the saviour of the world! Christmas is for the strong who can honestly sift through the material and mundane of the world, which has relegated Christmas to Santa Clauses and Christmas trees, to eating, drinking and dancing, to new clothes and expensive gifts, to decorations and illuminations, to splurging and merry-making. Christmas is for the bravehearted who understand that the birth of Jesus is about enabling and ensuring truth, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, inclusiveness, joy, love, peace in our broken world today. Christmas is indeed for the bravehearted who have the courage to put Christ back into Christmas!

—
*Human rights, reconciliation & peace activist/writer

Courtesy: https://www.counterview.net

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